Chapter 46

Part 2, Episode 3

“Xian , my friend Xian.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Explain yourself.”

The day before the imperial council meeting.

I addressed Xian, who had just returned from the Great Forest.

“…I apologize.”

“Xian.”

Calling his name briefly, I fell into thought.

Truthfully, this was not the first time Xian had defied my orders.

He often acted based on his own judgment rather than following my commands, which was precisely why I had tried to grant him independence.

I had always known that Xian would never obey me unconditionally, so his defiance itself was not particularly surprising.

The real issue was that this time, his defiance had not taken place within the empire—but in the Holy Kingdom.

“I have covered up every single one of your insubordinations so far, Xian. That was only possible because they happened within the empire.

But this time, the circumstances are different. Of all places, why the Holy Kingdom?”

Just as there were many within the empire who believed in Kiriya, there was also a certain level of diplomatic interaction with the Holy Kingdom.

And rumors spread just as quickly.

According to Duke Triell , not only had word of Xian’s defiance already spread, but absurd rumors had begun circulating as well—claims that Xian had left the empire to settle in the Great Forest or even in the Holy Kingdom itself.

“Xian, speak.”

“Your Majesty, I do not believe Nia is a criminal.”

Had it been anyone else standing before me, I would have answered, ‘Your opinion is irrelevant.’

But instead, I nodded, signaling for him to continue.

“I have no intention of defending the beastmen who invaded the empire, Your Majesty. However, Nia has fought relentlessly to defeat the Demon King, never sparing her own body in battle. The number of demons she has slain is beyond counting, and there are more knights than I can name who owe their lives to her…!”

“And yet, there are also countless knights who have lost their lives at the hands of the beastmen.”

“But that wasn’t Nia’s fault…!”

“Xian.”

I cut off his heated outburst and met his gaze.

“Nia is the rightful representative of the beastmen. She fought alongside you against the Demon King on behalf of her people, and everyone knows she was their next chieftain.

Knowing that, do you still believe she bears no responsibility?”

“…That…”

In the end, it all came down to perspective.

Before the war against the Demon King, Xian had been an ordinary commoner.

Even during the war, he did not command troops but fought in a small group alongside a handful of close companions.

And above all, Nia had been one of those companions, someone he had survived countless battles with.

Xian would never see things from my point of view.

He would never accept Nia’s guilt.

“Ha… Xian. The problem was your overreaction from the beginning. I understand that it’s a sensitive issue, but did you really think I was going to execute your comrade?”

“…No, but…”

“Damn it. If you had just brought her back to the capital quietly…”

No, now that I thought about it, that might have been even worse.

The nobles, seething with fury against the beastmen, would have hurled insults and scorn at Nia. Some might have even resorted to physical violence.

If that had led to a clash between Xian and the nobles…

“Xian, you know that elf princess, don’t you?”

“Do you mean Seria, Your Majesty?”

“I hear the elves are spouting nonsense about supporting the beastmen. Did you know about this?”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

Xian then recounted the discussions he had with his companions in the Holy Kingdom.

Tch. As if the elves weren’t enough, now the Holy Kingdom was moving as well?

“Ha… so naïve.”

In truth, there are quite a few people like that elf princess.

Those who have never once in their lives been denied what they wanted.

Among the beloved youngest children of noble families, it’s rare to find someone who isn’t like that.

The only real difference is the extent of their influence.

If my assumption is correct, that elf princess would have defended Nia even if she had personally slaughtered imperial citizens.

Because to her, a single friend is more precious than the entire empire combined.

“Xian . The elves won’t take action.”

The true ruler of the Great Forest is the World Tree, and she understands the strength of the wolf.

Even if that wolf had only recently been unsealed, the fact remains that he died on imperial soil.

Now, she will be wary of both me and the empire.

The elves will not turn against me for the sake of a single beastman.

And since their queen has no intention of aiding Nia, the elves will not move in support of the beastmen.

“Furthermore, I have no intention of forgiving the beastmen. The Beastman Union no longer exists.

Had this been a war fought by formal declaration, it would be a different story.

But given what has happened, the beastmen now have only two choices—death or slavery.”

“…”

Before summoning Xian, I had ordered Dia to deliver the list of those who had died because of the beastmen.

Because of that, Xian lowered his head in silence instead of refuting me.

“Xian. In tomorrow’s council meeting, I will publicly reprimand you. Your title will be demoted, and your lands will be confiscated.

You may not care much for such things, but the nobles will take it very seriously.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Tomorrow, and from now on—say nothing.

My friend, Xian, I ask this of you. If you comply, your companions will remain safe.”

At the end of the day, Nia is still a Master who made great contributions in the war against the Demon King.

Unless I personally intervene, the only nobles capable of harming her are Grepa and Fael.

Fried will follow my will, and since the heir of the Fael family is one of Nia’s companions, they won’t try to harm her either.

“Your Majesty… Surely, there must be innocent beastmen among them.”

“That is precisely why I am not ordering their complete annihilation.”

Truthfully, if I were to act according to my true feelings, I would wipe every last beastman from this land.

Count Darhan , one of the Masters I trusted, was killed.

Many students from the academy I personally established also perished.

Rael nearly lost her life, and many nobles loyal to me were slain as well.

As my frustration simmered, a faint violet aura naturally began to swirl around me.

But ultimately, those who remain among the beastmen are insignificant.

They are not the ones who directly attacked the empire, nor do they have the power to do so any longer.

There is no reason to strain my friendship over something so worthless.

“Xian. I truly consider you a friend. What about you?”

“Your Majesty… I…”

If Xian were to openly call me his friend, it would be an enormous act of disrespect.

However, having never learned proper court etiquette, he first met me as an equal.

And because I have continued to treat him as a friend, he must have subconsciously come to see me the same way.

Perhaps that was why he took his defiance so lightly.

“Xian, I have many vassals, but few friends.

Tomorrow, I will reprimand you before the nobles, and with that, this matter will be settled.

You may leave now.”

As I dismissed Xian, I found myself wondering—perhaps the reason I despise the elf princess so much is because, in some way, she reminds me of my own self-loathing.

—————————————————————-

“Xian , you defied my command and failed to escort the beastman Nia into custody. Do you admit it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“So he does. Count Megan , how do you think I should punish Duke Audas ?”

“I only follow Your Majesty’s will.”

Of course. No matter how powerless a duke may be, a count would still hesitate to suggest their punishment aloud.

I had briefly considered arguing that Xian had no real opportunity to detain Nia, given that the incident occurred in the Holy Kingdom.

But not only was that an absurd excuse, it would also shift the blame onto the Holy Kingdom—something I wanted to avoid.

At a time when I needed the nobles to be united, I couldn’t risk some of them suddenly advocating for an attack on the Holy Kingdom.

“Disobeying an imperial order is a grave crime, one worthy of death. However, in light of his past merits and his achievements in this matter, I will show leniency.

I hereby demote the title of Duke Audas to Marquis and confiscate all his lands.

Xian, do you object?”

“I do not, Your Majesty.”

As soon as I finished speaking, murmurs filled the chamber. Even Count Megan, who had first spoken, looked surprised.

The confiscation of land and the demotion of a noble title—both were far harsher than anyone had anticipated.

Some may even consider this excessive, recalling how the Lutenoms had resorted to rebellion after losing their lands.

Furthermore, despite being the empire’s greatest political adversary, the Triell  family had still retained their duchy even after their patriarch’s death.

For me to demote a duke’s rank outright would be perceived as a major decision.

But with this, the matter should be settled. There would be no further disputes over it.

“Good. Let’s move on to the next topic.”

I continued the rewards and recognitions.

Today, my priority was resolving Xian’s situation—tomorrow would be the time for deeper discussions.

With that thought, I carried on leading the meeting, feeling significantly lighter.

Somewhere in the Great Forest

“Why?! Why won’t you help?!”

“Seria…”

The elven princess, Seria, shouted at Argo.

Her mother, the queen, hadn’t listened to her.

Her grandmother, the World Tree, hadn’t listened to her.

That was already shocking enough. But for even Argo to refuse her?

“Grandfather, Nia is my friend. You always said that friends should help each other.”

“Yes, I did say that. But Seria, things are different now.”

This was the same Argo who had an entire palace rebuilt in the Great Forest just to match his personal taste.

And yet, he was refusing to help her friend?

“All because of that human empire?!”

No matter how grand he was called, the emperor was still just another leader of mere humans.

Even the queen, who ruled the Great Forest.

Even the World Tree, the very god of life.

Even the great dragon Argo—why were they all so concerned about a single human?

“Seria, that emperor is not just another human. He wasn’t before, and even more so now.”

Argo remembered the wolf.

Of course, the wolf had only recently been unsealed, meaning he had yet to regain his former strength.

Even so, he was not someone who should have fallen in the empire. 

And yet, he had died. 

The king of beasts—the one who seemed as if he would never die—was slain. 

Just before the wolf’s awakening, Arbo and the World Tree had sensed it. 

A new god had been born within the empire. 

Not merely an existence free from the laws of the world, but one who had etched new laws into it.

“Seria, I will not let your friend die. 

But beyond that… there is nothing more I can do.”

Well, at the very least, there was his connection with Artemia and Pluto. 

Surely, the emperor wouldn’t start a war with the Great Forest over a single beastman. 

Thinking this, Argo focused all his attention on soothing his distressed granddaughter.