◈ Chapter 84 - 13-Coming of Age Day
Although the sun was already setting, the inside of the general store was darker than that. The smell of old dust first reached her senses. Neither the store owner who was supposed to be at the stand nor the lighthouse manager who had just entered was visible. Amber bit her lip. The suspicion that he might be a Satanist was on the verge of turning into certainty. At that moment, his voice could be heard faintly from inside the store.
"...This thing..."
Amber muffled her footsteps and slowly approached the source of the sound. Although she can't completely hide her body by twisting her mana like her Dark counterpart, she has learned things about infiltration from Helga on several occasions. Even if she was a knight of higher rank than her, she would be difficult to detect if she did not prepare in advance. As if to prove her interest, Ragnar did not notice her at all even though she came quite close.
"Oh, then is this really the rumor...?"
"Hehe, that's the guy who's currently heating up Abamis. We also had a really, really hard time getting it!"
However, the direction of their conversation was different from what Amber had guessed. Amber focused on the conversation, knitting her eyebrows together.
"By the way, the color is a little different from the one my friend has. If I look closely, the design of the bottle seems to have changed in some way. Is that really the right item?"
"The reason the color is different is because the process has changed and performance has improved. At the same time, the bottle design has also been upgraded. If you look closely, you will see the same mark."
"Hmm. I see. I understand. So how many bottles of this do you have?"
The more I listened, the more strange it became. Doesn't it seem like they are trafficking drugs? In any case, it is not related to the devil cult. Amber was relieved that the worst had been avoided. However, she had no intention of turning a blind eye if Ragnar was doing something unbecoming of the position of second-in-command of the human race. Amber watched their transaction closely.
"As you know, there are so many people here and there trying to get it. Our store only has five bottles of it. We also managed to get these by paying a premium."
"Really? I'll buy them all. Bring them all."
"It's 10 Libra per bottle, do you mind?"
"Stop talking nonsense and bring it quickly."
The merchant who went to the corner of the warehouse smiled and brought four more small vials. What on earth is it that the lighthouse leader of the Human Lighthouse Corps secretly visits this remote store in plain clothes? And 10 Libra per bottle? The salary given to a rank-and-file knight by the Knights Templar is only 20 Libra per month. No matter how much the lighthouse captain earned, it was not enough to pay for one potion.
'Is it really a drug?'
Amber tilted her head. No matter how good the opium is, it is not that expensive. He didn't sell it like a potion. What if it's a new drug? And what if the lighthouse captain is that junkie? It was a serious disqualification that could even lead to consideration for dismissal. Ember used her magic to strengthen her eyes and looked at the bottle closely. The vial, occasionally visible in the candlelight, was reflected in the Sword Expert's pupil. As soon as she saw the words on her bottle, she had to cover her mouth to stop herself from bursting out laughing.
'Heratos hair growth agent! A magical hair loss treatment that becomes richer the more you apply it!'
In Amber's eyes, his bare hair stood out. I could understand his desperation as he willingly paid 10 Libra for a vial. He had nothing more to see. Ember quietly left the store and ordered the knights brought by Barton to withdraw. To protect the honor of the lighthouse captain.
*
Haha! Did you go all the way to the outskirts to buy hair growth products? That's really amazing. How did you know there was something there?"
Barton laughed cheerfully as he crossed the small arch bridge over Silgaecheon. After sending the Lighthouse Knight back with the message that she had mistaken Ragnar for someone else, Ember was bombarded with questions from Barton. She had no choice but to tell Barton the whole story.
"Don't laugh at me. It's a pressing problem for someone."
Amber scolded Barton, who burst into laughter. Like it or not, Ragnar was an instructor who led those who took the entrance exam as knights. Anyone who lived with the great symbol of humanity on their backs thought of him as their teacher. But Barton snorted and said.
"I'm laughing because I'm the lighthouse captain. My blood still dries when I think about the hardships I had to endure during the entrance exam because of the lighthouse captain. Don't you remember how many times I had to retake the second test because Lord Ragnar wouldn't let me pass? That guy, I "It was fun to demonstrate the sword technique, so I made him do it again and again! It's evil!"
"I tried to pass the test by fluke, so that's right. The lighthouse captain must have seen it clearly. Of course, it was funny. Even a newborn fawn wouldn't shake its legs like that. Sir Deer Knight."
"That nickname is the most annoying! What is a deer to a knight!"
"Why? It's cute, deer."
"Are you salting it on purpose?"
"I live for the fun of it."
Amber laughed. And she thought. Her smile faded. She recalled her first meeting with Barton. She had closed her mind and focused only on her training to seek revenge on that foolish man who had spoken to her first. That scene at that time. She said, lost in her memories.
"It's only been a year since the entrance exam, but doesn't it already feel like the distant past? Sometimes I miss it. I went there out of desperation, blinded by revenge, but when I look back on what happened there, there's nothing to worry about. It was fun without it."
"After I passed the second test, I laughed and talked without thinking."
Barton also gazed at the distant sky as if recalling that incident. Compared to the days when she had been struggling to join, Barton had come a long way, she thought. He, who was a child, met Bjorn and was watching the world change from the closest. Although he was still incompetent and did not know where his position was, Barton believed that he was still doing his best as a knight. Amber looked at him and said with a smile.
"Today was as enjoyable as the entrance exam. It's thanks to you. Thank you for making it my coming-of-age day. If it weren't for you, I might have spent it locked in my room depressed."
"...I really didn't know that words of gratitude would come out of your mouth."
"Me too. I'll probably never hear from you again."
The sky was full of orange light. Her coming of age day, which originally had no meaning, but changed thanks to Bjern's consideration, will soon come to an end. Ember headed back to Abamis' commercial district to finish up the last of her work. Her steps stopped at a restaurant. Are you going to eat food outside? Barton said to her, unable to hide his curiosity.
"Why don't you go back to nature and eat a proper meal?"
"This is not an inn that sells bread or soup. It's a restaurant. It serves food as good as the Haenrel family's cuisine."
What restaurant? Barton felt his tongue go numb at the word that was difficult to pronounce. Amber explained to him calmly. It is a trendy, trendy restaurant in Oxburg where chefs who are not employed by the nobility sell aristocratic cuisine at reasonable prices. Even though they are from the southeastern part of the country, how can they know the trends of the capital city so well? Barton was almost suspicious of whether she actually wanted to enjoy Coming of Age Day more than anyone else.
"Hmm. Indeed..."
He entered the restaurant led by Amber's hand and immediately realized why this type of restaurant was popular. Although the quality was low, the interior that imitated the scenery of an aristocratic mansion caught his eye. As the child of a merchant, he knew better than anyone else the habits of commoners who admire aristocratic culture. Just as he guessed, the restaurant was filled with people who looked like wealthy merchants or well-fed government officials.
A person dressed as a butler brought a board with a menu on it, and Barton read the words written on it. Of course, it was unique, but Barton didn't feel anything different about the menus. Since the master that Barton served was not pretentious by nature, he had already tasted all the dishes while having dinner with him several times. But Amber's goal wasn't food. She whispered a few words in her ear to her groom, and he soon came with a course meal and a glass of red wine.
"...Alcohol?"
"I couldn't help but be curious as Bjern drinks it day and night by my side. Now that I'm an adult, I'm going to try it too."
Every time I drink alcohol, I don't want to see you, the young one, scolding me for not knowing what it tastes like. Barton seemed to know a little bit about the resentment contained in Amber's added words. The problem is that Amber has often seen Björn drinking by her side, so her drinking standards are set for him. Gurgling - Amber filled her wine glass and drank it down without even trying to stop herself.
"Now, wait a minute! That's not how you drink wine..."
"Huh? Bjorn, you drink like this?"
"That's something special about him, he should never be imitated!"
"Barton, I'm a sword expert. There's no way you could get drunk after just a few drinks, right? But this wine seems to suit your taste better than I thought, right?"
"Ah, please..."
Despite Barton's pleas, bottles of red wine began to pile up next to Amber. The more it happened, the more drunk I could see on Amber's face. Barton knew intuitively. That he was beyond what he could handle. For the first time, he resented Bjorn.
◈ Chapter 85 - 13-Coming of Age Day
"Don't make a fuss. It's just a few bottles of wine. Compared to the strong liquor you drink, this is no different from a beverage. But why isn't the meat cut? Is it undercooked?"
"That's because you're cutting it with a spoon."
"Barton, you're so crazy, can you just stay still? Why are you suddenly bobbing your head?"
"Your head keeps bobbing."
"Huh? Have the candles burned out already? Why is it so dark? It's so dark I can't see anything. Can you please ask me to turn the light back on?"
"Open your eyes, you drunkard!"
I didn't even drink alcohol, but my head was pounding like I was already hungover. This was expected from the time Amber imitated Björn and poured herself a drink. At least Björn knows how much he drinks and has never behaved indecently. In that respect, Amber was much more troublesome. Because I don't know where it will end up.
What was so good about it made Amber wander endlessly as she cut the steak with a spoon. There was no point in eating any more than this. Barton tried to take her out.
"Huh, I think I know why Bjern was drinking. The feeling of being high doesn't have to be that bad. He's such a cute kid when he keeps his mouth shut. My little sister was exactly that age too."
As she was about to get up from her seat, Amber mumbled under the influence of her alcohol. Her speech became slurred and her ramblings disappeared. It was her first time drinking alcohol and her body couldn't get used to it. She continued her words, tilting her chin as if she was having trouble keeping her head from falling.
"During the entrance exam. When I was caught using the devil's seed and imprisoned, Bjorn promised me revenge. He also said that he would make sure that no commoner would suffer like me. It was a very ridiculous thing to say, and at the time, he "I didn't believe his words, but I read the warmth in his determination. In return, I decided to offer my body and soul to him."
Barton didn't know the details, but she vaguely guessed that something had been transacted. Because she heard Ember talking to Bjorn, whom she misunderstood after seeing her Runea during the war against House Haenrel.
"But the real reason I have Bjorn by my side may be because I see him as my sister. The child who died horribly at the hands of a knight. Maybe I was looking for her lost family in someone else."
Even though we can't be family. Amber was still shaking, but Barton's hand, which was trying to help her up, stopped.
"Even though I know that I have lost it, that it is gone, I still live in those times. I cannot escape from those days of feeding the horses, combing their fur, and having happy meals with my family. Even entrusting the image of my family to others. ."
Amber's cheeks flushed from the alcohol. But her eyes were sad. The scenery that her eyes captured was not Abamis' restaurant or anything like that, but her hometown with green fields, prancing horses, and her sister running around wearing a long-brimmed straw hat. Barton was reflected in her pupil, which returned from her old memory.
"But strangely, Barton, no one seems to overlap with you."
It was a meaningless sound. Barton said she hoped Amber wouldn't say more. At the same time, Barton waited silently for Amber's next words. Whether she knew what was inside or not, Amber poured out her true feelings mixed with her alcohol.
"It does not mean that you are of no value to me. Bjorn and I owe you our lives. And more than that, without you we would not have been able to find our way in the war against Haenrel. To me, you are a mere comrade. It's more than that."
As they crossed numerous lines of fire together, Barton also felt a bond with Amber that was different from that of her other colleagues. Otherwise she would have no reason to celebrate Coming of Age Day.
"Everything feels new when I'm around you. It was like that today too. Is that why? Barton, when I spend time with you, I get different feelings from my family."
The hand that was holding her chin kept falling off. Amber clenched his jaw and moved his tongue to finish the now unintelligible string of words.
"You know, when I asked you at the clothing store earlier if you often chose women's clothes... I was relieved when I heard you say no... I wonder why that is..."
Amber talked about feelings that even she couldn't understand. Her eyes kept closing as the alcohol took over her.
"As for you...I hope you don't die..."
Eventually, Amber hit her head on the table and lost consciousness. After finishing her calculations, Barton carried her on his back and headed to her main town. She thought she was sleeping soundly while throwing hellfire. No matter how clueless she was, she couldn't have failed to notice the emotions contained in Amber's words.
"...Okay, let's pretend you didn't hear that."
But Barton couldn't accept it. She was Amber, she was a shining person. Her talent clearly had the power to change the world. Her multitudes will be saved by her. So, she, Ember, needs to spread her wings properly under Bjorn. Barton couldn't hold on to her ankle like that.
Anyway, I said this under the influence of alcohol. Tomorrow you won't remember anything about what you said. Also, since she had just become an adult, she may have misunderstood her own feelings. Yes, that's it. Barton tried to ignore the feeling of her hot breath flowing down his cheek and the touch of her back, and her heart that was running wild with no way to control it due to her words.
"I hope it was fun. You were the star today."
Barton muttered, "There are only a few people who have had a proper Coming of Age Day like you." She happened to see the fountain she had seen during the day. She remembered what Amber had said to her. It is a famous spot in the empire, and it is said that if loved ones throw a coin here, it will happen. Barton said she was not superstitious. Even in a bet on whether the devil really exists, I ended up betting that it doesn't exist.
Still, I should throw one in.
I'm not trying to achieve something like love. This is a person you should not even dare to have feelings for. However, she just wanted to leave behind memories of her time together, and she happened to have some spare change. A coin from Barton's pocket sank down the fountain, leaving behind a small drop of water. Behind Barton, who was climbing towards the main castle, the fountain spouted water endlessly.
It was one night when Abamis was immersed in deep darkness.
*
"So, you're sick and can't work today? Sword expert?"
I looked at Barton with a bewildered face.
It was long past rush hour.
I sent Barton to see what had happened, and the answer I got back was shocking.
Barton reported to me, closing her eyes tightly, as if she knew she would.
"Well, Amber went to a restaurant yesterday and drank too much. She must have had a bad headache and was rolling around in her room."
Amber is constantly muttering to herself that she will never drink again and is enjoying the extreme hangover that wine gives her.
Well, naturally, fermented liquor tends to cause severe hangovers.
But the Sword Expert is suffering from a hangover?
It was so absurd that I was speechless for a while.
"...I'm glad you enjoyed your Coming of Age Day, but how much did you drink?"
"I counted to seven bottles."
After going to MT and drinking for the first time in my life, I remembered the faces of my college classmates who were crawling on the floor the next day.
The scariest thing is when you don't know how much you can drink.
If you drink it without thinking, the film will cut out and you will find yourself rolling around in the bathroom with vomit.
It is not for nothing that there is an old adage that the first time you drink alcohol, drink it with an adult.
On Coming of Age Day, should we at least applaud Amber for climbing the stairs to becoming a real adult?
By the way, the person who nags me every time I drink, what kind of wind suddenly blew and started blowing on me like that?
In my heart, I wanted to give up everything and go see the sights and make fun of him as much as I could.
"But what if I let him drink to the point where it interferes with work? I should have stopped him properly."
"I tried to stop her, but Ember didn't have a chance to say anything because it was Viern that she saw and learned from. If she had seen that scene, Viern would probably have liked it the most."
Is this my fault too?
It's unfair and I'm going crazy.
I sighed as I gulped down the wine in my glass.
"Hmm, then, I have some work to do. So..."
After finishing the report, Barton tried to leave the office to carry out his duties.
Of course I caught him.
"Where are you going? If you leave, who will do Amber's work?"
"I still wanted to ask you this! Bjorn, you were the one who wrote in the command order that an adjutant cannot replace the commander!"
"Hey! You judge based on the situation and the scene. Who follows the textbook exactly? Have you forgotten why Count Haenrel was defeated?"
"Yeah, but!"
"Isn't it written in my new command that you shouldn't protest unless your superior's words are unfair? It would be best to sit down and get to work right away."
In response to Björn's counter-threat, Barton sat down crying and decided to eat mustard. I'm sure something similar to this has happened before. Feeling a sense of déjà vu, Barton swallowed his endless resentment.
This is how the peaceful daily life that would not last long was going on.
◈ Chapter 86 - 14-Emperor's Anus
*
Runea, vice-captain of the Knights of the Holy Cross, was lost in thought as she crossed the Huldabin River, which divides the northern and central regions. Lothric Village, Stemwind, Handar Castle, and now an unknown field in Haenrell. In recent years, she has been to more places than most northerners. She muttered that she really wanted to stop coming to this corner of the country now, and recalled the mission given to her by the emperor.
Be prepared to go to war. His Majesty clearly said so. He has declared his intention to devour the North, so his sword, Runea, will only follow. He can't help but follow. He has already made an irreversible mistake. When he thought about the past, he couldn't help but sigh.
"Ha, what's important right now isn't the North..."
To exterminate the demon cults that plague the imperial family. There was nothing more important than that. However, they were not discovered despite the trap they had dug using the North. Even though the swordsman, magic tower lord, and vice-captain of the Knights of the Holy Cross worked together. Sword Seong assumed that there was a quick-witted person, but Runea thought that the information had been leaked. But he has already disobeyed His Majesty's orders once. He could no longer act alone out of loyalty. It is true that he believes that taking control of the North will help the empire. Runea took all his heart.
As the boat reached the river bank, she saw a tent near the river. Knights of the Lighthouse of Humanity also surrounded the tent. The emblem on her banner was that of Haen Rel. She knew right away that the meeting place was there.
"Sir Lunea Van Hoss."
She was greeted by Mrs. Eileen Djewicz, who was inside her tent. Subtly lifting her skirt. Lunea dismissed her greeting by waving her hand.
"There is no need to treat her like a noble just because she is the grand duke's foster daughter. That is just a formality. I am just a knight."
"But you can't treat me like a real knight. We're not on good terms with each other, and the stories we have to share are just awkward."
I had the illusion that Runea was saying that she thought I was greeting her because I liked someone. Runea asked, sitting across from Eileen, who was sipping her tea.
"First of all, let's sort out the title issue. You can call me vice-captain. That's what I came here for. But what should I call you? Madame de Jeevitz? Count Haenrell? Or that cheeky little scarecrow?"
"You're nothing more than a scarecrow, but you'd better call me Count Haenrel, Vice-Captain. I'm so impatient that I'm going to pour tea on your face."
Eileen shrugged her shoulders and parried Runea's provocation. It's a useless exploratory battle. If something had been decided, Björn would have come in person. The fact that she brought in her stepmother as her proxy means that time is needed. Runea decided to use this opportunity to push back even harder.
"Let me tell you straight. The imperial army will advance to Handar Castle. The justification will be non-cooperation with the investigation of the Demon Cult. Without formal procedures, the De Jeevitz family will arbitrarily command the Knights of the Lighthouse of Humanity for personal gain. "I can't get rid of this charge."
"You were in the Plains of Leuctra at that time, right? I heard that the Sword Saint personally condemned my father. Aren't the leader and vice-leader of the Knights of the Holy Cross not enough reliable witnesses?"
"Didn't you understand enough? Your Majesty doesn't want the De Jevitz family to grow any bigger. This means you have to throw up some of what you ate before your stomach hurts. It would be best to at least present the Handar Castle to your Majesty."
As expected, there was no aristocratic way of speaking or political rhetoric as the opening statement was straightforward. Eileen remembered someone who had an unpleasant feeling in Lunea. Is this what happens when Bjorn grows up? Eileen, putting the teacup on the table and quenching his throat, opened his mouth.
"I also don't want the De Jeviets family to grow. I suffered the humiliation of being sold to this disgusting family through an arranged marriage."
Eileen knew about Canniel's romance with the princess of the von Loren family. So she knew in advance that even if she got married, she would not be loved for the rest of her life. However, nobles do not marry for love. Intercourse with a man she could not possibly love and giving birth to a child to inherit her blood were the rewards of luxury enjoyed by a woman born into an aristocratic family. The reason Eileen mistreated Björn was because she was worried that the child would take away the luxury that her bloodline was entitled to. In some ways, Eileen was an extremely ordinary noblewoman. Therefore, she was quicker than anyone else in calculating the pros and cons of being in an aristocratic society.
"But there is a different meaning mixed in what the vice-captain said. Your Majesty didn't ask for Handar Castle, but rather gave up the entire North, right?"
It might be one at first. But the end is not a small castle. What the emperor wanted was not Handar Castle, but the Golden Edict itself, which had been firmly maintained since the founding of the empire. The moment the imperial army crossed the northern lands, customs were broken. In the end, the Emperor would even threaten the autonomy of the De Jewitz Kingdom. If that happens, her child, who enjoys luxury as a marquess of the De Jeevitz family, will also be in danger.
"Yes, that is your Majesty's sincere opinion. So what can the North do?"
Lunea coolly admitted. She also did not forget provocation. Eileen didn't even like that look. Because she kept thinking of someone.
As Runea said, if His Majesty's army advanced, there was nothing the North could do. If you fight with weapons, it will be treason, but if you do not fight, the northern region's autonomy will be taken away. It may have been when it was strong, but the North, which had recently fought a war, did not have the stamina to fight against the entire empire, and the emperor was prepared to fight a civil war so as not to miss the opportunity when the North was weakened. It was a desperate situation. Lunea, who knew this better than anyone else, continued to push Eileen.
"Count Haenrell, now that you are facing me, I have a proposition for you. Betray Bjorn and offer the province of Haenrell to His Majesty. I will guarantee not only your status but also the safety of Aidan de Jeeves. Do you have any ill feelings toward Björn? ."
Eileen laughed. Her sneer was almost like a mockery.
"Really? Then I will offer you the spirit of Haenrel. Please take it."
"...Are you serious?"
"That's right. You said you would give it to me? What are you doing? Why don't you take it quickly? Don't you know how to take it? Let me tell you?"
Filling her tea from her china kettle, she said with her sneer:
"Do you see the knights out there? They are not bodyguards. They are assassins who exist to cut off my head if I do anything foolish. So kill them all and kidnap me. You can do it since you are the Sword Master, right? After that, at the front of the Knights of the Holy Cross. "You might be able to raise my family's banner and say that Bjorn has usurped Haenrell. No one will believe it. Of course, I can't help you. My son is in Bjern's hands."
"..."
"Perhaps that is exactly what Bjorn wants. That way, we can get rid of the scarecrow and make Haenrell a real de Jeviets territory. What do you want to do, vice-captain? Will you be my prince on a white horse?"
Speak like a horse. It was said in a noble tone, but it sounded more like a rebuke. There was no room for negotiation. Runea nodded her head in understanding.
"Good. In a week, the Knights of the Holy Cross and the Magic Brigade will be knocking on the door of Handar Castle. Please make a wise decision to avoid any unnecessary bloodshed."
"Hehe, yes. I will do that."
Runea furrowed her brows at the particularly harsh ridicule. Even in her hindsight, despite the unfavorable circumstances, Eileen dealt with her as if she were being ridiculous throughout. That might be overthinking. Lunea believed so.
"Finally, would you please convey my words to Bjorn? It is time to keep my promise. If I say that, he will understand."
Eileen tilted her head to see what he was talking about. But Bjorn will definitely understand. She said the time had come to return the saint. If she rebels, she will feel with her whole body the use of force by the Empire's vaunted shadow and the vice-captain of the Knights of the Holy Cross.
"Please deliver it directly. You will see it soon."
Eileen also gave her words, which were just as mysterious. Leaving her tent, Lunea pondered Eileen's words. See you soon? There is no longer any need for her to meet Bjorn in her personal capacity. Her doubts were soon answered. A Knight of the Holy Cross hurriedly ran to Runea who had crossed the river.
"Vice-captain! The Ma Beom-seon set sail last night!"
"What was that like?"
We already know that Ma Beom-seon of the Human Lighthouse is in Abamis. Is this news worth jumping up and down like this? However, the knight's next words made Runea think.
"But the direction of the sailing ship that set sail is south, not north! The Human Lighthouse Corps are heading to the capital!"
Only then did Runea understand Eileen's last words. In the midst of the war with the Kingdom of Junta, many of the troops guarding the capital were eliminated in order to put pressure on the north. To the Human Lighthouse Corps, the current Okstantium was no different from Muju Gongsan. Did you set up a meeting for this? So that I can't deal with it right away? Her teeth chattered as she could not control her anger.
'What are you thinking, Bjorn? Are you planning to carry out a coup?'
It was too late to call in troops. Runea hurriedly ran towards the capital.
◈ Chapter 87 - 14-Emperor's Anus
*
The East Sea of the Esteria continent was famous for its deep waters and calm waves.
In the command room of Ma Beom-seon, which was rocking like a cradle, Mion fell asleep in a chair, exhausted.
Some time has passed since the sun rose, so Runea must have heard the news about Ma Seom-seon by now.
You're stupid, the numbers are clearly visible, but did you think I would just sit in Abamis and get punished?
It was incredibly exhilarating to think of Runea, who was running towards the capital as if her feet were on fire.
The emperor's reaction when Ma Beom-seon reached the capital would also be interesting.
Don't complain.
Because you, the emperor, were the ones begging for me to fuck you.
Well, let's see if you can act cocky even when you're stuck on my beefy sailboat.
[Are you really planning on carrying out a coup with these troops?]
Suddenly, Jin's voice rang in my head while I was concentrating on the sound of the pen moving.
Last night, Amber asked a similar question.
As I was boarding the lightship group on the Mabeom ship, I put a knife in my mouth and felt ready to commit suicide.
'Bjorn, no matter how excellent your base is, carrying out a coup with only a thousand troops is an act of suicide!'
No matter how large the sailboat was, the maximum number of people on board was only 400 people.
That was only possible after throwing out all the miscellaneous things, like cannon balls and the like, and putting people in like a chicken coop.
They only carefully selected and burned 1,200 Sword Experts, the main force of the Knights, but it was absurd to occupy the capital of the empire with only that number.
Octantium was an impregnable fortress.
In fantasy novels, an impregnable fortress has the same meaning as Heobeolchang.
In fact, even in the original work, Octantium lives up to its nickname.
However, it is not a place where 1,200 knights can beat you.
Even now that all of the capital's troops have left, it is only a possibility.
"There will be a coup, but it won't be me doing it."
At the incomprehensible words, the head of the doll containing Jin's soul tilted.
[Anyway, what have you been working so hard on?]
Jin said as he walked around the desk in his doll body.
It's been quite a while since we talked alone.
I pointed to the book nearby.
She went up and read her title.
[Liberty theory... Governing theory... Wealth of Nations? What is all this?]
"My final gift to the Empire."
John Stuart Mill, John Locke, Adam Smith.
I plan to transplant the philosophical foundations of a modern democratic capitalist society to the barbaric Oxburg Empire.
Even though I was just an undergraduate student, there were still things I read and heard while wandering around.
Of course, I am not a genius who can memorize the entire book, so I had no choice but to fill in most of the important philosophical topics with my own opinions, but even this is enough to shake up the empire.
To be precise, just this much priming will cause the empire to shake itself.
"The Oxburg Empire is currently in a very precarious state."
The iron horse runs and factories are built.
People change from farmers to workers and flock to the capital in search of work.
This is what the Earth also experienced.
And just like on Earth, when people come together, wealth gathers, and someone acquires great wealth.
It is the advent of capitalist society.
A world where a market is created and people make and sell the things they want, in other words, a world where you make money by realizing the desires of others.
Therefore, a world where the number of people becomes a powerful competitive advantage has come to the Oxburg Empire.
It is fateful that the caste system will collapse and a democratic society will emerge.
But that didn't happen in Esteria Electric.
The biggest obstacle was mana.
Those who received the blessing of Mana were much stronger than ordinary people.
Their military power is not something that can be overturned by a group of commoners with farming tools at best.
Since they were protecting the nobility, the idea of overthrowing the class system through revolution was impossible to establish.
So, even as technology approached modernity, the differences between nobles and commoners were distant.
Until recently.
"Currently, there are the most dissatisfied people in the Oxburg Empire. They are wizards."
The blessing of Mana is not much different from status.
The probability increases if you are continuously exposed to mana from a young age, but there are also many people who are born with it.
There are two paths a commoner blessed with Mana can take.
Become a knight or a wizard.
However, a knight must join a knighthood, and other than a few special knights, it was difficult for a commoner without any connections to become a knight.
That number is already decreasing exponentially.
On the other hand, the empire actively supported wizards as long as it was confirmed that they were blessed with mana.
An educational institution called 'Magic Tower' run by the government taught magic for free and provided not only food expenses but also maintenance expenses every month.
From the Empire's point of view, if a person blessed with mana becomes a knight, he or she becomes a noble's private soldier, so they were encouraged to become wizards even if it meant reducing expenditures somewhat.
Commoners who chose to become wizards received not only magic at the Magic Tower but also advanced education such as philosophy, history, and arithmetic to assist the nobles.
Therefore, high-ranking wizards had no choice but to have wisdom and insight as good as their magic.
In fact, this means that they are no different from scholars.
However, they were not receiving the treatment they deserved.
"Under imperial law, knights and wizards are semi-nobles. They are the equivalent of nobles. In other words, they are not nobles. Knights, who have a long history, are better, but wizards are treated the same as commoners."
Unlike knights who became superhuman by strengthening their personal strength, wizards' bodies were as weak as those of ordinary people unless they used magic.
In addition, the population ratio of wizards itself was that the number of commoners was much higher than that of nobles, so although they learned a lot, they were not treated as knights, let alone nobles.
Meanwhile, all members of the 6th Circle and above belonged to paramilitary organizations and had to fight on the battlefield under the orders of the emperor.
It was even more strange that there were no complaints.
What put a wedge in here was the war with the Kingdom of Junta.
"Warring in a war with no end in sight, the wizards' dissatisfaction is skyrocketing. So much so that it wouldn't be surprising if it exploded soon."
Esteria Biography is a medieval fantasy.
Iron horses run and smoke rises from factory chimneys. What kind of medieval times is this?
In a revolt led by nobles and wizards dissatisfied with the empire, the capital was destroyed before Mion could obtain the holy sword.
According to the setting book, the flame mixed with mana burned Octantium for over a month and reduced it to ashes.
It was truly an ending worthy of an impregnable fortress.
The empire that lost its foundation was forced to give up half of its central region to the demons that descended on it soon after.
"I will take advantage of the wizards' discontent. These books will become the books that will justify their revolution."
The philosophical basis on which the monarchy was established, the natural human rights and rights of resistance derived from that basis, free will, cultivating awareness of the existence of citizens, organizing the capitalist system and awareness of the future it will change.
The contents of the book are roughly as follows, but after reading it, wizards who have eaten a lot of ink will realize.
How archaic and impeding the development of humanity were the systems of caste system and monarchy.
The moment these books came out into the world, there would be no going back.
The flames of revolution will hit the capital sooner than in the original.
It was a genius plan to pierce the anus of the emperor at the top of the caste system.
At the same time, we will control the level of revolution that would have destroyed the capital and improve the constitution of the empire so that it can deal with the devil when it comes.
When everything is over, we will be able to keep the promise we made to Amber to abolish the class system.
You would do this for your knight. If there is a truer lord than me, come and see me.
Even after hearing the whole story, Jin had a lukewarm reaction.
[... Can that be achieved with a book like this?]
Ha, even though he is a god, he is so uncivilized.
I was itching to tell you that those books had turned the earth into a sea of blood.
Jin asked me with concern.
[What will you do if that book doesn't work?]
"It's okay. I have one more copy."
[What do you mean, three books didn't work? Will it make a difference if I add one more book?]
"It changes."
I affirmed, remembering the book sleeping in the drawer.
The red wave brought about by that book.
I'll reveal it if something goes wrong, but at least this book shouldn't come out yet.
This is truly a cursed book that has a history of splitting the world in half.
"And in my personal opinion, your body is probably in Octantium."
[What? What is the basis?]
"I would like to ask you the opposite: what condition is your body currently in?"
[I lost control, so it will burn endlessly. So that no one can touch it carelessly. I was planning to track that heat and find the body.]
"That's why. If I were the Great Devil, I would use your body to blow up the capital. Because the flames you emit are mixed with mana and cannot be easily extinguished."
The Great Fire of Octantium.
The empire lost its capital without a second thought due to a fire mixed with mana.
However, even if it was a wizards' rebellion, it was insufficiently capable to burn down the capital of that huge empire.
It is correct to conclude that another force intervened.
And I assumed it was fire from Jin's body.
It was not difficult to guess that the culprits were the demon cultists and devils who were eating away at the capital.
He would have taken advantage of the chaos to set fire to the capital, so it would reveal itself as he coordinated the revolution.
"If my guess is correct, we will be able to retrieve your body from the capital. Then, everything will be over! I will go down to the southeast and live in the forest. You will take care of the fight against the devil."
If this job goes well, a life without dry days awaits me.
The end of a long, long journey has finally arrived.