◈ Chapter 93 - 15-Don't Pretend to Be Friendly.
"Your Majesty, Björn de Jeevitz has committed a serious crime."
Duke von Lorraine, with a deep voice, a dignified look, and neatly combed black hair, spoke to the emperor with his eyes fixed on me.
"This person privately operated the Lighthouse of Humanity, a knight order directly under the Empire, on the suspicion that Count Haenrel was a demonic cult, but refused to investigate the facts of the Empire. That was not enough, and now he has even started an armed struggle in the capital without receiving His Majesty's approval. Since they committed this crime, they should be executed for treason and the laws of the empire should be established properly."
The spirit that comes from breathing and the stiff uprightness of a pole.
Philips von Lorraine truly spoke to the master of the empire with the demeanor of a duke.
Even before the emperor sat on the throne.
It was a measure of how much power he had.
Noble faction.
Although he had fewer members in his parliament than the imperial faction, he received overwhelming support from his people.
In particular, it was safe to say that most wizards and merchants supported the noble faction.
Aristocrats in name only, they pursued parliamentary politics based on the Estates General.
Among them, Duke von Lorraine, the head of the aristocratic faction, was even more popular because he preached the radical idea of completely abolishing the class system.
It was Philips von Loren who led the wizards' rebellion in the biography of Esteria.
Due to the devil's intervention, the capital was burned down, the revolution was aborted, and he was eventually executed, but if he had succeeded, the Oxburg Empire might have become richer in other ways.
From the perspective of the emperor who pursued absolute rule, he was the person who must be purged.
Isn't he a great politician who sets an example for others just by listening to him?
Just look at it from the outside.
"Your Majesty, please show courage and punish this man severely."
Duke von Lorraine continued to try to make the situation worse.
There are two reasons why he does this despite the emperor's wishes.
First, if you do not strongly condemn this situation now, there is a possibility that you will be implicated in treason charges like me in the future.
Although he is an abandoned child, Princess Della is his daughter.
Inevitably, the duke is related to me by blood.
If he gets caught over this, his political standing will be weakened.
So, he is expressing his will to take the initiative and draw a line.
The second is my suggestion.
He broke the custom of the Golden Edict and placed the Lighthouse of Humanity in the emperor's arms.
It goes without saying that the North will soon do the same.
And the moment the empire absorbs the northern part, the imperial authority naturally becomes more powerful.
From his perspective, who wants parliamentary politics, he would definitely want to prevent that.
That's why they went out of their way to nullify the proposal by accusing me of being a traitor, or at least to delay the timing.
"Does it seem that the duke is not happy with his grandson? I know he saw you for the first time today, and as soon as he saw you, he tried to kill you."
Of course, the emperor was not so gentle as to suffer such a trick.
The emperor walked towards his throne and pointed out the duke's unbecoming behavior.
Regardless of time or place, the act of abandoning one's family was never viewed as a good thing.
This is especially true if the intention is to live alone for political reasons.
In addition, the emperor's point also contained the message that no matter how hard he drew the line, he would not be able to end the bloodshed.
"Today is a historic day. The Lighthouse of Humanity, which has been protecting the northern part of the country while entangled in customs, has stepped forward on its own for the future of the empire. The Kingdom of Junta will not collapse like a sand castle if the Lighthouse of Humanity adds its strength."
The north became the empire's, and the Kingdom of Junta soon raised the white flag.
So, don't ruin the future of the empire by complaining about today's events.
The emperor said this while sitting on his throne.
However, this does not mean that he will back down.
"Your Majesty, even if you don't punish someone severely, you must hold them accountable. If you let something like this happen today without taking any action, you won't be able to punish someone else if they do the same thing in the future."
"You are right. But that would only be the case if Lord de Jeevitz was guilty. How can you punish someone who is not guilty?"
The emperor, half-lying on the wide throne, resting his chin on his armrest, leisurely looked at the duke.
Is it my turn to step forward?
I cleared my throat to ventilate the surroundings.
"Your Majesty, it looks like the duke is a little excited because he is happy to see his grandchild for the first time. It is all loyalty to the empire, so please do not be angry. On the contrary, the duke's loyalty is so deep, isn't it the glory of the empire? "She is a person of unwavering determination. My mother also sacrificed her entire life for the empire. Do you all know her? She is Princess Della von Lorraine. She was an unfortunate woman who was cursed with mana in one eye."
Since the emperor laid the plate with green onions, I think it would be a good idea to add some sauce to it as well.
Do you know what my nickname is?
This is the Lord of Stemwind.
It was I who drove his father to death and broke his stepmother's arms and turned her into a scarecrow.
Do you want to be considered my maternal grandfather?
When the story of Princess Della, the family's wife, came up, Duke von Lorraine burst into anger.
"Shut up! This is no place for a traitor!"
"The Lighthouse of Humanity is a knight order directly under the Empire. I am the commander of the order. You are calling His Majesty's knight a traitor. Are you prepared to take the blame if the accusation is not true? Or will I protect my honor? Should I at least throw a glove to my grandfather for this?"
"You...!"
The central government's fraud was just as I heard.
As it was the headquarters of power, it was more intense and meaner than the North.
But I survived worse than this.
Is that all?
In a desperate situation where there were no enemies, I took control of the North with my own hands.
The duke's offensive was laughable compared to back then.
To be honest, the old man's anger doesn't even make me yawn compared to the mana pressure that is suffocating Canniel.
"I will pass on the rudeness so far as the friendly grumbling of a grandfather seeing his grandson for the first time. However, please do not pretend to be friendly any more than this. If you have an allegation, raise it, and if you have an objection, please refute it. And the decision is yours, Your Majesty. You. Not."
"Hehe...!"
The Duke let out a short, harsh breath and soon cleared his reddened face.
Although he was embarrassed by the sudden disclosure of his family history, he was a seasoned politician.
If you go on a rampage just because you're in a bad mood, you won't be able to survive for long in the central region.
"Good. I will personally bring up a few charges against you. I hope you don't dare answer falsely in front of His Majesty."
I stood in the center of the peace room as if to say something.
The eyes of the emperor, the duke, and the highest-ranking nobles who ruled the entire empire were all turned toward me.
A hearing was held for the commander of the Human Lighthouse Corps.
That thing was quite funny.
Do they know that it looks like they are punishing one child for another?
It doesn't seem like he's blinded by power.
Without heeding anything like that, the duke made his first move.
"First, based on Lady Eileen de Jeevitz's tip, you raised the charge that Count Bermond Haenrell was a demonic cultist. You used the Lighthouse Corps to purge him. Is there anything wrong with this?"
Haha, it was a joke from the beginning.
At first glance, there is nothing strange about it.
However, the meaning contained therein was extremely despicable.
I responded in a somewhat exaggeratedly annoyed voice.
"I'm a Northerner, so I'm not used to Middle Eastern puns. So please tell me clearly. The Lighthouse of Humanity did not purge Bermond Haenrell, it was the Northern Alliance that purged him. All Northerners will follow Madame de Jeevitz's tip. "This was a decision made after comprehensive review of other evidence."
Ah, it's not a different level.
If I had nodded 'that's right' to the question just now, I would have purged Count Haenrel on my own.
If you change the words just a little, it can be developed into the charge that 'the De Jevitz family, through their own judgment, incited the northerners to purge Count Haenlel.'
Of course, it doesn't go that far with just this move, but the duke must have just tried to clear the way through the first move.
"Then doesn't that mean there was enough evidence that Count Haenrel was a demon cultist? Then why didn't you join forces with the imperial army? Even though His Majesty was considerate of you and tried to pay for mercenaries and provide troops. Also, why did you "You didn't exchange information about the Demon Cult with the Empire, did you? I heard that the investigation team heading to the north is being blocked from entering Handar Castle. What is the reason?"
There were many questions, but the meaning behind them was one.
If it's true that Count Haenrel is a demon cultist, then why did you do such a bad thing?
Wasn't Count Haenrel falsely accused of being a demon cultist?
To use the Human Lighthouse for personal purposes to devour Haenrell.
The Great Evil and all, that's all nonsense, right?
The duke was asking that question.
Before I answer, I'll need a witness.
"Sir Lunea Van Hoss. I think I will need your help to give the duke an answer. Could you help me?"
"...I get it."
The woman who was escorting Her Majesty behind her came down with a very disgusted look on her face at my call.
◈ Chapter 94 - 15-Don't Pretend to Be Friendly.
"First of all, let me be clear. Sir Runea Van Hoss, Vice-Captain of the Knights of the Holy Cross, joined the Northern Alliance as an observer at the time. Vice-Captain, is there a lie in what I said?"
Runea briefly waited for the emperor's command.
She said as her emperor nodded gently.
"Everything Lord de Jeevitz said is true. I watched the entire civil war in the North as an observer for the Northern Allied Forces by order of His Majesty."
Until yesterday, she had to answer that she didn't really know anything about the North.
But now I have to stand on my side and help argue the case.
Politics is something you don't know even if you know it.
"I didn't watch everything. Didn't you faint at the last minute after being attacked by the great devil Antenor? I heard that the Sword Saint took the vice-captain with him."
"...That is also true. Count Haenrel colluded with the great evil Antenor to take over the North. The Sword Saint personally condemned Count Haenrel, who had turned into an ugly monster."
Rumors were widespread that the Sword Saint had appeared in the north.
However, that fact has never been acknowledged in an official capacity.
The emperor was accusing me of using the Lighthouse of Humanity for political reasons, but the Sword Saint could not personally come forward and say that Count Haenrel was a demon cultist.
He took a step back and remained silent.
Ironically, my trip to the capital completely turned the tables.
"Then it is even more strange. How did Count Haenrel receive His Majesty's support when it was clear that he was a demon?"
Of course, the duke knew that Count Haenrel was a demon cultist.
It's just not official, because you can't close people's eyes and mouths.
In particular, a person in the position of prime minister leading the empire would have figured out the facts a long time ago.
Nevertheless, the reason he asks me why I refused the application is because there is an answer he wants to hear.
He said he refused imperial troops to defend the Golden Edict.
That way, he could advocate for the private interests of the De Jeevitz family at moments when the empire was about to be in danger.
And to hold them accountable for the crime of arbitrarily exploiting the Lighthouse of Humanity for personal gain.
I answered him the way he wanted.
"I just didn't want to get involved in what happened in the North. Northerners have strong pride. It happened because of the mistake of the former Marquis of Canniel de Jevietz, so it is up to the De Jevietz family to finish it off."
"As expected of a northerner, you are straightforward. Can we take this to mean that you ultimately turned down His Majesty's favor for the private benefit of the De Jeevitz family?"
"Defending the Golden Edict is not in the self-interest of the De Jeviet family."
As if he had gained momentum, the Duke pushed me hard.
"Is the Golden Edict more important than the crisis of the Empire? If everything you say is true, the entire North could have fallen into the hands of the Demon Cult. But you were blinded by your ego and your family's self-interest, so you refused His Majesty's support and ruined the Empire. It was obvious! It's because I don't want His Majesty's army to advance to the North! It's a shame that Bermond Haenrel is incompetent. If you hadn't been able to subdue him, what would the North have become now!"
"It is a meaningless assumption. The Lighthouse of Humanity exterminated all the demon cultists who lived in the North, and even condemned Bermond Haenrel. Isn't it truly pathetic to hold those who succeed to account for what would have happened if they failed?"
"Don't you even realize that your dice game almost ruined the empire's fortunes? Have you not yet realized what your sins are? And how can you believe the news that all demon cultists in the north have been exterminated? The fate of the empire is shaky. Even at this time, the North is rejecting even the Empire's investigation team. Isn't this tragedy happening because you were incompetent in the first place? Can we trust the incompetent people's own investigation?"
Indeed, there was a different harshness than when dealing with Kanniel.
At least Kanniel never got into trouble or put down people with his words.
In fact, it would be harder to find someone who can say everything they want to say in front of the Sword Master.
It would only be possible if you had the guts of a yakhog.
But Duke, there's one thing you don't know.
"But what you say is strange. I am only the commander of the Human Lighthouse. The one who gave me the order to do so was the Marquis Aidan de Jeevitz. As a knight, should I even consider that?"
With Canniel's fall, the Marquis' power was split in two.
It is the Marquis' responsibility to take charge of political affairs, and the Commander's responsibility to manage the armed forces.
And of course, the Marquis' hierarchy was higher than that of the Commander of the Lighthouse Corps of Humanity.
The right to appoint a commander is still the Marquis's authority.
Naturally, all decisions made in the North follow Aidan's wishes.
If you ask me to take responsibility for this, it means that I got the street number wrong.
"What did you say just now?"
"Duke, you are completely mistaken, but I am not the master of the North. If you are dissatisfied with the decision made by the Jung de Jeviets family, why not write a petition directly to Stemwind? The Knights of the Lighthouse of Humanity will deliver it without any misdelivery. "
This is what is called shifting responsibility.
If the prime minister and subcontractors turn around, even if they are the real prime minister leading the empire, they will vomit blood and collapse.
The Duke seemed at a loss for words for a moment due to the political techniques provided by the extremely advanced civilization of the 21st century.
I shot at the duke to leave no room for rebuttal.
"And you said that the North rejected the investigation team, but this is also not correct. Because the De Jeviets family withheld an answer according to the period given by His Majesty, and did not shut the investigation team out. In fact, that period still remains. There is."
When Runea caught my gaze, she sighed as if she could not bear the twist of fate that had brought her to May again.
"Lord De Jeevitz is also correct. His Majesty said that he would wait for the North's will until this week. Strictly speaking, the De Jeevitz family has not yet refused the imperial investigation team's visit."
I received what Runea said right away.
"One of the reasons I tried to have an audience with Your Majesty was to express my intention to accept the imperial investigation team according to the Marquis' orders. Your Majesty, Handar Castle will be wide open for the investigation team."
"I knew about the Marquis's loyalty. The investigation team will investigate a series of incidents fairly and use them as a basis for investigation."
The emperor seemed to find this situation amusing and responded with a smile on his face.
Of course, it will make you feel a little sick.
As the Human Lighthouse Corps entered the de facto communist capital of Muju, the Knights of the Holy Cross and the Magic Brigade, stationed under the pretext of being a survey corps, would be rushing towards Handar Castle and Nabal, all at once, to Oxstantium.
The imperial army will never knock on the gates of Handar Castle.
The emperor's goal of taking control of the north based on Handar Castle was probably modified by the rapidly changing situation, and changed to giving money to the De Jeviec family and taking control of the north.
Isn't it killing two birds with one stone by protecting Handar Castle and serving knights by protecting the capital?
Handar Castle, which has been noisy for a while, will become quiet, and Count Yakhok's mouth will soon be heard.
"So, does this mean that it was also the Marquis' order to force troops that did not receive His Majesty's approval to enter the capital, Octantium?"
Meanwhile, the duke found a way out and pushed me around.
Is it their intention to escalate the situation and sow the relationship with the North?
Will that work?
If there was something to be said about my actions, the emperor would have caught it first and tried to undermine my political prestige.
I didn't pretend to be friendly and extend my hand to me, who had turned the capital upside down.
"Is it a crime for the Imperial Knights to enter the imperial capital? Does the Duke believe that the Lighthouse Corps of Humanity is a group of private soldiers operating under the orders of the De Jevitz family?"
"...Are you saying that the problem is that the Imperial Knights moved without His Majesty's orders?"
Since he could not embarrass the first emperor of the empire, he could not bear to shout, 'The Lighthouse Corps of Humanity are private soldiers of the De Ebitz family!', So the duke cleverly changed his tone.
"I am a knight. Every time I swing my sword, I cannot speak back to my lord. If the situation is urgent, I must make my own judgment and draw my sword."
"I cannot understand any important matter. Without harboring any remorse, how dare you commit such an outrageous act in broad daylight?"
"You mean something about the Demon Cult?"
I paused for a moment to freshen up the mood and get lucky again.
"While tracking down the crimes committed by Vermond Haenrel, the Lighthouse of Humanity learned that demon cults were sprouting in the central region as well. This is why they did not immediately accept the empire's investigation team. Which of the central people is a demon cult? Because I didn't know. I decided to save the country and came down with my troops to eradicate the devil cultists."
In order to fulfill the original karma of the Lighthouse of Humanity.
When it was said that the duke was a devil cult, he accepted it as if he knew it.
"Stop talking nonsense. There is a saint in Octantium. How could a demon cultist set foot in the capital?"
"Hasn't everyone noticed now? The Sword Saint is now aged and has lost his saintly power."
◈ Chapter 95 - 15-Don't Pretend to Be Friendly.
No matter how much a superhuman surpasses human limitations, his life span has an end.
Anyone looking at Geomseong, who has aged rapidly in the past 10 years, would have realized that he does not have much life left.
Geomseong nodded his head pitifully at the topic I raised.
"As Lord de Jeviets said, I can no longer use the Holy Sword. I wish I had enjoyed this much of the grace bestowed upon me by the Lord."
There is a difference between not being able to use the holy sword and not being able to use the power of a saint, but people have not delved deeply into the meaning contained therein.
When the news that Geomseong, who had been a saint for 250 years, had laid down his burden was delivered, each of the nobles sighed involuntarily.
This is because Geomseong's status was so great, and everyone knows that it will not be easy to fill his vacancy.
The duke also seemed to have had no idea that he would be hearing those words at an official event at this time, and his eyes were quite shaken.
"I understand your concerns. However, the fact that the Sword Saint cannot use the Holy Sword also means that another Saint has been born."
"...No way?!"
"Yes, a new saint has appeared in the north. He is currently served by the Human Lighthouse. It was all thanks to the saint that we were able to push Bermond Haenrel into a corner."
The news that a new saint has appeared, and the fact that the Lighthouse of Humanity is attending him.
And as soon as he realized that he was a saint, he eradicated the demon cultists in the north.
The nobles must have realized that things were going quite strangely due to the series of shocking news.
This time, it wasn't Runea, but the Sword Saint himself took my side.
"I confirmed it myself. Even the holy sword glows. He is a new saint."
With this, everything, including the official recognition of the Sword Saint, has come to an end.
The birth of a new saint.
This is the first time this has happened since the founding of the empire.
I couldn't put into words the chaos this would cause.
It was something that would be revealed someday anyway.
Both the devil and the emperor know the existence of the new saint, so there is no point in hiding it any further.
However, I just revealed it myself and put a spoon on it.
The duke must have been dumbfounded, opening and closing his mouth several times.
However, this situation is not because the duke is incompetent.
It's just a difference in the amount of information.
You wouldn't have expected a saint to suddenly appear.
"The reason I came down to the capital with the knights of the Lighthouse of Humanity was to protect the saint. The devil cultists in the central area might dare to try to attack the saint. The reason I couldn't tell you in advance is because the saint's whereabouts could be leaked to the devil cultists. Because there wasn't one."
"We have a rough guess as to why Sir De Jeevitz brought the knight. We were the ones who ordered him to bring the saint to the capital."
On the other hand, the emperor was still enjoying this situation.
As soon as you heard that I had set foot in the capital, you probably knew in advance that I would extend my efforts this far.
He is not called the loser for nothing.
In this way, all the questions raised by the duke were resolved.
What are you going to complain about when you say you wanted to safely escort a saint?
The problem starts from here.
"Well, then where is the saint now? Shouldn't we bring him here right away?"
As if pushing me was no longer important, the duke asked about the saint's whereabouts.
He is truly a saint.
A person chosen by the Lord.
It is safe to say that the majesty and power of that name were comparable to that of the emperor of the empire.
It was natural to pay close attention to the birth of a new person in power.
The political situation will be swept away by a single word from the new saint.
But the saint still had work to do in hiding.
"The saint cannot reveal himself."
"Lord de Jeevitz, please reveal the reason."
As if the sight of the skit was over, the emperor asked me.
From now on, it is a new territory that even the emperor had no idea about.
I looked up at him.
"The saint considers the eradication of the devil cults that have sprouted up in the central region to be a top priority. It is more convenient to hide and drive them out than to show up and chase them, so I will not make any public appearances until the devil cults in the central region are eradicated. As you said, the Human Lighthouse plans to help the saint hunt down the demon cultists in the central region."
The Lighthouse Corps of Humanity stationed in the capital thus become knights of the saint rather than private soldiers of the De Jeevitz family.
A holy knight who punishes demons according to the will of the god.
In other words, no one can stop the Human Lighthouse's movements in the capital.
Of course, the emperor was not pleased with this situation.
I can tell by the way the duke stops attacking me and closes his mouth.
"Wouldn't it be better to use the power of the Knights of the Holy Cross and the Magic Brigade for the capital's work?"
"In the central region, we are still not sure who the devil cultists are. We do not doubt the loyalty of the Knights of the Holy Cross and the Magic Brigade, but we cannot take risks. Until the saint is certain, it is difficult to have knights other than the Lighthouse of Humanity by our side. "Yes."
Since a new saint was already involved, the emperor could not do as he pleased.
Since the saint is not here, it is impossible to persuade him.
In a situation like this, it's a scary thing to do because it makes you unable to do anything.
Plus, there's evidence that demon cultists are in the central area, so they can't stop me here.
I used my momentum to drive the wedge.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I have already fought against the Great Demon twice, and I have successfully exterminated the Demon Cults that had sprouted in the North. There is no one in the Esteria Empire who has a deeper connection with the Demon than me. "Within two years, I will hunt down the evil devil and his followers who are eating away at the empire. Please allow me to fulfill my final mission as commander of the Human Lighthouse."
As for demons, if there's someone more expert than me, you can hire them instead.
Of course, even if you search the entire empire, you won't find anything.
However, it was not my expertise that persuaded the emperor.
The final mission and the two-year time limit will ring in his ears.
What if two years pass and I don't have much income?
In the capital, people can be arbitrarily charged with military charges and killed.
The emperor, whose thoughts had reached that point, spoke as he swept the silk.
"We say. Listen, you. The saint's will to exterminate demon cultists rather than fame or glory is beautiful. Therefore, we also want to join in that will. We will not announce the birth of a new saint to the people of the empire until the saint finishes his work. "I won't. You, too, keep quiet about this."
Originally, he was an emperor who wanted to strengthen his authority by using the saint when he returned.
The reason he gave the command to refrain from doing so was, of course, because I had a saint with me.
If it were made public, my political standing would grow along with that of the saint, so I could see a will to stop it.
There's no way you can keep quiet about it, but there's a clear difference in whether you announce it or not.
When the nobles answered that they would do so, the emperor spoke again.
"Also, if the Holy Spirit's intention to use the Human Lighthouse is so, we will respect that wish. However, I am concerned that the Human Lighthouse may be placing an excessive burden on it. Therefore, as the emperor of the empire, I would like to provide at least a minimum of support. Geomseong If you are the lord of the magic tower, and the vice-captain of the Knights of the Holy Cross, you can definitely trust even a saint."
The word is support, but it means putting shackles on it.
And the biggest shackles in the empire.
It is no exaggeration to say that the three swordsmen, the magic tower lord, and the vice-captain of the Knights of the Holy Cross account for one-third of the empire's military strength.
I will give you two years.
But don't think of running wild like a colt.
With an offer like that, I have no choice but to accept it.
I bowed my head briefly and paid my respects to the Emperor.
"They are all excellent people, so the saint will bow his head gratefully to the suggestion."
Part of me wanted to reject this offer, but it was right to take a step back.
And the Sword Saint and Runea had the same thoughts as me when it came to demons.
At least they won't disturb the saint for political reasons.
"Today is a truly happy day. The Empire has truly become one, and the Lord has given us a new saint for the Empire, so how could we not celebrate this day? We are holding a grand ceremony for Lord De Jeevitz. "I'm planning to throw a party, so I want you to grace the occasion."
I tilted my head as the emperor spoke to end the situation.
Since all charges have been cleared and no questions left, are you saying this is the end?
"The most important thing remains, so why end it here?"
"Sweetheart, on this happy day when the empire became one, an important story remains. It is the question of the salary of the Lighthouse Corps of Humanity paid by the De Jeevitz family. Assuming that the average wage of the Knights Templar is approximately 300 Libra per month, the De Jeevitz family has been paid "If you calculate the amount paid by the family, it is 60 million Libra. Incidental amounts such as facility management fees and horse feed costs are excluded."
The sudden talk of money completely calmed the mood in the audience.
The nobles looked at me as if they should bring up such a topic in this situation.
No, I have to nail it now.
If you don't worry about money issues for no reason, you get kicked out.
"It would be difficult to pay it all at once, as the amount is a sum. So, please give only 18 million Libra, which is 30% of the total amount, in cash, and you can replace the rest in kind. Gold mine mining rights, railroad construction rights, monopoly business rights, or land are also acceptable. "I hope that a contract can be concluded that will satisfy both the Empire and the North."
My mouth watered at the thought of plundering the empire like the Western powers of the 21st century.
◈ Chapter 96 - 15-Don't Pretend to Be Friendly.
*
A party was held in the glass palace.
It was a party to welcome the Lighthouse of Humanity and me, and to celebrate the day the empire became one.
The banquet hall of the Glass Palace, called the 'Hall of Mirrors', was filled with nameless nobles, their wives, and their entourage.
Chandeliers pouring in light, mirrors reflecting the light on every wall, chilled wine glasses with dew on them, and even a cool breeze that cools your sweat as if you had turned on the air conditioner.
It was difficult to estimate how many wizards were being overworked behind this hall of mirrors.
It was a luxury that only the master of the empire could enjoy.
It is said that the dream of every person who works hard in the Oxburg Empire is to be invited to this hall at least once.
I had a rough guess as to why.
The emperor, the duke, the sword saint, the magic tower lord, the vice-captain of the Knights of the Holy Cross, the dignitaries of each department, and the owners of the huge top...
No matter where he turned his head, he had the power to dominate the empire.
If I could connect with just one of the nobles here, my life would change 180 degrees.
Fortunately, since this party was held suddenly, it was quite simplified.
It is said that this glass palace can accommodate hundreds of nobles.
It was a common practice in the empire to feed and sleep those people and hold parties all week long.
It is said that all kinds of luxurious performances took place one after another, including opera, ballet, plays, arts and crafts shows, and balls.
It's obviously a lot of money, but there's nothing better than this to establish the emperor's authority.
He tamed the local nobility by making them come to the palace on their own, and raised its prestige by showing the palace as supporting the emperor with standardized etiquette.
This method was also used by Louis XIV, the Sun King of the Earth.
However, I had no desire to eat, sleep, drink, and play in the palace for that long time.
It's not like we can have a meal comfortably face to face.
It was the same for the duke.
'It is natural to celebrate the joyous day of the Empire. However, since it has been a while since Lord de Jeviets came down to the central region, there will be a lot of preparations to be made, so wouldn't it be a good idea to simplify this party somewhat?'
'The Duke's words are valid. We will reschedule the day and have a grand party, so don't feel sorry for Lord de Jeevitz.'
I'm sorry.
Thank you so much for your consideration, Your Majesty.
In fact, the emperor probably doesn't want to tussle with me any further over money.
I guess you didn't know that I was going to openly threaten you into giving me money?
Did you think that since you are a noble, you would leave such matters to your subordinates?
Misers who are inherently obsessed with money are seen as lowly people throughout the world, including all over the world, but I am a person who lived in the Republic of Korea, the earth at the peak of low-class capitalism.
For me, money matters are more important than anything else.
Since we have already decided to sell the Lighthouse of Humanity, shouldn't we sell it for more than its original price?
I really wanted to get a confirmation from the emperor today.
However, the emperor also needed time to consider things and bargain.
In the end, it was decided to schedule a date among the working-level staff at a later date.
"I really thought I was going to die this time. Shouldn't you have told me in advance? Did you really have to keep it a secret from us?"
During the hearing, Amber, who was waiting outside the glass palace while commanding the great knights of humanity, asked me if I knew how anxious she was.
Honestly, more than anyone else, I wanted to show off my brilliant plan to the neighbors.
However, if something goes wrong, there is a higher chance of survival if you don't know the circumstances, so I didn't tell you.
No matter how good I am at making decisions, there is always what if.
It is better to prevent unexpected situations.
"Bjorn must have had an idea. Anyway, why on earth are you wearing a mask? It's not the right size and it's so frustrating it's driving me crazy."
Barton brightened the mood by organizing the grumpy Amber in an appropriate manner.
"Why would you wear a mask? It means that you can put aside the oppression of your status for a while and just do whatever you want. If there is someone you like, you can wear it and come back."
"It's not like I'm going to the bathroom, just say something..."
The party currently held in Yuri's hall was a masquerade ball.
A typical social form in which nobles wear masks and dance to the music of a performer.
It was none other than me who requested this.
'Your Majesty, I heard that there is something called a masquerade ball in the Empire. I really want to experience this opportunity, would you mind?'
I pleaded with His Majesty with a child-like innocent face.
As if he really wanted to have a masquerade ball.
Although the intention was different.
"But it's comfortable, right? No one pretends to know."
The first rule of a masquerade ball is to pretend not to know each other even if you know each other.
If you are a close associate, it is rude for nobles to speak or know each other's real names at a masquerade ball.
That means that no matter how much attention is drawn to me, I won't be caught by a fly while I'm wearing a mask.
It was the perfect party for me, who wanted to relax and kill time while drinking.
But that didn't mean I could rest.
"Bierre, is Duke von Lorraine still alive and well?"
Helga asked me as I drank one glass after another.
The person who was more interested in that question than me was Amber.
"Oh, by the way, I guess you met Duke von Lorraine? How was it? He has a great personality and is famous for serving the people of the empire. Although I have never met him, he is someone I personally respect. He will definitely help us with our work. I will."
"Ember. It's better to see someone you respect from afar. The closer you get to them, the more disappointed they will be."
"What do you mean?"
"What? It looks fragrant on the outside, but it smells like shit from the inside."
Ember didn't even know that Duke von Lorraine was my maternal grandfather.
There is no need to talk about the tragedy in her family history.
He looked like a benevolent nobleman, drinking with his associates from a distance.
But in reality, he was a dirty and ugly person in power.
The type of person I despise who would sacrifice even the people of the empire for his own power.
It was convenient to think of him as the complete opposite of Canniel.
"Still, Ember, like you said, I think we'll have to be in the same boat for a while."
However, the duke could not be swept away just because he did not like it.
For me, who knows the original work, it was easy to take him down, but it was difficult to find a nobleman to replace him as he was highly trusted by his people.
With the devil's invasion just around the corner, he has no reason to muddy the political situation.
His power is needed to destroy the empire.
It would be best to put a leash on it and suppress it from barking uncontrollably.
That way, even if I leave, the house will be well maintained.
For one reason or another, it is truly a fantasy world full of restrictions on movement.
"If that is what you wish, Björn, I will follow it. However, Duke von Lorraine is in some ways more dangerous than your majesty. Please handle him with care."
Helga, who is familiar with the capital's affairs, left me some advice.
It seemed that he, as much as I, harbored ill feelings toward Duke von Lorraine.
I told him to stop yelling.
"How long are you guys going to stick right next to me? It's a masquerade ball and I won't be able to enjoy it if you're stuck like this."
"What on earth are you trying to do?"
"What would I do if I tried? What else would you do but have sex? If you don't want to blush with me, don't come out into the garden."
"Bjorn, we have come too far to be embarrassed by jokes like that. Why don't you just tell us the truth?"
"Tsk."
I clicked my tongue briefly in response to Amber's comment that there was nothing cute about it and continued.
"Personally, I have something to talk about with the lord of the magic tower. So, you guys, spread out and enjoy the party. Everyone here is powerful, so you can get a lot of information about the political situation just by listening. However, like some people, I drank too much and the next day I drank too much. "If work is disrupted, disciplinary action will be taken."
"...Thank you for reminding me of the dark history that I have forgotten."
"Barton, if you can avoid this, try to be as open as possible. That's an order."
I paid more attention to Barton.
Because he was the mastermind behind the plan that would take place in the capital.
It is time for the knight of wit, whose name is widely known not only in the North but also in the capital, to be active.
"...I don't know why, but I'll figure it out for now."
With an uncertain look on his face, Barton nodded his head.
After my entourage left to enjoy the party in their own way, I was able to talk to Jin.
"So, all you have to do is find some time to talk to Asili for a moment?"
[Yes, I have a few things to ask you besides Draigonak's whereabouts. But how are you going to prepare it?]
"I'm looking forward to it."
After pouring the wine into my mouth, I walked towards Mtapju.
Even though it was a masquerade ball, I was the center of attention, so my movement attracted attention.
There was a moment of silence in the hall as the figure moved towards the magic tower lord.
Demon Tower Lord Asili, with her half-plaited hair and a pure white fox mask, was sipping her wine in her corner, out of the spotlight, wearing a pink dress the same color as her hair.
The immaculate legs that seemed to glow in the light of the chandelier caught my eye.
I walked up to her and gently knelt down on her knees.
"Beautiful woman, will you dance with me?"
◈ Chapter 97 - 15-Don't Pretend to Be Friendly.
Lemon, neroli and coconut.
An exotic scent stimulated my nose.
Pink, to be exact, platinum blonde hair, as light as cherry blossoms, was fluttering.
Behind the mask, eyes that were closer to red than pink, so similar to those of a snake, stared at me.
"Oh no, it's going to be another four months."
"Someone told me in advance, hohoho."
"Will we be able to see that scene in just a few months?"
The response from those around us was that there was more to see at the party.
Knowing the original, I also knew why they did that.
Asili was famous for throwing someone into the air if they asked to dance at a party.
'If you want to dance with me, you'll have to be good at dancing in the air.'
The other person, floating in the air like that, had no choice but to do somersaults like a person who had heard a hilarious drip while the song was being played.
Naturally, at this gathering of powerful people, there is no one who would want to suffer such embarrassment for dancing with a 10th circle archmage.
She said that the only person who had ever properly danced with her was the Emperor.
That's why no one has approached her, who is described as a very beautiful woman even in the original work.
The emperor was chatting leisurely, and the duke was having private conversations with his associates at parties in order to control the rapidly changing situation.
I stopped what I was doing and focused my attention as if I was anticipating what was going to happen in the future.
Asili's eyes drew a curve next.
"Gentleman, there must be more people dancing than me."
Is it a euphemistic rejection, or is it a pure question as to why he approached me?
Maybe both sides have some stake.
Because we can only conclude that approaching this timing was largely motivated by political intentions.
But her intentions are probably good.
Aside from Jin's request, it was necessary to establish a friendship with her, whether she liked it or not.
Because most of the emperor's power was in her hands.
Magic Brigade.
A paramilitary organization to which approximately 20,000 wizards of the 6th circle or higher are required to belong.
The overwhelming firepower that the Oxburg Empire boasts, and the elite class that actually runs the empire.
This is because the brigade commander of that organization was none other than Asili.
Without her cooperation, it will be difficult to spark a revolution in the capital.
It's good to take advantage of this opportunity to meet people.
And even if it is covered by a mask, a smooth face is used in situations like this.
She seems to be curious about me too.
From what I heard from Jin, it seems like I match her tastes.
"The other ladies here are too unattractive to be rude."
Amber, who had been hovering around and eavesdropping, looked at me with an angry look on her face.
I know.
That's a pretty blatant work statement.
However, this line was spoken when Asili first seduced Mion.
Since she said it herself, there is no way she would dislike it.
As expected, Asili covered her mouth and chuckled.
"She was funnier than she looked."
"Of course. You'll enjoy dancing with me more than sipping sugared Hordung wine. I promise."
"You seem to have a deep knowledge of alcohol. I see that you even know where it's produced."
"It's not easy to not know the terroir of wine from Hordung. Since we're talking about alcohol, I'll tell you. It's clear that there is some kind of connection between the wine distributor and the royal court. Otherwise, wine would be produced in a winery that can't even manage this Buschonne. "There's no way you can get it, right?"
And one more thing, there is a reason why I liked the character Asili in the original.
She was the only drinker in the story.
He is not a drunkard who pours alcohol just to get drunk, but a true expert who has tried all kinds of alcohol.
When I gave her a nod about her drinking, she asked right away.
"Kahat, the sommeliers were always complaining, right? But at least things aren't that bad today?"
"If you party with wine like this every time, I don't think I'll ever want to stay in the palace even for a second."
"I'm happy to meet my comrades. Every day, I think about giving up everything and moving down to the southeast."
"Oh, me too! We have a lot in common."
Form bonds by sharing hobbies and finding common ground.
Isn't this a very standard conversation when flirting with someone?
If I had been in a past life with a smashed face, I would have been eliminated in the preliminaries, but now it's different.
You can shake the other person's heart even with a casual conversation like this.
It is not for nothing that the saying 'appearance is probability' exists.
"So, will you dance with me?"
Even if it's just a little bit, it's hard to kneel down and have a conversation, so you'll make up your mind, right?
At the return of the suggestion, Asili's pupils split vertically.
"...I'll tell you in advance, he was the one who tagged you first."
"Yes?"
I felt like a huge snake was staring at me from behind her.
I could feel her tongue flicking and her eyes looking for prey.
Her eyes returned to normal, as if she had seen a vision, but it was definitely not because of her mood.
The thought that she had touched something very wrong ran through her mind.
"No, it's nothing. The young gentleman showed me courage, so it wouldn't be polite to refuse."
She held out her hand to me as if something had happened.
Just then, the song changed and the men and women who wanted to dance took their seats in the venue.
Their gazes were also directed at me rather than at the person of the opposite sex they were facing.
It was as if the sight of me doing somersaults was pleasing to the eye.
Of course, what they wanted didn't happen.
To the beautiful melody, Asili and I leaned into each other's movements like a painting.
Short sighs erupted here and there.
Asili had never danced before except for the Emperor.
Even the emperor had no choice but to comply, considering the authority of the empire.
She was dancing properly with the northern nobleman she saw for the first time today.
From now on, my nickname will be added.
The Lord of Stemwind, the savior of the North, and the man recognized by the Mage Tower.
Not only did it turn the capital upside down, but it also caused a stir in the social world.
This is truly a spectacular capital debut.
They couldn't intervene because it was a masquerade ball, but the emperor and the duke probably felt like their feet were on fire.
What if Asili and I have a conflict?
From their perspective, it's a terrible thing they don't even want to imagine.
You probably want to separate Asili from me right now.
This alone is a powerful political message and number.
The emperor will try to purge me faster and absorb the northern part, and the duke will try to approach me, who is of the same mind as the magic tower lord, and drive out the emperor.
It was only a dance, but I arranged for the Duke to move towards me on its own.
It was a beautiful strategic move worthy of self-praise.
'Good. 'That's enough of the planning, the problem is the dancing.'
Asili was about the same height as me.
Since she was wearing high heels, she looked like she had more hair than me.
I've been learning since I was young, but this was my first time dancing with a real nobleman, and a woman who was taller than me, so I was confused about the position of my hands for a moment.
It was Asili who led my hand with her waist.
I could feel her smile even through the mask.
"You studied hard, but it looks like you've never danced with someone before?"
"So are you disappointed?"
"Kahat, I actually like it more."
At times like this, I feel grateful that all of her memories from her past life, from when she was a baby, have not returned.
Even though she may not have been able to fight back against the abuse, if she had remembered her past life, she would not have learned the basic skills of a nobleman through painstaking knowledge.
Should I be grateful to Eileen for pushing me so hard that I could handle this situation?
However, since it was her first time matching up with someone, Asili ended up taking the lead.
"You can move a little closer. It will be easier to match her movements that way."
"Like this?"
I thought about it.
Even though I've never really danced, this is too close.
Because he was about to bury her face in her deep cleavage breasts.
As it got closer to my skin, the sweet coconut scent became stronger.
It was a moment that filled me with dizzying imagination.
Let's be honest.
Whether in my past life or in my current life, I have never been this close to such a beautiful woman.
It was a shame she was wearing a mask, it almost showed her red face.
I'm working now.
To grant Jin's request.
I am absolutely not trying to seduce Asili and put her down.
If you mix with the characters in the work and form a bond, you will be dragged into the coming war against the devil and have to fight!
That's just not possible!
After making this promise over and over again, I was finally able to find peace of mind and body.
"Hehe, like you said, it was more fun than sipping sugared wine."
When the song ended, Asili let go of my hand that had been coiled like a snake and laughed.
Do you think my acting, which clumsily conceals my heat, was worth watching?
No matter how much you try to hide your emotions with a mask, if you're a man, it's bound to be noticeable.
Since he was so close to her body, there was no way he wouldn't know.
I'm sure Asili was aiming for that too.
I felt somewhat defeated.
Conversely, being sexually harassed is definitely not my cup of tea.
Maybe she is my most annoying nemesis?
"You gave me pleasure, so I want to return the favor."
Licking her lips with her tongue, Asili said her luck.
Her somewhat pretentious mood completely changed.
I felt like a snake had wrapped itself around my body.
"Would you like to walk in the garden with me?"
◈ Chapter 98 - 15-Don't Pretend to Be Friendly.