◈ Chapter 131 - 18-Eve Festival
Sword Saint is undeniably strong.
The power of the holy sword clearly places the saint among the four gods.
However, punishing Moloch single-handedly is a different matter.
Let's think about it.
Moloch summoned five great demons and cornered the remaining three gods and saints.
Common sense suggests that if the forces were equal, Moloch should have been overwhelmingly defeated due to the difference in power.
However, Moloch instead pushed for the union of the three gods.
As a result, the Three Gods Alliance, which was on the defensive, created Red Hill and pressured Moloch with a huge magic circle called Jeokseon.
Even a thousand years ago, this would have been the case, but it was clear that Moloch would be stronger now that he had gained strength.
It might be one-on-one with the Great Devil, but there was no chance of winning in a fight with Moloch.
Of course, the Sword Saint at the time knew that fact.
"I knew that even with the power of the Holy Sword, it would be difficult to kill Moloch. For that, he began training in the closed world. He decided to gamble with the rest of his life."
When you reach Sword Master level, your lifespan increases.
It is said that the longest-lived sword master lived for 150 years.
Once you reach that level, you remain young until just before you die.
Then, at the end of its lifespan, it ages rapidly.
About 30 years ago, Geomsung realized that he was starting to age.
Feeling that he had little time left, he locked himself deep in the mountains and trained to burn the flame for the first and last time in his life.
That was the reason why Geomseong did not make public appearances for the past 30 years.
"The knight did everything to become strong. But it wasn't easy for him to achieve it."
A level that only a very small number of humans, even sword masters, can reach.
The Sword Saint was already higher than the Sword Master.
Throughout history, the number of people who have risen to the rank of sword master can be counted on one hand.
But what about the next step?
There is no one who can teach us about this, and there is nothing to learn from it throughout history.
Just like taking his first steps, everything he did was a new path.
Physical strength training, swordsmanship training, meditation practice, non-sword training, fasting, short-term training, penance...
He tried everything he could for the first 10 years, but growth was limited.
My physical strength increased, and my swordsmanship became more sophisticated.
Simbeop has become more efficient.
Asceticism sharpened his mind.
But everything was not enough to reach the next level.
The knight thought.
Maybe there will be no more after this.
Since we were born as mortal beings, this is the end.
Hands with only bones left from long periods of penance.
Shaking off the ash that had piled up on his shoulders, he agonized over whether to quit.
"But when I tried to go back to Octantium, I couldn't move."
If he returns like this, he will become a living statue and die peacefully while protecting the empire.
Born as a saint, he has never killed a devil.
He will end his life just receiving praise from people.
A swordsman who has never swung a sword.
The driver couldn't tolerate that.
If you're stubborn, be stubborn.
If it's two-seam, then two-seam.
Under the shade of an unknown tree, he stuck the holy sword into the ground and closed his eyes as if dead.
There is nothing to learn.
I have already learned everything I need to learn.
There is no need to look for a teacher either.
Because in human history, there has never been anyone stronger than me.
In that case, he just needs to become a teacher himself.
Let's move forward using myself as a light.
Then a huge enemy appeared in front of him.
Paladin of Terminus.
A mighty wall that every knight tries to reach blocks him.
In the image world, the knight swung his sword at him.
It was the beginning of a struggle that seemed likely to last forever.
The stronger the knight becomes, the stronger the opponent becomes.
It's natural because it's me.
In that case, the only way to defeat your opponent is to gain enlightenment for a moment.
In that split-second moment when you don't even know how strong you have become, only then can you defeat yourself.
When that time comes, Geomseong will rise to a new level that mankind has never been able to reach.
It is to become a god in a human body.
How many years have passed since I completely stopped eating and drinking?
It seems like an infinite amount of time has passed.
It felt like I first started doing this yesterday.
The stomach sticks to the skin of the back, and there is no sign of life.
The shade of the tree grew several spans larger, and moss grew along the sacred sword.
When he reached a mummy-like state, his training came to an end.
In a state of trance, Geomseong saw.
In the state of the sword that I thought was the end, there is a next time.
The person I was facing was stabbed to death by his own sword.
At that moment, his mental world turned upside down.
Homeland.
A name that has been heard countless times since time immemorial.
A homeland that the Rodal people must reclaim.
Geomsung was standing there.
A sky as clear as the eye of a typhoon.
It was as if time had stopped, and nothing was moving there.
The buildings that were built when Homeland was still the land of mankind were in ruins, welcoming the Sword Saint.
The remains of an ancient kingdom whose name has even been forgotten.
Among them, Geomseong saw a spire that stood high in the sky.
The devil, Moloch.
Geomseong fought.
It's as if he lived only for this day.
Moloch was stronger than he imagined, and as such, he was a worthy opponent.
Bursting cheers and uncontrollable laughter.
As if compensating for the endlessly boring past years, the fight with Moloch was full of joy.
With a human body, he gained power no different from that of a divine being.
He even held a holy sword containing the power of the god.
His strength was the greatest among all saints, and even Moloch had a hard time with his strange sword skills.
But it wasn't enough to kill him.
Moloch's armor was torn, and blood flowed from the cracks.
If I had pushed a little harder, I might have won.
As a saint who ended a long nightmare, Landeros' name will be remembered forever as long as humanity is subjugated.
In reality, Geomseong, who was involved, was entrusting himself to the pleasure that fighting gave rather than other things.
Heedless of the ice that bloomed on his body like a flower and his severed arm.
That's how Geomseong died.
He should have died.
When his vision, which should have been dark, continued beyond his body, he realized that this was a revelation from the Lord.
The Demon King survived the bloody battle with the Sword Saint.
Soon the enemy lines faded, and their invasion began.
Humanity, which lost the Holy Sword along with the Sword Saint, suffered repeated defeat.
Every time that happened, death spread across the continent of Esteria, and like a plague, there was no one to stop it.
When all the living disappeared and the continent of Esteria, like Homeland, was covered with ice and snow, Moloch set foot on the land.
Only then did Geomseong understand the Lord's intentions.
My mistake of trying to put humanity into hell by getting caught up in a fight.
The value of handing over the holy sword to another saint and why the previous saint handed the holy sword to him and said it was originally his.
Also, how valuable was his life, which he dismissed as worthless in the process.
Thanks to the divine arrangement, he was finally able to realize it.
By the time his body opened its stiff eyes again, more than 10 years had passed.
The holy sword was still by his side.
Shining.
He could have grabbed that holy sword and struck homeland.
He could have attained enlightenment, gone to Homeland, and given over to pleasure once again.
However, neither of the swordsmen who achieved enlightenment through the divine arrangement did so.
Then, the body that had been regaining its vividness upon reaching the next level shriveled again, and the holy sword slowly lost its light.
As if you've had a hard time.
"The world is full of pain. It's so irrational and painful that it's hard to understand. Sometimes it feels like it's all His fault. Your resentment is justified. But the Lord is always by our side, caring for us. "
The injustice that we cannot understand is also the Lord's arrangement that we cannot understand.
For all of us.
So don't worry.
All the hardships you have experienced are in His lovingkindness.
The resonance contained in Sword Saint's words clearly touched my heart.
The same was true of the consideration, concern, and warmth contained within it.
But at the same time, I felt unbearable discomfort.
That guy ruined my death.
I apparently died of cardiac arrest on Earth.
It's funny, but it's my death.
With that, my life ended, and the rest after that is completely mine.
But the god of this world dragged me here and threw me into adversity as if I was being tortured.
Where should we feel compassion there?
"Then I will offer a prayer to the Lord."
I folded my hands and lowered my head, and slowly opened my mouth.
"...Our Father in heaven, please just stay there."
As soon as he said the first word, the Sword Saint's eyes were filled with astonishment.
Be that as it may, my prayers stretched out straight as if to reach the Lord.
Our Father in heaven, please just be there.
Then we too will remain on this earth.
The earth is sometimes so beautiful that it is no less than your mystery.
The misfortune that overflows on the earth is full of the betters of this world.
The nobles are crowded with their brides, traitors, and mercenaries,
There are private railways running here, pretty girls, old idiots,
And there are straws of poverty blooming in the iron cannon.
It was a Lord's Prayer from the Earth that became famous in Korea after being quoted by a certain Yangpanso in the past.
Whatever your arrangement, I have no intention of following it.
For that purpose, I am willing to throw away the fate given to me and throw myself into the forest.
After finishing the prayer, Geomseong spoke to me with a dejected look on his face.
"I have never heard such a profane Lord's Prayer in my life. Do you know that I am the leader of the Knights of the True Cross?"
"I also know that I have the right to summarily judge heresy."
"And yet you spout such profanity in front of me."
"I didn't ask you to listen."
"That makes it even more profane."
Geomseong sighed sadly, saying that the era has come when faith is ridiculed.
Anyway, I got to the point.
"I'd like to end the small talk here and now talk about the empire."
"I'm listening."
"You can't just listen. I want to get you what you deserve."
A promise made at Handar Castle.
The words of the Sword Saint, who said that instead of rejecting the empire's offer, he would help in any matter just once.
Now is the time to protect it.
◈ Chapter 132 - 18-Eve
As if he would not listen to nonsense, Geomseong clearly drew a line.
"The promise I made to you that day can be fulfilled as long as it does not pose a risk to the empire. You already know that, right?"
If asked to intervene in the affairs of the North, Geomseong would have followed without a word.
Even though he was asked to exterminate a noble family with no ties to him, he would have done so, even though it was unpleasant.
As much as the fate and life of the North I staked on that day, the Sword Saint does not take lightly the weight of his own words.
But it was a different story if the empire was on the other side of the favor.
"Do you really want me to ask the Sword Saint to cut off your Majesty's head?"
"I would ask you in another way. I don't know much about politics, but I know how things work. It looks like you are planning to completely overthrow the empire. Am I wrong?"
From a gentle old man to a grand duke who protects the empire, Landeros' mood changed in an instant.
"Do you think I have the power to overthrow the empire? I am a stranger here. If people listened to the words of a stranger, it was not because the stranger was eloquent, but because the people here had become accustomed to the empire. I guess so."
I'm just a priming water.
No matter how excellent your eloquence is, you cannot create a revolution on your own.
This was possible because people who sensed the irrationality of the current empire through the ideas contained in the speech voluntarily agreed to it.
As time goes by, something will happen anyway.
I just brought the timing forward.
Despite my persuasion, Geomseong shook his head.
"Even clear water becomes muddy when one catfish causes trouble. What more can I say about someone as big as you?"
"If I moved and the water became muddy, does that just mean there was dirt underneath the clear water?"
"I'm not saying there are no problems in the empire. But sometimes it's necessary to cover them up. Now that the devil's movements are unusual, there's no need to create problems and cause chaos."
I agree with Geomseong's point.
But that is precisely why I jumped into the forefront of the revolution.
Rebellion into revolution, chaos into growing pains.
And as an opportunity to eradicate the evil that had permeated the capital.
To do that, he needed the help of the Sword Saint.
"In this current state, the empire does not have the strength to withstand the devil's invasion. We must improve our constitution this time. In fact, even if the Sword Saint blocks it, it will not be of much use now."
"What?"
"It means that the train has already left. Even if you kill me now, Octantium will be engulfed in a wave of revolution. And in the past, when I rushed into the capital with the magic ship, the Sword Saint was ahead of me even with the saint's dilemma. Do you remember what you said when you stopped me?"
That day, I asked a swordsman on a street in the capital.
When the Keldarin Kingdom collapsed under the banner of the von Oxburgh family, why did the Sword Saint, who had stayed still, block my path?
The reason for this was said by Geomseong at the time:
"...I said they were the majority back then."
"And then you told me, now that you are in the minority, I can't build an empire for you."
Personal glory and empire.
Everyone has no choice but to choose the empire.
The Sword Saint's choice that day was right.
Is that still the case?
"Do you still see us as a minority?"
Once again, Sword Saint may choose the Empire.
But when that time comes, the Sword Saint will have to kill the majority of wizards and more than half of the capital's population.
After that, can he really say that he protected the empire?
Lander Ross looked as if he could kill him at any moment.
His whole body was tingling.
But I couldn't stop my tongue.
"Are you holding the people of the empire hostage and threatening me?"
"I have never taken them hostage. They are just moving forward on their own. How about you realize now? The Sword Saint wants to protect the empire, but every action he takes will lead to the decline of the empire."
"You are extremely rude, even for a De Jeevitz family."
"It is also extremely realistic. However, I want you to know that everything I do is for the sake of the empire. The choice is up to you, Sword Saint."
I forced him to make a choice.
Is it human stability or precarious development?
In the distant past, Geomseong had been in a similar situation.
And at that time, Geomsung would have given the same answer as he does now.
"...Let's hear that request."
At this moment, even the Sword Saint, one of the two axes protecting the empire, fell into my hands.
*
Amber brought a piece of paper into her office.
He offered it with both hands as if he was holding a sacred altar.
Her body trembled as if bearing her enormous weight.
It was worth it.
What she was holding was a contract.
In cash terms, he is worth 64 million livras.
There is probably no paper more expensive than that in the world.
In her eyes as a miser, the paper would have looked like a heap of gold.
"The contract, which has been dragging on for over half a year, has been finalized. With this, the right to appoint the Commander of the Lighthouse of Humanity is transferred to His Majesty. The moment 18 million Libra enters the de Jeviets Foundation's coffers, the contract will go into effect immediately."
Due to its historical background, the Lighthouse Order of Man, the only knightly order in the Empire, was subordinate to the De Jeevitz family.
Today, the Empire got it back.
In other words, it means that the North, which had been living separately, was integrated in a peaceful way.
The official gazette was busy praising the emperor for creating a truly unified empire through peaceful means.
For the first time in a long time, political news was published in the official gazette, which had been a hot topic of gossip for a while.
An achievement comparable to that of the first emperor.
It seems that His Majesty is not embarrassed about having his face painted with gold.
Actually, it was my fault that the payment issue, which we both wanted to resolve as quickly as possible, took more than half a year.
Since gold mine mining rights and railroad construction rights are not cash, there were differences of opinion in measuring the amount.
I wasted time reviewing them one by one.
It was a bit of a hassle, but it was absolutely necessary to make my drinking foundation afloat.
"64 million libras..."
Born into a wealthy noble family, he was disgusted with money.
Even for me, 64 million libra was an unrealistic amount.
It was enough money to sell his position as commander of the Human Lighthouse.
Not only will you have a stable retirement, but you will also be able to live for several generations without worrying about money.
But I had no intention of being satisfied with money.
What I want is an empire.
I want a strong nation that will serve as my shield from the devil's invasion.
It was time to move to make it happen.
"As you may already know, His Majesty is holding a grand party to celebrate the day the empire was united. All week long. I don't want to attend, but how can I not?"
After putting the contract in the safe, Amber finally sighed in relief and joked with me.
'I want to not attend. Should I say I have typhoid fever?'
Just having a half-day company dinner with your boss is enough to grind your teeth, but imagine having three meals a day and three drinks all week long.
There is no such thing as hell, right?
That's exactly how I felt.
Having to face the Emperor and Duke von Lorraine at every meal.
All of my stomach juices have already been released.
No matter how I felt, the emperor was preparing the grandest party since the founding of the empire.
The scale was different from before, but there was the most stark difference.
Not only nobles, but also wealthy merchants and professors from the Magic Tower were invited to this party.
Considering that the Oxburg Empire was a class-based society, this was a fairly unconventional move.
The intention was so obvious that it was obvious to the eye.
'I guess they're trying to persuade them before the Estates General.'
Through this party, the emperor will boast that the empire is still alive, suppress their rebelliousness, and persuade them to become loyal to the empire again.
You will find out exactly what method to use once the party starts.
Anyway, there was one more difference as people who were commoners were also invited to the party.
Originally, I, a nobleman, was the only person in the Human Lighthouse who could receive an official invitation.
But this time, an invitation from the empire came to Ember Cutter.
"If you fail to attend without a justifiable reason, you will be very tired from living in the empire in the future, right?"
There was a huge difference between being at a party as part of a nobleman's entourage and being formally invited to the party.
At the last masquerade ball, there was no way to escape the moment the invitation came.
Ember Cutter, the resourceful knight who led the Leuk Tra Plains to victory and the author of the book that shook the empire, held his head as if writhing in pain.
"Isn't it unfair that no matter who sees this, everyone will see my face at least once? Even if I participate, my future is bleak! Why do I have to face threats to my life over a book I didn't even write?!"
"I don't know if it will be a consolation, but you are not the only one who has suffered from this sin, so take it as comfort."
Like Amber, there is another person who has been caught in a scandalous sin and has been officially invited to the Lighthouse of Humanity.
Barton Wigner.
The owner of Central Newspaper must have received the invitation and frowned upon it by now.
However, there was one more being who let out a scream that was incomparable even if the two screams were combined.
Beaje Sorang.
Jin, disguised as Count Sorang's third daughter, burst through the door.
With crooked makeup and a half-undone dress, she poured out her fiery anger at me.
"I'm so sick of the useless human etiquette and cumbersome clothes! Do you think I'm some kind of doll?!"
She, who had been rolling around like a doll for the past few days to keep up with the formality of the sudden invitation to the party, seemed to have reached the limit of her patience.
The air around her glowed, as if showing her emotions.
I smiled happily at her.
"But you're a doll now."
You've been salting next to me with nothing to do until now, right?
You too, give it a try.
◈ Chapter 133 - 18-Eve Eve
Of course, the great 'Jin of Flame', who lived for a thousand years, did not just learn human etiquette, but the lid was opened.
Changing dresses a few times would have been irritating, but what was really getting on Jin's nerves was something related to Yeom Hwa-gyo.
As Duke von Loren's protection disappeared, the main base of the Loeb Alliance, built around Chulhwagyo, was robbed.
The secret intelligence network and the imperial army's search were gnawing at Yeomhwa Bridge.
There, Runea Van Hoss, vice-captain of the Knights of the Holy Cross, stood at the forefront, supporting the Robe Alliance.
It must be to establish a connection with me.
In the process, the Loeb Alliance inevitably suffered a major blow.
"Because of this, the faith of the Christians is not fading away! On the contrary, now that our God has returned, the faith of the believers is stronger than ever! Apostle, please believe in us!"
Bishop, Baracura shouted that there was no need to worry.
The eyes of the fanatic who settled in the villa and followed Jin at every moment, claiming to worship the dawn, were shining with the madness of 'faith'.
However, that is a story within Yeomhwagyo.
My position was different, as I had to absorb the Robe Alliance and use it as the starting point of revolution along with the Magic Tower.
Losses had to be kept to a minimum, and radical ideas had to be rounded off.
Under adverse conditions, I delegated all matters related to Yanhwagyo to Jin.
When it comes to politics or practical work, I'd rather do it myself.
However, when it comes to faith, I am an outsider.
How can I lead a religious group if I know how to give God the middle finger?
It would be better for Jin to take full charge of this matter.
In the first place, what the believers follow is the Jin of Flame.
And no matter what she did, it was she who led them a thousand years ago.
"The blessing of Mana was given by the Lord for all of humanity. It was not given to make the special special and distinguish them from the inferior. It may be possible to reach the truth through magic, but magic is not the only path to the truth."
"Ah, our dawn, the flame of fire! Thank you for your teachings!"
The Buddhist believers, who took risks despite the pressure from the darkness, gathered in a hideout for a meeting, and Jin, who followed Barakura and met the believers, gave them teachings.
Although they were a bit lost at first, Jjambap was sure not to disappear anywhere, and like a god, he led the believers to the right path.
Thanks to the bishop's full support, Yeomhwagyo may have suffered damage, but its solidarity was stronger than ever.
Also, according to her teachings, Yeomhwagyo, which was close to being a group of fanatics, slowly took on a moderate color.
Naturally, Jin spent more time wandering around outside, and I, who was with her all the time, felt an inevitable sense of emptiness.
'Yes, it would be right to let go at this point.'
Where Jin should be is not by my side.
It is the human heart that heals the injured bird, but after that, it is up to the bird to choose.
I tried hard to leave my empty heart behind.
Of course, not everything went smoothly.
The problem was with the Loeb Alliance, not with the Chlorophyll Church.
The leadership of the Lobe Alliance was a Christian, but not everyone in the Lobe Alliance was religious.
As the power was raised to increase the rights and interests of magicians, the new recipients were magicians who were not related to Yeomhwagyo.
They joined solely for the wizard's benefit.
When the Yeomhwagyo-centered leadership suddenly moved lukewarmly, it was natural for dissatisfaction to erupt.
"The leadership of the Robe Alliance not only had a falling out with Duke von Lorraine, who had supported us, but they are now more worried about the future of the empire than the rights of wizards. They seem to have forgotten why we followed them."
"I don't like it at all. Even if I take sides, it's Bjorn. How are you going to promote the greater good with the ignorant people of the empire? In this case, it would be better to go over to Duke von Lorraine."
The pressure that tightens around you.
Differences in ideology.
In the end, some of the Loeb Alliance could not endure and turned to Duke von Lorraine's side.
It was a considerable number.
Duke von Lorraine must have also been involved in the process.
It would have been best to absorb the entire Lobe Alliance, but this was expected.
Rather, it was comforting to think that it was a benefit to weed out the radicals.
But it didn't seem to be Jin.
I offered words of comfort to Jin, who was lost in thought.
"Well, you've clearly taken control of Yanhwa Bridge, right? Where is that?"
"...I was going to make sure this was over and press your nose flat..."
It seems she didn't like being called 'useless Jin'.
Still, it achieved much more than expected.
Let's upgrade it to 'a jinn that might be useful'.
I have no intention of stopping etiquette education just because of that.
A feat is a feat, and rolling is rolling.
Meanwhile, the grandest party in the history of the empire began.
Before boarding the carriage heading to the Glass Palace, I, Amber, and Barton, who were officially invited, took off our robes and changed into formal clothes.
A frock coat that extends long at the back.
A white shirt and black vest that excludes decorations such as frills as much as possible.
The black pants that matched the color of the set were adjusted at the waist with suspenders.
Leather boots that reached slightly below the knee were somewhat uncomfortable by modern standards, but it was an attire that found its own solution between etiquette and convenience.
There were several outfits like this.
"There's a lot more baggage than I thought, huh?"
Mion, who was joining my group for this party, said while carrying luggage in a maid uniform.
"You have to change clothes depending on the situation. Men are better though."
The Oxburg Empire, where aristocratic culture is alive and well.
Nobles had separate clothing appropriate for all kinds of occasions, including dining, partying, dancing, viewing, and hunting.
There was no hardship for modern people on Earth, who found even ordinary ties, including white tie and black tie culture, inconvenient.
Fortunately, I am a man, but for a woman, having to change clothes that she couldn't wear on her own several times a day was pure hell.
Sigh, who in this world doesn't develop jeans?
Should I do it instead?
Barton, who had finished getting ready around the same time as me, was looking around at the clothes next to me.
"I've tried wearing all these clothes in my life."
Barton was also dressed similarly to me.
However, because it was such a sudden invitation, there was not enough time to put together the clothes, so the attire was hastily made.
Since the only high-quality fabric that could be used immediately was dark navy, his outfit had a somewhat bluish tint.
Combined with his sturdy physique, he had a sophisticated feel.
It was worth spending the foundation's money on.
"Anyway, when are the ladies coming out?"
How could anyone be interested in the clothes of men?
There's nothing to look forward to.
The important ones were Jin and Amber.
"It seems a little smaller than last time. Is that okay?"
As attention was focused towards the entrance of the villa, the first to appear was Amber Cutter.
A dress with a good combination of light green and white.
Gold trimmings wrapped the blue fabric around her waist, revealing her curves and matching her ash blonde hair.
The attire was not completely in accordance with etiquette, but since she was not an official noble, it would have had nothing to do with her.
Barton, who was staring blankly at Amber, cleared her throat.
"No. It's the same as before. I think she may have got some clothes stuck around her waist. Try straightening them out a little."
"Oh, I see. I guess I was mistaken."
Barton pointed out details in Amber's outfit as if she had seen her before.
Weird?
I don't remember seeing Amber wearing that outfit.
When on earth did you see Barton?
I couldn't help but look away from the sweet scenery that made my teeth rot.
Just then, the front door of the villa opened and Jin appeared.
I couldn't help but lose my gaze.
A rough, gray-colored fabric covered her body in the form of a dress.
It was long enough to slightly touch the floor, but there were strings connecting the hem of the skirt to the forearms to prevent the clothes from dragging.
The abundant feathers decorate the hollow cleavage in a non-obscene way.
Just by looking at it, soft golden fur was decorated along the cleavage, suppressing the somewhat princess-like atmosphere and highlighting sexiness.
With orange hair flowing as if wet along her pale skin, Jin looked like an alluring noblewoman.
"Don't say anything. This is my best."
Jin looked at the clothes here and there as if it felt strange, and said something similar to her excuse.
In fact, if you look at the clothes, they belong to the average category.
The shoulder padding was too much, there were too many frills, or the waist was tightened with a corset and the hem of the skirt was not intentionally made rich.
Her feathered dress may have been the only clothing she could tolerate that conformed to aristocratic etiquette.
However, it actually had the effect of emphasizing Jin's appearance even more.
Especially her breasts.
"Bjorn, it is blasphemous to look at God with such eyes. Aren't you afraid of the afterlife?"
I finally came to my senses when I heard Amber giggling.
◈ Chapter 134 - 18-Eve Eve
*
Octantium, which had a dreary atmosphere, became lively for the first time in a long time.
This is because the emperor decided to provide alcohol and meat to the people of the capital empire all week long.
In addition, the night curfew was lifted and this week was designated as a holiday.
Thanks to this, the capital became immersed in alcohol, forgetting about the wartime situation.
'Is it bread and circuses?'
There was a festival held in Abamis when the earldom was handed over to Eileen.
So I knew very well how quickly things like this can drain your finances.
The imperial treasury was already completely empty.
It was obvious that the emperor had pushed ahead despite the treasurer's strong opposition.
The treasurer did not see it, but the emperor did.
Therein lies the difference between those who lead and those who are led.
The emperor knows.
There is something much more important at this point than just saving a few pennies.
The reason why the festival was held by scraping the bottom of the safe was to relieve the overheated dissatisfaction of the people of the empire, which seemed ready to explode at any moment, even if only for a moment.
Also, to reassure merchants by boasting that the empire still had room to spare.
The time gained in this way is what the empire needs most.
How many leaders have fallen because they failed to do this properly even after accumulating money?
The ability to buy it with mere wealth may be one of the emperor's outstanding qualities.
Even in modern times, he tried to avoid crises with sound political judgment.
'I wish it had been a scarecrow.'
Leaning against the carriage window frame and sighing, I took in the panoramic view of the capital city in full swing with the festival.
If he were the bastard emperor in a commercial establishment, I would have taken control of the empire by now.
The plot of making a scarecrow and then beating it up wasn't my type of novel, but when it became reality, it was extremely tiring.
Inviting Amber and Barton to the party was also an annoying move.
Inviting merchants and professors to a party is an expected category.
However, I didn't know that they would add two more.
The party hosted by the empire was just a party, and it was a place for the emperor to show off his power, managing every move of the nobles throughout the period.
What you eat, what you drink, your schedule of events, even where you sleep.
Since everything was at the Emperor's discretion, it was perfect for temporarily immobilizing political opponents.
Originally, it was a prison where only I would be locked up.
To prevent such a situation, power was divided between the two.
Who would have known that an emperor bound by the caste system would act so proactively?
Amber is in charge of the Human Lighthouse.
Barton is a bridge between wizards and the people of the Empire through Central Newspaper.
At this point, they were like both of my arms.
The plan was to finish work on the revolution through the two while the party was going on, but with both arms tied like this, the plan was disrupted.
'I was hit hard from the start.'
Duke von Lorraine was dangerous, but not extraordinary.
On the other hand, the emperor is a monster who suppresses knowledge with intelligence.
No matter how much of a genius I was, my total knowledge was overwhelmingly greater than that of the emperor.
The Emperor came this far by blocking my attacks with minimal damage.
'This party is a turning point...'
The actual fate of the empire will be decided at the Estates General, but in reality, it will be closer to inertia rushing toward a given direction.
It is decided at this party which way to go.
'I thought I could just start with a win and finish, but it's not that easy.'
The Emperor, Duke von Lorraine, and me.
The three entered into a gambling game with their empire at stake.
Who will be the final winner among these?
You will be able to see the ups and downs at this party.
At a time when my nerves were sensitive due to agony, Amber was an eyesore.
She whispered to Barton, who was sitting next to her.
I couldn't hear the content clearly, but I guess it would roughly be something like this.
'Barton, isn't Bjorn's condition strange?'
'Same as usual? Where?'
'It can't be. After seeing Jin in a dress, you stopped sexually harassing her as usual and kept your mouth shut.'
'... It certainly seems like that. That Viern.'
'The atmosphere has become very strange. Could this be...'
Before getting into her carriage, Jean must have been staring at her for longer than she thought as she came out of her villa in her dress.
When she realized this, she was so embarrassed that blood immediately rushed to her face.
"What is it? What's on my face?"
Jin, who is sitting next to me now, made a cliché remark about a fox-like woman.
Of course, Jin was far from that type.
She slowly touched her face to find what was on her real face.
Before, I wondered why Jin was so pure, but she realized something when she saw the followers of the Yeomhwa Church.
Probably a thousand years ago, before the war with Moloch, Jin was surrounded and worshiped by believers.
As a result, I felt that things other than the responsibilities of the position of God were too clear.
She seems like a rich girl who has become docile because of her wealth.
Although he has become somewhat worn out by spending time with me, it doesn't seem to be enough to change his nature.
When I gave him a stinging glare telling him to take it in moderation, Amber cleared his throat and asked me as if to brighten the mood.
"Hmm, how do you think your Majesty will come out?"
It was a typical change of words, but I still have some sense of it, so let's move on.
"Well, if it were me, I would form a temporary alliance with Duke von Lorraine."
I wasn't sure.
Just as I acted outside of the emperor's expectations, he also never acted within my expectations.
However, if I were the emperor, I would form a temporary alliance with Duke von Lorraine.
Even though he lost the Loeb Alliance, Duke von Lorraine was supported by wizards and merchants.
He is the head of the noble faction.
With the power he has, he may be able to temporarily suppress the spark of revolution that will spread to the capital.
Since Duke von Loren also shares the leadership of the wizards and merchants with me, he will probably want to deal with me before the Emperor.
Since their interests are perfectly aligned, the structure will soon change from a three-way battle to a two-on-one structure.
It's a reasonable guess, but I'm not sure if it's because of the emperor's extraordinary nature.
"This is just a guess. There is no guarantee that the Emperor will move within the expected range. He will probably come in from an unexpected place."
Considering the current situation, it was clear that I was the frontrunner.
Because of me, the Emperor lost the trust of the people of the Empire, and Duke von Lorraine was deprived of the impetus for rebellion.
I also attracted the two axes of the empire, the Mage Tower and the Sword Saint, to my side.
However, unlike the Emperor or Duke von Lorraine, who only have to focus on fighting their political opponents, I must also fight the devil.
The more I spark the revolution, the more the devils will definitely move.
As the gamble to gain the empire progressed, the search for the devil cult also became more successful.
A few days ago, Asili appeared in his office holding several maps.
"You were right. The Aryans' underground facilities existed deep beneath Octantium, beyond the reach of my boundary magic."
Asili grumbled that she had a hard time searching through the entire library of the Magic Tower to find it, and then continued.
"But the problem is that it's quite large. Look."
The map depicted the entire infrastructure of the capital's underground facilities, tangled like an anthill.
The scale was truly close to that of the highest difficulty dungeon.
"It will take a while just to search everything. Establish a search team as soon as possible..."
"No. Absolutely not. The moment the demons realize that we know their location, it's over."
I slowly explained to Asili the current situation in the capital.
Explosives and explosives laid along underground facilities.
Jin's body sleeping at the center of it all.
Asili's face became contemplative when she heard the future of the capital being blown away by flames mixed with mana.
"So what you're saying is that the Homun took advantage of the magicians' revolution to set fire to the capital...? In order to destroy the empire's potential and drive divisions among the remaining humans?"
"It's just a guess, but it's the most likely scenario. Otherwise, there's no way the Great Devil would sit still in the capital, right?"
It's not important whether you believe it or not.
The point is that it may have happened.
Asili's relaxed expression suddenly turned cold at my words.
"So, that means we have to remove the detonator without being detected. A small group of elites will have to get to the core of this powder keg... It's not impossible if the Sword Saint uses his strength."
"For the same reason as before, Geomseong cannot move. Even from the perspective of the Demon Cult, Geomseong is a person of interest, so if Geomseong acts differently from usual, they will notice it faster than anyone else."
If that happens, security will be tight, and they may detonate the bomb before the detonator can be removed.
So, Geomseong was excluded from the beginning.
"We can't fight at a disadvantage in a place where the great devil is without a sword master. Moreover, don't we know the size of the underground force?"
"It's a theory, but there is nothing we can do to protect the capital."
You cannot receive help from the Empire or the support of the Sword Saint.
It is unreasonable and disadvantageous.
But that doesn't mean you can give up.
I told her her plans for the future.
◈ Chapter 135 - 18-Eve Festival
"The underground search will be conducted by you, Jin, Mion, Helga, and Barakura."
Asili, who had pondered the names of the personnel several times, nodded her head in understanding.
"The moment a revolution breaks out, I will have to sit back and watch, so I will be out of the devil's interest. Barracura is also free as he is the leader of the Flame Church who operates in the shadows. You..."
"Anyway, if a revolution breaks out, the Knights of the Holy Cross will rush in to arrest me, so even if I disappear, they will think I just escaped."
Ultimately, the great interest of the demons hiding underground is the movements of the Sword Saint.
Even if he lost the holy sword, he will still be a paladin of the final destination.
Asili, a magic tower lord and dragon race, was also a subject of major interest, but much less so than the Sword Saint.
Even if he disappears during the revolution, there will not be much suspicion.
Same goes for me.
As soon as the revolution breaks out, the Empire will try to arrest me.
Even if he disappears at that time, it is reasonable to judge that he fled in advance.
It is not easy to think that they are being tracked.
"But if you and me, as well as Baracura, are sent to search underground, who will lead the revolution?"
The size of the underground facility shown on the map was considerable.
It would take at least 15 days of searching to find at least a clue.
If things in the capital go as expected, the revolution will reach its peak by the end of this period.
Unfortunately, at that time, all the important people who were supposed to oversee the revolution were missing.
I already knew Asili's worries.
"Barton Wigner will be in charge of that."
Because he anticipated this situation, he entrusted Barton Wigner with managing the newspaper.
He becomes the protagonist of this revolution and changes the empire.
Ember and the Human Lighthouse in the capital will assist him.
From knight of wit to commander of the revolution.
The next chapter of his eventful life is about to open.
Asili, who listened to my entire explanation, expressed her position that it was still not enough.
"Regardless of what's going on outside, the number of people to search underground is also a problem. I know that the Saint has become stronger, but the Prophet is not so soft. Especially since it is clear that the Great Evil is present, it is unclear whether this number of people will be able to achieve the strategic goal."
"Asili. As long as the Sword Saint is missing, we can't kill the Great Devil anyway."
I reflected on the most important points of this operation.
"Our goal is to recover Jin's body. If Jin recovers his body, the situation of the war can be turned around in an instant."
What is the great devil?
If Jin only regains his body, no matter how great he is, he will not have the ability to face one of the three gods under enemy lines.
That is our victory.
"So, the road to get there itself is the problem. I know that these people are the best small elite we can form, but there is no front line. Mion is a decisive battle weapon, so we must save it as much as possible, and Sir Sentle is a knight, but he is closer to the rear..."
"I became a half-asshole who couldn't even get an erection."
"...It's similar, but I didn't say that much."
Well, it's not wrong, right?
I know my condition too.
Danjeon became even more dangerous during the last battle with Ambu.
In the battle with the great evil that will take place in the future, even a passenger plane is not at the level of being at the forefront.
"I know. So I'm thinking of calling one more guy."
"Who?"
"You'll know when the time comes."
Let's leave the remaining one as a small surprise gift.
It was Jin's voice that brought me back to my consciousness, which had been lost in reminiscence while looking at the scenery outside the window.
"That Bjorn is quieter than usual? What's wrong? Where does he hurt? Is he suffering from a serious illness?"
She placed her hand on my forehead, wondering if I had a fever.
I was so shocked by her behavior that I told her.
"Do you think it makes sense for me, a sword expert, to have a passion for fire?"
"Well, I was fine even after getting poisoned by Quarha, so there's no way I could have caught a cold or something. But what's wrong? Like I'm sick?"
"...It's just because I don't drink."
It had nothing to do with alcohol, but I just made it up like that.
There is one thing I realized during my time as Asili: I was extremely weak to beautiful women.
If a beautiful woman of Asili's caliber were to set her sights on my fortune, I would probably squander her entire fortune in less than a month.
Moreover, if it is Jin, there is no need to say anything.
I thought I had adapted to her, but it seems not to be the case.
"Puhup, Jinnim. I think Viernnim is Jinnim..."
"Huh?! Looks like there's a new bakery over there! How about stopping by sometime?!"
Barton hurriedly stopped Amber, who was trying to tease her as if she had seized the opportunity.
Barton knows this too.
It was obvious that Amber would not get her money back if she made fun of me for no reason, and that she would also suffer damage in the process.
Anyway, the one thing I noticed about this part was that the man was incredibly fast.
While chatting briefly, the carriage arrived at its destination.
A vast garden and sloping glass soaring into the sky.
The heart of the empire and the emperor's residence.
Glass palace.
It was the beginning of an invisible war.
Decorating the huge garden are the Knights of the Holy Cross, wearing red robes and golden armor.
What appeared to be a military band was seated in the back, waiting for the event to begin.
"It's still a bit frustrating to review. I couldn't help but curse when I was acting like that, but now I understand why Your Majesty wants to show it to me so much."
Helga's voice, who was in charge of escorting outside the carriage, could be heard inside the carriage.
Even though I hated the poop-gungi, I couldn't deny that their inspection was cool.
After hearing those words, Amber sharply responded, 'Then do you want to go back?'
Following her hatred of nobility, she developed a new eccentricity: hatred of the Knights of the Holy Cross.
In front of the Knights of the Holy Cross, the nobles and merchants who came earlier gathered in groups of threes and threes chatting.
Then, when a carriage decorated with a griffin emblem came in, I stopped chatting and focused my attention.
Just as we look at the review of the Knights of the Holy Cross with fascination, they also look at us with similar eyes.
The first to get off the carriage was Barton Wigner.
The merchants knew his face because they had seen him several times while visiting the newspaper office, but he was not a nobleman.
While everyone was looking around to see who it was, the attendant at the entrance read the invitation and shouted.
"Sir Barton Wigner, President of Central Newspapers and former Knight of the Lighthouse of Man. Thank you for accepting my invitation."
When told that he was the president of Central Newspaper, Lee Chae looked young in the eyes of the nobles.
Although the business has been around for less than half a year, the capital's aristocrats have seen with their own eyes the potential of the newspaper company.
From their perspective, Barton Wigner was like the backbone of the new power.
Envy or jealousy.
Although he was a knight, his evaluation was extremely high-level, considering that he was looking at someone who was once a commoner.
But it didn't end here.
What happened next amplified their emotions.
A woman got out of the carriage, holding Barton Wigner's hand.
A beautiful woman with gray blonde hair.
All the men present could not take their eyes off her beauty.
What the servant said next would be unexpected.
"Sir Ember Cutter. Operational staff of the Human Lighthouse and Professor Emeritus of the Magic Tower. Thank you also for accepting my invitation."
Until now, Amber Cutter has never gone public.
Therefore, her face did not become widely known.
Her name has become famous as the author of my book, along with the Great Sprint of the Plains of Leuktra.
Because her name was so feminine, no one would have known that Amber Cutter was a woman, but considering her accomplishments so far, people would naturally have mistaken her for a woman of authority beyond her middle age.
He probably didn't know that the green-faced woman who had just become an adult was the aide who led the Leuktra giant slalom to victory and the author of the book.
Intelligence and beauty.
A commoner woman with everything entered the Glass Palace at the invitation of His Majesty.
The female nobles clearly expressed their discomfort, and the male nobles clearly expressed their anger at Barton who held her hand.
Barton was sweating profusely at the sudden change in atmosphere.
"Professor emeritus..."
The person in question actually gritted his molars as if swallowing his anger.
She seemed to be bothered by the fact that her servant introduced her as 'Honorary Professor of the Magic Tower'.
Even though she clearly refused, the fact that she gave up that position meant that she would be greatly burdened with responsibility in the future.
Her gaze was fiercely focused on my face, as if she couldn't stand the injustice of being caught up in something she didn't do.
It may not have happened, but I felt like she was going to come back into her carriage and do something to me, so she got up from her seat and went out.
At that moment, admiration poured out from the garden.
In this strict class-based society, nobles never ride in carriages like commoners.
It was the same with the knight.
But I got off the carriage that Barton and Amber were riding in.
I probably knew there were more people in the carriage, but I never dreamed it would be me.
This alone must have made it clear to me that I was different from ordinary nobles.
Before even handing over the invitation, the attendant looked at my face and raised his voice.
"Björn de Reserve..."
"That's it. Everyone knows, so stop making embarrassing introductions."
Björn de Jeevitz.
The de facto head of the northern royal family, the De Jeevitz family.
Savior of the North, or Lord Stemwind's Rebellion.
Director of the De Jeevitz Foundation and leader of the revolutionary faction.
As soon as they saw my face, the nobles would have already thought of numerous terms to describe me.
What I want to add to that is something else.
After covering the servant's mouth, I put my hand into the carriage.
Pure white and fine corn was placed in my rough, calloused hands.
A woman got out of the carriage, holding the hem of her skirt with her free hand.
On a clear day, her hair was unusually bright as the sunlight hit it.
Like dawn.
◈ Chapter 136 - 18-Eve Eve