Kays Translations

Chapter 26: The Strongest Onmyoji Confronts The Emperor Again

I stepped into the audience chamber.

Emperor Gilzerius, as before, was waiting for me on the throne.

“Hey.”

The ordinary-looking man spoke with an ordinary smile.

“You’ve been through a lot. You’ve just returned to the imperial capital, and I made you come all the way to the imperial castle.”

“No.”

I replied briefly.

“So, what brings me here this time?”

“Of course, it’s to express gratitude. You did well this time. I did ask Amiyu-kun, the hero, for help, but I heard that you put in extra effort.”

Then, the emperor casually added in a very ordinary tone.

“Sorry about that, having you clean up after my son.”

Upon hearing that, I… but I wasn’t surprised.

I looked at the emperor and responded.

“So, you knew.”

“Of course. If I couldn’t even figure out something like this, I wouldn’t be fit to be an emperor.”

Gilzerius wore an ordinary wry smile on his face, as if a common citizen living in the town would.

“I had a vague idea of what that child was aiming for, so I intentionally delayed sending the military. I didn’t know the details of the traps he set to turn the imperial army into undead soldiers. I feel sorry for not telling you the whole truth. However, I hope you understand that there were circumstances I couldn’t reveal. Besides, the task you were given would have been the same in the end.”

Without conveying any sense of intensity or intimidation, the emperor revealed the hidden motives behind the scenes.

“I’m very satisfied with the results this time. You really did well. With this, I can fulfill my promise with Lugeil-kun….Ah, sorry about that.”

Seeing my puzzled expression, the emperor spoke.

“I make it a point to refer to people with whom I have even the slightest connection by their individual names rather than their family names. That’s why I often get puzzled looks. …Lugeil-kun is about Duke Dalamat. I had promised to renew the Tenendo Bridge.”

“…The bridge?”

“Yeah. It’s been over three hundred years since it was built, and it was getting old. Magicians can create impressive things, but unfortunately, they don’t think about maintenance or repairs. Both bridges reached a point where they couldn’t be fixed, and Lugeil-kun was troubled too. Well, making a bridge last for three hundred years is quite an achievement, though.”

“Ah… I see.”

I initially thought it was a story about reconstructing a bridge that had been destroyed, but it seems that it had reached its limits due to aging.

If they were going to build a new one anyway, could it be said that the timing of this incident was fortunate?

I say, 

“That’s good. I’m not well-versed in political matters, but if it’s under the guise of reconstruction, it might be easier to secure funding from the national treasury…”

My words faded away.

A strong sense of discomfort surged within me.

It is said that there was a promise to build a new bridge… What on earth did the emperor intend to do?

As the ruler of a vast empire, the emperor would undoubtedly possess considerable wealth, but it’s impossible for them to privately fund the construction of such a bridge.

However, obtaining approval from the parliament is necessary for expenditures from the national treasury. There is no way they would approve the construction cost of a bridge over a noble’s territory.

Unless there is a pretext for reconstruction in times of war.

There is a fundamental question that precedes this.

As Fiona mentioned, Duke Dalamat, who was a prominent figure in the faction of the first Prince, abruptly switched sides to the Emperor’s faction last year. This event can be considered the trigger for the current turmoil.

―――― Why did it happen?

“About that old bridge… I was actually hoping you would destroy it, Seika.”

The Emperor said, leaning on his hand, speaking as if it were casual conversation.

“…No way.”

I was stunned.

“Did Duke Daamat switch allegiance from the first Prince’s faction to the Emperor’s faction because… there was a secret agreement? A clandestine pact to carry out the reconstruction of the bridge using the empire’s funds?”

If that were the case, the significance of the current turmoil would completely change.

Hiltzel’s madness was triggered by Duke Daramat’s defection.

But… what if that defection occurred due to a secret agreement with the Emperor?

And what if the content of that secret pact was based on the assumption of Hiltzel’s madness?

“Everything, it’s all because of you…”

The words choked in their delivery.

“You orchestrated this, didn’t you…!?”

“No, no, that’s going too far. Human intentions don’t always align with someone’s wishes.”

With an utterly ordinary expression, the Emperor spoke.

“The promise to build a new bridge is just one of the many agreements I have with Lugeil-kun. The factional switch is merely a secondary matter. I have more specific requests as well. I don’t think you would know about them.”

Addressing me, who stood frozen, the Emperor continued.

“There was a miscalculation. I certainly didn’t anticipate the army of corpses multiplying to that extent. I knew that girl had quite a collection of interesting guests, but never to that extent. Hmhm, I bet even Lugeil-kun was surprised. Just asking for the reconstruction of the bridge, I never expected things to turn out like that… Well, even so, it mostly followed one of the plotlines I was expecting.”

“You…”

I said, as if squeezing out the words.

“Are you saying it went as you wished…? Sacrificing the lives of countless people to fulfill one of the secret agreements, do you truly believe it benefited the empire…!?”

It’s something I can feel in my bones.

This man is far from being an ordinary, mediocre tyrant.

He doesn’t indulge in divination, go mad over women, or misrule at the height of desire.

That’s why… I couldn’t comprehend it.

“Yeah.”

With unwavering composure, the Emperor nodded.

“Not just the agreements with Lugeil-kun, but there was meaning in this rebellion-like incident as well.”

“What possible meaning could justify such sacrifices…!?”

“Do you know that the number of children born in the capital is decreasing?”

The Emperor poses a question.

It was something I had no knowledge of. In response to my silence, the Emperor continues.

“Thanks to the influx from other cities, the population is still increasing, but we don’t know how long that will last. This phenomenon will eventually spread throughout the entire empire.”

The Emperor continues with a sense of melancholy.

“It’s something that always happens in a city that boasts prosperity and has seized long-lasting peace. Too much peace wearies people and robs them of their vitality. The peace of the empire has lasted for a hundred years. No matter how luxurious a lifestyle, people will eventually tire of it. In human society, there are things that are necessary, no matter how much they may be detested.”

“Necessary things…?”

“A crisis.”

The Emperor states matter-of-factly.

“For the natural cycle of life, it’s something familiar. No matter how much it’s avoided, the lack of it will eventually become poison… Perhaps this crisis was just the right stimulus for the empire.”

“What…?”

“In cities where the population has decreased, recruit people from overcrowded major cities and those not favored for employment, such as children other than the firstborn on farms, for the reconstruction. They will work hard, bear children, and prosper. After all, they are building a new city for themselves. They will be enthusiastic for sure. The vitality cultivated there will eventually spread to the capital, even if only a little.”

“And you expect the sacrificed citizens and the lords of those lands to accept this… to make ends meet?”

“I can only apologize to the people. However, the situation is a bit different for the lords. The western regions were originally home to many nations hostile to the empire. The temperament of those lords, as descendants of the rulers of those areas, has been inherited. That’s why there are more supporters from Dilrain and Jairude rather than Hiltzel. I wanted them to remember their duty once again. Before plotting schemes, they should focus on protecting their valuable territories, which is the most basic thing. To put it in a rather blunt way… in the end, it might have just been a matter of which rebellion the people got caught up in.”

“The western lords… were planning a rebellion?”

“No.”

The Emperor lightly shakes his head.

“They weren’t planning one. It hadn’t reached that stage yet. Because if it gets to that point, it’s already too late. If plans are laid out, even I would have to punish them. No matter what storyline follows, unpleasant feelings would linger on both sides… Who would want such a script?”

“W-What are you…”

“I still prefer a storyline where everyone ends up in joy.”

As if narrating the contents of a play, the Emperor continues.

“It’s better if conspiracies are thwarted by chance. While they were plotting, an even worse sorcerer goes wild, wreaking havoc in their territories! The lords are in distress. Then, the empire extends a helping hand. Specifically, with loans for reconstruction funds, tax exemptions, and the like. The lords express gratitude and deep reflection. Teaming up with young people from other lands, they rebuild their territories even more splendidly than before. In the future, with larger tax revenues, the lords repay the empire’s kindness. Inspired by the hardworking youth in the west, the empire regains its vigor. As a bonus, the hot-blooded sons learn a little lesson. How about that?”

The Emperor says, somewhere with a satisfied tone.

“Don’t you think it’s a happy ending?”

I was at a loss for words.

Something was wrong. There’s no way there could be a happy ending when so many people had died.

But I didn’t understand what was wrong.

Maybe—perhaps—nothing was wrong.

Is this how politics and machinations work?

“Why…”

I couldn’t take my eyes off the Emperor.

“Why did you reveal this to me?”

This man… is different from Hiltzel and Fiona, in a different dimension.

That’s why knowing the truth is terrifying.

“Why? It’s not really a big secret or anything.”

The Emperor says this as if it’s a trivial matter.

“Everyone engages in such speculations. Some come close to the truth, while others are so far-fetched and absurd that they make you laugh. I ignore them all. No matter where you shout and scream, you’ll only become one of those. Because there’s no evidence… Oops.”

The Emperor stops there, his expression changing as if he realized a mistake.

“While this may not have been a reason to hide, it wasn’t really a reason to go out of my way to tell you. My apologies. Well, it’s just casual conversation.”

“Casual conversation…?”

“Yeah. The main topic, as I mentioned earlier, is gratitude. This is true, you know? Dealing with the rebellion was something I requested. Now that the task is done, it’s time to bid farewell, or else my character might be questioned. Even as an emperor, there are limits to such privileges. I’ll make sure to give you a proper reward too.”

“The one Your Majesty invited… is Amiyu, the hero. There’s no reason for me to be called out alone.”

“Well, that’s true. But in the end, it seems you’re their leader, and I don’t mind. After all, she probably wouldn’t want to come here on her own, right? To a place like this.”

In a self-deprecating manner, the Emperor jests.

Both in words and gestures, there’s no sense of tension imposed on others. It’s as if instinctively feeling that he’s someone not to be feared, and words are accepted without hesitation.

That’s what makes it terrifying.

“Still, maybe I should have invited Amiyu-kun. Calling only Seika-kun… truth be told, it was for my convenience. I had something I wanted to ask you, but I thought it might be inconvenient if others knew about it.”

“What… did you want to ask me?”

“It’s really nothing significant at all.”

At that moment, the Emperor once again wore an implausible smile.

For someone living in a world of political maneuvering filled with conspiracy, wealth, violence, and love-hate relationships, it should have been long discarded—a remarkably ordinary smile.

“You—You’re the Demon Lord, right?”

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