Chapter 157: You’re the Next Emperor!
Two days have passed since then. I reported to Pops and the others via communication, attended Yamato’s Victory Party, and finally returned to Guel.
At the party, they said things like they wanted me to come again and that they wanted to send people for the sake of friendship, but I dodged it by asking them to talk to Pops about it from now on.
By the way, it seems Mei and Ver-san’s drinking party is still ongoing. She said she wouldn’t show me no matter what, out of sheer stubbornness, so it’s only based on testimony. In the process, when I had Mei get him to talk about the Empire, Ver-san said, “Either way, I have no intention of getting involved.” Well, since he was about to get involved with Yamato, I guess this means he agreed this time.
The report to Pops and the others, too, was in a consistently friendly mood from start to finish, because Ver-san’s situation had improved considerably. Well, Pops said he had to confirm it, and Mei, who was forced to watch that video, turned bright red and looked like she was about to cry.
With all that said and done, when I mentioned that all that was left was to suppress the Osaka forces and we’d be finished, I received a proposal from Pops in the process.
“If you’re not going to take the Empire, why not let the Ignat Family take it?” was what he proposed.
If history continues to move forward as it is, apparently, a strong movement towards unification will emerge again. At that time, having someone of the Emperor’s bloodline at the top would leave lingering anxieties. Therefore, the Ignat Family, known throughout the Empire to have a just cause and who are easily accepted by the populace, usurping the country would lead to a more stable future, or so he said. Pops said that if it could be done without significant sacrifices, it should be done.
If it’s necessary for that support, he even said he wouldn’t mind dispatching Ignat and Kai for a long period, so it must be pretty damn important. As for me, I think the problem is less about the Emperor’s bloodline and more about the established environment.
Be that as it may, I also agree with that proposal. If we wanted to, Belfast could probably conquer the continent, but when you think about a hundred or two hundred years down the line, it feels like it would just break up into territories or states and have civil wars, so in the end, there wouldn’t be much difference. If someone powerful managed to assassinate the leader, a world war could even happen. In that case, it’s easier for everyone if we establish an alliance that’s hard for any nation to leave, and just make it so that anyone who starts an invasion is the enemy.
Above all, it’s easier for me.
So, with that, first up is a consultation with Shen.
“――――――――So, that’s the gist of it. Shen, do you have any interest in taking the Empire?”
“Eh… um, could this possibly be about me becoming the Emperor or something?”
He said, his cheek twitching at the sudden proposal.
“Yep. As expected of you. That’s exactly it!”
“Please wait. Uh, um… I kind of want to ask how much support you’d provide, but at the same time, I kind of don’t…”
Ah, I kinda get how you feel. You weren’t even the heir to the Ignat Family, after all. It’s too sudden a promotion; your head can’t keep up, right?
“Um, well, if it’s a problem of military strength, I’ll solve everything. But political problems are beyond me. Ah, but even with political issues, if it’s something that isn’t a problem for the country and I have cards I can play, I’ll of course cooperate.”
“Um… can you really take down the Empire?”
“Of course, I can. Even by myself.”
“――――!?”
Shen choked and started coughing violently. Yuri, seeing that, gave a wry smile.
“What do you think, Ignat?”
“If it’s Shen, politics won’t be an issue. Maintaining military power with the current numbers would also be just barely manageable for Marquis Ignat’s army. However, there are significant concerns about localized military actions or assassinations by poison.”
“Even if we ask Mei, are you still worried?”
“No, if that’s the case, there shouldn’t be any problems. I believe it will become a good country.”
He replied with a nice smile. His younger brother is looking at him reproachfully, though…
“Shen, things like this depend on your own will. It’s okay to refuse. By the way, I’m called the Crown Prince, but I keep refusing the throne.”
“Eeeeh!!?”
I said to him, who was showing his astonishment with all his might. No, you know that, right? I thought.
“Well, I have said I’ll succeed if no heir is born, and I’m thinking of giving in and taking it soon, though.”
“Lu-Louis!?” To Yuri, who raised her voice in surprise, I smiled and said, “Yeah. I felt like I could probably do it if I tried.” “Is that so…” she replied with a gentle smile.
“It’s precisely because I’m like that that I’m saying this. I won’t complain even if you refuse. I’ll support you with all my might either way. So, although there isn’t much time, please make your decision carefully and with resolve.”
After a brief moment of daze, he rebooted.
“Be-before that, I must ask. How much damage should our house be prepared to suffer?”
It seemed his mind was catching up to the conversation; the feeling of being swept along disappeared, and he asked with a serious expression.
“If we’re talking about taking the Imperial Capital, then zero. I told you, right? I can take it down by myself. But there’s no point if I take it down under my name, so we’ll have Ignat lead the charge, we’ll take it down, and make it so Shen’s army can enter safely.”
To the pensive Shen, Ignat merely stated, “I won’t say much. If His Highness says he will do it, it will be done.”
“Um, if we succeed, the governance… will you really entrust it to me?”
“No, I’m asking you because I want to request that of you… Ah! Are you worried about being a puppet or something like that? Not happening. No way, no how!”
Since he asked about the one thing I’d be least likely to do, I couldn’t help but laugh while vehemently denying it.
“Um, then, what is the compensation…”
“World peace.”
“Huh?”
“As long as you contribute to world peace, that’s all.”
Shen, not understanding, sent a pleading look to his older brother.
“His Highness is saying that you should strive to ensure the Empire does not resort to invasion again. The broad phrasing means that you shouldn’t get involved in external affairs if they’re likely to lead to conflict. Don’t invade, don’t instigate. Peace will be achieved that way.”
“No, but, even if I ascend to the Imperial throne, the crimes committed by the Empire will not disappear. If we are invaded…”
“What are you talking about, Shen? You said you wanted to form an alliance with us, right? If you’re invaded, we’ll help you. Though, completely rejecting reparations from the outset is also a no-go.”
Startled, he fell into thought and murmured, “I see.”
“I understand. I’ll steel my resolve. When this is accomplished, I will govern this country!”
“Th-that decision was fast!? Co-compare that to the time it took me to make a decision!!”
As I couldn’t help but make that retort to myself, wry smiles spread among those around us.
“Then, I will consolidate our family’s intentions in that direction. There likely won’t be any opposing opinions regarding this, but…”
“Alright, then I’ll go clean things up a bit first. I want to crush the Church’s influence as soon as possible.”
“Mmh, then should we also prepare to move our army?”
“Eh, if it’s okay to take down everything, that’d be easy and much appreciated, but… are you sure?”
…And so, Shen and I stared at each other.
“His Highness is too harsh! Please give us a little more time…”
“No, no, it’s totally fine. As long as I crush the Church, you can proceed at your own pace.”
When I explained that if they were to deploy their army, there might be casualties, so I’d crush everything beforehand, Shen let out a sigh.
“Well then, first I will convey the policy here, then return to the main residence, and once we are all on the same page, I will report back to you. How should I contact you?”
“Then, use this,” I said, handing him a communication device.
And so, the discussion with Shen ended, and I returned to the private room I use here.
I returned, but…
“Oh my, it has been a while,” Lloyd said.
Honoka was sitting next to him. Seeing the situation, Ignat pressed his forehead as if to say, ‘Oh, crap.’ Uh, come to think of it, I was pretending to be an old man with these guys, wasn’t I?
Haaah… Am I going to have to do that again?
“Hmm, it should have only been a few days. Have I gone senile, I wonder?”
“Louis!? You’re not in disguise right now— Ah!”
“Ah…” Yuri and I both covered our mouths with our hands.
“I had suspected you were an agent of Belfast, but to think it was actually you. Your false name, King Royce, and from your fiancée’s elder sister, Maria-dono… I see, that makes sense.”
“Eh, how do you know all that!?”
Realizing it was impossible to deceive them any longer, I straightforwardly voiced my question.
“After we met on the battlefield, I investigated you with all my might. You were an unparalleled formidable enemy, after all. But for it to be useful like this, diligence is truly a good thing.”
The pseudo-boy Lloyd, still wearing his usual poker face.
“Well, now that I know you’ve completely cut ties with the Empire, it’s fine, but…”
“…It’s not fine with me, though?”
Honoka said, giving me a sharp sidelong glance.
“No, I’m sorry.”
“…What am I supposed to say to that? Fine. I’ll ask you for another sparring match, so you have to accept then. I’ll forgive you with that.”
“Fine by me, but unless you train really hard for a considerably long time, it’ll end in one move, you know?”
As expected, no matter how hard she tries, to catch up to my current self, it’d probably take at least around fifty years, wouldn’t it… That’s with existing methods, so it depends on her approach, though.
“I know that! You’re not as old as you look, are you?”
“No, I’m seventeen, though?”
“Hah!?”
No, even if you direct your anger at me… Having deceived them, Yuri-chan is also quiet. I need to say something impactful here and change the subject…
“Setting that aside, I’ve decided to crush the Empire. You guys wanna come too?”
“”Huh!?””
Alright! Reset the mood with a power word!
“So, it’s been decided that Shen will become the Emperor, huh. And we’re going to act as the vanguard to take them down. You don’t have to force yourselves to come along, but you two are Shen’s collaborators, right? I figured it’d make things easier later on.”
Whether it’s about position or influence, going together here is mutually beneficial.
If Ignat takes the lead, with Lloyd and Honoka behind him, it would undoubtedly look like nothing more than an internal conflict within the Empire.
After they display their martial prowess and achieve an overwhelming victory, precisely because those two have name recognition, it would also serve as a move to crush any rebellious spirit.
When taking down a target with a small force, name recognition becomes a significant advantage.
“Indeed, with the martial skill that overwhelmed Honoka, it might be possible, but… will the Marquis’s army also mobilize?”
“No, no, it’ll just be the four of us going. It’s just a matter of whether you two will join us.”
“Four people for a castle assault…?”
I was given a look one might reserve for a madman, so I told them they didn’t have to force themselves and stood up from my seat.
For now, we just need to take down the Osaka faction. We can always have them lend us their names later.
As for the rest, it’ll be when Shen and his group are ready.
I want to finish this quickly and create a situation where we don’t have to worry even if we leave this place.
As long as we can seize Japan’s technology, it won’t matter whether we return to the village or to Belfast Castle.
Belfast’s power now is such that if we used the Ark, we could even hold the power of life and death over all its inhabitants.
Not that I’d ever actually do it, though.
It’s a power so immense we can’t afford to reveal it carelessly.
Heh, so this is a power we possess but cannot use, huh.
While thinking such nihilistic thoughts, I left the room, but for some reason, Honoka followed me.
“I never said I wasn’t going, you know?”
“Ah, it’d be a great help if you came along, War God Honoka-san.”
“…You’re such a sarcastic jerk,” she said, glaring at me again.
Lloyd was following behind her as well.
“No, no, I’m just saying it’s helpful to have people with renowned valor along.
A prince from an enemy nation would face continued opposition, wouldn’t he?
And dealing with the aftermath at the Church would be tough with just Ignat and Kai.”
Conversing like that, we walked towards the Airship.
When we went outside and made the Airship visible, the two of them fell silent.
“Well, if you’re coming, please do,” I said, and the six of us boarded first.
The two additional people were Natalia-san and Yukina-san. I plan to have them on standby in the Airship, but since they’d probably want to come anyway, I’m bringing them along.
As we boarded, they also boarded a little later.
While thinking, “If you’re coming, hurry up and get on,” I guided them to the bow of the ship.
“Head towards the church near the Castle in the Imperial Capital. Stealth mode too, please.”
“Understood, My Master.”
A completely mechanical voice, different from Mei’s, echoed. Simultaneously, the Airship departed.
A monitor appeared, displaying the scenery of our destination and various other information.
“Haha, we can’t win against this. It’s impossible. Yep. I’ll go along with your plan.”
“Lloyd-san!? Are you saying you’re going to hand the Empire over to these guys!?”
“That’s not it. It means we never had any way to resist from the start.
Also, I looked into Mildrad’s governance. The people are more vibrant than before it was taken.
It’s ironic, isn’t it? The Empire is hurtling towards its end at a terrifying pace.
That’s why I felt that going along with this now doesn’t seem like throwing away the future.”
Lloyd said this to Honoka, as if gently admonishing her.
He’s fundamentally misunderstanding something, but since there’s no way to prove it now, I don’t mind if he keeps thinking that way, so I let his words flow past me.
“Kuh… Fine. I’ll chase after this guy and keep an eye on him. Even if it takes decades!”
“Honoka… We’ve left the Empire, you know.
You’ve been freed from your heavy responsibilities. You can live more freely now.”
“But, if that’s the case, then Lloyd-san too…”
Oh…? Has a rom-com started?
No, Lloyd has the air of someone dealing with his niece, but because of their appearances, it looks like nothing but a rom-com.
However, I’ve learned. In times like these, it’s best to leave them alone.
There’s a saying, “Even dogs won’t meddle in a married couple’s quarrel.” This means if you interfere, you’ll just look like a fool.
No, wait, was I the one being picked a fight with…?
“Yuri, shall we explore the Dungeon?”
“Let’s see. It looks safe, so shall we?”
“Oh my, if it’s safe, then I can go too, right?”
“!? Natalia!?”
Meanwhile, in the background, Yukina-san was tugging at Kai’s hem. As if to say, “Me too.”
Since no one was left out, there was no need to worry about anyone feeling excluded.
Just Yuri and I, wondering what kind of gimmicks would pop out, our thoughts drifted to the depths of the Dungeon.
“Hey, you lot! What are you doing getting all chummy without permission!”
“Honoka-dono… weren’t you the one who created that kind of atmosphere first?”
Rebuked by Kai, who gave a wry smile, Honoka’s face turned bright red.
And so, in a sense, we, who were getting along harmoniously, arrived in the airspace above Berkuld Cathedral in the Imperial Capital.