Chapter 128: Something that is Absolutely Uncompromisable
Just as I had come, I continued forward while using “conscious distraction” with Livyathan.
“What, this is—”
“Shh.”
Henry, startled, almost let out a voice.
I placed a finger on my lips as a classic gesture to indicate silence.
Henry snapped to attention, closing his mouth and following me.
I led him around the campsite.
At first, I needed Livyathan’s assistance, but gradually I figured out how to use this power, and I was able to manipulate my gaze smoothly.
Having done that and circling the campsite for a moment, we boldly stepped out from the front.
I turned back slightly to look at the campsite.
Numerous bonfires were lit; although not as bright as the imperial capital, that spot in the wilderness was as bright as daytime.
“There doesn’t seem to be any particular problem.”
“…”
Henry, turning around, seemed flabbergasted and speechless.
“Henry?”
“…Ah, I-I apologize.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Your Majesty’s power is several orders of magnitude more impressive than what I had heard; it left me momentarily at a loss for words.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It’s my first experience being able to come outside without anyone noticing during a camping trip, without even having any attendants with me… In fact, I’d say it’s unprecedented.”
“That’s quite an exaggeration.”
“No, not at all! Do you know how significant this is… ah.”
“What’s wrong?”
Henry seemed to snap back to reality, his expression a mix of joy and complexity, as if he had realized something.
“Could Your Majesty’s power perhaps allow you to infiltrate the enemy camp alone and assassinate only the enemy general?”
“Oh, is that all?”
I chuckled softly.
“It’s possible, but—”
“But?”
“As I mentioned earlier, it wouldn’t work against a large army for the same reason. If the enemy general was assassinated, just sensing that would not stop the search for the culprit. While I could take them down, escaping would be difficult.”
“I-I see…”
Henry was at a loss for words, feeling dejected.
However, that was only for a moment.
“As expected of Your Majesty, you had thought that far ahead.”
“Hm?”
“What’s the matter, Your Majesty?”
“Is that… a fast horse?”
“Huh?”
Henry followed my gaze.
Squinting and furrowing his brow.
It seemed he couldn’t see well at night.
“…………Oh, indeed, I can hear the sound of hooves.”
“Hmm.”
After a brief wait, it seemed Henry detected it more with his ears rather than his eyes.
“Could it be urgent military news?”
“Let’s head back.”
“Yes!”
I accompanied Henry back to the campsite.
At the entrance of the campsite, a man who had ridden in on a fast horse was in a heated exchange with the gatekeeper, looking disheveled and out of breath.
“That’s why! It’s an emergency!”
“No way! We can’t let anyone without a pass through.”
“There’s no way I could have a pass; I came directly!”
“No, no! Go to the capital and get a pass from the regent!”
The man on the fast horse desperately pleaded, but the gatekeeper stood firm against him.
“What’s going on?”
“Who goes there—wait, is that you, Your Highness!?”
When I approached and spoke out, the gatekeeper ignored me and reacted instead to Henry, who was behind me at an angle.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
This sort of thing happens often.
Lower-ranking soldiers in the field are likely to have never met the emperor, so it’s common for them to first react to a prince they’ve at least seen from a distance.
And then—
“You’re in His Majesty’s presence.”
That way, the one who reacts first ends up revealing the higher rank—the identity of the emperor itself—until the sequence of events unfolds.
Then, both the gatekeeper and the man on the fast horse began to panic.
“‘H-His Majesty!?’”
The two, flustered, took a breath and bowed deeply towards me.
“I-I’m so sorry. I assumed—”
The soldier at the gate was the first to try to explain in an extremely frightened voice.
“It’s fine. Not allowing those without a pass to enter is good diligence. Henry, give them 100 Reens later.”
“Understood.”
“And… What about you?”
“Huh?”
When I turned to the man on the fast horse, he was still bowing, his face lifted slightly in confusion.
“You have urgent business, don’t you? Was there not a report for me or Prince?”
“Y-Yes! It’s regarding His Highness—oh! I mean! It is a message to be reported to His Majesty through His Highness the Prince.”
“I see.”
I nodded and took the sealed letter that the fast horse soldier offered. I read it from start to finish, and my brow twitched sharply.
“Your Majesty?”
“…Give this one 100 Reens too. They must be tired, so provide them with a feast and some wine.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
☆
Having returned to the tent ahead of time, I stared at the letter I had just received in front of my desk. Henry, who had finished his duties, entered.
“Your Majesty.”
“Ah, you’re here. Well, read this.”
“Understood.”
Henry approached and took the letter from my hand. As he read, he began to tremble violently.
“This is appalling!”
Henry slammed the report onto the ground, veins bulging on his temples.
Having reincarnated and known Henry for over twenty years, I had never seen him this furious.
“This was within expectations.”
“Your Majesty!?”
“Now, wait. It was within reason to assume that the rebel army might claim to be the Emperor. Rather, I could almost commend this argument.”
I chuckled as I picked up the report that Henry had thrown down. It was a report from the front lines.
It was a report stating that the king of the rebel army had begun to declare himself emperor.
“Commend?”
“Yes. To summarize, it claims that based on an unknown historical document that has suddenly been altered to include a lineage from ancient times, they are the rightful rulers, not me, right?”
I had intentionally used a mocking tone to calm Henry’s anger. However, it seemed to have little effect.
“That arrogance cannot be tolerated.”
“You’re right. But calm down, Henry. Our course of action does not change. Don’t let your temper trip you up.”
“…Understood.”
Chastened by me, Henry reluctantly retreated.
After that, he said, “I will consider how to respond,” and left the tent.
I stared at the report once more.
☆
At the same time, in the Imperial Capital.
Another fast horse rushed into the eighth prince’s residence.
This was a report from Oscar’s personal intelligence source, delivered through a different route than that given to the Emperor.
Upon receiving the report, Oscar…
“Don’t mess with me!!!”
He was so enraged that those who knew him would doubt their eyes.
He began to smash everything in his room in a fit of rage.
“A false Emperor… a false Emperor, you say!?”
Oscar, who is usually mild-mannered, was surprisingly furious, and both his family and the servants were equally terrified.
“How arrogant can you be…?!”
In Oscar’s eyes, there was a clear anger—no,
A murderous intent was budding.
☆
Inside the tent, I stared intently at the report by myself.
“…As expected from the Prime Minister.”
I was satisfied with the results.
It was my strategy that the rebel army declared themselves as emperors and asserted their legitimacy.
Jean, who has been Prime Minister for a long time, had “some” connections on the rebel side. Using those connections, I subtly whispered to them to declare themselves Emperor.
I believed there was a very good chance of success. Since they were already rebelling, I thought that asserting themselves as Emperors and their claims of legitimacy would be possible with a little push.
The problem lay with the ensuing chain reaction.
Oscar.
He thinks the Emperor must be an absolute figure. I don’t know how significant that belief is. If it is strong, he would surely be enraged by the rebel army’s claims of “legitimacy.”
Because that would deny his own ideals.
Oscar is aiming for my Imperial throne, yet this action fundamentally denies the very throne he is targeting.
“…”
I tried to turn what I realized during my dealings with Indra into a strategy.
I didn’t know if this would work. It was merely one of many schemes I had spread out until now.
I hoped it would be effective.
Then, at that moment.
――――――――――――
Name: Noah Ararart
Emperor of the Empire
Gender: Male
Level: 17+1/∞
| HP | C+A | MP | D+B |
| Strength | C+SS | Stamina | D+B |
| Intelligence | D+S | Spirit | E+A |
| Speed | E+A | Dexterity | E+A |
| Luck | D+B | ||
| Fire | E+S+S | Water | C+SSS |
| Wind | E+C | Earth | E+C |
| Light | E+B | Darkness | E+B |
―――――――――――
[TLN: HP increased from C+B→C+A, MP increased from D+C→D+B, Strength from C+S→C+SS, Stamina from D+C→D+B, Spirit from E+B→E+A, Speed from E+B→E+A, Dexterity from E+B→E+A, Luck from D+C→D+B ]
“——!!”
I gasped.
The sheer shock at the status increase was comparable to the first time Water stat shot up dramatically.
Incredibly, the entire half side had risen by a rank!
I was cautious, wondering what this meant—
However, the reason became clear half a day later.
Reports came in stating that Oscar was “furiously enraged at a level never seen before” regarding the matter of the self-proclaimed emperor.
“…Something that cannot be compromised, huh?”
The term “Something that cannot be Compromised” was something I had heard from many people.
I had said it to Jan, taking a gamble, and it seemed to have precisely pierced Oscar’s heart.
With this expedition, I was certain there would be no rebellion from Oscar until at least the leader was taken down.
At that moment, I was convinced.
[Apologies for the delay. There will be a bit longer delay for the next chapter. I am out of town for some time now]
[Also this marks the end of volume 6. I’ll try find the new volume cover as well]
There is –>discord<— to get update notifications and releases? I am a bit lazy these days.
Thanks for the treat, and enjoy your trip.