Translator: AkazaTL
Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
Chapter 76 : The Clan of the Night (1)
“Understood. I will obey Your Excellency’s command and deliver it.”
A new mine to dig up magic stones?
Despite my remark being utterly difficult to understand, Ismael did not ask for the intention behind it.
“Be especially careful when delivering the letter. Because they might misunderstand that I intend to stab them. You will have to act keeping in mind the possibility that they may react very roughly.”
“Understood, Your Excellency.”
Even though he received an order to go alone to a place where ard conflict could occur, and a quite dangerous place at that, Ismael’s eyes showed no sign of wavering at all.
“Your Excellency. If an unavoidable situation occurs, what line should I tolerate their actions?”
“Hmm. You should tolerate them to so extent, but if they try to harm your body, you don't have to hold back from there. There’s no need to commit rudeness from the first eting, but if they have no intention of keeping manners, it’s useless for you to be stubborn alone.”
“A line where I am not hard…….”
“Right. Because your mission is not to show them an example of etiquette. Be faithful to your original mission.”
“Understood, Your Excellency!”
Having set his standard, Ismael nodded…….
“And take this.”
I took out the slightly shorter sword among the two swords I was wearing on my waist and held it out.
“Your Excellency!”
“It will be helpful.”
The sword I held out to Ismael was none other than the ‘Family Sword’.
Confirming that fact, Ismael vehently refused to accept the sword.
“It is an item far too undeserved for !”
“I am lending it because it is necessary, so take it. Actually, I wanted to get you a fitting sword long ago, but I don't see anything suitable. Use that for now this ti.”
“It is a sword containing the Reichart dignity. If I touch it carelessly, damage may co to the Reichart family’s prestige. Please reconsider that intention.”
“What are you saying right now?”
Ismael refused repeatedly, but I had no intention of changing my original will.
“Ismael, you and Haken are people like my own limbs.”
“Your Excellency!”
“I rely entrusted my sword to my right arm for a while, so why do you say the family’s prestige will be tarnished?”
I placed the Family Sword on the desk and crossed my arms just like that.
“Even if it breaks by any chance, I won’t hold you accountable, so use it as you please and return in one piece.”
“Your Excellency…….”
Eventually, Ismael had no choice but to pick up my Family Sword.
“Even if I exchange my life for it, I will definitely protect this sword and Your Excellency’s command!”
A truly determined expression.
“……A mont ago I said it doesn’t matter what happens to the sword, just return in one piece? Are you even listening to my words?”
Witnessing that appearance, a bittersweet voice leaked out of my mouth.
“Well, then have a safe trip.”
***
“Master, I t Grand Duke Reichart from a close distance for the first ti today.”
Late at night.
Two n were facing each other in the study of a cozy mansion located on the outskirts of Abysin.
“It was a place to discuss the handling of those who violated national law. But do you know what the Grand Duke said to the ministers who argued for granting tolerance to the sinners using the international situation as an excuse?”
“…….”
“He said he would protect the national prestige. Isn’t it a truly surprising thing?”
“……What is so surprising about that?”
“From the mouth of a high-ranking noble ruling this country, the words ‘national prestige’ ca out, not wealth, honor, or lust! And that by the Grand Duke who holds this country in one hand right now, not just an ordinary noble.”
Among the teacher and student sitting face to face, the student’s identity was none other than the young man who was sparkling his eyes in my office this afternoon.
“I never dread such a thing would happen. Perhaps Grand Duke Reichart might beco the hope of this sick country.”
Perhaps deeply impressed by my words, the young man was busy informing his teacher of what happened today with sparkling eyes.
“You are noisy.”
But perhaps the student’s remarks were not pleasing? The teacher dismissed the student’s remarks and turned his gaze to the book he was reading.
“Master!”
“What hope do you say you see in a treasonous sinner who insults a nation’s King and mocks the Royal Family’s authority?”
“Master. Although it is said the Royal Family’s dignity was damaged, the people’s circumstances are improving day by day. Wasn’t it you, Master, who always said that a leader for the people is needed, and the virtue a leader must possess is the mindset considering the nation’s dignity?”
“He is a man who started a war to seize power. Such a man for the people? What nonsense!”
At the student’s repeated protest, the teacher eventually raised his voice.
“I am not a person of this country. But if one must see hope in such an immoral person, Zodiac is placed in a truly pitiful situation.”
“It was the nobles of the capital who drove Grand Duke Reichart to the edge of the cliff first. Doesn't the Master also know well that even while the civil war was progressing, the forces led by the Grand Duke tried desperately to minimize the damage to the people? Just because he seized power at the end of the civil war, disparaging the sincerity the Grand Duke showed is not a reasonable thing!”
He was a student who usually never went against his teacher’s words.
But this ti, he seed to have no hesitation in going against his teacher’s will.
“If the Grand Duke has no selfish motives as you say, then why does the King’s seat still remain vacant?”
“T-That is…….”
But at the single remark thrown by the teacher, the student could say nothing.
“If the Grand Duke really has no personal greed, there is no reason to leave the vacant King’s seat empty for this long. Yet, isn’t it true that talk about a successor to the throne is not coming out at all?”
“Master…….”
“One must always be wary of harboring vain hope.”
Leaving these words, the teacher brought his gaze back to the book.
But for so reason, the last words seed to be left for himself, not the student.
“…….”
As if proving that fact, agitation that he couldn't quite hide was rippling deep in the teacher’s eyes as he turned the page.
***
Slurp.
Afternoon tea ti when I finally had a spare mont.
I was writing sothing down while drinking strong coffee.
‘With this much, it seems the artifacts in the northern part of the continent are roughly organized.’
Spear of Gulsar, ta Ring, Orb of Sky Scales…….
Under the nas of the artifacts I wrote down, lines of three different colors were drawn respectively.
Red for artifacts that already have owners.
Blue for artifacts sleeping in labyrinths without being discovered yet.
Purple for cases where they are already in soone’s hands, but the owner is hiding them.
I fell into thought while carefully examining the artifacts I wrote down by reviving mories of my past life.
‘This and this. I must secure these two unconditionally. That one too, if I secure it when the opportunity arises, it will be a great strength. I’ll have to go find them before so random guy touches them.’
If it were up to my heart, I wanted to go find artifacts wandering through dungeons and labyrinths right now.
‘There are too many things to handle to go treasure hunting right now.’
Ever since I seized full power of the nation, Zodiac was facing an unprecedented period of reform.
The problem was that I was practically leading all those reforms alone.
Currently, among Zodiac’s high-ranking officials, there was not a single person whom I could trust and entrust with this montous task.
There is no ti, and the work to be done is piled up like a mountain.
Furthermore, from now on, occasions for to empty the Zodiac for external affairs would increase rapidly.
Then, a ‘Master of Internal Affairs’ who could operate the country stably during my absence could be said to be indispensable for both Zodiac and .
‘I hope that friend does well.’
I recalled the young official who sparkled his eyes exceptionally upon hearing the words ‘national prestige’ in my office two days ago.
In fact, the reason I bothered to explain even though there was no need to convince the officials at that spot was none other than to move that young friend.
That friend, moved by hearing my remarks, would run straight to the teacher he serves and chatter, ‘Master, today Grand Duke Reichart said such and such things. Isn’t it truly amazing?’
And if that happens.
‘That person called the teacher will beco interested in .’
A week ago, while reading proposals submitted by new officials of the Ministry of Interior, I ended up surprised.
Because in a report written by one of them, I saw a very familiar sentence that I, Hein, had seen frequently in my past life.
The na of the official who submitted the report was ‘Dorian Mugrave’.
Since that day, I imdiately started monitoring Dorian.
And soon I found out that there was a teacher whom Dorian visited every day to receive teachings.
The mont I heard the description of that teacher from the tail later,
A smile that I rarely showed floated to my lips.
‘Bingo!’
I thought it was a trash can filled only with trash.
But in the political street of Abysin, a jewel that the entire continent would covet was hiding with its brilliance concealed.
‘Sheldrick Apelheir’.
The author of ‘Governance and Administration’, a guideline that every administrative official eating the Empire’s salary must read in the future, and a great scholar who presented the theories becoming the foundation of the Unified Empire’s administration.
I also read the books he left countless tis in my past life, but unfortunately, I could not see his face.
Because when Sheldrick’s books and theories shone, he was already not a person of this world.
Seeing his face through a leftover portrait album was all.
But the shock I felt when I first encountered his books was still vivid.
Insight leaping over borders and advanced wisdom transcending the limitations of the era far away.
‘If it is him, he can change the frawork operated by rule of thumb and make this country prosperous.’
Sheldrick was a talent satisfying the requirents I was looking for by 200%.
‘I can also push off work that is botherso for to do while I’m at it. Since I’ve scattered the bait for now, shall I wait for a reaction?’
If he takes charge of internal affairs, I will also be able to use ti more leisurely.
Having emptied the half-remaining coffee in one gulp, I imrsed myself in the paperwork piled up like a mountain again.
***
When pitch-black darkness had settled on Abysin before I knew it.
‘Ismael must have arrived by now.’
Only then, facing a break ti, I turned my gaze out the window.
The darkness wrapping all directions looked exceptionally thick today.
‘Right, I wonder how the Clan of the Night has been living.’
It was probably because I recalled the gentlen and ladies of darkness after quite a long ti.
At the location I handed over, a cozy old castle would be soaring high with the deep, deep forest as background.
And Ismael would et the nobles of darkness waiting for the ti of atonent while hiding his body there.
It was not an easy mission, but I was not worried about Ismael’s safety.
If there was sothing to worry about, it was that communication problems could occur between Ismael, who was overly upright to the point of being stiff, and the Clan of the Night, famous for being stubborn.
But…….
‘Well, since he is such a smart friend, it won’t be dangerous. I even sent him a useful weapon.’
I soon shook my head.
Anyway, I trusted Ismael.
“……I beg of you. Ismael. The fate of Zodiac’s finances hangs on your hands.”
Clang clang clang—
I closed my eyes.
Through the sound of the bell announcing the deepening night, it seed I could hear the sound of gold coins dancing.
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