episode_0474

The words don’t seem to match up.

The cause of the anomaly is the Awakened, but they themselves may not be aware of it.

Where is there any ambiguity in that statement?

“Let’s not jump to conclusions and start with an investigation.”

“Yes, and the soldier who submitted this report is hoping to participate in the investigation.”

If it’s an investigation, then they’ll have to go back to where the anomaly is occurring, but are they really willing to do that?

“Didn’t they already solve one anomaly and come back?”

“Perhaps they realize that the report is strange and doesn’t make sense, even to themselves.”

“Even if they’ve already gone through hardship and come back, we can’t just give them more work. Give them a generous vacation, and if the contents of the report turn out to be true, let them be commended.”

If it weren’t for Suhan’s recommendation, they wouldn’t have sent their direct unit to where anomalies are happening.

It was quite a burden to make Talia’s commander’s direct unit move under their own command.

Talia’s commander is no ordinary person.

‘I can’t confidently say that my power is higher than Talia’s commander’s.’

In the midst of all this, pushing them to undertake two operations unnecessarily could create unfavorable feelings towards Talia’s commander.

Even if they volunteered, there’s no need to unnecessarily show consideration for Talia’s commander.

“Then we won’t accept the request.”

“Understood.”

“Next is the content related to restoring the anomaly.”

“Ah, restoration. It’s urgent.”

“Yes.”

There was nothing left intact where the anomaly had passed.

It was heard that it would be better to demolish everything and rebuild it rather than repair it.

“It’s not just one or two places, isn’t this a bit excessive already?”

“We’ve kept it to a minimum.”

“Surely His Majesty won’t approve of this.”

If the royal treasury spends so much money, they won’t be able to enjoy luxury, which would be displeasing.

Even though it was originally meant to provide minimal support.

‘Come to think of it, I don’t know how much money the country has.’

Even if the royal family indulged in all sorts of luxuries, is it really difficult to provide this level of support?

“I’ll reduce the support a bit more.”

“No, wait.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t think the Empire would have so little money.”

“It might, but didn’t you say His Majesty wouldn’t approve?”

“That’s right. But think about it. If the country doesn’t release funds at a time like this, when will they?”

“Yes. This time, the country must provide support.”

“I’ll try to persuade His Majesty.”

It is necessary to consider whether avoiding such a choice entirely due to the assumption that His Majesty will dislike it is a normal thing.

‘Even if His Majesty opposes it, if it is the right thing to do, it should be persuaded. That’s why I’m in this position.’

Chechen seems to have read my mind and stiffens his expression.

“Are you willing to take the difficult path? Other nobles are living well. The Emperor can change his mind at any time.”

“No matter how indifferent His Majesty may be to national affairs, it is impossible to emotionally change the successor who has no major flaws. Moreover, it is not easy for His Majesty to change the successor who does not like what I do.”

Changing the successor is not something that can be done with a few words.

The nobles connected to the successor will give His Majesty a hard time.

They will fight like dogs, divided between opposition and support. Can His Majesty handle that?

“Oh, are you really going to be that troublesome?”

“If it’s His Majesty, anything is possible. However, it is necessary to adjust appropriately so as not to be too conspicuous. Even if you endure such trouble, you shouldn’t make me want to be removed.”

“If possible, it might be an opportunity to let the nobles know that things are not going smoothly. You could also give the impression that power is being transferred from His Majesty. Of course, it’s best to quietly endure since you haven’t been the successor for long, but it doesn’t seem like something you would do, my lord.”

“The position of the successor was needed to do what needed to be done. But now that you’ve actually become the successor, isn’t it strange not to do what needs to be done and worry about what others think?”

Chechen nodded his head and let out a deep sigh.

“Sigh~ It can’t be helped. If my lord chooses to go down that path, I have no choice but to follow. It will be very difficult in the middle. It will feel like walking on thin ice.”

The precariousness of walking on thin ice, not knowing when it will crack.

The tension of not being able to easily choose where to step.

“It’s because of you that I can make bold choices like this.”

Even when facing a difficult path, it’s not scary when there are loyal aides by your side.

“Since you’ve decided to go through with it, would you give me a little more time?”

“Time?”

“Yes. If I’m going to walk this path, I want to rewrite this.”

Chechen was pointing to the document he had just seen.

“Why is that? Surely not…?”

Chechen smirked.

In fact, that document was squeezed out even after everything that could be taken out was removed. It seemed like that was the only way to get it accepted. But hasn’t the situation changed now? You’ve made up your mind to confront it properly. So, I should start preparing from the beginning again.”

Chechen’s attitude was appreciated, but it was worrying to have to do the same thing twice.

“Isn’t it going to be difficult? After all the work I’ve done.”

“Not at all. It’s much easier to expand than to reduce. It’s like asking a noble if spending money is difficult.”

“I must have said something nonsensical. But when I look at it, your piece is bigger than mine.”

“Haha. Since my lord supports me, I’ll try to make it work with my small piece.”

Even convincing the emperor requires some negotiation.

When trading, the one selling the goods should shout loudly.

And Chechen was an expert who had conducted numerous trades under his command.

※ ※ ※

“Gabriel!”

“You’re finally back?”

“Look at the weight you’ve lost.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Returning to the unit with a heavy heart.

Despite that, his comrades rushed over and asked how he was doing.

If he had any injuries, if he had eaten well, and so on.

Since the strange phenomena were not limited to one place, the children were understandably interested.

“What about you guys?”

Even though he was away, the children must have been still guarding the country at the forefront.

“We went out to support a few times, but Talia Commander called us back quickly because the front line was unstable.”

When something serious happened at the front line, it would be difficult without direct unit members.

If we step in, we can quickly resolve the situation with thousands of soldiers sacrificing themselves.

That’s why Talia Commander didn’t send us out unless absolutely necessary.

“Fran was looking for you.”

“Why?”

“Since you’ve suffered and come back, she seems to want to treat you once.”

There were some wounds, but they were not too serious.

The deep flesh wounds had healed, leaving only scars.

It wasn’t easy to endure the itching, but it wasn’t too difficult to move around to the point of needing treatment from Fran.

“It’s fine.”

“If you refuse, Fran will be in a state of distress again, so just accept it.”

“…Actually, I was thinking of going to the commander and requesting to go out on a mission again.”

“Huh? A mission? Why? Did Princess Hwantaenyu call you again?”

“No. Instead, they ordered the unit to return. But I feel uneasy because we didn’t finish properly. So, I plan to go back, finish it properly, and come back.”

The typhoon had passed, and as the only clue to its cause was the nobles who had escaped outside, I reported as speculated.

However, I couldn’t be sure if the solutions in that report were correct.

Feeling uneasy myself, I volunteered to go on a mission again.

“I know this request will be denied.”

I wanted to go back to where the phenomenon was still happening and check it properly.

But I couldn’t ignore Princess Hwang’s order, so I decided to return to the unit for now.

“If I tell the commander…”

It would be much better to personally oppose Princess Hwang’s order.

“Tell me more. What exactly is the situation that you’re going back to?”

Even though it was brief, the children seemed to not understand my willingness to go back to where the phenomenon was happening.

“It’s nothing serious. I just want to take full responsibility for the task I was given.”

It seemed like I needed to make the children understand before telling the commander.

“You said the phenomenon had disappeared where you went. Isn’t it over then?”

I shook my head at Shine’s words.

“No. I went there to investigate why the phenomenon was happening. Resolving the phenomenon was the next problem.”

“How did you resolve the phenomenon on your end?”

I hesitated for a moment whether to say what I had written in the report, but I thought it wouldn’t be a problem and said.

“The reason the phenomenon continued and the disaster persisted was because of the nobles inside.”

“The nobles caused the phenomenon?”

“That’s a rebellion.”

The startled children couldn’t hide their astonishment.

“If it was really a disaster caused by a rebellion, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you.”

“Ah!”

“Phew, that was a surprise.”

“You scared us. So, it’s not a rebellion then?”

“No, it’s not a rebellion. That’s why it’s even more of a problem. They don’t know they’re the cause.”

At one point, I also suspected that the nobles intentionally caused it.

I thoroughly searched other places but couldn’t find the cause elsewhere, and eventually found out that the cause was inside the shelter.

Naturally, the nobles became suspects.

But until everyone successfully escaped, the nobles did not show any suspicious behavior.

At least, if they were the culprits, wouldn’t they have a reason to cause the phenomenon?