Ch.383France’s Anti-Communist Education

I’d like to take a look around, but I don’t particularly want to go inside.

What does it matter if I become the Queen of France? Honestly, Poland and Finland barely even held coronation ceremonies.

I simply ascended to the throne through the Finnish parliament and a formal regency council in Poland.

“Why would I need to write anything when I should return to Russia?”

“Your Majesty has palaces in Constantinople and Rome as well. An Emperor of Rome should rightfully have palaces throughout the world!”

Yes, I do have them. To be precise, I’ve placed my palaces at key locations around the world.

I even have one in Harbin in the Far East.

Some might call it extravagant, but with the Roman Treaty territories being so vast, it can’t be helped.

Of course, what Alisa is suggesting now is nothing but extravagance.

She has a point, but establishing another palace here in France seems excessive. Besides, Paris has essentially become an international city.

France isn’t a bad place, but perhaps because I’ve lived in Russia for so long, I can’t help feeling that Russia is like my homeland.

“Hmm, there’s really no need for that.”

I should just stay for a while and then return to Russia.

The French people probably don’t want me to remain exclusively in France either.

Come to think of it, this is becoming a problem.

If the number of crowns I hold increases, I’ll need to increase the number of palaces too.

Frankly speaking, even with vast territories, I can’t simply consolidate all palaces into the Kremlin Palace in Russia.

“There are also a few interesting pieces of news.”

“A few interesting pieces of news?”

I’m always afraid of that word “news.”

It’s because of one piece of “news” that I’m in this mess now.

Becoming the Queen of France and suddenly having a French-style Anastasia Palace—well, I suppose that’s what I get for my own actions.

Since I’ve already heard the problematic news, I want to hear what else Alisa has to say.

“Yes. Besides the Libya-Egypt matter, there’s genuinely good news.”

Is there really anything that could be called interesting news?

If the Libya-Egypt situation is the problematic news, then is something else about wanting to place another crown on my head?

“Some Russians in the Balhae Federation are suggesting that Your Majesty should be elevated as Empress of Balhae.”

Become the Empress of Balhae? Would the Koreans allow that?

Empress of Balhae. Hmm. If it’s just coming from Russians, it probably won’t have much impact.

“Isn’t that just talk from their side? If it’s only coming from Russians, let’s just ignore it.”

It’s obvious if it’s only talk among Russians.

Of course, if they keep pushing, it could cause chaos in the country, so we might need to address that.

“Balhae is a multi-ethnic nation now, isn’t it? Quite a large number within Balhae—Russians, Manchus, Jews, Han Chinese, and even some Koreans—want to elevate Your Majesty as their Empress.”

Hmm, so because it’s become a multi-ethnic nation, it’s reached a level that can’t be ignored.

Still, me ascending to the imperial throne in Balhae seems inappropriate.

That would essentially mean fully incorporating the Co-Prosperity Sphere into the Roman Treaty, which is not what I want.

From an international perspective, that’s not right.

Even now, America views the Co-Prosperity Sphere as a second tier of the Roman Treaty, but directly incorporating it as part of the Roman Treaty makes no sense.

What would happen to the economic bloc of other countries tied to Balhae? Since it was Korea in my previous life, I’m somewhat inclined to make excuses and let them enjoy some benefits. But the Co-Prosperity Sphere simply doesn’t fit with our system.

It can’t be helped. I don’t know if Balhae truly desires this, but even if they ask, I should refuse.

Balhae needs to remain a powerful force in Asia at the very least, and if they’re tied to the same international organization as us, they’ll struggle to grow.

Though it’s been decades since they escaped colonization, comparing the Co-Prosperity Sphere with Europe now, the former is still in its infancy.

Yes, for complex reasons, Balhae is out of the question.

“Anyway, Balhae is not an option. It would disrupt the balance of power we’ve carefully built, and Balhae might end up isolated. Or other Co-Prosperity Sphere member countries might push to join the Roman Treaty too.”

That’s just not right.

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Besides, if we force this through, there would be significant discontent among Koreans. They may be grateful to us for granting them independence, but they wouldn’t want me as their monarch.”

Moreover, they have unpleasant memories of monarchy.

There’s no reason for me to create problems and foster anti-Russian sentiment.

I don’t particularly need to be concerned about their feelings, but why bother? Unless the vast majority of Koreans, truly all of them, were to accept me.

But that’s unlikely to happen.

Let’s go with declining for now, though it’s regrettable.

“But what if we approach it differently?”

“A different approach? Is there a way?”

Even with the most generous interpretation, I can’t imagine Koreans accepting a white Emperor.

This isn’t about racial discrimination, but you know how it is.

If we really get into it, it’s essentially being ruled by another ethnic group, like when the Mongols ruled the Han Chinese—why would they like that?

Of course, they would maintain an independent government with only the head of state being the Russian Emperor, similar to Commonwealth nations.

Anyway, it’s difficult because of the Co-Prosperity Sphere.

“Religion knows no borders, does it? Frankly speaking, wouldn’t Your Majesty be sufficient to create a religion?”

Create a religion? What nonsense is that? I have no intention of falling for such a thing.

Wait, I’m afraid she might actually try this.

Alisa’s eyes look so serious, which makes me even more afraid.

If they were to make me into a religion in Korea, would that actually work?

“Creating a religion? I hope it’s nothing strange.”

“Your Majesty is a living legend. You don’t age or suffer from poor health. You are truly a living legend.”

Yes, I can’t deny that. I am indeed a living legend.

I honestly believe that.

I pride myself on being the greatest human since the beginning of human history.

Of course, this is all because of a cheat key, but still. At least to others, I must appear as the greatest figure.

Just look at the Russians—they’re all “Anastasia!” fanatics, even if their heads were cracked open.

“Living legend or not, that just sounds nice. I’m not sure.”

Doesn’t this seem a bit frightening?

“The idea is to subtly spread it like a religion throughout the Balhae Federation. Using the Okhrana’s Asian agents, we could infiltrate it in no time.”

Infiltrate the Balhae Federation like a religion.

Wait, doesn’t this sound like espionage in many ways?

“You’re an Anastasia-ist!”

“You caught me. But please hear me out.”

I feel like this kind of conversation would spread, similar to how people in 21st century Korea would engage in keyboard fights online, calling each other spies or communists.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t particularly pleasant.

The idea of me being turned into a religion and spreading that way doesn’t sit well with me.

Again, it can’t happen because of the Co-Prosperity Sphere. Absolutely not.

“No, that’s still…”

“But as an Emperor, shouldn’t Your Majesty rise to become the Emperor of humanity?”

Emperor in name, Emperor of humanity. Hmm. I was momentarily tempted.

But no. Even so, unless my very existence is a hypnosis app, it’s impossible.

Crossing certain lines is not good.

Even if such a thing were possible, it would be an excessive transgression.

I should maintain my current position for now, and once the AI Anastasia project is complete, I should gradually step back.

“No. Absolutely not. Control yourself. Understood?”

I firmly, sincerely, and actively shut it down.

I find such things burdensome.

“Even I wouldn’t go that far. I’ll respond with a refusal then.”

“Yes, that’s better. And…”

“Yes?”

I tapped my head with my finger for a moment.

Before that, I should at least check if France will remain a place where communism won’t take root in the future.

That much seems necessary.

“Still, I want to see a few things before I leave.”

“What things?”

When asked what, it’s only natural to answer.

I should have checked this in advance, but I failed to do so.

“Whether this country is truly ready to accept a queen.”

I’ve accepted the French throne on a whim, but a throne is a throne. France was once briefly a communist puppet state called the Commune during the Great War.

There’s still a possibility that some regions might have been tainted red. So I want to see how anti-communist education is being conducted.

“Is there a way to know that?”

There are several ways.

First, we could have the Okhrana investigate. Second, I could go around personally and verify against terrorism.

“There should be anti-communist education, right?”

Anti-communist education is an extremely important aspect.

Anti-communist education has been ongoing for some time, but France is still uncertain.

After the Commune took power, anti-communist education was temporarily uprooted, and I know it resumed after the war. It’s good to see the situation firsthand.

So I decided to visit a school to observe anti-communist education directly.

Time to disguise myself as a college student Anastasia.

* * *

Vichy National University

“Communists are born from being influenced by the insect-like ideology of communism, but the elite class primarily serves as the core of communism, spreading it. The question is: who gets infected by these communists? It’s the workers who don’t even know the first letter of communism. A world where everyone is well-fed, a paradise on earth, equality—these sound plausible, so especially those without education are more easily caught by these communists and become new communists themselves. Some communists say that capitalism is an ideology that does anything for the greed of the bourgeoisie. But in the end, this is just wordplay by communists. By that logic, communism is merely an ideology that destroys social order, having no parents or friends, and takes away freedom from humans. They constantly shout revolution, revolution, but communism cannot be maintained without inciting the hungry, the proletariat. Just obeying the orders of the party, working as the party dictates, and living dependent on what the party distributes—how is this an ideology suitable for humans? It’s an ideology only fitting for the beasts of Animal Farm.”

That’s right. That’s right. If you want to be free from all that, anarchy is the only way.

To think there’s such anti-communist education in a land where the Commune once existed.

It’s deliberately not delving too deeply into communism, just lightly criticizing it and moving on.

I’m a bit surprised.

France is genuinely trying to break away from its time as the Commune.

I didn’t expect them to be educating so diligently.

“The so-called ‘people’ in communist countries are oppressed of their freedom, and everyone becomes equally hungry and poor. Only a tiny minority have the communist title on their signboard, but they treat citizens like farm animals, more severely and systematically than imperialist governments.”

Come to think of it, that’s true.

“Then, is communism completely unhelpful?”

A student raised their hand and asked.

“‘Now’ it’s unnecessary and unhelpful. For overthrowing imperialism, for warning imperialist nations, there was nothing like communism. It was a necessary evil. But it should stop at just being a warning. A nation built on such ideology becomes a terrible dictatorship. Only ignorant people who can’t even reinterpret communism remain. What happens then? Human civilization doesn’t advance but stagnates, or rather, regresses. Those who worship communism are weaklings who lack the confidence or ability to make their mark in society. They use communism as an excuse to take others’ property for themselves. That’s why it’s an ideology favored by the hungry, and it naturally disappears when a country feeds its citizens well.”

That’s exactly it. An ideology that disappears when people are well-fed.

If you’re well-fed, your back is warm, and you have the freedom to work without discomfort, falling into an ideology like communism makes no sense.

“I see!”

There are no students opposing this.

It can’t be helped since they’re likely the post-war generation.

“A world where everyone is equal. A world without rich or poor. It’s just the devil’s whisper—that’s the conclusion to draw about such an ideology. That’s why the Tsar said: if you study communism, you can’t help but be drawn to it, but if you actually experience it, you’ll be disgusted. However, when the Commune ruled this country, France, it was a bit different. The Commune was just a puppet state serving communist Germany.”

France’s anti-communist education was thorough.

This is anti-communist education conducted directly by the Cross of Fire.

“Well, that should be enough.”

I had disguised myself as one of many students and was able to listen without being discovered.

They didn’t even recognize my perfect disguise, which means that class was genuinely serious.