Ch.9393. Announcement

I entered the palace with the Papal State leadership and had an audience with the Emperor.

However, before speaking, I made sure to check the Emperor’s complexion.

‘I need to deliver this in a way that minimizes the shock.’

Originally, the Emperor had an extremely robust constitution.

Thanks to his health, there was once a saying that “regardless of which prince wins the competition, they’ll ascend to the throne when the Emperor is nearly fifty.” Some even speculated that the child of the second Empress might have a chance.

But after Cordana, the Emperor had visibly deteriorated.

Fortunately, his complexion looked better today. Still, it was my duty as his subject to report less shocking news first. He mustn’t collapse.

“We’ve dealt with the ruling classes of the various kingdoms. After executing all resistance forces and confirming through survivor testimonies, we found seven kings, forty direct royal descendants or relatives, and about two hundred nobles and their families who wielded king-like power on their islands.”

“I hear the kingdoms are in great turmoil. Do you have any good suggestions?”

“It would be better to simply observe internal developments for at least a few months. If I may presume, the kingdoms are likely filled with unfounded resentment toward the Empire. It’s deplorable, but that’s human nature.”

“…Indeed. I’ve heard widespread complaints that we didn’t extend a helping hand in time. Are you suggesting we wait until their anger subsides and they voluntarily depend on the Empire?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Fortunately, it seemed I wouldn’t need to coach him through every detail.

The current imperial court, while not comparable to the era of conquest wars, had significantly improved judgment. This was due to the end of the peaceful era—where they merely maintained the status quo while sitting on overwhelming wealth and power—and the arrival of an unprecedented calamity.

Thanks to this, I could confidently broach the main topic. It was far more important than the kingdoms.

“And Your Majesty, a new Hero will arrive soon. I only heard about it just before reaching the capital.”

“Ah.”

The Emperor let out a low exclamation and suddenly looked dazed.

Silence fell over the room.

Until that moment, he had shown some vitality, but the moment the word “Hero” was mentioned, his pupils trembled from side to side, and his fingers, which had been casually tapping the armrest, froze.

What might the Emperor, the most revered person on the continent, be thinking now?

‘Perhaps he’s remembering Matthias.’

Matthias, who was once said to have nearly secured the Crown Prince position.

After enduring all sorts of hardships in the Papal State (even I don’t know what kind), he now works tirelessly from dawn till dusk at a facility protecting disabled people.

Though a traitor to humanity, he must be a painful memory for the Emperor. Since the Emperor is human too, I couldn’t blame him for momentarily indulging in sentiment.

‘Or maybe he’s contemplating how to manage the new Hero.’

The Hero, naturally, was not the Emperor’s subordinate.

Given the Empire’s overwhelming power, it naturally took charge of supporting and educating the Hero, but that didn’t make the Hero part of the Empire.

Unless the Hero personally requested to become an imperial noble, they were simply an honored guest backed by the Goddess.

However, the new Hero would find it difficult to be treated as just a guest.

Whether they immediately treat us as primitives while completely disregarding training,

Or individually evaluate female knights serving in the palace or female mages from the Court Magician Corps, even summoning them at random times for suspicious interviews,

Or perhaps conspire with the imperial family to ruin the country.

Such things were now impossible.

Yet we couldn’t mistreat an innocent Hero either, so a delicate approach was needed. It was natural for the Emperor, who bore this responsibility, to be lost in thought.

How long did the silence last?

The Emperor faintly uttered “Why…” like a groan, then squeezed his eyes shut. The First Prince, Empress, and Grand Duke beside him wore similar expressions.

Fortunately, the uncomfortable silence didn’t last long. He soon regained his composure and asked a few simple procedural questions to one of the cardinals.

Then he issued his command.

“Execute Enrique Pimienta, who betrayed humanity.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Also, announce throughout the continent that the Hero’s summoning is imminent.”

“But, that’s—”

“Do it. We can’t hide it anyway. While we may feel uneasy, there are more commoners who will welcome this news. I’ve heard that many still consider it a lie that Gwon Heejin lost the Goddess’s blessing before her death.”

The Emperor said we needed to appease those commoners.

It was actually necessary. Even now, most commoners outside the capital would be shocked by Gwon Heejin’s death.

At best, commoners living in large cities in the direct territories surrounding the capital only expressed discomfort, while in the provinces, some commoners would angrily exclaim, “Monsters are running rampant because you killed the Hero!” when in fact the monster infestations were likely due to lords obsessed with speculation.

It was pointless to dismiss these people as ignorant. I knew this better than anyone, having once been such a commoner myself.

“Designate it as a national celebration and announce it widely.”

While those who would directly face the Hero were filled with apprehension, externally it had to be announced as a celebration.

Still, it was the right political decision.

Soon after, the imminent summoning of the new Hero was widely proclaimed.

It was also announced that when the time came, distinguished representatives of the continent would welcome the Hero at the summoning circle inside the Holy See. An additional request was made for everyone to bless the Hero, the adversary of the Demon Lord, with one heart.

After the report ended, I quietly turned to leave.

Then, without any attendants, I visited the quarters in the imperial palace where Gwon Heejin had once stayed.

Naturally, not even a trace of Gwon Heejin remained there.

The home bar that had been installed at Gwon Heejin’s request (when the Hero stayed in the palace, a dedicated staff member—a beautiful woman, of course—was even assigned) was gone, and all the specially made furniture tailored to the Hero’s taste had been removed. There had also been something like a pull-up bar with an unknown purpose, but that too had been removed.

It was impossible to even guess who would be the new occupant of this room.

“How could I possibly know what the Goddess is thinking?”

If only the new Hero could be like the one before Gwon Heejin, moderately enjoying female company while bravely fighting against the Demon Lord’s army, how nice that would be…

No, thinking about it, that didn’t seem sufficient. To overcome preconceptions and concerns about the Hero, something more was needed. If the Goddess had any sense, she would choose an appropriate talent, but it was difficult to trust the Goddess’s judgment now.

Please, just this once, get it right.

After making this silent plea to the Goddess, I left the imperial palace.

***

Two days later, Enrique’s execution was carried out at dawn. It happened to be a Sunday.

The location was the square adjacent to the old Cordana Exchange building.

The method was burning at the stake.

Originally, the Empire was not a country that favored cruel execution methods like burning at the stake. In fact, executions themselves were rare. If possible, they preferred to send criminals to penal battalions or labor camps to work until death.

But now, public executions were naturally accepted.

Evidence of this was the thousands of people who had gathered to watch the burning.

Everyone was talking about the new Hero, but when Enrique was dragged out by the guards, all eyes focused on him.

Enrique desperately resisted being tied to the stake while screaming.

“I didn’t know I’d become a Master! If I had known, I would have reported it!”

“Stay still, will you.”

“What makes you all so pure that you can burn someone to death…!”

Few people seemed to be listening to Enrique’s protests.

The citizens of the capital had already seen many atrocities and had strong stomachs. Enrique, realizing that no one pitied him, looked bewildered, but soon desperately nodded toward me.

“There! There! Erick Wellesley and your knights massacred hundreds of innocent people! He cut people in half! And stole their money too!”

It was mostly true. Though I hadn’t killed innocent people.

Some glanced in my direction, but I paid no attention.

After all, I had killed over a thousand beastmen and taken dozens as prisoners for ransom. There might be people who envied or hated me, but none who would question my ethics. I was also wearing a warhammer at my waist.

“What kind of people are you…”

Enrique frowned in disbelief, and meanwhile, the guards bound him and stepped back. The court magician who had been waiting immediately conjured fire.

The only difference from Gwon Heejin’s time was the absence of clergy.

“Aaaaargh…!”

Enrique threw his head back and screamed in agony, but I just watched impassively.

‘They said the Hero would arrive within two weeks at the latest. No, two days have already passed.’

I felt like taking a short break, but it was awkward to leave the capital. I would need to go to the Holy See when the Papal State sent notification. If I had to stay in the capital, I needed to find something to do…

As I was thinking this, someone suddenly took my arm. A fresh scent, out of place for the setting, wafted over.

“Erick.”

I turned to see Ember Hyde, dressed modestly.

“Ember?”

It wasn’t strange for Ember to be in the capital. She wasn’t a border noble, so it was normal for her to visit the capital occasionally. Especially since Ember shared the responsibilities of managing the territory. Still, I was surprised to run into her at an execution site.

“I’m here on various errands. Actually, there are people using your name to… no, I’d better tell you later.”

“As you wish. But how did you find me?”

“I just asked any guard I could find, and they told me. They said you’d be at the square, which seemed odd, but I didn’t expect this kind of atmosphere.”

Ember smiled awkwardly as she looked at the stake, but didn’t let go of my arm. I glanced at her profile briefly before turning my gaze back to the stake. It seemed she had detected something unusual and came looking for me, but I wasn’t particularly worried. I never expected peaceful days to continue until the Hero arrived anyway.

“Anyway, I’m glad you’re here, Ember.”

Soon after, the flames rose high.