episode_0216

[The night the new emperor ascends to the throne. A terrorist attack occurred at a hotel in Lien.]

[……The hotel, famous for catering only to the wealthy, was considered the most luxurious hotel on the continent, but is now in such a miserable state that not even a trace of it can be found.]

[The number of deaths is currently 7. Experts analyzed that since the targeted hotel advertised itself as a top-class hotel, the guests not only had personal escorts but also had strong mental and physical training, and no one died instantly from being crushed by the rubble.]

[The number of injured is estimated to be approximately 1,200. It was confirmed that the significantly lower number of deaths compared to the scale was possible thanks to the hard work of Siron Prien, the newly appointed Imperial Swordsman’s fiancé.]

[Traces of cuts with simple swords, not bombs or magic, were found here and there. The culprit is presumed to be a man of considerable incompetence, and according to eyewitnesses, the last time they saw a group of black-haired people rarely seen in the Empire enter the hotel…]

[As if condemning the empire’s past actions, engraving shameless political slogans, etc…]

[This paper would like to express our gratitude to Siron Prien, who continues to work hard to ensure the recovery of the injured to this day.]

“…”

Victor’s face looked very tired as he put down the newspaper.

This was not only because of the terrorist attacks that occurred on the first day of his reign, but also because yesterday, a large crowd of people gathered to commemorate the victims and condemn the terrorist’s evil deeds.

As soon as Victor heard of the tragedy, his heart boiled, but it was nothing compared to the anger of the people.

They feel great pride in just belonging to the empire, the pillar of humanity, and they pour out even more anger than the owner of the country at the fact that their hometown was terrorized.

like that,

The anger of the tens of thousands of people took the shape of a blade and was conveyed to Victor.

Even today, one night later, Victor’s feelings from that time were still vivid.

Malice and anger, and also malice, revenge and injustice.

Even though the target of your anger is not directed at Viktor, if you stand in front of him…

“You got through it well.”

A voice that woke me up from my thoughts was heard from ahead. The previous emperor, who went into seclusion after completing his reign, held the same newspaper in his hands as Victor.

“…Really?”

“Yes, it is difficult to stand in front of many people. Especially in front of the people, who wouldn’t be surprised if something exploded right away… It must have been difficult for even the legendary iron men to easily endure.”

“…”

“How was it?”

The situation asked, taking off the glasses on the bridge of his nose. The smile on his face showed a childlike curiosity that belied his age.

“It felt like… the heavens were testing me.”

Victor expressed his honest feelings about the situation. I wouldn’t have said it before, but the situation where I took off my coronet was somehow easier to deal with.

Generosity and pure joy, not coercion and dogmatism.

Although he felt uncomfortable seeing his father as if he had become a different person, Victor did not shy away from the opportunity to get a glimpse of the situation.

“Then, you must be taking a test right now.”

Franz was smiling. Perhaps because it wasn’t his job, his heart was happy.

“Well then, would you like to guess the force that carried out the terrorist attack?”

“Isn’t it obvious? They are barbarians who do not know who they are in existence thanks to.”

Victor’s fists grew stronger. The situation looked at the energetic reaction with interest.

“We will only know when the detailed results of the investigation come out, but our suspicions have already been solidified.”

“There are many barbarians.”

“They come in as a small elite and collapse an entire building without using any magic tools… There are not many people who would do such a ridiculous thing.”

Barbarian Silea. What Victor wanted to say was clear.

“Then what would you do? Obviously… he shouted for peace and prosperity at the coronation…”

“What would you do about the situation?”

“Your Majesty, please do not ask for my answer. If you were going to check my thoughts one by one, I would have acted as regent.”

“…”

“You must find the answer yourself.”

Although the words were said this way, the situation conveyed a different meaning.

‘Let’s see how the empire that left my hands runs.’

Pure curiosity and interest. The way of speaking that contained neither negation nor positivity was an observer attitude that was only possible because the weight of the coronet was freed.

“I will share with them the burden that the Empire has borne alone.”

Victor spoke calmly to the situation that seemed to be encouraging.

Human Franz’s eyes flashed at the completely unexpected and extreme reaction.

“Should we start by reducing expeditions first? ah! It would be okay to retreat the border and let the demons descend to the southern region.”

“…Didn’t you shout for peace and prosperity?”

Franz spoke slowly, as if he was a little embarrassed.

“We are prospering because we use the resources lost from expeditions every year to strengthen our internal stability. It is peace because the ungrateful bastards are exhausted from dealing with the evil beast, and terrorism will become unthinkable.”

“…”

“Not only Silea, but also other non-civilized people. I will pass on the burden that the empire had borne alone. okay. At this time, it would be a good idea to change the method of the annual punitive system. A little more… right. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. Wasn’t it too ignorant to test the skills of young people?”

“……How about putting them in a special district for barbarians and making it the Arwen Plateau?”

Franz said, leaning forward.

If we go by what he said, the wave of demonic beasts that explodes once a year will be stopped only by barbarians… If that happens, we will be able to naturally cut off the barbarians’ veins.

I didn’t want to get involved, but what the current emperor was trying to do seemed so interesting that I inadvertently ended up going one step further.

“…Let’s consider it. It would be best to complete the detailed plan in the sermon.”

“You’re great.”

Third, not first and second.

The third child, who seemed timid and weak at first…

But they say that a place makes a person. Victor now has no hesitation in using radical words or actions.

Although Franz was not trustworthy at first, as he was said to be a promising person, he was now feeling such a strong sense of accomplishment that he thought it was fate.

‘Maybe my existence has been restricted…’

Franz was satisfied with himself for making the best choice and saw off his son as he left for the main palace.

*

Three days later, a tent at the hotel site after the rubble had been cleared.

“Shrinking borders as a response to terrorism? It’s funny…!”

Siriel, who had returned from the imperial palace, felt a chill surround her body and clenched her fists. After hearing the news that the hotel where the engagement ceremony was scheduled to be held collapsed, her anger did not subside even though some time had passed.

“It would be a shame to start hunting barbarians right away, but I wonder if we are responding too lukewarmly!”

“…”

“Oh, you think so too… don’t you?”

Siron slowly raised his head. Because I had been squeezing out my divine power for four days, I couldn’t get rid of my fatigue with just one night’s sleep.

“…”

“Oh, brother, are you tired?”

“Uh.”

“Shall I let you sleep on my knees?”

“Uh.”

“Do you want to touch my breasts too?”

Siron didn’t answer and just lay down. There were a lot of empty cots in the corner of the tent, and in one of them, Latera, in spiritual form, and Seira, dressed in a white gown, were asleep from exhaustion.

I’ve been so busy the past three days. It was really hard.

Perhaps because most of the patients were people with strained shoulders, they screamed and begged to do this and that…

-I saw it clearly.

-Terrorists are barbarians with black hair.

While I was trying to suppress my desire to get rid of everything, I heard a scary rumor and my headache wouldn’t go away.

There was only one barbarian with black hair in this world.

[Sileia, a wandering people]

While I was praying several times in my heart that they were not the terrorists, the imperial response brought by Siriel was truly surprising.

Reduction of borders. Siron, who immediately understood the meaning, stared at Siriel.

“This is not a lukewarm response. It’s actually more vicious than catching and killing everyone.”

“…is it vicious?”

“Yes, I don’t know whose brain the plan came from, but you used your brain quite well.”

“Because you can take care of both practicality and justification.”

Devialet, who was making coffee, joined in. His face looked tired, perhaps because he had been concentrating on treatment for the past three days along with the priests under his command.

“The empire could maintain its full strength simply by making fewer expeditions and pulling its borders inward, but other groups would not. You probably can’t even pay attention to this one because you’re busy killing the demonic beasts infiltrating every corner of the continent.”

“Then…?”

Siriel’s head tilts. Siron continued Devialet’s words.

“The purpose of terrorism becomes meaningless. They cursed the empire to collapse, but because they created the situation when the empire actually collapsed, their own house collapsed.”

“As expected, you are a warrior. You already see it all through.”

“…Then what is it? Rather, they would come to the empire and beg to stop the demon beasts. Furthermore, it could be possible to send supplies to the reactionary elements who caused terrorism.”

“…”

“Oh, it was the work of extremists that we were unaware of. blah blah. I won’t fuss again… I’d be glad if it stopped there.”

Siron, avoiding the Cardinal’s gaze, sighed with a bitter aftertaste.

Meanwhile, someone muttered in the corner.

“Isn’t that… too harsh?”

It was Lucia. After returning from a trip and coming here to find Shiron’s whereabouts, there was no chaos. In the end, she joined Siron’s relief work even before she could recover from her illness.

“Just kill the person who carried out the terrorist attack.”

Lucia added timidly.

“Not all of them did anything wrong…”

Lucia buried her head in her knees and muttered.

I wanted to quickly tell Siron about the secret of his birth, but I just couldn’t find the mood to say such a thing.

Luck isn’t on your side.

The destruction of the barbarians? Imperial darkness plotting for him? In this situation, it is not easy to say something without notice.

I didn’t even feel like it in the first place.

Savage, a derogatory word I have heard countless times in the past.

The empire was now abuzz with the word barbarian. Wherever I went, I heard the word “barbarian,” and now it was even on the lips of people I was close to.

Lucia was no longer Kylie, and it had been over 500 and 15 years since she left the village of Sileia. Moreover, even though they are clearly not insulting themselves and have long ago forgotten their identity as northerners…

I felt strangely uneasy.

It was strange.