I Didn't Want to Become the Emperor of This World

Chapter 86

The officials prepared a banquet to flatter me.

Thanks to that, I was able to understand what mistake my future self had committed with the Giants.

Just as the officials tried to get on my good side, my future self had prepared gifts to flatter the Giants, and that had been wrong.

The joy of figuring that out was brief.

I worried if Jereuth or Elly had felt the <Future Diary> vibrate from my bag. Especially Elly, who was in the carriage with me, might have heard the sound.

But thankfully, neither of them seemed to have noticed anything unusual. Elly was just staring at my face, and Jereuth was also silently waiting for my answer.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

As I remained silent, Jereuth asked me again.

“Ah, I apologize. I was lost in another thought for a moment. So, the officials prepared a banquet to welcome me?”

“That is correct. Will you attend the banquet immediately? Or will you attend later?”

When I first heard that the officials had prepared a banquet, I was honestly annoyed. It was because they had wasted the budget preparing a banquet instead of doing the work they were supposed to do.

However, thanks to that useless act by the officials, I realized the mistake my future self had made. So perhaps I should be grateful.

‘But that's that, and the fact that the officials wasted time and money on a useless act is another matter. I'll have to hold them accountable to some extent.’

What would be an appropriate level of accountability? Throwing them in prison…… that would be a bit harsh. They prepared a welcoming ceremony because they wanted to get on my good side.

‘Or is it? Since they wasted the budget, is it right to impose a severe punishment?’

As I was once again lost in thought, Jereuth asked cautiously.

“Um…… Your Highness. If the banquet displeases you, I will have everyone disperse.”

***

Jereuth.

Seeing Leonardo deliberating deeply over attending the welcoming banquet, he had an ‘as expected’ thought.

‘As expected, His Highness does not like such useless empty formalities.’

This was Leonardo, who continued to eat simple meals as in the past and indulged in no luxuries even after becoming the absolute ruler. He had even eaten with the soldiers and prepared to camp with them when going to Misty Port.

‘There's no way His Highness, who is like that, would enjoy a banquet, which can be called the height of luxury.’

Some might think a banquet is no big deal, but a banquet is a ‘terrible luxury’ that costs a lot of money. It requires high-class cuisine using rare ingredients not seen in ordinary meals, and to prepare it, skilled chefs and numerous servants must be mobilized.

Not only that, but the decorations and tableware needed to serve the food also cost a considerable amount of money. Since Leonardo confiscated all the assets of the officials during the purge, the officials would not have had any banquet-worthy decorations and high-end tableware, so they must have used the kingdom's budget to procure them.

Is that all? A banquet also requires appropriate attire and performances. Preparing those also costs a considerable amount of money.

Above all, preparing a banquet takes a lot of time. Preparing such a banquet would mean reducing the time to work for the kingdom.

‘There's no way His Highness would enjoy such a banquet. He is someone who spends the budget generously where it's needed but doesn't spend at all on things he deems unnecessary.’

Thus, Jereuth thought that Leonardo was furious with the officials.

But. Read full story at novel⟡fire.net

“Commander, please relay this to the officials. Tell all those who prepared the welcoming banquet to gather in the banquet hall. Right now.”

Contrary to his expectations, Leonardo was smiling. And he told all the officials to come to the banquet hall.

“Should I understand that to mean you will be attending the banquet now……?”

“Yes. I will attend as soon as I enter the royal castle.”

At Leonardo's unexpected words, Jereuth was momentarily speechless out of surprise.

But in the end, he nodded.

“……I understand. I will tell all the officials who prepared the banquet to gather in the banquet hall.”

Although he replied calmly, Jereuth couldn't erase the thought ‘This is unexpected.’ from his mind.

***

Royal Palace 2nd Floor, the Crimson Banquet Hall.

Traces of the purge still remained in the banquet hall. Traces of splattered blood remained on the walls, and remnants of decorations grazed and broken by swords remained here and there.

As a result, the Crimson Banquet Hall always had a bad atmosphere, befitting its name. It was an especially depressing and gloomy space for the officials.

But it was different now. At the news that Crown Prince Leonardo would attend the welcoming banquet immediately, the officials' spirits had soared.

“Seeing as His Highness will attend the banquet immediately, it seems he is looking forward to our banquet! Haha!”

At the words of an official who spoke with a smile while holding a glass of wine, the surrounding officials agreed.

—That's right! Otherwise, there's no way he would attend the banquet!

—If preparing the banquet was a mistake, given His Highness's personality, he wouldn't have just…… ahem, never mind.

—Perhaps he wants to enjoy himself after being away on a long journey.

—Oh! That could be it! I hope His Highness takes this opportunity to enjoy banquets often and experience the joys of a ruler!

Thus, the officials were triumphant and pleased, but just a moment ago, they had been fidgeting with worry about whether the crown prince would attend the banquet or not.

Because if the crown prince had refused the banquet after they had gone to the trouble of preparing it, there would have been no greater failure. Given the tyrant's personality, it was unlikely he would have let it pass without any rebuke.

As the officials were laughing and talking, one official said in a sarcastic tone.

“Haha! That fellow Heinshtangl said His Highness wouldn't like things like banquets and that he would sit out the preparations, serves him right!”

At those words, the officials' topic of conversation changed to badmouthing Heinshtangl.

—Indeed. I hated seeing His Highness always keeping only Heinshtangl close, I hope His Highness takes this opportunity to see that man's foolishness and arrogance.

—When the master returns after being away for a long time, it is common courtesy to hold a banquet.

—Heinshtangl's daughter, Olivia, has also ended up in a fine state! I wanted to crush that pride of hers!

—Ah…… she's a really annoying bitch. Her face is just about tolerable, that's all.

—Her face is quite pretty, though. To be honest.

As can be seen from these conversations, the officials were envious and jealous of Heinshtangl and his daughter, who received Leonardo's attention.

They could not have looked favorably on Heinshtangl, who received Leonardo's favor.

There were several reasons why the officials had prepared this banquet. There was the ‘flattery’ of trying to get on the good side of Leonardo, whom they had decided to follow whether they liked it or not, the ‘wish’ to make the ruler indulge in luxury and pleasure to regain their past happiness, the ‘conspiracy’ to eliminate a rival who received the ruler's favor, and at the same time, the meaning of ‘politics’ in pledging loyalty, albeit reluctantly.

But more than anything, the reason the officials in the banquet hall prepared a banquet for Leonardo was due to ‘forgetfulness’. Because the supreme ruler had been away for quite a long time, they had forgotten what kind of person he was and his personality.

If they had remembered that.

No one would have dared to suggest holding a return welcoming banquet for the tyrant who was staking his life on rebuilding the kingdom.

It was then.

—His Highness Leonardo is entering!

The banquet hall doors opened and a soldier shouted. At those words, the officials all shut their mouths and turned towards the door.

The officials could not hide their smiles, thinking that Leonardo was looking forward to and would enjoy the banquet.

Thud-.

Crown Prince Leonardo entered. Behind him, the ‘Tyrant's Sword’ Jereuth and his knights also followed.

The officials were a little concerned because they hadn't expected the knights to attend the banquet, but what concerned them more was the crown prince's expression.

‘……Why does he have such a blank expression?’

‘I thought he would come in smiling since he said he would attend the banquet?’

‘Something…… something feels off.’

The officials felt a trauma they had forgotten for over a month rising up.

While the officials were lost in their own thoughts, Leonardo had already ascended to the dais of the banquet hall. On the dais, a dining table was set for Leonardo alone, and on that table, a veritable feast was spread out.

“……”

Leonardo, who had been observing the table for a moment.

He stood on the dais without sitting in the chair and spoke to the officials.

“Are all the officials who prepared the banquet gathered?”

—…….

—…….

—…….

—…….

“Why is there no answer?”

The crown prince's voice was not bright at all. It was not the voice of someone pleased with a banquet.

Feeling that something was wrong, the officials could not answer rashly. However, at the tyrant's repeated question, one of the officials stepped forward and said.

“Y-yes, that is correct! All the officials who prepared the welcoming ceremony to celebrate Your Highness's healthy return are gathered here.”

“That's good. I can deal with you all at once.”

“De-deal with us? Haha, Your Highness. What do you mean by that……?”

Unlike the official who asked hesitantly, Leonardo's words were firm.

“I mean to punish you. For the crime of preparing this useless banquet.”

“……P-punishment?!”

The official replied in a voice that was now clearly trembling, and then began to desperately defend himself.

“Your Highness! We were merely trying to celebrate Your Highness's safe return—!”

“Celebrate? Is there anything to celebrate in this kingdom right now? If there is, tell me. I can't seem to think of a single thing to celebrate. If I'm wrong, tell me right now. I'll at least listen.”

Who could say anything?

“……”

“There are still many hungry people in this kingdom. Yet you have prepared such a feast. There is still much to be done in this kingdom. Yet you have wasted time preparing this useless banquet. There are still many places to spend money in this kingdom. Yet you have wasted it.”

“……”

“The kingdom is still in crisis, and you, who should be working day and night for the kingdom to overcome this crisis with me, have lost your minds. Where is there anything to celebrate? Am I wrong?”

The tyrant had returned.

And the tyrant asks, 「“Am I wrong.”」 —afraid of the tyrant, the officials naturally could not retort.

“For the cost of this banquet and your time, plus punishment, I will reduce your salaries for the next six months. I'm talking about a ‘pay cut’. For the next six months, you will only be provided with meals for minimal subsistence.”

—……?!

“Any complaints?”

Of course.

Of course, there were complaints.

A pay cut was not a light punishment that could be accepted nonchalantly.

However, the officials dared not express their dissatisfaction. For a moment, a similar thought flashed through the officials' minds.

—……If I say one word here, I'll die.

Crown Prince Leonardo. He was a man who seized power through a purge at the age of twelve and mobilized the army to wipe out thugs and ruffians.

It was a mistake to try to win over such a person with a mere banquet. In the first place, the crown prince disliked luxury to the extent of eating minimal meals. He even sold the royal family's decorations and valuables to use as budget.

To prepare a ‘banquet’ for such a person, how foolish.

But the milk was already spilled.

“Commander.”

Leonardo called Jereuth, who was below the dais. Jereuth was looking at Leonardo with a gaze filled with fierce respect.

‘As expected of His Highness…… it was just as I thought. There's no way he would enjoy a banquet like this.’

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Please let the knights and soldiers who went with me to Misty Port enjoy this banquet. Since the banquet has been prepared, we can't just throw it away.”

“……Yes?”

Jereuth had been admiring Leonardo for refusing the banquet, but he hadn't thought that he would hand over his own banquet to the knights and soldiers.

“D-do you mean…… you will bestow the food meant for Your Highness upon the knights and soldiers?”

“Yes. They all worked hard, so I'll give it as a reward. If I had my way, I'd like to do something grander than a banquet like this, but the budget is tight and I'm busy in many ways, so that seems difficult.”

There could be no grander reward than being given the banquet prepared for the crown prince. Especially the soldiers would burst with joy at being able to eat food served by the royal maids.

Yet Leonardo spoke as if even that was not enough.

The iron-like hearts of Jereuth and the other knights grew hot.

Thud-.

Crown Prince Leonardo slowly descended from the dais. He headed towards the door he had entered through moments ago.

The officials watched Leonardo with expressions and gazes that could not be described.

Leonardo, feeling their gazes, smiled lightly and replied.

“If you all work hard, I will reduce the period of your pay cut. Sir Heinshtangl will be in charge of your individual work evaluations, so be aware of that.”

At Leonardo's words that the punishment could be reduced, a light entered the officials' eyes. They disliked the fact that Heinshtangl, a thorn in their side, was in charge of their evaluation, but still, there was hope.

It was Leonardo, who had the officials in the palm of his hand.

***

Plop—.

“Hoo…… I'm tired.”

I returned to my room from the banquet hall. My room, which I had returned to after a long time, felt somewhat awkward yet comfortable.

The servants must have managed the room well while I was away, as even the flowers in the vase were fresh.

“……”

I stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment, recalling what had happened in the banquet hall just now.

‘Looking at the atmosphere when I entered the banquet hall earlier, it seemed the officials had become a bit lazy. Their mental state.’

Before I went to Misty Port, that is, until a month ago when I was in the royal castle, the officials all worked to death. While watching my every move.

But perhaps their minds had slackened during the month I was away, as they were all smiling at me.

‘Some were even smiling with an intent to challenge me.’

Of course, I want to be a good person too. Naturally, I also feel good when people smile at me. I'm only human, after all.

I have no intention of continuing a reign of terror. I also know that someday I must move to a higher level of politics than this reign of terror. Because I know all too well how a reign of terror ends.

‘But the officials of this kingdom still need the whip. Seeing them pull tricks just a month after I'm gone shows that the officials of this kingdom still have a primitive sense of responsibility as policymakers and government officials. To try and pull some useless stunt whenever there's an opportunity.’

I have to go to the ‘Wasteland of Ruin’ soon to meet the Giants. And since the Wasteland of Ruin is beyond the northwest border of the kingdom, it will surely take much longer than the trip to Misty Port.

‘Even when I was away for a month or two, the officials became that lax, so what will happen if I'm away for longer? It'll be a complete party.’

I was worried about that. The fact that the officials might become lazy and lax and not work while I'm away.

‘Should I have given a greater punishment than just a pay cut when I punished the officials this time? That might have scared them into shaping up and working even when I'm not around. Maybe make an example out of a few…… no, that's not it.’

As I continued my complicated thoughts, I was suddenly reminded of Heinshtangl.

‘Come to think of it, I entrusted Heinshtangl with full authority over internal affairs before I went to Misty Port. Did Heinshtangl fail to handle the officials properly?’

In fact, considering Heinshtangl's personality, it was plausible. That man is the type to be very conscious of others and unable to say harsh things, so he probably couldn't enforce discipline when the other officials became lax.

‘I think I'll need someone to enforce discipline when I'm away. The most suitable person seems to be Jereuth, but then do I have to leave Jereuth in the royal capital when I go to the Wasteland of Ruin?’

The problem is that I can't leave Jereuth behind when going to the unknown world of the ‘Wasteland of Ruin’.

I need him to be able to respond to any variables that may arise.

“……I don't know.”

A sigh-filled sound escaped my lips.

I stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment again, then got up from the bed.

‘First, let's check the diary.’

I went straight to the banquet hall as soon as I returned to the royal castle, so I hadn't checked the <Future Diary> yet.

‘The <Future Diary> reacted the moment I realized the mistake of ‘my future self’ in the carriage. So there must be new, positive content written in the diary.’

—There was a me who thought so foolishly.

No, there was a stupid me who hoped so.

But the <Future Diary> was showing that what I had just been worried about would become a reality.

The diary just won't show a bright future.

…….

To conquer the Minotaur's dungeon, the help of a Giant is essential. So I headed to the Wasteland of Ruin to meet the Giants.

As I thought, the Wasteland of Ruin was much farther than Misty Port. Unlike the trip to Misty Port, there were no particular problems on the journey itself, but because of the distance, it took a full three months.

After a long three-month journey, I arrived at the Wasteland of Ruin and visited a Giant settlement.

I had made it this far, but honestly, I was very worried because I had no confidence that I could forge a friendship with the Giants.

Fortunately, the Giants allowed me to enter their settlement.

And after living with them for about half a year, there was a Giant who decided to put his faith in me—

「“Ahem! My name is Grondar. I haven't known you…… the human crown prince for long, but you seem like a trustworthy human.”」

With that awkward short phrase, Grondar became ‘friends’ with me. And thanks to Grondar, I was able to gain the trust of the other Giants as well.

Nine months since leaving the royal capital.

It was a long time if you consider it long, and a short time if you consider it short, but I was very satisfied as I had gained the trust of the Giants.

It was great up to this point. Even though it took a long time, I had gained the trust of the Giants anyway.

The problem was the content that came next.

After becoming 'friends' with Grondar.

Before heading to the Minotaur's dungeon, I first returned to the royal capital. It was because I had been away from the royal capital for too long and needed to check on things.

Until I reached the vicinity of the royal capital, I was really happy. I had become friends with the Giants as I had hoped, and many things were progressing.

But the moment I returned to the royal capital, the blood rushed to my head.

Because…… during the year I had been away in the Wasteland of Ruin, the royal capital had become a complete mess due to the laziness and incompetence of the officials.

The incompetent officials didn't even work hard. I had gone through all sorts of hardships in the Wasteland of Ruin for the sake of the kingdom and returned after about a year, but these bastards had been up to their useless tricks again while I was away.

The officials wasted budget and time, and mobilized soldiers to repair their own houses or use them as servants.

They had used precious manpower that should have been used to rebuild the kingdom for their private use ‘like slaves’. Naturally, the soldiers' morale plummeted. The morale of the soldiers, which I consider my top priority.

‘The officials who are left now are the ones I spared during the purge because they were relatively normal humans. But seeing them pull useless stunts every time I'm away, maybe the nature of being a noble doesn't change.’

Even the ones who tried to work properly made repeated mistakes. Heinshtangl, whom I trusted and entrusted with the work, tried to handle the mistakes and laziness of the other officials by himself, but his capabilities were insufficient.

So…….

What should I do with these bastards? If I had my way, I'd want to throw them all in prison to punish their incompetence and laziness.

But I can't do that either. This kingdom still needed their abilities. No matter how incompetent and lazy they were, there was no one else who could properly handle 'administration' besides them.

‘……Should I have left Jereuth, the one in charge of discipline, in the royal capital after all.’

But without Jereuth, I wouldn't have been able to reach the Giant village. I probably wouldn't have even been able to go to the 'Wasteland of Ruin' in the first place.

Anyway, what's done is done. The officials had made a mess of ‘incompetence’ and ‘laziness’, and I had to clean it up.

However, before cleaning up that mess, I had to impose a harsh punishment on the officials.

To raise the fallen morale of the soldiers, and to show the officials what it means to make an example of someone, I had no choice.

I didn't want to see it if possible. ……Nothing ever goes as I wish.

……

Thud—.

There was a little more content left, but I closed the <Future Diary>.

Because I didn't want to read any more.

‘The officials were up to their useless tricks again because I was away from the royal capital……. Why does everything I worry about become a reality?’

The back of my head throbbed.

I had to devise a way to make the officials work without being lazy, even without my supervision.

And I had to find a way to improve their incompetence.

‘A way to foster the work ethic of officials, that is, civil servants. How am I supposed to do something that even doctors of public administration can't guarantee.’

……It's too difficult a task for me. Truly.