Chapter 29
The southern continent is unified under a single nation.
The country’s name is Rendel, a nation where humans make up 80% of the population.
A feudal system is in place, with a king at the top and nobles serving as his vassals.
The king is not a wise ruler.
But neither is he incompetent.
In peaceful times, he would undoubtedly be praised as a capable monarch, possessing enough talent to build a stable reign.
*Sigh...*
Such is the king of this nation, sitting not on his throne but in his office, letting out a deep sigh.
"Your Majesty, I must ask you not to show such a pitiful demeanor. If your vassals were to see you like this... Even after the Continental Council, you must always remember that you are seen as the king."
"Don’t be so harsh, Prime Minister. I’ve dismissed the guards. It’s just you and me now. Surely, I can let my guard down a little. Besides, if you had been there, you’d understand how I feel."
"...I can only say that I understand your feelings."
The king, who usually carries himself with dignity and never falters in his role as a ruler, is a man who, at the young age of forty, sits at the top of this nation. He is skilled at handling minor troubles and avoiding major ones.
Supported by a prime minister older than himself, he maintains a stable reign.
A king who scores slightly above passing as a ruler.
That is the evaluation of the prime minister, who serves as the king’s closest confidant.
The king listens to others, reflects on his mistakes, and strives to improve. His shortcomings lie in his lack of decisive judgment in critical moments and his aversion to change.
As a ruler, he has his flaws, but he is also a hard worker.
Given the content of the Continental Council that had just concluded, the prime minister, sitting across the desk, thought to himself that the king had at least managed to maintain the status quo and perform the bare minimum of his duties.
"Dealing with kings of other races who are older than my grandfather is exhausting."
Considering the individuals the king had to face, the prime minister couldn’t help but agree with this complaint.
"The Elder Spirit King, the Dragon Emperor, and the Nine-Tailed Queen... It’s no wonder you feel that way."
The burden of dealing with these figures during the Continental Council was heavier than the weight of his royal duties.
"Indeed. For generations, we humans have maintained our nation through the bloodline of kings. But our counterparts are long-lived clan leaders who have woven history itself. To them, I must seem like a mere infant. The sarcasm they threw my way was likely just a form of casual communication for them."
The lifespan of humans, even the longest-lived among them, the giants, rarely exceeds a hundred years on average.
While there are records of high-level individuals living much longer, the current king’s level has plateaued since his youth, and his aging has only slowed slightly.
At forty, he looks like he’s in his late twenties or early thirties.
"A hero has been born. And you call that casual communication?"
"It was communication, alright. The latter half turned into a boasting contest among the three."
"And when they casually dragged us into it during the break, was that also communication?"
"Probably just communication."
The individuals the king had to face were living legends, possibly nearing a thousand years of age.
Originally long-lived races, they had honed their bodies, raised their levels, achieved longevity, and now reigned as kings.
It’s no wonder that a forty-year-old king like him was not seen as their equal.
A conference between three monstrous kings and an ordinary king, conducted remotely using special magical tools.
The Continental Council is typically held either when world-shaking events occur or as an annual routine.
This time, it was convened at the initiative of three nations, and the King of Rendel was dragged into it.
A hero—a title of great significance in this world.
"The fact that three of God’s beloved children have appeared in this generation is indeed a cause for celebration."
"Except that none of them appeared in our country."
The central continent, the largest in this world, is where the evil god who once sought to destroy the world is sealed.
The evil god is the source of monsters, the god of monsters.
The one who sealed it was a hero, a special being beloved by the gods.
"A person beloved by the gods, who saved the world from the evil god’s grasp and brought peace to this world. When such individuals are born, it is said to be a time of great upheaval. Conversely, one could say that our country is merely enjoying the peace they brought."
The prime minister, with his neatly slicked-back hair, is in his late sixties.
However, he looks to be in his forties, and his cheerful smile brightens the room.
"You seem quite at ease. Why don’t we switch places? Try carrying the fate of this nation on your shoulders."
"I could never replace a king descended from heroes. Perhaps you should place your hopes in the crown prince instead?"
The problem is that the children beloved by the gods were born in the three nations other than Rendel.
"My son takes after me and is too timid. Perhaps if your granddaughter could give him a push and help him gain some confidence, there might be hope."
"You’ve been paying close attention."
The news of the heroes has already spread widely across the other continents.
Sooner or later, it will reach the southern continent as well.
In such a situation, if the southern continent is the only one without a hero, how will it be perceived? The rulers are beginning to feel the strain, their heads and stomachs aching, making even lighthearted jokes difficult.
"...The Elder in the west was given shining armor, I hear."
"Yes. Even his most skilled blacksmith said it was impossible to create."
"Moreover, the number of those armors is enough to equip an entire army, and they come with a storage space connected to another dimension."
"Indeed. Even if they break, as long as they’re not lost, they’ll be restored overnight when returned to the storage."
Enough escapism. It’s too early to pin hopes on the next generation; the current rulers must strive.
The throbbing headaches and churning stomachs.
Both the king and the prime minister feel their well-trained bodies crying out in pain as they recall the council’s contents.
"The queen in the north is said to be exceptionally gifted in magic."
"Yes, I heard she has awakened skills in all eight elements of magic and has further honed her abilities to master advanced spells."
"Moreover, I’ve heard she’s not just skilled in magic but also in martial arts."
"Indeed. She’s said to possess the skill to overwhelm elite soldiers without using magic."
Dark clouds loom, and the more they recall, the more they realize the future is far from bright. Yet, they have no choice but to face reality.
Both clutching their heads and stomachs in pain, the king and the prime minister have no choice but to confront the situation.
"The Dragon Emperor in the east was given a special dungeon key."
"Yes, the dungeon contains various mineral veins, and the eastern nation is now enjoying a significant economic boom. I hear they’ve even discovered rare metals."
"Moreover, the dungeon key can be opened and closed at will, never breaks, and contains monsters that are perfect for training."
"Indeed. There are even materials from rare monsters that are hard to come by."
After facing the facts, all they could see was a future where the southern continent would inevitably fall behind and be left in the dust by the other nations.
"......"
"......"
In silence, they both pulled out potions.
The king from his drawer.
The prime minister from his pocket.
"How many is this for you? Drinking too much isn’t good for your health."
"Only my fourth. You should worry about your own age, Prime Minister. Drinking too much isn’t good for you either."
"This is only my fourth as well. This much is still fine."
As if in sync, they opened the lids and downed the potions in one go.
"Prime Minister, why has God given us such a harsh trial?"
"Well, it’s not for me to understand the will of the gods."
They quietly placed the empty bottles back in their cases, relieved that their headaches and stomachaches had subsided, but their hearts remained uneasy as they faced reality.
"What will be the impact on the nation?"
"There won’t be any immediate effects, but these things tend to spread like poison over time. The longer it takes, the more the people will grow anxious, and eventually..."
"...At worst, I might have to sacrifice myself to buy time for my son’s generation."
"I’ll do my best to ensure it doesn’t come to that."
The light of the heroes shines brightly, and the southern continent will benefit from it.
However, the shadow of the absence of a hero in this nation will sow seeds of anxiety among the people.
"Increase the budget for the academy. We’ll also need to discover talents outside the nobility."
"Increasing support for the academy is fine, but recruiting from outside the nobility will provoke backlash from the aristocrats."
"Then let’s tell them to produce a hero."
"Comparing them to a child beloved by the gods? That’s unusually bold for you, Your Majesty."
Imagining that future, the king, as the prime minister said, was uncharacteristically proactive and resolute in his decision.
The prime minister widened his eyes slightly in agreement but asked for the king’s true intentions, given the unusual move.
"If handled poorly, it could be seen as Your Majesty acting out of desperation and losing your composure."
"If that happens, so be it. Even I know that doing nothing would be the greater folly."
The king’s words showed that he understood that inaction would be the worst course and that there was no time for hesitation.
"This decision will determine whether future generations remember me as a fool or a wise king."
"Historians won’t bother with something this trivial. At most, it’ll be a footnote about some minor conflict with the nobles. If you want to be remembered by future generations, you’ll need to make a decision that changes history."
"Don’t say that. For me, this decision is already a big step."
"True. I agree. At the very least, your predecessor would have hesitated for a week before making a decision that would clash with the nobles."
The prime minister, who had thought the king was slow to make decisive moves, now slightly revised his evaluation. The king was, after all, a true king.
Realizing this, the prime minister felt that the nation would be fine.
"For now, let’s proceed with increasing support for the academy. We’ll decide the rest in a grand council with the four dukes. Does that sound acceptable?"
"Yes, do that. Make sure the nobles understand the urgency."
They discussed and decided on what could be done.
Though the king had slightly deviated from his usual stance, he quickly returned to form.
The prime minister recognized the king’s decision-making as typical of him.
"Understood. Shall I begin immediately?"
"Yes, unless you have some news that might ease this headache, get to it right away."
Knowing the usual flow of things, the prime minister was about to take action when he remembered something and clapped his hands.
"It might be small comfort, but do you remember the haunted mansion in the northern district of the noble quarter?"
"Ah, the one from the earl’s family... A negative legacy from my predecessor’s era. What about it? Have the nobles complained again?"
"No, this morning the adventurer’s guild reported that the extermination and cleanup have been completed. The evidence, a treasure, has also been submitted. It’s been appraised and confirmed to be free of curses. Soldiers and church officials were sent to inspect the site, and while some odor remains, it’s deemed fully reclaimable."
"I see. That’s good news. One less complaint to hear about. Did the ones who solved it receive their proper reward?"
"Yes, without issue."
"Good."
For the rulers, it was merely a report of a minor incident being resolved.
But having one less worry was a positive for both the king and the prime minister.
Compared to the sarcasm they endured, it might have been a trivial bit of happiness, but it was still a small comfort.
The prime minister himself considered it merely a report that one of the recurring complaints had been resolved.
The king understood this as well.
Even if the headache had only slightly subsided, even if it was just his imagination, it was enough.
"Now, I must return to my duties."
"As shall I."
The king and the prime minister.
The two leaders of the nation began to take action, seeking the best way to confront the looming dark clouds.
Even if there were hints that a child beloved by the gods might exist in this nation.
If only the prime minister had paid more attention to the reports from his subordinates.
Or if he had taken an interest in, or questioned, how a single adult C-rank adventurer and three level-less children had succeeded in a quest that had failed multiple times before.
Perhaps the struggles of these two would have been slightly eased.
Their perspective was too high for the average person.
And the ghost incident was too much a thing of the past.
Thus, their joy was fleeting, and their relief momentary.
The struggles of this king and prime minister will continue for a while longer.