Kill the Emperor

Translator: AkazaTL

Pr/Ed: Sol IX

***

Chapter 77 : The Clan of the Night (2)

“Haa!”

Sharp blade aura, like a statue carved by a skilled artisan, cut through the air and emitted light.

An overwhelming numerical inferiority, well exceeding 10 to 1.

Even so, the spirit emitted by the knight with sharp eyes did not shrink even a little.

“Keuk!”

Rather, the ones screaming and falling away were the masked men surrounding the knight.

“Hoo.”

The knight, who secured space to take a breath with the strike just now, calmed his breathing and took a stance.

“Ughhh…….”

It seemed there were no fatally wounded among the fallen, but judging from the groans they were vomiting out, the knight’s hand was not entirely merciful.

“Ugh, just what kind of guy are you!”

The leader of the masked men watching this spectacle from the second floor eventually shouted out.

“Didn't I say several times that I am a person who came to deliver the command of the one I serve!”

A ringing voice resonated from beyond the mask covering half his face.

“I say it once again, but I came here to convey my Lord’s will to you gentlemen, not because I want to engage in a brawl with you.”

Woong—

As if reacting to the clear voice the knight spat out, a dazzling light poured out from the sword he was holding.

“Keuk!”

The masked men directly hit by the light emitting from the ‘Seal of Brilliance’ engraved on the sword screamed and flinched.

“……What is the name of the one who sent you here?”

Did he judge that further use of force would not be beneficial? The man on the second floor asked the identity of the master who gave the command to the knight, but.

“I am sorry, but I cannot tell you that.”

“What! Are you mocking me right now!”

“I only received the command to deliver a letter from my Lord.”

Ismael had only received the command to deliver the letter and did not know the content, so he didn't know that the sender’s name was written inside the letter.

If his Lord had intended to reveal his name, the content would be in the letter.

He was merely faithful to the command to deliver the letter.

“Shut up!”

Thanks to the knight’s upright and stubborn attitude, the two sides’ positions were still running parallel lines.

“What are you doing! Make that guy kneel quickly! After making him kneel, I will ask that arrogant snout!”

As the man on the second floor shouted once again, the masked men rushed toward the knight.

Just as the dagger of the masked man at the very front was about to clash with the knight’s sword.

“……!”

The movements of the masked men rushing in recklessly like moths to a flame stopped as if it were a lie.

Thud thud.

Behind the masked men who retreated in perfect order, the man who had been shouting at the top of his lungs from the second floor approached slowly.

The masked knight, Ismael, examined the surroundings without letting his guard down.

“……Put down that high and mighty letter you said you brought here.”

The man who came down from the second floor ground his teeth and held out a black plate.

Thud, thud, thud.

When Ismael placed the letter on the plate, the man picked up the plate and hid his figure underground with heavy steps.

Just like that, when about thirty minutes of a strange standoff persisted, where the Seal of Brilliance flashed on the knight’s sword and the masked men shielded their eyes from the light.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The man who had hidden underground revealed himself again.

“……Take it.”

As if he didn't like sending Ismael back nicely like this, the man made a grim expression and held out an envelope brought from the underground, placed on the plate again.

“…….”

Ismael examined the surroundings and carefully folded the reply into the sealing sack.

“I have committed a lot of rudeness.”

And with this single remark as the last, he left the old castle.

Whistle!

“Heeigh!”

When Ismael blew a whistle, a steed hiding nearby ran up and offered its back……

“Hiyah!”

Ismael, cutting through the forest where only darkness had fallen thickly, spurred his horse toward Abysin where I was waiting.

***

“You say this is the reply they gave?”

“That is correct. Your Excellency.”

“Good work. Thanks to you, we passed one difficult hurdle. I will give you leave until the day after tomorrow, so rest well.”

“It is fine. I am grateful for Your Excellency’s intention, but…….”

“When I tell you to rest, just rest. Resting well is also a part of work.”

Having rebuked Ismael who refused unnecessarily, I stroked the blade of the Family Sword returned from him and asked.

“Were there any noteworthy matters other than this?”

“……The ones who clashed with me there seemed to be very burdened by the light coming from the sword.”

“Understood.”

Despite reporting an unusual phenomenon, my expression seemed calm, and Ismael tilted his head.

‘Did His Excellency know that they are reluctant to the light emitted by the Seal of Brilliance?’

However, without additional questions or explanations, I stored the reply Ismael brought into the drawer.

“Then I will take my leave now. Your Excellency!”

“Right.”

Ismael hid his figure after leaving a polite greeting as usual.

Rustle.

Instead of checking the content of the letter Ismael brought, I started reading a thick report.

There was one more guest remaining who was scheduled to visit me.

Knock knock.

“Your Excellency. Secretary Dorian of the Ministry of Interior’s Planning Bureau is requesting an audience…….”

“Let him in.”

When I had read about half of the report, the visitor arrived in front of the office.

“Dorian Mugrave of the Ministry of Interior’s Planning Bureau greets Your Excellency Grand Duke Reichart!”

“Welcome. Sit there.”

Dorian, dressed neatly in formal attire, bowed his waist together with a nervous voice.

I pointed to the chair placed opposite me.

Gulp.

Sitting in a proper posture on the chair waiting for my words, dry saliva went down Dorian’s throat repeatedly.

‘For what matter did His Excellency seek me?’

Since receiving the order yesterday evening to come to the Grand Duke’s office during the morning, questions did not leave Dorian’s head even for a moment.

Of course, if strictly classified, Dorian belonged to the high-ranking officials working at the Ministry of Interior’s headquarters.

But that didn't mean he was a high-ranking official enough to have a private audience with the Grand Duke who was currently overseeing state affairs.

Yet being called to the office out of the blue for a private audience…….

Thump thump.

It was no wonder Dorian’s mouth was drying up completely.

“This is the report you planned and submitted, right?”

“Yes? T-That is correct. Your Excellency!”

At the question I threw, Dorian was startled and answered.

‘Occurrence of Partial Famine and Efficient Supply Measures for Overcoming It’.

That report was definitely what he had planned and submitted last year.

“From last year to this year, there are one or two regions where crops suffered damage due to floods or droughts. Being a Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, you must be aware of it too.”

“Of course!”

Although he had heard well enough that the Grand Duke had a very direct personality unlike his handsome appearance, the Grand Duke met in person was sharper than rumors.

“They say the situation in the regions where famine occurred is really not good. They barely held on until now, but if it goes on like this, they will suffer from severe hunger starting right next month.”

“That is correct, Your Excellency! If we neglect the situation like this, the local people will experience great difficulties.”

Dorian answered with a thunderous voice without realizing it himself, then thought ‘Oops’.

Although his enthusiasm got ahead and he answered with a loud voice, was famine some good thing that he shouted so loudly?

“There are also guys playing tricks with grain taking advantage of the famine. Looking at the recent trends that came up, they say grain prices in the affected regions show signs of skyrocketing.”

My hand movements finding and taking out necessary data from the pile of documents stacked thickly on the desk were unhesitating.

“So, the government plans to take the lead and support the surplus food in the capital to the famine regions.”

“Your Excellency…… Did you say support just now?”

“Why? The people might starve to death, is supporting them a strange thing?”

“N-No, Your Excellency. It is a righteous word. However…… If you support grain, what level of interest rate and repayment period are you thinking of?”

Until now in Zodiac history, there had rarely been cases of supporting grain to the people for free.

So Dorian naturally thought there would be interest this time too and threw the question.

“Are you telling me to play loan shark against starving people right now?”

“T-Then Your Excellency intends to support for free…….”

“I told you. That the situation in the affected regions is really not good. Even if you want to play loan shark, you should do it while looking at the target.”

“N-No! Ah, not that, that is correct. Your Excellency! Free support is reasonable!”

Dorian hurriedly shook his head and emphasized the necessity of free support.

In fact, powerful nations well-off like Akrishima or Maganus had relief systems prepared to support people when famine occurred.

But Zodiac had never done this kind of support since its founding.

“Fortunately, there is plenty of money and food in the capital. While shaking off trash in large quantities this time, I confiscated wealth into the national treasury, so there is quite a surplus.”

“It is truly f-fortunate. Now the people trembling in hunger will also be able to feel much more relieved.”

Dorian couldn't suppress his happy heart and showed a smile in front of the Grand Duke.

‘I must inform the Master of this fact as quickly as possible. Then the Master will definitely be happy too.’

While Dorian was unable to suppress his overwhelming emotion like that,

“Now, by this point, you probably know why I called you here, right?”

I held out the report I showed Dorian at the very beginning once again and spoke.

“From now on, organize and report the amount of food necessary to solve the famine problem and the plan to transport the derived food most efficiently within the shortest possible time.”

“……!”

“Looking at that report, it was excellent. If it is a brilliant talent like you, you wouldn't have neglected studying continuously after that, so you can submit a more improved plan, right?”

The moment he heard the words coming out of my mouth, Dorian’s mind turned white.

Considering the identified extent of famine and the affected regions, this plan was sure to be a project of tremendous scale.

But a plan where such an enormous budget and manpower would be invested…….

‘You are telling me, a mere Secretary, to plan and submit it? Your Excellency! Are you in your right mind right now?’

—Dorian, who held back wanting to say that, expressed his opinion circuitously by opening his mouth wide.

“I plan to proclaim matters regarding support early next week. Then the suffering people will also be able to gain comfort.”

“Y…… Your Excellency, about that.”

“If the support order is proclaimed next week, the period for food to reach them…… shouldn't pass the first week of next month at the very latest. Giving hope that cannot be taken responsibility for and then ignoring it is not something an official receiving the country’s salary should do.”

“T-That is so. Your Excellency…….”

I even nailed down the date while I was at it.

“I will support as much data needed for calculation and means needed for actual transport as you want, so do it well.”

“T-Thank you. Your Excellency.”

“Right. Then you may leave now.”

“Yes?”

“I said leave. If you are to finish by next month, you wouldn't have much time either?”

“U-Understood. Your Excellency!”

Only after my urging did Dorian hesitate and rise from his seat.

But his eyes, which had been dazed just a moment ago, were regaining their usual brilliance before anyone knew it.

“Then I will take my leave now. As you commanded, I will investigate as quickly as possible, draft a plan, and report it.”

“Right. When it is completed, bring it directly to me without going through other institutions. Since I will review it personally.”

A smile formed on my lips after sending Dorian out like that.

The correct answer to the tricky problem I set will come up on time.

Of course, the one writing the answer will be the teacher, not Dorian.

Probably that report Dorian submitted last year was also an item containing a significant part of the teacher’s effort.

‘Sheldrick, shall I see that excellent skill for once?’

Having succeeded in passing off one headache-inducing problem, I smiled with satisfaction, took out the ‘letter’ I had put in the drawer a moment ago, and read it down quickly.

“…….”

I read it once more very slowly. And……

Whoosh!

The paper that fulfilled its mission became a handful of ash and disappeared.

Scratch scratch.

“Hiyah!”

A moment later.

The cry of a black horse running vigorously on the main road spread outside the royal castle rang out.

And on my desk,

-I will go get some fresh air for about two days, so do not look for me.

A small memo paper with neat handwriting fluttered in the wind.