Chapter 43 – The Good News
At first glance, it was a truly contradictory sight.
Most of the rulers gathered here are of a fairly mature age.
It was natural.
That’s how many years it takes to reach the center of power that governs all great currents.
However, the one who now tramples on the round table and stands tall in the middle of them, behaving as she pleases, is not a young and beautiful woman who looks like she has just turned 20.
“…Old elder, if she had known that you would come personally, she would have vacated her seat in advance.”
“It’s done, baby commander. Now isn’t it time for you to bend down as well?
However, nonetheless, without anyone stopping the woman, rather, they stand up all at once and bow down to pay respect to her.
“Everyone sit down. Aren’t you in a meeting right now?”
A high elf who has been with the thousand-year-old empire since its beginnings, and an incarnation of absolute force.
Even if she had built up some kind of authority over a hundred years at the most, her status would inevitably fall far below that of her, who could be described as her own history.
“Why is no one talking? You, Velarion’s child. I heard you chattering right before me. It’s very interesting to see you flirting, so let’s continue.”
“…”
The atmosphere of the meeting quickly became solemn with the appearance of an extra-legal uninvited guest.
Duke Bellaryon, who was glared at by Arien, couldn’t say anything and hung his head.
It was unbelievably calm for a person who had been running amok a little while ago.
Although more of a symbolic existence, she is undeniably the general of the empire and the number one in the military.
Since she recklessly persecuted and slandered her deputy without hesitation, she did not dare to raise her face.
“It’s boring to open. She came back after hearing that an interesting story has been going on for the first time in a while, but why is she keeping her mouth shut? Chief Justice Oh, isn’t it your turn to go out at this time?”
“Yes, eldest. Then, we will resume the meeting from now on.”
On the other hand, when Arien complained that everyone was hesitant, looking at each other, the meeting was forced to resume halfway.
Marquis Suleiman, who was the organizer of this cabinet meeting and who took the new position of Chancellor of the Empire after clearing up the chaos after the war.
As if he didn’t like something, he cleared his throat and declared.
“Keuheum! The reason for preparing this place is as follows. As Bellaryon said, the people are trembling with anxiety due to the recent unrest.”
Everyone nodded at the chancellor’s remarks.
None of those gathered here did not feel the impact of this incident, but Commander-in-Chief Craig’s wrinkles were especially deeply dented.
“Yes. Despite the fact that the situation was resolved relatively quickly, rumors containing unsettling content are spreading strangely fast. We are controlling it as much as possible, but it is like an epidemic that is not easily calmed down.”
“It’s obvious. The reactionaries are trying to wrestle public opinion. Refugees from northern immigrants, or those hiding among the conciliated or exiled personnel, are trying to move slowly. We shouldn’t have embraced it in the first place.”
The Duke of Winterhearts, who is a strong barrier that supports the north and has not lost its strength even after suffering the most damage from the last war, accepted his words.
So, while everyone was engrossed in analyzing the cause of this situation from their own perspective and finding a solution.
Arien began to look closely at the faces of the rulers, turning her head here and there, as if checking how much her grandchildren had grown after a long time.
“You. The white beard is a handsome Supreme Court judge.”
“Yes, old man.”
“You’ve aged a lot since I haven’t seen you. Now, it’s a bit uncomfortable to hear you say you’re an elder. Call me Arien-nim, or General General.”
“Yes, General.”
“Ahaha! Why, are you a little embarrassed to call me by your first name? It’s cute, really cute!”
At least one person feels burdened, but it is worth expressing rejection. Already aware of the general’s unusual temperament, they just smiled and steadfastly continued their work.
After all, human beings cannot resist natural disasters.
However, no matter how big a disaster is, if you haven’t experienced it yourself, you can hardly feel the horror.
The chancellor, who continued to show his displeasure without hiding it, acted with all his convictions as if he could not stand it any longer.
“General, isn’t this a serious meeting?
“What?”
In an instant, all the eyes of everyone gathered here were focused on the chancellor.
A feeling of disbelief. Sympathy for future disasters. An unconcealed interest in an unexpected event.
Expressions were indeed diverse, but no one truly agreed with the Prime Minister’s remarks.
“It’s interesting. It’s really interesting. How many years has it been? Chancellor, come to think of it, you’re seeing her for the first time? Still, I really like that you have a snappy personality.”
“General!
Originally, a chancellor is a person who reigns right after the emperor according to the official order of ceremonies of the empire, and is the person who is in the position of the first person, the person who is at the top of all officials.
Even so, it was not impossible to understand where Marquis Suleiman’s conviction and confidence, who had the same personality as the other, came from, but even if the opponent was bad, it was too bad.
— Whiing!
A gust of wind blew the hat the Prime Minister was wearing.
“What is this? Where the hell is the wind in an enclosed space!”
His mantle head without a single thread exposed to the wind caught the attention of those gathered here.
The appearance of the Imperial Chancellor hurriedly picking up a hat to cover his head, visibly embarrassed.
The moment everyone was looking at his disgrace with pity.
Arien’s mysterious voice, who had been giggling as she gazed at it happily, began to reverberate through the conference room on the wind.
“Listen, since ancient times, turmoil has been forced to be covered by even greater turmoil.”
“What do you mean…?”
The commander-in-chief, who had been watching Arien nervously, swallowed her saliva and accepted her words.
“Isn’t it simple? Everyone, put all your effort into this Knights match. We’re going to make it even bigger than usual. Is there any other method that’s as efficient as this to show off the empire’s strength?”
The insight accumulated over the course of a thousand years clearly penetrated the heart of the situation as if it were nonchalant.
In addition, the direction of the solution that was gradually being drawn in the heads of the rulers gathered here was not too different from Arien’s opinion.
It’s just that she tied the knot more firmly.
“I agree.”
“Well, it was as if the conclusion had already been decided from the beginning.”
Although it was Arien who looked at the nodding of their heads under the round table with satisfied eyes.
“High Elf General, it’s amazing. Does this mean age?”
A word from the southern warchief, added at the end, made her fine brow furrow slightly.
“Ooh, wow!”
Right before the meeting broke up, there was a minor accident where a sudden gust of wind blew away all the fancy feather decorations attached to his outfit.
“Commander-in-chief, Agaia.”
“Yes, old man.”
“A woman’s disciple is taking part in this knights match. Ahaha… Aren’t you really looking forward to it?”
“If you are a disciple of the elder… Are you referring to the leader of the Black Lion Knights?”
Right before the bodies of the rulers are transferred to their original places.
“Yes. I don’t know if there’s anyone who can handle that guy.”
A meaningful word left by the general of the empire with a bright smile was clearly imprinted in everyone’s mind.
* * *
These days, I live in the taste of watching the momentum of my subordinates getting sharper day by day.
This is thanks to everyone working diligently in preparation for the definite goal of the knights match.
The fact that the Black Lion Knights, who had just completed a large mission, were not given a particularly heavy task, so the fact that they could focus solely on training for the time being was also a good thing.
In this way, the will and the environment were prepared at the same time, so unexpected slopes occurred.
For example…
“Ohhhhh!”
“What? What’s going on?!”
In the middle of a daily routine filled with all sorts of inhuman training to prepare for the Knights War.
It was unusual to see the crowds gathering at the training ground used by the decathlon leaders causing a great uproar, so I hurriedly ran to see if something had happened.
—Uuuuu… !
“Come on! Haha, fuck! I finally did it!”
“Congratulations, Captain Raul Dec.”
“Thank you, captain! It’s thanks to the direct guidance from the captain!”
Wouldn’t it be that Captain Raoul, who stood out among the lower-ranking commanders, finally manifested his Aura?
From the time he was first appointed as the leader of the Black Lion Knights, he showed exceptional talent and sense in many ways, and he was a person who had been paying attention.
“Now that you have manifested your aura, try to establish the path of the sword you are pursuing in your mind. If it is your talent, you can do it.”
“Uh… But the imagery will take a little while! Hehe… Thanks anyway!”
His talent blossomed as he accumulated high-density experience in a short period of time and had the conditions to properly devote himself to training.
If this is the case, it seems that the centurion level staffing may need to be revised.
Or, perhaps, is there a way to utilize the drastically increased power in other ways?
As the leader of the Knights of the Black Lion, he was thinking about blissful thoughts.
“Captain! The first qualifier schedule has been set!”
Perhaps he was in the middle of training his imagery, the vice-captain, who radiated cool air to cool off the heat on a hot summer day, came running to deliver the news he had been waiting for.
“At last.”
Journey to victory. It was time to take that first step.
