Chapter 828 – 828. A Tyrant For You
“I’ll let the Chief Justice know this time. I have divine powers.”
“…Divine powers…. Yes, I know. It’s only natural since Your Majesty possesses the power of the Holy Grail.”
“I’m not talking about telekinesis. It’s a different kind of divine power.”
“……What kind of divine power is it?”
“It’s Mind’s Eye.”
The Chief Justice looked doubtful. It was only natural since he had never heard of the term Mind’s Eye before.
“You don’t seem to know it well. I’ll tell you about Mind’s Eye, so listen carefully.”
“I will listen attentively.”
“Mind’s Eye is a divine power that allows me to see myself, others, and the world. In other words, I can see through everything. I can see through those who harbor treasonous thoughts, and even demons pretending to be humans are clearly visible to my eyes.”
“……”
“Why don’t you believe me? Don’t forget that I have taken the power of the Holy Grail.”
“I, I believe you. Your Majesty’s divine power is truly amazing.”
“Let’s see… the Chief Justice… that’s right. You’re doing very well. Your loyalty to me is remarkable.”
“……”
The Chief Justice remained silent. Judging by his expression, he seemed to have caught on to my lie. However, he couldn’t dare to deny my words, not unless he wanted to die.
“Chief Justice, I see with my Mind’s Eye that this woman is not a witch. I cannot kill an innocent citizen… release this woman.”
“…I will obey. However, the magic tool indicated that she is a witch.”
“Chief Justice, you little…”
“I believe it is necessary to bring her to the Imperial Palace for investigation.”
“The Chief Justice is very clever. I like how you handle things. I will personally confirm whether this woman is a witch or not.”
The Chief Justice ordered his men to release the woman. A magic circle was drawn on the woman’s wrist. It was a magic that prevented witches from using magic.
The commoners voiced their dissatisfaction. I glared at them with murderous intent. The commoners shut their mouths and avoided my gaze.
“Your Majesty, may we begin the execution?”
I looked around at the witches. There were no beauties among them.
“Execution…”
“Your Majesty!”
One of the bound witches interrupted me.
“Your Majesty! I am not a witch! Please save me! I am definitely not a witch!”
She cried out, hoping for salvation after seeing me save a witch.
“I don’t have a mana organ in my body! Please check one more time! I, I am innocent!”
Her words were so desperate that the commoners began to murmur. Tsk. I clicked my tongue. Stupid medieval commoners. Swayed by such words.
“Chief Justice, explain.”
“This woman does not have a mana organ, but she is the daughter of a witch.”
I looked at the witch’s face again.
It was a face that resembled a toad. Disgusting. I frowned involuntarily. She was definitely a witch.
“I see with my Mind’s Eye that this woman is definitely an evil witch. Carry out the sentence.”
The Chief Justice echoed my words.
“Carry out the sentence!”
The wood was set ablaze.
The screams of the witches filled the grand plaza. The louder the screams, the louder the cheers of the people. The witches burned for a long time, perhaps because they were born with more mana than ordinary people.
Eventually, the fire went out, and the ashes scattered in the wind.
I rose from my chair.
“Hear me, citizens of the Empire.”
My voice, filled with mana, spread to every corner of the capital. All eyes turned to me.
“Today, the Bellacarus Empire was destroyed by a great witch. The great witch cursed me and the Empire. This is a declaration of war from the Witch Island to the Empire.”
I looked around. The grand plaza was broken in many places due to the great witch’s attack. The traces of destruction were clearly visible. The people clenched their fists as they looked at the traces.
“I swear here, before you all, that I will capture and purify all the witches in this world by burning them in fire. I swear in my name, Eugene Bellacarus.”
“Waaaaaaah!”
The people cheered. They must know that I am a tyrant, yet they are happy. As expected, when there is a problem internally, you need to shift the focus externally. There’s a reason why Japan used to attack Korea.
I continued.
“In the name of the Emperor, I declare a witch hunt. I will grant 300 gold to anyone who kills a witch and brings back the corpse, and a reward of 3,000 gold to anyone who captures one alive.”
The commoners’ eyes widened. The Chief Justice and the knights around me were the same.
For reference, a four-person commoner family’s monthly living expenses are 1 gold. With 300 gold, they could live comfortably for at least 20 years, and with 3,000 gold, three generations could live comfortably. Just capturing one witch could change their fate.
Adventurers, mercenaries, and slave hunters would be hunting witches with bloodshot eyes. The reason I specifically said to capture them alive was because there might be beautiful women among the witches. It would be a waste if a beautiful woman died.
“Y-Your Majesty. The bounty seems too excessive…”
The Chief Justice expressed his concern.
“It’s fine. I can duplicate money.”
“…Duplicate money…. Is that even possible?”
“Just raise taxes. Then money will be duplicated.”
“……”
***
I sat on the throne.
In front of me were the Prime Minister, the Grand General, the High Priest, and the Court Magician. I was taking off my clothes in front of them.
Everyone’s gaze was directed at the old man with a blue robe and a white beard.
He was Rodrick Sidrage, the current master of the Magic Tower and the Court Magician. Rodrick spoke to me with a nervous expression.
“The great witch… sacrificed her life to place a curse on Your Majesty. That is why the blessing of the lake could not block the curse. However, it is also thanks to the blessing of the lake that the curse is being suppressed. At least for the time being, there is no need to worry about the curse.”
“So that’s what happened. What’s the method to lift it?”
“……There isn’t one.”
“Are you kidding me, Court Magician? Do you want me to die from the curse that badly?”
My eyebrows twitched. Rodrick panicked as my mood soured. His beard trembled.
“No! This curse was placed by the great witch with her very soul! The great witch’s level is beyond my magical abilities! Moreover, curses are the great witch’s specialty! It is impossible for me or any other magician to lift the great witch’s curse with magic!”
It seemed like he wasn’t wrong. I looked at the High Priestess Penelope.
“High Priestess, lift the curse. It should be possible with divine power, which is strong against curses.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The High Priestess approached me. A divine light emanated from her body. She extended both hands forward. Divine light, divine power, gathered on her hands. Penelope extended her divine power to the area where the curse was swirling.
The divine power disappeared with a *poof*.
“……”
“W-What is this…. I’ll try again, I’ll try again.”
It was the same this time. Penelope’s divine power could not remove the curse.
“Tsk.”
I ordered a servant to bring a potion. It wasn’t an ordinary potion. I drank a potion that was considered a treasure beyond the highest grade. There was no reaction either.
Suddenly, I remembered the words the witch had uttered as she cursed me.
*May everything in this world hate you!*
Those words probably referred to the current situation. Suddenly angry, I threw the empty potion bottle at Penelope. The potion bottle hit her forehead and broke. Blood trickled down her forehead, as glass shards had pierced it. Penelope didn’t even groan.
“Can’t a High Priestess even lift a simple curse like this?”
“……I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“Incompetent woman. I don’t even want to see your face. Get out. You too, Court Magician.”
Penelope and Rodrick bowed their heads and quietly retreated.
[You have insulted the High Priestess and the Court Magician.]
[You have gained 650 Tyrant Points!]
I got an unexpected gain from acting on my anger. Sweet.
In a better mood, I turned my head to the Grand General.
“Luteon.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Do you know about the Derleng Viscountcy?”
“……Isn’t that located in the southern part of the Empire?”
“That’s right. I’ve heard rumors that the Derleng Viscount’s daughter is very beautiful. I want to confirm whether the rumors are true or false myself. However, I sent a letter to the Derleng Viscount a week ago, and he said that his daughter is ill and cannot come to the palace. Go with the army and bring her here.”
“……Me personally, with the army, Your Majesty?”
“There is a village called Arbeggo on the way. I heard that a merchant in that village dares to use the same name as me. It’s unpleasant, so annihilate them.”
“Your Majesty, I am sorry, but if we annihilate a village for such a reason, the citizens of the Empire will have resentment towards Your Majesty.”
“Ah, I forgot to add something. I see with my Mind’s Eye that they are preparing a rebellion in that village. It’s called preemptive eradication. Go and uproot the seeds of rebellion. As you know, if there are any beautiful women, bring them back.”
“……”
“Do you have any complaints?”
“I will simply follow the Imperial command.”
Luteon left the hall.
There was only one person left.
“Prime Minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“This Empire is mine.”
“…Indeed, it is, Your Majesty.”
“Therefore, the territory of the Empire is naturally mine as well. However, there are some ruffians who live in my territory and do not pay taxes. And there are many of them.”
“…Your Majesty. Surely…. No, that cannot be! Please reconsider!”
The Prime Minister’s face turned pale. He knelt down and bowed his head.
“Collect taxes from the nobles.”
“All the nobles of the Empire will rise up!”
“If they rise up, what will change?”
I looked at the Prime Minister indifferently. The Prime Minister was sweating profusely. His chapped lips trembled.
“…What tax rate are you considering?”
“60%.”
“…Please make it 20%. Please do not forget that the nobles are also subjects of the Emperor.”
“That’s true. 30%.”
The tax rate could be gradually increased.
“…There will be many nobles who will not accept it. Especially the Grand Duke of the barren northern region…”
“The north is said to have snow all year round and a blizzard, right? If the Grand Duke of the North expresses dissatisfaction, I will personally bestow mercy upon the North. The North will become warm at about 6,000 degrees.”
“Please reconsider.”
“It is an Imperial command. Do as I say.”
“…I will obey the Imperial command.”
“Ah, and bring the black mages.”
The Prime Minister was startled again. He swallowed hard.
“Your Majesty, they are criminals of the world who have broken the taboo. They are lowly beings that should not be associated with, so please withdraw the Imperial command!”
“From today, black mages are not criminals. Inform the citizens that the Imperial law has changed.”
“Please consider the positions of the Theocracy and the Magic Tower. The Imperial Palace needs their power. Especially the Theocracy, which is one of the foundations of the Empire.”
“Prime Minister, the foundation of the Empire is only one person, me. Do not forget that fact.”
“…I am sorry, Your Majesty.”
***
Onyx Deobart and the other black mages followed the Imperial guards through the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace was as magnificent as its reputation. There were more than six large palaces visible. They walked to the deepest palace, located in the innermost part.
Onyx pulled his hood down. It was a habit he had since his youth. He was the leader of the Black Magic Society, but as a public enemy, black mages could not openly show their faces. Until a week ago.
Even if it was not the case in other countries, black mages were no longer criminals in the Empire. Although the looks they received were not good, they were no longer chased by bounty hunters or guards.
Onyx’s hand, holding the hood, trembled. He was happy but also afraid. The current Emperor was known as a tyrant. It might be a trap.
Onyx heard unfamiliar footsteps mixed in with the sounds. Onyx slightly lifted his eyes and stared straight ahead. Magicians wearing robes were walking confidently from the opposite side. They were magicians from the Magic Tower. They frowned immediately upon seeing the group of black mages.
“Filthy sewer rats crawling into the Imperial Palace… it’s the end of the world.”
“……”
Onyx focused his eyes and glared at the old man with the white beard, the master of the Magic Tower, Rodrick.
The Imperial guard clicked his tongue.
“Lord Rodrick, these are guests of His Majesty the Emperor. Please watch your words.”
“If I wasn’t so frustrated, would I have said that? I wonder what His Majesty the Emperor is thinking…. Those lowly vermin.”
“Lord Rodrick, may I report your current words to His Majesty the Emperor?”
Rodrick was startled. He forgot his dignity and bowed his head to the Imperial guard.
“I, I’m sorry. I was momentarily agitated. Please keep this a secret from His Majesty the Emperor…”
“Hoo. This is the entrance to the Imperial Audience Hall. Please be mindful of your words.”
The Imperial guard turned his head to the side. He had a brief conversation with the Imperial guards guarding the main gate of the Great Hall. The Imperial guard opened the door to the Great Hall, where the Emperor and the throne were located.
“Your Majesty the Emperor! The magicians from the Magic Tower and the Black Magic Society are here to have an audience!”
Onyx was shocked when he saw the inside of the Great Hall.
