471 - Regressor of the Fallen Family
Chapter 471 "Long live Magline!" "Long live Emperor Logan!" "We're an empire now!" "Hey, that's taking it too far." Murmurs of excitement spread through the crowd. The entire kingdom was engulfed in a festive atmosphere. The joy of victory was immense, but what truly had everyone cheering was the fact that the long era of warfare had finally come to an end. "There won't be any more wars now, right?" "Of course not! Who dares to challenge the strongest on the continent, Magline?" The term 'strongest on the continent' was now spoken easily among the kingdom's people. "They say we could have completely decimated the empire, but our benevolent ruler drew the line at taking only the eastern territories?" "I don't care about that. What matters is that the war is over." "Yes, that's the most important thing." Despite the general mood of celebration as if there were a feast, there were those who were anxious. "O God, please let our son come back safely..." "Our daughter..." The earnest prayers of parents waiting for their children who hadn't returned were tucked away beneath the boisterous festival atmosphere. In stark contrast, other parts of the continent were in utter chaos. The emperor had vanished. The empire dismissed it as false, but among the common people, the rumor had already been accepted as fact. No matter how injured he was and supposedly in convalescence, it made no sense for him to not react at all to the west's declarations of war, the church's movements, or Magline's territorial announcements. "If he's truly resting, he must have suffered from serious injuries enough to lose consciousness." "So what happens now?" "Our empire..." "Isn't it going to be a mess?" "It's already a mess, my friend. Start gathering supplies quickly." Even the citizens of Aselian, the largest city on the continent, were in such a state. Less than a week after the war with Magline ended, the empire was already showing signs of disintegration. – Our Travis family will become independent from Ares' shadow and forge a separate path. Furthermore... The first to declare independence was the duchy of Travis, a renowned noble family from the empire's south. Thanks to their territory bordering the southern mountains, they had some leeway to raise private troops, avoiding the central government's strict military system. Being a family with many connections to the central government, their initial withdrawal gave assurance to others. There must truly be an issue with the emperor. Following the lead of the Travis territory, high-ranking nobles of the count status and above began declaring independence, uniting in alliances. And in their individual declarations of independence, there was a common clause, which when summarized, went roughly as follows: – We have no relation to the empire, so please exclude us from your conquests. We do not wish to fight the western alliance of ten nations either. In mere days, over ten territories declared independence, a situation almost laughable in its absurdity. In response, the imperial family issued a proclamation. – Those who challenge the emperor's solemn authority will face the empire's retribution. However, with no appearance from the emperor at any official gathering afterward, the declaration only hastened further disarray. The emperor no longer had the military capability to subdue the provinces. Rumors within the noble society began to take hold as truth. The once-proud fifteen divisions of the east and west and the central army were shattered, leaving only a pitiful force not even amounting to the size of two divisions. Although they still had over 5,000 knights, stronger than any other kingdom's forces, the fact that only two remaining superhumans, the Magician of the North Wind and Jerome Decaid, known as the Empire's Saint, remained, was devastating. Their forces were too weak to guarantee victory even against the weakened western alliance, let alone fight Magline again. The imperial family had already lost the military force to control the entire empire. With such perceptions solidifying, the empire's nobles began each seeking their path to survival. Among them, the nobles in the eastern part of the empire, which Magline had unilaterally claimed as its own, were the most proactive. * * * "I am Baron Pulin Gerhyn. I offer half of my estate; I beg you to spare my title." "I am Baron Tren Mires. I will offer my entire fortune; please, recognize the autonomy of my land." "Earl Tefy Annon is..." "Enough, enough." Bang. Bang. The sound of a fist striking the armrest prompted the empire's nobles to lower their voices. Seated on the throne, Logan looked down at them impassively. Next to him, Demian unfurled a scroll and began reading aloud. "In accordance with the emperor's will, a uniform regulation will be applied to the disposition of imperial nobles. First..." Gulp. Many of those gazing at the plain-faced official in his thirties were filled with tension. It was understandable. Everyone present was either a former imperial noble, their successor, or a proxy with full authority. The fate of heaven or hell rested on the decree in that single scroll. Demian's voice continued in the suffocating atmosphere. "Autonomy cannot be granted. Financial tributes will be accepted, but only half. Titles from the empire will be lowered by one rank and incorporated into the kingdom's nobility. No objections will be entertained. Those who resist should abandon everything and leave that land." "Ah..." Many of those present turned paler at Demian's words. The standardized regulation was stricter than expected. Above all, the very act of lowering their title when transitioning from the empire to the kingdom was an insult to the nobles. Demian folded the decree, indicating no more would be said, and bowed to the sovereign behind him. Logan nodded, rising to survey those assembled in the chamber. As his gaze fell upon them, most looked away, but it was inconsequential. Logan’s ability already allowed him to read the hearts of all present. '...There's no choice. We'll have to comply.' 'Damn it, is he a tyrant?' 'Lowering my title…' 'I must find a way to escape with my wealth.' 'Perhaps I should consider the Travis Duchy or the western ten nations.' A slight smirk crossed Logan's face. Since the war's end, Logan's heightened senses had developed to the point where he could effortlessly read the thoughts of others. "Does anyone have anything to say... Seems like no one does, right?" "Yes, Your Majesty." "Dismiss them." "Yes." The moment the order was given, the knights attending within the throne room began to usher out the nobles and their representatives. Once everyone had left the chamber, Logan calmly issued his next command. "Keep close watch on the mustached man in the third row, the bald one behind him, and the one in the fifth row wearing the floral-patterned uniform. If they make any suspicious moves, take them down. Confiscate all their assets." "Understood." A smile spread across Demian's face as he answered succinctly. There was no need to plant spies or increase surveillance. Just a single meeting with them was enough for Logan to discern those who would submit and those who harbored ulterior motives, making it a worthwhile effort for a ruler, tedious though it might be. "With this, we have completed the sorting of all imperial nobles within our territory." In contrast to Demian's cheerful demeanor, Logan's expression remained grim. "Is there still no news of the emperor?" "...No, my apologies." "No, it's fine. This much confirms that something's wrong with him." The emperor was indeed a significant nuisance. The mere thought that a formidable foe, a minimum of level 8-tier fighter, could be hiding somewhere, made Logan's head throb. 'I can't exactly run around searching for him myself.' Judging by the state of the empire, Logan mused that the emperor might even be dead. But then there was the Kassel Tower, which hadn't made any appearance in the last battle, another enigma Logan couldn't afford to ignore. Those sorcerers, elusive as they were, still posed a significant threat that needed to be eradicated. However, the immediate concern was post-war recovery. "...As soon as the imperial nobles' wealth flows in, prioritize compensating the war's victims. Do so to the fullest extent the budget allows." "Your Majesty, shouldn't we first focus on restoring the legions' strength... No, apologies. I will proceed as you wish." Demian almost expressed his personal opinion but quickly altered his stance when Logan's red eyes showed a hint of displeasure. "Indeed, post-war compensation is of utmost importance. Certainly." "...Though it was a war that needed to be fought, the fallen would not see it that way. To truly usher in the new millennium kingdom, we must first dry their tears. I will tolerate no objections." "...Understood, Your Majesty." "...And regarding the rewards for wartime accomplishments, they will be assessed and conferred at Grang. Needless to say, distribution will focus on lands and governing rights. Prepare accordingly." "Yes, Your Majesty." Having pushed beyond his limits once more after the war, Logan felt as though he was beginning to see beyond the barrier of being an Aura Master. Consequently, solutions to problems he might have once hesitated over now came to him effortlessly. However, there was a downside. 'I wonder how much compensation I'll receive? A county and some land... is that too much?' Logan smirked to himself. "It's not too much." "Yes, of course. Naturally, it’s too... Yes!?" "A county and land, that's reasonable. You've certainly earned it." "A-Ahaha. Yes, thank you, Your Majesty." Seeing Demian awkwardly chuckle after having his thoughts exposed induced another wry smile from Logan. Even his loyal ministers seemed to draw away slightly, knowing he could read their innermost thoughts. 'This probably isn't just my imagination.' How could it not be burdensome to have a sovereign who not only controlled one's life but could also see into the heart? But there was nothing he could do about it. What could he do but accept what he saw? Logan silently patted Demian's shoulder and left the throne room. 'Perhaps reaching the realm of a divine being will mitigate such side effects?' Or, if I lose the ability to read minds, would that be a regression rather than an improvement? And if I become even better at it... Would I become even more isolated? 'Lonely?' The sudden word made him chuckle to himself. 'The war only ended a few days ago.' The ruler who conquered the continent's eastern reach. The king of a nation now indisputably the continent's strongest, and an Aura Master. Feeling lonely because his subjects found him intimidating? Since when had he developed such soft sentiments? "Why am I thinking such ridiculous thoughts...?" He lightly slapped his face to dispel the silly musings. Though not entirely concluded, he had essentially washed away the pent-up resentment from his past life. Compared to the endless hopelessness of his prior existence, he had gained so much in this life. 'Yes, that's enough.' It was good—remarkably good. Yet, there was an inexplicable sense of emptiness. He had tirelessly pursued a singular goal for so long. Having finally reached it, he was at a loss as to what to do next. 'That's it, that's why.' Setting a new goal was something he could decide on from now. Once post-war recovery was complete, he would focus on the traces of the emperor and Kassel Tower, eradicating these lurking threats. That would occupy him for some time. Concluding his thoughts, a sense of relief washed over him. At the same moment, as his awareness extended outward beyond himself, the voices of people began to flood back. Why had he ever felt lonely, even briefly? 'What will the world come to now?' 'At least our kingdom is strong, right?' 'Indeed, with His Majesty at the helm.' From the voices of soldiers who admired him to... 'We've laid the foundation for a thousand-year kingdom.' 'I'm proud to be a knight of Magline!' 'Hail to the King of Knights, Emperor Logan!' The hearts of knights who took pride in what they achieved. All of this bolstered him with reassurance. Furthermore... 'With His Majesty here, the kingdom will prosper for at least 100 years. The people will be at peace. I made the right choice.' His teacher's heart swelling with satisfaction. Among the cheers, his wife's concern for his welfare warmed his heart. 'Was he injured somewhere? Why has he been speaking less?' Yet, there was one voice among them that stood out, catching his attention. ‘This is bad! I need to report to His Majesty... Or should I go to Lady Victoria first?’ Hmm? As his brow instinctively furrowed in response to the sudden tension he sensed, a voice shattered his thoughts. "Y-Your Majesty! There's urgent news! Lord Clayton's body, which was kept at Kyle Fortress, has disappeared!" The message smashed Logan's previously uplifted mood into pieces.