The capital of the country of Agarta was enveloped in heat. Amidst the scorching summer sun, lively voices could be heard here and there, undeterred by the heat.
They were rapidly constructing the palace in preparation for the king’s new wife, who would be welcomed in October. The craftsmen poured all their skills without hesitation, treating it as a showcase of their abilities. Even though it was still under construction, the progress hinted at the magnificent building it would become upon completion.
I was observing the building under construction with Gon. It had only been about a month since the construction started, yet the building was being completed at a speed far beyond expectations.
Master Carpenter Gen was leading the construction, and all that could be heard from the site were shouts of determination. While the passion of the foremen was evident, I was slightly concerned about the young workers being overwhelmed.
The decision was made to build the new structure on the site of the Basam family’s mansion. They opted to expand the building in the area where the dining room and kitchen still remained. According to Gen, the building itself was being constructed with great care and sturdiness, and he gladly accepted my proposal for the expansion.
The craftsmen quickly got to work. Although I had entrusted the design to them, scaffolding was erected in no time, and the construction began. I wondered about the architectural plans, but since Gon was involved as an advisor, I decided not to ask. It was planned to include rooms for me and my entire family, making it a considerably large building utilizing the expansive garden of the Basam family.
Regarding Concidy and Soleil, Mei acted as a messenger and went to Niza and the Sirius Village for negotiations. Taking into consideration Rico’s condition, they decided on a wedding date in late October, during the stable period and after the autumn harvest. Both of them would be accompanied by a considerable number of court ladies and maids. However, when Mei directly met with them to discuss, they expressed no issue with living in the Imperial Capital’s residence. Especially Considy, who seemed to have an unforgettable memory of the cuisine made by Peyris she had previously tasted and expressed her desire to live there. As a result, the expansion of the Imperial Capital’s residence was currently underway.
Regarding the Imperial Capital’s residence, the plan was essentially to expand the newly built wing where we currently resided. There was a risk of our teleportation barrier leaking to the outside when the craftsmen visited the residence. However, when I asked the same carpenter who expanded the residence before, it turned out that they still had the design plans from that time. Since the Imperial Capital’s residence was primarily a wooden structure, they would use the plans to process the materials elsewhere and assemble them on-site, minimizing the need for direct on-site work. I entrusted this matter to Rico and Peyris.
Currently, Rico was in the midst of her maternity life, and she had started experiencing morning sickness recently. However, her symptoms weren’t severe, and she was able to eat without any issues. While I wanted her to rest quietly in the residence, Dr. Roni Pousehai’s advice was to keep her moderately active and avoid anything that would cause stress to the pregnant woman, so I planned to have her help with work within a reasonable range.
By the way, the construction expenses for Agarta’s royal palace and the expansion of the Imperial Capital’s residence were covered by the Emperor himself. However, the source of the funds was the loan provided during the founding of the nation. Essentially, the repayment amount had been reduced.
And then, about Matokal, we had a conversation facing each other.
“Matokal, you have massacred many Agarta people. Normally, you should pay for it with your life. Otherwise, the families of those you killed won’t accept it.”
“I understand. It’s only natural for me to face death. I am prepared.”
“However, I’ve decided not to kill you. Because if you die, everything will come to an end. It’s not like dying and everything’s magically ok. Considering what you have done…”
“Ricolette-sama told me to become Lino’s wife. I am a person who was defeated in war. Whatever treatment I receive, I have no right to complain. Do as you wish.”
“You idiot. Well, um, you see. Don’t you have any guilt towards the people you killed? You don’t feel any fear of death… or something like that. Don’t you think the people who were killed by you would feel that they have been cheated?”
“What do you want me to do? Spend my life as a plaything for men, violated in every hole until I’m tired…”
“For now, Matokal, let’s put an end to that play… Ahem. I will make you happy.”
“…Happy?”
“Yes. Me and our family will make you happy. Only when you can feel happiness as a person, will you understand those regrets, suffering, anger, and hatred of the people you killed and their families. Only when you can understand the feelings of those who look at you with hatred, will you be able to face your own sins. It will surely be more painful than death. That is the punishment we will impose on you.”
Matokal had a look on her face that seemed like she understood and didn’t understand at the same time.
“I must say, I’m being quite cruel. The more happiness you feel, the greater the degree of unhappiness you will experience. So be prepared because I’ll make you extremely happy. By the way, it’s not good for my bride to have that cursed skill. It seems like it could have a negative impact on our future child, so I’ll remove it for you.”
Matokal remained silent, head bowed.
Layfence, on the other hand, was delighted about her entry into the family. He didn’t show any signs of it to me, but apparently, he was in such high spirits that there were concerns he might exhaust me if Matokal declined.
Matokal, as the illegitimate child of the Emperor of the Lamaron Empire, decided not to reveal her true status. Even if she kept it hidden, it would eventually become common knowledge, and it wasn’t hard to imagine the curious gazes she would receive. She herself had to realize the weight of her sins, face them, and change public opinion through her future life and actions. While she may not gain the understanding and support of the people of Agarta, I deliberately chose this method. We will simply cooperate to ensure that she can lead a happier life in here than she did before.
The information about Lino welcoming a new wife had also reached the Imperial Capital of the Lamaron Empire.
In one of the rooms in the imperial palace in the imperial capital, a young man dressed in a splendid military uniform sat in a chair, resting his cheek on his hand while listening to a report from his subordinates. It was Duke Konig, who had recently taken up the position of Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army.
“Hmm. The enemy is quite persistent. To welcome the princess of the Niza Principality. With this, the alliance between Hideita, Niza, and Agarta will strengthen, and Agarta will be free from worries about its rear, focusing on the battle with the Empire.”
“The King of Agarta plans to marry several more women besides the Princess of Niza. Among them is Commander Matokal…”
A subordinate with a thin and nervous-looking face frowned while reporting. Duke Konig snorted in response.
“Well, leave it be. However, regarding Matokal, let’s consider her as someone unrelated. Yes… Let’s say that Agarta is trying to exploit Commander Matokal’s fame… Those in the upper echelons of the military are the only ones who know she is a woman. Let’s say Matokal fought brilliantly against Agarta and became a war god… That’s probably the best approach.”
“Understood.”
“More importantly, that fool Jizeu’s failure has severely tarnished the military’s prestige within the Empire. Not only that, but many soldiers are also being influenced by rumors that a Great Demon King has appeared in Agarta, causing them to become fearful. We need to regain the military’s prestige.”
“Are you planning to deploy troops again?”
The subordinate’s hand trembled slightly.
“You’re an idiot. There’s no way that stingy Prime Minister will provide rations. It will be impossible for this year at least. What I’m most concerned about is those who spread the news of the recent failure to further diminish the military’s prestige. Rumors spread, you know. We can’t allow those who would become enemies of the Imperial Army to run rampant, right?”
“What do you suggest?”
“Select individuals who seem useful within the military and secretly place them in various towns and villages. Then thoroughly search for and capture those who are trying to tarnish the military’s prestige. Execute them in the name of the military. This way, the people will understand the terror of the military, and the military’s prestige within the Empire will be restored. How about that? Killing two birds with one stone, don’t you think?”
“An excellent idea, but what about the Prime Minister? He might object…”
“Ah, just leave them be. I’m doing what the politicians should be doing in the first place. After all, their thinking doesn’t reach this far.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
The subordinate bowed respectfully and then hesitantly spoke up.
“What about enforcing disciplinary measures within the military?”
Duke Konig responded with a bored tone.
“For those who are frightened by the Great Demon King, send them all to General Carius’ unit. In fact, it might even be accurate to say that only General Carius’ unit is scared of the Great Demon King. Leave the education of such cowards to the general.”
“Understood.”
The subordinate bowed and left the room. Duke Konig watched him depart with a sigh.
Meanwhile, in the office of Prime Minister Madlin within the palace, a man was engaged in conversation with the prime minister. It was General Carius, the Commander-in-Chief of the Lamaron Empire.
“General, how is the reorganization of the military that Jizeu left behind?”
Prime Minister Madlin asked with a sigh, stealing glances at the face of General Carius.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect it to be this bad.”
“Is it really that serious?”
“Yes. The morale is completely gone. More than that, the soldiers are trembling in fear. Just from hearing a loud noise or seeing a bird flying in the sky, many of them are paralyzed with fear. With such soldiers, no matter how good our strategy is, we cannot defeat Agarta.”
“I see…”
Prime Minister Madlin placed his hand on his forehead and looked up at the ceiling.
“Regarding the promise you made to Her Majesty the Empress about confronting the King of Agarta, that seems difficult for the time being.”
The general let out a slow sigh.
“For now, the training of the soldiers takes top priority, and the execution of the strategy will take more time. But more importantly, we need to dispel the misunderstandings among the soldiers.”
“Misunderstandings? What do you mean?”
“Among the soldiers, the prevailing rumor is that the Great Demon King who destroyed Juka is now within our empire.”
“A Great Demon King within the empire… What in the world…”
General Carius interrupted.
“I also find it hard to believe, but the soldiers are saying it. They say the Great Demon King has appeared. In fact, there were many casualties in Jizeu’s unit, and those who spread the news of the Great Demon King’s appearance were all killed. It’s likely that the Egnimos, which is a normally timid monster that doesn’t attack people, was manipulated by the Great Demon King, and anyone who saw it was killed. And now, the soldiers claim that they infiltrated our empire while we were in chaos.”
“But General, if the Great Demon King had infiltrated the empire, our country would have been overrun by now.”
Prime Minister Madlin wiped the sweat flowing from his forehead and desperately responded. General Carius, observing Madlin with a calm gaze, continued speaking in a composed voice.
“No, the soldiers believe this. They believe that the Great Demon King is lurking within our empire, plotting to destroy it.”
“Lurking…?”
“Some monsters have the ability to disguise themselves as humans. If it’s a monster of the Great Demon King’s caliber, it should be easy for them to take on a human form.”
“The Great Demon King disguised as a human? Who could it be?”
“Have you noticed anyone who suddenly changed recently? Someone who imposes impossible tasks, blames their subordinates, disrupts discipline within the empire…”
“Could it be… Her Majesty the Empress?”
“Careful, Prime Minister. It’s disrespectful to go any further.”
General Carius closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. Prime Minister Madlin, feeling cold sweat on his back, contemplated recent events within the empire in his mind.
The gears of the Lamaron Empire were beginning to malfunction, little by little.
The capital of the country of Agarta was enveloped in heat. Amidst the scorching summer sun, lively voices could be heard here and there, undeterred by the heat.
They were rapidly constructing the palace in preparation for the king’s new wife, who would be welcomed in October. The craftsmen poured all their skills without hesitation, treating it as a showcase of their abilities. Even though it was still under construction, the progress hinted at the magnificent building it would become upon completion.
I was observing the building under construction with Gon. It had only been about a month since the construction started, yet the building was being completed at a speed far beyond expectations.
Master Carpenter Gen was leading the construction, and all that could be heard from the site were shouts of determination. While the passion of the foremen was evident, I was slightly concerned about the young workers being overwhelmed.
The decision was made to build the new structure on the site of the Basam family’s mansion. They opted to expand the building in the area where the dining room and kitchen still remained. According to Gen, the building itself was being constructed with great care and sturdiness, and he gladly accepted my proposal for the expansion.
The craftsmen quickly got to work. Although I had entrusted the design to them, scaffolding was erected in no time, and the construction began. I wondered about the architectural plans, but since Gon was involved as an advisor, I decided not to ask. It was planned to include rooms for me and my entire family, making it a considerably large building utilizing the expansive garden of the Basam family.
Regarding Concidy and Soleil, Mei acted as a messenger and went to Niza and the Sirius Village for negotiations. Taking into consideration Rico’s condition, they decided on a wedding date in late October, during the stable period and after the autumn harvest. Both of them would be accompanied by a considerable number of court ladies and maids. However, when Mei directly met with them to discuss, they expressed no issue with living in the Imperial Capital’s residence. Especially Considy, who seemed to have an unforgettable memory of the cuisine made by Peyris she had previously tasted and expressed her desire to live there. As a result, the expansion of the Imperial Capital’s residence was currently underway.
Regarding the Imperial Capital’s residence, the plan was essentially to expand the newly built wing where we currently resided. There was a risk of our teleportation barrier leaking to the outside when the craftsmen visited the residence. However, when I asked the same carpenter who expanded the residence before, it turned out that they still had the design plans from that time. Since the Imperial Capital’s residence was primarily a wooden structure, they would use the plans to process the materials elsewhere and assemble them on-site, minimizing the need for direct on-site work. I entrusted this matter to Rico and Peyris.
Currently, Rico was in the midst of her maternity life, and she had started experiencing morning sickness recently. However, her symptoms weren’t severe, and she was able to eat without any issues. While I wanted her to rest quietly in the residence, Dr. Roni Pousehai’s advice was to keep her moderately active and avoid anything that would cause stress to the pregnant woman, so I planned to have her help with work within a reasonable range.
By the way, the construction expenses for Agarta’s royal palace and the expansion of the Imperial Capital’s residence were covered by the Emperor himself. However, the source of the funds was the loan provided during the founding of the nation. Essentially, the repayment amount had been reduced.
And then, about Matokal, we had a conversation facing each other.
“Matokal, you have massacred many Agarta people. Normally, you should pay for it with your life. Otherwise, the families of those you killed won’t accept it.”
“I understand. It’s only natural for me to face death. I am prepared.”
“However, I’ve decided not to kill you. Because if you die, everything will come to an end. It’s not like dying and everything’s magically ok. Considering what you have done…”
“Ricolette-sama told me to become Lino’s wife. I am a person who was defeated in war. Whatever treatment I receive, I have no right to complain. Do as you wish.”
“You idiot. Well, um, you see. Don’t you have any guilt towards the people you killed? You don’t feel any fear of death… or something like that. Don’t you think the people who were killed by you would feel that they have been cheated?”
“What do you want me to do? Spend my life as a plaything for men, violated in every hole until I’m tired…”
“For now, Matokal, let’s put an end to that play… Ahem. I will make you happy.”
“…Happy?”
“Yes. Me and our family will make you happy. Only when you can feel happiness as a person, will you understand those regrets, suffering, anger, and hatred of the people you killed and their families. Only when you can understand the feelings of those who look at you with hatred, will you be able to face your own sins. It will surely be more painful than death. That is the punishment we will impose on you.”
Matokal had a look on her face that seemed like she understood and didn’t understand at the same time.
“I must say, I’m being quite cruel. The more happiness you feel, the greater the degree of unhappiness you will experience. So be prepared because I’ll make you extremely happy. By the way, it’s not good for my bride to have that cursed skill. It seems like it could have a negative impact on our future child, so I’ll remove it for you.”
Matokal remained silent, head bowed.
Layfence, on the other hand, was delighted about her entry into the family. He didn’t show any signs of it to me, but apparently, he was in such high spirits that there were concerns he might exhaust me if Matokal declined.
Matokal, as the illegitimate child of the Emperor of the Lamaron Empire, decided not to reveal her true status. Even if she kept it hidden, it would eventually become common knowledge, and it wasn’t hard to imagine the curious gazes she would receive. She herself had to realize the weight of her sins, face them, and change public opinion through her future life and actions. While she may not gain the understanding and support of the people of Agarta, I deliberately chose this method. We will simply cooperate to ensure that she can lead a happier life in here than she did before.
The information about Lino welcoming a new wife had also reached the Imperial Capital of the Lamaron Empire.
In one of the rooms in the imperial palace in the imperial capital, a young man dressed in a splendid military uniform sat in a chair, resting his cheek on his hand while listening to a report from his subordinates. It was Duke Konig, who had recently taken up the position of Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army.
“Hmm. The enemy is quite persistent. To welcome the princess of the Niza Principality. With this, the alliance between Hideita, Niza, and Agarta will strengthen, and Agarta will be free from worries about its rear, focusing on the battle with the Empire.”
“The King of Agarta plans to marry several more women besides the Princess of Niza. Among them is Commander Matokal…”
A subordinate with a thin and nervous-looking face frowned while reporting. Duke Konig snorted in response.
“Well, leave it be. However, regarding Matokal, let’s consider her as someone unrelated. Yes… Let’s say that Agarta is trying to exploit Commander Matokal’s fame… Those in the upper echelons of the military are the only ones who know she is a woman. Let’s say Matokal fought brilliantly against Agarta and became a war god… That’s probably the best approach.”
“Understood.”
“More importantly, that fool Jizeu’s failure has severely tarnished the military’s prestige within the Empire. Not only that, but many soldiers are also being influenced by rumors that a Great Demon King has appeared in Agarta, causing them to become fearful. We need to regain the military’s prestige.”
“Are you planning to deploy troops again?”
The subordinate’s hand trembled slightly.
“You’re an idiot. There’s no way that stingy Prime Minister will provide rations. It will be impossible for this year at least. What I’m most concerned about is those who spread the news of the recent failure to further diminish the military’s prestige. Rumors spread, you know. We can’t allow those who would become enemies of the Imperial Army to run rampant, right?”
“What do you suggest?”
“Select individuals who seem useful within the military and secretly place them in various towns and villages. Then thoroughly search for and capture those who are trying to tarnish the military’s prestige. Execute them in the name of the military. This way, the people will understand the terror of the military, and the military’s prestige within the Empire will be restored. How about that? Killing two birds with one stone, don’t you think?”
“An excellent idea, but what about the Prime Minister? He might object…”
“Ah, just leave them be. I’m doing what the politicians should be doing in the first place. After all, their thinking doesn’t reach this far.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
The subordinate bowed respectfully and then hesitantly spoke up.
“What about enforcing disciplinary measures within the military?”
Duke Konig responded with a bored tone.
“For those who are frightened by the Great Demon King, send them all to General Carius’ unit. In fact, it might even be accurate to say that only General Carius’ unit is scared of the Great Demon King. Leave the education of such cowards to the general.”
“Understood.”
The subordinate bowed and left the room. Duke Konig watched him depart with a sigh.
Meanwhile, in the office of Prime Minister Madlin within the palace, a man was engaged in conversation with the prime minister. It was General Carius, the Commander-in-Chief of the Lamaron Empire.
“General, how is the reorganization of the military that Jizeu left behind?”
Prime Minister Madlin asked with a sigh, stealing glances at the face of General Carius.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect it to be this bad.”
“Is it really that serious?”
“Yes. The morale is completely gone. More than that, the soldiers are trembling in fear. Just from hearing a loud noise or seeing a bird flying in the sky, many of them are paralyzed with fear. With such soldiers, no matter how good our strategy is, we cannot defeat Agarta.”
“I see…”
Prime Minister Madlin placed his hand on his forehead and looked up at the ceiling.
“Regarding the promise you made to Her Majesty the Empress about confronting the King of Agarta, that seems difficult for the time being.”
The general let out a slow sigh.
“For now, the training of the soldiers takes top priority, and the execution of the strategy will take more time. But more importantly, we need to dispel the misunderstandings among the soldiers.”
“Misunderstandings? What do you mean?”
“Among the soldiers, the prevailing rumor is that the Great Demon King who destroyed Juka is now within our empire.”
“A Great Demon King within the empire… What in the world…”
General Carius interrupted.
“I also find it hard to believe, but the soldiers are saying it. They say the Great Demon King has appeared. In fact, there were many casualties in Jizeu’s unit, and those who spread the news of the Great Demon King’s appearance were all killed. It’s likely that the Egnimos, which is a normally timid monster that doesn’t attack people, was manipulated by the Great Demon King, and anyone who saw it was killed. And now, the soldiers claim that they infiltrated our empire while we were in chaos.”
“But General, if the Great Demon King had infiltrated the empire, our country would have been overrun by now.”
Prime Minister Madlin wiped the sweat flowing from his forehead and desperately responded. General Carius, observing Madlin with a calm gaze, continued speaking in a composed voice.
“No, the soldiers believe this. They believe that the Great Demon King is lurking within our empire, plotting to destroy it.”
“Lurking…?”
“Some monsters have the ability to disguise themselves as humans. If it’s a monster of the Great Demon King’s caliber, it should be easy for them to take on a human form.”
“The Great Demon King disguised as a human? Who could it be?”
“Have you noticed anyone who suddenly changed recently? Someone who imposes impossible tasks, blames their subordinates, disrupts discipline within the empire…”
“Could it be… Her Majesty the Empress?”
“Careful, Prime Minister. It’s disrespectful to go any further.”
General Carius closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. Prime Minister Madlin, feeling cold sweat on his back, contemplated recent events within the empire in his mind.
The gears of the Lamaron Empire were beginning to malfunction, little by little.
