Chapter 95

This is the Imperial Sky Castle of the Japanese Magic Empire, where it is said that His Majesty the Emperor resides. In a certain conference room within the imperial city that dominates the capital, the emperor and his high ministers gathered around a round table for a meeting.

Meetings held in the Sky Castle are extremely rare. This is because moving to the conference room is extremely troublesome. The Sky Castle is protected by a barrier cast by the founder, Oda Nobunaga, and entry is impossible without using the transfer array set up on the ground. The transfer array is located deep within the palace on the ground.

In other words, one must walk a great deal. First, one must walk a long distance to reach the back of the palace. After transferring, one must pass through several doors to reach the conference room. Moreover, one must climb many stairs as well.

For the first three times, one might be impressed. The mysterious floor that leaves ripples when walked upon, the chandeliers enchanted to illuminate the room with embedded gems instead of flames, and the furnishings, each of which could sustain a lifetime of leisure, are truly impressive. Looking outside, one can see the entire capital, and the magnificence of the castle is awe-inspiring.

However, this only lasts for about three times. Some people get bored even on the first visit. Honestly, an elevator would be nice. At the very least, an escalator would be appreciated. While everyone grumbles, they reluctantly visit the conference room in the Sky Castle.

Although it is extremely troublesome to move to, the facility is used not just for appearances. It is completely secure against espionage because it invalidates all surveillance magic. Meetings that truly must not be heard by anyone are held in the conference room of the Sky Castle.

Normally, meetings are held in the conference room on the ground. For important matters, the most secure conference room is used, but even then, leaks to the surroundings are taken into account. However, the conference room in the Sky Castle exists to ensure that no one knows about the meetings.

The gathered individuals are all high ministers whom the emperor truly trusts. Among the nobility, there are the Duke of Ryusui and the Duke of Teisei, and three other counts. The round table can seat twelve, but nearly half the seats were empty.

However, these were the people the emperor trusted. In the entire nobility, they were a small number. But considering that they were the ones the emperor truly trusted, it could be said that there were many. Loyal ministers are heavier than the same volume of gold and are hard to come by.

They always wear magical items that provide mental defense and poison resistance, making them immune to magic and truth serums. Unless they speak, the information discussed in the conference room will never leak.

Even though they are trusted, the ministers grumble. Since this is a conference room that is rarely used, their faces are serious and tense.

A month and a half after the coming-of-age party, the information has finally been gathered, and the situation has stabilized, allowing this meeting to be held.

"Your Majesty, regarding the reaction of the citizens to the disturbance at the coming-of-age party... be pleased. The support rate is soaring. The army and samurai who protected the commoners, Lady Seina, who used healing magic without hesitation, and the re-hosting of the party have earned the people's admiration. They praise the empire and the emperor for his reliability and generosity."

"Is that so?"

The emperor, Gotoya, nods solemnly as the prime minister reads the report. Just by nodding, the air tightens with his authority and charisma. His sharp eyes and confident smile are like a fine sword. Though of medium build and height, he is well-trained, befitting a Sword Saint, and is a man who embodies the emperor.

This is the emperor's appearance before the people. On the ground, it was the same. He stands at the pinnacle of the Japanese Magic Empire, where everyone bows.

But in the Sky Castle, it is different.

"Really? No one is blaming the old man?"

Leaning his cheek on the table, the emperor speaks meekly, devoid of the dignity he displayed earlier. He looks like an unremarkable middle-aged man who has been drinking at a standing bar and is sulking.

"Your Majesty, this is not a sight that should be shown to children."

The prime minister, hoping for a bit more dignity, looks at the others seated at the round table besides the high ministers.

"I have no problem at all. I envy the people my father trusts enough to act this way."

"I have no problem either! My father is only a wimp on the outside! It's sad to be deceived!"

A young man around fifteen years old, with shining rainbow hair, runs his hand through it and flashes a white smile. He is a charming and somewhat narcissistic man. Another boy, around thirteen years old with brown hair, is already over 180 cm tall, with a bulky build and a square face, resembling a fierce general.

"I think this side of my father is cool too. I respect it."

The last person is none other than Gotoya Seina. With a gentle smile, she claps her hands together. Her innocent smile shows no hidden motives.

"Kazuto, Nagamasa, be a bit kinder to your father. Seina is so kind. Really, having a daughter is great."

The middle-aged man, moved, pretends to cry.

"Seina, you're the one surrounded by the most noise, aren't you? I hear you're trying to form a private army with the son of the Suku family."

"Well, Nagaoto, I just want to help people in trouble. A private army... that's harsh. They're my friends. Friends!"

"But you seem to be gathering only orphaned mages. Are you using the Suku family as a cover? Aren't you going to help the commoners?"

"The commoner orphans are being helped by... Mihama, right? I don't want to interfere."

Seina, her cheeks flushed, protests. Seeing this, the man called Nagaoto rests his cheek on his hand and sighs.

"Father, this guy is only ten years old, yet his actions are extreme. Shouldn't we change his tutor and stop him from meeting the son of the Suku family?"

"Ugh, that's too much! The tutors are kind, and Shori is... well... lacking in tact, Nagaoto."

Despite the adorable and embarrassed look, Nagaoto's eyes remain stern, and the others are exasperated.

"Kazuto, what Seina says is correct. The tutors are not teaching political ideologies. They are normal."

"Ah, I see... I thought it was worse."

"Moreover, dating the heir of the Suku family is frustrating as a father, but politically, it's good. It's also beneficial financially and when problems surface."

Leaning his cheek on the table, the lazy middle-aged man's gaze sharpens, and his voice becomes cold.

"The situation is complex. It's not bad to have various plans in place."

"I understand that, but I don't want to compete for the succession."

"Me neither, brother! I don't want to be the emperor at all!"

"I want to support my brothers. I will work hard with Shori to achieve this!"

Sighing deeply, the young man with rainbow hair is Gotoya Nagaoto. He is a rare user of all attributes, the eldest son of the Gotoya family and the first in line for succession. Although he lacks the healing magic aptitude of the holy attribute, he can use other attributes at a high level. As a rare user of all attributes, he is highly expected and carries the name Nagaoto.

The second son, Gotoya Nagamasa, has only awakened to the earth attribute but can use the highest level of earth magic and body enhancement magic, making him a future soldier or samurai.

The three royal family members are allowed to attend for educational purposes. The empress, having no interest in politics, is absent.

"Kazuto, you need to take control. If you can't handle one sister, you shouldn't be the emperor."

"That's right, Nagaoto! If being the emperor is too difficult, I... will work hard!"

Seina, with a sad look, tells her brother with a determined resolve. As a royal, she will work hard.

"I will increase the number of guards, Father."

Moved by his sister's loving words, Nagaoto smiles. It was a touching exchange, but it would have been more so if Nagaoto's eyes weren't half-closed.

"Let's leave the beautiful sibling love aside. So, why did the party turn out that way? The plan was just to eliminate Takanoha Arashi, right?"

Despite the close relationship, the emperor smiles sarcastically and returns to the topic.

Lifting his head from the table, he leans back in his chair, signaling the end of the play and asks the high ministers. The original coming-of-age party was supposed to eliminate Arashi, who was unsuitable as the head of a baronial family, one of the 36 houses. As the emperor, Arashi's incompetence could not be overlooked, and leaving his daughter, Haretsu, unattended was also unacceptable.

Even just hearing about it, the potential for her to become the best healer in Japan was too great to leave her as a low-ranking noble's daughter.

To solidify the rule of the royal and noble families, powerful mages from the commoners needed to be incorporated. It was necessary to prevent the commoners from having hope that they could run the country themselves.

Incorporating them without killing them and showing the commoners the hope of rising to the nobility was also part of the plan. The false hope of Pandora's box was always hidden.

Thus, the plan was to eliminate Arashi and have Haretsu take over as the head of the family. The foolish Arashi was easily manipulated, and there were no issues.

The plan went well, with some adjustments, and Takanoha Mihaha was successfully incorporated into the nobility. That was good. The problem was something else.

"That was our intention."

"I apologize, Your Majesty. We did not anticipate that the Duke of Kamimura would take such drastic action."

The Duke of Ryusui, looking uncomfortable, answers with a wrinkled face, and the adjacent Kinga offers an apology.

"Did you not even get a hint of what the Duke of Kamimura was planning?"

"We thought he might try to expand his power, but we expected only minor disturbances by exploiting security gaps. We did not anticipate that he would prepare 'Loki' and 'Solomon'... It must have been a well-planned operation over several years."

"One more thing... Your Majesty. Is it certain that the Duke of Kamimura was involved?"

A high minister hesitantly raises his hand to ask, and Gotoya scratches his head and frowns.

"If we knew for sure, the Duke of Kamimura would already be destroyed. It's not just him; other organizations are involved. But we can't deal with all of them. We can only face the one trying to topple the emperor's rule. Being the emperor is really tough."

"But we have found a few pieces of evidence that the Duke of Kamimura was involved, though they are not conclusive and can only be used as circumstantial evidence."

Gotoya, looking tired, continues, and the Duke of Ryusui, frustrated by the lack of concrete evidence, looks bitter.

"You old men are all fools. But even if we can't catch the Duke of Kamimura, we can be cautious. Right, Seina?"

"I'm not sure if I can be of any help, but I will share the information I have obtained."

Serious, Seina begins to speak, having been given the floor by the emperor.