Chapter 77

"Alright, Anya. Even if we go now, the number of consorts His Majesty will actually choose through the selection process will be a few to several dozen."

"Uh-huh, that's true."

"But by overlapping the existing knight selection process, the women in the world will start to grow in the direction set by His Majesty's standards in order to be chosen by him."

"…Wow."

"Knights are inevitably male-dominated, and only a few enthusiasts consider becoming a knight. However, it's rare to find a woman who doesn't aspire to a golden marriage. The women in the world will strive to be favored by His Majesty."

"Thinking that far… amazing!"

Anya looked at me with a gaze full of admiration.

"You're amazing for figuring out my thoughts in an instant."

Saying this, I smiled and looked at Audrey.

"That's all well and good, but has His Majesty not chosen any women he likes?"

"What's with the sudden question? In this context, you mean as a woman, right?"

When I asked, Audrey nodded quietly.

"Why do you ask such a thing?"

"His Majesty seems to have forgotten something important."

"Something important?"

Have you forgotten something?

"The former emperor had many consorts, and they were of various types."

"Hmm."

I almost burst out laughing at the word 'various.'

My father indeed made various people his consorts, including the wives of his subjects and even a girl who was once his father's consort—his stepmother.

It's a famous story.

When the emperor passed away, there was a young girl who was only six years old and untouched due to her age, despite being chosen for political reasons.

In other words, she was a six-year-old widow.

When she grew up and reached the right age, my father, captivated by her beauty, forcibly made her his wife.

Such tales of valor are not uncommon with the former emperor, my father.

"When the former emperor took the wives of his subjects and the young girl who was his stepmother, was he ever reprimanded by anyone?"

"No?"

Why would an emperor be reprimanded for something so trivial?

Even if he did something more unimaginable and inhumane, he wouldn't be reprimanded.

"Yes, that's exactly His Majesty's reaction."

"What are you trying to say?"

"It seems that while His Majesty often speaks of the duties of the nobility, you have forgotten their rights."

"…Hmm."

"All the women in the empire belong to His Majesty—the empire itself is already His Majesty's."

I see, you're telling me to enjoy more of my position and power.

"I understand the point. But why are you saying this?"

"Clear water is hard to live in."

"…Ah."

I understood what Audrey was trying to say.

If I don't do it, the nobles below me will hesitate to act.

That's not good.

If I were just a prince, it might have been fine.

But as the emperor, with absolute power, the nobles and subjects will inevitably consider my actions.

If they start to be considerate of me, the economy will stagnate.

"His Majesty has a wonderful talent, a talent that comes once in ten thousand years. However, as an emperor, you still fall short of the former emperor."

"…I see, that's the perspective of a queen."

The conversation got a bit long, but I finally understood what Audrey was trying to say.

"Understood. The empire is all mine—I will keep this in mind and act accordingly."

"…As expected of His Majesty."

"Hmm?"

"Even when your actions are criticized, you can accept it as the right thing to do as an emperor. You truly are remarkable."

"Is that so?"

It's a compliment I often hear, but it felt different coming from Audrey, who had the perspective of a queen.

☆

The next afternoon, I was having a mock battle in the garden.

With the head maid Zoe and the newly brought Kate, I was relaxing in a pavilion while making the newly added Jiz fight against the other five.

Linked with the armor ring, I made them materialize for the mock battle, focusing on the new Jiz and making them fight one after another.

After one round, my level increased.

――――――――――――

Name: Noah Ararat

Emperor of the Empire

Gender: Male

Level: 16 + 1 / ∞

HP: C + C Fire: E + S

MP: D + C Water: C + SS

Strength: C + S Wind: E + C

Stamina: D + C Earth: E + C

Intelligence: D + B Light: E + B

Spirit: E + C Darkness: E + B

Speed: E + C

Dexterity: E + C

Luck: E + C

――――――――――――

My MP increased by one level.

It's been a while since my last level up.

This level up is due to the addition of Jiz.

"Zoe… no, Kate. Use the status magic."

"Y-Yes, I understand."

Kate, who had been brought back not long ago, was still a bit nervous.

She had some talent for magic, so I taught her the status check magic and gave her a temporary job.

I confirmed my level 17 status, which was still far from its limit.

Feeling that there was still room for improvement, I made them fight more.

After two rounds, the rough hierarchy became clear.

The existing hierarchy remained unchanged.

Top was Bahamut, followed by Leviathan.

The awakened Bahamut and the fiercely competitive Leviathan formed the top two.

Below them were Behemoth, Apophis, and Fwawa in that order.

These three fought without much enmity, but Fwawa was so indifferent that it made me wonder if she was still hiding her true strength.

Jiz, with a bird's head and a muscular male torso, inserted himself between Leviathan and Behemoth.

This was the materialized form of Jiz linked with the armor ring.

After the hierarchy became clear, my level increased again.

――――――――――――

Name: Noah Ararat

Emperor of the Empire

Gender: Male

Level: 17 + 1 / ∞

HP: C + C Fire: E + S

MP: D + C Water: C + SS

Strength: C + S Wind: E + C

Stamina: D + C Earth: E + C

Intelligence: D + B Light: E + B

Spirit: E + C Darkness: E + B

Speed: E + C

Dexterity: E + C

Luck: D + C

――――――――――――

This time, my luck increased by one level.

My raw abilities are still modest, but I can say that I have become quite strong.

The visible status is—

"Here, here."

Before I could ask, Kate cast the magic.

My status appeared in front of me, visible to others as well.

It showed 18, having increased from 17 + 1.

"Ah…"

Zoe was surprised.

I smiled proudly at Zoe.

"It's like this. You're quick to catch on, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"When I reached for the lukewarm tea, it had been replaced with something hot without me noticing."

"Oh…"

Zoe and Kate were surprised, and Kate looked down awkwardly when she was stared at.

"Truly, His Majesty, to see the talent in such an ordinary girl…"

"I noticed it, but it's up to you to nurture her. I trust you with it."

"Yes! I will take care of it!"

She seemed delighted to be trusted by me.

Smiling, I nodded and returned to the mock battle.

From experience, I knew that with Jiz's addition, I would smoothly level up three more times.

I decided to do that today.

With the hierarchy established, my focus on the mock battle shifted to other things.

I noticed Kate staring intently at my hands.

"What is it? Is there something on my hands?"

"Eh? Ah…"

"Excuse me, Kate."

"It's fine this time, I forgive you. But you had a look like you wanted to say something. What is it?"

"Um…"

Kate fidgeted, looking back and forth between me and Zoe.

Because I told her to follow Zoe's instructions when I entrusted her to Zoe, she was still adjusting and felt confused.

"Answer His Majesty's question. His Majesty's words take precedence over everything."

"Y-Yes!"

Nodding nervously, Kate looked at my hands.

"Can what His Majesty can do also be done by humans?"

"By humans?"

"The God of Color sometimes possessed human bodies."

"…I've never thought about it. How about it?"

When I asked, one of the six responded immediately.

"I can."

It was Bahamut.

The only one who was awakened.

"For about a minute, I can use that girl's body."

"Try it."

"As you wish."

Bahamut responded and emerged from the bracelet, possessing Kate.

In the next moment, Kate's body began to change rapidly. Her young form stretched and matured, and her hair and clothes were enveloped in flames.

A fiery demon—perhaps a demon god.

She took on a form worthy of such a title.

"Amazing…"

Seeing the transformation from Kate to a divine figure, Zoe was wide-eyed with astonishment.