Chapter 78

The fantastical scene did not last long.

Despite the imposing sight before her, it ended rather anticlimactically. As if the air had been let out of a balloon, the power of Bahamut left Kate, and she slumped to the ground, returning to her original form.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Just a bit tired..."

"Hmm."

I observed Kate.

Her face was as white as paper, the kind of pallor one sees when someone is extremely fatigued.

Apart from being tired, it seemed she was telling the truth and there was nothing seriously wrong.

"But even though we can possess, it's no good if it only lasts this short."

"Your Majesty, please let me try."

"Alright. Bahamut, to Zoe now."

"Understood."

The same scene repeated itself.

Bahamut responded.

The power emerged from the bracelet.

It possessed Zoe.

She transformed into a divine-looking flame demon.

But she soon ran out of breath.

The power of Bahamut left her, and Zoe, exhausted, slumped to the ground.

"Are you alright?"

"Y-Yes... I'm just as tired as if I hadn't slept for a few days."

"Hmm. Bahamut, next is me."

"Is that alright?"

"It's fine, do it."

"As you wish."

Bahamut responded to my command, and the power possessed me.

I looked at my hands; they changed in appearance, and so did my abilities.

――――――――――

Name: Noah Ararat

Emperor of the Empire

Gender: Male

Level: 17 + 1 / ∞

HP: C + C Fire: E + S + 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

――――――――――

My fire ability changed.

The "+" increased by one more.

Indeed, this does make me stronger.

And... I understood the reason for the fatigue.

During possession, HP and MP decrease by the second.

My HP is C + C, effectively S, and my MP is C + D, A.

Even though they are decreasing, they will hold for the time being.

"Your Majesty... that's amazing..."

"To be able to last so long..."

The two, who had run out of breath immediately, looked up at me with admiration.

I ended the possession by my own will.

There was a slight feeling of exhaustion from the consumption during possession, but this level was nothing serious.

I was confident that in battle, it would be a powerful trump card for short-term engagements.

☆

In the study, I faced Oscar across the desk.

I remained seated while Oscar stood and gave his report.

The content was about the empire's finances.

I had asked Oscar, the Minister of Finance, about the financial situation, and he reported the current state.

"The selection of the Empress... it seems difficult to do this year."

"Hmm..."

I asked about the finances to realize Queen Audrey's proposal.

However, there was not enough money for it.

I spread out the documents Oscar had submitted on the desk and stared at the numbers.

"Has the tax revenue decreased again?"

"Yes, it seems the salt tax from Gabel is gradually decreasing."

"Salt tax..."

Salt is an important commodity.

It's not just about food losing its flavor without salt.

It's already been proven by research that humans need salt to survive.

Without enough salt, one becomes fatigued in the short term and various organs weaken over the long term.

Humans need salt to survive.

Therefore, the empire managed salt.

Sales were regulated, and taxes were collected, making it a valuable source of revenue.

I looked at the report.

"How much has it decreased?"

"About 20% from its peak, I would say."

"Where has it decreased the most?"

There are several salt-producing regions.

"Gabel. It's the region with the highest salt production in the empire."

"Gabel, huh."

I remember sending Lawrence as the governor after I became emperor.

I haven't received any reports from Lawrence.

There have been no secret reports using the Fwawa box.

Nothing that would cause a decrease has happened.

Lawrence is—trustworthy.

I thought for a moment and looked at Oscar.

"Oscar."

"Yes?"

"What do you think is actually happening?"

Silence fell.

After about a minute of silence,

"Indeed, Your Majesty, your insight is remarkable."

Oscar smiled slightly and bowed once.

"Most likely, there is smuggling going on."

"Smuggling?"

"By officials."

"By officials..."

I thought for a moment.

The empire regulates sales.

By allowing a certain amount of sales, it ensures a minimum amount of salt tax is collected.

Combining this with the word "smuggling"...

"Eighty percent is being smuggled—turned into black market salt, is that it?"

"That's exactly what I think. Officially, it's said that the consumption of salt has decreased due to economic downturns, and it has been decreasing slightly each year. Each year, it has decreased by a few percent, and each time it was considered unavoidable, until now."

"I see. By gradually reducing the official amount and turning it into black market salt, the officials can make a huge profit. With such large amounts, they can also use the money to keep officials quiet."

"Yes... indeed, Your Majesty. To understand almost everything in an instant is truly remarkable."

If Oscar says this, my reasoning is likely correct.

Then, we need to address this.

It's not just about the selection of the Empress; we also need to consider future military campaigns, which will require funds.

The salt tax is a part that needs to be addressed.

"I will go there myself."

"Your Majesty?"

"Yes, 80% of the salt tax. It's not something that can be overlooked."

"...Yes, I have indeed gone too far."

"Hmm."

I stood up, approached Oscar, and patted his shoulder.

The words "clean water is hard to live in," which the Empress had said, have been on my mind lately.

Oscar's words, "I have indeed gone too far," are exactly that.

While it might be possible to turn a blind eye to a few percentage points, it's going too far to falsify 80% of the current amount.

Oscar, being a prince and the Minister of Finance, understands this well.

"Your Majesty?"

"It's wonderful that you can say that. Continue to support my reign."

"―Yes!"

Oscar took three steps back, maintaining a distance that didn't step on my shadow, and knelt, bowing his head.

☆

In the capital, the Eighth Prince's residence.

In the study without windows, Oscar called for his confidant, Earl.

"Did you call for me?"

"It's about Gabel. Do you have any connections there?"

Earl was momentarily taken aback but quickly returned to a serious expression.

"A little. Not directly, but I have received some gifts with a 'please take care' message."

"Return them, and cut off all ties as cleanly as possible."

"Yes... but why?"

"His Majesty has taken notice."

"―!"

Earl gasped.

"His Majesty is a person of remarkable talent. Compared to the previous emperor, he may be even more skilled at exposing and resolving corruption. Now that he has decided to go to Gabel himself, it will definitely be resolved."

"Definitely...?"

When Earl hesitantly asked, Oscar firmly replied.

"Definitely. I have known His Majesty since childhood. There is not even a one in ten thousand chance of failure."

Oscar stood up, folded his hands behind his back, and paced around the study.

"The issue with Gabel cannot be easily covered up; it's structural. It will either be gradually corrected over many years, or it will all come to light and result in the punishment of hundreds of people. There is no other way."

"But... His Majesty always says, 'people are a treasure.'"

"Don't forget that His Majesty is also the Minister of Justice, who values the law."

"―!"

Earl gasped again, wide-eyed.

"Even the Crown Prince can be disinherited if the law demands it, let alone demoting a prince to a commoner."

"―Understood, I will clean it up immediately!"

Earl, pale, rushed out of the study.

Oscar, watching him go, muttered to himself in the empty room.

"With the talent of a thirteen-year-old, it will definitely be resolved. Then, I must..."

Oscar had much to consider.