Chapter 90

It has been decided to publish in book form!

There are details at the bottom of the page and in the activity reports, so please read them if you have the time.

With the wings of Jiz, I soared high into the sky.

The fluttering of the wings, which glowed with a pale phosphorescence, looked fantastical and beautiful even to me, who was controlling them.

It was a normal human sensation.

If I were not myself but someone else with such luminous wings on my back, flying through the sky, I would have thought it was an angel descending from heaven.

There was another fantastical and beautiful scene.

The sky was clear.

On the ground, it would be so hot that we would have to bring out the ice stored underground during winter to survive.

Looking around, it was such a beautiful clear day, but a part of it, a few kilometers away, was different.

A rain column.

Cumulonimbus clouds had formed in one place, and from there, torrential rain was pouring down, looking like a pillar or a curtain.

The amount of rain was so intense that it could be mistaken for a storm, a sudden downpour.

"Amazing, Leviathan."

I murmured this, flapping my wings slowly as I descended to the ground.

In the garden of the former Thirteenth Prince's residence, a young girl stood alone.

She looked about ten years old.

Her shining golden hair was so long that it flowed to the ground like a waterfall, far exceeding her height.

She had a dignified presence, and her eyes held a thoughtful and wise light.

Leviathan.

The awakened soul of the water magic sword, manifested in human form.

"I saw it, the rain. It was amazing. In that instant, it must have rained enough to supply the capital's water for a month. It's a shame there's no reservoir there."

"It is because of your power. The stronger you are, the more power I can exert."

"Is that how it works?"

"That rain is your power itself. If you think it's amazing, you are even more amazing."

I see.

Then, if I become even stronger...

Just as I started thinking about flood control,

Leviathan said with an even stronger gaze.

"I will not fall behind a mere Bahamut. I wish to devote my utmost strength to you from now on."

"You and Bahamut are my treasures. But if you feel that way, it would be good to compete and improve your power for me."

"---Understood!"

Leviathan's response, with the light in her eyes, conveyed a strong sense of thoughtfulness and rationality.

I thought her personality had changed a bit since her awakening—

"---!"

"Ah, ah!"

A maid's scream came from behind.

Turning around, I saw Jiji, the maid, sitting on the ground, her face filled with fear.

Looking closely, a stain was spreading on her skirt.

She must have lost control out of fear—yes, that must be it.

"Leviathan"

I turned and calmed her down.

"You know her face, right? She's the maid Jiji, who came in after you."

"..."

Suddenly, the intellectual atmosphere vanished, and Leviathan said with an agitated face.

"To suddenly speak to the master is a grave offense."

"Most of the time, it's sudden. Unless we both notice at the same time, it's usually sudden."

I smiled wryly.

I thought it was Leviathan, but it was still Leviathan.

It felt more like "Levi-tan."

She looked young and was acting like a child throwing a tantrum.

"Anyway, my maids are carefully selected, and they all feel a sense of gratitude towards me. There's no need for such intimidation; it will hinder me when I use them."

"...Understood."

Leviathan retracted her intimidation.

Jiji visibly relaxed.

"Go change... Ah, what's wrong?"

"Ah... Y-Yes."

Jiji was still trembling with fear as she reported.

"D-Don-sama has arrived."

"Bring him in."

"Y-Yes."

Jiji hurried away as if fleeing the scene.

In her place, the Fourth Chancellor, Don Oats, appeared.

"Indeed, Your Majesty."

"What is it?"

"Even a mad dog becomes a loyal hound in the hands of Your Majesty."

"Did you see that just now?"

"No, I could feel it even from a distance."

You went too far, Leviathan.

Thinking it wasn't too much, and still wary of Don, I said to Leviathan,

"You can come back. I'm going to talk to Don now."

"Yes."

Leviathan didn't say anything more, accepted it obediently, and returned to my bracelet.

"So, what is it?"

"It's a report from Governor Gavel."

"Phil Mome. Show it to me—what's this?"

What Don handed me was not an envelope but a long tube.

Taking it, I could feel a rolled-up paper inside.

"A painting? ...No way."

For a moment, I had an unpleasant thought.

When someone sends a painting like this, it's usually a bribe—since I'm the emperor, it's a tribute.

Such paintings are usually expensive.

Gavel Province.

Not long ago, the governor was caught accepting bribes and spreading gold.

The man I appointed then was a former slave.

He couldn't afford to send a painting.

Could it be... already?

"It's nothing to worry about."

"Hmm?"

"It seems to be his own work."

"His own... Phil Mome's?"

Don nodded clearly.

Then it's not an antique tribute.

Then what is it?

Curious, I took the paper out of the tube and opened it.

There was a drawing, completely ignoring the techniques of painting, as if drawn by an amateur.

It was an amateur's drawing, but the scene was somehow recognizable.

There were two drawings.

The first one showed someone giving a gift to another.

The second one showed the recipient kicking the giver's butt.

"..."

A little later, Zoe sent something similar. Given the timing, it was probably related.

This time, he handed me a box.

A Fwawa box.

The box I gave Zoe for reporting.

I took it, unlocked it with Fwawa, and opened the envelope inside to read it.

"..."

I see.

"What was the content?"

"Another faction seems to have tried to expand its influence and bring Phil Mome into their fold, but he rejected them in a rather embarrassing way."

"I see."

"And since Phil Mome can't read or write, he reported it with a drawing he made himself."

"Is that so. ...I acknowledge his loyalty to me, but not being able to read or write is not good. Zoe is nearby, so it would be better to have more support—"

"No, it's fine as it is. I appointed Phil Mome. If he fails, I will take responsibility. More importantly, I want to value his heart, which remains loyal to me despite being a former slave and not being dazzled by wealth."

"Understood. I will keep a close eye on the situation."

"Good. I leave it to you."

☆

Back in the study of the detached palace, I summoned Henry.

Across the desk, Henry bowed respectfully as usual.

"Did you call for me, Your Majesty?"

"I plan to crush Gruge's Galwan completely."

"---I apologize!"

Henry's face tensed, and he knelt on the spot.

"It's fine. It's not your fault."

There was a reason why Henry reacted this way.

Before I ascended the throne, when I entered my territory, there was a report that Gruge's Galwan had rebelled.

At that time, the emperor—my father—asked for my opinion, and I recommended Henry, the Minister of Military Affairs.

"But..."

"Just stand up. It's not your fault. Rather, it's impressive that you managed to bring the situation to a stalemate with such a limited budget. If it weren't for you, the rebellion would have spread, and we would have had to recognize their independence."

"Your words are too kind."

"This time, the reason I touched the salt tax is also because of that. Henry, what is the most important thing in border suppression?"

"Logistics."

Henry answered immediately without hesitation.

His tone conveyed the weight of his experience.

"Yes, logistics. Not to be arrogant, but the empire is vast. Even if Galwan's rebellion results in a minor defeat, it won't shake the overall victory. However, to fully utilize the empire's power, it's necessary to continuously supply food for a large army."

"..."

Henry nodded, and I stood up, walking around the study with my hands behind my back as I spoke.

"Until now, the budget was insufficient, and we could only fight a makeshift battle. But with the salt tax issue resolved, the treasury is at its wealthiest. We will invest everything and root them out completely."

"Please leave it to me. If I cannot exterminate Galwan after Your Majesty has done so much... I will never set foot in the capital again."

Henry knelt and bowed his head.

He seems ready to go himself, well, that's fine.

"Your Majesty,"

"Yes?"

"Please also put some pressure on Turbaif."

Henry, still kneeling, raised his face and said.

As expected of someone who has been the Minister of Military Affairs for many years, he immediately suggested what was necessary.

"Yes, I have already taken care of it."

"Excuse me... What kind of—"

"Turbaif has three sons, I hear. Three sons, each excelling in martial prowess, wisdom, and virtue. They are known as the 'three arrows.'"

"Yes. They all respect their father, and thus their bond is strong."

"Troublesome."

Indeed, I don't want to deal with Turbaif as long as he is alive.

"I have received my father's approval to marry the seventeenth, eighteenth, and twentieth princesses to them."

The seventeenth princess, the eighteenth princess, and the twentieth princess.

I will send princesses for political marriages, matching their ages.

"Is it really necessary to go that far...? I agree with the political marriage, but one would be enough, wouldn't it?"

"We must root out Galwan completely; we don't have the luxury of a two-front battle. If we corner them and they escape with help, it would be a laughing matter."

"But..."

"It may seem like a prostration diplomacy, but that's just right... for now."

"...Indeed."

Henry was surprised and bowed his head again.

"Turbaif... If I give him three princesses, I hope he will be cautious and refrain from rash actions..."

With my hands still behind my back, I looked up at the blue sky through the window.