Chapter 97

After the giant dragon fell, about a tenth of its size—still larger than a human—several dragons flew out simultaneously.

Swinging the magic sword Leviathan around, I plunged it into the ground.

The blade glowed.

From the junction of the hilt and the blade, several water columns—no, they should be called torrents—erupted.

They were sharper than the water columns that had once pierced the leader of the rebels from a distance, like needles of water sharpened to a fine point.

They pierced the dragons' foreheads one after another.

The dragons were shot through and died instantly, falling one by one.

"Roarrrrrr!!"

Heaven and earth shook.

The first giant dragon roared.

I was slightly surprised by its tenacity, as it did not die even after its head was severed in one stroke.

The giant dragon that rose up leaped at me.

"An outsider"

A youthful but dignified voice echoed quietly.

In the next instant, a water dragon manifested.

A water dragon, one size larger than the giant dragon.

Leviathan.

The giant dragon was intimidated by its manifestation.

It trembled, unable to advance or retreat, and froze.

After trembling, it took a step back, as if curling its tail to escape.

"Die a thousand deaths"

The water dragon murmured in a low voice.

In the next instant, the giant dragon was surrounded by water.

The water gradually compressed, compressing the giant dragon inside.

It was crushed, burst, and eventually disappeared.

The water, along with the giant dragon, shrank and completely vanished.

"Good work"

"Hai"

Leviathan, still in the form of a water dragon, nodded slightly and returned to the magic sword Leviathan.

The return of the loyal and mad dog Leviathan meant that the enemies had been eliminated.

I put the sword back into the bracelet and turned to Evelyn.

"..."

"What's wrong? Your eyes and mouth are wide open."

"Eh? Ah... I'm sorry. It was so amazing, I don't know what to say."

"You know about Leviathan—Leviathan's madness, right?"

"That's not it... Well, that's true too. But the fact that you can control Leviathan to this extent is amazing... The difference between knowing and seeing it in action is huge."

"I see."

I nodded and ended the conversation there.

I looked at the ground—the earth.

Evelyn was right.

The difference between knowing and seeing it in action is huge.

After defeating the giant dragon, this became even more apparent.

The flow of power in the earth became clearly visible.

Like a real river, the power flowed and converged at a single point.

Then, a change appeared where there was nothing before.

A drop of water fell from the air.

"Ah!"

"Don't touch it!"

"!"

I stopped Evelyn, who was about to catch it with her hand.

"That is the materialization of the pure power of the earth. Think of it as highly concentrated magic power."

"Hai"

Evelyn quickly retracted her hand.

I created a container with Fwawa and caught the drop.

Then, just like the first time, I processed the drop of earth into a potion.

"Is this... a potion?"

"Aa"

I nodded and scratched my palm with my fingernail.

A deep wound that would normally bleed profusely, I poured the potion on it.

The wound healed instantly.

"! Amazing!"

"Henry said the same thing. It will change the concept of war."

"That's not all. It will change the way the world works."

"You're right. That's why it needs to be managed for a while, Evelyn."

"! Hai!"

The atmosphere around Evelyn, who had been a maid and a companion, changed completely.

She understood from the way I called her by name.

Like one who understands ten from one, she instantly realized her position and role.

"I'll leave the management of this place to you. The production as well. I'll teach you the methods in detail later."

"Hai"

Evelyn raised her hand.

Then, men in identical clothes appeared from nowhere.

At a nod from Evelyn, half of the men guarded the drop of earth tightly, while the other half began to draw lines and dig on the ground—starting the construction.

"Are they your subordinates?"

"Hai. Please rest assured. They are all men I have saved or helped. They are loyal to my orders."

"That's—"

"Hai, a method I learned from you, my lord."

"I see."

I smiled faintly.

"I see?"

Evelyn tilted her head.

I reached out and touched Evelyn's collar.

"I felt a sense of nostalgia from your attire. Now I understand why."

"Eh?"

"Your clothes are too ordinary, too plain. Look at this collar. There are no frays, but it has faded slightly from repeated washing. It's not something a governor would wear."

"Ah..."

Evelyn blushed.

"Gomenasai"

"It's fine. From now on, I'll give you 9,000 Reen every year."

"Eh?"

"The same amount as a prince's basic salary."

"Ah... The first time you..."

Evelyn, who had been a maid in the early days of the prince's residence, remembered this.

"From the Ministry of the Interior, which is my pocket money. Use it as you like."

"But even without that—"

"You act out of loyalty to me."

I interrupted Evelyn while touching her collar.

"You yourself could probably survive on thin gruel. But your subordinates can't, right?"

"That's—"

"Then, listen. The loyalty you have towards me. Do you have subordinates with the same level of loyalty?"

"That's—"

"Then, use money to cultivate them. With money, you can increase both the number and quality, right?"

"Hai. I swear, I'll use it as I like."

"Un"

I nodded.

Then, I started walking and signaled Evelyn to follow me, leading her away from the scene.

"Also, as the effects of the potion become known, there will definitely be people who try to divert it."

"..."

The fact that Evelyn didn't say "no" here is a good point.

"If you know in advance, you can take any measures. You can prevent it."

"No, that's fine."

"Eh?"

Evelyn looked puzzled.

Her subordinates were far enough away that they couldn't hear, and I stopped and turned to her.

"Use it to expose them."

"Expose them?"

"It's more beneficial."

"But. This potion is important for your strategy. Allowing it to be diverted—"

"People are treasures."

"!"

"People are treasures."

"!"

"If you know in advance, the diversion can be limited to a few or a dozen bottles. If you can expose the troublemakers and create loyal subordinates with such a small loss, wouldn't you think it's a good deal?"

"... You really are amazing, my lord."

"Eh?"

"To be able to use such an already amazing item in this way..."

Evelyn looked at me with even more admiration.

"I understand. The potion and 9,000 Reen a year. I'll take it all."

"Aa"

I nodded and placed my hand on Evelyn's head.

She used to be taller than me.

I grew, and she aged.

Somewhere along the line, the height difference completely reversed, and I could now pat her head.

"I'll give you the title of Model Admiral. I'll announce it officially to the nation when we return."

"... Hai"

Evelyn nodded solemnly, understanding.

The first person to leave my household.

If she is a model, others will imitate her.

Even if it's just to get close to me—the emperor—imitating her methods will be beneficial to me.

People are treasures.