391223_160.fb.drm.160_Section0002.html0160 Episode
“It’s so flashy.”
“They say this is a tradition…”
“But it sure is cool.”
Buzz.
The main hall of the royal palace, which would normally have a solemn atmosphere, was filled with the chattering voices of dozens of nobles.
There were decorations and paintings adorned with colorful jewels hanging all over the walls, and on the high ceiling, a huge chandelier prepared for special days showed off gorgeous light, making the decorations look even more beautiful.
In addition, there were ornate tables and seats that people were not allowed to sit on throughout Daejeon, centered around the large, ornate throne located in the north of Daejeon.
Among them, what caught people’s attention was not the fancy throne, but the two chairs placed slightly below it.
Two chairs that are just a little less fancy and a little smaller than the throne.
And one of the two people sitting there was very uncomfortable with this situation.
“Did you really have to do this, Logan?”
“Yes, of course. If it bothers you, you can go back. Instead, you will watch from afar as your disciple takes power alone and becomes corrupted.”
“Ugh. I told you not to change…”
Logan smiled at the swordsmith’s reaction.
“Wouldn’t it be best to directly control it from right next to you?”
“So, from now on, you will follow what I say?”
“…I think we’ll start soon, Master.”
“A rotten bastard. You don’t talk back.”
Let the swordsmith raise his head with a small sigh.
“From now on, we will be holding the coronation ceremony for the 42nd king of the thousand-year kingdom of Grandia! All nobles present, please stand.”
The voice of Archbishop Crimson Matthew, who came to the royal court on behalf of the temple, echoed throughout the halls.
Wiggle.
‘After all, it’s that guy.’
Logan, who thought it was strange that the swordsman’s expression was crumpled when he saw the archbishop whom he met just before the coronation ceremony today, asked why, and was told that the gentleman had bothered his teacher several times.
– He recommended that Stella be converted to the church.
This is a story about a teacher who asked his precious offspring, whom he acquired only in his later years, to become a priest of a religious order where he would have to live alone for the rest of his life.
I could have guessed that it was because of the incident at the proclamation ceremony, but knowing that made me even more uncomfortable.
‘Well, there’s no way Master would allow it, and no matter how sacred it is, you can’t force it on a country’s duke. Especially now.’
Being annoying.
If that was all there was to it, there was no need for conflict with the archbishop of the temple.
Logan tried to organize his thoughts and stood up.
All the nobles present, starting with Sword Duke and Logan, stood up from their seats.
“Rogers von Grandia, the 3rd son of King Samuel von Grandia, is here!”
“Wow!”
A long, thoroughly staged event erupted in loud cheers and applause, signaling the beginning.
And five hours later.
‘Ha, I’m crazy. Why a place like this….’
With no sign of an end to all the pretense and pretense that continued in the name of tradition, Logan began to resent himself for arranging this special seat a few days ago.
Moreover, the biggest purpose of sitting here was to impress one’s presence on the person who was currently sitting on the throne looking down on everyone.
Looking at the face of Rogers, the 3rd prince, or now the king, it seemed like nothing else was even in his eyes.
That’s because right before his eyes, something that would completely captivate his heart appeared.
“Oh oh!”
The Crown of ruler.
A class 5 artifact allowed only to the king of Grandia.
The brilliance of the finest artifact created by Archmage Fremlin Douglas, one of the founding heroes of the nation, had a magical power that attracted the attention of everyone watching.
Of course, that brilliance lasted until the crown was placed on the prince’s head.
In Logan’s eyes, he could clearly see the light that had disappeared from the crown turning into invisible mana and surrounding the body of the Third Prince.
Also, although I didn’t know exactly what the magic was, I was able to get a rough idea of its effect.
An effect I didn’t feel when I had an audience with the late king.
Although it meant that he had grown a lot, his complexion also hardened a little.
‘It’s difficult for a king wearing something like that to be assassinated without leaving any trace.’
At the time of the previous king’s death, Logan wondered if there might have been some other factor in the king’s death, which was different from his previous life.
He even blamed it on his teacher, saying it was the work of the empire, but he had doubts about that hypothesis.
‘Well, it doesn’t really matter anymore.’
Now I had to look to the future, not the past.
The future of the kingdom has certainly changed, but the empire is different.
I don’t know how the future of the kingdom he changed will affect the empire and how the future will change.
One thing was certain.
‘The empire begins its war of conquest immediately after the end of the war of succession.’
Unless the future he changed changes the minds of the current and future emperors of the empire.
‘But they are people who try to change the world in their own thoughts, not people who change their thoughts because the world changes.’
In other words, imperial war will inevitably occur no matter how the future changes.
There may be a way to find out what to do with the emperor and the next emperor in advance, but if you do something wrong, the war could go much faster.
Given the tone of the imperial family, it is unlikely that policy will change much even if a different successor becomes emperor.
‘So that method is dismissed.’
The only way is to increase national power to the point where it can fend off an empire.
When Logan was lost in thought and thinking about various things.
“In the name of the 9th Minister, I acknowledge the ascension of the new King of Grandia, Rogers I, and bless him with God’s blessings.”
The coronation ceremony finally ended with Crimson Matthew’s blessing.
King Rogers, wearing a shining crown, looked around the audience and declared.
“Jim Rogers von Grandia declares that he will fulfill his duties as the King of Grandia.”
Only then did the most ‘basic’ event to be done today come to an end.
And now the event that those in attendance had been waiting for the most began.
“The remnants of the two factions of Walter Maim Douglas, who divided the country into two and turned the country into a battlefield, were all eliminated through the actions of Duke Logan McLane and Duke Felix Esperanza here. The original crime of deceiving the royal family and disrupting the country was….”
The newly crowned king’s speech was passionate.
Although most people present assumed that all responsibility would be placed on the Margrave and the two Marquis families, who had already been dealt with.
“…Considering that they could not refuse the orders of the local Lord, an amnesty of 1 million gold was imposed on each, their authority over the territory’s troops was restricted for the next 20 years, and regular inspections of the territory were conducted. “I forgive you.”
“Hmm.”
“As expected…”
Pardoning the nobles of the territories under his command with only a small(?) fine and restrictions on authority was a more generous measure than expected.
At this moment, all the surrendered nobles who had been imprisoned in the royal prison were released.
However, this was within the expected range. What no one really expected was what followed next.
“It is recognized that the Auror users Marquis Luther Kyle and Marquis Wicken Callia were also unable to refuse the pressure of the traitors who were their father-in-laws, so they were specifically spared capital punishment…” “
Yes?!”
Shouts of astonishment erupted from among the startled nobles.
The voice was loud enough to interrupt the speech of the newly crowned king, but the nobles could only look at the new king with confused eyes rather than blaming the person who made the sound.
‘Even if the two dukes are dead, you will forgive the two dukes who were the core of the faction?’
This is because it was a measure that could not be understood by the common sense of the nobles.
However, the king made eye contact with the swordsman Logan, who was sitting right below him.
And seeing them nodding their heads, he continued his speech.
“…The title is demoted to count, and half of the territory is returned to the state. And the two parties are ordered to serve in the Knights of Esperanza for 10 years, following the orders of Duke Felix Esperanza.”
“Huh. Anyway…”
“Is it really okay?”
“If only we are under the control of His Excellency the Sword Duke…”
Murmur.
Looking at the whispering nobles, Logan looked at his teacher.
Logan was not an optimist enough to think that he would fight a war with unfavorable forces and capture the strongest of the enemy forces.
However, when the war ended, the teacher had captured the two men.
– The number of superhumans is also a symbol representing the national power of a country. These two guys were just swayed by the greed of Jordan and Juan, but in essence, they are not that greedy. I will take good care of it.
There was some truth to what the teacher said, so I could only nod my head.
In addition, the two superhumans who survived the civil war in their past lives were Juan Douglas and Wicken Callia.
Since the Sword Duke had agreed to remain loyal in exchange for the lives of the three princes, there were three superhumans left.
There was also an expectation that setting the number right in this life would reduce possible variables.
And the result was now expressed in the king’s speech.
“Then, now that we have sorted out all the remnants of the past, we will reward those who have contributed to opening a new era for the glory of Grandia, which is starting anew.”
Following the king’s words, the eyes of all the nobles in the daejeon turned to Sword Duke and Logan.
Although the nobles present here also joined the line of the three princes, albeit late, it was the Duke of Esperanza and the McLane family that actually ended the war.
That’s why everyone was curious about what reward these two families, especially McLane, would receive.
“First of all, in praise of Duke Felix Esperanza for beheading the traitor Juan Douglas at the Battle of McLane and leading the war to victory, he was given the title of Grand Duke and the Counties of Talos and Cerno, previously ruled by the Margrave, were renamed the Duchy of Esperanza. incorporated.”
“Oh oh!”
All the nobles who were listening were impressed.
In fact, the expression on the swordsman’s face, who had been given the vast territory of the margrave’s territory in the western and northwestern parts of the kingdom and even the title of grand duke, was not very good.
And Logan, guessing his teacher’s discomfort, couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
– it’s bothering. It wasn’t something I was trying to achieve. I already have the title of duke.
– All the margraves were defeated. As I said, if the empire is thinking of going to war, it must secure a solid defense starting from its western border. Please, Master.
– Why should I…
– Then who should I entrust it to?
– …ha. Damn it.
Although I did not fully understand the appearance of my teacher who found the enlarged territory and title rather inconvenient, I also respected him at the same time.
“…Individual awards for contributions to the Esperanza family are left to the Grand Duke Esperanza’s choice.”
“I am devastated.”
The swordsman quietly knelt and bowed his head under the king who read out the details of the award.
The others couldn’t see the expression, but Logan, who was nearby, couldn’t help but notice the teacher’s bowed face.
Even with a big reward, he looks more troubled than happy.
Looking at his teacher like that, Logan made a promise again.
‘I can’t guarantee that I will live without greed like you. But even if I change, even if I become greedy. I promise that all of this will be done to protect our family and country. certainly.’
That’s how I calm my mind.
An additional reward(?) that he could not bear to tell his teacher came out of the king’s mouth.
“Furthermore, in order to help my luggage, which is still lacking, I have appointed myself as an advisor to the royal family as a king. I hope that Archduke Felix will continue to help me a lot in the future.”
The teacher’s head, which had been bowed with a stern expression, suddenly lifted up.
The gaze that seemed to be blasphemously directed at the king turns to the side, and soon a stinging gaze is directed at Logan.
I could feel that meaning just by looking at his eyes.
– Is this your doing too?
Logan awkwardly avoided the gaze that felt lifelike at first glance.
‘Then who else would I trust?’
The task of being right next to the king and controlling the king who might go astray.
Who else is someone the king trusts and follows and has a reputation?
There was definitely an excuse I wanted to make, but it wasn’t that I didn’t feel sorry, so I just avoided my teacher’s eyes.
‘I really want to plant my subordinate next to the king.’
– When the line that needs to be followed becomes invisible, a person becomes a monster.
Remembering my teacher’s words, I put aside that desire.
“Archduke Felix?”
“Ah… ugh. Seong-eun is devastated.”
Trembling hands, slightly trembling voice.
At first glance, the king seemed to be filled with emotion, but he smiled warmly.
‘I guess I won’t have to see you for a while.’
Logan broke into a cold sweat as he tried to shake off the deadly threat that was secretly approaching him.
He only appears to be an adult, but in reality, he is just over 70 years old.
If he had not been a superhuman, Geomgong would have retired from public office, but he accepted the highest-ranking official position out of force majeure.
Eventually, the king’s eyes turned to Logan.
“Now, we will begin rewarding Logan McLane and his family who contributed the most to opening the new Grandia.”
Words that made everyone attending Daejeon listen carefully.
Logan slowly stood up and knelt in front of the king.
And the subsequent praise for him was a little, no, very different from that of his teacher.
“Now, as everyone in this country knows, Sir Logan McLane here is the young hero who killed the traitor Jordan Waltermime, and is the pillar of the kingdom who will carry the future of the kingdom after Archduke Felix Esperanza.”
Most of the nobles in the room are nodding their heads.
“But Jim values resourcefulness even more than brute force.”
Cough.
Uh… hmm…
my conscience stung a little at the excessive praise.
Even though he knew the future and prepared for it, he was so resourceful that he almost ruined his family several times.
“He foresaw the misfortune of this country years ago and promised Jim that he would punish treacherous officials and offer up the throne.”
I didn’t say it that way…
“Oh!”
As the nobles’ exclamations hit his back, Logan’s gaze lowered a little further.
“And just a few years after saying that to Jim, he took pity on the country’s chaotic situation and rose up to lead the traitors to their deaths, greatly reducing their power…”
Then, he was hit in the back and almost knocked down. I said I was preparing in my own way.
“He played a decisive role in finally leading them to the prepared battlefield and putting an end to the traitors before the war overtook this country.”
They didn’t guide him, but they attacked him because they were caught trying to stab him in the back…
“It is a great blessing for me and the kingdom to have a young hero with such outstanding wisdom in our kingdom.”
Ah, I feel like I’m going to pretend.
I’ll just compliment your dancing.
‘Who was a talented person famous for strategy…? Was there one?’
A world where superhumans and knight wizards clash.
Logan, who had unconsciously disparaged the value of tactical strategy, is once again becoming aware of its necessity.
“In this way, I am awarding a reward to Sir Logan McLane and the McLane family, who have contributed more than anyone else to the new Grandia.”
The king’s voice reached its peak.
