Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Claiming the Earldom
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"The eternal knight of Your Majesty, Garviti, congratulates you on your birthday."
"Haha, thank you for coming all this way. You are my eternal knight."
"I am deeply honored."
The emperor stood pale-faced alongside the imperial family to receive birthday greetings.
He first accepted the salutes from the four great dukes of the empire.
"It is meager, but please accept this palaim herb from my territory."
"I thank you. I shall gratefully receive your kind gesture."
'Palaim herb? The one that's so hard to obtain?'
A rare herb used to treat knights or mages afflicted with mana poisoning.
I had learned about it in class at the Imperial Knight Academy.
"I, Fernaik, sincerely congratulate Your Majesty on your birthday."
'The empire's dukes, whom I've only heard of in tales.'
The pillars of the Bazran Empire, whom one could never see gathered like this except on a day such as this.
Some resided in the capital handling politics, while others stayed confined to their territories.
Yet at the mere name of duke, all nobles bowed their heads.
The four great ducal houses that upheld the Bazran Empire.
They were the meritorious families who had founded the empire alongside the first emperor, Bahillain.
'Those must be the kingdom folk.'
Unless they were kings of their own realms, the empire's dukes outranked them.
The hierarchy of kingdoms and nobles visible during the greeting ceremony.
I eyed those at the very end of the long line exchanging words with the emperor.
'Hm?'
Amid the greetings with the emperor one by one, the back of a certain woman caught my eye.
They were surely envoys from kingdoms or duchies waiting behind the dukes.
'She looks familiar...'
Facing the emperor, her face was hidden, but she was a woman with golden hair wearing a cool dress accented in deep blue.
Fitting for an envoy from a kingdom, her gown was embroidered with ornate decorations rivaling those of the Bazran Empire's noble ladies in the hall.
"I am Crown Prince Hashuvaint of the Andain Kingdom. It is my greatest honor to have an audience with Your Majesty, sovereign of the Great Bazran Empire and leader of the continent."
"Is King Tazrian well?"
"Thanks to Your Majesty's concern, he is in good health."
"Good. That fellow has always had a sturdy constitution."
"I am deeply honored."
'Being emperor is no easy job.'
Even in illness, the emperor had to display the magnanimous demeanor of a great lord.
If it were me, I'd be hooked to an IV in a hospital bed with a "No Visitors" sign on the door.
"And this is a humble gift prepared by our kingdom."
"What is this... Please convey my thanks to the king."
'Whoa! Th-that's!'
A sword with an ostrich egg-sized gem embedded prominently in its hilt.
I had no idea what the blade inside looked like, but the scabbard was a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
'Take it back! Take it back! For that, I'd be emperor even if it hurt.'
The emperor's birthday party, where under the excuse of celebration, he legally extracted tribute from kingdoms and nobles alike.
From the looks of it, the other nobles greeting the emperor also held exceedingly precious items.
With a single birthday party, he had amassed treasures enough to buy a decent territory.
'Power is truly beautiful!'
Even on Earth, top merchants and scholars often plunged into the cesspool of politics at the end.
A cesspool, yes—but the moment one dominated it, one dominated everything else. Such was the allure of power.
Thus engrossed, eyes gleaming as I watched the treasures pile up beside the emperor.
A woman who seemed oddly familiar stepped before him.
"To the noble-souled emperor of the Great Bazran Empire, Rosiatte of the Habis royal family offers her greetings. May the goddess of mercy, Neran, grant you her peace—I pray most earnestly."
"Haha. Princess Rosiatte, you seem even more beautiful than when I saw you two years ago."
"I am deeply honored, Your Majesty."
'Ro-Rosiatte!!!!!!'
Her voice, pleasant like tinkling silver bells, snapped me to attention.
'Gasp!'
As she bowed to the emperor, her graceful jawline came into faint view.
'The Rosiatte I met back then was a princess of Habis Kingdom...'
Just recently, while patrolling the Neruman southern border, I had encountered Rosiatte in a territory overlapping with Habis Kingdom.
The beauty who had elegantly(?) torn into wild boar meat, leaving behind the pure scent of violets.
Now I understood why a dozen wyverns had appeared when we met.
'Heh... she was pretty, alright.'
Rosiatte's blue diamond-like eyes and her unexpectedly cute behavior came to mind.
"My father bade me present this to Your Majesty, though it is unworthy. A cloak made from ashupo fur."
"Haha. A cloak woven from ashupo fur. Thank you for this precious gift—please convey my gratitude."
The red cloak Rosiatte offered.
'Ashupo—the king of beasts among magic beasts, notoriously hard to hunt with its red fur.'
I had checked the bestiary in the imperial library, thinking it might fetch a good price.
It was classified among the upper ranks.
Resembling a fox but with fur tougher than wyvern hide and a swift body, making it difficult to catch.
Yet its pelt had the wondrous effect of banishing heat and cold upon wearing and invigorating the body.
Thus, items made from ashupo fur were the ultimate gift for the ill.
'Envious...'
The mountain of treasures stacked beside the emperor.
And still over a hundred nobles yet to have their audience.
Now I understood why only earls and above, by imperial decree, were granted audience.
If every noble here exchanged greetings and gifts, the aged emperor might just drop dead.
'When does my turn come, anyway.'
Following the four great ducal houses and the kingdom envoys, the earls and above began their audiences.
Not to mention the dozens of other nobles behind them who had received imperial summons.
Just watching made me suffocate.
'Huh? Ayrin!'
Among the queued nobles, another familiar silhouette.
'Oh God!!!'
It was undoubtedly Ayrin.
The grand Hall of Glory was packed with so many people that I hadn't spotted her earlier, but there she stood among the earls lining up for the emperor.
Ayrin, with her peerless mystical silver hair neatly flowing, her lithe, toned body—always hidden in armor—now concealed beneath a dress shimmering faintly red.
"My God" escaped me involuntarily.
Like a crane among chickens, she shone amid the motley Bazran noblewomen.
Three radiant women: Rosiatte's cute, pure beauty as the north continent's top beauty; Isis, the dignified princess smiling at the nobles beside the emperor; and Ayrin, with her mysterious allure and divinely ripened figure on full display.
Knowing them made me proud in this moment.
"Lady Ayrin, it has been a while."
"Your Imperial Majesty..."
"I entrust this empire to you. It is knights like you, Sky Knights, who maintain the empire's peace."
"I shall bear it in mind, and ever in mind."
Ayrin, not a hereditary noble with territory among the earls, thus positioned near the end.
She bowed her head at the emperor's praise.
'Her father's useful enough, so why are those two brats such trash?'
Even good seed in rough, nutrient-poor soil yields spindly weeds.
The empress and her whelp practically wore "I suck" signs on their foreheads.
They haughtily received the nobles' greetings beside the emperor.
'DIE! Where does that bastard get off grinning?'
Crown Prince Poltviran leered at Ayrin with perverted eyes, smirking lasciviously as she bowed to the emperor and empress.
He bared his stupid white teeth, grinning like an idiot.
Rustle, rustle.
The line dwindled.
With the earls finished, the imperially summoned nobles began their audiences.
"That black-haired one is the guy who pissed off His Highness the Crown Prince, right?"
"The temporary lord of Neruman, they say."
"Hmph! That damned Neruman could vanish for all I care. Why bother appointing a lord there at all? Especially some rootless punk like that."
"He won't last long, that's for sure."
"His face is decent, though."
As the line to the emperor shortened and I finally ascended the dais, the nobles' malicious whispers reached me from behind.
My sensitive mana caught every word.
"...Thank you."
"Not at all, Your Majesty. It is our house's greatest glory to be summoned thus."
The last noble before me finished his greeting.
Flash.
My eyes met the emperor's.
A weary face.
Sunken eyes.
Dry, ashen skin.
Not the face of the emperor ruling a great empire.
He looked like he could drop dead any moment without raising eyebrows.
'How does one deteriorate this much in mere months?'
I recalled the emperor from the Imperial Knight Academy entrance ceremony.
There had been rumors of illness then, but I never imagined such rapid decline.
"And who might you be...?"
Even though he had summoned me, the emperor did not recognize me.
Before I could speak, he asked.
"The temporary lord of Neruman, Kayer de Neruman, who lives by Your Majesty's grace, sincerely congratulates Your Majesty on your birthday."
I bowed deeply to the aged emperor.
"Kayer...? Ah! You are that young man who saved Yaiks and the imperial soldiers' lives. Haha. Good to see you."
The emperor extended his hand.
I knelt and respectfully pressed my forehead to it.
The etiquette of the Bazran Empire.
"Yes, how fares it? Is Neruman free of trouble?"
'This is the emperor's dignity.'
His voice was not loud, due to illness.
His grip held no strength, due to illness.
Yet despite illness, the emperor was strong.
Deep in his sunken eyes blazed a fierce gaze.
Like a lion planting its forepaw on a rock, roaring over its domain.
A frail yet blazing dignity enveloped the emperor.
"Thanks to Your Majesty's benevolence, Neruman is finding stability."
"Oh? Is that so? Haha. I doubted Yaiks's claim that Neruman might stabilize soon, but seeing your face and hearing you, it seems plausible. Your eyes are alive—like mine in my youth."
The emperor's unprecedentedly familiar tone.
When had he ever seen me to praise me thus?
Murmur, murmur.
The nobles whispered at the emperor's words.
Unlike the royalty and high nobles who had greeted him thus far, one could feel the emperor's genuine delight.
Merely because my eyes resembled his younger self.
"I am unworthy of such words."
"Rise. And what is that you hold?"
At the emperor's words, I stood.
He eyed curiously the object wrapped in black cloth that I held.
"Father, it could be dangerous."
Unlike the other gifts, the elven mithril armor wrapped in black cloth.
The crown prince, who had been glaring at me, yapped.
Clang, clatter.
No sooner had the crown prince spoken than the emperor's elite guard knights shifted their stances, watching me.
"A modest gift from the people of Neruman territory for Your Majesty."
"Oh? Is that so."
"Please, unwrap it."
Ignoring the crown prince, the emperor took the gift I offered.
Rustle.
The black wrapping fell away.
Flash!
In that instant, the radiant gleam of mithril shone forth.
"It feels like a precious gift."
No stranger to gifts, the emperor slowly unwrapped the mithril parcel.
Swish, swish, swish.
In his hands, it unfurled like a silver panorama spreading wings.
"Gasp!"
"Wh-what?"
"Wh-what is this?"
The emperor gazed in puzzlement at the thin mithril armor unfolding in his hands like spreading silver wings.
Even in pain, astonishment flickered in his eyes.
"It is an Air Plate made of mithril, worn by elven Sky Knights."
"Ooh! An Air Plate made by elves!!!!"
"An Air Plate made by elves!! It really exists?!"
"Oh... it's beautiful."
Gasps of awe erupted from the nobles watching us, and the emperor cried out in shock.
Heard of it? An elven Air Plate.
The one in the emperor's hands now was likely known only in legends.
Elves had long shunned humans.
Moreover, their mithril forging—more exquisite and perfect even than the dwarves'.
The treasures the emperor had received paled beside this mithril Air Plate.
"Truly a precious gift. Even I, emperor of the empire, have never seen an elven Air Plate... superb!"
The Air Plate alone cast an ancient glow amid the hall's magical lanterns.
Even I thought it looked cool.
"In such dire straits, one who offers such a treasure deserves recompense."
'Huh? What's this now?'
I had felt some satisfaction seeing the emperor pleased and the sneering nobles silenced, but then a delightful sound echoed through the hall.
"Speak. Whatever you desire, I shall grant it!"
'Oh! My God!'
I had considered it once or twice.
If something goes out, something comes in—so if the emperor liked my gift, he might offer one in return.
But not to this extent.
A noble's word, once spoken before peers, must be honored—no matter how lowly the noble.
Yet here the emperor declared before all the empire's nobles that he would grant my wish.
"..."
The faces of those who had mocked me twisted in rot.
They knew well that words from the emperor's mouth were never empty.
"Your Majesty's boundless grace humbles me."
I bowed, swiftly accepting the proffered favor.
From their demeanor, the crown prince and high nobles seemed poised to object.
"Yes, speak. After all, Lord Kayer protected our retreating nobles and soldiers from Neruman and has valiantly defended that perilous land. He is a first-class merit. Reward is only fitting."
'Yaiks the count gilded me well to the emperor.'
An ailing emperor who had abandoned Neruman wouldn't know of it or me.
Yet he dubbed me a first-class merit, silencing the nobles.
"Your Majesty, I already receive such grace and favor..."
I demurred once.
"It is fine. I shall grant within my power—so speak. This is also an imperial decree."
Not the emperor, but like a kindly grandfather giving a gift, his gentle voice issued a gracious imperial decree.
'Thank you! Very much so!'
"I receive Your Majesty's decree."
Bowing once more in thanks, I recalled Derbal's words and voiced my wish.
"After the empire's elite troops departed, millions of monsters and savage Temir hordes have attacked Neruman over a dozen times, while pirates blockade the seas, eyeing the territory covetously. Yet we, I foremost among the united people and soldiers of Neruman thinking of Your Majesty, have braved death to repel the foes without staining the empire's honor."
I poured on the heartfelt drama, passionately proclaiming Neruman's crises before the emperor and nobles.
Neruman was so expendable even the empire discarded it.
They wouldn't redeploy troops anyway.
Even an emperor could only cheerfully grant so much; only then could we all smile amiably.
Having set the stage, I paused briefly before continuing.
"Thus, I earnestly beseech Your Majesty to show mercy to Neruman's people and exempt us from imperial taxes for ten years."
I buttered up the emperor.
A discarded child can't claim rights, but Neruman's liege was still the emperor.
A touch of flattery was needed for the next steps.
"Granted."
Casual permission fell.
The nobles showed no displeasure.
They knew the pittance of taxes from Neruman anyway.
"And... I have one more request of Your Majesty."
"..."
The emperor nodded slightly, a pleased smile his reply.
All eyes turned to me.
Eager gazes, each imagining what wish I might voice.
"Grant me the title of earl!"
"Gasp!"
"Earl?"
"Hmm..."
Murmurs erupted instantly among the nobles.
The title of earl.
Not something bought with money or land grabs.
In the Bazran Empire, an earl was a high noble who could participate in major policies and represent the empire independently.
'Punks, it's just a title—why freak out...'
The moment I claimed earldom, over 80% of nobles here would grovel at my feet.
"Your Majesty, earldom is too much."
"Indeed. No one in imperial history has risen from baron to earl."
"Father, cast out this wretch begging an absurd wish. If earldom for one Air Plate, other kingdoms will mock our empire!"
Chaos erupted.
As if my becoming earl meant prancing as a noble in Bazran—they panicked preemptively.
Those granted titles once were nobly executed short of treason, per noble privilege law.
Thus they could object.
Having made deadly enemies sharing the same sky with the crown prince and certain nobles.
'Do as you please. Grant if you will, deny if you must.'
It was mere nominal pomp anyway.
In Neruman, I was lord beyond titles.
Earldom was like tasting a ripe apple—just once.
"Granted."
"Gasp!"
"Y-Your Majesty..."
'Good choice.'
My ties to Bazran were many, but bad memories outnumbered good.
Amid it, I hoped the emperor fell on the good side.
Father to Isis the princess who clicked with me, and little Razsion.
"By Your Majesty's great grace, I shall repay with loyalty."
Others aside, if this emperor commanded, I'd give it my all once.
Though the moment that two-million-luck bastard crown prince ascended, my ties to the empire would end.
"Perform the knight's oath."
Swish.
An emperor whose temperament I liked.
Those inheriting or granted formal titles of baron or above received noble investiture from the emperor himself.
At his command, I knelt.
Shing.
The emperor took the proffered ceremonial sword from his guard captain.
He gently placed it atop my head.
'This is true noble investiture from the emperor.'
My heart thrilled pleasantly.
The noble dubbings from novels and films.
Receiving it unexpectedly felt dreamlike.
"By the name of Habitron von Bazran, emperor of the Great Bazran Empire, I decree: Faithful knight Kayer de Neruman, baron, is hereby elevated to earl. Engrave this deeply before the empire's steadfast name until its glory fades. Furthermore, with the title, I grant the name Neruman and its territory."
Tap, tap, tap.
With his words, the emperor lightly pressed the blade to my head and shoulders.
"Before the exalted name of Your Imperial Majesty, son of the gods, I, Kayer de Neruman, earl, pledge my loyalty. I swear before all gods and my name that my fealty to Your Majesty shall endure until all the seas run dry."
'Great ad-lib!'
Nauseating lines flowed effortlessly from who-knows-where.
'Loyalty applies strictly to you. Not that filthy delinquent bastard.'
As I raised my head to the emperor, I caught the crown prince's twisted face.
"Haha, what are you all doing? Is this not the birth of the empire's new earl? Applaud warmly for Earl Kayer and Neruman territory!"
The emperor's hearty words rang through the silent Hall of Glory.
Clap, clap.
A few responded.
Isis flushed with joy; Rosiatte startled upon spotting me; Ayrin with her knowing faint smile; and little Razsion.
"Waaaaah!"
Rattle, rattle, rattle.
The few claps spread like contagion, nobles cheering rapturously.
Young noble daughters' eyes changed, applauding most fervently.
'Punks, should've recognized and cozied up sooner.'
Sometimes a hat makes the man.
My name and title now etched in the minds of nobles obsessed with gold and glory.
None in the Bazran Empire would be ignorant of me henceforth.
"Lord Kayer... I leave it to you."
'.....?'
Amid the cheers, the emperor whispered meaningfully in my ear.
I couldn't fathom why he'd say such to me.
Even ruined, a rich man lasts three years, they say.
Especially Bazran, top of the continent's three great empires.
Not words for me, ruler of the paltry Neruman.
'Something's up.'
And in that moment, I saw.
Where the emperor's gaze lingered.
On little Razsion, poised Princess Isis, and finally the empress with her benevolent smile...