Chapter 483: Buildup(3)
Chapter 483: Buildup(3)
Cecile returned to the Academy. Saying she "returned" makes it sound like she was held back a year, but that wasn't the case at all. As mentioned before, she had only been away to handle state affairs.
Specifically, she had purged every single hardline demon—that is, the demon worshippers—who had been hiding within Helium and colluding with the enemy.
Since the hardliners had zero popularity even within Helium, public opinion was entirely on Cecile’s side.
Of course, she didn't just go around shouting "You're purged!" like Stalin. She gathered sufficient evidence before proceeding. Furthermore, the initial phase was carried out in secret.
The interesting part was that one demon, who had displayed such a fierce attitude that he was mistaken for a hardliner, turned out to be a true patriot, while the person egging him on from the sidelines was the actual demon worshipper.
The patriot was deeply shocked when that person was executed, but he didn't abandon his convictions. He was a hardliner in the truest sense, not a demon worshipper.
In this manner, Cecile purged the pests that had been eating away at Helium one by one. Once things were somewhat settled, she made a public announcement.
Anyone who sided with demon worshippers would be summarily executed, regardless of the reason. As a bonus, she had them perform confessions within the temple to ensure no innocent people were caught in the crossfire.
In times like these, the system seemed quite reliable since it prevented wrongful accusations. It felt like a birdcage that kept the birds safe.
At any rate, the purge, which would leave a significant mark on Helium’s history, concluded in this fashion.
"Some of the hardliners were even plotting a rebellion. They were inciting the people and even talking about invading other countries."
"Wouldn't people like that get caught sooner?"
"If we had moved too early, it would have just given them a justification to claim they were being oppressed. It’s a good thing you saved our race, Isaac. If a little more time had passed, it would have been dangerous."
During the winter break, I had a thought: if the Elves were leaning toward communism, the Demons were leaning toward fascism.
In reality, Helium had more than enough reasons for fascism to take root.
Much like the Germans after World War I, the entire race was steeped in a sense of defeat, and they had been treated as a public enemy.
Fortunately, they lacked someone with Hitler’s genius-level oratory and agitation skills. Most importantly, their daily lives weren't unbearable.
If the economy had completely collapsed as well, even a little incitement would have stained them with fascism. People are generally satisfied as long as they can eat well and live decently.
"We had all of them publicly executed. We declared that the hardliners were the true evil that would bring ruin to Helium."
"Wait... what? Public execution?"
"Yes. Other countries do public executions too, don't they?"
Through this, I learned about the terrors of the 'Middle Ages.' Cecile mentioned that depending on the severity of the crime, they were executed by hanging or stoning.
Even though the world was just transitioning into the modern era and the concept of human rights was beginning to sprout thanks to the Jayros Revolution, public executions persisted.
In truth, it was inevitable. Public executions served as a warning, but they were also a form of 'entertainment.'
Even on Earth, Europeans once had so little to do that they treated public executions as a spectacle. There are even records of them participating directly, such as in stonings.
I looked at Cecile, who was blinking her red eyes as if wondering what was so strange, and then I turned my head.
Sitting next to me was Mari, who was nibbling on cookies baked by Adelia.
"Mari?"
"Mmm?"
Mari stopped eating and looked at me when I called her name. Her blue eyes were wide and round.
"I don't go out much, so I'm asking... does the Minerva Empire also hold public executions?"
Munch, munch. "Of course. They happen once a month in the center of the capital. There's actually one scheduled soon. Do you want to go see it?"
"......No."
At the very least, I didn't think it would be a pleasant sight for me. It hit me once again that this was indeed the Middle Ages.
Even if laws were enacted to prevent the 'infringement' of human rights, it was still a world that showed no mercy to those who 'infringed' upon the rights of others.
Seeing my uncomfortable reaction, Cecile spoke up, seemingly curious about something.
"Does Isaac's world not have public executions?"
"Some places do. But for the most part, they're being phased out. In my country, even the death penalty was halfway abolished."
"Why? There's no better system for propaganda than a public execution."
"The same goes for the death penalty. What if something happens while you're delaying the execution?"
Not only Cecile and Mari, but even Adelia, who had been listening quietly, wore expressions of incomprehension.
In reality, public executions were carried out to humiliate the criminal, but they were closer to a 'warning' to prevent further crime.
If you commit a crime, you will die like this! So, are you going to do it or not? That sort of thing.
Public executions were maintained until the pre-modern era, but they weren't very effective. If anything, they only created an atmosphere of fear and caused resentment among the citizens.
"They weren't as effective as people thought. They opened the door for criticism from citizens or other countries, and they didn't significantly lower the crime rate. Crucially, they soured the overall social atmosphere."
"The social atmosphere gets worse? Even though a criminal who threw society into chaos was punished?"
"Hmm..."
I paused for a moment, contemplating how to explain. Thinking about it, perhaps this world actually needed public executions.
Individual power was so great here that large-scale crimes occurred frequently.
Furthermore, because of the existence of monsters, this was a world that required violence—that is, 'might.' Hadn't they just used might to eliminate the demon worshippers?
The most effective way to suppress might is with even greater might. It was about the belief that the state would directly protect you no matter what happened.
Therefore, it would take a very long time for public executions to disappear from this world. Even putting human rights aside, the inherent violence of the death penalty was formidable.
"There are quite a few complex reasons, so it's hard to explain. In the world I lived in, society was rarely disrupted by physical force. However, things like rebellion resulted in the death penalty regardless of the reason."
"Ah. I see. So society was rarely in chaos due to force. Then why was the death penalty halfway abolished?"
"It was used politically in the past, and there's the reason that it violates human rights. There's also the possibility of an innocent person being wrongly accused."
In the case of South Korea, while human rights were a factor, the political aspect was the most significant. Numerous politicians were executed during the era of military dictatorship.
Nowadays, because heinous crimes are so rampant, opposition to the abolition of the death penalty is higher, but many conflicting interests are intertwined.
"......I understand the political part and the possibility of innocent victims. But you're not saying they even look out for the human rights of criminals, right?"
Cecile asked me, her fine brows furrowing slightly. She looked like she couldn't understand it at all.
I popped a cookie into my mouth and answered calmly.
"Actually, I am."
"Even when the charges are certain?"
"Yes."
"Protecting the human rights of criminals who violated human rights... how ironic."
"There's a lot of debate about that."
Korea has a particularly strong tendency to be obsessed with human rights. While this often causes social controversy, it's somewhat unavoidable.
In the past, the 'state' itself directly violated the human rights of its citizens, so the reaction was bound to be strong.
During the military dictatorship era, this happened twice, and during the famous 5·18 Movement, the state directly killed its own people.
It was truly a democracy stained with blood. The democratization movement didn't just happen once; it erupted multiple times.
Given that history, the obsession with human rights was inevitable. The problem was that it had become so excessive that it was being used politically.
"As I always say, take stories about my world with a grain of salt. So, it's fine to continue with public executions here. As long as there are no innocent victims."
"If someone can maintain their claim of innocence even before Lady Mora, then they truly must be innocent. Otherwise, they'd be struck by divine punishment."
"In times like this, the existence of gods seems like a good thing. At least fewer innocent people will suffer."
"......"
The surroundings suddenly fell silent at my words. I could vividly feel the atmosphere sinking in an instant.
As soon as I felt the shift, I looked around. For some reason, every single one of them was eyeing me warily.
Are these people thinking I suffered some kind of injustice in my past life? I spoke up, feeling a bit absurd.
"What's wrong? Are you guys thinking I suffered some kind of injustice?"
"......Did you not?"
"I didn't."
Aside from the absurdities I faced in the military, absolutely not. My parents passing away in an accident was truly an accident; it was a bolt from the blue rather than an injustice.
At my firm answer, not only Cecile but everyone else let out a sigh of relief.
I don't know what kind of stories have been circulating, but every time the topic of my past life comes up, it's like they're walking on thin ice.
"That's a relief. We were worried you had suffered something terrible. You're sure there's nothing, right?"
"I told you, there isn't."
They only seemed to believe me after I confirmed it several times. It's nice that they worry about me, but I wish they wouldn't make such unnecessary assumptions.
It's as if they treat me like a piece of glass art that might shatter at any moment.
While they treat my body quite roughly, they soothe my heart so gently that I couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.
"Anyway, enough about that. Cecile, you're going to continue attending the Academy, right? Do you have to start from the second year?"
"That's right. Oh, and from now on, I can walk around openly with Isaac, right?"
Cecile asked Mari, not me, in a seductive voice. It seemed to be because of the 'one-ball' incident from before.
That incident where, instead of proving I wasn't a monorchid, I had directly demonstrated my... superiority(?).
Thanks to that one incident, rumors of me being a 'natural-born stallion' spread, and I received many passionate gazes from young noble ladies during social gatherings.
There was no way Cecile didn't know about this. Moreover, since rumors of our secret affair were slowly spreading, she was making a suggestion.
"No. It's fine to visit Isaac's dormitory, but delay walking around openly."
However, Mari took an unexpectedly firm stance. Judging by her stern voice and the way she even closed her eyes, she was expressing her absolute refusal.
When Cecile looked puzzled, not having expected this, Mari voiced a reasonable explanation.
"At least wait until after Isaac marries me to reveal it. If you reveal it before then, my position becomes very awkward. Even Queen Arwen only said she gave him a gift and hasn't properly revealed anything, right?"
"Tch. Fine. Then I can visit every single day, right?"
Cecile licked her lips provocatively while looking at me. Since several days had passed since the winter break, she must have a lot built up.
Because I had been obsessed with Baduk, I had even passed my 'lust period,' but the desire remained. I could only manage a bitter smile.
"Do whatever you want. It hurts my pride, but it's impossible for me to hold out alone. I'm definitely working out hard, so why can't I win even once?"
Mari grumbled while giving her easy consent. I found her so cute that I gently stroked her hair.
Then, as if she had never been grumbling, Mari leaned against me.
Just as she said, Mari could no longer beat me at night. We both knew each other's weaknesses, but the difference in stamina was too great.
Unlike Adelia and Cecile, who had mastered at least the basics of physical enhancement, Mari was no different from an ordinary person.
In the past, she would have done anything to monopolize me, but now, for practical reasons, she was the one dragging other women into the bed.
"But I'm still going to be the first one to marry him. Hehe."
"......"
That said, she had no intention of giving up her position as the primary wife. When Mari spoke teasingly, the area under Cecile's eyes twitched.
Adelia? She was satisfied with her position as a concubine and had no complaints. She was more like someone watching a fire across the river.
I cleared my throat to break the strange atmosphere. At the same time, I gently nudged Mari away.
Mari pouted her lips, but I settled it by holding her hand.
"Ahem. So, how is the movie coming along?"
"Don't worry about that. We'll be able to show it at the upcoming Xenon Festival. We've finished coordinating with Albenheim as well."
"That's a relief."
"Oh, right. Speaking of Albenheim, it seems Queen Arwen is plotting something interesting."
"What kind of thing?"
I focused as soon as Albenheim, and specifically Arwen, was mentioned.
Since the winter break, we hadn't been able to contact each other due to our respective circumstances, but Cecile was in contact with her for the movie.
Cecile then gave a playful smile and said something that made my heart drop.
"It seems she's planning to quote Hitler's speeches. If you look at the speeches themselves, they're perfect for intoxicating the people..."
"Wait... what?"
"She told me to keep it a secret from you, but I felt like I should let you know. No matter how you look at it, directly copying a speech from a book is..."
"Can you contact her right now?"
I had to stop that at all costs.
Of course, Arwen's speaking style was different from Hitler's. Hitler captivated the crowds with aggressive gestures and a theatrical tone thick with appeal.
On the other hand, Arwen unified her people with a gentle, calm, and emotional voice.
If Hitler was a rough, crashing wave, Arwen was like a single drop of ink falling into clear water. Their styles were completely different.
Crucially...
"I have a bit of explaining to do."
The mere fact that she was copying him was the problem.
Around the time Isaac was hurriedly attempting to contact Arwen.
Volumes 7 and 8 of Blood and Iron were finally able to spread across the world through Musk's tear-inducing labor.
He had faced difficulties due to a shortage of raw materials, but Musk was originally a highly capable businessman.
Above all, he had 'money.' While money doesn't solve everything, it certainly solves a lot.
By pulling in a bit more cash to purchase raw materials, the new volumes of Blood and Iron reached every corner of the world without issue.
And the proper understanding of communism and the history of the Soviet Union's founding that appeared in Volume 8...
"Communism, huh..."
...left a profound impression on a certain dwarf.
The embers were slowly beginning to glow.
"Hey, Eins! Do I put it in here? Will this thing even roll properly?"
"We'll have to test it. As long as it can withstand magic, it'll be fine."
"How are you going to load the shells?"
"Just think of it as loading a cannon."
The firewood to fuel those embers was being crafted.