Argin's Ordeal
But as far as I knew, the empire had no major problems at the moment. Neither externally nor internally—the Ether Empire was in a stable state, aside from a few local lords scheming to expand their territories.
“What business brought Your Majesty to summon a recluse like me?”
I was pretty busy in my own way, but to outsiders, it looked like I was in seclusion.
“Hm, it’s about the empresses.”
Was he calling me for marriage counseling? Emperor or not, I was tempted to smack him.
Maybe my expression showed, or perhaps it was his imperial poise—he seemed to read my mind.
“Well, as you know, Viscount, the empresses’ families are quite influential houses.”
True enough. William had heads of both the noble and imperial factions as fathers-in-law, which let him smoothly run the country early in his reign with support from both sides.
“But now that both empresses are pregnant at the same time, it’s becoming an issue.”
“Congratulations, first off.”
Getting two wives pregnant simultaneously—impressive feat. Problem or not, I’d offer my congrats.
The gist was that with both empresses pregnant, their families were already squabbling over whose child would be the heir, so they wanted neutral me to mediate.
Of course, I already knew about the pregnancies. But I hadn’t dug into the details. I couldn’t monitor every power play outside the palace, and even if I could, it was William’s job to handle.
Strictly speaking, Hilda was about a week ahead, but that wasn’t the point right now.
“Thank you.”
William accepted my congrats, though his face didn’t brighten.
Better give him an answer quick and head out.
“Your Majesty, that’s nothing to worry about, really.”
“What do you mean?”
“Empress Hilda is carrying a princess, and Empress Diane a prince.”
“Is that true?”
Of course it was. I’d peeked inside their wombs myself.
“Yes. The Guardian Spirit informed me.”
Nothing beats throwing the Guardian Spirit under the bus in times like these.
“Remarkable being.”
William’s face lit up instantly. Yeah, I’m remarkable.
Still, it wasn’t time to let his guard down. Being the eldest didn’t guarantee excellence, and the Ether Empire didn’t strictly follow primogeniture anyway. But at least until the kids grew a bit, there’d be no heir disputes.
“But Viscount, you have no interest in the succession?”
“Not for now. My standards are too high.”
“Tch, such a shame.”
William clicked his tongue. Did he have someone in mind to introduce?
I didn’t know of any young ladies closely tied to him.
“Is something the matter?”
“So many nobles are interested in your heir position. But you’re so intimidating, they can’t approach you directly and come to me instead.”
Were they petitioning about my marriage?
“If I don’t marry, I’ll adopt someone suitable, so no need to worry.”
That’s why I’d half-jokingly asked Setas if he’d consider being adopted. Half-serious, too.
“There’d be way more noble sons gunning for that spot. Keep it under wraps for now.”
He was right. Word gets out, and Akasha Territory would be flooded with guys ditching their families to become my heir.
“Thank you for your discretion.”
I chatted a bit more with William before leaving the palace.
It was a tricky issue. Without me checking the babies’ genders, the two factions would’ve bled each other dry in shadow wars until birth.
Still waiting in the carriage with Dibip, I returned to my capital mansion and ordered servants to clean him up.
Soon, Dibip emerged looking like a new man. Hunchback or not, washed and in fresh clothes, he was presentable.
And from the first time I saw him, I knew the boy had decent talent. Not a genius or prodigy, but with effort, he could bloom.
I took Dibip back to Akasha Territory and had the managers find him a fitting job. They tested him on various tasks and suggested watchtower guard—surprisingly apt.
Physical labor was tough, no formal education for clerical work, but he had sharp night vision and spotted distant things well. Plus, minimal interaction with others—perfect fit.
I visited Dibip, now slotted for watchtower duty.
“Think you can handle it?”
“Of course. I’ll do my best.”
He seemed pleased. From slum beggar to steady job and lodging overnight—who wouldn’t be?
“It’ll be tiring, but attend school during the day. You’ve got talent.”
“Someone like me?”
“‘Someone like you’? In Akasha Territory, there’s no such thing.”
Dibip nodded silently.
As I’d said, he worked the watchtower at night and studied basics at school by day.
Akasha had few bad apples compared to other territories, so no one bullied him for being a hunchback.
Dibip began to blossom. Smart kid at heart, diligent and passionate above all.
He mastered letters and arithmetic quickly, and within months, basic magic.
No reports needed—I watched, pleased.
I’d scouted and elevated many talents besides him, but some you just grow attached to.
Meanwhile, the New Continent shipyard finally completed. Full prep for airships now.
Designs changed again. Not the dwarves’ floating island or Setas’s aerial fortress.
Setas modeled it after his world’s “aircraft carriers,” whatever that meant—I’d never seen one, so I deferred.
The new model had a sleek, ship-like hull. Massive, though—over 500 crew with quarters. Overkill? But Setas the expert said it was ideal, so I shut up.
Metals sourced locally. New Continent had plenty of mines—iron, you name it. No one to mine them before, and I hadn’t needed to, but now genius dwarves galore.
Mark a spot, and elves and dwarves swarm, digging shafts instantly.
Besides iron, gold and silver too. Not for immediate economy, but great for future trade, enriching non-humans who value wealth less anyway. Better than nothing.
Things stayed quiet for a while until one early morning, Argin showed up with a grim face.
I’d half-expected it. What had to come, came.
“My lord, I have something to discuss.”
“I know why you’re here. But you should’ve gone to someone else first.”
“I... well...”
Argin trailed off.
“You sure you’re ready?”
“O-of course!”
“You could die.”
“No way I’d die.”
“No, really—you could.”
Argin didn’t grasp the danger.
“I’ve grown stronger now. You know that.”
True, he was human #2 in the pecking order.
“Not enough.”
“That’s why I need your help...”
Could my aid solve it? Maybe a boost, but not the root.
“I’ll help. Won’t let you die, at least.”
His face brightened.
“That’s all I need.”
I sent him off, told him to return at night. This could only happen after dark.
Before sunset, he paced outside my office, got shooed, then returned post-dusk.
Argin and I left the mansion.
We headed for what might be the most pivotal duel of his life.
Bastet perched on my shoulder, eyes sparkling more than usual—made me uneasy.
Politely: “Anything new lately?”
She’d claimed Setas’s head as her new home a while back.
[I crave something tasty.]
Tuna got boring?
“Name it, I’ll get whatever.”
I owed her big.
[Full Fish.]
Full Fish? Exists here? I’d ask later.
We’d arrived.
I opened the blue door and entered.
“Long time, Saint.”
The pale handsome man greeted me.
“Eltis, doing well?”
“Thanks to you.”
Blue Moon’s Paradise branch one was booming. New Continent vampire brew was a hit—pricey for commoners, yet flying off shelves.
Hardly a seat free.
A few patrons recognized me, started rising—I waved them down, then followed Eltis to the inner room for VIPs only.
Usually Howard’s spot, but he was tied up in a soul chess marathon with the dwarf elder on the New Continent.
Argin followed stiffly—Grand Master or not, he moved like a board.
“Argin has words for you.”
“I see.”
Eltis’s cool vampire gaze fixed on him.
Argin fidgeted, then blurted: “P-please give me your daughter.”
Eltis’s eyes flashed red. Isn’t that just for instinctual rages?
Argin might actually die today.
BAM!
Argin crashed through the tavern wall, flying out.
Eltis’s fury blow—no Grand Master blocks that barehanded.
As Eltis shook his wrist and headed out the hole, I asked: “You knew?”
“Of course.”
He grinned, fangs sharper than usual today.
Eltis’s adopted daughter Violette and Argin had already fooled around—and bore fruit. The blood-sense vampire wouldn’t miss new life in her womb.
“Makes it all the more outrageous.”
I nodded. Knocking up the man’s daughter pre-wedding? Deserves a beating.
Eltis’s wrathful strikes sent Argin tumbling everywhere. Skills evenly matched, really. Full deathmatch favors Eltis, but they wouldn’t go that far unless divorce happened.
I followed leisurely, calmed the guards and vigilantes who rushed at the noise, sent them off, then watched Argin get pummeled for ages.
“Enjoying the show?”
I asked Bastet on my shoulder. She’d come for this.
Meow!
So she said. I was getting cat-fluent.
Eltis’s thrashing dragged on till pre-dawn—nearly 12 hours since sunset. Argin was wrecked.
Impressive, beater and beaten.
Eltis fled the rising sun back inside; I approached the downed Argin, healed him, and asked: “Worth it?”
“Yes.”
He grinned like an idiot—got permission at the end.
“Our father-in-law’s insanely strong, huh.”
Argin hadn’t seen Eltis’s true form yet.
“Told you you might die.”
“Continent’s strongest father-in-law.”
Me and Howard lacked daughters—fair?
Argin grinned idiotically again.
Violette approached from her all-night watch.
Time to give space.
“I’m out.”
I entered, sat before resting Eltis.
“How’s it feel to gain humanity’s strongest son-in-law?”
“Still green. Needs tempering.”
Eltis smiled too.
I sensed he’d leave soon. Promise was till Violette settled.
I’d hoped he’d stay, but that smile confirmed it.