A Show of Force
A sudden silence fell over the room at the aggressive words of the noble standing beside me in the front row.
The seating arrangement inside the hall followed its own set of rules.
The closer to the front, the higher the status.
There was a reason this man could act so boldly in front of the Emperor.
Just like Duke Hartenfels standing next to me, this man was also a duke.
He was Duke Walter von Ebenthal, the ruler of the East.
Notably, he had an extra set of ears on top of his head.
A beastman.
A tiger beastman, if I recalled correctly.
"Even as we speak, countless pioneers in the East are dying at the hands of monsters," Ebenthal said. "Though the Eastern lords have united to deploy their knights and territorial armies, it is not enough. I beg you to reconsider, Your Majesty."
As he bowed his head, a murmur rippled through the crowd.
When someone of his stature put on such a dramatic performance, it was hard to ignore.
I didn't know much about politics, but I'd seen enough news back in my old life to recognize a political stunt.
Perhaps that was why the Emperor's response took a slightly different turn.
"Then there is an easy solution. Would you care to hear it?"
"I am all ears, Your Majesty."
No matter how powerful the Emperor was, it couldn't be easy to speak carelessly to a duke who ruled an entire region—
"I shall simply decree a ban on all pioneering."
Oh.
"..."
Silence fell once more. A heavy, suffocating silence.
"I recall telling you before," the Emperor continued. "To either ban pioneering or proceed with extreme caution. Naturally, you did not listen, and now we have this situation. How much further do you intend to expand our borders? Focus on the territories you already have, all of you."
"Pioneering is a lord's duty, Your Majesty," Duke Ebenthal countered. "Furthermore, the pioneer groups consist entirely of willing volunteers."
"Which is why I am telling you to stop accepting those volunteers," the Emperor said. "If the Crown must solve all your problems, what use do I have for you?"
Whoa, hold on. The atmosphere turned hostile in an instant, making it hard to breathe.
"And for monsters to run rampant just as spring is arriving... How intriguing."
"It is the absolute truth, Your Majesty."
"I am sure it is. I believe you."
Come to think of all this, it did sound strange. According to the book Luniere had brought me, Ecology of the Aurium Empire, spring on the great plains was a harsh season for animals.
The melting snow created muddy bogs everywhere, making travel difficult, and the drastic temperature fluctuations kept beasts confined to their dens.
Since monsters were mutated animals, they generally followed the same habits.
...Wait a minute.
It finally clicked. Was this whole thing just a show to draw out the Capital Defense Knights?
"It must be true. Is it not?" the Emperor asked.
"It is indeed the truth."
Judging by the way they spoke, they were definitely exaggerating. Then again, if it were a complete lie, the Emperor would have had their heads by now.
"It is due to my own shortcomings that the people suffer, Your Majesty. Please, show mercy."
"Please, show mercy!"
The Eastern nobles cried out in unison.
My head throbbed, even though this had nothing to do with me.
It wasn't a complete fabrication. There were likely real casualties.
However, the suspicion that they were exaggerating was overwhelming.
Their main goal was to disperse the Capital Defense Knights, who were essentially the Emperor's private army.
To me, this felt dangerously close to treason, but judging by their attitudes, it hadn't crossed that line yet.
In fact, at this point, I even doubted whether the Eastern army was actually putting their all into holding back the monster waves.
Luniere had told me that the power struggle between the Emperor and the nobles had reached its peak.
But I hadn't expected it to be this bad—bad enough for them to openly deceive him and pick a fight.
The imperial authority I had seen and learned about was real, but it felt like the Emperor's actual power was weak compared to his status.
If they could challenge him so blatantly, the nobles must hold immense power.
So, what happens now?
Even if the Emperor banned pioneering now, it was practically impossible to relay the message to all the scattered settlers.
Since the casualties were real, he had to help, but doing so would mean playing right into their hands.
Yet, he couldn't just abandon them...
As I anxiously watched the staring contest between the two, another voice cut through the tension.
"Your Majesty, may I have permission to speak?"
Duke Ernst von Hartenfels. The Shield of the North had stepped forward.
Anyone else would have been thoroughly reprimanded by the Emperor just for interrupting, but not him.
"You may," the Emperor granted.
He was one of the few individuals trusted by both the nobility and the Emperor.
Technically, he belonged to the noble faction, but he was someone who sought balance.
"It is true that the situation in the East is dire," Duke Hartenfels said. "The East is doing its best, but the number of pioneers currently scattered is too vast for the Eastern lords to control. Support is indeed necessary."
Hearing this, the Emperor's expression softened slightly.
Duke Hartenfels was not a man who told lies. At the very least, the claim that the East was doing its best to mitigate the damage now carried weight.
"However, we cannot send the Capital Defense Knights, who guard the very heart of the Aurium Empire," Hartenfels continued. "They must remain stationed in the capital at all times to prepare for any unforeseen crises."
It was a sharp, calculated move, fitting for the Shield of the North.
Duke Ebenthal, who had looked relaxed at the arrival of an ally, twitched his ears in shock.
The Emperor, on the other hand, urged him on with a satisfied voice.
"Continue."
"Since both sides have valid points, I believe an extraordinary measure is required in this situation."
Duke Hartenfels turned his head to look at a certain man.
"And the Empire harbors someone more extraordinary than anyone else."
A brief silence fell.
Whether Balthazar Eisenhardt, who had finally grasped the situation, was cursing him in his mind or not, Duke Hartenfels pressed on.
"I ask that you consider deploying the Sword Saint, Count Eisenhardt."
There was no grand, malicious intent behind it. It was simply a reasonable compromise.
It would temporarily send the Emperor's strongest political asset to the outskirts, while simultaneously rendering the nobles' months of planning completely useless.
In short, it was a message to both sides to stop fighting.
And since Balthazar seemed to have overcome his Heart Demon, it wasn't an unreasonable suggestion.
"He would easily be able to quell the chaos in the East—"
At that moment, the sword descended.
"Urgh...!"
"Guh..."
"A-Ack..."
A crushing pressure radiated outward from Balthazar.
The air vibrated and tore. Fissures opened and closed along invisible lines.
It was a violent, overwhelming aura, making his previous display look like a gentle greeting.
Most of the nobles collapsed to the floor. A few groaned, forced to lower their gaze.
The stronger individuals quickly tried to steady themselves in shock.
"Oh my," Luniere murmured.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
Luniere immediately cast protective magic over the Emperor and several high-ranking officials.
The five Dukes also shielded those around them in their own ways.
"..."
At the center of everyone's gaze stood a silent Balthazar.
The pressure remained unabated.
No matter how powerful Balthazar was, they were in front of the nobility and the Emperor.
No one expected him to stage an open show of force.
In any normal circumstance, this would be political suicide, but he was not a politician.
He was the Sword Saint, the strongest swordsman on the continent. To find a match for him, one would have to look to history.
Political power in this world was a combination of three things: title, wealth, and ability.
The Sword Saint was someone who could overwhelm everyone's political power through sheer ability alone.
After all, no one was immune to a blade. Cross the line, and you might find a sword at your throat.
The Sword Saint's very existence was a threat.
Although his actions just now would severely damage his political standing, he had a perfect excuse: he had only recently overcome his Heart Demon.
What mattered now was what he would say next.
As everyone watched in tense silence, not daring to speak, Balthazar finally opened his mouth.
"Do not dare speak so recklessly. You stand before His Imperial Majesty."
"..."
In that moment, the five Dukes exchanged silent glances.
It's over.
I knew this would happen.
Serves them right.
I told you not to cross the line.
But we spent months preparing this...
What a disaster. Why did they have to provoke him?
As if you did anything to stop them.
Wait, wasn't it Duke Hartenfels who actually pissed him off?
...Actually, that's true.
Deal with it yourself.
Agreed.
Duke Ernst von Hartenfels clicked his tongue inwardly.
This was why staying neutral was so difficult. One wrong step, and you would be squeezed from both sides.
However, it was indeed the right moment for him to step in.
His opponent was the Sword Saint.
Only someone of a similar standing could intervene to preserve their respective political face.
"If it sounded that way, I apologize," Duke Hartenfels said. "Please, withdraw your aura. As you said, we are in the presence of His Imperial Majesty."
"..."
But the only response was silence.
The reason was simple: Balthazar himself didn't know how to control it.
The current situation was merely a byproduct of his sudden tension.
Thus, the response was...
Clap, clap, clap.
The sudden sound of applause echoed through the hall.
Everyone's eyes turned toward the source.
It was the Emperor. He was clapping with a highly satisfied expression.
After applauding for a long moment, the Emperor finally delivered the answer Balthazar had been hoping for.
"Count Eisenhardt."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Reflect on your actions. You went a bit too far this time."
"I shall obey your command."
Instantly, the crushing pressure vanished.
The sound of people catching their breath echoed from all directions.
Ignoring them, Balthazar walked straight out of the hall.
Yet, even after he had gone, his presence lingered in the Golden Hall.
More precisely, it remained in the Emperor's hands.
Balthazar's political life was over. At the same time, it was reborn.
He had become the Emperor's partner.
From now on, his words would be the Emperor's will.
It didn't matter if he committed political suicide.
His political life depended entirely on the Emperor, and the Emperor would never let him fall.
Who would discard a masterfully crafted sword that said everything they wanted to say without carrying any of the risk?
The Emperor smiled cheerfully and declared, "I authorize the deployment of the Capital Defense Knights. Since you plead so earnestly, I must grant it."
One might wonder why they had fought so hard if it was going to end like this, but the calculations had changed.
Now, the temporary departure of the Capital Defense Knights would do nothing to shake the Emperor's authority.
And so, it was settled.