The Black Serpent
A letter from Hecate?
To my friend, my younger brother, Khalid.
That was how the salutation began.
I read through the letter in one go.
Hello, Khalid.
Have you been well? I heard the news that you were looking for me. That is why I am sending you this letter.
I know you want to meet me, but I am sorry. I am currently in a position where I cannot leave this place.
Khalid, the reason you want to ask me something must be because of what I said when we met last time, right?
From what I have observed, it has been maintaining a precarious balance so far.
That also means that as long as there are no other variables, it is safe for now. At the very least, it should be able to hold on for a few more years.
So, please do not worry too much. The world does not fall apart that easily.
Of course, that is under the assumption that you find a solution somehow in the meantime...
I hope you will do your best in that regard. I am sorry I cannot be of much help.
However, please understand that I am also doing my best from where I am right now.
Hmm.
I feel a bit bad asking this in writing, but could you do me a favor?
It seems that opposition against me is slowly growing within the 'Black Serpent'.
I suppose from their perspective, they are not pleased with my current choices.
While it is unfortunate that they have chosen a different path than mine, I had no intention of retaliating for it.
However, it seems those children have no intention of ending it at just that.
I am sending you this letter because I fear quite a lot of chaos will ensue if things are left as they are.
Khalid, I am sorry, but could you step in for me?
Normally, this is something I should have done myself, but as I wrote above, I am in a situation where I cannot move right now.
Ah! Naturally, I intend to reward you. I possess quite a lot of treasures, after all.
I am counting on you.
And, I am always hoping to reunite with you soon.
— From your affectionate sister, Kitty
After reading the letter, I organized my thoughts.
I do not know why she has been insisting on calling herself my older sister for a while now.
Regardless, I decided to let that slide.
The important thing is this:
I have received confirmation that the world will not perish immediately.
The crisis remains, but I have been guaranteed a clear margin of time.
Next is the fact that Hecate is currently in a position where she cannot move.
I do not know how a woman who cannot move managed to send a letter, but she must have done something. She is, after all, a witch who is practically the progenitor of all black mages.
And finally.
“Subjugating black mages, huh.”
“Pardon?”
Elizabeth, who had been listening, gave a start and her shoulders trembled.
Why are you reacting to that?
“Ahem.”
Realizing it wasn’t about her, she cleared her throat. Seeing her ears turn slightly red, she seemed quite embarrassed.
“Are you shy?”
“…….”
There was no answer. It was the attitude of a wise person who knew that if she answered, she would only be teased more.
I read the bottom of the letter with a sense of regret. The coordinates of the black mages’ base were written there.
“……It’s far.”
Quite far, at that.
Even if I went alone, it was a significant distance. To begin with, it wasn’t even within the Empire.
“Why aren’t there any black mages in the Empire?”
“Isn’t that a good thing……?”
As I mentioned before, if they were competent, I was more than willing to hire black mages as well.
In this case, since they are the dissidents Hecate has decided to purge, I couldn’t bring them into the Empire anyway.
If they were the ones hiding within the Empire, I could have gone and returned quickly.
It’s a shame in many ways.
“Shame, indeed. What would you have done if they were hiding here and there plotting conspiracies?”
“Were they plotting?”
“……I didn’t mean that I did that!”
Elizabeth shouted back.
“I’m just speaking hypothetically. I have no ill feelings toward black mages, but I won’t deny that their average character is on the lower side.”
“…….”
That’s the look of someone wondering whether or not to get angry this time. I chuckled and flicked the letter back and forth.
“It’s a letter asking me to subjugate them because there is a dangerous group of black mages.”
“……Where did you get such valuable information?”
Well, Hecate is a black mage herself. Perhaps she is an internal spy of sorts.
In truth, it is information I already knew to some extent.
In the original work, once the story progressed to a certain point, the black mages would start to move, so I had been thinking that the time was about right.
If we categorize Hecate and her followers, along with the likes of Elizabeth, as the moderate faction...
These guys can be seen as the hardliners within the Black Serpent.
I don’t have any major grudges against black mages, but...
These guys are the exception. Every time they appear, they appear as enemies, without fail.
They were the main culprits who made me very angry, as choosing the wrong option in front of them would lead straight to a bad ending.
Anyway, for that reason.
“I suppose I must prepare for a subjugation.”
They even give me the information on where the enemy is.
They even prepare the rewards separately.
And then they even apologize for asking the favor.
In my eyes, Hecate is more of a goddess than the one up in the sky.
By the way.
“……Let’s stop talking about work here.”
Since I’m on vacation today, after all.
“I think it’s already too late for that, though.”
Even as she said that, Elizabeth didn’t bother to bring up the subject further and gazed at the calm lakeside.
“On the way back.”
“Hmm?”
“Let’s stop by the dessert shop I liked. I think that will be enough for me.”
“Very well, let’s do that.”
On the way back.
We bought a cake at the dessert shop Elizabeth mentioned.
“Today.”
Elizabeth, who had been hesitating, said with a faint smile.
“Thank you, Brother. Let’s come out together again next time.”
Instead of answering, I held out my pinky finger.
At that, she chuckled faintly and hooked her pinky finger with mine.
It was a story from one of my holidays.
Upon returning to the Imperial Palace, Elizabeth looked much lighter.
“Hehehe.”
She seemed to be laughing more than usual, too.
Her overall atmosphere felt much brighter.
“Oh my, this here seems to be a mistake?”
“Gasp. I apologize.”
“It happens. Go and fix it quickly.”
She was even generously overlooking the mistakes of the officials in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
In the past, she would have pretended to overlook it with a smile only to destroy them behind their backs.
“Hehe.”
It was an unfamiliar change.
Of all people, that Elizabeth?
So this is why rest is important.
In my eyes, it was a good change.
The problem was.
“……Did something happen, by any chance?”
“Seeing the Proxy’s face is a bit scary. I feel like she’s going to appear in my dreams.”
It seemed that for the other high-ranking officials, it was a bit terrifying.
“Your Majesty, did something happen during your date with Lady Elizabeth?”
Even Lily, of all people.
“You must go on a date with me as well.”
No. It seemed Lily had a different reason.
Anyway, everyone found it difficult to accept Elizabeth’s change.
Well, I suppose.
“Oh my, Minister of Finance. Your beard has a nice shine to it today.”
“I, is that so?”
“Yes. It looks good.”
“Haha. Thank you. However, Proxy, about the official document I sent you last time...”
“Ah, are you talking about that? I approved it.”
“Already? I thought it would be rejected.”
Even I found it hard to adapt to that soft-hearted young lady.
Regardless of how good it looked, that is.
But what was I supposed to do about it? Step in?
Why would I?
I said to the flustered high-ranking officials:
“I will give it three days.”
“Pardon?”
“It will return to normal in three days, so do not worry.”
The officials left, casting wary glances at me.
And it took exactly three days.
While Elizabeth was checking documents in the office, the corner of her eye twitched.
“Hmm? Another mistake here?”
“Gasp, I, I apologize. I will go and fix it immediately.”
“...”
Elizabeth’s gentle smile distorted slightly.
“It happens. Go and correct it.”
“Hmm.”
“……Why are you doing that, Your Majesty?”
“Nothing.”
I just thought that her patience was reaching its limit.
It was exactly as I had expected.
That afternoon, while the high-ranking officials were gathered in the conference room, she opened her mouth.
“It seems the clerks have been making many mistakes lately. Has some problem arisen?”
“…….”
A chilling atmosphere instantly descended upon the audience chamber.
And then.
“Y, you’ve returned.”
“Pardon?”
“Phew, I won’t have to be on edge anymore.”
“Pardon?”
The officials, who would have normally frozen like ice and only watched her mood, were now all heaving sighs of relief.
“Y, Your Majesty? What is going on?”
A bewildered Elizabeth turned to look at me.
“Indeed. This is the real you.”
“What are you talking about, really...!”
I missed it.
This venomous Elizabeth with this affable smile.
“Everyone is talking about something only I don’t know...”
Left out, Elizabeth pouted and grumbled.
I waved my hand.
“Now, let’s save unimportant talk for later.”
Lily brought out a stack of documents.
“Your Majesty, what is this?”
“Subjugation of black mages...?”
The high-ranking officials looked at me one by one as they read the documents.
“I intend to go myself. If anyone objects, raise your hand and speak.”
...
“Your Majesty, this place is not within the Empire’s territory.”
“Hmm, so?”
“……Are you saying you will personally leave the Empire to subjugate black mages?”
“That is correct.”
“……You cannot. No, what, where are you saying you will go, leaving the Empire behind? You cannot!”
Unexpectedly, there were many voices of opposition.
I had thought everyone would just go along with it quietly.
But what to do.
“I’ve already packed my bags.”
“You really cannot!”
Everyone was in an uproar.