Eastern Stroll (4)
But if you really thought about it, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible. After all, the protagonist of Jupae was Mirne, and the main setting was the Maselin Kingdom. How important could that peripheral empire really be?
I hadn't read the novel to the end, but in any case, as Jupae progressed, the kingdom would eventually have to grow stronger than the empire. Meticulously fleshing out the empire's setup would be laughable in that context. When the protagonist actively worked to surpass the empire, it was convenient for the plot if the empire conveniently crumbled at just the right moment.
'We carefully build a strong empire... only to tear it down later. How the hell are we supposed to do that?'
Even if you suddenly dropped meteors or ninjas from the sky, the empire—with its unmatched military might—would endure. So instead, they completely wrecked the empire from the inside, rotting it to the core. They stuffed it full of traitors like maggots wriggling in a corpse. That way, when protagonist Mirne made her move against the empire, it would conveniently end up as her stepping stone.
"Thanks to that, I've got way too much cleanup to do. I have no idea how I'm going to pay back this debt."
"Your Highness! This lady has returned."
Arbeda, the dragon who had toppled the entire marquisate with a single burst of Dragon Fear, now stood beside me with those same sparkling eyes from our first meeting.
Does her draconic form only show when she uses her power?
She looked just like a dark elf like this. But why on earth had she chosen this polymorph form?
"Good work."
"Thank you very much."
Since she didn't seem to care much herself, I decided to let it slide. Getting half-off formal speech from a dragon was miracle enough already.
I sent a messenger bird to the Prime Minister too, so cleanup should proceed quickly.
At latest, two days. But the problem was what would happen to the territory during those two days without a head.
Normally, there'd be a successor lined up, but...
"Did you kill them all?"
"Yes, as Your Highness commanded, I made everyone except the innocent face their sins."
There was no one left in Verda Marquis Territory to take over. And handing it off to the servants who knew the situation?
They're probably dead too.
They couldn't have stayed clean while feeding off the marquis. Better to assume they were all gone.
That left only starving territory folk. Letting things run as-is would just breed chaos on sight. Time for some traffic control.
"I'll be right back."
"May this lady sit here and handle Your Highness's work while you go?"
Back to proper formal speech this time. I muttered to myself and nodded.
I headed to where the murmuring territory folk had gathered. Time to tell them how the empire would change from here on out.
"...No, what the hell."
The folk of Verda Marquis Territory still couldn't adapt to how lightly everything had flipped. They'd prayed to the heavens to escape this hellish life, sure.
"This easily...?"
But they never imagined it would happen this fast.
They didn't know exactly what went down at the marquis's manor. But something huge had exploded there, no doubt. They'd seen soldiers and nearby knights swarm inside.
Suddenly, what's going on? As folk started gathering in the square, dazed people stumbled out chanting I'm innocent.
Then headless corpses emerged, carrying their own heads, only to turn to ash on the spot. And among them were all the Verda marquis folk who'd tormented them daily—family ties and all.
"Th-then what now? They're all, y'know, dead."
Someone sharp caught on quick and tossed the question into the air. But no one was left to answer.
"Sh-should we loot the manor? They're all dead anyway?"
"But if we go in and get killed too...? We could die!"
"Shouldn't we just leave the territory? Could be plague! Or a dark wizard! Y'know, like boom?!"
"People who survived are still out of it—abandon them? How?!"
Looting the manor wasn't a real fix. Who knew what was inside? Sure, whatever was there had only killed the trash who treated folk like toys. But with only one life to live, who'd boldly charge in?
Flee the territory? Easier said than done. How do you abandon your lifelong home?
As the square full of folk spiraled into chaos, a soft wind whispered through.
Saaah.
It naturally drew all eyes to one spot. At the end of those gazes...
"Fear not."
...the crown prince strode slowly into the square.
Territory folk had never seen imperial blood before. But instinct told them this was someone leagues above. Centuries of oppression kicked in—they bowed low, foreheads glued to the dirt.
"I'm not here to harm you. Raise your heads."
They didn't budge, heads planted, bodies trembling. They'd been whipped before for daring to lift at such words.
The crown prince saw no need to force the scene. A few words from a stranger couldn't erase lifetimes of abuse. He judged it wouldn't vanish that easily.
I need to show them change. Only then will those heads rise.
The empire would change. Pus so deep it'd hurt like hell cutting it out. But he'd carve every last bit regardless.
"At latest, two days from now, people from the capital will arrive."
So hold back the panic till then. No physical proof to back it—just handing out stuff might spark more chaos.
No tiger, no peace in the mountains. Another tiger or lurking wolf would just take over.
Thus...
"I, Bellon Bellos, promise to compensate you fully for your suffering."
For now, only his name would vouch.
A peaceful morning.
"Your Grace! Eastern coalition nobles are being wiped out for unknown reasons."
"Ugh?"
Kailen scowled at his capable retainer bursting into the bedroom. He'd been sleeping well—today was a 4 a.m. nap day.
Unpleasant as the deep sleep interruption was, he kept the frown...
"...Wiped out? You mean all dead? Heirs too? Unknown reasons?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
He lobbed questions to piece it together slowly.
"The reason... unknown."
"Curse? Or plague?"
"No plague signs. Guessing curse—only nobles dying."
A curse targeting just nobles? Eastern coalition ones specifically?
"Damn... what'd the coalition do...?"
"No idea. Barely got this intel. One of ours passing by heard rumors, tore a one-use scroll to report."
"Hm... why only coalition nobles."
Eastern Grand Duke Kailen Marin pretended to ponder.
"Guess I should ask Mirne about this."
Perfect excuse. He yanked the artifact from under his pillow.
Since the second prince's punishment, Mirne said they couldn't talk properly. Prime chance to close the gap.
Plus, Mirne was smart. She'd know about this noble-killing curse.
"How recent is this?"
Better gather info first—contact her prepared, earn that smart praise.
"Report just in. Started about a day ago. Time's why we think curse—ten families gone in under a day? Gotta be."
"Any rumors from locals?"
He grilled the rushed retainer.
"Ran here right after report—no other details."
"...?"
He blanked at the last bit. Do the job right or not at all. Half-assed?
Retainer met the glare like he'd waited.
"That time you used 200 one-use scrolls on the spot for... romance stuff? Quality's crap for field agents now. Barely got the essentials."
"Ah, right... yeah."
Kailen shut up. Now he remembered. Three days back? Forgot artifact on a voyage, too lazy to return—chatted via scrolls. Had stacks anyway; empire could resupply.
Forgot to request from the empire.
Prince bro would hook him up laughing. Done.
"Anyway... big deal."
Situation summed.
"...Report aside, we gotta discuss filling vacancies. Figure out the cause too..."
Retainer stressed severity. Lazy duke still lounging—frustrating. At least pretend to head to office.
Or accepts the dead as dead?
Should at least guide coalition's path. Retainer rushed on.
"Deaths heading straight from empire toward us—Marina Polis!"
"From capital to Marina Polis? Right here?"
Crown prince's recent letter flashed. 'Meet soon.' But unrelated, right?
Why would prince kill coalition nobles en route? Zero guesses.
"Not direct path... but could hit Marina Polis today."
"Spares folk, hits nobles only... real curse? No clue. Activate vault curse artifacts, call priests for blessings."
"Yes, sir!"
No clue? All hands on deck.
Did what I can—now Mirne time.
Share woes with smart, wise, beautiful Mirne for solutions.
Bond grows, east fixed better, she knows me more...
Triple win. Perfect.
Retainer out, artifact to Mirne—
Swoooooosh.
"Hm?"
Something streaked past window. He turned.
Fast incoming. Red flash hit eyes first.
What—
Blink.
"Eh?"
A knee.
Crack!
"Guh!"
Meteor knee slammed chin before heart method shielded. Kailen smashed into wall.
Pat pat.
The knee-striker—no, the crown prince dusted off, looking down.
"Delighted to finally meet like this."
Bellon Bellos and Kailen Marin met at last.