The Great Empire
It had been about a week since Gorhan and Mirne exchanged contact information.
Aside from that first message where they exchanged light pleasantries, Mirne had not reached out to Gorhan again.
"If she contacts you later, use our artifact to report to me immediately."
"Yes, yes, sir."
"If you end up siding with Mirne while I'm away... haha, just the thought is amusing."
"...."
I didn't know if she had realized I was onto her, or if she was simply busy targeting another male lead. I wasn't sure, but I couldn't just sit around waiting blindly.
"See you later, Gorhan."
"...I shall await that day."
I headed straight to the central office to deal with the pile of work waiting for me.
The first thing I did upon arriving was receive a report from the intelligence unit.
"No special movements have been detected from the Maserin Kingdom yet, Your Highness."
"Is that so."
The intelligence unit, finally functioning properly, had been focusing its efforts on the Maserin Kingdom under my orders. Despite putting their lives on the line, they hadn't managed to dig up anything substantial yet.
'You can't expect to be full after the first bite.'
The important thing was that we were now in a position to stick a straw into their operations. I tried to be satisfied with just receiving such reports, but then—
"Yes, Your Highness. And while this is a matter still under investigation as it hasn't been fully verified, there is talk that they might abandon the academy construction."
"The academy?"
At those words, I tapped my fingers on the armrest of the throne.
"Yes. It is currently just a rumor floating around, but it has been confirmed that they are conscious of the Imperial Academy."
"So, because they're conscious of our academy, they're planning to give up on their own?"
"Yes, but it is not yet certain. I apologize for cluttering your ears with unverified information."
"No, it's fine. I told you to bring me every piece of information, regardless of what it is."
Giving up on the academy?
'That symbolic building, which could be the center of the world's narrative?'
In a fantasy setting, an academy is usually the heart of the story. It’s where all the key characters from the novel emerge, and where everything from fateful encounters to various subplots unfolds. It should be a major landmark that expands the world-building. And yet, they were considering abandoning it just because the Empire was building one?
'Well, some academy novel tropes do involve the protagonist not actually attending the academy later on.'
Are they planning to forgo building one in their own country and just attend the Imperial Academy instead? Are they trying to use it as a transit station to advance their own plot?
"Ridiculous."
The feeling of absurdity slipped out of my mouth.
"I, I apologize!"
The intelligence officer, who had been prostrating, slammed his head against the floor at my words.
"No, I wasn't talking to you. Is there anything else to report?"
"No, Your Highness."
"Those who have worked hard deserve appropriate rewards. Prime Minister, don't you agree?"
"Yes, Your Highness. I will ensure they are well taken care of."
I dismissed the intelligence unit and continued to tap the armrest, lost in thought.
'Are they trying to suck the marrow out of the academy while trying to destroy the Empire?'
Are they planning to drain everything they can because the Empire is doomed to fall anyway? Honestly, Mirne's actions were difficult to understand.
'Usually, a transmigrator protagonist would aim for a direction where everyone lives well, wouldn't they?'
You can't save everyone. Even so, it was rare for someone to ruin others just for their own well-being. Of course, it was a different story if they were fleecing villains, but the Empire's image was far from that.
'From what I hear, Mirne clearly knows everything about the future of the novel.'
From the Covenant of the Executioners to the upcoming activities of black mages within the Empire. If she didn't want the Empire to fall, she would have provided these hints in advance. She wouldn't just take everything and keep her mouth shut. Wouldn't she have used the Second Prince to drop clues one by one, pretending not to know much?
'It's not like I'm knocking her out with a high-speed tranquilizer dart and asking for deductions with a voice modulator.'
Mirne didn't do that. She continued to receive support from various places, including the Empire, and focused entirely on making the Maserin Kingdom prosperous. As if she were someone who had to.
'Is it because if the Demon King falls, everything except Maserin will be destroyed anyway? I don't know.'
It was a hypothesis at a stage where I couldn't be sure. Amidst the countless possibilities, only one thing was certain right now.
'Mirne doesn't care much about other places, and she certainly has no intention of saving the Empire from destruction.'
She hadn't even bothered to draft a plan to join hands with the Empire and navigate the coming future. The reason was, naturally, unknown. I didn't want to try asking, as the story might change drastically if I did.
'Still, I've attached an eye to Gorhan, so it should be fine.'
The intelligence unit—the eyes of the Empire. They were currently the organization receiving the most support in the Empire. With the best stealth capabilities, they were thoroughly monitoring the key figures within the Empire.
"I can breathe a little easier for now."
"You have been moving busily, so you deserve a rest, Your Highness."
"Are you worried about me?"
"Of course."
Currently, Arveda and Teo were busy searching for black mages, and Rowena was working to solidify her position as the Saintess of the Empire. I wanted to keep working, but perhaps because I hadn't rested properly in a while, I wanted to lie in bed for at least a day.
'I also need to have a conversation with the Executioner who is presumed to be a dwarf.'
Let's just rest comfortably for one day. Thinking that, I sighed.
"Hoo."
I rose from the throne and headed straight to my bedroom.
"Imperial Status Window."
As soon as I arrived, the first thing I did was check the status window.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Various messages popped up, but this wasn't what I wanted to check right now.
'The tech tree is what matters.'
If the academy construction was slowing down, I just needed to invest in that tech to increase the speed.
'There's a lot here, but for now, it's construction.'
How does investing in the tech tree apply to the Empire? I had already confirmed this through the Magic Stone Train. It was a natural realization—the results would be reflected as if the engineers had researched and achieved a breakthrough.
'A construction method that increases speed while also improving stability... I'm a layman in this area, but the system will handle it well.'
I didn't know anything about construction, but the charm of a "special perk" was that it worked even if you didn't understand it. Without hesitation, I invested three points in succession into the construction tree.
"Seeing that things like education are already unlocked, it seems the tech tree can also open up through development within the Empire without needing to invest points."
The convenient Imperial Status Window, spreading out like a mind map centered around specific keywords. I decided to look into the details later. I scrolled all the way down to see what was at the very bottom.
The various tech trees had points where they intersected. It was clear that they would eventually become one.
Swish, swish.
After scrolling for a while, I finally understood the ultimate goal of this tech tree.
"Ha."
It was written so plainly I couldn't miss it.
"So, the goal is to make the Empire great again."
Looking at the current situation, I felt we had recovered quite a bit, but seeing that the tech tree was still in its early stages meant that the true "Great Empire" was something I couldn't even imagine yet.
"Does this mean we'll be shelling things with fighter jets powered by magic stones?"
Actually, something like that did exist in the tech tree. It was written with a vague name, making it hard to grasp exactly, but seeing written there, it had to be that.
"Hoo."
I closed the status window and flopped onto the bed. Just then—
"Eek!"
"Hmm?"
Feeling something strange, I sat back up. If I had lain down on the quilt, it should have felt soft. What was this hard sensation?
Could it be?
"Arveda?"
With a suspicious heart, I pulled back the quilt slightly.
"Your Highness... I! While looking for the black mages... I was just resting!"
As a reward for setting up the Luminix barrier so cleanly, there was Arveda, hugging the doll I had gifted her. I had given her permission to be here, but I didn't expect her to be in my bed in such comfortable attire.
"Did you find them?"
"Not yet. I'm following the map you made, but I haven't seen any strange movements yet."
"Is that so."
Arveda wouldn't do her job half-heartedly, so Teo must be in a similar situation. If anything had happened, Teo wouldn't be this quiet.
"I... if I am making you uncomfortable, Your Highness, I will leave immediately..."
Arveda said that in a voice anyone could tell was dejected. I stroked her hair and told her it was fine.
"You've worked hard, you deserve at least this much. It's fine, stay comfortable."
"Hehe, then I will roll around comfortably in Your Highness's bed and go to sleep."
"...Sure."
If the Empire falls, will I be unable to even have these small conversations? 'I don't want that.'
The Great Empire. I will definitely reach it.
***
The next morning.
"Hoo."
I had a long, deep sleep and felt in excellent condition. With that energy, I moved to the palace where the Executioners were staying.
'I have a lot to do with the dwarf Executioner.'
From the academy construction to the sword imbued with the ice spirit I took from the former Northern Grand Duke, and finally, the sword the Crown Prince had used and buried in the basement—there were many stories I wanted to hear.
Just as I was moving toward the Executioner's Palace where the dwarf was staying—
- I want to possess the strongest sword. A sword that will never break, no matter how fiercely anyone swings it.
- Are you intending to swing it? But it would be impossible for you right now, Your Highness... Is this for His Majesty to use?
- No, I intend to swing it myself. It is impossible right now, but I must prepare for the day I will be able to.
The Crown Prince's memories slowly surfaced to the surface again.
'What?'
And that memory was a shock in itself.
'Did the Crown Prince... know from the beginning that he could regress? And what on earth is "the day I will be able to swing it"?'
Why did this memory suddenly surface now? More than that, there was one thing I needed to focus on immediately.
'The dwarf Executioner... said "His Majesty".'
The Executioner I was going to meet right now knew about the Emperor.