Chapter 5: The Balance is Absolute Bullshit
Chapter 5: What a Bullshit Balance System
Finally.
The door opened, revealing today's hot potato.
Just like yesterday, the hem of her white saintess robes fluttered gracefully.
Her neatly braided golden hair and softly curved lips were no different from usual.
Except for the slight redness around her eyes.
She's protesting against me right now, isn't she?
She could've easily covered up those puffy eyes with a bit of makeup, but she deliberately came here like this.
The three men rose from their seats simultaneously, as if they'd made a pact. Their gazes were uniformly murderous.
Hah.
It feels like I barely managed to stabilize a precariously stacked load, only for a passing truck's vibrations to send everything crashing down.
Sword Saint Caspar strode forward, cutting between Ophélie and me.
Just moments ago, this guy was wrestling with the first page of a document—now look at him. It's like he's possessed. Using his own body to shield his target while positioning himself for an attack, all while pressuring me.
"Saintess. If speaking before His Highness is difficult, you need not say anything at all."
At his words, Ophélie—already wide-eyed—blinked rapidly.
She even tilted her head slightly.
Damn, that's effective. I'll give her that.
"Just nod in response to my questions."
As if that were a signal, Dietrich and Ulrich closed in around Ophélie.
Dietrich's gaze lingered on her reddened eyes.
"Were you threatened?"
"Huh?"
"Were you insulted?"
"Your Grace, it's not like that—"
Ulrich chose action over words. A small magic circle had already formed at his fingertips.
A pale blue light pulsed toward Ophélie's body.
"I'll check for traces of mental interference first."
Ophélie hastily took a step back.
"Wait, Tower Master."
"If there's a forced oath in place, you might not even be aware of it."
"That's not the case."
"That could also be something you're compelled to say because of the oath."
I've heard this logic somewhere before.
Why bother asking if you're not going to believe her anyway?
Caspar, now wary of me, gripped the hilt of his sword.
"Saintess. If you're afraid of His Highness, trust in me."
He's straight-up persuading her to ignore me right in front of my face.
"Stay at the Grand Duke's residence in the capital for the time being. Even the Imperial Family cannot enter there without permission."
Dietrich chimed in.
"You'd leave the Saintess in a place without proper magical barriers?"
Ulrich sneered as he interjected.
After that, it was pure chaos.
"An overly strong barrier would strain the Saintess's holy power."
"Do you think I wouldn't account for that?"
"Both of you, calm down."
Caspar intervened solemnly.
"The Order of Knights will take responsibility for the Saintess's safety. Private audiences will be prohibited, and meetings with royalty will require an escort of at least ten knights."
This bastard just banned private audiences with the Crown Prince—to his face.
Absolute madman.
At this point, I have to acknowledge him as the Sword Saint. A certified lunatic.
Everyone insisted Ophélie needed protection.
From me, the villain.
No one cared about her actual answer.
"That's enough."
The moment I spoke, three pairs of eyes turned to glare at me.
It's creepy how united they are at times like this.
"Unless you've agreed to split the Saintess into three pieces and each take one, how about asking for her opinion?"
"Your Highness should stay out of this."
Dietrich cut me off.
"You've occupied my office, and now you're telling me to stay out?"
"This concerns the Saintess's safety."
"Which is why you should ask her."
I looked past the three men at Ophélie. They all turned to follow my gaze.
In that brief gap, Ophélie's face came into view.
Her lips parted slightly.
The smile she'd maintained earlier was gone.
"I..."
Dietrich spoke as if he'd been waiting.
"Whatever you choose, I will support you."
"The Magic Tower is the safest."
"The Saintess must be under the protection of the Order."
Ophélie exhaled deeply.
"No one seems interested in hearing what I have to say."
Her voice was quiet.
But it was enough to silence all three men.
"Your Grace tried to decide my fate without consulting me. The Tower Master attempted to cast magic on me without my consent. The Sword Saint dictated who I'm allowed to meet."
Caspar hastily interjected.
"That was to protect you—"
"I know. I know all three of you want to protect me."
Her gaze swept over them one by one.
"But none of you asked why I came here today."
The three men exchanged glances.
Hmm.
I could've thrown a tantrum and it wouldn't have worked, but Ophélie resolves everything with a single sentence.
Not that I should resent her for it, but it's still irritating.
Ophélie walked past Caspar and entered the room.
Then she took a seat in the remaining empty chair.
No one escorted her.
She didn't need it.
"First, let me make one thing clear."
Ophélie folded her hands neatly on her lap.
"His Highness did not threaten me. He used neither magic nor oaths.
It's true that I left the Crown Prince's Palace in tears, but not for the reasons you're imagining."
Ulrich's eyebrows shot up.
"Last night... my heart ached too much. I couldn't hold back my tears."
Silence fell.
Wait, what?
Even I couldn't help but stare at Ophélie, let alone the other three.
"I truly appreciated it—how you all helped me, how you worried for me."
An unexpected direct hit. The emotional impact was staggering.
"But look at the situation we're in now. The Demon King's Army has crossed the Empire's borders. Villages in the north are being trampled, people are dying... sob."
Her voice trembled faintly.
Well played, Ophélie.
Dietrich's fingers twitched imperceptibly.
Ulrich's magic circle had already dissipated.
Caspar removed his hand from his sword hilt.
"His Highness told me yesterday. About the things I've been turning a blind eye to."
Ophélie glanced at me.
"My tears can't bring back the lives already lost, but I couldn't forgive myself for being so lacking."
I nodded silently.
"So I have a request."
Ophélie paused to steady her breath.
One by one, she met each man's gaze.
"To spare me further heartache—protect the Empire. Protect its people from the Demon King's Army."
Her voice softened further.
"Protect the people I want to protect."
Hmm.
That's definitely cheating.
Caspar's wavering gaze quickly hardened with resolve.
"Understood."
Seriously?
This bastard was stubbornly resisting me over the first page of a document just moments ago.
Now he caves after one word from Ophélie?
Dietrich and Ulrich also stared at Caspar with disbelief.
Not like either of you are in any position to judge.
The three men retreated in their own ways.
The Sword Saint would deploy additional guards, Ulrich would reinforce the temple's magical alarms, and Dietrich would establish a dedicated communication network.
Good enough.
This ends here for now.
"Alright. Let's wrap this up."
I pulled a sheet of paper from the desk.
The three men's expressions darkened again.
They must be sick of paperwork by now.
"From now on, leaving your posts for personal matters during wartime is prohibited. Urgent matters must go through official channels—either the Crown Prince's Palace or the temple. If you must be absent, designate a temporary successor first."
Ulrich frowned.
"Are you saying you'll control audiences with the Saintess?"
"Not at all. Meet her privately all you want."
I tapped the draft proposal in front of them.
"But abandoning your duties and command posts on a whim won't be tolerated moving forward.
There are people who have to fill those gaps and bear the consequences."
Ophélie, who had been quietly observing, interjected.
"I'll attend the progress report meeting in three days."
All three men turned to her at once.
"I'd like to hear directly how you've handled your responsibilities.
I've always admired those who hold their ground to the very end."
Nice assist.
She's sharp.
I don't love that she's using their feelings for her as leverage to control them, but what can you do?
The men's expressions shifted.
The same guys who were barely tolerating this meeting moments ago now looked brimming with motivation.
Ulrich was the first to speak.
"If the 7th Magic Core replacement is completed within two days, can I report immediately?"
Look at this bastard.
I raised an eyebrow.
"That fast?"
"Shouldn't faster completion warrant faster reporting?"
Dietrich said coolly,
"You can't compare barrier replacements to northern troop deployments by the same standard."
Caspar interjected earnestly.
"The knights' redeployment can be completed within today."
A sudden competition for achievements broke out.
This country is truly doomed.
I took a deep breath and steadied myself.
Calm down, Lee Do-yun. Getting angry won't help.
If they're willing to work, I'll take it for now.
Even if their intentions are disrespectful, labor is sacred.
"Go do your jobs now."
I waved them off.
The three men lingered awkwardly, as if reluctant to leave, before finally exiting the office.
At last, only Ophélie and I remained.
"The obstacles are gone. Now, state your business."
"......"
Her lips moved slightly, but no words came out.
"If it's nothing important, you can leave."
I have a mountain of work.
No time to be held up by Ophélie.
"I heard rumors that I ran out of the Crown Prince's Palace in tears last night."
"So?"
She was just using her tears as a weapon moments ago, but now she's awkward about admitting it herself.
So Ophélie wasn't the one who spread the rumors.
Then who? And why?
Whoever it was, I was grateful.
The payoff was incredible compared to the effort it took to reel those three in.
But it wouldn't do to just take without giving back.
I'll find them and repay the favor properly.
"I thought they'd come here to settle the matter."
"So?"
My distracted answers showed where my thoughts were.
Ophélie slowly rubbed the hem of her saintess robes between her fingers.
Was she waiting for thanks?
"......"
When I didn't continue, she spoke first.
"Did I do my part well enough?"
Ah, she was fishing for praise.
"Yeah. Keep up the good work."
Instead of answering, Ophélie smiled. A weak, fleeting smile that seemed unusually drained. But I was too busy to manage even that.
Just then, a frantic attendant's voice came from outside the door.
"Your Highness. Urgent report."
"Enter."
A messenger knelt on one knee, breathing heavily.
"Your Highness. Communications with the 3rd Watchtower have been lost."
The 3rd Watchtower.
Instantly, an image flashed in my mind—a stark gray tower perched atop sheer cliffs, overlooking the three northern passes. The frontline eyes monitoring monster movements.
If it goes silent, the Northern Army will have to fight blind, unaware of where or how many enemies are coming.
I've never been there, yet I knew this as if it were obvious.
Ah.
So this is what they mean by "related memories."
"Their last report noted a large-scale monster horde moving toward the 2nd Defense Line through the southeastern canyon."
"How large is 'large-scale'?"
The messenger swallowed dryly.
"Over ten times the usual observed numbers."
The room fell silent.
A blue light flickered in the eyes of a dog figurine on the desk.
[Current World Destruction Rate: 93%]
After all that effort, I only managed to reduce it by 1%.
And now, one monster movement spikes it by 3%.
What a bullshit balance system.
"Chamberlain. Fetch those three who just left."
They couldn't have gone far.
I rolled up a northern map and stood.
"Open the Grand Conference Hall. Convene an emergency meeting immediately."
They'll probably come to this meeting.
Maybe.