Carrot and Whip
I looked at Anima and spoke.
“Anima, I have something to ask you.”
“I will answer anything you wish to know.”
“It’s about the Legion Commanders. How are things with them right now?”
“The Legion Commanders, my lord? They are as they have always been.”
“You may speak honestly. I’m talking about the public opinion toward me. I already know it isn’t good. You said it yourself, didn’t you? That they would try to keep me in check.”
“…Forgive me. The situation is not favorable.”
“As expected.”
It had already been several days since I became Cezar. A short time if one called it short, a long one if one called it long. Yet all I had done in that period was finish the coronation, adjust my bearing somewhat, and successfully invade Osril.
One might say it was impossible to accomplish anything meaningful in just a few days. Others might argue that capturing an S-Class Hero was already a great achievement. But I knew full well that none of that mattered to the Legion Commanders.
Even if I had broken the enemy’s morale, I had not displayed overwhelming power. Even if I had dragged countless humans back as slaves to do menial labor or sold them as sex slaves, that was not something that truly benefited them either. I had no internal achievements to speak of, nor had I brought them any tangible gains. And while I had shown strength, it was not the kind of overwhelming force that would leave a lasting impression in their eyes.
They were probably thinking that the invasion of Osril had simply been a cheap shot while the opponent was off guard. In the end, becoming Cezar had turned this into nothing more than a political struggle.
I was their leader in name only. I had not risen to this position through their recognition, nor had I tamed them with sweet bait or crushed them with raw power. So it was only natural that they would resent me. The fact that they had not yet sent assassins to kill me was probably the greatest courtesy they were willing to show.
Of course, a mere one or two assassins could never kill me anyway.
“Anima, what do you think? What should I do? The carrot? Or the whip?”
“May I offer my candid advice?”
“You have my permission.”
Anima drew in a deep breath and began to speak her true thoughts without reservation.
“I believe the first step Your Majesty the Cezar must take is to imprint fear upon the Legion Commanders.”
“And the reason?”
“It is a matter of sequence. While both the whip and the carrot have their place, the carrot must never come first.”
“Interesting. Explain your reasoning.”
“Yes, my lord. A horse that has first tasted the whip has fear deeply rooted in its bones. Even when it receives the carrot, it remains terrified of its master and will never dare defy him. However, a horse that has eaten the carrot first will look down on its master. Even when the whip is raised, it will not feel fear; instead, it will feel betrayal and become a spoiled beast that tries to harm its owner. Therefore, before bestowing any favor upon your subordinates, showing them an example must be the very first thing Your Majesty does.”
“A good thought. We’re on the same page. But Anima.”
“Yes?”
“That way of speaking… why have you gone back to it?”
“It is so that I commit no discourtesy while offering my counsel.”
“…It’s fine if you’re a little impolite, so I’d prefer you stop talking like that. It gives me goosebumps.”
“…….”
“Sorry. I’m asking you as a favor.”
“I will keep it in mind.”
Anima was right. The idea of setting an example. There is an old saying that first impressions are everything. People judge a person’s every action based on that initial impression. If the first impression is clean, even their flaws tend to be defended rather than criticized. If the first impression is dirty, even their good deeds are met with suspicion.
As a ruler, there was nothing more dangerous than appearing weak to those beneath you. I could not help but agree. That was why I needed a sacrifice to serve as my example.
I had no need to become a benevolent monarch who loved his people or a wise king who listened to his ministers. To the demon race, a wise king was one who was stronger and more resolute than anyone else. We simply called such a ruler a tyrant.
The basic prerequisite of a tyrant was controlling his subordinates through fear. And for that, I needed a scapegoat onto whom I could deeply implant that terror.
“Anima, among the Legion Commanders, who has been here the longest?”
“The 1st Legion Commander.”
“The Legion Commander of Pride, then. Summon him to my office immediately.”
“By Your Majesty’s command.”
And indeed, the best sacrifice was the one with the stiffest neck.
After calling the 1st Legion Commander through Anima, I closed my eyes in an attempt to set the mood. I rested my elbows on the wide desk, propped my chin on my clasped fists, and waited for him to arrive.
But even after five minutes, then ten, he still had not come. Just as genuine anger began to rise, three knocks sounded from beyond the door, followed by a voice.
“Cezar, this is 1st Legion Commander Nobel Highness.”
“Enter.”
When Anima opened the door from outside, the 1st Legion Commander stepped into my office wearing light attire. He seemed slightly startled at the sight of me deliberately holding the atmosphere, but he quickly pretended nothing was wrong. He lifted his head arrogantly and stood straight with both feet planted firmly.
“Legion Commander.”
“Yes, Cezar.”
This was the first time I had seen the bare face of a Legion Commander since Anima, the former commander, and Fade, the current 3rd Legion Commander. The more I looked at him, the more unpleasant his appearance became.
Within his sharp features was an arrogance that seemed to look down on everything in the world. He reminded me of the single most infuriating person I could never forget in my entire life. He had done nothing but arrive late, yet simply meeting his eyes filled me with irritation.
“Do you have any excuse?”
“…I am deeply sorry.”
“I did not call you here simply to hear some flimsy apology.”
“Then…”
“Kneel.”
With my words, I flicked a few fingers. Nobel Highness, the 1st Legion Commander, dropped to his knees far too easily and bowed his head low. Of course, it was not by his own will.
After being reincarnated into a demon’s body, I could not use all the same abilities I had possessed as the Eternal, but I had gained new powers in exchange. One of those new abilities was increasing the pressure in the surroundings by manipulating demonic energy.
“Nobel Highness.”
“Yes… Cezar.”
“Do you find me amusing?”
“…I do not.”
“No. You are looking down on me.”
“That is not true. How could this servant possibly…”
“And yet you continue to look at me with those eyes.”
“C-Cezar.”
Of course I knew. That look in his eyes was not born from contempt for me; it was simply how he had always looked. But there was no better tool to pressure him than those very eyes.
“Nobel Highness. You must have many complaints about me, don’t you?”
“I have none. Absolutely none. This servant is a Legion Commander who devotes his loyalty to the Cezar. How could I possibly harbor disloyalty?”
“I see. Then the remarks you made at the meeting of Legion Commanders after my inauguration were also words of sincere advice born from loyalty to me?”
“H-How did you…”
“Your head is too high.”
I increased the pressure on Nobel Highness. His head, which had been slightly raised, was slammed hard into the floor.
“I feel sorry for you, who had hoped for the peaceful golden age from my predecessor’s reign.”
“N-No, that is not so. How could the Cezar’s reign be hidden by the palm of a hand?”
“The palm of a hand? So you’re saying my predecessor’s achievements were no bigger than a palm?”
“T-That is not what I meant…”
“Then what?”
“I am deeply sorry. Please forgive me.”
“The dignity of a Legion Commander has fallen to the floor.”
I eased the pressure gripping Nobel Highness and rose from my seat, slowly walking toward him. His body began to tremble violently.
“Why? Are you afraid? Afraid that I might harm you?”
“Not at all. This servant’s life rests solely in the Cezar’s hands. I have engraved that truth deep into my bones. How could I possibly feel fear?”
“Is that so? Then stand.”
“By your command…”
When he rose and showed me his face again, all traces of arrogance had vanished. What remained was pure humility itself.
“Now that is more to my liking. Know that I have great expectations for you.”
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude.”
“I hope you do not forget what I have said today.”
“I will never forget it, even if my bones turn to dust. Cezar.”
“You may leave.”
After Nobel Highness left the office with his head bowed, I immediately called Anima again.
“You called for me, Cezar?”
“Haa… Anima, I’d like a warm cup of tea.”
“I will prepare it at once.”
As expected, this sort of thing was not to my taste. I had never lived like this in my entire life, so it was only natural. I could not deny that a bit of my anger at him arriving late even after I had summoned him had been mixed into that performance.
“Anima, they won’t simply lower their heads after something like this, will they?”
“No, they will not.”
“Can’t be helped. Gather all the Legion Commanders in one week. Also convey that anyone who refuses will be punished.”
“What should I state as the reason?”
“All-out war against humanity.”
“I will deliver the message immediately.”
“Ah, and one more thing.”
“Yes?”
The image I needed to show them was overwhelming violence and arrogance. To match that image, the right ornament was essential.
“Hurry with Miriam’s training. I will be entering the meeting with both you and Miriam.”
“Understood. I will expedite that as well.”
After sending Anima out, I sipped the warm tea while staring at the rainy scene beyond the window. The hot steam rising from the cup mixed with the cold air and grew lukewarm. It felt exactly like my current self, and I couldn’t help but smile.