Mistake. Seems I Didn't Kill Enough in the Last War.
Mistake. Seems like I didn't kill enough during the last war.
I let out a deep sigh as I headed to Kara's grand hall. With Padilla forced into a long period of rest after giving birth, I'd ended up taking over as regent for state affairs.
I'd refused at first, but when Udin the prime minister came at me through official channels, I had no choice but to accept. A shop owner can't turn away a customer who's paid good money and picked out their goods.
That was the problem with running an information brokerage. Troublesome clients became customers no matter what, and they handed over any old request.
I scolded Udin, who was following behind me.
"Prime Minister Udin? Isn't this going a bit too far?"
"Didn't I offer generous compensation?"
"This isn't about the pay. What kind of country outsources the role of acting head of state? This is about the nation's dignity. We can't do this."
Udin chuckled heartily.
"But aren't you the king's husband? Her Majesty has suffered enough with state affairs. You should help her out."
"Then you do it, Prime Minister Udin."
"Words don't work on me."
"Why not?"
"I'm from merchant stock, aren't I? Until last year, I was just a merchant."
Udin had earned a second-class lordship and the prime minister position for his merits in last winter's war, but before that, he'd been nothing more than a merchant in a city-state. Even if the local lords had surrendered to Kara's might and legitimacy, they weren't about to bow easily to him.
Not when he'd been one of the lowly merchants just a short while ago.
"Why fuss over old bloodlines? Winning the war makes it legitimate blood."
"Hahaha, thank you for saying so."
It was clear we needed to sort out the pecking order. If humans lost a war, they should read the room—instead, they clung to the past, stroking their beards like it meant something.
"Fine. I'll handle it somehow."
As Udin and I entered the grand hall, the rows of high and low officials lining both sides bowed in unison to show respect.
"We see the king's husband."
I responded with a haughty wave and took my seat on the jade throne.
"At ease."
"Pardon?"
"Stand comfortably. Relax your postures."
The officials exchanged confused glances. But they soon pretended to loosen up at my command.
"Y-yes, sir."
I drew Yojyo halfway from its sheath and laid it across my knees.
"Now that I'm handling state affairs as regent, I have something to say to all of you. I'm not a difficult guy. It's simple: yes or no, that's the vibe. No need to read between the lines—it'll be easy to understand. Alright, let's get started."
An elderly man stepped forward. It was Smayar, the vice minister of works. Lord of the Smayar region, he'd stayed neutral in the recent war with Lobros, then surrendered shrewdly and earned a second-class lordship for it.
"First, about the development of Jores Island."
Jores Island was in full swing developing the northern and eastern areas where the monsters had been cleared. Coastal walls were already under construction—4 meters high, 6 meters thick, with 3 meters underground, made of concrete for housing troops and internal movement. New urban centers and villages were rising too. Every set distance, 5-meter defensive towers were going up, and every building had at least 60cm-thick outer walls and full basements.
I nodded approvingly.
"Looking good."
"However..."
I glanced sideways at the vice minister.
"However?"
"Yes. The current construction plan on Jores Island is inefficient—costs are ballooning."
"Why inefficient?"
At my question, Smayar pleaded earnestly.
"Too many military facilities and evacuation shelters. Even accounting for threats from Bastain Kingdom, it's excessive."
"Then why build them that way?"
"Her Majesty's orders were so strict..."
"Then follow them. The queen had her reasons."
"But the costs are too high."
"So? Short on the construction budget?"
"N-no, but at this rate, Kara Kingdom's finances could collapse."
This bastard saw me as a hatchet man and thought he could play me for a fool.
Most of the Jores Island development costs came from Divinum Cathedral, and Kara wasn't hurting for funds either. The royal treasury overflowed with gold and silver accumulated over generations.
Plus, maritime trade routes were raking in massive revenues, growing daily. Exports of the mana-powered steam locomotive system promised huge overseas construction contracts, and tax revenues across Kara Kingdom were no joke.
Pure exaggeration. He thought I looked ignorant enough to stir things up and undermine Padilla's power.
"Vice Minister of Works?"
"Yes."
"You know why I avoid politics? Not because I don't get it, or suck at numbers. Nah, it's 'cause I'm the hatchet man. Hatchet men in politics kill whoever they feel like. You just said the national finances would collapse? You think I'm some math-illiterate idiot who doesn't know his wife's assets?"
"Th-that's..."
I drew Yojyo a bit more.
"Try bullshitting me one more time. I'll take your head clean off."
The vice minister flattened himself to the floor.
"S-sorry!"
Having crushed him, I scanned all the officials and spoke.
"The big public works projects aren't just random—they're pumping money into the economy to boost commerce and industry everywhere. It's for the whole kingdom, so quit nitpicking. And this spending? It'll last ten years tops. No need to worry about the treasury running dry."
"Yes, sir~."
Their responses dragged on long.
I had Armida sis—a Master and Mind Master—and the Kara army's respect. They'd just seen me draw my sword. Only a gutless wonder wouldn't be scared. Or I'd rip theirs out myself.
"Next item."
Another old man stepped up. Camilla, minister of foreign affairs. Lord of the Camilla region, he oversaw Kara Kingdom's diplomacy.
"Foreign Minister Camilla reporting."
"Go ahead."
"Lately, the lords of the central-eastern Great Desert regions have lodged strong complaints against our Kara Kingdom."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Why?"
"Likely because of the people fleeing their territories to ours. They're coming here for livelihoods, and the number has hit 300,000."
300,000—that was a tenth of Kara's population. From 3.1 million before, now around 3.4 million.
"That's quite a few."
"Yes."
"And the influx causing us problems?"
"Not yet."
"Then it's fine. They're coming to eat and live—what, you want us to stop them?"
Then the interior minister, Omar, spoke up.
"However, if the population keeps growing, severe unemployment will hit Kara Kingdom. Please consider this."
I smirked coldly.
"Unemployment, really?"
"Pardon?"
"I heard from the queen—there's plenty of work. We're short on labor, not people. No need to worry about more population. Don't turn them away."
I had big plans.
Jores Island was just getting started. I planned massive textile and light industry there. Using the tropical climate for sugar production on a huge scale, and heavy industry like mana-powered carts. All that needed tons of workers—and immigrants from the central-east Great Desert would be welcome.
The only issue: if the population boomed, food shortages could hit during the future apocalypse. But it seemed manageable. Jores Island's climate and soil promised higher crop yields than anywhere on the continent.
"Understood."
As Omar conceded and stepped back, I turned to Foreign Minister Camilla.
"Ignore the central-east lords' complaints. No way to stop people coming, and no problems from it. If they really want, tell them to invade anytime. I'll lead the army and smash them myself. Or should I head over now?"
"K-king's husband? Wars need justification. Starting one recklessly..."
I slammed the throne hard.
"Foreign Minister. Justifications get made. You think none of those 300,000 are spies from the central-east lords? Find 'em—they're there. That's your casus belli."
"Th-that's..."
"So tell them to shut up. They should control their own people—instead of bossing us around. And you, Foreign Minister—what are you? A national minister kowtowing to squabbling central-east lordlings playing house? You eat something funny?"
"N-no, sir."
"Then why? This isn't even our fault—hell, we're the victims. If Kara wasn't booming with construction jobs, we'd have bigger headaches."
"True, but as a new nation, if Kara gets dragged into another war..."
I shot Camilla a murderous glare.
"I said I'd wipe them out. Who are these complaining central-east lords? Name them. I'll take the kids for a walk."
"No, please..."
This guy definitely had ties to the central-east lords. No minister would act otherwise. Even Bastain Kingdom was watching us carefully—how dare those petty lords yap at us?
They weren't even a unified state; neighbors were busy squabbling.
"Watch yourself. I'll be keeping an eye."
Camilla mumbled like a mosquito.
"Y-yes..."
"Good. Next."
It was Salam, minister of rites. He oversaw Kara Kingdom's laws, etiquette, and statutes.
"Lately, Queen Padilla has been acting against Great Desert customs."
I sharpened my gaze. Another jab at Padilla. Even after I'd threatened with Yojyo, this guy was stubborn as hell.
"What?"
"Her Majesty is granting merchant titles to people of unknown origins."
I got the gist. Lately, Kara had been awarding merchant titles to those contributing inventions or ideas.
Hundreds of them—shocking even by Great Desert or continental standards.
"So?"
"Even as a Great Saintess, ignoring worldly order like this will tarnish her reputation. Please correct it."
"How's the queen ignoring order?"
"Despite the strict hierarchy of status, Her Majesty grants merchant titles to mere traders, healers, foreigners—even slaves. This violates etiquette and has no precedent in any law."
I shook my head. If they pushed back on a Great Saintess like this, no wonder Udin's words fell flat. My mistake—I should've stayed on the front lines right after the war.
"Hey, who were your ancestors?"
"Pardon?"
"Who founded your lordly house?"
"Edroan."
"Edroan, huh... What'd he do before founding the house?"
"He was a righteous vigilante."
I snorted. "Righteous vigilante" could mean honorable man—or thug/bandit, usually the latter.
"So, Great Desert bandit chief, then."
Salam glared.
"King's husband!"
"What?"
"How dare you insult our house?"
"Then explain. How'd this Edroan become a lord?"
"He slew the wicked lord Aziram and took the seat for the people's sake."
"See? Bandit crew. Desert bandits take a lord's castle, boom—they're lords. Obvious story."
"King's husband!"
Shaking with insult, Salam trembled. Murmurs of outrage rose—I ignored them and launched into a lecture.
"Listen up. No house starts as kings, dukes, whatever. Some capable ancestor grabbed a spot through smarts or grit, and you descendants reap the benefits. Same with the queen's recent merchant titles. They earned 'em with skill—their kids'll inherit that."
Salam, excited, stepped forward in protest.
"Absurd! How can you compare our lordly houses to those rabble?"
"Hey, forget already? How many lord and merchant houses got wiped out in the last war? Those who challenged Kara—all dead or enslaved. Incompetent heirs blew their ancestors' glory in one go, back to square one. Same here in Kara Kingdom. Incompetence means downfall."
"Th-that's nonsense... King's husband! That's treason talk."
I chuckled, rising from my seat.
"Treason? Then punish me with your fancy morals and laws. Traitors get punished, right? Go on."
"Th-that's..."
Salam just flapped his mouth, helpless. I turned to Prime Minister Udin.
"Udin!"
"Yes, king's husband."
"I messed up in the last war. Clearly didn't kill enough. Thought it'd be fine after thinning them out, but nope. With so many hardasses left, how's the kingdom gonna stand firm?"
Udin freaked, eyes wide.
"K-king's husband? Absolutely not."
"Nah. New kingdoms need a bloodbath to set roots. Only math formula in history books. Spare them now, they'll bite later. They defy even a Great Saintess queen—what'll happen when my son ascends? As a dad, gotta clean the path smooth."
"But..."
Ignoring Udin's pleas, I drew Yojyo fully and bellowed at the hall guards.
"Guards! Seize the traitor Salam now, round up all accomplices, and bring them to me!"
"Yes, sir!"
The guards swarmed, grabbing Salam. A tense silence fell as he was dragged out, wailing injustice.
"King's husband! You can't do this. How can you punish an innocent like me with treason?"
As Salam vanished, I sheathed Yojyo and addressed everyone.
"I'm heading out now to wipe out the traitor Salam's lands. Contact Braham—have the punitive force ready."
"Yes, sir!"
I stormed out with murderous eyes.
A kingdom like this was trouble. When the apocalypse hit, I'd order Padilla to evacuate everyone to Jores Island. If they defied like this then, who knew how many would die.
Better to cull the defiant heads now and save more lives later.
After that, I portaled to Braham, joined Akam's army, and razed Salam's territory.
* * *
Mistake. Seems like I didn't kill enough during the last war.