Chapter 421: Rewards and Punishments Based on Merit (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 421: Rewards and Punishments Based on Merit (1)
The coronation ceremony concluded with resounding success.
Dmitry officially declared itself an empire, with representatives from every nation in attendance to show their support. The only exception to the standard proceedings involved the Luna Kingdom. Following recent reports that Arcadia's climate was stabilizing, Roman Dmitry accepted the unified plea of the Luna Kingdom's people and decided to annex their nation.
Queen Isabelle of Luna was currently missing.
Annexing a nation was a highly sensitive matter, but before her disappearance, Isabelle had explicitly expressed her desire to entrust Luna to Roman Dmitry. Thanks to this, the transition proceeded without a hitch. Rather than forcibly seizing the lands of Kronos and Valhalla, Dmitry simply declared the entirety of the vast Arcadia beyond the Endless Mountains as imperial territory. Since the groundwork had already been laid, Roman Dmitry judged there was no need to invite unnecessary risk by forcibly absorbing the two empires.
It was an ideal conclusion.
Though the delicate issue of the Demon Realm still loomed, the continent quickly regained its stability under Roman Dmitry's absolute control.
A few days later, at a grand mansion in Dmitry.
Looking out over the well-manicured garden from his terrace, Chris, the master of the estate, fell deep into thought.
‘...What on earth should I ask for as a reward?’
During the public ceremony of Rewards and Punishments Based on Merit a few days ago, Roman Dmitry had fulfilled his promises. He appointed Knight Commander Jonathan as the commander of the Imperial Knights, Felix as the master of the Imperial Magic Tower, and Fernando as the captain of the Capital Guard—assigning each man a role perfectly suited to his talents. Those who had achieved great feats in the war were granted enough gold to live in absolute luxury for the rest of their days.
Chris, too, had acquired immense wealth.
This luxurious mansion was a direct gift from Roman Dmitry; he would never have to worry about money again.
The problem was that Roman Dmitry's generosity did not end there.
"I do not know what it is you truly desire. I will give you fifteen days. If there is something you believe you need, come to me directly and ask for it. I will grant ample rewards to those who have distinguished themselves."
The freedom to choose one's own reward.
It was entirely unprecedented.
Instead of being assigned a specific post, Chris was given the choice to select his own prize. This open-ended offer had left him agonizing over the decision for days. Roman Dmitry had stated there were no limits. He even promised that if men like Chris wished to leave the Royal Guards to live a life of leisure, he would gladly grant them that freedom.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips. His mind felt completely cluttered.
In truth, Chris had not gone to war seeking riches, and he had no idea how to spend the vast wealth already sitting in his hands. If he had a family to look after, he might have considered a peaceful retirement. But right now, nothing mattered more to him than his growth as a swordsman.
Yet, he couldn't simply forfeit his reward either.
After agonizing over the dilemma for a long while, Chris stood up, leaving his barely touched tea behind.
"I should go see the others."
He wasn't the only one given this choice. He figured that if he met with the others—those who had already claimed their prizes—his own decision might become a little easier.
* * *
The first person he visited was Count Fabius.
Upon arriving at the newly granted estate, Chris was guided into a mansion so ostentatious it made his eyes widen. It was a literal feast of gold. The exterior openly flaunted the owner's status as a tycoon, and once they reached the drawing room, even the teacups gleamed with a golden luster.
‘...Are the teacups made of solid gold too?’
It was classic Fabius.
Before long, Count Fabius appeared with a beaming face, draped in ornaments just as extravagant as his mansion's exterior.
"Sir Chris! Welcome!"
"It has been a while, Marquis Fabius."
Indeed, Fabius was no longer a count, but a marquis. He had clearly been living exceptionally well; his cheeks had grown plump, and his face shone with a greasy, satisfied sheen. Marquis Fabius sat down, flashing a warm, friendly smile. As a key figure in Dmitry, Chris was high on the list of influential people the Marquis made sure to maintain close ties with.
"But what brings you all the way out here?"
"...Actually, I came because I wanted to know what you asked for during the rewards process. I have a rough idea, of course, but hearing it directly might help make my own choice a bit easier."
"Ah, is that what this is about?"
Only a handful of people had been given the freedom to choose their rewards, and their specific requests hadn't been made public. However, Marquis Fabius's case was glaringly obvious. His lavish surroundings far exceeded what could be bought with mere war bounties, leading everyone to conclude he had received something incredibly special from Roman Dmitry.
It was exactly as expected. Marquis Fabius spoke up.
"Telling you about my reward is no trouble at all. I asked our Lord for endless wealth and power. A mere war bounty isn't enough to live like a king for the rest of one's life, is it? In response, our Lord bestowed this estate upon me. It was originally the domain of a noble purged during the civil war in Cairo. It's a prime piece of land, boasting fertile soil passed down through generations and a gold mine right behind it! Since it's located in a highly strategic position connecting Dmitry and Cairo, our Lord told me that if I cultivate my foundation well here, my power and wealth will endure forever. Hehehe, isn't it magnificent?"
Fabius had originally been a noble of Cairo. However, he and a few others had shifted their allegiance. Instead of selling their original lands back to Cairo, they were granted new territories by Roman Dmitry. Dmitry had expanded its borders slightly after the rebellion was settled, reaching beyond just the northeastern region. This expansion had been agreed upon with Cairo, and the ownerless lands left behind by the purge were granted to those who had rendered distinguished service—like Marquis Fabius.
Of course, not everyone chose this path.
As Dmitry grew into an empire, some individuals opted to cross over to Arcadia to start a new life.
"As for me, I will devote the rest of my life to our Lord. It's true that I made some contributions in this war, but where else would you find a nation that rewards its people so generously? I am ready to lay down my life for him. If you're asking how satisfied I am with my reward, I am very, very, very satisfied."
He burst into boisterous laughter. His bright expression proved he was genuinely thrilled.
‘...It really is impressive.’
Chris had to admit it. Marquis Fabius had received a reward that permanently secured his future. Just as Roman Dmitry had promised, the man would be able to live in wealth and honor for the rest of his days. What if Chris asked for a similar reward? If he migrated to Arcadia and claimed fertile land early on, he might wield even greater power than Fabius.
But his heart remained entirely unmoved.
Suddenly remembering something, Chris asked, "By the way, I noticed another building being constructed nearby. What is that for? It caught my eye because it seemed far too large for any ordinary purpose."
"Ah, that?"
A smirk tugged at his lips. Marquis Fabius leaned forward, locking eyes with Chris with a sly, knowing expression.
"I'm building my very own harem. Isn't that a man's true romance? Hahaha!"
It was clear. Fabius was truly a man who knew how to thoroughly enjoy the spoils of war.
* * *
The second person he visited was Felix.
When Chris asked him the same question, Felix simply led him to another location.
"...What is this place?"
"It is the construction site for the new Magic Tower."
It was a vast, sprawling plot of land. Workers were busily carrying out construction, and Chris felt completely overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the project.
"Actually, the Imperial Magic Tower was my request from the very beginning. I wanted to build a Magic Tower that truly represents the Dmitry Empire, establishing a system to discover talent and train mages within our borders. To do that, we needed facilities worthy of such status and a massive annual budget. Our Lord granted all of it. In fact, he promised a budget even larger than what I had originally envisioned."
The new Magic Tower.
Felix looked upon the rising foundations with a proud face. His heart swelled with emotion when he thought of how far Phoenix had come—from a faction struggling in poverty within the Kingdom of Frank, to this.
"To be honest, Sir Chris, I hope you can be true to yourself. Some say the reward I asked for is for the good of the nation, but this is purely the manifestation of my own personal ambition. I want the Magic Tower created by me, Felix, to become the greatest on the continent. I want to enjoy the wealth and honor that come with that achievement, and my dream is to become a figure who leaves an indelible mark on the history of magic. I heard Marquis Fabius also requested a reward entirely for his personal desires, so there's no reason you can't do the same."
Rumors were gradually spreading. As those who received their rewards sang Roman Dmitry's praises, the public could only marvel at the sheer scale of his generosity.
His actions perfectly matched his words. While he had shown no mercy in executing Ares—refusing to set even a single bad precedent—he had simultaneously promised to reward those who contributed to the point of excess. Through Marquis Fabius and Felix, as people claimed their prizes one after another, it was proven that Roman Dmitry's words were absolute truth.
Chris did not answer. He simply stood there in silence, staring blankly at the construction of the Magic Tower for a long time.
* * *
The final person he sought out was Knight Commander Jonathan.
In the middle of a rigorous training session, the commander took a short break and sat down next to Chris, his face drenched in sweat.
"So, you want to know how I feel right now?"
"Yes."
It was an interesting question. Knight Commander Jonathan seemed to ponder it for a moment before looking at Chris with a bright smile.
"Chris, as you know, the Dmitry Knights of the past were not a particularly remarkable group. We barely managed to keep up appearances because of you and me, but on a kingdom-wide scale, we were nothing special. But now, so much has changed. Every swordsman on the continent wishes to join the Dmitry Knights, and our Lord has accepted every single thing I requested for the development of the order, without exception."
His case, too, was similar to Felix's.
While Fabius had pursued purely personal indulgence, Knight Commander Jonathan wished for the future development of his organization.
"That is why I have nothing but absolute gratitude for our Lord. Even when they know it will ultimately benefit them, most leaders on this continent are reluctant to invest in their subordinates. But our Lord, the Emperor of the Dmitry Empire, is different. Though we asked for these as war rewards, he granted us definitive backing far beyond what we imagined. He gave me everything I needed for the dreams I aspired to, and for my personal happiness."
The scene before them was beautiful.
Whenever he watched the soldiers training under the banner of Dmitry, Knight Commander Jonathan felt as if he were living in a dream.
"Our Lord is truly a remarkable man. He provides rewards so substantial that no one ever regrets sacrificing themselves for Dmitry. And even as each of our factions grows stronger, no one would ever dare to challenge his authority. Chris, it doesn't matter what you choose. The master we serve is great and powerful enough to accommodate all of our desires, so I hope you will speak honestly about what you truly want. You must already know. Through our conversation today, and through all the thoughts you've had before coming to see me... you know what it is you truly desire."
It was written all over his face. Chris clearly had something he wanted, even if he hadn't fully admitted it to himself yet.
And so, their meeting came to an end. Even after the sun set and he retired to bed, Chris tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep due to the thoughts cluttering his mind.
The next day, Chris received unexpected news.
Kevin had gone to see Roman Dmitry to claim his reward before him.