The Empire's Master
Oh ho, what an unexpected harvest?
I had no way of knowing how many gods truly existed in this world, so I couldn't gauge exactly how many were subscribing to my life right now. Still, they surely didn't number in the hundreds, so it was a shame even one had dropped by.
Mahadev's voice rang out.
The first god to watch over me. He'd seen potential in me and showered me with karma as a guardian deity.
"……."
So that's how it was. I'd suspected my life wasn't the only one being serialized for the gods. That meant there were other warriors too.
In other words, rivals—enemies, even.
But the gods had overlooked one crucial fact: I'd created this world. I knew the future, and I had the protagonist buff.
Even if enemies popped up now, I doubted they'd surpass the protagonist advantage. This world was made for the protagonist from the start, after all.
I kept my head bowed, eavesdropping on the gods, when the emperor finally spoke.
"Auron Blaine, Baron! Speak! Is it a viscountcy you desire?"
"Your Majesty! To lead the vanguard in conquering the north, even temporarily, I need a higher title than this for the troops to follow. But before viscountcy, there is a matter requiring Your Majesty's approval."
"Very well, speak."
"This campaign was unplanned, and the situation too urgent, so I had no choice but to request loans from the eastern nobles. Arrogantly, they refused and even raised armies to form an alliance. For daring to block troops under Your Majesty's command, I took it upon myself to conquer them and am currently managing part of their lands. I humbly beseech Your Majesty to recognize my negotiated claim to those territories."
"Hmm!"
The noble faction's groans carried all the way here. They knew all about the three great eastern houses.
The far east was thought to be the world's edge—no one had crossed it and returned alive. The empire's east was underdeveloped, with low population density despite vast lands, good only for blocking monsters. It was essentially a dumping ground for exiles; the lords of those three domains were sidelined nobles from power struggles.
Still, lords were lords. They'd mustered over 10,000 troops this time, and with soul-deep conscription, could hit 20,000 or more. Not a total loss for the noble faction.
And the emperor knew it too. The fool was obsessed with clinging to power.
Of course, my "loans" from countless domains and the one-gold-with-10-year-interest repayment were an open secret.
If the emperor backed me? I'd look like part of his faction.
The emperor smiled benevolently.
"Hear me, Auron Blaine, Baron."
"Command me, Your Majesty!"
"The lords of the three great eastern domains, who dared block my army and commit treason, deserve beheading—but since you already punished them, we shall let it pass. The territories you negotiated for shall officially be yours. In honor of your loyalty in rushing to my call without delay and saving the capital, I raise you to viscount. Serve with utmost loyalty."
"I am overwhelmed! Long live Emperor Your Majesty!"
"Waaaaah!"
The emperor even drew his ceremonial sword right there for an impromptu investiture. Official ceremony or not, once the documents were issued, my lands would double publicly.
The mansion of Latos Duke, leader of the noble faction.
The empire boasted three great dukes, five marquises, and ten counts among its magnates. Their vast domains generated immense wealth and military might, wielding tremendous influence.
The three great dukes practically ran the empire, commanding 100,000 elite troops and five or more knight orders each. They held key transport hubs or fertile plains and top imperial posts.
Great General McCain Duke led the imperial faction; Chancellor Latos Duke, the nobles; and Western Front Commander Rams Duke, the neutrals.
The three dukes divided the empire into thirds, with the emperor's central army of 150,000—the largest force—keeping them in check, allowing stable rule so far.
Though the emperor's power had waned lately, it was relative.
Latos Duke, aiming to crush him and seize total control, burned with enmity toward Auron for ruining the eastern domains.
Bam!
"That scheming bastard! Trying to take over the east like this?"
"Your Grace, no need for such worry. The eastern domains are just the frontier, aren't they?"
"What if that bastard fully seizes the east? If the minor lords join him, he'll rival the three great ducal houses!"
"Hmm."
"A valid concern, Your Grace."
The empire's delicate balance—three factions in equilibrium, sometimes cooperating—was now threatened by Auron's sudden rise.
"We can't let this stand!"
He had to be checked. Everyone knew it.
Auron Blaine was a madman, untouchable. He could single-handedly ransack a domain.
He'd belonged to no faction before—just boozing in the eastern boonies, so no one bothered checking him. Provoking him meant near-certain retaliation.
Even idle domains fell to his fabricated quarrels; a botched check could be disastrous.
But now Auron had awakened, thrusting into power. A grave threat to the nobles.
"Your Grace! Let me crush him!"
The man bellowed with bloodshot eyes. Before Auron, he'd been the empire's top knight, idol of swordsmen. Transcending humanity with sword aura, he'd carved the empire's borders.
His fall came a year ago in the Espado Kingdom annexation war's finale.
Then-knight Auron, under his command in the capital assault, ignored orders and rampaged, shattering discipline. Liten Count tried to behead him—but got counterattacked, humiliated, and bedridden.
Auron took his place. The emperor backed him to clip noble wings, birthing a commoner noble.
Liten Count's total black history explained his rage. But his skill was the issue.
"Liten Count, everyone knows your grudge against Auron. But no knight can face him one-on-one! I understand your fury, but I won't let good men die pointlessly."
A fair duel might end with Auron killing him. Now dubbed empire's number two, his death would devastate the nobles.
As faction leader, Latos couldn't allow it.
But Liten was resolute.
"Since that day, I've trained obsessively and attained enlightenment."
"……!"
"Today, in combat, I can kill him, weaken the imperial faction, and purify the empire!"
Blood vessels bulged in Liten's eyes.
No empire noble lacked grievance against Auron. Not just insane, he was a lecher ruining ladies and marriage prospects. Noble daughters were key marriage pawns; the damage was immense. No father could stay calm if his daughter was defiled.
Grind!
Even Latos Duke felt the same.
"Is that... true?"
"Yes! I haven't fully reached grand master, shedding human limits, but I've glimpsed it. How long have I waited for this day?"
"Then... very well! Fight him properly! If trouble arises, I'll stop it immediately!"
Peaceful. This was true noble ease.
I was weaving the tale for the gods' sake, but otherwise, I wanted to maximize leisure.
I'd ordered Kainus on logistics; troops were resting. By imperial grace, we used central army barracks. Knights got inns.
Troops had free time till tomorrow to shake off fatigue before marching north.
Me? Maids attended my bath; I luxuriated in the palace sauna for VIPs, now reading a novel.
The emperor's planned celebration banquet fizzled amid noble opposition. Even emperors couldn't dictate politics freely. Past banquets saw me hunting ladies like a wolf; nobles rioted at the mere word.
I preferred skipping the hassle for a book anyway. With viscountcy sealed and eastern lands documented, nothing more to gain there.
Flip.
As I turned a page—
"Auron Blaine! I'll repay last year's humiliation!"
Commotion outside the window. Imperial guards reported.
"Viscount Auron! Liten Count requests an audience."
"You cur! Come out and face my blade!"
"...Is that how one requests an audience?"
"Ahem, apologies."
He was bellowing loud enough to shake the guest quarters.
Liten Count? Sword master who'd reached mastery, crushed by the protagonist in the annexation war, now burning for revenge after seclusion.
Damn side character spawning endless foes.
I figured I'd stomp him quick and get back to reading—then sensed the gods watching.
They wanted a spectacle now that I'd come to the capital.
"Oh ho!"
And a brilliant idea sparked in my mind.