Divine Arrival at the Imperial Palace
If I arrived at the imperial palace, the emperor and all the nobles would undoubtedly launch a political assault. But I had a plan. I'd make it to the palace just before the early-game event triggered. In other words, if the event exploded and word reached the palace right before or after, they'd have no choice but to tacitly allow me to dominate the eastern territories of the empire.
All I needed was that much time. Above all, I didn't want the empire crumbling prematurely. Ideally, I'd take control with it fully intact. Starting from the empire, I'd conquer the eastern continent and eventually invade the western one—better to do it with a pristine empire than a battered wreck.
Flap! I rode Pegasus, with Raena in tow. Having a divine beast—or sacred creature—and an angel at my side made me feel truly blessed by the gods. The visual impact was tremendous, naturally.
"Woooah! It's the lord!"
The territory's residents cheered. I'd lowered taxes and provided relief aid, so there was every reason for their enthusiasm.
A month had passed since I'd conquered the eastern territories. In that time, the people had sown seeds at my command. It was early autumn now, the season for harvest, so they'd been puzzled at first. But when the crops sprouted and grew at an astonishing rate, they whispered that it was indeed land blessed by the gods. Already, the grains were ripening—promising a bountiful yield this time.
The buff applied to me was clearly limited to my own land. Once I planted my flag, it became mine, and sprouts shot up across every field in the eastern territories. We'd reap millions of bushels of wheat this harvest, accelerating the territory's development even further.
Railroads were being laid, roads paved, and a grand canal dug to span the entire east. In that short span, the rapid progress was visible to the naked eye.
The territory was set. I'd ordered Kainus to prepare 50,000 troops for deployment. This event would require forces.
Flap! Pegasus hurtled forward at blinding speed. Departing in the evening and flying through the night, we reached the capital region by morning.
Word had reached the palace that Count Aron would arrive that morning. The emperor had convened an early council in response.
Yet no reports had come from the territories about Aron's movements. Grand Marshal Duke McCain grew suspicious.
"Has he already slipped from the empire's control?"
"We still have time."
"But he was due yesterday. This delay..."
"He said morning, so we can discuss it this afternoon."
"......"
Even if deemed incompetent, the emperor was still emperor. And this "incompetence" merely meant average compared to geniuses—he was a fairly ordinary sovereign named Kalbun. Politically astute, he anticipated backlash if he pushed Count Aron too hard now. The count was unpredictable; he could appear out of nowhere.
"Woooaaah!"
Sudden cheers erupted outside the palace. What was happening? The emperor glanced out the window and recoiled in shock.
"A P-Pegasus!"
"Gasp! Th-that's an angel!"
A man astride Pegasus, flanked by a guardian angel. Anyone would think him a warrior sent by the gods. And that familiar face...
"It's Count Aron!"
"What?!"
The nobles reeled, their minds in turmoil. Seasoned politicians, they grasped the seismic impact on the empire.
"How... Has the goddess truly anointed Count Aron as her great knight?"
"The world might change."
Pegasus soon descended into the palace grounds. Even leading it inside, Aron faced no resistance from the knights. As a sacred beast from scripture, barring it felt like defying the divine. With an angel in tow, no less.
This bizarre scene filled the emperor with existential dread. What was the gods' will? Even as a devout believer, cracks formed in his faith.
"I come to see Your Imperial Majesty! I hurried here at your summons."
"......"
The emperor hesitated to speak, clearly stunned. Who wouldn't be, seeing a man ride a divine beast with an angelic escort?
Yet he was emperor still. Composing himself, he smiled.
"Hahaha! The empire's fortune! I've heard you were blessed by the gods, and seeing this proves the rumors true."
"I am deeply honored."
The nobles' faces paled by contrast. Just two years ago, this man had been a notorious villain, and now the gods' chosen? They surely saw it as the end times. Nearly every noble here had suffered at my hands. Naturally, my arrival with beast and angel bred profound betrayal.
'Not my problem.'
Whether they felt betrayed or not, it was none of my concern. The nobles were speechless, and the emperor questioned me.
"We've heard you seized the eastern territories. Can you guess what I and the nobles think of this?"
"Of course. You fear this humble servant harbors disloyal thoughts."
"Indeed."
"Fear not. The territories are being purified now. You've heard the east was tainted by heretics."
"Hm, yes."
"The pope and all church priests are fully mobilized for the purge. Once complete, we'll return them to the empire's fold."
"Truly?"
"What reason would I have to lie?"
"Hahaha! You are the empire's blessing. If the lands return purified, no issue arises."
"Mm."
The aristocratic faction's eyes twitched. "The empire's fold" meant the imperial house—strengthening the emperor threatened them. The gods seemed slightly flustered, especially Mahadev.
Tsk, took them long enough. As the gods' favorite, I couldn't lie outright. There were constraints, even if I'd push the limits. But once I proclaimed my empire? The territories would "return" to it—no sin there.
"Hahaha!"
The emperor laughed, descending his throne. Shing! Kalbun drew his ceremonial sword.
"You swept away the east's darkness, saving the empire. For this merit, I grant you the rank of marquis."
"I am deeply honored, Your Majesty!"
"Mm."
The nobles voiced concerns. A border marquis could legally hold 100,000 troops, plus great noble privileges. But both emperor and I knew this was mere theater. With my current power, even duke was underselling it.
"Serve the empire loyally."
"I shall remember."
"Withdraw for now and rest. Tomorrow, we'll reconvene to discuss the empire's future."
"I take my leave."
I turned and left. No lavish banquet—he knew I wouldn't attend anyway, so he skipped mentioning it.
After Marquis Aron's exit, most nobles fretted the rise of an eastern magnate.
"Marquis in under two years? Too fast."
"Considering his lands, it's not."
"Even so..."
"Quiet. He did purify the heretic east. Denying that merit would deter anyone from future wars."
"Your Majesty's words are wise."
Marquis Aron hadn't stirred trouble. Surface-level, rewarding the east's purge was right. The emperor avoided land issues—for tomorrow. He had no intent to cede major territories, genius or not.
As emperor and nobles handled agenda items, an urgent dispatch arrived. The messenger shouted breathlessly.
"Your Majesty! The vassal kingdom of Teron has fallen!"
"......!"
"What?!"
The shocking news stunned them. The Kallias Empire held many vassals; a mid-sized kingdom like Teron perishing left them dumbfounded.
"An invasion?!"
Teron's fall meant a power ignoring the suzerain empire had emerged. But the follow-up was worse.
"Th-the Death Lord has appeared!"
"Death Lord?!"
"How could that cursed abomination..."
Three centuries ago, a Death Lord in the western continent had slain a third of the population. Historians and scholars warned of undead perils; since, any outbreak prompted instant military response. Unchecked, they culled populations.
Among undead, the Death Lord was the ultimate calamity—capable of spawning more. If Teron fell, its 2 million souls could march as undead on the empire. Catastrophic.
The emperor's mind went blank.
"S-summon Marquis Aron!"