Status Window

I sat alone on the throne in the empty chamber.

I'd stayed behind here by ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠myself just to see this.

The status window appeared before me.

I grinned and said,

"Personal status window."

As if responding to my words, the status window popped up.

I muttered without thinking upon seeing that last one.

"King of the Emperor's Abandoned Army... Not wrong at all."

I read through the stats section next.

"Hmm."

The moment I saw the unique trait 'Sub-Male Lead,' I felt sorry for the original Leon Eisen.

Unable to ever be chosen by the heroine, yet powerless to refuse her requests.

A fate designed solely to be tossed around by the heroine without agency.

A trash trait, through and through.

If he'd been a living, breathing human like me, instead of saddled with this 'Sub-Male Lead' trait, maybe the original story would've played out differently.

Sending Ulysian to the guillotine was a given.

But Elysis? Not the guillotine.

I'd harbored a sliver of doubt about that decision.

Now, it was crystal clear.

Only Ulysian dies.

As that thought crossed my mind, a completely different status alert popped up.

Ah.

The instant I saw it, something snapped in my mind.

Any lingering pity or faint affection I'd held for Elysis vanished completely.

Of course, that had nothing to do with my decision not to send her to the guillotine.

The status window kept chiming nonstop.

Not bad.

No, it was great.

The revolution wasn't over yet.

Once the five eastern nations heard the Nicator imperial family had fallen, they'd assume civil war and muster forces for another invasion.

That simplified my task.

Send Ulysian to the guillotine.

Then fight to save my people.

That was it.

But if even the personal status window was this impressive, what about the national one?

I couldn't even guess.

"National status window."

"Tch."

I could only click my tongue.

This barely qualified as a kingdom.

If I hadn't taken the throne—if I hadn't staged the coup, no, the revolutionary purge—the Allied Forces would've crushed us already.

But who am I?

The king of the forsaken soldiers, freed from that sucker trait 'Sub-Male Lead.'

As expected, the Allied Forces were on the verge of forming.

No time to rest.

But first.

Time to check the Book of Prophecy.

"Confirm monarch-exclusive authorities."

The status window responded immediately.

"Good enough. I just need to view the Book of Prophecy."

"Guide me."

A map appeared, and I followed it quietly.

As I stepped outside the door, Katharina—my self-appointed guard—stood waiting.

"My ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lord—no, Your Majesty. I heard voices from inside. Is everything all right?"

"Nothing to worry about, so don't. More importantly, make sure no one follows me."

"Yes, sir!"

She, who'd once lain in wait to take my life, had become my loyal subordinate.

That was because of the pact I'd made with her and the other four.

A pact tied directly to the Book of Prophecy I needed to see now.

I'd glimpsed part of the Book of Prophecy in the north.

But not the full text.

That's why I'd sparked the revolution instead of sitting idle.

Humanity would perish otherwise.

Creeeak—

At the door leading underground, I stopped Katharina.

"I go alone from here."

"Understood."

Guided by the status window's map, I ventured into the darkness.

I could see in dim light, but the depths were pitch black—I had to rely on touch and the map.

Finally, I reached the spot with the Book of Prophecy and spotted a faintly glowing tome.

I placed my hand on it.

"Yes."

"Viewing records?"

"Aurelian?"

Aurelian von Nicator.

The name of the previous emperor, now dead.

Or rather, the man who'd conquered and annexed all five eastern nations in his reign.

A tyrant of legend, yet hailed as the sage emperor who brought continental peace—a true 'emperor of the ages.'

"Hah."

He'd seen it too, huh.

Is that why he'd unified the continent?

"Whatever. Time to read."

I'd already read up to here.

But the rest was now visible—thanks to this world's system.

Gulp.

I swallowed hard without realizing.

At this rate, humanity perishes in 12 years.

Torn apart, helpless.

That's why I'd claimed the throne—not to let that happen.

"I choose Route 2."

I will protect the Nicator Kingdom—and through it, save humanity.

That is my mission.