Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Chapter 18: Founding Festival (8)
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Families with long histories possessed many treasures acquired as spoils of war by their ancestors.
Take the Adalbert family, for instance—they kept precious treasures in the Overlord's Chamber.
The imperial family was no different.
"The Room of Glory. A name given by the founding emperor himself. Like the Adalbert family, we too have the duty to fill this room with newly acquired treasures."
"Filling the treasure vault to the brim wouldn't be the most effective way to show that our family is thriving."
Martin glanced around as he responded to the emperor.
Swords, spears, and all manner of weapons were neatly displayed.
Each one was dazzling enough to draw the eye, exuded a chilling sharpness, or radiated intense mana that set the body trembling.
'I thought the items in the Overlord's Chamber were impressive...'
He had to admit it.
On average, the treasures in the Room of Glory surpassed those in the Overlord's Chamber in quality.
There was no exaggeration in the claim that successive emperors had painstakingly gathered them.
"You are the benefactor who saved the emperor of the empire. So you may take anything from this place. Even if it's a weapon that ranks among the divine swords."
"Even a divine sword..."
Martin was awestruck by his magnanimity.
Fine sword—treasure sword—holy sword—divine sword.
Among the four ranks, the divine sword was the highest, granting its wielder immense power.
A prime example was Stefan Rustal from before his regression.
The bastard had raised Kaizen from the Rustal vault to divine sword level and demonstrated tremendous power through it.
A 5th Circle mage, he had sometimes rivaled 6th Circle strength, and when resolved to die, even 7th Circle warriors.
It hadn't been for nothing that he took Kaizen from the Rustal family vault.
'Though even if Kaizen becomes a divine sword, it won't give me 9th or 10th Circle power.'
Even divine swords had limits.
The reason he chose Kaizen was simple.
The authority imbued in the sword was immensely helpful to him.
Right now, it compensated somewhat for his inferior physical abilities compared to peers of equal strength.
"Had I not regained consciousness, the empire would have fallen into even greater chaos. But thanks to you, we averted the worst by clarifying the succession. A divine sword is nothing compared to the damage chaos would cause. Even if you achieve tremendous growth with it."
Martin fell silent at the emperor's words.
The emperor's manner in discussing his growth was unusual.
The emperor continued, unperturbed by Martin's reaction.
"Though cursed and unable to move properly, my consciousness remained clear."
"So you weren't surprised when you awoke."
"Exactly. And the children visited me constantly, explaining what was happening in the empire. They hoped for my swift recovery, but it allowed me to miss nothing. That's how I know. Your achievements since becoming acting head, and how far you'll grow."
Martin was dumbfounded inwardly.
The emperor had been little more than a half-corpse.
In a state where death could come at any moment, yet he clung to consciousness—it made clear why absolutes were called absolutes.
"As Duke Klaus said, you have the qualities to stand equal to us. Considering your achievements, you'll surely make an excellent ruler. I guarantee your existence will influence the empire's future history somehow. Perhaps pursuing independence like Duke Klaus."
"I've never once thought of breaking from the Alteria Empire. The First Prince and Duke Ferdinand seem unsatisfied with that, though."
"Nothing special about it. Just as the heads of the three great houses dreamed of independence, the Alteria imperial family sought to absorb them. We coexist only because we lack the power."
Martin sighed inwardly.
The emperor had essentially revealed his own desire to fully control the other three great houses.
"If the Klaus family falls, the force checking Duke Ferdinand vanishes. Won't their power grow too strong?"
"I am Duke Ferdinand's son-in-law, and Richardt his grandson. Anyone else, perhaps, but Duke Ferdinand would never target blood kin. I can't vouch for future generations, but Richardt will reach 10th Circle before then."
There was logic to the emperor's words.
Even Martin saw Karl von Ferdinand as a man of honor.
But his doubts weren't fully resolved.
"You're essentially backing His Highness the First Prince. Why not give him the crown prince position?"
"This contest will end with Richardt, backed by the Ferdinand family. I want Theodor and Claudia to abandon their lingering attachment to the throne through this. That's why I gave them a chance."
"I'm not sure if that's merciful or cruel."
Martin smiled bitterly.
He didn't regret saving the emperor.
Had he not restored his consciousness, the empire would have plunged into massive chaos with the Klaus family's independence declaration.
'I can't handle that yet.'
It would deviate completely from the pre-regression flow.
Unable to properly utilize his greatest weapon—knowledge of the future—he needed to control the chaos as much as possible.
That's why he decided to awaken the emperor.
In fact, the emperor's declaration had drawn the Ferdinand family's attention to the Klaus family, buying him time to grow stronger.
"But separate from the imperial family's wishes, I do owe you a personal debt. So I'm giving you this chance. To survive the turbulent times ahead. My children or descendants may criticize, but that's not my concern."
He added that he wouldn't live long anyway, so what did it matter.
His words and actions were remarkably bold in many ways.
"So, have you decided what to take?"
"Yes. I'll take the dragon's dragon blood."
With Kaizen set to evolve into a divine sword, he needed no other weapon.
He'd never been particularly interested in dual swords, and if needed, he could grab one from the Overlord's Chamber.
No one would complain if he took one freely now.
The same went for armor.
The elven-crafted Greif held its own against anything in the Room of Glory.
Elixirs that increased mana were of no interest from the start.
With the dragon's curse granting infinite mana, why bother with elixirs?
"Dragon blood... You're aiming for something interesting."
"It's the most precious treasure to me."
"If that's the benefactor's wish, I must respect it."
The emperor waved his left hand, and the glass vial containing the dragon blood flew swiftly toward him.
It held more than what he'd drunk in the Overlord's Chamber.
"Take it."
"I gratefully accept and will use it well."
Martin received the vial with both hands and stored it in his subspatial pocket.
Watching this, the emperor spoke again.
"As heir to one of the three great houses, you must know why they and the imperial family are deemed great."
"Yes. Unlike other kingdoms' royals, the three great houses and imperial family have systematically documented the path to becoming a 10th Circle absolute. Only for direct descendants, and each has a different method, I hear."
Like the founding head Arelia leaving a clone, the founding emperor and other houses' founders surely took similar measures.
That's how, for a thousand years, 10th Circle absolutes consistently ruled as heads.
"Correct."
With that, the emperor lightly waved his left hand.
A thick book flew between him and Martin.
Martin felt puzzled upon seeing it.
No title was written on it.
The emperor explained calmly.
"It's the founding emperor's journal. The final volume, recording his meeting with the three great houses' founding heads just before his death. More like a battle or contest of insights disguised as conversation. The imperial direct line reached 10th Circle based on this."
"Why give something so precious to me...?"
Martin felt his body tremble involuntarily.
The founding emperor and three great houses' founders were the empire's greatest heroes and strongest beings.
A book containing their insights and experiences?
And not just that.
'I can learn the unique abilities and combat styles of the imperial family and other three great houses.'
He was certain.
No treasure in the Room of Glory compared.
"Can't just give a single reward to the man who saved the emperor—that wouldn't do. Material things don't seem like what you need, so this it is. It's a copy, but nothing's omitted, so it'll help you."
"I gratefully accept."
Martin clutched the journal with both hands.
Separate from his joy, he冷静ly assessed the situation.
It might contain insights for reaching 9th Circle, but fully comprehending it was unlikely.
10th Circle was a whole other realm.
Yet he wasn't overly worried, for a simple reason.
'The family has the founding head.'
Arelia von Adalbert.
With her help, he could theoretically inherit a 10th Circle absolute's insights and experiences.
That alone held great meaning.
"I've given you a path to survive the Ferdinand family. The rest depends on how you use what you've gained."
"Yes. Even if the Adalbert family faces destruction, I won't resent Your Majesty."
"That's fortunate. I don't want bad blood with my savior. Now go. Staying longer will worry people."
"Understood."
Martin stored the journal in his subspatial pocket after responding.
'I want to go back.'
He yearned to return to the family, discuss the journal eagerly with Arelia.
He resolved to finish imperial affairs swiftly.
* * *
After the emperor returned to his sickroom, Martin headed to Claudia's annex with his group.
There, he spoke with her alone.
"You have no idea how shocked I was hearing big brother... I understood checking on His Majesty's condition. But a curse? We're allies—shouldn't we discuss such things first? It's proper etiquette."
"I formally apologize for that, Your Highness. Please understand it was a situation demanding swift action."
"What's the reason?"
"Duke Klaus kept trying to check on His Majesty's condition. Given the circumstances, it wouldn't have been odd if he'd schemed. I judged that proceeding where Duke Ferdinand was present would deter even him."
"Sigh. It's frustrating that I can't refute that."
Claudia sighed genuinely.
She was hurt by Martin's unilateral action, it was true.
But her fear was greater.
Martin's growth speed was unprecedented in history.
Moreover, he overcame every adversity and environmental handicap, raising the declining Adalbert family's power at terrifying speed.
'At least Count Minert is by my side...'
The Adalbert family had no 9th Circle powerhouse yet.
But broadly speaking, that wasn't entirely accurate.
By allying with northern elves and dwarves, they could borrow 9th Circle strength.
Given Martin's talent, reaching 9th Circle in a few years seemed entirely plausible.
'The power balance is completely broken.'
As things stood, their alliance would be nominal.
If it progressed that way, the throne would slip further away.
Without Martin and the Adalberts' aid, she couldn't shine in the coming civil war.
'I need a way to solidify the alliance regardless of power balance.'
Fortunately—or perhaps not—she knew what it was.
She just couldn't voice it rashly.
'She's got a lot on her mind.'
Martin smiled inwardly, watching thoughtful Claudia.
He had no intention of severing the alliance.
Even if Richardt took the throne like this, it'd only complicate things for him.
So he needed to trip Richardt up as much as possible.
'I hope the Klaus and Ferdinand families clash fiercely.'
The north and south were distant, making troop deployment difficult.
Thus, a direct confrontation between Ferdinand and Klaus was inevitable.
'While they exhaust their forces, I'll grow stronger.'
He'd built good relations with northern elves and dwarves, proving his trustworthiness as a human.
Based on that, he'd reach out to other regions' non-humans.
And with the dragon blood from the emperor, he'd restore his prime physical abilities and challenge 9th Circle.
'Imperial family or civil war—none of my concern.'
What mattered was himself and the Adalbert family.
That mindset would never change.