Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Founding Festival (10)
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“......”
Rihart stared at the emperor lying in bed with a hardened expression.
Werner von Klaus’s words had been correct.
The emperor had merely regained consciousness; he was still dying.
It was only because the curse had been lifted, allowing some of the life force of a 10th Circle absolute being to return, that he was holding on.
“There’s no need to worry so much. I have no intention of dying until I see the Klaus family wiped out.”
“Please don’t say such things, Your Majesty.”
“It’s only natural for people to die. What matters is how well you prepare before leaving this world. In that sense, I have no worries about the empire’s future. Rihart, because you exist.”
At the sudden praise, Rihart lowered his head.
The emperor gazed at his eldest son with a pleased expression, but only for a moment.
When Rihart lifted his head, the emperor continued with a serious look.
“But even for you, fulfilling the imperial family’s wishes won’t be easy. Duke Klaus and the Klaus family’s power is currently far too overwhelming for the imperial family to handle. Of course, the Ferdinand family will lend their strength, but it’s always been mages who dominate the battlefield.”
“If a warrior pursues depth, a mage aims for breadth. On the battlefield, where wide-area attacks are more effective, mages certainly hold the advantage. Moreover, given Duke Klaus’s personality, he’ll avoid direct confrontations with Duke Ferdinand as much as possible.”
“I agree. That’s why this civil war is bound to drag on into a prolonged conflict.”
“Even so, once we seize control of the Klaus family, it’ll all be over. No matter what Martin Adalbert does, the Adalbert family alone can’t stand against the Ferdinand family. Though personally, I find that fellow quite threatening.”
“It’s not something to take lightly. He could become an even more fearsome opponent.”
Rihart nodded at the emperor’s words.
It wasn’t an immediate concern, but given time, he could become a threat equal to—or greater than—the Klaus family.
“It’s true that I owe a debt to the acting head of the Adalbert family.”
“As you say.”
“To repay that favor, I gave him the diary of the founding emperor as a gift.”
“Hmm... That might accelerate his growth even further.”
“Indeed. It will undoubtedly be a great help to the acting head of the Adalbert family’s growth. Even if he reaches the 9th Circle within three years... No. I dare say he’ll surpass the realm of an absolute being within ten years.”
“That friend removed Your Majesty’s curse, preventing the empire from falling into ultimate chaos. Considering his contributions, he deserves at least that much.”
“Even though he’ll become a more threatening foe?”
“Of course, the situation has become more complicated, but I don’t mind. Facing a worthy challenge is always a pleasure.”
“Truly, the Ferdinand family blood runs strong in you.”
“I think so too.”
A smile crept onto Rihart’s lips as he spoke.
It was then.
Kuooh!
A fierce aura surged from his entire body.
An enormous amount of mana poured from the mana cores in his abdomen and head, strengthening his body.
Not only did his physical abilities leap forward dramatically, but the expansion of his mana circuits also increased the amount of mana he could wield at once.
But the most decisive change was something else.
The number of rings in the mana core in his head had increased from three to four.
The number of rings in the mana core in his abdomen had also reached four.
It was the moment he had finally succeeded in reaching the 8th Circle realm.
“Congratulations, Rihart.”
“Considering I was stuck at the 7th Circle wall for years... Honestly, it’s a bit embarrassing.”
“Reaching the 8th Circle at your age is achievement enough. Besides, haven’t all the worries that hindered your growth until now been resolved?”
“I can’t hide anything from Your Majesty, it seems.”
Rihart gave a wry smile.
Seize the Klaus and Adalbert families and elevate the imperial family’s authority.
It had been a long-cherished dream, but he had once questioned whether it was necessary to fight his siblings over the throne.
He was indeed the most outstanding, but that didn’t mean his siblings were hopelessly incompetent.
“But now that Your Majesty has acknowledged me as the one to lead the imperial family and the empire’s future, I feel a surge of certainty. It’s like all the blockages in my path have suddenly cleared.”
“You’ll surely do well, Rihart. That’s why I have one request.”
“A request? Please just give me your command comfortably, Your Majesty.”
“That’s why I’m phrasing it this way—it’s something that might burden you. Even if you take the throne, please don’t kill your siblings.”
At the emperor’s words, Rihart fell silent, unlike before.
It was a matter he couldn’t easily promise.
“......Theodore or Claudia, perhaps. But I’m not sure about Mueller. As I mentioned briefly while Your Majesty was resting, that child is heading down the wrong path. I understand his anger, but I can’t just stand by and watch.”
“How could I not understand your feelings? It’s only a request—don’t feel too bound by it.”
“Thank you for understanding, Your Majesty.”
“It’s only natural. Now, I need to rest, so please leave.”
“Yes.”
Rihart answered and rose from his seat.
Reaching the 8th Circle didn’t change much immediately.
First, defeat the Klaus family and gain official recognition as crown prince.
Then, crush the Adalbert family and proclaim the imperial family’s elevated status across the continent.
‘I will become the empire’s second founder.’
The state of the Alteria Empire was more unstable than at any time since its founding.
Rectifying this chaos and seizing at least two dungeon entrances would make him greater than the founding emperor.
An accomplishment even the founding emperor couldn’t achieve.
With that, Rihart ignited the ambition he had long kept buried in his heart.
* * *
‘Why did this guy show up out of nowhere?’
Martin suppressed his annoyance as he looked at Mueller Alteria, who had come to see him.
The other man was grinning ear to ear, as if delighted by something.
“I heard that the young heir removed His Majesty the Emperor’s curse. Thank you for saving him.”
“I only did what needed to be done.”
“You’ve always been so humble, young heir, past and present. In fact, hearing about your exploits these past few months has been my greatest pleasure. Not only did you escape the clutches of the Roys Marquis family, but you turned it to your advantage and eliminated every unstable element in your family. Countless people were astounded by your brilliant maneuvering.”
“It was only possible thanks to the previous family head’s preparations. Without the arrangements he made for me, I could never have won like that.”
“Knowing how to use what you have is a talent in itself. Especially when so many have fallen without fully realizing their potential. But what I personally admire most is something else.”
“I’m curious what that is.”
“It’s your dealings with the non-humans. You didn’t just recruit elves and dwarves as adventurers—you even let them run shops in Barrayhain City. No lord in Krasian Continent history has ever achieved such a feat. It’s a true accomplishment.”
“I appreciate the praise, but... I’m quite exhausted from all that’s happened today. So could you get to the point without beating around the bush?”
Conversing with the era’s titans had drained his mental energy considerably.
He had no desire to tire himself further with pointless talk.
At Martin’s reaction, Mueller’s expression turned serious.
“I mentioned this before. I despise the current social system on the continent. But mere dissatisfaction changes nothing. So I’ve made up my mind. I’ll take action myself to change the world.”
“Action... What kind?”
“The secret society, Light of Freedom. It’s the organization I lead. I’m the one who told Sara Minehrt—the mayor you appointed in Pratelle City—all about it.”
“I didn’t expect someone to boldly confess to breaking imperial law right in front of me. I’ve crushed countless violators of imperial law.”
“Anyone else, maybe, but I believe the young heir will sympathize with our cause. Weren’t you, the sole direct descendant of one of the three great noble houses, constantly persecuted just for failing to manifest your unique ability? That’s why I personally believe you’re the superhuman who will realize our ideals.”
“Hmm.”
Martin clicked his tongue inwardly.
He knew his actions so far had greatly altered the empire’s history.
Just look at the Klaus family’s official declaration of independence and their declaration of war on the Alteria Empire.
But he hadn’t expected recognition from what would later become the empire’s worst criminal, who seized various families’ territories to build his own force.
‘Though, come to think of it, I probably am the most ideal figure from their perspective.’
Just as Mueller had endured all sorts of humiliations for lacking succession rights, he too had suffered bitterly for failing to manifest his unique ability.
Both were victims of the system underpinning the Krasian Continent.
And in the midst of it, he had succeeded in taking control of the massive Adalbert family.
If he declared support for the ideology Light of Freedom pursued?
The repercussions would be immense.
Of course, he had no such intention.
“As His Highness said, I agree there are many flaws in the continent’s system. I’m grateful for your high regard. But right now, I have no spare energy to focus on reforms or ideals.”
“It’s hard to understand. With the Klaus family’s declaration of independence, the empire has entered an age of chaos. If the young heir endorsed our ideals now, those harboring resentment everywhere would rally to us. For someone like you, expanding your influence even to non-humans, this would be a tremendous boost.”
“Well...”
Martin reached a conclusion.
The man before him wasn’t yet branded the empire’s worst criminal.
He was merely a fool blinded by ideals.
“There will surely be those who respond to Light of Freedom’s ideals. But even if they gather, I don’t see it providing the strength to survive this chaos. No—it would lead me and the Adalbert family to ruin.”
He had denied the foundation of the Alteria Empire, nay, the Krasian Continent itself.
What better pretext could the nobles have to attack him?
‘Unfortunately, no matter how hard the incompetents try, their power has limits.’
He knew their numbers were superior.
But on the Krasian Continent, numbers didn’t guarantee absolute strength.
Hadn’t reaching the 7th Circle alone earned you the title of a one-man army?
And there were even greater powerhouses beyond that.
Thus, relying on them in the current situation was suicide, nothing more or less.
With the age of chaos truly beginning, he couldn’t afford a single flaw.
“......That’s a shame. I truly thought you’d join our cause, young heir.”
“I’ll say it again: I don’t hate the ideology itself. If I did, Your Highness wouldn’t be having this conversation with me.”
Mueller flinched.
Though his tone was calm, the chill embedded in his words made Mueller shudder.
“Until the chaos ends and my position is secure, I’ll focus solely on the Adalbert family’s survival. I’m sorry I can’t join you.”
“Sigh. I understand. Let’s leave it for next time, then. Sorry for bothering you when you’re tired, young heir.”
With those words, Mueller left the room dejectedly.
Martin stared intently at his retreating back.
‘I should at least give him an option.’
Foolish or not, the boldness and charisma he’d later display in rallying people were remarkable.
As such, Martin was willing to take him as a subordinate, not a comrade.
He had the inclination to let him pursue reforms slowly under his command.
But if he refused and pursued his own path...
There would be only one thing to do.
Having sorted his thoughts, Martin leaned back leisurely in his chair.
“Finally heading back to the family.”
He couldn’t wait to see Arellia.
He was curious how the founding patriarch, who had helped build the empire, would view and assess the current chaos.