Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Demon-Subduing Hall (9)
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Kurt Steinhoff.
He was 29 years old this year and a mage who had reached the 3rd Circle.
He was only at a level where he could barely pull his weight as a mage, but considering his commoner background, it was fair to say he possessed remarkable talent.
‘But this man’s true talent isn’t in magic.’
The Devil’s Prime Minister.
That was the moniker that would attach itself to Kurt Steinhoff in the future.
He never truly became the Empire’s prime minister, but he certainly proved his capabilities.
Through overwhelming achievements in law, economics, administration—the most crucial areas for ruling a nation—before the regression.
‘He took a Third Prince with no support base whatsoever, Mueller Alteria, and in just a few years turned him into a power player rivaling a marquis house in territory and forces.’
Mueller Alteria had finally succeeded in building his own organization, and from next year, he would begin full-scale operations.
However, since the core of that organization consisted of ideologically armed combatants, it was woefully inadequate to grow into a true faction.
Then Kurt Steinhoff joined, and in a mere three years, he secured his own territory.
Martin remembered that fact clearly, and from the moment he arrived in the Imperial Capital, he had resolved himself.
He would definitely make the man his vassal.
There had been no opportunity for a while since Kurt was away on a business trip, but he had finally managed to meet him.
“I am Kurt Steinhoff, librarian of the Lize Grand Library. It is an honor to meet the young head of the renowned Adalbert family.”
Kurt greeted him in as calm a tone as possible.
But Martin and Sien noticed immediately.
His legs were trembling.
Of course, they could fully understand his feelings.
No matter how one sliced it, the gap in status was enormous.
Martin’s incredible accomplishments played a part as well.
“I’m Martin Adalbert. I came because I really wanted to meet you.”
“……Me, sir?”
Kurt’s expression grew complicated.
It was good that Martin, who had been making the biggest splash lately, knew of him.
But he couldn’t help wondering how Martin knew of him, someone who hadn’t done anything particularly noteworthy.
Martin spoke up.
“Five years ago, a certain person was appointed as a circuit judge. He unwaveringly believed that all were equal before the law and issued rulings based on consistent principles. Even in front of a direct heir of a count family, those standards never wavered. Not even when he learned the man had manifested an innate ability.”
“How did you…….”
“That count family heir’s crimes were utterly heinous. He forcibly assaulted multiple commoner women, resulting in three deaths in the process. According to imperial law, the judge sought to destroy the heir’s mana core and strip him of his noble status. But despite his bold stance, the outcome was unfortunate. The initial ruling was overturned on appeal, and the man was ousted from his judicial position. Afterward, he was shuffled around to minor administrative posts.”
Tremble.
Kurt’s eyes flickered wildly.
It was an incident from the far western edge of the Alteria Empire.
His superiors had silenced those around him and the press, thoroughly preventing the news from spreading to other regions.
Yet here was Martin knowing all the details.
Kurt couldn’t comprehend it at all.
At the same time, he felt his chest swell with emotion at the fact that someone recognized him.
“……I’m curious how the young master knows of that.”
“I was lucky enough to manifest an innate ability later in life, but back then, I hadn’t. So I took a keen interest in exceptional people who lacked innate abilities.”
“Ah…….”
“While looking into various people, I happened to hear about it. The student who achieved the top score in the written exams at the academy under the Lize Library.”
Kurt had demonstrated overwhelming performance in every written exam, regardless of subject.
Because of that, he faced a lot of suppression from the nobleborn students.
The covert bullying went without saying.
“So I want to ask you this. Are you satisfied with your current life, Kurt Steinhoff?”
“……What do you mean by that?”
“Just what I said. Are you content being a librarian, bouncing between dead-end administrative jobs?”
Kurt fell silent.
Then, after a moment, he opened his mouth with a serious expression.
“I want to know what the young master expects from me.”
“Good. Not many people dare to boldly state what they want in front of me. That alone qualifies you. How about leaving Lize City and working in Barrayhain City? Making you a direct vassal right away feels premature…… For now, I intend to take you on as my secretary.”
“Gasp!”
Kurt was genuinely shocked.
The words “direct vassal” didn’t even register.
He wasn’t particularly interested in empty titles.
What mattered was that Martin was essentially the family head.
Becoming his secretary meant he could contribute to governing the Adalbert territory—not to mention the entire northern Empire.
For someone who had always dreamed of becoming a great bureaucrat, there could be no greater opportunity.
“Secretary or not, you won’t have any real authority. Just reviewing things I need to handle ahead of time?”
“E-even just that would be a huge responsibility. What exactly have you seen in me to offer such a position? Aside from a few rulings as a judge, I haven’t accomplished anything. My superiors never allowed me to produce any real results.”
“For starters, you posted incredible scores at the academy. You didn’t bend your principles even when ruling against a high noble’s heir. Someone with vast knowledge and firm convictions—who could be a better talent?”
Even with Martin’s continued praise, Kurt still seemed unable to believe it.
“Aren’t there people far more capable than me by the young master’s side? Besides, I haven’t manifested an innate ability.”
“What does an innate ability matter for administrative work? Even in the imperial court or the three great noble houses, few of the civil officials handling real duties have them.”
“That’s true, but…….”
“And the talents I have now are all great at fighting, but they’re weak when it comes to internal affairs. The civil officials in the main house or Barrayhain City who I thought were competent were entangled with the elders or other branch heads until recently.”
“I’ve heard many have pledged loyalty to you lately, young master.”
“That’s why I haven’t discarded them. But trusting them wholeheartedly is another matter. My criterion for someone worthy of my trust is simple. They grab the hand I extend.”
Whoosh.
With that, Martin held out his right hand.
Staring at it, Kurt trembled.
No one except his parents had ever acknowledged him.
Everyone just criticized him as a fool ignorant of the world, and no matter what department he went to, he was quickly ostracized.
They all shunned him to avoid offending the nobles.
Yet now, someone of incomparable status was proposing to stand with him.
A thrill he had never felt in his life swept through his entire body.
Grab.
In the end, Kurt clasped Martin’s right hand with both of his own.
“I pledge my loyalty to the young master! And I will bury my bones in Barrayhain City!”
“Don’t actually die on me. I don’t want to lose a hard-won talent so soon.”
“Of course not!”
“I’ll be leaving the Imperial Capital tomorrow, so wait for me at the city gates.”
“I will remember that!”
Kurt shouted in a booming voice.
Seeing him like that, Martin and Sien chuckled softly.
‘All my business in the Imperial Capital is done.’
By gaining the upper hand in the sparring match, he had crushed the First Prince’s momentum, and by threatening the Second Prince with a secret only he knew, he had shaken his composure.
At the same time, he had elevated the First Princess’s standing.
And finally, by taking Kurt Steinhoff under his wing, he had stolen the foundation for the Third Prince’s explosive growth.
Following the northern tour, this trip to the capital had been meaningful in many ways.
‘That doesn’t mean I can let my guard down, though.’
Nicholas von Royce had finally bared his fangs in earnest.
Of course, if things went according to plan, he could win without even fighting the man.
But he needed to prepare for the possibility of failure as well.
If it truly came to all-out war, it would be a battle incomparable to anything he’d faced so far.
‘Either way, the immediate task is straightforward.’
Martin’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
The time had finally come to capture and crush his enemy.
* * *
Three days had passed since Martin left the Imperial Capital.
The Third Prince, Mueller Alteria, who had visited the Lize Grand Library, gave a wry smile.
“Man, he really got us good.”
“I just can’t understand it. What does Martin Adalbert from the north know to take Kurt Steinhoff as his vassal?”
The young man beside Mueller grumbled.
He was a tall young man with long black hair and a sturdy build.
His presence was sharp, yet he also displayed a cool-headed demeanor.
It was Erich Koschnik, Mueller’s eternal retainer.
He currently served as the organization’s deputy leader.
“Tell me about it. I knew he was exceptional, but this time it’s just ridiculous.”
Kurt Steinhoff was someone Mueller had long resolved to make his comrade.
His academy grades and strictness as a judge were more than enough to captivate Mueller.
He had even bought his favor through several conversations.
Yet suddenly, he had up and gone to Barrayhain City with Martin?
All his efforts had gone up in smoke in an instant.
“At this point, isn’t it fair to say all the Empire’s princes got done in by one guy?”
“It’s regrettable, but undeniable.”
“And yet Your Highness looks awfully cheerful for someone who says that?”
“Of course. I’ve discovered the possibility that the Adalbert young master could become our ally. How could I not be happy?”
“……What kind of nonsense is that?”
Erich looked dumbfounded.
Mueller patiently explained to him.
“Think about it. If Martin Adalbert only cared about innate abilities, would he have taken Kurt Steinhoff? He’d have just used the people around him. But he personally recruited Kurt. He knows his value and plans to use him properly.”
“Hmm. In that sense, he does align with my ideals to some extent.”
“It’s more than that. He’s not hung up on innate abilities or status. Plus, he commands a massive force that we lack. Honestly, shouldn’t we make him an ally no matter what?”
“I’ll grant you the logic. But he’s manifested an innate ability—do you really think he’ll reject the class system now?”
“That depends on how we persuade him.”
Mueller gazed north.
He regretted losing Kurt, but he didn’t resent Martin for it.
Martin would create the world he dreamed of.
“Well, before we discuss that, we need to confirm he survives against Marquis Royce’s house.”
“He’ll overcome it somehow. Just like he always has.”
“Man.”
As Erich shook his head in disbelief, Mueller chuckled.
“Forget the one who’s already gone and look for others.”
“Your Highness is always too optimistic. Do you know how hard it is to find someone like Kurt?”
“Come on. Plenty of people in the Empire are dissatisfied right now. Surely there are capable ones among them? We just need to find them and persuade them well.”
With that, Mueller lightly stepped forward.
‘Next time we meet, we’ll have a proper talk.’
Of that much, he was certain.
When that time came, they wouldn’t meet as a Third Prince of the Alteria Empire.
He would face him as the leader of the secret society, Light of Freedom.