Chapter 123
(Kyle
Calendar Year 508: Age 15)
The
Headmaster's Invitation: Hidden History
Translator : PolterGlast
A few days after I
troubled the teacher with my questions about the Kingdom's history, I received
a summons from the Headmaster. Although I had visited his office with my
brother before, going there again felt heavy.
"Be careful when
the Headmaster summons you. It was never for anything good when he called
me," my brother had warned. With a gloomy feeling, I dragged my heavy feet
and finally arrived at the door.
"Lord Solis, it
seems your abundant thirst for knowledge is troubling the teachers," the
Headmaster said with a laugh, inviting me into the room. I remained on guard
and bowed silently.
"To begin with,
you, who unearth Mages one after another at an unprecedented, no, an almost
impossible rate, were you perhaps not convinced?"
"No, no, it was
just that the stories were all things I had no way of knowing in the frontier,
so I couldn't help but be interested."
Is it about that
again? What is he trying to probe this time?
"You don't need
to be so guarded. I called you here today because I thought I'd answer some of
your questions. Would you mind sitting down and keeping an old man company for
a while, perhaps with some small talk?"
"Thank you for
your consideration. If someone like me is suitable, I would be delighted."
"Indeed. First,
what shall I speak of? The other day, there was a lecture on the history of the
Kingdom, wasn't there? I shall supplement that. Kyle Kingdom has been founded
for 500 years now, and this country has many hidden histories..."
"Um... is it
alright for me, in such a place, to hear such stories?"
Suddenly, a dangerous
topic arose. Is this what he means by small talk with an old man? It's scarier
to get involved by hearing such hidden truths.
"Hmm, there are
indeed many problems. However, if you learn a part of the Kingdom's hidden
history, your questions will be resolved, and your vigilance towards us will
soften, won't it? This is the most suitable place for a private conversation
within the academy, and no unwanted ears can listen in. If I tell you secrets,
and you, in turn, answer our questions honestly, then that would be most
satisfactory."
"What are your
questions, if I may ask?"
"Don't rush
ahead. First, listen to my story and understand that we are on your side. After
that, how you answer our questions is for you to decide."
"Understood."
"Then, first, I
shall tell you about the first King Kyle, a secret history known only to the
royal family, not even to the teachers."
With that, the
Headmaster began to speak. The Headmaster had left the royal family and was now
a Duke, but long before that, he was the youngest brother of the king two
generations prior, and a member of the royal family. Therefore, he was
well-versed in the affairs of the royal family. This was information I had
received from my brother during our handover.
"The origins of
the first King Kyle are not recorded at all and are largely unknown. However,
tradition says that he possessed customs and knowledge different from the world
of that time. He is said to have appeared suddenly one day in a village
inhabited by the People Beyond Humans, within the current Gryphonia Empire's
territory. And he reportedly brought magic back to the People Beyond Humans living
there, who were once the People of the Demon Realm. In other words, he found
aptitudes for magic that they had lost when they lost their unique clan
identities and mingled with the human world, giving them the opportunity to
once again flourish as Mages. Was this part mentioned in the lecture?"
"Yes, that point
was touched upon. In the lecture, I learned that he revived Mages, led the
persecuted People Beyond Humans and the people of the human world on a journey,
overcame numerous dangers, reached this land, pioneered the Demon Realm, and
founded this country."
"Indeed. One of
the first King Kyle's most notable abilities is said to be the [Power of
Imbuement]. This ability uses the magic power from the core of specific
monsters and imbues it into those with magical aptitude. The blood of those who
receive the magic power is activated, and they regain their inherent power, the
ability to wield magic. Doesn't this sound familiar?"
"Is that what the
Church is doing now?"
"Exactly.
Furthermore, the first King Kyle is also said to have possessed the power to
foresee future crises. History states that, through his power and guidance, the
group, including women and children, safely reached Kylar from the border.
However, to reach this place from the southern border, passing through the
Demon Realm, is realistically impossible. Can you, with 300 soldiers, including
a unit of numerous Mages, and carrying women and children, traverse that
distance of the Demon Realm?"
No, absolutely impossible.
Even a strong, battle-hardened army, with sufficient supplies and numbers,
marching with the utmost care, would probably find it impossible. Moreover, if
there were hindrances, they would simply meet the same fate as Marquis
Bradley's army last year.
"Then, does that
mean the history we learned in the lecture the other day is not entirely
factual, that there are hidden parts?"
"Indeed. History
is a weave of truth and convenient fictions for those in power. I want you to
know a fragment of that truth buried within history."
The conversation ahead
smelled distinctly of danger. But my curiosity won out, and I suppressed the
alarm bells ringing in my head.
"There are three
things King Kyle left behind that everyone in this country knows now. Do you
know what they are?"
I shook my head.
"You will
eventually find out if you investigate. First, there is the Church. The Kyle
Kingdom's Church is completely different in its establishment and background
from those in other countries. This is because the first King Kyle himself
founded it. I will explain this again later.
Second, there are the
weights and measures. 500 years ago, standards varied greatly from country to
country, or even by region and the organizations that used them, causing
confusion. So, the King divided his own height into 17 parts, defined 10 of
those as 1 m, and 1000 m as 1 km. The same applies to weight. King Kyle divided
his own weight into 60 parts, defining one of them as 1 kg. As a result,
unified standards were established and implemented in the Kingdom, and now they
have even spread to multiple countries.
Third, there is the
naming convention. Have you ever wondered why Kyle Kingdom, unlike other
countries, places the family name before the given name? It is said that this
too was established following the custom of the first King Kyle."
Hearing this much, a
hypothesis crossed my mind: Was the first King Kyle similar to me, or someone
close to me? Realistically, the weights and measures in this world are
extremely close to those I know from a different world. It had vaguely bothered
me, but... If I assume from what he just said, King Kyle was 170cm tall and
weighed 60kg. That's a bit short and light for a Westerner. However, over 500
years ago, those units themselves shouldn't have existed. What does this mean?
"Now, shall we
get to the main topic?" The Headmaster's tone changed. I stopped thinking
and focused on his words.
『Establish a noble system and preserve the clan
bloodlines and unique magic.』
『Strive to secure the magic possessed by the People of
the Demon Realm through the Church.』
"Both are said to
be declarations left by the first King Kyle. Now, here is the answer to your
question. In this country, do you know that those who become ruling nobles from
generation to generation personally affix their seals to the oath document in
the Royal Palace?"
"Yes, I am aware
of that ceremony."
In the previous
timeline, I did that when I was 16. In this world, although I have the title of
Baron, I am under the care of the Solis Viscount family. This ritual does not
apply to me. Teigun is merely a part of the Viscountcy, and I am only entrusted
with its operation. The only one who officially holds a unique territory is my
father, the ruling noble; I am not a lord appointed by the Kingdom.
"Have you never
wondered about the [Authority] that only manifests in those who become ruling
nobles?"
"Isn't that...
something that manifests reflecting the lord's abilities, the results of their
governance, and so on?"
"Who researches
such things? If there were someone who could manage such figures, I'd like to
see them."
"Then, is that
story also a convenient fiction for the rulers?"
"It helps that
you understand quickly. That is a mere pretext for confiscating territory that
was once entrusted. In the first place, the effects of Authority are actually
just a 'comfort'."
"..."
Indeed, the commonly
spoken Authority, such as increased productivity, commercial development, and
military strengthening, exist, but their concrete effects are very vague.
Ultimately, territories change due to personal reasons and the abilities of
those who govern them. The expression "comfort" is generally correct.
However, my territory
appraisal is far from just a comfort; it's quite a cheat. Was I the only exception?
In the previous timeline, I must have met some condition right before my death,
at the very last moment, and Authority manifested.
These two points
contradict the Headmaster's explanation. Why? Am I special? I pondered this
while listening to the Headmaster.
"Most
importantly, there is the unique skill, called [Bloodline Magic], that
manifests with [Authority]. Recall the first King Kyle's declaration just now.
The unique magic of the clans, that is Bloodline Magic, and it is the proof of
inheriting the ancient bloodline of the People of the Demon Realm."
"Is that
so?"
"The nobles of
this country, if you trace their origins, are connected to King Kyle and the 12
clans. You've heard this, haven't you? However, with time, the blood of the
clans thinned, and King Kyle, fearing this, established marriage controls among
nobles under that declaration, striving to maintain the magic (Bloodline Magic)
possessed by each clan. For this reason, those deemed unqualified, those with
[No Authority], are stripped of their lordly status after one generation, and
their territory is confiscated. This system was established to prevent the
Kingdom from weakening."
"So, if one has a
strong lineage of the People of the Demon Realm, then the [Authority] as a lord
will manifest?"
"That is both
correct and incorrect. 500 years have passed since King Kyle's reign, and
intermarriage between different clans has progressed, and furthermore, the
blood of the human world has also mixed in. Even if one has a strong lineage of
the People of the Demon Realm, if the blood of a specific clan is thin... if
there are many impurities, Authority will not manifest. As a practical matter,
the 'blood' of the unique clans that all nobles possess is unfortunately quite
diluted. Therefore, Authority will not manifest without assistance."
I reorganized my
thoughts once more.
·
Authority requires the bloodline of the People of the
Demon Realm.
·
The condition is that the blood of a specific clan
must be sufficiently strong.
·
Currently, the blood is quite diluted.
·
Therefore, Authority does not manifest without
assistance.
"Is that
assistance the appointment ceremony for lords in the Royal Capital?"
"You understand
well, that is correct. To be precise, at the appointment ceremony, each noble
presses their own seal on the oath document as a pledge of loyalty to the Royal
Family. This is the [Seal of Authority] that is formally bestowed at this time,
though it is actually temporarily lent by the King only during the appointment
ceremony. This Seal of Authority was created by King Kyle, imbuing the Power of
Imbuement into something entrusted by each clan. And those who hold it, no,
their inherited blood reacts, awakening their inherent power."
I see!
The Seal of Authority
only works on the person who holds it. In other words, it's like a magic tool
that draws out abilities. And the trigger is touching the Seal. This happens at
the lord noble's appointment ceremony, the sealing ritual.
"Through the Seal
of Authority, the blood is activated, and the inherent power, Bloodline Magic,
awakens. When the head of the family awakens to Bloodline Magic, the blood of
close family members is also activated, and some members of that family will
also manifest Bloodline Magic. Well, not all family members or close relatives,
but... This was in your question, wasn't it?"
"Yes, it was.
Thank you. I'm surprised that was the key... no, the mechanism of
manifestation."
"This also
applies to those who already possess Bloodline Magic due to the influence of
their lordly parent. Take your brother for example. He already possesses Light
Bloodline Magic. However, without the influence of the Seal of Authority, it
will not propagate further. As things stand, your brother's future children
will not awaken to Bloodline Magic. Even if a person can use Bloodline Magic
themselves, if they haven't undergone the appointment ceremony, their children
or close relatives will not inherit Bloodline Magic. Only after receiving the
power of the Seal of Authority does its influence propagate. Well, there seem
to be differences in the time it takes to manifest and the extent of its
propagation."
"..."
This, too, was
extremely dangerous information. This was not something that could be easily
spoken of. I chose my words carefully.
"This
mechanism... if a noble were to rebel against the Kingdom, even if there's a
generational change, they wouldn't receive the assistance of the Seal of
Authority. That means they would lose their power, correct? So, nobles cannot
rebel against the Kingdom..."
"Oh, you noticed
that. The nobles don't know that this is a major mechanism supporting this
Kingdom now. That the Kingdom has a system to extinguish the lineage of those
who rebel."
At worst, if this
information leaked, it could collapse the very foundation of the Kingdom's
noble system. It meant that the Royal Family held the power of life and death
over the nobles, through a hidden mechanism. Hearing such information, I
realized I had carelessly stepped into a forbidden place and trembled.
And was the
manifestation of my Authority just a matter of individual difference and
timing? Putting aside my own situation, the information I had just received was
too heavy.
"Ho ho ho, have
you understood the weight of this information, and our expectations for you,
Baron?"
No, this isn't
something to laugh about... I became very afraid of what would be expected of
me next.
"Well, the
conversation is getting long, and I've talked so much my throat is dry. Let's
have some tea for now." With that, the Headmaster rang a bell.
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