Chapter 176
(Kyle
Calendar Year 509: Age 16)
The Feudal
Lord and a New Question
Translator : PolterGlast
The day after the
meeting with the steward and Miseri, I participated in the appointment ceremony
at the Royal Palace with my father and the others.
"Demon Territory
Count Solis, please step forward."
Called in turn, I
swore my oath before His Majesty the King and then, with the bestowed royal
seal in hand, affixed my seal to the letter of appointment declaring me a feudal
lord and noble.
This is it! The magic
item left behind by the first King of Kyle. They say it works on the blood of
the demonic people—no, the clans—to activate their magic.
Including the last
time, this was the second time I had held it, but this time I knew many of the
stories behind it. It was a deeply moving experience.
The moment I held the
seal, I got goosebumps all over my body, but I couldn't tell if it was the
seal's influence or due to my own emotions.
And for a moment, I
felt as if something was rushing through my body. But other than that, there
were no other tangible changes.
Will my bloodline
magic awaken because of this? Having actually experienced it, the result was
that I really didn't know.
※
That afternoon, I paid
a visit to the academy. I felt that there were many people I needed to thank.
"Baron, no,
excuse me, you are already the Demon Territory Count. Your achievements in this
war were nothing short of magnificent. I was just about to head to your
residence to offer my own thanks."
"Not at all, Your
Grace. It is I who have nothing but gratitude for your assistance, from your
consideration during the eastern front campaign to your handling of the forged
letter."
In truth, although it
was all in retrospect, I felt that I had to thank this man.
For one thing, it was
because I came to the Royal Capital that Rosa also came. That led to the
discovery of the plague's nature, which in turn resulted in saving the lives of
my family and many others.
For another, it was
because I was attending the academy that I was able to consult about the Royal
Command Mages, and as a result, I was able to protect my fellow mages.
For another, it was
because of the Royal Command Mage system that I was able to boldly mobilize my
mages for the war in the east. Normally, I would have had to keep my mages
hidden and would not have been able to mobilize them to that extent. If so, the
war in the east would not have developed so favorably for us. And Rosa's
position in the church would have remained unfavored, and the plague's lore
would not have been discovered.
For another, it was
because he had worked behind the scenes through the Knight Commander regarding
the forged letter that I was able to go south without being detained. It was
because I had become acquainted with this man and felt he was trustworthy that
I was able to confide my secret and present the proof of forgery.
As it turned out,
everything that had happened since I came to the Royal Capital had, this time,
led to a good outcome. It's undeniable that it was all a tightrope walk, and if
you look at it cynically, you could say I was just dancing in the palm of his
hand...
But if I consider what
would have happened if I hadn't come to the Royal Capital, my future would
likely not have been a bright one. At worst, the entire southern border region
could have been conquered and destroyed by the Empire before I reached the age
of 20, and in that case, I myself would have bid farewell to this world.
"No, no, even so,
I was surprised by your thorough preparations. I wish I could have shown you the
dumbfounded, frustrated faces of the Restorationist faction when I presented
that evidence."
I heard later that at
the time, the Headmaster had engaged in a war of words with the Restorationist
faction, who were loudly calling for the arrest of Baron Solis. And as the
final move, he had apparently presented the evidence I had rigged, completely
proving my innocence and the baselessness of the claims.
"To use not only
a signature but also a seal on official documents, and to have tampered with
the seal itself, was an idea that had not occurred to us."
The Headmaster said
this and laughed heartily.
I myself felt a bit
complicated. I'm not sure if it's a historical fact, but it was a complete
rip-off of an anecdote about Date Masamune from the Azuchi-Momoyama period...
The seal I used had a
unique design that incorporated not only characters but also birds and trees.
And in the eye of the small bird depicted on the seal, an even smaller one, I
had pierced a hole with a needle. On all official documents I had issued since
becoming a baron.
"They fell silent
after the first trick, so they still don't know about the second secret. This
one will likely be effective for some time to come."
"Thank you. Is
there anyone else who knows about the second one?"
"Even Lord
Gouras, who delivered the message, has not seen the real thing. You can assume
that I am the only one."
Yes, the secret trick
built into my official documents was not just one. The second one was an
extension of a game I played as a child.
Using the juice
squeezed from citrus peels to make a mark on the document with a brush. That's
all there was to it. Later, if you heat the document with the flame of a
candle, the mark appears.
Only my four wives and
Yuka-san in my domain know about this invisible ink trick.
"Your own
thoroughness saved you. There is no need for thanks regarding that.
I am a minor member of
the royal family, so I am called by the grand title of Duke, but I have no
personal domain or soldiers. In other words, I am just like a salaried
official.
The same goes for Lord
Gouras. His position as a count is due to his position as the Knight Commander
of the Royal Capital. He is originally just the second son of a count's house.
He is not a feudal lord with his own domain and soldiers."
That's true...
On the other hand, the
Restorationist faction held vast domains, military power, the lineage of the
twelve ancient clans, and important ministerial posts within the kingdom. The
power, influence, and voice of the faction, with those four at its pinnacle,
was something that not even His Majesty could ignore.
"That is why our
'major clean-up', so to speak, began with just dusting off small specks. We
started by replacing mid-level officials—posts that were essential to the
public service but that they wouldn't care about.
This took time and effort,
and we were unable to provide you with sufficient support.
But this time, thanks
to you, we were able to oust them from public office all at once and distance
them from the central government.
This is a very big
deal. They can no longer use the sweet nectar of concessions to move people.
The major clean-up you were asked for was finally accomplished, thanks to your
help. That's about the long and short of it.
Neither I nor Lord
Gouras have anything to be proud of."
"So the
Restorationist faction is now...?"
I asked the question,
pretending not to notice something I already understood myself.
"Ah, they will be
quiet for the next few decades. As long as they don't return to their former
positions.
Lord Hastburg in the
south, along with his vassals, has gained great power. In the east, Lord Hamish
has gained a new ally in Count Model. This is also significant."
"Indeed, the
stability of the front lines is a grave matter concerning the security of this
country, and not being hindered is, in itself, a great reinforcement."
"That it is.
Well, do you remember when I spoke disrespectfully of you before, comparing you
to your brother? At the time, I intended to guide you, who were so stubborn
despite being full of openings, but I must once again apologize for that
foolishness."
Ah, that conversation.
Where he said my brother has the makings of a general and people flock to him,
but I'm a loner... It's a fact that I still feel keenly...
"It is a fact
that you brothers each possess something that the other finds hard to obtain.
Your older brother has
the power as a general to captivate the hearts of his soldiers, while you, the
younger brother, have the power to win over the generals themselves, I think.
In this recent matter,
the one who worked most energetically to clear your name was Count Model. The
way he boldly argued your innocence and declared his break with the leaders of
the Restorationist faction was truly a sight to behold.
Margrave Hamish, too,
had apparently requested Margrave Hastburg to have you as the chief of staff
for the entire army before you became the Demon Territory Count.
Both Corps Commander
Hoffman and Corps Commander Schultz of the Royal Knights are also quite taken
with you. They're pestering Lord Gouras, fired up about wanting to send their
elite troops to the Frontier Knights branch."
Count Model! I didn't
know that. I'll have to go and thank him properly later.
I didn't know about
Margrave Hamish either.
As for the two corps
commanders, I'm still grateful for all the help they gave me on the battlefield
and when I broke off from the triumphal army.
It was all very
welcome news.
Of course, none of
this would have happened if I hadn't come to the Royal Capital; it was a new
flow of events that had not existed in the previous history.
The flow of history,
and the human relationships it weaves, can change drastically over trivial
matters.
For better or for
worse, it goes without saying that the Headmaster was at the starting point of
this, and it was a flow that was born precisely because I was in the Royal
Capital.
"By the way, on a
completely different subject, there are a few things I would like you to teach
me. Today, at the appointment ceremony in the Royal Palace, I touched the royal
seal left by the first King of Kyle for the first time.
Will my Authority, my
bloodline magic, awaken because of this? Also, when that power awakens, is
there any kind of sign or anything I can be aware of?"
Yes, the moment I
touched the seal, I did get something like goosebumps, and there was a
sensation of something rushing through my body.
And I felt like I was
forgetting something important... That thought crossed my mind.
It's difficult to put
into words, but it felt like I remembered that I was forgetting something.
Though I couldn't remember what it was I had forgotten... I was struck by such
a vague sensation.
"Hmm, the effects
of the seal are said to be varied. There are those whose bloodline magic
manifests immediately, and those whose manifests years later. And there are
also those for whom it never manifests until they die. Well, you are still
young. There is no need to rush.
Also, this is not
something I have experienced myself, but when Authority or bloodline magic
awakens, it suddenly just feels like it's there. Apparently, the sensation is
only about that much.
You are quite skilled
with a sword, are you not? Was there any kind of sign when your rank
increased?"
"No, just that
when I gripped my sword, I had a vague sense that I had advanced to a new
rank."
"Just so.
Apparently, the person's own awareness is only about that much.
It would be a very
simple matter if there were a convenient ability that could appraise a person's
characteristics from the side.
However, this
appraisal itself is an extremely rare talent. The first King of Kyle possessed
that talent and revived the mages from the inhuman races. This is a well-known
fact."
I had certainly
learned about this in my history class.
"But there are
things that even the nobles are not told. The power that the first King of Kyle
possessed is, even now, passed down as a talent only within the royal family.
Though, that appraisal
power is now vague and indefinite, to the point that one only notices it after
it has been activated, apparently.
Even among the royal
family, only those who possess this talent of appraisal have the qualification
to be king, and the one with the qualification becomes the next king. By doing
so, that talent is passed down for all eternity. This is the destiny of the
royal family.
Of course, I did not
have such a talent. That is why I am in my current position."
The Headmaster said
this and laughed. You know, I feel like I've just been made to share another
secret that I can't get out of...
"Your Grace, that
information is too much for me! I feel like you are now telling me things I
should not know..."
"Hohoho, well, it
should be fine. I have been told by His Majesty to provide you with knowledge
and information befitting a member of the royal family."
Is the Domain
Appraisal I acquired at the end of the last time also one of those appraisal
skills?
Even in this world,
will my Authority and bloodline magic not manifest until that time when I turn
20?
At that time, I
certainly heard a voice like an announcement. What in the world was that?
In this world, there
are still many questions I do not know the answer to. But I understood
intuitively that the tightly tangled and twisted thread was slowly beginning to
unravel.
"That's right,
one more thing. I must tell you something important. This too, I want you to
not speak of to anyone else."
In a complete change
from the peaceful atmosphere of a moment ago, I braced myself at the
Headmaster's serious expression and the change in his tone of voice.
And then, the
Headmaster began to speak of another secret this country held.
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