The Emperor of the Empire, Luquius Severus.
Although he ascended to the throne during a peaceful era, he didn’t achieve great feats or leave a mark in history like other emperors.
“He’s a monster.”
Even in just one board game, it was evident.
Perhaps because it was a board game he had played countless times, it made me realize just how absurd the Emperor was.
“He completely grasped a complex board game he was playing for the first time and purely outplayed me.”
To be honest, my board game skills aren’t exceptional. I just have over a decade of daily experience and intuition.
Of course, that was enough to have a good match against an Archmage who was new to board games.
But the Emperor was… different.
“In a game where every unit feels precious, he casually used a discard strategy, not just to gain information but to deceive me.”
He used the discarded unit to gather information about the Dwarf unit and then diverted my attention to it, hiding his main force in the bushes.
At first glance, it might seem like a brilliant but simple strategy.
The problem is that it was the strategy of someone who had just played War’s Hammer for the first time.
He didn’t just think—he thoroughly deceived me and cornered me.
What if the Emperor had played War’s Hammer multiple times?
What if he had seriously devised various strategies?
“…I wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Luquius Severus, the father of the Third Prince and the Emperor of the Empire.
Is this what the Third Prince so desperately wanted to become?
Even after taking a deep breath, the Emperor’s piercing gaze still lingered.
Sharp eyes that seemed to see through everything.
And because of that.
“It seems difficult.”
“………”
“War’s Hammer already expressed concern. There’s a possibility in my plan, but the chances of it working against the Emperor are low. I think so too.”
“………..”
“Let’s not provoke him unnecessarily.”
“…Right, if we stick to the plan we discussed earlier, that would be the case. Third Prince.”
“………”
“Don’t be so nervous. I knew from the start you weren’t the Third Prince.”
“You… knew?”
“If you wanted to deceive me, you should have done it properly. You introduced yourself as Kyle Byron—how could I think you were a prince? At least you should have said Kyle Severus.”
“Ah.”
“Anyway, it became irrelevant midway. The original plan would have been better off not pursued. That’s how it was.”
“Then……”
“No.”
After collecting his thoughts, War’s Hammer.
Held his hammer solemnly and declared.
“I’ve made up my mind too.”
“……?”
“Let’s go meet him. The master of the Dwarves.”
*
“I’ve been waiting. Kyle Byron.”
“Once again, I greet Your Majesty, the Emperor.”
A luxurious tent that couldn’t have been hastily prepared.
Guarded by hundreds of mages, knights, and a Grandmaster.
I had to go through multiple body searches and magical inspections before I could meet the Emperor again.
Of course, this was only possible because the Emperor had summoned me.
“I said we’d meet again. But it was sooner than I expected. I thought you’d come after much deliberation.”
“Deliberation, you say?”
“Of course, about the Dwarves. Kyle Byron, you’re trying to free them, aren’t you?”
…As expected.
The Emperor saw through all my intentions.
I knew it. Ever since I finished War’s Hammer, or maybe from the moment I met you.
Of course, that didn’t mean I was planning to back down.
“Your Majesty knew my intentions and yet did not stop me.”
“Indeed, that too is my consideration and favor toward you.”
“If that’s the case, would it be alright to talk a bit more, thanks to Your Majesty’s consideration?”
“That’s no problem. However, it seems we won’t be able to have a long conversation, so I’ll speak first.”
“Please command me.”
“Unfortunately, give up.”
“………Is it because, on an imperial level, dwarves are an important ‘asset’?”
“Not necessarily. It’s just……well, I suppose an explanation is needed. It’s been a while since I’ve talked this much.”
As if the act of explaining itself felt unfamiliar.
The Emperor let out a hollow laugh and faced me with a chilling smile.
“First of all, I feel a great debt to you.”
“A debt……you say?”
“The debt of allowing my third child to enter the imperial succession race. Whether that child wins the competition and becomes Emperor is another matter, but the mere fact that the Empire has gained another possibility is truly satisfying.”
“That’s too much praise.”
“Regardless, that debt is significant to me………Let me put it in terms of the board game we played earlier. It’s at least a dice roll of ‘4.’”
“Is that so……?”
A dice roll of 4—clearly a high number, but if you ask if it’s really high, it’s a bit ambiguous.
Though I showed a somewhat lukewarm reaction, the Emperor seemed to find it genuinely amusing.
“To me, the Emperor of the Empire and ruler of the continent, a ‘4’ in terms of debt is truly significant. To put it roughly……your family was a baronial house, wasn’t it?”
“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”
“If you earnestly request it, I can elevate the Byron family to a countship.”
“………Pardon?”
“Of course, it can’t be done in one go, and it will require a long process, but with a ‘4,’ that much is entirely possible. As far as I know, there are only four count houses in the west, and yours could become the next feudal lord.”
“…………….”
“That’s what a ‘4’ means. In all my years, I’ve rarely felt a debt exceeding a ‘3,’ so this is quite remarkable.”
However.
“As you said, dwarves are an important asset to the Empire and the imperial family. Since the end of the era of war, they have never ceased to be useful.”
“………….”
“To liberate such dwarves………you’d need at least a ‘5.’ Only then would I willingly grant it.”
“With all due respect, if I were to somehow turn that 4 into a 5……….”
“Ha, hahaha!! Turn a 4 into a 5, you say? Let me explain this in terms of the board games you love. This is unexpectedly fun.”
*Clatter.*
The Emperor picked up two dice lying on the corner of the table and casually tossed them.
Whether by chance or some magical manipulation, the dice landed exactly on 4 and 5.
“Let me ask you this. Can a 4 defeat a 5?”
“……No, it cannot.”
“Excluding rules where smaller numbers win, in War’s Hammer or any other game or gamble, a 4 cannot defeat a 5. No matter how much a 4 pleads, it’s impossible. The dice showed a 4, and it will never become a 5.”
“…………….”
“That’s the difference between a 4 and a 5. It’s the same difference between a 3 and a 4, a 2 and a 3, or a 1 and a 2. It’s just a difference of 1, but there’s an insurmountable gap.”
“………….”
“Of course, it’s not impossible to turn a 4 into a 5. But what do I want? Can you give me something I don’t already have?”
In the end, the Emperor’s point was clear.
The genius board game creator, Baron Byron, had rolled a 4.
The third son and a being with the right of succession, deeply connected with several Archmages and the prospective son-in-law of the Duke’s House, Nara Haedo.
In front of the Emperor, all of that is ‘just’ trivial.
And that would be the same whether it’s an Archmage, the head of the Duke’s House, or a Grandmaster.
“The only thing I can receive from you is grace. And I have never received grace of level 5 even once.”
“………….”
“So, I’m telling you to give up. The Empire does not want to waste talent like you on meaningless tasks.”
The Emperor’s will seemed firm. No, actually, it was ambiguous to say it was firm. If I had received a level 5 from the Emperor, I could have easily liberated the Dwarves.
All the preparations I had originally thought of were denied. Every opponent I had met so far had something they needed. Even Shisha had the breakthrough of becoming a vassal.
‘The War’s Hammer was right.’
My plan was shattered before I could even speak. The Emperor instantly saw through my intentions and denied everything before I could even mention the Dwarves.
So.
It was time to need someone else’s plan, not mine.
“Do you still have something to say?”
“I do.”
“………That is genuinely interesting. I will gladly listen. Could it be that there is a means I haven’t even thought of?”
Means.
Yes, there is.
The War’s Hammer directly said it, the one I absolutely opposed.
But the means he firmly insisted on.
“Come in.”
“……Hoh.”
“The War’s Hammer has come to see the Emperor of the Empire.”
The War’s Hammer, who had been waiting outside the tent, entered. The countless inspections to get to the tent were more for the War’s Hammer than for me.
From the Grandmaster Rikaon, who was holding a greatsword and watching fiercely.
But the War’s Hammer finally stood before the Emperor.
“War’s Hammer. You look different from before. Your tone has changed, and now your eyes are visible.”
“Because now is not the time to bow my head.”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard that the way to raise 4 to 5 is to bestow even greater grace.”
“That is correct.”
“Then Kyle Byron just needs to bestow new grace.”
“Hmm……?”
A hammer made of special metal, one that had been with him for a lifetime.
The War’s Hammer quietly took out the hammer from his pocket, unnoticed by the Grandmaster and several elite inspectors.
He placed the head of the hammer on the ground and held the handle vertically like a sword, in a reverse grip.
Like a knight swearing loyalty before his lord.
“I, the War’s Hammer, have consistently received proposals from dozens of Emperors of the Empire.”
“……Don’t tell me.”
“Until now, I have refused, but thanks entirely to Kyle Byron here, I have changed my mind.”
Thud.
The War’s Hammer.
Kneeled on one knee.
He had already bowed his head and prostrated before.
But that was him as an ‘old and shabby Dwarf,’ not as the ‘War’s Hammer.’
This time, the War’s Hammer truly lowered everything and bowed his head to the Emperor.
“According to the Empire’s proposal, I will accept the position of Grandmaster of the Empire.”
“………!”
“Though I am an old and rusty warrior, I am confident in my martial prowess. From now on, I will serve the Emperor of the Empire as my lord.”
“Oh, ohhh……!!”
Clatter.
Unable to hide his excitement, the Emperor roughly stood up from his seat.
And immediately after, the tent’s curtain was roughly pulled aside.
“Your Majesty! There was a loud noise inside!”
“Are you alright!!”
“……Rikaon.”
“That, is that a hammer!? You scoundrel! You dared to deceive my eyes to harm His Majesty! But as long as I, Rikaon, am here, never───”
“Rikaon Leonhardt!!”
“Y-Your Majesty?”
“The crime of entering my tent without permission is grave, but I am in an extremely good mood right now, so I will forgive you. Leave.”
“………Your Majesty.”
“I won’t say it twice.”
“……I have committed a mortal sin.”
In an instant, Rikaon, with the expression of an abandoned puppy, sulkily walked out of the tent.
The Emperor, unable to contain his smile, approached the War’s Hammer, who was still kneeling with the hammer in both hands.
“What even the great ancestors could not achieve……!!”
“All thanks to Kyle Byron.”
“I know, of course I know! Yes, Kyle Byron. You mentioned the liberation of the dwarves earlier, didn’t you?”
“………Yes, that’s correct.”
“Originally, the declaration of naturalization of the War’s Hammer alone wouldn’t be enough to liberate the dwarves. In fact, if we liberated them and the War’s Hammer united the dwarves to start a rebellion, it would be extremely troublesome. But now, the story is different.”
“…………….”
“With your 4, plus the current favor……it’s enough to make it 5.”
Now, speak.
“What do you wish to request from this Emperor? If you desire, I can grant you anything you wish. I can elevate the Byron family beyond a count to a candidate for the next Duke, or openly support your third son if you wish. Or, I can list you as a first-class meritorious subject, allowing you to live without worry of money or power for the rest of your life.”
Yet, you.
“Do you still desire the same thing?”
“Of course.”
“Resolute. Well, yes.”
That must be what it takes to move the heart of the third son.
Even though the situation has come to liberate the dwarves, the Emperor, who had been muttering, laughed heartily.
“With those miniatures and board games, the dwarves who will be liberated can make a living, and we’ve won the hearts of the dwarves who would hate humans and the War’s Hammer. Truly, you are both a bane and a boon to the Empire.”
“……I don’t know how to respond.”
“You liberated the dwarves who could threaten the Empire in the future, hence a bane, but you will also benefit the Empire even more, hence a boon. Since you’ve pleased me this much, it’s only right to reward you.”
“A reward, you say……?”
“I will grant one permission to that board game, the War’s Hammer.”
“Permission, you say?”
“There will be nobles who feel repulsed by the dwarves making that game and miniatures. To them, add one more word.”
──That Emperor Luquius is so captivated by these miniatures and board games that he neglects state affairs.
“Y-Your Majesty?”
“If it’s about my reputation or honor, it’s not your concern. You don’t have to use it if you don’t want to. But if you do, make sure to show it clearly.”
What kind of name value the Emperor of the Empire holds.
“Let’s shake the Empire with a board game, shall we?”
