Chapter 146

(146)

It was the end of April, a bright spring day.

The moment I woke up, I felt an odd sensation.

It was as if I was reliving something I had already experienced.

The reason became clear soon enough.

“It’s been a year.”

Whether it had been only a year or a full year had passed, I wasn’t exactly certain.

However, much had changed in that time.

Rudi was alive, the future Sword Master Lady Trentia had become my vassal and remained within the imperial court, and the future Great Mage Lady Sererassie had also joined the imperial court.

The areas of the red-light district, the slums, the Ivory Tower district, the Street of Learning, and the Magic Street were either under my control or had close ties to me.

From the Duke of Planities, whom we caused to rise in conflict before, it seemed that I could soon procure a pledge of loyalty, and the Duke of Purioaito was entirely transformed.

I had given substantial food aid to the Duke of the Northern Region and had Saint Matheos born ten years earlier, shifting the Brightness Church into an imperial faction, strengthening Jeilliris’s power.

The Emperor, who had left for the battlefield a year after ascending the throne, remained in the Imperial Palace, fortifying the nation’s internal strength.

All things considered, one could say I had spent my time quite productively.

“Haa.”

I sighed deeply, then rinsed my mouth with warm water that Rudi brought, wiping off waste secretions on my skin with a damp towel.

The night before, after returning to the secondary palace, I had dissolved and consumed the ‘Hwajung’ herb in strong liquor, as prescribed by Jeilliris. The effects made my body boil all night, causing me to sweat profusely, as if flames were rising from within me.

Unlike when I performed the Dragon Ascension ceremony, I hadn’t fainted this time, though I wished I had.

Eventually, I woke from complete exhaustion at dawn to find the sun high in the sky.

“Lord Valenciaunos, are you feeling better now?”

“Yes. Refreshing. I feel like I might fly away.”

Tears welled up in Rudi’s green eyes.

I got up from my sitting position, but immediately slumped back onto the bed.

“What?”

I had no strength in my legs. It seemed I hadn’t just been unconscious for half a day.

“Master… you’ve been asleep for three full days as of today.”

“Ah.”

My goodness, it seems I truly passed out.

After fasting for three days, one’s condition would naturally be like this.

Rudi looked at me with a complex mix of emotions in his eyes.

“I thought you had left us.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“You were writhing around and acting out wildly…”

When I took the ‘Hwajung’ before returning, it wasn’t this intense.

Apparently, the Dragon Ascension ceremony changed my body significantly.

Since my physical constitution was trying to change again, I guess I experienced severe symptoms.

Realizing I had worried everyone so much caused me to apologize once more. Then, wobbling, I descended to the floor below.

I need to eat some bread and head to work.

* * *

Today, Jeilliris was seated on the jade throne of the Audience Chamber.

There stood massive pillars over 25 meters tall and aligned symmetrically, while the floor was paved with marble and colorful gemstones of various hues.

A knight was kneeling on one knee before her.

With a stern face, his brown hair tightly bound, and proud azure eyes, he exuded an almost overpowering presence against the grandeur of the capital but managed to suppress any signs of being overawed.

His inherited and battle-worn full plate armor, decorated with numerous emblems and bearing countless tiny scratches, was complemented by belts adorned with scores of medals.

Even the banner displayed was rudimentary, possibly crafted by villagers rather than professional artisans, showing a rugged simplicity.

All this portrayed a knight of the local lords who governed their own villages.

“…We humbly seek the Emperor’s aid. We apologize for extending our hands, but we sorely require authority and stability.”

At his blunt and unpolished words, court nobles and administrative bureaucrats furrowed their brows.

The knight, however, seemed unfazed.

To express one’s intentions clearly was a virtue among knights.

Jeilliris turned her head to look at me.

“Lord Valenciaunos.”

A clear voice resonated magically throughout the Audience Chamber.

“Heard say, the envoys in the Central Region are troubled by the prolonged indifference of the imperial court.”

I responded, adopting a deeply sorrowful expression.

“In truth, this is a grievous situation.”

“They are the people the Great Lords should bring under their wing; they are the ones who deserve protection.”

An apt analogy.

It was the central barons and knights who supplied large quantities of grain to nourish the capital of Solentalouon.

“I will assign a judge from the Higher Court to you. Travel through the Central-West Baronies and Knightholds, and help resolve various issues.”

“I shall accept the order.”

No sooner had I arrived for work than I received orders for a long-term assignment.

Dumbfounded, I entrusted my luggage to Rudi, informed Lady Trentia in preparation for a long absence, and relayed news of my imminent departure from the capital to Lady Sererassie.

When I ascended to the office to hear more details, Jeilliris had an unusually serious expression on her face.

The golden eyes, usually filled with vitality, now seemed heavy with gravity, and the atmosphere itself felt stifling.

“Valenciaunos, I tremble at the thought of entrusting you with such a monumental task. This time, it won’t be your usual quick wit and on-the-fly solutions; instead, deep deliberation will be needed.”

I replied confidently with a confident smile.

“Please do not worry. Once again, I shall bring to you what the Emperor desires.”

That was my way of asking what exactly was desired.

Jeilliris sighed in acknowledgment of my understanding.

“During the visits by the High Nobles intending to swear allegiance, I foresee turmoil ahead.”

“!”

“They won’t come merely riding, declaring insanity. They’ll assemble their knights and vassals, marching with thousands of guards toward the capital.”

If several of such lords were to gather, it was impossible for there not to be chaos.

“I led the largest knightly order on the continent, but even so, it was insufficient. And sending out the Imperial Knights now would just lead to wasted effort. Recruits at their level wouldn’t stop the blood from flowing like water.”

While knights could be countered by a military force, they were not soldiers one could easily handle.

“Do you also intend to summon the vassal lords, Your Majesty?”

“Yes, it’s necessary to ensure they can leave their territories in peace and ascend to the capital. Can you manage this?”

A tremulous tone was evident in the Emperor’s voice.

Jeilliris had always had the power to resolve problems, and I, until now, had always come up with solutions that resulted in less bloodshed and noise.

In other words, Jeilliris always reserved a last resort.

Not this time.

There was no alternative this time around; it had to succeed honestly.

As she said, this seemed like an unsuitable role for me.

But without hesitation, I nodded.

If she wished it, it was my duty to fulfill her desires, by any means necessary.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Jeilliris sighed.

“…Why don’t you reflect on it a little longer before answering? Your promptness makes me uneasy.”

I grinned even more confidently.

“There’s no reason for your devoted followers to cause me trouble. I’ll ensure the stability of the territories, and return.”

At hearing the word “stability,” Jeilliris’ expression softened.

“That’s right. Stability must be ensured.”

“I have even established stability in the slums. Please wait peacefully.”

As I turned to leave, Jeilliris raised a hand to stop me briefly.

“…I heard you nearly died from consuming the ‘Hwajung’ herb. Didn’t you take it all at once?”

The ‘Hwangjung’ herb was originally meant to be consumed all at once, as far as I knew.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Taking such a quantity could easily incinerate a person. You’d have perished if you hadn’t undergone the Dragon Ascension ceremony.”

Jeilliris closed her eyes tightly.

“Yes?!”

“You must not behave so rashly in such a place. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hearing the word, I had no choice but to bow deeply.

* * *

“Your Excellency Valenciaunos, I am Marson, son of Marren.”

Knight Marson treated Valenciaunos with great deference, not riding side-by-side, not daring to look up, and even careful not to tread on the shadow of the horse Valenciaunos was riding.

Lady Trentia understood why he acted so humbly.

The Imperial Court had distributed vast territorial estates surrounding the direct jurisdiction to various barons, where even a knight held vast tracts of land, with underlings like magistrates, village heads, and stewards under their command, effectively functioning as petty kings themselves.

When Lady Trentia first came to the capital academy for foreign study, she was astonished and overwhelmed by how easily barons and dukes and their offspring would brush past her.

A baron’s firstborn son typically received the title of baron. At that point, Lady Trentia could not comprehend that the nobleman her father once revered so highly, and who she herself recently defeated in a duel leaving him writhing on the ground, held the same title.

It took her two more years to adequately comprehend that these court nobles possessed neither land nor peasants.

Marson, too, would need significant time to grasp this distinction.

‘The Central-West Region.’

As Lady Trentia traveled homewards, she felt both nostalgic and distant.

At fifteen, armed with a sword, she ascended to the capital. Now, for the first time, she was returning to her hometown.

Born the second daughter of a country knight, she had joined the empire’s top knightly order and now served one of the capital’s most renowned figures.

Clad in armor worth more than her father’s entire estate and wielding a treasured sword, she was returning triumphant.

The sole reason for her lack of pure joy was the strict-looking judge who followed closely behind Valenciaunos.

“Your Excellency Valenciaunos, as a judge of the Higher Court and the presiding circuit judge, I will offer precise resolutions to the disputes between barons and knights. My representative case was the resolution of the 20-year-old inheritance conflict of the Haelrunn Barony…”

The Empire upheld three major laws:

The Ecclesiastical Law established by the Church, the Imperial Law decreed by the Emperor, and the varying customary laws differing from region to region.

Naturally, the knights and barons of this countryside followed customary law, yet it wasn’t even fully codified. Here, fists often outranked words.

When disputes arose, it typically involved seeking out a baron and engaging in an intense duel, followed by sharing a drink in the evening, apologizing, laughing, and departing. And sure enough, the same issue resurfaced within a month.

Could this strict-looking judge comprehend such a place where compromise took precedence over logic and rhetoric over might?

Perhaps it was precisely for that reason.

Compromise.

Something Valenciaunos was exceptionally skilled in.

Estates that had been neighboring for hundreds of years, when disputes arose, they either obliterated each other or continued to quarrel endlessly.

Ultimately, an implicit compromise formed, acknowledging each other’s existence at some point.

Valenciaunos seemed exceptionally adept at this.

It was then Lady Trentia finally realized her inner discomfort.

She wasn’t yearning for fairness or principles, but romanticized herself as a ‘principled knight’.

Truthfully, those principles could have been anything.

‘Don’t think nonsense!’

The moment she acknowledged it, it felt that she could no longer rehabilitate Valenciaunos. Clenching her teeth, Lady Trentia resolved within herself.

No matter what, she must snatch him out of the quagmire of sin and pretense.

He was capable of so much more.

* * *

Before the baron’s castle, tents were erected, and some chairs placed.

A temporary court convened, and the anticipated knights and barons gathered in droves.

“…Therefore, according to inheritance law, this farm belongs within Sir Rubeedus’s territories.”

The judge calmly read the complaint, analyzed the situation, and delivered a rational, logical, and just verdict based on the statutes and case law.

“Shut up, you brat!”

But this place was governed not by reason and justice, but by friendship, authority, and honor.

“Do you dare disregard the Emperor’s law, which he now safeguards?”

The judge, frightened by the knight’s outburst, protested defiantly.

“Our house has loyally served the Emperor’s dynasty for seven-hundred years. Do you dare discuss loyalty before me!”

The seasoned knight, bolstered by centuries of honor and authority, wasn’t an easy adversary.

In the end, the judge, unprepared for the menacing aura of the Sword Expert, promptly fainted.

“Hmm…”

I had anticipated this outcome.

The Higher Court wielded authority solely because high-ranking nobles would naturally seek it after enduring prolonged conflicts.

A haughty judge uninvited, presuming superiority, would hold no sway over a knight leading thousands of vassals.

I used a cold, damp cloth to wake the unconscious judge, seated him next to me, handed him parchment and a pen.

“Only answer what I ask. Once everything is settled, write the judgment and hand it out personally.”

“Excuse me?”

“Follow orders if you value your life.”

I essentially gagged the judge and rendered decisions smoothly, mimicking water flowing effortlessly.

I had dealt with these individuals obsessed with honor in my previous life.

“To Sir Rubeedus, the wool belongs. To Sir Lideob, the mutton. If either is unsatisfactory, they can trade accordingly.”

“To Lord Sinsill, the wheat harvests of spring. To Lord Elzied, the autumn’s wheat. Additionally, for the minor quarrelling, let both lords share the sin, hosting a feast for each other’s soldiers.”

“The water mill belongs to one baron, while the river flows under the authority of Sir Rensheid. Thus, an annual fee must be paid, though the option to pay with mill usage rights is acceptable.”

“The empire follows the primogeniture rule, yet knightly fiefs and baronies prioritize inheritance to those who hold a knightly title. If the son does not become a knight by age thirty, the fief passes to the daughter.”

The knights nodded, withdrawing gradually.

“To the decision of His Excellency Valenciaunos, we comply.”

“We concur accordingly.”

“Fair judgment.”

Lady Trentia, clearly bewildered, even stammered in her query.

“Your Excellency, are you knowledgeable in imperial law?”

I smiled cheerfully but shook my head.

“Not really. I’m just talking as things come to mind.”

“Excuse me?!”

What’s important when dealing with knights are honor, respect, and chivalry—sometimes even romance.

“Adhering strictly to the law in judgment isn’t that crucial anyway. What matters is preserving their dignity.”

“What!”

Just as Lady Trentia gasped in disbelief, a baron abruptly stood and shouted.

“Your Excellency! Please reconsider!”

I glared at him, shouting back.

“Dare you oppose the verdict of the Empire’s Duke and the Elder Brother in the Imperial Family!”

Regrettably, he refused to back down.

“My vassal knights would never accept such terms.”

“Return to them and deliver the message precisely as I have stated.”

I rose from my seat, slapped the baron across the face.