I Didn't Want to Become the Emperor of This World

Chapter 15

At the elders' words that they would help her, Seria bowed her head, both flustered and grateful.

As Seria knew better than anyone what it meant for the elders to leave the Magic Tower, her voice was filled with sincerity.

“…Elders, thank you.”

One of the elders who was quietly watching Seria said.

“But I will leave the capital after this purge is over.”

“What?”

“I'm leaving the capital.”

When the elder repeated his words, the other elders also nodded. At that, Seria asked again awkwardly.

“Why do you say you are leaving the kingdom? If the purge is successful, His Highness Leonardo will take power, and then the treatment of the elders will not be lacking.”

“What face would an elder who has left the Magic Tower have to remain in the capital?”

“……”

“To be honest, I want to leave this kingdom altogether, but now that I'm old, going to another kingdom or empire is also difficult, so I'm just planning to leave the capital.”

“Then… where are you thinking of going after leaving the capital?”

“I haven't thought about it yet. Well, it might be nice to go to some countryside and raise a disciple. Or it might be fun to act as a prestigious old man from the capital.”

The elder spoke lightly of the heavy topic as if it were no big deal and left the council room first.

Normally, Seria, as the Magic Tower Master, should have stood up first, but since Seria, as well as the elders, were no longer members of the Magic Tower, there was no need for such formalities.

***

After Seria left the room saying she would talk with the mages of the Magic Tower who might help me.

I waited for her for a long time, but couldn't overcome the overwhelming sleepiness and fell asleep.

How much time had passed like that?

“Ughm…”

I woke up to the light of the sunset coming through the window. Since it was broad daylight when I came to meet Seria, it seemed I had slept for about five or six hours.

Just as when I had fallen asleep, there was no one in the room. Only the cold coffee was left forlornly on the table.

I downed the cold coffee on the table in one go and tried to clear my head.

Gulp—.

‘Hasn't Seria come back yet?’

Then, as if waiting for me to wake up, the door opened at just the right time and several people entered. Seria was at the lead, and behind her were mages with their faces hidden by deeply pulled-down robes.

Their number was not large, but the atmosphere the mages exuded was unusual.

‘Seria said she would bring mages who could help me, are they them?’

As I was staring at them, Seria, who had come up to me, said.

“You're awake, Your Highness. I apologize for being late.”

“Not at all. I just woke up as well. But… who are they?”

“Yes. These are the mages who will help me and lend their strength to Your Highness's purge.”

Indeed!

“Thank you so much for your help. I will never forget this kindness.”

I shot up from the sofa and said joyfully, unable to hide my smile.

But the reply that came back was quite cold.

The old mage directly behind Seria took off his robe hood and stepped forward, saying.

“No need for thanks, Crown Prince Leonardo. The reason we are siding with you and helping with the purge is not for your ambition, but for the revenge of the Magic Tower.”

“……”

“Let me tell you one more thing, we will leave the capital after the cleanup of the purge is over. Why no answer? Are you displeased?”

Was I displeased?

“No, I am not displeased at all. Whatever the reason, you are helping me.”

I said honestly and offered the old man a handshake.

“I'll be in your care.”

“Hoh… Seria said she would serve you as her lord, so I was curious what kind of fellow you were, but you're a bold one. You're also calm for your age.”

“Thank you—.”

“But you're so skinny and look really weak. I can't believe you're the son of that once-so-great King. Besides, you don't seem to have any talent for magic… I even doubt if you're really the son of that great mage.”

The old man spoke as if he knew the King's past.

‘‘A once-great King,’ what does that mean? And what does ‘the son of that great mage’ mean?’

As I was pondering, the old man added another word as if muttering to himself.

“Well… it seems the elven genetics are still present, though.”

What did that mean again? The old man didn't give a proper explanation and just kept leaving me with questions.

“Well, fine. Now that we've greeted each other, let's get going.”

“Ah… I understand. But may I know who you are, sir? Your name, at least.”

“No need to know.”

The old man answered curtly and, as he left the room, said as if in passing.

“I am ‘Dante’. One of the elders of the Magic Tower.”

…An elder?

***

After that, Seria explained the whole story to me. That she had gathered the elders and persuaded them, and thankfully, all the elders had decided to help with the purge.

It was certainly a joyous thing that all the elders of the Magic Tower had decided to help me, but on the other hand, it was also a pity. Because, as the elder had said earlier, they would leave the royal castle after this purge was over.

‘It would be a great help if the elders of the Magic Tower continued to be on my side in whatever I do in the future… but still, they said they would help with the immediate purge, so I should be satisfied with that for now.’

Putting aside the lingering regret that was hard to shake off, I opened the door on the first floor of the Magic Tower and went outside. Unlike when entering the Magic Tower, I could just open the door normally to leave.

Squeak—.

When I opened the door of the Magic Tower and came out, Elly, whom I had completely forgotten about, was outside with an anxious expression.

“Y-Your Highness!”

“Ah… you've been waiting.”

“Of course I—!”

Speaking in a somewhat agitated voice, Elly composed her emotions and lowered her voice.

“…Was the matter you went in for resolved well? And your meal?”

“Yes, it was resolved better than I thought. I haven't eaten yet.”

“It's so late… let's return quickly. I will prepare a meal as fast as possible.”

I was hungry too, so a meal was welcome. And there was something I needed to check.

‘I've secured the forces to deal with the Mage Corps. So now I need to check how the has changed.’

Thinking that, I replied to Elly.

“I'll return to my room on my own, so Elly, please bring Commander Jereuth.”

“Then I will escort Your Highness to your room and—.”

“I have something to think about alone for a moment, so please do as I say.”

“……”

At my words, Elly hesitated for a moment, then nodded as if she had no choice.

“…I understand, Your Highness. I will do as you say.”

***

The 3rd Knight Order Commander, Jereuth.

In the morning, he had been asked by Leonardo, 「“If the Mage Corps follows the noble factions, can the 3rd Knight Order alone handle all of them?”」

Ever since receiving that question, Jereuth had been concerned about the Mage Corps for some reason. A doubt had arisen that the Mage Corps might indeed follow the noble factions, just as Leonardo had said.

Of course, thinking rationally, it didn't seem likely that the Mage Corps would follow the noble factions. Because mages do not get involved in politics.

However, Jereuth couldn't stop thinking about Leonardo's words, and in the end, Jereuth told his subordinate knight to investigate the Mage Corps. To check if they were showing any disloyal movements.

As a result, Jereuth received a rather shocking report.

“So… the Mage Corps and the Dukes have really made contact?”

At Jereuth's cautious voice, his subordinate knight confirmed once more. He was the Vice-Commander, Hagen.

“That is correct. However, it seems that opinions are divided within the Mage Corps on which duke to follow, so factions have formed.”

“Factions have formed… I see. Good work.”

“Yes!”

Jereuth leaned his head back on the chair's headrest and pondered.

‘The Mage Corps has split into two factions and decided to follow each of the dukes… this is troublesome.’

Of course, it was better than the Mage Corps going under one duke entirely. Still, it was a predicament all the same.

‘The mages are not what I'm afraid of. Even though we don't have mage forces, there are ways to deal with mages. However… if we have to face the knights of the noble factions and the mages of the Mage Corps at once, the damage could be too great.’

As his worries deepened, Jereuth suddenly had another thought.

‘Wait… could it be that His Highness Leonardo foresaw that the Mage Corps would follow the nobles and asked me in the morning if I could handle the mages?’

If that was the case, Leonardo's predictive ability was truly remarkable. Because he had foreseen that the mages, who do not involve themselves in politics, would follow the nobles.

—Just as Jereuth was thinking that.

Flutter—!

A crow flew to the window and sat down.

And the crow spoke.

「“It's been a while, Jereuth.”」

‘This voice?’

“Is that you, Magic Tower Master Seria?”

At the visit from an unexpected person, Jereuth asked with some surprise, and a woman's laughing voice flowed through the crow.

「“Ho ho… you haven't forgotten my voice, I see. But I am no longer the Magic Tower Master.”」

“No longer the Magic Tower Master, what does that mean?”

「“Before I say that, is the knight with you there trustworthy?”」

When the crow pointed at the subordinate knight with its wing and asked, Jereuth nodded.

“This is Vice-Commander Hagen. He can be trusted. You should know who he is, right?”

「“Ah, I remember now. One of the knights who charged with you in the war against the demons.”」

At Seria remembering him, Hagen showed his respect with a silent bow. Although she was a mage, Seria had achieved great merit on the battlefield, so the knights respected her in their own way.

Seria— the crow raised its right wing to accept the greeting and continued.

「“Alright, then I shall tell you. A little while ago, His Highness Leonardo visited the Magic Tower.”」

“His Highness at the Magic Tower? For what reason?”

「“It would be a long story to explain everything, but to summarize, His Highness asked me to deal with the Mage Corps when he purges the nobles.”」

“…!”

At Seria's words, Jereuth's eyes widened.

‘…His Highness asked her to deal with the Mage Corps? Then did His Highness really anticipate from the beginning that the Mage Corps would follow the noble factions? So he went to the Magic Tower in advance to ask for help?’

Jereuth calmed his surprised heart and asked calmly.

“I'll ask again. His Highness personally asked you to deal with the Mage Corps during the purge?”

「“Yes. And I have decided to follow His Highness.”」

“…You decided to follow His Highness?”

「“Yes.”」

Jereuth couldn't believe it. From Leonardo predicting that the Mage Corps would follow the noble factions, to persuading the Magic Tower Master and bringing her to his side, all of it.

‘I'm so curious how it all happened… but it would be better to ask His Highness about that later.’

In any case, for Jereuth, it was as if he had gained a mighty army.

“So, what is the reason you came to see me?”

「“My lord has ordered me to discuss the purge plan with you. That is why I have come.”」

“You call His Highness ‘my lord’, have you decided to follow him to that extent?”

「“Yes.”」

“I see. Alright, then let's get straight to the point. Time is not on our side.”

「“Let's do that.”」

At Jereuth's words, the crow nodded its head and continued its reply.

「“In my opinion, it would be good if we can separate the noble faction's mages and knights on the day of the purge. Then the mages of the Mage Corps can be handled by our Magic Tower's mages, and the knights can be handled by you.”」

“Separate the mages and knights and have each of us handle them… that's good. But Seria, can you definitely handle the Mage Corps?”

「“Are you underestimating my skills?”」

“I am not underestimating you. I'm just making sure. This is no ordinary matter.”

「“You don't need to worry about the mages' side. The elders of the Magic Tower will also be dealing with the mages with me.”」

“...The elders, you mean ‘those’ elders?”

The elders of the Magic Tower.

They were old men who had been reluctant to leave the Magic Tower even during the war against the demons. Although they eventually came out when the whole of humanity joined the war.

But to hear that those old men would come out of the Magic Tower to help with the purge, Jereuth couldn't help but be surprised again.

「“Yes, ‘those’ elders. So you don't have to worry about the Mage Corps.”」

“I understand. I will trust you. With you and the elders, the Mage Corps should be an easy opponent.”

「“Of course.”」

The crow that had been speaking while sitting on the windowsill came all the way into the room. Then it pecked at a hardtack biscuit that was on a corner of Jereuth's desk.

Watching the crow blankly, Jereuth thought calmly.

‘His Highness is setting up his plans step by step as if he knows everything. What could he be doing now?’

Just as Jereuth was thinking, a knock was heard from outside the door, along with the voice of the guard.

—Knock knock. —Commander, the Crown Prince's maid has come to see you.

‘The prince's maid… is she the maid whose name His Highness called?’

“Let her in.”

At Jereuth's permission, the door opened immediately, and the maid entered. It was Elly, Leonardo's personal maid whom he had been seeing often recently.

“What is it?”

“!”

Asked before she even fully entered the room, Elly was slightly startled. As an ordinary maid, a magnate like Jereuth was quite uncomfortable for her.

Especially after being scolded by Jereuth before.

Still, since she had orders from Leonardo, Elly forced herself to muster up the courage and said.

“Um… His Highness has asked me to bring you, Commander. He says he has something important to discuss.”

“He has summoned me? Hmm, I also had much to report, so this is good.”

Jereuth nodded and stood up from his seat.

‘I wonder what new design His Highness, who predicted the Mage Corps would follow the nobles and recruited the Magic Tower in advance, has prepared.’