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

Chapter 53

With a small breath, I spoke towards the door.

“Yes, come in.”

As soon as I spoke, the door opened. Elly entered the room, leading Seria and the elders of the Mage Tower.

The expressions of Seria and the elders who entered the room were quite bright. When I first saw them at the Mage Tower, they all had shadows cast over their faces.

‘Did their faces brighten up after getting their revenge on the Mage Corps so thoroughly?’

It was a good thing for them, but not so good for me. Seeing their bright expressions, I felt they no longer had any lingering attachment to this kingdom. Especially on the faces of the elders.

Their expressions were like… it might be impolite to say this, but they looked like ‘old men who have achieved everything’.

‘Seria decided to become my vassal, so she'll stay. Seria was still there in the too.’

But I couldn't be satisfied with just Seria. I wanted to have the elders of the Mage Tower, and furthermore, all the mages still remaining in the Mage Tower, on my side.

Seria greeted me politely and spoke.

“It's been a while, Your Highness. It seems a lot has happened.”

“Yes, Lady Seria. It has been a while.”

“You don't have to use honorifics. I am your vassal.”

“Still, you were the former Mage Tower Master, so I should show you the proper courtesy. By the way, is your daughter's treatment going well?”

“Daughter? ……Ah.”

Seria trailed off awkwardly, then nodded her head.

“Yes, thanks to the Mithril Powder you gave me, she has almost fully recovered. Thank you once again.”

“I'm glad to hear that.”

As such light greetings were exchanged.

One of the elders stepped forward and spoke.

“Crown Prince Leonardo. Seria has already said it, but I, as the representative of our elders, will also express our gratitude to you. You are our benefactor. Not only did you help with our revenge, but you also provided the Mage Tower with that precious Mithril Powder, which must have been a meaningful memento of your mother.”

The elder expressed his gratitude, but I didn't hear his words clearly. My mind was focused on the old man introducing himself as the ‘representative of the elders’.

‘If he's the representative of the elders, does persuading him mean the other elders will also stay?’

“Not at all. Rather, I am the one who is grateful. It was thanks to the elders' help that I was able to eliminate the Kingdom Mage Corps and carry out the Purge successfully.”

“You are quite humble for one so young.”

The representative elder gave a faint smile, as if looking at a grandson.

“The reason we came here is, as we said before, to bid farewell before leaving the royal castle—.”

Before the elder could finish his words about leaving the kingdom, I said what I had prepared in advance.

“You're leaving as promised?”

“Hmph. That's right. We have no more business in this royal castle or kingdom. Having left the Mage Tower, we can't go back in either.”

“I see. But before that, could we at least introduce ourselves? It would be too regrettable if I didn't even know the names of those who helped me so much.”

I spoke in a way that maintained the dignity of a ‘Crown Prince’ while not offending the elders. They seemed pleased that I was showing them respect, and the elders began to state their names one by one.

“You are a child who shows considerable courtesy to mages. Unlike the King. Good, then let's introduce ourselves in order of the young ones first.”

―With the representative elder's words, the self-introductions began. The representative said to introduce themselves from the ‘young ones’ first, but from my perspective, they all looked like the same old men.

“I am Stidal.”

“Alan.”

“Chomsky.”

“Daonardo.”

“Berners.”

“I am—.”

After all the elders had introduced themselves, finally, the ‘representative elder’ introduced himself.

“I am Benjamin. Because I'm the oldest, I'm stuck with the bothersome position of representative elder. Though it's a position that will become meaningless now.”

Benjamin. That old man was the mage specializing in communication magic mentioned in the . The person the future me had let go and greatly regretted.

‘Like the other elders, I absolutely cannot let Benjamin go.’

I once again organized the words I had prepared and slowly opened my mouth.

“Sir Benjamin?”

“Do you know me?”

“I know of you, if you are the Sir Benjamin who made this magic caller.”

“Magic caller?”

Benjamin's eyes sparkled as he showed interest in my words.

Feeling like he had taken the bait I cast, I seized the moment and showed Benjamin the magic caller I had.

The caller I use to summon Elly.

“Yes. This is it.”

“Hoh! It's surprising that it still remains. Yes, that is indeed the first caller I made. But how do you know I made that?”

“……”

I was at a loss for words for a moment. I hadn't expected him to ask such a question.

I didn't have enough time to prepare for the ‘elder persuasion interview’.

“I read it…… in a book.”

I just said whatever came to mind first.

“A book? Does His Highness the Crown Prince also read books about magic?”

Benjamin's tone had become considerably gentler. If he spoke informally before, he was now using semi-formal language.

Benjamin speaking amicably was definitely a good change for me. But I was in no state of mind to rejoice over it.

‘I've already said I read it in a book, so I can't take it back. What books about magic have I read so far?’

I tried to recall the books I had read while holed up in the library. I had really read books of all kinds and fields.

Because back then, I had a lot of time and nothing to do.

‘I'm sure I've read a few books about magic. Because magic, which didn't exist on Earth, was interesting.’

But I couldn't just name any book. It had to be a book that mentioned Benjamin made the caller. Or a book where Benjamin was mentioned.

‘Think, think, think…… ah!’

I remembered. There was exactly one book that mentioned the magic caller. It was a book called .

‘It was a book I gave up on reading because I couldn't understand it and it was too boring.

But the book cover was made of soft leather, so I often used it as a pillow. The height was just right too.’

That's right. Unlike other books, I remembered the book because I had used it effectively as a ‘pillow’.

That was the trivial reason I remembered that book.

While I was thinking for a moment, Benjamin asked again.

“What book did you read? Do you remember the title?”

“Yes. It was a book called .”

“? Hey, Daonardo. His Highness says he read the book you wrote.”

Benjamin chuckled and said to the elder standing next to him—Daonardo. He had been the elder who looked at me with the most indifference until now, but even such an old man couldn't hide his smile. Perhaps having someone read a book you wrote is a great source of emotion for an author.

Daonardo cleared his throat and asked me.

“Hmph, hmph! It must have been a rather difficult book for someone of Your Highness's age to read, so it's amazing that you read it. When did you read it?”

“I read it when I often stayed in the library before the Purge.”

“I see. Nowadays, even the brats who brag about learning magic don't try to study the history of magic, but for a non-mage like Your Highness to have read that book, you must have quite an interest in magic?”

I had hoped for such a question.

It was the flow of conversation I had intended to lead.

“Yes, that's right. I am very interested in magic. I couldn't study it deeply without a teacher, but I tried to build some general knowledge. I thought I should have at least some basic knowledge to converse with important people like mages.”

As I said I was interested in magic, the atmosphere among the elders became even more gentle.

Daonardo asks again, as if intrigued.

“That ‘magic caller’ that Benjamin made. How does Your Highness use it?”

“I use it to call my personal maid, Elly.”

“Mm-hm, I see. That's usually how it's used. But the magic caller wasn't originally made for that purpose. That fellow Benjamin told me not to write it in the book, so I didn't, but the original purpose of that magic caller was—.”

“Will you be quiet?!”

Benjamin suddenly cut in, but Daonardo ignored him and said what he had to say.

“―Originally, that magic caller was made for Benjamin to send a signal to the woman he loved, telling her he missed her. But that woman married another man, so Benjamin entered the Mage Tower. For your reference, the woman is someone His Highness the Crown Prince knows well, none other than Victo—.”

“I told you to be quiet, didn't I?!”

The old man, Benjamin, shouted, his face turning beet red. Then he whipped his head around to me and hurriedly said.

“Hmph! Well, anyway, we've seen Your Highness's face, so we'll be on our way now. We probably won't see each other again, but it would be good to remember this as a pleasant acquaintance—.”

“Just a moment, Sir Benjamin.”

I cut into Benjamin's words again this time.

“There was something I absolutely had to ask the person who made the magic caller. And something I wanted to request.”

“Something to ask me? And something to request?”

“Yes. First, what I'd like to request is if I could possibly get several of these callers? I want to give them out to several of my vassals. So I can call them quickly whenever I need them.”

“Hoh.”

Benjamin quickly cooled his reddened face and answered.

“You intend to actively use magical tools? I thought nobles and royals believed it was more reliable and efficient to summon people rather than use magical tools.”

The royalty and nobility had the perception that summoning people was better than using magical tools… I don't know why such a perception exists. In my view, using magical tools is much better.

Because people can betray or make mistakes, but technology does not betray or make mistakes.

“I don't think so. As someone who has used the magic caller myself, I think it is a very convenient and good magical tool.”

“Is that so? His Highness the Crown Prince is quite a unique person. Most people tend to think of magic as a dangerous weapon used in war, for killing people. ……Unfortunately, that is.”

Benjamin spoke happily at first, but his tone became somber towards the end.

“……That's not why we research magic.”

Hearing those words, something I had vaguely heard before came to mind, and I immediately replied.

It wasn't something I had prepared in advance, but it seemed appropriate for the current situation.

“I think that's true for all technology, not just magic. The more advanced a technology is, the more it is first used for war, but then it is used to enrich people's lives. Things like saddles and stirrups for riding horses were first made to make it easier to fight on horseback. But now they are things used by everyone to ride horses safely, aren't they?”

“Hoh hoh…….”

Benjamin made a strange sound and flared his nostrils. I thought he was a single-minded mage who only stayed cooped up in his chamber researching, but seeing such a reaction, perhaps he was a purer-hearted person than I thought.

‘Is that why he gave the magic caller, the culmination of his magic, as a gift to the person he loved? But what did he mean that the woman Benjamin loved was someone I also knew?’

D-deuk―.

While I was thinking, Benjamin pulled up a random chair and sat down in front of me.

I hadn't noticed because I was focused on my conversation with Benjamin, but most of the elders were already seated and listening intently to our conversation.

For people who were saying they would leave today to be sitting down, they must be showing considerable interest in me.

Among them, Daonardo's interest was particularly great. He sent me a heated gaze, to the point of being a little burdensome.

“I didn't expect to have such an interesting conversation with Your Highness, this is unexpected. If I had known you were someone so interested in magic, I would have finished my revenge quickly and come sooner.”

“You praise me too much.”

“Good. I'll make you several magic callers before I leave. Ones with a wider communication range and better durability than the one you have now.”

Benjamin said cheerfully and then continued to ask.

“So, the request you had for me was to make several magic callers. What was it you wanted to ask me? Is there something you're curious about regarding magic?”

The key question came.

Depending on how I answer this question, the elders will either stay in the kingdom or leave.

I organized my thoughts for a moment and then answered Benjamin.

“I was going to ask if you had any intention of staying in this kingdom to research magic.”

“……Stay in the royal castle and research magic?”

“Yes. I know you've decided to leave the kingdom since your revenge on the Kingdom Mage Corps is over and you can't return to the Mage Tower. But I don't want to let you elders go so emptily like this.”

“……”

“Of course, I will do my best to support you with everything needed for magic research. The kingdom doesn't have much yet, so the support might not be satisfactory, but as the kingdom normalizes, I will provide a large budget. I promise you won't regret trusting me.”

“Eumm……”

Benjamin let out a troubled groan. He seemed conflicted about being asked to stay when he had already decided to leave.

It seemed this wasn't enough to change the elders' minds.

“If it's magic research, what kind of research exactly are you asking us to do?”

Daonardo joined the conversation. Unlike when he was teasing Benjamin, Daonardo's voice was very serious. To the point where his earlier voice seemed like an act.

A sudden, unexpected question.

It felt like a real ‘interview’.

‘What kind of research should I ask them to do so that the elders will stay?’

I reviewed the conversation I had with the elders so far.

‘Benjamin said earlier. The reason they research magic is not to kill people. And he seemed quite sad that the perception of magic being used only for war was widespread.’

In that case, it seemed I should talk about asking for the opposite kind of research. The kind of research into magic needed for things other than war.

“Please research magic that helps people's lives, not magic used for war.”

“Research that helps people's lives?”

“Yes. For example…… didn't you say earlier, Sir Benjamin, that you made the magic caller because you wanted to send a signal of 'I miss you' to the person you loved?”

“Hmph, I did.”

“Please research magic that goes further than that. Not just a caller that vibrates, but magic that can transmit voices.”

“Magic that transmits voices in real-time?”

“Yes. Then you'll be able to hear the voice of a loved one who is far away and see their face. If that's possible, I would also like you to research magic that allows you to talk while seeing their face.”

“Hmm…… it seems Your Highness wants long-distance communication beyond 'mind-sharing' through a familiar. Transmitting words through a familiar is limited to 2-3 km. Right, Seria?”

When Benjamin asked, Seria, who had been listening quietly from the side, nodded her head.

“Yes. If you connect the minds of several crows, it's possible up to 4 km. But sharing vision is limited to 3 km.”

I don't know exactly what ‘mind-sharing through a familiar’ is. It probably referred to something like how Seria speaks through her crow.

Benjamin was silent for a moment before asking me in a serious voice.

“Hmm…… why are you asking for such magic research? How does that help you, the Crown Prince? You're not really just doing it so lovers who are far apart can talk to each other, are you?”

“……”

“I think you are a very meticulous person. Your older brothers were too, but you are no less formidable. There must be another reason why someone like you is asking for research on ‘magic that transmits voices’. I'm curious about that reason.”

As expected, he was sharp. He wasn't an elder for nothing.

‘How should I answer?’

After some thought, I decided to answer honestly.

Sometimes, a frank and plain statement is better than a fancily packaged one, and I felt this was one of those times.

***

Crown Prince Leonardo answered Benjamin with a question.

“Do you want an honest answer?”

“Of course.”

“Then I will tell you. I intend to use communication magic, which allows real-time conversation even from afar, for the governance of the kingdom.”

“Use communication magic… for governance?”

“Yes. I don't know what you elders may think, but I am trying tirelessly to lead this kingdom well. For that, I believe a fast and accurate ‘communication system’ is very important. A ‘communication system’ where my orders are delivered directly to every corner of the kingdom, and where problems that arise in each local territory can be reported directly to me.”

“……”

“But right now, it takes too long to send my orders to each local territory. A soldier has to deliver my letter on horseback. In the meantime, the situation can change, and in the worst case, it might be too late to respond. Or my message might not arrive at all. I intend to prevent such misfortunes with the power of communication magic.”

“……!”

Benjamin's eyes widened slightly. Then he returned to his usual expression, but his voice was slightly excited.

“……I've seen many royals and nobles who wanted to use powerful mages for military purposes. There were also many who wanted to use them to threaten the populace. But you're the first one who wants to use magic in such a way.”

He said in a passing voice, then continued to speak to Leonardo.

“Using magic for governance……. How novel. If, as you say, I create an absurd magic like ‘magic that transmits voices in real-time’, it would be a great help to you.”

“Yes. But it will be a help not only to me but to many people.”

“Because loved ones can talk to each other even from far away? So they won't get their hearts broken like me?”

“There's that, but there's a more fundamental reason.”

“A fundamental reason?”

To the questioning Benjamin, Leonardo looked him straight in the eye and answered.

“I will make this kingdom, which my father ruined, strong and prosperous. I will make it a kingdom where the people are safe, warm, and well-fed.”

“……I think you just insulted your father? You hold the real power, but he is still the king.”

“It doesn't matter. It's the truth. I, too, will accept it if someone criticizes me truthfully. I am not a coward who gets upset when someone insults me.”

“……”

“Anyway, the faster I make this kingdom strong and prosperous, the less time the people will starve. Conversely, their lives will become more affluent. Therefore, I need the help of you and the other elders.”

“For the research of magic necessary for governance?”

“That's right. Not just in communication magic, but in other fields as well.”

“Hmm……”

“So, elders, please help me. So that I can rule this kingdom faster and better.”

Benjamin was impressed by Leonardo's voice, which contained not a shred of falsehood.

‘To be so interested in magic and to want to rule the kingdom properly for the sake of the people. When I heard he purged the nobles and killed all their cronies like thugs and wicked merchants, I thought he was a tyrant mad with revenge, but was that not the case? ……He didn't have such spirit a few months ago, I wonder what changed.’

And one more thing.

‘Magic that transmits voices in real-time. Honestly, I want to research it too. If I create such magic, I think I'd feel like I'm flying.’

Benjamin had researched and loved magic his whole life.

To such a Benjamin, ‘voice transmission magic’ sparked a tremendous desire to take on the challenge.

While Benjamin was thinking to himself that he wanted to stay in the royal castle.

One of the elders behind him spoke.

“Hey, Benjamin. Why are you playing so hard to get?”

“What? Hard to get?”

“Yes, hard to get. You're dying to research the magic His Highness the Crown Prince just mentioned, aren't you?”

“……No, I'm not. I'm not interested.”

“Even I, who doesn't know much about communication magic, got excited when I heard about ‘magic that transmits voices’, and you're saying you're not interested? You should lie to someone who'll believe it.”

“……”

“Don't you know it's unseemly for an old man to play hard to get? Did your age go to your ass?”

“What did you say?!”

Regardless of whether Benjamin got angry, the elder who provoked him approached Leonardo and spoke.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I greeted you earlier, but let me greet you again. I am Stidal.”

“Yes, Sir Stidal.”

“Drop the honorifics. It's cringey.”

“……”

“Anyway, my specialized field of magic is ‘golem manufacturing’. It's still at a basic level compared to other fields of magic and is rudimentary compared to the demons' golems, but if you need help, just say the word.”

“Ah…… yes! Then does that mean you will be staying in the royal castle, Sir Stidal?”

“Not just me, all those old geezers playing hard to get over there will probably stay. There's no reason not to stay in a royal castle where the Crown Prince, who respects magic not as a simple weapon but as a technology itself, reigns. Even the Magic Emperor of the Ulgoun Empire, called the 'Magical Kingdom' because the best mages are gathered there, probably doesn't respect magic like you do.”

As Stidal spoke, the elders smiled and nodded. Like Stidal said, they all felt a great liking for Leonardo, who ‘respected magic’.

―Mm-hm, not bad.

―The young Crown Prince knows a thing or two. That magic is a beautiful thing.

―Aren't you embarrassed to say that when you only research explosion magic?

―Explosions are beautiful! Don't you still know that ‘Art is an Explosion’?!

―That damned ‘Art is an Explosion’. What's so good about something that shines brightly for a moment and is so fleeting?

―Then what is the art-like magic you speak of, Dante?!

―There is only one. To make healthy the most beautiful creation of God, ‘life’. To thereby allow life to shine beautifully for a long time, that is art. That is the greatest magic.

―What?! The greatest magic? A magic like that can piss off to holy magic!!

―'A magic like that'?! You want to go at it?!

As the elders talked amongst themselves, their voices grew louder.

Leonardo was flustered by the sight of the elders, but Benjamin and the other elders seemed used to it.

After watching the elders chatter as they pleased, Benjamin tried to maintain his dignity and spoke.

“Well…… since it seems everyone has decided to stay, I shall stay as well. It's not polite to ignore His Highness the Crown Prince when he asks so earnestly. Hmph!”

As Benjamin spoke, trying hard to save his pride in the warm atmosphere, Stidal snorted again.

“To cling to that useless pride until the end, looks like your age really did go to your ass. If you just nodded your head gravely without saying anything, you'd at least be average.”

―Let him be. That's just how Benjamin is.

―I still remember. The way he acted all cool as he came into the Mage Tower after being dumped by that elf.

―Hehehe. It was quite a sight. And then he came into the Mage Tower and cried his eyes out, and the elf—.

“Will you be quiet?!”

The elders, on the outside, seemed like ill-tempered old men bundled up in pride, but in reality, they were people who loved magic more purely than anyone else.

That was why they decided to help the Crown Prince who respected magic.

Watching this, Leonardo let out a sigh of relief internally.

‘……What a relief. The elders are staying.’

While Leonardo was feeling such relief, the elder named ‘Dante’ asked him a question.

“But Crown Prince Leonardo. Are you, by any chance, sick or anything? Do you feel a tightening in your head, or like your eyes are about to burst from high pressure?”

“……?”

Tilting his head, Leonardo answered in an unconfident voice.

“I do feel that way sometimes…… but it seems about the same as usual.”

“Same as usual. I see.”

After answering in a strange voice, Dante stepped back. Leonardo was a little puzzled by this, but more important than that was the fact that the elders were staying.

‘Another future has changed. And all preparations are in place.’

All preparations for the ‘Kingdom Reconstruction’.