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

Chapter 55

Rebellion. To rise up in insurrection against a ruler.

That is its dictionary definition.

The states that the ‘Lous’ family is attempting to do just that, which is the most loathsome and infuriating thing to me.

And they're aiming for the gap when the 3rd Knight Order leaves the capital for the ‘war on crime’ in other cities and territories.

Seizing power through a purge suddenly grants immense strength. But in reality, that power is very unstable.

—I think I saw that in a documentary about dictators and tyrants.

Perhaps I was in that exact situation. My power was strong, and so I could do whatever I wanted, but beneath the surface, ‘enemies’ aiming for my power were after my neck… wait?

‘But isn't the Lous family the one Seria recommended to me in the ?’

I vaguely remembered. In the future where the elders left, I think Seria had said to use them if I was truly short on mages.

Sharak―!

At the strange thought that suddenly occurred to me, I immediately opened the . I was trying to confirm what I had read before.

‘If the future Seria recommended the Lous family to me… this is not a problem to be taken lightly.’

Recommending the rebellious Lous family to me.

That could practically be seen as participating in the rebellion.

First, I decided to check the previous content of the .

……

“Your Highness, if you truly need mages, it might be a good idea to bring the ‘Lous family’ to your side. The mages of the Lous family are not exceptionally skilled, but they are a traditional mage family, after all.”

My memory was correct. The Seria in the had recommended the Lous family to me.

Of course, this was an event from 'another future' that didn't actually happen to me.

But it was still a seriously grave problem.

My head suddenly throbbed as worries flooded in.

‘……What was the reason future Seria recommended the Lous family? Why on earth that rebellious family?’

Two main reasons immediately came to mind.

First, Seria knew nothing about the Lous family's rebellion. She was simply trying to recommend some useful mages to me.

And the second was…….

‘Turns out Seria was my enemy. So, to help the Lous family's rebellion, she recommended them to me to keep them close.’

If it was the first reason, there was no problem. Seria had no involvement in the rebellion.

But if it was the second reason, the problem was serious. It meant Seria was betraying me.

That thought crossed my mind for a moment, but another thought also occurred to me.

‘Hmm…… but I don't think Seria would betray me.’

I don't think Seria would stab me in the back. As shown in the ending of the , Seria was a vassal who protected me until I died, defeated in the war against the bandits.

In other words, Seria was a loyal person who protected me even when I was at my weakest.

‘Also, if Seria had intended to kill me and start a rebellion, she would have done it long ago. I don't know what level of mage she is, but since Jereuth said she was amazing, killing me alone would have been no trouble for her.’

As such, I did not suspect Seria.

That being said—.

‘Still…… I should confirm what needs to be confirmed.’

The power I held was strong but at the same time very precarious. That's why I had to thoroughly check anything that had the potential to become a seed of trouble.

Ting-a-ling―.

I rang the ‘Magic Calling Bell’ to summon Elly.

As soon as I rang the bell, Elly opened the door and came in.

“You called, Your Highness?”

“Yes. Please call Commander Jereuth.”

“I understand, Your Highness.”

Since I hadn't gotten more magic callers from Benjamin yet, Elly had to go through the trouble of summoning people for a while.

Once I get more magic callers, I'll be able to summon Jereuth or Heinshtangl directly.

I called Jereuth for two reasons. One was to confirm Seria's loyalty, and the other was for ‘internal house-cleaning’ before the full-scale kingdom reconstruction began.

That ‘internal house-cleaning’ meant dealing with the Lous family, who were planning a rebellion.

‘Perhaps many people will die again. I was hoping I wouldn't have to get more blood on my hands, but… if it's necessary, I must do it. I can't die by sparing a guy who's trying to strike me first.’

To think so calmly about killing someone.

Without realizing it, I was becoming numb to the things I had to do as a ‘ruler’.

Such a me was here.

For some reason, I felt like I was not myself.

***

At Leonardo's summons, Jereuth came to his room and greeted him.

“Your Highness, you called for me?”

“Yes. There's something I'd like to ask of you.”

Jereuth took Leonardo's ‘request’ as an ‘order’. Therefore, Jereuth focused even more on Leonardo's words. It wasn't often that Leonardo used the word ‘request’.

‘Is there something he wants to order regarding the market reconstruction or the large farm construction? Or is it a matter concerning the new recruits?’

He had such thoughts, but the words that came from Leonardo's mouth went beyond Jereuth's imagination.

“There is a family planning a rebellion.”

“……Rebellion?”

“Yes. A family called ‘Lous’. A mage family.”

Leonardo's voice was so calm as he spoke of ‘rebellion’. That, in turn, flustered Jereuth.

‘The Lous family is planning a rebellion……? How did His Highness know that? No, more than that, why is he so calm?’

A rebellion was no ordinary matter. Leonardo couldn't be unaware of that, yet he was so serene.

While Jereuth was wondering and flustered, Leonardo continued to speak.

“The Lous family will rebel when you and the 3rd Knight Order are away from the capital. When you're away from the capital for the ‘war on crime’ in other cities and territories, when my power in the capital is at its weakest.”

“When the 3rd Knight Order goes to other cities and territories…… that would be after the basic training of the soon-to-be-recruited soldiers is finished.”

“That's right.”

Jereuth was still curious as to how Leonardo was so certain that the Lous family would rebel.

‘But there must be a basis for His Highness's certainty.’

“Then I will immediately lead the knights and raid the Lous family estate. To dare plot a rebellion…… there will be no mercy.”

Jereuth said he would immediately lead the knights and purge the Lous family. But Leonardo added something unexpected.

“Commander. Before that, we should also investigate Lady Seria.”

“Investigate Seria… d-don't tell me she is also involved in the rebellion?”

“No, that's not it. The Lous family's rebellion is certain, but Lady Seria's involvement is not. Let me make it clear first, I am not suspecting Lady Seria. I am merely concerned. I will say it again. I am just ‘concerned’.”

“If it's not certain, are you saying Seria might be involved in the rebellion?”

“Yes. It seems Lady Seria has a personal acquaintance with the Lous family.”

“Ah…… Yes, I understand.”

Jereuth answered calmly, but his mind was in turmoil.

‘If Seria joined hands with the Lous family and is planning a rebellion… that's a huge problem. If Seria decides to run rampant in the capital, the damage will not be minimal.’

While Jereuth was silently thinking, Leonardo spoke.

“What I want to ask of you, Commander, is to first subtly sound out Lady Seria and find out her relationship with the Lous family.”

“You mean to find out whether or not Seria is involved in the rebellion.”

“That's right.”

“May I use any means necessary?”

To use any means necessary.

At Jereuth's frightening words, Leonardo flinched and shook his head.

“……I would prefer if you used peaceful methods as much as possible. It wouldn't be good to have too much commotion at a time when I'm just about to implement my policies.”

“I understand, Your Highness. I will do so. I would like to ask one more thing, if Seria is determined to have joined hands with the Lous family in rebellion, how should I deal with that witch?”

“……”

Leonardo stared into the empty air for a moment, thinking. Then he let out a deep sigh through his nose and answered.

Hoo―.

“For now, do nothing and just report back to me.”

“……Are you saying to do nothing?”

“Yes. As I've said repeatedly, I do not suspect Lady Seria. But if, by any chance, Lady Seria is involved in the rebellion…… there must be a reason, so I want to ask. Why she tried to oppose me.”

Jereuth was momentarily speechless. He couldn't understand wanting to ask for the reason before executing her, even if Seria was involved in the rebellion.

From Jereuth's perspective, anyone who tried to oppose Leonardo was an enemy to be cut down.

But that too was Leonardo's request— ‘order’, so Jereuth decided to follow.

“I understand. Then I will go and interrogate Seria right now.”

“You don't have to go as far as an interrogation. Just ask her naturally. Naturally.”

“Yes.”

Jereuth answered firmly, then turned and left the room. Until then, his demeanor was calm and ordinary. He acted naturally, just as Leonardo had told him to.

But the moment he left Leonardo's room.

“………….”

Jereuth's expression became a cold, emotionless mask.

‘His Highness said he doesn't think Seria is involved in the rebellion. But His Highness is not one to suspect without reason. Therefore, Seria must be involved with the Lous family.’

While thinking such heavy thoughts, another thought occurred to Jereuth.

‘……Or not? Since His Highness said he thinks Seria isn't involved in the rebellion, isn't it more likely that she isn't involved?’

In fact, Jereuth also didn't think Seria would be involved in a rebellion. From what he had felt when talking with Seria so far, she held considerable favor and loyalty towards Leonardo.

Seria's favor and loyalty towards Leonardo were surely due to Leonardo's abilities and the grace he had shown her.

The grace of giving her the precious Mithril Powder—a memento of the queen—to treat her daughter, Helena, and the ability to let her have revenge on the Kingdom Mage Corps.

‘Actually, Helena is Seria's sister, not her daughter. That's not important, but anyway, as His Highness said, there is always a 'just in case'. So if, by any chance, Seria tries to repay His Highness's grace with enmity…… you too, Seria, will not be able to escape my sword.’

Jereuth quickened his heavy footsteps.

He was heading to Seria's residence.

***

Seria's room in the royal castle.

Seria was having a quiet teatime with Helena.

Across from Seria sat Helena, known as her daughter—but actually her sister, also drinking tea. It had been a long time since the two sisters sat facing each other, drinking tea.

That quiet time was precious to the sisters. Neither said much, but they both knew how precious they were to each other.

Click―.

Without any particular conversation, only the sound of sipping tea and placing teacups on the table could be heard. It wasn't that they weren't on good terms and had no conversation.

It was just that both Seria and Helena, for some reason, wanted to have a quiet teatime.

They were also a bit tired from having a heated discussion about magic just a moment ago.

It was then.

Thump, thump―!

A knocking sound, disturbing the cozy and quiet teatime, was heard. It was closer to the sound of someone trying to break down the door than a knock.

Her sister, Helena, asked Seria with a peculiar light in her eyes.

“Were you expecting someone?”

“No, not really. Is one of the elders here?”

Seria shook her head, stood up from her seat, and headed towards the door. And when she opened the door—.

“Jereuth?”

Outside the door stood Jereuth with a rather stern expression. Behind him were fully armed knights.

“What brings you here, Commander? Aren't you busy with the new recruitments?”

“I'm here to talk about something important.”

“Something important……?”

Sensing Jereuth's unusual atmosphere, Seria subtly turned her head and said to Helena.

“Helena, could you excuse us for a moment?”

“Ah…… Yes!”

Helena also noticed the unusual atmosphere and stood up from her seat without another word.

“Then, if you'll excuse me, Commander Jereuth!”

“……”

To Helena, who was greeting him as she left the room, Jereuth simply nodded in response.

It had been a while since they had seen each other, so he could have offered a light greeting, but given the situation, Jereuth said nothing.

As Helena closed the door and left, Seria was about to guide Jereuth to the table.

“First, let's sit and talk—.”

Jereuth's action was faster than Seria's words inviting him to sit.

Jereuth placed his hand on his sword and asked Seria. Without hiding his killing intent, he openly showed his will to draw his sword and cut Seria down if her answer was not what he wanted.

“I'll be direct. Seria, what is your relationship with the Lous family?”

“The Lous family? Why suddenly put your hand on your sword—.”

“Just answer my question. What is your relationship with the Lous family?”

Seria was speechless for a moment, then answered cautiously, but clearly and confidently.

“I don't know why you suddenly came here and asked about my relationship with the Lous family, but I have had no direct interactions with the Lous family. I just have a basic acquaintance as a fellow mage.”

“So you did have an acquaintance. With that ‘Lous family’.”

“……I didn't say I had an acquaintance with the Lous family. It was just that we knew each other's faces as mages. You also exchanged greetings with the knights of the 1st and 2nd Knight Orders that you purged, didn't you?”

“I never exchanged greetings with those bastards. Not since I returned from the war with the demons. Not just the 1st and 2nd Knight Orders, but when the nobles invited me to parties, when they offered their daughters to me, when the noble ladies tried to seduce me, I didn't even look at them.”

“……Come to think of it, you did. More importantly, why are you asking about the Lous family?”

Seria had already realized that Jereuth had come to her for a ‘bad reason’.

After a moment of silence, Jereuth spoke in a grave voice.

“His Highness said that the Lous family will stage a rebellion.”

“……The Lous family, a rebellion? That family shouldn't have the power to stage a rebellion, though?”

“Are you questioning His Highness's words right now? Or are you trying to reassure me that they won't rebel?”

At Jereuth's cold words, Seria realized she had misspoken.

‘……Ah, Jereuth suspects that I'm involved in the Lous family's rebellion. Th-Then, could it be that His Highness also suspects me?’

Seria was worried, but fortunately, that was not the case.

“Let me make it clear first, His Highness said he does not think you are in league with the Lous family. He was merely ‘concerned’ about you.”

“Then that's a relief—.”

“But I suspect you. Because of what you just said.”

“……What did I say?”

“You confessed to having an acquaintance with the mages of the rebellious Lous family. Furthermore, you tried to reassure me that they wouldn't rebel by saying the Lous family doesn't have the power to do so.”

“I said it was an acquaintance, but I meant it as an acquaintance between fellow mages! And saying the Lous family doesn't have the power to rebel wasn't to reassure you! In fact, you should know better than I that they don't have the power to rebel—!”

Seria tried to defend herself vehemently, but Jereuth cut her off.

“In any case, the Lous family is His Highness's enemy. And you are acquainted with members of that family. And His Highness is ‘concerned’ about you. Those are the only facts.”

“……”

“Those facts alone are enough grounds for me to cut you down. Nothing personal.”

Jereuth spoke calmly, but the grip on his sword hilt was gradually tightening. Seria noticed it too.

It was a touch-and-go situation.

‘……If I say or do the wrong thing, Jereuth will draw his sword immediately. In this situation, the best thing to do seems to be to escape first and prove my innocence to His Highness… Should I escape first? And then find evidence that I'm not involved with the Lous family?’

If she tried to escape, she could escape as much as she wanted.

While Seria was having such serious thoughts.

Cheok…….

Jereuth took his hand off the scabbard. It was a puzzling action for Seria. Just a moment ago, Jereuth had exuded an aura as if he was about to cut her down.

“But I will not cause you any harm. His Highness said that even if you joined hands with the Lous family, I should not harm you for now and just report back.”

“……Even if I tried to rebel, he told you to just report it?”

“Yes.”

He was told to just report it and not execute her, even if she tried to rebel?

Seria couldn't understand.

“You look like you don't understand.”

“Of course. You said that even if I tried to rebel, he told you to keep me alive for now and just report it… isn't that strange? It's very different from the image His Highness has shown so far.”

“I don't understand either. It would have been better if he had just said to cut you down if you were suspicious, then I wouldn't have had to have such a complicated conversation and would have just killed you.”

“……!”

“If I had to give my opinion, it seems His Highness doesn't want to lose you even if you were involved in a rebellion. Perhaps he was confident he could persuade you to pledge your loyalty to him again.”

Jereuth spoke indifferently and then shrugged his shoulders.

“I speak as if I know everything, but honestly, I have no idea what he is thinking. Sometimes when I look at his instructions and actions… it feels as if he can see the future. An ignorant old man like me can't keep up.”

“In any case, I'll say this for sure, I have no intention of betraying His Highness whatsoever. I am not such trash as to betray the person who helped me eliminate the Kingdom Mage Corps, my lifelong enemies, and even gave me Mithril Powder to heal Helena. If I were to betray him despite all that, my crow would tear out my heart.”

“I don't think you would betray His Highness either. His Highness doesn't think so either.”

“Then I am innocent—.”

“You're not innocent. You yourself confessed to having an acquaintance with the mages of the Lous family, who are trying to rebel. I'll say it again, I can only report the objective evidence to His Highness.”

Seria was getting annoyed with Jereuth repeating the same thing.

“……I told you. It's barely even an acquaintance—!”

“You said it with your own mouth. ‘I have an acquaintance with the mages of the Lous family.’”

“Jereuth, you really……!”

This old man Jereuth, he was truly a rigid person.

Knights say that mages are stuffy, but Seria felt that it was the knights who were stuffy and stubborn. The proof was standing right in front of her, wasn't it?

If she could, she wanted to hit him with a sharp spell.

But on the other hand, Seria could also understand Jereuth.

‘But…… come to think of it, from Jereuth's perspective, it's only natural for him to be so cautious.’

Jereuth was the person responsible for protecting Leonardo against a ‘rebellion’. Therefore, Jereuth could not rule out any possibility.

“Alright, Jereuth. Then I will prove my own innocence.”

“How will you prove your innocence?”

“There's a simple and only way. I will investigate the Lous family, who are trying to raise a banner against His Highness. Also, if there are any families trying to help the Lous family, I will investigate them too. I'll find the evidence of rebellion myself. And every single family for which evidence is found, I will feed to my crows.”

「“I will feed to my crows.”」 — those words.

Simply put, it meant Seria would kill all of them. It was a drastic and cruel method, but Jereuth had no intention of letting the Lous family and their collaborators live anyway.

Hearing Seria's firm answer, Jereuth nodded his head.

“If you're going to do it, finish it within today. Even a single day is too long to make His Highness worry. Do you need my help?”

“I don't need it. The Lous family is nothing, I alone am enough.”

“I understand. Oh, and handle everything quietly. It wouldn't be good for a commotion to arise at a time when His Highness's policies are about to be implemented.”

“I know that much.”

Seria's voice, somewhat angry at Jereuth, was rather sharp.

“And anyway, I can finish off the likes of the Lous family quietly.”

As Seria spoke, a crow flew up and landed on her shoulder.

Licking its lips.

Caw―.

The lip-licking crow definitely had a different feel to it than when it held Jereuth's bag of star candy in its mouth.