I Failed to Be a Hero, So I Became the God of Three Realms

With the demons largely dealt with, the Valtherian Empire was now one of the few peaceful regions in the world—at least when it came to external threats. This relative calm, however, didn't mean Kaito's workload had diminished. Far from it. He wanted to dump half the Empire's responsibilities on Gabriel Adams, the Prime Minister.

Gabriel, though, wasn't an easy person to pawn things off on.

The man was a mystery. His origins? Unknown. His personality? Incredibly loyal to a degree that was almost unsettling. He'd approached Valeria during her coronation, offering his services, and the naive young empress had named him Prime Minister without a second thought. Normally, handing such power to a stranger would have been a recipe for disaster, but Gabriel proved to be one of the most dependable people in the entire empire.

And yet, his refusal to lighten Kaito's load was nothing short of frustrating.

The economic state of the empire weighed heavily on Kaito's mind.

Sure, the Valtherian Empire remained the wealthiest nation, but riches didn't equate to economic stability. A significant chunk of wealth was hoarded by the high-ranking nobles. Many of these nobles had been sentenced for corruption and treason, and their amassed wealth had been reclaimed into the treasury.

But how could that wealth be redistributed to those who truly needed it? The question gnawed at him.

Kaito considered making an announcement—a direct address to the people—but he had no idea how to reach the entire empire at once.

"Is it possible to make an official announcement that could be heard across the empire?" he asked, ready for Gabriel to shoot the idea down.

To his surprise, Gabriel nodded. "Yes, there is. We rarely use it, as it's intended for emergencies, but we have a magical item called the Spacial Coordinator. It can project images and sound to any number of locations simultaneously. However, there are drawbacks: it consumes an immense amount of magical energy, and the relay quality is untested for long speeches. It hasn't been used in decades."

Relief washed over Kaito, though his mind quickly shifted to the next hurdle. Energy. Where would they get enough magical energy to power the device?

Suddenly, the familiar voice echoed in his mind.

[[Hey hey! Why are you even worried about energy? Just turn it into a "Holy Coordinator."]]

Kaito frowned. What the hell was a Holy Coordinator?

«What's a "Holy Coordinator"?»

It was one of the rare times Kaito directly used telepathy rather than thinking aloud.

[[It's an upgraded form of the item. You don't even need to do anything complicated. Just touch the device when it's delivered. That's it.]]

The explanation was weirdly vague, but he decided to roll with it. After all, the voice hadn't let him down before.

For now, Kaito turned his attention back to preparations. This broadcast wasn't just some grand announcement for show. It was about initiating real change. And for that, every detail had to be perfect.

After some time, Gabriel returned with the Spacial Coordinator. The device was larger than Kaito had expected—a crystal orb resting atop a metallic pedestal. Gabriel explained that while the item wasn't particularly rare, its immense energy requirements meant it was seldom used.

Kaito examined it skeptically. "Are you sure this isn't just a fancy piece of scrap? It looks like a regular crystal orb to me."

The mocking tone made Gabriel frown slightly, but before he could reply, the familiar voice of Halo cut through Kaito's thoughts.

«Just touch it, dude!»

This time, Halo's voice was different, almost muted. Kaito noticed it was telepathy rather than the usual auditory "Voice," but he brushed it aside for now.

With a resigned sigh, Kaito reached out and touched the orb.

The transformation was immediate.

As soon as Kaito's hand made contact, the orb emitted an intense golden light, bathing the entire room in radiance. When the glow subsided, the Spacial Coordinator no longer looked like it had before. Its transparent crystal surface had turned golden, and its shape had subtly shifted to something sleeker and more refined.

Most strikingly, it now radiated an aura—a palpable presence that filled the room.

"What...what is this?" Gabriel, who was usually composed, couldn't hide his shock.

Kaito's first thought was that the touch might have merely restored the orb to its operational state. But Gabriel's stunned reaction told him otherwise.

"It's no longer the Spacial Coordinator," Kaito explained, the words coming to him naturally. "It's now...the Gemcast." Kaito dubbed it so on the spot because he felt like something like 'Holy Coordinator' is gonna be a bit too hard to explain.

The room fell silent. Gabriel's expression made it clear he didn't understand, but Kaito didn't care. The orb worked—that was all that mattered.

Kaito knew it now required less energy to use. But the questio was, how much does it now? He needed that answer before trying to use it.

«None. It doesn't need energy anymore. Instead, it requires 'will.' One must genuinely desire to use it for a purpose aligned with its creator's intent. Hostility or hesitation will render it unusable.»

Kaito blinked, confused. <>

Halo's response made his jaw drop.

«It's you, obviously. When you touched it, you imbued it with a 'will' of its own and a source of energy far beyond its capacity to handle. That caused it to evolve into a 'mythical-grade' artifact, the highest rank of magical tools. To it, you are its one true creator.»

Kaito stared at the orb, trying to process Halo's words. He hadn't done anything except touch it, so how had this happened?

Despite his confusion, he focused on what mattered most: the orb now required no energy and could only be used by those with the will to use it and a supportive stance toward him. That was a huge win.

With the device ready and his plan in place, Kaito took a deep breath. It was time to make the big announcement.

Kaito was ready. He had rehearsed his speech multiple times, standing alone in his office, trying to overcome his nervousness. The Gemcast device sat in front of him, glowing faintly, an ever-present reminder of the magnitude of this moment.

Outside, across the Empire, citizens gathered near their local projection hubs, eagerly awaiting the Emperor's address. For many, it was their first time experiencing a ruler speak directly to them, and the anticipation was palpable.

The moment arrived. Kaito took a deep breath and stood in front of the Gemcast. The device activated, its golden aura flaring up, and suddenly, his voice carried across the Empire.

"Greetings to all who've gathered to listen to my words. I'm deeply honored by your presence!" he began, with a formal tone that sounded suspiciously like Gabriel's handiwork.

But formality wasn't Kaito's strong suit, and halfway through, he broke character. "What was next… ah, forget it. Anyways, hello to all. I'm Kaito Aragami, the new Emperor of this Empire, and I've a few things to say to all of you."

He paused for a moment, allowing his casual tone to settle over the audience. "First of all, as you all might know, this Empire is in desperate need of economic changes. But such changes cannot be brought about without your help. That's why I've decided to officially order…"

He leaned forward, speaking with a firm, confident voice. "A Grand Talent Search!"

The announcement caused a ripple of curiosity across the crowd. Whispers spread among those gathered, their interest piqued. An Emperor addressing the people directly was unheard of, but an Emperor asking for their participation? That was revolutionary.

Kaito continued, "Basically, I want all of you, regardless of what others might think, to apply with your talents. I wish to see and hear the abilities of the great people of this Empire and learn what you're capable of. No talent is useless to me. An obscure skill might just be waiting for the right moment to shine. I believe everyone has value, and I want to make sure your potential doesn't go unnoticed."

His words struck a chord with the people. For many, this was the first time they felt truly acknowledged by their ruler. Even those who had been cast aside as "useless" were beginning to believe they could have a role in shaping the Empire's future.

"And one more thing," Kaito added, a mischievous grin creeping across his face. "Everyone who applies will be considered for a suitable position based on their talents. But five individuals—yes, just five—will be chosen personally by me for something special. So, I'll be looking forward to seeing your guidance!"

The crowd erupted into cheers and chatter. Excitement swept through the Empire like wildfire. Every village, town, and city was abuzz with activity, and even those who had resigned themselves to obscurity found new motivation. The Grand Talent Search wasn't just an announcement—it was a call to action, a promise of opportunity, and a spark of hope.

Back in his office, Kaito let out a sigh of relief. The speech was over, and while he couldn't see the people's reaction firsthand, the distant roar of celebration confirmed its success. He slumped into his chair, smiling. The first step in revitalizing the Empire's economy had been taken.

But there was no time to rest. Another matter awaited his attention, one that carried just as much importance. With the Talent Search underway, it was time for Kaito to focus on the next phase of his plan.

The next phase—Slavery. Slave traders were more active than ever. Technically, slavery wasn't illegal. It wasn't against the law, and the reason for that was simple: it would offend too many high-ranking nobles. Even though many of them were now behind bars, the practice couldn't be eradicated simply by passing a law. Too many poor families depended on it. You could argue it was a form of generational brainwashing, but undoing that was an incredibly tough task.

Kaito had noticed the grip slavery had on the Empire ever since he arrived, back when he was just an Adventurer. He had worked on several missions aimed at dismantling illegal slave trading. However, now that he was Emperor, he had a much bigger platform to do something about it. But what could he do?

If he outlawed slavery outright, the families who had relied on it would see it as a punishment. The slave traders would simply flee the Empire or sell their slaves to foreign countries, where slavery wasn't prohibited. They'd continue their business like nothing had happened. Banning it through law wasn't going to solve the issue.

He needed to take a different approach—and an idea came to him.

He decided to consult Val first. "So, Val, I've been meaning to ask you. What do you think about assigning different kinds of jobs, the ones that often require labor, to slaves?"

Val raised an eyebrow, confused. "What do you mean?"

Kaito continued, explaining his idea. "Essentially, slaves will be treated as 'Civil Servants.' All slave traders will be required to have their slaves educated and registered through the guild system. We'll create a guild—'The Civil Servants Guild'—which will be overseen by the Adventurers Guild. The slaves will be assigned various tasks, and they can choose which tasks they want to do based on their interests or abilities. They won't be restricted in any way. Their slave traders will still receive commissions from the guild, which should incentivize them to remain in business. This way, the slaves will be freed, but in a non-traditional manner."

Val paused for a moment, considering the idea. "That's a brilliant plan. But are you sure it'll work? And how do you plan to get slaves educated?"

Kaito's eyes gleamed with confidence. "Once the traders sign a contract with the guild, it's irrevocable. The slaves will no longer be slaves—they'll officially be civil servants. They won't answer to the trader anymore, and they'll be technically free. To educate them, we'll need to create a new form of Academy. Is there any kind of Academy in the Empire already?"

Val shook his head. "Not exactly. Nobles usually hire private tutors for their children, and most commoners learn from their parents or on their own."

"Then we'll create a 'Royal Academy,'" Kaito said, with a spark of inspiration. "It'll also allow them to learn magic. Who knows how many people among the commoners have hidden magical potential they don't even know about? Plus, as part of the Academy, we'll have a 'Royal Civil Academy' where the Civil Servants will be educated."

Val's eyes lit up. "That's brilliant! But we'll need Gabriel's insight on this, won't we?"

Kaito nodded. "Yes, I'll call the old man in right now. But I'd like to discuss the specifics with him—what we should teach at the Academy, what kind of structure we need, and all that."

And with that, Val, more than happy to oblige, left to call Gabriel. As Prime Minister, Gabriel's guidance would be invaluable. Though, Kaito already knew the plan would be supported—it just felt right to get Gabriel's advice on the matter.

The plan was set in motion, and while the future was still uncertain, the warmth of a new beginning seemed closer than ever.

However, when Kaito returned to his chamber later, he found a letter waiting for him. He already knew who it was from. There was no other person who could send a letter directly to the Emperor's locked chamber.