Final Chapter
One month after Feiyu Blaskas appeared at the regular meeting.
Klaus sighed deeply while gazing up at the sky in the garden.
“Haaah…it’s really been a stomach-churning month…”
“It must have been tough. When you’re busy, I can’t come to the garden either, so I’ve been bored.”
“Don’t say it like I’m usually idle…Tch!?”
“It’s fine for an emperor to have some free time. It just means the country is at peace.”
In response to Klaus’ complaint, Artesia tilts her cup with a poker face.
“So, what happened with this recent matter?”
“Ah…yes, I formally received a document from the Ornament Duchy and confirmed there were no deficiencies in the content before sending a letter to the Sylvayu Royalty. They responded that they would also accept compensation from Lady Blaskas, so the matter is settled.”
“That’s good.”
Hearing Artesia’s indifferent reply, Klaus tilts his head slightly.
“…This should be a joyous occasion for you too, right? The lands lost in the incident 300 years ago have been returned to the Blaskas family who are related to you.”
“The return itself is gratifying. I knew her grandfather Trakia well, and if Lady Feiyu, a blood relative, manages it, it won’t be a bad thing.”
But, Artesia continues speaking.
“However, she won’t be the one managing that territory.”
“…What do you mean?”
“You should look into it later. The ownership of the territory will likely be under the Blaskas name, but the actual management will be entrusted to a household called [Achimenes].”
“Achimenes…It sounds vaguely familiar.”
“It’s the household name the boy accompanying Lady Feiyu.”
“I don’t know the details, but…is it a household you’re familiar with?”
“I don’t know the household itself. But—it’s an old name for a flower that blooms in the southeastern part of the empire.”
To others, it is merely [the name of a flower].
However—to the people of Eisenhud, that name holds a different meaning.
“We Eisenhud bear a beetle on our family crest. The first head of the Eisenhud chose it on a whim, thinking ‘flowers symbolize peace.’ But it became a custom to give those joining our faction a symbolic [flower] or use flower names as code words when taking action among comrades.”
“…Wait, so he’s connected to the Eisenhud then?”
“I can’t be certain. But the meaning of that flower name and his words match too closely.”
The words Kurtz spoke at that time:
[“So this time, I will become someone capable of saving you.”]
The flower Achimenes has the floral meaning “to rescue you.”
From this, the Eisenhud gave the name [Achimenes] another meaning.
“—[To utterly annihilate our comrades’ enemies], that is its meaning to the Eisenhud.”
Originally, it was the command to send reinforcements to comrades in crisis and commit the entire Eisenhud and allied forces to total war.
Kurtz spoke those words to Artesia.
And now…Artesia’s life is threatened by an unknown illness.
“In this case with Lady Blaskas, Ornament made it seem like a rogue member of their faction acted alone, but the incident would never have come to light if the victim didn’t appear. Otherwise, it would amount to not reporting it to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“This whole thing was news to me too. As the Emperor tasked with overseeing the fulfillment of contracts, I’ve done my utmost in gathering information from the demi-human side. And you can trust that I’ve reported everything truthfully to you, without any lies.”
“I believe you on that. But…the fact that you didn’t know means the information was intentionally suppressed. If it came to light after my death, Ornament wouldn’t have been held accountable for violating the contract.”
“Wait, the way you’re saying that makes it sound like—”
“Like Ornament knows the timing of my death, doesn’t it?”
In contrast to Artesia’s wry smile, Klaus quietly holds his breath.
“If they know about my impending death, then my condition isn’t caused by illness but some other factor. I can’t imagine Ornament acting alone in that, and it’s possible the entire Duchy is involved, just like 300 years ago.”
“…Just like back then, huh?”
“It seems you’ll have no respite from troubles as Emperor.”
“Hearing it from someone caught up in it all, I can’t laugh it off.”
“In any case, bound as I am, there’s nothing I can do. If you or I take action, we’re sure to arouse suspicion. So let’s just carry on as usual for now.”
“What…you’re saying we should just stay silent and ignore this!?”
“Well, if we make a misstep, it could jeopardize that child’s mission, right?”
“Don’t tell me…you actually believe that kid can help you?”
“Yes. I believe in him.”
With a confident smile, Artesia says:
“I have no basis for it.
I don’t even know who he really is.
But—when he confronted me, I saw a definite [resolve] deep in his eyes.”
“So I’ll put my faith in the prince and wait.”
“Prince? That doesn’t sound like your usual way of speaking.”
“Even after living 300 years, my heart is forever that of a maiden.”
“That’s not like you at all. I’ve known you long enough.”
“Oh? Then perhaps I should respond in true Eisenhud fashion.”
Artesia gives a proud smile as she speaks:
“The bond between us Eisenhud is thicker than blood, our resolve firmer than iron. No matter how many frostbitten eons pass, no matter how distant the future, it shall never decay—”
A phrase that Eisenhud has passed down from generation to generation.
A will that has been handed down through the ages, undiminished and undiminished by time.
“—That is the [Iron-Blooded Oath] of us Eisenhud.”
As the current head inheriting that resolve, she returns a defiant smile.
The letter from the Empire arrived at the Sylvayu Royalty without delay.
The details of the incident were explained by Feiyu, the one involved. She testified that the masterminds were from the nobility faction, who were punished as national outlaws for kidnapping someone affiliated with the royalty.
Some raised doubts about the Empire’s non-involvement in the kidnapping, but Feiyu reaffirmed their non-involvement and secured the Emperor’s commitment to compensate and resolve the improper abduction slavery issue, which was publicly announced to the citizens.
Moreover—
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
[—Regarding this recent kidnapping incident, we of Ornament take the matter very seriously.]
So speaks Zervis, projected on the video device.
[In this case, Ureki of our Ornament faction failed to properly verify the identities of those he accepted as slaves, which nearly led to an undue violation of Lady Blaskas’s dignity and threatened her very life. I lament that such a negligent system persisted unchecked, and as the head of the Ornament Duchy’s leading household, I am keenly aware of my managerial failings. Henceforth, we will fully cooperate on the improper abduction slavery issue—]
At that point, Kurtz turns off the video device’s power.
“Seems like it’s functioning as ‘instructed,’ huh?”
“Ugh…knowing the truth behind it, it’s just creepy.”
Lucia exaggeratedly shudders as she speaks.
The figure projected earlier was unmistakably Zervis Ornament himself.
However—his essence has been replaced by an existence that cannot definitively be called the real Zervis.
“Young master, what kind of technology is that exactly?”
“It’s an artificial human created by Ornament through his research into the Philosopher’s Stone. Using the Stone to mimic magic power, they embed it into a body to serve as an artificial heart, essentially embodying a sort of pseudo-immortality.”
But, Kurtz continues with a furrowed brow.
“By programming command scripts using magic into the embedded Philosopher’s Stone, the artificial human becomes absolutely unable to disobey those commands. Through this, future Ornaments didn’t just create a magical weapon, but embedded Stones into elves to turn them into soldiers too. And they erased any inconvenient memories.”
“Just hearing about it makes my gut churn…But specifically, what state is the current Zervis in?”
“Only the memories of his death and Ornament’s plans were erased. All other memories were kept intact. Leaving Zervis wandering in the dark would arouse unnecessary suspicion from other dukes. And erasing too many memories would interfere with ducal affairs.”
At that time, Zervis undoubtedly perished.
But using the Philosopher’s Stone as a core, he was resurrected as an artificial human retaining his former memories—though with Kurtz’s influence, whether he can truly be called the original Zervis is dubious.
“My magic power is encoded into the command scripts. He’s instructed to obey my every word, so I plan to regularly give him directives to manipulate him as a convenient piece from now on.”
“Well, after the Feiyu incident, the current duke is essentially walking on eggshells, so having free rein over him will probably work in our favor going forward.”
“That’s right. While it may be difficult to use the same method in the future, Zervis alone is enough to keep other houses in check, and they’ll help conceal our existence behind the scenes.”
Being able to use the duke’s authority and influence was a significant advantage, one that could be used as an effective card to bring down the other six great ducal houses.
“More importantly, Lucia…”
“Yes, yes, what is it, young master?”
“Why am I sitting on your lap?”
“Well, I thought you might have been lonely since we were apart for a while.”
While keeping Kurtz on her lap, Lucia directed a cheerful smile at him.
Seeing this, Kurtz let out a sigh but gave a small nod.
“I see.”
“Huh? Your reaction seems milder than before?”
“To be honest, I’ve gotten used to it.”
“Our young master has already become accustomed to women…”
“Well, while you were gone, Feiyu was constantly clinging to me, insisting on sleeping together so I wouldn’t be lonely, using me as a hugging pillow.”
“What? That’s not fair! You hit me in the face when I tried to get into your bed!”
“In Feiyu’s case, it was innocent. In your case, I genuinely fear for my chastity.”
“Then can my reward for this job be sharing a bed with young master?”
“I’ll pat your head or whatever like before, so please be reasonable.”
“If you’re going to pat something, how about my bottom?”
“I’ll arrange for a good doctor as your reward to examine your head.”
As they conversed like this, Lucia suddenly peered into his face.
“As I thought, young master seems to be in a particularly good mood today?”
“Indeed. After all– the scenery I’ve finally been able to gaze upon is right before my eyes.”
Saying this, Kurtz looked out at the view spreading beyond the balcony.
A green plain stretching like a carpet.
Snow-capped mountains visible in the distance.
A volcano showing black smoke and crimson lava.
A vast lake reflecting like a mirror.
These distinct features existed together in a unique landscape.
This was– Felmund, the land prepared for their demi human comrades.
“Even now, I remember how my heart would leap like I was listening to an adventure tale… whenever Lady Artesia told me about Felmund and our comrades.”
To Kurtz as a child, Artesia would tell stories about their comrades as bedtime tales.
He still remembers how Artesia looked while telling stories about these comrades and events.
And then–
[Someday, I’d like to go with you to the land where Eisenhud was born]
He still remembers those words she whispered while lying sick in bed.
In the end, in the world before regression, they couldn’t fulfill even such a small wish.
But in this life, he is not the incompetent boy who could do nothing.
“Lucia, I can see the carriage. Let’s go greet our guests.”
The Sylvayu royal family’s crest mounted on the distant carriage.
Following behind it, the Mercator Great Merchant Group’s flag flutters in the wind.
Unlike his previous life when he was alone, in this life he has reliable companions he can call comrades.
That’s precisely why–
“–Let us discuss again the Optimal Path for What It Takes to Become the Mastermind.”
With a fearless smile, he took his first step toward becoming the [Mastermind].
Visit the request page If there’s a Japanese Light Novel (LN) or Web Novel (WN) you’d like me to translate
When the donation goal progress bar above hit 100% one novel will be chosen for translation
| Table of Contents | Next* |
Support the Author by Buying the Original Books!
