Chapter 136
－Emperas Kingdom: The King's Perspective－
The castle is in danger?
You say we should flee?
This country is finished? ...What are you talking about!
The noise around me irritates me.
I order those who fled to be killed for treason.
We have no need for them in our country, families and all!
Burn the throats of anyone who says such insolent things!
I hear those in the audience chamber draw in their breath.
Indeed, I am the strongest in this world.
I will not tolerate mistakes.
"What is the report from the mages?"
The kneeling knight fails to provide the answer I want.
Rage wells up until everything before my eyes turns bright red.
What are you doing!
You just have to put the magic stone back!
There are more slaves than we could ever use; why aren't you using them?
Why do you think I went to the trouble of increasing the number of slaves!
Seeing my missing arm only doubles my anger.
Why must I, the king, reveal myself in such a state?
I, the strongest king of the Emperas Kingdom!
That accursed attack.
I haven't been able to quell my irritation since that day.
"Your Majesty, please get some rest."
"Shut up!"
I kick the woman who has come to my side.
Screams ring out around me.
The weaklings tremble and immediately lower their eyes when I look their way.
"Your Majesty, how could you do that to your own grandchild, your own flesh and blood!"
"Shut up!"
I throw whatever is nearby at the woman.
It must have hit her in the head, because she crumples to the floor.
Useless weakling!
Is there no one capable of bringing me the answer I seek?
I turn my gaze to the nobles lined up along the wall.
Not one of them will meet my eyes.
They acted with impunity under my power until now, yet they are useless.
"P-please allow me to speak, Your Majesty."
One noble steps forward.
"What is it?"
"Eek... Th-thank you for granting me permission. W-would you consider having the ancient ruins investigated once more?"
His manner of speaking irritates me, but I force down my anger.
The ancient ruins.
The place where my magic stone was located.
That place is sacred to me.
I have sealed it behind a barrier, making it impossible for anyone to enter.
"The ancient ruins..."
Indeed, sending someone to investigate them again may be a good idea.
If I recall, he is from a marquis's family.
Perhaps I should reward him if they find something in the ancient ruins.
"Call the Mage Commander."
...
A report arrives that the expedition to investigate the ancient ruins has departed the castle.
The ancient ruins the Three Gods showed me.
The magic stone I found there.
It was their guidance that I should become the king of the world.
...That's right, the Three Gods acknowledge me as the king of the world.
Whatever it may be, I have no reason to fear it.
That's right. There is nothing to fear.
What could the King of the Forest possibly do?
Other countries may worship him, but what has the King of the Forest ever done for them?
The Three Gods, who brought miracles to the Emperas Kingdom, are the only gods in this world.
The King of the Forest is nothing more than a beast.
When my country suffered a poor harvest and its people were on the verge of starvation, didn't many of them pray to the King of the Forest?
And yet, all the King of the Forest gave us was a little food.
How much trouble do you think I had with food that wasn't even enough to cover the taxes?
Don't you understand how difficult it was to send knights throughout the country to collect taxes?
How many of the people do you think starved to death in those days?
And the people have the nerve to say it was my responsibility?
They starved to death because the King of the Forest failed to give us food.
The poor harvest was because your management was inadequate, wasn't it!
There is no way magic was the cause!
Every last one of them kept shouting that it was my responsibility.
As if to heap even more misery on me, the river flooded.
The people kept clamoring for me to share the food, but if I starved, the country would be finished!
On top of everything else, dealing with those traitors during such a difficult time was truly exhausting.
It was all the King of the Forest's fault!
The Three Gods are different.
They answered my prayers.
They transformed the land.
We had a harvest more abundant than any before, and many people were able to pay me their taxes in full.
How delightful.
That was when I understood.
The Three Gods are the only gods in this world.
The King of the Forest's existence is meaningless.
This time, too, the Three Gods will save me. Surely they will.