Chapter 14
The King of a nation.
The weight of that position was too heavy for a mere human to bear.
Edmundo Carsein always had to prioritize the interests of his nation.
Therefore, he had now made the biggest decision of his life.
He intended to push aside the Constellation forces, seen as a thorn in his side, using another faction.
There was a fitting justification at hand.
And his followers’ reason had flown out the window.
Edmundo Carsein judged that this moment was a rare opportunity.
Even if the target was the followers of the Father God, with whom he had a deep cooperative relationship, it didn't matter.
Uncontrolled followers were no different from time bombs.
“I-Is that… true…?”
Some of his retainers gasped and inhaled sharply after hearing his opinion.
“Your Majesty. Please reconsider…”
“No.”
Edmundo hardened his expression, solidifying his resolve.
He didn't have much time left.
In the little time remaining, he had to pave the way for his daughter's future.
“They’ve been abandoned by their God, and their forces won’t last long.”
He knew all too well the fate of factions without a Constellation.
He had witnessed it countless times, some even directly eradicated by his own Knighthood.
“Before they fade away, I will erase the Black Sun from this world…”
The Black Sun.
The name of his long-standing rival Religious Order escaped the lips of the aging Edmundo.
The group that barely clung to existence like cockroaches in the sewers after the Constellation known as the Father God ascended to the position of absolute ruler.
However, Edmundo knew.
Once, before they were utterly defeated in the Holy War against the Father God…
How large their forces had been, and…
The methods they used to operate within the shadows of the Regarium Kingdom.
‘Why didn’t he annihilate them back then?’
Edmundo, a mere human, couldn't comprehend the Father God's intentions.
And the price for that was…
With their only counterbalance gone, they would undoubtedly move to expand their influence once more.
“S-Still. How can we do this to the followers of the Lord God who has looked after us…?”
Some retainers opposed his decision.
“…”
Edmundo remained silent for a while.
Looking at their faces, they were all members of the Father God’s religion.
He couldn't overcome their religious opposition.
“We’ve lived peacefully until now, haven’t we?”
Advocates of miracles and Blessings, far removed from reason and logic.
The appearance and existence of a Constellation had that much influence.
To the extent that the followers of that Constellation were present at such an important meeting.
“Do you want this nation, our Kingdom, to become a playground for other Constellations?”
“W-Well…”
“…”
But they couldn't be unaware of the disasters caused by Constellations.
“This is not my Kingdom. It is our Kingdom.”
Edmundo Carsein spoke with unwavering authority despite his age.
“It’s our land, and the place where our families live.”
They were just lucky.
There was an anomaly among the Constellations, and he happened to be stronger than the others.
But now he was gone.
Their Lord God, the Father God…
Had abandoned his children and disappeared somewhere.
It was calm for now, but the forces of other Constellations would soon move to fill the vacant seat.
Therefore…
“You all know. How the devils of the Black Sun have massacred our people.”
They had to eliminate those terrible people when the opportunity arose.
“Will you stand idly by and lose your families again?”
Edmundo Carsein looked around the room.
“Or will you move first to protect those you love?”
No one opposed him any further.
That's how great the charisma Edmundo exuded was.
“Our war will be a long one.”
First, he would create a justification for the Father God’s followers to attack the Black Sun.
A justification so cleverly crafted that no one would notice.
If he succeeded in garnering the support of the followers, only then would he mobilize the Knighthood to attack both factions.
“Y-Your Majesty…!”
When he heard the news from the messenger who returned from the Royal Knighthood, who had departed to stop the Holy War…
Edmundo Carsein’s world crumbled.
“Lord…”
#
“Lord, please kill me.”
The aging King dragged his frail body and performed a dogeza.
Taken aback by his sudden confession, I could only sit there for a while, staring at his bald spot.
‘What the hell is going on?’
I came here for some peaceful reputation farming, and suddenly the King is bowing his head to the ground.
Here, what I, clueless as I am, could do was…
“…Raise your head.”
Pretend I knew everything, and show a merciful attitude.
‘Calm down.’
What’s important for a Constellation is their image, their image.
Even if you don't know, you have to act like you do, and no matter how flustered you are, you mustn't lose your composure.
“I do not wish to see such a sight from someone I once shared my intentions with.”
“B-But, Father God…”
“Please rise.”
When I spoke in a slightly firmer tone, the King slowly raised his head.
I don't have a hobby of abusing an old man who looks like he’ll be bedridden any day now.
“Ugh…”
I told him to raise his head, and now he’s kneeling on the floor.
No, really, why are you doing this?
“…Please, have a seat.”
“…But, Constellation-nim. I…”
“If you do not sit, there will be consequences.”
“…!”
Edmundo Carsein hurriedly got up and sat in a nearby chair.
Yes. It’s so nice when you listen obediently.
I took a moment to catch my breath.
Let’s think for a moment.
So, the one who instigated my followers to attack the Black Sun is, in fact, him.
‘Why?’
Since I wasn't around, did he decide to create a situation favorable to himself?
Since our followers have severe separation anxiety…
It's not impossible that they'd go crazy at the unconfirmed news of me being trapped somewhere.
‘Huh.’
I never thought things would turn out like this.
‘The culprit was right here?’
There was no need to go around in circles, he even confessed on his own.
I was just thinking about how to steer the conversation towards the Princess…
And he suddenly handed me the initiative.
“The responsibility for all these sins lies with me, the final decision-maker.”
“…”
“The people outside this door know nothing.”
How could that be?
Even if the King makes a crazy decision, he can’t ignore the opposition.
In the end, it means everyone agreed.
“So.”
The old man, who had until now maintained a subservient posture, raised his head once more to meet my gaze.
There, stood a man prepared to bear the responsibility of a king.
“If I offer you this worthless, aged neck, would you please stop here?”
I glanced to the side.
A prominent vein pulsed above a clenched white jaw.
Belladis, who had been unknowingly played like a fiddle in the King’s hands, had finally reached a Realization.
Deceived and manipulated like an innocent lamb.
Not only had she put the Followers of the Religious Order in danger, but she had also caused harm to her own Lord God.
The culprit behind it all stood right there.
‘Whoa, whoa.’
I quickly grabbed Belladis’ wrist and shook my head.
“...!”
As if by magic, her fury subsided.
It was a relief that she remained a good Follower.
“Please, spare the lives of my subjects and my only daughter.”
Edmundo Carsein’s eyes held a solemn resolve.
“This body may be insignificant, but I am undeniably responsible for them all.”
He seemed genuinely ready to walk into a fire pit for his people.
‘Responsibility.’
However, that responsibility… held no value for me.
What would I gain from punishing the King here?
The wrath of the entire Regarium Kingdom? Or perhaps international ostracism and harassment directed at our Religious Order?
While I could suppress everything with sheer force, human relations aren’t simply solved with power.
‘Hmm.’
Belladis, having reached her Realization, was furious, but I was unfazed.
If anything, I was more troubled by the princess situation. My initial motivation for coming here was purely to see the Royal Palace.
Therefore…
“By some miracle, I was able to protect our children before a Holy War broke out.”
I had made my decision.
- Swipe.
I gently tugged Bella's wrist, drawing her closer.
“...?”
With a questioning look on her face, I raised my hand and slowly stroked her head.
Belladis stiffened at the sudden contact, then…
She purred and yielded to my touch.
“You have no idea how grateful and blessed I am for that.”
“Ah… my Love, Father God…”
Bella gazed at me, overwhelmed with emotion.
‘Good to know.’
“King of the Regarium Kingdom.”
I looked back at the resigned King.
“Why did you feed false information to my children?”
“That’s…”
“I require the unadulterated Truth.”
The old man hesitated for a long time, unable to readily answer.
He must be wrestling with countless thoughts right now.
Why did he orchestrate such madness? For what purpose? What did he hope to gain?
“It was to protect everything I hold dear… Father God.”
‘That’s it.’
I was worried he might say something else, but thankfully, he said what I wanted to hear.
“Then, why did you want to protect them?”
The human heart only becomes truly honest when the emotions buried deep within are brought to light.
“Why are you willing to risk your life to protect your nation, your subjects, and your daughter?”
Like someone who had transcended worldly concerns, I peacefully observed Edmundo’s reaction.
“...!”
Edmundo Carsein trembled as if struck a heavy blow.
He parted his dry, aged lips and slowly peered into his inner self.
“Because… because I love them.”
That was the true Edmundo Carsein I knew.
Branded a psychopath by the users, wearing the mask of a cold-blooded tyrant as he reigned as King…
- I must protect my nation, my people, from the Evil Gods.
The image of a man hesitating before a portrait of his departed wife, reaffirming his resolve…
That truth was known only to me.
- Forgive me, Aisella, my daughter.
He had to push himself.
Even to the point of discarding the human element of paternal love.
Edmundo Carsein was such a foolish man.
“That is all I needed to hear.”
I said with a gentle smile.
“...Pardon?”
The aging King, who had confessed everything and was ready to accept his fate, questioned his own ears.
“I said, that is sufficient.”
“B-But, Lord God. I betrayed your grace and dishonored you.”
“It is alright.”
“Even after my daughter's plea, I did not stop the attacks against your Religious Order.”
“That too, must have stemmed from your love for Aisella.”
Love.
‘Wait, Aisella did that?’
Even for her father, how could she openly side with me in front of the King?
Putting that chilling truth aside, I maintained eye contact with Edmundo.
As time passed, bewilderment crept onto his wrinkled face.
Tired of answering, I decided to drive the point home.
“Since you have given me the answer I sought, I will forgive you.”
I checked Bella's expression.
She appeared serene, harboring no doubts about my judgment.
“You must now build a better kingdom.”
Honestly, the current state of the kingdom was quite impressive, but sentimentality was key here.
“A kingdom capable of securing the future of your only daughter and your subjects.”
“.....”
At my playfully delivered words, Edmundo Carsein…
“With the remainder of my life, I will surely achieve it…”
He shed tears for the first time since his wife’s death, 30 years prior.
#
[Fantastic Rhetoric! The King of Regarium, ‘Edmundo Carsein,’ swears Loyalty to you!]
[Followers gain additional stat bonuses in battles within the Regarium Kingdom!]
[A small amount of Luck accumulates!]
[Some Constellations are astonished by your actions.]
[A suspicious Flow of Stars is sensed...]
#
“My… my love…”
Edmundo, holding his dying queen in his arms, looked at her with trembling eyes.
It was a time when he was still swayed by his youthful naiveté.
When his daughter was just learning to babble, a time when he should have been happily teaching her about what it meant to be a righteous king.
A living hell unfolded in Edmundo's life.
His queen was dying.
The breath of his beloved was fading.
The helplessness of being unable to save even a single life, despite holding the position of a king…
Edmundo Carsein watched her final moments as if his body were being torn apart.
“Our… our daughter. Will she… be alright…?”
“Don’t worry. Right now, your body—”
“Promise me, my love.”
The woman wasn't a fool.
As the owner of her body, she knew best how little time she had left.
“Promise to leave our beloved daughter, Aisella, a world filled with love.”
Edmundo never remembered the last words he spoke to his wife that day.