Maximilian’s knight office.
Yukia was seated at the administrative officer’s desk, handling her work.
Tadak- tararak- tarararararak-
She had an exceptional sense for machines. Her fingers moved so fast and skillfully over the keyboard that they were almost invisible. So much so that the other administrative officers kept glancing over at her.
Bang.
At that mont, the door opened and the senior knight Chiron entered.
He asked Yukia.
“Is Knight Maximilian inside?”
“Appointnt.”
“......What?”
“Did you make one?”
Chiron stared blankly at her for a mont, then knocked on the door to Maximilian’s office.
Knock knock.
“Max. Are you in there?”
─Please co in.
Chiron glanced sideways at Yukia and went inside.
Yukia focused her Mana on her ears.
─You're here.
Through the wiretapping Artifact she had installed in advance, the voices of Maximilian and Chiron were transmitted.
─Ah, Max. This ti, the premium cube, you even put in a discount? There was no need to go that far.
─It’s fine.
In the middle of their casual conversation, Maximilian suddenly brought sothing up.
─How many staff mbers do you have, Sir Chiron?
─Hmm, eight administrative officers. Far more informants than that...... But one of your staff is Yaken, right?
At Chiron’s words, Yukia pricked up her ears.
─Yes.
─Is that all right? There’s no specific clause in Sentinel, but......
In the Sentinel Knight Order, only pure Imperials can enlist. However, clauses regarding a knight’s personal staff are still blank.
─Keeping a subspecies close to you could beco a blemish for soone with such a bright future like you. You might get criticized for it unnecessarily.
─It’s fine.
Maximilian smiled faintly.
─It’s a connection with soone I know well.
─......Soone you know?
─Yes.
Thud.
Yukia’s hands stopped. Her heart sank heavily.
─Did you know soone among the Yaken?
─You should have soone as well, Sir Chiron.
─?
─The Empire needs guides as well, doesn’t it?
─......Ah~ Empire Point. Right.
Chiron let out a dry chuckle as if he understood.
─It’s been over ten years already, so my mory’s fuzzy.
Yukia bit her lip.
A guide.
And the necklace.
“......Ms. Yukia.”
At that mont, a fellow administrative officer cautiously approached her.
“Could you help
with this? There’s this strange error on the computer—”
Yukia had now beco an expert whom the other administrative officers sought out for advice.
“Later.”
“Ah, okay.”
The administrative officer returned to her seat, grumbling.
-Ah, damn it. She’s too good, I can’t even complain.
─Haha. How interesting.
Chiron’s greasy laugh ca through.
─You cared about such a trivial connection?
─It was not trivial at all.
Maximilian’s voice, saying it was not a trivial connection, was serious.
─In fact…… they made
reflect on myself as a noble.
Yukia’s fingers tapping the keyboard stopped.
She quietly waited for the next words.
─He was soone who made
look back on myself.
It was a solemn tone.
─Hmm. I see.
Because of that, Chiron did not add anything further.
─So then. What did you want to say?
─Ah. About that 4-star restaurant you ntioned last ti......
She let the rest of the conversation go in one ear and out the other. It was nothing but everyday chatter, and more than anything, Yukia’s mind had beco completely filled with other thoughts.
Bang.
The door opened. Chiron ca out with a cheerful expression.
Maximilian deliberately ca out as well to see Chiron off.
“Then, Max. Thanks to you, I’ll enjoy the al.”
“Yes. If anything happens, please let
know.”
──In fact, Maximilian had deliberately called Chiron over. He intentionally ntioned the number of staff to steer the topic, and exchanged words ant for Yukia’s sake.
“Ah~ what could possibly happen? Haha. Go on, go on. No need to co out to see
off like this.”
Unaware that he had been used, Chiron simply wore a cheerful expression.
.......
After work. Back at her residence, Yukia perched herself in the gap of the window and took out an artifact. A wiretapping recorder in the form of a disc no bigger than half her palm, one she had crafted herself.
‘You cared about such a trivial connection?’
She replayed Maximilian’s conversation from just monts ago.
‘It was not trivial at all.’
Soone who was not trivial.
‘In fact…… they made
reflect on myself as a noble.’
Soone who was not trivial at all.
‘He was soone who made
look back on myself.’
As she listened to his words over and over.
An owl flew in through the night sky. She untied the letter bound to its leg.
This ti as well, it was a cipher.
[ ◆◇◆◇◆◆◇◇◆◆...... ]
The decoded content was concise.
[ The promised overpass. Together with Maximilian. ]
Yukia clenched the note tightly. Her tightly shut eyelids trembled faintly.
‘It was not trivial at all.’
Unlike the nobles who had treated the Yaken as sothing too trivial,
his voice, saying it was not trivial at all, kept lingering in her ears.
***
A new spring, to , is unknown.
Perhaps from now on, the things I know and the things I do not know will be mixed together as they unfold.
Buuuuung──
Even right now, that is the case.
The driver of the car I am riding in is Executive Secretary Yukia. A pitiful Yaken being used by the Ezenheim race.
The air in the car feels oddly cold. Silent, dangerous. A sense of foreboding seems to be transmitted through the car seat like so kind of sensor.
But I’ve already made preparations.
By now, Schatz is probably tailing us covertly.
“You drive well.”
I ant it sincerely.
The administrative officers trained at the main estate also drive well, but Yukia feels like she is on a different level.
“......There’s sothing.”
Yukia opened her mouth as if she had been waiting.
“I’m curious about one thing.”
“Put a ‘sir’ at the end.”
“There is, sir”
“Much better.”
Whoooosh──
The sound of the wind rushing pa??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????st on the road.
“You were wearing a necklace.”
It was sothing I had been waiting for as well, but I asked back as if I did not know.
“......A necklace?”
“Back then. When the bomb went off in the corpse.”
“.......”
Yukia’s gaze flicked to
in the rearview mirror, and I quietly put on a poker face.
“……I wonder.”
When it cos to ‘putting on an act’, I am actually an expert. It is a kind of experience that naturally accumulated over many long years of fleeing and living on the run.
“It’s a gift I received from a benefactor.”
That was all I said.
There is no need to explain it in detail. In fact, I should not. It could co across as artificial.
“Khn??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????gh.......”
Yukia let out an inexplicable groan.
Just then, the overpass appeared. The Marinus overpass, with the Empire’s deep river flowing alongside it.
One of the many scenarios Schatz had anticipated.
If the steering wheel were suddenly twisted here and we plunged into the river, the assassins waiting below would......
Yukia glanced sideways at the river spread out to the left.
─Clench.
The sound of gripping the steering wheel.
Is she hesitating now.
I, too, gripped the Super Stimpack inside my coat.
Thump.
My heart trembled faintly.
Below the riverbank. The presence of the Ezenheim race was detected.
Thump!
A warning infused with the virus’s cry.
There seems to be only one Ezenheim, but their ‘level’ is extraordinary.
Thump.
However, the car just kept moving forward.
Peacefully drifting away from the river.
Just as the virus’s reaction was gradually subsiding, in that instant.
Kiiiiiik───!
Suddenly, Yukia turned the steering wheel. A deafening roar erupted as the vehicle spun like a boorang. Black skid marks were carved into the road, and imdiately after.
Kwaaaang──!
A truck burst out from the opposite lane.
Kudududuk!
It shoved straight through the spot where we had been, slamd into the road’s rail, and fell.
With my body tilted, I looked out the window.
Kung─! Kung─! Kwaang──!
The truck rolled over and over before plunging into the river.
“......Hmm.”
That truck was supposed to ram , and then the assassins would confirm the kill underwater.
Not a bad scenario.
“Haa, haa.......”
Yukia gasped heavily, slumping over the steering wheel. I gazed at her quietly.
Right now, what kind of ‘decision’ had this Yaken made?
I don’t yet know. Just as I am acting, this too could be Yukia’s performance.
“Are you all right.”
“.......”
At my question, Yukia lifted her head and nodded. Her face and back were already soaked with cold sweat.
“You’re a good driver.”
“It’s basic.”
She calmly turned the steering wheel again.
Wiping sweat with her sleeve, she slipped through the wreckage-strewn road like an eel.
“.......”
“.......”
The inside of the car was silent. Even the engine sound did not made any sound.
I closed my eyes without a word.
Today’s harvest—this is good enough for now.
.......
Imperial Central University.
My schedule for today was a lecture.
The topic of the lecture is 「The Path the Empire Must Take」
“......As Aran people of the Empire, we must shatter the envious speculations cast upon the Empire from outside.”
The large auditorium was filled with university students staring at .
“The thousand-year history of the Empire will never collapse.”
A ghostwriter wrote the script. I’m really not compatible with writing myself.
“So I ask all of you as well, to beco talents befitting the Empire and fulfill that duty.”
Clap clap clap c??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????lap-
Applause resounded. The faces of the university students looking at
were varied. Faces of sincere admiration, gazes mixed with envy and suspicion, and even a small amount of blatant hatred were all intermingled.
“──I have a question!”
Soone in the center of the audience shot a hand up.
I looked at his face. A sharp-featured blond Aran.
Soone I knew.
Perhaps, a man I had ‘wanted’.
“Sir Maximilian, I have a question.”
Before the Regression, he was a war criminal.
Moreover, a first-class one.
“......Your na?”
First-class war criminals possess that level of ability.
It’s nearly impossible to attract nationwide and global hatred without so sort of talent.
“I am Johann Georg Goetze, currently in the doctoral course of humanities.”
Johann Georg Goetze.
A man of commoner origin who would later rise to beco the Empire’s Minister of Propaganda.
The look in his eyes toward
brimd with deep hostility.
“You told us to beco talents befitting the Empire. However, before that, I wish to ask. Do you truly believe that the current Empire is providing Aran people with treatnt they deserve?”
The hall stirred. An uproar broke out. It was a statent far too provocative and reactionary to be hurled at Ebenholtz.
But I know.
He does not hate the Empire. Rather, because he loves the Empire too much, he despises those who ruin it.
The pig-like bourgeoisie, the rotten nobility. His hatred was directed at them.
“Right now, the taxes imposed upon Imperial Aran people are harsher than ever. Commoners bend their backs just to buy a piece of bread, yet those who collect those taxes.”
“G-get that bastard out of here!”
Security and university staff rushed out from behind the stage in panic.
“Leave him be.”
I stopped those who were wildly reaching out to seize Johann.
The guards hesitated and stepped back.
I walked to the very front of the podium and looked down at Johann.
“......Johann Georg.”
A rather earnest anger was etched onto Johann’s face.
Looking at him, I answered succinctly.
“I very much agree.”
In that instant, Johann’s eyes wavered. Of course, he must not have expected such a response.
I took my gaze off him for a mont. I swept my eyes over the students gathered in the auditorium.
“You who have entered Imperial Central University, pure Aran intellectuals whom the Empire takes endless pride in.”
More than eighty percent of the students gathered here are commoners.
To begin with, the Empire does not have that many nobles.
“I will ask. The poor and the rich, high-inco earners and low-inco earners. Which side should pay more taxes?”
The audience fell silent.
“Nobles and commoners. Which side should bear greater responsibility and obligation.”
There was no an??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????swer.
Because it is a world where answering itself becos a cri.
However, that does not apply to .
I am one of the most dignified nobles in the Empire, and also one of the businessn in the Empire who pays the ‘most’ taxes ‘honestly’.
At the very least, I alone have the right to discuss anything regarding taxes.
“It’s almost a law of nature without needing to be said.”
I looked back at Johann.
“Those who have more must give more, and the shoulders of those who stand higher must bear greater weight.”
“.......”
Johann swallowed blankly. As if he had been prepared to be beaten down, his face was filled with extre confusion.
“However, in the current Empire, there are many who refuse to do so. Even though they grew up nourished by the Empire’s resources, within the warm fence of the Empire, there are far too many who only suck out the fruits and try to shirk responsibility and duty.”
This is also my sincere belief.
Those rotten bastards who led the Empire to ruin before the Regression.
“As Maximilian of Ebenholtz, I am different from them. I always act solely for the sake of the Empire, and pursue only the truth.”
Strength entered my voice.
“The duty of a true noble. The attitude a noble must uphold. I intend never to forget that. Nobles must, by all ans, be so.”
I stepped down from the podium and walked toward Johann.
I placed my hand on his frozen shoulder.
“Soday, not just I, but all the nobles and bourgeois of this Empire will finally co to realize it. That the privileges they enjoy are, in truth, the weight of responsibility they must willingly shoulder for the countless Aran people.”
──I slightly twisted a sentence excerpted from the book I once read, 「Reasons for the Empire's Downfall」.
“That is the path for the Empire, and the path Aran people must walk.”
Silence flowed. The students stared at
quietly.
I asked Johann in return.
“Is that sufficient as an answer?”
Johann, sweating coldly, opened his lips. He flapped like a goldfish, then suddenly his eyes lost focus and he collapsed.
“……Huh? What.”
It seems he had forcibly squeezed out far too much courage until now.
“Is there a doctor here?”
***
“I apologize!”
Imperial Central University, Dean’s Office of the College of Humanities.
“I am truly sorry, Knight!”
The dean of the humanities college, the departnt heads, the professor in charge, even the assistant professor. Everyone related to Johann was bowing at a ninety-degree angle before .
“That fellow... no, that student Johann, is currently on a leave of absence. We never dread he would suddenly barge into the lecture hall and throw out such irreverent questions. We will expel him at once.”
“No.”
I shook my head as I set down my teacup.
“I rather liked him.”
“......Yes?”
“I liked it. I’d like to read the papers or writings that student has produced as well.”
The deans exchanged glances. Their confusion was evident.
“But why did he take a leave of absence? He said himself that he was in a doctoral program.”
“Ah...... well.”
The dean of humanities glanced around at the surrounding professors. One assistant professor standing at the very back whispered in a barely audible voice.
“......Apparently his family circumstances are difficult. There are rumors he goes from one construction site to another to pay his tuition.......”
I nodded.
“So that is the source of his anger toward the bourgeoisie.”
“We have no excuse, no excuse at all! We should have managed our students more thoroughly, and to end up offending your feelings, truly.”
The dean’s repeated apologies grated on my nerves.
“......I believe I clearly said there was no need to apologize.”
At those words, the faculty mbers’ faces hardened like plaster statues.
It seems they took my words ‘no need to apologize’ a bit differently. Well, perhaps they think I intend to bury him or hang him myself..
These days, I have to be careful with what I say. Because of that image born from the Genen suppression.
“Your na?”
I asked the dean.
“Ah, I am, well. I am.......”
“Do you not have a na?”
“Ah, ah, I do. Hahaha...... Benedict.”
He forced a laugh and wiped his sweat with a handkerchief.
“Dean Benedict.”
“......Yes.”
His neck shrank in like a turtle.
I took out a checkbook from my coat. I wrote a number with my fountain pen and tore it out.
“I truly liked that student, Johann.”
I placed the check on the table. The dean’s eyes widened when he saw the amount.
“Th-this is......?”
“It’s a scholarship.”
From now on, I intend to ‘manage’ the future war criminals.
If their madness is not handled properly, it will explode recklessly just like before the Regression. But it would be a waste to discard such talent.
“Please ensure Johann Georg Goetze receives it in full.”
Johann fainted after just ten minutes of eye contact with .
With the fear they hold toward , I’m sure I can control them.
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