“Who… do you mean?”
“Well, if you don’t want to say, that’s fine.”
When Olicia hesitated at the sudden question, Elaine returned to the main topic and shared his thoughts.
“So the problem is those transaction ledgers, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“They’re definitely troublesome, but it’s not like there’s no way to solve it.”
“What? Really?”
Olicia’s eyes widened in surprise.
To her, this problem felt like a ticking time bomb.
At that, Elaine laughed loudly.
“Kuhaha! That’s right. I don’t know who gave you that advice, but hang on to them; they’re a wise one.”
“Oh… yes. Thank you. But what’s this solution you mentioned?”
“What else would it be? Just have the scourge perform a sword dance. Hand all those transaction ledgers over to me. I’ll handle the cleanup. All you need to do is play the role of mediator.”
“No way…”
“A bit cliché, isn’t it? The devil and the angel. Hahaha!”
Olicia sighed at those words.
She understood what Elaine meant.
***
When Elaine first appeared on the scene, the old cunning nobles all anticipated a bloodbath in the imperial court.
And their prediction proved entirely correct.
Two months had passed since Olicia and Elaine had first met.
“W-Wait! That was ages ago; why bring it up now…! Father, Father!”
“Let go of me! I said let go! Do you even know who I am? How dare you!”
“I can’t just be dragged away like this! I must have an audience with His Majesty!”
A bloodbath erupted within the imperial court.
The transaction ledgers had surfaced above ground.
Just as he had promised, Elaine became a true scourge and reported countless nobles.
“At this rate, there won’t be any nobles left in the Empire!”
“Isn’t there any way to resolve this?!”
“And how exactly would we do that? This is Elaine we’re talking about—the imperial family’s madman!”
The nobles were in utter chaos. They couldn’t come up with any solution, and some younger nobles even dared to confront Elaine directly.
They argued, after all, that someone who had lived in the underground city for over forty years had no right to suddenly start making accusations now.
“What nonsense. I even reported myself.”
“W-What?!”
“If I’m going to swing my sword, I need to be prepared to be cut, too. Don’t you think? Ha ha!”
“Yo-You madman!”
“Fine, I’ll show you exactly what happens when you mess with a madman like me!”
That day, the noble who had dared to challenge Elaine was brought to trial and faced charges far beyond the ledger issue.
And so they began to understand why the old and cunning nobles had been helpless against him.
Elaine was the kind of madman who charged forward without a care even if he got bitten himself.
And so, most nobles simply waited quietly, hoping this storm would pass.
Of course, that didn’t mean they were simply standing by, either.
“…So for these reasons, I have come to seek the princess’s audience. Please grant mercy to this worthless old man.”
At the words of the old noble who had stepped forward on behalf of the others, Olicia smiled as she usually did.
“In other words, Lord Zephran, you’re hoping that this situation will settle down a bit, is that correct?”
Zephran S. Valuum.
He belonged to an esteemed count’s family that had grown alongside the empire since its inception, and he was one of the nobles who had remained neutral up to this point.
However, even in neutrality, his extensive experience was not something to dismiss lightly, and the number of nobles who followed him was considerable.
In short, he was one of the older nobles, someone whose position even the imperial princess Olicia could not take lightly.
Since Zephran had come forward in a humble stance, Olicia signaled her willingness to hear him out.
“Yes, that’s right. There have already been quite a few troubles in the empire of late, haven’t there? I worry that if this goes any further, it may start to impact the common citizens.”
“Hmm. However, my uncle is already handling that matter. And besides, this is something His Majesty has authorized, so I can’t just act on my own whims.”
“Of course, Your Highness. That is why I thought I might draft a petition and present it to His Majesty, even with this weary old body.”
“A petition… Are you hoping for me to sign it?”
“Yes, Your Highness, you are exactly correct.”
It wasn’t a bad approach.
A petition signed by numerous nobles and Princess Olicia herself would allow the Emperor to save face, so it wasn’t out of the question.
“However, even if that were to happen, you do realize that complete forgiveness is impossible, don’t you?”
“Of course. How could we as nobles wish for criminals to go unpunished? We merely hope to avoid the disorder that could follow.”
The society of nobles is immensely complex.
They arrange strategic marriages to benefit their families, expand their influence through sponsorships, and are bound by many ties with one another.
These ties act as a kind of defensive shield, allowing nobles to protect each other. But with this crisis, those bonds have started to tremble.
In the short term, this might actually be beneficial…
If the influence of the nobles diminishes, the emperor’s power will grow. But, as with anything, too much of one thing can lead to problems.
If it goes too far, the empire will be overrun by self-interest.
It’s because of these bonds that the nobles coordinate with each other to govern the country.
But what would happen if those connections were shaken at the roots?
Each would act only for personal gain. This would inevitably cause delays in any administrative process.
No matter how powerful the emperor’s influence was, there were limits to what he could do alone.
That’s why Zephran had come forward with this appeal for mediation.
“Very well. I’ll add my name to it. But before I do, could I see the contents of this petition?”
“Here it is, Your Highness.”
“Thank you. Hmm… oh my.”
The petition that Zephran handed over was nothing but a blank sheet of pure white paper.
Understanding the meaning, Olicia couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“Truly, I can’t outdo you.”
“We hope that Your Highness will fill in the rest.”
“Understood, Zephran. I’ll be sure to remember this matter.”
If Olicia submitted the appeal herself, the nobles who had benefited from the resolution of this issue would all owe her a debt.
In the noble society where legitimacy held such weight, this would provide Olicia with no small advantage.
It seems about time to call Osten.
Remembering Osten, who was busy reporting on the suppression of this recent terrorist incident to the Empire, Olicia smiled.
Though Osten was busy, he was undoubtedly the perfect person for a job like this.
***
It was like a library stretched out across the vastness of space.
A world of endless bookshelves.
Shane who had connected to the Akashic Records averted his gaze from the scenery, which seemed as though it could pull his very soul into its depths.
“Welcome, Sir Shane.”
A middle-aged man dressed elegantly in a butler’s uniform greeted him with a bow.
He was the “Librarian”, the entity responsible for overseeing the Akashic Records.
“You’re here again today. It seems I’ve been seeing you quite often recently.”
“Since I can’t move my body, I might as well make use of this time.”
“Hoho, it’s a privilege for an old man like me, but visiting too frequently may not be good for you.”
Accessing the Akashic Records consumed a considerable amount of mental strength.
The Librarian worried that if Shane stayed beyond his limits, it could cause lasting damage to his spirit.
“I’ll take care to be cautious.”
The Akashic Records.
Like the legend said, it was a place containing all the knowledge of the universe. It was a vast repository of knowledge beyond description.
However, nearly all… no, perhaps the entirety of it, was beyond Shane’s reach.
Blocked by a shroud of black mist, that area was forbidden to Shane.
More than that, simply looking upon it made him feel a threat that seemed to pull at his very soul.
[Just so you know, it’s best to avoid venturing into areas not granted to you. You may never return.]
Recalling the Librarian’s words from when he first arrived, Shane knew this was no idle warning.
Since he had no intention of making such a foolish choice, he restricted himself to the spaces he was permitted to explore.
Compared to the vastness of this infinite library, the section open to him was no larger than a speck of dust.
Still, even that small part would dwarf any library existing in the mortal world.
Indeed, this “speck of dust” was a space more massive than even the Imperial Palace where the Emperor resided.
“I’d like to see information regarding the Nikar Desert.”
“Ah, that falls within the accessible materials… Here you are. If you need anything further, please call for me.”
“Thank you.”
“Not at all.”
The Librarian who had brought Shane the requested book picked up a violin that had been resting on a nearby shelf and began to play.
He had said it was his only hobby.
Once, Shane had asked if he ever found it boring to stay in this place, and his response had been that music was so profound and limitless that no matter how much he delved into it, he could never reach the end.
So, he truly meant it when it came to music.
Listening to the elegant, classical melody filling the air, Shane began reading the book on the Nikar Desert.
He did so with the hope of uncovering any hidden variables that might have been lurking in the background of the stage when he was still part of Nameless in his previous life.
***
When he completed his treatment in the Grand Meziaya Forest, Shane stepped outside the forest for the first time in a while.
Perhaps it was thanks to the months-long treatment, but his body was in peak condition. He felt stronger than ever before.
However, this condition had drained within just a week of arriving in Arunvida.
“Hmm.”
“…What are you doing this time?”
As soon as he woke up in the morning, Anastasia approached him and started sniffing near his shoulder.
“It finally seems to be gone.”
“Gone? What are you talking about?”
“The smell of the forest. It felt strangely unpleasant, for some reason. But it seems to have faded at last, and that’s quite satisfying.”
“…I see. Anyway, are you ready?”
“Yes, it’s time to leave this place.”
Then Anastasia turned her gaze to the terrace with an expression that was difficult to describe in words.
The once bleak Arunvida was filled with a new vitality.
The old buildings had been repaired after falling into disrepair, and among the once-grim residents, smiles were beginning to bloom.
They had brought in cold-resistant livestock, sold monster materials, used the profits to buy scarce food supplies, and returned home to enjoy bountiful meals.
All of this was a sight Anastasia hadn’t seen when she first arrived here.
Even two years ago, she could never have imagined such a scene unfolding.
Thinking of how all of this was the achievement of the man standing before her, she couldn’t help but smile.
Perhaps sensing her thoughts, Shane spoke up.
“It’s thanks to your leadership that we’ve reached this point, Your Highness. You have every reason to feel proud.”
“…Is that so.”
To say she felt no regret would be a lie.
But Anastasia had a new goal now.
Becoming the Imperial Army’s Commander-in-Chief was that goal.
In addition to the progress she’d brought to Arunvida, her defense of the Empire’s northern borders two years ago had paved the way for her return to the imperial court.
Originally, she hadn’t planned to leave Arunvida, but after the recent terrorist incident, she had decided she could no longer stay here alone.
To hold off Samuel’s deadly schemes and to protect the Empire from Nameless’s threats, this was the only choice she could make.
Just as much as she loved Arunvida, she loved the Empire.
“Still, it’s a relief that Uncle is here.”
With the sudden appearance of Elaine, Anastasia felt she could finally ease her mind.
Currently, Elaine was assigned to Arunvida as a consequence of charges tied to his involvement in the underground city.
Of course, this “assignment” was only a formality, and Elaine actually found himself quite fond of this place that was far removed from the imperial court.
At first she had wondered if he would really settle here, but after observing his recent actions within the court over the past few months, she was confident that he would govern Arunvida skillfully.
“Shane, what are your plans now?”
“It seems it’s time for me to head to the Cradle.”
“The Cradle… is that the Nikar Desert you mentioned before?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Go safely. But one thing.”
“……?”
Anastasia touched Shane’s cheek and smiled.
“Don’t get hurt this time, like you did before.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Humph.”
Knock, knock—
Just then, someone knocked on the door from outside.
“Your Highness, preparations are complete.”
“Alright, let’s go.”
It was the voice of Mimir, her loyal aide and advisor, and the two rose from their seats at once.
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