Chapter 21 – The Study of Books: The Emperor and the Knights’ Representative

From that day on, I made the innermost room of the cave my base. Basically, monsters can’t come in here, so I’ve been sleeping here.

And except for the times when I drink water and eat meat, I keep poring over the mysterious book. I don’t know how long I’ve been living this kind of life for.

“………………”

This book is written in ancient continental script and frankly it’s quite difficult to decipher. When I lived in the imperial palace, I received some education, so I can partially read some parts.

However, the way the language is used is quite abstruse. There are even some pages I can’t read at all.

‘No doubt about it…this is…’

In a word, the true nature of this book is a historical record. While the author’s name is not written, it seems to have been written by someone who was a close aide of the Phantom Emperor Gnochein.

That’s right. This book centres around the legendary figure Gnochein.

‘I don’t know how much of the content is true…but for it to be in a place like this, I can’t help but think its credibility is high…’

The fact that the book hasn’t deteriorated seems to be due to the author’s inscribed ability. And according to this book, Gnochein repeatedly engaged in major battles while travelling to lands where the goddess’s tears fell.

What commoners know of the figure Gnochein is that he was the first human chosen by the goddess to receive an inscription.

He exterminated the demonic beasts plaguing the continent while spreading his own bloodline. And his descendants with his blood could manifest the power of the inscriptions.

I couldn’t find pages describing that part in detail. No, maybe it’s in the parts I can’t read.

In any case, Gnochein fought and prevailed not just against demonic beasts but also many humans. During that time, various studies progressed and there are pages recording the fruits of that research.

‘This era advanced research on formations and tactics as well…?’

I recall the time when I fought against the Empire’s black iron heavily-armoured infantry.

I experienced it myself. Battle involves a complex interplay of various factors like numbers, individual strength, formations, terrain, command ability and more that determine victory or defeat.

Since I was interested, I found that content quite fascinating and spent a considerable amount of time studying it. Another thing that caught my eye was about the magical beasts.

On the continent, magical beasts did not exist, so I had thought they were imaginary creatures created to deify Gnochein. However, according to this book, magical beasts actually did inhabit this world.

‘Gnochein would drive the magical beasts into one area, then use inscription magic to split the earth and drop them underground. Then he would restore the split earth, sealing the beasts beneath…’

Apparently there are such places across the continent. This is one of them. Which means the monsters that lived here are what magical beasts became after generations of living in a space without light.

‘Come to think of it, that inscription magic that splits the earth…as expected of Gnochein…’

Moreover, this book depicted not just Gnochein as a servant of the Goddess, but also his ambitious side as an individual.

It seems he repeatedly engaged in bandit-like activities across the lands, attacking many people. By travelling the continent and displaying his power, he also cultivated his own following of believers.

Once he actually gained considerable power and authority, he appeared to indulge his whims quite freely. Particularly towards women and children, he seemed to have strong sadistic tendencies.

Unable to bear his oppressive rule any longer, there were those who rose up against him. Those very ones were—…

“…………..!!”

However, it is also true that Gnochein accomplished great deeds that made him a hero. To those who knew nothing, he was the man who rid this continent of the threat of magical beasts.

In ancient times, there were not as many engraved markers as there are now, so he likely exerted a powerful gravitational pull over the powerless commoners.

Thus, even after his death, he continued to be treated as a hero. That was more convenient for the engraved markers and commoners of that time.

However, the author of this book knows the heroic side of Gnochein. And they could not reveal that to the world. But they wanted to leave a record.

So they inscribed it in this book, hiding it beneath the earth that Gnochein split open. There seem to be other places where books like this are hidden as well.

‘I want to decipher everything somehow…but I don’t intend to spend my whole life here.’

Once more, I call tranquillity into my mind and deepen my thoughts.

If I believe the contents recorded in this book, there is a possibility I can reach the surface by continuing to climb the walls of this space. I don’t know how high it goes, but I’m confident I can climb all the way now.

But if I do make it to the surface, what will I do after that? What do I want to accomplish? And what can I achieve? I envision these things.

At the same time, I question the strength and spiritual power I’ve grasped in this cave.

‘It’s not easy to put into words…but…’

The present continent resembles ancient times. The empire, split into three, has created chaos across the lands and those like me are trampled underfoot, crying and dying every day.

What I used to dismiss unconsciously as a difference in status can only be disregarded by those fortunate enough to be born strong.

So now, if I return to the plains, I cannot remain on the side that gets trampled.

‘I failed to realise that I could go to the other side…the side that takes.’

If I don’t change, if I don’t take action, the Imperial army will come again, and I’ll lose everything like the Empire did.

I don’t want to feel that way again. The Empire has taken enough from me…!

I turn my attention once more to the prairie people, their uniqueness. The eight tribes. And the ancient pact recorded in the book.

As one who carries imperial Zeltreich blood in my veins, I can fulfil that pact.

The resolve is mine to make.

“………………..should I do it.”

To become the Gnochein of a new era. And to bring order to this chaotic continent.

I will unify the Zeltreich Empire.

■

Creyval Zeltreich. The current Emperor of the Zeltreich Empire.

With an unhidden scowl on his face, he looked down upon the kneeling figure before him – Arloston Londonic, the Grand Knight Commander.

“Your Majesty. Despite your busyness, I am truly grateful for this audience…”

“Yes, yes, that’s enough. As you say, I am quite busy. Out with your business swiftly.”

“Y…Yes…”

Emperor Creyval did not take a liking to Arloston. He had promoted him to Grand Knight Commander at a young age against his better judgement.

However, Arloston deftly manoeuvred the factional conflicts to his advantage while carrying out reforms of the knight order. Now highly regarded even by the military aristocracy, he commanded the loyalty of many knights.

And since the conquest of the Empire a year ago, the Imperial Knights had started producing results. With each success, Arloston’s renown only grew higher.

Naturally, this reflected well on Emperor Creyval’s eye for recognizing talent in appointing him.

Yet there was a clear reason Creyval disliked this overly capable Arloston – they shared the same father, making them half-brothers through different mothers.

Originally below 20th in the line of succession, Arloston never left the palace grounds until coming of age. Upon adulthood, he was sent to the influential noble Londonic family and made to relinquish his imperial claim.

During the civil war, Arloston’s maternal family was uninvolved with the Lord’s Alliance. However, leaving him as an imperial made Creyval uneasy, so he had the Londonics take him in.

However, with the backing of the Londonic family, he began to demonstrate his capabilities within the palace.

He pushed through administrative reforms, harshly monitoring wasteful spending and bribery. Annoyed nobles requested he take the vacant Grand Knight Commander position to get rid of him.

With no prior military experience, they expected he would soon show his incompetence and fail at managing the aristocratic factions.

Instead, he leveraged the Londonics’ connections to build ties with some military nobles.

Before long, he established a network, even dismissing many knights to expand his power.

Now, some whisper『If Arloston-sama had remained imperial…』implying『He would govern the empire far better than His Majesty Creyval』.

Though he relinquished his claim, he is undeniably Creyval’s half-brother. As the elder brother and emperor, Creyval could not help but feel discomfort towards this overly capable subordinate.

“Regarding the Kamurakku territory seized by the Silver Lance Knights, combining it with the new lord you have selected, Your Majesty…”

From his position as Grand Knight Commander, Arloston reported to Emperor Creyval with suggestions. Creyval listened with a bored expression.

“…So, when can we completely crush the Lord’s Alliance?”

“It will be difficult immediately. We have succeeded in suppressing their major movements. Perhaps we should prepare to reclaim the lawless western territories seized from the Empire.”

For the Lord’s Alliance, it had become difficult to send reinforcements to the west bordering the lawless lands.

Taking advantage, the lawless bands may aggressively advance into Alliance territory and pillage. If so, the Empire could find an opening to intervene.

However, if they completely occupied the Alliance’s western lands, the Empire would directly border the lawless bands. For now, Creyval wanted to leave a buffer zone in the Alliance’s westernmost territory.

“Hmph…Good to hear it’s going smoothly, I suppose.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Come to think of it, have we not received the customary tribute horses from the frontier prairie folkskeletal shapes¹ recently? Hmm?”

Creyval did not hide his disdain, referring to the nomads as『prairie folk』.

To him, the prairie people were not Imperial citizens, but mere barbarian tributaries swearing fealty to the Empire. This view was quite normal among the central nobility.

“…No horses have been offered since last year. Apparently some disease has been spreading among their herds, leaving no suitable horses to present.”

“What!?”

The barbarian tribes subordinate to the Empire were neglecting their duty. This stirred strong displeasure in Creyval.

The great Empire was their benefactor, yet when did these inferiors become so insolent to their master? If they could not offer horses, they should provide women instead.

“This is an insult to me, the Emperor! You were aware yet allowed these prairie folk to neglect their obligations until now!?”

“…Your Majesty. Whether those prairies exist or not has little bearing on the Empire. If they offer double the horses next time…”

“Unacceptable! Give them an inch and these foolish commoners take a mile! Moreover, they are just a collection of barbarian tribes without any nobles! They have smeared mud on the face of me, the Emperor…!”

Creyval rose, his face flushed red. He forcefully swung his right arm outward.

“Organise the military at once! Burn the prairies and capture the chieftains! Along with women in lieu of horses, bring the chieftains to the capital!”

Already vexed by the Lord’s Alliance defiance, he could not overlook this disrespect from frontier barbarians.

Creyval would not forgive the nomads’ impudence towards him.

“However…to deploy troops all the way to the prairies would require extensive preparations…”

“Considering that is your job as Grand Knight Commander. Surely one as capable as you can manage? Can’t you?”

“…They and the Empire have coexisted without conflict for years. If given the chance, they will appreciate Your Majesty’s magnanimity…”

“Did you not just say whether they exist or not bears no significance to the Empire? Would not demonstrating the consequences of such disrespect to the Emperor serve us well, internally and externally?”

“………..”

With Creyval in this state, there was no dissuading him. However, Arloston truly did not want to mobilise the military just to capture some nomads.

There were far more important areas deserving of those troop deployments.

Arloston resigned himself to the costly but unavoidable solution.

“Shall we employ mercenaries instead?”

This made Creyval realise committing his elite knights against mere nomads would be wasteful. Expendable rabble would suffice against barbarians.

“Do as you see fit.”

“Then I propose dispatching 2,000 mercenaries along with 5,000 knight recruits – 7,000 total.”

“Kukuku…Using this as field training for the recruits, are we? You have quite the calculating mind.”

Since he could not stop the prairie expedition, Arloston aimed to produce some benefit for the knights.

The battle-hardened mercenaries combined with the recruits should provide sufficient strength.

‘Though their numbers and locations are unknown, a large force should readily capture some of the unarmed nomads. Regrettable, but…this can serve as training for the recruits.’