Chapter 88: Harvest Time

“What? What do you mean!”

James couldn’t help but question back at the knight’s answer.

“Why is the monster wave happening already?”

“Th-That, I don’t know well either. It’s a report that just came in.”

“What about the great barrier?”

“It activated immediately, and the limit is 2 days.”

“Ugh…”

James let out a low groan and turned around.

And he hurriedly approached Gaon, knelt on one knee, and reported.

“The monster wave in the Himal Mountain Range has begun. The great barrier is activated, and the limit is 2 days. We must send reinforcements quickly…”

“Don’t worry, tell them to prepare for harvest. It would be best if the commander delivers it personally. If a messenger knight relays it, they won’t believe.”

“…!”

At Gaon’s words, James couldn’t help but be shocked.

Prepare for harvest, not defense?

But at the sudden thought, James’s eyes flashed.

It was needless worry.

Come to think of it, who is Gaon?

An 8th Circle Great Mage.

If Gaon steps in?

The monster wave is no problem at all.

Far from a problem, it’s an opportunity.

To obtain a massive amount of magic stones, byproducts, etc.

James answered with a much relieved face.

“Yes, I receive His Majesty the Emperor’s command!”

Gaon nodded, and James stood and disappeared outside Glory Hall.

And Gaon sent a message magic to Lepra.

[Status of the warp gate?]

During his time as emperor, Gaon had created bidirectional warp gates in various parts of the territory.

Naturally, not officially.

Warp gates were extremely convenient but dangerous, so he made them secretly.

Even those in charge of management didn’t know they were managing warp gates.

It was a secret passed down only to kings generation after generation.

[I confirmed 4 days ago. At least the warp gate installed in Latrin is normal.]

Lepra answered, and Gaon nodded as if he understood and thought.

Then no need to go immediately.

If there was a problem with the warp gate?

He would have to finish things quickly and depart.

The large city ‘Latrin,’ in charge of defending the Himal Mountain Range, was very far from the capital Vartarium.

But if the warp gate is normal?

No need to rush.

He could visit on the day the great barrier breaks without issue.

Gaon withdrew his interest in the monster wave and scanned the nobles.

The nobles’ expressions varied.

But one common emotion was visible.

Excitement.

Gaon said to the nobles.

“If you have questions or something to say, speak.”

Then, as if waiting, a noble stepped forward.

And prostrated, opening his mouth.

“Astallio of the String family greets His Majesty Emperor Gaon.”

After greeting, Astallio immediately continued.

“The power of the betrayers’ families remains strong. To punish them, enormous sacrifices will be necessary. Of course, sacrifices are not feared. I am always prepared to give my life for Varta.”

“Get to the point.”

“…The problem is the Nail Kingdom. The Nail Kingdom, already preparing for war, won’t sit idly by while our national power weakens.”

Civil war is highly likely to lead to weakening national power.

The problem is that one of the neighboring countries, the Nail Kingdom, is openly preparing for war.

Not just the Nail Kingdom.

When national power weakens, other neighboring countries will bare their fangs too.

At Astallio’s words, several nobles nodded.

And Gaon opened his mouth.

“No need to worry about the Nail Kingdom.”

What was the talk, but it was something that needed no worry at all.

“It will be destroyed.”

Because, as it were, the Nail Kingdom was scheduled for destruction.

“…!”

Astallio couldn’t help but be shocked.

The Nail Kingdom will be destroyed?

It wasn’t just Astallio who was shocked.

Everyone except a few who already knew the story, including Lepra and Luna, was shocked.

And Gaon continued.

“Of course, we need to secure territory and prepare for refugees. Curiosity satisfied?”

“…Yes, thank you.”

Astallio cautiously stood and retreated.

And Gaon asked the nobles.

“Anyone else?”

Because of the story that a monster wave occurred in the Himal Mountain Range?

Or because the destruction of the Nail Kingdom was mentioned?

No noble stepped forward, and Gaon continued.

“Now Varta will regain its past glory. I hope everyone does their best until then.”

“We receive the command! For Varta!”

Then Doug, as if waiting, knelt on one knee and shouted.

And starting with Doug’s shout, the nobles knelt and shouted in unison.

After the nobles’ shouts, silence descended.

And Gaon stood from his seat and said to Doug.

“Doug, I leave the cleanup to you.”

The nobles have recognized the situation.

But recognizing doesn’t mean they grasp everything.

The nobles are probably dying of curiosity right now.

Exactly how the situation is unfolding.

And what the future plans are.

They would want to discuss immediately if possible.

But they can’t because Gaon is here.

Gaon planned to leave the seat to give the nobles time to resolve their curiosity.

“I receive the command.”

Doug answered, and then Gaon said to War Magic Corps Commander Morca.

“Morca, lock up Smich and all the others in that state in the level 1 underground prison.”

Not just Smich was frozen.

Several nobles besides Smich were frozen.

The reason for not killing was naturally for interrogation.

After interrogation, he planned to kill them of course.

“Yes, understood.”

Morca answered, and Gaon left Glory Hall with Lepra and Luna.

And at the same time, he could hear.

—D-Doug Duke, what is going on?

—Is it really the 17th Emperor His Majesty Gaon?

—Has he returned completely?

—Should we move right now?

The urgent voices of the nobles.

Gaon boarded the carriage while listening to the nobles’ questions and Doug’s answers.

And Lepra and Luna followed and boarded, and the carriage began moving.

Heading to Wolhwa Palace, Lepra took out a book.

A very thick book.

“Thicker than I thought.”

“…Sorry.”

“No need to be sorry.”

Gaon took the book and opened it.

The book contained portraits and information of numerous people.

The main betrayers.

Naturally, the nobles who died in Glory Hall earlier were included.

“Just need to handle these guys?”

Gaon had no intention of leaving the civil war to the nobles.

As Astallio said earlier, leaving it to them would cause enormous damage and lead to weakening national power.

“Yes, there will be some damage, but…”

Trailing off, Lepra made a bitter face and continued.

“It’s something we must go through.”

Civil war can be ended without damage.

If Gaon steps in.

But then the nobles won’t know.

The pain of civil war.

And if they don’t know the pain, it could repeat someday.

Of course, knowing the pain doesn’t mean it won’t repeat, but still better than not knowing.

“Well thought.”

Gaon closed the book and smiled brightly.

And a while later, the carriage arriving at Wolhwa Palace stopped.

Gaon got off the carriage and said to Taylor.

“Rest. I’ll go somewhere and come back.”

“Yes!”

Taylor answered, and Gaon headed to Wolhwa Palace with Lepra and Luna.

And upon arriving at Wolhwa Palace, Lepra said to Luna.

“Luna, I have something to say to Grandfather, so could you leave for a moment?”

“Yes!”

Luna answered Lepra’s words, bowed politely, and disappeared first.

And Gaon and Lepra, as if by appointment, changed direction and walked.

STEP! STEP!

A while later, the two stopped walking.

The place where they stopped was the king’s vault located underground in Wolhwa Palace.

SWISH—

Gaon placed his hand on the door.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Then various magic circles appeared.

Naturally, not ordinary magic circles.

All magic circles created by Gaon, with 7th and 8th Circle power.

If not of the Varta royal bloodline?

The magic circles would have activated immediately.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Naturally, it didn’t apply to Gaon, and the magic circles vanished in the order they appeared.

CREAK—!

And the door opened by itself.

Gaon and Lepra walked again and entered the vault.

At the same time, Gaon could see numerous treasures.

But Gaon paid no attention to the treasures.

From the start, the reason Gaon entered the vault wasn’t for treasures.

SWISH—

Gaon gestured.

Then one wall split, revealing a new space.

And in the new space was an artifact made of marble engraved with a magic circle.

The ‘warp gate.’

“I’ll clean up the monster wave and return.”

“Take care.”

“Make sure to grip them firmly this time.”

“Yes, I will keep it in mind.”

Hearing Lepra’s answer, Gaon looked above Lepra’s head with a satisfied expression.

And smiling at Kring hidden in transparency, he infused Pacheonki into the warp gate.

SWOOSH!

At the infusion, the warp gate’s magic circle began to glow.

Meliad Ducal Family’s villa.

“Hahaha!”

***

Balan, the next head of the Meliad Ducal Family and Duke Smich’s eldest son, laughed heartily.

And looked at the huge ruby placed before him.

An enormous ruby.

Easily worth 100,000 gold.

SWISH—

Balan raised his head to look at Marun who brought the ruby.

Marun was smiling.

But Balan knew.

It wasn’t a real smile.

He was forcing it.

Of course, it didn’t matter.

Whatever Marun thought, the important thing was that the treasure of the Aster Merchant Group, ‘Tears of Pyros,’ was in his hands.

SWISH—

Balan raised his hand.

Then the waiting knight opened the door and went out.

And a while later, dragged in a bloodied man.

Marun jumped from his seat and approached the man.

“Belin! Are you okay?”

The bloodied man’s identity was Marun’s younger brother Belin.

“Hy-Hyungnim?”

Belin opened his eyes with difficulty at Marun’s voice.

“H-How are you here…”

Trailing off, Belin turned his head to look at Balan sitting in the head seat.

And the moment he saw ‘Tears of Pyros’ in front of Balan, Belin shouted to Marun in shock.

“Hy-Hyungnim! You know! Even offering that…”

“It’s okay. I told everything.”

Marun answered to ease Belin’s worry.

“Th-That can’t be.”

“…?”

At Belin’s reaction, Marun was puzzled.

And right then, Balan opened his mouth.

“Yes, you told. But I didn’t say I’d accept.”

“Wh-What does that!”

At Balan’s words, Marun questioned back with an absurd face.

He asked if offering Tears of Pyros would release Belin.

And Balan said it was a good idea.

Yet what is this wordplay?

“This guy saw and heard too much. This doesn’t balance. Ah, your merchant group will be well run by Kemolin from now on! So no need to worry!”

At Balan’s following words, Marun could say nothing.

He never imagined Kemolin would betray.

Right then.

“…?”

Lost in thought about whether it was betrayal and what to do if so, Marun tilted his head.

Because of the blood line appearing on Balan’s neck.

What is that…

Soon Balan’s head slid sideways and fell.

THUD! ROLL.

“…!”

Marun startled and looked at the knight waiting behind.

The knight’s head had also fallen to the ground.

Marun hurriedly looked at Belin.

Fortunately, nothing was on Belin’s neck.

“Hy-Hyungnim, what in the world…”

Belin made a bewildered face and voice.

“First, we need to leave this place.”

He didn’t know what the situation was.

But only four were in this place.

Two of them died.

In other words, a situation where misunderstanding was inevitable.

First, leave the place.

“But knights are waiting outside the mansion.”

But at Belin’s following words, Marun had to stop.

Knights waiting?

Marun hurriedly approached the window.

And hid his body while secretly looking out the window.

“…Huh?”

Confirming outside the window, Marun couldn’t help but be flustered.

As Belin said, knights were there.

The problem was the knights’ state.

Every single one had head and body separated.