I am the Monarch

Chapter 257: Path of a King (5)

“When was it that Roan Lancephil’s envoy came?”
“It was the end of last fall, your holiness.”
“And the thing he wanted was an exchange of Mills Voisa and Io Lancephil……?”
“Yes, your holiness.”

A dry conversation rapidly went back and forth.
An old man wearing a brilliant purple robe and a large crown bizarrely laughed and shook his head.

“Hulhulhul. So that would mean in the end, no contact at all came after that, hm?”

Although the tip of his mouth was smiling, a horrifying killing intent flowed on his creased eyes.

“Yes, your holiness. He truly is an arrogant one.”
“To dare climb to the throne without Devesis God’s blessing……”
“Tch tch tch.”

The neatly lined up men lowered their head with courteous expressions.
Censuring words poured down from here and there.
The old man contemplated for a moment, then gestured at a man.

“Cardinal Herbert.”

An unopposable power was held in the quiet voice.
The one who stood in the exact center among the men took a step forwards.

“Yes. Your holiness the Holy Emperor.”

It was a soft and low voice, but somehow exuded a sly feeling.
The old man sitting on the grand throne raised his body.
He was Holy Emperor Veldrica of the Devesis Church. 1

“Hulhulhul. How is Io Lancephil staying?”
“He is confined in the Holy Palace’s underground cell, your holiness.”

Herbert cautiously answered.
Veldrica shook his head with a regrettable expression.

“Since the situation has become so, would we not need to bestow down condemnation to Io Lancephil in place of Roan Lancephil?”

At those words, Herbert formed a slightly troubled expression.

“To do so is originally natural, your holiness, but……”
“But……?”

Veldrica creased his brows at the unexpected reaction.
For he hadn’t thought he would dare express opposing opinion to his will.
His mood was ill-humored.
Herbert noticed Veldrica’s heart.
A voice as urgent as his expression jumped out.

“Father of Mills Voisa captured as hostage to Roan Lancephil, Edwin Voisa has incited the Estia Empire’s grand nobles and the emperor, and are submitting in blasphemous requests to us, your holiness.”

Instantly, Veldrica’s expression delicately changed.
That was neither a smiling nor frowning, but a complicated expression.

“Hulhulhul. Is it a request to exchange Mills and Io? Hhm. For the empire to pressure the Holy Palace…… just how is the world going to be to act like this……”
“Apologies, your holiness.”

Herbert immediately bowed his back.

“I know it isn’t your mistake. Hulhulhul.”

Veldrica bizarrely laughed and waved his hand.
He again set on his grand throne and twinkled his eyes.
It was a gaze far more horrifying and chilling than before.

“But if you yourself feel sinned in your heart, then I shall give you the chance to wash away that sin.”
“Your holiness?”

Herbert asked back with a slightly startled expression.
Veldrica widely smiled enough for his teeth to show clearly.

“Herbert. Take the monks and priests and head to the Rinse Kingdom.”
“Eh?”

Herbert asked back with a still startled expression.
In contrast, Veldrica was still the same and serene.

“Go to the Rinse Kingdom and carry out God’s will.”
“The God’s will……”

Herbert murmured with a slightly dazed expression.
At that moment, Veldrica whispered in a voice quiet so that only audible to Herbert’s ears.

“If you aren’t sure what God’s will is……”

A horrid smile hung on his mouth.

“Go carry out my will.”

*****

A sunlight as brilliant as the brilliant day dazzlingly poured down.
Roan quietly stood and breathed in the warm spring wind.
At that moment.

“We will lead, my lord.”

Pierce and Brian stepped forwards and saluted.
Roan slightly nodded his head and then moved his steps chasing after the two people’s backs.
The Count House’s retainers including Austin and numerous nobles and commanders neatly lined up and followed his back.

“Waaaaaah!”
“Roan! Roan! Roan! Roan!”

The cheers of the citizens of the castle exploded out when he came out onto the street.
Everyone were clean-dressed appearances.
Already flower petals rode the wind and fluttered.
They weren’t things done because someone said to.
Everyone sincerely awaited today, and everyone sincerely were joyous and happy.
Roan brightly smiled and waved towards each and every citizen.

“Waaaaaah!”

Each time, the cheers turned even hotter.
At that moment, Pierce and Brian stopped their steps and moved to the sides.
They had, in no time, arrived at the destination.
The widest in the Miller Castle, the central plaza.
It was a place also called the Regium Plaza.
Roan tapped Pierce and Brian’s shoulders, then entered into the plaza a step ahead.

“Huu.”

A long sigh naturally flowed out.
The Regium Plaza was cleanly organized.
A circular rug was set in the center, and simple wooden chairs were lined around it.
In each chair, key nobles and civil and military officials were already seated.
They too wore crimson suits and politely stood and greeted Roan.
Behind them, tall terraces were installed forming stairs along the plaza’s perimeter.
The terraces were for the citizens.
It was Roan’s consideration so that even from the edge of the plaza the plaza center where the coronation ceremony was held could be clearly seen.
Due to that, the plaza was of an appearance surrounded by tall terraces like a small castle.
It was a scene without a precedent.
Most coronation ceremonies were held above a tall dais where everyone could only look up at.
Furthermore, ordinary commoners couldn’t even dare to watch.
Roan completely broke such custom and tradition.
He himself wished to be coronated at the lowest place.
He wished that anyone who wanted could watch regardless of one’s status.
The countless crowds’ gazes poured down towards Roan.
Roan faintly smiled and moved his steps above the carpet.
Austin followed his back standing nearby and lowered his head.

“My lord. We will now begin.”

At those words, Roan slowly nodded his head.
Austin, in an exuberant expression, quietly whispered.

“Now we won’t be able to call you our lord.”

It didn’t mean that he was regretful.
He was exuberant and proud.
He once again bowed and headed towards a long table prepared to their left.

“Huu.”

Austin stood before the table and exhaled a long sigh.
His heart rapidly raced.
It was a moment more nervous than any war, battle, or battlefield.
He laboriously calmed his breath.

‘Let’s calm down.’

Austin quietly stared down at the paper, no, at the words written on the paper laid in front of him.
Unfamiliar sentences were clearly written on.

‘To think a day like this has come……’

A sense of fulfillment and nervousness mixed together.
Something he couldn’t have even imagined.
Austin tightly clenched his fist.

“From now……”

His voice had strength, but he couldn’t help his voice sharply shaking.
He, without a single mistake of a word, read long through the lines written on the paper.

“We will begin the coronation ceremony.”

The instant his words finished.

Ppabababam! Ppabam! Ppabababababam!

The Milta Military Band that was situated at one side of the plaza played the ceremonial music.
The majestic music drummed the hearts of the people seated in the plaza.
Coronation ceremony.
Finally, it was the moment Roan become a monarch.
Austin facilitated the coronation ceremony with a calm voice.
Roan’s coronation ceremony was different than other empire and kingdom’s coronation ceremonies until now.
Originally, multiple number of prayers and oath-taking under the presiding of a cardinal or an archbishop dispatched from the Holy Palace followed and all sorts of complicated and uncomfortable ceremonies had to be followed through.
However, Roan and his retainers skipped all such procedures.
The opening declaration announcing the coronation ceremony’s start and introduction of the attendees were the ceremony’s all.
Due to that, the coronation ceremony proceeded rapidly and quickly.

“And next……”

Austin deeply breathed in, and then shouted in a loud voice.

“There will be the coronation.”

Ppababababam! Ppabam!

Once more the ceremonial music echoed.
Simultaneously, a young boy looking just now about ten years old appeared at the opposite end of the plaza.
The neatly dressed boy walked pitter-patter and approached towards Roan.
Roan quietly stared at the boy, then brightly smiled and kneeled down one knee.
Their eye levels became similar.
At the same time, Ian wearing a crimson ceremonial clothes weld up a brilliant golden crown with both hands and approached.
It wasn’t the crown originally used by the Rinse Royalty.
It was a new crown that the Lancephil Engineering Department, Lancephil Alchemy Department, and the Reno Magic Tower had poured their heart and soul into and created.

FYI, “Devesis Church has been referred to as “Ruth Faith” back in ch.195 by the author. ↩

The young boy wordlessly stared at Roan, then asked in a childlike voice.

“Sir Count Lancpehil. No wait, mom said you’re not Sir Count anymore…… your majesty Lancephil? Hmm. You haven’t worn the crown yet, so that’s also……”

The boy flustered for a moment.
Roan brightly smiled and twitched the tip of his nose.

“You can just call me mister.”
“Ah! I can?”

The boy’s face brightened.

“Mister Lancephil. Mister is now going to be our monarch, right?”
“Yes. I will be so if you place the crown on my head.”

Roan slowly nodded his head.
The nearby people all leaned their ears at the two people’s conversation.
The boy formed a bright smile.

“That’s really good. Me and my mom always thought it’ll be good if mister became a king. Because mister is kind.”
“Thank you sincerely for seeing me in such a bright light.”

Roan sincerely was delighted.
The boy nodded his head and added on.

“So you have to keep being kind even after you become the king. You have to care for us good like before. You got it?”

At those words, Roan faintly smiled and answered in a loud voice.

“I will absolutely do so.”
“Alright! I’ll believe you!”

The boy, seemingly happy that Roan listened to his words, tightly clenched his fists.
Ian, who was quietly waiting, handed the crown to the boy.
The boy held up the crown with both his little hands.
Roan naturally lowered his head.
The man who would now become a king of a kingdom had kneeled down and lowered his head at a mere ten-years old child.

Gulp.

The people who were watching all dryly swallowed.
A scene they couldn’t even have imagined.
Everyone’s hearts rapidly raced.

‘He’s different.’
‘Our monarch is different.’

Hopes and anticipations rose up.
Of course, it wasn’t that everyone was like that.

“What kind of coronation is this……”
“However open-minded and modest he is, this is a coronation ceremony at least in name……”
“To leave even the coronation rite to such an ignorant child……”

Few nobles grumbled in small voies.
At that moment, a middle-aged man who was sitting a row ahead turned back and spoke in a quiet voice.

“He isn’t an ignorant child, sirs. He’s the son of a soldier who lost his life in this war.”

The nobles looked at the man who suddenly spoke at them and coughed seemingly in fluster.
The middle-aged man minded them none and added on.

“Sir Lancephil’s coronation ceremony is certainly different than the coronation ceremonies of other emperors and kings. A tall dais, brilliant rituals, grandiose celebration, haughty cardinal…… there aren’t any of those. But……”

A strength went into his voice.

“A low place considered so that even children can see, a ceremony with only the necessary, a warm request that rings the heart, a crowd that values each other…… there are many things that aren’t there in other coronation ceremonies.”

The middle-aged man look straight at the nobles.

“You should become familiar with them from now on at the least. Because this is the very sight of the new world, and this……”

The smile hanging on his mouth turned even deeper.

“Is the very sight of our monarch.”

Words that couldn’t be refuted to.
The nobles creased their faces with their mouths closed.
However, they couldn’t simply step back like this.

“A, and just who are you to chatter so highly?”

If perhaps an ordinary commoner, he planned to berate at him.
The middle-aged man answered in a calm voice.

“I’m Onil.”
“Onil?”

The nobles tilted their heads.
It definitely was a name familiar to the ears, but its identity didn’t float up very well when the time came.

‘Onil, Onil, Onil…… where have I heard that before……?’

The moment his thought reached about that point.

“Ah!”

One of the nobles let out an exclamation.
He stared at Onil with a shocked expression.

“Gentle Breeze Onil!”

At those words, the nearby nobles also roundly goggled their eyes.
By Gentle Breeze Onil, they too had heard of him.
No, they hadn’t merely heard of him.

‘Lancephil Division of Human Resources Director Onil.’
‘They say the reason Lancephil could prosper like this is thanks to Onil whose eyes for people are exact and knows how to place talented individuals at their right places.’
‘There is a rumor that he would control the kingdom’s human resources after the coronation ceremony ends, but……’

Without even knowing that such a bigwig was in front of them, they had revealed their shallow characters.
Faces of the nobles bleached white.
Onil looked at that sight and formed a faint smile.

“There is no need to be so afraid in advance. I believe that people can readily change and grow, you see. And I have actually seen such people many times.”

His gaze turned towards the plaza’s center.
Neatly lined up retainers.
At the end of Onil’s gaze were six men.
They were Swift, Buro, Raitler, Rotner, Griffin, and Nuns who were called the Lancephil’s Six Brains.

‘Those sirs too at first were trapped in egoti…… ah! Now isn’t the time to think something else.’

Onil who was continuing on his thought shook his head a moment late and moved his gaze towards the plaza’s center.
The young boy who was holding the crown with his small hands.
The boy approached a step towards Roan.

Gulp.

Everyone dryly swallowed.
Their eyes widely enlarged.
A historic moment.
It was the moment the monarch everyone wished for, the monarch for all was birthed.

Slip.

The boy brightly smiled and placed the crown above Roan’s head.

At that moment.

Pboom! Pboom! Pbbbbom!

Flower petals covered the sky.

“Waaaaaaaaah!”

A giant cheer exploded out.

Ppabam! Ppabababam! Ppabam! Ppabababam!

The Milta Military Band’s performance too reached their peak.

“Huhuhuk.”
“Kkuuk. Kkuuk.”

There even were those among the retainers who shed tears.
Finally, Roan had become a monarch.
He raised his lowered head and looked at the boy.

“Thank you.”

The boy brightly smiled and deeply lowered his head.

“Thank you very much. Your majesty.”

A young and high but clear and bold voice.
Roan brushed such young boy’s head and then rose up.

“…….”

The cheer disappeared.
Everyone stared with their mouths closed at Roan.

‘I finally came to this place.’

He himself too whirled with exuberant emotions.
He returned to the past after dying as a file-and-rank spearman.
A second life started as the new recruit of the Eastern Regional Corps 7th Corp Rose Troop.
Goblin battle at the Ale Gorge, Pedian Plain Monster Subjugation, Travias Spear, Brent’s Ring and Kalian’s Tears, battle with Violin, Flamdor Mana Technique and the Reid Art of Fighting, Biate’s secret cave and the Tear of Spirit King, invasion of Istel Kingdom and the Byron Kingdom, Poskein Exodus, Elton Coat Rebellion Suppression, visit to Pershion Kingdom, Poskein Lake Subjugation, Fief War, war with Simon, South Rinse Kingdom Conquest, North Rinse Kingdom Conquest…….
There truly were many events.
Roan’s gaze turned towards his retainers who neatly stood and clapped a standing ovation.
Austin, Semi, Harrison, Brian, Pierce, Walter, Chris, Keep, Kinis, Ian, Swift, Buro, Raitler, Rotner, Griffin, Nuns, Onil, Sith, Elva, Tane, Pete, Glenn, Aaron…….
Countlessly many valuable people.
And.

‘Aily…….’

A smile hanged on his mouth.
The line of his eyes softly curved.
He was happy.
When he first returned to the past.

‘Anguished from dying, I thought I would at least become a great general if I aim to become a monarch.’

But his thoughts changed as he experienced countless incidents.
Roan resolved to become a true monarch.
He wished to change the world.
And finally, he came to climb that place.
Roan suddenly realized the weight of the crown worn on his head was heavy.
No, he realized that it wasn’t the weight of the crown.

‘It’s the weight of people’s wishes, hopes, and dreams.’

He came to carry everything.
But it wasn’t burdensome.
He thought it was the role and responsibility of a monarch.
Roan spun and looked around and quietly looked at the gazes pouring down.
His heart heated up
However, he couldn’t simply stay moved forever.
This was not the end but a new beginning.

“Rinse Kingdom is over.”

Roan’s voice shook the Regium Plaza.

“However, its brilliant history and the ignorant past does not vanish.”

He matched eyes with each, and every citizen.

“I will plant a new seed upon the brilliant history and the ignorant past.”

Gulp.

Everyone swallowed dryly.

“The seed will bud a sprout and blossom a flower, and that flower will forever be unwithering.”

Roan tightly clenched his fist.

“I raise a nation upon the land Rinse has laid.”

His voice left the plaza and shook the heaven and the earth.

“The kingdom’s name is……”

Everyone leaned their ears.
Roan faintly smiled and shouted in a powerful voice.

“Amaranth.”

Declaration of Founding.
On a spring day when brilliant sunlight poured down.
The Rinse disappeared and the Amaranth was founded.
The founder of the kingdom was Roan Lancephil.
The owner of the forever unwithering flower.

<Path of the King (5)> End.

Translator: CSV
Proofreader: Deathwing