I Didn't Want to Become the Emperor of This World

Chapter 36

Time flew by, and before I knew it, three days had passed.

Nothing special happened to me during that time. Every morning, Elly would wake me up and I would eat the meal she had prepared, mostly staying in my room. I had entrusted the ‘war on crime’ to Jereuth, so there was nothing for me to worry about separately.

However, that didn't mean I was enjoying my leisure in peace. I practiced my speech—a speech that would boost the morale of the knights and soldiers, ensuring they wouldn't feel burdened by attacking their fellow kingdom citizens.

Not only that, but in my spare time, I also thought, one by one, about the things I needed to do after the ‘war on crime’. Beyond the tyranny of thugs and wicked merchants, there were a mountain of reasons for the rebellion, so I had to think ahead to resolve them.

The factors that caused the kingdom's people to rebel, as mentioned in the , were thugs and wicked merchants, bandits on the frontiers, attacks from monster corps, natural disasters, and plagues. Not a single one of them was a matter to be taken lightly.

Anyway.

‘Are Seria and the Mage Tower elders still in the middle of their revenge? I haven’t heard any news at all.’

The mages of the Mage Tower who helped my Purge under the pretext of taking revenge on the Mage Corps.

Even though it had been quite a while since the Purge ended, I hadn't heard any news from them. The Mage Tower elders had said they would leave the royal capital after their revenge was over, so they might not visit me, but Seria, the former Mage Tower Master who had volunteered to be my vassal, should have come to me once her revenge was finished.

A sudden question arose, and I asked Elly, who was standing demurely beside me.

“Miss Elly, have you by any chance heard any news from the mages of the Mage Tower?”

“If you mean the mages of the Mage Tower…… are you referring to Miss Seria and the elders?”

“Yes. They were in charge of the Mage Corps during the Purge, but I haven't heard any news since then.”

“Um……”

Elly hesitated before carefully opening her mouth.

“I understand that their revenge is not yet over. Perhaps because of the great amount of resentment that had built up…… it seems they are taking their time to carry things out slowly.”

‘Taking their time to carry things out slowly’ probably meant ‘taking their time to kill slowly’. That's how it felt from Elly's tone.

‘In the medieval period, there was a punishment where criminals were made to suffer for a long time before being killed. Are they taking revenge in that way?’

Perhaps they were using magic to forcibly keep them alive and torture them. Though I didn't know if such magic existed.

‘Well…… they’ll come when the time is right.’

I decided to stop thinking about the mages of the Mage Tower there. Right now, I needed to focus on the upcoming ‘war on crime’ rather than them.

According to the , the ‘war on crime’ would begin in four days, so it was about time for Jereuth to come and report to me.

***

The next day.

Today, too, I stayed in my room, pretending to be calm on the outside and going about my daily routine as usual.

However, inside, I was starting to feel impatient. According to the , the ‘war on crime’ was to begin in three days, yet Jereuth still hadn't given me any report.

‘It would be nice if the said when Jereuth would visit…… During the Purge, it stated when Jereuth would bring the plan, so why isn’t it mentioned this time? What’s the difference? Should I just go to the 3rd Knight Order myself?’

Once the question started, it led to another, and another, circling endlessly in my head.

Just as I was lost in thought, watching the sun set and the sky turn a scarlet glow.

―Knock knock.

―Your Highness, it is Jereuth. May I come in?

It seemed Jereuth was also incapable of being a gentleman in a tale, as he arrived just when I was thinking of him.

“Yes, come in!”

Unable to hide my anticipation, it showed clearly in my voice. As soon as I replied, the door opened, and Jereuth and Heinshtangl, whom I felt I hadn't seen in a long time, entered the room.

What was particularly noticeable was that Heinshtangl looked considerably haggard. Of course, he had looked extremely nervous when we met at the banquet hall, but now, he was beyond nervous, with long, dark circles under his eyes, like an office worker or a student who had stayed up for several nights.

Jereuth saluted me politely and spoke.

“Your Highness, I have come to report on the plan regarding the ‘war on crime’ you commanded.”

Jereuth saluted me politely and spread out a wide map and several documents on the table.

It was a map I had never seen before, but the title at the top,

“Shall I report on the operation right aw―.”

Jereuth paused, glancing back and forth between Elly, who stood beside me, and me, then changed his words.

“Um…… Your Highness. I am about to discuss the operation. How about sending that maid out?”

Elly was present at the banquet hall when we discussed the ‘war on crime’, so she knew about the operation. Jereuth must have known that as well.

Despite that, the fact that Jereuth wanted to send Elly out seemed to indicate that he didn't think very highly of her.

I still couldn't understand why he disliked Elly so much.

“I think it’s fine for her to stay. Miss Elly also heard about the ‘war on crime’ during the meeting, so she knows about it.”

“Nevertheless, it is best that as few people as possible know about such an operation. One never knows where or how information might leak.”

Jereuth was practically saying outright that he couldn't trust Elly.

“Commander. Elly is one of the very few people I trust. Just like you, Commander.”

“……Are you saying that I am one of the few people Your Highness trusts?”

I had intended to emphasize Elly, but Jereuth seemed to be more focused on the mention of his own name.

“Yes. Both you, Commander, and Elly are people who helped me when I was at my lowest. Therefore, you are the ones I trust the most.”

“……”

“In that sense, I would like for you, Commander, and Elly to get along well. It might sound a bit childish.”

“Ah, I understand.”

At my words, Jereuth awkwardly nodded his head. He seemed quite moved by the fact that I trusted him.

I smiled at Jereuth, who was staring at me blankly, and said.

“Then, let’s end the small talk here. Shall I hear the plan the Commander has prepared?”

“Yes. The current plan is to commence the operation for the ‘war on crime’ in three days, at two in the morning. To explain the basic plan, first, we will close all the gates of the royal capital and―.”

Jereuth regained his composure and began his explanation in a serious tone. Since I was going to proceed with his plan anyway, I didn't necessarily have to listen, but I decided to hear him out for now.

There was no harm in learning anything, and someday I might have to devise such an ‘operation’ myself.

***

“……If we proceed according to this plan, we will be able to arrest all the thugs and wicked merchants in the royal capital within five hours of the operation's commencement.”

Jereuth’s explanation, which lasted for about 30 minutes, came to an end. To be honest, I didn't understand his entire explanation, but thanks to listening attentively, I grasped it to some extent.

To summarize the operation Jereuth had prepared, it was 「”Seal the royal capital to prevent the thugs and wicked merchants from escaping, and then round them all up.”」―That was it.

However, the detailed execution of the plan was not that simple. Even I, who had heard Jereuth's kind explanation, could only understand it to ‘some extent’.

‘For now, let’s just be content with having understood Jereuth’s explanation.’

Just as I was silently contemplating while looking at the map, Jereuth stepped aside for Heinshtangl and said.

“Next, Heinshtangl will report on the plan he has prepared for the economic reconstruction of the royal capital.”

At those words, I was reminded of Heinshtangl’s presence here. I had forgotten about him while focusing on Jereuth's explanation.

However, before listening to Heinshtangl's plan, I had something to say to Jereuth.

“Just a moment, Commander. I have something to ask.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Is there any problem with the plan?”

“No, that's not it. Your plan seems perfect, Commander. What I want to ask is about the morale of the knights and soldiers.”

“The morale problem……?”

“Are the knights and soldiers perhaps feeling burdened about attacking the commoners of the same kingdom? It would be a relief if it’s just my needless worry, but I’m a little concerned.”

“……!”

I mentioned the problem that had appeared in the . Jereuth's eyes widened slightly as he looked at me in surprise.

***

When Leonardo suddenly asked, 「”Are the knights and soldiers perhaps feeling burdened about attacking the commoners of the same kingdom?”」 Jereuth was honestly surprised.

‘To think that His Highness is worried that the morale of the knights and soldiers is not very good…… It seems His Highness truly sees everything while seated.’

Just as Leonardo said, the morale of the knights and soldiers ahead of the ‘war on crime’ was not particularly high. No matter if they were thugs and wicked merchants, they were still ‘commoners of the Plank Kingdom’, so attacking them was not something they were fond of.

That strange atmosphere grew as time passed. So now, their morale had dropped significantly.

‘I had hoped that His Highness would not find out that the knights’ morale had dropped, if possible. Since it is a ‘war’ that His Highness himself commanded, it would be disappointing if the morale of the knights who serve him was low.’

However, since Leonardo brought it up first, Jereuth could no longer hide it. He didn't know how Leonardo had found out, but it seemed as if he already knew everything.

Truly, the more he got to know him, the more fearsome he was.

Jereuth nodded his head heavily and replied.

“Um…… It is embarrassing, but as Your Highness said, the morale of the knights and soldiers is not very high. It seems they are a little reluctant to attack commoners of the same kingdom, even if they are criminals. I apologize.”

“There is nothing for you to be sorry about, Commander. Rather, how should I put it, I am honestly relieved that the knights and soldiers are hesitant to attack the thugs and wicked merchants.”

“Relieved, what do you mean by that?”

“Being reluctant to attack them because they are people of the same kingdom, no matter how trashy they are, means that they care about the people of the kingdom that much. The patriotism of such knights and soldiers will one day be of great help in protecting this kingdom. I’m sure of it.”

“……Ah.”

Jereuth was impressed by Leonardo's words.

‘A normal monarch, no, even a great monarch would be greatly disappointed by an army that does not intend to follow his orders as they are. But His Highness praised the knights for hesitating to follow his command. He even described it as ‘patriotism’.’

It was something he had always felt, but Crown Prince Leonardo was different. Truly.

Tap tap―.

Leonardo lightly tapped the table with his fingertips and said.

“However, even so, the low morale of the army is a bit concerning. Something could go wrong with the operation.”

“……Your Highness does not need to worry about that. Even if the knights’ morale is low, they are not so incompetent as to be defeated by clumsy fools like thugs.”

Jereuth felt a little hurt, thinking that Leonardo was suggesting the knights and soldiers might be defeated by the thugs. Even with somewhat low morale, there was no way the army he led could lose to the likes of thugs.

But that wasn't what Leonardo was worried about. It was an unexpected variable.

“What I’m worried about isn't that the knights and soldiers might be defeated by the thugs. I believe in the strength of the army led by you, Commander.”

“Then what are you worried about?”

“I’m worried that the knights and soldiers might let the thugs and wicked merchants go. If the army cares for the people of the kingdom so much, their hearts might weaken at the crucial moment.”

“……!”

After finishing his words as if in passing, the Crown Prince pondered for a moment before adding one more thing.

“Commander, before starting the ‘war on crime’, I intend to give a simple speech to raise the morale of the knights and soldiers. Would that be alright?”