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

Proper administrators (lords, etc.) were not dispatched to each major city and other territories, allowing the bandits to freely build up their power.

Weak military power.

Despite the weak military power, agriculture and the economy were prioritized for development over military power.

These were the main factors mentioned in the that allowed the bandits to start a rebellion.

‘But that's not all. The fact that the elders of the Mage Tower left me, or that I was so physically weak that I couldn't even properly lift a sword, must have had an influence too. I should have had the minimum ability to fight alongside other knights and soldiers, but I couldn't even do that.’

In other words, the reason the bandits could run rampant was not only because I failed to rule the kingdom properly. My failure to properly manage the people around me and myself also had an impact.

I stroked my chin and continued my thoughts.

‘This year is the 896th year of the kingdom's calendar. The ending in the is in the year 901, and the bandits start the war a year before that, in the kingdom's year 900.’

That meant I had four years left to prepare for the war with the bandits. Within that time, I had to raise an army capable of defeating the bandits.

Four years is a long time if you think about it, but considering all the things I had to do, it was by no means a generous amount of time.

Creating an army that could deal with bandits capable of destroying the kingdom would not be an easy task… wait.

A thought suddenly crossed my mind.

‘…No. The fact that the bandits will start a war four years from now means that the bandits will also be building up their power for the next four years. So, if I properly keep them in check before that, wouldn't the bandits be unable to start a war at all?’

That's right. If I could make it so that the bandits couldn't start a war in the first place, many problems would be solved.

And I already knew the reason why the bandits were able to build up their power. If I just eliminated that reason, the bandits wouldn't be able to grow their strength.

‘This is it!’

With the brilliant idea that suddenly came to me, I re-read the that I had written in Korean on the paper just a moment ago.

‘I didn't send proper officials to each region of the kingdom, so the bandits built up their power as they pleased. Since the military was weak, I couldn't keep those bandits in check. In the meantime, I somehow only developed agriculture and the economy, so it was like I just provided easy prey for the bandits to become stronger.’

If so—.

‘First, I’ll have to dispatch officials to each region of the kingdom to govern. Yes, that’s the top priority. But… who should I send as officials?’

I couldn’t trust the officials. The former nobles were bowing their heads to me now, but I thought they could stab me in the back at any time.

In fact, according to the , one of the former nobles had been caught trying to start a rebellion.

‘So I can't trust them. The former nobles, I must never give them land.’

Throughout all ages, land is power. So I had to be very careful in choosing who to distribute that land to.

The problem was that I couldn't think of anyone suitable to dispatch as an administrator for each region of the kingdom right now.

‘To entrust the position of administrator of the land, that is, lord, one must have both ‘loyalty’ and ‘ability.’ But if I had to choose only one of the two, I would have to choose loyalty. Because even if they lack ability, if they have loyalty, they at least won't stab me in the back.’

Of course, it was better if they had both, if possible.

‘For now, the only person with both ability and loyalty is Jereuth… but I want to keep Jereuth by my side as much as possible. That way, he can protect me no matter what happens.’

So, besides Jereuth, I had to find people who had both ability and loyalty.

If they lacked ability, then at least people with loyalty.

‘Besides Jereuth, people like that… the knights of the 3rd Knight Order. Would they be about right? The mentioned something like that too.’

The knights of the 3rd Knight Order.

Their respect and loyalty towards Jereuth were immense. But as Jereuth showed his loyalty to me during the purge, the knights' loyalty began to turn towards me, and during the ‘war on crime,’ it reached a level where I could trust them considerably.

So if I appointed them as lords of each region, they would not turn against me.

Come to think of it, there was another advantage to sending the knights as lords.

The advantage of sending knights as lords.

It was the fact that they were ‘military experts.’

Military power was essential, whether it was to respond appropriately when the bandits started a war, or to prevent them from starting a war in the first place.

In that sense, having knights, who were military experts, as lords had several advantages.

They would have great know-how in conscripting new soldiers, training them, and even conducting battles.

Currently, the Plank Kingdom was a country where everything, including agriculture, commerce, and military power, was pathetic. In other words, it needed not just ‘remodeling’ but ‘reconstruction.’ And on a kingdom-wide scale.

For kingdom-wide reconstruction, I needed to build the necessary infrastructure by utilizing the resources I had very efficiently without waste, under my leadership.

And what was needed most for such a strategy was control and discipline. Without it, nothing could be achieved.

‘In that respect, having former knights as lords is also a big advantage because they will follow my control and discipline well. People from the military are used to following discipline and control, and they know its importance.’

It was decided. The lords would be chosen from among the most capable members of the 3rd Knight Order.

And I would do my best to develop the kingdom's economy while also developing its military power.

‘I majored in public administration in college, so I'll have to mobilize all the knowledge I have. …Though my major was just the basic theories.’

However, there was a problem.

‘…Can I do it?’

I had somehow managed the purge and the ‘war on crime,’ but rebuilding the kingdom was a problem on a different level.

In the first place, applying theories learned from books to reality was next to impossible.

What was written in books was the past, and in reality, one had to prepare for the future.

After pondering that for a moment, a faint laugh escaped through my nose.

Hmph—.

‘What's the point of worrying about this now? I have to think about how to get it done somehow.’

I had come too far to worry about ‘whether I can or cannot do it.’ Now, what I had to worry about was ‘whether to do it or not.’

From that perspective, I had already decided to ‘do it.’ So I had no time or energy for such useless worries.

‘Alright. First, when Elly brings Jereuth, let's discuss how to deal with the remaining thugs and wicked merchants in other cities. After that, I can ask him to recommend knights who are suitable to be sent as lords. And… I should also discuss conscripting new soldiers in the royal capital.’

Heeup—!

Finishing my thoughts, I stretched widely. The release of tension in my stiff body made the fatigue recede just a little, but my body still felt heavy.

I could feel that my physical condition was really not good.

‘After I discuss things with Jereuth, let's get a good night's sleep. Once things are sorted out, I'll start exercising too.’

Just as I was making a promise to myself that I felt I couldn't keep, I heard Elly’s voice from outside.

—Knock knock.

—Your Highness, I have brought Commander Jereuth. Sir Heinshtangl also wished to see you and came along, may he enter as well?

Heinshtangl came too?

‘I’m tired, but this is for the better. I needed to discuss the reconstruction of the royal capital’s market with Heinshtangl anyway.’

“Yes, come in.”

At my words, the door opened and Jereuth and Heinshtangl entered.

***

Heinshtangl.

He had somehow become the general manager for the reconstruction of the royal capital's market at a meeting led by the crown prince. It was an incredibly, overwhelmingly heavy position for him.

As such, Heinshtangl had come to Leonardo's room because he had something new to report regarding the market's reconstruction. Although he deeply feared Leonardo, he had no choice due to the duty he had been assigned.

“His Highness has given his permission. Commander, Sir Heinshtangl, please enter.”

“Mm.”

“…Right.”

As Elly opened the door, Heinshtangl saw the crown prince's face inside the room through the opening gap. Although he couldn't say it out loud, the crown prince's ‘appearance’ was a mess.

‘…The bags under his eyes are so dark. Has he not been sleeping properly?’

Come to think of it, it was understandable. The crown prince had conducted the ‘war on crime’ to eliminate the thugs and wicked merchants of the royal capital immediately after the purge ended.

Having carried out such a big task, how could he have slept properly?

‘Even though he is the crown prince, he just turned twelve… not only his ability and effort, but also his natural charisma is incomparable to my sons. Is the royal blood different?’

Although Heinshtangl thought his sons were pathetic, he also had a reliable child. It was his daughter, ‘Olivia.’

While he was lost in various thoughts, Leonardo asked Heinshtangl.

“Is there something on my face?”

“Ye, yes?”

“You keep staring.”

“Ah… I, I apologize!”

As Heinshtangl awkwardly stepped back, Jereuth stepped forward first, saluted Leonardo, and asked.

Clack!

“Did you call for me, Your Highness?”

“Yes. First of all, thank you for your hard work in the ‘war on crime’ in the royal capital. To finish such a large operation in just one day, it makes me think you are truly the Commander.”

“It is all thanks to Your Highness.”

“Haha… you flatter me.”

Leonardo scratches his cheek and laughs. But Jereuth was sincere. Without Leonardo’s speech, this operation would not have concluded so easily and stably.

Leonardo continued to speak.

“Anyway, I apologize for saying this right away to you, Commander, who has worked so hard today, but I would like to ask you to conduct a ‘war on crime’ in the other four major cities as well. And it would be good if it’s as soon as possible. If rumors about the ‘war on crime’ spread to other cities, the thugs and wicked merchants might hide their assets and themselves.”

“That is a wise decision. As you said, I will proceed as quickly as possible.”

“Will the fatigue of the knights and soldiers be okay?”

“Do not worry. The morale of the knights and soldiers is currently soaring. Besides, the knights and soldiers who follow Your Highness now are all elite soldiers, so thugs and the like are no problem at all.”

Heinshtangl inwardly clicked his tongue at the sight of Leonardo conversing so comfortably with Jereuth, one of the heroes of mankind, not just the kingdom.

‘He doesn't look like a twelve-year-old boy at all. It’s something I’ve always felt.’

The crown prince was indeed different.

“And there is one more thing I would like to ask of you.”

Leonardo continued speaking to Jereuth.

“Command me anything.”

“It’s about how many nobles and their vassals died at my hands during this purge, right? So the positions of lords throughout the kingdom are vacant.”

“…Your Highness, you did not kill them, you merely made them pay for their sins. And the ones who actually killed them were me and the knights—.”

“You don't have to sugarcoat it like that. It’s between you and me, Commander.”

“…”

“Anyway, I don’t think we should leave the positions of lords in each city and fief vacant for too long. When an administrator's position is empty, chaos is bound to arise. So I’m thinking of appointing new lords. I’m also concerned about the bandits running rampant in various parts of the provinces.”

“If you are to appoint new lords… then does Your Highness intend to appoint someone from among the former nobles—the officials—as a lord?”

At Jereuth's words, Heinshtangl's ears perked up. If Leonardo were to appoint one of the former nobles who survived the purge as a lord, he himself would be eligible.

‘Can I become a lord too?’

Heinshtangl entertained the thought, but it was shattered by Leonardo's single remark.

“No, the former nobles are not an option. Instead, I intend to appoint knights as lords.”

“You mean to make knights into lords? The knights of the 3rd Knight Order?”

“Yes. That is why I would like you, Commander, to recommend candidates for lords from among the knights.”

“!”

Jereuth wore a surprised expression. So did Heinshtangl. And Elly too.

“Yo, Your Highness. Does that mean… I should understand that you are telling me to choose the kingdom's lords?”

“Yes, because if they are knights you trust, Commander, then I can trust them too.”

Leonardo's matter-of-fact attitude was enough to fluster Jereuth.

‘To tell me to choose the lords… does His Highness trust me that much?’

A lord is the master of the land. In that land, they reign like a king. In other words, they are beings with enormous power.

Yet, he was being told to choose all of those ‘lords,’ so how could he not be surprised?

‘If I harbored ill intentions, I could fill the lord positions with those loyal only to me…’

As Jereuth stared blankly at him, Leonardo gave a faint smile and asked.

“If you are perhaps too busy and unable to do it—.”

“No, sir! Please entrust it to me. I will recommend knights who have not only loyalty but also ability.”

“Haha, yes.”

“But Your Highness, is there a particular reason why you have specifically chosen ‘knights’ as candidates for lords?”

At Jereuth's question, Leonardo immediately began to explain the reason he had thought of.

“For the time being, I intend to focus the kingdom's policy direction on strengthening military power. To do that, we need to recruit and train new soldiers not only in the royal capital but also in each fief of the kingdom. That is why I intend to appoint knights as lords to gather troops in each fief.”

“To increase troops throughout the kingdom… I understand. I shall do as Your Highness wills.”

Although he said ‘do as you will,’ Jereuth's tone was mixed with a hint of concern. Jereuth tried his best not to show his concern.

However, Leonardo was not one to miss such a subtle change in Jereuth's tone.

“Is there any problem with recruiting new soldiers?”

“No, Your Highness. I believe you have your reasons for doing so. And if that is the kingdom's policy direction, I will follow it.”

Jereuth's answer was still not clear-cut. Naturally, Leonardo was worried about Jereuth's attitude and wanted to hear his honest opinion.

Heinshtangl, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, thought he knew why Jereuth was worried about ‘increasing military power,’ unlike Leonardo.

‘Now is not the time to increase troops…’

But could he object when that tyrant said he would increase troops?

A tyrant who purged more than 80% of the kingdom's nobles at the age of twelve and mercilessly executed all the thugs and wicked merchants of the royal capital.

Moreover, even Jereuth said he would follow the crown prince's words as they were. In such a situation, there was no room for Heinshtangl to object.

‘Right, let's just stay quiet. That's better for my well-being. I'm going through all this trouble because I said one unnecessary word at the banquet, I can't repeat that mistake.’

Heinshtangl decided to keep his mouth shut.

However, a quick-witted kid always torments the adults. Leonardo was a boy who was an expert at that.

“Sir Heinshtangl, it seems you have something to say about the conscription, please speak your mind.”

“…?!”

Heinshtangl's mind went blank as Leonardo suddenly singled him out. More than anything, he was flustered by the tyrant's ability to know that he was concerned about the increase in military power, as if he could read minds.

But since he had been singled out by the tyrant, he couldn't not answer. Moreover, since Leonardo seemed to have already noticed that he was against conscription, he couldn't lie either.

‘…His Highness clearly said he dislikes lies. In fact, he even threw all the nobles who wrote false thug lists into the dungeon.’

Heeup—.

Heinshtangl took a deep breath. His beloved wife, his unsatisfactory son, and his proud daughter flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern.

‘No matter what I say, I must not lie. I have to speak my honest thoughts. Otherwise, I too will be thrown into the dungeon.’

Of course, Leonardo had no intention of throwing Heinshtangl in prison. But because of the fear he had shown so far, Heinshtangl couldn't help but think that way.

Whether Leonardo intended it or not, a reign of terror had taken root among the former nobles in the royal castle.

“Th, then I will state the reasons why we should not conscript new troops now. First—!”

Heinshtangl's desperate struggle for survival began.