Return of The Martial King

"Indeed…."

Repenhardt let out a bitter smile.

In his past life, the Demon King Repenhardt had boldly declared the abolition of slavery across the entire continent.

But this time, he had no intention of doing the same.

‘Looking back, it was sheer foolishness.’

Promoting noble ideals and expecting the world to understand was admirable, but in truth, it was no different than shouting, "World, come fight me!" Naturally, such actions only triggered hostile reactions from the kingdoms, causing their wariness to escalate.

‘Besides, back then, I wiped out Zeppelin all by myself, which only made things worse.’

When a single mage reduces a metropolis of 200,000 people to an uninhabited wasteland, who in the world wouldn’t feel alarmed upon witnessing such devastation?

This time, however, Repenhardt adopted a method that humans could comprehend. He orchestrated slave escapes through military operations, using tactics and strategies that fell within the bounds of common sense.

As a result, the humans’ reactions weren’t as extreme as they were in his past life. Even when he collapsed Koln Canyon, the response was one of astonishment rather than the sheer terror sparked by the Nuclear Burst incident that had turned him into the continent’s nightmare.

There’s a vast difference between splitting a boulder in two and outright vaporizing it.

Splitting a boulder is an extraordinary feat bordering on the impossible, but when the boulder is completely annihilated, it defies reason, crossing into the realm of impossibility itself.

Using aura to bring down Koln Canyon was something that other aura users could at least comprehend. However, if Nuclear Burst had erased the entire mountain and turned it into a plain, even mages wouldn’t have been able to grasp such a horrifying miracle.

‘Well, back then, I didn’t really understand common reasoning, so it couldn’t be helped.’

In his past life, Repenhardt, as a mage, had little sense of politics. His extraordinary talents made it difficult for him to understand the thoughts of ordinary humans. To make matters worse, his subordinates, like Makelin, weren’t human either, making them ill-equipped to anticipate human reactions.

But now, there was Karl.

With his innate talents and upbringing, Karl adeptly lobbied the various nations of the continent. He subtly framed the situation as a power struggle between the Duchy of Antares-Crovence Alliance and the Principality of Chatan, skillfully diverting attention and concealing the anti-slavery sentiments within. His finesse was so impressive and sophisticated that it inspired genuine admiration.

"Even among the ruling class, they can be quite simple-minded. If you show them this level of sincerity, it’s hard for them to maintain a hostile attitude. Well, I did have to put in some effort preparing the gifts to send to each nation…."

Currently, the Duchy of Antares’ finances were in a precarious state. Most of the budget had been spent on widespread bribery throughout Zeppelin and purchasing supplies to facilitate the escape of slaves.

"Fortunately, we had goods other than gold and jewels that worked just as well."

The gifts sent to each kingdom consisted entirely of specialty items from various races. Elven silk, Orc-crafted leather goods, Dwarven weapons, and Troll ceramics, while common within the duchy, these were rare and exotic treasures in other countries.

Of course, gifts sent to the kings of nations couldn’t be mere ordinary items that other races used in daily life. Only the finest goods, highly regarded even among their own races, were carefully selected and sent.

"Securing sufficient quantities wasn’t easy… but it was still far cheaper than filling the gifts with gold and jewels," Karl concluded with a faint smile.

"When you consider the results, it was practically a bargain."

Repenhardt, satisfied, praised Karl for his efforts.

"Well done, Karl. Your contribution has been truly significant."

Then, he suddenly furrowed his brow.

"But it feels a bit like we’re deceiving them, which leaves a bitter taste."

The Duchy of Antares had indeed made a promise to the kingdoms, it vowed not to engage in "invasion wars" anymore.

It wasn’t a lie. By the time their power grew and they raised the banner of a continent-wide war for the liberation of slaves, Antares would no longer be just a "duchy”.

To be honest, it was a play on words. For someone as forthright as Repenhardt, who once stood boldly before the world, such word games felt uncomfortably disingenuous.

But Karl firmly shook his head.

"If you wish to live by ideals alone, you need absolute power. To create the world you envision, my liege, compromises like this are necessary."

To change the rules of the world, one must sometimes act in accordance with them.

Repenhardt nodded, a look of understanding crossing his face. Then, he suddenly chuckled.

"Though, come to think of it, that’s not entirely true."

"Pardon?"

"Oh, not that I disagree with compromising…."

Waving his hand dismissively, Repenhardt spoke with a wistful tone.

"Even with absolute power, you can’t live on ideals alone."

Karl wore a curious expression.  

"No, it’s nothing. Don’t mind it," Repenhardt replied with a bitter look.  

Since he couldn’t talk about his past life, further explanation was impossible.  

It was a secret he couldn’t share even with the comrades who shared his ideals, a secret he had only ever confided to Makelin and Siris.  

The fact that he had to keep such secrets, even from those he trusted, constantly gnawed at Repenhardt. At times, he was tempted by the desire to reveal everything and rid himself of the burden.  

By now, he doubted anyone would think he was insane if he talked about his past life. If anything, revealing it might provide clarity for some of the baffling actions he’d taken along the way.  

But even so, it wasn’t something he could speak about lightly. In the past, he had feared disbelief, but now…  

‘What kind of consequences would come from revealing that I’ve already failed once…?’  

The trust he had earned had come at great cost.  

He had struggled to get this far.  

Letting his comrades know about the failure of the "Fist King" Repenhardt could potentially shake everything he had built.  

‘Even Makelin said it would be better not to reveal it.’  

Lost in thought, Repenhardt kept his lips sealed. His expressions shifted constantly as he pondered, while Karl, watching, waited in silence. Then, after a moment, Karl spoke.  

"It seems there’s something I don’t know about, isn’t there?"  

"Hmm? Ah, it’s just a personal secret…"  

Karl smirked.  

"Oh, that ‘deep’ personal secret, you mean?"  

Repenhardt’s eyes showed a hint of alarm, but Karl continued.  

"To be honest, I’ve already figured out that you’re keeping quite a few secrets, my liege. I’m not the only one, either, Lord Kalken and Sir Russ have mentioned it as well. For instance, the method you used to stall the mages in Zeppelin? I still don’t understand it. You claimed you learned it from a mage acquaintance, but from my perspective, that level of knowledge couldn’t have come from just one or two individuals."  

"Well, that’s…" Repenhardt faltered, letting out a small groan.  

Karl waved his hand dismissively.  

"Rest assured, I’m not here to press for answers. I have no intention of prying."  

"Truly?"  

"Indeed. A good strategist might say they need to know everything to sleep peacefully at night. But I think differently," Karl said with a gentle smile.  

"A king who reveals everything to his subjects may seem more human, but as a king, they would be disqualified. As long as you, the White King, continue forward without abandoning your purpose and remain true to your ideals, I believe that is more than enough."  

Repenhardt's face brightened slightly.  

"…Those are kind words. I will keep them in mind moving forward."  

"It is merely a humble piece of advice from a subordinate," Karl replied with a gentle smile. Repenhardt looked at Karl with a renewed expression.  

‘I'm truly fortunate to have this man on my side.’  

Truthfully, when Repenhardt had saved Karl, he hadn’t expected him to become such an invaluable asset. In his past life, Repenhardt, being a mage, hadn’t placed much importance on political or diplomatic power. His focus had been solely on the powerful individuals in front of him, with little thought for those like King Carsus, who worked behind the scenes to support them.  

‘At the time, I only spared him because killing him felt unnecessary.’  

But in hindsight, Karl had been one of the most celebrated wise kings in the history of the Crovence Kingdom and a central figure who united the Allied Forces of Humanity. From a leadership perspective, comparing Repenhardt, who had become emperor solely through personal strength, to Karl was almost embarrassing.  

‘No wonder the nations that didn’t get along in my past life managed to unite so well… With someone like him working behind the scenes, it’s no surprise the Allied Forces of Humanity stood so solidly together.’  

A thought struck him, sparking his curiosity.  

"Now that I think about it, I want to ask you something. Karl, you’re human. Don’t you feel any resistance to the idea of changing the world for the sake of other races?"  

Karl let out a small laugh.  

"Considering I’m dating Miss Tilla, wouldn’t that be a ridiculous thing for me to say?"  

"That’s true…," Repenhardt muttered, scratching his head. Karl gave him a wry smile.  

"Well, it wasn’t an easy decision for me either. I’ve spent a long time deliberating over it. But in the end, I realized there wasn’t much to agonize over."  

Karl’s voice was calm as he continued.  

"When I was the heir of the Fernando family, I dreamed of a world where my people could live happily. Back then, the humans from other territories were no different from 'other races' to me. But as I aspired for the throne, those 'other races' became 'Crovence citizens' in my mind, united under the same banner. And so, I dreamed of a world where they, too, could live happily."  

A wry smile crossed Karl’s lips.  

"Well, thanks to you, my liege, I had to give up that dream... but instead, I’ve been able to meet elves, dwarves, orcs, and trolls."  

The young chancellor with his beard-lined face broke into a bright smile.  

"It’s the same, really. Those I once thought of as different races have become 'people' to me, united under that name. And now, I dream of a world where those 'people' can live happily. There’s no reason to agonize over it, is there?"  

*      *       *

Most nations across the continent reacted favorably to the Duchy of Antares’ official stance. However, not all countries shared this sentiment.  

The current Emperor of the Holy Basutalon Empire, Leopold Prime Basutalon I, was one of the exceptions.  

The elderly emperor, now in his sixties, was furiously shouting in rage.  

"Burn it all!"  

In a massive training ground situated behind the imperial palace, a roaring bonfire blazed. Within the flames were the gifts sent by the Duchy of Antares.  

Fwoosh!

The vibrant colors and intricate patterns of Elven silk, as well as the finely crafted Orcish leather goods, turned into acrid smoke, rising high into the sky. The troll-made ceramics had already been shattered into shards, and the Dwarven weapons had been melted down.  

"Hmph! Did they really think they could fool me with such trifling offerings?"  

The emperor turned to his side, his wrath unabated. His officials, covering their mouths with their hands, nervously watched his reaction.  

The emperor demanded, "So, Antares refuses to bend its stance?"  

A court official who had been sent as an envoy to Antares bowed his head.  

"Yes, Your Majesty. They continue to disregard the teachings of Seiya and show no hesitation in walking the path of sin."  

Unlike other nations, Leopold I had outright rejected Antares’ reply. He took a hardline stance, declaring that unless the other races were re-enslaved, Antares would be named a public enemy of the empire.  

But the Duchy of Antares was unwavering. Regardless of any other demands, this was one thing they would never concede, and they firmly solidified their position.  

Another official stepped forward and spoke.  

"Seiya taught us that humanity was created in His image to rule over all things. To ignore this teaching is to insult the empire, an offense that cannot be overlooked, Your Majesty!"  

"Indeed, you speak the truth!"  

The emperor nodded in satisfaction, clearly pleased with the statement.  

The Holy Basutalon Empire, as a nation granted its imperial authority by Seiya Himself, upheld the Seiyan Order as its state religion. Unlike other nations that tolerated different faiths, the empire found the Duchy of Antares’ system of racial equality utterly unacceptable. Such practices were a blatant defiance of Seiya’s teachings.  

“We must subjugate them!”  

“It is only right to save them with the true teachings of Seiya, Your Majesty!”  

Some of the officials advocated for a military campaign against the Duchy of Antares. These proponents of war, mostly made up of warriors with straightforward thinking and fiery tempers, formed the core of the pro-war faction.  

However, not everyone agreed with this view.  

“Your Majesty, punishing the Duchy of Antares is impractical given the current situation.”  

This objection came from civil officials who possessed a degree of realism.  

For the warriors, war was necessary to achieve military glory. As such, they clamored for battle, disregarding the consequences or complexities.  

The civil officials, on the other hand, were aware that war could destabilize their own positions and influence. For them, considering the realities of the situation was unavoidable.