The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 327
Festival Second Day.
I opened my eyes with a rustling feeling beside me.
“Oh, are you awake?”
“Rosa…? When did you arrive?”
“I arrived this morning.”
Rosa smiles shyly. Looking outside, the sun was already high in the sky.
It seems I overslept due to yesterday’s hangover.
“Welcome.”
“Yes, more importantly… Would you like to hold her?”
“…?”
Looking again, a baby was nestled in Rosa’s arms. It was a daughter named Karin, recently born.
“Here, Karin, it’s your dad.”
However, the baby started crying, seemingly disgusted by the smell of alcohol.
Rosa finds this cute and giggles softly.
Soon, Erina appears with a knock.
“Rosa! Just as I heard you arrived, here you are!”
“Nice to see you. Has it been three months?”
They hug and exchange greetings, then immediately begin planning a tea party. It seems the women want to gather just like the men did.
“By the way, Erina, have you talked to your father?”
“Yes, I learned you had arrived when I saw my father.”
Erina’s Saleon family had committed treason, but later it was considered mitigated based on Altior Saleon’s achievements.
Nevertheless, the crime of rebellion was not small, so the family had to completely move their base to the Ellan Kingdom.
Gilbert Saleon, who became the head of the family, was supporting Rosa and focusing entirely on government affairs.
This time, he was allowed to return to the Central Continent for the first time and was visiting.
“Lord Ars, there will be a tea party on the last day of the festival. We hope you will also participate in that tea party.”
“Huh? Why me? Isn’t it just for women?”
“That’s why I’m asking you to come.”
Something feels uneasy.
Erina, who is proactive, is responsible for leading the family.
The children even see Erina as a kind of vanguard commander.
“Please come.”
“O-Okay.”
Erina takes Rosa’s hand and heads somewhere.
I stagger towards the reception room due to my hangover.
Although there was a separate audience chamber, I didn’t want to hold such a grand event, so I decided to handle things casually in the reception room.
Familiar faces were in that reception room.
“You look terrible.”
A sharp-tongued woman, Rinoa, criticizes me.
She, who came with Anduha and Leitin to Platon, gives me a scolding look as I’m hung over.
“You’re an emperor now. Please maintain some dignity.”
“I’m an emperor without any such majesty. More importantly, it’s been a while. Seems like managing your territory was tough?”
“Some people completely abolished the nobility system, so it was incredibly chaotic.”
“Haha… But the situation has improved compared to before, right?”
“Well, I don’t deny that.”
Most nobles were reassigned as administrative officials to govern lands. However, since there were so many nobles below standard, the transition process was not easy.
Rinoa was recognized for her abilities and was in a first-class administrative position overseeing the Western part of the Southern Continent.
“…Hmph.”
After pouring out her nagging for a while, she soon softens and smiles.
“You’re quite remarkable. At first, I thought you were crazy… But you’ve ultimately achieved integration.”
“Thanks to you. Without you, Rinoa, it would have been impossible.”
As the conversation continues for a while, Rinoa speaks meaningfully.
“You know there’s a tea party on the last day of the festival, right?”
“Oh, yes. I heard that.”
“Seems like they’re going to complain about their husbands or something.”
“Gulp.”
“Hehe, I’m looking forward to it.”
Anduha sighs at Rinoa speaking this way.
“To actively discuss things in such a tea party, wouldn’t it be about time for the young lady to find a partner?”
“Why is the conversation heading this way?”
Rinoa pouts and tries to avoid this topic.
Anduha seems to be casting expectant eyes at me.
I said jokingly, “If that’s the case, couldn’t you be her partner?”
“What nonsense. …No, what are you talking about. The lady and I are from the same family.”
“It’s not like marriage between a branch and main family is unheard of.”
“Please refrain from such tasteless jokes, Your Majesty.”
At that moment, Leitin, who had been sitting quietly, starts becoming restless.
Rinoa chuckles and tells me, “These two are currently dating.”
“Really?”
“Really. Surprised? Lucretia even helped set them up.”
Leitin lowers her head, looking embarrassed. Anduha also coughs and avoids my gaze.
It seems things are going well on their side too.
Anduha seems worried about Rinoa, but Rinoa appears to be enjoying her newfound freedom in life.
***
Festival Third Day.
I received guests in the audience hall.
Unlike yesterday, when there were no particularly high-ranking figures except for Rosa, and everyone was family so we handled things roughly in the reception room, today was different.
Guests had come from the Elven Islands and the Eastern Continent.
First was Calvern from the Eastern Continent.
Calvern led the leaders of each race and visited the Imperial Palace.
‘So this was his purpose after all.’
Calvern’s goal was to revive the extinct races. He had been pretending to side with the mother goddess for this purpose.
Recently, he had been preserving the lineage of extinct races with Olkin’s help, bringing them back to life.
Although his radical approach was worrying, it was ultimately something that had to be overcome.
‘It aligns with my own future plans.’
Calvern made formal greetings and then requested a private audience with me.
His topic was about the mother goddess.
“I’ve investigated more about the mother goddess by talking with Olkin, Vandalin, Omeron, and others.”
“So?”
“They say she hasn’t completely disappeared. However, it seems clear that she is in an unstable state.”
“Unstable?”
“At that time, her physical body was like a vessel containing her soul. As that vessel broke, the mother goddess’ soul also weakened.”
“Hmm, so she’s weakened but still exists?”
“Yes, but we can’t yet know when or in what form she might reappear.”
“So we must prepare until then.”
“We don’t know when. The mother goddess, having already experienced one failure, might not try to resurrect through a physical body. According to Olkin, she might wait for a long time, dwelling in nature like trees or rocks until her soul becomes complete.”
“It would be good if we could know what she’s inhabiting.”
For now, Vandalin was searching the mountain where I had defeated the mother goddess, but there were no significant clues.
“That’s all for now. Don’t worry too much. She probably won’t be an immediate threat.”
“Thank you. I hope you enjoy the festival.”
After concluding the audience with Calvern, I received the guests from the Elven Islands.
Beato, who seemed displeased with the waiting time that occurred while talking with Calvern, grumbled.
“How long are you going to make us wait?”
“I’m sorry.”
Beato read out a list of gifts sent from the island for a long time.
When that ended, an elderly-looking elf man came forward and began discussing Beato’s marriage arrangement.
Although it was a political marriage, Beato didn’t seem to dislike it.
She understood the importance of political marriages. She also didn’t seem to mind that I was the other party.
“More importantly… Did that child come?”
“Yes, he did. But why did you call him that child?”
“I have my reasons.”
He was a pure-blooded elf child named Seres living on the Elven Islands.
“Will you bring him here?”
The boy named Seres was looking around the audience hall anxiously. Sophia was beside him.
I came down from the throne and approached him.
“So you’re Seres. It’s truly a pleasure to meet you.”
“I-I am honored to have an audience with Your Majesty!”
“Yes, I hope you enjoy the festival.”
The elven delegation retreats.
I asked Sophia, “How are his qualities?”
Sophia nodded.
“He’s a bright child. He has principles too. It will depend on how he’s raised.”
She then furrowed her brow.
“But are you serious? About making him the next emperor?”
“I am serious. This is also for the future.”
The current peace will collapse when I die.
So I must solidify the governance system.
This is the dictatorship by a wise monarch, which I consider the ideal political system.
Of course, this is an unstable system. If that wise monarch dies, everything falls apart.
That’s why I plan to raise Seres, a pure-blooded elf, as the next emperor.
“Pure-blooded elves live about 400 years. After that, we’ll transition to a parliamentary system with reduced royal power. To make this happen, Seres must be taught very strictly. So I’m asking you. Sophia, will you be his teacher?”
“So essentially the world’s future rests on my shoulders.”
“This is also necessary for integration with other races. Well, I’ll help too, so don’t burden yourself too much.”
“Okay, I’ll give it a try.”
Sophia, becoming the prime minister and the prince’s teacher.
Looking at her straightforward nature, I could clearly see how Seres would grow and what hardships he would endure.
“But is it really okay that you’re not passing the throne to your own children?”
“That would just cause unnecessary conflicts. I want my children to grow up without such worries.”
In the years to come, to ensure Seres smoothly inherits the throne, I plan to send the children to the countryside.
After I also abdicate the throne, I plan to go there, disappear from public view, and spend a comfortable later life with my wives.
I thought this was the only way to ensure a thousand years of peace.
For what comes after, I can only hope that my descendants will manage well.
Fourth day of the festival, dawn.
I rode a carriage early in the morning heading north.
I was planning to go with Ryuna alone, but Eonia came along, saying how absurd it would be to go just the two of us.
Ryuna, who had been sleeping, opened her eyes in the carriage and seemed to think we were going on a picnic, and shouted for snacks.
Eo looks down with an apologetic expression.
“What should I do, Ryuna? I couldn’t bring snacks because I rushed out.”
“Eeeh…”
Ryuna looks dejected.
Fortunately, at our destination, food was piled up like a mountain.
Melodie, who was preparing those foods with the servants, discovered us and ran over with a bright smile.
“Ars! You’re here! No, now I should use honorifics. You’re the emperor.”
“Just like always, just like always.”
“Hmm.”
The Crossing Republic, which was destined to perish through our merger with Liande.
Melodie, who was the princess of that place, was living with Juras.
Her expression showed happiness, seemingly content with this life spent with Juras, whom she had always respected.
“Today, we’re having a party to celebrate the founding festival. Enjoy yourselves to the fullest.”
Melodie proudly pointed to the children.
This was the academy built by Juras.
Juras, who became a free person after the fall of Crossing, had built and was operating a massive academy for war orphans.
Though I suspected he might be raising spies, he was genuinely doing something for the children.
With Kaien appointed as the first principal, it had become a renowned academy within three years.
I entered the academy and looked for Kaien.
After all wars had ended, he was spending his remaining years peacefully, teaching children.
His former students, Ushis and Gillias Melbourn, were also working as teachers at the academy.
“Oh, you’ve come.”
“Grandpa! Give me cookies!”
Ryuna hugged Kaien with a bright smile. Kaien gave her unlimited snacks, which is why Ryuna especially liked him.
Ryuna nestled in Kaien’s arms and began munching on cookies. Kaien was smiling contentedly.
“I’m sorry for making you come directly. I should have gone myself.”
“I can’t bring you to the imperial palace. Where is Juras?”
“He would be at the lake.”
“I’ll go and check. Can you watch Ryuna for a moment?”
“Sure, of course.”
I headed to the lake at the center of the academy with Eonia.
There, Juras was teaching fishing to the children.
The caught fish seemed to be intended for immediate meal preparation, and everyone looked serious.
Juras glanced at me sideways and instructed the children to take the fish to the dining hall.
The kids ran off, chattering and carrying the fish buckets.
I approached where he was, leaving Eonia behind.
“You’re living leisurely.”
“Heh, are you jealous?”
“Honestly, yes.”
I now knew exactly what this guy wanted.
“I feel like I’ve been hit with something.”
Juras’ purpose was to pass on the burden he had to carry to someone else.
He already knew that unification was not the end, that the events afterward would be even more difficult.
“This was the only way for me to gain freedom. The only way to shake off things others forcibly made me carry.”
I sometimes think about this.
If Juras had wanted to, the Central Continent would have been unified in an instant.
But he didn’t want such a future. He knew exactly how his life would unfold if he became emperor.
He would have spent the rest of his life navigating a thorny path, avoiding the seeds of rebellion and assassination threats.
“I’m so busy because of you.”
“Heh, Ars, you’re also doing interesting things. Passing the throne to a pure elf who isn’t even your own child?”
“Did Sophia tell you?”
“I heard from Anton.”
“What do you think? I’m curious about your opinion.”
“Not bad. If this child Seres truly becomes a wise ruler.”
“We must teach him well somehow.”
For my peaceful retirement as well.
I picked up a nearby fishing rod.
“Can you teach me how to put on the bait?”
After casting the fishing line, casual conversation followed.
How far things had gone with Melodie, whether there were any standout children in the academy.
We talked comfortably, like old friends.
Hi guys, please check out the new novel I picked “I killed the Demon King. It was a mistake.”
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