217 – Creating a Hero
I’m breaking into a cold sweat.
The foreign minister of the empire and the archbishop of the Vatican are fighting over me.
It’s impossible to get attention from these older men, especially men who can easily bury a person.
It is very chilling down the spine.
But I am already in the middle of it all.
To summarize the current situation, it is as follows.
High-ranking officer of Shaleam Bridge, 5th Rank Evan.
I, Ian Black Angus, have contributed greatly to defeating him.
And the reactions of the Empire and the Vatican to this are different.
The Britannia Empire is planning to make me a hero and sell it to various places.
What the Empire wants to use me for is the so-called ‘creating a hero’ task.
If it was none other than the Academy’s cadets who killed the Shaleam Church’s executives, a situation that could be used as excellent propaganda has been created.
And a hero is always someone who can easily calm the public’s complaints.
It is a good way to appease the public sentiment of an empire that is in trouble due to the succession fight.
I am none other than myself.
“……”
My name will probably be widely spread through newspapers and other media, and I will instantly become a celebrity on the public’s lips.
– A cadet from the academy takes down a high-ranking official of the Shale Church –
Stories about defeating the strong as the weak tend to work well everywhere.
I guess the empire is planning to exploit that kind of image.
‘Even if that happens, I have no intention of being singled out.’
Anyway.
Next, Holy Constantine’s reaction is as follows.
— Yes. You can never make a hero. Rather, hand over the child’s personal affairs to us.
I can’t allow myself to be a hero.
In addition, they will arrest me.
This is the Vatican that clearly shows its will to hold on to me.
Ha.
If you’re this obsessed, I wonder if you’ve lost something in the past…
‘If you think about it a little more, the reason is clear.’
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Shale Bridge.
It is the Vatican rather than the Empire that should use them for propaganda.
Shale Cult is a religion anyway, and it must be the Vatican based on the Deus Cult that drives out such a cult.
In short, it is a political fight over food.
Constantine, the god who should have been cheered after pushing out the shale bridge, had to hand over the rice bowl to the empire.
— What’s the Deus Church doing when it can’t properly eradicate a cult?
If these questions become widespread, the Vatican will be in trouble.
I understand why you foam at the mouth and keep me in check.
“Archbishop. It happened on the territory of the empire.”
“I know. But it is difficult for us to compromise on this matter, Minister.”
The battle of wits between the Empire and the Holy See began with me in between.
As a result, the atmosphere became tense enough to be felt.
“……”
I glanced at Count Rippenstein.
He was also looking at me with his serious eyes.
Now I understand.
Why did he say I was important in this meeting?
As he said, I was the core of this conference room.
Not as a ‘human being’ but as a ‘meeting agenda’.
Count Rippenstein looked at me and nodded elegantly before opening his mouth.
“I’m sorry you two are talking.”
The two working-level leaders were becoming more and more heated.
The two stopped talking and looked back at the Count.
Actually, there is a fairly large social gap between Count Rippenstein and the two leaders, but their expressions show sufficient respect.
“Shouldn’t we listen to what Lord Rippenstein says?”
“Please tell me.”
The ability to be respected by everyone.
That is Count Rippenstein’s most overwhelming advantage.
‘Let’s put it in our heads.’
I memorized his body movements and tone of voice, one by one.
Count Rippenstein smiled kindly, lightly raising his hand and catching his gaze. He opened his mouth with a light nod to his chest.
“Actually, the reason I called Ian here was because I thought this topic would become important.”
He gave me a wink.
Are you telling me to wake up?
As he stood up, the Count slightly bowed his head as if he was grateful.
He continues speaking.
“Since Ian is the subject, isn’t Ian’s own story also important?”
The Empire’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Blitter, frowned slightly and opened his mouth, managing to remain polite.
“… Hmm. As Lord Riepenstein knows, personal stories are extremely powerless in the face of politics.”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Blitter’s expression as he pounded the table seemed as if he had wasted time.
But Count Rippenstein did not care.
“That’s right. But.”
Count Rippenstein takes a moment of silence to ventilate his surroundings. His words continued.
“For example, wouldn’t it be possible for Ian to have a Black Angus family?”
“Back belly?”
Minister Blitter squinting.
“A cadet at the academy and a family that has already been extinct. What do you mean?”
As he said that, he looked back at me.
It seems like a rough investigation has already been done.
Blitter also probably has some information about me.
Not as much as Count Rippenstein, though.
He opened his mouth.
“Minister Blitter supports the First Princess, right?”
“That’s right.”
“You may have judged that using Ian’s Black Angus army would be to the benefit of the First Princess.”
“… I can’t deny it.”
Count Rippenstein, who had answered the somewhat uncomfortable question bluntly, turned to look at me.
“Ian Black Angus. Who do you support?”
A sharp question comes flying in.
Count Rippenstein’s eyes were infinitely clear and bright.
This is what it means to need me.
I think I know what answer Count Rippenstein wants. To reveal which of the three heirs to the throne I support.
I grinned.
If you’re of the same mind, I’d like to ask you when you first noticed it.
When the princess first arrived in Liechten?
Or was she eavesdropping on my conversation with her?
Whatever it is, think about it for a moment.
I wonder if it would be okay to reveal here that I am the third princess.
‘There’s nothing that can’t be done.’
Asteria Estrid, the princess of rebellion.
Her support for her political coming out.
It has been hidden until now, but if Princess Asteria starts to move in earnest, she will soon be revealed.
The time has come.
‘More than anything, she won’t give up on her treason now.’
In that case, it would be beneficial for her to come out now.
Can I prevent a war between the Empire and the Vatican by coming out?
Because it would be stupid not to do it.
“I support the third princess, Asteria Estrid.”
“How much support is there?”
I gave a firm answer to Briter who immediately asked the question.
“She considers herself to be a close associate of Asteria.”
Bukbuk.
Blitter scratched his bare forehead.
He looks quite troubled.
Of course.
If it’s for the good of the country, you have to take me.
I am in a situation where I have to give up myself for the sake of the first princess whom he supports.
Individual gain and national gain.
Surprisingly, weighing that is difficult for many people.
Blitter opened his mouth.
“What if the First Princess makes you a hero?”
“Yes.”
“What about gold and silver treasures?”
“No change.”
“What are the high-ranking officials in the empire?”
Quite a persistent question.
I bowed my head to him politely.
“I’m sorry. I have already received a lot of help from Princess Astria. I cannot escape from her.”
“Huh.”
Minister Blitter sighed briefly and leaned back in his chair.
He closed his eyes tightly for a moment and lost himself in thought.
State’s position and own power.
Which one would you choose among them?
“… I guess we should just pretend this never happened.”
Of course, his own benefit came first.
He, who had been radiating heat until just now and was unwilling to hand me over to Holy Constantine, gave up on An.
I have no intention of criticizing him.
That may actually be a heart for the country.
Power is because the more you gain, the more you can be involved in. Retreat from the small to have a greater impact.
Politicians are very calculating beings.
“It seems like this part has been resolved well.”
It was as if that fox-like Count Noikjang-Ripenstein was smiling kindly and nodding his head.
‘Well, I guess it’s the same for me too.’
I also came here to resolve the ‘war crisis’ flag.
Count Rippenstein and I are a temporary alliance with the same goal.
It seems like that purpose has been achieved successfully.
Count Rippenstein successfully resolved the remaining conflicts.
I slowly feel relieved.
At this level, there seems to be no need to consider the war between Holy Constantine and the empire.
Assassination doesn’t seem like much of a threat in the current situation.
‘If the security was that high outside the conference hall in the first place…’
Assassination won’t be easy.
I remembered the name of the assassin who could break through it.
‘I got it.’
She has already been defeated by me and disappeared.
In addition, if it were a person who could be assassinated at Shaleam Bridge, Evan’s method would be using shadows.
He too has already been defeated.
‘… It might go smoothly like this.’
I heard that wind for a while.
And always.
This is always the case, but such hopes are usually in vain.
— Jeee!
My ears suddenly feel numb.
It was only after hearing the sound of an explosion that I realized that it was the result of something like a beam being fired.
A thin, laser-like pillar of light that seems to extend through the roof.
— Kuguaaa!
Right next to Minister of Foreign Affairs Blitter exploded with tremendous force.