376 – Finally
The cheers echoed for a long time. A hero was born in the glorious position of conquering the northern part of the empire and serving as the ruler of nomads. Six noble heroes who were even granted the name of the imperial family were born.
Of course, most people shouting hurrah won’t even know who the six heroes are. The great subjugation war was recognized as a war in which the empire should win, and those guys were just commoners, not nobles. You know that the person who led the subjugation war was a legend, but you probably don’t know the name of the 6 swords. It is natural unless you have read the recently revised textbook.
Therefore, their hurray will be more of an interest in the creation of a new hero, not a celebration of the hero’s sacrifice being rewarded.
But it doesn’t matter. From this day on, their names will remain in the heads of all citizens and all empires. Even if the world forgets me, you won’t.
“Long live the Emperor!”
I didn’t know how many times I shouted hurray again. To the extent that it could reach you in the sky and the emperor in the imperial palace.
“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Six Heroes!”
Fenelia and the ink clown near me also shouted together. These guys know the name of the 6 swords, and they know what I have to do with them.
Seeing that, I laughed even more. The 4th Division of the Inspection Department, which I raised, are paying their respects to you guys who are no different from our juniors.
Today is a happy day.
“Long live Livno!”
It is indeed a happy day.
After the triumphal ceremony, Fenelia wiped her eyes with the handkerchief she gave her. It seems that I cried a little without knowing it. Somehow, my eyes were hot.
“Thank you.”
As she tried to push away her embarrassment and hugged Fenelia, Fenelia gave her a hug as well. When she saw the ink clown looking at him with a pleased expression, she was embarrassed but did not release the hug. It’s not that I’m acting strangely.
That doesn’t mean you have to clap. No matter how proud you are, it’s okay to draw other people’s attention.
“Now I just have to report to the Ministry of Special Affairs, right?”
“Yes. Once you report back, you will be put on standby for a while. It’s practically like a vacation.”
Anyway, I asked Fenelia while embracing her, and she gave me the answer she wanted.
Yes, no matter how tight the empire rolls civil servants, it’s not enough to roll someone who has just returned from the battlefield. For the time being, all members of the Mukgwangdae will be able to rest leisurely. In the first place, as long as Dorgon is dead, there will be no excessive splitting of the Special Forces power.
“After you report it, go to the mansion with the kids.”
At that, Fenelia nodded her head. The servants of the mansion were not the only ones worried about the news that I and the Ink Gwangdae were going to war. Fortunately, no one died and returned, so it would be better for everyone to have a meal and sleep together.
“Then master—”
“I have somewhere to go. Don’t worry, it will be over before the sun goes down.”
“Ah, yes. I see…”
It broke her heart to see Fenelia with a sullen look on her face when she was told that she would have to be away for a while, but she couldn’t help it.
Just before entering the island, a text message from the emperor came through the communication port. After the triumphal ceremony, she was ordered to enter the palace. Since the emperor, not someone else, called, I had to go unconditionally.
Besides, since she received a great gift from the emperor, she is in a position where she has to go and bow first to express her gratitude even if he is not invited. No matter how much I hate my boss who makes me do things, if I’m a human child, shouldn’t I be grateful for my benefactor?
“Then I’ll go. If my father comes while I’m gone, I’ll tell you I’ll be back soon.”
She also left a guideline for her behavior just in case, and Fenelia nodded her head with a determined expression.
She looked as if she would come personally if her father didn’t come, but she pretended not to know.
***
The faint sound of cheers that could be heard all the way to her imperial palace finally subsided. The heat of the improvement ceremony lasted quite a long time, probably thanks to the bestowal of the Count of Livnoman to six people.
And not long after that, the inspector general came.
“Long live the Emperor. Your favored servant, Karl Krasius, greets the noble and great sun of the Empire.”
The director of the inspection department who entered the office immediately bowed down and bowed. It wasn’t because of his mood that he seemed more polite than usual.
As expected, it was the right choice to bestow the Livnoman Countess on them. Perhaps this gift would have been more effective than giving the head of the inspection department a title or a fiefdom.
“Rise up. Jim doesn’t feel comfortable when a servant who has returned after making a bigger contribution than anyone else shows such a low attitude.”
“I apologize.”
The inspector general, who carefully stood up, bowed his head this time. As if he had been given permission to rise, but had not been commanded to raise his head, so he did not dare to look at the emperor’s face.
It’s rather embarrassing to see how effective this is. Since he said it was okay to wake up, it meant that he could raise his head, but how did he become such a conservative subject?
‘My father’s blood seems to flow.’
The corner of his mouth almost went up when he suddenly thought of Count Tyleglechen. Yeah, he’s the count’s son, so he deserves to look like this. After all, blood cannot be deceived.
So I can’t help it. I have no choice but to treat the head of the inspection department like Count Tylglechen.
“Raise your head because I have something to tell you.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Only then, when I pointed at the table in front of the inspector general who raised his head, the inspector general’s eyes widened for a moment as he followed my fingers to the table.
“The reason why the name Livnoman is granted to a servant is because the merit and dedication of the servant are truly worthy of being called the pillars of the imperial family. The six heroes to whom I have bestowed the title of Count Livnoman today were like that. “
“Indeed, they will rejoice at the heavenly grace.”
As soon as I opened my mouth, I shook my head at the inspector general who responded quickly.
“I didn’t do them a favor. They did a favor to the royal family.”
“Your Majesty.”
The inspector general stuttered as if he was embarrassed, but he didn’t care. It is dangerous to give excessive honor to a living subject, but it is ugly to ignore the noble people who gave their lives for the imperial family and empire. For an empire to be like an empire, dedication and sacrifice must be valued.
No sacrifice is taken for granted, and no sacrifice is taken lightly. That is the will of the great emperor who set the heavenly mandate right.
“The emperor bestows wine on those who have received the title of count of Livnoman and praises them for their achievements. This is a beautiful custom that has been passed down since the time of the great emperor, so I will follow suit.”
At those words, the inspector general’s gaze returned to the table. The seven wineskins placed on it are the wine for the six Counts of Livnoman.
“However, it is also customary for the bereaved family to receive alcohol on behalf of the deceased when he has been awarded the title of Count of Livnoman.”
After saying that, I walked towards the table. I grabbed a bag on the table and handed it to the inspector.
“I think the only person who can replace them is the sutra, so accept the sutra instead of the heroes.”
The inspector general was silent for a moment, then lowered his head. And he spat out a single word.
“…I will definitely repay your grace.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
The director of the inspection department will deliver it to the owner who should have received it.
***
From noble mtl dot com
My eyes got hot twice a day. I’m not a person who cries so much.
‘Embarrassing.’
He sighed as he roughly wiped his eyes. If this was even a little late, I might have really cried.
That’s troublesome. If the guy who came to deliver the good news was crying ugly, he would be teased.
“I’m here again.”
After clearing my throat for a while, I opened my mouth. To the six people who were waiting for me, to the heroes who are the true protagonists of the triumphal ceremony.
“Because the whole system was noisy, you guys know? I came back with a win. I won perfectly this time.”
I won really perfectly. All forces that had rebelled against the Empire had disappeared. The north rested in the arms of the empire, and the emperor, as khan, obtained the right to rule the nomads. Relatively little blood was shed to achieve this dazzling achievement. It’s not that there aren’t any, but it’s written down anyway.
“Dorgon is also dead. Maybe it’s because I killed him with my own hands.”
Dorgon, whose existence itself symbolized unstable peace. Although Dorgon’s death was tantamount to suicide– by killing him in this war, the unstable peace became perfect peace.
The peace you longed for, the peace we dreamed of, has arrived.
“…I think I can be confident in front of you now.”
A sly smile leaked out. After you died and Dorgon went into hiding, I lived half a life. As a foreign species, the half that occupied someone else’s body and failed to achieve its purpose.
But now I think I can say that it’s not a half, but a confident one. It seems that they have become residents of this world, not an alien species.
“So I brought something good to commemorate. It was a gift from His Majesty, so drink it with a sense of burden.”
After saying that, I poured wine from a leather bottle onto the tombstone.
“This is more valuable than boyar wine. Drink it slowly, you drunkard.”
First, to Count Gerard Bartna of Livonman.
“I know you don’t drink much, but this is a good thing.”
Then to Count Oliver Krobien of Livonman.
“You drink while feeling the taste as much as possible. You don’t even know the taste when you’re drunk.”
Then to Drake Schiller, Earl of Livonman.
“There is only one per person, so let’s drink together instead of being alone.”
Then to Count Walter Frenaz of Liv-Norman.
“If you are suffering there too, drink and cheer up.”
Then to Count Idrid Leden of Liv-Norman.
“I love you. If we meet again in the next life, I’ll confess to you first.”
Lastly, to Count Hecate Larid of Livnoman.
After distributing Eosaju one by one, they sat down in front of the tombstone. The emperor gave me seven, so I have something to drink, so let’s have a toast.
“Take care. Don’t worry, I won’t be whining here again.”
If you think about it, I also caused quite a bit of trouble to them. Don’t they come to me drunk in the middle of the night, or do they fall asleep in that state and stay homeless?
It must have been embarrassing and worrying since the guy left alone, even the youngest guy, smoked the truth. I’m sorry.
“…I’ll be fine too. I’ll be happy as if I’m showing off.”
So I said it with all my heart.
Now I’ll be happy enough that you won’t have to worry.
With that promise, he pushed the unit forward.
Like those guys are in front of me.