[First Test Sieve

-84,197 applicants.

-4,694 passed. 306 vacancies from the originally planned 5,000.

・Regarding the test content and significance of the test

(Omitted)

・Special notes for each test site.

-Test Site 1 All personnel from the Lennart Ducal family were disqualified by the Tin Knight and Dorothea Aschengard.

-Test Site 2 Maris von Lennart and her subordinate group occupy more than half of the quota and pass.

-Test Site 3 All personnel from the Lennart Ducal family were disqualified by Adelaide von Lennart and Sophia Hubris.

-Test Site 4 Disciples from the Lennart dojo occupy more than half of the quota and pass.

-Test Site 5 Algind Goodwitch and her subordinate mage corps pass smoothly. Clashed with some personnel from the Lennart dojo, but no conflict with main family members.

-Test Site 6 Clash between the Patriotic Youth Corps and Lennart family subordinates. Both sides suffered numerous casualties, but the Patriotic Youth Corps narrowly won.

Flutter.

The pages of the report with a faint floral scent and soft texture turned, and two eyes hidden behind a veil scanned the characters between the white spaces.

Somewhere the Empress’ side won, somewhere Lennart prevailed, but surprisingly, the most common case was where both sides advanced to the next test without a clear superiority being determined.

It couldn’t be helped.

Unless it was the latter half where one had to definitively defeat the opponent to pass, there was no reason to risk facing skilled individuals when there were plenty of easy-to-defeat riffraff around.

So.

[-Test Site 13 Hilda von Lennart. Participated alone without other family allies. Killed all other participants who didn’t forfeit. Passed as the sole survivor.

This was an act close to a kind of madness that didn’t consider the consequences.

If not that, then.

“…Are they trying to provoke us? Such insolent ones.”

Empress Meridia.

At the low mutter that escaped her lips, the servant who had submitted the report and was waiting felt his entire body stiffen.

The Empress’ expression couldn’t be seen due to the veil covering her face, but it was clearly evident that she harbored no small amount of displeasure.

Although he knew that emotion wasn’t directed at him, the majesty the Empress possessed was so great that it made his spine tingle involuntarily.

The mother of the Empire. The guardian of the Imperial Family.

In the past, there were those who hurled malicious mockery at her, calling her, “A woman with nothing but beauty,” or “A witch who maintains her youth by devouring her children,” but during the years of regency, such people were either eliminated one by one or suffered worse fates as retribution for their sins.

Recalling the anecdotes of various imperial family members who had rushed to aim for the Emperor’s position, bypassing the young Crown Prince, and successively met with “accidental deaths,” the servant secretly gulped.

“Is this all the news about Werner von Lennart written here?”

“Yes, after returning to the capital from Nemea Castle, he’s been in seclusion at his residence without showing any particular movement. He didn’t participate in the recruitment test.”

“I see.”

The Empress’ words and actions were noble, and every movement exuded an unapproachable dignity.

There was no trace of the childish lady-like aspect that showed when she was alone with the Witch of the South.

While proceeding with work to adjust the detailed contents of the second test or decide on investigations and responses to persons of interest afterwards.

The guard watching the door of the room where the Empress was staying announced the presence of a new guest.

It was a sudden visit without even a prior appointment.

Considering that there were numerous nobles waiting for an opportunity, hoping to have even a small conversation with the Empress, it was an extremely rude and unusual occurrence, but the Empress who greeted the guest showed no sign of displeasure.

“Mother, were you in the middle of work? Have I perhaps disturbed you?”

“How could that be? I was just about to take a break, so you’ve come at a perfect time.”

At the Empress’ warm words, the Crown Prince’s face softened.

Even though he was trying hard to maintain dignified speech and behavior, he was still a boy approaching his 10th birthday.

Compared to the seasoned veterans in the political arena, he had many immature points.

There were many voices of concern that it was too early for such a boy to become the head of the vast nation that was the Empire, but the Empress thought differently.

Experience can be gained after ascending to the throne. But who knows when another opportunity to sweep away those dangerous ones will come if not now.

Now, when the formidable enemy that was the Magic State lacked the capacity to project power externally due to internal consolidation.

Now, when voices of fracture, distrust, and confusion had grown within the Lennart family due to the information spread from the Tower of Control.

She believed without a doubt that this moment was the opportunity to sweep away the obstacles threatening her son.

While stroking the young Crown Prince’s head, the Empress’ eyes held a cold light.

***

After that, the tests continued, and each time, numerous failures emerged.

And on the list of those failures, there were notably many names related to the Lion Duke’s bloodline.

The people of the Lennart Ducal family were shocked.

“Lord Feldous failed in just the second test? And to a mere weirdo in a mascot costume!?”

“The failure rate of the bloodline members is too high. Over three hundred participated, but less than a hundred and fifty remain!”

“The Empress’ military forces themselves, including the Patriotic Youth Corps, are nothing special, but the mages under the Archmage are the problem. They’re aiming for mutual destruction, almost disregarding their own passing!”

One might say that a 50% pass rate was amazing when 80,000 were reduced to 5,000 in the first test, but the Ducal family thought differently.

Those three hundred were the descendants of the Lion Duke, possessing golden-hair hair and violet eyes.

Each one was not lacking to be named the Empire’s elite, the best of the best.

They were beings who “naturally” should have remained until the end unless they directly clashed with the court mages under the Witch of the South or fought among themselves.

“We still have many other forces under our influence remaining, so we shouldn’t be too pessimistic…”

“This is a matter of symbolism!! If the direct lineage members drop out in droves and only disciples and military-origin members remain, will people consider that the power of our family?”

Naturally, it wasn’t as if the three hundred direct lineage members were the Lennart Ducal family’s maximum force.

Disciples from the dojo, elites from friendly knightly orders, strong figures from the military.

They still had much power they could mobilize, and many had advanced without failing the test.

The number of people the Imperial Family said they would ultimately select from this recruitment test was a thousand.

Of course, everyone could guess that this was just for the first recruitment, and that number could increase as much as possible later.

However, even if the number increased, it would be nearly impossible for latecomers to surpass the influence of the initial members and initial commanders.

Therefore, their plan was to secure commander positions with family bloodline members and plant a certain proportion of forces among the soldiers to control the Emperor’s direct army itself.

But what if the direct bloodline members who should occupy the executive positions dropped out in droves, and only those who should be their subordinates remained?

Even if that happened, it wasn’t as if they couldn’t fill the vacant positions, but the appearance wasn’t good at all.

Above all, unlike the bloodline members connected by blood ties, these were people entangled by interests, so they couldn’t be fully trusted, which was fatal.

It was fine now while the family’s prestige was strong, but if the Ducal family’s prestige showed signs of decline, and that period lengthened, it was uncertain how things would unfold.

“We must take some measures!”

“Measures? What do you mean? The test content is managed by the Imperial Family, and unless it’s intentionally disadvantageous to us, there’s no way to intervene from the outside.”

“But we can’t just sit still like this, can we? What if an Imperial direct army is created and it turns against us?”

“Isn’t that worrying too much? To begin with, how much power would a single corps have even if it’s created?”

“Such complacency could lead to things worsening beyond the point of no return!!”

“That’s right! We must do something immediately!”

“How about requesting His Excellency to take action?”

“We’ve already tried that. However, His Excellency only says, ‘Just win the positions with skill’…”

“How frustrating this is!!”

“The Empress is one thing, but the Duke is another! How much has our family dedicated to the Empire!!”

Discontent towards the Imperial Family that was blatantly mistreating them.

Anxiety that they might lose this power they were currently enjoying.

And as if digging into those negative emotions, some unsettling words began to flow.

“Is there any meaning in continuing to be loyal to such an Imperial Family?”

“Why does His Excellency keep demanding patience from us? What exactly have we done wrong?”

“Without Lennart, the Empire wouldn’t exist either! Using us as they please, arbitrarily labeling us as potential traitors, what kind of absurd nonsense is this?”

It wasn’t yet a deadly poison that could taint the entire Lennart family.

Because there were clearly those in the Ducal family who held patriotism towards the Empire, loyalty and trust towards the family head, and honor as warriors in their hearts.

However, it was also true that continuous pressure from the outside weakened the power of the moderates and neutrals, and made them inclined to listen to the voices of the radicals.

Watching this scene from behind, the head of the Council of Elders quietly smiled.

***

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