CHAPTER 67: NO LONGER HOLDING BACK...?

*** Snowkeep Palace ***

"My lord, what’s going on!?"

"We need to alert the church immediately."

"This doesn’t seem like a malicious act."

The knights began to banter, their usual composed demeanor breaking as the current divine act continued to unfold in the capital.

Even the chandeliers trembled above them, scattering fragments of golden light across the marble floor.

With all of Justinian’s incompetent nobles gone and the rebellion quelled, it was now only he, the knights, Matthias, and Darius.

And that meant he no longer needed to be careful; now he needed to be daring, and that odd dream was enough to fully convince him to finally use his system to its fullest capacity.

"Silence, I’ll explain everything."

Justinian’s voice immediately stopped the arguments that were happening in his throne room, his armor materializing out of thin air as he attempted to obtain everyone’s attention.

This single act should have been enough to convince everyone he was the reason for the miracle construction.

"Did that armor just appear out of nowhere...!?"

Darius dropped a cup of tea that he was holding. He was the most unknowledgeable about divine magic; he hadn’t even seen one firsthand.

And now that Justinian had shown him his version of his ’divine’ blessing, it completely messed with him.

"I-I didn’t just imagine that right!?"

Darius looked around him, trying to find anyone else who would side with him, someone else who was just as confused.

But most already accepted the situation; they didn’t expect it, but they definitely knew something this crazy would have happened due to their duke.

"I forgot you’re still new here at the palace..."

Javier approached Darius, placing a hand on his shoulder to reassure him, with the same naive smile on his face.

"Better get used to it soon, you’re pretty much Lord Justinian’s third in command."

Matthias, meanwhile, didn’t let confusion cloud his mind, already speaking his thoughts as he wanted answers.

"My lord, is this your doing?"

"Yes."

Justinian smiled, sitting on his throne as he answered. Everyone present was loyal to him; no need to hide anymore.

"Incredible... it seems I still need to do more to be able to serve at your side."

Matthias murmured, placing a hand over his mouth. Even after all his efforts, it seemed like Justinian was still a hundred steps ahead.

At least, that’s what Matthias thought.

’I’ll need to rack up as much prestige as possible while my miracle is still ongoing. Why wait a couple of years for my entire realm to prosper when I can do it instantly?’

"Matthias, since most of the priests aren’t present in the realm, we’ll have the servants spread the news for us."

"News of what... my lord?"

"I... am an Arcanist, let all under me know that. No more masks. No more false humility."

The knights, hearing those words, couldn’t help but freeze; even the servants who were just cleaning and had overheard it were also frozen in shock.

A position of that power, announced so casually, and hidden for so long.

’Ughh... shit!’

Justinian winced again, hearing a spike of notifications overwhelm his senses once more.

’I swear to god if this pain only gives me a sliver of prestige I’ll be pissed...’

"That is all, I’ll also assist in spreading the news."

Justinian replied, standing up once more as he raised his left hand high.

"Move out!"

’Not really usual royal protocol... but if you don’t have nobles to deny and oppose your commands, why bother?’

Outside, the text continued to flow, the once plain but beautiful view of the city replaced with an aqueduct of incredible size, a marvel of architecture as it stretched endlessly onto the mountains, all the while the Red River itself began to change, solid stone filling its side as multiple systems began to connect it to the rest of the city.

The filtration, sewage, and irrigation systems were also underway.

As Justinian left his throne, he almost forgot one thing left to order, and that was for Darius to fulfill, who was still standing in complete confusion, mumbling to himself.

"The gods are real...!?"

"I never prayed to them until now...!?"

"Am I screwed!?"

Justinian raised a brow at his reaction; even Lucan, who was still following Justinian to protect him, was amused.

"Someone actually doesn’t believe in the gods? How sheltered was he?"

"I’m not sure what’s more impressive... Justinian or his ignorance..."

Cassia remarked as well.

"Darius, please get in touch with Martin and the Craftsman’s Guild, tell them to work on other projects for a while."

"Do that and I’ll double your food payment."

Justinian gave a devilish smile, not forgetting the stupid but effective deal he made with Darius in exchange for his services.

"Au revoir"

Justinian waved off, leaving his palace to address his confused citizens and to obtain as much prestige as possible.

"My duke, what does Au revoir mean...?"

"Is it perhaps the language of the heavens?"

Lucan and Cassia pestered him about the foreign language he used; in his speed of trying to make the most of the situation, he completely forgot that the language in this world was entirely different.

But at his point, did it even matter?

"Yeah, chalk it off as that."

Justinian answered with a chuckle.

"That seems... too casual an answer, no?"

"I agree... but it probably doesn’t mean anything important if so," Cassia replied to Lucas’ second question.

Lucan frowned, as if determined to memorize the strange word for later prayer.

’I’ll never get tired of these two...’

Justinian thought, opening the door back to the outside world.

’I really am blessed that such an unimportant duchy in the novel somehow has endless competence.’

’Makes me think how the original Justinian even died...’

’Well... whatever.’

FWOOSH!

The cold air entered the throne room as Justinian pushed the palace doors wide open, his armor shining brightly with the help of the morning sun.

The light crowned him in gold, and for a heartbeat, even the wind bowed.

"Glory to House Thirell!"