CHAPTER 193: THE WEIGHT OF LEGEND

"..."

"..."

The banquet hall after the light had faded.

Except for the two evil ones writhing like insects on the floor, there was no movement whatsoever.

Nobles, merchants, officials, farmers, even royalty.

Though it was a gathering of various people, the emotions they shared were the same.

Thrill, and awe.

After a thousand years had passed, demons had long become legendary beings.

However, they were not the only ones spoken of as legends.

If demons were legends, then the founding emperor who defeated those demons and saved the world was also a legend.

The adversary of demons.

The power that annihilated magic.

The emotion felt by those who witnessed that legend before their very eyes was by no means light.

This was the empire, they were people of the empire, and wasn’t this the empire’s legend?

Above all, it was the recreation of legend in a situation where evil ones had revealed themselves after a full thousand years.

It was only natural that people’s hearts would fill with overwhelming elation.

"...To think I’d see the recreation of legend with my own eyes."

"Ooh..."

"First Emperor..."

"Saint Bird... Armian protects the empire..."

Someone knelt, someone shed tears.

Then, someone in the crowd shouted.

"Long live Aint Armian!"

"The adversary of demons!"

That was the signal.

"Long live Aint Armian!"

"The adversary of demons, long live Aint Armian!"

Emotion and thrill burst forth as one roar.

The atmosphere of the banquet hall, which had been heavy with people gathered to find evil ones, was instantly filled with hope.

’Not a bad start.’

The corner of Gerhard Goldenheim’s mouth slightly rose.

For now, he had firmly imprinted Aint Armian’s name and achievements on everyone present.

Considering that there were nobles and even royalty among them, today’s events would soon spread throughout Valerich, and further to the entire empire and continent.

Of course, adding additional fuel to that fire was natural.

’Hm?’

Then, he noticed someone who, like the others, was shouting Aint Armian’s name but somehow looked awkward.

’What’s...’

He soon realized the reason.

Complexion. For some reason, his complexion looked a bit pale. Gerhard Goldenheim approached him.

"Count Daniel, are you feeling unwell?"

"Ah, Prince."

Count Daniel smiled awkwardly.

"It seems my stomach isn’t feeling well after seeing corpses right in front of me. This is the first time I’ve seen such graphic corpses."

"Ah, that’s understandable."

The Cool Count family was located in the central part of the empire, so they were quite distant from war.

Especially after the empire stopped its expansion that had continued for about three hundred years, there were quite many families that had never experienced war at all.

The existence of hothouse flowers who had never seen bleeding and mutilated corpses wasn’t particularly special.

’Still, I thought count-level families would have some experience...’

Through participating in the family’s monster subjugation or going on missions with knights.

No matter what, one couldn’t be completely removed from death and combat while living in this world.

"...Anyway, the old legends are more impressive than expected, so it’s truly reassuring. Those evil ones probably won’t dare covet the empire."

"Yes, they won’t."

He would make it so.

Gerhard Goldenheim nodded.

==

[The legend of the empire, the legend of the founding emperor, and furthermore the legend of Armian was true.

Aint Armian, second-year student at Imperial Armian Academy, is the heir of Armian who entered the academy for the first time in about a hundred years.

When he first enrolled, he was ranked 38th in the knight department and received everyone’s scorn and ridicule, but after the semester ended, the situation changed. He...

...When the brilliant light of the Saint Bird covered the banquet hall, the evil ones knelt on their own. The magic and darkness that had been eating away at their bodies were annihilated without being able to resist...]

"...Wow, having me praised so openly like this makes me want to die of embarrassment."

Aint Armian’s face turned red.

You’ll have to get used to it.

It doesn’t make sense for someone who wants to become emperor to not be able to endure this much attention.

"Of course. I’m just not used to it, but I’ll adapt quickly. It’s not too bad."

As he said, his mouth and eyes were grinning with laughter.

"But it’s a bit much that only I’m being praised. Actually, I didn’t do much."

It was all Gerhard Goldenheim who had first discovered that evil ones would infiltrate the Continental Academic Conference, brought Aint Armian to city hall to set the stage, and was using newspapers like this.

Aint Armian had simply followed his words.

Didn’t I tell you?

There’s no sponsor as reliable as nouveau riche bastards.

"Really amazing. Not just this incident, but always from before."

Gerhard Goldenheim was always involved in matters related to evil ones or demons. He always grasped the evil ones’ plans in advance, prepared for them, and overcame them.

"...If it weren’t for you, senior, I probably would have died."

He didn’t need to look far. If it weren’t for Gerhard Goldenheim’s golem, when Andromalius descended, he would have died.

But in the end, you survived and became stronger.

That’s useless worry.

"I’m always receiving help from you, senior. But shamelessly, I’m getting all the fame. Is this right?"

You know that’s what the nouveau riche bastard intended, right?

Goldenheim bastards hate stepping forward. He’s using you too.

"I know that, but..."

He wondered if it was right to receive such unconditional favor simply because he was an Armian.

That favor felt a bit heavy sometimes.

Gardner called it using, but who in the world would use someone by giving them everything from a Saint Bird’s heart to Itarium roots, and even this kind of fame?

This was a favor. And Aint Armian wasn’t confident he could repay all of this favor.

Why not? Just become emperor.

Become emperor and give him gold like a mountain.

"Would mere gold be enough?"

Mere? If you say that in front of the nouveau riche bastard, you’ll get cursed out.

Nothing is more important to them than money.

They’d probably get angry if you offered something else instead.

Gardner clicked his tongue as if asking whether he still didn’t know Goldenheim.

"...I see."

And you should worry differently. If you can’t pay an appropriate price, he’ll somehow collect it.

"...What?"

Aint Armian blinked blankly.

What are you surprised about? Isn’t it obvious? They’re not charity workers.

The previous emperor also promised massive concessions and territories to Goldenheim and fulfilled those promises. Do you know how much they hounded the previous emperor until then?

"...Uh."

Aint Armian trembled as he imagined Gerhard Goldenheim taking away everything he had with an expressionless face.

"...I have one more reason why I must become emperor."

Because if he didn’t become emperor, the current Armian couldn’t repay all this debt.

Aint Armian steeled his resolve once again.

==

While Aint Armian was being embarrassed looking at the newspaper, there were others looking at the same newspaper elsewhere in Valerich.

[Three evil ones discovered in Valerich. Eleven deaths...]

[Evil ones beginning to show their claws...]

[The legend of the empire, the legend of the founding emperor, and furthermore the legend of Armian...]

Gerhard Goldenheim put down the newspaper that was entirely filled with stories about evil ones and Aint Armian.

"Today’s newspaper. Why are you showing this to me?"

"Looking at that newspaper, I thought about it. What could you, what could Goldenheim gain by joining hands with Aint Armian?"

Duke Gransis Wienderk shook his head.

"But my mind can’t easily come up with an answer. Schwaben and Aint Armian. Maybe in the past, but now comparing the two families is itself rude. Their territories, military forces, power and wealth."

Moreover, Schwaben was the current imperial family.

No matter how much power and strength the electors had that rivaled the emperor, an emperor was still an emperor.

If imperial authority had no benefit, why would Schwaben desperately try to maintain the throne?

Also, the benefit gained from joining hands with Schwaben was much greater than the benefit from joining hands with Armian.

The loss from joining hands with Armian was greater than the loss from joining hands with Schwaben.

"Nevertheless, your action was toward Armian. Since you could be said to represent Goldenheim, that would be Goldenheim’s will."

"That’s too much speculation."

"If Goldenheim, which always maintained neutrality and chased money, broke that principle and showed nuances of completely turning to one side, it would be one of two things."

"One of two things?"

"Either you saw more potential to make money with Armian, or you’re probing by provoking Schwaben."

Gerhard Goldenheim took a sip of tea.

"Is it the former or the latter?"

"Someone offers Your Grace a choice between diamond and mithril. Which would Your Grace choose?"

"You’re asking me a question in return?"

The duke showed displeasure with subtle pressure but soon answered.

"Naturally mithril. No matter how expensive diamond is, it can’t compare to mithril’s value."

"But adamant, mithril, orichalcum. No matter how much these three metals are crafted, their beauty can’t compare to diamond."

"It’s because of other value, not simple appearance."

"That’s my answer."

Interest flickered in the duke’s eyes.

"Are you certain mithril is correct? It might just be iron scraps wearing mithril’s mask."

"If it’s iron, what does it matter? When large-scale construction happens, that iron’s value also rises."

At that moment, the duke’s eyes widened.

"...You think the evil one situation will develop further? Has Goldenheim found clues to that?"

"I don’t quite understand what you mean."

Gerhard Goldenheim shook his head.

But the duke understood his meaning well enough.

"I see."

The duke, who had been thinking for a moment, nodded as if he had finished his thoughts.

"Let’s say this article was coincidentally written by someone who was at that scene. I’ll erase the fact that you were involved."

Rip, the duke tore the newspaper.

"And you and Aint Armian will be said to have gone for examination because traces were found that you had ’coincidentally’ brushed past one of the deceased."

Gerhard Goldenheim continued to keep his mouth shut, but the duke continued speaking without minding.

"Consider it repayment for providing direction on what to do going forward."

"I don’t know why you’re doing this, but I’ll gratefully accept. And since you’re giving, there’s one more thing..."

"It’s true that we invested in Rosalia Wienderk’s research. I can’t say something that exists doesn’t exist. However, the level of that investment is a bit hazy since it was so long ago."

It meant he would continue to stick a foot in but would reduce the size of that foot.

Gerhard Goldenheim decided to be satisfied with that much for now.

"I’ve been keeping a busy person since morning. You may go now."

"Yes. I’ll see you again next time."

Gerhard Goldenheim left at the duke’s dismissal.

Click, the duke put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it.

"Evil ones aren’t the end. The empire seeks Armian..."

Hazy smoke mixed with the office air after passing through his lungs.

"Schwaben’s already unstable throne becomes more unstable..."

The duke’s eyes coldly sank.

==

"Good work, Hyde. The writing turned out quite well."

"Yes, I inquired around and commissioned the person said to have the best writing skills in this area. You also took photos quite well, young master. The newspaper companies were very satisfied."

Hehe, Gerhard Goldenheim laughed.

"What did Duke Gransis say?"

"It will be treated as a journalist who happened to be there acting recklessly without thinking."

"Did you tell him everything?"

"It was going to be revealed eventually anyway. I’m just moving that up a bit."

There was a huge difference between simply evil ones running rampant and the great war from a thousand years ago being recreated.

Whether one clearly recognized that difference or not would change many things.

’Now there’s nothing to hold back.’

He had hidden Andromalius’s summoning because that’s what the prophecy book said.

But since demons were publicly summoned in the original future, there was no longer any need to hide it.

However.

’That got twisted because of me. So I need to set it back to normal.’

The future where demons were summoned disappeared when he caught Aaron. Naturally, the timing when people should have been alert about demons became impossible.

So instilling alertness in everyone was, in a way, his duty to fulfill.

Still, since he had used the information as trade material to get what he wanted, it could be called win-win.

"So what’s Aint Armian doing?"

"He’s holed up in the hotel room you lent him, young master. He seems tired of visitors who’ve been coming continuously since yesterday."

"He’s never met so many people, so he wouldn’t be used to it. Leave him be."

Either continuing to meet people or staying secluded and going the mysterious route wouldn’t be bad.

The evil ones’ actions wouldn’t stop anyway, and the more that happened, the more people would think of Aint Armian.

"What about Professor Rosalia Wienderk?"

"She’s packing."

Gerhard Goldenheim knocked on Rosalia Wienderk’s door.

"It’s Gerhard Goldenheim, Professor. May I come in?"

"Come in."

When he entered, Professor Rosalia Wienderk was indeed packing.

"Are you planning to return?"

"I have to return. This Continental Academic Conference is over."

That was correct. No matter how much they caught the culprits and dealt with the source, the possibility of the academic conference continuing as is was low once eleven people had died.

Especially since the culprits were evil ones.

"Aren’t you disappointed? You couldn’t submit your research."

"I’m not disappointed."

Since he knew Rosalia Wienderk had quite high expectations for this event, it was rather unexpected.

But one should always listen to the end of what people say.

"I’m angry. From research to the academic conference, I’ve been entangled with those evil one bastards more than I knew."

The air grew cold with her anger.

"I’ve been fooled twice, so my head feels like it’s going to explode thinking about how to repay this."

"What are you planning to do with the composite?"

"I can’t wait until the next academic conference. I need to catch at least a chicken instead of a pheasant."

While the Continental Academic Conference was the most prestigious academic conference, it wasn’t the only academic conference in existence.

She had hoped to present at the most prestigious academic conference, receiving much attention with the best results, but if that wasn’t possible, she had to find the next best option.

She absolutely didn’t want five years to just pass waiting for the next academic conference.

"Prepare it yourself."

"Me?"

"Obviously. If you want to use my research commercially, naturally you should."

Professor Rosalia Wienderk said shamelessly.

"I want exclusive rights, but Duke Gransis is trying to stick his foot in."

"I can’t do anything about Duke Gransis either, so you handle it yourself. You’re not asking me to spoon-feed you everything, are you?"

Gerhard Goldenheim chuckled.

"Understood. I’ll try to set something up in connection with the Dragon Faith Order."

The academic conference with the second most prestige after the Continental Academic Conference was the one held independently by the Dragon Faith Order.

Rosalia Wienderk reached into her pocket. She took out a cigarette case and opened it, but showed a dejected expression at the empty interior.

"Ah."

"Please take this."

Gerhard Goldenheim handed over new cigarette cases from his subspace.

"A hundred boxes. What you ordered arrived at the Golden Turtle branch."

"Choosing you as my sponsor was the best choice."

"Isn’t your attitude completely opposite from earlier?"

Rosalia Wienderk put a cigarette in her mouth and lit it.

"In front of withdrawal symptoms, one can give up liver and gall."

"To that extent?"

"You made me like this."

"I just gave them thinking they might help with research. I didn’t expect you’d smoke this much."

"At least wet your lips before lying. You’re happier than anyone to have a sucker who’ll consistently buy expensive stuff."

Rosalia Wienderk snorted.

"Ah, if you discover evil ones, make sure to tell me."

"Are you planning revenge?"

"Revenge? It’s not something noble like that."

Just.

"Venting anger."

"I’ll keep that in mind."

But there was no need to inform her of other evil ones’ appearances.

"I need to take that with me."

If he was caught off guard, he was properly caught off guard.

Who would have expected an attack that wasn’t there at all when coming.

"...Ha, damn it."

He didn’t expect it when returning.

And with more force than expected at that.