"...So why!"
"Isn't it Deon Hardt's choice? He must have thought about it and made that choice, and even if something happens because of it, he will have to take responsibility."
A bored voice spoke softly, as if it has nothing to do with him.
Nemeseus was speechless and could not speak for a moment.
There was no way it didn't matter. If a sword was damaged, the repercussions would also affect the owner who used it.
Even though he knew that the Emperor knew that fact, he couldn't understand why he still used him, so he forced his lips that wouldn't fall apart and opened them.
"...Your Majesty may have to share that responsibility."
"It doesn't matter. Isn't this what an Emperor is supposed to do?"
"..."
"I'm just kidding. It's worth seeing your expression."
The Emperor made a low sound. A sound like laughter lingered in the back of his throat.
It was absurd that the Emperor, who called himself a tyrant, says things that are the standard of a saint, but Nemeseus never thought he'd show such a blatant expression.
Thinking that he needed to learn how to hide his facial expressions, the Emperor slowly came up with an answer to Nemeseus' words.
There was no grand reason.
It was a very simple reason.
"I am not so incompetent that I cannot cover up even the mistakes of those I care about."
"..."
"Is this enough of an answer, General?"
Although he could not be a saint enough to generously cover everyone's mistakes, he could be a saint enough to those he cared about.
Giving generosity, money, time, and power that should be equally invested in other useless things to a few people.
Emperor Eduardo had the power and ability to do so, and there was no one who could refute it.
Therefore, unless it was a fairly serious accident such as treason, most accidents could be resolved.
"If the mistake is something I can't handle, then my eyesight is wrong.Even so, nothing will change. It just increases the amount of responsibility.
Additionally, the likelihood of something like that happening will be significantly less.
"There's no way I would mindlessly surround myself with a dangerous person."
"If you do..."
"There is a leash."
Cruel Hardt.
The Emperor smiled slowly, remembering Deon Hardt's older brother.
'In order to destroy his family, he even claimed to be the companion of a warrior who was not even a member of the Eight Emperors. But why...'
The conversation with Deon Hardt, who had just returned from the demon realm and burst into the banquet hall covered in blood, started to get wild the moment Cruel Hardt became a hot topic.
Perhaps it was because he had just heard the news of Cruel becoming a hero that he couldn't control his emotions.
As if the condensed emotions were exploding, the direction of the words changed and the tone of the voice rose.
The voice, which was getting louder as if it was going to spill out at any moment, suddenly died down the moment the Emperor made eye contact.
He realized it too late. Who was the person sitting in front of him? The Emperor did not bother to criticize his rudeness.
Because he knew how extreme Deon Hardt's feelings toward his family were. And how much it benefited him.
Hate and rage.
From his point of view, they were the ones who pushed a weak child, who was only 14 years old, into the battlefield.
After fighting on the battlefield for eight years, Deon's hatred for his family grew like a snowball, and when he finally stood before the Emperor in recognition of his contribution in the war, he refused all rewards and asked for only one thing.
'Please allow me to destroy my family with my own hands.'
There was no reason to refuse.
Although the Hardt family was a family that had been loyal to the royal family for generations, that was not a great advantage for him, who ascended to the throne through rebellion. In other words, there was no reason to keep it around.
The incredible Hardt family and the individual Deon Hardt, who can be used as a great sword if done well.
'Yes.'
Without hesitation, the Emperor sided with the individual.
Of course, it wasn't something he listened to right away. At that point, it would be better to solve other issues at the same time, and if you are going to use it as a sword, wouldn't it be better to refine it a little harder?
'However, I am a little doubtful as to whether it is worth it for me to give up the 'family' and choose you, the 'individual.'
'...What should I do?'
'It just so happens that the hero is there to deal with the Demon King. He was preparing to leave the Empire.'
As a companion of a hero, he went to deal with the Demon King.
Although the Duke suggested it, which was a bit odd, it was an excellent way to refine the sword called Deon Hardt.
The results were great.
He had recovered the body of a defeated hero. At this level, even those who opposed him because he did not possess the 'fragments of a hero' would have no choice but to acknowledge him as a 'hero'.
From the Emperor's perspective, it seemed like something more should have been added.
However.
Despite the Emperor's position of not wanting Deon Hardt to be ruined, he stuck to his starting position in exchange for money and land.
'It looks like the Hardt estate will be very quiet tonight. What do you think?'
'...Thank you for your consideration.'
Since a promise was a promise, the Emperor obediently accepted his request. Once he had made his decision, hesitation was useless.
The Emperor secretly prevented unrelated people from coming around Count Hardt's mansion that night, and Deon Hardt killed everyone in the mansion without being caught.
One thing that was unexpected was that Cruel Hardt was not at the mansion that day. Even worse, he came back while Deon Hardt was busy with work.
The story might have been different if he had been at the mansion from the beginning or had only come the next morning after everything was over.
However, as fate would have it, Cruel Hardt witnessed with his own eyes Deon Hardt murdering his family members and survived.
It was a little different than expected, but in the end it was a good way to control Deon Hardt.
Even so, if the Hardt family's extinction incident attracted attention and Cruel Hardt, one of the few survivors of the family, was killed, the repercussions would be significant.
How many people could stop that?
In the end, in order to kill Cruel Hardt, he must pretend to be with the Emperor.
'The reason Duke Illuster trusts Cruel Hardt and keeps him by his side is probably similar to this.'
Deon Hardt would be Cruel Hardt's leash.
Was there anything more funny than this? They were each other's leash. The Emperor held up his hand, suppressing a sigh filled with complex emotions that was about to burst out.
"Please don't mention anything more about Honorary Count Deon Hardt."
***
Wow, what kind of yard is full of such cute things? Is this a new type of installation art? What if someone steals it?
Or money? Are you trying to brag that our family has this much money? I'm jealous of whose house it is.
...Whose house is it? It's my house!!
"What is that!?"
I've never bought anything like that!
Could it be that the knights caused an accident again? We need to get rid of these right away.
I stood up and slammed the desk, intending to run as soon as I could figure out the cause.
A few papers fluttered down, but the sight outside the window was too impactful to pay attention to such things right now, so I didn't even notice them.
These shiny things were forming a small hill in my yard. How many documents were there now?
Even while I was half in a daze, the calm old man's voice leisurely lingered in my ears.
"These were given by His Majesty as a reward for catching a spy."
"It's not necessary, it's burdensome. Send it back immediately!"
"If you do that, it will be like rejecting thanks from His Majesty, so I dare to oppose it on behalf of this old man's loyalty."
"..."
No matter what I said, it was like that...
Thanks to him, I came to my senses. Yes, he gave it to me, but how would he feel if I rejected it saying I didn't need it? If he's a tyrant, it's not strange no matter what he did, so just keep your mouth shut and accept it.
'...If you're going to give a reward, don't give it like that, but take it to Hardt's territory or back.'
Perhaps the reason he didn't mention the reward for catching the spy in his conversation with me was because he anticipated my thoughts. Damn, he's a tyrant and even has a good head.
I felt like my throat was burning due to the fever, so I picked up the teacup on the desk.
'As expected, it smells good.'
However, I couldn't get more than a few sips and put it down again. I wonder if smelling this scent makes me want to go to the bathroom.
This was the same tea that the crown prince and princess drank when they had tea time. The crown prince gifted it to me before leaving the palace. I couldn't bear to just throw away the prince's gift, so I threw it on the table in my room as soon as I got home, but when Remember the butler found it, he often brought it out with refreshments whenever he was at work.
That wasn't the only thing Remember found.
There was a cautious knocking sound. Remember opened the door, took something, came over and put it down on the desk.
What was placed on the tray was none other than a bowl of herbal decoction that looked like it could be used.
"It's time to take your medicine."
"...Do I really have to eat that?"
"It was sent by the palace doctor. If it's good for you, it's good, but it's not bad, so eat it quickly. I've already completed the poison test."
I thought it was just empty words, but the palace doctor really sent the medicine to the count's residence. It's not even just 1-2 weeks' worth. Was this the equivalent of almost a month?
I was grateful, but I don't like bitter things...
Of course, my rejection didn't have any effect on Remember.
He grinned and holds out a decoction. The behavior was polite, but was it because of the feeling of unspoken pressure?
"I'm full now."
My stomach was full because I drank tea.
"Still, eat it."
"..."
The decoction was extremely bitter.
As I was frowning, a piece of candy entered my mouth. I was startled and raised my head, and my eyes met with silver-blue eyes smiling gently.
...This butler is really annoying. I am not a child.
'But the candy is delicious. Does it taste like strawberries?'
I rolled the candy on my tongue and looked out the window again. I still felt like my head hurt just looking at all the shiny things piled up in the yard.
Those were the biggest problems, how should I deal with them?
I tapped the desk with my fingers and opened my mouth in a daze.
"Remember."
"Yes, Count."
"I will entrust half of them to Remember. Use it for the mansion's budget. The other half will be saved separately."
"Yes, I understand."
"Ah, please set some aside. I have a place to use it."
"How much would you like?"
"Enough to gather information."
He pulled the string and called the maid.
"Bring Sir Lien."
To summarize, the money set aside went into the hands of Sir Lien, the leader of our Order of Murderous Knights and the only sane person. The purpose was none other than to investigate information about the 'Church of Salvation'.
Like a conscientious knight, a few days later, she came with two bundles of documents, one detailing where and how much money was spent, and the other information she had discovered, and now she said, "The Church of Salvation is a new religion that is expanding its influence mainly in the slums. It's collecting believers by distributing bread and water."
She was politely reporting the information she had found in front of me.
"Unlike usual pseudo-religions, there is no such thing as asking you to believe in the 'deity' or pay 'money'. All they say is to believe in 'salvation'..."
"'Salvation'... It's too abstract..."