A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

110 – The Final Act

And so, everything came to an end. After the situation was settled, I appeared on the broadcast myself, explaining all of mine and Emperor Adran’s plans, clarifying that I was indeed alive.

Naturally, chaos ensued.

There were many who found it amusing, but also many who were displeased.

Rumors emerged from the Karamba side about holding talks, and there, I had to face considerable anger.

“Our tribe, already under pressure due to Prince Amir’s military rebellion, had to send troops into the fray because of your supposed death!!”

“Was it really necessary to deceive us like that!”

I waved my hand as if to acknowledge everyone.

“I understand. It may have been excessive. It was done to create a proper pretext, but I admit that it caused inconvenience to the various tribes of struggling Karamba.”

“If only you had been honest with us from the start!”

“If I had, you would never have truly rallied together. I believed it was the best choice in my own way, but I understand your anger. I will compensate. Please, try to understand.”

“Compensate?”

As the voices of discontent diminished, eyes turned towards me with curiosity. I chuckled at their reaction and nodded.

Indeed, there’s nothing like this to appease discontent.

“Allow me to offer you the Elves from the labor reformation camp led by Sergeant TTJ of our Imperial Marines. Feel free to make use of them however you wish, free of charge.”

“For free?”

“Yes. The more you exploit, the better. Thousands of free workers will assist you in your reconstruction efforts. From construction to cleaning, they can do it all.”

If they can’t, a little motivation will help. The hesitant tribes nodded at my words.

“Is that… not bad?”

“You know Tameer Khan, right?”

“I do. Wasn’t he the famous spirit healer?”

“He recently retired and started a construction company, with the support of our Merchant Guild. We will ensure his company aids in your reconstruction. Of course, the Merchant Guild will provide all necessary funds for reconstruction. How does that sound?”

Upon my words, Prince Rashid and Adran nodded in agreement.

“The war ended within a week, and not a single casualty, correct?”

“Solving the Elf issue swiftly with a single death was a good thing. I can’t praise Rendor’s lies, but it did have an effect. Perhaps it’s best to leave it at that, don’t you think?”

The chieftains also nodded in agreement with the two.

“Hmm. Well… it was an effective resolution, wasn’t it?”

“Rendor has done a lot for us in the past.”

“We’ll still see him often, no need to cause a scene here.”

The chieftains, who were at odds, soon nodded in agreement.

“Let’s go with that then. If you assist in reconstruction, and the Elves from the labor reformation camp join in, there should be no more complaints.”

“It may have been excessive, but well… your solution was effective, I can’t deny that.”

I chuckled at their words.

Indeed, it takes a lot of accumulated goodwill to make this possible.

“So let’s conclude it like this! Thank you! Chieftains, hahahahaha!!”

“Well… seeing a face that could be at a funeral lively and moving around does bring some joy.”

“Welcome back, Elond Changebaek.”

I shook hands with the chieftains.

And thus, the Elf crisis came to a complete end.

The elves immigrated to the second World Tree and began to coexist with humans.

The young World Tree was inheriting knowledge from the mother World Tree and was putting all its efforts into managing the newly settled elves.

The Limnakal Plains was recognized by the Emperor as an elf autonomy zone. As long as they didn’t cause trouble, humans and elves would continue to coexist well in the future.

Although elves still felt a bit uncomfortable when dealing with humans, at least they didn’t blatantly insult or look down on humans.

And rightfully so.

“Elven soldiers!!!! What’s with this shoddy work? Unacceptable! Inject battle spirit!!”

“aaah! P-please stop hitting me!! You crazy bastards!!!”

“Have you ever seen such shoddy elves!! Calling the instructor crazy!!! I will personally administer the battle spirit injection!!! When you call for me, call me TTJ Marine!!!!”

“Save me!! Let me out!!!!!!!”

After seeing how the elves in the labor reeducation camp were faring, one would never think of being disrespectful to humans. That’s how the young World Tree came to wield an unimaginable absolute power during the mother’s time.

“So you called the human merchant who came to trade today a ‘disposable species’? Didn’t I tell you to get along well with humans? Do you need a few more beatings in the labor reeducation camp to come to your senses?”

“N-no, I do not.”

Thus, under the iron-fisted rule of the young World Tree, the elf society was gradually settling into the human world.

“You brat!!…….Battle spirit!!!!”

“Tchaaah!!!”

Today, once again, the delinquent elves in the labor reeducation camp were being reformed into proper elf citizens through the injection of battle spirit by the Imperial Marines.

“You want to try the development project in the Fantasia Prairie?”

“Yes. They say there is still considerable time left until the death of the mother World Tree. Even if it dies, it will take decades. At least it won’t die within this century, they say.”

“From the perspective of a World Tree that lives for over ten thousand years, that is indeed a short time left. It may seem long from our perspective.”

“So we are considering developing the Fantasia Prairie during that time. It’s full of various rare creatures, and according to the World Tree, it takes several hundred years for the mother tree’s corpse to decompose after her death. They say a method of harmoniously recycling the body will be needed. We are thinking of utilizing various molds and rare species.”

I look at Karl Hansen with satisfaction.

To think that a usurer who only knows money would consider developing the Fantasia Prairie for the Empire’s progress. The world is full of surprises.

“What about the workforce?”

“We have the elves, don’t we? We plan to transport them on ships back and forth between the Fantasia Prairie and the continent. They have lived there for thousands of years, so they should know the ecosystem well. We plan to seek their help.”

“Excellent. Give it a try.”

“Really?”

I nodded in agreement with his words.

“Of course. If it’s something that helps the Empire, why would I refuse? Do well. If the business succeeds, you can take the profits.”

“hahahahaha! Thank you, Lord Randor! I will work hard!!!!”

I glance at Karl Hansen.

The chubby, greedy extra-like villainous fellow, who used to follow me around busily, seemed to have transformed into a merchant worthy of consideration, perhaps due to increased calorie consumption from his activities.

“Don’t you ever think of getting married?”

“A man like me, who only knows money and is getting old, needs a woman who can tolerate that.”

“Married life is good. Give it a try.”

“Well, Lord Randor has a special bond like Lady Carya, so it’s possible, right? As for me… Oh well. Let’s drop it.”

I burst into laughter at Karl Hansen’s excuse.

“Good work. You may leave.”

“Yes. I was planning to do so anyway.”

Karl Hansen exits the room. I stand up and, after a long time, sit at the table, pour myself a cup of tea, and sip it.

“…It’s quiet.”

In recent times, significant events have been happening one after another.

This quiet time was so precious to me.

The Empire and Karamba were rapidly stabilizing.

Thanks to the influence of the labor re-education camp, the elves were quickly becoming friendly with humans, and progress was being made in all areas.

I sipped my tea contentedly, gazing out the window.

Viscount Elond.

Even if it was just when I first came here, it was truly a desolate wasteland, but now it had become one of the Empire’s major trading hubs.

“There have been many events.”

From marrying Karia, persuading the dragons, Amir’s rebellion, the elf incident…

It was chaotic.

But in the end, I managed to overcome everything and made it this far.

“Now, is there something else that will happen?”

No matter how much I thought about it, there was nothing.

The corners where turmoil could arise seemed to have disappeared entirely.

Finally, the word “happy ending” seemed within reach.

“…So, what should I do now?”

Excessive power was concentrated in me alone.

Lately, Adran seemed troubled because of me.

Perhaps now I should slowly prepare to dismantle and diversify the Merchant Guild, which is an absolute power.

The Empire must continue to thrive for a long time, not just flash and end during my time.

“After completing the capital dispersion… Let’s see. Should I step back as well?”

It seemed like it was time for me to just return to being Karia’s husband in Changebeck.

I thought about how to proceed in the future in my mind and left work early that day, something I hadn’t done in a long time.

Back home, I waited for Karia to return from work and cooked a few dishes myself to wait for her.

“Honey! I’m home!”

And not long after, Karia returned from work.

“You’re back? Let’s eat.”

“Oh my! Did you cook this yourself?”

“Yeah. I just tried it after a long time.”

I ate dinner that we both prepared and sat on the couch. I hugged her tightly, and she hugged me back.

“Why is the service so good today?”

“Karia, shall we have a baby?”

“A baby?”

“I think we should start having one now.”

“It’s a good idea.”

“Maybe start preparing to retire from the military slowly. Just stay at home, cook, and do laundry.”

“If I become a housewife, it would be terrible, right? I can’t cook or do laundry properly.”

She was a princess after all. I playfully kissed her.

“Then let’s try to make a baby diligently. Just focus on the baby, not cooking or laundry.”

“hahahaha! Sounds good! Enough to make a soccer team!”

“Yes. Enough to form a soccer team.”

“Why are you suddenly talking about this? We’re just kids. Landor never brought this up first, did he?”

I gaze up at the ceiling upon hearing that.

Now that everything is truly over.

There doesn’t seem to be anything left that could make Aylam and Caria any more miserable.

“It feels like it’s all over.”

“What do you mean it’s all over?”

“It’s just… I feel like. I should start preparing for retirement too. Today, for some reason, I’ve been having various thoughts.”

Caria playfully pinches my cheek.

“It’s good for me. Landor, who just stays at home doing nothing. If you’re just going to be at home, what are you going to do, Landor?”

At her words, a sudden thought crosses my mind.

What should I do at home?

Just making babies with Caria would get boring.

Shouldn’t there be something we can do together?

While pondering this.

I had a good idea.

“……..I want to try writing.”

“Writing?”

“Yes.”

I already had an idea of what to write.

“I thought of trying my hand at writing a novel titled ‘The Fall of the Aylam Empire.'”

A novelist.

Yes.

I felt like trying to be a novelist would be a good idea.