The Hero Party Couldn’t Kill Me

Chapter 6: Council of Nobles (End)

“So you. What are you going to do when you’re done with your revenge?”

A serious question from Mina.

I replied with a nonchalant expression.

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“The Empire will disappear. I’m going to give up the name Edmund and live quietly in a corner of the continent or somewhere in the countryside.”

“Are you still going to do that after attending this meeting?”

“Oh, that’s how I think. Already from the Empire’s point of view, I’m a villain. And, well, you’re right, I have no intention of changing my image. It would be to each person’s benefit to go their separate ways when the job is done.”

I thought that way when I first vowed revenge. You have to be a bad guy to fight the bad guys.

Therefore, there is no particular inspiration in the Empire now treating me as a traitor and a calamity. Rather, it would be natural for them.

But I wonder if my answer was dissatisfied with Mina.

“What if, after you disappear, the empire can’t deal with the chaos? What if Her Highness, the princess, finally fails to deal with it? What are you going to do then?”

“What should I do? Then the empire is doomed. It’s none of my business.”

“… Aren’t you being too irresponsible?”

“Isn’t it strange that you want me to take responsibility? First of all, I’m a ‘foreigner’. I had no reason to devote myself to this empire. Especially now that I have been hit hard in the back of the head.”

Mina bites her lip. But I couldn’t find anything to refute, as if I thought I was right.

“So if the empire falls, you don’t think it will have any effect? In any case, there is no place on this continent that is not affected by the Solus Empire.”

“You can’t touch Speth. For now.”

“… ….”

Mina keeps making a frustrated expression. It seemed that he had something he wanted to say to me.

“So, what do you want from me? Do you want me to completely overthrow this empire?”

“… Okay. To be honest, with your level of ability, you can do that.”

“Didn’t you hear from today’s meeting? Now I’m famous for the bad side of the Empire. You’re remembered as a traitor who helped Speth rather than the image of being the ace of the warriors’ party.”

“Even that can be reversed according to your plan. If Etoileism turns completely evil, on the contrary, you will be unfairly accused of being a traitor.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just… I’m sorry. That you use your talents only to get revenge.”

I think I know what you mean. If I had the ability to control the empire to that extent, I would be able to claim a place in power. And maybe I can change it to my liking.

“I am not interested in such a tiring job. I don’t want to serve the empire that betrayed me.”

“… ….”

“So you have to take care of changing the empire. At least, as promised, I will help you with your revenge.”

But I said it firmly.

“… Okay. You were a plural demon.”

Mina let out a long sigh and said. Just when I was about to give up persuading me, she asked another question.

“Then what will you do if Her Highness, the princess, stops you from retiring after all your revenge is over?”

Ah, yes. In fact, that’s the biggest anxiety factor in my plan right now.

Because the alliance with the princess will last until the church of Etoile collapses. It is not yet clear what the reaction will be after that.

Therefore, there is no definite countermeasure against it.

“If possible, I intend to hide in a place where Her Highness cannot find me.”

“… ….”

After hearing my answer, Mina smiled bitterly.

“… Done. Like you said, maybe that’s what’s best for each other. Just keep your promise to help me later.”

She said this and went back to her room.

Perhaps he was disappointed in me.

But that won’t change my opinion. Apart from that, I no longer have affection for the Empire.

***

That night. Mina came out into the living room.

The light was dimly lit, so I checked and saw that Rafaela was sitting at her desk, working on something of hers.

“What is that?”

“Uh… Can I tell you this?”

“At first glance, it looks like an ancient Latin language. It looks like the work of Blanc Magic Tower?”

“… Yes.”

I was still not sure if Mina was a complete ally to tell me that it was the magic circle left on the back of Pesima’s hand. That’s why Raphael also glossed over.

Mina didn’t ask more about that either.

“… Hey, Raphaella.”

“Yes?”

“What do you think of Edmund’s plan? So, everything is over and you go to sleep.”

“I respect his choice. It’s been so hard so far, so I want to live a peaceful life now.”

“Don’t you think it’s irresponsible? Although the Etoile Church is running rampant, you mean to destroy the two great powers of the empire anyway.”

“Well, I don’t think it will be too late to look at that part later after Edmund-sama completes his revenge.”

‘… Well, he must be on Edmund’s side.’

Mina lets out a long sigh.

“What exactly does Mina-sama want from Edmund-sama?”

“… It’s just that, in a situation like this, I think I’d use my outstanding abilities to seize power. It would be a waste for him to rot that talent.”

“If such a situation arises, wouldn’t Her Highness also try to check it?”

“Well, it is. There are also definite weaknesses. Still, if it was Edmund, I don’t think he’d just be lethargic there. Anyway, I just miss that. To only avenge himself with that ability.”

“Well, of course Edmund-sama will judge, but I think it’s better than ruining myself by being greedy for more than that.”

“… Is it.”

Listening to Rafaela, Mina can understand why Edmund is not so obsessed with power.

Of course he still doesn’t understand.

“By the way, did you end up in the Blanc Magic Tower?”

“Yes, thanks to Edmund-sama.”

“Look. Because his influence is so great. So, I envy you. At this rate, it is certain that you will become the owner of the Mage Tower.”

“… We still have a long way to go.”

“Don’t be humble. The only wizards in Blanc’s tower are you and that tower master, so of course you will be the next wizard. But will you be okay?”

“Yes?”

“There is a traditional saying that the owner of the Blanc Magic Tower does not live long.”

The average lifespan of a mage entering the Mage Tower is over 100 years old. This is because aging is slow.

However, I heard that the average lifespan of the magician of the Blanc Tower is only 60 years old despite his excellent magic skills. It also ages surprisingly quickly.

Maybe it’s because the magicians are overworked due to the strange tradition of having only two wizards in the magic tower.

“Instead, you can become the most outstanding mage in the empire. That alone is an honor beyond measure.”

“… You are now a wizard.”

Mina stroked Rafaela’s hair. Raphaella was taken aback by the unexpected action.

“Yes, work hard. Your role is great.”

Now that Raphaella knew something about Mina, she knew she was sincere.

She was still uncomfortable, but her antipathy towards Mina had softened a bit.

Mina, who was about to return to her room, looked at the magic circle that Raphaella was studying for a while.

She then said something unexpected.

“By the way, the magic you are researching. Are you trying to bring someone back from the dead?”

“Yes?”

“In Noir Magic Tower, I know thanks to the mages who study necromancy, but the mark in the center. It has to do with the soul. Unless I’m confusing you with something else.”

The moment Raphaella heard her words, she got goosebumps.

“Then Mina, do you know what kind of magic circle this is?”

“I don’t know other than that. I’m also weak in Latisse language.”

“Still, thanks for the hint!”

Raphaella seems to have realized something. Both of her eyes shone brightly.

Mina hesitated, not knowing how to react to her appearance, but she just nodded her head and went back to her room.

***

Frostville, the northernmost city of the Empire.

This place, where the snow does not melt all year round, was a fortress city to stop the demons living outside the empire’s territory.

An isolated area with little interaction with other cities as it is very difficult to travel by land due to the cold weather. That’s why it was difficult for those in power in Frostville to influence the empire.

Even if it’s the imperial family.

“… Then, has the prince been completely pushed out?”

But the current leader here, Archduke Charles, was different. Now that the competition for the throne is dizzying as ever, he was watching the situation by collecting as much as possible the major events taking place in the empire.

“As you know, most of His Highness’ forces originally supported Calia. However, as all of her powers, including Calia, fell, he lost his power overnight.”

“And our pretty princess is fighting the Etoile Church.”

“Yes, and I am suspected of protecting aliens. Of course, there are still doubts…….”

As a cousin of the princess and the prince, he is currently third in line for the throne. He was even the 4th rank before the crown prince died in battle.

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Under normal circumstances, I couldn’t even dream of becoming an emperor.

But now, it’s starting to show little by little. The seat of the emperor.

“Hmm… ….”

He sat down on a stone chair and thought for a moment.

Still very unlikely. Even if the prince could be defeated, it would be difficult to defeat even the princess who had ruled the empire for three years.

But if the goddess intervened, the situation would be different.

Having finally made up his mind, he got up.

He is 180 cm tall, not particularly tall, but instead, he boasted a muscular body that he had cultivated since childhood and the superior lineage of the imperial family.

“Spring is finally coming to me who lived in the cold winter.”

He threw off his usual fur coat and quickly changed into a neat uniform.

A muscular body that could not be covered even by the uniform, no, the uniform was about to explode.

“Where are you going?”

At the sight of Archduke Charles in uniform he hadn’t seen in a long time, Caleb, his escort knight, expressed his doubts.

Archduke Charles said, wearing a sword around his waist.

“I’m going to visit the Grand Sanctuary for a while.”

Then he strode toward the portal.

It was the moment when a new wind blew through the empire.