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Vol 04 Chapter 134-1: Arcana

「King Rosais, I will now return to Lezado ahead of you.」

Alexios said, bowing to me.

Maintaining an army is costly. Now that the aftermath of the war, including Aldo’s execution, is over, there’s no reason to keep the army of Lezado any longer.

He must be eager to disband it.

「I see. …By the way Alexios-dono, I want to ask you something.」

「What is it?」

「Would you consider being employed by me? It would be a shame to let someone as capable as you end your career as a mere mercenary captain.」

My country is not that big, but… I am not particularly good at warfare.

I have gained some experience, and against mediocre generals, I can fight adequately… However, if my country is to expand its territory, we will face generals like General Kuryuu repeatedly. We might even be forced into fighting on two fronts. In such times, I would need someone who could lead an army in case Bartolo is busy on another front.

Alexios’ capabilities were well proven during the war. Having him serve me would be incredibly reassuring.

「…I am indebted to Lezado, which accepted me when I had nothing. Although I abandoned my homeland, I am not so ungrateful as to leave the country that took me in.」

In other words, you are refusing my offer.

「Indeed, serving you might lead to a wealthier life than I have now. You are a great king. Under your leadership, King Rosais’ Country will undoubtedly continue to develop. In terms of betting on the winning horse, that would be the right choice.」

Huh? If you think that way, why do you refuse?

Lezado is a city of merchants. No one would blame Alexios for being lured away by profit.

To retain an excellent mercenary or general, a significant reward is necessary. Lezado is well aware of this.

I think you shouldn’t worry about it too much.

「What’s most important to me is my wife, and next, my son. Becoming a patrician might increase my burdens. At some point, I might have to abandon my family for the sake of the country. That’s what it means to be a soldier, a general, a patrician, a nobleman. It’s the responsibility of those who bear duties… However, I do not have the resolve to prioritize the country over my family. Therefore, I cannot accept your offer. Please forgive my rudeness.」

I see… Well, if that’s how it is, there’s nothing to be done.

「I understand. My apologies for detaining you. I won’t insist. If you have any difficulties, please contact me. I’ll help as much as I can… You’re always welcome in our country if you change your mind.」

「Thank you for your kindness, and how magnanimous of you to still extend your favor to me even after I have declined your generous offer.」

Alexios said, bowing deeply once again before leaving.

…How can I pull him away from Lezado?

◇

「And so, I have safely returned. Father-in-law,」

After returning to King Rosais’ Country, the first thing I did was visit the residence of former King Rosais. It had been a while since I had seen Father-in-law… But he seemed quite healthy.

「This place has clean air and water, and it’s quiet. There are also hot springs. I’ve pushed the troublesome job of being king onto my son-in-law. My health is in perfect condition.」

Father-in-law said with a laugh.

「And I can’t die until I see my great-grandchildren.」

「Ha ha… You will have to endure a little more then.」

I replied with a wry smile. For him to see his great-grandchildren, Ankus and Fiona have to grow up first. They won’t be able to have children for at least fifteen years more…

「Let’s not talk about my lifespan anymore… Tell me about yourself. I want to hear from you about the progress and conclusion of the war. Everything.」

「Understood.」

I nodded deeply.

「The most surprising thing was that the witch Merlin is from the same place as me.」

「She is from the same place as you? What do you mean?」

Father-in-law frowned.

Huh? Hadn’t I mentioned it?

…Now that I think about it, I guess I never told anyone.

I probably won’t lose anything if I tell him about my origins. And I probably won’t gain anything if I tell him about my origins either.

If this were a monotheistic country, I might have been killed or persecuted as a heretic or a madman, but here in the Adernian Peninsula, religion works differently, someone claiming to be the son of a god, saying that his mother had an affair with a god, would be not only tolerated, in some cases, it would be even believed to an extent.

The quickest way to explain the source of my knowledge is to talk about my reincarnation.

That’s what I had been thinking all along, so I thought I had talked about my origins at some point, but…

The only one who really knows the details is Griffon-sama. Tetra and Ron’s group know a little thanks to my conversations with Griffon-sama.

Have I told Julia? Since I haven’t told Father-in-law, I probably haven’t told her either.

「Sorry, I’ll explain everything from the beginning.」

I carefully explained about reincarnation, one point at a time. After all, it happened eight years ago.

My memory is a bit vague… but I distinctly remember eating a centipede…

「To me, more shocking than you remembering your previous life is that you ate a centipede. Can you really eat that?」

「It tasted terrible.」

It had an indescribable taste. I never want to eat it again. I must have been out of my mind at the time.

「However… that explains the cleverness you showed in your childhood.」

Father-in-law muttered, then closed his eyes in thought for a moment before opening them again.

「So, this Merlin is also a reincarnated person?」

「No, that… I think she was transported here. She still has the physical body of a Japanese person.」

Indeed, her facial features were reminiscent of the Japanese people I remember from my past life. Her skin color was also not like the pale Gallians, but more yellowish.

There are people of Mongoloid descent here like Akira, so it’s possible she reincarnated into one of them.

「That woman, she doesn’t die. Even if you pierce her heart with an arrow or stab her with a sword, her body regenerates immediately… It’s probably due to some kind of blessing. Do you have any idea how can she possibly be killed?」

「I think if you burn her and turn her to ash, she might die. Immortality is impossible. It’s probably just a very powerful regeneration ability.」

Father-in-law theorized.

I also think that immortality is impossible.

It’s common in manga for characters to be immortal, but they usually have some kind of weakness.

But this is reality. Perhaps she truly is immortal.

「Griffon-sama would know more about this than I do. You should ask him.」

「Yes, he likely knows everything.」

For now, let’s put the discussion about Merlin to rest.

「There’s still time… Tell me about your hometown.」

「Understood. Ask me anything you’d like.」

◇

After finishing my greetings to Father-in-law, the first place I headed to was the temple. It was the temple I had been commanded to build. Officially, I am lauded as the son of the war god Mares.

I needed to report our victory in battle to my father.

After that, I conducted a Triumph in the capital.

The carriage I rode was drawn by four horses, decorated with gold in various places—a treasure of King Rosais’ Country. The horses pulling the carriage were large and impressive white steeds.

Leading the procession was the Praetorian Cohort led by Ron. Following them, I appeared in the carriage, flanked by Bartolo and Raymond.

Behind us followed carriages loaded with spoils of war—prisoners, ivory, and looted goods—and behind them marched the patricians and the heavily armored infantry.

As I waved, the crowds erupted in cheers. Both the soldiers and the civilians were proud.

「Long live his majesty the King!!」

「Long live his majesty the King!!」

「Long live his majesty the King!!」

The crowd called me with the honorific ‘his majesty’ for the first time.

The kings of the Adernian Peninsula’s countries are not referred to by the honorific ‘His Majesty’. They are seen merely as the leaders of a confederation of patrician families and have little more authority than the more powerful patricians.

Neither the patricians nor the plebeians usually place much importance on the king’s title, hence the lack of formal honorifics.

However, now, I am indeed being addressed with a formal honorific.

「Your Majesty, you are being called.」

Bartolo said with a grin.

I nodded, drew my sword, and raised it to the sky. The sun’s rays caught the blade, making it shine beautifully.

「Long live His Majesty the King!!!」

Today, for the first time, I truly understood that my position as king was firmly established.