TMKWPL CH 12

Chapter 12

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Our Vice-Commander

“Then, let us begin the annual meeting of the division commanders.”

As the son of the empire's most powerful man and the legitimate heir of a marquessate, Leon was in a position that even the hot-tempered Red Commander, Vengart could not afford to disrespect.

Despite the frosty atmosphere, the meeting commenced with the timely arrival of an aide.

But throughout the meeting, Ashan and Vengart couldn't take their eyes off Leon. He was squeezed in next to Lucia, glancing at her with sparkling eyes like a puppy waiting for its master. On the surface, he was clearly flirting, but his pure and noble aura made it impossible to see to view his actions with malice.

But that only lasted for a moment.

“…Very well. What are the commanders’ thoughts on this matter?”

The aide was the only one who didn't notice the tense atmosphere. The two commanders, who had been watching Leon and Lucia, hurriedly began to review their documents. Ashan cleared his throat first.

“Ahem. More importantly, this year’s military budget seems far more pressing. What do you think?”

“Yes, Commander Ashan. As I said, we're making firm preparations to secure funding. Specifically, the biggest news from this meeting is about the supplies being sent to allied nations under the Continental Peace Organization.”

Ashan’s expression stiffened while reviewing the paperwork.

“What is this ridiculous amount? Even if it's for magic stones, if we keep sending this much material to the Kingdom of Hasnas, the imperial market will collapse within ten years. Was this already confirmed?”

The Kingdom of Hasnas was a land with a massive number of magic stones buried beneath it.

Because of that, the powerful Kingdom of Titurshan had colonized it, until the Empire, which supported continental peace at the time, destroyed Titurshan and forcibly liberated Hasnas.

Though, in return, the empire had secured a exclusive rights on the magic stones, which was, in essence, a polite way of semi-colonizing them.

Ashan’s point was simple: even if the stones were purchased cheaply, was it really wise to send essential goods now, when resources were already dwindling due to the black contamination?

The flustered aide quickly responded to his rebuke.

“Oh, that figure isn't finalized yet. Some nobles have offered to supply the goods, so the matter is still under discussion...”

“Oh, spare me. I can already see it. Those newly risen nobles are investing like moths to a flame, all to catch His Majesty’s eye.

“That’s what I thought. If they invest recklessly, they'll dry up before they can even convert their magic stones into wealth. Don't you think so? Haha.”

As Ashan sneered, Vengart added his own comment.

The new faction they were mocking at were the high-ranking nobles from the smaller kingdoms after Eldarion became an Empire. Unlike the conservative aristocrats, they had received new imperial titles by giving up many of their assets, lacking both prestige and wealth.

And yet, they were offering what little they had. All just to please an emperor who valued diplomacy above all else…

“Well, yes... The temple's prophecy seems to have played a part.”

The temple?

Lucia's ears perked up at the mention of the temple in the midst of their trivial squabble.

“Oh, so that's what it is. That ridiculous story about dead land being revived? Hahaha.”

As he said, there was still no mention of the Sacred Tree that had sealed the Saintess, but the Temple had long spoken of utilizing the Saintess’s abilities.

It was a prophecy that started from a baseless rumour that a priest had heard the voice of a god, saying someone would revive the contaminated land. But it was likely a lie.

The classified documents she had stolen had no mention of the Sacred Tree or a prophecy about reviving the land. And in truth, few people believed it.

Even the high priest with his great divine power couldn't resolve the contamination.

But as Lucia listened, she became increasingly serious for a different reason. It was true that the investments of the newly risen nobles had been a huge success in her past life.

The nobles' territories where the contamination is had recovered the most. With that newfound fertility, they rapidly reclaimed their investment.

And after going all in on magic stones, their fortunes multiplied dozens, hundreds of times over. They profited enormously from the Saint’s sacrifice.

I hadn't suspected them at the time because it was a natural course of action for the corrupt conservative faction to be cleaned up.

But who was it that gained power and influence with that wealth when the imperial authority changed?

Was it really a coincidence?

The belief started by the Temple and the new powers that blindly followed it. Lucia began listing several suspicious families in her mind.

• ───────── ☽༓☾ ───────── •

“...Thank you for your hard work.”

The meeting ended and the aide opened the door to leave with the organized documents. As Ashan followed him out, someone rushed in frantically.

“...Commander!”

Vice-Commander Berl looked gaunt, like a criminal who had been kneeling for days.

“What is it?”

“W-well...”

He had rushed here for his Commander's sake, but seeing that the meeting was over, Berl was devastated.

“Oh, who’s this? It's Vice-Commander Berl, who usually attends as her proxy. Haha, look at you. Were you running around looking for your mother?”

Vengart laughed. He dozed off near the end of the meeting, the mark of a dried drool visible on the corner of his mouth.

“I-I'm sorry. I acted thoughtlessly.”

Berl’s face grew even worse at his words.

I have disgraced the Commander's honour by rushing in so haphazardly.

“What a shame. The fearsome Knights of the Black Knights have to serve a superior who only knows how to soothe a crying child. Oh, wait, weren't they a cowardly criminal gang to begin with?”

He stood in front of Lucia and looked down at her arrogantly, as if to show off his massive build. As he said, most of the members of the Black Knights had unique backgrounds.

They were originally members of the notorious Dark Guild, which was a group of various criminal organizations. When no one joined the knight order she was assigned to, she went out to recruit people herself, and since she was focused on skills, the composition naturally ended up that way.

It was natural to gain a lot of opposition at her for bringing in criminals, but at the time, they couldn't afford to be picky during the war.

The task of clearing the stigma from the knight order was supposed to begin now, after the five years of special training ended.

Lucia remained unperturbed even after hearing his insult, which only made Vengart more furious.

He knew, deep down. Even if she was a monster, she only showed her terrifying power on the battlefield. In everyday life, she was no more or less than an emotionless doll and wouldn't even get angry over something like this.

He felt safe in this knowledge, he continued his harassment.

“Commander Vengart, they are knights that we are proud of! Please take back your words.”

Berl finally flared up at his insults, and Leon, who could no longer stand it, was about to intervene.

“U-Ugh!”

Vengart suddenly groaned, clutching his chest.

Berl froze in confusion, and Leon widened his eyes in shock, sensing the crimson aura flowing from her.

“K-ugh... w-what the...!”

Vengart suspiciously glared at Lucia, barely managing to breathe as his lungs felt crushed.

The pinnacle of a Grand Sword Master was to become one with the crimson blade aura. This meant that Lucia, who was the crimson aura itself, was so enraged that when her aura is unleashed, it could overwhelm and crush a person simply by looking at them.

It was like the Haki from a certain comic.*

[T/N: I was confused at first and searched it up and the result came from One Piece. I don’t read nor watch One Piece but Haki is a mysterious power that allows individuals to harness their own spiritual energy.]

In other words, She wasn’t attacking but simply wasn’t hiding her anger.

Thud.

When he finally collapsed on his knees, having wet himself, Lucia looked down at him.

“Exactly half a year, as you said. I look forward to what happens after that. Until then, please take good care of our vice-commander who will act in my stead.”

Her tone alone carried enough killing intent that striking his neck would be no different.

In the past, she would have acted indifferently, even if she was insulted for being a woman and the Commander of a group of outcasts

But someone like her who regressed, knew that the knights who would be with her for the next twenty years meant to her.

Vengart’s hands and feet went cold from the constant chills running down his body. After her murderous warning, the pressure squeezing his internal organs was gone, but in its place, the fear when she returns, rushed in like a raging tide.

So this is what a Sword Master truly is…

It was a small fraction of Lucia's power, but the foolish man who had never experienced that level of mastery could only look up at her, terrified with his eyes shaking.

But despite the tense atmosphere, someone was having tears in his eyes.

Our... our...!!

Regardless of internal conflicts within the knight’s division, a single word Lucia had said echoed endlessly in his mind like a grand symphony.

A few tears streamed down Berl's face, which had been as dry as a dead tree root.

Despite his large build, Berl was very sensitive. He wiped his tears and followed behind Lucia with a wide smile on his face, stepping through the open door, always a step behind her.

A person's true nature doesn't change so easily. Though it's a bit disappointing that the chairman won't be returning...

Chapter 11

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Chapter 13