Lisa: (thinking)
This truly is the Aeth I know. Yet… it feels as if a completely different person stands before me. What did he mean when he spoke about the temple? But now is not the time for this. Leaving this place is the wisest choice.
Without saying another word, Lisa and her companions leave the palace. Aeth turns his gaze toward those who remain, scanning them once more before continuing.
Aeth:
"Immediately confiscate all properties belonging to the deceased nobles, ministers, and generals in the name of the Empire. It appears that everyone here maintains private armies—place them all under imperial control and integrate them into the Imperial Army. This is an order!"
Aeth:
"Those nobles who disobeyed my command and failed to appear here are to be thrown into the dungeon at once! They will be executed before the people tomorrow! Kill anyone who resists. Every word I speak is law. Those who think otherwise will be punished with death!"
Aeth:
"Bring before me the individuals whose names I will call, and prepare a group to select talented individuals from among the people! For obvious reasons, we have vacant positions."
Aeth:
"Bring all blacksmiths, architects, and craftsmen to the palace! There will be individuals whose names I provide. Release them from the dungeon and bring them to me! No one else is to leave this place!"
Aeth:
"Guards, remove these filthy creatures' corpses from here, pile them together, and burn them. Clean up the dragon general—or general dragon, whatever it was—in the city center as well!"
Aeth:
"What are you waiting for!? Carry out my orders immediately!"
Warriors:
"At once, Your Imperial Majesty!"
Aeth looks at the remaining twenty-seven individuals.
Aeth: (angrily)
"How should I deal with you now!? Do you know why I did not kill you? Because unlike those wretched beings, your hands are not stained with the blood of innocent people! But do not think this means it is over. The punishment for a wrong move is death!"
The remaining nobles did not dare to speak out of fear. Aeth also knew well that these individuals were truly innocent. Yet he had no intention of letting his guard down. For betrayal is born from the conscious mistakes of those you trust. The only way to prevent this is to trust no one. Humans are fickle—therefore, he never builds plans upon them.
Aeth selected those who were suitable among the remaining individuals and assigned them new positions. He reinstated the former generals who had been imprisoned, for during the previous emperor's reign, they had defied orders to massacre the people. The Prime Minister had imprisoned them for this. Among them was Fredrin, the former emperor's sword instructor and a master warrior.
Before being thrown into the dungeon, as guards dragged him away from the throne room, Fredrin had said to the incompetent emperor seated upon the throne:
"Your rule will plunge this empire into chaos!"
Aeth ordered Fredrin to be brought before him. Fredrin was brought into Aeth's presence.
Looking at Fredrin, Aeth spoke:
Aeth:
"You were right, Fredrin. My rule will bring chaos—but not to this empire. It will bring chaos to all kingdoms that set their sights upon it. You are reinstated. I hope you will lead your people and your empire properly. Otherwise, this time, the dungeon will not save your life."
Fredrin:
"I have heard of your actions, my Emperor. I swear upon my head that I will become a Chaos General worthy of the Chaos Emperor!"
A carriage moving away from Averlion…
Lisa: (thinking)
What did Aeth mean when he spoke about the temple? Why did he change so suddenly? Was he truly this kind of person? How could I have failed to see it? What I witnessed was not an annoying, incompetent man—but a ruthless emperor. How can a person hide themselves so completely? My mind is about to explode. There are too many questions.
Carl:
"Goddess Lisa, are you thinking about what happened?"
Mary:
"Carl, do you really think it's possible not to think about today? Nothing we witnessed was expected, nor something ever seen before!"
Lisa:
"Mary is right, Carl. What happened today was neither expected nor something anyone had seen before. It's impossible not to think about it."
Lukas:
"He is a demon! Even compared to a demon, his aura is more terrifying. I felt as if I were standing before someone who has slaughtered countless people. I have never encountered such an aura."
Lisa:
"Although I was not particularly close to Aeth, everyone knows he had never killed anyone before. Everyone also knew him as someone who chased pleasure within the palace. That is why he was always regarded as incompetent."
Carl:
"It seems he was never the person anyone thought he was."
Mary:
"Then why did he suddenly act like this? If he was this powerful, why didn't he move earlier? Why did he wait until his empire fell into this state!?"
Lisa:
"Mary, that is exactly the part exhausting my mind. But that is not the only unanswered question."
Lukas:
"When he said we awakened a sleeping calamity, he must have meant this. He was known to be cruel, yet he did nothing. Then, suddenly, he broke his silence."
Carl:
"But even that is not a sufficient explanation."
Lukas:
"I know. But nothing else comes to mind. The only thing I understand is that the man we saw is undeniably dangerous. And that means much more blood will be spilled."
Mary:
"The main issue is that the negotiations have failed. This must be reported to the Kingdom of Kravendorn. At this moment, the Chaos Empire is at war on all its borders. This will not end well."
Carl:
"Kravendorn will not launch an attack."
Mary:
"Why?"
Carl:
"It's simple. If the Kingdom of Kravendorn attacks the Chaos Empire, it will face the demon armies. Moreover, after the spread of the incident involving the dragon general attacking the Chaos Empire for unknown reasons."
Lukas:
"That slipped my mind amid the chaos. What enmity exists between the Dragon Land and the Chaos Empire for them to attack Averlion?"
Lisa:
"There is no enmity."
Lukas:
"Why do you think so, Goddess Lisa?"
Lisa:
"If there had been a war, a dragon general would never enter a city alone. Other dragons would have accompanied him."
Lukas:
"When you think of it that way, it truly makes sense. Otherwise, Averlion would be engulfed in flames by now."
Lisa:
"Still, I have no idea why that general entered Averlion. Too many mysterious events have occurred in such a short time. We only need a little time. Eventually, everything will come to light."
Dragon Land…
Seated upon her throne, Nexella pondered.
Nexella: (thinking)
How can a human so easily kill a dragon general? How very interesting… I wonder what kind of changes a feeble human like you will bring in the near future.
(She smiles faintly.)