Chapter 280: Locking The Door After The Horse Is Gone (2)
0% As a result of fighting to get Akasha out of prison–
I was detained.
“Ther, you came for me.”
“No, I got caught, too.”
It was fine up until explaining the ‘Aether=Akasha’ logic to the Elementals.
But Akasha would only get released if this was recognized by the country.
But rather unfortunately, they dismissed it because statements by Elementals had no legal power.
In the meantime, they issued an arrest warrant for me as well.
- You are under arrest on suspicion for arson of the World Tree. You are entitled to a lawyer, and they may speak on your behalf when being questioned.
In the end, I became roommates with Akasha until the actual court was to be held.
“Fucking idiots, seriously.”
Great job with the Demon Army right on our doorstep.
“Ther, I’ve had it.”
“Stay put.”
“This is discrimination against Golden-Eyeds. They’re locking us up over nothing because you and I have eyes like this.”
Akasha was right to some extent.
Elves lived longer on average than humans. There were probably even elders who were 200, 300 years old and still going strong.
And those kinds of people had an extreme elitist mind so they hated Golden-Eyeds for no reason.
Also, there were the High Elves who’ve had an old-school mindset for generations.
It was seriously a shame.
- This is unbelievable!
A shrill voice could be heard through the bars.
When I listened closely, it wasn’t just a couple people, but a few of them who seemed to be protesting against the prison guards.
“My friend didn’t do anything wrong.”
“That’s right. Let our teacher go!”
Familiar voices.
We hastily got up from our beds where we were looking at each other and stuck our heads through the bars.
There, we saw a group of students led by Lotte and Yufiel shouting for my release.
“I’m asking in the name of Vierbein. Please release those two.”
“I apologize, but I do not have the authority....”
“Then I’d like to talk to a higher-up.”
“.......”
Even so, why were they doing that to a lowly official?
“Yeah, keep at it, get him.”
Watching the official struggling, Akasha laughed in glee.
“Shut up, Kasha.”
“But you know, Ther. If we don’t get out, these guys are goners. And so are we if the Demon King finds out we’ve betrayed him.”
It wasn’t like I didn’t think that, too.
If we went back to the Demon Army now? We’d die.
But just staying put here? We’d die.
There were only two ways for us to survive without dying.
Either I become Corrupt again and roast this whole world, or side with the humans and elves and stop the Demon King.
I wanted to get out right now and build my research team if I could, but with things the way they were, I had to adjust my plans a little.
So instead of breaking the bars and escaping, I decided to use a softer method.
“Guard─!!”
When I shouted, the official who was being hassled by Lotte and co. came running.
“...Yes, miss?”
Apparently he was aware that he shouldn’t upset a Cataclysm, addressing me respectfully.
“Tell those guys over there to make a request to the administration for when we get out of here.”
The moment I finished, the guard scowled.
I expected this kind of expression. With a grin, I slowly tightened my grip on the bars.
Ddddddd.
Two steel bars bent open like stringy taffy. At the same time, the guard’s eyes widened into plates.
“Please.”
I asked respectfully once again. The beautiful girl’s smile was a bonus.
“O-of course.”
“Good.”
I was a damn master at negotiating.
“It’s nothing much. Please go tell them over there to say this to the administration: when I get out of here, I’m going to build a massive research team so we’ll need a budget of about 10 billion ellans.”
“......?”
The official made a dumb face.
Of course he wouldn’t understand, because a Beast was basically declaring ‘I’m going to use up your tax money like a fountain’ all of a sudden.
A million things were probably running through this guy’s mind.
“Um, that’s.”
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
Ddddddddddddd.
“...I’ll tell them immediately!”
The official ran back to where Lotte was.
And I snickered as I watched his urgent back.
Now let’s see what the response will be.
And while I was locked up, I was able to get all sorts of latest news through my new communication channel. Amongst those was the news that the public’s opinion of me was getting worse by the day.
[Q. What is your opinion on Winter Heaven Aether’s arrest?]
[1. The prosecution did not follow correct protocol : 31%]
[2. It was a hasty decision but I have no objections : 26%]
[3. It was the right thing to do : 40%]
Fuckers.
I neatly folded the article I finished reading and made it into a crane, which was all for the sake of my inner calm.
Folding a crane like this reminded me of my old school. Should anyone ask about the future of our nation, raise your head; smile slightly so they don’t fall....
Ah, what’s for lunch today.
As I was cycling through such random thoughts, the aforementioned guard came with news.
“Oh, that was quick. What do my students say?”
“Um, they gave their suggestion to the administration, but.......”
“But what.”
The guard gave me a cautious look, then reluctantly opened his mouth.
“...They were dismissed at the lower level.”
“A child recognized by the Vierbein family went to the negotiation table and they were still treated like that?”
“Do you not know? The economic department is currently controlled by the Rothschilds. The Vierbeins and Rothschilds have a shitty... ah, pardon me.”
“I know, they have bad blood.”
There was a Rothschild girl who had fought with Yufiel because she was going to go to law school. Rike, was it?
If they fought like that at the Academy, I could imagine how it would be in the actual political world.
Anyway, to think that the place that managed budgets was my enemy. Guess things weren’t going to get easier just yet.
“Hey, what are we going to do now.”
Akasha asked, slightly worried.
“What else. We’re going to have to wait for now.”
With a sly smile, I finished folding my crane.
Right now, this place was busier than ever.
“Move it!”
“There are tons of documents that need approval, my lord.”
“Who broke the copy machine?”
The department which had already been struggling with budget allocation was now facing the worst of it.
It was because there was massive expenditure on the World Tree due to the three recent Beast attacks.
Not only did they have to finalize the budget for the general election, it was also a time to make big decisions in order to stabilize the faltering economy.
In addition....
“Minister Rothschild, Philut Empire has requested additional supplies.”
They had to support the Empire, Kaurelia’s shield, so that they didn’t fall.
“For goodness’ sake.”
Kaurelia’s Minister of Economy, ‘Marshalll Rothschild’, grasped his forehead and lit a cigar.
Although he was a genius who passed the administrative exams at nineteen, even he was having difficulty dealing with this.
Marshall looked at the paper his subordinate held out and pondered.
The decision was made shortly afterward.
“...Send three times the amount that the Empire requested. Just one thing: substitute wheat with rice.”
“Should we really do that? We’re on a tight budget ourselves....”
“No, we must.”
Marshall put more emphasis in his voice and continued.
“The Empire is our country’s shield. If they fall, then the Demon Army will invade us right away.”
Then he pointed at the map of the continent on the wall behind him.
A widespread map around Kaurelia.
The sea was to the bottom, and to the west and north was the Empire and other smaller countries.
And the northernmost point beyond the Empire, the Demon Army’s domain.
“The southern shores are relatively easier to defend. Although I don’t know much about strategies, I heard that it was easier to defend than attack when it comes to amphibious tactics.”
“That is what I know as well.”
“But the north is different. If the Empire falls, the Demon Army will advance to the center of the continent. Then if they immediately cross the Thyrims and Bruglium rivers....”
“The two rivers are deep and wide; surely they can be defended....”
Marshall tsked at his subordinate’s words.
“Do you think that rivers and oceans are the same?”
Even if they fought near the river, it was still technically a land battle. Unlike the ocean where naval battle was forced, once they finished crossing the rivers or went around them, they would be done for.
“Again, the Empire is our shield. No matter how difficult things get, we must stand with them.”
At least until the Demon Army is vanquished, Marshall added.
“Understood. I will do as you say.”
“Mm.”
In the end, Marshall stamped it.
Now they were really low on money.
Unless the Parliament or government said something about an emergency tax increase, the national treasury was going to run out at this rate.
Of course, there was the general election happening soon.... And the presidential election in about a year. In this situation, the current government couldn’t do something that went against the national sentiment.
“Really, what a headache.”
That wasn’t the only issue.
A few hours ago, a group of young students who came in the name of Vierbein asked to meet with him.
And Marshall, juggling so many things, had no choice but to decline.
He instead sent someone lower to meet with them, and was told that they turned down the students as soon as they heard their request.
─ What was the request?
─ They asked for about 10 billion ellans to be set aside for building a bomb that will be used against the Demon Army. Isn’t that ridiculous?
“Hahahaha.”
Thinking about it again made him laugh.
When he asked who made such a request, they said it was the Cataclysm who was currently being held in prison.
“Those crazy things, trying to waste us like this as well.”
Marshall believed this to be a sophisticated scheme of the Demon Army.
“I knew it. Their surrender was fake.”
“But they say that the Elemental Kings accepted it.”
“Hahahaha!”
Marshall laughed even louder at his subordinate’s words.
“Look here, Kaurelia isn’t a religious nation. Enough talk about theocracy like it’s the old days.”
Although politics may want religion, religion could not use politics. This was a deeply ingrained perception amongst higher officials like Marshall.
Elemental faith was to be used only because many of the people believed.
Marshall was also part of the Elemental church on the surface, but that didn’t actually matter.
“Do not mind the budget for that side. Dealing with the Demon King should be discussed with the defense department, not with some immature children. Do you understand?”
“Understood, sir.”
“Good, now back to business.”
Marshall patted his subordinate’s shoulder and sent him out of the office.
But soon after, another official came rushing in.
“My lord! We have a problem!”
“What is it?”
The official shouted urgently as he gasped for breath like he had run a marathon.
“The Empire, Philiut Empire is─!!”
Footnotes
1. Weird meshing of a famous Korean poem and the lyrics of IU's 'Good Day'
