Empire’s Suffering 2
On the same day, the kōsatsu were erected in various parts of the imperial capital.
All in the same place that Mitsuha had set up.
“We are ready for a meeting. We look forward to hearing from you.” -Notice Board
There’s no address, no name of the person who wrote it, no indication of what the meeting was about, nothing… just a mysterious kōsatsu.
……But the people of the Imperial City who read it were all…….
“””””” Ah ~……””””””
They guessed it.
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No, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Which idiot would go to that meeting?!
As soon as you go, you’ll be surrounded by slashes, arrows, or spears, and you’ll be sure to be a porcupine. You can bet 10 gold coins on that.
……Although, if you win the bet, you won’t receive the winnings. Since you’ll be dead.
And if you lose, you will be paid well……
I’m not betting on it! I’ll only lose money on that kind of bet!
Anyway, when someone read the notice in the crowd, the common question of who was the person that put it up came up.
I wonder if this was why they thought I would show up at the Imperial Castle in the first place……
It’s already dangerous, so I don’t even put up the kōsatsu in the middle of the night anymore. There’s definitely a lookout or a pursuer or a sniper with a bow and arrow lurking around.
I am now in disguise, with a blonde wig for my hair, contacts for my eyes, and foundation to change the tone of my skin, so even those who have seen me from afar as the “Hime Miko of Thunder” would not recognize me now, with my face downcast and wearing shabby clothes.
So I don’t have a problem with coming to check the kōsatsu they put up during the day in the crowd.
Anyway, there was no way I could get in front of the enemy with zero defense and paper armor, not to mention my handgun as my only offensive ability.
And even if the imperial emissaries were to come to our country, they would not even be able to reach our royal capital in the remaining three days.
Well, even if they could get there, I don’t think they would be able to meet the king right away as if they were doing walk-ins without an appointment.
And even if they meet the king, he would probably just say, “What are you talking about?”.
I’m sure Sabine-chan has explained the situation to some extent, but it’s only about how “I was attacked and Colette-chan got injured”.
Sabine-chan at that time did not know who the enemy was or what I was going to do, so the king had little information on this matter.
Well, it’s useless to even think about it, since three days was definitely not enough time to make it in the first place.
Besides, it doesn’t matter what his majesty thinks.
Because, in this, I’m not acting as “Viscount Yamano”.
So it doesn’t matter what the king says, and I don’t plan to see him until it’s all over.
Right now, I am Yamano Mitsuha.
Just a good friend of Colette-chan.
So even the king can’t stop me now.
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“There’s no reply…” (Emperor)
The next day, the emperor heard the report from his subordinates and unexpectedly rose from his throne.
“Yes, sire. The guards kept watch all night, but no one approached the public notice area……” (Minister)
“You fools! Of course, no one would go near it if there were guards surrounding it!!
Do not deploy guards tonight, and never do anything unnecessary!” (Emperor)
The emperor instructed them to do so, but some of them were so eager to take credit and rise in the ranks that they secretly deployed enforcers that night as well.
They then shot an arrow at an ordinary woman who happened to be passing by the public notice area at night and killed her.
Naturally, it was soon discovered that the woman was irrelevant, and, again, there was no notice from the messenger that night.
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-The next day-
“Y-y-y-ou, you imbéciles!
You shot and killed a woman who happened to be passing by, and that was known all over the city!!!
Now, with this, the messenger will never appear before us! What the hell are you fools thinking!
We only have one day left! One day! Until the announced date!……
All those who disregarded my order and tried to kill the messenger, those who gave the order, those who agreed to it, and those who did it, behead them, their families, and their children, right now!
It doesn’t matter what their status is. Those who shield and defend them, those who hinder or resist the execution of the sentence, and those who attempt to buy time, are all equally guilty!
There is no need to check with me, for there is no time. They have committed the unforgivable sin of defying the emperor’s order and endangering the empire, and they are traitors and criminals of the nation.
Even if it has little to no effect at all on improving the mood of the messenger girl, I might as well take this opportunity to wipe out all those who disobey my orders and are fools who would harm the empire.” (Emperor)
Those who willfully obstructed and ruined the Emperor’s order, and a desperate measure to avert a crisis in the Empire, deserve what they get.
And under normal circumstances, no matter how much authority His Majesty the Emperor has, he could not punish his vassals without reason or evidence, but now there’s no problem in crushing wicked vassals or those of hostile factions.
After all, they were branded as criminals who defied the emperor’s order for their own personal gain while the empire was facing a crisis.
……Moreover, they tried to kill the messenger…….
There would be no complaints from the nobility, from the people, from the temple, or anywhere else.
Thus, another day was wasted, and there was only one day left.
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Once again, I’m standing with the crowd…
Yeah, a kōsatsu made by a great man of the empire.
It has only been half a day since an ordinary woman died in an unfortunate incident in the middle of the night.
So time was spared, and this kōsatsu was erected before noon the day after the woman’s murder.
Unlike me, they don’t have the restriction of sneaking out in the middle of the night.
So what does it say this time…….
“Those who disobeyed the Emperor’s order and stood guard at the public notice area were beheaded, along with their entire family.
We have nothing to do with them. Please contact us immediately.” -Notice Board
Nah, I don’t know……
I don’t even know who this kōsatsu was from or to whom they were conveying their message…
No, well, given the circumstances, I’m sure it’s addressed to me, right?
But if I showed up and he said, “I don’t know. I don’t remember putting up such a notice. Everyone, seize this little girl!”, I’ll be damned if I’m going to let them get away with it.
……No, of course, I’ll escape using transfer.
Besides, it doesn’t matter to me if they’ve been watching the public notice area or not…..
As you can see, I don’t go near there anymore because it’s too dangerous, especially at night.
I can come and check the information, along with the general public, and see it during the day. I don’t have to risk anything by coming here in the middle of the night.
Besides, it would be natural to keep an eye out. More so, since I can get captured or killed…….
If you’re not watching carefully, then you’re a fool.
They kept an eye out for themselves and got beheaded for their own actions, or…….
Putting all the blame on those on the field, and then evading responsibility for their own actions?
No way~…… I don’t get it……
Such people cannot be trusted.
Anyway, just one more day.
Of course, I really don’t intend to make seawater rain on the granary area.
Such a thing would be a disaster.
People won’t die on the spot, but if the granaries were ruined by salt damage, the devastation will last for years and many people will starve to death, making it a hellscape rather than a war.
I even made sure to write on the kōsatsu, “If you don’t reflect on your actions”.
……Yeah, if you reflect on it properly, you will be forgiven.
Of course, they should be aware of that, as they should have intelligent staff.
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“What about Jeralis? We only have a little more than half a day before the deadline, we have to come up with a breakthrough today, and by tomorrow morning, we have to come up with a notice that will definitely convince the messenger girl, or we’ll lose it…….” (Emperor)
The Emperor tried to get his subordinates to call the sharpest general staff he could rely on…….
“Jeralis-sama passed away a few hours ago……” (Minister)
“…Eh? That’s ridiculous! He was still in his pinnacle form at the meeting this morning!
So how the hell?! I need his brain now!!!
Assassination by the enemy!? Why didn’t you report it immediately!?” (Emperor)
It’s too much, the emperor was in a rage…
“No sire, by beheading……” (Minister)
“……Eh?” (Emperor)
The emperor was stunned as the bad feeling welled up in his chest at the words of his subordinate.
“…No way…” (Emperor)
“Yes. Until the end, he was screaming to let him talk to His Majesty the Emperor…” (Minister)
‘Those who gave the order, those who agreed to it, and those who did it, behead them, their families, and their children, right now!’
‘It doesn’t matter what their status is. Those who shield and defend them, those who hinder or resist the execution of the sentence, and those who attempt to buy time, are all equally guilty!’
‘There is no need to check with me, for there is no time.’
This means that if you ask the emperor or express your opinion to him, you will be beheaded along with your family members.
Therefore, the inspectors will not stop from carrying out their duties, nor will they check with the emperor to see if there are any pros and cons. Of course, not even with their superiors.
……So if someone from the family was involved.
No, if you unintentionally stop the inspector or ask for an explanation your subordinate or relative will be captured.
And even now, the order was being carried out in an ongoing process, and many capable people, along with the incompetent ones, were all…….
“C, cancel it! That instruction should be stopped immediately, hurry up!!” (Emperor)
After ordering his men to do so, the emperor stood aghast……
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