**The Hanzibal Empire**
Established as a military great power, it is the ruler of the western part of the continent of Isal.
The Hanzibal Empire does not discriminate based on race and recruits anyone, be it human or demi-human, as long as they possess the ability.
It is a hierarchical society that prioritizes results.
This is the Hanzibal Empire.
“Hmph, those from the Alliance,” the Emperor, Ruziana Hanzibal, the one at the apex of the nation, reclined on his throne, his muscular physique undeniable even beneath his luxurious attire. He listened to the report of his kneeling subordinate.
His expression was as unmoving as an exquisitely crafted statue.
His right eye had been lost in a sword fight, and his dusky skin bore numerous other scars, exuding the aura of a veteran.
However, the intellect hidden within meticulously examined the contents that would determine the nation’s future.
“…Are you certain?”
After listening to the subordinate’s report, he pondered for a moment before his lips slowly moved.
Despite its deep tone, his voice resonated more than anyone else’s in the hall, possessing a compelling power without the need for shouting.
“Yes! According to our spies embedded in the Alliance, there is no mistake.”
“Hmph, did the gods side with them?”
At the Emperor’s words, a ripple of unease spread among the dignitaries gathered in the hall.
The Hanzibal Empire has little religious influence.
While praying itself is not considered evil, the involvement of religion in politics is.
The Hanzibal Empire practices the separation of church and state, yet even so, they could not hide their discomposure at the thought of the gods turning against them.
“Do not be alarmed.”
However, the Emperor remained unfazed.
With a single, clear statement, the wavering gazes of his subjects instantly focused on him.
“You should have known that the gods might turn against us.”
Like a massive boulder, he remained steadfast, his presence calming the hearts of his vassals.
The dispatch of angels to the alliance between the Theocratic Nation Tris and the Eclair Kingdom was a problem, but not an unforeseen one.
“This world is governed by human hands, not by gods. Did you not agree to my judgment with the understanding that this is the war we must fight?”
He boldly declared that the divine interference would not impede his path to supremacy.
No one dared to object or raise their voice in defiance. Their anxiety was present, but there was no outright discontent.
The atmosphere in the hall became one of tense acceptance.
Emperor Ruziana, who seemed displeased by this very fact, was about to speak again when someone smoothly interjected.
“However, Your Majesty. Even if it was within expectations, given the nature of the opponent’s objective, it will be difficult to ignore.”
The speaker was the Prime Minister, Eckenbach Schveggen.
His gray hair was slicked back, and his gaze, hidden behind black-rimmed glasses, was cold. Unlike the Emperor’s opulent robes, he wore a dark and white attire made of high-quality fabric but devoid of any other ornamentation. He was so tall that it seemed as though his upright posture further increased his height.
His most distinctive feature was his ears. The pointed ears, different from those of ordinary people, were proof of his Elven heritage.
“Schveggen, do you have a plan?”
As a demi-human, he had watched over the Emperor since his childhood, owing to his long lifespan. Consequently, he was the Emperor’s most trusted right-hand man. Thus, the Emperor asked for his opinion before offering his own, a testament to the trust built over a long period.
“To venture into another world and find a hero. It is a story that would make most question one’s sanity, but with a divine messenger, and even a Seraph, accompanying them, it becomes more plausible. Should a hero be brought back and turn the tide of the war, it would not bode well for our nation.”
The Prime Minister, speaking what was already understood, seemed to be aiming for a shared understanding of the current situation. The Emperor, sensing his intent, silently allowed him to continue. Through his fluid and eloquent words, the Prime Minister conveyed that he had a plan and bowed respectfully to the Emperor for permission.
“I propose that we take action before we can find a solution to overcome this crisis.”
“Speak.”
Granted permission to speak, the Prime Minister raised his head and presented his opinion to the Emperor with his cold gaze.
“I request to borrow the Third Princess.”
This statement was the first to elicit a change in the Emperor’s expression. His brow twitched, but only for a moment. While many would have missed the subtle shift, the Prime Minister, ever watchful, caught it.
“Her, you say?”
No one in the hall dared to object to the Emperor referring to his own daughter so dismissively. In fact, many remained silent for entirely different reasons.
“Yes, it appears that the Third Princess is engaged in her ‘usual’ schemes. My subordinates have managed to obtain some interesting information from within them.”
The Emperor Ruziana Hanzibal had four consorts besides his Empress. One of them was the mother of the Third Princess, and the Prime Minister’s sister. Information regarding his niece’s activities had been gathered without the Emperor’s knowledge. This was not because the Emperor was incompetent; quite the opposite, many would loudly proclaim his exceptional abilities. So, why had this information not reached his ears? It was precisely because of the Prime Minister’s lineage and the skillful concealment of the matter, which had taken considerable time to uncover. The Third Princess, noted for her intelligence and, in other ways, a subject of attention. However, she was not undiscoverable. Her schemes were hidden with the same subtlety as a beautiful autumn leaf concealed among a mountain of fallen leaves. The Prime Minister, recognizing the value of this information, had kept it silent and tacitly permitted it until this very moment. This was the reason it had not reached the Emperor’s ears.
“That mischievous girl, what has she gotten herself into this time?”
Upon hearing the Prime Minister’s mention of him finding something “interesting,” the Emperor’s expression finally broke. The furrow in his brow was a clear sign of displeasure. The other dignitaries, fearing that they might incur his wrath, largely fell silent.
“What this mischievous girl has done could serve as a trump card for our nation, so I beg your indulgence.”
Bowing his head once more, the Emperor gazed intently at the Prime Minister’s lustrous gray hair, and silence descended upon the hall.
“…Very well. Speak.”
With a thunderous rejection of the heavy tension that threatened to suffocate the hall, making even swallowing feel forbidden, the Emperor granted permission, dispensing with the vassals’ anxieties.
***
Behind the imperial castle, in a space enclosed by castle walls, meticulously maintained by gardeners, and designed with calculated sunlight and scenic beauty.
The Imperial Harem.
A space for the Emperor to spend comfortable time with his consorts.
Its interior was a dazzling spectacle, where every craftsman had poured all their knowledge and skill into creating a comfortable environment for the imperial family. Ladies-in-waiting and female knights, some of noble birth and others employed for their prowess, worked diligently. Upon the Emperor’s appearance, they would cease their work and bow their heads against the walls.
The Emperor, the Prime Minister, and a retinue of knight bodyguards proceeded into this space. The atmosphere was not one of love confessions between the Emperor and his consorts, but rather a procession filled with a murderous intent, as if apprehending a criminal. The murderous intent emanated solely from the Emperor. It was as if an anger, barely suppressed, was leaking out. This palpable fury seemed to manifest in his strides, which were forceful and resonant. After they passed, the ladies-in-waiting exchanged bewildered glances.
“Where is she?”
“Probably in her usual spot.”
“I see.”
When the Emperor, walking ahead, inquired about the intended target’s location to the Prime Minister following behind, the latter responded as if he already knew. Without looking back, the Emperor, seemingly unsurprised, continued on his path, quickening his pace. The route through the harem led not into a building, but to a garden accessible from within the harem. The destination, though illuminated by the sun, was not intensely bright, yet not dark either.
“My, to think His Majesty would grace us with his presence here. Is there something you require?”
The Emperor stepped into the space without hesitation. The area he entered was, in essence, a birdcage made of wood. The trees formed the cage, vibrant flowers adorned the surroundings, and in the center, a young girl in a pale yellow dress sat before a table, holding a cup, with a lady-in-waiting attending her. Upon realizing who had arrived, and recognizing her father, she placed her cup down with a practiced gesture, stood up, lifted the hem of her dress, and bowed her head. When she slowly raised her head, her expression was that of a true noblewoman. Her smile, reminiscent of a single lily in bloom, had captivated numerous young lords, and she greeted her father. Her slightly slanted green hair, unlike her uncle’s, flowed down, and the pointed ears peeking out from beneath it were undeniably Elven.
“You, being as astute as you are, must already know. The answer lies in the fact that I was not invited, yet I am here.”
“Oh, dear. I have so many possibilities that I cannot pinpoint any one in particular.”
Their conversation was devoid of any resemblance between parent and child. They were so contrasting in appearance that one might believe the daughter to be adopted. This was a scenario where a parent had discovered their child’s mischief and came to reprimand them, and the child, though aware of her wrongdoing, feigned ignorance. Despite this, she remained unperturbed.
“Are you truly going to play dumb?”
“Not at all, Your Majesty. I simply dislike being scolded for something that is ‘undetected.’ I genuinely have too many suspicions to pinpoint any one. Could you please enlighten me for your forgetful daughter?”
Conceal a tree within a forest, and conceal a scheme within a scheme.
Anri Hanzibal, the Third Princess. She had many epithets, but the most famous among them was undoubtedly: ‘The Princess in the Cage.’ This moniker was not given because she was unattainable or a prisoner, but rather it was an expression of the Emperor’s will: ‘She must remain here, for we never know what mischief she will cause.’ Escaping the imperial castle was commonplace for her. When she was enrolled in a noble academy for social education, she excelled in etiquette and academics. However, she had a tendency to meddle in problems, causing various disturbances. She had acquired magic that made one wonder where she had learned it. She once became an A-class adventurer without revealing her identity, a feat that left even the Emperor speechless. She was a bundle of curiosity, making the word ‘tomboy’ sound like a term of endearment. If one looked away, one never knew what she might do. Such was the Third Princess, tilting her head charmingly. How many young lords had been deceived by her appearance, her actions, and her words?
“…It seems your pet has headed towards quite an interesting place.”
Deciding it was a waste of time to engage in a game of cat and mouse with such a daughter, the Emperor cut to the chase.
“Ah, you are referring to that matter.”
Despite the Emperor’s unchanging demeanor and expression, the atmosphere in the hall turned icy cold, as felt by the knight attendant at the Emperor’s side. It was astonishing that a mere teenage girl could possess such power to alter the very air around them. Much like parent, like child.
“Do you have any other leads?”
“As I mentioned earlier, I have countless possibilities.”
She did not hide her evasiveness, nor did she reveal everything. And just as her uncle was, so too was his niece. Her forte was veiled diplomacy. She could present a pile of snow in a snow mountain and still make it seem as if no snow had been removed. The Emperor himself understood that to fall for her provocations and demand an explanation would be the greatest mistake he could make at this moment. He knew that if he took the bait and demanded she confess, he would simply be wasting his time. He recognized this as Anri’s method of self-preservation and a delaying tactic. The crucial aspect of their conversation here was to ascertain precisely what she was referring to. If he were to ask her to reveal everything indiscriminately, she would likely do so, but in an order that would be most inconvenient for the Emperor. She would gleefully recount her deeds in an order that suited her, deliberately placing the matters she wished to conceal for last. To listen to everything she had to say would mean an endless wait for the Emperor, whose lifespan was finite compared to the long-lived elves.
“So, will you listen to my story?”
Understanding this, she gestured towards the seat in the wooden cage, inviting him to sit. For her, being confined with him was the most convenient outcome.
“Just tell me where your pet went and what it is doing.”
“Oh, is that all you require?”
“I will not say it a second time.”
The Emperor knew this was the only way to reach a resolution. The information the Prime Minister had obtained was that the Court Mage, who had been loitering near Anri, had disappeared. Following his trail had led to an ancient ruin. A magic circle was discovered there, revealing their destination. If they tried to probe into why she had moved such a valuable asset, they would be back to square one. She did not lie, but revealing the whole truth would take time.
“Yes, in that case, I will speak, so please do sit down, Your Majesty.”
Accepting her invitation this time, the Emperor sat down, with the knight attendant standing by the entrance and the Prime Minister flanking the Emperor behind him. Anri sat opposite them.
“Well, to begin with, where my tutor, Dazzlo, is and what he is doing is…”
The Emperor, having no interest in lengthy pleasantries, signaled his impatience. Understanding this, Anri quickly began to marshal her thoughts to convey the information he sought in a swift and comprehensible manner.
“I believe he is currently working diligently in the Demon World.”
She began her story with a hint of mischief.
Today’s Words:
Even with different objectives, their interests align.
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*The first volume of this novel has been published by Hayakawa Bunko JA. It was released on October 18, 2018. An e-book version was released on October 31 of the same year. The second volume was released on December 19. The third volume was released on February 20, 2019. The content includes revisions and additions to the material posted on Shosetsuka ni Naro, with the inclusion of previously unpublished intermissions. Please consider purchasing the new releases as well!
A manga adaptation is being serialized in Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third.” We hope you enjoy that as well.
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