CHAPTER 167
The 1st Princess, Perasis Gladion.
The 2nd Prince, Dreivan Gladion.
Although they were siblings, as two people standing before the throne, they were rivals locked in a struggle deep enough to draw each other's blood.
Those two had run into each other at Rapha Hastel's funeral.
Right in front of me, no less.
Dreivan, having pushed through the crowd, quietly stared in this direction.
Beside him was the Royal Mage Captain he had appointed, the Ice Lord, Iox.
Furthermore, Babiyen was also with him.
She threw me a worried glance, her eyes full of concern.
Conversely, by Perasis's side, her trusted subordinate, the Armament Lord, had appeared at some point.
It was a truly volatile situation.

"Perasis Gladion."

As Dreivan opened his mouth, Perasis's eyebrow twitched.
Then, she immediately stepped right up to him and jutted out her chin.

"Calling your older sister by her full name so openly, where did you learn such manners? Address me properly. Dreivan."

'Don't call me by my name if you don't want to die.'
That was the warning.
Perhaps because Dreivan also knew Perasis's personality.
He glared down at her for a moment before letting out a breath and speaking.

"Sister Perasis."
"Right, much better."

Only then did Perasis relax her expression.
Although she looked like a little giant on the outside, she was old enough to be a candidate for the Emperor of the Empire.
She has a bit of a boomer temperament.

"So, I'd like you to explain this situation right now."

Dreivan looked in my direction and demanded an explanation.
The one who had contacted me first was Dreivan.
But in the meantime, Perasis had swiftly swooped in and snatched my affiliation.
It was a matter Dreivan would understandably find displeasing.
Perasis had long since noticed that as well.
And she was just as brazen.

"Why should I bother explaining anything?"

Just like she was being now.
Glances were exchanged between the two.
Dreivan's vicious glare and Perasis's smiling eyes.
The two competing for the throne showed not an inch of backing down.

"Then I suppose I'll have to hear it directly from the man himself."

Dreivan turned to me.
There was no way Perasis would open her mouth to explain it to him.
So the arrow pointed back at me.

"Saint, it seems things have changed quite a bit from what we discussed."

The pressure exuding from Dreivan weighed down on my body.
Befitting a prince, he too possessed an innate charisma.
Pressuring people was an easy task for him.
However, the problem was that his opponent was me.

"The only thing we discussed was the matter regarding the Royal Mage Captain, wasn't it?"

Sorry, but the scale of the incidents I've been through is just too massive.
I've been through so much that I could act brazenly even in front of the Empire's prince.

"Above all, today is Lord Rapha Hastel's funeral."

On top of that, I had an excuse to speak my mind freely.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Regular Army.
The death of a great hero who had been active as a Transferee.

"On a day like today, I wish to mourn, not get caught up in a hostile atmosphere."

At my words, Dreivan furrowed his brows.
As a prince, it must be a very unpleasant situation for him.
But what could he do?
I'm not exactly someone who gets swayed by your authority.
Because I'm a Resurrection Magic wielder who is welcomed anywhere, not just in the Empire.
Perhaps Dreivan knew that fact as well, because he clicked his tongue once and turned his body.

"Boarding a sinking ship full of holes and going down with it must be your own fortune."
"If you board a ship with holes, you just have to patch them up."

Dreivan glared at me.
I've never been the type to lose in a battle of words.
As I gave a brazen smile, Dreivan left without another word.
It was because he too knew that drawing attention on a day like this wasn't a good look.
While Iox greeted me and followed after Dreivan, Babiyen scurried over.
Then she raised her fist and punched me right in the ribs.

"Ow! You know, you could be a little quieter and nicer about it!"

It meant I should stop doing such nerve-wracking things to the 2nd Prince.

"Babiyen, it can't be helped. I have to make things clear to his side too."

As I said that, Perasis suddenly poked her head out next to me.

"Right, exactly. Even if it has holes, if you don't make it known that you've boarded my ship, you'll just end up looking like an opportunistic bat."

She was grinning from ear to ear.

"And also for the sake of ties with the next Regular Army Commander-in-Chief."

Perasis smirked.
I had heard the story through Babiyen, but to think she would come out this proactively.
As expected, choosing her side for the Commander-in-Chief election was the right answer.

"Are you prepared?"
"Even if I'm not, I have to make it so. The Saint himself is boarding my ship, after all."
"Save the lip service."

I didn't particularly want to be put on a pedestal.
Still, hearing that she was prepared put my mind at ease a little.
With this, we would be able to shake up the Commander-in-Chief election in a major way.

"I'll tell you one thing."

At that moment, Perasis took a step forward and beamed at me.

"If I become Emperor, I plan to actively employ Transferees."

My gaze fell upon her.
Actively employ Transferees.
That meant she would unlock the doors of the Imperial Family, which had been like an inaccessible sanctuary for Transferees.

"This world is a meritocracy. It's a shame to let talented people rot away due to stubborn traditions and outdated ideologies."
"The backlash from the nobles won't be ordinary."
"Haha, as if they'd dare rebel when the Emperor of the Empire speaks."

Perasis slowly stroked her chin with a chilling smile.

"Because there won't be any nobles that stupid in my Empire."

By the looks of it, she was going to write a history of blood.
It was quite clear how many nobles would die off once she became Emperor.

"His Highness, the 1st Prince, is arriving."

At that moment, the Armament Lord whispered to Perasis.
She raised her head with a look that said 'what had to come, has come.'
Far away, the crowd parted once more.
He wasn't coming this way.
His steps were directed straight toward Rapha Hastel's grave.
Platinum blonde hair fluttered in the wind.
Beyond it, a tall, handsome face came into view.
The 1st Prince.
Currently, he was the figure closest to the Emperor's throne.
Beside him, Kandelhar had already run over and was assisting him.
He looked as if he were guiding him like he was already the Commander-in-Chief.
The Regular Army from the Center viewed this as a matter of course.
As expected, the momentum itself felt more tilted toward Kandelhar's side.
But that flow would change.
And it would change in an absolutely irreversible direction.
Riding that flow was entirely my role.
I secretly clenched both fists tight.
Let's see if I can rewrite the history of this era.

The Gladion Empire, which had become uproarious due to Rapha Hastel's funeral.
As it was such a massive event, people were discussing it everywhere.

"The Regular Army is in big trouble now. They've lost too great a star."
"It's a group made by those Transferee bastards. Are they any different from those Black Dawn scumbags? I'm worried they might just stage a coup while they're at it."
"Hey now, old man. You know how much the Regular Army has suffered, don't speak so carelessly."
"Jeez, in the end, none of this would've happened if there were no Transferees in the first place. They're just wiping their own asses."
"Phew."

The This-worlders' perception of the Regular Army was split down the middle.
The perception that they were ultimately a group of Transferees, versus the perception that they were a respectable group that had saved countless lives.
Amidst such perceptions, Rapha Hastel's death gave birth to various future troubles.
Now that they had lost their central pillar, Rapha Hastel.
It was because no one could predict what direction the Regular Army would take from here on out.
While people were busy gossiping about the Regular Army.
Inside the Regular Army, discussions regarding what to do about the next Commander-in-Chief position were steadily underway.

"So this day has finally come."

Regular Army Lieutenant General Inferno.
He let out a sigh with a complicated expression.
Commander-in-Chief of the Regular Army.
The future path of the Regular Army would change depending on who became the Commander-in-Chief this time.

'Still no news from his end.'

Although he had discussed things with Harua, there was still no particular news.
Since this discussion meeting was essentially the same as electing the Commander-in-Chief, his heart felt heavy.
The thought crossed his mind that the timing might be too late.

"Yo, Inferno."

At that moment, a voice called out from behind him.
When Inferno turned his head, a familiar face was there.
The Lieutenant General from the Center. Mordin.
The man with a rough beard and a face full of wild beauty looked more suited for the frontlines than the center.
However, despite his appearance, his true calling was desk work.

"Mr. Mordin."
"You look tired again today."
"Without eyelids, fatigue just doesn't fade as easily."
"Haha, of all the body parts to lose, it had to be there. You really have it rough."

He said that as he walked alongside Inferno toward the meeting hall.

"So, the one you're supporting is Anastasia?"

Getting straight to the point before we've even reached the meeting hall.
Inferno clicked his tongue internally and spoke without hiding anything.

"That's right. Anastasia needs to become the Commander-in-Chief so we can completely uproot Black Dawn."

Black Dawn was the Regular Army's top priority target.
Since the war against them was what birthed the Regular Army, they were arch-enemies down to their very roots.

"It's not like Kandelhar doesn't want to uproot Black Dawn either, you know?"
"I know that."

Kandelhar also viewed Black Dawn as a dangerous enemy.

"But the center and the frontlines are different. Right now, we need someone who can command more decisively."

From a long-term perspective, Kandelhar was an excellent figure.
But right now, Anastasia was desperately needed.
At Inferno's words, Mordin slowly stroked his beard.

"Inferno, do you really think we can completely uproot Black Dawn?"

Hearing this next question, Inferno looked back at him, asking what he meant.
It was absolutely not something a Regular Army Lieutenant General should say.
Despite Inferno's gaze, Mordin continued speaking unbothered.

"I'm not just talking about Black Dawn. I'm asking if we can ensure that such groups won't continue to emerge among us Transferees here in the 1st World, Astrape."
"That's why the Regular Army exists—to stop them from emerging."
"Of course. But look at Earth. Even with America holding hegemony and acting as the world police, terrorism still happened and wars still broke out. America couldn't stop it."

Something that couldn't even be achieved on Earth.
Could the Regular Army, who weren't even natives of this world, really achieve it?

"Do you know where terrorism and war start?"

Mordin quietly looked out the window.
His eyes held a mix of regrets.

"It's a fundamental human instinct. The deficiency one has and the discrimination experienced from others. When that grows beyond the individual to a race and a nation, it becomes an explosive rampage."

As long as humans exist, war will continue.
That remains true even after being transferred.
Because the 1st World, Astrape, is a place that breeds endless discrimination and deprivation for Transferees.

"So you're saying we should just let it be?"
"No, that's not what I'm saying. Simply put, the point I want to make is this."

Mordin and Inferno had arrived in front of the meeting hall before they knew it.

"To resolve deprivation and discrimination, we ultimately have no choice but to merge into one."

Inferno opened his mouth, then closed it.
Because he realized what the 'one' Mordin was talking about meant.
Kandelhar, whom Mordin supported.
Because he was not a Transferee, but a This-worlder.

"Kandelhar is the right man for the job. If a This-worlder is our leader, the outside perspective on us will change. He is the most suitable person to fill the vacancy left by Lord Rapha Hastel, someone who was acknowledged even by This-worlders."

Groups like Black Dawn would continue to emerge in the future.
No matter how hard they tried to suppress it, the hatred and discrimination toward Transferees wouldn't change.
The Regular Army would have to continue facing that hatred and discrimination.
That would be a very long and exhausting endeavor.
So Mordin had made his choice.
If that was the case, they might as well just assimilate.
To declare that the Regular Army was not a group of Transferees, but a group working for the This-worlders.
Inferno had no choice but to remain silent.
Looking at the future of the Regular Army, that wasn't a wrong choice either.

"I'm just saying that's how I see it."

Hoping Inferno would understand, Mordin grasped the doorknob of the meeting hall.

"Mordin."

Inferno spoke quietly to him.

"Even so, we are Transferees."

That was merely avoiding the issue. It wasn't a fundamental solution to the problem. As Inferno conveyed that fact, Mordin only slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

"Yeah, that right there must be the curse placed upon us."

Mordin stepped into the meeting hall first.
Mordin had a This-worlder wife.
And they had a child born between them.
The discrimination his child faced from their surroundings simply for being the child of a Transferee.
Mordin had seen it with his own two eyes.
Because Inferno knew that as well, he understood the many meanings hidden in his smile.
So he didn't try to persuade him.
Inferno simply adhered to his own convictions as well.