Homecoming After a Hundred Years

The heart of the Millennial Empire.

The capital, Edencia.

The city where I ruled as emperor in my past life and governed the empire.

The moment the train arrived and I stepped onto the platform, Amelia let out an exclamation.

“Ah, look at that. It’s a statue of His Imperial Majesty.”

“……”

When did they put that up?

The moment I got off the train, a ten-meter statue caught my eye.

A pose gripping a sword hilt embedded in the ground with both hands while gazing forward.

It’s my face, but it looks way more handsome than when I look in the mirror?

Heinkel chimed in.

“That recreates when His Imperial Majesty founded the imperial military. Dozens of soldiers who’d been enemies until just moments ago all knelt in unison and begged to become his subordinates.”

“Ah, so that’s why all those people are gathered praying there.”

Amelia’s eyes widened.

Indeed, about fifteen people were kneeling before my statue, hands clasped in prayer.

A line formed behind them.

Military police around the statue were managing the crowd to prevent it from getting too large.

I spoke in disbelief.

“Why are they even lining up…… Don’t tell me they’ll arrest you if you don’t bow to that statue?”

“Haha, no. But it’s natural for the empire’s citizens to seek His Imperial Majesty’s blessing, isn’t it? The moment they arrive at the capital, they pray for their endeavors to go well and for safety and health while paying respects to His Majesty.”

“……”

What should I even say to this?

Amelia looked at me and said,

“Then Young Master should hurry and pay your respects too.”

“Ah, no. I’m fine.”

“You need to get healthy quickly, right?”

Amelia firmly grasped my hand and tried to drag me along.

Ever since I suffered this back injury, she seizes every opportunity to hold my hand tight and pull me around — it’s awkward.

I can’t bring myself to shake her off.

When your mom comes by the house and drags you to the table saying to eat before you go, is it easy to refuse?

“Amelia, my back hurts right now. Let’s do it later.”

“Oh, really? I’m sorry.”

Amelia let go of my hand but stuck close to my side instead.

Like a mother hen protecting her chick beneath her feathers.

“……Amelia, won’t you go check on Lisera?”

“Yes, after I look after Young Master first.”

“……”

If it’s like this, there’s nothing I can say.

Giving up on shaking off Amelia, I looked up at the ten-meter statue again.

“……When exactly did they build that?”

I didn’t do it.

I was busy making sure people didn’t starve and developing civilization.

Imperial protocol and authority were outside my interests, mainly organized by my vassals.

A statue? I would have told them to build one in the central square of the capital and be done with it.

“After His Imperial Majesty passed away, the empire’s citizens voluntarily raised funds to honor His Majesty. They collected donations not just from the capital but throughout the empire and erected statues of His Majesty in various regions.”

“Donations? I hope no one embezzled them.”

“My lord.”

Heinkel checked the surroundings and advised.

“It would be good to be careful elsewhere, but especially here in the capital, you should watch your words about His Majesty.”

“Huh? Why? I didn’t even insult the emperor.”

“The empire’s citizens loving His Imperial Majesty is natural, but…… the capital’s citizens are especially devoted. Say the wrong thing and you’ll get beaten by a mob.”

I thought he was joking, but Heinkel was serious.

“It’s like going to Busan and saying the Giants are losers who can’t even win a championship.”

“Anyway, you must be careful.”

At Heinkel’s words, I looked anew at the empire’s citizens praying to my statue.

I felt grateful and also sorry.

They were praying to that statue for good fortune in their future.

Those desperate to grasp even at straws are drowning people.

And if people are drowning, that’s the rulers’ fault — in other words, my fault.

Then Orca approached.

“From now on, I’ll act separately. But take this.”

“What is it?”

Orca handed me a keychain.

A cute SD character hung from it.

Me — or rather, Sirik — smiling confidently.

“You have to carry this around when you come to the capital. It’s a lucky item.”

“……Ah, right. A state-sponsored enterprise?”

Right after the war against the Seven Sin God ended, the empire was in ruins.

We needed money, but if we collected taxes, people would literally starve to death.

Caught in a dilemma, I came up with a brilliant idea.

At the time, street peddlers were making income by selling fake items claiming they held the emperor’s blessing.

If everyone wants them anyway, why not sell officially approved items myself?

That’s how I created that keychain — the Emperor’s Protection Charm.

Everyone carries keys around.

And even beyond that, people wanted charms.

While at it, I made versions of my childhood, my youth, my wandering days, my imperial military days, occasionally rare versions, limited editions……

Every time we released them, they sold out.

The revenue was used for maintaining the imperial household and for national industry.

My vassals complained about the emperor’s dignity and whatnot, but I stated flatly.

“If the people like the emperor’s face, that’s a good thing.”

“Right, Father said that……”

Orca smiled faintly and looked at Lisera.

“Sister, I’ve arranged a carriage and servants. You won’t lack for anything during your stay in the capital. If you need anything, I’ll prepare it immediately.”

“No need. There will be many difficult things ahead, so please take care of yourself, Orca.”

The siblings held hands tightly in farewell.

I watched contentedly.

How nice that the kids get along so well?

By the way, what about Lang Ei now……

“……”

Ah, let’s not think about it.

I turned and said,

“Let’s get going.”

Outskirts of the capital.

Count Welling’s villa.

The residence I obtained by squeezing him previously.

The estate lounge.

Roderic, Alicia, and Melius, who’d arrived earlier, stood to greet us.

“How’s your body? Are you alright?”

Roderic quickly grasped both my shoulders and asked.

A face full of worry.

I smiled and said,

“I joked around with the nurses at the hospital and tried to hit on them but failed — had a great time.”

“You brat, don’t joke around. The terrorism alone was a huge deal, and you even blocked me from coming to meet you……”

Roderic had rushed to come after hearing the news, but I stopped him.

“Thanks to that, I could advance things here more quickly. Let’s all sit down and talk.”

Once everyone sat, I summarized the current situation.

Except for one thing — that the Empire Liberation Army had orcs.

This was too sensitive to reveal yet.

Alicia clenched her fists.

“How dare they bomb the railway His Imperial Majesty personally built! What a tragic thing!”

“I cannot forgive it either.”

Melius also spoke seriously.

I draped the blanket Amelia offered and asked,

“You all investigated, right? What are the reactions in the capital?”

“I collected the newspapers and extras by date. Public opinion in the capital did fluctuate greatly, but…… the accounts actually conflict.”

“Let me see……”

I skimmed through the newspapers on the table.

The method I used when reviewing reports as emperor.

Only catching the key points.

When I flipped through quickly, Alicia looked shocked.

“Huh? Are you really reading them?”

“I’m just gathering necessary information. So, the fact that an explosion occurred on the train became known. And it says Orca handled it? Or there are factions subtly trying to claim it was a false flag by Orca or the dark elves.”

“……You’re actually reading everything?”

Alicia looked at me like I was some kind of monster.

What’s so difficult about this?

Extracting key points becomes second nature with practice.

I drank the tea Amelia offered and summarized.

“Did the government give up on controlling public opinion?”

“Since dark elves were involved, they seem to have judged concealment impossible.”

Lisera’s words.

Alicia added,

“Media control isn’t something they can openly conduct anyway. If anyone handles it, it’ll be the dark elves……”

“But Orca is a central figure among those dark elves, right? Everyone’s all over the place, it’s a mess.”

The empire had many groups and factions.

They were moving while calculating the interests involved in this incident.

While I was lost in thought, Roderic said,

“I also heard the news and looked into various things, but nothing concrete came up. What should we do going forward?”

“……”

Everyone looked at me.

Faces waiting for me to lay out a policy on how to proceed.

A scene I saw daily as emperor.

Back then it was tiresome and exhausting, but now it’s different.

After everything’s done, I’ll laugh and drink noisily with them.

If work is rewarding even when hard, I can do it as much as needed.

I opened my mouth.

“Brother Roderic, you said Kalbina…… I mean, Sister works in the imperial military, right?”

Kalbina Librata.

Roderic’s younger sister and Rigen Librata’s older sister.

“Right, she’s assigned to the central army here in the capital. She originally took leave to greet us, but returned to her unit after hearing about the railway terrorism.”

“……”

Her leave got canceled.

I offered silent prayers for a sister I’d never met and said,

“Even though her leave was canceled, can’t we make contact through visits or other means?”

“Won’t it be difficult? The imperial military will also be trying to tighten internal information security.”

Roderic caught my thinking.

The explosives the terrorists used were likely stolen from imperial military supplies.

I was hoping to get some imperial military intel through Kalbina.

I thought briefly and said,

“They can’t keep internal restrictions in place forever. After some time passes, at least brief outings should be possible. Brother, try to meet her briefly and exchange information.”

“Understood. I’ll do it.”

I looked at Heinkel.

“Heinkel, you help Brother from the side. Brother has no experience with secret meetings or tailing.”

“Yes, understood.”

“And Garul, you’re our knight order’s ace, right? Go around the capital’s knight orders. Say it’s a tour and they’ll accept you without much trouble.”

Garul tilted his head.

“Don’t people usually tour when they’re trying to join that knight order?”

“You just got to the capital and now you’re submitting your resignation? I’m hurt.”

“Not at all! I’ll stay as Young Master’s guard forever!”

When Garul spoke seriously, everyone burst out laughing.

I also laughed and said,

“Just go around and feel out the atmosphere. See if there are any suspicious people. That’s enough.”

The Empire Liberation Army seems to be mostly human.

If it’s human military force, that means knights.

Digging into various knight orders might reveal a thread.

I continued giving instructions.

“Melius, try contacting elf gatherings in the capital. Lisera, recommend Melius there. And Alicia, look into the Noble Assembly’s movements.”

“Ah, about the Noble Assembly. Right now, the other twelve houses besides Librata are gathering one by one in the capital. I’ll look into their movements.”

“Right, that sounds good.”

Alicia’s suggestion hit exactly what I wanted.

Once everyone’s tasks were decided, they all nodded.

I made the final wrap-up.

“And I……”

“Rest.”

“Please rest.”

“You should rest at home.”

“Where are you trying to go?”

A sudden barrage from all sides?

From Roderic to Garul, in unison.

……Why does it feel forceful?

“No, the situation is critical right now, isn’t it? Going forward, I……”

“Young Master Rigen should rest at home.”

Amelia placed a slice of cake in front of me and spoke gently.

Her voice was soft, but…… somehow I couldn’t talk back?

Then Roderic stood up.

“Then let’s each start our assigned duties. Rigen, rest. I’ll inspect you when I return.”

“Young Master, get plenty of rest!”

“Then I’ll be going. Rigen, don’t go anywhere, stay here.”

Everyone gave me a word each and left.

Only Lisera and Amelia remained.

“Uh, um…… What’s this?”

“Everyone’s very worried.”

Lisera spoke quietly.

“They’re concerned that they pushed you too hard, that this will lead to something serious. Rigen.”

“I’m alive and didn’t die. What’s the big deal about getting injured?”

“Please don’t say such things.”

Lisera looked at me and slowly shook her head.

Sadly.

“People never know when they might leave. So please don’t say such things. It hurts the listener’s heart.”

“No, why go that far……”

“It hurts my heart.”

Lisera pleaded.

When I hesitated, Lisera spoke earnestly.

“I’ve lost someone precious unexpectedly. I never want to experience that again.”

“……Understood.”

Lisera was so earnest that I simply agreed.

Come to think of it, my past life really did end suddenly.

I should have at least said goodbye to the kids.

Lisera changed the subject.

“My older sister, Her Highness the Third Princess, happens to be staying in the capital. Should I contact her?”

“Yes.”

My third daughter, Miriel.

The daughter who used to hide behind Lisera and steal glances at me.

She was very shy.

I’m looking forward to meeting her.

“Then I’ll also withdraw. Please rest comfortably.”

Lisera slowly rose from her seat.

Left alone, I scratched my head.

“Mmm.”

Somehow Lisera’s attitude seems strange?

No, everyone’s changed.

I’m not some sacred relic — why all this overprotection?

I came to the capital after so long, I want to look around here and there.

“……”

I could just sneak out, but.

Amelia was standing beside me.

Ten minutes passed and she’s still standing there quietly.

“……Amelia? Aren’t you going to clean the estate?”

“There are already people doing that. For the time being, I’m not taking my eyes off you, Young Master.”

“I’m not a child.”

“If you come back injured and worry those around you, you’re a child.”

Amelia spoke seriously and stated flatly.

I spoke carefully.

“No, but this time I didn’t faint, did I? I just came back and was hospitalized briefly……”

“Thwack!”

“No, it was just a scratch on my back……”

“Thwack!”

Stop using that ultimate technique.

When I shut my mouth, Amelia spoke firmly.

“Just rest comfortably at home.”

“No, at least let me go out……”

“Your body hasn’t fully healed yet. And even when it does, we’ve all agreed that someone will accompany you from now on.”

“……”

Everything was decided when I wasn’t there?

Amelia spoke calmly.

“You won’t be bored staying home alone. In the afternoon, you will have a visitor.”

“Who’s coming?”

“A young lady who’s been visiting daily. She very much wants to see you.”

Amelia sighed with relief.

“To think Young Master has finally put aside improper relationships…… I must write to the count. He’ll be just as surprised and moved as I am.”

“Wait, who’s coming? A woman?”

“Second-Rank Officer Mirei from the Railway Military Police.”

“That’s a woman.”

“……Pardon?”

Mirei must have brought the Railway Military Police’s answer.

But if I go to take over the Railway Military Police…… won’t Amelia worry?

Or the others will follow along.

That won’t do.

I need to use the arrangements I made as Sirik.

I corrected myself.

“No, thinking about it, she is a woman.”

I’ll shake off Amelia and the others and go to the Railway Military Police alone.

Go there and show them who I am.

And make them kneel.