Volume 11 Chapter 21 Ghosts of the Past Speak of the Future
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Gandolf-san and Kanare-san were staring at me like I was some kind of monster. Honestly though, ghost might’ve been closer. I had just introduced myself as someone who’d lived more than a thousand years ago, after all.
”Councilor Gandolf. Battalion Commander Kanare. I’ve shared this secret because I trust your discretion. Not even Councilor Anne knows this yet.”
”Y-yes…”
Kanare-san’s voice wavered. She sounded like she actually believed me. Gandolf-san looked more like he couldn’t help but believe.
”Still… it’s hard to accept. The name is passed down orally, yes, but you could simply be lying.”
”Councilor Gandolf. They appeared out of nowhere. If he were lying, how could he know enough to pull it off? He and you are discussing things I can’t even follow.”
”That’s true. It is strange for the First Emperor version of me to be here. But then, the world has always been full of strange things. Like how the council—just a pack of filthy traitors—still clings to power.”
”…!”
Gandolf-san’s face tightened. So he did know. The council’s sins had been passed down to him as knowledge.
”That’s unexpected. I meant that as a bit of sarcasm I thought wouldn’t land… I didn’t think you’d actually know.”
”This oral history isn’t known to the more hereditary lines like Mafat and Noshisshi. It’s been handed down to us as a burden. A reminder that we must exist for McGaref.”
I see. So Gandolf-san’s fierce loyalty to McGaref was rooted in guilt too. His sharp craftsman-like features were darkened now with something closer to grief.
”But even so, First Emperor-dono… you are the one who destroyed McGaref.”
”Yeah. And that’s why I plan to save this region this time. Lesta, Seron—every last bit.”
Even the First Emperor me, who had devoured kingdoms without hesitation, hadn’t bothered with poor little Lesta. And Seron—I’d only let them survive as a watchdog because I didn’t want them bordering my territory after McGaref’s fall.
”But for now, I don’t want to step into the open. That’s why I’m counting on you two.”
”…Specifically?”
”Shiori-chan, the adopted daughter of Merchant Guild Kinvale, will start developing groundbreaking medicine. With Councilor Ralph’s help, her branches will spread fast. Councilor Gandolf and Councilor Anne—you’ll rally the people of McGaref.”
”…The people?”
”Of course. Toward independence.”
Last time, Emperor Quvar had abandoned McGaref, terrified of Lesta’s lightning-fast invasion. That had sparked a surge of independence sentiment. I wouldn’t trigger anything like that this time, but war might still break out, and if it did, I wanted the people united. Independence was the simplest rallying cry. Nationalism was always the fastest shortcut.
”Well, specifics can wait until after we kill Mafat. Kanare-san, tomorrow I’ll need you helping Ginga-kun’s team defeat the guardian on the Upper Layer.”
”Understood.”
She sounded like she’d stopped thinking entirely. Just accepting it.
”Not too trusting?”
”I believe I can judge people fairly well.”
She said it firmly. That was Kanare-san for you—calm, Ranking-holder strong, but steady as a rock. Morale had apparently crashed when the ‘Black Sword King’ Berhardt killed her last time… come to think of it, I wonder what the real First Emperor me is doing now.
I wanted to see Weed-san too. Where were Scaya-san and Dalcur-san in this era? They were precious forces—I should have someone look into that. Especially Scaya-san. She’d been my slave before, so she probably still had her memories.
”Well then. That’s that.”
After a quick wrap-up with the two of them, I left the military station—and ran straight into Noshisshi.
”What’s this, then? Gandolf, you’re overstepping with the Autonomous Government Army.”
”I wasn’t doing anything. I’d heard rumors about this Takumi Nasu but hadn’t met him. It was on my way, so I took the chance.”
”Hmph. Useless oddballs. I told Kanare to throw that Ginga thing—looks like a girl—into the army, and make the girls into courtesans.”
…Ah. I want to kill him.
”Kanare. When are you bringing me those big-titted blonde and black-haired girls? Unlike Natalie, they won’t cost me anything. If I offer to make them my mistresses as a councilor, they’ll be thrilled to spread their legs.”
Ah. Seriously. I will kill him.
He meant Aria and Rira-chan. Right in front of me—the person directly involved—Noshisshi just kept spewing filth.
”And Ralph has awful taste. Adopting some flat-chested girl? Even if you bed her, she’s boring. He can have her if he likes kids, and Mafat and I will split the real beauties. The rest can go to the brothel.”
…Kill.
I forced a pleasant smile while murder bubbled inside me. To Noshisshi, I probably looked pathetic. But his death was lower on the list. Mafat and Katarina came first. Still… yeah. Tomorrow. I’d kill him tomorrow. Kill. Kill. Kill—no, no. Okay. Calm down. He was trash, sure, and I did intend to kill him, but I had to stay cool.
Lately my thoughts had been sliding toward the dangerous side. Maybe the First Emperor’s memories were rubbing off on me.
”Gandolf. Weren’t you the one too scared of your wife to even go to a brothel?”
”I’m just devoted.”
Gandolf-san compared my muscular arm to Noshisshi’s flabby gut.
”You don’t look like a soldier. Don’t you set an example for your troops, like Kanare?”
”A good commander only needs brains.”
He clearly didn’t want to keep talking. He glanced at me, then gave Kanare-san a polite nod.
”I have other business. I’ll take my leave.”
We stepped out of the station, slipping back into neutral chatter. The streets of McGaref were the same as always. But if I made a single mistake, they could turn into a battlefield again.
”There is another oral tradition among the council.”
”What is it, Gandolf?”
”The council didn’t betray the royal family. The royal family ‘ordered them to betray.’ Whether that’s a lie or the truth, I don’t know. But in the end, McGaref gained a thousand years of peace without being scarred by war.”
”…Huh. From that royal family… yeah. I could see it. Were they noble people?”
”Yeah. People who should’ve been respected.”
As the First Emperor, I’d wiped the royal family out to the root. Why had I done it? Why had I wanted to expand the empire so badly back then… Even I couldn’t remember anymore.
”Well then. I’ll leave Priest Korn’s persuasion to you.”
And so, together with Gandolf-san, I convinced Priest Korn—and by evening, the souls of Mafat and Katarina were on their way to the Underworld.
Notes:
• Kanare – The stern battalion commander, who once led Chinatsu, shares a solemn mission, his eyes reflecting battlefield memories.
• Anne – Grandmother of the councilor representing the Market in McGaref.
• McGaref – Fortress city, adventurer hub.
• Merchant Guild Kinvale – Largest drugstore in McGaref, managed by Nasselle. Regular shopping destination for Takumi with 5% discount.
• Ralph – Shiori-chan’s foster father; eccentric; treated the mc to the brothel.
• Berhardt – ‘Black Sword King,’ 1st Division vice-commander, once hailed as the empire’s strongest swordsman. Simple-minded, straightforward, often teased as everyone’s toy, but unmatched in battle. Slaughtered Sheryl’s guards, captured her, later fought Chinatsu. First appears v9c11. Reminder: Muscle-headed swordsman who laughs through bloodshed.
• Dalcur – Mercenary leader; defects to the protagonist’s clan; physically imposing, known as ‘The Strong’.
• Scaya – The ‘Flame Witch,’ employed by the Dark Elves; captured after the battle where the Celon Dukedom army was defeated.
• Weed – He is a retired knight and martial arts master, appeared as a sword seller, known for his bloodthirsty grin and elite ‘Sword Master’ skill.
• Natalie – A famous courtesan and former noblewoman; platinum blonde, busty, and elegant; known as Natalie Barklem, daughter of the Duke of Lesta Kingdom.
• Rira – A classmate and one of Takumi-kun’s harem members. She has J-cup breasts and short black hair, which she plans to dye blue. Rira enjoys playful and creative expressions of intimacy, including cosplay and affectionate physical affection. Rira is also known for her ‘Intuition’ skill, which has been evolving into something more advanced. She is a key figure in Takumi-kun’s life, offering both emotional and physical support. First appearance in v1c15.
• Priest Korn – Humble cleric of McGaref who stepped in to manage the church’s duties after Councilor Mafat’s disappearance. Loyal to the city and respected despite lacking political cunning, he stabilized resurrection rites during the siege. First appears v9c30. Reminder: Steady priest who filled the void when betrayal left chaos.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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