Volume 4 Chapter 112 The Exposed People’s Assembly
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Priscilla and Châtillon, having opted out of the war, departed without ever stepping foot in the Council of Royals in Crete. Word soon followed that the Western Church would also be absent; apparently, every last cardinal had been struck down by tainted shellfish served at the previous night’s banquet.
Thus, Kian and Guria were left to attend the assembly alone. They were joined by the remaining royalty and high-ranking bureaucrats like the government official, Tiegel. As Kian expected, this was no forum for debate – it was a stage for Balinars to deliver a unilateral report.
The terms were blunt:
* A recommendation for surrender has been received from the Gensou side.
* The deadline is one week. An envoy must be sent within five days, or the offensive will resume.
* The requirement for Crete is Unconditional Surrender.
* Following the surrender, Balinars will oversee the unification of the people, and the reign of the royalty will conclude. In place of Celda Guria – whose mind has been warped by Asterios – her younger sisters will be recalled from the Academy of the Royal Capital, Franz, to serve as symbols of the new administration.
* Subordinates from Gensou will be dispatched as bureaucrats to support Balinars.
* The local populace will be expected to convert to Azraelism. Those refusing to convert must pay a yearly Poll Tax of fifty silver coins per person. For a family of five, this amounts to an annual payment of two hundred and fifty silver coins.
Many of Crete’s citizens involved in the merchant trade are quite wealthy. The economy remains fluid, and the populace is generally affluent. Even a man like Gaius the corpse-disposer earns more than a mid-tier adventurer from the East End. Therefore, while two hundred and fifty silver coins a year – roughly two and a half gold coins – is a steep price, it is not an impossible one.
The projection is that as long as Crete’s economy does not collapse, approximately half of the households will be able to manage the tax. For the educated wealthy, such a sum is nothing more than pocket change.
Furthermore, regarding government recruitment, there are plans to ensure that eighty percent of the bureaucracy consists of Crete natives within ten years. Children destined for these roles will receive world-class education at the Nile Academia free of charge. While they will be expected to convert to Azraelism during their studies, they are not required to pledge their hearts to Nile; they are permitted to remain patriots of Crete.
As for the military, every unit except for the legion under Balinars will be disbanded. Anyone wishing to remain in military service must be absorbed into his ranks. Gensou’s forces will be permanently stationed in the cities of Crete, and from that point forward, Gensou will take full responsibility for national defense. The message was clear: the people of Crete have bled enough. They should be allowed to live in peace, without the fear of losing their children or parents to the flames of war.
Balinars and Tiegel covered other minor details, but those were the essential points.
Since Kian was maintaining the persona of the illiterate Asterios, he burned the details into his memory rather than taking notes. These terms aren’t half bad, he thought to himself.
The immediate reduction of the military burden was significant, but the real game-changer was the education. For those who aspired to become officials, receiving the highest level of instruction from Azrael for free was an incredible opportunity.
It was a stark contrast to the old ways. In the Order of Lightning Knights , high-level education and the high-income jobs that followed were strictly reserved for the upper crust of the nobility. Now, as long as a child had the talent, they could study at the Nile Academia. The government would even provide for their food and housing. It was a revolutionary system, and it made it painfully obvious why the territories under Azrael were so formidable.
(I suppose that’s why they’re the ones winning. You wouldn’t see an opportunity like this for a peasant in Izerland.)
”I won’t accept this!”
As the meeting neared its conclusion, Guria slammed her hands against the table and stood up. The eyes of every participant – Balinars, the Tiegels, and the rest – locked onto her. However, Guria was possessed by a cold fury and showed no sign of backing down.
”You say the military is to be disbanded? What about pirates? What happens when another nation invades? Are we supposed to crawl to Gensou and beg for help every single time?!”
”There will be no need to beg. They will deploy their troops automatically,” Balinars explained. “My legion will be maintained, so I will be handling the patrols. We can manage the pirates ssu.”
”So you’re content with being unable to protect your own country?” Guria’s expression twisted. “We’ll be like lions kept as pets.”
”We’re more like house cats than lions, Princess. The commoners don’t care if it’s the Order of Lightning Knights or the Gensou army at the gates, as long as their lives are safe. Besides, let’s be honest – in our current state, we lack the strength to protect our people on our own ssu.”
”And the end of royal rule? A ‘symbol of governance’? That’s just a fancy way of saying we’ll be puppets! We’ll be ruled by a Governor-General sent by Gensou!”
”Eighty percent of the bureaucracy will be chosen from our own people. It’s only our political privileges as royals that will vanish. The ones actually governing will be those born in Crete. The only ones suffering are you, me, and Sir Scipio – the ones who can no longer gorge themselves on the system ssu.”
”I am not—!”
”Aren’t you? It’s the simple truth. It doesn’t mean we’re evil, Princess; it’s just the way of the world. The people spending tax money on their own luxuries are simply changing from us to them ssu. Besides, were you even listening? Gensou is offering to put Crete’s children through the Academia for free. He’s taking the coins our people give us and actually giving something back. I think it’s a damn good deal ssu.”
Guria looked as though she had been betrayed. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
”Balinars, are you truly alright with this? This… what Gensou is doing is nothing more than beating us with a club, and then offering a piece of candy once we’ve been broken! Do you even realize what is being done to us?! It’s not just you. Tiegel! All of you! Can you look at what Azrael is doing and feel nothing?!”
”…”
”…”
Several officials, including the Tiegels, lowered their gaze. A suffocating silence filled the room.
”Then what do you propose, Princess?” Balinars asked, his voice rising with irritation. “Shall we fight? With what? Châtillon isn’t coming to help us ssu.”
”We still have the Western Church!”
”The Church won’t provide ships. Even if they called for aid, the Western Lords in Izerland and beyond don’t have naval forces. Knowing that, are you going to waste what’s left by hiring mercenaries from Franz ssu?”
”If we start training them now—!”
”Ha! Stop joking ssu.”
”Princess, I understand your feelings,” Tiegel interjected softly. “But we lost eighty percent of our primary vessels at the Isle of Cyclops. To resist any further is… impossible.”
Guria looked around the room frantically. “Is there anyone?! Is there no one left who will fight?!”
”…”
”…”
”I understand that you hate the idea of becoming a figurehead and losing the life you’re used to,” Balinars said. “But we cannot allow our citizens to be slaughtered for the sake of your pride, as Sir Scipio did. I have the royal blood in my veins too, and I am enduring this ssu…”
”I’m not saying this because I want to live in luxury!”
”Then why are you so desperate to drag us into a war we’ve already lost ssu?”
At Balinars’s quiet question, Guria choked on her words.
”You’ve spent your whole life playing around, haven’t you? You left everything to Sir Scipio, Medea, and Lady Circe ssu.”
”That’s—!”
”And yet, now you suddenly want to fight for the country? Where was this passion before ssu?” The dark-skinned general let out a long, weary sigh. “From where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re just a girl who’s terrified of losing her status, and so you’re screaming at the top of your lungs. If there’s any other reason, please, enlighten us ssu.”
”I… I…”
”You what? Speak up ssu.” Balinars pressed her, his voice heavy with cold authority.
”I said…”
”I can’t hear you. What is it ssu?”
”Balinars, is that any way to speak to a princess of the realm… nmo?”
Seeing that no one else would step in, Kian spoke up.
”Your words lack respect. You speak as if her heart has no value. This is supposed to be a council for our future, not a lecture by a self-appointed governor. Isn’t that right, nmo? Tiegel?”
”It is,” Tiegel whispered.
”And the rest of you? I was told this was a place for discussion… nmo.”
”I was merely asking a question,” Balinars replied, his voice returning to a neutral, respectful tone. He looked back at the seventeen-year-old girl. “My apologies. Please, Princess. Take your time and tell us your thoughts ssu.”
”I… Rita told me… she told me that I was the foundation of this country.” Guria finally forced the words out. “Everyone sacrificed themselves to act as a shield so my brother and I could escape. They believed that as long as we were safe, Crete’s flame wouldn’t go out. The men who died at the Isle of Cyclops felt the same way. They died to protect our home from Azrael.”
Guria bowed her head, her fists clenched so tight they shook.
”…So how can I just come back and hand it all over? What about their feelings? Their lives? Did they die for nothing?”
”They did die for nothing,” Balinars said bluntly. “And they died because your brother was a fool who tried to buy military glory to keep his position. They died for a mistake. And now ssu…”
Guria looked up, her face pale.
”Now, you’re trying to become a Grim Reaper, too ssu.”
Guria looked as if she had been struck. The realization finally broke through her defenses, and she began to sob, the tears falling heavy and silent against the table.
”I’ve been agonizing over this alone for so long, but I see now… I never could have reached a conclusion by myself,” Guria Selda said. Her voice took on a newfound brightness, as if she had finally broken through her own walls. “If I’m in the dark, I just have to ask. Trying to settle everything in those royal meetings without the people… that was my mistake.” She offered a faint, weary smile.
”Kian-kun… no, Lord Kian. I don’t even know how to begin to thank you. Truly, thank you so much.”
”Don’t mention it-mo,” Kian replied. “I told you back on Cyclops Island¹—I’m fighting by your side-mo.”
”I can’t let you shoulder all of this burden for me,” she whispered. She took a deep breath and Smack! – she slapped both her cheeks to wake herself up. “Fighting isn’t the only option. And as a daughter of the Crete Royal Family, I have a calling. I have to do what was expected of my elder brother.”
Kian followed Guria, Meimei-chan, and Eugenia toward the front of the guild. Even though evening was falling, the square in front of Merchant Guild Kian² was swarming with citizens. Initially, no one noticed Guria’s arrival, but Kian’s massive white form acted as a beacon. A ripple of whispers turned into a roar as the people realized the princess was among them.
”Princess! What happened in the meeting?” a woman screamed, pushing through the crowd. It was the noble lady who had lost her daughter at the pier. “Have you decided on a plan to strike back? Is it death for Azrael?”
”N-no, well, you see…” Guria stammered.
”Is it true about this ‘poll tax’³?” another man shouted. “Fifty silver coins per head?! You’re sentencing us to starve!”
”Princess, tell us! You’re going to avenge Luchian, aren’t you?”
”Ornella…”
Guria’s brow furrowed as a young noblewoman pressed through the crowd to confront her.
The woman was Ornella, the widow of Guildmaster Luchian of the Merchant Guild. Luchian had been a sorcery master⁴, killed by a warrior monk’s insect golem⁵ during the Gensou conflict. Kian recognized her from the investigation, though she was a stranger to Asterios.
”General Balinars claims he’ll fight,” Ornella spat, “but my contacts in the guard say there isn’t a single soul preparing for battle! Do you actually intend to accept their surrender recommendation⁶?”
Guria stood in stunned silence.
Nearby, Meimei and Eu struggled to hold back the throngs of citizens surging toward the princess. It was a sight that would never have occurred with men like Scipio or Balinars. Here, every commoner felt they could speak to Guria directly.
While she had famously shirked her duties to spend her days wandering the city, those “playful” excursions had been spent in the thick of the people’s lives. She had meddled in their troubles and looked after their children, forging a bond of genuine intimacy. For better or worse, her past actions had made her something more than a distant royal to be feared; she was a comrade they intended to suffer with.
”Everyone, please… calm down,” Guria said.
She glanced back at Kian, who stood in the rear with his arms crossed. The sight seemed to ground her. She looked out at the assembly, her voice – naturally clear and resonant – cutting through the clamor.
”I came here today because the future of Crete belongs to you. I am here to ask the will of every citizen. But first, you deserve the truth. You need to know our actual situation – and exactly what the high command, men like General Balinars and Overseer Tiegel, are planning.”
”Gods bless you, Princess!” Michelangelo, the master of the Merchant Guild, raised his voice.
So, he really was kicked out of the Royal Council, Kian thought. Michelangelo had been a thorn in Balinars’ side for years; it was no surprise he had been excluded from the war room.
”To start… regarding the terms Gensou has offered…” Guria began.
She spoke slowly and carefully, ensuring not a single detail was lost. The citizens, knowing her earnest nature, listened in a heavy, uninterrupted silence. When she finished ten minutes later, a jagged cry tore through the crowd.
”Balinars and Tiegel are traitors!”
The spark caught instantly. The air turned foul as the mob began to vent their rage, hurling curses at the general and the overseer.
”I’m sure those two are acting in a way they believe serves Crete’s future!” Guria shouted, trying to reel them in. She paused, a mischievous glint momentarily flashing in her eyes. “Though… strictly between us? Balinars is definitely giving off some traitor vibes right now.”
The tension snapped into a burst of startled laughter. Sensing the opening, Kian uncrossed his arms and projected his voice from the back of the square.
”Scipio’s disastrous charge against the Cyclops? That traces right back to Balinars. His scouts were the ones who swore the island was clear of traps. Scipio believed them and marched his men straight into a fire-trap and an ambush. The Cretan army was butchered. Meimei, Eu – am I wrong?”
”No… that is exactly what happened-desuno,” Meimei replied quietly.
”Now that you mention it… yes, that’s right-desuwa,” Eu added firmly.
”Then the defeat is on his head!” Michelangelo roared.
The noblewoman beside him – the one who had lost her daughter – looked ready to draw blood. “Execution for the traitor! Kill General Balinars!”
(This lady is a bit too bloodthirsty…) Kian noted privately.
”Listen to me, everyone!” Guria’s voice dropped to a somber, hushed tone.
The silence that followed was absolute.
”We have no soldiers left. We have no ships. Eighty percent of our fleet is at the bottom of the ocean. And as I said, Châtillon will not lend their hand. If we choose to fight now out of pure desperation, we cannot win. Gensou has tens of thousands of troops and over two thousand sorcery masters. We have a hundred – maybe two hundred at most. That is the reality of our strength.”
The crowd went still. Then, a voice shrieked, “Death to Azrael! Bring us his head!”
”Shut up, you old bat!” someone barked back.
Guria pressed a hand to her heart, her expression twisting with a sharp, piercing sorrow. She took a single, resonant step forward. The sharp tap of her heel echoed in the quiet square. Tall and striking, she commanded every eye as if she were the protagonist of a grand tragedy.
”I realized I couldn’t understand what was best for Crete by hiding behind the castle walls,” Guria said. “I’ve failed you as a princess. But… with my brother unable to lead, I have to be the one to stand up! Please… I am begging you! Lend me your wisdom!”
”Everyone, let’s take a breath and talk this through,” Michelangelo suggested. “The deadline is five days away. We have time! This square isn’t a fancy gilded hall, but we’ve got room for everyone to have a say.”
”And you’ll make sure the Council hears us, won’t you, Princess?” Ornella asked.
Guria nodded firmly. “I have paper and ink ready. Total resistance, immediate Unconditional Surrender⁷, or a negotiated ceasefire on better terms… the choice is yours. I want you to sign your name to the path you choose. Your names, your signatures… that is the power we need to make them listen. Please.”
She trailed off, her voice wavering with a flicker of uncertainty. But then, a single pair of hands began to clap. Then another.
The applause swept through the plaza like a wildfire, growing into a deafening roar. A standing ovation echoed under the crimson sunset. Guria was hoisted onto a wooden crate. Overwhelmed, she raised her right hand toward the heavens, and the roar intensified until the air itself seemed to vibrate.
”Douse the fountain with magic! We need a platform!”
”I’m buying bread and wine for everyone! Let’s eat and decide our fate together!”
”I, Guildmaster Michelangelo, will chair the proceedings! Do I have your support!?”
A thunderous “YES!” went up from the masses.
But then, an angry shout cut through the celebration from the road leading back to the palace.
”Hey! What the hell is going on here?! I get a report of a riot and I find… this? Just what do you think you’re doing!?”
Kian turned toward the voice. General Balinars was marching toward them, his sharp features twisted in a mask of fury. Behind him followed the Tiegel couple, members of the Lightning Knights, and a grim-faced squad of the general’s personal guard.
—
Summary:
Guria has a breakthrough in the palace gardens after Kian points out that the royal council is ignoring the people. She decides to consult the citizens directly rather than surrendering or fighting blindly. However, when they reach the guild square, she is immediately overwhelmed by the raw grief and financial desperation of the mob.
Guria bypasses the royal council to address the citizens directly in a public square. She reveals the grim reality of Crete’s military defeat and invites the people to vote on the country’s next steps. The chapter ends as General Balinars arrives to shut down the unauthorized assembly.
—
Trivia:
- Kian is still in his Asterios (minotaur/bull) form.
- The poll tax is 50 silver coins, which is a death sentence for commoners.
- King Minos is senile and effectively gave Guria permission to flee.
- Balinars is viewed by Kian as a traitor who is profiting from the surrender.
- Luchian’s death was caused by an insect golem, not a human blade.
- Guria’s ‘playing around’ was actually a form of deep community engagement.
- The massive gap in sorcery power: 2000 vs 100-200.
- Michelangelo was intentionally excluded from the Royal Council by Balinars.
- The five-day deadline for the surrender terms
—
Character Insight:
Guria transitions from a state of paralyzed grief to active leadership. She realizes her ‘calling’ isn’t just to be a figurehead but to be a ‘shelter from the rain’ for those the government won’t protect.
Guria transitions from a ‘useless’ princess to a populist leader, using her personal connection with the citizens to maintain order. Balinars is positioned as an antagonist who hides information from the public.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The term ‘poll tax’ (jintouzei) carries heavy historical weight in Japanese literature as a trigger for peasant uprisings.
The contrast between the democratic signature process and the autocratic arrival of the military highlights the core political conflict of the arc.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Balinars – An associate of the Merchant Guild Kian who works alongside Madam Tiegel. General of the Cretan fleet. Former Captain of the Guard. Wears an Azrael-style military uniform. Cynical and pragmatic.
• Tiegel – A middle-aged Tiger Beastman and influential Cretan lord/official tied to the Kian Merchant Guild. Flashy with gold and jewel rings, he’s strategically cautious of Kian’s sway. A grieving father whose daughter was crippled and sterilized in war; handles key admin and logistics.
• Guria – Princess of Crete. Tall silhouette. Wears a white dress with exposed shoulders and cleavage, and a laurel wreath. Defensive of Kian.
• Kian – The protagonist—a vampire exile from Azrael with super-hearing, now Chairman of the Kian Merchant Guild. A pragmatic wanderer in poverty for a decade, he mediates between the Western Church and Crete. High-minded warrior to some, threat to others; accompanied by Priscilla and Homolka, dressed simply in black coat over plain clothes.
• Gensou – Eccentric young Eastern monk-general in Azrael’s army, playful yet ambitious. Wields sun-like magic, swordsmanship, and assassination tactics. Linked to three masked wives—Seishi, Oushoukun, and Yougyokukan (Head Magician). Ally of Mansoor and Oji, serves under Jibril, proposes Operation Assassination. First appears Vol. 4 Ch. 45. Reminder: playful Eastern general with masked harem wives, always late but magically explosive, contrasting serious monks with his bathrobe vibe and schemes.
• Medea – A dark elf. Same as myth.
• Rita – Female warrior monk with fox ears, last direct disciple of Nizaam, wears a fox-ear hooded jacket. A ‘killing doll’ beastman created by Nizaam.
• Eugenia – Red-haired girl with a ponytail, serving as a messenger pigeon for Sir Scipio.
• Meimei – Small but fierce dwarf girl‑knight from the Lightning Knight Order (Raiko Knight‑dan). Tanned skin, bright smile, and rocking miniskirt armor with a Blue Thunder Stone weapon. She’s Maimai’s older sister and keeps the rookies in line. Determined to protect Cretan culture while cracking heads and staying adorable.
• Luchian – Magician serving Guildmaster Michelangelo Rendano of Crete’s Merchant Guild. Calm, graceful, and reliable, he aids him with conjured items and discreet support. First appears v4c21. Reminder: Loyal guild mage, quiet strength behind his master.
• Michelangelo – Guildmaster of Crete’s Merchant Guild, flamboyant and charming in purple-red finery. Diplomatic yet shrewd, allied with magician Luchia and representing the Guild’s interests. Greets Kian warmly with gifts, opposes Scipio’s restrictions, and requests aid against the Fire Island lava mole-dragon. First appears v4c21. Reminder: Charismatic merchant chief, smooth talker with pragmatic courage.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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