How to Live as a Tyrant’s Spoiled Brat Chapter 137

How to live as a tyrant's spoiled brat, episode 137

(137)

His name was Valencianus, his title was Grand Duke, and his position was Advisor to the Emperor.

Physical age: 18 years old, suppressing dragon transformation due to Yongchan ritual.

There is an unspeakable secret that I have returned to.

During the vacation, the intricate web of eroders, red-light districts, Gwangmyeong Church, the Black Iron Knights, and the Imperial Family is unraveled.

As always, he is tense in front of the Emperor's office.

* * *

I took a deep breath and walked into Jaylilith's office.

“I have been summoned and have come up here, Your Majesty.”

She answered, raising her head.

“Yes. Grand Duke Valen. You’ve worked hard even during your vacation. If you want to rest for a few more days, feel free to let me know.”

“If I keep playing now, I feel like I’ll be playing my whole life.”

“Isn't that what you were hoping for?”

“You don’t know that the axe handle will rot while you’re playing with elves. Don’t you think you can play to your heart’s content only after you put out the fire at your feet?”

Jaylilith smiled with satisfaction, as if that was the correct answer.

Her yellow eyes were slanted and a dangerous smile formed at the corners of her mouth, revealing sharp teeth.

“Yes. You are right. The house is rotting away, so how can the landlord afford to play around? He should play around after the repairs are done.”

Spring has come in full force, cherry blossoms are fluttering in the wind, and lovers are whispering sweet nothings as they walk down the street, but my emperor is still dressed in black and buried in a pile of paperwork, wondering whether to kill or save someone.

“In that respect, the achievement you have made this time is very special.”

Jaylilith handed me a piece of paper in an unusually bright voice.

As soon as I saw the contents, I couldn't help but take a deep breath.

[Report on completion of the expedition.]

“Are you saying that you destroyed one of the eroded churches?”

“It is said that Barbatos, the commander of the Black Iron Knights, interrogated the captured individuals and obtained information. They were the lowest-ranking ones without the power of the Old Ones, so he did not know the details, but through cross-checking with the church, he obtained testimony that their intermediate base was in an abandoned monastery in a mountain outside the capital.”

Looking at the documents, it was a 'incubation center'.

It is said that the caves beneath the Alzenversa Monastery were places where the eroders gathered people and corpses and raised terrible beings.

“We sent the Blue Knights and verified the practicality of the magical tools developed by the Grand Duke in Sereraji.”

I asked, feeling all nervous.

“How was the effect?”

Jaylilith handed over another piece of paper.

“Read it yourself.”

These were reviews written directly by the knights who participated in the operation.

[To sum it up, it was powerful, easy to use, and very stable. Thanks to the 'infiltration' and 'diffusion' that His Highness the Grand Duke developed in Cererage, it had a very fatal effect on eroders and foreign objects in the form of living things.]

[It was made in the form of a short spear, making it easy to use. When you throw it from the sky while riding a wyvern, the moment it hits the ground, the electric shock spreads out in a spherical shape, which is impressive.]

As I read the text, that image came to mind.

The Blue Knights fly through the sky on wyverns and throw magic tools, javelins.

The moment the spear flying through the wind hits the ground, the lightning with the property of 'penetration' spreads out along the path of 'spreading'.

The swarming eroders and foreign objects shudder and fall down, accompanied by smoke, and the knights dismount from their wyverns and begin rescue operations rather than subjugation.

“Really… … amazing.”

I felt a deep sense of fulfillment in my heart.

It was a good thing that he risked his life to recommend Sereraji.

Jaylilith also spoke with a satisfied expression.

“It was so powerful that I wanted to tell other great lords not to sell it.”

“That is indeed so.”

I could understand.

Suddenly, my vision turned yellow as I thought that the rebels might use this.

“But if that happens, the Archduke’s income in Sereraji will decrease significantly. Even if a wizard doesn’t care much about gold, it doesn’t feel good to have something taken away from me.”

“That too.”

The emperor then continued speaking.

Handing me another document I had just signed.

“Only the great nobles who have sworn loyalty to me may purchase magical tools from her workshop.”

“You are wise.”

* * *

The empire had a concept of strategic materials.

Important magical tools, weapons, and other consumables for war were not left to the market, but were directly managed by the royal family or local lords.

The armor worn by Sir Tentia was a non-commercial item that only the Emperor's knights could wear, and the knights forbade the use of crossbows by the common people.

All weapons and magical tools that came out of Sereraji's workshop would be like that too.

Jaylilith said with a slightly sadistic smile.

“You tell her that. I don’t want to tell her any more news about restrictions and prohibitions.”

“You are wise. From ancient times, it has been said that you should do good deeds yourself and slowly, and that you should deal with resentment quickly through your subordinates.”

“I am grateful that you are willing to take charge of it.”

Seeing that Jaylilith cares about Sereraji's feelings, it seems that Sereraji definitely likes her.

Now she was not someone the Emperor had to guard against, but someone the Emperor had to guard against.

And when it comes to talking bad about your own people, it's better to ask someone else to do it.

That 'man' was me today, but for me, I was just happy that Jaylilith was caring about Sereraji.

Of course, Sereraji would ask me, 'Why do you always bring me strange news?', but that was nothing.

What's the big deal about hearing the same thing over and over again?

But my Emperor seemed uneasy about asking me to speak ill of him on his behalf.

“… … I am just grateful.”

Jaylilith muttered once more like an echo, and returned to the original story.

“It’s all your fault.”

“Huh? I don’t have any convictions… … .”

“Don’t pretend not to know. Even if I don’t use my brain, I can sense it. Wasn’t it you who mediated between Sir Barbatos and the Saint? And I also remember that you risked your life to recommend the Grand Duke to Sereraji.”

"ah."

Her eyes sparkled and glowed.

“Now that you’ve destroyed the incubator and dealt a fatal blow, I think we’ll have at least a few months of peace. I don’t think there’ll be any trouble when I call the nobles to take their oaths of loyalty. Thanks to you, I’ve gained the opportunity to start my reign in a stable manner.”

I lowered my head in bewilderment.

If we can just get the oath of allegiance right, the greatest powers on the continent will become one.

If the local, central, and church governments simultaneously begin to hunt down the invaders, their power will be greatly weakened.

Adding to that anticipation, my heart raced when I heard Jayliless say, 'Thanks.'

I helped her.

It wasn't in vain that he kidnapped saints, killed people, negotiated with red-light district managers, and caused trouble in all sorts of places.

There was a meaning to the regression.

I said humbly, with an ecstatic look on my face.

“It’s all thanks to the Grand Duke of Sereraji, Lord Barbatos, and the Saint who worked hard in their respective positions. All I did was grumble beside them… … .”

Jaylilith hummed languidly.

“You were the one who tied them together, weren’t you? Well, that’s enough. This time, you want a secret that will make you even more beautiful. I’ll listen.”

The emperor smiled, the streets of the blooming capital forming a backdrop behind the glass windows.

Her platinum hair, backlit by the light, shone brightly like a halo, and her yellow eyes sparkled clearly in her shadowed face.

“Just. Whether it was coincidence, inevitability, fate, or destiny, I just want to say thank you to the person who brought it all to me.”

I bowed my head, basking in the remaining light shining down on her.

“I am embarrassed.”

Casting a dark shadow behind his back.

I, who abandoned you, dared to hear you say thank you.

The unpaid favor only grows, and I pledge my loyalty once again.

“I will do my best to ensure that Your Majesty can obtain the oath of loyalty from all the lords of the empire.”

“Yes. I was counting on you to do so.”

She took out two wooden boxes and held them out.

“I will help you carry the luggage if you help me carry it.”

* * *

The first box contained a jewel that looked like a pomegranate seed enlarged to the size of a fist, and the second box contained the liquid metal armor 'Aqua-Teg'.

“What is this?”

I asked as if I didn't know anything, but in fact I knew.

This translucent red jewel was 'Hwajeong (火精)'.

Think of it as the opposite of the ice crystals found in glaciers, but I've never seen one this big.

“The magic you mainly use is fire magic. I heard that you always have trouble breathing because you use too much mana.”

“I’m embarrassed to say this, but it is true.”

“Mana cannot be accumulated overnight, but the efficiency of magic can be increased overnight. Find out how to consume it yourself.”

If you eat this, your constitution will change slightly, and your body itself will act as a reagent for fire magic.

In return, stamina is consumed when using magic, but it is much more efficient to eat this and reduce mana usage than to consume stamina when using only raw mana.

“I am so grateful to you.”

“You probably already know about ‘Aquateg’.”

“Has mass production started?”

“I know you are scheming with your maid.”

Jaylilith changed the subject.

"yes?"

The corners of her mouth curved in a strangely sadistic way.

I was nervous, wondering if something was wrong with Rudy.

“There are many reasons why I trust you, but one of them is because you have someone you are trying to protect. Isn’t this a time when being deceived is a sin?”

“That’s right.”

In an age where being deceived is also a sin.

A year ago, she was tricked by a servant named Banton into sending the 'Ulgrim's Nib' out of the palace.

Jaylilith spared Rudy's life so that I would never have any thoughts of rebellion.

Sir Tentia and I headed to the slums to retrieve the nib, and that's when we met Connell.

“Your maid has been with you since you were young. I hope she takes good care of herself and continues to do so.”

“I am so grateful.”

I bowed my head deeply and accepted the 'Aquateg'.

There must be a reason why I'm mentioning her now.

“I heard from Jim that she has good eyesight.”

She didn't openly reveal that she was a gun user, but she didn't intend to hide it either.

I couldn't do that, but I was afraid of what would happen if I got caught.

“That is indeed so.”

Jaylilith said, her golden eyes flashing.

“If the Imperial Magic Sword Workshop were to make a magic gun.”

“!”

“Would it be possible to borrow her as an instructor for a few months then?”

“I’m fine, but I’d like to ask her what she thinks.”

Jaylilith laughed, slightly surprised.

“You’re kind.”

“It’s only natural.”

Rudy got involved in a lot of trouble because he was assigned to the royal family.

I just hope she doesn't get tired.

Jaylilith shifted her posture slightly and said, “Okay.”

“Thanks to your efforts, peace has come within the walls of the capital city. Seeing the red-light district carriages coming and going even within the palace, I can truly see how much control you have.”

I opened my eyes wide and felt like my eyeballs were going to pop out.

The carriage contained the red-light district's bribes.

“How… … ?”

“When Jim can’t sleep at dawn, he likes to fly around.”

There is no point in using the side door anymore.

Jaylilith must have known, but she didn't want to reveal it openly, so she told him to come through the side door, but now there's no need to hide it.

I guess I'll just have to tell them to come in through the front door.

Then I'll get cursed at one more time.

“Don’t worry. I didn’t mean to make a fuss. The congressmen and the bureaucrats are all the same. If you’re the Grand Duke, shouldn’t you be able to do that much?”

I lowered my reddened face.

I think it would have been a little less embarrassing if she had been angry.

“Indeed, Hwang Eun-eun… … .”

“The capital has been pacified, but I hear that something strange is roaming around outside the western walls. Go out with the Grand Duke to Sereraji and see.”

“I will pull it out by the roots and come back.”

I immediately got up from my seat as if I was running away.

I got caught taking bribes from Jaylilith, who showed her gratitude.

I couldn't be more embarrassed.

* * *

“Sell only to the nobles who have sworn allegiance… … Then, until then, I guess I’ll just have to supply to the imperial palace. My little brother. Why do you always bring strange news every time you come?”

“I knew you’d say that.”

Sereraji shook her head.

“Little brother. How did you know what I was going to say? It was impossible for your shallow brain.”

“It’s really nice to hear what my sister says.”

“I guess you’ve put some thought into it since you’ve set the purchase price. So where did you tell me to go?”

“I think it’s above the ivory tower special zone?”

For a moment I wondered what I had said wrong.

Because Sereraji, who heard what I said, had an expression full of disappointment.

“You must be tired from going into the cave.”