Chapter 26: Mother

A year ago, the empire was vibrant and thriving, but now it lies withered, even lifeless, resembling the end of a dynasty.

This is especially true in the villages, where the nobles, with full justification, have plundered the land that sustained them, leaving the people to depend on the aristocracy for survival.

Forced to sign unequal treaties, they struggle on the brink of starvation, only to die from exhaustion or hunger.

Or they venture out, perishing in some unknown corner.

Or they are conscripted as cannon fodder under so-called recruitment orders, dying in ways beyond imagination.

This is the current state of the empire.

Even the village where Emilia grew up could not escape this fate.

At some point, a crowd gathered inside and outside the dilapidated church—simple, honest-looking farmers.

They wailed and howled, some praying, others shouting, every word revolving around Emilia, inevitably steering the conversation toward the old nun.

Thanks to Ole’s presence, unnecessary trouble was avoided.

In truth, these people were stirred up by a few of his words.

His speech struck at the interests of these ungrateful villagers, promising an illusory, glorious future while subtly suggesting that the old nun might know Emilia’s whereabouts.

After all, she was the emperor’s adoptive mother, so harsh measures couldn’t be used—only soft ones… coercion and temptation were ineffective, leaving moral blackmail as the only option.

It was the only method left.

If it failed, he would have to consider the consequences of offending the emperor.

As for the previous failure of moral blackmail… after some reflection, he realized it was his own fault.

To a stranger, refusal carries little psychological burden.

But now, with villagers who have known each other for years, it’s a different story.

There is no laughter.

Those who truly wish to save the empire do not laugh—only the dark resolve in their eyes remains.

If the empire collapses, not only will the commoners suffer, but even the nobles will likely face ruin.

Most imperial nobles are shortsighted, clinging to outdated ideas, unable to keep up with the new era.

They think the worst outcome is a new emperor, a loss of some land, or minor interests.

Some even feel smug about it.

Having traveled to many countries, observed, learned, and been influenced by Emilia, he understood that with the demon threat gone, the ancient human alliance is effectively dead.

Even the last demon king, Hakimi, went missing during the siege of the Demon King’s Castle, rumored to be sealed away.

Some say he’s dead—rumors abound.

Even if he’s alive, he’s unlikely to stir trouble.

With the demon race consigned to history and no surviving demons, this powerful external threat is gone, meaning humanity will descend into endless internal conflict until unified into one nation.

That will mean no limits, no mercy—noble etiquette and restraint are things of the past.

All nations show this trend.

The previous civility was merely due to the demon king’s threat, forcing human nations to fight cautiously, like children playing, afraid of being branded as traitors to the human alliance.

That fear led to no aid during demon attacks or justified joint assaults by other human nations… with precedents and occasional reminders from cunning leaders, it became an unspoken rule, a secret not to be named.

But now, things are different.

Nations are developing, growing stronger to avoid falling behind and being attacked.

To grow stronger, they need more resources, making wars of conquest inevitable.

With the storm brewing, it won’t be long before the nobles’ dreams come to an end.

Only when they are beaten and broken will they understand the harsh reality—that no one can escape the empire’s collapse.

He couldn’t fathom why these nobles only saw short-term gains, blind to the extraordinary long-term benefits under Emilia’s leadership.

It’s not that he wanted to preserve the nobility—far from it.

As he had said, the noble class is already rotten and should be replaced entirely.

But until that replacement, they still serve a bridging role.

Returning to the scene, Duke Ole gazed at the old nun.

She knelt in prayer, her aged face showing helplessness and struggle, as if cornered by the villagers’ relentless clamor.

He didn’t want to be called despicable, but to find Emilia, he was willing to do anything—climb mountains of blades or plunge into seas of fire.

“Your Grace,” he said, “This isn’t coercion—it’s everyone’s wish. I hope you’ll be honest and forthcoming. Tell us Emilia’s whereabouts, or I’ll have to resort to some… unlawful methods.”

He issued his final ultimatum, and the villagers immediately joined in, their futures bleak, believing only Emilia’s return could bring hope.

“Yes, old nun, have some compassion! For the sake of the gods, tell us where Emilia is. You’ve done good deeds all your life—surely you won’t let us die?”

“Exactly! If Emilia returns, we’ll apologize to her. It’s a small matter. We’re the ones with real problems.”

“We don’t want to die or live like dogs. Please, nun, save us! Only Emilia can save our lives.”

…

After a long silence, the old nun finally spoke, her expression calm, shaking her head as she continued to kneel in prayer.

Her aged voice carried an inexplicable strength, silencing the crowd.

“That child is free now, unbound by anyone. No one can control her anymore. I still remember how you people, cloaked in self-righteous justice, stood high in the sunlight, hurt my child, and drove her away, ignoring everything she did for you, everything she sacrificed. Now you brush it off with a casual tone, covering up your mistakes and sins. But I remember every single one of them, yet you act as if nothing happened, showing no remorse or reflection.”

“In the end, you don’t realize you wronged Emilia or feel sorry—you only know you’re facing death, a life worse than pigs and dogs.”

“In other words, you’re getting what you deserve. So please, stop daydreaming. I won’t tell you anything about Emilia. If that’s a sin, let the gods punish me, their faithful servant.”

As her words fell, the crowd grew restless, anger surging to mask their inner shame.

But the old nun remained unmoved, smiling, hoping only for Emilia’s safety and happiness—perhaps more important to her than decades of faith and devotion.