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The wound on my chest had fully healed.
Mother had made a huge fuss over it, but it was just a shallow cut on the surface, there was never any real issue. Even on the outside, it had mended cleanly.
Well, I was glad she worried about me, of course, but being stuck in bed for so long was far too dull.
The healer had finally told me, 「There’s no need for further treatment」, and with that, I was released from the confining bed.
But that wasn’t what truly mattered.
Mother had seemed unusually somber these past few days.
Normally, she’d be much more openly happy that my injury had healed, but instead, she spent her time staring blankly at letters, her expression downcast.
It wasn’t like I was craving her attention like a child. Only a little, maybe.
Still, it bothered me enough that I couldn’t ignore it.
And so, I ended up speaking up.
「Mother, is something troubling you? You’ve seemed rather preoccupied lately」
Before she turned to face me, she lowered her eyes slightly.
That one gesture told me everything, I knew there was something difficult for her to say.
「It’s nothing. …Hein, are you sure your chest doesn’t hurt anymore?」
「Yes, no problems at all. I plan to return to the academy tomorrow… but more importantly, if something is weighing on your mind, please share it with me」
When I said that, she gave me a troubled smile.
But her smile looked a little strained.
「…It’s just a small matter. Nothing that concerns you」
「If something is troubling you, then of course it concerns me. …We are family, aren’t we?」
Maybe that was a bit sly of me to say.
But I meant it sincerely.
Mother shook her head and took out a letter.
「Here… it’s from Count House Eldenbloom. It seems the Empire’s recent policies toward demi-humans are becoming increasingly suspicious. The letter is mostly inquiring about what’s going on in the capital. …That’s all」
The Racial Hierarchy Law.
House Eldenbloom was Mother’s family.
A prestigious lineage known for its strong Elfen blood, long celebrated in the Empire for its refinement and magical scholarship.
But if that law were to be revised toward demi-human exclusion…
That house might not just lose standing, it could face an existential crisis.
Still.
「But doesn’t the Racial Hierarchy Law not apply to noble families in the first place?」
That’s why I hadn’t given it much thought.
When I said that, Mother once again cast her eyes downward.
「There’s talk of a legal revision… No, I’ve said too much. I’m sorry. Hein, don’t worry. It’s true I was born into House Eldenbloom, but I won’t do anything to bring shame to the name of the ducal family……」
「How can you say that!」
Mother must have been trying not to worry me.
But hearing her say that only made it harder for me to stay silent.
「I see. I understand now. I’ve heard about Imperial Chancellor Zigitaris. She intends to take the place of that utterly incompetent emperor to get rid of the demi-humans in Guynes Empire, doesn’t she?」
There are various theories as to why the chancellor hates demi-humans, but what’s clear is that she despises them. It’s a well-known fact.
Discriminating against individuals based on race is unacceptable.
For someone with such outdated and primitive views to be steering the course of the Empire is beyond disgraceful.
That utterly incompetent manages to exceed my expectations every single time.
Fine. If Mother gains control over the Empire, we should create a ‘Lesser-Class Ranch’ and shove every single inferior being into it to keep the overall quality of humanity from dropping any further.
「Hein?」
Honestly, I don’t care about the other demi-human noble houses, but to see Mother’s family so brazenly looked down upon…
That, I cannot allow.
This is partly my own fault.
Until now, attacks against the imperial capital were mostly handled by House Sarion.
There were exceptions, of course, but House Aster didn’t act openly or grandly.
Being praised by inferior beings is disgusting, and whenever some low-ranking noble tries to flatter Mother with empty compliments, it makes me want to crush them on the spot.
Back when Damian died, the lesser nobles who claimed Mother couldn’t lead the Aster House, I remember every one of their names.
「Hein, are you listening?」
I see. In that case, I just need to achieve something so significant that even the upper ranks of the Empire can’t ignore it.
I’m not doing it for the Empire.
Right now, Mother is laying the groundwork to rule this country, no, the world, and bring about lasting peace.
I won’t let anyone interfere with that.
With that in mind, I thought of the nearby nations that were hostile toward the Empire.
Any one of them would do. I’d crush them and make them submit to the Empire.
Even a wretched mutt like Zigitaris would shut up if I handed her an entire nation as a gift, ugh!?
「Hey, Hein!」
A slightly cool touch pressed against both my cheeks.
Mother had placed her hands on my face and was squishing my cheeks around.
「M-Mother, p-please sthuop…」
「No, I won’t stop. You’re making that dangerous expression again. You were thinking about doing something extreme, weren’t you? All for my sake」
「Th-that’s not…」
「I’m your mother. I can tell what you’re thinking」
「Something extreme… well, I ‘might’ have been thinking about something major, but, uh… it’s actually a ‘good’ thing, I’d say… like a countermeasure? Yes… a countermeasure」
What kind of countermeasure is that?
A countermeasure for what, exactly?
I was the one who said it, but I had no idea myself.
「A countermeasure? …A countermeasure, you say… a good one? …Against the remnants of the old Demon King’s army, perhaps…?」
As expected of Mother.
Exactly right!
「Yes! Recently, signs of the Demon King’s revival have begun to surface… I believe… Graman mentioned it」
「My, Graman did, did he…」
Mother places a lot of trust in Graman.
That old inferior geezer… no, not quite, damn…
He ‘is’ an old man, but he’s not inferior, so of course he’s trusted.
Though, of course, Graman never actually said anything like that. But now, he ‘has’.
「Even with the threat of the Demon King’s revival looming, no new Hero has yet been chosen. As the heir to House Aster, the ‘Spear of the Empire’, I cannot afford to sit idle. Therefore, well, I’m formulating a plan…」
「That’s true… it’s something I should have been thinking about myself… and I’ve ended up placing a burden on you…」
Mother started to look even more dispirited, so I scrambled to smooth things over and managed to get through the moment.
・
・
・
That night.
「You called for me, Young Master」
「Graman, how’s the injury?」
「Thanks to the elixir you provided, I’ve made a full recovery」
「I see」
I nodded and laid out a map in front of him.
「This is…?」
「Graman, the place you said you went to settle things recently, is this one of the old Demon King’s military bases on the Maristel continent?」
「Yes, exactly. It was the main stronghold of the infamous Western Demon Army, one of the old Demon King’s divisions, composed primarily of dragons」
「Good. Now, tell me everything you know about their forces, and any notable threats. Don’t ask why」
The idea had come to me in the middle of that conversation with Mother, what if demons are fair game?
Mother is kindhearted, after all. Even if these groups are anti-Empire, she might not approve of wholesale slaughter of humans.
But if it’s demons, natural enemies of the human race, then maybe it wouldn’t be a problem, no matter how many I kill?
Still, I should be cautious. I’ll gather as much intel as possible to avoid making a single misstep.
Once I’ve sorted through the information, I’ll head to the Maristel continent myself and crash their little party.
Then I’ll present the head of some demon commander to the Imperial capital.
With that merit, I’ll demand at least one thing: special consideration for House Eldenbloom.
If they refuse, I’ll just toss the demon’s head, or whatever else I have, at their feet and say, 「Then you’re next」
Even I’m terrified by how brilliant this plan is. Truly, a flawless strategy if there ever was one.
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