Chapter 74 – Declaration of Support

The morning of the first day of work after moving his residence from the monastery to the Basilica.

Today as well, without fail, she who had arrived at work earlier than him offered a morning greeting.

“Good morning, Chief Inquisitor.”

It was still formal, but a smile was added.

Now, not smiling was rather awkward to the point of being strange.

He was not used to it, but he had to adapt.

“Yes, good morning.”

Stepping into the office, Rashid checked the neatly organized interior.

If left alone, it would have been messy without him realizing, but not anymore.

The feeling that not even dust would accumulate.

‘Clean.’

The top of his desk was the same.

The neatly stacked documents and everything on the desk always held the same spots, as if their locations were fixed.

‘Formidable woman. Is it not tiring to live like this?’

She was a woman who cleaned and organized instead of him.

Since there was nothing particularly bothering, he decided not to interfere from a certain point.

Rashid quickly scanned the newspaper articles placed on his desk.

[Bloody Purge, Council Abolished in a Flash -Imperial Capital News-]

[Imperial Family, Order of Party Dissolution and Golden Age Party Suppression -Imperial Daily-]

[Guild Federation, Denounces Imperial Atrocity…… Halting Financial Support -Holy Order Daily-]

Who said it?

That the most interesting things in the world are watching a fire across the river and watching a fight.

A smile arose naturally.

‘That Kaiser fellow is going to suffer quite a bit. Well, he should suffer. This body has been suffering like a dog until now, where is he trying to get a free ride on security?’

It was so good.

To think it was like blowing his nose without touching it.

-Do you wish to accept the main starting quest ‘Path of Choice’?

-This quest will be completed when you clearly support either the imperial family or the Golden Age Party.

-Upon completion, ‘All Stats +1’ will be given as a reward.

The main and branching point of the story appeared.

‘I wondered when it would appear, and it appears now. Well, even if I choose now, there is no problem.’

He could just ignore it, but simply declaring support would give a hot reward of All Stats.

An unavoidable temptation.

‘Instead, a risk follows. Supporting either side means drawing a clear line with the other. It means making an enemy.’

There would be a question of how to declare support, but.

The first thing to think about before that was the chance of victory for the supported side.

Because the losing side would absolutely not escape liquidation—that is, death.

Rashid temporarily weighed the superiority between Kaiser and Yennifer at this moment.

‘For now, neither will be particularly advantageous, and they will probably be neck-and-neck.’

Varasha would have joined Kaiser, and the imperial family had Ryden.

The two characters were the counterbalance.

Depending on who joined here, the winner’s scale would slowly tilt to one side.

‘In the end, Kaiser will be advantageous. Since there are as many as two players attached to him.’

Even so, was the imperial family and she at a disadvantage?

That was not it.

Of course, time would be on Kaiser’s side, but the imperial family had not yet lost its potential.

‘The Imperial Guards are also a problem, but what is more of a problem is the fellows who will be lured by the treasures possessed by the imperial family.’

The imperial family, whose situation had become unfavorable, would do anything, and there was plenty of bait to lure outsiders here.

‘Although not well known, the imperial family has two treasures.’

One was the Immortal Heart of the first Emperor, which was still beating.

The other was the Blood Sword of the Founding forged from Sky-Shattering Steel in which his blood flowed.

The value of both treasures would be immeasurable.

‘Particularly, many fellows will be eyeing the Immortal Heart. Since it is extremely rare.’

It was established that there were no surviving dragons at the present time.

Because the setting was that although their sub-species, wyverns, were dragged around by knights like warhorses, their higher species, dragons, were all driven to extinction by players.

‘So the majority of people believe that dragons do not exist. It was the same for the users.’

Therefore, the Immortal Heart, which would replace the Dragon Heart, possessed a quite precious value.

‘The Magic Tower fellows and that professor guy will also take interest, and that fellow will be the same.’

There was a crazy bastard called the Evil God Transmitter.

A villain who wanted to transmit the evil god of the other world into this world.

In fact, depending on the perspective, he was also a hero trying to save his own world.

Only, his method was merely base.

‘Zodiac. That fellow will also definitely take interest. Because the Immortal Heart will be an essential element to achieve his plan.’

Zodiac was a character before he was incorporated into the Lazarus.

However, his value would be recognized by Kane, the Magic Tower professor, and he would naturally be incorporated into the Lazarus through his recommendation.

‘Because he is practically the last remaining dragon.’

All the dragons of this world went extinct, but he was not originally a dragon of this place.

A being of another world.

‘The Magic Tower professor recognizes that value.’

Is there any reason not to invite him since he is a dragon?

At least the Lazarus was not a place that accepted just anyone.

* * *

It was Karl.

“Chief Inquisitor. The…… Commander has called for you. What should we do?”

The reason he called was obvious.

Vampires were all consistent.

The kind of people who would die at the Emperor’s command.

Because it was their own attribute engraved in their blood.

‘The reason will be obvious.’

“I will handle it. I understand.”

After Karl left, Rashid pondered for a moment.

Even if he went, the words he would hear were obvious.

‘It has become troublesome.’

To harbor the same intention at this point, the path he wanted to take was too firm.

‘Since it cannot be avoided, I must go and try to persuade him.’

Fortunately.

What he knew was that most of the vampires of the Holy Order were quiet during this period of upheaval.

* * *

“You are here. It has been a long time.”

In the Commander’s reception room located in the knight order headquarters.

The Commander faced Rashid, who had come to find him.

“I came because you called.”

“Do you know the reason?”

“Is it because of the imperial family? I already know which side you will support, Commander.”

He wore a troubled expression.

“The Captain of the Guards was here earlier too. He asked to add some strength. It’s not that there is no friendship, and my position is such that I cannot ignore it. Because we too will be robust only if the imperial family is robust.”

“Just ignore it. I think it will be best for the Holy Order to maintain neutrality, at least.”

Even within the Holy Order, various words were exchanged regarding the chaotic political situation of the Empire.

“You are saying a similar thing as the others. The Director said those words. That it would be better to watch for now and maintain neutrality. Because if we support one side for no reason and the other side gains power, only we will be in trouble.”

“My thoughts are similar. How about you do that too, Commander?”

The Commander shook his head.

“You do not know vampires. To us, the imperial command is absolute.”

“Is it…… something like what is engraved in the blood? I heard the first Emperor forced his authority on all vampires to be loyal to the imperial family.”

“Where did you hear such a story?”

As the surprised Commander asked, Rashid smiled lightly.

“I have heard many stories here and there. The one related to vampires is one of them.”

“It is as you say. To us, there is an inerasable engraving. It is the power of obedience that can never be disobeyed.”

“But that power is not working properly, is it?”

The Commander wore a surprised expression again.

“How did you know that again?”

“Your lukewarm attitude, Commander, and also isn’t the imperial family not like before? It’s somewhat awkward to say this with my own mouth, but. I heard the current Emperor lacks the most important authority.”

The absence of authority.

Because of this, it seemed the Commander also had not been able to find his bearings until now.

“You pointed it out accurately. In fact, I am also a person of the Holy Order now. I do not watch the imperial family’s face like in the past. But what should I say…… is it a habit? It was the same during the Palace Affairs time, I could not bring myself to refuse the request that came from the imperial family.”

“It was probably different back then.”

As the Commander cast a questioning look, Rashid followed up.

“Would the power of authority suddenly disappear? If the current Emperor does not have it, has that power not passed to the princess?”

“Words are going around among us too. You seem to know that too.”

“Yes, there are indeed many stories I hear.”

“Well…… there was indeed such a story. Particularly, everyone was puzzled that the one named Ryden ended up belonging to the Imperial Guards. Though I and a few noticed it.”

The Commander threw a hint.

“How about supporting the imperial family, even for my sake? I know it is a difficult request, but as for me, I have no choice.”

As expected.

The words he had worried about ended up coming out.

Quickly organizing his thoughts, Rashid made a proposal to him instead.

“Let’s do it this way instead. Each of us will publicly support different sides. You will support the imperial family, Commander, and I will support the Golden Age Party. If we do this, there probably won’t be any reason for you to be in trouble. Since you have shown clear loyalty to the imperial family.”

“Why do you say you will support the Golden Age Party? You surely don’t say that while not knowing what nonsense those guys are blabbering about, right?”

“I do not agree with their reckless and blasphemous ideology at all.”

“How can I believe those words?”

“Did I not elevate the vampire Saintess with my own hands?”

“That is true, but.”

“The situation of the Empire is currently very chaotic. Commander, do you clearly see that the imperial family will gain power?”

“That will be difficult…… but still, wouldn’t it be different if we clearly support them?”

Rashid shook his head.

“At least time is not on the imperial family’s side. From the moment the Guild Federation’s financial support is cut off, the imperial family will crumble not from the angry masses transformed by ideology, but from the masses crying out in hunger. Currently, the imperial family has absolutely no capacity to lead the Empire. The Guild Federation’s financial support is desperate, but the imperial family, wanting to regain its past authority, lacks the will to accept their demands.”

Rashid’s words continued.

“My suggesting to support both sides carries this meaning. No matter who remains as the master of the Empire in the future, the side that supported them will protect the other side. I do not look upon the Golden Age Party as a temporary group that will rise like wildfire and disappear. They clearly have power, and their force is strong enough to cover the entire Empire.”

Right now, almost the majority of the people crying out for the overthrow of the imperial family on the streets were included in the Golden Age Party.

“Do your words mean we should invest in two possibilities?”

“Yes, does anyone know the future? It would be fortunate if you support the imperial family and they find their place again, Commander. But shouldn’t we also prepare for the opposite case? It is none other than the Golden Age Party. Do we not already know about their blasphemous ideology?”

It made sense.

It would be hard to survive by leaning to only one side.

Recalling the quest contents, Rashid took the opportunity and spoke.

“I will become the side of the Holy Order that publicly supports the Golden Age Party. You become the other side that publicly supports the imperial family, Commander. We must absolutely never fight among ourselves, but in the future, the surviving side will surely shelter the other side.”

Engraved in the vampire’s blood.

The power of the irreversible engraving was already a thing of the past.

The current Emperor was incompetent, and the princess who possessed the authority did not fully display her power, fearing her power would become a detriment to the Emperor.

Having to find his own way to survive under the weakened influence of the imperial family, the Commander agreed to some extent with Rashid’s words.

“As you said, their ideology is very blasphemous. Even if the Golden Age Party becomes the new master of the Empire, can you surely protect us?”

“The Holy Order is separate from the Empire. Furthermore, because my friendship with the party representative is also deep, I will tell you this clearly. Those guys won’t be able to touch even a single hair of any vampire belonging to the Holy Order. It is content I have already openly spoken about to that party representative.”

“That judgment would be correct. But did you think of even such a thing?”

“Yes, I think this is the best. Do we really need to take a difficult gamble? The ones who are desperate are them, not us. The clear advantage is with us.”

If another person had said such words, he might have suspected the intention, but.

He was the one who had elevated the vampire Saintess with his own hands.

Because there was a firm belief in that, the Commander was also soon able to cleanly organize his uncomfortable thoughts.

“Let’s do that. Later, the side that supported the winner can shelter the other side. At least we are on the same side among ourselves.”

Rashid showed a thick smile.

“There is no need for us to lose something by getting caught up in that fight.”

A clear expression of support for one side.

-You have completed the main starting quest ‘Path of Choice’.

-As a reward, you obtained ‘All Stats +1’.

The main quest following the bloody purge was now started.