The Extra Wants To Live

A conversation that fits perfectly, as if performing a play following a script. This is possible because both parties know what they want and are aware of the line that must be drawn to get what they want.

Carl, who is not even 20 years old, sees through the thoughts of the experienced Gilius accurately. While dealing with Gilius as a politician, Carl encouraged him to remain within the appropriate boundaries so that he could make decisions as a man of faith.

That is, since he already knows clearly what Gilius wants, he opens the door wide and makes a way for him.

Gilius was a little wary of this experienced and skilled young archduke, but he was also very comfortable with his way of speaking that scratched an itch. He felt confident that he could hold Carl's hand tightly.

"Well then, Your Highness, I have one concern."

"Just tell me. I will help you in any way I can."

As Gilius spoke carefully, as if he had been thinking hard, Carl accepted him gently.

"I, and the priests of the church, cannot help but feel very concerned about the unfortunate incident that recently occurred in Palton Territory," Gilius stated, his voice laced with concern.

"I agree with you. It was unacceptable," Carl responded firmly.

In order to use heresy as an excuse, Carl firmly held onto the grounds that Gilius had laid and guided what happened next.

"After carefully examining the matter, we cautiously concluded that this may be a minor sign of wavering faith in the church," Carl added, setting the stage for further actions.

"A precursor phenomenon means that something bigger may happen," Gilius replied, his tone growing more serious.

"Yes, we have already been through a great ordeal once, and this was only a very small matter," Carl acknowledged.

Gilius began to use the word 'we' and whispered about the threat that would come someday.

"My faith is wavering… Indeed, that is true," Carl stated, reflecting on the situation.

When Carl, who had directly participated in battles in the Palton Territory and gained military merits, supported Gilius's words, Gilius's justification for climbing the next level was completed.

"There are growing concerns, especially in the areas adjacent to Minardi, which follows the Tenai sect, and Tumaria, which follows the Hadad sect," Gilius continued, highlighting the regional tensions.

The Kingdom of Minardi, located in the southwest of the empire, was home to a sect that believed in Tenai, the goddess of wisdom and light that illuminated the darkness.

To the west was Tenai, to the east was Hadad. The Duren Church was thus caught between the two.

"If it is not rude to Your Excellency, I would like to request that the Duren Cult dispatch a relief force to the eastern part of the Empire bordering Tumaria," Carl proposed.

The idea of a relief team was to send priests to help those suffering from monsters, disasters, and thieves. Although they would be doing relief work, their real goal was to expand the influence of the Cult of Duren in the Laurel Union in the eastern part of the Empire, united under Carl's banner.

Commoners also proselytized through relief work, solving various problems, and building relationships with nobles.

Expanding existing temples, building new ones, and increasing the number of priests...

Even if it was limited to the eastern part of the empire, if they could secure even a little bit of influence among the nobles, they could gradually reach out and establish connections with other nobles within the empire.

Looking at it this far, it seemed like it was only advantageous to the Duren Church, but of course, Carl also gained something. The burden on Carl, the sole pillar that held up the Laurel Union, was shared by the Duren Order.

A religious order that maintained a reasonable distance from the secular world could be a good restraint, although it was somewhat worrisome. There was nothing that united people as much as religion.

Adjacent to Tumari, the Hadad sect was claimed to be heretical and had to be eradicated. This was the eastern part of the empire with a strong atmosphere.

As the influence of the Duren Church grew, its solidarity would naturally strengthen. Of course, Carl would have to keep a close eye on things and adjust accordingly so that the line wasn't crossed.

So what was Carl's answer?

"If that's the case, I would rather ask for it," Carl replied, acknowledging the mutual benefits.

There was no reason to reject it since it was a win-win situation for both parties. The two looked at each other and smiled softly. There was nothing more peaceful than talking to someone who understood.

***

When Carl returned to the palace, he headed to none other than the Emperor's office.

Thanks to Carl's careful calculation of the time, Azgoth had just finished the work that needed to be done and was about to enter his office to begin his work.

Azgoth readily granted Carl an audience. Carl walked silently and stood in front of Azgoth.

Azgoth, with his blond hair like a lion's mane and eyes like the sun, seemed no different than before. And Carl, standing in front of him, had an indifferent expression on his face, as if he had not changed at all from before.

Carl gave his courtesy in a dry, emotionless manner.

Carl's cold, almost ruthless attitude greatly satisfied Azgoth.

Orten, the chamberlain who had been standing behind Azgoth to assist him in his work, seemed relieved that Carl did not rush to kill Azgoth.

"What's the matter, Carl?" Azgoth asked in a satisfied voice.

So, what was Carl going to say? What was he trying to say to Azgoth, who had killed his mother, whom Carl had risked his life to protect?

"I would like to express my gratitude for allowing me to bury my mother in the Imperial Mausoleum," Carl said calmly.

Azgoth's face slowly moved.

His eyes narrowed, his eyebrows furrowed, and wrinkles appeared like those of a bared animal. That was the true face of Azgoth, genuinely happy.

"I thought Orten was doing something for nothing, but indeed. He is truly great," Azgoth said, smiling and nodding.

"Lilly Felt was a being worthy of respect. I, Azgoth, the Emperor of the Morgan Empire, acknowledge it," Azgoth declared.

Azgoth rose from his chair and looked straight at Carl, who was now about the same height as him. If it weren't for Lilly's letter, Carl would have collapsed. He would have foolishly rushed to kill Azgoth.

Thanks to Orten wise judgment, Lilly was able to leave a letter, and thanks to her letter, Carl was able to grow one step further, just as Azgoth had wanted.

"Carl 'Felt' Hardion," Azgoth directly mentioned Felt, whom Carl had arbitrarily given as a middle name, something Azgoth had never acknowledged.

"Human beings are ultimately vessels with defined limits," Azgoth continued.

"If you want to put something new into a vessel, you have to empty it. If you put something into a full vessel, it will be diluted and overflow. Growth is loss," Azgoth said, sharing his philosophy.

Azgoth, who had emptied himself of all existence and filled his place with the heavy gold of the Emperor of the Empire, knew this.

"It's really great," Azgoth praised Carl.

Carl had lost his beloved mother, who had filled him, and emptied himself, filling his empty heart with pure learning. It was a cool-headed analysis and strict self-control that even Azgoth could not help but admire.

Carl had lost everything. He had nothing left to lose. Yet, how many people in this world could look to the future without throwing themselves away?

The sight of Carl, who was both weak and soaring above the weak roots that had grounded him in this world, was truly what Azgoth had wanted from the next emperor to lead the empire.

An absolute superman standing alone in the wilderness, who would rule the empire.

An iron man who carried everything on his back and moved forward silently.

The most shining being that did not waver, did not collapse, and always existed unchanging in the highest place.

The iron-blooded emperor who would lead the empire to glory.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Emperor," Carl spoke with eyes as calm as a lake and as heavy as a mountain that did not sway in the wind.

The ecstatic Azgoth and the emotionless Carl had different expressions. But it was the distorted faces of those who shared the same thing, so that no one could deny that the same blood flowed through them.

Carl bowed according to etiquette and left the room. Beyond the closing door, Carl could feel Azgoth staring hotly at his back.

'Yes, I'll come up. And I'll prove it to you just like that. That I am the only one in this world who is qualified to be in that position,' Carl thought.

'Swim through a sea of blood, climb a mountain of corpses, and stand on top. I will place your severed head on the highest place.

And I will cover the new corpse and pour my blood over it, leaving no trace of you behind.'