How the Reincarnation Seat Destroys the Original - Chapter 128



Only Krnovel

Episode 128. The Second Calamity (3).

The situation was the same in villages outside the capital.

Unlike the capital city where shelters were prepared under the emperor’s direction, in the villages where shelters had to be built, after the notice was posted, the villagers could not sleep at night and came out of their houses to loiter around the shelters.

Some even say that the village is so dangerous that they should head to the capital, which is safer than anywhere else. From villages near the capital to villages that are a day or two away by carriage.

The capital was filled with so many people that it became inevitable to open the palace and temples. Naturally, the number of people in the shelters in the central square and in front of the palace and temples did not decrease, but rather gradually increased, and the frequency of Emperor Bastian sighing also increased.

In the three areas where shelters were set up, the voices of those trying to disperse them and those trying to hold on were heard without pause every day.

“Even if we stay like this, the palace gates will not open!!! Everyone, please step aside as the carriages are coming and going!”

“If an earthquake occurs, when will you take care of the children and come all the way to the palace?! Our house is far from the palace!!!”

“It’s not too late to feel the ground shaking and get moving!!! Please go home!”

“We don’t have a home in the capital! We’ll live here in a tent so we won’t be disturbed, so please don’t send us back!!!”

If this was the situation before the earthquake even occurred, there was no way to know how much longer it would be unstoppable if an earthquake occurred.

“Should I rule by imperial edict…?”

Bastian muttered, pressing his throbbing temples, while Eden, the commander of the Imperial Knights who had come to report on the minor incidents and accidents that had occurred in the square and in front of the palace today, shook his head.

“There may be those who try to enter the palace while disobeying the imperial order. There are always those who make extreme choices when faced with the fear that they might die.”

“Yeah, I guess so. I know that, but I just blurted it out because I was frustrated.”

They can’t be ruled by imperial edict, nor can they be forced out. But if the palace gates are opened in advance, the accumulated anxiety of those who are trying to maintain their daily lives while enduring anxiety will be revealed in the form of discontent, and the conflict will intensify.

“What should I do about this?”

In a disaster like an earthquake, preparation and leadership were important, but the people who followed were more important. By moving with one mind and one purpose, evacuation time could be shortened and the safety of more people could be guaranteed.

“What can we do? We have to disperse them, even if it means using force.”

Bastian looked at Eden in front of him.

Eden quickly shook his head as if he hadn’t said anything. The two people already knew who the owner of the voice that had just spoken was, even though he wasn’t there.

Kael, who had not been there until just now, appeared in the Emperor’s office, and he opened his mouth with his characteristically indifferent expression at the gazes of the two people looking at him.

“I said that because the area in front of the palace seemed too complicated to travel by carriage.”

When Kael said that he had used magic to invade the palace without permission because there were too many people in front of the palace, making it difficult to move, Eden’s mouth opened slightly and his gaze turned to Bastian, who seemed familiar with his sudden appearance.

Soon he realized that Bastian had allowed Kael to enter and exit the palace freely using magic, yet had not told him, who was in charge of guarding the palace.

“Isn’t it Kael?”

Bastian, who realized what he was thinking, spoke with a sly smile, and Eden, who found himself nodding in agreement with what he said, let out a small sigh.

“We will strengthen security a bit more.”

Even though he knew that strengthening the security would be of no use, no one knew that it was just something he always said as the commander of the Imperial Knights. In other words, he meant that he would pretend not to know the situation he was currently facing.

“By the way, Kael… no, Viscount Damier, may I ask what you just said?”

“It’s literal. It means that we must disperse them by force.”

Bastian’s expression hardened as he did not want to deal with the current situation by force. Kael, who was looking at that expression, swallowed a sigh inwardly.

It had already been three days since the official document was posted.

In the original work, the exact time of the earthquake was not described. It was simply described as having occurred a week after the main character, Lars, noticed the warning signs.

Now Lars has learned of the symptoms much earlier than in the original. Just like in the original, no one knows whether the earthquake will occur a week after he learns of it. No one knows whether the earthquake will occur exactly as it did in the original, now that the original has begun to change.

Even myself.

But I was certain that the current situation would create a bad situation when an earthquake occurred.

He is still unable to lead, but it would be different after the earthquake. He wants to maintain some peace in the empire in a world that is on the verge of destruction, and he is aware of Bastian, who has a typical strong-weak-strong personality.

I knew he was indecisive in these situations, so I came to see him in person, but seeing him with my own eyes was frustrating.

“Didn’t Your Majesty say it? We can’t save everyone, but we must take action to save as many people as possible.”

“that….”

“However, Your Majesty’s actions now, rather than saving more people, could lead more people to death.”

“Your Majesty, your words are excessive.”

Eden stepped forward as Kael’s words flowed out without hesitation, but Kael did not even look at him and met Bastian’s gaze as he continued to speak.

“The position of emperor is by no means a small or light position. It is huge and heavy. It is true that the lives of many people are determined by one choice, and that the burden that must be borne in order to make their lives more prosperous and peaceful is great.”

After the first disaster before returning, Bastian never came to see him again, and he himself, who had hoped to maintain the original, did not go to see him either.

However, it could be assumed that this was because it was described that he was suffering from the guilt of having caused so many people to lose their lives in the second disaster, which he was unaware of, just like the first disaster in the original work.

Although he would sometimes complain that the seat he was sitting on was too big and heavy, he was not one to avoid the responsibility of sitting there. He was someone who wanted to face it and do his best.

“But sometimes a hard line is needed. Don’t you know that better than anyone else?”

Bastian met Kael’s eyes and listened to him silently.

He knew it too.

The best way now is to use force to make the people of the empire follow your words.

But because I knew the anxiety they must be feeling, I couldn’t ignore it, so I tried to find a peaceful way even though I knew there was no way.

“Who among the people of the Empire would not feel anxious or afraid after the official notice that a great earthquake would occur? However, there are those who continue to go about their daily lives. For their sake, His Majesty the Emperor must be firm now.”

The calm voice that flowed out sharply stabbed my heart. I would be lying if I said it didn’t hurt, but this pain was not from his words but from facing my own foolishness.

“Either Sir.”

Bastian closed his eyes and slowly opened them, calling out to Eden.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Disperse those in front of the palace. Use force if necessary.”

“I will tell them to disperse carefully so that no one gets hurt.”

“Prioritize the safety of the Knights before their own, and tell those who did not originally live in the capital to use the inn there. There will be enough rooms to accommodate those who come. However, if they are still pitching tents, they will be forcibly removed.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“And… before that, Jim needs to meet them in person.”

After a moment of hesitation and a step later in Bastian’s words, Eden looked at him and then at Kael, then bowed deeply.

“While you are finishing your preparations, I will convey His Majesty the Emperor’s message to the members.”

“Yes, please.”

Eden headed out of Bastian’s office, and Bastian looked at Kael again.

“Thank you, Kael.”

Kael frowned at the thanks that came out of his mouth and spoke somewhat curtly.

“I knew you’d be like this, so I came here because I was frustrated. Do you really have to make me come here when you don’t even know what to do?”

“That’s right, I’m also a first time emperor. There are still many things I lack.”

Kael, who was about to say that he had done it many times, soon realized that he had done it many times himself and instead of answering, sighed.

“It’s really difficult to make a decision when so many lives are at stake.”

“Even if it’s difficult, what can you do? Or, you can have a national wedding, see the successor, and quickly hand over the throne.”

Bastian laughed briefly at Kael’s words, which gave a very realistic answer.

“You’re not married either, are you?”

“There is a successor, right?”

“When destruction disappears from the path this world is headed toward, then I will seriously consider your words.”

Kael shrugged and turned around, signaling that he was going to go back.

“Kael.”

Bastian, who had called him back again as he was about to leave, smiled at Kael’s expression as if asking why he was calling him again.

“But I wanted to tell you that I was touched because it seemed like you had been listening to my monologue. Even though you said no, you considered me a close friend…”

Before Bastian could finish speaking, Kael disappeared from sight. Bastian burst into laughter at the sight of his disgusted expression before he teleported away.

Soon after, Eden returned, delivering the Emperor’s orders to the Knights, and Bastian stood up.

I wasn’t sure if I could reassure the imperial citizens who were standing in front of the palace, trembling with anxiety and fear and even giving up their daily lives if I came forward myself.

However, if he could reassure them even a little bit, he had to step forward. He thought that was his job as the emperor.

“Go back! It’s more dangerous to stay like this!”

“What would someone in the palace know!!! There’s a place to escape to right in front of our noses!!!”

As he approached the palace entrance, voices clashed against each other, and Bastian stopped at the tall, tightly shut door.

Those who saw the Emperor Bastian through the crack in the door suddenly became quiet and their eyes turned to him.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty?”

The knight guarding the entrance stuttered, not knowing that he would come out because his order had not been relayed to him.

“Open the door.”

Bastian opened his mouth, and the palace doors that seemed like they would not open opened.