When she left her seat, Kareha moved to a distant corner to avoid being bothered during the banquet.
He wanted to steer clear of being caught up in political whirlwinds surrounded by power-wielding individuals.
As the banquet reached its climax, the Emperor made an entrance.
The Emperor, draped in a long cloak, exuded a powerful presence with his robust build.
People bowed their heads in unison, and the Emperor gestured for everyone to relax.
“This gathering is to honor the hero who saved the western border,” the Emperor declared in a majestic voice.
Applause erupted throughout the banquet hall.
The Emperor signaled to a nearby attendant, who brought over a small, ornate box.
Inside the box lay a specially crafted jewel-encrusted sword.
“Kareha, as a loyal swordsman and officer of the Empire, you have established numerous merits. This sword was personally ordered by me and symbolizes the Empire’s glory and pride. Please accept it.”
As the Emperor handed the sword over, he knelt on one knee and bowed his head.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will never forget this honor.”
The Emperor helped him up, patted his back with a smile, and said,
“For the prosperity of this country, I hope you will continue to exert yourself.”
The crowd went wild at the sight.
The nobles envied him, and the soldiers felt a sense of pride.
He had practically already attained the ‘power’ and ‘status’ he dreamed of as a boy.
Yet, deep within his heart lingered a chilling shadow that he could not confide to anyone.
“Is this truly the path to genuine peace? At some unknown moment, the Demon King may suddenly return and destroy everything. And if there’s no Hero, perhaps everything will collapse.”
He quietly suppressed his emotions.
He needed to smile for the people celebrating, but his pupils harbored an inscrutable anxiety.
As the banquet drew to a close, he slipped away quietly.
He needed time to contemplate what to do next rather than indulge in congratulatory pleasantries.
The path to the rear garden of the palace was quiet.
Under the moonlight, statues and fountains cast a dreamlike shadow.
Alone in the garden, he slowly drew the jewel-encrusted sword he had in his hand.
The blade, reflecting the light, was beautiful but emanated a cold lethal vibe.
His ‘real war’ had yet to begin.
“Having come this far, there’s no place left to retreat.”
He calmly said this to himself.
Though no clear signs of the Demon King’s return had appeared at this moment,
In the novel, the Demon King’s revival was an inevitable despair looming in the near future.
That night, he stayed in a side room to rest briefly.
But due to the ominous premonitions and overlapping memories of his past life, his head buzzed with continuous nightmares, preventing sleep until dawn.
[You have undoubtedly interfered with history. Isn’t it the reason why the Hero hasn’t been born yet? Do you think this world is a mere toy? How will you handle the Demon King without a Hero?]
Staring at the books stacked in a corner of the room, he cursed his own destiny.
No matter how much he regretted or suffered, he could not reverse the events that had already transpired.
The future also couldn’t be perfectly predicted.
The only thing he could do was prepare more thoroughly, move more actively, and secure some degree of control.
Finally, the first rays of sunlight began to stream through the window.
He rose from his bed and adjusted his clothing.
As soon as morning duties began, another military conference would commence, and piles of documents and orders calling his name would accumulate from all around the capital.
“I must continue living in this Empire, carrying secrets no one else knows.”
Looking at his own reflection in the mirror,
Although he once harbored pure passion and fear in his youth, now a glimmer of cold realism shone in his eyes.
That did not mean he had lost his courage.
His resolve only hardened further, determined to use the knowledge from his previous life and the current power to ultimately find a way to prevent the Demon King’s era.
His life could not now be simply summarized by the plot of a novel.
He might become a massive pivot in twisting the history.
But he could not halt the march forward.
Perhaps even he himself could become a ‘Hero of a different kind,’ but he immediately dismissed the thought.
“I can’t be a Hero. There’s another destined to appear… No, perhaps one to be born, whom I must wait for.”
He gave a faint, bitter smile.
“But indeed, will that Hero be born as scheduled?”
Carrying his file case, he stepped out of the room.
The meeting and tasks that awaited him, along with the future he would shape, were ahead.
Even if the fate was predetermined, he did not wish to lead this world to ruin.
Months passed.
Adolf Kareha, following the Emperor’s orders, was assigned to patrol various parts of the Empire and handle disputes arising at the borders.
For him, these duties were already familiar, but at the same time, it became an opportunity to delve deeper into the internal affairs of the Empire.
“I hear there was a bad harvest last year, and the people here have been starving,” he asked a local lord,
“Yes, I reported it to the Emperor as well, but due to insufficient support… We are barely surviving,” the lord replied guiltily.
Kareha immediately drafted a proposal to the central administration,
“This region is taxed the same as others despite the drop in productivity. Immediate relief supplies and agricultural support are necessary.”
The knowledge from his previous life equipped him not only in war strategy.
Systems of administration, economic theories, and rudimentary medical knowledge— he gradually applied his modern-world knowledge to fit the conditions of this world.
The people hailed him as a “reformist and practical bureaucrat.”
Of course, not a few in the noble society felt discomfort with his progressive nature.
One day, he visited a stronghold at the southeastern border.
It was one of the most strategic and vulnerable points closest to the enemy nation, the Liberian Empire.
Within the majestic citadel, alongside the old defensive structures, the clamor of soldiers in training echoed.
“The southeastern border might be one of the most dangerous areas,”
While discussing with the fort’s commandant, he carefully examined the surrounding geography.
“I’ve heard the Liberian Empire has a formidable military force. What’s their recent situation?”
The commandant replied with a serious expression,
“The Liberian Empire has been expanding their military. While our Empire won’t fall easily, if a conflict starts, a prolonged war is inevitable.”
He nodded.
“An extended war would be detrimental to our Empire. Especially for the common people who would suffer greatly.”
The commandant looked at him intently.
“However, with capable commanders like you, the Liberation side will likely hesitate to invade recklessly.”
He gave a wry smile.
“I hope they won’t invade. War is far from a good thing.”
After inspecting the fort, he addressed the soldiers,
Not only about combat techniques but methods to protect civilians and minimize the fatigue of war, which were somewhat unconventional.
The soldiers were initially surprised but soon convinced by his reasoning.
“Once you’re on the battlefield, both the enemy and allies are living beings. Unnecessary slaughter and destruction will ultimately consume us.”
As he continued addressing the soldiers almost like a lecture,
A few high-ranking officers discreetly wore uncomfortable expressions.
“War is ruthless. It can’t be sugarcoated,” muttered an old officer loud enough for the soldiers to hear.
He bowed his head toward the old officer.
“True, but there should be no room to indiscriminately k*ll and destroy just because war is ruthless. To strengthen our Empire, we must curb unnecessary destruction.”
A ripple of murmurs spread among the soldiers.
He wasn’t one to only preach idealistic notions.
His extensive combat experience in numerous battles gave his words gravity.
Ultimately, the older officer didn’t continue his argument,
He nodded with the younger officers and answered with an old voice,
“Indeed, you’re right. With someone young and competent like you working for the Empire’s benefit, we will follow your lead.”
After touring the southeastern border, he headed back to the capital.
Though the standoff with the Liberian Empire remained a cause for concern, no immediate signs of a full-scale war were apparent.
He became curious about any news from the capital during his absence.
“Have you heard any special news from the capital?”
He asked his adjutant.
Riding alongside the guard, the adjutant rummaged through a small briefcase and replied,
“The Emperor requested you to attend an urgent military conference upon your return. Also, there’s an invitation from the Central Noble Assembly.”
He sighed.
“Even though I’ve been out for just a few days, the work has piled up again.”
But that was his destiny.
More responsibilities and obligations awaited him, and he couldn’t turn away from this role.
As they reached the outskirts of the capital, the evening glow was painting the sky a deep red.
He wanted a brief detour to the nearby meadow before entering the city, just to take it all in.
After instructing his adjutant and the soldiers to proceed to the capital,
He rode alone through the meadow trails.
The vast green fields and wisps of smoke rising from the distant village seemed peaceful.
Yet behind that tranquility, the uncertainty persisted.
The “Savior of the Thousand Swords” from the novel was already heading off in a different direction.
