Emiya rolled his eyes.
He was too lazy to deal with Cú Chulainn and waved him off.
As for Esdeath and Budou, he first cast several healing spells, then had guards escort them to separate rooms to rest.
Night fell.
Only then did the two awaken.
After Budou regained consciousness, he immediately requested an audience.
Emiya was having dinner when Budou entered the dining hall.
Budou knelt on one knee.
"Your subject was incompetent. I failed to capture Esdeath and Cú Chulainn. I request Your Majesty's punishment."
Emiya didn't take it seriously.
"It's fine. Your opponents were Esdeath and a demigod. It's normal that you couldn't defeat them. You may leave."
Budou looked up, stood, and slowly withdrew.
Across the table, Hephaestus cut her steak and spoke casually.
"It seems Budou has begun to suspect your identity."
Emiya smiled, unconcerned.
"That's normal. My personality is completely different from the young emperor's. The changes these past few days were too sudden. Suspicion is inevitable. In fact, not just Budou-Minister Honest and the other officials are already suspicious. They just don't dare act because of you."
With a god suppressing everything, suspicion alone meant nothing.
No one dared confirm it.
Doing so would mean openly opposing Hephaestus.
No one wanted that outcome.
The conscientious officials didn't care who sat on the throne.
As long as the Empire improved and the people lived peacefully, that was enough.
It wasn't loyalty that kept them silent.
It was disappointment in the former emperor, who had been nothing more than the minister's puppet.
As for the minister's faction, the emperor himself was irrelevant.
What mattered was Hephaestus.
As long as she remained, they wouldn't dare move recklessly.
Budou was different.
He was genuinely loyal to the young emperor.
And because of that loyalty, he didn't dare confirm anything.
He had no proof.
And if the emperor before him was an impostor, then the real emperor had likely already fallen into their hands.
Until Budou confirmed the real emperor's fate, he wouldn't act.
Because of this balance, the court remained firmly under Emiya's control.
No major incidents occurred.
Not long after Budou left, a guard reported that Esdeath had awakened and requested an audience.
Emiya nodded.
"Let her in."
Soon, Esdeath entered.
She wore her military uniform and knelt on one knee.
"Esdeath greets Your Majesty."
Emiya smiled.
"I'm glad to see you're unharmed, General Esdeath."
She lowered her head.
"I am deeply moved by Your Majesty's concern."
"You're a hero of the Empire. Of course I would be concerned," Emiya said. "Would you like to join us for dinner?"
Esdeath's eyes flickered.
She stood.
"Yes."
Emiya paused.
He had only said it out of courtesy.
Still, it wasn't an issue.
Another place setting was arranged.
After sitting down, Esdeath glanced around.
"Your Majesty, who are these people?"
Emiya set down his utensils.
"Allow me to introduce them. Beside you is Karyuusai Shouko, a top-tier doll maker. Across from you is Wu Zetian. The Empire's recent reforms are her work. To my left is Medea, my lover. To my right is Hephaestus-also my lover."
Hephaestus sighed quietly.
She had expected this.
Esdeath's gaze sharpened.
"Your Majesty... Hephaestus is the name of a goddess."
"That's right."
"So the goddess is Your Majesty's lover?"
Disbelief surfaced on Esdeath's face.
At the same time, her suspicion was confirmed.
The person before her was not the young emperor she had known.
That emperor had been a puppet.
He could never have won a goddess's favor.
"Is it that strange?" Emiya asked calmly.
Esdeath nodded.
"It is strange. If the goddess is Your Majesty's lover... does that make Your Majesty a god as well?"
"Are you testing me?" Emiya asked, smiling faintly.
Esdeath remained silent.
Emiya shook his head.
"I'm not a god. I'm human. Some things are better left unspoken. Don't you agree, General Esdeath?"
Esdeath narrowed her eyes.
"I only care about war and killing. Everything else is irrelevant to me."
Emiya understood.
"Now that you've recovered, I intend to have you handle the southern rebellion."
"When do I depart?"
"Whenever you wish. I won't rush you. But there's one thing I want you to remember."
"Please instruct me, Your Majesty."
"When facing the rebels, eliminate only the leaders and high-ranking officers. Spare the rest. Restrain your killing intent. Don't slaughter them all."
Esdeath frowned slightly.
"Your Majesty is benevolent. They may not appreciate it."
"That doesn't matter," Emiya replied evenly. "I only want less bloodshed. They are still my citizens. The Empire's reconstruction can't proceed without them."
After a pause, Esdeath spoke.
"Your subject obeys."
Emiya smiled.
"Very good. I was right about you."
After dinner, Esdeath departed.
Hephaestus then spoke.
"I plan to leave the capital tomorrow."
Emiya was surprised.
"Leave? Where to?"
"I've nearly finished researching Incursio. I'm going to hunt a Danger Beast and create an autonomous dragon puppet for you. Shouko and Medea will come as well."
Emiya looked at them.
Both nodded.
Shouko took a drag from her cigarette.
"The designs are done. Look forward to the surprise, boss."
Emiya smiled.
"Alright. I'll be waiting."
The next day, Hephaestus left the imperial capital with the two women.
Cú Chulainn went with them.
A Danger Beast hunt wasn't something he'd miss.
Before departing, Hephaestus asked Emiya for a batch of materials.
Emiya created them on the spot and handed everything over.
Meanwhile, under Wu Zetian's governance, the Empire continued to improve.
Emiya, as emperor, became little more than a figurehead.
Which suited him perfectly.
He knew his limits.
He had once been nothing more than a convenience store owner.
Managing an Empire was far beyond him.
Professional matters should be left to professionals.
Wu Zetian was exactly that.
Emiya was content.
He spent his days practicing magic and strengthening himself.
He also took time to visit Night Raid's base.
His purpose was simple.
To return Incursio.
Since Hephaestus had completed her research, the Teigu naturally belonged back with Bulat.
This time, he met Najenda directly.
She already knew his identity.
When she saw him, she welcomed him warmly.
Emiya didn't refuse.
Their conversation was calm and open.
Najenda asked what he planned to do with the Empire.
Emiya answered without hesitation.
"A constitutional monarchy."
Najenda frowned.
She understood the words individually.
Together, they meant nothing to her.
So Emiya explained.
In detail.
When he finished, Night Raid fell silent.
Eyes wide.
Leone broke it first.
"People... being their own masters? Is that really possible?"
To them, an Empire without an emperor was unimaginable.
It was a limitation of the era.
Emiya spoke evenly.
"It won't happen overnight. One year. Ten years. Twenty years. We have time. It will happen."
Najenda's heart stirred.
This was why she had joined the Revolutionary Army.
To overthrow tyranny.
To rebuild the nation.
But now, she saw something even better.
A system where the people truly ruled.
Without hesitation, she spoke.
"Please allow us to join your faction. Let us contribute to that future."
Emiya was slightly surprised.
"I thought you'd take more time."
Najenda smiled bitterly.
"We already have. We've seen the Empire's changes with our own eyes. These past few days made it clear-you're different from the emperor we knew. It's time to choose."
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