第１０４９堀：決戦前 (Part2)
"I don't know where it started to rot, but you saw Emperor Hans, didn't you? He's quite old. Yet, he refuses to step down from the throne and continues to stand there. Do you understand why?"
"..."
When it's put that bluntly, we all understand.
Yes, refusing to hand over one's position means they don't want to step down.
And there are two reasons for that intention.
One is simply the greed of not wanting to leave the throne. There are many "old fools" like that.
The other is the worry that the successor is too unreliable.
It means they aren't yet fit to be handed the throne.
No, that’s putting it too mildly. Since my husband said the successor is "rotten," it’s more than that...
"I see. So, Emperor Hans's successor is not fit to be a successor."
"Correct, Stasia. Unfortunately, he isn't the kind of person Emperor Hans would acknowledge as his heir. Well, perhaps it’s the side effect of the Hein Empire's long reign? It’s a place where rot is inevitable, no matter where you look. The moment Emperor Hans fell ill, the successor used his position to indulge in all sorts of evil. Because of that, the successor is currently under house arrest. They were desperately consulting on who to name as the next heir."
"..."
What a hopeless situation.
"And you can't tell other countries about a situation like this, can you?"
"…True. For the sake of stability among the nations, it’s not something that can be spoken of. Not if the Hein Empire is to continue existing as it is."
"And that piece-of-trash successor is set to lead the front lines in this battle under the guise of being the de facto commander-in-chief. If he can lead this battle to victory, he’ll be granted real power as the successor based on that merit."
"Um, isn't that essentially telling him to go die?"
"That's right, Rurua. It’s difficult to punish the successor as a criminal, so they probably wanted him to die in battle. By the way, regarding the illness that laid the Emperor low, Emperor Hans was even saying that the successor and his cronies were suspicious."
"Hah!?"
Could it be that the successor was trying to kill Emperor Hans?
Would he really do something so foolish?
"It was likely over vested interests. From what I’ve spoken with him, Emperor Hans is quite decent. He’s the type who won't tolerate corruption. But to those who want to gorge themselves on those interests, Emperor Hans is..."
"A massive obstacle, then. So they wanted to replace him quickly with an easily manipulated successor."
"Exactly. And now that his health has recovered thanks to the Elixir, he’s used his subordinates to identify everyone who was supporting the successor and thrown them all into this battle. He’s purging the internal rot all at once. Oh, and aside from that, General Wave is participating as well. He’s on the Emperor's side."
"…So, the Emperor is hoping to be struck down alongside those evils?"
"Who knows? He didn't say anything like that. He said he has no intention of losing."
"That’s to be expected. Emperor Hans wouldn't entrust that continent to someone who would lose to him. I’m the same. If they want Weed, they at least have to be able to remove us by force."
Show your strength.
Without even that, I cannot entrust it to them.
I understand that feeling well.
As the conversation reached that point, Shera and Labyris, who had been watching the screen quietly, spoke up.
"This battle is a test—no, a trial—from Emperor Hans to the Emperor of Eupia, isn't it?"
"That's right. To see if he is worthy of being entrusted with that continent. It’s meant to determine that."
Yes, this is the first trial.
First, show your strength.
"Hmm. So that's why Emperor Eupia went out of his way to go to that battlefield himself."
"I was wondering about that, but now I understand. Emperor Eupia went to that battlefield to show his resolve and his strength."
As Dressa and Vilia said, Emperor Eupia and the Great Imperial Hope, Show, have gone to the site of the decisive battle themselves.
At first, I thought it was foolish, but now that I know the other party's resolve, I think it’s only natural.
After all, you wouldn't entrust a continent to someone who couldn't even show up to the decisive battle.
If I said something as cliché as that to my husband, he’d probably laugh at me.
My husband is the type who precisely strikes at those vital points from an unexpected angle.
But if that’s the case...
"Hey. Why did you allow the Emperor of Eupia to go to this place? Usually, you would stop him, or rather, you’d make sure it didn't come to that, wouldn't you?"
"No, the situation is what it is this time. It’s clear that if I don't respect Emperor Hans's intentions, it will cause problems for future governance. Well, that’s exactly why they are fighting under the Dungeon's control. Besides, the guy himself is full of motivation. I have no choice but to leave it to him. If I were to carelessly stop him, I’d earn his resentment."
I see. It would be tactless to step in now that things have come this far.
I can understand that.
That is why this decisive battle is happening.
And finally, the curtain rises on this "Final Battle."
From each army, horses carrying their riders advance toward the center of the field.
With the future of everyone living on this continent at stake, the battle was just about to begin.
When you have a successor but they are useless, this is what happens.
Well, you might understand if you look up the foolish sons of the Yuan clan or the Asakura clan.
Sometimes, you end up in an environment where the old man has to keep working forever.