Ok guys, I made a mistake in translating the title of the 1st Book. It shouldn’t be the ‘Downfall of the Empire’ as I interpreted it at that time (since that’s how grim the things looked back then xD), but rather ‘The Dawn of the Empire’ (dawn as in daybreak). I’m really sorry for misleading you ><
Yurushite kudasaaaaaai!
Don’t shoot me! ̿ ̿ ̿’̿’̵͇̿̿З=( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°)=Ε/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿ ̿ ̿ ̿
And so, the 2nd Book starts today.
Enjoy!
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Chapter 61: The Characters until Now ※Contains Spoilers ※
Zest Gaiyus
Protagonist
A middle aged man, 32 years old, with black eyes and black hair.
He married Bea out of mutual love.
He likes to flirt a lot.
He is a Duke and the 1st Rank Imperial Mage. He became an authority figure inside the empire.
Beatrice Varnam
Heroine
A 16 years old with black eyes and black hair.
A Japanese style beauty who gives the impression of matureness.
An expert of black attribute magic.
She married Zest out of mutual love.
She’s a duchess.
As a duchess, she’s a popular figure that all the women of the empire admire.
Her portrait is selling like crazy.
Toto
A spirit that Zest and Bea created.
She adores her Dad and Mom.
Her outer appearance is that of a 30cm mini Bea.
Razatonia Varnam
The head of the Frontier Count’s Household
A demon-like old geezer with a dark mind
He’s also an expert of the dark attribute magic and is feared in the area.
A frightening and always scheming old man
He calls Beatrice ‘Bea’ and is affectionate towards her.
Sonia Varnam
A son-in-law in the Frontier Count’s Household
The refreshment of the terrifying Frontier Count’s Household
When he’s only with the family he switches to the gentle ‘papa’ mode.
Normally, he interacts with people while being is the frightening ‘Frontier Count’ mode.
He’s the protagonist’s magic teacher and the Magic Division Commander.
Galef Gaiyus
The Knights Commander
The protagonist’s foster father
He accepted the protagonist for being his successor, but the protagonist also healed his wife.
He is able to have children now.
He feels a debt of gratitude towards his adopted son and always causes a stir about his successor.
He’s a loud man who wears a full-plate armor.
An old man with muscle brains who looks like a powerful bandit.
Celica Gaiyus
The protagonist’s foster mother
The Frontier Count’s younger sister
Since the moment the protagonist healed her of infertility, she’s always doting him.
She’s very supportive of his marriage to her grandniece Beatrice.
Her personality is the spitting image of the Frontier Count’s, but she intends to be kind towards the protagonist.
Camel
The Gaiyus’ Household’s butler
An old man who manages the servants
He deeply respects the protagonist who healed madam Celica.
Albert
A male kemonobito
The man called dog knight
Because he’s exceptional, he also serves as the Frontier Count’s guard.
Since the ‘marking incident’ he unnecessarily fears the protagonist.
He marries Meril.
He’s a faithful dog that is no match for his ‘master’ Zest.
Meril
A baron’s daughter.
He had to separate from Albert because of the difference in their social status.
Zest helps them and they manage to get married.
She’s extremely grateful to Zest.
The Emperor of the Grun Empire
A middle aged handsome man with blond hair and blue eyes
Conforming to tradition, he cast aside his name after the enthronement.
He was called ‘Sarsesh’ when he was a child.
No one calls him by this name now since it’s considered a blasphemy.
People call him ‘his Majesty the Emperor’ or simply ‘his Majesty’.
Empress Natasha
A beautiful woman with blond hair and blue eyes
She has a gentle aura and she looks like a soothing ‘onee-sama’.
His Majesty is deeply in love with her and won’t really show her in front of the public.
The gardener who fixed his eyes on the empress got killed.
The master chef who complimented her cooking skills got killed too.
If you breathe the same airs that she breathes, you’ll be killed…
This is the extent of the rumors, which show how much his Majesty cares about her.
Imperial princess Tsubaki
The daughter of his Majesty and Natasha
She has the name of a flower (1) from the legendary country of Japan.
A 10 year old beautiful girl
She likes the spirit and she admires Beatrice who is the model of it.
Prime Minister Arc
A man in his 50s
He has the image of a little fatty with brown hair and red eyes.
However, he also acts heartlessly according to his position of a Prime Minster, and he would be capable of murdering his family if that’s for the best interest of the country.
He gets along well with the Frontier Count and he visits him every year.
Imperial Mage Rank 4
Lamia Varnam
A mage specialized in medical treatments; Sonia’s wife
Beatrice’s mother
She normally works in the imperial capital.
She’s a very indulgent ‘mama’ towards Bea.
Towards her husband she also has a ‘spartan’ attitude and often gives him aggressive responses.
Bicks
Viscount
The head of domestic affairs
He’s the father of the idiotic noble who ‘offered’ a marriage proposal to Beatrice.
Unknown cause of death
Tanya
A middle aged woman
The shopkeeper of a Western-style clothes store that shows favor to the Frontier Count’s Household.
She also opened a shop that sells all sorts of new selection of goods.
Viscount Mark
Media’s father
He’s a poor man greatly perplexed by his foolish son.
He’s grateful to Zest for arranging a marriage for his son, and can’t wait to see the face of his grandson.
Media
The heir of the Viscount’s Household.
He looks like a beautiful girl, but he’s a man.
He’s a commander of the Maid’s Unit.
He married Tasel.
He claims that he would die for Zest’s sake.
Tasel
A former adventurer
She’s a woman that looks like a wild, handsome man.
She falls in love with Media and marries him.
She swears of oath of allegiance to Zest since he’s helped her making various arrangements.
Count Raiza
The Commanding General of the Empire’s Army.
A 43 years old with blue hair.
He has a tough, huge body.
The Emperor acknowledged him when he was young and made him a viscount, then a count.
He has an official position now.
He’s the Emperor’s right-hand man.
Tarminal Kingdom’s side
Harnil
Count
A grandpa who came to the empire as an emissary for the kingdom
???
The royalty who led th
e kingdom’s army.
His name is unknown.
Herman
A male kemonobito.
He opposed the despotic administration in his country and created the Rebel Army.
He admires Albert and he develops an interest for Duke Zest, since he is Albert’s master.
He becomes the headman of a fishing village.
Katalina
A cat kemonobito and a legal loli.
She works for Zest as a civil official.
She’s the guys’ idol.
She’s unpopular among the black knights.
The Holy Country of Lilac
Pope Garbera
The top of the Holy Country of Lilac.
He’s quite the tactician, but he’s open to conversation.
The Sister
A woman who showed up as a messenger.
She speaks an enigmatic language.
She becomes the Priestess of a church on Zest’s domain.
________________________
(1) Tsubaki （椿・つばき）means ‘camellia’ and is a common name for girls.
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Translation: Nana
Proofreading: Carmina
DA BEST (among the worst): Mockii
Chapter 62: A Messenger from the Neighboring Country
And, since chapter 61 was only a character introduction, I’ll also post chapter 62, the beginning of Book 2: The Empire’s Blade.
Enjoy!
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Chapter 62: A Messenger from the Neighboring Country
“Thank you for coming, Zest. I see Bea is doing great too.”
His Majesty said and laughed.
He came to visit us several times, and recently he started to act more like a relative who comes to play every once in a while.
I’m a duke and I’ll be getting married to his daughter in the future.
I’m not planning to deliberately sow discord among us, since opposing each other would be too troublesome.
After all, it was in order to remain allies that I was forced to accept his daughter, Princess Tsubaki, in marriage…….
I can’t trust him unconditionally, but I can rely on him.
“However, the spirit drops are delicious, aren’t they?”
……………..Isn’t this the real reason behind your friendliness, your Majesty?
After we greeted each other and done some idle chat, it was time for the main topic.
We were inside the palace’s residential area.
Although we could talk about anything, there were certain limits to that too; Nobles are too troublesome and that’s a fact.
“To tell you the truth, we are expecting a messenger from Tarminal Kingdom, the neighboring country…..And so I want you to be present to this meeting.”
Tarminal Kingdom.
It was the country next to the Frontier Count’s domain. It was a shady country that promoted a doctrine which allowed supremacy to the human race.
At first, the Frontier Count wanted to cause internal conflict in this country, but now it was different.
‘If we get the chance, we ought to start a war.’
All the nobles of the empire were in agreement with this idea.
It seemed we couldn’t remain at peace much longer………..
“I can’t predict the matters to be brought in discussion, but it is certain that this country is dangerous…..Well, we won’t know anything until he gets here, but I’ll have you there, just in case.”
The Emperor had a grim expression on his face, as we both drank some black tea.
Just in case…….In short, he was gathering the strongest battle powers as a counter-plan for a possible assassination.
Even if the Emperor would get killed, I would kill the assassin and start a war of revenge, or something like that.
Well, me being there would also mean that it’s in order not to let him get killed, but I still have to think about the worst it could happen and prepare.
After we finished talking about this matter, Princess Tsubaki and Empress Natasha joined us for an idle chat.
As usual, Princess Tsubaki was playing with Bea and Toto.
“Bea nee-sama, will you sleep together with me tonight?”
“Yes, we’ll take Toto-chan with us too.”
(Tsubaki, you’re so lonely.)
………It seems I’ll be free for the rest of the day. Shall I go drinking with Albert?
“It shows on your face, the innocence of the newly-wed.”
“Oh my! Zest is beyond help.”
You two, stop reading into me.
I don’t regret anything, all right? I don’t.
I left Bea and Toto behind and returned to my room. They prepared a room just for my use inside the imperial palace.
I just went to sleep…….
And so, after 3 days, the messenger in question arrived.
The audience room.
I was standing behind the Emperor, not leaving his side.
It was my place as a duke and as his daughter’s fiancé.
The messenger was a slender old man with red hair.
His magical power was concealed……That in itself was a statement that he was considerably strong…..
“I am the Emperor of the Grun Empire. You may speak.”
With his face still covered, the messenger started his speech.
“My name is Harnil and I’m a Count of the Tarminal Kingdom. I must thank you, your Majesty, for giving this humble old man the chance of having an audience with you.”
“Good. I’ll listen to your matter.”
“Yes. I was entrusted with a letter from my Tarminal Kingdom along with a vocal message.”
He took out the letter from his chest pocket and carried it on both his palms.
Just for precaution, I approached him and took the letter.
It didn’t contain any suspicious magic. I used my observation magic just in case, but everything seemed in order.
I handed over the letter to the Emperor, and he started reading it.
The Emperor wasn’t his usual self.
Normally, he wouldn’t let his feelings show on his face, but now he was clearly angry.
The nobles inside the audience room sensed that something wasn’t right and their faces turned pale.
Before long, the Emperor put the letter aside and started to talk.
“Are you people serious? Do you know about the letter’s contents?”
“Even if you ask me this, I have a vocal message to deliver to you.”
The messenger didn’t even quiver the slightest bit.
“The letter is authentic. Starting today, our Tarminal Kingdom declares war against the Grun Empire.”
He raised his head and, without changing his expression, he delivered the message.
They are serious.
In this case…….
“A message! An urgent message!”
The gates were violently opened and a worn-out, wounded soldier tumbled into the audience room. His torn figure wasn’t suitable for such a room like this.
“What is this? You insolent fellow!”
“How dare you show yourself like this in front of his Majesty!?”
“Guards! Take this guy away immediately!”
These idiots…..
These officials can’t even judge the situation…….
“Silence! If it’s an urgent massage, he can ignore the etiquette. Report!”
As I was releasing my entire magical power to pressure and control my surroundings, I already took out a sword from my item box.
They already proclaimed war, which means we must apply the war time rules.
“Yes, your Majesty. The Tarminal Kingdom’s Army is attacking the Frontier Count’s domain! The battle has already begun at the Border Fortress.”
After he finished his report, the soldier collapsed.
I knew this guy…….He was part of the Frontier Count’s Army.
“How can this b
e?….The battle started at the same time with the war proclamation……”
“We must dispatch our army fast.”
“Gather all the generals…..”
“Silence!”
With a single word, the Emperor made everyone fall silent.
There was no point whatsoever to panic like that.
“Zest, what do you think?”
Why me, your Majesty?….
It can’t be helped. We don’t have much time.
“The messenger came to declare war against us, in short, the battle has just started. The enemy army’s force is unknown to us, that’s true, but if we let them overtake the Frontier Count’s domain and fight them afterwards it’s nothing but a foolish plan. If we lose our elites, all that awaits us is collapse. We must promptly send them reinforcements and gather information, while we create a second battle formation composed of our greatest military force, and drive them away completely.”
He stood up at once.
“As for the reinforcements, I’ll take my own army and lead them towards the battlefield right away. I was thinking that maybe it would be best to gather the main army’s forces at once and send word to other territorial armies to prepare for battle.”
“I understand. I’ll do just that. Gather all the army commanders immediately and send messages to the nobles of the empire. The officials must arrange for the supply of materials and the Prime Minister is entrusted with…….sending that messenger’s head back to his kingdom.”
Everyone started to move with the Emperor’s words.
Stranger's Handbook - WN Chapter 01-76 Page 30