Published: September 4, 2025
※2014/12/23 This is an interjected post.
※This is a story from the young days before Baron Muno assumed the position of lord.
“Viscount Leon Donano, here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Led by His Majesty, I visited the center of the underground chapel in the royal castle, where a blue-glowing, twenty-faced crystal-like object floated.
His Majesty was waiting before the levitating crystal.
“Leon, this is the City Core.”
—City Core?
I stared at the City Core as if entranced.
“This is why kings and lords distinguish themselves from other nobles.”
“…The reason?”
In response to my parroted question, His Majesty nodded solemnly.
“Yes. The City Core is an artifact that draws abundant magic power from the source, enabling its master to freely wield vast magical energy.”
As if responding to His Majesty’s voice, the City Core flickered blue once.
“This City Core is called an artifact, but no one knows when or by whom it was made. Once, a king asked about this, but the gods remained silent.”
“Then, who on earth…”
“Unknown. At least, the method of production has been lost to the present. Once, the sage Torazayuuya from Boruenan tried to restore it, but his efforts only produced inferior fakes.”
I waited for His Majesty to continue.
What was His Majesty’s true intention in showing me this artifact-like City Core?
“I digress, forgive me.”
“No, it was a fascinating story.”
“Needless to say, this is a secret known only to the first in line of succession among the royal family or lords. Do not share it with others.”
“—Understood.”
A cold sweat ran down my back.
Why entrust such a secret to me?
Though I belonged to the family of Duke Oyugok, I was merely a baronet of a minor branch.
What exactly did the king want—
“Well then, back to the main topic. Lords use this City Core to perform ritual magic that ordinary people cannot. These include powerful defensive barriers that even repel attacks from high-rank demons, devastating magical assaults that incinerate armies, and weather control magic that adjusts the climate — a truly diverse range.”
To think it can even control the weather!
To resist high-rank demons comparable to demigods and command the enormous magical power of the source at will.
“That would be like—”
I dared not finish the thought.
It would be blasphemy against the gods.
“Like living gods?”
Yet, His Majesty lightly spoke the continuation.
“There is no need to worry. The gods do not interfere with lords or kings recklessly. It is said that an ancient covenant between the gods and old kings dictates this.”
The king said so, but the great nation that preceded the Flue Empire was once destroyed for incurring the gods’ wrath.
Perhaps I should avoid disrespectful words.
Of course, as a timid person, I have no right to admonish the king.
“The story is going off track again. Simply put, it is because lords can freely use the power of the City Core, which surpasses human limits, that they are special.”
His Majesty repeated the point emphatically.
“The rank of lord depends on the scale of the source one controls. In the past, the more cities a lord governed, the higher their rank.”
His Majesty paused, gauging my reaction.
I nodded timidly to show I understood.
“Furthermore, one who rules over other lords is called a king. One who rules over kings is called an emperor.”
To think there was such a difference between king and emperor... I had assumed it was merely a difference in titles.
I posed a question to His Majesty that had formed in my mind.
“Then, are protectors or prefects also lords?”
“No. Both are mere agents entrusted with authority by the lord. They can borrow the City Core’s power, but the lord remains the master.”
—I see.
When I studied history, I think I now understand why rebellious protectors or prefects were always suppressed.
History books said they lost because they lacked justice, but this reason is far more convincing.
“Also, by using the City Core’s functions, lords and kings can appoint new nobles as their subordinates.”