Published: January 4, 2026
The serialization is resuming, with a volume of about 100,000 characters.
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Inside the tent, I faced Henry.
Henry furrowed his brows tightly, looking at the object placed between us with a face full of disbelief.
On the desk was the head of Eiler Newf that I had brought back.
The head was hastily placed inside a wooden box, "for the time being."
It’s not like we have nerves so fragile that just seeing a severed head would make us scream, but it’s still unpleasant to have a beheaded head lying on the desk.
“Is it… the real one?”
After a while, Henry asked hesitantly.
“Have someone who knows well confirm it. I want to know that too.”
“You, Your Majesty?”
“After all, it was a surprise attack while he was asleep, and it was successful. I have no acquaintance with him. I have conviction, but no absolute proof.”
“…I will have it confirmed.”
Henry said that, then called his subordinate from outside the tent.
The subordinate who entered bowed to each of us, and then Henry whispered something into his ear.
The subordinate looked surprised but, after Henry emphasized it, hurriedly ran outside.
Because it was a whisper, I didn’t know what was said, but it was probably about “personally inspecting the enemy general’s head,” so such surprise was mild.
For a while after that, Henry kept a bitter expression on his face.
He seemed to want to say something, but didn’t know what to say.
I decided to wait until he could speak. While waiting, two young men entered the tent.
Both were young and dressed as ordinary soldiers.
“Th-this is our first—”
“—I’m Line!”
Since they spoke at the same time, their words overlapped perfectly.
Without asking, it was clear that the two young men were extremely nervous, which caused this.
Henry, who must have seen many blunders during first audiences, didn’t scold them but just chuckled a little.
But then he remembered that this was a formal audience, cleared his throat, and hurriedly composed himself.
“Relax. More importantly, there’s something I want you to do.”
“Y-yes!”
“Say whatever you want!”
The two stiffened but replied with their backs straightened as if swallowing a rod. Naturally, as it was their first time, their etiquette was lacking, but neither I nor Henry minded.
Without mentioning a word about it, Henry continued.
“There’s a head there. Confirm its identity.”
“Y-yes.”
“The head…”
Henry jerked his chin toward it.
The two soldiers cautiously approached the head.
By Henry’s order, they opened the lid of the wooden box to identify the head and peered inside simultaneously.
“Th-this is!”
“Lord Eiler!?”
“…”
“…”
The two were thoroughly shocked. Henry and I exchanged a light eye contact.
Then Henry rubbed his forehead and sighed.
He double-checked with the two.
“Are you sure?”
“Y-yes.”
“There is no mistake.”
“I see. Good work. You may step back. This must not be repeated or disclosed.”
“Y-yes!”
Intimidated by Henry, the two once again stiffened and straightened their backs before leaving the tent.
Once we were alone again, Henry let out a deep sigh.
“It appears to be genuine…”
“Indeed.”
“What should I say… Your Majesty, as always, you are amazing.”
“I’m surprised too. I never thought it would really succeed. Of course, I used power, but even without that power, the security was lax enough for success.”
“Your Majesty overestimated that person, I take it.”
“Don’t say that; I’ve already been scolded for that.”
I gave a slight bitter smile.
Having succeeded in the assassination and just escaped, I was stunned when Bahamut said something similar.
I don’t think I overestimated at all, but apparently both Henry and Bahamut saw it that way.
“Now, let me say it again.”
“Hmm?”
“I want this kind of thing to be refrained from at all costs, no, I want it to stop.”
Henry stopped his words once, then deliberately put it in stronger terms.
“That is not a risk Your Majesty—the emperor—should take.”