Published: January 4, 2026
The fantastical scene did not last long.
Despite the imposing sight before my eyes, it ended quite abruptly.
As if the air had been let out, the power of Bahamut drained from Kate, and she returned to her original form, slumping to the ground.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just a little tired…”
“Hmm.”
I observed Kate’s condition.
Her complexion was as pale as paper, a typical sign of severe exhaustion in humans.
Other than being tired, and based on her own report, it probably wasn’t anything serious.
“But even though possession is possible, it’s too short to do anything.”
“Your Majesty, please let me try as well.”
“Very well. Bahamut, transfer the power to Zoe now.”
‘Understood.’
The exact same scene repeated.
Bahamut responded.
Its power leapt from the bracelet.
It possessed Zoe.
She transformed into a form that could only be described as a divine flaming demon god.
And soon after, she gasped for breath.
Bahamut’s power drained, and Zoe, too, collapsed from extreme fatigue.
“Are you okay?”
“Y-yes… I’m as tired as if I hadn’t slept for several days, that’s all.”
“Hmm. Bahamut, next is me.”
‘Are you sure?’
“I don’t mind. Do it.”
‘As you wish.’
Bahamut obeyed my command, and its power shifted to me.
I stared at my hands; my appearance changed.
And so did my abilities.
――――――――――――
Name: Noah Alarate
Emperor of the Empire
Gender: Male
Level: 17 plus 1 over infinity
HP: C plus C (Fire) E plus S plus S
MP: D plus C (Water) C plus SS
Strength: C plus S (Wind) E plus C
Endurance: D plus C (Earth) E plus C
Intelligence: D plus B (Light) E plus B
Spirit: E plus C (Darkness) E plus B
Speed: E plus C
Dexterity: E plus C
Luck: D plus C
―――――――――――
My fire ability had changed.
A “+” had increased by one more.
I see, this definitely makes me stronger.
Also… I understood the reason for the fatigue.
During possession, HP and MP decrease by the second.
My HP is effectively S with C plus C, and MP is A with C plus D.
Though it decreases, I can maintain it for a while.
“Your Majesty… amazing…”
“To last this long…”
The two who had quickly run out of breath looked up at me with admiration.
I ended the Bahamut possession by my own will.
The exhaustion from the possession made me feel slightly drained, but this level was nothing serious.
I was confident it would be a trump card for short decisive battles.
☆
In the study, I faced Oscar across the desk.
I remained seated while Oscar stood, reporting.
The topic was the empire’s finances.
I asked Oscar, the Prince Minister of Legal Affairs, about the finances, and he reported the current situation.
“The imperial consort selection… might be difficult to hold immediately this year.”
“Hmm…”
I asked about finances to realize the proposal of Empress Audrey.
But there wasn’t enough money for it.
I spread out the documents Oscar brought on the desk and stared at the numbers.
“Haven’t the taxes decreased a little again?”
“Yes, it seems the salt tax from Gavel is trending downward.”
“Salt tax…”
Salt is important.
It’s not a low-level matter like food lacking flavor without salt.
Research by doctors has already established this.
Humans cannot live without salt intake.
If salt is insufficient, short term causes fatigue, and long term weakens various internal organs.
Salt is indispensable for humans.
Therefore, the empire controlled salt.
Sales were by permit, and taxes were collected from that, becoming a source of revenue.
While examining the report, I asked:
“How much has it decreased?”
“About twenty percent of its peak production, I’d say.”
“Where has it decreased the most?”
There are several salt-producing regions.
“In the Gavel region. It’s the largest salt producer in the empire.”
“Gavel, huh.”
If I recall correctly, after I became emperor, I dispatched Lawrence there as governor.
And from Lawrence… no reports have arrived.
No tip-offs via Fuwawa’s Box either.
Nothing that could cause such a decrease has happened.