Chapter 33
A few hours earlier, in the imperial palace.
A beautiful corridor where hundreds of mirrors lining the walls reflected the sunlight pouring in through the windows.
The attendants looked at the crown prince walking alone, fuming, with puzzled expressions.
“Meow!”
A gray cat, playing alone with a ball of yarn, dug its claws into Arden’s leg as it latched onto him while he passed by.
Dragging the cat still clinging to his leg, Arden swung open the door to the emperor’s office without even greeting anyone.
Bang!
“Your Majesty!”
“Hm?”
The emperor, who had been working nonstop since morning and had just picked up a book to take a break, blinked in surprise.
“My son?”
The boy who always ran away to avoid his nagging mother was walking in of his own accord? What a rare sight.
“Did you come for the salt soap we brought in from the south?”
Whether his mother was being snarky or not, Arden didn’t care. He just blurted out his demand.
“Anyone who behaves disrespectfully toward store clerks should be executed.”
“…What?”
“I don’t mean only those who shout or throw things. I mean those who ignore greetings, make the clerk help them endlessly, then walk away without a thank-you once they get what they want, or snap at people because things didn’t go exactly their way. Anyone who behaves in ways they would never do toward an equal—those people should all be executed. And all their assets confiscated.”
“……”
“They’re the type who only stretch their legs where they think they can get away with it. They lack basic respect for the weak. One look is enough to know what kind of people they are. Do you think people like that behave properly at their own workplace? Absolutely not. They’ll grovel to their superiors and bully their subordinates. They’ll dump responsibility on others every chance they get. They’re useless to society—so we should take this opportunity to root them out.”
“……”
“What’s the point of living standards rising when people’s mindset doesn’t keep up? At this rate, our empire will be a backward country forever. I refuse to acknowledge people like that as fellow citizens! And since all this is due to poor governance, we must start by reflecting on ourselves!”
“……”
“Actually, now that I think about it, execution isn’t enough. Except for their dogs, cats, and hamsters, we should wipe out three generations—”
“Wait, wait.”
The emperor raised his hand.
Arden, who had been on a ranting spree, finally stopped. The emperor pressed his fingers to his temples in exasperation.
“What happened at the Knights Order?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you suddenly like this? This is the first time in my life I’ve heard you talk this much.”
“……”
“Tell me. Did someone bother you?”
“Not me.”
“If not you, then who?”
“……”
No answer again.
Ah, that was the Arden he knew.
Silent, sulky, not answering anything. Washing his hands all the time.
The two simply stared at each other for a while.
“So? Will you create that law? The ‘execute-the-rude’ law.”
“Execution is impossible. If we executed everyone who behaved rudely to store clerks, we’d have to kill half the population.”
“Is there no way?”
“You seem desperate?”
“……”
And again—no answer!
The emperor gave up trying to extract the story.
“If you truly want such a law, skip attending the state council and instead get five ministers to agree to it. And since no one will approve executions, make it realistic.”
“If I get their approval, will you process it first?”
“That depends on how practical the law is and how you persuade the ministers.”
“Understood.”
Arden nodded and stepped back.
The tiny gray cat that had been dangling from his leg let out a “Meow.”
“Go away.”
Hair’ll get everywhere.
Kicking his leg to shake the cat off, Arden’s eyes fell on a pile of cat toys stacked in one corner of the office.
On top lay… a slingshot?
The emperor’s aide, sensing the prince’s gaze, quickly explained.
“This is for medical use.”
“Medical?”
“Yes. You can shoot this rubber dart to tranquilize a cat. It’s made from special material, so getting hit only feels like being tapped on the bottom. I’ve heard it works somewhat on humans too.”
“On humans, too?”
“Yes.”
“……”
“Would you like to try it?”
The aide offered the rubber dart and slingshot. Arden silently took them and slipped them into his coat pocket.
“That’s mine, why are you taking it?”
As always, the emperor’s complaints were ignored.
Leaving the office and heading back the way he came, Arden was joined by his aide.
Arden rarely stayed at his palace, so the aide rushed over with documents requiring his signature.
Arden gave instructions as he walked.
“Bring me a list of all lawyers who entered the palace nine years ago, with their family relations noted separately. And schedule a meeting with the principal of Loire’s 13th Regular School. I want to look into abuses involving teachers’ recommendation letters.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And tell the Minister of Education I want to see him. Also, about the Saint of Magic case earlier…”
Just as Arden was saying he would appoint himself as the investigator in charge of capturing the magic saint…
His eyes fell on the document the aide was handing him.
“…Goli?”
He picked up the file containing the familiar woman and her husband. Arden tilted his head.
The aide hurriedly explained.
“Ah, I was just about to report on that case. A family that had been rising in prominence is now on the verge of total bankruptcy.”
Such a pity. To be ruined while watching helplessly, the aide added.
Arden looked at him.
“So you’re saying the Goli family is the victim?”
“So what you’re saying is,” I continued.
My teacher’s Goli family is a subcontractor for Baron Tram, who manufactures tanks.
“And recently, when Baron Tram was selecting a contractor to exclusively supply parts for special tanks, Goli’s bid won.”
“Yes. It was a semi-permanent contract of a massive scale—an incredible opportunity for Goli.”
“So they took out bank loans to the limit, built a new factory, and brought in all the equipment.”
They had bet everything on this.
“And this afternoon, Baron Tram changed his mind?”
“Yes. He nitpicked ridiculous faults and claimed Goli had been insincere, then terminated the contract. Goli knew it was unfair but couldn’t stop it.”
“That’s basically what my teacher did to me.”
Though this time the teacher was the victim.
“Why did Baron Tram do that?”
“Rumor has it…”
“Rumor?”
“There’s no proof, so it’s called a rumor, but it’s basically the truth.”
Arden clicked his tongue.
“There’s a third family, the Cream family. They lost to Goli in the bid. A few days ago Baron Tram received a gift from them—a painting.”
“A painting?”
“The Dancing Boy.”
“Oh.”
A piece by a famous royal painter from a century ago.
“So he got the painting and changed his mind?”
“It’s a fact that he signed a contract with the Cream family before even terminating the one with Goli.”
“Then Goli is…”
“Their new factory and equipment were all built exclusively for the Tram contract. They’re useless elsewhere. Now they can’t repay the loans—they’ll go bankrupt.”
“Shouldn’t Baron Tram compensate them? They built the factory only for him, and he canceled unilaterally.”
“He did change his mind, but there’s no legal way to punish him. Claiming the other party was insincere is a legitimate cause for termination.”
“But he received the painting, didn’t he? That’s proof he took a bribe to switch contractors.”
“Well…”
Arden looked bitter.
“Baron Tram doesn’t hide the fact he received The Dancing Boy. He even displays it in his reception room for guests. But he insists it’s not the authentic painting—just a copy.”
“A copy?”
“Yes. He insists it’s a replica, so it can’t be a bribe.”
“Wow.”
He took a bribe, then changed the contract.
The subcontractor faces ruin, but Baron Tram claims it wasn’t a bribe because the painting isn’t authentic.
Everyone knows it’s real—the host, visitors, Tram, Goli, and Cream.
But no one dares say it aloud.
“Hah.”
They really have to suffer with their eyes open.
Just like I did earlier.
“So your teacher… or the Goli family must be furious.”
“Absolutely furious.”
“……”
The same teacher who tormented me is now being punished in the exact same way she treated me.
How am I supposed to react?
-
See? Karma exists! Thank you, God! Serves you right! — rejoice?
-
Well… she acted horribly toward me, but this is this and that is that. This isn’t some food chain. — feel bitter instead?
“……”
I crossed my arms.
I recalled the teacher earlier telling me, “See, that’s what you get for living poorly.”
Her mother yelling, “Miss, you’re responsible, give me a refund!” after I helped them.
Her daughter stomping on dresses I carefully arranged with her muddy shoes.
“……”
I am the Magic Saint.
My duty is to seek justice in this troubled world and help the wronged in the name of God.
If I gloat now, am I unfit to be the Magic Saint?
Furthermore…
Should I help the teacher?
