NOTICE: Many of the novels have been removed because they might cause violations, which we were not aware of earlier.
Episode 887: I Have a Plan for Everything (2)
Giselle had instructed Alfoy to be generously rewarded for his achievements.
He had saved the world countless times, so it was only natural that he would receive enough gold and silver to live off of. With his intense desire for fame, she even planned to create a government position for him.
The problem was that Alfoy was woefully incompetent to govern. He was neither honest nor upright.
After much deliberation, Giselle created a position specifically for Alfoy:
the “Kingdom Miracle Officer.”
Nominally, he was supposed to step in when the kingdom needed a miracle, but… he had no authority and no duties. It was simply an honorary position.
In any case, it was a position created because something had to be done, and Alfoy loved it, calling it a special position just for him.
He didn’t have to do anything, but he received a steady salary. While it was an honorary position, it held a certain level of authority.
Had he been content with that, Alfoy would have enjoyed a lifetime of respect and popularity.
But he didn’t.
―Do you know who I am? “You’re the White Hero, the 9th Circle Archmage who defeated gods, defeated dragons, and saved the world!
” “You want a good position? Then you’ll have to show me the proper sincerity. I’ll explain it to you.
” “Tseuup, if you want to do something like this, you have to report to me first and get permission.”
Alfoy began to wreak serious havoc on the kingdom.
Initially, he was cautious due to his past experiences, but with Giselle gone and everyone lost in their grief, he became resentful again.
He accepted enormous bribes and favors every day, interfering in various national projects and profiting from them.
He gambled away every penny he earned, but he didn’t care. The money kept coming in.
Even nobles began lining up to join him, and his power soared to new heights.
In a normal kingdom, no one would have dared to touch Alfoy. That’s how powerful he was.
But where was this place?
A country teeming with war heroes who shook the continent. Claude, now prime minister, wielded absolute power.
As time went by, Alfoy’s tyranny seriously damaged the nation’s governance, and Claude could no longer stand by.
He stripped Alfoy of his official posts and confiscated all his assets.
Claude had long been preparing to overthrow Alfoy.
Countless petitions and complaints poured in, and even the people were weary of Alfoy’s tyranny.
With even public sentiment turning against him, Claude didn’t hesitate. With lightning speed, he stripped Alfoy of everything.
Alfoy, who had soared so high, plummeted to the bottom in an instant.
No one felt sorry for him, for the damage he had inflicted upon the kingdom was so great.
Still, he was a hero who saved the world. Those who had fought alongside him in the final battle, along with the royal family, regularly sent Alfoy money for his livelihood.
However, Claude persuaded the people to block even this.
Ultimately, Alfoy ended up homeless in the slums for years.
Elena continued, her expression slightly regretful.
“Shouldn’t he have come to his senses by now? Still, he’s saved the world so many times, and I still feel uneasy.”
Indeed, Alfoy had sent countless letters of reflection.
They were filled with vows to never commit another evil act and to live a good life for the kingdom.
Claude’s eyes filled with a faint, moist look at Elena’s words.
“My heart aches too. Just thinking about Alfoy makes me want to cry. No, I already have.”
“…….”
“But as I said before, this is Alfoy’s last chance to change his wicked nature.”
“…….”
“If you weaken your heart this time and forgive him and give him money, he’ll gamble it all away and commit only evil. That would only be more poisonous.”
“…….”
At Elena’s indifferent expression, Claude suddenly clutched his heart and made a pained expression.
“I’m truly heartbroken, too. But we need to be patient and wait a little longer. Only then will Alfoy truly repent and be reborn as a new person.”
“…”
Elena tried to argue, “You’re a gambling addict, too,” but held back.
The crucial difference between Claude and Alfoy was that he “did things properly.”
He knew how to prioritize. He always gambled only after finishing all his work.
Losing every time was no different from Alfoy’s.
Alfoy, on the other hand, squandered every penny he sent him on gambling. Drunk and disorderly conduct was also a daily occurrence.
That’s why Claude’s persuasion was bound to resonate with people.
“Just a few more years of suffering will do. We’re at the end of the road, so you can’t lose heart. This is all for him, so bear with the pain.”
“…”
Elena looked at Claude with a disapproving look.
While her words were plausible, everyone knew her personal feelings were mixed in.
Then she looked at Rachel next to her, implying that she was asking what to do.
Rachel smiled and said,
“Do as Your Majesty wishes.”
“Tch, Rachel always insists on doing whatever I want.”
Elena pouted, considered for a moment, and then sighed deeply.
“Oh, there’s nothing we can do.”
Everyone agreed that Alfoy’s bad habits needed to be corrected. Even Vanessa, who had been so protective of Alfoy, agreed, so there was no need to say more.
Claude’s intentions were obvious, but for Alfoy’s sake, it seemed right to wait a little longer.
“Do as your Majesty desires. However, even if he has many faults, he has accomplished great things, so I ask that you help him quickly come to his senses. And make sure he doesn’t get hurt.”
“That’s what I’m saying. Everything has been taken care of, so don’t worry.”
Claude brushed his chest.
Even he couldn’t refuse if Elena ordered Alfoy’s reinstatement.
If he wanted to make him suffer just a little longer, he had to somehow persuade the Queen, and fortunately, he succeeded.
‘Haha, I haven’t forgotten what you did.’
Alfoy visited Claude constantly, showing off. He often ignored him and even mocked him.
As a result, Claude had built up a deep resentment. He planned to torment him for several more years.
‘To torment him for as long as he’d tormented me… … Hmm, just one more year would do.’
He was calculating the timeframe,
meticulously. He was ensuring his safety. Skilled knights took turns watching over Alfoy from afar.
Alfoy was a fifth-circle wizard, so no one would dare touch him, but it was a precaution and a precautionary measure.
In any case, things worked out as planned.
Alfoy’s reinstatement was prevented, and he received a promise that if he could arrange a marriage with Arel, he would retain his position as prime minister.
Claude hummed as he headed to his office.
Wendy, as always, followed him with a pitiful expression.
* * *
With the change in dynasty in Lutania, the high-ranking nobles who had previously held power all withdrew from their positions.
However, they quickly supported Giselle and Zwalter, and thanks to this, they still wielded considerable influence in the kingdom. While
not directly involved in politics, they maintained constant contact with various nobles, making them untouchable. Their
continued possession of vast wealth and private armies also played a role.
The most active of these was Marquis Maurice Macquarie, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Army.
He enjoyed meeting people and drinking, and his mansion was always bustling with guests.
“Oh, Master Macquarie. It’s been a while.” “Oh,
how are you, Marquis? You seem to be getting younger by the day.”
“I guess it’s because I’ve been eating so much good food lately. Hahaha! Come on, let’s go in.”
Maurice greeted Hubert warmly.
Hubert, the Master of the Red Flame, who had once been Alfoy’s teacher, was nearing retirement.
He was busy meeting nobles, planning to settle down in the capital after retirement.
Typically, the lords of the towers would remain in their towers until their deaths, nurturing future generations and conducting research.
However, the extravagant and vain Hubert had no such intentions.
The two drank tea in the lavishly decorated reception room and exchanged greetings.
After a brief exchange, Maurice’s eyes lit up.
“I’ve taken care of everything you asked me to do before. The mansion you’ll be staying in after retirement. Since you’re offering it cheap, let’s go sign the contract tomorrow.”
“Oh, thank you. I won’t forget this favor. As expected of a Marquis.”
“Hahaha, how dare you say such things between us.”
The two had become incredibly close during the civil war.
When Maurice was defeated in battle and his life was in peril, it was Hubert who stood by him until the very end.
That shared experience fostered a strange camaraderie, and Maurice helped Hubert enjoy a comfortable life in the capital after his retirement.
Maurice, who had been chatting about this and that, suddenly asked, as if a memory had occurred to him.
“Oh, by the way, about that friend who was supposed to be the successor? Alfoy, the Kingdom’s Miracle Master. Have you completely cut ties with him?”
Hubert’s brow furrowed slightly at the mention of Alfoy’s name.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been in contact.”
“Then the successor must have been someone else.”
“Yes, I’ve already finished talking with the elders. We’ll make an announcement soon.”
“That’s right. It seems like only yesterday you were being hailed as a worldly hero, but who would have thought you’d fall so far?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. He even came to the Magic Tower and acted so ruthlessly… The amount of money he extorted from me is staggering.”
Hubert trembled in horror.
Alfoy, who knew nothing of the world, had gone all the way to the Magic Tower, showing off and extorting money.
Of course, he had a good reason.
— First! The sin of sending me to Fenris!
— Second! The sin of pretending not to see me after sending me!
— Third! The sin of not rescuing me even though I was a slave!
Fourth! The sin of sending me on a mission and not giving me a proper allowance! You think you only know how to live extravagantly!
Fifth! The sin of discussing the removal of my successorship! That’s my position!
Sixth! The sin of not giving me the tower lordship yet! You’re telling me to retire!
Seventh! Anyway, the sin of disappointing me in general!
Alfoy proudly named it the “Seven Deadly Sins” and demanded compensation.
Certainly, some of it was Hubert’s fault, but some was Alfoy’s own will.
However, Alfoy had become the ruler of the kingdom. His popularity was immense.
In the end, Hubert held back tears and was constantly being picked on by Alfoy.
Maurice burst out laughing. He too knew how Alfoy had fallen.
“I heard you’re living in the slums now. Why don’t you at least go see me while you’re here?”
“Umm…”
Hubert’s expression was one of deliberation.
When I think about what Alfoy did, it’s incredibly repulsive. But honestly, I hadn’t done anything wrong myself.
And he was my disciple, raised like my own child. I raised him with great care and even marked him as my successor. He
became more repulsive as he grew older, but if I hadn’t felt affection for him, I wouldn’t have acted that way.
“Well… I do feel uneasy about that, though. Man, if you’re successful, you should at least behave yourself.”
“I guess that’s how it is when you’re young. Being praised as a hero who saved the world makes you arrogant. Still, since you’re paying the price for your sins, let’s meet up sometime.”
“Understood. I’ll at least briefly see his face before I go.”
“Good idea. Since you’re having a hard time, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give him some pocket money.”
“It’s obvious he’ll gamble away again, isn’t it? Oh, how did it end up like this?
” “That’s right. Seeing the hero fall doesn’t put me at ease either.”
Maurice paused for a moment, then gave a gentle smile.
“Still, please take good care of him. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but I keep worrying about him.”
He certainly wasn’t the same.
His fiery temper had softened considerably over time, and he now felt the composure of an older man.
He no longer spoke of the superstitions he’d clung to for so long, because he still hadn’t found his lost youngest son.
“Whether you like it or not, I raised him like my own child. Treat him well while you have him. Still… it’s better than nothing.”
Maurice looked down for a moment and muttered softly.
“My lost child… would have been around that age if he were fully grown.”
“…”
Hubert, seeing Maurice’s eyes moist, was speechless.
Maurice, who had clung to the old fortune teller’s words and held onto hope until the very end, now felt himself letting go.
Maurice only brought such words up in front of Hubert.
Only Hubert knew how desperately he had to believe in superstition.
In the awkward atmosphere, Hubert blurted out his complaints about Alfoy again, seemingly out of consideration for Maurice.
Coincidentally, both of them spoke at the same time.
“Oh, but sometimes I regret it. Why did I bring that thing here and put him through all this trouble? If only I hadn’t picked it up near Lake Voldero back then…”
“If only I hadn’t been drinking then… No, if only I hadn’t gone to Lake Voldero in the first place, I wouldn’t have lost it… Huh?”
“….”
“….”
A brief silence passed.
The two stared blankly at each other.
Then, simultaneously, they blinked repeatedly.