Border Guardian Hal Akircius

Some time after the wedding - Cilentium Administration Building

At the direction of Sittius and Cowdex, documents relating to budgets and finances are collected in the Executive Office of the Administration Building, arranged on an item-by-item basis.

But there is never much of it.

Julianus, sitting alongside Hull, leaned his neck in surprise.

"What, is that all?

"This city is not taxing yet, and it has not been a year since it began to start in earnest, so this is the only thing I have to say about the books of financial relations, Your Highness.

When Julianus answered looking at the documents brought in and clapping them out, Treasury Secretary Cowdex answered with an open smile.

While roaring at the word, Julianus uttered the word.

"But you fed as many as three legions of soldiers, hired officials, built a study center, ran a pharmacy, and in such a short period of time you did urban construction, street development, farmland opening and nursery development, waterway development, and wetland drying up, right? Where did you get this money from?

"Your Highness, have you seen the carry-overs from the previous quarter?

"Yeah? Carry-over money?... Oh, this or... what is this! 89325 large gold coins!?

Cowdex told me, turning the document I had the most at hand, and Julianus looked in the carry-over column, it contained a gleeful number.

"Hey...!? Wait, wait, what is this?

"It's a carry-over.

"That's not what I'm saying!

"Hmm, this is the money that both central officials collected and saved during my tenure. It's a historical budget collected in this city and aggregated in this city. You just took it over to my successor, Haruyoshi, do you have any complaints? And the books, and there they are.

What Altrius shows is a dirty but neatly organized Harmonium-era budget table.

It also says “to succeed" exactly on the day of the failure.

Julianus fills in that old smelly forty year old format, opens a spelled budget table, finds the description, and says it as if it were frightened.

"... Artrius, did you still have these hands behind you?

'Rude, there's nothing behind it. The city has been in our possession for forty years. Will the books of the Empire also state the province of Cliffona Superior and the city of Harmonium?

To the words Julianus saw Altrius with a complex expression.

Indeed, the failure of the province of Cliffona Superior is not described in official documents within the Empire.

Even though it is still downgraded from the state to the area in charge of border protection officers, it is still in the official documents of the Empire.

And Altrius continued to be read out his name at the yearbook's appointment ceremony each year as the 21st Legion Chief and Cliffona Superior State Officer until Hull arrived.

Hal's rebuilding of Cilentium finally shredded Altrius' name.

"... sort of"

'That's what I'm talking about.

I answered as Artrius, who saw Julianus in bitterness, had won.

"Especially... you don't have a problem.

"Really, well, that can't be the problem from the beginning.

In response to Julianus, who says as he closes the last book, Sittius answers softly and begins to collect the books.

Julianus said with a slight loosening of the corner of his mouth to the appearance.

"You haven't really changed, you've come a long way with that.

"Right, my current boss has just the measure and the nerve to accept whatever I say. Unlike some rotten nobleman or hipster boss I served before. I'm not running away from responsibility by saying whether or not. Stupid. To be honest, though, it's flawed on balls.

"... that's pretty much because you're not mad at me for saying all that.

Julianus says to Sittius, looking at Hal, who was beside him without changing his special complexion.

Hal asked Julianus, staring at this one, with his neck clenched.

"What's wrong?

"Nothing... no, you're an amazing guy..."

Giving up any more words to carry on to Hal's strange face, Julianus rose momentously from the inspector's seat set up.

"All inspections have now been completed. No deficiencies, improprieties, or frauds in the finances or administration of the City of Cilentium, as we will continue to encourage! Julianus declares as the inspector acting as emperor above.

The surveillance of Cilentium was completed without deficiencies.

After supervision, the Cilentium Administration Building/Underground

After the inspection, two people, Hal and Julianus, were summoned from Altrius to the basement of the administration building.

To the two of you who asked why, Altrius said, "If you come, you'll see."

The two were surprised to see each other in the face, but the supervision was also terminated and it would stand in the way of Sittius and the others who began to clear the documents, so they left the office and went underground.

"Oh, here you are, or both of you.

Altrius was waiting for them at the end of the stairs.

Since the basement of the administrative building is still poorly maintained and remains in the days of the Legion building of the old Harmonium, the walls are thinly dirty and there are occasional noises that I think of as rats running.

The water is supplied by Aquarius, so there is no precipitation or decay, as Hal did when he first visited here, but it flows through the edges of the corridor at a relaxing speed that is compatible with the atmosphere underground.

Speaking that way to Hal, who had Cantera in his hand, and Julianus, who followed him, Altrius raised a blue flame around him faster than the two of them replied.

The surrounding conditions rise blue and white.

"It is dark, but if you continue with me, it is this way.

Proceeding with the guidance of Altrius, there was another staircase in the back.

Because it is cleverly hidden using a bend, there are several rooms down that staircase that you cannot tell if you are not close, but Altrius entered the slightly wider room in the deepest part of it.

Then you go in, and there's one big box of pompous, stone.

I don't have any other decorations.

"Predecessor, where are we?

"It is my graveyard.

"Graveyard?"

"There will be a sarcophagus there, and that is the coffin where my body was laid, no neck... but in any case it will be decayed already.

Altrius sarcastically says as Julianus stares silently at Altrius.

Your Highness Julianus and I have no body in the temple of the Empire, do we? You will know.

"Oh, I've heard of it.

Julianus answers with few words.

"That gaga wasn't true, was it?

"I didn't know the details of what was going on with the miga, but I heard the kids read the miga recently at the study center. Well, the flow alone is almost different from the truth.

Altrius answered Hal's words with his hands wide open.

"Harmonium had been promised reinforcements, by Magnus, the current emperor... but no reinforcements came.

'Well, why don't we talk about it in the old days? If you're here, you don't have to worry about the others coming. You want to talk to your Highness Julianus about Haryoshi?

When Altrius sat down on his coffin, he prefaced and then slowly began to speak.

"I did not belong to any faction, but Magnus, who was royal, had a horse, so the fold to which he belonged to the army was amicable, and I was truly pleased when I stood up. Magnus was smart enough to see exactly where the Imperial blockade was coming from today, because the Emperor had no power.

"What do you mean?

Julianus adds commentary on behalf of Hull, who asks more questions about words like Altrius' riddle.

"It is stipulated that ultimate responsibility and decision-making rests with the Emperor, but it is the other, that is, the military, the official and the noble, who are essentially moving the empire. Now the emperor is only in that position, and has become merely an existence to approve the measures to be taken by the army, the officials and the nobles, all the culprits here.

"Are you saying you have no real power?

As he nodded at Hal's words, Julianus supplemented the words.

"So an Imperial family like me, who should be sitting behind the Emperor's Palace, has to come out straight away without soldiers or offering people to act as spies or replace messengers. Well, if you say you've come out here, you look good, but you mean I'm the only person who... the current emperor can put his political trust... who can really be trusted anymore.

Hal accidentally leaks his words to Julianus, who overlaps his self-derision.

"Is His Majesty the Emperor?

"Oh, Your Majesty, the Emperor.

And Altrius pinches his mouth.

"So now the Emperor has no real power. The power to move soldiers is held by the military, the wealth by the nobles, and the administration remains in the hands of both officials. Where the emperor decreed to move something, nothing moves first, unless it rides the thoughts of each one.

"But isn't that what institutions are for? As long as the organization moves well, the more people at the top lose their jobs.

To Hull's words, Julianus replied, shaking his head left and right, sarcastically distorting his mouth.

"It used to be good, but those with that authority are getting stronger, and on top of that, they're trying to move the empire apart, and this is where the mess of the empire is today. I mean, there's no core. I've been trying for years to make this right, but it didn't work... so I've managed to do this by hanging each measure I bring in on the balance and implementing the measure if there's a good part instead of scraping off the excess, or crushing the measure with a hostile faction.

Hal and Altrius nod at Julianus' commentary.

And Altrius resumed the story.

"So we went through the totality, trying to cooperate in the military and financial aspects of the dawn of the emperor reign of our Magnus, who used our left migrating to the north and accumulated strength in the north. Of course, all my men cooperated with me knowing this... but at first it went well, but now I think it was shallow. I told Haruyoshi before, but Harmonium caught my eye on the central official. I was asking Magnus to restrain this move, but ah he didn't want to do anything... maybe he couldn't do anything... '

Altrius said lonely, and once he cut the word, he went on to say that he looked with satisfaction at Hal and Julianus being heard magically.

"It was also easy to predict that the people of Cliffonam would be dissatisfied by both government and government officials consolidated in a sense of taxation and discrimination. But I didn't expect it to develop into such a massive rebellion, but still, I asked Magnus to send reinforcements in case, and he promised me that if I were the Crown Prince, I could do that... but the reinforcements didn't come.

"That's the great rebellion of Cliffonam, isn't it?

Altrius nods in response to Hal's words.

"We also had the option to escape, but I believed in Magnus, so I decided to cage him. As a result, after five months of stubbornness, my men fell one after the other, and decided that the only remaining soldiers could not protect the city, and I took my last bet... now it is inexplicable, I lost the bet.

Altrius slaps his coffin in the face.

Naturally, the hand never touches the coffin.

I said even as Julianus looked at the look of it painfully.

"But no matter how many heroes you say Altrius was on the reckless bet, wouldn't it make sense to beat his hero king even though he's badly injured?

'What are you talking about? Though it is only natural that you cannot beat Alford, my full-blown creation. It was part of the plan that we were discussed, so to speak, it was a stake. My loss is on the bet that Magnus will come or not.

Altrius, who turned to Julianus, says.

"If we put up the unrest in the north, we thought that something would come up that would submit to the authority of Magnus. And if you exchange my enemies for a civilian hero, the citizens of the Empire will support Magnus, right? We thought that if we got a strong backing for the citizens, we would have more freedom when Magnus became emperor, but this was no good either. I was decapitated by Alford, and Alford, with his neck above the flag, forced me to open the castle and push me to the guard of Adamantius at the time, but Adamantius adhered, so Alford pulled up... and Magnus did nothing.

"We don't hear about Magnus ever since. Looks like Magnus stood on three factions in due course as he was and took over the emperor... I see that my promises and dreams have been forgotten.

Altrius stares at the wall with nothing in his distant eyes.

Hal and Julianus lost their words to the shocking story of Altrius, who once tried to sacrifice himself to the Empire.

The story of Altrius is still going on with the two of us who are going out of time.

'At first, I thought I had no choice, so I put my men together and wandered around for a while, but after a while... well, after a few years, I realized something was wrong... and who could ascend? While doing so, I realized that I couldn't get away from this city, this was nothing but a curse. And I thought of it at the source of the curse. I was also an Imperial General, so I heard General Liquinius's rumor that he was haunted and still at Julius Castle, and I knew that the curse that had befallen us would be the same. Years went by, and a bandit from a former Imperial soldier came to play a prank, so I threatened him a little bit, and he lost his hips, so I listened to a lot of things. I was also stunned by the fact that Magnus, who became Emperor, was carrying out the curse. I'm not talking about betrayal.

"It's..."

In contrast to Hal, who loses his words on the way, Julianus turned his face away from Altrius.

Altrius smiles and opens his mouth when he sees it.

"Hence Julianus. I don't trust your lords or your empire. Instead of saying things that those who have no capacity or responsibility for fulfilling their responsibilities expect lightly, etc. You have royalty and power in the bend, don't you?

"I'm not going to undo the words I uttered, but let's remember the liver.

When Julianus answers with his eyes aligned with Altrius, Artrius says angrily with those eyes.

'Then let's hear it. Why would Haruyoshi question that he is King Fried?

"Not without asking, but because it's not included in the scope of this surveillance, if you ask the entity.

And it shall come to pass, and the time shall come, that it shall be hard to give it up, and that we may draw our feet.

"I don't know how it went, but as I said before, I'm completely distant from the faction. I've told you many times, I want this city to do its best.

"Why not?

Now Hal threw the question.

Julianus answers with a somewhat relieved face.

"That's... because I want you to be my back shield eventually.

"Back shield? Cilentium has finally just loosely put together about a third of the cliphonum. What do you expect from us like that?

"What I'm hoping for is a possibility from now on. I want to rebuild my empire. I want to shave off the officials and armies that are disrupting the empire, and most importantly, the too powerful power of the nobility, but I have nothing. I'm also suspicious if I can stand tall as I am now. The army is beginning to push their uncle Unius, close to them, and the aristocrats are plotting something with the Gratius family, which hits a close uncle far from the throne. The central official says it is in keeping with the temptation of being emperor, but will probably deduce my great-uncle, His Highness Maedus.

"Just to clarify what's in the support... what happens?

To Hull urging Julianus to cut off his words, Julianus looked to heaven once before answering.

"I wasn't going to tell you this yet... but I want you to hold me back from taking the throne, and in some cases even send soldiers to the Imperial City.

"Are you insane?

"That's... are you serious?

Altrius, who was just as shocking in his remarks, also peeled his eyes, and Hal answered that with a hard time.

"I'm serious, this Cilentium is still powerless, but I lived six months and found out, there is hope, a future, and a will in this land that is not in the present empire.

Seeing Hal's silence as an affirmation, Julianus passionately carries on the words.

"As well as the emperor and the royal family have no hands and feet, we have to start by making hands and feet, but all the talents and spiritual ones that are likely to be hands and feet are crushed because of the selfishness of the aristocratic idiots. But there's a place where there are those guys who work hard to get that done.

Julianus sending a meaningful gaze to Hull.

Receiving that gaze, Hal skewed his face and opened his mouth.

"... is that why this Cilentium? My lord Julianus, as I have leaked before, this land is about to draw a line with the Empire. At the end of the day, it will probably be another country, even if it incorporates an imperial system.

Hal makes it clear that Julianus frowns a little, but makes no particular mention of the word, scratching the poly and the temples.

And I sighed one like I gave up something before I started talking.

"Oh, I know that. The standards for the application of the system and the law are completely different, because there are no so-called“ imperials ”here in the first place... only the former imperials have the people of Oran and Cliffonam, which is not the original form, and now there are" Cilentiums ”growing up here who are not Empires, Cliffonam, let alone Oran. I've lived for nearly six months and I know that very well. This land is no longer an empire, not" any more. "

"... so why? Besides, what are you going to do if we inform any of our forces of His Highness Julianus' intentions?

"... but I wouldn't do that as long as you were around.

Although Hal says, Julianus answers without getting his hair in.

"What I expected was from you. Even if we had a fortunate encounter in a place with no edge whatsoever, I want to gain the trust of the tribe so far and use the power you built with your integrity and will to develop the city. I want you to help me... rebuild the empire.

"I'm not talking about tomorrow, I'm still alive. A few or ten years from now, in any case, it's not such a distant future, but it's definitely about the future, not now. Besides, I'm not saying anything is free. In the dawn of my reign, I will entrust Hal to the" Northern Guardian ", and will exchange Cliffona Superior, Cliffona Inferior, Cliffona Orienta, and Normlia for the" Northern Guardian Territory ”, while recognizing the Northern Guardian's right of precedence for other northern border areas.

Julianus says the land to be given to Hull in the regional division of the Empire.

Not only does the area almost cover the area of power of the tribes participating in the current Cilentium alliance, but it also shows the entire area in which the Cliffonams live.

The only other areas included in this northern peripheral region are the imperial untouched lands, the Far North, inhabited mainly by Oranian Oriente and Halemians, but they also acknowledge their right of priority on that.

What will become of the authority of the Protector of the North?

Julianus shrugged his shoulders and answered Altrius's question.

"I don't care if you think it's an independent country, but externally, it's conditional on you naming a" Northern Guardian "who belongs to the Empire. What do you say?"

In the end, the answer had to be put on hold, Hal.

It's very favorable if you just listen to the words, but it's also dangerous.

First, because if we were to march on the Imperial Capital, that could be the only reason we could be regarded as traitors.

The 250,000 soldiers that the Empire can mobilize, even if they are fading, are the undisputed superpowers that control the western part of the continent and conquer the coast of the Setria Inland Sea.

It will be more obvious than to see the fire what will happen if we are caught in its succession to the throne.

Julianus left the basement first when he said he was done, but when he left, he said, "I have no other way, and I have no other way.," he said.

Dropping that off, Hal and Altrius nestle in a dark crypt.

Altrius slowly opened his mouth.

"Haruyoshi, I cannot disagree. In the first place, because I am already a man of the past, I am not in a position to make any opinions about such matters. Those who live today make choices, work hard, and get results. However, as I have just told you about my experiences and failures, it is good to think carefully.

"Predecessor..."

"... instead of wearing such a face, I put it into the circle of those who live now, if only I could survive, but that is beyond saying. I have no other expectation of the living, O Haruyoshi, which I have said before, but I expect of the Lord.

When Altrius said so to Hal, who sees himself with a pitiful, unfortunate face, he did the trick of placing his hand on his untouchable shoulder.

"Hmm, if you can't touch it, it won't tighten anything. I beg you, what time may you come here again? Waiting for a“ good successor ”breaks all sorts of bones. Besides, I don't have any men this time. Then I have free time and no specifications.

Seeing Hal snort forcefully at his words, Altrius deepened his grin.