Chapter 51: Steadfast Resolution – First Part


    Eleven years ago.


    At that time, the Empire was at war with the Kingdom of Pen.


    At the same time, the Sokal Empire in the east had invaded and destroyed the Dwarven nation located adjacent to the Adraxia Empire.


    Many dwarves fled to the Empire and some of their royal families were under the Empires protection. However, the Sokal Empires aim wasnt gold and silver the dwarves had umted but the smithing skill they had amassed so they have issued several warnings to the Empire.


    The Empires response was [Its impossible topletely bar the immigrants] but the Emperor of the Sokal Empire had run out of patience and dispatched his son as the ambassador to the Empire.


    This has be quite a problem hasnt it.


    Totally.


    Emperor Johannes nodded to the words from Franz, his Prime Minister.


    The threergest nations of this continent are the Adraxia Empire, the Kingdom of Pen, and the Sokal Empire. Geographically, the Empire is sandwiched in the middle of the two countries.


    Getting in conflict with the Sokal Empire while they are at war with Pen is something that the Empire absolutely wanted to avoid.


    If we revoke our protection of the dwarves, the demihuman across the continent will turn into our enemies. Of course, that also applies to the demihumans living inside our Empire as well. If thats the case then we can not afford to be at war with other countries anymore.


    So we have to choose between antagonizing the Sokal empire or the demihumans huh.


    That is not necessarily true. If we hand over the Dwarfs Technique the situation should be able to calm down for the time being.


    What should we hand over then?


    The Sokal Empire is a magical superpower. However, they have a shortage of jewels production that is dispensable for their development of magic tools. In particr, they are severelycking in huge jewels that are necessary to develop magic weapons.


    Jewel is a general term for ores that have the capability to store magic power. With its magic power storing property, it is a valuable material that can be reused even if you depleted the magic power stored inside.


    The amount of magic power that can be stored is proportional to the size of the jewel. Therger a jewel, the higher the capacity.


    Are you saying that I should just hand it to them? I dont like it. Do we really have to show such a weak attitude toward them? We only gave asylum to those who have fled from them right?


    Yes. We have to do that to avoid engaging enemies on two fronts. Fortunately, our country doesnt have any trouble with jewel production. With that being the case, giving them what they want in order to avoid the war is a cheap price. It doesnt like we are handing our mines either so there will be no harm to our country.


    For more than a hundred years, the Sokal Empire has been digging jewels at the mine inside their territory to develop magic tools and as a result, the amount of jewels that can be mined has decreased year by year.


    On the other hand, the Empire did not focus on mining jewels and with the existence of excellence ore veins inside their territory, the Empire doesnt have any problem with their jewel supply.


    Feeding them some scraps to shut them up huh. Well, I dont want to put anymore burden on our military as well.


    Exactly. Lets hand them the huge jewel and silence them for now. The western front is also in a stalemate so we might be able to have a cease-fire with them soon as well.


    Alright then. We have the upper hand anyway. The Kingdom will probably agree to our proposal.


    Saying so, Johannes and Franz concluded the talk.


    -


    The day hase when Franz prepared the huge jewel and head to wee the ambassador.


    On that day, a girl was visiting the castle.


    That cherry-colored hair girl was the six-years-old Elna.


    Brimming with curiosity, Elna had too much time to spare as her father was having a conversation with others and went away on her own.


    Eh?


    When she noticed, Elna was in an unknown ce.


    She looks around a little but there is nothing she could recognize around her.


    Well, theres no doubt that I am still inside the castle. Thinking so, Elna headed out to find someone she could ask for directions.


    Then, she found a small hole in the castle wall. It was big enough for a small child to pass through.


    Hidden behind bushes, it looked like an air vent but it looked somehow well-maintained as if it was an entrance to a secret base.


    Her curiosity piqued, Elna crouches down and infiltrates the vent.


    After going through the darkness for a while, she arrived in a dark room.


    The closed-off room was illuminated by a faint glow and Elna soon realized that she was standing in a treasure vault.


    Uwaa.


    The ce was muchrger than the treasure vault at the Brave house and there are various treasures inside.


    Then Elna spotted a certain thing.


    A magic sword!


    Magic swords are weapons that can exhibit magical power like fire or wind.


    In addition, what was ced inside the treasure chest was not a modern magic sword but an ancient one.


    Elna takes it up with one hand and pulls it out of its sheath.


    Elna was spellbound by its intense gleam and sharpness and try swinging it around several times.


    Unnn! This is a good sword!


    The sword is too long for a child like Elna to wield but shes still one of the Brave house. She could easily handle it with her physical ability.


    Fond of the swords performance, Elna began to test it out with her swordy.


    Even if its arge treasure vault, what would happen in a ce with so many valuable treasures if someone started to do something violent inside?


    Elna who was absorbed in testing her new sword didnt think of that.


    Ah..


    The sword she swung sideways crashed on to a box covered with cloth.


    The box was cut in half by Elnas sharp sh. Moreover, the magic power released from the box destroyed the magic tool that was illuminating the treasure vault and the light goes out.


    In the darkness, Elna heard a *Gongz* sound and her heart started to get cold. After a while, Elnas eyes be ustomed to the darkness.


    Peeking inside the box, there were two parts of giant jewels that were cut in half, its size wasrger than a persons head.


    I cut down something in the treasure vault.


    When Elna realized that she panicked, she tried to put it back together but it was clean-cut and it was impossible to fix it.


    After a while, Elna started crying because of the feeling of helplessness and anxiety.


    UUuu.HicOtou-sama.


    Hm? Is someone there? Wa, Why is it so dark.


    At that time, a boy came in through the vent she had entered through.


    ck hair and ck eyes. It was the seven years old Arnold.


    Al was surprised because there is a guest in the ce he usually used as his personal hideout and by theplete darkness inside but he soon noticed that a girl was crying.


    Are you crying?


    Uuhic..


    Al who is blinded by darkness has no idea of the person who was crying inside the vault.


    He only knew that it was a girl who was about the same age as him.


    Al was groping around to advance forward but soon he realized that something was broken.


    Quite shy huh.isnt this the rumored jewel.


    Je, wel?


    Yeah. it seems that it was intended to be a gift for the ambassador.


    Am..bassador..? UuUu?


    Ah! Dont cry! I will do something about it.


    He only said that to calm down the young girl.


    He simply thought that it would be troublesome if the girl kept crying anymore than this.


    However, the situation turned for the worst.


    This way. Ambassador-dono.


    It was the Emperors voice.


    Al was panicked for a moment but he immediately understood the situation and sent Elna to the vent.


    Hurry up and get in! Run!


    But..


    Quickly!


    Although he was still young, Al knew that the situation was very serious.


    The Emperor came here to personally show the jewel to the ambassador. If he knew that it was broken he would definitely be furious.


    There might be some leniency for a prince but he has no idea what the punishment will be if he knows that the culprit is an unknown child.


    Considering the worst, Al quickly made Elna escape through the vent.


    When Elna finally got out, the door to the vault opened.


    Al sighed at the thing that will happen from now on and take a deep breath in preparation to face it.


    This is the treasure vault of our Empire. The jewel is.Nn?


    I am very sorry! Father! I broke it!


    Al immediately bowed and apologized to the Emperor who has no clue what is going on.


    The Emperor and the ambassador along with the people in their surrounding couldnt understand whats going on for a moment.


    There was a prince in the treasure vault that was supposed to be tightly guarded with a jewel that was broken in half beside him.


    No one spoke a word. They had no courage to say anything before the Emperor.


    It was not just that. No one dared to look at the Emperors expression.


    The Emperor slowly walks toward Al.


    Did you really do it? Arnold.


    Yes..


    Really?


    Yes, I did it.


    Al raises his face and answers.


    Thats why only Al knew that the Emperor had aplicated expression on his face.


    The Emperor closes his eyes and slowly takes a breath in.


    Then.


    *Pan* a dry sound of something being hit echoed.


    You! Damn fool! That jewel was a sign of friendship Between Adraxia and Sokal you know!? Why did you break it!? Have you no awareness as a prince!


    Im sorry..


    Holding down the pain in his cheek, tears started umting in Als eyes.


    However, he did not cry.


    He thought that he must not do it.


    Because he knew.


    That Elna still hasnt left yet.


    Thats why Al didnt cry. He thought that she mighte back if he started crying.


    On the other hand, when Elna saw Al being hit, she cried even harder.


    Doesnt know what to do, she was honestly thinking about admitting her fault. However, the Emperors wrath scared her and she couldnt move.


    Someone! Put this idiot son in prison! Dont let him out for a week! I dont want to see his face!


    Im sorry


    Al only apologizes and doesnt defend himself.


    Elna who had watched Al being taken away realized that she couldnt do anything and ran out of the vent.


    Crying, she ran through the castle and finally found her father.


    Elna. Where have you been?


    Otou-sama! Otou-sama! The prince! The prince is!


    Wait. calm down first. Settle down and tell me what happened.


    Being told by her father, Elna exined the matter while crying her eyes out.


    Seeing her fathers expression which gradually got cloudier and cloudier, Elnas heart was filled with anxiety.