“Damn it…”


  If I remembered it correctly, I spoke unflatteringly about the Elder at least once a day.

  It was amazing what he put up with all this time.

  ? Sigh: I’m human too. I’ve lost my temper more than once or twice, but I’m not incompetent enough to get rid of a person in the right. In the past… perhaps I was. However, when you consider how I acted with my wives, you’ll realize that a man grows by trial and error. Things are different now.

  Apparently, a lot had accumulated in his soul.

  He chatted incessantly.

  “Your conversation with that crybaby does not interest me. I’ll wash up now. Don’t wait for me until nightfall.”


  “Crybaby?”


  “He cried even on the day he ran away. Give him my regards. Oh, can you hear me?” Ssosia left the office laughing.

  ? Exhale: That demoness is still the same. Now they call me the king without blood and tears. Regardless, you’re lucky. I’ve always wondered what she was like in bed. As expected, she’s incredible. She has a very mean body, as you said.

  ‘Hey? Isn’t watching your junior’s personal life a little too much?’


  ? Smile: You can be proud of that. I never thought that dem- no, that girl can moan so sweetly. I have a lot to learn from you. Although in terms of combat power, you are still at the level of a dumb kid.

  ‘Combat power? Now you’re making me wonder how strong you are.’


  ? Laughter: Well, what difference would it make if you knew? I’m not naive enough to tell others about my abilities, but I’ve been watching you all this time, so I’ll tell you a little. I can kill Noebius, who nearly killed you and destroyed an entire planet in 1 second.

  Noebius with G-rank skills in 1 second?

  That meant he could roam the universe without fear of anyone. I was neither jealous nor scared, however.

  I was still alive.

  No matter how much I, his junior, scolded him, he could only sit and listen.

  In other words, although he claimed to be incredibly strong, he couldn’t rush in here now and beat me, who was supposedly weaker than him.

  ? Surprise: Witty, but you’re right. That’s why I’m now building up my strength. Because I saw my limit, although I thought that I would be strong forever, those who have numbers in their race are incredibly strong. Ssosia looks weak in your eyes, but if the system’s restrictions are lifted, you’ll turn to dust before you can give her an order.

  Strength…


  ‘Even so, weren’t your son and his subjects quite weak?’


  ? Confirmation: My child and my people that you defeated were really weak. But that is all relative. There are not so many in the entire universe whose strengths are comparable to natural disasters, even if we include the ones that have the potential to approach this level. Regardless, there are enough of them under my command. Security comes first, so I hide them. They cannot show themselves so easily because their actions can easily lead to war.

  ‘You seem to be sitting quietly because you are afraid of losing.’


  ? Confirmation: Again, bull’s eye. You don’t even know how strong the girls peeling your potatoes and distributing food all day really are.

  I was curious about that.

  ‘You probably saw it, but the Phantom King Shakespeare recently summoned those who were your companions.’


  Alex, Aqua, Sylvia, Sage, Lanuvel, King of the Mercenaries…


  ? Silence: Hmm…


  ‘Say something or stop prying, mister voyeur.’


  ? Solution: Don’t call me a voyeur! That nickname does not suit the one who was once called the King of Harem.

  ‘Harem King? Huh! The Puppet King befits you more even though I respect you as a fellow hero.’


  ? Counterattack: Didn’t you peep through the memories left in the Chaos Artifacts yourself, Voyeuristic Junior?

  But that was already far-fetched.

  ‘At least I didn’t ask the gatekeeper for permission to go through the gate. I simply broke in whenever I wanted. Didn’t you also pay a fee to get in? Don’t dishonor the Hero’s name.’


  ? Shiver: Coward! You remind your senior of the affairs of youth and still have the audacity to call yourself a just hero? Are you not ashamed?

  ‘Answer the question first. The pathetic King of the Elves often appeared in your memories as your best friend, but Alex, Lanuvel, and others weren’t there. Why?’


  ? Answer: I don’t like that you only need information from me, but I will answer for the sake of accepting you into my ranks. They died in a decisive battle. During my adventures, I did not lose a single companion, but they all fell at once at the hands of the Demon Lord Pedonar.

  ‘And what about them now?’


  ? Explanation: Companions fall into two categories. Those who joined during the adventure and those who were there from the beginning. It’s a little embarrassing to talk about it, but… as you said, those who joined in the middle of the journey were more like a support group. They were my personal cheerleaders. They were far away. That’s why they managed to survive.

  ‘Stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point. I don’t want to hear about how all these cheerleaders that became your wives and then nailed you, after which you ended up running away and starting a new life.’


  ? Shiver: Be careful with your words! You have no respect for your seniors at all!

  ‘Get to the point.’


  ? Patience: You’re also shameless. You speak so rudely with a senior and even demand information. You call yourself a civilized citizen, but you clearly lack communication skills. I’ll tell you the next time my mood improves. By the way, I like your Saintess. That’s all for me, goodbye.

  ‘Eh? Hey, wait. Senior. Senior?’


  There was no answer.

  Apparently, he really wasn’t going to tell me.

  The First Hero said that he was no longer what he was in the past, but it seemed like he hadn’t changed a bit.

  Wasn’t provocation one of the main moral principles of the Hero?

  He would provoke the enemy to attack him so that his companions wouldn’t suffer.

  ‘Don’t tell anyone else that you are a Hero. Otherwise, I will be ashamed to raise my head anywhere as a representative of the same job, though I had assumed that since the time your wife scolded you. Due to that, bursting into tears, you rushed to your friend…’


  ? Suddenly: I didn’t cry! And watch your words! Shouldn’t you be more prudent when others are watching you!

  ‘Oh?! So you’re still here? I thought you were offended, and you won’t show yourself again.’


  ? Shiver: Now I’m really leaving. I don’t care what you say about me. Don’t even dream about getting useful information.

  Now he was really gone.

  I wished I could get some more information from him, but it didn’t matter. I had another help window.

  ‘Isn’t that right, Trainee Teacher?’


  ? Confusion: I will definitely not disclose personal information about myself, cadet Kang Han Soo. My psyche is too weak.

  ‘You’re beautiful, so it’s okay.’


  ? Shy: Again, you’re not saying what you really think. I won’t say that I don’t like it, though! Still, you haven’t even seen me before!

  ‘I don’t need to see you. I already know that you are the most beautiful girl I know!’


  ? Confusion: Even though I know you’re just using these compliments as bait to squeeze information out of me, I still can’t reject it. What are you interested in?

  ‘There seems to be a misunderstanding. I really think you’re beautiful!’


  ? Flustered: Say what you need already! Otherwise, I’ll run away too. Hmph!’


  ‘Don’t mistake me for a vile sycophant, my secret friend. Otherwise, my heart, as weak as slime, won’t be able to stand it.’


  ? Motivation: Speak faster.

  ‘I’m interested in the true identity of Alex, Lanuvel, and the others who have been officially accepted into the ranks of the Hero’s companions. Maybe they are doubles of teachers or alter egos? Can you check?’


  ? Answer: I can answer that without checking. From experienced senior colleagues to newcomer trainee teachers like me, all faculty members gather at New Year’s meetings to build trust and friendship. And I have not seen such people there.

  And what about the honored teachers?

  ? Confusion: I am sure that they don’t belong to the teachers who can influence the system with just one word, but to be honest, I’m not that well informed about who holds that position. Maybe the seniors might know something, but it’s too dangerous to ask. Ah! If one of them is found abusing their power, it’ll be possible to petition for a list of names to be disclosed.

  Abuse of Power…


  ‘I know several people who hold the position of Honored Teacher. But they never harmed me by abusing their power.’


  We needed to think a little more about this.

  “Hmm. That took so long.”


  All because of my senior’s long speeches.

  “Drug Hero, how long will you play the emperor? It seems to me that your son is not eager to become one.” The First Spirit said, who had been sitting on my head all day. “This is just my subjective opinion, but it is more boring than you playing with your fingers.”


  “I can’t just leave and give up everything now. If I stop now, my reputation will drop below the baseboard. Regardless, my child must take over the throne from me. Even if he doesn’t want to, I’ll make him. You seem to be confused. He’s not going to ascend to the throne because of his own will. Heaven decided that.”


  And once he had become an emperor, his train of thought might change.

  After being emperor for a minute, he’d want to refuse, but a day would pass, and he would understand that this suited him.

  Except…


  “You’re right, First Spirit.”


  “Hee-hee! Have you finally recognized me?”


  “Your image is already destroyed beyond repair, but that laugh… Anyway, we need to hurry.”


  It was time to end the capture of the Northern Continent!

  ? Question: But didn’t you only recently dock?

  ‘Trainee teacher, haven’t you heard of these words?’


  I came, I saw, I conquered.

  The moment I arrived on the Northern Continent, the war was already over.

  ***

  “Son, politics is not as complicated as it seems. You can hire the best people in their field, share responsibilities between them, and that’s it. If they want to illegally take possession of the land or raise a rebellion, they must immediately be sentenced to death. You just have to do that.”


  “That’s a bit too much…”


  “They shouldn’t be too capable. Otherwise, they might decide that they’re so incredible that they can become an emperor themselves and make this country better. Loyalty is more important than ability. Regardless, they will be able to give advice, even if it is criticism.”


  “And if everyone is afraid of you?”


  “That will be your mistake as an emperor.”


  “Then that’s your error.”


  “Mine?”


  “Look around.”


  I did.

  Everyone smiled brightly and broadly.

  “Those who are afraid of me, step forward.”


  “…”


  “…”


  None did.

  “As you can see, your father sees right through people. If they were afraid of me, they wouldn’t be smiling so happily now. Oh! I completely forgot. I kept the guests waiting. Deal with them quickly.”


  Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Naked men and women with black bags on their heads, standing in a row on a guillotine, had their heads chopped off.

  Those were aristocrats who opposed me, trying to defend their lands.

  After a complete defeat at sea, most of the countries of the Northern Continent simply surrendered out of fear.

  But there were always those who craved attention.

  Hence, I granted them what they wanted!

  Regardless of gender and status, they were led naked across the entire square and then executed.

  “I granted their wish, so they died without regrets. Am I wrong?”


  “It is as you say, Your Majesty!”


  “You are too merciful, Your Majesty!”


  In just two days, I captured half of the Northern Continent. I also finished getting the port cities. Now, there were only countries around the Snow Mountain M, located in the continent’s center.

  The most important part of the Northern Continent.

  There lay the Magic Kingdom, which had the largest number of wizards… and served as my second homeland.

  Once I took that place, the war would end.

  “I can also see my nurse.”


  “Nurse?”


  “There… this… person that I know.”


  There were two years left before the initial call of the Hero.

  She should still be alive right now.