Episode 179: Salvation of the Weak

A long corridor leading to Siegfried’s office. Walking through it was a single man, flanked and guided by two escorts on either side.

His white hair was completely disheveled, and his beard had grown wild and unkempt. Though he wore fresh hemp shirt and trousers, everything else about his appearance made him look like he’d wandered in from the slums.

Indeed, everyone who passed by openly grimaced at the sight of him. But the man himself showed no concern whatsoever, walking forward without hesitation.

Looking at his attire alone, one might mistake him for an old man, but the tautness of his skin and sharp gaze revealed he was still young. He appeared to be around thirty years old.

“This way.”

The escort announced, and the office door was opened.

Inside sat a silver-haired young man, directing a sharp gaze toward the entering figure. The man showed no sign of being intimidated and stepped forward.

“…So you’re the new king.”

“That’s right.”

The silver-haired young man nodded.

“Hah… I heard you were a villain who struck down Luverios and seized the throne, so I was expecting a rougher face… but you’ve got quite the refined features.”

“And you—with all that hair and beard, I can hardly make out your face. Count Wilhelm von Kreutzel.”

“Former count, Your Majesty.”

The man—Wilhelm—stared at Siegfried with a provocative gaze through his overgrown bangs.

The silver-haired young man wore a relaxed smile as he met that stare head-on.

“Do you understand why you’ve been summoned here?”

“I know exactly why. You intend to kill me, don’t you? For the crime of criticizing you, the king. You probably thought you’d take a look at my face before sending me to the execution block.”

Wilhelm von Kreutzel—a man who had once risen to the position of Civil Administrator under the Luverios regime. The Civil Administrator was a high-ranking position directly under the Interior Minister, and due to his exceptional abilities, he had even been in a position to aim for the Interior Minister’s seat itself.

However, what awaited him was not glory, but a harsh fate.

He clashed with the Interior Minister over policy and even went so far as to criticize King Luverios himself. As a result, he was not only dismissed from his post but also stripped of his title and sent to the northern development lands.

Being sent to the northern development lands was effectively equivalent to a death sentence. Most who were sent there couldn’t survive even a year due to the harsh conditions. But through sheer willpower, he had endured five long years in that place.

Eventually, Siegfried ascended to the throne and abolished the meaningless northern development project. Wilhelm was permitted to return to the royal capital.

He had arrived in the capital three days ago. His crimes had been pardoned, and he should have been able to reintegrate into society—but the first thing he did upon arriving in the royal capital was to openly criticize Siegfried. As a result, he found himself brought to this place.

“You are a usurper who stole the throne from Luverios. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty? Am I wrong in what I’m saying?”

“You’re absolutely right. Your words are correct.”

Siegfried’s lips still bore that same smile.

“Well, I don’t mind that you killed Luverios. That man was—a hopeless king. But you, too, are equally hopeless as a king.”

“Why do you think that?”

“I know the content of your inauguration speech. Meritocracy with strict rewards and punishments—you said you’d elevate the capable and ruthlessly cut down the incompetent. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s correct. Is there a problem with that?”

“A huge problem.”

Wilhelm’s voice grew stronger.

“I don’t deny the importance of emphasizing ability and results. But what happens to those who fall through the cracks of that system? Craftsmen who lose their jobs due to injury, farmers struggling with life due to poor harvests year after year… Such people will be abandoned and left to die in the streets for the simple reason that they ‘can’t produce results.’ That’s the kind of society your thorough meritocracy leads to. To prevent that—welfare for the socially disadvantaged is absolutely indispensable.”

“So you’re telling me to look out for the weak as well?”

“Exactly—that is the duty of a king!”

The white-haired former Civil Administrator erupted with anger.

“I… absolutely cannot accept a society where countless innocent people are abandoned, no matter what.”

What came to his mind were the realities he had witnessed throughout the kingdom during his time as Civil Administrator. Farmers suffering from poor harvests, lower-class children who couldn’t receive education, slum dwellers who had lost their place in society… Unable to accept such misery, he had criticized the Interior Minister, and even Luverios himself.

“I see.”

Siegfried muttered low and slowly stood up. Then he drew the sword at his hip.

“Do you have no intention of changing that opinion? If you say here and now that you’ll accept my way of thinking, I won’t bring this sword down. But if you continue to refuse—I’ll show no mercy.”

The cold blade was thrust before Wilhelm’s eyes.

“…I have no intention of changing it. Absolutely not.”

“—I see.”

Siegfried raised his sword and brought it down without hesitation.

“…!”

Wilhelm didn’t step back even once, nor did he even close his eyes. There was no way he could escape from the sword of the one who had defeated ‘Seven Great Calamity’ Lugdura. In that case, at least—he would meet his end while staring straight at Siegfried. That was his pride.

—But the blade didn’t cut flesh. Instead, the slash flashed, and what flew through the air were white hair and white whiskers.

The long, disheveled hair and the beard covering his face were cut away, revealing Wilhelm’s rugged features beneath.

Deep wrinkles carved by years of hardship marked his face, but there was still an vitality that had not been lost.

“With that hair and beard, I couldn’t see your face. I’ve cleaned you up.”

Siegfried wore a sardonic smile as he continued speaking.

“And—Wilhelm von Kreutzel. From today forward, I appoint you as Interior Minister.”

At those low, resonant words, Wilhelm couldn’t understand their meaning for a moment—surprise crossed his rugged features as he stared back at Siegfried.

“What did you just…?”

“I have no interest in anything other than being a villain and what comes with it. But your words about looking out for the weak—have value.”

Siegfried stated matter-of-factly.

“A society that completely abandons the weak is fragile. Losing everything from a single failure and being abandoned as weak… in such an environment, no one would take any risks. No one would emerge to challenge new industries, and people would merely eke out an existence, leading to stagnation. Therefore, any society needs a certain level of welfare. That creates creativity and productivity, allowing society to develop.”

“What are you saying…”

“I have no interest in the ‘good’ of saving the weak. I have no intention of implementing unlimited social welfare either. But if a certain level of social welfare develops the nation and connects to my evil royal path—I’ll implement it without hesitation. And the one in charge of domestic affairs, including social welfare, is the Interior Minister. Currently, the man most suited for that position is—you, Wilhelm.”

“Wh…! I criticized you! Are you seriously going to make someone like me Interior Minister?”

“Whether you criticize me or flatter me doesn’t matter. I use those who are useful—that’s all there is to it. Your outstanding capabilities during your time as Civil Administrator, the courage to risk your life to voice your opinions to me—considering all of that, I’ve simply judged that you’re suitable for Interior Minister. —Or will you run away?”

“R-run away…?!”

“Do you intend to keep repeating only criticism, loudly proclaiming that the king is wrong—that you alone are right, and die clutching only that self-satisfaction? Are you going to turn your back on this opportunity to change this country? If you are such a man, then I misjudged you. —You’re not even worth killing, get lost.”

“Guh…!”

Wilhelm’s shoulders trembled. Heat surged in his chest as if all the blood in his body was flowing backward. The true nature of that heat was anger—or perhaps something else.

“Damn… I’ll do it!”

The heat expelled with his words slightly stirred the air.

“But let me tell you something… Just because you made me Interior Minister doesn’t mean I intend to follow your methods. I’ll advance policies in the way I believe is right. If I feel your policies are wrong, I’ll proudly oppose you when that time comes!”

“That’s fine.”

Siegfried’s eyes swayed with amusement.

“I have no intention of getting cozy with you either. I’ll use your abilities to the fullest for my purposes—that’s all. You use me as well.”

“You don’t need to tell me that…!”

“Heh… This should be interesting. Which of us will be more cunning in using the other and grasping our own ideals?”