Episode 181: The Interior Minister’s Melancholy

Unbelievable. An utterly impossible turn of events had become reality before Golgoria’s very eyes.

“Th-the new His Majesty the King has appointed this man as Interior Minister!? B-… Preposterous!”

Still collapsed in his posture, Golgoria glares at Wilhelm with pure hatred.

“Y-you bastard! H-how did you worm your way into His Majesty the new King’s favor!? An exiled wretch like you shouldn’t have had any bribes to offer His Majesty the King, nor any connections to exploit!”

“I used neither bribes nor connections.”

Wilhelm states the facts plainly, without a trace of emotion.

“Y-you lie! I refuse to acknowledge it… that you could become Interior Minister…!”

“I see. However, continuing this debate here will only waste everyone’s time.”

Wilhelm speaks with resolute authority, cutting off Golgoria’s protests.

“If you believe I’m unfit to serve as Interior Minister, then submit a motion of no confidence. Should your accusations be deemed legitimate, I will be dismissed immediately. That is the law of this nation. ——Let us consider this matter closed.”

“Urgh… guh…!”

Golgoria chokes on his words in frustration.

Wilhelm surveys the assembled group once more and raises his voice.

“Now then, allow me to convey my policies as Interior Minister.”

 

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The new Interior Minister Wilhelm’s declared policies centered on improving the lives of the citizenry and providing relief to the vulnerable as his top priority. To achieve this, he announced his intention to crush vested interests and inefficient social systems while pushing forward economic development. Ironically, though their starting points differed, his ideals intersected with those of Siegfried.

“Naturally, none of you are exceptions. Those who pursue only their own advancement while neglecting their duties as directors will be dismissed.”

With those concluding words, Wilhelm’s inaugural address came to an end.

That day, he devoted himself to understanding the current state of the Interior Ministry, finally leaving the building when night had fallen.

“…I’ve kept you up quite late. My apologies.”

He addresses the black-haired young man standing beside him. As they step onto the darkened street, a voice suddenly rings out.

“Wilhelm!”

He turns to see a man with gold teeth glinting in the moonlight. It’s Golgoria.

“Y-y-you… you intend to take revenge on me, don’t you!? That’s it, isn’t it!?”

“…What are you talking about?”

Wilhelm furrows his brow.

“Those who pursue only their own advancement while neglecting their duties as directors will be dismissed… That’s what you said!”

“Yes. I certainly did say that.”

“S-so… you plan to dismiss me!? As revenge for trying to harass you!”

At those words, Wilhelm lets out a deep sigh.

“I’ll be frank. It’s true that I dislike you. Your vulgar nature and your lack of serious commitment to your duties. But… right now, I intend to pour all my passion into enriching this nation’s civil administration as Interior Minister. I have neither the time nor the luxury to pursue personal revenge against you.”

“S-so then… I can remain as Civil Affairs Director?”

“No, I’m afraid I do plan to dismiss you. You lack the ability to fulfill your duties. Moreover, there are suspicions of your involvement in corruption——I’ll be investigating that as well. However, this isn’t revenge, but rather…”

“Sh-sh-sh-shut up! It is revenge after all!”

Golgoria screams as if he’s lost his mind. The humiliation of having his position reversed by someone he’d looked down upon, the terror of losing the Civil Affairs Director seat he’d finally grasped——these emotions had driven him mad.

“D-die! Wilhelm! Your appointment as Interior Minister was wrong from the start!——Do it!”

At his command, roughly ten men emerge from the darkness. Likely knights under Golgoria’s command. They draw their swords and charge at Wilhelm in unison.

However——at that very moment, the black-haired young man standing beside Wilhelm leaps forward without a sound. His drawn blade flashes, carving a sharp afterimage through the night.

“Guh…!”

“Gofu…!”

In the span of a single breath, all the attackers were sprawled on the ground. Each had been struck down with the flat of the blade. The overwhelming difference in skill was evident.

It was only natural. Ordinary knights had no hope of matching him——a genius swordsman and vampire.

“You’ve caused quite a bit of trouble, Ricardo-kun.”

To Wilhelm’s words, the black-haired young man… Ricardo responds quietly.

“No, this is my duty.”

He was a bodyguard assigned to Wilhelm by Siegfried’s command, anticipating precisely this sort of situation.

Voices rise from the knights sprawled on the ground.

“R-Ricardo…? D-don’t tell me you’re the ‘Absolute Elegance Overdrive Knight of Perfect Genius Beauty’ Ricardo Barcelos…?”

“The ‘Absolute Elegance Overdrive Knight of Perfect Genius Beauty’ who overwhelmed Knight Captain Jarkan…!?”

“Th-this strength… there’s no mistaking it… it’s the ‘Absolute Elegance Overdrive Knight of Perfect Genius Beauty’!”

At their words, Ricardo shows a complicated expression.

Meanwhile, Wilhelm approaches the stunned Golgoria.

“…You’ve done something foolish, Golgoria. There’s no going back now.”

“Wh-what do you mean…?”

“You attempted to prevent my appointment as Interior Minister, and furthermore tried to escape your own dismissal and criminal prosecution. To that end, you used your subordinate knights to plot my assassination. This would be judged as ‘terrorism with political intent’ under the Kingdom’s laws.”

“…Huh?”

“That crime is far more serious than simple attempted murder. You will almost certainly be sentenced to death.”

“Y-you’re lying… that can’t be…”

“As someone who’s known me for years, you should understand. I’m well-versed in the Kingdom’s laws. There’s no mistake.”

A short scream escapes from Golgoria’s throat.

“P-please save me, Wilhelm! I-I don’t want to die! I apologize for everything up until now! L-look at me like this!”

Golgoria falls to his knees, desperately begging for his life. But Wilhelm quietly shakes his head.

“I have no intention of either defaming or protecting you. I will simply report the facts. I cannot falsify my testimony out of personal feelings and pervert justice——even if it results in your execution.”

“Hii… iiiii!”

A scream of despair echoes through the air. Soon after, city guards who had detected the commotion come rushing over.

 

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“Noooo! Stop it!”

Golgoria’s screams fade as he’s dragged away by the guards. Wilhelm speaks matter-of-factly to the remaining guards.

“The circumstances are as I explained earlier. If detailed questioning is required at a later date, I will cooperate fully.”

“Understood. As a precaution, we should escort and guard you to your residence——no.”

The soldier starts to speak, then looks at the young man standing beside Wilhelm and shakes his head.

“If the ‘Absolute Elegance Overdrive Knight of Perfect Genius Beauty’ Ricardo-sama is accompanying you, our protection would be unnecessary. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Leaving behind a salute, the soldiers depart. Watching their retreating figures, Wilhelm exhales deeply.

“That fool Golgoria… what a truly stupid thing he did. If it had only been corruption, he wouldn’t have faced execution.”

Golgoria was, for better or worse, a small-time player. Unlike former Finance Minister Marklein, he hadn’t dabbled in embezzlement on a national scale. He hadn’t committed crimes grave enough to warrant the death penalty.

“But——under these circumstances, execution is unavoidable. This plays right into King Siegfried’s hands.”

Displeasure shows on Wilhelm’s face at having created another ‘villain’ for Siegfried’s benefit.

“Wilhelm-sama, do you… how should I put this… not particularly care for Siegfried-sama?”

“Indeed. I despise him. That nonsense about ‘making villains shine’——I cannot comprehend it at all.”

Though tinged with irritation, Wilhelm continues speaking.

“However——curse the man, there’s no one in Kirchhen more suited to be king than him. Looking back now, those statements about abandoning the weak… they were likely provocations designed to draw people like me into his administration. It’s utterly infuriating, but… that man is exceptional. Exceptional enough that I’m willing to serve him with my entire heart and soul. Damn it…!”

After exhaling deeply to calm himself, Wilhelm turns his gaze to Ricardo.

“By the way, you were being called the ‘Absolute Elegance Overdrive Knight of Perfect Genius Beauty’ and such. What exactly is that about…?”

“Ah… that.”

Looking troubled, Ricardo responds.

“During the Royal Capital siege, a knight I fought… called me that. Then, well… Siegfried-sama learned of it and spread the rumor… Siegfried-sama said it would make my ‘character stand out’ more…”

“…So it’s King Siegfried’s doing.”

Ricardo blushes and looks down. Wilhelm sighs and grumbles with annoyance.

“Good grief, truly… what a ridiculous king. We’ve ended up serving a truly outrageous man.”