The Reluctant Imperialist
If You Ask of the Empire's Future
2025.10.06 | Views 15,605 | Recommended 925
Whirrrrrr—whirrrrrr—
Deep within the Romilton mountain range, a mana drill roared as it bored into the rock.
“……”
Dieter wiped the sweat trickling down from under his safety helmet as he watched the drilling site. In his hand, he held the ledger of the Veritas Company.
This month was the deadline.
The initial capital invested by Maximilian was nearly depleted. The costs of land acquisition, equipment rental, and labor were far too great for what was essentially his ‘allowance’.
If they didn't see tangible results within the week, the company would go bankrupt.
Just as Dieter swallowed dryly and the mayor of Hermes next to him began to look nervous—
—Ma… Mana Fluid!
From the distance, near the rock face, the site manager's urgent cry rang out.
“Mana Fluid has been discovered!”
Mana Fluid. A highly concentrated liquid mana that surged up from deep within the earth, and the clearest evidence of a mana stone vein.
Dieter sprinted toward the sound. The site was already in chaos. Workers were flocking together, cheering, and at the center of it all, the Mana Fluid was erupting like a fountain.
“Everyone, stand back!”
“Back away! Everyone, get back!”
Mayor Jackson shouted Dieter’s words through a megaphone.
“……”
“……”
The two men stared blankly at the scene. From a crack in the borehole, the Mana Fluid gushed out and began to solidify.
It was a mana stone.
“Mana stones, it’s mana stones, Administrator! Administrator!!!”
Jackson cheered, throwing his arms around Dieter.
“...Ha.”
Dieter let out a sigh of relief he hadn’t known he was holding. The earth itself seemed to breathe, exhaling mana stones in a mystical phenomenon that filled him with a strange ecstasy. His legs almost gave out from under him.
So this is why people dig.
With a trembling hand, he picked up his terminal.
“Confirmed. That’s a relief.”
We had secured a source of funding. The Romilton region would serve as a horn of plenty for a long time, and the first investment from this massive mana stone mine was decided: Hermes Province.
“Dieter. I’m going to make Southern Hermes one of my power bases.”
I sometimes wondered.
Why were the high nobles and the wealthy so greedy? Why were they so stingy, even to their own allies? Why did they treat people so poorly that they were inevitably betrayed?
The conclusion was simple.
Most of them were idiots.
Tainted by the rotten idea that others should serve them simply because they were born into a prestigious family… Ah, I have no intention of making excuses for myself.
I was one of those nobles, too.
In any case.
They hoarded their wealth, but I had no need for that. I would spend money as quickly as I earned it.
It would all become worthless scraps of paper when the world ended anyway.
“I’ll entrust you with the related investments so we can both profit.”
—Yes, sir. I will report back with the details.
“And. If I ever overstep, tell me anytime.”
—Understood.
If he was satisfied and focused on his duties, Jackson could probably remain the mayor of Hermes until the day he died.
I ended the call.
“...Hmph.”
I was now in the back seat of a car. We were on our way to analyze a murder scene from last night, but thanks to my driver—my aide—it was a comfortable ride.
“Congratulations, sir.”
The aide seemed to be in a good mood as well.
He still lacked a bit of refinement. He wasn't supposed to show that he was listening.
“Does the training start this weekend?”
“Ah, yes. It does.”
The staff, including Schatz, would now be going to the Ebenholz estate every weekend for professional training.
I decided to leave that much to Enge.
Tick—
I glanced at the watch on my aide’s wrist as he gripped the steering wheel.
Tick—
Time was flowing by quickly.
That perfectly natural fact was a pressure on me.
“Don’t wear a watch from now on. You have a terminal, don’t you?”
“Yes, sir.”
In the meantime, we arrived at the crime scene. I got out of the car.
The area was cordoned off with yellow tape, and police officers stood in a line.
“Good day, Sir Maximilian. It is an honor to meet you.”
“Where is the scene?”
I bypassed the greeting with a nod and got straight to the point.
“This way.”
The police led me inside. The crime scene was a mage's workshop. In the middle of the room, thick with the smell of reagents, lay a corpse that had been blown apart.
“The incident occurred less than a day ago. The victim is Jeremy Kesun. A 4th-rank mage with no particular affiliation.”
“……”
I scanned the scene. Residual traces of mana were palpable. A mage would even be able to smell them.
This was, without a doubt, a murder by magic.
“Is it… possible for you to analyze this? The traces are a bit of a mess.”
And they were. To be honest, these were not traces that a novice knight could interpret.
Meaning, the difficulty was extremely high.
“Support.”
I placed a hand on the victim’s collarbone, infusing my mana, mixed with the Virus’s will, into the body.
‘Analyze the incident based on the residual traces left in this location.’
Immediately, my vision was stained blue. The chaotic traces of mana scattered throughout the space flared up like fluorescent lights.
Sssshhh…!
The particles rose into the air. It was a phenomenon that occurred regardless of my will. I almost took a step back but calmed myself with a deep breath.
Soon, the mana traces rained down before my eyes. They swirled chaotically like a waterspout before forming a specific shape, reconstructing the situation.
—An afterimage of the event, replayed through active residual traces.
I silently turned my gaze. In the blue-hued world, the outlines of the culprit and victim stood. Unfortunately, their faces weren't visible, but their silhouettes were clear.
When a magic user casts a spell, mana explosively overflows, inevitably clinging to every object in the vicinity.
In other words, the culprit's shadow could be seen.
“The suspect’s height is 178-184cm. Footprints are 280mm-300mm.”
I relayed the information I gleaned from the traces.
“A mage capable of using explosion-type magic. And…”
I omitted the rest for a moment.
“Sir? What did you just do?”
The officer asked blankly.
“I just told you. 178-184cm, footprints 280-300mm. I captured the residual mana traces with my eyes and retraced the information contained within them.”
“...Is something like that possible?”
This was data obtained by my Virus. Its accuracy was guaranteed.
“Does it sound like nonsense?”
“No, no! Not at all. I was just amazed. Wow. That’s even possible.”
I took a step forward. I knelt down to get a closer look at the body.
Thump.
A faint pulse. It was weak, but it was definitely there.
The victim was an Izenheim.
“Let’s begin the autopsy now. Pay close attention to the heart.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Also.”
I had seen a rather crucial detail in the residual traces just now.
“Investigate if any Imperial Guards were in this area between last night and the time of the incident.”
Magic releases mana, and that mana clings to objects. It lingers for up to two days, or as little as a few minutes.
People like ‘us’, that is, knights, wear very expensive uniforms. They don’t stain easily with things like mana.
The Imperial Guard, however, is a different story.
Their silver eagle medals, worn on their chests, are particularly good at attracting mana.
“The Imperial Guard… you say?”
“If you find one, don't contact anyone else. Come to me first.”
I had more to say. I was curious who would be audacious enough to commit murder in uniform, and while I couldn't exactly praise them, they had stumbled upon and taken down a robber-murderer-rapist.
“Here is my card.”
I handed the officer my card.
“Yes! I’ll keep that in mind, sir!”
“That will be all.”
“Loyalty!”
I left the scene and got back in the car.
The driver quickly announced our next destination.
“Now… we will head to Empire Point. Today is just a simple visit.”
“Right. To encourage the cadets, too.”
I leaned back against the seat.
Being a knight was demanding work. After stopping by Empire Point, I’d have to go back to the office and work late.
“Yes, sir. We are departing.”
“...Go ahead.”
This aide had transferred from being a guard at the western prison to my driver. I wasn’t sure how he felt right now, but he would surely be very satisfied on payday.
I closed my eyes for a moment.
“—Sir. We have arrived.”
I must have fallen asleep.
He’s a good driver.
In any case, outside the window was Empire Point. The empire's finest knight academy, a cradle of knights where only imperial Aranians could enroll.
“Max!”
As soon as I got out of the car, Leon, who had arrived earlier, waved. Tiana was beside him.
I gave them a slight nod.
“...Hmph.”
I took a deep breath, grabbing a handful of red soil from the training ground.
“It’s been a while.”
“What are you talking about? We were all rolling around in this dirt just two years ago.”
Tiana shot back, but for me, it had been over a decade.
“Max, I didn't think you'd come. You hate this kind of stuff.”
Leon asked.
Today was an insignificant event where seniors who had joined the Sentinels would offer advice and help train the junior cadets. Just as the saying goes—If you ask of the empire's future, raise your head and look to Empire Point—it was more than enough reason for me, someone who must brighten that future, to be here.
“You never know.”
“What?”
“Another different species might be hiding here, too.”
The two of them let out a short, sharp laugh.
I looked up at the central building.
The curriculum at Empire Point was broadly divided into three stages. The middle school division for 3-4 years, the high school division for 2-3 years, and the elite division for 2 years.
Not many cadets endured the grueling 7-9 years of training, which included the possibility of being held back.
Only the top 30% of the graduating class were given the right to be commissioned as official knights, the top 10% could enter the knight orders in the imperial capital, and the Sentinels were the top 3%.
The dropouts who didn't make the 30% cut usually enlisted in the Imperial Guard or as officers in the military, or retook the knight exam indefinitely.
“Sirs. This way.”
A staff member from Empire Point guided us.
“The elite cadets are out on a field exercise right now.”
“Wow. They must be having a tough time. A field exercise in this weather?”
Tiana grinned.
“Haha. Yes. The high school cadets just finished their training, so please, go have a look.”
We headed down to the opposite training ground. Hundreds of high school cadets, drenched in sweat, were lined up in formation, facing us. They all wore rather tense expressions, likely having been briefed beforehand.
I was like that, too. I used to think Sentinel knights were some kind of incredible people.
“……”
I looked them over. There was no reaction from the Virus.
Then again, this was the heart of the empire. It was extremely difficult for anyone who wasn't an Aranian to even set foot here. To infiltrate, one would need a perfectly fabricated background.
From Izenheim's perspective, Jacob was a truly valuable asset.
It was a relief he wasn't as smart as he was valuable.
“Ahem~ Nice to meet you all. I am Tiana of the Sentinels. You’re all in the final stages of high school, and I’m sure you know things are only going to get tougher from here. That’s natural, so as long as you don’t give up, you’ll be fine.”
“I’m Leon. The only advice I have is… sorry. There’s nothing but ‘work hard.’ Instead, I’ll be here all day today. If you have any questions, feel free to come and ask.”
Tiana and Leon offered various words of encouragement.
“Alright, next up, Sir Maximilian Ebenholz?”
Leon pulled me forward. The cadets stared at me.
To them, the name Ebenholz was likely far more familiar than Maximilian.
“Focus your efforts on your conduct and your mindset. You are the future of the empire, and many people are watching you.”
I didn't have much to say.
As I turned around abruptly, the instructor shouted to the cadets.
“Everyone, a round of applause!”
Just as their short break ended and their training was about to resume, a male cadet caught my eye. It was the face I’d seen in a photograph.
I slowly walked toward him.
“...Hold on.”
I called out to one person, and the cadets around him all froze.
“...Yes?”
He looked at me, his face flustered as our eyes met.
“You must be Lukas.”
The boy’s shoulders flinched.
“Lukas Limperk.”
“Ah, y-yes. Yes, that’s me!”
Every eye in the training ground was now on him. Tiana and Leon, of course, but also the high school instructors and even some high-ranking officials from Empire Point who had appeared at some point.
“Uh, for what reason do you seek me…”
The son of Judge Klaus Limperk, Lukas Limperk.
He stood straight, facing me with a fearful expression.
“I know your father well.”
I had looked up Lukas's records beforehand; they were excellent. He had straight A's in all subjects. His grades were competitive enough even among the elites, but for that very reason, he was the kind of person who would draw checks from others.
Even among nobles, if your family's influence is weak, you cannot enter the Sentinels.
“He is a man worthy of respect.”
“Th-th-thank you… thank you!”
Since I had received help from Judge Klaus, I intended to return the favor.
“Continue to strive just as you are now.”
Thwack. I reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. Lukas’s eyes widened as if they would pop out, and the other cadets wore looks of utter shock.
The heir of Ebenholz personally calling you out and showing familiarity. This was a clearly intentional political act.
“If you don't lose your drive, we’ll see each other in a high place in two years.”
“Y-Yes! I will do my utmost!”
I needed a faction now, too, and someone like Lukas wasn't a bad choice.
Instead.
I whispered softly in his ear.
—Stop attending that strange reading circle that's worrying your father. And your career is taking flight thanks to your father's sacrifice.
“……”
Lukas's expression hardened for a moment. As I pulled away from his ear, I smiled again and said,
“I’m telling you to work harder.”
“...Sir Maximilian.”
At that moment, the Cadet Corps Commander of Empire Point approached.
His rank was Brigadier General. His name was Dane Rascal. A middle-aged man with a thick black beard, a typical native of the North.
“May I have a word?”
He requested a private conversation in a very serious tone.
“Yes. Of course.”
“Good. This way.”
Then as now, his voice and demeanor were that of a stern soldier. I followed him as he led the way. I could feel the gazes of countless cadets on my back.
Whether Judge Klaus wanted it or not, his son Lukas had just gained me as his backer.
Author's Note
I am always grateful to the readers who take the time to read my lacking work