The next day, in my study, I listened to Don's report.
It concerned the Knight Selection.
Don briefed me on the procedures and testing criteria for the grand Knight Selection that was customarily held upon the accession of a new emperor.
Although the scale was far larger this time, the Knight Selection itself was an annual event.
The proposal Don had compiled was safe, solid, and utterly beyond reproach.
"Mm. The fundamentals are fine as they are."
"Is there something you would like to add?"
Reading between the lines of my words, Don asked for clarification.
I gave a quiet nod.
"I am slated to personally oversee the final stage of the selection, correct?"
"Yes. It serves to bestow Your Majesty's personal favor upon the knight candidates."
"In that case, let me review the top one hundred candidates alongside the bottom one hundred."
"I understand the top candidates, but... by the bottom, do you mean the lowest-scoring one hundred?"
"Yes."
I nodded firmly.
"May I ask why?"
"Talent is often eccentric."
"I see..."
"If we just do things normally, only conventional, cut-from-the-same-cloth people will rise to the top. That is why I want to see for myself those who failed utterly by ordinary standards."
"Understood."
"They say genius and madness are two sides of the same coin, but to ordinary folk, they look not like two sides of a coin, but total opposites. Besides..."
"Besides?"
Don wore a look that asked if there was still more.
"I have been involved in state affairs under the late Emperor for nearly ten years. I know full well that bribery runs fairly rampant in the standard Knight Selection."
"..."
Don bowed and said nothing.
In his position, he could neither confirm nor deny it.
Thus, his silence served as a tacit acknowledgment.
"Those who thoroughly detest bribery and possess the confidence to make it on their own merit are precisely the ones disliked by the examiners taking bribes, resulting in their scores being docked. That is why I want to see the bottom one hundred."
"I see... As expected of Your Majesty. You truly see beyond what others can."
With an expression of heartfelt admiration, Don bowed once more.
"Understood. As Your Majesty commands, I shall see to it that the top and bottom hundred candidates are put forward as the finalists."
"I am sure you already know, but keep our review of the lowest-ranking candidates strictly confidential."
"By your will."
Immediately after becoming Emperor, I had renovated the estate's study.
While my desk remained in the best spot, I had also set up a seat for Don near the entrance.
From there, Don would draft or prepare clean copies of imperial edicts based on my orders, and I would affix my seal afterward.
Watching Don draft the edict, I pondered further.
People are treasures, and they are potential.
Examining the bottom hundred was a gamble on that potential.
Was there anything else I could do?
I contemplated while sipping exquisite tea brewed from melted snow water.
I stared intently at Don.
I wanted more men like him; I wondered how I could find them.
"..."
"Please review this, Your Majesty... Your Majesty?"
Returning with the draft of the edict, Don looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"Hm?"
"Is there something on my face?"
"You were never a knight, were you?"
"No, Sire."
"I was thinking about how I might find more men like you who do not hail from a knightly background. Perhaps it would be more convenient to include them in the Knight Selection."
"Civil officials... in the Knight Selection?"
Don looked astonished.
My words seemed to have struck him as utterly shocking.
"Yes."
"That is... entirely unprecedented. In the first place, knights are—"
"I know. The Empire is a nation of warriors, where those skilled in martial arts are selected as knights—that is the purpose of the annual Knight Selection, is it not?"
"It is, Sire. For it is our tradition."
"The grand selection for a new emperor's accession is a tradition, yet it is also a special exception."
Aside from this selection, the regular annual selection would still be held once more within the year.
In other words, an entirely extra selection was added right after a new emperor took the throne.
"If it is a special exception, surely a little novelty poses no problem? Perhaps—yes, why not administer a test of sorts to scoop up scholars and civil talents?"
"However, would that not... Is the current way truly unsuitable?"
"..."
I gave a wry smile.
"Under the current system, promoting civil officials takes far too long. Does it not?"
Don nodded quietly.
"Unlike knights, young talent rarely emerges—especially young people with bold, free-thinking minds. By the time they catch my eye and are put to use, they are all just well-rounded, mellowed middle-aged men. I want them while they are still full of raw potential."
"...I see."
I thought for a moment.
I understood why Don raised objections.
However, I was the Emperor.
Even if it defied tradition, pushing through whatever one desired was precisely what being an Emperor was all about.
I had the power to arbitrarily triple all taxes starting tomorrow if I so chose; promoting scholars and civil officials was nothing compared to that.
"It is decided. Make it so that we can recruit civil talents as well. I want as much capable manpower as possible."
"By your will... Truly magnificent."
At my resolve, Don looked at me with a gaze burning with profound admiration.
☆
Selecting civil officials was unprecedented; hence, drafting the proposal would take time.
Having handed the task off to Don, I stepped out of the study so as not to disturb his train of thought.
I left the detached palace and entered the royal palace, accompanied by my trusted eunuch, Shirley Grands.
Along the path I walked, soldiers, court ladies, and eunuchs alike laid down whatever work was in their hands, kneeling and bowing their heads until I had passed.
Basking in the respect and awe befitting an Emperor, I arrived at the royal palace's treasury.
"Whoa... Amazing..."
Faced with the mountain of treasures, Shirley was filled with pure wonder.
"If you take a liking to something, would you like to take one?"
"Eeeh?! N-No! If I received something this incredible, I feel like my lifespan would be cut short!"
"How modest of you."
Smiling faintly, I casually strolled through the treasury.
The last time I came here was when Father bestowed Lutye—the current Bahamut—upon me.
Remembering that occasion, I came to see if there were any other treasures lying around.
Yes, treasures.
I wanted treasures like Leviathan or Bahamut that would boost my stats.
I was the Emperor.
Now, no one could object even if I took whatever I wanted.
And so, I walked around the treasury, searching for genuine treasures.
I gazed intently at the relics, picked them up, and checked if there was any change in the status display perpetually resting in the corner of my vision.
There was no fluctuation whatsoever.
Did that mean items on par with Lutye were simply not that easy to find...?
I picked up a small jewel box in front of me.
The lid had indentations meant to fit five jewels, but none were currently set inside.
It was visibly incomplete, so naturally, it wouldn't boost any stats. Just as I was about to put it back where it belonged—
"Huh?"
"What is it, Shirley?"
"Those indentations on the box... I saw jewels with that exact same shape just a moment ago."
Shirley stated "exact same" with utter certainty.
I was well aware of her remarkable memory.
"Where? Go fetch them."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Shirley retraced her steps, returning shortly after with hurried footsteps.
In her hand was a blue jewel.
I took it and compared it against the jewel box; just as Shirley had said, the jewel and indentation matched perfectly.
When I tried fitting it in, it snapped smoothly into place, as if drawn in by a magnetic pull.
"Well done, Shirley. I shall reward you later."
"Thank you very much!"
"Were there any others?"
"There were none."
Shirley answered definitively.
Gifted with an exceptional memory, she knew everything from the land prices around the Almeria estate to the details of this jewel.
If Shirley, who was always so attentive on my behalf, said so, then it was certain she hadn't seen any others yet.
"Then go look for them."
"Yes, Sire!"
Following my order, Shirley began searching.
I joined in as well, scouring the area to see if there was anything to fit the remaining four indentations.
"I found one, Your Majesty!"
Shirley soon located a red jewel and brought it over.
Taking it and setting it in, it snapped into the box with a perfect fit, just like the last one.
At this point, I grew increasingly convinced that all of them were here.
Shirley and I searched together for about an hour.
"Now they're all accounted for."
I fitted the final jewel into the treasure box.
Though it had originally possessed an air of refinement, once all the jewels were set in place, it took on an even more divine aura.
Now, as for any changes to my status—in the very next moment.
"Command us."
Bahamut's voice echoed in my mind.
I didn't know what to command, however.
"...Very well, do it."
I decided to leave it entirely to Bahamut, who never made pointless assertions.
The next instant, light burst forth from within the bracelet housing Bahamut's true form—the ring. Defying nature, the light bent midair and was drawn directly into the red jewel I had just slotted into the box.
The red jewel began to glow brightly enough to illuminate the entire treasury.
Then, from Leviathan, Behemoth, Huwawa, and Apophis, the exact same voices echoed one after another.
I issued the command once more: "Do it."
Beams of light leaped from the bracelet one after another, illuminating the slotted jewels one by one.
Before long, all five jewels were shining—and in the next instant, the lid of the box opened on its own, revealing a feather ornament resting inside.
"I have waited long for this."
A voice echoed inside my head.
And that was not all.
―――――――――――― Name: Noah Ararat Emperor of the Empire Gender: Male Level: 15 + 1 / ∞ HP: C+C | Fire: E+S MP: E+C | Water: C+SS Strength: C+S | Wind: E+C Stamina: D+C | Earth: E+C Intelligence: D+C | Light: E+B Spirit: E+C | Darkness: E+B Speed: E+C Dexterity: E+C Luck: E+C ――――――――――――
My Wind element's "+" had jumped up by two stages in an instant.