#1132 Confirmation of Trust 

Ritheseus vs. the Earl Lifeless King. 
Their fight is really heating up! 

“Special Attack! Immortal Spinning Slash!!!” 
“Gwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!” 

Taking advantage of a brief opening, Ritheseus unleashes a dramatic finishing blow that lands cleanly.  
The Earl absorbs the full impact and goes flying. 

“Impossible! I am the Earl Lifeless King! Even if I’m not on the same level as Sensei or the Professor, the fact that I’m a Lifeless King should create an insurmountable gap between me and any human! And yet...!” 
“Well, that was your big selling point, wasn’t it?” Sensei remarks, sounding utterly uninterested. 

Meanwhile, Ritheseus is in full-on victory mode. 

“Even if our races have some absolute difference in strength, my determination to protect the Human Kingdom makes me stronger! I won’t let you trample our nation underfoot!” 
“I never said I planned on trampling anything to begin with!” 
“Take this: my ultimate finishing strike: Presidential Sword of Ritheseus!” 
“Gwaaaaarghhblargh!!!” 

A tremendous burst of light erupts from Ritheseus’ sword, swallowing the Earl whole and erasing him without a trace. 

…In a way, he ended up being the biggest victim here, didn’t he? 

“Well, no worries. He’s still a Lifeless King, even if just a lesser one, so even if holy energy obliterates him, he’ll resurrect in a year or thirty.” 

That’s…quite a wide range. 

“But as a little treat for his efforts, I’ll share some of my miasma and revive him right away. So there’s even less to fret over.” 

From the Earl’s perspective, that might be more like hell.  
After getting beaten so thoroughly, he probably wants to sleep for a few years at least. Even if he does resurrect, being sealed away by Sensei remains his reality. 

“Now then, Ritheseus. How’d it feel to get your body moving again after so long? Has all the dark sludge in your gut been flushed out in a good sweat?” 
“………” 

Ritheseus is still catching his breath, in no state to answer.  

Even for the ancient hero Ritheseus, a Lifeless King is no joke. Beating one must’ve taken every ounce of strength he had. 

“If you just sit around letting your mind stew in clever schemes, your body ends up accumulating all sorts of nasty energies. Let them build up enough, and your heart grows bleak and your thoughts turn sour, just like you a little while ago.” 
“Sensei...” 
“Now… let me ask you again. Do you still intend to abandon your responsibilities? To run away from everything in front of you? Clear your mind of all distractions and think carefully.” 
“…………” 
“If your answer remains the same, so be it. Lord Saint here will welcome you with open arms, and I’m sure he’ll deal with all your unfinished tasks for you.” 

Hey, hold on! 
Could we not make these decisions without consulting me?! I suddenly feel exactly like the Earl did a second ago! 

I’m not agreeing to that! 
No matter what happens, I am not taking on a second kingdom to manage! 

“…No, I believe that dark mood of mine has lifted,” says Ritheseus, wiping the sweat from his brow. 

His expression looks a lot brighter now.  

“I was letting my doubts get the better of me. There’s still so much outdated baggage in this kingdom we have to cast off in order to make it wealthier, a place where everyone has an equal shot at success. And yet, whatever I do, I face constant complaints, baseless accusations, and bureaucrats from the old regime trying to block every reform…!” 

He’s starting to sound like he’s venting a bit. 

“They’ll act hostile one moment, then cozy up to me the next, trying to drag me down their corrupt path. If I refuse, they label me an enemy and try to shut me down completely. They’ll twist even the smallest issue into some scandalous misreading, vilifying me like I’m some monstrous criminal…!” 
“Surrounded by that, it’s no wonder your bright young spirit got worn to the bone. Fighting on your own must’ve been tough indeed…” Sensei says gently. 

He’s really hogging all the comforting lines. 

“How sad that this kingdom’s upper echelon still overflows with such rotten-hearted individuals. So my little sermon from the other day wasn’t enough to set them straight, hm?” 

His keen gaze sweeps the room.  
Being the mightiest of the Lifeless Kings, even a brief glance from him can freeze someone in their tracks. But if you’ve got a guilty conscience, it’s doubly terrifying. 

“Then again, the top tier of the Human Kingdom has been a foul nest for hundreds of years. Even after the regime changed, no matter how many times we cleaned house, the dust never fully cleared. That means the scoundrels are layered thick…” 
“And we just recently had that fellow Lawajiputa show up, too…”  

So Ritheseus, still so young, has been fighting these crafty old foxes all on his own?  
I admire him, but I also absolutely never want to be in his shoes. 

I’m relieved I didn’t ride that wave and become president myself back then, and I’ll reject any attempt to hand me the role in the future, too. 

“But maybe now that those dusty corners have witnessed what just happened, they’ve changed their tune,” says Sensei. “Ritheseus fought one-on-one against a Lifeless King—a threat so devastating it’s called one of the World’s Two Great Calamities—and he won. Anyone who wrote him off as just some inexperienced kid is going to regret that.” 

Well, yeah. The World’s Two Great Calamities are basically unstoppable forces of nature to humans.  

We’re talking dragons and Lifeless Kings, both so lethal that mere humans who encounter them typically brace for death.  
Maybe an elite S-rank adventurer could just barely escape, but defeating one head-on with personal strength alone is unheard of. 

“Those who festering in palace luxury and wrote Ritheseus off as a nobody will now have to realize just how monumental this feat was,” Sensei continues. 

He’s surprisingly blunt with his words.  

Some in the audience seem to flinch and avert their eyes. 

“Ritheseus might still be young for a head of state, but nobody on this earth can match his power to overcome the Two Great Calamities. If those drifting in this cozy environment still have even a shred of common sense, they should start grasping how scary it would be to make him an enemy.” 

If Ritheseus wanted to, he could crush everything with sheer force. 
An entire army of thousands wouldn’t stand a chance against a single swing of his blade.  

He could assassinate anyone who opposes him, kill off anyone who complains, and become a total dictator in no time. 
So why didn’t he do it, despite all the mental stress from dealing with cunning schemers? 

Because if you want a law-abiding nation, you have to respect due process.  
Equal rights and peaceful living call for a functional legal system. 

To uphold that law, Ritheseus has forced himself to endure a lot. I hope these old vipers finally understand that now! 

“Let it sink in that your very existence is permitted only by one man’s generosity. If that patience wears thin, he could wipe you out in an instant. And remember: nobody has an infinite supply of mercy.” 

Several people shudder.  
They’re probably picturing Ritheseus blowing them to bits with a flick of his finger. 

“And there are at least two others here who wield power comparable to his, along with a similarly finite well of tolerance,” Sensei adds, casting another glance around. 

Two? He means himself and…me?! 

“And now Lord Saint here has risen to lead a new kingdom. You’d best come to grips with that, from the surface level right down to your core. Do so, and maybe you’ll keep your positions, your fortunes, and live a peaceful life to the end.” 

Sensei... 

Dragging Ritheseus into a big brawl wasn’t just about snapping him out of his funk; it was also a scare tactic against the leeches dragging him down.  

A single move, multiple aims—truly a master strategist! 

“With this, Ritheseus should be able to move his policies forward a bit more freely. Glad to be of service.” 

Honestly, we should’ve been supporting him more proactively to begin with; letting him shoulder everything alone isn’t right.  

We need to step up our game, aim for a better Human Kingdom, and strengthen ties with our new Farm Kingdom! 

…Although Sensei did steal all the spotlight here. 

Anyway, let it be known that Ritheseus is backed by me, the Saint, and by Sensei of the Lifeless Kings.  
Don’t forget it! If you stir up trouble or try to sabotage him with lies, you’ll have us to answer to!!! 

Right on cue, a high-ranking official in the crowd approaches us, wearing a polite, fawning smile. 

“My heart trembled at the magnificence of the Saint and Lord Ritheseus. From now on, I truly intend to serve you both with honesty and devotion.” 

Oh? Is that right? 

“In that spirit, I have a small token of my esteem, though it’s nothing special…” 

Well, how polite.  

A box of sweets, maybe? This kind of gift is typically within normal bounds. Nothing suspicious here… 

… 

Of course there’s a stash of gold coins hidden at the bottom of the box!  
A bribe, seriously?! 

They haven’t learned a thing. What a hopeless bunch!