#1131 Setback and Comeback 

I’m standing in the Human Kingdom’s government office, completely at a loss. 
Because all of a sudden, Ritheseus here is trying to hand over the entire country to me! 

Hang on a second, Ritheseus! 
Weren’t you the one who’s been leading this country all along? 

You can’t just ditch it halfway! 

“But I’ve come to realize something precisely because I’ve been trying so hard. I… well, I don’t have nearly enough skill or experience to shoulder this kingdom on my own. Now that you, Lord Saint, have stepped into the public eye, I want to entrust everything to you!” 

Easy for him to say… 

“But remember how, when we first needed to pick a ruler, you were also a candidate, Lord Saint? Back then, you shot it down because you were in hiding. But now you’ve come out to lead the Farm Kingdom, so why not just take the Human Kingdom, too?” 

Why not?!  

Let’s calm down for a second, Ritheseus. 
Sure, I’ve gone public and become a known figure, but only so I can build this farmland nation! 

I’m already set to be the ruler of one country. I can’t manage a second!  
That’s like already having one wife, then deciding to pick up another on a whim! 

“Don’t worry! Someone of your caliber could easily handle two countries at once, Lord Saint! And you know how high-ranking nobles can legally keep multiple wives in the Human Kingdom? Same idea here; it’s all okay!” 

It’s totally not okay! 

Ritheseus! You sound like you’re sick of being the ruler, yet you’re pushing it onto me with all the persuasive force of a seasoned politician!  
Honestly, it shows you’ve got a real knack for governance after all! 

“Well then, how about the Human Kingdom just merges with the Farm Kingdom? We’d all be under your capable leadership, Lord Saint, and the people would no doubt be happier for it! Please, I beg you, just say yes!” 

Ritheseus practically knocks his forehead against the floor as he bows. 

Now I’m in a real pickle.  
I came into the public eye to launch the Farm Kingdom, and it never occurred to me I’d get blindsided by something like this. 

Still, Ritheseus has done the best he could up until now; he’s achieved real results.  
But he’s also probably been running on fumes. 

Looking back, when Ritheseus was made leader, there were plenty of older people who should have been in line before him. But one by one, they all refused on the grounds that it was “too much hassle,” and so the youngest candidate got stuck with the job by default. 

For that matter, I was one of those older folks who ran off because it sounded like too much trouble, too. 

So poor Ritheseus ended up steering the ship through the wild, backstabbing seas of Human Kingdom politics.  
His life must have been a whirlwind, especially since everyone around him likely did nothing but try to trip him up.  
In some ways, he had an even harder time than folks like the Demon King or Arowana, who were basically born for the throne and had all the resources they needed from the start. 

He’s probably at his limit now.  
The fact that I didn’t notice he was this worn-down before really makes me feel bad. 

But even then, I’m not about to say, “Sure, I’ll take the throne off your hands!” 

Why not? Well, I’m busy enough building the Farm Kingdom.  
Adding the Human Kingdom on top of that would be an absolute nightmare. 
It’s just way too much hassle. 
And I do not want more hassle in my life!!! 

“You can do this, Ritheseus! I know you can! Keep that resolve going!” 
“No! Now that you’re here, Lord Saint, I want nothing more than to pass it all onto you!” 

Quit trying to pass the buck! 

Look, is it really okay to let the people see you in such a pathetic state?  
If the people around us hear you griping about how you want to give up, the vultures just waiting to tear you down will have a field day! 

“I don’t care! Let them target you instead, Lord Saint!” 

That is exactly what I’m trying to avoid! 

Drats. I’m at a total loss for how to talk Ritheseus out of this… Until... 

“...What a pitiful display...!” 

Eek! 
Whose voice is that, echoing like it’s coming straight out of the underworld? 
Suddenly, the air turns frigid, and a dark miasma creeps in.  
A miasma… that means— 

"Sensei!!!” 
“And here I thought I’d check in on how my former student was getting along, only to find this sorry state of affairs. So this is how a kingdom’s leader speaks?” 

Sensei was the one who raised Ritheseus, among others, with great care.  

It’s only natural he’d drop by to see how he’s doing…  
But the timing couldn’t be worse. 

“If you truly don’t want the throne, then allow me to take it off your hands. How does that sound?” 

Huh? 

“Mind you, I have no interest in the details of ruling. Even if it became a tyranny that plunged the people into despair, it wouldn’t bother me one bit. I’d feel no responsibility whatsoever.” 

What is he talking about? 
That’s not like Sensei at all… he’s so cold right now! 

“Oh, right, having to do everything myself would be a pain. I’ll just let someone else handle it. Come forth—Summon.” 

Sensei waves his finger and casts a spell.  

Normally, when Sensei summons something, it’s some kind of deity. But this time, what appears is…  

A zombie?  
Actually, it’s something more powerful than a mere zombie. 

Ah, I remember now. This is the Earl Lifeless King, if I recall.  
He once caused trouble until Sensei subdued him and put him under a sealing spell. Now he only frees him when he needs him, using him like a handy lackey. 

The last time he popped up was during the adventurers’ promotion test on my farm, where he served as a brutally difficult final challenge. 

Sensei turns to him and says: 

“Earl Lifeless King. This kingdom is yours. Do whatever you like with it. Rule it, ravage it, I don’t care. 
“Wh-What?!” 

The person most surprised was the one who just got summoned, the Earl. 
Well, of course he’d be. 

“You are a being devoid of human compassion, are you not? Feel free to indulge in cruelty or cast the people into misery. You must know countless ways to torment them, do you not?” 
“What do you take me for?!” 

The poor Earl is protesting, and understandably so.  
He was just summoned out of nowhere, called all sorts of horrible names, and now told to wreak havoc on an entire country.  
Anyone would complain. 

Sensei ignores his cries of indignation and turns back to Ritheseus. 

“So what’s it going to be, Ritheseus? If you walk away from being ruler, this nation will enter a new dark age under the reign of a ruthless undead king. Are you really okay with that?” 
“I’m telling you, Sensei, I’m not—” 
“Then again, you’ve made it clear you couldn’t care less, haven’t you? You’re abandoning the throne, so why not just slip off to some remote hideaway while an undead king rampages? Sit back and watch as the people are toyed with by his malevolence. 
“...!” 

But a spark lights in Ritheseus’s eyes, and he suddenly lifts his head with renewed vigor. 

“No. Absolutely not. I only wanted Lord Saint to take over because I believed he would make people happy. But to hand my kingdom over to evil that can only bring suffering; I’d rather die!” 
“You say that, yet throwing it all away is the same thing in my eyes. If you beg to differ, then prove it with your strength! This is your kingdom, so defend it yourself!” 

Sensei’s words boom with commanding force. 

“Very well, Earl, I leave the rest to you.” 
“Wait, what?!” 
“Consider it Ritheseus’ final exam. If he can’t beat you, he’ll never be able to handle the scheming politicians trying to sink their claws into him. Go all out, and fight as though you truly mean to kill him. That will make for a proper trial.” 
“Gaaaaaaaaaaaah! You call me a cold-blooded undead king the moment I’m summoned out of the blue? Then demand I battle to the death? You bet I’ll fight! I’ll make you regret underestimating the power of a Lifeless King!!!” 

If anyone’s getting the short end of the stick, it’s definitely him… 

President Ritheseus vs. The Earl.  
There’s a faint vibe of “democracy versus feudalism” here, but I guess that just means the Earl might be a bit of a downgrade. 

But I see what Sensei’s really after. 

He’s trying to snap Ritheseus out of his funk by acting strict and forcing him to face a serious threat.  

Overcoming the Earl would give him the confidence boost he desperately needs. 

Go get ’em, Ritheseus!  
You really are the one who should be leading the Human Kingdom! 
I’m rooting for you! Knock that earl around and show everyone who’s boss! 

For my sake as well! 
Because, seriously, running two countries at once? No, thank you!!!