Ding, ding, ding.

　In the backyard of the palace of the Lemurian Empire, a high-pitched metallic sound echoed.
　A boy with black hair and a girl with fiery red hair were fiercely clashing their swords over and over again.

　Red and black intersected again and again.
　And ......

　Ding!

　The black-haired boy's sword flies through the air.
　It spun around and fell to the ground.

　The boy raises his hands.

　"Well, well, well. You're no match for Karolina. As expected of General Galfis' daughter. One of the ten knights of the empire at fourteen. I'm no match for her.
　No, I fought with all my might. ...... So you can fight with a sword, too?

　Karolina praised Hercule.
　In the event that you've got a lot of time, you may want to take a look at the following.

　You are skilled not only in swordsmanship, but also in bodywork, archery, horsemanship, and spearmanship.
　"Because I was taught. If you have a good teacher and enough time, you can be confident that you will be able to master anything as well as anyone else. I'm confident that with time and a good teacher, I can be as good or better at anything. ...... Well, I can be top-notch, but I'll never be top-notch like you.

　Hercule shrugged his shoulders.
　I can do everything better than most people, but I can never reach the level of a superhuman.

　That's my limit.
　That's what he thought of his own athletic ability.

　"Karolina, you've been slacking with your weapons.

　Hercule picks up his sword.
　Her sword was made of iron, and the blade had been crushed into a circle.

　Karolina's sword is rounded as well.
　It was for safety.

　If you really want to be safe, you should use a wooden sword, but then you can't handle the weight of iron.
　Well, you don't have to worry too much because the Elves are stronger than other races and will not die so easily.

　You can easily defeat me if you use your magic and the spirits you have contracted.
　"You didn't use your own spirit, did you?

　Witchcraft.
　Magic.
　Spiritualism.

　These are the three main abilities that the elves can use.

　Sorcery is a kind of "learning" to read the reason of the world and to interfere in the world.
　As such, it involves philosophical, religious, and natural scientific elements.

　It is said that while a sorcerer makes a fireball and scorches the enemy's armor a little, an archer with a longbow shoots and kills five of them.
　It has been said.

　And it can be easily counteracted or cancelled out in various ways.

　Magic is not a technology used in battle.
　It is very useful in medicine, manufacturing, construction, and siege.

　Magic is very similar to sorcery, but very different.
　Magic is much more powerful than sorcery and can be used in battle. 　

　However, things like fireballs and RPGs are the exclusive domain of sorcery and the spirit arts described below.

　The difference between magic and sorcery is that they cannot be learned.
　Magic can be learned by effort, but magic cannot be learned by effort.

　It can be acquired congenitally, or it can be acquired suddenly by an experience.
　And the number of people who possess it is limited to begin with.

　This is its greatest characteristic.

　Magic can be classified into three types.

　The first is inherent magic. The first is inherent magic, which you are born with.

　The most famous example is Carolina's "Divine Speed" spell.
　As the name suggests, it can increase the speed of your body several times.

　The second is bloodline magic. The second is bloodline magic, which is inherited by the bloodline.
　A typical example is "My Sword is for the Emperor," which is possessed by the Galleanos family, namely Karolina and Galfis.

　It is a spell that increases physical ability when one possesses a weapon.
　By the way, even if you use a spear or a bow, your physical ability will increase without any problem.
　Spoons and forks are also fine, as long as the user can recognize them as weapons.

　The third is inherited magic. This is a spell that is passed on from person to person by transferring it to a designated person.
　Unlike bloodline spells and inherited spells, there is only one type of inherited spell in the world.

　A typical example is the Imperator, a spell possessed by Hercule.
　This is a hereditary spell passed down from generation to generation by the Emperor of Lemuria, and is a sign of succession to the throne.

　The effect is to give a psychological advantage to the Elves.
　The effect is a psychological advantage over the elves.

　The elves will have a hard time refusing the orders of the emperor who has this "Imperator".
　Of course, if they really don't want to, they can refuse, and if they hate him, they can assassinate him.

　Even so, the psychological hurdle is raised considerably.
　It is thanks to this power that there was little opposition from the nobility of the Elves during Hercule's financial reform.

　Spiritualism is the art of making a contract with a spirit and using the power of the spirit.
　It is also known as the art of demon contracting.
　The Lemurian Empire developed through the use of this art.
　Unlike magic, it can be used by anyone who makes a contract with a spirit, and unlike sorcery, it does not require troublesome calculations or chanting.

　The only drawback is that you have to make a contract.
　The content of this contract varies from person to person, but the most common is magic power.



　Therefore, sorcery is more fuel efficient for the same phenomenon.

　Most of the elves have made a contract with spirits and can use spirit magic.
　However, most of them are low-level spirits and can only create light winds.

　This may sound useless, but ......
　Even a gentle breeze can become a gust of wind if 10,000 spiritists get together.

　If you use that gust of wind to send arrows flying, or if you ride into battle with the wind at your back, you can be a great military asset.
　For this reason, they are very useful.
　It is also useful in predicting the weather to some extent, and in farming and fishing.
　Thanks to the power of this magic, Lemuria has become a great nation.

　My magic is simply 'physical enhancement'. It's nothing compared to your magic. Spirits aren't good at fighting either.

　Hercule shrugged.
　There are different levels of magic with the same effect.
　Hercule's "physical enhancement" is a very common and mundane spell.
　In the event that you have any questions regarding where and the best way to get in touch with us, please do not hesitate to contact us.

　But ......
　"That's good. You're strong. You can protect me, right?　It's better if I don't have to be strong in the first place.

　Then Hercule pressed his lips to Karolina's cheek.
　Karolina blushed at the surprise.

　"Here, give it back to me.　
　"Oh, please don't make fun of me.

　She kissed Hercule on the cheek.






　It's peaceful. ......
　Your ...... Majesty, don't you have things to do?
　I don't know.

　Hercule used Carolina's lap as a pillow while he read for pleasure.
　Recently, Hercule had been lounging on Karolina's lap almost every day.

　Karolina stroked Hercule's hair with a troubled but not satisfied look on her face, and followed Hercule's example by reading, which she usually did not do.

　This was their daily routine these days.
　However, the sweet atmosphere between the two men was interrupted by two men.

　"Your Majesty!

　One of them is General Galfis Galleanos. He is the father of Karolina, and a great general of the Lemurian Empire's army.
　The other is General Christos Auguste. General Christos Auguste, Hercule's uncle and a general in the Lemurian Navy.

　The two went to Hercule first, kneeling down and saying.

　"Your Majesty, could you please expand our military?
　"Your Majesty, we need your advice on military spending.

　They both said the same thing at the same time and glared at each other.

　"Carolina, I'm afraid of my relatives.
　"Good.

　Carolina smiled and patted Hercule's head.
　Karolina patted Hercule's head with a smile and said to him.

　"Your Majesty, isn't national defense an important duty for an emperor?
　"Well, ...... if you insist.

　Hercule got up with a sigh and said while fixing his hair.

　Well, last year we spent much of our increased income on public works ...... while this year we planned to allocate it to military spending and expand our military.

　Hercule spent much of his increased income on flood control and irrigation, repairing bridges and military roads, and building aqueducts and sanitation.
　He had to make the nation strong enough to withstand a military expansion.

　However, without a strong army, we cannot win against foreign enemies.
　The barbarians of this world ignore peace treaties and invade and plunder without hesitation, so no matter how much effort is put into internal affairs, if the army is weak, it will be ravaged and there will be no point.

　The current Lemurian army is weak.
　Hadrian III was defeated in a series of battles, but this was due in part to his lack of military talent, but more importantly to the weakness of his army.

　Therefore, the army had to be reorganized anew.
　As well as financial reform.

　But ......

　Hmmm, this is too much work. ...... I don't feel like doing it.
　"Then ......

　Karolina said, blushing a little.

　When the army is strong, I'll do anything for you.

　All right!　Christos!　Galfis!　Bring me the documents!

　He's a simple man.