I had demanded an Elder’s seat, but not one of the senior positions that commanded true power.
Sworn Elder. This was a title reserved for outsiders—those without blood ties to the family or distinguished service to House Praha. The position answered to the family head directly, bypassing the High Elder’s authority entirely.
Perhaps due to its peculiar nature, no one had ever held such a position. The reason was simple enough: Sworn Elders were barred from participating in council meetings. They were Elders in name only, powerless figureheads.
Lin Praha seemed to recognize this limitation. “Will that truly suffice? You won’t accomplish much as a Sworn Elder.”
“That’s where the other Elders come in.”
“Other Elders?” Her brow furrowed.
I met her gaze steadily. “The ones who would betray anyone to survive.”
Understanding dawned in her eyes. “You mean the imprisoned Elders.”
“Precisely.”
They believed the High Elder would protect them. Give it time, and they would realize the truth—that they were already dead men walking. That’s when I would extend my hand.
Follow me, and live.
Since they would remain under my authority regardless, they couldn’t betray me. A perfect arrangement.
Throw desperate men a few scraps, and they’ll stake their lives on it. Humans with clear desires are the easiest to manipulate, and I had mastered that particular art long ago.
Lin Praha’s laugh held no humor. “You think that will work?”
“I’ll make it work.”
My conviction must have shown, because she studied me for a long moment before shaking her head with a rueful smile. “You’ll handle it well enough, I’m sure. Fine, do as you please. I’ll provide support, at least.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I’m the one who’s grateful here.”
She swept her crimson hair back and rose from her chair. “You’ll be appointed within the week. Rest until then.”
Rest was a luxury I couldn’t afford. I’d already spent several days idle since returning, and time was running short.
The High Elder hunt remained unfinished, and House Artezia still threatened the North. I wouldn’t rest until everything was resolved.
I stood as well. “I’ll take my leave. I need to visit the Elders.”
“Go ahead.” She paused at the door. “You never told me how you plan to catch the High Elder. What’s your method?”
I allowed myself a small smile. “It’s a secret. One that only works if no one knows.”
“…What?” Her expression turned incredulous, but some things couldn’t be revealed. My method involved the Emperor himself—speak of it directly, and my head would roll.
Instead, I projected confidence. “Just watch. Soon, the High Elder will vanish from the North forever.”
* * *
After exchanging a few more words with Lin Praha, I left her office. Fatigue weighed on my shoulders, but I couldn’t retreat to my quarters. Not yet.
The underground prison awaited.
The knights guarding the entrance snapped to attention as I approached. I acknowledged their salute with a casual wave.
“Here to see the prisoners, sir?”
“I am.”
“I’ll escort you.”
A senior knight opened the heavy door and led me inside. Darkness swallowed us, broken only by the crackling torch in his hand.
“Careful, sir. The floor’s slick.”
His courtesy surprised me. I’d grown accustomed to hostility from the Praha knights, save for my own unit.
“You don’t seem to despise me,” I said.
“I did, initially.”
“But not anymore?”
“No, sir. Now you’re someone I’d like to emulate.” His matter-of-fact tone suggested honesty.
“Why?”
“Because you serve the North.”
Me? I glanced at him with genuine confusion.
He chuckled softly. “I’ve watched you train, sir. Even when others mocked you, you worked in silence. Diligently.”
He saw that…?
Heat touched my cheeks, and I deliberately looked away.
“I’ve been observing since then,” he continued. “Calling you ‘amazing’ doesn’t begin to cover it. You’ve helped the family financially and resolved the corrupt Elder council. These achievements strain belief.”
“…You don’t remember that I killed your colleagues?”
“Did they deserve better? Knights who abandoned honor from the start deserved death.”
His bluntness startled me. Such integrity was rare in House Praha. Had I known earlier, I would have recruited him immediately.
“…Are you interested in the Special Taskforce?”
“Hmm. I am, but acceptance would be difficult.”
“Why’s that?”
“I lack talent.” Self-deprecation colored his laugh.
We’d reached the prison. The knight bowed before speaking. “I’ll wait at the entrance. Take your time, and... thank you for the offer.”
“…I should be thanking you.”
He bowed again, handed me the torch, and took his post. I watched him go, sighing softly at the word that lingered: talent.
Every knight confronted that word eventually. Getting him into my unit wouldn’t be difficult. If a coachman could join, why not a senior knight? He had experience to offer.
The problem was survival. Without talent, preserving one’s life in my unit proved nearly impossible.
Lancelot, Kai, even Roxen—all possessed exceptional abilities. The coachman had versatility, which was why I kept him around, though I ordered him to hide during battles.
But telling a knight to hide was an insult to everything they stood for. The irony wasn’t lost on me.
I sighed again and pressed forward.
The torch flame danced, casting shifting shadows on the prison walls. The size of the place was modest—perhaps thirty cells at most. The Elders I sought occupied the deepest section.
My footsteps echoed in the oppressive silence until I stopped before the final cell.
“What...?” One Elder spotted me and widened his eyes. “You’re… that Berg whelp?”
“Whelp… That’s hardly appropriate when you were captured by yours truly.”
“We weren’t captured because of you, but because of that monster woman, the Acting Head—!”
“My, my. An old man’s excuses are unseemly indeed. Must I continue listening?”
His face cycled through shades of red and purple with rage. “You little braaat!”
Impressive lung capacity. I studied his face, trying to place him. Some insignificant Elder—probably the Eighth, though it hardly mattered. He was senior enough for my purposes.
“I’ll kill you right now—!”
“I’ll save you.”
“...What?”
The words struck him like a physical blow. The anger drained from his features, replaced by confusion.
“Are you mocking me?”
He knew the truth, even if he wouldn’t admit it. The High Elder had abandoned them. His hysteria was born from that knowledge.
I looked down at him through the iron bars. Once, he’d been steeped in expensive perfumes—now, he couldn’t even wash. How bitter that must feel.
“You’ve grown quite filthy. Unbecoming of your dignity.”
Silence.
“Don’t you miss your usual luxuries? Warm baths with fragrant oils?”
The sound of swallowing echoed from multiple cells. The Elder before me said nothing, biting his lips and staring at the floor.
“I’ve discussed everything with the Acting Head. She’ll allow me to save you all, if I choose. What do you want to do?”
The surrounding Elders watched with hungry eyes. Under their collective gaze, the Elder forced out a defiant response.
“The High Elder will save us.”
“Stop the poor acting. You know he doesn’t care about you. The High Elder might even prefer your deaths.”
Fewer unknowns that way.
Ironically, I was the one who wanted them alive. Based on the evidence, only the Seventh Elder had attempted to kill me directly. No need for revenge against the rest.
Rather, they would serve as excellent leverage against the High Elder.
“What do you want?” The Elder’s voice cracked. Though suspicious, he couldn’t easily refuse.
“What I want...” I kept my expression neutral. “Follow me. Help me become the new High Elder. Join my faction.”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
“It will be possible. Because that’s your only path to survival.”
I stepped closer and gripped the bars. Aura flowed into my hands, and the iron groaned under the pressure.
Creak.
The metal bent slightly.
I channeled every ounce of my Aura into that single point, creating the illusion of Master-level strength despite being only an Expert. The deception required tremendous control—a technique only I could perform in this world.
“What is this!” The Elders recoiled in shock.
To them, I appeared as a hidden dragon, a monster restraining its true power.
“The High Elder will die. And I will be the next High Elder.”
Silence stretched between us.
“Will you follow me?”
There was a pause.
“...We will follow.” The Elders bowed their heads in unison.
And just like that, the senior Elders came under my command.