I Became the Master of the Empress

78 – Episode 78

Late at night.

Five people wearing black clothes and suspicious-looking masks are gathered in the VIP room on the fourth floor at the western edge of the imperial palace.

“Now… Go up to the roof… The fourth window on the east front is the Emperor’s bedroom, and the third window on the back is Princess Joy’s room. Alpha quickly assassinates the emperor, and Beta uses her medicine to kidnap the princess and bring her to her stable.”

When the man in the center said that, everyone nodded as if they understood.

And soon I approached the window…

Gently open the door and use the hook to hang it on the roof.

-Crackling…

And then they begin to climb up to the roof one by one with skillful body movements.

As the last person goes up to the roof of the imperial palace with a small sound, the suspicious people who have already climbed onto the roof lower themselves as much as possible and carefully move to the roof.

***

“Whoa… There’s a lot to do.”

From yesterday to tomorrow, there are three days of public holidays for the New Year.

A day off for all public officials and most chambers of commerce and companies.

Even restaurants are closed during this period, but I am looking at data on investment in fertilizer production in my office until late at night.

The worst-performing national industry among those I have touched recently.

In a way, you could say it’s my sore finger.

-Sreuk…

[Currently, we have succeeded in cooling the air to -200℃, but it is still difficult to separate high-purity nitrogen, a key element, from the air.]

[Currently, research is underway to separate liquefied air with high purity in a short period of time as it is difficult to store at room temperature.]

At least these two lines are the result of a huge amount of gold coins being used.

At best… It’s absurd to think that they spent so much gold for this, but I can’t help it.

It’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing we can do. Because it wasn’t a short-term project to begin with.

Thinking like that, I take out the papers I had prepared to read during this holiday.

In the past, the professors at the academy did not think well of me and excluded important papers, which caused me trouble. This time, I look through the papers I brought under Theodora’s name.

-Experiment after adding various substances to iron.

Is this a paper related to steel?

It is possible to easily make good steel in the modern era, but it is not yet possible to make modern-day steel here.

No… Is it possible to make steel by modern standards in the first place?

It’s not something useful right now, but let’s keep this in mind first.

-About new power sources other than magic stones and dragon hearts.

I take a quick look at the interesting paper title.

Here, various artifacts are created using magic circuits.

However, magic stones are mainly used to operate the magic circuit. Magic stones must be replenished periodically, and the wavelengths emitted by magic stones are not good for the human body, so it costs a lot.

I know that Dragon Heart, which is said to contain a huge amount of mana, is so rare that it is difficult to commercialize it.

Well… It is a rare but actually existing item.

According to legend, it is said to be the power source of the protective magic of the triple wall and the imperial palace.

Anyway, my heart flutters when I read that you can move a huge machine by boiling water and using the power of steam to turn a turbine.

“Is it a steam engine?”

My heart was pounding, so I read it quickly and sighed.

“It’s too basic.”

The idea came from seeing an unusual device discovered in an ancient temple.

In summary, the paper states that when the sacred flame at the entrance to the temple is lit, water boils in the internal device, opening the temple door, and that using it, a mill can be built even in areas where there is no weather or wind.

Should I call this a thesis? It’s too poor to be called a thesis, right?

As if the idea was drawn as a sketch, all you have to do is put wood in it, boil a large pot, and a narrow pipe at the end turns a turbine.

“Well… Let’s take care of this first.”

Let’s go through it a few times, grab some decent papers, and leave the office…

“Huh? “Your Highness?”

I say to the guard who is surprised to see me, as if asking what’s wrong with me.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“Well… I was surprised that you were only here recently. Are you going to the bedroom today?”

I nod my head and say those words.

“That’s right. “I didn’t go in too long and my wife started nagging me.”

The guard quietly smiles and nods at my words.

“hahahaha, His Majesty’s nagging… I want to hear it too.”

I wave my hand at the guard who is acting like an idiot.

“If you get married, you’ll never hear anything like that.”

And even more so if your wife tries to kill you.

After exchanging a few more words, we head to the newlyweds’ room.

-Kkiik!

Let’s open the door to the newlywed room and enter. Theodora is seen reading a book.

“Huh? “Are you here?”

She is surprised to see me come and I nod her head.

“Yes.”

With that said, he lies down on the sofa and takes out the thesis he brought with him.

“Really… this happens again as soon as you get to the room?”

I say this to her as she shakes her head as if she is tired of my behavior.

“I should find something to develop the empire during public holidays.”

I don’t have time to leisurely read papers on weekdays because I’m running government affairs… If I don’t read the papers at times like this, when will I be able to read them?

Let’s take out the thesis like that. Theodora gets out of bed.

“Everyone else is resting. “Do you really have to work like that?”

While saying that, she sits down next to me and frowns as she holds up one of her papers.

“What about a new power source other than the magic stone or dragon heart?”

And soon, after reading more than a few chapters…

“This person would have succeeded as an artist rather than a thesis.”

“I agree too.”

He said that and turned over the paper.

Steel.

One of the important indicators of modern industry is steel.

I heard that there was a time when the ability to produce large quantities of high-quality iron indicated the power of a nation.

So, it would be a lie to say that I wasn’t fascinated by this topic.

The introduction to the first chapter talks about aluminum.

Surprisingly, aluminum is three times more expensive than gold of the same weight here.

It is difficult to obtain high purity aluminum in the natural world, so you have to go through a complicated process to obtain high purity aluminum, or something…

I don’t know the details, but the imperial palace prefers gold because of its symbolism, but great nobles make tableware and bowls with aluminum, which is reputed to be a more expensive and luxurious metal.

Well… It feels rather simple by my standards…

“What is that about?”

He seems curious about the paper I am reading, so he reads the page I am currently reading.

“That is, when smelting iron. There is a clear difference in strength depending on the origin of iron ore…”

Theodora then looks tired.

“You… You really don’t know anything. Do you understand what I mean?”

I nod my head at those words.

“Yes, depending on the iron ore, the strength may be weak even if smelted in the same way.”

With modern technology, we know that high-quality steel can be produced by adding a certain amount of carbon to pure iron, but is it really possible to produce pure iron here?

Because it is probably not pure iron but iron mixed with impurities, I think there is bound to be a big difference if tested precisely in a laboratory even if the method is the same.

“There really is nothing you don’t know. Still, I take it easy. “You had a nosebleed last time, right?”

At that time…

-Clink…

I hear a dull sound of something breaking in a place where the curtains are closed, and when I look there, the curtains are quickly pulled back and two strange men appear holding daggers and swords.

“Kyaaah!?”

“Who are you!”

I quickly stand up and throw the light ball at them.

-Kwasik!

I hear the sound of something breaking, but before I have time to check it, I grab Theodora’s wrist and lead her to the wall.

He speaks while looking at the assailant while holding the long sword decorated on the wall.

“Who sent it?”

Usually, decorative weapons use blunt blades, but it was a good idea to equip them with blades in case of an assassin.

At that moment…

-aaah! Sa… Please save me!

I hear Joy’s voice coming from far away, and cold sweat flows from my head.

Damn it… I never thought they would attempt assassination so boldly.

“Grand Duke… If you hand over the emperor obediently, I will quietly step down.”

“You’re being damned. Do you think I’ll hand Theodora over to you?”

As I say that, I hide Theodora behind my back and get lost in thought.

These may be the ones sent by Ioannes.

Damn it… What should I do?

I don’t know exactly what their skills are.

There is a high possibility that he is a skill level similar to mine.

Then 2 to 1 is at a disadvantage…

That moment.

They rush at me.

When I tried to stab the guy in front with my sword, he raised his sword to block my attack…

Aiming at me with the dagger in my left hand…

-Puck!

Kicking the man’s vital area with his foot to aim for it.

“Uh…”

Then, as the slender assassin threw a dagger at Theodora behind me,

-Ting!

He hurriedly swings his sword and strikes away the dagger.

At that moment, the guy who fell awkwardly aimed at my leg with a dagger and cut off his arm with the sword…

-Snip!

As I cut him down, the assassin throws his sword at me.

-Chang!

As soon as he hits it, the assassin quickly pulls out several daggers from his waist.

Damn… Long range is a disadvantage.

When I think like that. The assassin begins throwing several daggers at once.

It is impossible to stop all of that.

I quickly turn around and hug Theodora.

When looking at my face, red eyes tremble as if afraid and a stiff face.

Really… She’s a beautiful woman.

She thinks like that and I try to make her smile.

– Pow!, Pow!, Pow!

“Ugh!”

A scream escapes from my mouth due to the intense pain I feel from my back.