As time passed, word spread that I had wielded the holy sword to slay the dangerous serpent threatening my father, the former king, and had cut down the lion that barred the road back to the kingdom. With these feats, the support for my rule only grew stronger.
Driven by those expectations, and desiring to make the land a peaceful place for all, the first thing I did upon ascending the throne was to reform the domestic administration.
I constructed roads in the areas most frequented by the people and restructured the treasury to ensure that funds no longer leaked into useless ventures.
I even drafted new tactical manuals for the military, but...
“To be honest, whether inside the kingdom or beyond its borders, everything is in chaos. There are far too many things that need fixing—like the way people think it’s perfectly natural to abduct a woman they fancy and force her into marriage...”
Observing the state of not only Eirene but other nations as well, I found myself deeply troubled.
“It is truly strange that the world continues to turn despite such conditions.”
“So, what do you intend to do, my dear disciple?”
As I dwelled on these thoughts, Hecate approached me. She was the goddess who had provided me with guidance not only in magecraft but in a vast array of other disciplines.
“...I cannot change everything overnight. I am a greedy human being as well, so taking care of my own people is my priority. Therefore... I intend to establish a formal code of law for the kingdom. I will legally forbid murder, plunder, and fraud, and begin transforming my country from there.”
“...And will your retainers accept this? If handled poorly, they may find themselves on the receiving end of those laws.”
“The law must be equal for everyone. I was taught that the higher one's station, the greater their responsibility to care for those beneath them. Thus, the law shall be something that neither the commoners nor the king himself can refuse. If even royalty cannot stand above the law, then those below us certainly cannot evade it.”
Upon hearing my words, Hecate smiled.
“Are you sure? If you aren't careful, this could put you in danger as well.”
“If I remain stationary out of fear, I will never grow. There are times when one must move forward, even while fully aware of the risks.”
“...As I thought. I really do have a keen eye for talent. Very well. I shall help you draft these laws.”
“Thank you.”
With Hecate’s assistance, I created a legal code that applied to all citizens regardless of their social status and proclaimed it throughout the land.
At first, there were those who voiced their dissatisfaction, but as I was the first to strictly adhere to and enforce these laws, the complaints gradually faded. Furthermore, I established a corps of inspectors specifically tasked with investigating corruption and tax evasion among the nobility.
Slowly but surely, those whose greed outweighed their virtue were purged, and the kingdom evolved into a clean, peaceful society.
After some time, I set my duties aside for a moment to wander through the garden I tended.
Compared to the office, which was merely splendid on the surface, this place felt truly tranquil—where Noctis could graze freely, the wind rustled through the grass, and the songs of birds filled the air whenever I closed my eyes.
“Your Majesty, you are here again. The retainers are waiting in the office, practically straining their necks to see you.”
One of the inspectors approached and spoke cautiously, but I remained leaning against a tree stump, my eyes half-closed in a state of languor.
“Just a moment... the breeze is simply too pleasant right now.”
The retainer gave a wry smile and withdrew.
Since becoming king, I had enforced the law more strictly than anyone and meticulously organized the state, yet whenever a gap appeared in my schedule, I sought the simple joys of an ordinary life. The inspector, noticing this habit, let out a small sigh as he departed.
Normally, the absence of a king would cause immense turmoil, but paradoxically, thanks to the perfect order I had established, the kingdom continued to run smoothly even when I stepped away.
“This kind of peace... isn't so bad...”
Once the inspector had gone, I leaned back against the tree and basked in the warm sunlight filtering down from the sky, savoring the moment.
“A king who plays while his retainers work. What a troublesome ruler you are.”
Hecate suddenly manifested at my side, her voice teasing.
“Well... is this really the first time I've done such a thing?”
I replied with a smile.
Hecate seemed to find something particularly amusing, as she struggled to keep the corners of her mouth from curling upward. Noticing her expression, I asked, “You seem different than usual today. Did something happen?”
“I heard something interesting. You know Jason, don't you?”
The mention of a completely unexpected name caught me off guard. I wondered what could have happened and asked, “Yes. What about him?”
“Nothing major. I hear he’s been gathering heroes lately.”
“...Him? For what purpose...?”
“From what I've gathered, he intends to retrieve the Golden Fleece... Look into the details yourself and decide what to do.”
With those words, Hecate vanished as abruptly as she had arrived. Immediately after her departure, I ordered my retainers to gather all available intelligence on Jason.
When the report arrived, it confirmed that Jason had accepted a condition to retrieve the Golden Fleece in order to reclaim his kingship, and was currently recruiting heroes from across Greece to join his expedition.
“That fellow... to think he’d actually attempt something like this. What should I do... If I go, I might see some old, familiar faces.”
The report contained detailed information regarding the massive ship Jason possessed, the Argo, as well as a list of the heroes who had already committed to the journey.
“Heracles... and even Atalanta.”
A smile spread across my lips as I murmured the familiar names.
The companions with whom I had sweated and sparred during my childhood had now become renowned heroes in their own right, and they were all converging in one place. I found myself reminiscing about those days.
“Your Majesty, surely you aren't planning to go yourself? The kingdom has only just found its footing; for the king to leave his post now would be...”
One of the retainers, noticing my reaction, asked in alarm.
I looked out the window at Noctis grazing peacefully and replied, “If the ‘order’ I created is so fragile that it collapses simply because one king is absent, then it was never a perfect order to begin with. Father has recovered his strength, so I shall simply ask him to serve as regent.”
Though the retainers remained worried, my mind was already made up.
“Your Majesty... are you truly determined to go?”
“Yes. Jason is all talk; if I'm not there to keep him in check, he'll likely sail that ship straight into a mountain. And above all...”
I tapped the list on the desk and gave a lazy smile.
“I'm bored. The kingdom is peaceful enough to run itself without me... Besides, I feel like getting some exercise. I've done nothing but work for so long that I think I've earned this.”
Faced with my resolve, the retainers could say no more.
From then on, preparations for the expedition proceeded with lightning speed.
Instead of my ornate royal robes, I donned flexible leather armor and draped a silver cloak from the forest over my shoulders.
At my waist, I fastened the sword I had received from Chiron alongside the holy sword.
At the city gates, my recovered father, my mother with tear-filled eyes, and a multitude of citizens had gathered to see me off.
“Astellon, do not overextend yourself. You are the king of a nation now.”
“Do not worry, Father. I shall keep a watchful eye on the kingdom's peace, even from afar.”
I stroked Noctis’s mane and mounted the horse.
Sensing my excitement, Noctis let out a short whinny and braced himself to leap.
“Let’s go, Noctis!”
With a sudden burst of speed, I rode Noctis out of the city.
“...Safe travels, Astellon.”
Standing before the gates, my father watched his son disappear into the distance, praying for his safe return.
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