In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 124 Ensiodis's Resolve, The Last Night Before the Coup

"boom!"

"*Shelag dialect*! King Kalan! No matter what you say today, I'll still say the same thing!"

"The Holy Maiden must never be formally removed from the council! This is a fundamental principle of Sherag and must never be changed!"

After the summit of the sacred mountain collapsed, you ordered the reconstruction of a new palace on the top of the collapsed area, and officially left the hospital six months ago, moving your office back here.

[And at today's court assembly, the reactions from the various families to the new issue you raised were, as you predicted, extremely strong.]

Not long after being discharged from the hospital, Actos, whose old injuries had not yet healed, slammed his fist on the table and roared at the top of his lungs:

"We don't care if you wanted to start a bank, develop tourism, or make money from foreigners!"

"You say those foreigners are our bread and butter, so we can just keep quiet about it!"

"But this time, you actually dared to lay a hand on the Holy Maiden and Jeragand?! You are utterly lawless, King Kalan!"

As a rugged warrior and a devout follower of Jeragund, Actos was not well-versed in grand principles or politics.

But he did witness that the Shelag people gradually became more prosperous under your policies, and after winning the war, they stood taller than ever before.

[Furthermore, your shared wartime experiences, fighting side-by-side and leading the charge on numerous occasions, have greatly changed this man's opinion of you.]

[From this point alone, Arctos no longer resists your rule as he did in the past; therefore, he is now willing to address you as "King of Kalan."]

However, Actos could not completely ignore the various pent-up grievances arising from your policies during this period.

He had been looking for an opportunity to properly address these grievances from the people, so that you, as the king, could balance business and the well-being of the people.

But all of that becomes irrelevant after you raised the issues of stripping the saintess of her political rights and removing religion from state affairs.

"Do you really think that you built this Sherag kingdom all by yourself?!"

"Don't forget, without Jeragand's protection, Sherag would have been occupied by these foreigners long ago!"

Although he had never seen Jeragund in person, Actos, who believed he had a valid argument, still roared with eyes red and neck thick:

"Without Yeragand's protection, how could we possibly be saved by the weather of Sherag every time we are in danger?"

"Without Jeragand's help, how could you have possibly escaped that assassination attempt?!"

"Even if you don't believe in Jeragand, the Holy Maiden must not lose her power!"

"The Holy Maiden has done a great service to Sherag! Without her help, who would have kept the people at ease when we went out to fight? You cannot repay kindness with enmity!"

"Your Majesty, this time, this old minister also thinks that Actos is right."

After Actos finished shouting, your adoptive father, Olafel, surprisingly chose to stand up and seriously support Actos's remarks.

[Your current situation is top secret in Sherag; no one knows about it except Enya and Yeragand.]

Therefore, even your adoptive father only knew that you had been wounded in the war but had recovered.

[From your adoptive father's perspective, he can understand your desire to completely eradicate Sherag's religious influence.]

While Terra doesn't have as many cases of religious chaos leading to national unrest, relying solely on religion and faith might temporarily unite a nation, but it's ultimately detrimental to its long-term rule.

After all, who can guarantee that "God's" thoughts and ideas won't change?

However, while Olafel understands your thoughts, he also believes that the timing is not right.

[Having just ended the war in Sherag, Enya, as a saint, has solidified her position through her active role in the war and the popularity she has won over the people.]

Furthermore, Enya is practically family; she unconditionally supports you.

Olafel couldn't understand why you would attack your own people when the situation was so obvious.

Isn't this undermining your rule and causing turmoil in Shelag?

However, how many people present, including your adoptive father, could truly understand your anxiety?

You know your time is running out.

[You know better than anyone that if you, a dying man, don't break through this unspoken barrier that Kjerag is destined to break in the future...]

[Then I fear that future generations of rulers, perhaps even a dozen generations, will find it difficult to have the courage to propose this.]

At least, you no longer care about fame or fortune, and you don't care how many times the people of Sherag spit on your tombstone after you die.

[Once this precedent is set, there will still be hope for all reforms in the future.]

"...I am already aware of the opinions of all my ministers."

"I am aware of your loyalty and worries, and your opinions will certainly help stabilize Sherag."

However, hearing your unexpectedly calm tone in the face of so much collective opposition, all the ministers present showed expressions of joy.

But just when everyone thought you would compromise, your tone suddenly shifted, a cruel smile playing on your lips as you replied:

"But what can you do if I refuse to accept my suggestion?"

"..."

For a moment, the hall was eerily quiet; everyone was stunned by your words, which revealed your undisguised murderous intent.

[You, sitting high on the throne, are so languid and casual; your slightly pale face and voice, weaker than before, all testify to your illness.]

Even though you are like a sick tiger, the aura of the king of beasts that emanates from you still prevents any weak creature from meeting your gaze.

In their eyes, though you are a sick tiger, your sharp gaze and dangerous fangs still inspire fear.

Years of intimidation and authoritarianism have rendered you invincible in this land; no one dares challenge your authority before you.

You are the king of this land, more feared than any god.

"Without Yeragand's protection, Sherag would be conquered by enemy nations? How dare you even say that?"

You stared at everyone with a cold laugh, and said in a hoarse voice:

"As a warrior of Shelag, I cannot even protect my homeland with my own strength, and I still need to rely on the power of the gods."

"Now that the war is over, how much divine power did Yeragand expend to protect this land?"

"What if another country attacks next time? When we're at our wits' end, will we still only rely on the strength of Jeragand?"

"If one day Jeragand's divine power is exhausted and it can no longer protect Sherag, who will you rely on?!"

"Does this mean that the people of Sherag, when faced with danger, can only ever be like babies protected by Mother Jeragand, never growing up?"

Faced with your relentless questioning, the previously aggressive group instantly fell silent, all lowering their heads timidly, daring not to refute a single word you said.

Your gaze swept over everyone, finally lingering for a moment on Enciodes.

[You are waiting for your younger brother, who can represent everyone and agree with your point of view, but also advises you not to rush things.]

However, Enciodes remained unexpectedly silent, not even uttering a single word of rebuttal.

You thought your hints weren't enough, so you intensified your efforts:

"I am not as shameless as you."

"Now that Sherag is wealthy, I will build a power that belongs to Sherag itself."

"Without relying on any saint or Jeragand, Sherag can defend its homeland on its own."

"Until the day comes, the Sherag people can reclaim their land from the hands of God!"

Your words startled everyone present the moment they left your mouth.

After all, your words are considered extremely treasonous in Kjerag, and could even be described as openly regarding Yeragand, who sheltered Kjerag, as a future enemy.

This caused many of the devout believers present to feel a surge of anger, yet dared not speak out.

[And the rest of the people, regardless of their beliefs, have also seen that your radical attitude will be of no benefit to the future of Sherag.]

If Yeragand is angered and ceases to protect Sherag in the future, the sacrifices of the Sherag people will only be greater.

For them, why not keep such a guardian deity in Shelag simply through offerings and faith?

They don't understand why you insisted on taking Kjerag back from God's hands.

I don't understand why you are so concerned about religion's involvement in politics.

After all, it's not just Shelag; Lateran, Iberia… many countries have even formed theocratic systems, and no major problems have occurred.

Unable to understand all this, everyone attributes your stubbornness to the brutal personality created by long-term dictatorial rule.

And that's exactly what you wanted.

Seeing the bewildered, angry, or fearful expressions on everyone's faces, you turned your gaze back to Ensiodis.

But he remained unresponsive.

[Only then did you notice that your younger brother was unusually absent-minded, looking completely lost, and you had no idea what he was thinking.]

"...Prime Minister, please speak."

"If you have no objections either, then may I take it as a sign that this proposal has been approved by everyone?"

[Since you're paving the way for Enciodes's succession, you have to remind him to seize this opportunity and win back the hearts of the people once again.]

But to your surprise, your usually quick-witted and perceptive younger brother, contrary to his usual behavior, didn't refute anything this time.

After his Adam's apple bobbed up and down for a moment, he finally answered in a hoarse, faint voice:

"My subordinates dare not."

"If Your Majesty insists on doing so, as the Prime Minister, I can only do my best and dare not disobey Your Majesty's will."

"The Prime Minister?!"

[An answer that surprised everyone.] [In the past, Enciodes was the only one in everyone's eyes who could change your mind; he was the only brake on their brutal rule.]

Faced with such a bizarre proposal, completely contrary to Sherag's interests...

[Enciodes, who would have openly opposed you in the past, even to the point of challenging you to your face, has actually chosen to back down?]

Even you were quite taken aback.

[You don't believe it? Your clever younger brother wouldn't be unaware that you're paving the way for him, and he certainly wouldn't fail to understand your hints.]

However, when you look directly at Ensiodis's dark circles and bloodshot eyes...

And his gaze, sometimes evasive, sometimes uneasy, when he looked at you... you gradually understood his thoughts.

[...It seems your younger brother knows something.]

"...The Prime Minister seems a bit distracted today. Has he not rested well?"

"Then I will discuss this matter again tomorrow. I hope the Prime Minister can get some rest and give me his final answer tomorrow."

Maintaining your regal bearing, you casually waved your hand, signaling everyone to leave.

However, after everyone had left the hall, afraid of disturbing you, you, sitting on your throne, couldn't help but let out another violent cough.

"Cough-cough-!"

A single cough can rob you of most of your strength, causing your life to slip away even faster.

[His open palm was covered in blood.]

"pray?!"

[Yeragand, who had been silently observing everything from the sidelines, nervously approached, a look of intense heartache and anxiety appearing on her face as she looked at the stone inlaid with blue jewels.]

But you didn't let Jeragand continue to be anxious.

"—Don't make a fuss."

Looking at the blood on your palm, clearly feeling your life slipping away, you managed a bitter smile, then simply raised your head and gasped for breath.

After a long while, until your breathing had calmed down, you calmly instructed Yela beside you:

"Yera...I want to ask you to tell Ensiodis something..."

……

Ensiodis had no idea how he got back to the mansion.

Since learning a year ago that his brother's days were numbered, Enciodes had been living in a daze, eating little and sleeping even less.

Every time he closed his eyes, he dreamed of his brother dying alone on the throne, and then, unprepared, he was surrounded by other patriarchs and Sherag people, who pushed him onto that throne.

However, sitting on the throne, witnessing everyone's worship, his mind was filled with nothing but confusion.

[What enveloped him was a suffocating helplessness.]

Ensiodis never wanted to be king.

He had never even considered what he would do if his brother were to pass away one day.

Enshiodis had always considered himself his brother's best assistant and the family's best steward.

He believed he lacked his elder brother's groundbreaking ideas and was incapable of devising such meticulous and beneficial plans for the country and its people.

He lacked the vision to be king, and even less the courage to lead a small nation against invasion by a powerful one, like his elder brother.

[In Ensiodis's eyes, even though his brother considered him the best successor, in his heart, even a hundred of himself couldn't compare to his brother.]

Whenever he thought of this, Ensiodis felt fortunate—at least his older brother was still young and strong, and he himself could perhaps hone his skills for many more years.

But now, watching his brother grow weaker day by day after being wounded, Enciodes felt increasingly helpless.

The words the clan heads had spoken to him when the court session ended today now haunted him like a nightmare.

"Prime Minister, you saw it, didn't you? His Majesty has gone mad!"

"You can't let him continue like this! Otherwise, Yeragand will be enraged! And Sherag will suffer utter destruction!"

"Prime Minister, please persuade His Majesty. You are the only one we can rely on now."

"The fate of countless people in Shelag rests on your shoulders, Prime Minister, please do not refuse any longer!"

Ensiodis isn't stupid.

[His elder brother's hints in court, along with the urging of those around him, all proved that the time was ripe for him to seize power.]

But Enciodes dared not, did not want to, and could not bear to take his brother's throne.

Even if this was a path his brother had paved for him long ago.

However, he still didn't want his brother to become a victim of Kjerag's rise, nor did he want to be branded a "tyrant" and condemned by all ages after a lifetime of service to Kjerag.

This shouldn't be his ending.

Tormented by intense unease, Enciodes returned to his room, grabbed the half-finished bottle of whiskey, and gulped it down.

Enciodes never imagined he would one day develop an alcoholism.

But after learning of his brother's peril, he began drinking frequently, often getting himself completely drunk to escape his pain, helplessness, and anxiety.

"boom!"

Enciodes, his cheeks flushed, slumped onto his desk after finishing half a bottle of whiskey.

Unbeknownst to him, helpless tears welled up in the man's eyes. Intoxication caused him to inadvertently utter words he would never have spoken aloud.

"elder brother……"

"What should I do...brother...what should I do...?"

[Calling "brother" softly again and again, the drunken Enciodes has now shed the burden of being the prime minister.]

Inside this small, enclosed room, only a helpless younger brother remained, terrified that his strong and dependable older brother would leave.

"—Enciodes."

However, just as Enciodes was about to drift off to sleep under the influence of alcohol, a sudden voice jolted him awake.

"Who?!"

Seemingly a habit left over from the war, Enciodes abruptly broke free from his drunken stupor and instinctively drew the rapier from his cane.

But the next second, before he could react, he saw a familiar stone fly towards his face at lightning speed...

"boom!"

A dull thud struck, like a slap to Ensiodis's face, leaving his cheek burning with pain.

Ensiodis, caught off guard, simply stared blankly at Yeragand before him, unsure of what to do.

"Enciodes, you have disappointed me and your brother greatly!"

[Jeragand, usually so kind, spoke with a tone that revealed an unprecedented surge of anger.]

She stared at the bewildered Ensiodis with anger and frustration, her voice trembling with tears and rage as she spoke:

"You are the successor chosen by your brother. Your brother has staked everything on you!"

“Your brother believes in you and that you can bring a better future to Sherag. He deserves all the infamy he has to bear.”

"But what about you? Is this how you repay your brother's trust?!"

[As he spoke, Jeragand, still enraged, charged at Ensiodis once more.]

This time, Ensiodis, in pain, also suffered a severe head injury from Yeragand's impact, his other cheek turning bright red. The intoxicated Ensiodis was knocked to the ground.

However, Ensiodis didn't react at all when attacked twice.

He simply lay there, limp and lifeless, letting blood flow from his nose and mouth, his gaze fixed blankly on the ceiling.

Seeing Ensiodis's demeanor, Jeragand, who didn't want to say anything more, simply conveyed the message you had asked her to deliver.

“…Enciodes, your brother is dying.”

[Jeragand's voice, filled with intense heartache and sobs, brought a glimmer of light back to Ensiodis's eyes.]

"He wants you to see him tomorrow; he has some final words to tell you."

"If you don't have the courage to face him, and can only watch helplessly as Sherag's happiness is destroyed... then you can continue to lose your way here."

"Let's just say he mistook someone for someone else."

Having said that, Jeragand's figure slowly flew away from the window, not looking back once more.

[While alone in the room, lost in thought about all this, Enciodes finally showed a reaction after a long silence.]

He slowly straightened up, letting tears and blood stream down his face, clenching his fists.

"She's right."

“I cannot let my brother down. The future of Sherag... whether I like it or not, I must bear it.”

“I want to tell my brother that I can do it... I definitely can.”

If this is the last thing I can do for my brother.

Then let me do my best in everything!

(End of this chapter)