Chapter 59_ 1st War (4)

While using Control Sword, no monsters survived his assaults as they were like pieces of paper which were easily cut by the Sword Saint.

With the newly obtained Sword Saint exclusive skill, with Solomon in perfect control with the swords, Lexus annihilated every beast around him without even the need of lifting a finger as he only controlled the swords. He also received an amountful of experience points and many drops but didn't check any as none pique his interests.

While most players were forming parties to hunt a level 150 or 200 mobs with great difficulties, no one could have imagined that there was someone who was killing level 250+ mobs alone. Moreover, he did it with a shocking efficiency.

On a certain distance away from him, Lich Mumud unfolded a large scale magic and obliterated a horde of hundreds of monsters while also turning the dead monsters into his minions with necromancery of being a lich. On the other side, Igris and Ainz were also doing their thing, fighting a group of level 270+ monsters on their own.

Apart from the God Hands and Control Sword, with his undead familiars alone, Lexus didn't have to lift a finger to earn any experience points. If any player saw how he hunted, they would surely grind their teeth in envy and jealousy.

[Congratulations! You have found a spectacular way to implement death. The range of your power over it widens.]

[The affinity for darkness has increased.]

Darkness has the property of ignoring everything and attacking the target directly. This concept also applied to spiritual bodies. A spiritual body was vulnerable to attribute-based attacks, but among the attributes, the best was the darkness attribute.

Aside from his undead familiars that were special types of undead that ordinary necromancers couldn't even dream of having, the massacre or tragedy that was happening to the monsters in the vast field, it was acknowledged as his accomplishments.

With that, Lexus can now exert his control to two elements. Both the raging fire and deathly darkness.

'My destiny isn't a path that exists only to kill people and beasts, but a path to transcendence.'

Those with real strength would be gentle towards the weak, and show strength towards the strong. Those with real strength would stand up to the strong's persecution, and they would listen to the sobbing of the weak.

With his growth that's unparalleled, Lexus was eager to show the world the might of the new generation Undefeated King.

•~~~•

"Your majesty, an envoy from the Saharan Empire was sent."

After his easy hunt, Lexus decided to return and teleported straight to his office. Along with the arrival of the main body, the busy clones were facing a lot of pile of paperworks heard Sera's report who had a tensed expression. Hearing her, a smile unconsciously appeared in his face.

'They finally noticed, huh?'

Saharan Empire that dominated all the kingdoms and nations throughout the West Continent. Following Sera, Lexus narrowed his eyes. The one who waited for him was a beautiful woman. The name Mercedes was above her head. The name was in glittering gold.

Mercedes briefly bowed to him.

"I have come to King Lexus of Eternal Kingdom to convey the will of the Great Emperor."

[Mercedes' deep eyes have looked at you.]

[Some of your stats and skills are forcibly revealed to Mercedes.]

[You are extraordinary even among the legends.]

[You have resisted.]

[Mercedes' sharp sword energy threatens you. The strong pressure makes your mind and body shrink. All speeds are reduced by 30% and skill casting speed is reduced by 20%.]

[You have resisted.]

[Reflecting the status has failed.]

'Oho? She really used Keen Insight on me the moment she saw me.'

Lexus murmured in his mind as he resisted the absolute skill that even the gods and transcendents were wary or afraid of. An envoy had an obligation to communicate the will of their country. This ability was very important, as they were in charge of bringing back results for the country.

It was fully understandable that the envoy, Mercedes, was a named NPC. It wasn't strange for there to be a named-grade diplomatic specific NPC. Lexus was truly amazed as she wondered. In the ensuing silence, Mercedes was the first to open her mouth.

"How unexpected. You are more commendable than the rumors. The potential of a legend could be better than described in history." Mercedes softly spoke although she was baffled at the resistance of Lexus towards her Keen Insight that had never occurred throughout her lifetime.

Hearing her, he sat on the throne with a calm look and spoke at Mercedes bluntly.

"I am Lexus, the new king of this kingdom. What status do you have in the empire?"

After introducing himself in a dignified manner befitting a king, Lexus pretended to be oblivious of her identity, even though he was already aware of it.

"I belong to the Red Knights. The Great Emperor gave me the number '1'. People call me the 1st knight."

One of the absolute existences scattered throughout this world showed up in front of Lexus.

'How should I handle this?

He thought in his mind while inwardly groaning about the beauty of Mercedes. Without a doubt, her beautiful face is top class. Also, he knew that the empire could destroy his kingdom at any time. He normally can't make any mistakes as he was carrying tens of thousands of people on his shoulders before his own self and pride but for him, there's no need to feel fear.

Mercedes laughed.

"His Majesty the Emperor sent me as the envoy because he respects Sword Saint Lexus. His Majesty the Emperor highly appreciates your ability to become the king as a Sword Saint. He sent the representative of the Red Knights as an envoy."

"A compliment..."

"His Majesty the Emperor always said that a leader shouldn't be stingy with praise. He has a big heart like the sea."

"I see. It is appreciated."

With a calm expression and holding his chin, Lexus judged that this conversation had no meaning and got straight to the point.

"In the end, what does the Emperor want from me?"

At this moment, Mercedes' friendly smile froze on her face. It was because he didn't use the proper title for the emperor. The pure white skin and blue eyes gave Lexus a cold feeling of pressure but the latter was unaffected by it.

"Let's discuss your sins, shall we?"

"Sins?"

"First, there is the sin of the Eternal Kingdom, which cut off the offering of tributes to the Saharan Empire, without the empire's permission."

"..."

"Second, there is the sin of your ascension without the permission of the empire, the master of the Western Continent."

"..."

"Third, there is the sin of not making a servant's oath to His Majesty the Emperor after you became a king."

Mercedes recited his sins in a cold voice. She thought that Lexus who was facing her would become angry. In fact, from the perspective of the empire, it wasn't wrong to lay such charges on him. Unlike Lexus who was calm, he heard a whisper from Madra.

「 These fools never change. Do they think my successor is a pushover? 」

He could feel anger and fury from the ego of Madra. The same sensation when he felt Braham's hostility towards Marie Rose.

「 How dare they act all high and mighty when they were scared of fighting me! 」

As the empire was the main reason why his people had betrayed him, his hatred towards the empire is always at the peak.

「 Hooh! Even in the passage of time, their prideful attitude never changes. 」

Braham amusingly commented.

'Well, just leave this to me.'

Reassuring Madra, Lexus delivered his words to Mercedes.

"I can't acknowledge the sins you mentioned. For the first sin, it isn't right to say that the Eternal Kingdom was the empire's subject. The Eternal Kingdom offered a tribute to the empire just like any other kingdom, but the Eternal Kingdom was officially neutral. This has been acknowledged by the empire. The Eternal Kingdom offered a tribute to the great empire out of courtesy, not because it was the empire's subject."

"Second, a rule doesn't exist on the continent that requires seeking the empire's permission to become the ruler of a kingdom. Also, why would someone like me, who had achieved the status of the legendary Sword Saint— bow and lower my head to someone who's not even a legend?"

Lexus stated with a nonchalant expression although inwardly, he didn't want to give one of the main heroines and broken character in the novel a negative impression of himself but he can't let Madra down by becoming a pushover in front of Mercedes who listened quietly and relaxed her hard expression.

"They are just excuses. Too scandalous. But it's okay. I know King Lexus' intentions. Either way, isn't it true that the Eternal Kingdom is loyal to the empire?"

Lexus simply smirk.

"Good. You responded as His Majesty the Emperor expected. Okay, I will now convey the will of His Majesty the Emperor. King Lexus, come down from your throne, kneel, and listen."

Kneel?

Lexus mentally sighed. Although he wanted to comply because of her heaven-defying beauty, he knew to himself that he shouldn't act like a dog but be dignified as he was a legend.

"I will not."

Mercedes narrowed her eyes hearing his refusal.

"It's an imperial order. It's natural to show courtesy. Do you dislike it?"

Without moving from his throne, Lexus replied to her in a monotone voice.

"Let me say this first, our senses of value are completely different."

Lexus understood her position very well. High-ranking people in the Saharan Empire didn't think much of the other kingdoms. As they had dominated the Western Continent for over hundreds of years, the other nations were just small fries to them and it had always been like this.

Mercedes' beautiful eyebrows furrowed; she couldn't understand where the confidence of Lexus came from, even though he knew the might of the empire.

Of course, she had heard of him. So far, Lexus had already served as the new ruler of Eternal Kingdom for months. During this period of time, he had made huge accomplishments. Most notably of all, he had established roads between all villages, towns, and cities, thus laying down the groundwork required for a swift expansion in commercial activities within the territory.

In the past, trade was mostly limited to the municipality and cities that one lived in. No matter how many goods a business could produce, there was only so much they could earn in a single municipality due to limited demand.

However, now that it had become much more viable to ship goods out to other municipalities, the market had been increased from just one municipality to hundreds of municipalities all over the Eternal Kingdom.

Due to that, the citizens of the territory were now more enthusiastic than ever in their work, and many businessmen had appeared amongst the people.

Be it agriculture, equipment, textiles, or most other industries, they grew swiftly within the past months. The growth in economic activities created a virtuous cycle, as the positive business environment encouraged more merchants outside to put their investments into the fiefdom.

'A once-in-a-century prodigy', this was the evaluation that the emperor had of Lexus, as recorded in one of the investigation reports from the intelligence network of the empire.

The swift growth of the Eternal Kingdom brought Lexus to the limelight, and more and more people were starting to notice this young man. That's why, the empire wanted Lexus to be submissive to them. Unlike Lexus who knew of the importance of establishing roads from his previous life, the other nobles and royalties weren't so privileged as him as to have witnessed the amazing prowess of globalization.

In fact, most nobles rarely visited those not very accessible smaller towns and villages as they were, obviously, not very accessible. On top of that, most people who were worthy of seeking an audience with the influential nobles were important people based in large cities, resulting in a lack of representation for those living in smaller villages and towns.

As such, it never occurred to them that there was untapped potential in smaller villages and towns that they could utilize to spur the growth of their lands.