Chapter 165.1

"...What do you mean? Are you saying I should become a Swordmaster like Lianne?"

"If that's possible, you should indeed aim for that. However, that's just part of the process," Isaac didn't add that if necessary, one must also walk the path the former king had trodden because it might be too painful for Edelred to hear.

However, Isaac's words carried a cruel underlying meaning as harsh as the Saltain massacre.

"But that's..."

Edelred tried to argue, but Isaac immediately interrupted him.

"Establish a strong absolute monarchy and centralize the government. Create a royal power so strong that no one but the king and his personal guards would need to carry swords. Actually, degrade and dismantle the knights so thoroughly that no one even thinks there's a need for them."

To destroy the system set up by Elil, one must become Elil. That was the only way to break it down.

"You need to become Elil to destroy what Elil created. That's where all change begins."

Isaac's words resonated strangely with Edelred.

He hesitated for a long time after hearing them. Isaac's proposal sounded plausible, but it was something many previous regimes in the Elil Kingdom had failed to achieve.

The emergence of a Knight King who would cause the downfall of the knightly class.

In reality, a strong king relies on the military power of strong knights, so undermining his own base would be akin to sabotaging himself. However, Isaac knew that it was possible to change the system itself.

"Military leaders and knightly orders can be toppled by a strong central government and a standing army. While the knights of Elil are a formidable force... it's better to integrate them into the army than to idolize them as heroes."

The law and administration should be the only reasons to wield a sword. Isaac believed this wouldn't contradict Elil's doctrines, but it would inevitably weaken the presence of knights.

This would ultimately lead to a reduction in the influence of the Elil faith.

"It doesn't really matter, does it?"

Isaac didn't believe in the Elil faith. The knights might be needed during the Dawn Army's campaign, but once it ends, that group needs to be phased out. It was necessary to show them that farmers, carpenters, fishermen, and bureaucrats are as important as swords.

Either live in perpetual war, or enjoy peace instituted by the state.

Between the two, it would be better to discard the romanticized notion of sword-bearing and choose the latter.

***

It's unlikely that Edelred immediately grasped Isaac's point.

Even the Gerthonia Empire has only just begun to attempt centralization under Emperor Waltzemer. The Elil Kingdom had never succeeded due to constant shifts in power among the warlords.

"I'm not sure I understand all of what you're saying, Holy Grail Knight. But I do understand that becoming a strong king is necessary to bring about change," Edelred said with a bitter smile. It wasn't as if he didn't know that already.

Who wouldn't know that in Elil Kingdom, the law of the strongest prevails?

If Edelred dislikes knights, then becoming the strongest among them is an option.

Of course, Isaac meant something more systemic, but such a process was necessary regardless.

"So, what should I do?"

"First, you need to reorganize the national institutions and secure finances. This is the foundation of all changes."

This would sound like an irresponsible statement if it ended there.

But Isaac had a solution.

"We need to resume trade with the Gerthonia Empire. I have connections with the Golden Idol Guild. I'm trusted enough to vouch for them."

"Resuming trade. Good, that's what I want too. There might be some who dislike this idea, but... hmm. That might change depending on how the war with the Georg family unfolds. I'll trust you on this, Holy Knight."

Edelred then frowned.

"But the former king did a lot of damage to the followers of the Salt Council. There's no small amount of resentment towards our kingdom. Would they agree to trade?"

Elil Kingdom, an island nation, depends on maritime trade, which is critical especially since the Salt Council controls most of the sailors.

However, Isaac smiled as if he had been waiting for this question.

"I will try to mediate a reconciliation. I have deep connections with the leaders of the Salt Council. If you show enough sincerity, Edelred Your Majesty, the Salt Council will likely agree to cooperate."

Edelred looked at Isaac with admiration.

Isaac, who seemed to have an answer for every problem as if he had prepared in advance, appeared almost like a savior to him. After all, wasn't Isaac solving all these problems?

Indeed, he had prepared in advance.

"It might be good to refer to Gerthonia laws for institutional reform. This could be facilitated through improved relations with Emperor Waltzemer. The laws brought by Elil to this country are 700 years old and need updating."

Isaac would have liked to bring in the regulations he created in the Isacrea domain, but that would be too radical a change.

Isaac thought that even just eliminating barbaric duel trials would be a significant achievement.

"Securing finances and improving institutions. Good. What's next?"

"Build up a standing army. Although maintaining an army is expensive, it's necessary to prevent being manipulated by a few knights."

The reason why kings are often unstable is because they need to borrow private troops from the nobles whenever needed. Even Emperor Waltzemer hasn't completely solved this problem.

But it was worse in the Elil Kingdom. A few knights monopolized military power, and peasants were conscripted as needed, who were virtually helpless against knights.

Thus, wars were dominated by knights.

However, if a trained standing army always accompanied the king, it would provide a counterbalance to the knights. Ultimately, knights would just be one of many roles within the army. The advantage of the Elil Kingdom was that it had skilled officers and sword instructors in abundance.

"A standing army... definitely a costly affair. It will be tough, but I'll consider it. What's next?"

"Self-improvement, Your Majesty. You need to become much stronger than you are now."

"......."

The ideas of institutional reform, securing finances, establishing a standing army, and improving diplomatic relations were all vague and broad concepts. Properly realizing them would be impossible in a short period; it would take at least three years, and possibly many decades.

To accomplish all this, Edelred needed to become stronger, stronger than he currently was.

"...I understand what you mean. But, well, to be honest," Edelred said, almost embarrassed.

"I have never actually killed anyone."

Isaac estimated Edelred's age, he was significantly younger than himself, perhaps between 14 and 16 years old. In the modern day, he would just be a middle school student. The fact that such a young boy was embarrassed about never having killed illustrated the insane pressures of the world he lived in.

"There's no need to feel ashamed. I know a Swordmaster who says that you should never wield a sword with the intention to kill."

"There was a Swordmaster who said that? But a Swordmaster would have killed at least hundreds."

"He was a bit eccentric. Anyway, I'm not sure if Your Highness will ever need to kill anyone. But you should still train to defend yourself."

As far as Isaac knew, the late King Alfred Aldeon had been a Swordmaster. Naturally, Edelred had inherited some of that talent.

Isaac recalled how Edelred was depicted in the game.

'He was much more haggard and wounded.'