As time passed, word spread that I had borne the holy sword, slain the dangerous serpent that had threatened my father, the former king, and cut down the lion that barred the road back to the kingdom. With that, the support directed toward me only grew stronger.
In response to those expectations, I also set about reforming domestic affairs first after becoming king, so that the land might become peaceful and pleasant to live in.
I built roads where people traveled often, and restructured the treasury so that money would no longer leak away into useless places.
And though I also drafted tactics for handling the military...
"To be honest, whether outside the kingdom or within it, 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 like and marry her..."
Watching the state of not only Eirene but other countries as well, I grew troubled.
"That this place keeps turning despite such conditions... is truly strange."
"So. What do you intend to do, my disciple?"
As I was lost in such thoughts, Lady Hecate, who had advised me not only on magecraft but on many other matters as well, approached and spoke to me.
"...I cannot change all of that in a short time. I am a greedy human being as well, so taking care of my own people comes first. So... I intend to create laws that apply to the kingdom. I will legally forbid murder, and prohibit plunder and fraud, and begin changing my country from there."
"...Will your retainers accept that? If handled poorly, they may end up being the ones punished."
"Law must be equal for everyone. I was taught that the higher one's station, the more one must care for those beneath them. So the law will be something that neither the people nor even the king can refuse. If even royalty cannot stand above the law, then those below us certainly cannot evade it."
At my words, Lady Hecate smiled and said, "Will you be all right? If things go wrong, you could be the one in danger."
"If I remain where I am because I am afraid, then I will never grow any further. There are times when one must act even after learning the truth."
"...As expected. I really did have a good eye for people. Very well. I'll help you. The laws you make."
"Thank you."
With Lady Hecate's help, I created a code of laws that applied to everyone regardless of status, and proclaimed it throughout the kingdom.
At first, there were those who voiced dissatisfaction, but as I was the first to enforce the law and walk its path myself, those complaints gradually faded. In addition, I established inspectors who specialized in investigating corruption among the nobles, tax evasion, and the like.
Thus, little by little, those with nothing but greed overflowing from their cups disappeared, and the kingdom developed into a clean and peaceful land.
As time passed, I set my work aside for a while and wandered through the garden I tended.
More than the office, which was only splendid on the surface, this place—where Noctis could graze freely, where the rustle of grass in the wind could be heard, and where the cries of birds spread when I closed my eyes—felt truly tranquil to me.
"Your Majesty, you are here again. The retainers are waiting in the office with their necks stretched out."
Then one of the inspectors approached and spoke to me cautiously, but I stood leaning against a tree stump, my eyes half-lidded in languor.
"Just for a moment... this wind feels too pleasant right now."
At my answer, the retainer gave a wry smile and withdrew.
After I became king, I enforced the law more strictly than anyone and put the kingdom in order, yet whenever I found a spare moment, I tried to enjoy an ordinary daily life. The inspector who noticed this let out a small sigh and stepped back.
Normally, if the king were absent, it would be an extremely troublesome situation, but paradoxically, thanks to the perfect order I had created, the kingdom could continue to run peacefully even when I was away for a short while.
"This kind of peace... isn't bad at all..."
After the inspector who had come to find me withdrew, I leaned against the tree and savored the warm sunlight pouring down from the sky, enjoying this moment as it was.
"A king who leaves his retainers to work while he plays around. What a troublesome king you are."
Just then, Lady Hecate suddenly appeared at my side and spoke.
"Well... is this really the first time I've done something like this?"
I answered with a smile.
Yet Lady Hecate seemed to find something so amusing that she was suppressing the corners of her mouth as they tried to rise, and at that expression of hers, I asked, "You seem a little different from usual today. Is something the matter?"
"I heard something interesting. You. You know Jason, don't you?"
When an entirely unexpected name came from Lady Hecate's lips, I thought over what might have happened and asked her, "Yes. What about that fellow?"
"Nothing major. I hear he's been gathering heroes lately."
"...That fellow? Why in the world...?"
"From what I heard, he's going to seek the Golden Fleece... Look into the details yourself. And then decide."
With those words, Lady Hecate vanished in an instant, just as she had when she first came. After she disappeared, I ordered my retainers to bring me news about Jason.
And when a retainer brought back word, it was said that Jason had accepted the condition that he must bring back the Golden Fleece in order to become king, and was gathering heroes from across Greece to accompany him on the journey to obtain it.
"That fellow... to think he would come up with something like this. What should I do... If I go, I may be able to see some familiar faces after so long..."
The report my retainer brought contained detailed information about the great ship Jason possessed, the Argo, as well as a list of the heroes who had already decided to join him.
"Heracles... and Atalanta as well."
As I murmured the familiar names in that list, a smile spread across my lips.
In childhood, they had once sweated beside me in sparring matches, and now they had become heroes whose names rang throughout the world, gathering in one place. Thinking of that, I recalled those days.
"Your Majesty, are you planning to go yourself? The kingdom has only just found its footing, and for the king to leave his post..."
One of the retainers, having watched my reaction, asked me in alarm.
To that, I looked out the window at Noctis grazing peacefully and answered, "If the 'order' I created can collapse merely because one king is absent, then it cannot be called perfect order. Father has recovered his strength as well, so I can simply ask him to serve as regent."
My retainers worried over my words, but my mind had already reached its answer with absolute resolve.
"Your Majesty... are you truly going?"
"Yes. Jason. That fellow has a mouth bigger than his skill, so if I don't keep him in line beside him, he may end up sailing the ship straight into the mountains. And above all..."
I tapped the list lying on the desk and smiled lazily.
"It's boring. If it's this peaceful, the kingdom will run just fine even without me... And besides, I feel like moving my body a little now and then. I've been working nonstop, so this much is within acceptable limits."
At my firm attitude, the retainers could say no more.
After that, preparations for departure proceeded without a hitch.
Rather than a splendid royal robe, I wore flexible leather armor and draped over it a silver cloak brought from the forest.
At my waist hung the sword I had received from Teacher Chiron, along with the holy sword.
Before the city gate, my father, now restored to health, my mother with reddened eyes, and countless citizens had already gathered.
"Astellon, do not overdo it. You are the king of a nation now."
"Do not worry, Father. I will watch over the kingdom's peace even from afar."
I stroked Noctis's mane and mounted him.
Noctis seemed to sense my pulse, for he gave a short whinny and prepared to strike the earth.
"Let's go, Noctis!"
And just like that, I rode Noctis and dashed out.
"...Return safely, Astellon."
And before the city gate, his father watched his son depart into the distance and prayed that he would come home safely.