The Hero Party Couldn’t Kill Me

Chapter 15: What Comes After (Complete)

Five years have passed since I assumed power over the Solus Empire, or rather the Solus Republic.

As a result, I couldn’t introduce even half of the Republic’s system.

It is natural. In the first place, Empire is the first time I have encountered the system of the world I lived in. How severe was the backlash when he said that he would immediately elect the permanent lord position through an election.

First of all, people have not yet recognized the need for the reforms I am talking about. Because the concept of democracy itself is still unfamiliar to them.

That’s why I didn’t try to push ahead with reforms in a calm and unreasonable manner.

Actually, the role I hoped for in the Republic of Solus was that of a firefighter, not a radical reformer, to provide a new direction for the Empire after the Emperor had disappeared and to deal with the chaos.

So, in the long term, we introduced only the systems we thought were necessary.

… At least I tried.

Of course I admit it.

In the end, I couldn’t make an objective evaluation because I was a human being, and in that sense, I forgot my duty.

And somehow, the ability to run the country also showed immaturity. In this part, the experience and knowledge were immature.

5 Years of trial and error, and many mistakes along the way.

As promised, when the time came for the next presidential election, I put my mind down.

A lot of people were still questioning the new system I had introduced.

Nevertheless, since it was the first presidential election in the world, I wanted to set a good precedent and tried to reap the beauty of the end.

The process of selecting candidates was also well-adjusted to avoid noise as much as possible, and above all, efforts were made to ensure fairness in the elections.

The use of contract magic by candidates was strictly regulated, and several safeguards were put in place to prevent manipulation of the election results by various means, including magic.

The first election of the Solus Republic, which was prepared with all its might.

As a result, I was re-elected.

***

“… I misjudged.”

A few days after he was re-elected.

After getting a proper vacation for the first time in 5 years, I decided to use the hideout to rest for a while on the edge of the empire.

And in the evening, he invited Raphaella and Mina over and lamented over them over dinner.

Of course, Rafaela and Mina didn’t understand me at all.

“What’s wrong? In the end, you succeeded in re-election. It also got three times more votes than Archduke Charles, who came second! Isn’t that why people support you?”

“… But is this really because of the new changes I brought? Isn’t it because of the halo of being a hero who calmly defeated the demon king?”

“This is nonsense. Do you still not know how great Edmund has accomplished? First of all, you made peace with the demons! There has never been a time in the history of the Solus Empire, no, in the history of the Republic, when there were so few military clashes with demons for such a long time.”

Rafaela recited my achievements to me like this.

“Is that all? Our relationship with Korra Kingdom and other neighboring countries is better than ever! Even Swan-nim from Speth eventually opened up and started to interact with the Solus Republic.”

“You also prevented the indiscriminate use of contract magic and other black magic. You did what other emperors couldn’t easily do. So it’s only natural that you won the election!”

He even helped Mina from the side.

But even so, my mood did not improve.

Yeah, I’m sure there must be some parts I did well as well as my mistakes.

But there is one thing that I keep worrying about.

Was it the right decision to introduce democracy? In this world where even the concept of democracy was not well understood?

Wouldn’t it be right to at least introduce this system after people understand it?

I keep regretting that.

Suddenly, the story of the first emperor of the Solus Empire, who was from an alien world, came to mind. Perhaps it was for this reason that he chose to remain emperor?

I confided my concerns to Rafaela and Mina. After hearing my story, Mina hinted at me.

“… Is it because you still don’t want to sit in the presidential seat?”

“… ….”

I was hit hard by her sharp question.

In the first place, this seat was half-floating.

To be honest, I wanted to resign every day. I wanted to live peacefully in a secluded place without people as I had wanted for a long time.

But that’s why I was already playing a huge role in the Solus Republic. That’s why I endured with one responsibility.

“Yes, it’s not that I don’t have that heart at all. I admit that too! But, are you not worried?”

“Well, you know me in the first place. You don’t really like it when power is hereditary and concentrated in a certain class. In that sense, I am in favor.”

“… But what if you choose the wrong leader? No, before that, how many people have a proper understanding of this system? How many people do you want to keep? Now my popularity and power are overwhelming, but after I’m gone?”

This is a dilemma. If I stay in power like this, I will become a dictator. However, if you take your hands off the power, the situation will fall into chaos that can’t get out of hand.

I introduced democracy to prevent me from monopolizing power, but on the contrary, I couldn’t rest forever because of it.

“… That makes sense. If this happens, the Republic will become too dependent on Edmund-sama alone. That was obviously wrong.”

Unexpectedly, Rafaela sympathized with my thoughts. After thinking for a moment, she came up with her solution.

“… I must find a successor. Even if Edmund resigns from the presidency, someone who will carry on Edmund’s will.”

“But who is right?”

The majority of nobles still prefer the old system to democracy, where hereditary succession is cut off and the common people have to pay attention.

Most of the commoners who gained power through elections like Clovis have inexperienced management skills.

Of course, there may be hidden pearls if you look for them, but I haven’t been able to find the right person yet.

“Finding that person is probably Edmund-sama’s last task.”

And Rafaela couldn’t point out the right person either. I lowered my head and was lost in thought.

When I saw that I was in so much pain, Rafaela made a sneaky suggestion.

“If there is no right person, there is no way at all. As you may know, we recently restored the magic to summon aliens. I can bring someone who has received an education similar to Edmund’s.”

“… That’s not allowed.”

It tempted me for a moment, but I firmly refused. If that happens, there will only be a bad precedent for aliens to become the rulers of this world.

Before that, it was unclear whether the new alien to be summoned would agree with me.

“… In the end, we have no choice but to find it within the Republic.”

After a long thought, I wiped my forehead and said. I felt my forehead widen for some reason, perhaps because of the stress I had in the past.

But there was no time to worry about her hair. She needed to foster a successor as soon as possible. Until I remain the dictator.

That’s how I faced the biggest challenge of my second term.

***

After another five years, I came to the end of my second term.

As I promised before, I did my best to find and nurture my successor over the past five years.

Of course, even in the midst of that, he could not neglect state affairs, and he made several changes to the republic.

The biggest change among them was the creation of the National Assembly.

The lords were concerned that I had too much power, and I acknowledged that too and eventually established the National Assembly, which had been delayed.

… And as I feared, the majority of the members of the council were filled with nobles, and they bumped into me at every turn.

Then my hair fell out more and more. No matter how much new hair was planted with magic, it quickly fell out again.

Is it easy to lose what is easily gained?

Nevertheless, the last time I spoke in front of the people after my second term.

I felt relieved.

“Ten years ago. Until I first turned the Solus Empire into a Republic, both you and I were deeply concerned about this new system.”

It’s not simply because I can step down from the presidency as planned.

… It’s not even because of the bare hair with only a few strands left.

“However, you were surprisingly respectful of my wishes and adapted to an unfamiliar system. As a result, the early Republic was able to come out of the chaos surprisingly quickly.”

Slowly people started accepting this system. Even the nobles who were so repulsed.

“And now, we are entering a new phase. The Solus Republic now has a new president.”

If things went as they were, I would have been elected again. But I refused to run again.

Instead, I pushed my chosen successor to become the new president.

No, maybe the expression pushed is not appropriate. After all, he became the new president on his own.

I looked at the new president for a moment.

Earl John Smith. Although he was from an aristocratic background, on the other hand, he was the person who best understood my intentions.

And most of all, he was also a person who sympathized with the idea that the owner of power is the people, which is difficult for nobles to accept.

He also proved his competence by performing well in his lordship.

Of course, the element of anxiety still exists. Rather, from now on, you will be put to the test.

And I’m not even sure what the ending will be.

To be honest, even now, I am still worried in a corner of my heart. I just hope my eyesight is right.

Still, the reason for giving up power. The reason for entrusting the Solus Republic to the next president.

“Remember what I emphasized at the beginning? Power comes from you. The power you gave me is not mine alone. Just like now, when the time comes, I have to pass it on to the next person. And this, It’s a positive function of the power system I wanted to introduce.”

After speaking this far, I met John Smith’s eyes. I looked at him and sent a message of support.

“… I hope he can lead the Solus Republic well.”

When I finished my last words, people applauded.

Only then did I come down from the podium with a comfortable smile on my face. And I shook hands lightly with John Smith, the new president, and handed over my power to him.

“Don’t worry. I will do my best to lead the Solus Republic.”

John Smith said gallantly. I said one last thing to him.

“I hope you too can feel the lightness I feel now when you come down from work.”

That’s how my role ended here.