Episode 127 — Silence After Logout

The First Prince, a whirlwind of a man, departed as lightly as he had arrived.

"I’ll be fine on my own," he’d laughed. "Bringing your guards would just be advertising to the capital that I need my big brother to protect me." With a brisk pace, Léonard vanished into the depths of the forest.

The front door closed, and the electronic lock engaged with a satisfying "clack." As his figure disappeared from the security monitor, the living room finally reclaimed its original peace—a blissful state known as "silence."

"Phew. Finally logged out. He was way too high-spec; the load on this server was hitting critical levels."

I sank deep into the sofa and let out a long breath. Beside me, Gustav sat slumped in a chair, looking like he’d just seen a ghost—or perhaps like his soul had been drained.

"I am... so sorry. I truly apologize for the commotion. I never imagined that he—that Léonard—would say such things..."

"It’s fine. Thanks to him, I got a good look at your hidden parameters... I mean, your past. Though, it still hasn't quite sunk in that you were actually the 'First Prince.'"

Gustav offered a self-deprecating smile.

"That is a story from the past. I died the moment I was erased from the palace records. Now, I am merely the Lord of Felsen—nothing more than a tool to realize the logic you present."

"A tool, huh? You’re underselling yourself, Gustav. Remember those cities I told you about? Florence, Manchester...?"

Gustav nodded slowly.

"Yes. Small, regional changes that eventually repaint the entire world... that was the story. Léonard’s expression changed visibly after hearing those words."

"Exactly. He’s sharp. He realized that going back to the capital and preparing the soil to accept the new 'system' spreading from Felsen is the most efficient move. Though, I doubt he’s given up his ambition to drag you back to the capital eventually."

Gustav lowered his brows in distress and gazed out the window.

"I’m no match for him... But Mr. Zect, what you said about a 'world that runs without you'... that has become my anchor. Whether I am royalty or not, the 'framework' we have built here in Felsen is a reality that no one can take away."

The hesitation that had clouded Gustav’s voice yesterday was gone, replaced by a firm sense of resolve. Through his reunion with Léonard, he seemed to have confirmed that the future he was sketching here was far more valuable than the past he had abandoned.

"But listen, Gustav. That framework only functions because a human being like you is the one running it. Those cities I mentioned didn't just develop on their own. Florence had a brilliant patron in the Medici family, and Manchester had people who risked everything to give shape to new industries. No matter how perfect a program is, if the local manager responsible for bringing it to reality is incompetent, it remains nothing more than a pipe dream."

I finished the last of my coffee and looked at Gustav with a serious expression.

"I might provide the blueprints for the future, but you’re the one stacking the stones, organizing the laws, and convincing the people. If you were just a 'tool,' then every lord in this world would be a tool. You are the high-performance execution environment that takes my fuzzy sketches and outputs them into this world’s resolution. It’s because Felsen has a leader like you that it can transition from 'just a regional town' to the 'pioneer of the world.'"

"Mr. Zect... your words are far kinder than I deserve."

Gustav bowed his head deeply. I noticed the tips of his ears were turning a slight shade of red. Having been told by Léonard that he was "erased data," his sense of self-worth had likely been shaken. My words had effectively overwritten that empty space with a new definition.

"No need to be so formal. I’m just stating logical facts. Without a competent manager, even the most promising startup fails in the launch phase. You are the irreplaceable key player tasked with leading this 'Project Felsen' to success. So, have some confidence."

"To hear you say that... it feels as though all my hardships have been rewarded. I suppose I was bound by my past as the First Prince, convincing myself that my current self was just a temporary mask. But finally, I’ve made up my mind. I will live as 'Gustav'—the man who gives shape to your logic here in Felsen."

A clear, unwavering light returned to Gustav’s eyes. It seemed he had successfully processed the "legacy bug" that was Léonard.

"That’s the spirit. It’s much more constructive to prepare for tomorrow’s update than to get depressed re-reading old logs. Though, Léonard did say something ominous about 'coming back,' so next time I’ll have to think of a stronger authentication system... or maybe just a better way to pretend I’m not home."

"Hahaha, indeed. I’ll make sure my own defenses as a Lord are ironclad so I can handle Léonard whenever he decides to drop in. Oh, and Mr. Zect... Léonard mentioned something as he was leaving. He said the next time he visits, he wants to let the merchants in the capital have a taste of that 'amber sauce.'"

"Is that guy still talking about the curry? That’s a non-public program, strictly for use in this house."

Gustav finally returned to his usual gentle smile.

"Well then, Mr. Zect. I know you didn't get much rest yesterday. Please, enjoy your nap to your heart's content today. I will take full responsibility for the after-action reports regarding Léonard."

With a refreshed expression, Gustav stood up, bowed, and left the living room. It looked like my golden hour—otherwise known as a "quiet nap"—was finally returning.

"Mrrp. (Finally, things have settled down. That earnest Lord was so easily swayed by your smooth talking that he’s completely fired up now.)"

Tama trotted over from the window and jumped onto my stomach. She was a bit heavy, but her warmth was the best reminder of my "daily routine."

"Well then. The intruders are gone, Tama. Let’s get some serious resting done. We’ll settle in for the ultimate nap while we wait for the world to rewrite itself."

(Power struggles in the capital, turning points in history... I'll just offload all that troublesome stuff to Gustav and Léonard. I’ll stay right here, maintaining Tama’s fur while I watch the source code of the world.)

I reclined the chair to its maximum limit and closed my eyes.

The living room became once again a solitary island of "modernity" floating in another world.

Tama’s quiet breathing lured my consciousness down into the depths of a deep sleep.

The wave of change starting from this corner of Felsen would surely propagate quietly and steadily to every corner of the world, even while I slept.

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