The Strongest Sometimes Become A Threat

“Vim Abel, you are hereby imprisoned for treason!!”

I was being sentenced out of the blue.

Vim Abel—a court magician serving the Cyrus Empire.

Among them, I was said to possess the greatest mana capacity in the entire Empire. I was a man who became a court magician through sheer ability alone.

To serve the Imperial Court, one usually needs a certain level of social standing. However, Vim was scouted by the previous Emperor, who had taken an interest in his magical prowess.

Because he was of commoner birth, the reception Vim received was far from warm. This hostility only accelerated when the Emperor was replaced.

Unlike the previous ruler, the current Emperor is a staunch believer in the class system. It was a bleak prospect that the son of the previous Emperor—who was beloved as a man of character—turned out like this.

“Have I done something?”

“You defied the Emperor of our nation. Therefore, you are charged with treason,” the Duke said with a stern expression.

“Excuse me?”

Vim had only voiced a slight opinion. If that was considered treason, it was utterly unbearable.

“You are to be exiled from the country and imprisoned. This is the Emperor’s command.”

The Duke thrust a mandate bearing the Emperor’s signature in front of Vim.

“Your qualifications as a court magician are stripped, and all your authority is nullified.”

“Wait…”

“No excuses! Take him away!!”

The Duke shouted toward the guards waiting nearby. Once Vim was restrained by the guards, he was marched out of the court.

“Move it!!”

The use of magic is prohibited within the palace. If he were to use magic now, there truly would be no way to talk himself out of it.

“Forgive me, Vim. This was the only way… I believe that you, of all people, will surely find a way through this.”

In the now-empty room, tears welled in the Duke’s eyes.

The Emperor’s command is absolute. Given his position, the Duke had no other choice. No matter how much he struggled, he could not overturn the situation.

“Please, crush all of this injustice.”

The Duke had supported the previous Emperor. Even though the ruler had changed, he had to support the current Emperor. If he played his hand wrong, even a Duke could lose his head.

The Duke had attempted to protect Vim by using every bit of his authority. However, neither the nobles nor the powerful clans would cooperate; they were all terrified of the Emperor. On the contrary, some even argued that Vim should be imprisoned because they feared his power.

Certainly, Vim’s power was such that, if used poorly, it could overthrow a nation. That is likely why the Emperor chose the method of “imprisonment” rather than a mere “exile.”

If he had been of noble birth, it might have been different, but the fact that a mere commoner possessed such irregular power was a threat to the current Emperor.

Vim would be a strong ally, but there was no telling when he might betray them.

If that’s the case, then just lock him up.

It was the kind of logic an idiot would come up with. And yet, the nobles had agreed with it.

“This country might truly be rotten to the core,” the Duke muttered in indignation