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* * *

Sweat trickled down as he cautiously glanced at me.

What’s with that? I tilted my chin as if to say, “Go ahead and speak.”

“Um, the next question is from, uh, Viktor Kim from Harbin. It’s a question from a Korean-Russian. Saint, aren’t you interested in the colonies of the Western powers? As a saint and a hero, shouldn’t you liberate the colonies suffering under imperialist powers?”

Hmm, why does it have to be a Korean asking that? Um, that’s a bit much. That’s a pretty sensitive question. Shouldn’t they filter such things out?

I mean, whoever it is, they’re likely part of the autonomous government of the Balhae Republic in Russia now. Won’t this make them look bad to the Russians?

Yeah, liberation of colonies. It’s easy to say. It’s a reality that’s impossible for now.

The international community is a harsh law, after all. In my view, it might only be possible after the Second World War, when no country can manage colonies.

Who on earth asked such a difficult question? I seriously thought about sending the Okhrana to find out, but decided to respond appropriately instead.

“That needs to be looked at coldly. While I sympathize with the colonies, I am the ruler of Russia. I can’t let Russian blood spill to liberate other nations’ colonies. However, the colonies will be freed even without our intervention.”

I replied in a bright voice, as if it were a reasonable question.

I mean, France was cut down by Germany in six weeks and pretended to be a victim, telling Algeria that if they helped them, they’d grant independence after the war, but then when Algeria asked for independence, they turned a deaf ear and even sent troops to suppress the independence movement, slaughtering civilians.

Just like Japan with the Nanjing Massacre, France raped and beheaded Algerians. They even took commemorative photos.

What about the Netherlands? Their whole nation was reduced to rubble by the German army, and when the U.S. saved them with the Marshall Plan, they turned around and invaded the Dutch East Indies, which were under Japanese rule, doing all sorts of atrocities.

There might be some noise after the war, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to liberate the colonies.

In post-war Europe, Russia will come into play, so Russia might have to take on the role that America used to play, but well, that’s a problem for later.

There’s no need to draw lines now about colony liberation and such. Hm, anyway, this is a bothersome question.

“Is that your prophecy, Your Majesty, as always?”

Should I even call it a prophecy? It’s not, is it?

“Of course, the countries managing those colonies are allies with Russia, so we can’t deeply debate this aspect. However, it’s clear we are reaching a limit.”

The problem is, despite saying this,

Damn it, England and France might argue about it.

After all, it shakes the very foundation of their colonization, so they’re bound to say something.

I dodged the questions about colonies sharply while the Q&A session lasted over an hour.

But honestly, I don’t know why there are so many fans of Ana-chan.

* * *

The fallout from the special radio segment ‘Ask the Tsar’ was quite significant.

“The Tsar doesn’t directly rule?”

“It’s best for Russia to quickly revert to an absolute monarchy!”

Young people dreamed of a country ruled directly by the Tsar.

After all, if the saint of Russia, the Emperor of Byzantium, the lord of the steppe and Manchuria doesn’t rule directly, then who would?

The nation built so far wasn’t accomplished by the Duma, was it?

The southern Russian government, the backbone of the Duma, had been hiding out in Ukraine, and wasn’t it the Tsar who called them to form a government?

If the saint dragged everything up to this point, then an absolute monarchy should be desirable.

A new wave of absolute monarchy fever was sweeping through the younger generation who had no memory of Nicholas II’s reign.

“Young people these days have really become fixated on the Tsar!”

“But if our current Majesty doesn’t intend to remain in the Tsar’s position for a thousand years, then an absolute monarchy is indeed dangerous.”

Still, the older generation, who remembered the era of Nicholas II, praised and respected the Tsar but deemed absolute monarchy risky.

“Hahaha! That’s right! The Majesty should rule directly!”

“Exactly! Our time must return!”

Except for the stubborn elderly generation and the nobles who were Tsarists to the core.

On the other hand, the Tsar’s youth and beauty garnered various reactions from many women, just as Anastasia had predicted.

“No, no matter how much, that’s just a bit much.”

“It’s infuriating, even if it’s the Tsar.”

“Do saints not age? Then what must one do to become a saint?”

Some grew angry, while others aspired to become saints.

Statements about marrying the nation made a considerable stir as well.

“Ha. The Tsar wed the nation. Such a style even as a woman.”

“We too should follow the Tsar!”

With the nation dedicated to serving the Tsar, the Russians were moved and decided to work even harder for the country.

“Is it fine just with dogs?”

“Pets are a man’s best friend, after all.”

“I heard the Tsar even passed an animal protection law.”

With the national idol Tsar owning a dog, the fondness for puppies suspiciously skyrocketed, and after the Tsar’s radio broadcast, many Russians began to raise dogs.

The Tsar’s influence was indeed tremendous.

Meanwhile, Japan…

“The Empress of Russia seems to wish for neutrality in the Russo-Japanese War.”

“That’s fortunate. Well, we need to conquer Jin to check the powers in the Pacific.”

The Japanese side figured out the true intentions of the Empress through this radio broadcast.

While it would be splendid if Russia fervently supported Japan, this war wasn’t something they could claim as entirely just, so it was sufficient that Russia just played a neutral role.

Moreover, the Tsar said that the victor is just, which means if Japan were to win this war, Russia would acknowledge that.

In which case, England and France wouldn’t be able to reckless above, either. Just with Russia’s tacit approval, they could gently manage the declining powers of England and France.

Meanwhile, the Korean-Russian who asked a question to the Tsar in this radio broadcast had to face the music from key officials in the provisional government.

“What on earth were you thinking making that statement? We’re desperate for Arasa’s help, and now you’ve ruffled the Tsar’s feathers!”

“Indeed. Comrade Kim, you went too far.”

True. That Korean-Russian was Kim Gu, the acting president of the Balhae Republic.

He had tossed out that question, hoping to disguise his identity a bit, curious whether the Tsar genuinely cared about Korea’s independence after Mutaguchi Renya’s great victory.

In the first place, I never thought Russians would shed blood to liberate another nation’s colonies, so I just wanted to know what the Tsar was truly thinking.

“However, I should have known. I wondered if the Empress was trying to use us. That’s what I was curious about.”

“To use? She wouldn’t waste her resources on a little exile government like ours! Tsk tsk.”

Lee Beom-seok, who had formed the Balhae Youth Corps with various ethnic youth, laughed at Kim Gu.

Meanwhile, Ahn Chang-ho, who had quietly observed, wanted to hear what Kim Gu had gleaned from the Tsar.

“So what did you find out?”

At Ahn Chang-ho’s inquiry, Kim Gu squinted, rubbed his chin, and fell deep in thought.

Well, what should I say? Honestly, I learned nothing.

What was said in that radio broadcast might be a bit overdone for the sake of the show. Taking that into account, the Empress couldn’t be viewed only as a righteous figure, but…

“At the very least, she doesn’t appear as dirty as the Japanese.”

Britain or France. They didn’t wear masks like the Japanese.

At least she wouldn’t use Korea for her own greed.

Meanwhile, the ambassadors of Britain and France were shocked by the Tsar’s radio broadcast.

After all, wasn’t it somewhat denying the colonies of an allied nation?

This statement implied that Russia could fight at any time.

“How should we interpret what the Tsar meant?”

“Since it became the Union, Russia has an expansionist ambition but shows no interest in colonies. From the Tsar’s perspective, it seems he genuinely believes he can’t maintain colonies after the next war.”

“What kind of future has he seen?”

To be honest, I don’t want to believe it. Even if the Tsar can’t foresee the future, he at least understands international affairs and can make educated guesses.

It is indeed tough to deal with colonies right now.

Both Britain and France, bursting with colonies created by the German Empire, had the red seed of Communist Germany sown in their colonies as Churchill said, the red seed did not perish.

Both countries had to deploy troops to each colony.

“In the end, the Tsar’s words meant this war is crucial.”

“That implies Communist Germany must be dealt with immediately.”

But who knows? Maybe asking the Tsar isn’t a bad idea.

If the fight with Communist Germany becomes hard, and they need to redirect colonial forces…

I’d better listen to the Tsar and prepare to launch a preemptive strike against Germany.

* * *

With the radio broadcast, the Tsar’s popularity skyrocketed.

While other countries suffer through the ravages of war and actively prepare for it, Russia was in a frenzy over Tsar-mania.

However, there were surely those who would raise objections.

“The ambassadors of Britain and France have lodged a complaint.”

The incumbent Prime Minister Georgy Lvov rushed to me, saying the ambassadors of Britain and France were causing trouble.

Oh dear.

Thanks to that unknown Korean-Russian, we’re in a bind.

“Please respond appropriately. Right now, it’s difficult enough to manage colonies, let alone deal with Communist Germany afterward. Make a clear statement that we will not interfere. If we say the response was given reluctantly by the Saint, that should suffice.”

“Oh, I already did that, but more than that, if that prophecy was factual, I need you to tell me the countermeasures—”

That’s what they came for. What? Are they crazy?

I don’t understand why they’re believing my prophecy. Seems like they’ve got nothing better to do.

Or are they finally realizing something before the war?

If that’s the case, I could give them a bit of praise.

“No, I just don’t get why they believe my words. Seriously?”

What’s up with these lunatics? Why do they put faith in my prophecy?

Frankly, that’s a bit much.

“So far, Your Majesty has pointed out resource deposits, and there was also the prophecy about the Great Depression, so now we found a gold mine?”

Yes, it was discovered.

But I have a little excuse for that.

“Well, in the end, just saying it all depends on how the war ends should do it. We will crush Communist Germany as soon as the war starts and use their reparations to sustain the colonies. That should be sufficient.”

There’s no other answer.

Of course, after trampling on that Germany, we might gain something to maintain the colonies.

But frankly, haven’t we gotten enough already? How long do they plan to keep milking this? These fools.

They’ll probably catch the Communist Germans later and throw it all back on them as the axis of evil, washing their hands clean.

Ah, that’s a bit convoluted, though. I honestly recognize that Westerners have advanced some uncivilized countries through colonization, but if that means colonial rule, the story changes.

Thus, even if I hope for the genuine liberation of colonies and sincerely apologize, it still wouldn’t be enough. Especially since I, a Saint, have no reason to assist in maintaining those colonies.

“In the end, just say this war is a problem. It’s crucial to end it quickly.”

That should be enough.

If they prepare ahead of time, particularly the British will have to adequately defend the homeland.

“Understood. Then, does Your Majesty see the colonial era truly coming to an end?”

To call it truly ended is still premature. After all, there are still those who are immersed in nostalgia for the past.

Aside from that, the places that suffered genuine exploitation will have to stand independent, particularly the core colonies of Britain and France.

Even if they didn’t want to grant freedom, circumstances dictate otherwise.

“It will end. It has to, and it must. In fact, if they don’t, their homelands will get wrecked.”

When the war with Germany breaks out, colonial forces will inevitably be put to use.

Just look at Franco; didn’t he use Moroccan troops in the civil war?

Next, he’ll say, “Well, I’ll grant you independence if you join the war,” just for them to believe it. Especially those colonies where the red seed had been sown.

By that time, they might really engage in a violent struggle for independence.

I am doing this for the stability of the Far East, planning to grant independence to Korea while also showing a bit of goodwill since it’s still my previous life’s country. But other colonies are bound to be left to the great powers. They must achieve independence themselves.

Only by shedding blood can they command respect from their former suzerains.

“However, given you’re a Saint, slipping through this would seem a bit off. Just like that Korean-Russian mentioned in the radio broadcast.”

Maria chimed in while looking somewhat regretful.

“Well, anyway, the current anti-air agreement will naturally dissolve once the communist powers collapse. We can just play it off nicely when that time comes.”

By then, will Britain and France dare oppose Russia? If Russia were to step in then, “Your colonies aren’t to my liking, liberate them!” would they refuse?

 

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