CH 157

[The Negotiation Concluded]

“Mother would never do such a thing… it must be a lie…” (Noelia)

“Unfortunately, Noelia-dono’s existence in this world itself establishes what Florina-shi has done as a fact. The fact that she used her own flesh and blood as a source of research.

“Ahh, I forgot to mention, but you met monsters with appearances that are mix of Abyss Walkers and humans, did you not? They are, in fact, our compatriots who were mutated when they were exposed to a massive quantity of mana as they were passing through the dimensional gate. While they are humans, their bodies have been deformed. That was how the monstrosities called the Abyss Walkers were born. Then, we made a lot of changes to them to strengthen them. What do you think? They are no different from Frick-dono and co, are they not?” (Vigo)

The Abyss Walkers were originally humans!?

They were not beings that were made as such, but were humans who underwent mutation into such.

And the monsters in that passage are the end result of people who didn’t completely transformed into Abyss Walkers.

Finding out that the Abyss Walkers, whom I had always thought as fiendish monstrosities, are the unfortunate outcome of those who were once humans, I receive an enormous shock within.

“Replicated humans who were remodeled for battle, and mutated humans who were remodeled as monstrosities. Both are beings who were created by the madness of humans. Can you tell me the difference between?” (Vigo)

I can… not say I can.

If I’m really a strengthened human being created by the ‘Superhuman Project’ as Vigo said, I can’t say what is the difference between me and the Abyss Walker.

“It’s really ridiculous, isn’t it? A boy being able to continuously fire high-level magic without a staff despite not having sufficient training in magic, a girl in her late-teens mastering a self-taught swordsmanship so great that she can brush aside veteran swordsmen and take down a demonic dragon, and another girl having an overwhelming magic power compared to ordinary people— such people are not, in any way, normal. If you think about it normally, there are many parts about you three that are strange.” (Vigo)

The reason why we never get sick and have strong bodies are because we were created to be so…

Alfine’s outstanding physical abilities and sword skills were allthe talents given to her from the very beginning.

Even my magic is a power given to me even before I was born.

Alfine has become a sword master, which was the purpose intended for her from before she was born; I, too, has become a magic swordsman who is talented in sword and magic like the founding king.

And Noelia, too, has become someone with the best ability as a mage, just like her mother wished for.

Everything, has been arranged to be like this from the very beginning…

“Frick-san! Don’t listen to Vigo! The words that come out of his mouth are always lies! And Noelia-sama, do you really think your mother would do something like that!” (Al)

Al hits my shoulder who is in daze, and lifts up Noelia who has sank down to the floor.

“Alfine…” (Frick)

“I’ll call you Finn just for now, but as Cinzia-sama said, the power we gained is the result of accumulation of desperate efforts we put into training! Noelia-sama is like that too, isn’t it!? Our birth has nothing to do with it! We are not monsters; we are just ordinary humans. No more, no less!” (Al)

“Al-sama…” (Noelia)

Al, lifting up Noelia, points her sword at Vigo without being afraid of the tips of the cylinders pointed at her.

We are ordinary humans, no more, no less, huh…

That’s true.

I was born and raised as Alfine’s childhood friend, Finn, and now I’m ajust man who have decided to live as the magic swordsman Frick for the sake of Noelia whom I have fallen in love with.

No more, no less.

Al’s resolute words clear up the unpleasant feeling from finding out the secret of my birth that has spread within me.

“Originally, it seems that Frick-dono and Alfine-dono were supposed to be disposed of by Danton-shi when the Great Invasion ended, and had Florina-shi survived, Noelia-dono would have never touch magic at all and live normally as a lady of the frontier count family. However, the thing called fate sure is cruel.” (Vigo)

Even if Vigo said that I’m nothing but a pseudo-human with a life that was created by humans, I am me.

Not someone else.

It’s the same for Noelia and Alfine.

We are neither substitutes for someone else nor are we pseudo-humans.

We are humans with clear emotions.

Besides, Director Danton and Philia-sensei treated me and Alfine as normal children.

Linus-shi, Lloyd-sama, and Cinzia-sama, too, treated Noelia as a normal child.

“Noelia-dono, who lost her mother, devoted herself to magic under Linus-shi. Frick-dono and Alfine-dono, who wereplanned to be disposed off, were raised by Danton-shi and Philia-shi as orphans, and each of you have unearth your real ability. And the fact that the encounter with you three gave us the means of migration that we ‘Foreigners’ have sought for many years; I can only say that the god of fate truly has played a cruel joke on us.” (Vigo)

Vigo throws the memorandums of Director Danton and Linus-shi in front of us, and speaks in intoxicated manner.

Eventually, Vigo seems to have run out of words; he moves his hand in the air, and the projection of Cinzia is cut off.

Afterward, Vigo exposes himself to the tip of the short sword that Al sticks out.

Al is in a position where she can pierce his heart before the metal balls reaches her if she unleashes a thrust with extreme speed.

“Now then, that was the secret of your birth that had been hidden. Of course, if it leaks out, you will become enemies to mankind who rejects those who are different from them. After all, you are beings who are, by far, stronger than the enhanced Abyss Walkers and more destructive than Genociders— the strongest beings in this world. Ordinary people will be afraid of your existences and try to expulse you. There will no longer be a place of rest for you in the Kingdom of Hartford.” (Vigo)

The people of the kingdom would be afraid of us just as they are of the Abyss Walkers who brought disaster upon them and expulse us if they were to find out about our birth?

The image of people mobbing us with weapons in hand comes to my mind.

I immediately shake my head and deny the image.

“That won’t happen.” (Frick)

“Is that so? People are more selfish creatures than you think.” (Vigo)

“Yeah, I know that. Because I’m also one of those selfish creatures, I’m also a human. we’d be scared of a creature we don’t know, and we’d eliminate them if we feel they pose a threat to our lives. In fact, we eliminate the Abyss Walkers for that same reason.” (Frick)

“Are you saying that you can still believe in people despite understanding that?” (Vigo)

“Yeah, that’s right. I can do nothing but believe.” (Frick)

Hearing my answer, Vigo puts his hand on his forehead and bursts into laughter.

“As you would expect from, a hero candidate. You seem to have an innocent heart knows nothing about doubting.” (Vigo)

“It may sound laughable, but I want to believe in the people who raised me and those who are involved with me. That’s all.” (Frick)

“I wonder if that means you are not willing to negotiate with us for keeping the secret of your birth?” (Vigo)

I silently nod to Vigo’s question.

Al and Noelia nod like I did.

“You all don’t seem to completely understand your current position yet. I haven’t told Boris the secret of your birth yet to negotiate with you, but… If he were to learn the secret of your birth, he would accuse the Frontier Count, who nominated Frick-dono as his successor, and his backer, the new king, as enemies of mankind, and causes a civil war to eliminate them, which would inevitably causes blood to flow like river.” (Vigo)

“Boris would cause a civil war… with us as the cause…? There’s no way that…” (Frick)

Besides, Boris should have stepped down from his official post, handed over the position of the family head to his second son, and retired.

How can such a man lead a civil war?

“Although he has resigned from his official post and gave up the position of the family head due to Gile’s outburst that I set up, Boris’s ambition has not died down. He is that kind of man. It is only because I have been associating with him for such a long time that I ended up becoming able to read his heart.” (Vigo)

As Boris’s subordinate, he manipulated Gile and prepared for the second Great Invasion in the other side of the kingdom, and yet.

He talked about his master with whom he has a long relationship like he was somebody else…

“Vigo, you’re that Boris’s subordinate.” (Frick)

“I ‘was’, mind you. Now, I have parted with him. This time I’m moving at my own discretion. And as I’ve been trying to say since earlier, we would like to switch to Frick-dono’s side.” (Vigo)

That means he betrayed Boris, his real master.

What does he seek by negotiating with us to the point he went that far?

Vigo, seeing our confused faces, begins to nod as if he’s convinced himself.

“From the exchanges we have so far, I’m convinced that switching side to you is the correct decision. Besides, I see that our negotiation is roughly concluded.” (Vigo)

“Frick-sama has said that he won’t negotiate with you! Why are you spouting on your own accord!?” (Noelia)

“Neither Frick-san, Noelia-sama, nor I will negotiate with you! That’s what we’re saying. Have you gone mad for real!?” (Al)

“By having you know about our existence and learn about the secret of your birth in this place, our negotiation is concluded.” (Vigo)

I don’t get what he says!

For what reason did he do such a complex thing and bring us here!

Vigo begin to operate a nearby equipment, ignoring us who have become more confused.

Along with the sound of machine operating, the wall in the back opens to the left and right, and in the inside separated by glass, a jet-black hole begins to reveal itself.

“What! The wall in the back opens!” (Frick)

“Beyond the glass is… a jet-black hole!?” (Al)

“That may be the real Abyss Hole.” (Noelia)

Around the jet-black hole that is revealed in the other side of the glass partition, pale lightning flashes one after another.

As the number of lightning bolts increase, dazzling light leaks out from the jet-black hole, dyeing the room pure white.

“The dimensional door is open! Our compatriots. This is the new migration destination you have been eagerly waiting for! There are plenty water, food, spaces to live in here! And even though the atmosphere is extremely poisonous due to mana that filled it, with the mana antibody, you don’t need to wear a mask! Let us all live long in this land!” (Vigo)

Vigo raises his hands and shouts toward the hole where the number of pale lightning bolts continue to increase.

This light… could it be the pillar of light that was said to be the omen of the Great Invasion!? Vigo is really trying to trigger the Great Invasion! He said he wanted to negotiate and I got careless!

“Vigo! Stop! You said it yourself that your compatriots would turn into Abyss Walkers if they come to this world! Are you trying to cause the Great Invasion again!” (Frick)

Pulling out Dayle, I take advantage of the opening that is made due to the surrounding guards get blinded by the light, and immediately pierce the chest of Vigo, who is laughing loudly and raising his hands toward the hole that’s giving off dazzling light.