The location is the capital of the Remrus Empire—Echran.
The town was filled with life.
In the noisy shopping town, it was overflowing with crowds of people.
Well-maintained, within the streets—no, in the heart of numerous churches within the country, as if built in a circle, the people were gathering at the churches due to it being the weekend, to give praise to the king of the country.
And that,
"... As expected of the greatest superpower within the central continent. But when it comes to countries that seize their people through religion, it's the first time I've seen a country flourish to this extent,"
Luke Stokkart muttered, gazing at the streets.
Still twenty-five, twenty-six, he had long, pure white hair and an eternally smiling, calm face.
Inconspicuously, he inspected the vegetables a stall, while looking around and confirming his surroundings, to which,
"Hey, mister, if you're not gonna buy anything, then you're standing in the way, so would you move?"
The shopkeeper said.
In response, Luke put on a frantic appearance, and said,
"Ah, I apologize, I apologize. That the street is so full of people is something that surprised me."
At that, the shopkeeper looked his way. Then, noticing the traveling garb that Luke was wearing,
"Oh, are you a traveler?"
He nodded at the question.
"I'm from the neighbouring country of Hoful and came to find some work away from home... Ah, have you heard of the country of Hoful?"
The shopkeeper shook her head.
"Nope. But it's one of those, isn't it? A vassal country of this Remrus Empire?"
At those words, Luke smiled sweetly and corrected her.
"No. It's one of its allies."
"Ah, did I upset you?"
"No, no, though it's officially an ally country, the truth is that it is dependent on this country... but at any rate, it's not doing very well, so I was hoping to find work outside."
While giving out one lie after another, he picked up a vegetable with yellow leaves.
It wasn't a vegetable found in Roland—no, though it was possibly a fruit—though furthermore he didn't know of how one would cook this, he held it anyway, and,
"As I need to be frugal with my money, I need to properly cook for myself,"
He said such a thing.
The shopkeeper nodded in admiration with a right, right, and said,
"Mister, even though you're still young, you've got a great mindset, don't you?"
"Well, though you say that, today's the first time I've thought about cooking."
"Oh dear, that's bad."
"Isn't it? In this city, I'll be making my first real attempt,"
He said, making an uneasy expression, before looking around again.
The shopkeeper spoke.
"It'll be all right. After all, this town is full of friendly people, y'know? If it comes down to it, you can count on the church. Ah, have you already been to the church? If you end up living in this town, you must meet with the advisors."
Luke nodded at such words.
"The merchant owner who agreed to give me some work said that as well. I'll meet with them tomorrow."
"I see, I see. That's good. If you meet properly with the advisors, then it'll be all right for you to live in this town. You'll live a happy life here,"
The shopkeeper said.
Luke smiled at that and nodded.
"Then, do you have any cheap vegetables today?"
He asked.
The shopkeeper laughed and said,
"It's fine, for today only, I'll do you a service. Pick any ones you like."
Even if she said that, it wasn't like he knew how to cook any of the vegetables, but at any rate, Luke picked out a few fruit-like objects, and,
"Then, I'll take advantage of your generous offer, so is it fine even if I take these?"
"What's this? It's fine if you don't hold back and take more, y'know?"
"No, no, if I took so much that I couldn't finish them, since that'd be an inexcusable waste. If I don't have enough, I can always come back."
"Hey, hey, the next ones aren't free, you realize?"
"Aha."
"Geez, you're just such a likable guy, huh? Well, see you later, then."
"Yes, thank you very much. Then, with this."
"Yes, yes, thank you for your patronage~"
The shopkeeper said.
At that, Luke bowed his head and left the stall.
The shopping town unsurprisingly brimming with people, everyone had bright faces.
A man and a woman were getting married in one place apparently, a stall elsewhere was selling stylish clothing, a grandchild was being born elsewhere—he overheard that kind of thing.
And the men, women, elderly, and children all laughed.
They laughed with cheerful faces from the bottom of their hearts.
Even though, right now, with this country in the middle of a war with Roland, their brethren continued to drop like flies each day.
Even though, as this country had chosen to conscript its soldiers, their family, children, and neighbours were being sent out to war each day and dying, they laughed peacefully.
Incidentally, based on Luke's investigation, right now, the greengrocer lady that Luke had spoken no longer had any family left, apparently.
Her two sons and husband had been conscripted and were currently participating in the war.
No, they likely weren't in this world anymore.
"......"
Luke looked over his shoulder.
There, his eyes met the shopkeeper's.
The shopkeeper smiled and waved a hand at him.
Luke waved back, and,
"As I thought, this is clearly..."
He muttered.
Then at the town's—gazing at the cheerful appearances of the people here, as everyone was so bright that it was unnerving,
"... This is clearly brainwashing magic at work here,"
He said.
Then he looked up at the church at the end of the town.
The church was considerably large, in the shape of a steeple. No matter where one was in the country, they would be able to see that steeple.
And anyone who visited this country absolutely had to visit the church and speak with the advisors, as Luke had been told, though,
"... Now then, it's the church that's casting the brainwashing magic, isn't it?"
Luke considered such a thing.
"Could a large-scale brainwashing magic that covers the entire country exist?"
While saying that, he hit his own head, and then touched his chest. Confirming his pulse with his fingertip, he counted to make sure it was within range of his expectations.
At the very least, right now, it didn't appear that any sort of unique magic had been used on him. There was nothing strange about his mental condition.
In other words,
"As I thought, the church is suspicious, hmm?"
He said while walking.
The town unsurprisingly filled with life, for some reason, things felt slightly happier there.
Leaving the shopping town, he entered an inn that was somewhat in a back alley.
Unsurprisingly, the inn's landlord was also upbeat.
Looking at him.
"Will you be staying the night?"
Luke nodded at those words.
"Do you have a room available for two nights?"
"We do. You fine with paying in advance, though?"
"That's fine."
Luke said, taking out the currency being used in the Remrus Empire from his pocket.
While taking that, the landlord stared at him, and,
"You a traveler?"
Luke nodded at the question.
"From the country of Hoful..."
"Ah~, working away from home, I see. Since this place is cheap, it's a great place to stay for a kid working away from home until they find a home,"
The landlord said such a thing.
Luke smiled at that, and said,
"It seems so. Looking at other places' pricing, I was also surprised."
The landlord nodded with a right, right.
"Well, since it's in a back alley, we don't get a lot of customers, so we gotta keep the price low like this. Even if that weren't the case, this country doesn't get a lot of travelers."
"Hoh."
"But it's a great place to live. Then, will you be looking for a place to work tomorrow?"
"That's the intention, but I'm not sure where a good place would be?"
At the question, the landlord spoke.
"If that's the case, you should discuss it with the advisors. Ah, if you don't know about 'em, in the event that you stay here for ten days or more..."
There, Luke interrupted him and spoke.
"I must tell the advisors. That's how it is, correct? I know."
"Oh, then that's good. Then, have you already met with the advisors?"
Luke shrugged at that, and,
"No, I just arrived, so... I was thinking about doing it tomorrow,"
He said.
However, that was a lie.
It had already been half a month after he entered the Remrus Empire as a spy.
He'd been investigating first the situation of the town, information on the people living there, the territory, how the country was managed.
And as he moved from town to town, he'd already sent many reports to Roland on how this country's organization and the shroud covering it were abnormal.
Though he had yet to visit the church—no, though he'd tried sneaking into it, the church's security was considerably strict, and on top of that, it seemed that from all directions, there was some kind of magic being used to the manipulate the nerves of the people here, and so he had to prepare carefully.
But those preparations had been arranged for tomorrow—no, he planned to sneak in this night.
Staring at him, the landlord spoke.
"In any case, meet with the advisors as soon as possible, all right? If you receive the advisors' guidance, there won't be any problems."
Luke nodded at that.
"When I left my homeland, I was told by my fellow travelers working away from home to go and see the church at the very beginning."
"That's right, that's right. That's a relief,"
The landlord said, laughing.
Luke also smiled at that, and received the key to the room.
"It's the innermost room on the second floor."
"Thank you very much."
Giving his thanks to the landlord, he headed towards his room. While affirming the structure of the inn, he arrived at his room.
The room wasn't locked.
Opening the door that seemed like it'd be easy to break by kicking it open, he entered the room.
It was a small room with a desk, a closet, and a bed.
But he didn't especially care about the furniture of the room.
He looked towards the window. He checked to see whether he could escape from the window.
Outside the window, it was connected to a narrow alleyway.
It was an alleyway narrow enough that he could jump to the neighbouring building.
But, well,
"... Seems like I can escape, hmm?"
He said, nodding as he placed his belongings on the bed.
Then he also sat down on the bed.
Though the window was open, due to how close the distance between it and the neighbouring building was, not much light entered the room.
As there was no lamp, even though it was still around evening, it was dark within the room.
Amidst that darkness,
"......"
He waited for time to pass.
The day fell.
It became darker inside the room.
But he still didn't move.
Because tonight, people weren't sleeping. That was why he turned on the lamp in his room. Then he took out the vegetables he bought earlier and placed them on the desk.
"... Afterwards, I'll have to borrow the kitchen and try cooking with these,"
He muttered such a thing.
Following that, he opened the knapsack that carried the rest of his belongings. Supplied with after he entered the capital of the Remrus Empire—Echran, there was a combat uniform that was easy to move in and several knives. The combat uniform was that of the Remrus Empire's soldier. Furthermore, there was also a rough map of the largest church in Echran, the capital of the Remrus Empire.
Hiding that underneath the bed, he again sat on top of the bed.
He looked outside the window where it was pitch black, and,
"......"
Unsurprisingly, he didn't move.
He would move when it was past midnight.
At that,
"... Would it be fine to sleep for a bit?"
He said, lying down on the bed and closing his eyes.
However, sleep didn't come.
Somehow, it seemed that his nerves were too irritable, and so he couldn't fall asleep.
Regarding that, Luke opened his eyes faintly, and,
"......"
However, as expected, he said nothing.
Instead, he stared at the ceiling above him.
He stared at the plain, empty ceiling of the inn.
There was nothing in the room.
There was nothing in the room.
But.
"......"
But, in this air that was filled with no gaps in it, there were monsters that he couldn't see with his eyes.
Though they couldn't be seen by humans, completely filling the air, monsters wriggled around.
For example, the monsters known as Goddesses .
The monster known as the Hero .
The monster known as the Demon .
The monsters known as Priests .
Utterly sneering at the efforts of humans, toying with a person's fate, with everything dancing about in the palms of their hands.
He held his hand out towards that in the air that couldn't be seen, and,
"... No, well, though I've always been vaguely aware,"
He muttered.
Correct.
Regarding that, he'd already realized it since he was a child.
That some kind of special power, structure was operating in the world—it was influencing everything, wasn't it?
He'd always thought that sort of thing.
Rather than some obscure feeling, as he'd continued to analyze the reality of things as it accumulated, he'd reached that conclusion before he knew it.
For example, the Roland Empire—even if one just looked at the existence of such a country, that was something that one would understand.
There was something clearly abnormal about that country.
Like the state of this Remrus Empire, enough that one couldn't be surprised, that place was also a strange country.
For starters, the nobles' tyranny and corruption went on for so long, and yet continued to hold on to overwhelming military power in the southern continent; it was that sort of reality.
The discontent with the king, who was unanimously nothing but a misgovernment, never turned into action—even if it did, that reformation would never succeed; it was that sort of reality.
And if one were to peruse through the history books of that country, it seemed that it had maintained that state for over hundreds of years.
That recently, Sion Astal had created a revolution, changing the country to the point where it was as if it'd been reborn—though that sort of thing had happened, even that revolution, in truth, was trifling.
After all, Sion was also someone who carried the blood of the royal family.
That meant even now, the country was being ruled by someone of the same blood.
On top of that, for such an abnormally long time as hundreds of years, it'd been ruled by people of the same blood.
Naturally, there'd been several revolutions.
It'd always been a terrible country. Amidst the oppressed people, there'd been competent ones, as well as those who gathered allies and tried to start a revolution.
But each and every time, it ended in failure. For hundreds of years, there'd been countless revolutions, and all of them ended in failure.
And the father of Luke's superior Rahel Miller was also a revolutionary.
Likely a middle-aged man, he was a revolutionary who probably possessed greater forces.
It was a revolution that should have succeeded, no matter what. Miller's father was meticulous and reserved his powers for years and months, even getting the primary nobles on his side.
But in the end, they failed.
At the end of it all, it was nothing but tragedy.
Why it failed, no one knew.
Back when Luke first met Rahel Miller, he'd done considerable investigation on the details of what the man's father did, but even then, he couldn't figure out why the revolution had been destroyed.
Even though Miller's father had possessed that degree of power at the time.
And then, there had been something strange about the country.
Everyone thought the country was mad.
Everyone thought the country had to change.
But it didn't change.
Never thinking that something abnormal, unseen by the human eye was controlling matters, history advanced forward.
That was why Miller had set Sion up as their leader.
If, somehow, there's some strange curse or requirements needed for the sake of changing this country, let's start a revolution that fulfills those requirements, and so it wasn't that Sion Astal was especially needed for the revolution, but they set up someone who was still young and carried the blood of the royal family as leader.
And the result was that the revolution succeeded.
No, the fact that Sion became king meant that there might be some problems with calling it a revolution, but Miller had done it.
But ultimately, that country now, from long ago, continued to be ruled by someone who carried the blood of the king.
And the reason for that was because of the several existences in this world.
Gods—though, in the Roland Empire that had no religion, the existence of such things couldn't be felt, that some kind of large, inhuman existence was manipulating the reason of the world was something that Luke had always suspected.
And as if to make doubly sure of that,
"......"
Before him, Lieral Lieutolu, a human who had ceased to be a person, appeared.
Luke recalled that moment.
The moment when, appearing before him, Lieral proposed to have a negotation with him.
About the existences of the Hero and the Goddesses and the Priests who'd created them.
Recalling the proposal of discussing how they, as humans, were to oppose such monsters...
"......"
There, he stopped thinking.
And he looked outside the window.
In this inn, located in an alleyway completely as if it were being hidden, there was little noise.
But looking towards that darkness,
"... My, my, it looks like a guest has come,"
Luke muttered.
Then faintly opening his eyes,
"However, I shouldn't be acquainted with anyone in this country,"
He said, rising.
He looked outside, where the supposed acquaintance was approaching.
Of course, though he'd noticed the presence of the other party, he couldn't see their manner.
With closed ventilation, he moved to close the window, and while putting on that sort of act, he put his hand on the window.
Then he gazed outside.
As for what he could see from the window, there was no hidden spots in a narrow place like this and so he had a view of everything,
"......"
There was nobody else in the alleyway.
Even though he felt someone's presence, he couldn't see anything.
In spite of that, that presence was steadily approaching.
Feeling something approach the second-storey window where Luke was—
"It seems that the ventilation will be enough any moment now,"
Luke said, shutting the window.
Like that, he took a step back.
Then he stared at the window.
If something, by any chance, were approaching.
And if they were to smash through the window, he'd be able to deal with them.
If they were to strike the window with that sort of tangibility, he'd be able to fight with them.
If they were using some kind of spell in this country such that their figure couldn't be seen, or if they possessed a Rhule Fragmei with that kind of ability.
Either way, if the opponent were an ordinary human, then there were means of dealing with them.
But,
"... But here is a country ruled by a monster of some unknown nature called God , isn't it?"
He muttered in a slightly troubled voice.
During that time, the presence steadily approached.
That was why he took another step back, concentrating on the window.
And taking the Latsel Thread out of his pocket, he unleashed it around him. Extending indefinitely, unable to be cut, this thread that possessed those abilities was cast from the front of the window frame as if being suspended.
If the other party was tangible, this thread would also be effective.
Confining the enemy with the thread, he set up an attack in that space...
But then,
"Ah, this is bad,"
Luke groaned.
As expected, the presence was approaching.
No, already, it wasn't simply a presence, but rather one could call it killing intent that was approaching before Luke's eyes.
Easily cast from the window, the Latsel Thread wasn't coming into contact with anything at all, as "that" which couldn't be seen was getting closer to Luke inside his room.
"Damn it, as I thought, it's an intangible enemy?"
Luke said, taking another step back as he opened the room door.
And he fled outside.
The presence chasing from behind him, Luke didn't look back and barged into the neighbouring room on the second floor.
Kicking through the window, he exited to the outside.
As he kicked the opposite building's wall, he dropped into the alleyway and began running.
Unsurprisingly, the presence continued to chase him from behind.
No, the presence was no longer from behind.
It felt as if it were bursting out from all around him in every place.
That killing intent—no, that malice began to surround Luke.
"... This is my bad, hmm? Having my whereabouts discovered so easily by the enemy disqualifies me as a spy, doesn't it? Captain Milk will be angry about this."
While muttering such things, he ran.
He turned through numerous alleyways.
To escape without trouble, as much as possible, as much as possible, he chose the paths without signs of people and so pressed forward.
However, each time, the presence grew.
As much as he ran, the surrounding presence grew.
Even so, he, without hesitating, ran through the streets.
The reason was that, with the location of the presence that he felt combined with the map of the streets that was forming inside his head, he'd noticed a path through which he could properly escape.
The presence's movements weren't especially quick.
Furthermore, the way that the presence was growing in itself seemed to be systematic, and if so,
"I should be able to es..."
But then,
"My mistake,"
He groaned, frowning.
Because he just noticed it.
Because he just noticed that, in the map that spread across his mind, the destination to which he was running right now was the church.
It seemed that the presence chasing him from behind was delivering Luke personally to the church.
At that, Luke stopped running, and,
"Why did I make this sort of error?"
He said in a tone as if he were disgusted with himself.
Unsurprisingly, the presence approached.
Many, many unseen presences approached.
It was likely no longer possible to escape. Moreover, aside from the path to the church, the presence was overflowing from every place.
"This truly is my bad,"
He muttered.
"No, well, it seems as if I'm being guided by some hand to go to the church, though. At any rate, tonight, I've been given permission to intrude,"
He muttered.
"But to go out of their way to have me see the church, that means that even if I were captured by this presence, they're unable to brainwash me, aren't they? It seems that I can consider that possibility. No, though I likely can't indulge this sort of wishful thinking... Well, like this, there's a decent chance that I'll be ambushed there..."
Just then, the presence caught up with Luke.
As if completely wrapping around his mind, something like a clear lump of malice swooped down.
<< Don't resist. >>
Suddenly, a voice echoed.
Inside his head, as if directly descending upon him, was a voice.
Luke narrowed his eyes at that, and,
"Ah~, as I thought, it's brainwashing magic...?"
He muttered.
However, ignoring that, the voice continued to resound.
<< Go to the church. There, you'll find salvation. >>
At the same time as the voice spoke, Luke's body began to move on its own.
Even though he gave them no such orders, both of his hands and feet moved on their own and began to walk.
"......"
He looked down at his own body. And regarding his hands and legs that were moving on their own, he gave a separate command.
Don't react to any signals from the brain, he ordered.
With that, his body's movements ceased. No, if he didn't continue to give out that order, his body would begin moving again, but,
"This level of brainwashing magic is no different from what a human would use, and so I can deal with it... but they're certainly earnest about having me go to the church, aren't they?"
Luke said.
Regarding those words, there was a response. But rather than the voice descending in his mind, it was a human's voice that responded.
Diagonal from Luke, from inside a private home,
"Considering your standing as a human, you're being quite stubborn, huh?"
A man's voice spoke.
As Luke looked towards the source, a lone man stepped out of the house.
It was a middle-aged man with a beard.
That man looked his way, and,
"Who are you? Why isn't the brainwashing magic working?"
He said such a thing.
Luke was about to answer, but then, from behind him,
"Well, it doesn't matter who you are. After all, in the end, you'll become another one of my devotees... and at our own leisure, we'll investigate your brain,"
A woman's voice sounded out, as Luke turned around.
There, a street stall lady was staring at him. Somehow, it appeared at the words just now were this woman's.
Furthermore, a child walking to his side looked at him, and said,
"Then, shall we end this already?"
And then,
"Let's punish the heretic,"
The mother leading the child said.
And she laughed.
The mother laughed.
"Ahahahahahahahaha."
The child laughed.
"Ahahahahahahahaha."
The middle-aged man from the house laughed.
"Ahahahahahahahaha."
And by then, as if the entire population of the street had gathered there, there were hundreds of people surrounding him, laughing madly. Laughing. Laughing.
And,
<< Capture him. >>
At the same time that the voice descended, those hundreds of people rushed in at once.
Looking around at that,
"How remarkable..."
Luke said in a voice of admiration.
"Rather than brainwashing to have them pledge loyalty, it's actually manipulating the entire country...? Certainly, this by far surpasses the level of magic that a human could use..."
While saying that, he released the Latsel Thread towards a building wall.
The thread twined around part of the wall's plumbing.
Pulling on the thread, he raised his body into the air, but,
<< Don't move. >>
The voice descended.
His body reacted to that. His brain, in response to the voice, was about to stop moving, to which,
"... Don't listen to the voice. Move your arm,"
Luke ordered his body, in an attempt to defy the brainwashing magic cast by that voice.
Then, his arm that had begun to lose its strength again hardened its will. Pulling on the thread like that, he kicked the ground and jumped.
And leaping away from the flock of people who'd rushed at him, he moved up the four-storey building. Climbing further up, he moved onto the roof.
During that time, more people gathered. Already, hundreds of people were glaring at Luke, and,
"Capture him!"
"Capture him!"
While chanting that, they filled up the ground, and one by one, they started climbing up after him.
Luke looked down at that.
He stared at the crowd that had gathered. Then again, he formed a map inside his head.
He thought about whether or not he could escape from the roof, and things like that.
But it was an obvious matter.
"... If everyone in this town is my enemy, then escape truly is impossible, isn't it?"
He said in a troubled voice.
No matter which route he escaped from, he would undoubtedly be caught. After all, there were hundreds of thousands of people in this town.
He wouldn't be able to disorient all of the eyes on him and flee, and even if he did somehow find a way to leave this town, he would still be in Remrus Empire territory.
Somewhere, along the way, he'd definitely be caught.
At any rate,
"... There's an almighty god watching from the sky, isn't there?"
He said, looking up at the sky, but that almighty god was no longer responding.
In its stead, the humans that had been brainwashed by that god had reached where Luke was.
And they grabbed his arm.
They grabbed his legs.
They pinned his body to the ground.
Like that, they raised their fists and hit him with all their strength.
"Gah—"
He groaned.
Then, at that, again a voice descended from the sky.
<< Ah, sor~ry, that didn't knock you out very well... Nooo, manipulating so many humans in itself is difficult, you know. The next one should do the trick. >>
As it said such a thing, Luke again looked up at the night sky.
Looking up at the cloudless, pretty sky full of stars,
"... Ha, you're quite a casual god, aren't you?"
He said, as again a fist rained down on him.
"Guh—"
At that, Luke felt his consciousness escape for a moment.
But he wasn't able to fall unconscious.
Again the voice spoke.
<< Ahahahahaha, another failure. If you're accidentally killed by any chance, then sorry about that. >>
It said, as again fists swung down at him.
Fists swung down at him.
Again, and again, and again, fists swung down at him.
And gradually, his consciousness began to fade.
The landscape distorting, steadily, steadily, he felt himself sink into darkness.
As darkness filled his entire line of sight, he felt himself lose consciousness and be pulled into a dream.
And in that dream, he continued his recollection from back then, atop the inn bed.
That was the memory of when, in the Roland Empire, Lieral Lieutolu had proposed a deal to him.
A memory of when he'd made a deal with the human who'd stopped being human.
That, Luke remembered.
♦
It'd already been several months since he made the deal with Lieral Lieutolu.
It was in the place where the nobles of the Roland Empire dwelled.
Having lost its head due to Miran Froaude's purge, it was the room of a noble's mansion that was now abandoned—
"........."
With the Latsel thread, Luke had cut off Duke Lieral Lieutolu's head.
Furthermore, in one part of his chest, he'd stabbed him with a knife coated in poison.
However, in spite of that, Lieral didn't die.
As if he found the situation funny, Lieral's body shrugged, before picking up his head and placing it back on.
However, then, beneath Lieral's feet, the trap that had been placed there beforehand activated.
A magic circle glowed, and from within its center a ball of fire was formed, before exploding. Lieral's left leg was blown off. Furthermore, a trap surrounding Lieral exploded as if in a chain, setting his entire body on fire; however, in the center of the fire, Lieral spoke.
"... Wow, impressive, impressive. What's impressive, though, is that even though you know it's futile, you keep meticulously laying traps like this each and every time. How many times have you attacked me like this by now?"
To that, Luke replied,
"Eight times."
"I see. It's already reached that many? Don't you think you're being a little too stubborn?"
"The fact that you won't die is a problem."
"Eh, it's my fault? I hadn't realized,"
Lieral said, smiling cheerfully.
However, to that, Luke frowned with a troubled expression as he looked at him.
"The knife was of no use. The poison was of no use. The magic was of no use. Burning was of no use. Drowning was of no use—with all these tests, as one would expect, I'm getting worn out by this point."
At those words, again Lieral smiled.
"To try all that against me, you're a complete monster."
"I don't want to be told that by a genuine monster."
"No, no, I'm truly afraid of you. Anyhow, wherever I go, traps have been laid out. It seems that someone is trailing me...?"
To that kind of question, Luke replied,
"I was merely following your traces. Or rather, you've been testing me, haven't you? Even though you could've killed me in an instant, you've overlooked me each time, and furthermore, you've always left only enough traces for me to notice. But I've already grown tired of this farce, so would you tell me what your aim is?"
Lieral stared at him with a slightly surprised expression.
"My, my, have I been exposed?"
To those words, Luke spoke in a frustrated tone.
"I realized it from the beginning."
"No way~"
"Would you stop this farce already?"
Again, Lieral laughed, after which he nodded.
"Well, after seeing your true skill, I think it'll be fine to end this."
Staring at Lieral, Luke spoke.
"I'm glad to hear that. So, what are you after? Though you claimed that you weren't human, what use would you have for me, someone who barely surpasses an ordinary human at best?"
"No, I think that I can find quite a bit of use for you."
"What is it about me?"
"Aren't there plenty of things you want to ask me? If you have a sharp mind, you should have questions about this country."
At that, Luke made a thoughtful expression, before he spoke.
"I'd have to think about which questions to ask."
Lieral smiled.
"Ah, well, this country has many secrets, doesn't it? Then, I'd like to ask something in return. Do you like the current king?"
At that, Luke stared at Lieral and asked,
"Are you talking about Sion-san?"
"That's right."
"I like him?"
"Then, do you believe in him?"
To that question, Luke answered,
"No, I don't believe in anyone."
To that, Lieral grinned broadly and said,
"Then why do you serve Sion Astal?"
"Because isn't that the best thing to do in this situation?"
"Then, if Sion Astal were to be same as the past kings, if he were to become strange, what would you do?"
"Kill him."
"Said so easily, huh?"
"I will do what's necessary when it's necessary—if it were Miller-senpai, I believe he'd say that... Ah, if I recall correctly, you're acquainted with Miller-senpai, are you not?"
"Yeah. From quite a long time ago, though. The one who gave him the clue to his success was me."
"Hmm. However, if you have such a good relationship, then why aren't you making a deal with Miller-senpai? He's far superior to me."
"I wonder. He has too much of a human heart, after all."
"And I'm not?"
Lieral looked at him with a cheerful expression and,
"Do you think you are?"
He said.
"Do you really have any humanity remaining? That white hair is from a military experiment, isn't it? With a magic circle embedded into your brain, you possess high intelligence. In return, you should've lost your emotions. "
"........."
"Your brain is no longer capable of producing complex emotions. You can't love others, you can't cry tears of sorrow. You can only observe the facts as they accumulates. You can only make judgment on what exists."
"........."
"Though earlier, when you made a tedious expression, when you made an irritated expression, you weren't truly feeling anything, were you? As your mind has been torn apart, without any true significance..."
However, then,
"... I know best about myself, without needing you to explain anything,"
Luke said.
Then pointing to his head,
"But it's not quite that I feel nothing. Certainly, through only the accumulation of facts, I cannot judge everything, but... with this accumulation, emotions can be produced. In that way, I'm capable of considering which expression to create and which tone to speak in."
"But in the end, you don't feel anything, do you?"
"........."
"That's why I chose you. You're the same as me, a human who exists outside of the normal framework. And yet, you long to be human. You like Claugh Klom, don't you? You like Milk Callaud. Why is that? Because they possess what you don't. Because they possess the deep emotions that you don't... you stay close to them."
At those words, Luke stared at Lieral not with his typical calm expression, but one devoid of emotions, as he spoke.
"... Since when have you been observing me?"
Lieral gave forth an incredulous answer.
"Since about ten years ago, give or take."
"... That's my mistake. You've always been observing me to see if I could be of any use?"
"You seemed like you could come in handy, after all."
At those words, Luke looked around Lieral. He searched for some sort of means to kill them.
But as expected, there was nothing that he could use, and so Luke said in a fed up tone that he constructed,
"Would it be all right if we discussed one thing?"
Lieral replied,
"What is it?"
"Right now, I possess the intent to kill you."
"Heh."
"Moreover, the truth of the matter is that affection towards Captain Milk and Claugh does exist inside of me."
"Right."
"Don't you think that counts as emotion?"
To that question, Lieral easily nodded, and,
"That's what I think."
"And yet I don't have a human heart?"
To that, while smiling, Lieral spread out both arms and spoke.
"I, for the sake of my son—I sacrificed my wife and the world. In order to save my son, nothing else in this world mattered. Because of the love I have for my son, I no longer make proper judgments. But for you, it's different, isn't it? Claugh Klom and Milk Callaud—if it was necessary, you would easily kill them, isn't that right?"
"........."
"Even Rahel Miller isn't like that. He has a wife and child. Surely, for the sake of his family, he'd sell out the world. He's a sharp man, but to the very end, he's weak. No, that's why he's strong, to put it in another way. But at any rate, to the very end, humans will prioritize their love. Because they're weak. Because they're strong. That's how humans are, I believe."
"........."
"But you're not like that. Because you accept nothing but the truth. Because you don't have emotions, if you deem it necessary, you're able to move forward on the path you've chosen without hesitation."
"........."
"That's why I chose you. As you're someone who no longer possesses human emotions and yet who tries so hard to imitate humans, who yearns to be with humans, I wanted to make a deal with you—"
"........."
"Now, shall we end this long talk? More importantly, there are a few requests I'd like to ask of you..."
In response, Luke stared at Lieral and spoke.
"Is there any merit in listening to your requests?"
Nodding as if it were obvious, Lieral spoke.
"Of course. I'll tell you several things about the state of this country—no, the state of this world. Then, I'll tell you how to undo the brainwashing magic that's been cast on you."
At those words, Luke narrowed his eyes.
"Brainwashing magic?"
"Yeah. Well, since you're clever, I think you've probably noticed, but you're being brainwashed by Milk Callaud, you know?"
"........."
"No, because you're aware of that, you've been by Milk Callaud's side. Because you noticed that she was special. Because you noticed that she's been unconsciously releasing a deceptive magic to the humans surrounding her."
"........."
"That's why I said that you don't have emotions. Though you say that you possess affection towards Milk Callaud, you ultimately stayed by her side because it was necessary. Because you deemed her to be at the heart of this country, you stayed by her side..."
He began, but then, Luke said,
"Like I said, if it's an explanation about me..."
"There's no need?"
"Correct. Let's quickly move on with the deal,"
Luke said.
Then, again constructing a peaceful, smiling face,
"So, you'll tell me a means of undoing the brainwashing over me?"
At that, Lieral nodded.
"Yeah. But before that, it's necessary to talk about this world. It's necessary to talk about the monsters that created humans."
Then Lieral started talking about the existences of the Hero , Goddesses , and the Priests who created them.
But right now, that wasn't important.
What was needed was what he heard back then: the means of undoing the brainwashing magic.
Inside his head.
Inside his heart.
The means of removing the curse deep inside of him.
That was what he remembered.
Because of the gods.
He remembered how to undo the curse placed there because of those monsters—
♦
"........."
Luke opened his eyes.
Though he didn't know how long he'd been unconscious, right now, the place that he was in was the center of a large room.
In that room, there was stand with countless beds, with several humans sleeping on top.
As it seemed that he was the only one who'd awakened, even with this many humans present, he couldn't hear their sleeping breath.
Though he tried to look around, it seemed that his body's movements were sluggish.
It was an unpleasant feeling as if he were trying to move through mud.
And in his head, a voice echoed.
It wasn't something that could be heard from outside.
From deep within his own mind, a voice echoed.
<< You are my entity, my body, my entity, my body. Blessed, here is blessed, be troubled by nothing anymore. Be troubled by nothing anymore. Instead, listen to my voice. The reason you were born, the meaning of your life is to devote yourself to God's voice. You are my entity, my body, my entity... >>
The voice continued to ring endlessly.
In that time, his body was heavy, heavy, as he could barely will himself to move.
However, in defiance, Luke lifted his hand. Rolling up his sleeve, he could see that part of the skin had been torn as if by nails.
From there, a needle came out. Concealed beneath the skin, an ordinary needle came out, and with that needle,
"... Hmm."
He stabbed the side of his head.
Piercing through the skin, he stabbed the joint of his skull.
Lieral said that that was the part that induced one to listen to God' s voice.
So that Humans would listen to them, the Goddesses created that part.
And there, he gouged out with the needle.
At that moment, the voice in his head easily vanished.
"... All right,"
Luke said, nodding.
Confirming that his body had been freed, he stood up.
And then he looked around.
He was in a large room with a high ceiling, and after confirming, the structure, he concluded that he was likely in the church.
Staring at the interior of the church,
"... Now then, I've succeeded in infiltrating as planned..."
However, just then, there was a voice.
Arising inside of his head was a voice.
Even though the brainwashing should've been undone, again inside his head, a voice echoed.
That voice—
<< Luke. >>
It called his name.
However, it was a separate voice, different from before.
A separate god's voice.
<< Luke Stokkart. >>
It called out.
It was a female's.
A sweet, pretty female voice.
Milk Callaud's voice.
That voice spoke.
<< Luke Stokkart. Stay with me. >>
That voice spoke.
<< Always stay with me. >>
As if it were sending a suggestion to him, it repeated that.
And to that,
"........."
Luke looked down at the needle that he held in his hand.
Then again, he remembered Lieral's words.
Lieral had said this.
"With this, you'll be able to resist the voice of monsters—although, you won't be brainwashed only if the other party can't manage it. But if it's you... if it's your eternally calm self, then perhaps like me, you won't stray from your path. Perhaps, to escape the curse of the Goddesses and the Hero , you'll seek the correct path to amend this world..."
He'd said that kind of thing.
To that,
"Why would a madman like you, in the end, depend on someone else?"
Luke had complained, to which Lieral had merely smiled sadly and disappeared.
And of that sad expression,
"........."
Luke was jealous.
Driven mad by love, rising to such levels, easily straying from the correct path, like any other human—he was jealous of Lieral Lieutolu.
Because he couldn't be like that.
Because, as he'd lost his emotions and his framework had already been disconnected from humanity, he couldn't be like that.
"........."
That was why Luke stared at the needle.
He stared at the needle he held in his hand.
If he used it, then making the voice echoing inside his head—Milk Callaud's voice—disappear would be simple.
He already knew how, if he pierced the proper part of his brain, to make that voice disappear.
He was being brainwashed.
He was being brainwashed by Milk Callaud.
And furthermore, he was aware of that.
From the moment they'd met, he'd been aware of that.
That was why he'd always been with her.
After all, she was special.
From here on, in the Roland Empire, she was a needed human—no, because of that fact.
That was why he'd acted alongside her.
If it was necessary to kill her—if it was necessary, he could cut her down.
One could say that he'd stayed with her only to make use of her.
He couldn't create emotions like affection or compassion. That part of his brain had been destroyed.
And moreover, he'd obtained the means of escaping Milk's curse.
<< Luke. Please stay with me. >>
He'd obtained the means of undoing her brainwashing.
<< Luke. >>
It was obvious that he should undo the brainwashing.
He should do what was necessary when it was necessary. Therefore, he should undo the brainwashing.
<< Luke. Please stay with me... >>
However, to Milk's voice, he smiled.
And he casually threw away the needle.
"... No, no, Lieral-san, I'm sorry to say that I'm still a human who possesses emotions,"
He cheerfully murmured.
And again, the voice in his head said,
<< Luke. >>
To that voice,
"... Ah~ yes, yes, Captain, please just wait a little longer,"
He said in a cheerful voice that he constructed.
"Once I find a way to bring down the Remrus Empire, I'll return immediately."
And as he stepped down from the stand, alone in the church, he began to advance forward.
♦
♦
♦
Some time later.
The place was on a road northeast of the Remrus Empire.
On that road, galloping towards the Remrus Empire on horses,
"Why~ the hell do we have to go and save Ryner, huh?"
Zohra Rom complained.
Brown hair, strong and competitive blue eyes.
Dressed in the vermillion combat uniform that only the elites of the Azure Princess Mercenaries were allowed to wear, with the emblem of a bird about to take flight on his chest.
If one saw that armed figure was on a horse, running towards another country, that country's soldiers would immediately begin chasing him; however, he didn’t seem to care about the situation at all, and,
"Though the Princess is always going easy on Ryner, what do you think, stupid brat?"
He said such a thing.
And then, with an irritated expression, Zohra looked over to the idiot on the horse running parallel to his.
At his side was a man unsurprisingly like him, dressed in the uniform of the Azure Princess Mercenaries , on a running horse.
Peria Peruula.
Golden hair rested on his shoulders in a smooth talker’s hairstyle, always seeming like he was putting on airs, and a face with closed eyes.
That face looked over at him, and said,
"Who’s the stupid brat?"
"It’s definitely someone here."
To that, Peria looked around with a restless face, and then,
"Ah, it's Zohra?"
"I’ll kill you."
"The one who rushed forward was you, Zohra, wasn't it?
"Well, fine. More importantly, answer the question, stupid brat."
"What is it, moronic brat?"
"Asshole."
"Now, don’t immediately move to throw that knife at me. Even if that weren't so, you keep making your horse run at full force and it's getting tired, so stop pointlessly using up your energy,"
He said, and certainly, for the last two days, they'd been running their horses at full force, with the fatigue starting to wear down at them.
"Then answer my question, Peria!"
Zohra said, compromising and calling the idiot's name.
To that, Peria replied,
"You mean how Pia’s too nice to Ryner?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Well, definitely. But it's not as if I can't understand how she feels. After all, she, Ryner, and I trained together at the same place, so we’re childhood friends. You're different, Zohra. You don’t have that kind of deep bond, do you?"
"Ah? If you're talking like that, are you trying to pick a fight?"
Peria cheerfully continued,
"And so, seeing as how, with the bond between Pia and me, there's no room for you, Zohra, you should just give up already and stop trying to appeal yourself to Pia..."
Before that idiot could finish that nonsense, Zohra threw his knife.
At an incredible speed, that knife flew towards Peria’s neck.
"Like I said, stop throwing your knives right away."
However, Peria easily caught the knife.
At that, Zohra glared at Peria, and like that,
"It's because you keep spouting out crap, asshole,"
He said, to which Peria shrugged.
"It’s the truth, so it can’t be helped?"
"How the hell is that the truth? You’re not at all close with the Princess, don’t you think?"
"That’s not true. Pia is always saying that she likes me."
"She tells me that too! The other day, she said something like, 'Zohra, you're cute, you know that?', you know!"
"Eh... ah, b-but she said that she was at peace when she was with me!"
"What!? N-No, she told me that too."
"That's a liiiiiiie."
"It’s not a lie! Geez, the Princess is always consulting with me about stuff like, 'Peria is always such a nuisance, huh?'..."
He began, but suddenly, Peria threw the knife at him with all his strength.
"Uwa—"
Zohra said, catching it. And then, while throwing the knife back,
"What the hell are you doing!?"
He shouted, as Peria caught the knife, and,
"That’s my line!"
He said, throwing the knife back again.
Like that, the two of them continued to throw the knife back and forth at each other.
Again and again, they continued to throw the knife back and forth.
If it were like the usual, Pia would come and stop them, but right now, Pia wasn’t here, and so the knife continued to be exchanged without limit, as it made about a hundred round trips.
"Geez, enough!"
Peria groaned, putting the knife away in his pocket.
At that, Zohra, while panting for breath,
"Oh, are you admitting defeat? So it’s my victory?"
He said, to which Peria looked his way with an astonished expression.
"........."
However, ignoring him, he said nothing.
Regarding that,
"You’re pissing me off with that."
Zohra said, but Peria then blatantly ignored him and looked the opposite direction, and,
"Weeeirdo."
He said, firing off that word, and then stopped. And he also looked the other way.
From the beginning, the two had a bad relationship. He hated that an idiot like him was always by Pia's side. Why do I have to work with a guy like him, Zohra continued to sulk over.
Thus, while turning his face away, he took a thin sheet of paper out of his pocket.
It was a letter delivered from Vois Fiurelle to Pia.
Zohra read that letter again.
Something like this was written.
"Iyaa, iyaa, Queen-sama, how are you doing? This is Vois Fiurelle who, because of the wild idea of being stepped on by the beautiful Pia-san, hasn't been able to concentrate.
Though this is a letter for the sake of transmitting my hot feelings towards you on this paper, before that, let’s please talk about work for a bit.
The truth is that we're have just a few problems here in the People's Republic of Sphelliyet, and so I'll be reporting them.
First:
Ryner-san has been kidnapped by the Remrus Empire~ ☆
Second:
We were visited by a gloomy, black-haired Princess-Cut-kun from the Roland Empire, and, well, though we've been working hard to keep him confined, it seems that nevertheless, the absence of the Demon King has been revealed to the world.
Third:
But because of this, we haven't sent out a rescue team for Ryner-san.
Fourth:
And so, please take care of Ryner-san.
Well, that’s enough about such trivial matters, so I pray our next encounter comes soon~; though I want to say that, unfortunately I'm a bit busy with cleaning up after Princess-Cut-kun, so that was impolite of me~.
From Goddess Princess-sama’s slave ♡ Vois Fiurelle"
As he read such a stupid letter, Zohra frowned.
"Whyyyy the hell are we listening to the wishes of this damn brat?"
He said, wanting to scrunch up the paper and throw it away, but since the fact that Ryner wasn't in the People's Republic of Sphelliyet was something that couldn't be leaked to the outside world, so regarding that letter that he wanted to toss,
"Ah, damn it,"
He said, unhappily putting it back in his pocket.
Then, looking over to Peria who was facing the other way,
"So, why does the Princess goes easy on Ryner like that?"
He said, as Peria looked over at him.
"What's this? Weren't we fighting?"
"Who cares?"
"Geez~. Anyway, that topic's what started it."
"Y'know, Ryner’s attitude also annoys me in general. No matter how much you called him, he didn't come at all, and now that he's shown up after all that time, he's just as pathetic as he was back then, huh?"
Peria smiled wryly at that, and,
"Well, from the start, Ryner was always Timid-kun, after all."
"And now that he’s been kidnapped, we have to go and save him? Haa? I just wanna say to him, 'What are you, some kinda princess!?'!?"
At those words, Peria laughed.
"Ryner is like a princess."
"I already decided from the beginning that Pia is my only Princess."
"Mine as well."
"Then, that’s that. Let's stop with this rescue mission? This sucks... it’ll still take about another two days before we reach the Remrus Empire."
Peria smiled at that, and,
"Good idea. I've been sitting on this horse for a bit too long, so my butt's starting to hurt."
"Ah, mine too, mine too."
"Oh, this is rare. Then, are we really stopping?"
Peria said.
To that,
"Let’s do it?"
Zohra said, nodding.
And so, as the two’s opinion matched completely,
"........."
However, the two of them didn’t stop their horses.
Instead, they continued galloping forward at an abnormal speed down the center of the road.
Furthermore, up ahead, several armed soldiers had become visible. Finally, the presences of those two were revealed to the country's security.
There was no way they wouldn't see them, as they loudly galloped ahead without any attempt to hide themselves.
Looking at those soldiers whom they were ambushing,
"... Not stopping?"
Zohra said, to which Peria smiled and spoke.
"Aren’t you?"
"No, see, unlike you, it's one of my rules to never betray a comrade."
"Haha, me too."
"No, you have a traitor’s face."
"Eh~, what does that kind of face look like?"
"Like yours."
"But I don't want one... ah, Zohra, by the way, there are forty enemy soldiers."
Peria suddenly said that.
They were still at a distance where it should've been impossible to identify the number of soldiers, but Peria easily said that.
But regarding that,
"Got it,"
Zohra said, believing in that.
After all, Peria was someone with the All Enchantment ability.
After all, he was a victim of the experiments that the previous Roland Empire carried out.
In return for losing his sight, hearing, and sense of touch, he could feel things over a wide area that others normally wouldn't be able to sense, thanks to a special magic circle engraved into his brain.
That was why he could see the number of enemy soldiers just now. He was able to sense what the the enemy soldiers were armed with.
And so, after Zohra nodded at that,
"Are they on horses?"
He asked, to which, with closed eyes, Peria said,
"They are."
"Then, let’s steal their horses and move on. This one's already exhausted."
"Sure thing."
"By the way, regardless of what happens to you, I won't be paying attention."
"Oh, but I thought it was one of your rules to never betray a comrade?"
"You’re not my comrade."
"Not truuuue..."
While saying such words, Peria laughed cheerfully.
And during that time, they’d steadily gotten closer to the enemy soldiers.
The guards spoke.
"You bastards are completely surrounded! Stop your horses and drop your weapons this instant..."
They began, but then Zohra moved faster on his horse, and,
"Shut up,"
He said, jumping towards the soldier who'd given out the warning. As he kicked his face, the guy fell off his horse.
And stealing that horse,
"Well then, I’m off~."
He said, but in front of him, Peria had stolen a different horse and was on the move.
"Ah, asshole—"
"What’s thiiis? Zohra-chan’s rather slow, isn’t he?"
To those stupid words, Zohra threw a knife at the idiot.
Peria dodged it.
The knife then pierced the shoulder of an enemy soldier who was behind him and about to activate an offensive spell in their direction.
Peria looked at that, and then,
"Thank you for helping me."
"I wasn’t helping you!"
"Again..."
"You bastard—because this isn't the place to be saying that kinda crap, let’s go. We'll hurry up, quickly save that idiot, and then punch that princess-wannabe in the face!"
Zohra said, to which,
"Sounds good to me~"
Peria laughed.
And so the two cut through the forty enemy soldiers and once again started running towards the Remrus Empire.
♦
♦
♦
And the time returns to the beginning.
It was a place with an ominous feeling.
No, the landscape itself wasn't unusual, being a plain—however.
"......"
Sion had become wary of how far he'd advanced forward.
It looked like the colour of the sky was gradually being coated in a different shade.
He'd advanced forward enough.
Enough time had passed, the colour of the world being coated in a different shade, with a restless feeling arising in his cest.
And what that feeling was, he personally didn't know.
But, because he didn't know, he was that much more anxious.
Regarding that,
"... What is this?"
Sion muttered.
"What in the world is happening?"
He muttered.
Right now, the place he was in was a plain, where Claugh Klom's forces, surrounding the rear of the Remrus Empire's main forces, should've commenced launching a surprise attack.
There, Sion was leading the soldiers.
As what had been reported, there were no traces of a fight there.
There was no blood or the scent of death whatsoever.
In spite of that, having advanced forward enough that his spirit was sinking, Sion had fallen to that sort of mood.
Then,
"Your Majesty,"
A voice rang out.
Sion looked down from on top of his horse. There, a subordinate was speaking to him.
"Field Marshal Claugh Klom—"
Sion nodded at that and spoke.
"He wants to meet with me?"
"Yes."
"Let him through."
"Understood."
Saying that, the subordinate stepped back.
From somewhat behind, pushing his way through the soldiers guarding Sion, a single man atop a horse appeared.
Bright red hair as if it were burning, a body forged like steel.
Claugh Klom.
That Claugh looked his way with a somewhat cheerful smile, and,
"Yo, Sion. Though it seems like the fight here was pretty bad, you survived?"
He said, to which Sion smiled ruefully.
"If you take that kind of tone with me, you're setting a bad example to your subordinates, you realize?"
"Then, should I call you Your Almighty Majesty?"
"That's enough, now,"
Sion said, waving his hand as he laughed.
Claugh laughed as well, approaching him on his horse. Aligning himself with Sion's, they proceeded forward.
Sion asked Claugh,
"So, the enemy's main forces surrendered without a fight?"
As he asked that, Claugh shrugged and said,
"Yeah."
He nodded, and then,
"Speaking of which, there's something I kinda want you to see, so stop the soldiers,"
He said, raising his hand, and then lowering it.
Responding to that, his subordinates ordered the soldiers to stop.
After affirming that, Claugh looked at Sion, and,
"Follow me for a bit,"
He said, to which Sion tilted his head.
"Where do you plan on going?"
"If you come with me, you'll know."
"Just you and me?"
To that, Claugh held out his hand, and,
"If you're worried about an attack from the enemy, relax. I'll protect you,"
He said such a thing.
However, of course, Sion wasn't worried about that. After all, Lucile would be following him.
That was why, right now in this place, the one whose safety was the most guaranteed was Sion.
Of course, though, it was a different story if Remrus himself or the Goddesses showed up.
Sion looked at the hand that Claugh was extending. Then, lifting his face, he looked at Claugh's.
"What is it that you want to show me?"
He asked.
To that, Claugh replied,
"An enemy soldier."
"An enemy soldier?"
"Yeah. One of Remrus's guys who put up no fight whatsoever."
Saying that,
"Well, just hurry up and follow me,"
He said, as he began to move his horse without waiting for Sion.
At that, quietly,
"... Lucile,"
Sion murmured.
By his ear, Lucile's voice sounded.
"I'm here."
"Claugh..."
However, with just that alone, Lucile seemed to understand what Sion was trying to say.
"It doesn't appear that he's being manipulated by the enemy. It'll likely be fine. Even if anything happens..."
"You'll protect me?"
In response, cheerfully,
"I can't make any promises,"
Lucile said such a thing.
"How unreliable,"
Sion said, smiling.
Then, he began to move his horse.
As expected, he'd advanced forward enough that his mood was sinking further.
As they moved further into the Remrus Empire's grounds, it seemed that that feeling only grew larger.
Staring at the northern sky,
"Honestly, what's with this country?"
While saying that, he caught up with Claugh. Then, looking towards where Claugh was headed—an area slightly elevated above the plain—he asked,
"Then, we're going up there?"
"Yup."
"What can you see from there?"
To that, Claugh spoke.
"Explaining would be kinda troublesome. So you should just see for yourself. Up there, Miller-senpai and Bayuuz are waiting."
"Bayuuz and Miller?"
However, Claugh didn't answer the question, as he began galloping forward.
"Now, let's go,"
He said.
In response, Sion also ordered his horse to begin galloping, as he moved forward.
Up on higher ground, towards a place where it was as if they were overlooking the plain, he moved.
As Claugh had said, Rahel Miller and Bayuuz White were there.
Both wer equal to Field Marshals within the Roland Empire's military.
Furthermore, up there, as if overseeing something, hundreds of soldiers had set up camp.
Sion looked towards that encampment.
Miller and co. noticed them approaching.
In response, Sion raised his hand. He was about to speak up.
However,
"......"
His voice didn't come out.
Because, on the way, he saw.
Atop that area, on the way to where Miller and co. were, he saw.
To the side of Miller and the others.
In a plain up there, donned in the combat uniform of the Remrus Empire, was a group of soldiers.
Tens of thousands of soldiers.
Each and every one of those soldiers displayed the same appearance.
They were all kneeling prostrate on the ground. Furthermore, their backs looked as if they'd been torn apart from the inside, and from that crack, violent branch-like objects grew.
Seven branches.
"......"
No, rather, they didn't look quite like branches.
They were arms.
Thin arms were growing.
And those seven arms were joining hands with the other arms that grew from the backs of the surrounding soldiers.
Arms grown from the backs of tens and hundreds of thousands of soldiers were mutually joined together by their hands.
Regarding that abnormal sight, without thinking,
"... What is this?"
He leaked out such foolish words.
Even though there wasn't anyone who would have an answer to that.
Even though there wasn't anyone who would've seen this sort of thing before.
However, Miller responded to that. He looked up at Sion, and then looking down at the Remrus Empire soldiers,
"... They became like this one hour ago. Until then, they'd been nothing but ordinary humans,"
He explained.
In other words, during the time it took for Sion to come here, it seemed that the Remrus Empire's soldiers had become like this.
Staring at that, Sion asked,
"Are they alive?"
To that question, it was Bayuuz's turn to respond.
"We're unable to approach them, and so haven't investigated."
"Unable to approach them?"
"Yes. The Roland soldiers who approached them ended up the same way..."
"Wha—? Then, over there, those are also Roland soldiers..."
"Thousands of them fell to it."
"......"
"The reason we called Your Majesty here alone was because of how shocking this sight is. If this were to be seen by the soldiers..."
He began, but then Sion interrupted Bayuuz with a wave of his hand.
"I understand your reasons for calling me here alone. How do you all intend to deal with this?"
Miller answered that.
"With Rhule Fragmei ..."
"Even though you don't know what their situation is, you'll kill them?"
"If there was another option, then I would be willing to choose that instead. However, what other ideas are there? Merely approaching them will affect you. Furthermore, it's likely that that figure has some sort of significance, isn't it? From here on, though we don't know how they might change, we can't afford to leave them be. More importantly, in order to enter the Remrus Empire, we must cross this plain..."
He said.
At that, again, Sion gazed at the Remrus Empire's soldiers.
He gazed at the humans who lay prostrate on the ground, with arms growing from their backs.
And,
"Just what is Remrus trying to do..."
Then, there was a voice from behind him.
Slightly below the elevated area,
"Your Majesty!"
The voice of a subordinate called out for him, as they moved towards the area.
In response, Sion spoke.
"Don't leave this area. To the soldiers who still haven't seen this..."
He began, but at that, Miller said,
"I know. I've already given the orders to my subordinates."
As those words were spoken, Sion's subordinate, on the way to the elevated area, was stopped.
In their place, Miller's subordinate relayed the message.
"Your Majesty, it seems that below, someone has come seeking an audience with you,"
They said such a thing.
At that, Sion asked,
"An envoy from the Remrus Empire?"
However, Miller's subordinate shook their head, and replied,
"That's not it."
"Then who?"
"They refuse to reveal their affiliation. They said that if they gave their names instead, His Majesty would know."
"Their names? Who are they?"
At that,
"The ones who have come are two women approximately the age of twenty. They introduced themselves as Ferris Eris and Kiefer Knolles,"
The subordinate said that.
Furthermore,
"According to them, Ryner has been captured by the Remrus Empire, and so they've come to seek help—that was what they wanted to tell His Majesty..."
They began, but by that point, Sion was no longer listening.
The ones who'd come were Ferris and Kiefer.
And,
"... Ryner... He's been captured by Remrus?"
The moment he heard that, shock hit him as if his heart had been crushed.
Ryner has—
He's fallen into Remrus's hands?
Sion scowled at that. And turning around, he looked up.
At the northern sky.
At the land where countless humans were prostrate on the ground, with arms growing from their backs.
It all seemed so disgraceful.
It all seemed as if that what had kept the world together up until now had been broken.
And finally, he saw their true colours.
He saw what Remrus was trying to do.
Right now, Ryner was in the Remrus Empire, and Remrus—
"... He intends to devour Ryner?"
He said, scowling.
Then, again, he turned around.
And to Miller,
"Use the Rhule Fragmei already. Continue to wipe out the Remrus Empire soldiers and march forward,"
He ordered.
Miller nodded at that and began to move.
But Sion didn't stop. Below where he was standing—to where the Remrus Empire soldiers were, he began to descend.
However, then,
"Your Majesty, what shall we do about the ones who wish to meet with you?"
Miller's subordinate asked such a thing.
In response, he looked over his shoulder. He looked towards the soldiers that he was leading, in an location a short distance away.
Over there, Ferris and Kiefer had apparently come.
At that, remaining silent for a short while as if pondering over it,
"Bring them to me. We'll take them with us to the Remrus Empire,"
He ordered.
♦
♦
♦
The location again moves further up north.
The capital of the Remrus Empire—Echran.
There were no longer any humans remaining in that town.
Even though Echran should have the largest metropolis in the central continent, crowded with millions of people, there were no longer any humans remaining.
Right now, what remained was—
"......"
The Goddess of Reincarnation [Milk Ephillet] gazed at that town.
A flaxen ponytail, and large, round eyes.
Gazing at the sight before her with those eyes,
"... Ah, it's like that. Remrus... You've chosen like so, then..."
She murmured.
Before her, the Humans were, one by one, converting with magic.
The structure inside of them being rewritten, collapsed on the ground, and torn from their backs, violet arms grew.
And those arms linked with their neighbouring Humans' ones.
Moreover, because of that, gradually, gradually, a large procedure spread.
In this country of the Remrus Empire, using the magic power from within all the Humans' bodies, a gigantic procedure was spreading.
At that,
"Just what is this..."
From behind her, her subordinate by the name of Lear Rinkal said.
However, controlling that,
"Don't move away from me, Lear,"
Milk said.
In response, Lear nodded, and,
"Don't worry. I'll protect you, Captain,"
He said, to which Milk felt like laughing.
No, it wasn't because, in this situation, Lear wouldn't be able to protect her and so his words were foolish.
Rather, as she'd become aware of a strange feeling within her, she felt like laughing.
Specifically, right now, she felt as if she had to protect her subordinates.
Even though they were worthless Humans not worth caring over, the human character of Milk within her felt that it was necessary to protect her subordinates.
And that feeling took over her, who should be a Goddess .
"... Aha,"
She laughed.
Feeling that the Human part within her was steadily, steadily growing, she became cheerful.
But over there, Remrus's spell was progressing further.
The collapsed Humans were converting with magic.
The collapsed Humans were converting with magic.
And furthermore, already one subordinate, Moe Velariore, was standing before her, and,
"Captain, please step back,"
He said such a thing.
On top of that, Lach Velariore held Milk from behind and spoke.
"What should we do about this, Lear?"
Lear, who always had a calm expression on his face, looked oddly troubled, and,
"All we can do is retreat."
"But to where?"
Moe said.
And that question was justified.
There was no longer anywhere they could escape to.
At least, within the territory of the Remrus Empire, there wasn't anywhere.
It seemed that Remrus had laid a curse over the entire country.
"... This has become rather troublesome,"
Milk thought.
It was likely that a considerable amount of time had passed as the large-scale spell was being developed.
This was the world where Humans lived.
The place where the Hero and Goddesses dwelled was in a slightly different dimension.
There, for Goddesses to wield their power, there was compensation to be had.
Despite that, Remrus was trying to use a large amount of power.
He was trying to use an impossibly large amount of power.
If he used this kind of power.
If he used this kind of ignored power against the framework of this sort of world,
"... His existence would disappear... though a powerless Crawling God like him shouldn't be able to use this kind of power... Nevertheless, it seems that on your own, you've discovered a solution, hmm?"
She murmured.
During that time,
"Run away!"
Her subordinates cried out as they ran.
It was as if she, who had a small build, was being kidnapped as she was carried away by Lach.
While avoiding the Humans who had arms growing from their backs, they advanced through the town.
However, like that, she blankly looked up at the sky.
The sky was clear.
A cloudless, blue sky—a sky that ordinary Humans would see.
But its colour was faintly changing.
From blue to blue.[1]
From blue to blue.
It seemed that Remrus was dyeing this world's framework, structure, arrangement.
He was wagering his own life.
Holding up his own existence, Remrus was desperately struggling.
For the sake of opening a hole in this closed world.
For the sake of advancing forward in this world that never would.
And narrowing her eyes at that,
"... Everyone, don't go that way. Head towards the church in the center of the town,"
She said.
At that, Lear and the others halted. And looking at her,
"However, the center of the town..."
"Just do as I say. That's the only place where we'll find a way of stopping this,"
Milk said.
Then again she looked up at the sky.
Its colour was changing, moment by moment.
With what method Remrus was moving with, she didn't know.
Though she didn't know,
"... I'll find out. What it is that you're trying to do, and how you're trying to change this world,"
As she said that, Milk's team headed towards the church in the center of the town.
♦
♦
♦
And in that church, in the center of the town.
In the jail constructed underground, Calne Kaiwel was being held captive.
Loose blond hair, charming blue eyes. On his thin body, he wore the combat uniform of a Roland Empire officer; however, that uniform had become a mess.
Brushing his clothes in the arms and stomach areas,
"Ah~, I'm starving,"
He said.
Casually getting up, he looked around.
That said, there wasn't much to learn from the narrow cell.
Then, standing up, he looked towards the iron door that was the only entrance/exit to the prison.
And to that door,
"Um~, could you come here for a bit~?"
He said such a thing.
Furthermore,
"The truth is, I haven't eaten since the day before yesterday—?"
He said, raising his voice, but,
"......"
From the other side of the door, there was no response.
"Hmm. Well, that didn't work,"
He said, crossing his arms.
Like that, he sat back down again on the sorry excuse for a cloth. And,
"... Maybe they've decided to starve me to death?"
He muttered while again examining the prison. He strained to find a place where he could escape.
Although he tried, in the time that he'd spent captured, he'd already schemed five prison breaks, and each time was a failure.
"... By this point, there's no way that I'd find a way to escape, huh?"
He muttered in a troubled manner.
Then, pushing down on his stomach that growled in hunger, he smiled faintly.
When he heard about the disappointing me who got captured so easily, Claugh-san probably asked,
"What the hell is that idiot doing at such an important time?"
Something like that, huh?—as he imagined things like that, he laughed frivolously.
Then, furthermore, a mental image of Eslina arose. Her pretty amber hair, and blue eyes that possessed an air of dignity.
Picturing that,
"... Eslina must be worried, isn't she?"
He muttered, flopping over onto his side.
All he could see was the jet black ceiling.
With no windows, this place was shrouded in darkness.
Furthermore, since the evening of the day before yesterday, he hadn't sensed any sounds or signs of human presence.
His nerves dull after having gone so long without eating or drinking, he listened to the sound of his breathing and heartbeat, but only those.
There was nothing else.
It wasn't that he especially hated the isolation, as he'd also received training in dealing with that, but,
"... So I'm really going to die here, aren't I?"
He said to himself.
"I ne~ver thought that I'd die before Claugh-senpai who charges recklessly into fights,"
He said such things to himself, laughing.
Of course, no one replied.
However, again the mental image of a girl arose. A girl with the sagacious, bright face like Fiole's.
Always following after him, going Calne-san, Calne-san, the smiling, cute face of a girl arose in his mind.
"......"
He smiled.
Remembering her smiling face, he smiled happily.
And,
"... Ah~, just as I thought,"
He said.
"Just as I thought, it was a good idea not to return Eslina's feelings,"
He said, smiling.
"Like I thought, someone like me isn't suited to be with Eslina. After all, a ladykiller who can't even fend for himself will just end up leaving. Not to mention a pervert who likes older women."
While saying such things, he smiled frivolously.
"That's why Eslina should find someone else—nice, diligent guy. Build a family with a guy like that. Not with some idiot who gets captured and left to die in a prison,"
He said, as if he were conversing with someone.
"... If Eslina could just forget about me and meet a guy like that... that'd be good,"
He said, conversing sincerely.
But, unsurprisingly, no one responded to that.
There was no noise around him.
It was eerie.
"......"
He'd likely die in a matter of days.
He'd been provided with no food or water since the day before yesterday. Without water, he wouldn't live for long.
And if it continued like that,
"... Ah~, yeah. When I die, Fiole will praise me for sure, right? He'll thank me for doing a good job of keeping my hands off of his little sister."
Saying that, he laughed.
After laughing, he let out a light sigh.
"......"
Again, it was silent.
All he could hear was just his heartbeat and breathing.
Just his heartbeat and breathing.
And speaking of anything else,
"......"
It was pure solitude.
Though he was about to continue that line of thought, he stopped.
Because there was no point in thinking about it.
Because if he thought about it, then he'd become afraid and start talking about disgraceful, foolish things like how he didn't want to die here, or how he wanted to see Eslina again.
"......"
That was why, without thinking about anything, he closed his eyes.
Like that, he was about to submerge his consciousness into darkness—
All of a sudden.
Though it was echoed from far away, he heard a sound.
It was from beyond the iron door.
A sound rang out from outside the prison.
Furthermore, that sound was getting closer.
Steadily thumping, it was getting closer.
At that,
"This sound is—"
Calne jumped to his feet.
Then he started gathering all of his strength. Though, as he hadn't been eating or drinking properly in this place, he couldn't muster up much strength in his body,
"... Sooooner or later, I have to succeed in a jailbreak, or else it's going to be bad for me, huh?"
He muttered.
Though he didn't know who it was that coming here right now, it was likely the one in charge of giving him his meals. In that case, first, he should grab the server's arm or something like that.
At the bottom-most part of the iron door, there was a small, iron door where the food would come from, which Calne stared at.
The meal always came from there.
Of course, the other party knew that he would likely be plotting a jailbreak, so they never put their hand through.
On the contrary, they were careful and placed the meal on a tray and pushed it through to the other side with a stick.
However, regarding that, Calne slowly began moving his finger. With his fingertip, he was drawing a magic circle of light in the air.
What he was drawing was Roland's magic.
Called Bakushu , it was a spell to create a rope of light. That thread would expand and contract according to the user's orders, and was able to capture a target—however, the spell wasn't used often in Roland.
First of all, it was abnormally difficult to control the thread's movements, and so the thread wouldn't move towards the targeted place.
Even if it were a considerably skilled mage, they would have difficulty hitting the mark, and so it was a spell that wasn't used often, but,
"If this doesn't work, I'm going to cry,"
While saying such things, he completed his spell.
And quietly, he muttered,
"WHAT I SEEK IS THE LIGHT FIELD >>> BAKUSHU,"
He said, completing the incantation.
A lump of light formed at the center of the magic circle, and then, a thread—or rather, a line with a thickness closer to that of a rope could now be extended.
And he waited.
He waited for the server to come.
Just as predicted, the sound stopped in front of Calne's cell.
"... They've come,"
He thought.
He concentrated.
And inside his head, again and again, the image repeated itself.
—The moment the door that his food came from opened, once he confirmed that, he'd launch the rope. And he'd capture the server's body.
He'd launch the rope and capture the server.
He'd launch the rope and capture the server.
Again and again, he repeated that inside his head.
He heard the sound of the outside door being touched.
Reacting to that, Calne crouched down.
He waited for the meal door to open—
"......"
But then, something outside of his predictions occurred.
The door.
The door before him opened.
Not the small door used for meals, but the prison door.
At that,
"No way,"
Calne groaned.
In that case, what he should do had changed. If it were this door opening, what he should do had changed.
If the one entering was the jailer, someone meant to transfer him, the executor, or possibly a torturer—he wasn't sure—then he'd have to struggle against them and escape.
Despite that, at the moment, he'd prepared a spell meant to capture the enemy.
"Ah, geez, well, it's fine. At any rate, I can use this spell to cause confusion, and then..."
He began, but then his words stopped.
Because standing outside the door, for some reason, was an acquaintance of his.
Because standing outside the door was a single man whose face he recognized.
At that,
"Eh?"
Calne let his voice slip without thinking.
Then, staring at that man's face fixedly,
"Um, why are you here?"
He said.
Standing there was a black-haired man.
Black hair like he'd just gotten out of bed, languid eyes.
A tall, lean figure with a bent back.
Looking at that man,
"Aren't you Ryner Lute-san?"
Calne asked, to which Ryner looked his way, and,
"... Calne? It's a problem for you to be confined here, huh? You can leave already."
"E-Eh? What? The one confining me..."
He began, but ignoring that, Ryner turned on his heel. He turned his back to Calne.
And he exited the prison.
Following him, Calne also exited the prison. And moving through the basement, at Ryner's back,
"What in the world are you doing here?"
He asked, to which Ryner looked over his shoulder.
And with a sad smile,
"......"
He didn't answer the question, however.
Instead, staring at him,
"... Go back, and deliver this message to Sion. I want to talk with him for a bit. I'll be waiting here, so..."
Staring at him with sad eyes,
"Tell him that,"
He said.
Translator's Notes
Jump up↑ "Blue (ao)" here is continuously written using different kanji, likely to indicate that the colour change isn't something that'd be noticed normally.