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Changing history
Despite being told so, they won’t immediately say 『sure』 after all
Since they entered the Resistance while having their own motives and resolutions
And what I said is just an excuse convenient for the winner by changing the point of view
「Your actions are not going well, right?」
「Gununu!?」
When I pointed out, the leader was the first one who groaned
「I heard that gaining collaborators is hard. But it can’t be helped. In general, most people whose countries were merged are content with the domination of the empire」
For people of lower class, changing ruler is the same as changing the pot of a potted plant
It doesn’t have any meaning other than changing the receiver of tax
Even if they were invaded and the name of the country was changed, there wouldn’t be any dissatisfaction as long as the tax wouldn’t increase
Rather, if the tax is lowered, they will gladly obey the invader
「I can brag that our empire is doing well」
We sent an examiner to the newly acquired land to accurately measure the yield quantity compared to the amount of agriculture land to decide the tax
Thanks to that, I heard that there are many regions where the tax is lighter compared to before the invasion
Everything is because of the emperor’s good management
Such a thing didn’t happen in the game
At this time in 『Beast Fantasy 4』, the emperor was eroded to the core by the beast aura and lost his mind, becoming a cruel and atrocious villain
Naturally, he was unable to do any governing, all the dominated lands including the empire itself were heading to ruin
That is the significance of the Resistance
Because of the empire’s tyranny, life is declining
With the shortage of food and high tax, people’s dissatisfaction is accumulated
When the dissatisfaction reached its peak, people will wish for the collapse of the empire
The Resistance is their hope
With that flow, in the game 『Beast Fantasy 4』, many people collaborated with the Resistance
If the empire is destroyed, their lives will surely be better
Clinging to that hope, they looked forward to the Resistance, the only mean that can make the downfall of the empire a reality
However, the world is different now
Thanks to the Holy Wisdom art I applied, the beast aura was suppressed, the still sane emperor Harod is imposing a good governing for the time being
Since people are not starving, they are not dissatisfied
I wonder how many people are hoping for a sudden change of government in such situation?
「For now, there are people who experienced the ravage of war directly and can’t forgive the empire. But hatred is not something that lasted forever. That feeling can fade」
Today’s interest rather than past’s ties
There are lots of people who don’t care about yesterday’s grudge as long as they have food to eat
How long someone can hold their grudge depends on the strength of their heart
There aren’t many people with such strong heart
「Exactly because of that, you guys are having trouble finding collaborators」
If this continues, they will be left behind
「I am one of the Twelve Apostles. I was given quite a big authority from the Emperor. If I act as a middleman, all of your sins would be sentenced as light as possible. Won’t you choose to open up a new era?」
「Gunununununu……!?」
Perhaps finding it hard to object, the leader of the Resistance can only groan
I’m sure he understood my reasoning in his head
Only his heart is refusing
At this rate, I think he will surrender soon
「I……」
A voice with firm refusal tone resounded
Unexpectedly, it’s from Sero, my junior
「I hate it, I will destroy the empire」
「Sero……」
「I don’t want to fight Nii-chan. But I absolutely won’t forgive those guys from the empire who destroyed the village where I was born and killed father and mother. Especially the emperor who gave that command……」
The despair at the time we met is still residing in him
「……I met the emperor directly. I was allowed so when I became a Twelve Apostles」
「Eh?」
Not just Sero who reacted to my words, all the members of the Resistance presenting at the moment also stirred
It’s impossible not to react after all. For them who aim to overthrow the empire, the emperor is like the last boss
「He was just a pitiful man. In order to fulfill his responsibilities by himself, he reached his hand to the power that must not be touched. He lost everything because of that. Everything except the mission he imposed to himself」
The enormous Behemoth empire was built after that
The people he loved……his beloved wife, children and companions, all were gone
His own body is eaten by the beast aura and will surely collapse eventually
What my Holy Wisdom art can do is delaying that, complete cure is impossible
「He will continue to suffer until death. Even if you don’t punish him, he already continued to be punished every day. And he will continue to be punished until death」
「Even so……!」
I couldn’t get rid of Sero’s dark grudge
A dark heart that only those who have lost relatives have. I can’t understand that so saying anything more is useless
「……Okay, let’s end it here today」
「Nii-chan……」
「Originally, I only wanted to see your face today. I think you didn’t expect to have such a serious talk, therefore you are so perplexed after being told so. You don’t need to answer me immediately. But I want you to slowly think about it」
「Yes……」
In fact, I’m glad to see Sero’s lively face today
That alone is the best harvest
Looking back, the member of the Resistance were trembling a lot
……They are afraid of me, right?
「Don’t worry, I will return with this. I won’t report this place. I was granted the permission to negotiate with you guys. Dealing with you guys are my task」
「Something like that……, is that really possible?」
「That is the power of the Twelve Apostles」
Anyway, as long as I am here, I won’t let the empire do anything evil
In the game, the emperor who was done for by the beast aura burned the villages of the opposition and used them as demon beasts’ food, but as long as I’m here, I won’t let that happen
In the first place, the Emperor is still himself
With them, we can move to a new era
This won’t be anyone’s bad end
I believe so
◆
Then I left the hideout of the Resistance……。
But I encountered an unexpected group outside
The Twelve Apostles’ seventh place, Zelimgaia
The Twelve Apostles’ eighth place, Kuwasally
「Why are you here?」
I have no choice but to say first
Why are my Twelve Apostles colleagues here?
「Why you said? We tailed you of course!」
「W, why?」
Why did you do something like that?
「I saw you whispering to Grey Ryuuga-sama! The moment I saw that, I knew you will do something!」
「That’s why we follow you. We will take the leftover」
They are both Twelve Apostles members like me, but our relationships are thin
Selen is my sister
Forte and Saraka are my wives
Gashi, Seki, Rei are my buddies, and although I say this and that to Grey Ryuuga, I’m fine with him
There are no point of contact with these two
We fought together in Bresden war two years ago, but we didn’t talk to each other much
「Among twelve people, there will be one or two with that kind of relationship……」
「Shut it! In Bresden war, all people involved with you played an active role so we didn’t stand out at all!」
Said the child-faced beauty Zelimgaia
Gender is female
She looks like a young girl, but if I remembered correctly, she is older than me
「Honestly, we are impatient. Bresden kingdom isn’t here anymore, so there is no chance to raise war merit nowadays. During that, we thought about finding the Resistance hideout. That was really nice of you to guide us here」
Kuwasally, just like Forte and Saraka, was someone from outside of the empire. She is a bewitching beauty with exotic atmosphere
Both of them was magnificent and overflowing with charm, but they couldn’t play an active role in previous war
That’s why they didn’t stand out
「However! If we crush the Resistance here, it will be a merit! I’m sure his Majesty the Emperor will praise us!」
「Won’t Jirat-san hand over this merit to us? It’s fine, right? You have been standing out a lot until now, so won’t you share some of it to us? Moreover, our Twelve Apostles ranking is more or less higher, so won’t you listen to your words?」
Nononononononono……!
I visited them to negotiate, but what can I do if you rush in to do the exact opposite?
Won’t it crush the trust I have made so far!?