第３９１堀：神と洞窟が目指したモノ そして 血の団長 (Part1)
Side: Noble
"I see. So that is where you and your men met your end?"
"That is correct. Well, we were literally dead, for all intents and purposes. As I mentioned before, my army was completely wiped out in that battle. No matter how many we cut down, the enemy just kept surging forth. My subordinates fought valiantly, but they reached their limit, falling one by one."
"..."
"I, and Sakuri, were no different from the men. Our swords were shattered, our strength spent. When I regained consciousness, I was lying in a sea of blood. But I was alive. Perhaps I was covered in so much gore that they mistook me for a corpse. Or perhaps it was just luck—though I did have wounds that were nearly fatal. In that chaotic melee, there hadn't been a moment to drink a potion, so I still had one on me. After I drank it to mend my wounds, I searched for any surviving comrades. That was when I found Sakuri. His injuries were far worse than mine. It’s fair to say that was the moment he became what he is now."
"I understand. I have heard that when one sustains a fatal injury in a major battle, the core can be used to compensate, though such large-scale conflicts are rare. It seems that was the only time you and Sakuri were ever truly pushed to that limit."
"So, you heard about that, did you? Well, it is as you say. Sakuri’s body was barely held together, but he had been ravaged in so many places. There was a gaping hole in his chest; he was effectively a corpse already. But he was alive. Even in that state, my friend was still clinging to life. So, on an impulse, I embedded a core into his body. I thought: if he has the ability to maintain a dungeon, wouldn't embedding a core into his body cause it to recognize him as a dungeon, thereby regenerating and healing him?"
"I see. Well, the result was fortunate. Though he lost both legs and an arm, he lives."
"The Chancellor says the same thing as Sakuri—that if I had searched for his missing limbs, he wouldn't have had to lose them. I have agonized over that."
"That is a luxury of thought, my King. It is enough that he is alive."
"You truly say the same things. Well, we’ll never see eye to eye on that, so let’s drop it. In any case, we were officially listed as killed in action, and neither Sakuri nor I ever returned in that state. We had been made to realize our own lack of power. Now, this is the story of how Sakuri and I eventually ascended to the throne."
Yes, we had been made to realize our own lack of power.
Though I was called a God of War, that was all I was.
Being skilled at war was not enough.
I had relied entirely on Sakuri for supplies, and the soldiers were merely granted to us by the state.
If I had held a higher position back then, there would have been countless ways to handle the situation.
I had been too focused on the immediate, ending up as nothing more than a convenient pawn.
No, that is fine.
In the grand scheme of things, it was not a mistake to prioritize the Heroes over the likes of Sakuri and me.
However, I could not forgive my own naivety.
I had thought that things would work out just by drifting along.
Because I had come this far through my own strength, I assumed I would continue to manage.
I had been content with my position as a general, perhaps because I was born a peasant.
Ironically, that battle made me realize that I could never save the world with such a mindset.
So, for the next few decades, while healing our bodies and slowly accumulating DP, I devised strategies and desperately thought about how to achieve our goal.
"Sakuri. I have been thinking. In the end, is it not best to become King?"
"I agree. In terms of human resources, assets, and authority, becoming King would make it easier to approach your goal, Noble. But look at this body of mine. There is no way I can stand on the center stage. So, you must be the one to do it. You will surely be dragged into the power struggles you despise."
"I know. But if I let my likes and dislikes dictate my actions, we will surely repeat the same tragedy. I cannot commit the same folly. For the sake of the subordinates who died that day, I must preserve this world."
"…Understood. Then, let us make becoming King our first objective. However, it may be a long time before you actually take the throne—not years or decades, but perhaps centuries. Are you prepared for that?"
"Why? Even though decades have passed, if I reveal myself, there must be acquaintances still alive in the great nation of Ex. Can I not rise through the ranks from there? You and I are ageless, after all."
"…No. An ageless general would only invite suspicion of being a monster. Even if you became King, what would you do then?"
"Save the world, would I not? I would resolve the depletion of magic."
"…How? Do you know what must be done?"
"…No, I do not."
"…At the very least, we would need to seek cooperation from various nations. We must gather information."
"That is true."
"But as things stand, we cannot ask for cooperation. No one will agree to save a world crisis they cannot see without some form of compensation."
"..."
"In fact, speaking of such things might only sow the seeds of useless conflict."
"What should I do?"
"…Ideally, by the time you become King, you should possess such overwhelming power—whether through force or technology—that you can either force other nations to submit or create a system where they have no choice but to cooperate."
"But is that not why I am becoming King—to obtain that power?"
"Yes. But it is better to have a clear path ahead than a blank slate. For instance, if we could analyze the Holy Sword and remove its usage restrictions, our military strength would jump significantly, would it not?"
"That is true."
"Furthermore, we cannot do this alone. We need reliable allies. Without them, you will never become King."
"…You are right."
"It will take time, but we will do it surely. As we gather information, more plans will emerge. There is no need to rush."
And so, I traveled across the world.
Preparing for the time that would eventually come.
"And that is how it was."
"I see. And the result of that recruitment is me?"
"Indeed. At the time, you were being cast out from the center of power and were on the verge of being assassinated, so I saved you."
"…I am grateful. I never imagined that simply speaking the truth would lead to an assassination attempt."
"You were too ignorant of the greed of your opponents. That was the cause."
"True enough. Though, that nation collapsed of its own accord shortly after."
"There was no need to remain on a sinking ship that would have gone down regardless. Your talent was too precious to lose. And in truth, I cannot imagine the present without you, Chancellor."
"I am unworthy of such praise. But thinking back, why did you remain a spectator regarding Lady Hifie? Before you became King, Lady Hifie established the Holy Nation. Would it not have been better to cooperate with her side then?"
"You ask that knowing the answer, don't you? You seem calm now, but until recently, Hifie was a mass of hatred. Unlike me, she ran herself ragged trying to save people. Perhaps, after losing Comet in the Demon King campaign and entrusting the Holy Sword left behind by that genius to the Heroes, Hifie truly did save the world back then. But what was left for her?"
"…The oppression and imprisonment of the Heroes, if I recall. Though I heard that was due to unreasonable demands from the Heroes' side?"
"That is politics; such things are to be expected. But to Hifie, it must have looked like nothing but despair. She saw them seeking only their own interests. Hifie had literally worked herself to the bone, desperately healing the wounded people during the Demon King campaign. That was the reward she received."
"…A thankless outcome."
"When Hifie founded her nation, I did intend to cooperate. But by then, Hifie was already broken. She had embedded cores into the surviving Heroes to make them eternal pawns, and she was gathering the bodies of those who had passed to use as soldiers. It chilled my spine. I even considered whether I should strike her down right there."
"I see. So, the idea of monster zombie soldiers originated with Lady Hifie."
"Yes. I could never bring myself to utilize the remains of the dead. Perhaps that is the difference between one who spent their life watching people die in the infirmary and one who watched them scatter for honor on the battlefield. It is not a matter of good or evil, merely a preference. Using the dead is no different, after all."