第３９６堀：理解及ばぬ世界 (Part1)
Chapter 396: A World Beyond Understanding
Side: Noble
I stood frozen, staring at the scene before me.
"W-what... happened?"
I couldn't grasp it. My mind couldn't keep up.
Before our undead troops could even make contact with Hifi-dono’s monster army—before they could even move—the vanguard was blown away amidst a deafening roar and pillars of flame. And it wasn't just the vanguard; the center and the rear were also being torn apart by constant, thunderous explosions.
But that wasn't the end of it.
No, that was only the beginning.
The roaring never ceased.
The undead were being reduced to mere chunks of meat.
...This was no longer a march.
"Impossible. Impossible. Impossible..."
Beside me, Binzo was clutching his head, muttering like a man possessed.
Yes, that was it. It was impossible.
I didn't even know what they were doing.
"Noble."
"!?"
Hifi-dono’s voice pierced my body like a sharp blade.
I couldn't even bring myself to turn my face toward her. No, the moment I looked at her, I felt as though my end had come.
"...The armies have yet to move, but was there some sort of problem? At this rate, it’s not an exercise; it’s just target practice. Shall we start over? There’s no way to evaluate anything like this."
...Indeed, there was no way to evaluate this.
But was that the truth of the matter?
My experience, cultivated over all these years, failed to provide an answer.
I couldn't understand what had happened.
If we started over, wouldn't the same thing just repeat itself...?
"Y-yes!! Let us start over!!"
It was Binzo, not I, who answered Hifi-dono.
"Please call for a ceasefire. Let us resume in one hour."
"Understood."
Binzo made the promise with Hifi-dono without seeking my judgment.
Did he understand something? Unlike me, he was a technician, the greatest mind in Ex.
"Your Majesty, it was likely that malfunction."
"Malfunction?"
"Yes. As you can see, the moment we halted the battle, the roaring stopped. The dampening mechanism likely couldn't withstand the magical power required for combat posture, causing an explosion. As you can see, the opponent isn't moving, and they are too far away to cast magic. That is the only logical conclusion."
"...Indeed. There is no way a weapon that doesn't use magic could possess such power from that distance. If so, that must be the only possibility."
"Exactly."
"However, this is a grave failure. I will deal with the punishment later. For now, go and adjust it so there are no more malfunctions."
"At once."
...I see. So that was it.
It would be impossible to understand if it were a self-inflicted explosion by my own side.
I had been trying to understand an enemy attack, so of course, it made no sense.
They were merely holding things that looked like crossbows; there was no way they could attack with those.
They hadn't drawn strings or notched arrows; they couldn't possibly fire.
...They say Hifi-dono has a staff that breathes fire, separate from her magic sword, but that didn't breathe fire, nor was it a staff.
Yes, it was my own misunderstanding. That was all.
"Noble. Do you intend to replenish the troops?"
"Ah, yes. That is the plan."
"I see. Even though they are undead, you have a system in place to replenish them."
"Correct. What Hifi-dono and her group are facing now is only about half of the total undead. I plan to use this as the core to invade other countries. This way, my heart will not ache."
"...I see. However, Noble, you will be called the second coming of the Demon King. Are you prepared for that?"
"It is the only way to reduce the sacrifice of the people. I need not conscript them, nor will they harbor dissatisfaction or die in battle. Furthermore, the undead do not commit atrocities in occupied territories; they are loyal to orders. There is no more convenient military force. Those who must be purged are the ones who rule the nations. If I am called a Demon King and a coalition is formed against me, that is actually convenient. I can simply destroy the hostile nations. The role of 'Demon King' is truly helpful in distinguishing friend from foe."
"I had thought that was something to be done by human hands."
"...I understand that sentiment. Until now, it has been the rulers of each nation who have spilled blood in vain. You mean that the retribution should not be entrusted to others, but carried out by oneself, do you not?"
"Yes. Otherwise, those who have died until now will not be avenged."
"...But if you do that, new sacrifices will be born. That is why you stopped swinging your sword, is it not?"
"..."
"Revenge is a rightful claim. It is a natural human emotion. The past grievances must be repaid, and those who have trampled upon others must pay the appropriate price. That is precisely why I do not send humans to face my enemies. For those who have piled up corpses, they are the most fitting opponents."
"...That is a cruel irony."
"But it is the correct way to view things. There is no logic in handing over the lives of my people to those who oppose us, nor is there any need to protect the dignity of the enemy. Naivety destroys oneself. You know that well, don't you?"
After all, it was that very naivety that cost me the heroes—my own students.
"...That is true."
She replied to my words with a lonely voice.
...Damn it.
That was not a topic I should have brought up so carelessly.
"Forgive me..."
"No, please, do not worry about it. It is merely a fact. ...If I am shaken by something like this, I could never walk the thorny path that lies ahead. If you lose in this exercise, it is clear that you, Noble-dono, possess the power. In that case, I will entrust the battle to you with peace of mind and focus on the peace of the people from the rear."
"...I see. I appreciate your understanding."
Then, I must show power here that will convince and reassure her.
"...However, if by any chance you are defeated by us, there is something I would like you to hear."
"Something you want me to hear?"
"Yes. In any case, if you are defeated by us, there is no future for you. Is that not so?"
"...That is certainly true, but..."
"It is vital information. If you are strong, it will be a mere trifle. But if you lose to us, I must tell you that it is not a trifle, but something you will be unable to handle."
"Is that the real reason you accepted this exercise, Hifi-dono?"
Did she want to see if I had the power to counter the threat she knows of?
"...To be honest, the result from earlier leaves me worried. It makes me doubt your reputation as a God of War, Noble-dono."
Indeed, a self-inflicted explosion before the battle even began was not just a matter of worry; it was a level of failure that would normally result in the dismissal of the general in charge and a court-martial.
"We share the same god, so I will expect better next time, but please understand: there is no 'next' after that."
"But if, by any chance, we lose, is it enough to just listen to what you have to say?"
"The situation is that dire. Even if you are a fool, I cannot afford not to borrow your hand. Honestly, I would prefer you to surrender to our side, but that would only cause unnecessary chaos in the country. So, if we can just talk and perhaps form an alliance, that would be enough."
"Is the situation truly that grave?"