I shared with the kings the “strategy” I would use in the final stage of this defensive battle.
When the kings heard this “strategy,” they were first shocked, then horrified, and finally let out screams.
“…That concludes my explanation.”
After finishing, I looked around at the frozen kings.
“Are there any questions?”
The kings immediately shouted.
“Prince Ash! No matter what, isn’t that… going too far?!”
“That method would destroy the foundation of our world!”
“It’s unthinkable! It couldn’t come from normal thinking…!”
“Reconsider! Even for you, this method is too extreme-“
I listened quietly in the face of their fierce opposition.
In truth, I had expected opposition, of course.
If we use the “strategy” I proposed, some “pillar” that has built up human civilization until now will disappear.
Even if we overcome destruction after the last stage, the world will change into a completely different form from the past.
It’s a condition difficult for anyone living in this world to easily accept, not just the kings.
However,
“Then, do you intend to accept destruction?”
When I coldly asked back, the audience immediately fell silent as if doused with cold water.
“Clearly, the loss the world must bear is painful. However, as the price for protecting the world from destruction, it may be a very cheap loss.”
No matter what price we pay.
Isn’t it better than the world being destroyed and people dying?
“…”
Amidst the silence as the kings just looked at each other, a low question arose.
“Is this the only way?”
There stood my father — Emperor Traha ‘Peacemaker’ Everblack of the Empire.
He was looking at me with a solemn, hardened face.
I nodded heavily.
“This is the only way.”
Amidst the erupting sighs, the Emperor silently looked at me.
Eventually his cracked lips parted, and a tired voice flowed out.
“Ash. Whether you are the world’s savior or a mad revolutionary, that judgment will be made not by us here, but by future generations…”
His lips slowly curved into a smile.
“But that judgment can only be made if the world continues to exist for future generations.”
The Emperor slowly rose and declared.
“Our Everblack Empire will go along with Prince Ash’s path!”
“…!”
“There’s no way we can overcome the world crisis before us without any losses. There are bound to be parts we all must give up and concede.”
The Emperor pointed to his chest with his one remaining arm.
“When we use this method, when a completely different tomorrow unfolds from yesterday, which country do you think will suffer the greatest loss? It’s our Empire. But it doesn’t matter. We will accept it.”
“…”
“Let’s all bear the burden together. Let’s hurt together. This is not a matter of choice, but a matter of life and death.”
The next moment.
Someone else in the audience abruptly stood up.
“Our Ariane Kingdom also strongly agrees!”
It was King Miller Ariane of the Ariane Kingdom.
The other kings seemed quite surprised at the agreement of this king who had once been at the forefront of opposing the World Guardian Front’s path at every turn.
“Miller…!”
“You?!”
“Those who have fought together here until now must know well. That Prince Ash’s proposals have ultimately led to the right path.”
Miller grinned at me.
“I will support his decision to the very end.”
Following that, several people stood up from their seats simultaneously.
Kellibey, Verdandi, Kuilan, and King Poseidon.
Representatives of each race.
They faced me with unwavering expressions.
“We have already decided to entrust the fate of our races to Prince Ash… to the future path of the World Guardian Front here.”
“No matter what price we pay, it cannot take precedence over our lives.”
“We’ve come this far anyway, haven’t we? Let’s go all out to the end!”
“If I can just protect the lives of my people, I can bear that much of a price.”
Then Mikhail, Valen, and Hannibal stood up in turn.
“Vermillion agrees as well!”
“So does our City-State Alliance!”
“We’ll follow to the end!”
Like a wave.
All the kings who had fought directly alongside me stood up one by one, expressing their support for my “strategy.”
Even the kings who hesitated until the end were those who had remained with the World Guardian Front so far, trusting and following me.
It’s just that the method I proposed was too radical for them to easily agree with.
But in the end, they too closed their eyes tightly and stood up.
“…Just promise us one thing, Prince Ash.”
With one hand gripping his forehead, the king who remained seated until the last — Dearmudin, who leads the smallest independent country in the world, the Ivory Tower — pleaded earnestly to me.
“That even if ‘that’ disappears from this world… we will be able to live well. That you will make it so. Promise us.”
“I promise.”
I answered with a grin.
“We’ll be fine.”
Because I have already lived in a world without ‘that’.
And because I know well that that world is beautiful enough too.
I spoke with confidence, and finally, Dearmudin also stood up with a sigh.
“The Ivory Tower will also share its fate with the World Guardian Front.”
After looking around at all the kings standing around me.
I nodded heavily.
“Thank you for making this difficult decision.”
Destruction is near.
That’s why we unite as one.
“With this united will, let’s… open the path to tomorrow.”
The future is not clearly visible.
But it will be alright.
Because we have it.
The courage to throw away everything from yesterday in order to move forward to tomorrow.
After the meeting adjourned and all the kings had left.
“Ash.”
The Emperor approached me, who was left alone in the hall.
“Father.”
As I gave a simple bow, the Emperor grinned at me.
“Is there a reason you sought consent for this matter, even though you could have handled it on your own?”
The Emperor was right.
There was actually no need to tell everyone in advance and seek consent. It wouldn’t have been a problem if I had taken care of everything myself and notified them afterwards.
No, that might have been safer. The battle was right around the corner, and if there were forces that didn’t agree and deserted the front, it would have been another headache.
But…
“If the only goal was to overcome the imminent destruction, that would be fine, but my real purpose includes… properly establishing the world after this battle.”
The world doesn’t end with an ending. It will continue on endlessly.
And the world will change completely after the last stage. Shouldn’t we seek consent from the people who will live there in advance, and also prepare countermeasures together?
“It’s not a world where I alone will live. It’s a place we all must walk together. Even though I’ve worn the crown representing everyone.”
“…”
The Emperor examined me with inscrutable black eyes, then finally closed his one remaining eye tightly.
“Well, it’s all talk for after we get through this final battle well. Right?”
“Haha. That’s right.”
“This father has become like this, so it’s regrettable that I can no longer help in battle. While everyone else is preparing for battle, I’m just killing time alone in the rear…”
To the Emperor who was lamenting, I spoke in a stern voice.
“No. That’s not true, Father.”
“Hm?”
“In this final battle, you’ll need to lend your strength as well, Father.”
The Emperor pointed to his own body quizzically. His body missing one eye, one arm, and one leg.
“But I’m in this state?”
“Though your body has weakened, isn’t your mind still sound?”
“Haha, not just sound, it’s no less than any young person’s!”
“That’s enough then. Come with me, Father.”
In front of the still puzzled Emperor, I grinned.
“There are other warriors who, like you, may not be physically whole but whose hearts are still burning. Please come along with them.”
At my words, the Emperor didn’t ask anything further, but instead let out a hearty laugh.
And then he said this.
“Very well, let’s go and see. To the end of the final battleground…!”
Time passed quickly.
The day before the last stage.
A feast was held throughout the city before the departure.
Heroes gathered for the final defensive battle shared drinks and food.
I personally served drinks and food to everyone fighting in their respective places, from the soldiers in the barracks to the people of the production guilds.
I went around with a glass in hand, toasting everyone individually and wishing them good luck.
And, at this gathering…
“My Lord.”
Suddenly, Aider popped up.
It was in the central square of the city. I faced him without even being surprised anymore.
“Aider.”
“Huhu. You’ve finally made it this far.”
“It’s the result of all our hard work.”
Unlike his appearance so far, Aider was wearing a very old formal attire.
After putting a glass in his hand, I handed him something I had kept in my possession.
“Take it.”
It was a fragment of Nameless’s soul.
The last pieces of her that remained inside the dungeon sparkled and swirled in the air before being sucked into Aider’s hand.
Aider, who carefully tucked it into his bosom, smiled broadly.
“I’ve finished my own preparations as well.”
“…”
“Now all that’s left is to give them one big hit.”
Snap!
Aider snapped his fingers.
Then the [Traitor’s Necklace] around my neck flashed once.
“As you may have guessed, the ‘achievement points’ you’ve used through that necklace are actually… a concept of consuming the Karma we’ve accumulated so far.”
The endlessly repeated destruction game.
Aider, who participated as a human-side player here, and I, his agent. The karma (業) accumulated as we repeated the regression was burned and manifested as power.
I smiled bitterly.
“Well, the explanation of achievement points wasn’t entirely wrong.”
“When you built fortresses materialized with magic, or displayed various other miraculous powers, we’ve been assisting by consuming this accumulated karma.”
Aider smiled faintly.
“I’ve just released that limiter.”
“…”
“It’s the real final time, after all. There’s no need to save the balance anymore, is there?”
The previous player, previous hero, prophet, lord’s advisor, director…
This accomplice who plotted with me against the world said so.
“Burn it down to the last point. Without regrets.”
“You too, Aider.”
To this damned yokai director I’ve grown fond of despite myself, I sincerely wished.
“Let’s face it without regrets. The finale of this long game…”
We clinked our glasses together.
A clear ringing sound of glass was heard.
After conversing with each hero once.
As the night deepened and dawn approached, near the end of the banquet.
“Serenade.”
I approached Serenade, who was standing alone by the window in a corner of the darkened banquet hall, looking outside.
Serenade turned around, quickly wiped her eyes, then smiled brightly.
“Your Highness.”
“Are you alright?”
“Of course. I’m going to stop seeing you off with tears now. I no longer doubt your return.”
“…”
“Come back safely, Your Highness. I’ll be waiting here with a smile.”
After hesitating for a moment.
I carefully asked.
“Can you call me like you used to, instead of ‘Your Highness’?”
“Pardon?”
“Like back then. Like in the Imperial Capital, before we broke off our engagement…”
Serenade, who quickly caught my meaning, blushed and smiled, then took a step closer to me…
She whispered in my ear like a gentle breeze.
“…Come back safely, my lord.”
I smiled silently and bowed to her.
…
After kissing in the moonlight, as I was about to step back.
Serenade’s long fingers caught my sleeve.
“Tonight.”
With her face bowed down, redder than I’d ever seen it, Serenade whispered in a trembling voice.
“I don’t want to let you go tonight.”
“…”
“Tonight… I want to spend it together.”
Instead of answering, I reached out my arms to tightly embrace her waist… and kissed her once more.
The next day.
At the end of a long journey.
Stage 50, the final battle… began.
–TL Notes–
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