Translator: Alpha0210
"But your plan isn't perfect either. For one, I cannot remain in the royal castle until the very last moment."
"May I ask why?"
The Half King shifted her gaze to the hologram screen Futurix had projected.
"The Giants advance remarkably fast for their size. If they set their minds to it, they could reach this royal castle in under a week. And yet we estimated it would take them roughly 170 days to arrive. Why do you suppose that is?"
"......"
"Because they are thoroughly destroying every living thing, every object, along their path. Meticulously, without a single gap. In truth, not even an ant has survived where the Giants have passed."
"Then you mean......"
"Yes. Even if your sacrifices wear the Giants down, even if we analyze their weaknesses thoroughly and I win in the end, it could not be called a victory. What meaning is there in me standing alone in a wasteland without a single blade of grass left?"
Even Peran had not considered this far.
It wasn't so much that he had overlooked something; he simply hadn't known the Giants were carrying out such thorough destruction.
The Half King smiled faintly and said,
"No need to be discouraged. There is much to improve, but the framework is sound. It would be better still if someone who could make up for your shortcomings were at your side to advise you."
The Half King said more after that, but little of it reached Peran's ears. The realization that he had taken on a responsibility far heavier than he'd imagined felt like it might crush his shoulders.
Peran nodded and answered vaguely, and once he was ordered to withdraw, he left the royal castle on unsteady legs.
The Half King watched his retreating figure, then said,
"Futurix, I'll need you to help that young man."
As expected, Futurix was startled.
"What do you mean...... I must remain at Your Majesty's side."
"There's no reason for that at the moment, is there? It will be quite some time before Destruction arrives. And if an enemy powerful enough to threaten me appears, regrettably, even having you beside me would not provide any meaningful assistance."
"That's... true, but... why me, of all people......"
"As I understand it, Future City lies in the eastern region of the World of Void. And as of this moment, Peran is commander of the Southeast Army. Do you need more reason than that?"
"......"
She had no real rebuttal.
No. Even if she'd had one, if this was the Half King's will, she would have no choice but to obey.
Futurix swallowed the sigh rising in her throat and bowed her head.
"...If it is Your Majesty's command, I will obey. In return, I will place several of my eyes throughout the royal castle, so please tolerate them, however displeasing you may find them."
"There's no reason for displeasure. Do as you wish."
Futurix stared with visible dissatisfaction at the spot where Peran had departed, then slowly made her way out of the audience chamber. Just before leaving, she looked at the Half King and said,
"By the way, Your Majesty, if that greenhorn is to command the Southeast Army, whom do you intend to appoint as commander of the Northwest Army?"
"Hmm... one talent does come to mind, actually."
"......?"
The Half King waved her hand.
"Well, one never knows how these things will turn out. I'll tell you once it's settled for certain."
"...Yes, Your Majesty. Please, do guard your royal person."
And then Futurix departed as well.
The Half King quietly leaned her head back against the throne and gazed at the sky spread beyond the gaping hole in the ceiling.
Being able to look at the sky from the throne, without ever needing to step outside, held a certain charm. It was also why she had stopped Futurix from carrying out repairs.
In the current situation there was no need to guard against enemy raids, and the Half King felt no chill from the cold wind drifting in through the opening, so practically speaking, things really were better this way. Futurix had flown into a rage over what she called a matter of royal dignity, but by now the Half King had learned how to pretend not to notice such reactions.
And so, these days, the Half King was enjoying herself.
Hardly a fitting sentiment for a time when Destruction was bearing down on their doorstep.
"I will not take it."
The sudden voice came from behind a pillar.
The Everlasting Plum Sword, Yang In-hyun, was leaning there with his arms crossed. He wasn't even looking this way as he spoke. Had Futurix been present, she would surely have nagged about impertinence or some such. Which was why the Half King hadn't mentioned Yang In-hyun.
"Take what?"
"Command of the Northwest Army."
"That's unfortunate. Of course, I never had any intention of appointing you as commander of an army to begin with."
At that, Yang In-hyun opened his previously closed eyes. He seemed to contemplate something with a subtle expression before asking in return.
"And why is that?"
"You are not a vessel made to stand above others."
"......"
Yang In-hyun was silent for a moment, then said,
"...You say that even though I am one of the Twelve Void Lords, and Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect?"
"I do. Have you any objection?"
"None. If anything, it's accurate."
The Everlasting Plum Sword, Yang In-hyun. His capacity to stand above others is more than sufficient; it overflows. But aptitude and disposition are separate matters. Simply put, Yang In-hyun has no taste for reigning over other people. If there were truly no one else fit for it, he would step forward out of necessity, but.
"So what brings you here?"
"There is something I wish to ask."
Yang In-hyun walked slowly forward until he stood before the Half King. Then he inclined his head slightly. ...Was that courtesy?
Even as the Half King, she had never imagined receiving such treatment from Yang In-hyun, and it left her feeling a little strange.
At the same time, curiosity stirred.
"I can't promise an answer, but you may ask."
"Is this war winnable?"
At that, the expression of the Half King upon the throne turned subtle.
"That's an abrupt question. What made you think of asking that?"
"I sensed a certain composure in your bearing. As if you had some chance of winning."
"That is because my attitude toward life has changed. It has little to do with this war."
"I see... Then the war is, after all."
"I don't like discussing things in terms of probability, but let's see. Perhaps our chances of victory are around one percent."
Yang In-hyun fell silent, then said,
"That's higher than I expected."
"Heh. Assuming, of course, the most generous possible outlook."
"Do you intend to adopt the plan that young man laid out just now?"
"I do. You heard it all, I take it? I have grown timid."
Yang In-hyun stared hard at the Half King, then shook his head.
"...I wonder. From where I stand, it looks like nothing other than you preparing to take on two enemies at once."
"That is overestimating me."
"In all my life I have never once overestimated or underestimated anyone. I strive always to see all things without prejudice, measured against my own standard."
"Is that so?"
The Half King said with a light laugh,
"You said you sensed composure in my bearing, did you? Then I'll answer. It is because the end is in sight."
"The end is in sight?"
"Yes. So far I have told only Futurix this, but word is that the Second Destruction is already finished."
Yang In-hyun's expression turned subtle again.
"Is such a thing possible?"
"It is. There are those who departed directly for 'The Outside', are there not?"
Yang In-hyun spoke in a voice of disbelief.
"They truly brought down the Second Destruction? This quickly......"
"He is not a man who would lie. Nor would he have passed the word along rashly if the information were uncertain."
"You rate him highly."
The Half King said, still smiling,
"...Piecing together the information heard from them, the two Giants now advancing on the royal castle are, respectively, the Third Destruction and the Fourth Destruction. If we bring them down... then at last, only one enemy will remain."
The Half King smiled.
"I'm glad that I can finally make out, however faintly, the end of this long, long battle."
"Even with the odds so overwhelmingly against you?"
"We will not lose. I will make it so."
"......"
Yang In-hyun was briefly silent, then spoke again.
"...I will go and confirm the Giant in the west myself. As it happens, I've been curious just how strong that monster is."
The reconnaissance machines Futurix had sent could not truly gauge a Giant's strength. Observing from a distance meant little.
Only by clashing with it directly, by fighting it, could one lay hands on the information that actually mattered. Only then could that mere one percent chance of victory be raised, even a little.
"You may die."
"Not yet. I have not found my answer, and I have no intention of dying before I do."
"Even so, I will give you an order. Return alive. Everlasting Plum Sword. You have much work left to do."
"......"
Yang In-hyun left the audience chamber with a faint smile.
Only then did the Half King let the smile fade from her lips.
And gazing up at the sky once more, she murmured,
"…So they couldn't stop it."
*
Strangely, Residue found himself not wanting to ask about the situation outside. Something told him Agolet would not answer easily.
Still, he couldn't keep his mouth shut forever, so he forced himself to speak.
"How exactly is the situation bad?"
"Telling you would be no difficult matter, however......"
Agolet deliberately let his words trail off. Did this bastard have some disease that would kill him if he ever spoke plainly?
Residue eyed him sourly, then said,
"Right. So there's something you want."
"There is."
"What are you after? Lukas's death?"
At that, Agolet gave a small snort of laughter.
"Were I to put that proposal into words, this negotiation would collapse on the spot."
"Then?"
"Let us do this, Your Majesty. I have already seized control of several of the powers currently existing on this continent."
"You've been making quite a grand splash, it seems."
Agolet's smile sharpened.
"Grand? No word suits this Agolet less, Your Majesty. Since falling to this continent, not one soul has glimpsed my true nature. Not one has so much as harbored a suspicion. They do not know me, and even those who do will not remember me deeply. If I had to say, Your Majesty would be the first."
"That's not a particularly pleasant fact, you know."
Residue shook his head and said,
"You've done nothing conspicuous, revealed nothing of your true self. And yet you claim to have seized control of these powers?"
"Sitting at the head is not the only way to become a power's master. A vassal who enjoys the king's favor, an organization's second-in-command, the advisor a magnate trusts above all others; one who can steer such people with a few words...... Those ignorant fools never even notice the strings tied to their limbs. Manipulated from beginning to end, and yet they labor under the delusion that they act on their own judgment. What matters, Your Majesty. What truly matters is not whether this Agolet's existence has been exposed or not. It is that they will move exactly as I wish, at any time, in any moment."
It was nothing new, but this creature truly was closer to villain than saint after all. He had changed a fair amount, yet that root of him seemed unchanged. The longer they spoke, the more a pitch-black darkness seeped through, enough that most people wouldn't manage to trade words with him at all.
Truly, the man who had destroyed a vast universe with nothing but plots and schemes.
Residue said,
"This is dragging on. Your point?"
"As I said, what I desire is the death of Lukas Trowman. However, I will not raise my own hand. That would be too easy, and it would end too quickly."
Somehow, Residue could already guess what Agolet was about to say.
"I will use my forces as my pieces. Beings born and raised in this universe. Using them and them alone, I will show you the death of Lukas Trowman; in exchange, I ask Your Majesty to turn a blind eye to the threat they pose. That is my proposal."
*****
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