Chapter 313 |
Chapter 313
Dardin, who had been shouting tearful three cheers and blessings for Yesung,
Finally stopped only after hearing Yurik, who was thoroughly annoyed, tell him to quit it.
Having regained enough composure to find a chair and sit down, he began to complain while dabbing at his tears.
"To think you'd drag away both the Queen and the Royal Guard Captain with one commotion, I was already thinking it would be better to die than face those two people."
"But you didn't die in the end."
"I only thought about it, just thought about it!"
Dardin's whining seemed to be getting worse day by day.
But since he had done something to him, he didn't bring it up and just silently touched the cover of the red book.
Dardin dabbed at his tears again and asked slyly.
"But are you really a mage? Even on the way here, everyone was whispering about Yesung."
"Did you hear everything including the conversation with the Queen?"
"It wasn't just Yesung, His Highness the 3rd Prince, and Her Majesty the Queen in that place. Everyone who should know probably already knows."
"Then that makes things easier. First of all, I'm not a mage."
"So it was a trick after all? Haha, I thought so. I heard that Yesung came attacking the royal castle commanding huge, terrifying monsters."
"Ah."
"People are saying they looked just like the demons commanded by Acheron's founding Emperor recorded in history books. How exactly did you do it? Did you put something on animals to disguise them?"
Dardin spoke with a bright smile as if he had known it would be like this.
He looked at him and said quietly.
"But it's true that I can command some strange monsters."
"Pardon?"
"I don't know if they're connected to the demons of the Leng Plateau, but they're probably similar types."
"Haha, you're joking. Next you'll say it's also true that Yesung is Eibon's teacher."
"......"
"......Is it real? You're just teasing me, right?"
"......"
"......You're teasing me, right?"
Dardin's face, which had been chuckling with 'you joke well,' slowly hardened.
Dardin looked at Yurik intently in confusion. But Yurik only touched his hair while avoiding Dardin's gaze.
"Y-Your Highness."
"......"
"Your Highness, did you perhaps know this fact from when you first brought this person in......?"
Dardin seemed to be talking about when he first met him in the outskirts of the kingdom.
Well, of course he would know.
They had seen each other since the ancient species era. If Yurik wasn't forgetful, he would naturally know.
But Yurik glanced at him and said firmly.
"No."
"R-right? His Highness didn't know either, right?"
"Hey!"
He raised his voice at Yurik in disbelief, but Yurik only primly braided his hair.
No, what? Was Yurik abandoning him now?
Meanwhile, it was also absurd that Dardin was relieved and patting his chest.
When he clenched his fist, Yurik hurriedly whispered in his ear in a voice only he could hear.
"Let it slide just once, hyung. I have to ascend to the throne, but if I say I was the founding Emperor, what would everyone say? They'd definitely call me a monster. It would be a miracle if I wasn't deposed."
Come to think of it, that was true too.
Revealing that he was Eibon's teacher and someone who had lived a very long time would end with surprise or shock.
But if Cellinne, Valter, Eva, and Dardin learned that the lord they served so devotedly was also an immortal non-human species like him, they might all fall into madness at once.
Since he didn't want such a disaster to happen either, he would let it slide just this once.
After pondering, he decided to just let it go and turned his head to Dardin.
"Anyway, there's a separate reason why I'm revealing this fact only to you."
"Wh-what is it?"
"Broadly speaking, your goals and my goals are similar. Putting Yurik on the throne."
"Is there a separate reason?"
"There is such a thing. Don't ask about the reason. But what I just said isn't a joke either. You shouldn't think lightly of it either. As much as the hope you place in him, I also have a need to make him king."
In any case, since he had helped Yurik obtain the red book, it was time for him to pay the remaining balance.
Moreover, if he made Yurik king, wouldn't Yurik think gratefully of him?
Then even if such a situation came later, he wouldn't be able to readily kill him.
"You're the best at thinking things through. Use the prophecy I made well to set up the game. I'm good at this kind of thing, but I don't know much about domestic politics or political affairs... If there's anything more you want me to do, feel free to say so."
"So what you're saying now, Yesung, is."
"Use me."
"Are you prepared to do whatever I request?"
"If you need it and it makes sense."
He was sincere.
This wasn't something where only he could excel alone.
Even if he were a mage with skills equal to Eibon's, or perhaps surpassing Eibon, it would still be the same.
Putting a king on the throne wasn't one overwhelming and powerful act of violence,
But countless small forces that supported him and lifted him up from below.
How long would it last if he threatened the Queen and others that he would massacre the kingdom and forcibly put a crown on Yurik's head?
That's why he had said he would completely follow Dardin's opinion.
But as soon as Dardin heard his answer, he began to frown like a patient suffering from a toothache, rubbing his own brow.
Suddenly why was he like that? Did he have indigestion?
"Dardin?"
"Just a moment. I'm thinking."
What was he thinking about so earnestly? His brain might burst.
While he was blankly watching Dardin, Yurik quickly and neatly arranged his hair.
He tied the braided hair with a black ribbon that came from who knows where, and the craftsmanship was quite impressive, so he was inwardly admiring it when.
"......How far is it possible?"
"Hm?"
"For instance, is opening the Leng Plateau also possible? Like the prophecy Yesung made. Did you say that because it's possible?"
"Ah, well. It might be possible."
Anyway, wouldn't it just be a matter of pouring in magical power?
If he asked Yurik to help control the amount of blood, wouldn't it be possible?
Dardin asked again.
"Then is commanding the founding Emperor's demons also possible?"
"I haven't tried so I don't know, but I think we could communicate."
"You can communicate?"
"Why? Yurik also knows how to handle magical beasts. Can't Yurik do it?"
In the last cycle, or in some timeline, couldn't that trash bastard villain Yurik also command magical beasts and have conversations?
He looked back at him to seek agreement,
But Yurik silently shook his head.
"No. When I say I know how to handle magical beasts, I mean I can suppress them. It's similar to handling wild beasts with a whip."
"Talking, communication? Having conversations."
"I don't know since I haven't tried to attempt conversation while the demons of the Leng Plateau were rampaging. But it would be impossible."
This was strange.
It seemed like something was changing.
He didn't know if this was because the events were too far in the past and he was mistaken, or if something was really changing.
Like what Aphoom-Zhah had said about his younger sibling last time,
And the setting about Yurik, who should originally have been the worst villain in the worldview with abilities no one could match.
It seemed like the settings of this world were gradually changing their appearance,
But he couldn't guess in what way they would develop.
Without realizing it, he frowned and pondered this uneasiness when Dardin's words woke him up.
"Anyway, you're saying it's possible, aren't you? According to Yesung's prophecy, we can become heroes who defeat the demons of the Leng Plateau and save Aquilonia."
"I made that prophecy with that in mind from the beginning."
"When were you thinking of going?"
"Soon, once you all recover."
"I see. Then let's open it in advance and wait for a while."
Huh? Open it in advance?
Release the magical beasts confined in the Leng Plateau into this world?
But Dardin seemed unaware of what kind of statement he had made and was utterly calm.
Looking at his peaceful demeanor, he pointed out the obvious fact.
"If we open that place, demons will pour out."
"That's right."
"Is that okay? If they're released, even the powerless people of the kingdom..."
"Ah, you don't need to worry about that. I'm planning to expose the location of the Leng Plateau from now on and argue that we need to bring the royal castle's forces there and deploy them."
"Forces? Why?"
"Because we've been given the card that is you. The first thing to do is to downsize the military force that the Queen and royal castle possess."
No, wait a moment.
This sounded exactly like he was planning to commit mass slaughter.
"You're going to intentionally kill innocent people to reduce them? No, right? I misunderstood, right?"
He asked, considering the possibility that his intelligence couldn't follow him,
But Dardin said coldly.
"No, Yesung understood correctly. Objectively judging, even if His Highness the 3rd Prince is an excellent warrior, he cannot fight against the knights that the Queen and royal castle possess."
"You call it downsizing, but you're ultimately saying you'll kill them all for Yurik. Just because the knights are loyal to the royal family and Queen."
"Yes."
One corner of his chest turned cold. At the same time, he became dazed as if he had been hit hard on the head.
Dardin's proposal was theoretically understandable and was also necessary work.
Even if the Queen came to arrest Yurik by framing him now, there was no way they could stop it.
A prince couldn't have private soldiers. The reason was obvious.
If a member of the royal family began to build private military forces subordinate to individuals, the current royal authority would be threatened.
That's why Yurik also couldn't possess private soldiers and had disguised those who would be with him as mere mercenaries.
In that context, Dardin's statement about weakening the royal family's military power was valid. Anyone would think strategically like that.
But if the person who had to get blood on his hands was none other than himself?
If he had to hear that he must intentionally kill people?
He had been in a thoroughly weak position until now.
After falling into this world, he had continuously died, been hurt, and suffered.
Generally, the things that hurt him originated from parts of the world, so he could be sick without any guilt.
While resenting the worldview of horror novels and pitying himself for being helplessly dragged into it.
But now,
He was being asked to take the role of having to kill someone?
Then what would be different between Yurik who destroyed the world for Leandros, and himself who would massacre thousands for Yurik the 3rd Prince?
Yurik, Yu■ who killed him, the time he had ■ed to kill him, the repeatedly repeated death■ and terrible pain and ■■, kill■.
If it became like this, he, and him, and that bastard, exactly what...
Cold sweat gathered in his palms.
Dardin looked at him sitting silently and said.
"That's why I asked. Whether you could do whatever I request."
"......That's."
"I know. Since this isn't your nature. It would be natural for you to be flustered if I suddenly made such a request."
"Don't talk as if you know me well."
"No, I'm saying this because I actually do know you well. I can tell that you're someone who has never actually experienced the kind of power struggles between people."
"Dardin."
Yurik warned quietly.
But Dardin didn't stop.
"Any of us would have noticed that Yesung isn't that type."
"......"
"You are ordinary. Extremely ordinarily good. You don't doubt the goodwill others show you, and you think others will treat you the same way you treat them. You're not an outstanding great person. Nor are you a righteous person from somewhere. You're not much different from a farmer who lives each day faithfully, whom you could see in the countryside far from Aquilonia's capital. You're someone who could come running from far away for those who provided you with meals and lodging."
"Dardin, stop!"
"I apologize, Your Highness. But this must be said for his sake as well. Yesung. You are truly a good person. When you promised to help His Highness the 3rd Prince, you probably didn't think much about it, did you? You must know how simple the words 'put a prince on the throne' sound."
Dardin's words pierced into his skin.
"But Yesung, you must now know. We're not just living in a dream world. For us to advance, we must defeat those who block our way, and that process can't always be upright. Their blades will reach our necks faster than we can cry out for justice."
"So you think that method is right? So you're saying that to me?"
"No, I naturally don't think it's right. I'm also human. Naturally, if possible, I think I'd want to minimize unnecessary deaths. But we can't die in war just because we don't want to kill."
"Is this a war?"
"It's a fight to survive. The righteousness we want to uphold can only be advocated when we're alive."
To live. To survive.
He felt it intuitively. Dardin would absolutely never withdraw his plan.
As long as these people were alive, they would continue to fight for their own well-being and survival.
The desire to scream and run away from this place repeatedly surged like rough whirlpools and subsided.
Dardin watched him waver and finally added.
"I know what you're troubled about. The will to live is not a sin. Only what is done for that purpose becomes a sin. ......You must have many thoughts. I won't ask for an answer right away. But if you make a decision, please come find me anytime."
Dardin left those words and bowed in greeting.
As soon as he closed the door, rough hands grabbed him and turned him around to sit.
"You don't need to think about what Dardin said."
"Yurik."
"It's something I don't agree with either. I'll speak directly tomorrow. I'm sorry for letting him corner hyung like that."
"Yurik."
"Don't worry about it, so...... the promise we made before too. What's important about such things at this point? Just help me like you do now. Like you did with the Queen earlier. It's fine if you just do that much. I won't bother hyung anymore. I won't trouble you either."
"Yurik!"
"So don't leave again. Can't you not go? I won't ask you to do anything more. Please, hyung."
Fear rippled in his red eyes.
Looking at him, something inside him poured out all at once like a burst dam.
Past cycles. The changing world and settings. Overlooked responsibilities. Promises. Duties. Guilt. Things that had to be done. Blood. Innocent lives. War. The will to live, things that had to be done to survive as a human...
And his younger sibling whose face he couldn't even remember despite what Aphoom-Zhah had said,
And his protagonist who still didn't show himself.
He tried to tell him several times, but what finally came out was something completely different.
"......I'll go check on Cellinne, Eva, and Valter... for a moment."
He said nothing. Yurik quietly despaired while holding onto him.
But since he also wanted to run away somewhere as much as Yurik despaired,
He left the 3rd Prince's palace, leaving behind Yurik who was quietly sinking.