EP.254 The Nation of Steel and the Faceless Humans - 3
‘If you had a sufficient sense of justice, you would hate this refinery enough to want to smash it right now.’
I don't particularly hate this refinery. Human hatred is directed only at humans.
People who get angry at objects are fools. They pour their energy into meaningless things. People who burn with hatred toward a country are idiots. They consume their emotions without even knowing what a country is.
In truth, all of them... are searching for the humans beyond it.
Just like me.
‘Destroying the facility and freeing the laborers is the most common choice.’
Whatever my feelings, right now I follow Ziekhleund's script. I demanded of the returnee and Historia, who led me here exactly as he had planned.
"Let's smash this entire place right now! If we smash this labor camp, the very symbol of the Military Nation's sins, and free the laborers, the Military Nation will take a huge blow!"
‘However, anyone who knows the truth of this refinery would not be able to agree with that claim.’
Ziekhleund's script flowed like water. The stage he chose aroused empathetic anger in everyone, and the actors he invited all moved according to his thoughts.
"Hurry! There's no reason to drag this out!"
The returnee was uncomfortable with this space, yet showed reluctance toward my suggestion.
"Smash it? Here? Now?"
"Now, you say?"
"At this point in time, the Alchemy Steel Refinery is a place where vicious criminals are locked up. Every guy in here is a criminal."
In the future the returnee saw, they might imprison humans other than vicious criminals. The Military Nation was driven to the edge of a cliff back then.
But right now, only those who have committed the most horrific crimes are in the Alchemy Steel Refinery. Looking at the memories of those suffering, there are many whose crimes are so great that one would doubt they could even begin to pay for them even if they went to hell.
An officer who tested new weapons on innocent citizens, a woman who kidnapped children and drained their blood just because she wanted to become a vampire. Even a fool who took over a holding company, hired thugs, created a private organization, and ruled like a king.
It is a legal hell that bestows terrible pain upon unforgivable sinners for whom even giving a chance at rehabilitation would be unjust.
"Still! No matter how vicious the criminals, this isn't the right way!"
"So what are you going to do? We can't just release them without any measures."
-Because of this, an opposing opinion to mine inevitably arises. This too, just as Ziekhleund wrote in his script.
‘Especially, the Commander would never simply free them. She probably locked some of them in personally. If so, the action the Commander will take is set.’
"There is one way."
While the returnee and I couldn't make a decision and hesitated, Historia, having made up her mind about something, broached the subject.
‘A simple way to solve all worries. We just need to kill them all. They are already great sinners sentenced to death, and the Commander has the authority to summarily execute criminals.’
"The laborers' actions are controlled by chains piercing their bio-terminals. And just in case, I've prepared a device in the event the laborers stage a rebellion."
"A device made by the Military Nation, in preparation for a laborer rebellion? That doesn't sound like a very good device."
"...It's a device that executes delayed death sentences."
Simply put, it meant she would activate that device and kill everyone here.
While everyone was shocked by the enormity of the claim, Historia left only those words and walked ahead.
‘The Commander has a limited self-preservationism. She desperately protects the people inside the boundaries she sets, but easily discards those outside. The laborers of the refinery are clearly outside those boundaries. To the Commander, the laborers of the Alchemy Steel Refinery have no value to be saved.’
Therefore, Historia decided to kill them all.
Just as I was about to flare up according to Ziekhleund's script, the returnee showed an uncomfortable expression before I could.
"You're going to kill them all? All these people?"
"The laborers here are Level 5 severe criminals who have already been sentenced to death. There is absolutely no room for rehabilitation, and even if there were, I wouldn't allow it. The Military Nation is just using people who are soon to be corpses. Huey, if you knew the crimes they committed, you'd want to tear them apart with your own hands right now."
I don't really have any thoughts on it, but with crimes of this magnitude, they definitely had no chance of survival. They were only kept alive to be used because this is the Military Nation; if it were the Kingdom era, wandering knights called Execution Knights would have fought a duel in broad daylight under the guise of enforcing justice and killed them very brutally. And then they would have collected their severed heads as trophies amidst the cheers of the citizens.
Though I'm not sure which is better.
The returnee grumbled.
"Still, come on. Killing all of them is a bit..."
"It wouldn't be a bad thing for you, who is trying to stop the war. They might hold out with the stockpiled Alchemy Steel for now, but without additional supply, a long-term war is impossible. The facility can be restored somehow... but dead humans cannot be restored."
"Ugh. That's true, but..."
‘Whatever conclusion you reach, you will all eventually head to the deepest control room.’
No clear conclusion was reached. Tir, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, grew bored of the increasingly stagnant discussion and mediated.
[The story isn't progressing. If you had plenty of time, I could wait for a thousand or ten thousand years, but aren't you pressed for time? Let's move first before worrying about what to do.]
Tir looked back and called 'Carapald'.
[Guide!]
When Tir called, 'Carapald', who had been holding his breath, belatedly realized that he was the guide and answered.
"Uh, m-me?"
[Guide us. That is your duty.]
"Y-yes, sir! Then I will guide you to the control room!"
‘Good actors. You've made the script I revised all night long not go to waste.’
Thanks for the compliment. You write good scripts too. Your observation of humans is excellent, you know.
‘Hmm, but. If there are no vacant roles, I can't participate in the play, right? That's no fun. Shall I split the group up a bit.’
'Carapald', who was about to guide us inside, paused for a moment and looked back at the princess and Siatie with concern.
"Uh, Your Highness. Please guard the retreat. I will take care of the inside."
The princess, who had been shrinking back from the screams coming from all directions, asked in return.
"G-guard the retreat? You're telling me to stay here alone?"
"No. You can watch from outside. The inside is... well. It's a bit much for Your Highness to see."
'Carapald' mumbled, not knowing how to explain. Though he didn't say it out loud, it was no different from saying it. It meant that there were more terrible sights inside, so the princess should rest outside.
The princess fully understood the meaning.
"Carapald. Are you trying to separate me because you're worried I might be shocked...?"
"It's not necessarily like that! Someone has to guard the retreat. And if someone has to guard it, Your Highness is the best fit..."
‘It's better to drop the princess who avoids hostility. An foul-play-like existence that interferes with human emotions itself is not fit for the role of an actor. The emotion caused by the cry of an actor passionately acting on a well-directed stage is the real thing. The princess... I must leave her to the mechanical devices.’
The princess was about to flare up and say she would follow along. However, as if on cue, someone's terrible scream was heard, and the princess shrank back, thoroughly terrified.
The returnee also shook his head.
"Whether we destroy this place or whatever. There won't be any chance for the princess to shine. There are no enemies here, so there won't be any need to use your powers either."
Sorry, but you're wrong. There's probably an enemy hiding in the deepest part. That's exactly why Ziekhleund is trying to send the princess away.
However, Ziekhleund's series of acting was so natural that no one except me suspects him. Even if I were to step forward and reveal his identity, people wouldn't be able to accept it.
In the first place, it's strange that I suspect him. Siatie, who was with him until recently, and the princess didn't notice, so it's more irrational for me, who has a 6-year gap, to notice.
Even so, I couldn't reveal the existence of mind-reading either.
"Ugh, I, I... then, I'll leave it to you..."
When the princess decided to stay and everyone nodded. I also spoke with a devastated expression.
"...Tir, Mr. Shea. I'm sorry. Can I also step out for a bit?"
Tir looked at my complexion and spoke.
[Huey. Your face is pale. Are you okay?]
"Yes. It's just a matter of the heart. Whatever the outcome... I don't think I can bear to watch."
Slightly lowered gaze, tightly clenched fists. I looked like someone furious at the blasphemous sight of the refinery to anyone watching.
Tir was briefly puzzled by my changed attitude. However, he let it pass and nodded benevolently.
[It's understandable that you're tired. Haven't you been running without resting even once until now? Unlike vampires who don't get exhausted, you might need a little rest.]
"Thank you, Tir. Then I'll be with Azhi... wait, where did Azhi go again?"
The princess pointed to the back.
"Miss Azhi is over there... She stopped dead when entering the door and hasn't come in."
"For some reason, I didn't hear any dog barking."
Turning my head, I saw Azhi glancing inside through the crack of the door but couldn't bring herself to step inside. It was as if she was blocked by an invisible barrier. Whenever a laborer groaned in pain, Azhi bared her teeth and growled as if uncomfortable.
To Azhi, who is sensitive to human emotions, this place where countless humans are receiving torture-level punishments in real time must look like hell.
"I couldn't leave Azhi alone anyway. This works out. I'll be outside watching the perimeter with the kings."
The returnee also readily permitted it.
"Well, yeah. There was no particular presence felt outside earlier. And your power isn't needed for simple destructive acts anyway. Wait outside. We'll finish this quickly and come out."
With the returnee's permission also granted, I didn't hide my uncomfortable expression and strode outside as if I wanted to get away as quickly as possible.
‘For now, I've separated the two. The princess and the strategist. Not bad roles. If I play those roles, quite an enjoyable scene will come out.’
I think so too. If you take my place, quite an enjoyable scene will come out.
So I'll prepare the stage too. It's unfair for you to monopolize the stage all by yourself. Right?
Clack. The steel door of the Alchemy Steel Refinery closed. I shut it tightly so that not a single gap was visible and reached out to stroke Azhi. Azhi was still growling, seemingly in a bad mood.
"Um... Sir Huey?"
"Yes? What is it?"
I smiled softly as I pacified Azhi. The princess hesitated before glancing at my expression and asking.
"Just now, your expression seemed to suddenly change... Did you think of something pleasant?"
"Pleasant thing? I just came from seeing that horrific sight, how could I be pleasant?!"
"I, I'm sooorrry...! Uh, but your eyes are smiling..."
"What do you know about my expression!"
"Eek!"
I am smiling. I must be angry.
They are criminals who deserve to die. Humans have the right to judge other humans for the greater good, so it is only right that they, who committed sins, be executed in the name of the greater good.
But humans have something called dignity. Even if they are criminals, if they have human forms, that alone should be respected. That is the proper way.
Ironically.
"Don't you think it's ridiculous, Princess? They are people who have to die, and who will die anyway. To think you feel sorry for them just because they are tied up and groaning in pain."
"B-but... if you're going to kill them, you should go through proper procedures, reveal their crimes in front of everyone, and let them meet their end. That, that is too much! Being tied up in chains and exploited is like... being livestock!"
The princess clenched her fists and shuddered. In her lifetime where she had never experienced emotions like hostility, encountering the malice of the Military Nation must have been a first.
"Must they not be exploited like livestock?"
"What are you saying?! Of course they must not!"
"Why? The Military Nation needs such facilities, and they have the ability to operate them."
"Just because you can, you shouldn't do everything! You must always keep to the right path. Because they couldn't keep that, our parents too...!"
For the princess who couldn't finish her sentence, I finished it for her.
"Right. Your late father was so terrible at running the kingdom that he ruined the country, wasn't he? He didn't ruin it himself, but as someone who definitely experienced it, it must hit differently."
"Ye-yes?! There's no need to go that far!"
"But it's the truth, isn't it?"
"That's true, but! Even though I couldn't even see their faces, they are my parents! At least watch your words in front of me!"
I smirked and got into the automaton carriage with Azhi. The princess huffed and followed me, naturally taking a seat in the carriage.
‘Really, your words are too harsh! I'm not one to nitpick about such things, but you show absolutely no manners or dignity! You lack consideration too...!’
"They may be words that shouldn't be said. But I can say them."
I started the engine of the automaton carriage. The thunder-wheels rumbled and breathed life into the entire carriage. The stopped carriage began to move again with a pulse.
The princess, surprised, spoke to me.
"Wait a minute, Sir Huey? Didn't you say you were going to watch the perimeter? Where are you going?"
"Words are ultimately just sounds crafted using my mouth and tongue. Depending on what I pronounce and how I arrange the order, they become words that shouldn't be said."
Grrrrr. The gradually accelerating carriage soon reached top speed. I turned the steering lever and drove along the outer wall of the giant Alchemy Steel Refinery. On the left was an endless gray concrete wall. No matter how far I went, the same scenery repeated, making me soon confused as to whether I was moving forward or stopped.
"If you couldn't do it, you shouldn't have been able to from the start. But we can say that we can."
"...For instance, you're saying that if it's possible, then it's something that can be done."
She understands well. She's sharp and has a decent head on her shoulders, so communication is easy.
"But it's different. Doing everything just because you can is barbarism and a sin. The Kingdom perished because it couldn't distinguish between what can be done and what shouldn't be done."
"When I did it, you called me out, but you're actually blaming your own parents."
"Because they are my parents, I'm the one who gets to criticize them!"
The flustered princess shouted, then opened her eyes wide and answered clearly.
"Yes! The Kingdom deserved to fall! So, there are things that should be done and things that shouldn't! The Execution Knights who were responsible for the Kingdom's security in the past. They wandered the world and engaged in execution duels to punish sinners and set the rules straight. But from some point on, the execution duels... became execution rituals to kill in more gruesome and cruel ways! There were even cases where they framed innocent people and executed them!"
"That's the fault of the corrupted Execution Knights, isn't it?"
"It was a kingdom of knights! Because the Kingdom affirmed them, the king, my parents, were ultimately dragged down by everyone's hands!"
Should I call it a contradiction... or an irony? There is a somewhat inconsistent part in the princess's words. I carefully pointed that out.
"By that logic, Your Highness should welcome the existence of that refinery. It would be better not to destroy it, right? Eventually, that refinery will imprison not only vicious criminals but everyone who opposes the Military Nation's will, ultimately leading to its ruin. Wow, long live the Resistance!"