EP.274 The Nation of Steel and the Faceless Humans - 15
Sia hates the Military Nation. But she does not hate everything about the Military Nation.
The Military Nation's citizens, the Military Nation's students, the Military Nation's facilities, the Military Nation's steel. Ordinary and innocent people are not targets that invoke Sia's wrath.
Of course, there are people in the world who hold such indiscriminate hatred. Like Tirna who hates the Holy Court, like the Inquisitors who hate vampires—those who exist in a binary world.
However, Sia, who awakened her wrath through the death of her friends, is not like that.
"...Don't make me laugh! Even if it wasn't there at that time!"
"Even if?"
"Even so..."
She cannot cry out that there is responsibility, that there is sin. Because she cannot think that way.
Even if Sia is a monster born from receiving the era's violence, that excuse fades before those born later.
"What is it...!"
Turning her head away from IA, Sia strode toward Captain Abby. She grabbed Captain Abby's shoulder with rough momentum, but the strength put into it was weak compared to her intensity. Depending on perspective, it looked like Sia was clinging to the captain.
"You!"
Sia tried. She brought out all her dark memories to hate the captain before her. Dying friends. The sight of youthful faces with brilliant possibilities choosing their own deaths. Surviving alone in the midst of it all, constantly recalling that anger from the past.
However, the girl before her was just as young as her friends in her memory. The wrath gradually lost its momentum.
"How old... are you?"
[I am 20 years old.]
The Hamelin incident was 6 years ago. By very simple calculation, the result comes out to just fourteen at that time.
It was too easy a calculation. Easy enough for Sia to finish in an instant.
Sia's face looked like it would crumble. Seeing Captain Abby's young face and fragile shoulders, she flinched and roughly pulled her hands away. The prosthetic hand moved as she intended, but her left hand with broken fingers did not move as she wished. She had to put all her effort into releasing her grip.
"Ah, ahh. Why, why."
Stumbling backward, Sia covered her face with her prosthetic hand and sobbed.
"Why won't you even let me hate you to my heart's content...!"
Having lost the target of her revenge, she no longer needs to take revenge.
Sia's wish ended here.
"You were the ones who did wrong...! You made me this way. It's because of you! If only the Military Nation hadn't done this to me, I, I...!"
Seeing her friend screaming after losing the meaning of life, the princess muttered with pity.
"Sia..."
"If you made me this way, then at least pay the price! At least accept my anger! If you took everything, you should at least do that much...! You should be people who deserve to die! But...!"
Her broken fingers tremble. Only the thumb remains. She searched for the Military Nation like this, but she cannot break this thumb she has treasured and saved.
"I... can't..."
"It's okay!"
The years lived only for revenge were denied, but still, that time was not entirely meaningless.
Hearing her friend's screams, the princess wrapped her arms around Sia's shoulders and comforted her.
"You don't have to keep taking revenge while eating away at yourself! Give up revenge, Sia."
Words unbecoming of the Resistance's leader. However, whatever the case, the princess continued to console Sia with all her heart.
"A country without a king. That country surely won't be so bad. Because a bad king won't appear. The people here won't be gentle, but they won't be cruel either. They'll be harsh and cold, but they won't become tyrants."
"What does... that matter. The children who died in Hamelin..."
"I also wish the Military Nation were a little more gentle. I mean it. But it's better than having a king. If this had been a command from some king, we would have had to execute him, and the Kingdom's history would have repeated itself."
'It's rather fortunate. I couldn't turn away from their hatred, but if Sia abandons her hatred, she might be able to live normally. If there's no king-like existence in the Military Nation, I can be a little relieved. They may be ruthless, but they'll never be able to become tyrants.'
If a friend loses the target of their hatred, should one rejoice or grieve? The princess was clearly on the former side.
The princess, who had been the Resistance's leader, finally confessed the feelings she couldn't bear to bring up.
"Rather than going around in the wheel of repeating history, this is better. Lord Huey must have also known its meaninglessness and led Sia here..."
"Huh? Not at all."
Ending it like this can't be said to have fulfilled a wish.
Wishes are desires. Desires are all sins. They are taking something away from the world, or from others.
The Military Nation is trying to take that away from humans.
"That's the Military Nation's reason for existence. A nation that makes it so no one can commit sins. A nation where no one can fulfill their wishes. Or rather, a nation where you can only have predetermined wishes. I'm sorry, but that doesn't really appeal to me."
"Huh? Then Lord Huey, you..."
"I'll take over Sia's wish. I'll destroy the Military Nation."
Leaving the rabbit-eyed princess behind, I strode toward Captain Abby. The princess, startled, cried out.
"Wait! Lord Huey! What are you planning to do!"
"Destroy it. To the point where it can never recover."
"What?!"
I'm serious.
The Military Nation, this damn country, is too suffocating. It's full of things you can't do, so you can't even properly have a wish. How bad must it be when even I, wandering around looking for wishes, can't find any.
I want to become a Level 3 citizen.
I want to turn back time and receive a higher evaluation.
I want something different to happen tomorrow.
Or rather, I wish tomorrow wouldn't come to this world.
Unfortunately, those are things I cannot give.
The people who shared their wishes with me were all those who lived in the Kingdom era of the past.
"If being able to do anything is barbarism, then defining what cannot be done is civilization. The Military Nation, as a nation, dreamed of a solid civilization, but I cannot listen to the Military Nation's wishes."
Because the Military Nation is not human. Rather, it's an existence that devours humans.
"Now. It's time for barbarism. I will tear down the Military Nation."
'Tear down the Military Nation? How? There are only the communications soldiers here...'
The princess hastily looked behind. IA and Captain Abby. And the other steel doors that hadn't opened yet. Seeing the communications soldiers who would be inside, she guessed my intent.
'Communications soldiers, they are the Military Nation's core...! If you're going to tear down the Military Nation, Lord Huey, don't tell me!'
The princess, whose face had gone pale, urgently cried out.
"No matter what! To harm an unresisting girl...! That's not manly! Lord Shay would be disappointed if he saw this scene!"
"Ahahaha. You're under a huge misunderstanding, Princess. Shay isn't that kind. If anything, he's closer to a villain. Why do you think Shay specifically said we need to destroy this facility?"
Of course, even the regressor didn't perfectly know the Military Nation's structure. But she knew the Communications Headquarters was the Military Nation's core. And she tried to destroy it.
Because it was necessary. That's the reason.
And she could do it.
As I stepped forward without hesitation, the princess spread her arms as if resisting me and blocked my way. It looked like she was trying to protect the communications soldiers.
Being part of the Resistance while trying to protect the communications soldiers, the most important components of the Military Nation, seemed ironic... but actually, considering the princess's wish, it was the right action.
The real irony is something else.
"I've heard your opinion well, Princess. But it's ironic. You dream of a country without a king. A country that doesn't need a king..."
With a faint smile, I looked down at the princess. The princess still burned with defiance as she faced me.
"Why are you trying to take responsibility for the Military Nation's people? Why are you trying to become their king? After all, blood will tell?"
Hit right at the mark, the princess's body stiffened. I let out something like a snicker.
Feeling responsible for all the people of this country, choosing the better option. Even if people suffer because of it, accepting that...
What is that. That's the violence of a sovereign.
"It's okay. Everyone dreams of becoming a king at least once! I also affirm your wish, Princess. No! It's even better! It should be at least this much!"
"I, I...!"
As expected, wishes from those from the Kingdom are grand and satisfying to hear. The Kingdom wasn't a good country, but at least it overflowed with dreams and hope.
I brushed past the princess, who was stumbling after her true intentions were exposed. The princess collapsed without even thinking to grab me. Only her frantic eyes, as if she had seen a ghost, chased after my back.
Now, to start, I need to drag the communications soldiers out of that back room, right? But opening the steel doors takes quite a while.
"Aji. Could you break those doors one by one and free the people inside?"
"Woof?"
"Never mind. What am I saying."
Shaking my head, I handed the paper ball to Historia and said.
"Ria. I'll give you this, so could you free all the communications soldiers over there?"
"..."
Suspicious eyes turned toward me. Well, is she worried I might kill all the communications soldiers?
That couldn't be. That method is too easy.
"Please. I'm not trying to kill them. Just help me this once."
"...I'll trust you."
Historia faithfully followed my request. Every time Historia, who had silently approached the steel doors, applied force, the steel plates opened with a crumpling sound. Before Historia's Qi technique, even Level 3 Refined Steel was useless, but still, steel was steel, so it seemed like it would take some time.
Giving the paper ball was meant for her to use Aji to break them. She's just breaking them herself. Well, if you have strength, the method is free.
Shrugging my shoulders, I approached Captain Abby. She was still bound by morning glory vines, but pretending not to see, I calmly raised my hand in greeting.
"Captain Abby. It's been a while!"