"Certainly, that is a difficult problem, but..."
The Lord of Thunder, who was about to ask if he would eliminate the Thunder God, swallowed his words. Demanding the impossible would only serve to mock the other party.
However... the Lord of Thunder didn't need to swallow his words.
"I will kill the Thunder God."
The regressor said the sweetest, yet the most terrifying words he had ever uttered.
***
Hekto, the Lord of Oppression's adjutant, Deca, did not follow the Golden Ship. During the chase, the Lord of Oppression's subordinates, who had been scattered, stretched out long like a dried watermark, and Deca, who always ended up doing the cleanup, had to gather them.
Of course, even in the midst of that, Deca was venting his complaints.
"Damn it, damn it...! What have we done for the Yul-guk all this time!"
A guild shares its fate with its lord. In the Yul-guk, where the massive shadow of the Golden Realm looms, for a guild to have greater competitiveness than other alchemists, it cannot simply rely on good skills. No matter how outstanding the skill, the influence a single artisan can exert on the world is limited.
That is why a guild lord is necessary. Only with a chosen alchemist who can create even nonexistent value can a guild become a force that encompasses the Yul-guk.
"Damn you, Mr. Hekto, is that it? You just die like that and abandon the people who followed you because they sympathized with your ideals?"
Those who process the stockpiled food. Those who transport the processed food. The number of guild members gathered from the cornfields and the city reached a full five hundred. It might not seem like a large number, but in the Yul-guk, where individual bonds are weak, a group of over five hundred is rare. Considering that they all possess vehicle-sized mounts, a guild with a proper formation was no different from a moving city.
In the past, seeing this magnificent sight would have made his heart swell with pride... but thinking that it would soon disappear, Deca couldn't smile at all.
Deca glared and bit his finger. Blood seeped from beneath the crushed skin.
"No. We can't scatter like this. If we distribute all of Mr. Hekto's assets, the guild will lose the only focal point it has left! Damn it, but which lord should we go to..."
Mutterings that no one would bother to listen to fell along with drops of blood. Without a miracle, Deca's lament would end as just a lament.
"-I have heard your will well."
And, like a miracle, someone appeared before Deca.
It was a woman wearing a deeply pulled-down robe. Except for her sharp jawline, no part of her face was revealed. Judging by the bandaged fists briefly visible between her sleeves, she looked exactly like a martial artist who had trained in ki techniques.
He had no idea when she had approached his side. Deca was about to snap in annoyance... but feeling as if she had suddenly arrived like fate in his most difficult time, he closed his mouth and focused on her.
"Order is always necessary. Values that everyone believes in must be protected, if only for the sake of that belief. The Drum Guild of the Lord of Oppression is the dining table of the Yul-guk, and it must survive so that the people of the Yul-guk do not starve."
Those words were right. Deca empathized deeply. Why did they only know how to cause trouble and not prepare for what would come after? If the Drum Guild disappeared right now, half of the Yul-guk's jackals might starve to death.
"You are a part of the system that forms the Yul-guk. Even though it is a country that was once disrupted by the Demon God, who would deny the achievement of establishing its own order in the midst of it all? You have contributed."
His mind felt refreshed. It was like scratching an itch and casting away that pitch-black grime somewhere. With an indescribable feeling, Deca nodded vigorously.
Deca had contributed. The Yul-guk filled its stomach thanks to the contributions of the Drum Guild, including him.
Deca had worked hard. Working through the night was an everyday occurrence, and some days he even risked his life.
Deca was loyal. He always worked with true dedication and caught Hekto's eye, eventually rising to the position of his adjutant.
If so, shouldn't there be a proper reward? That would be the way of the world.
"...W-who are you."
"One who knows you, one who acknowledges you, and one who will reward you."
Peruel took off her hood and revealed her face. The shining halo above her ash-gray hair subtly indicated her identity.
"Ah! Finally!"
...Of course, what Deca truly wanted was not order and discipline. Grand things like the peace and prosperity of the Yul-guk were the result of working under Hekto, not his goal.
He was a common small-minded man. An ordinary coward who leaned on greater authority, felt a sense of unity, wielded it as if it were his own, and derived pleasure from it. If he had been under someone other than Hekto, he could have caused plenty of harm. However, now, having been called by the saintess, Deca was a true patriot who had worked for the Yul-guk.
"The treatment you deserve, this handmaid will personally find for you."
"Ah, ahh..."
There is no heaven or hell in this world. Only the tombs honoring the dead remain in solitude.
However, gods deceive those who are dying like that.
Saying that humans are not beasts, and that they live for a better purpose. That the present is merely fertilizer, and there remains a lofty ideal to be achieved through it. That even if they die, if they can contribute to it, they will rejoice in heaven.
Even if that wasn't Deca's true desire, what did it matter? Human faith is so flimsy.
The Saintess of Steel, Peruel, sternly commanded her follower.
"Guide this handmaid to Claudia. For that is your mission."
"...Yes! I will obey!"
He was still a small-minded man. Wanting to lean on greater authority.
Deca knelt before Peruel and resolved to devote himself to her. Feeling an unparalleled sense of exhilaration.
***
At the regressor's words that he would kill a god, the Lord of Thunder lost his words for a moment.
'He'll kill the Thunder God? A drifter whose identity he doesn't even know will fulfill Claudia's long-cherished wish?'
If that were as easy as it sounded, Claudia wouldn't have holed up in her house trembling in fear every time a cumulonimbus cloud rolled in. The regressor's words that he would kill the Thunder God were too absurd to believe, but the problem was that they were too sweet to dismiss as nonsense.
'Above all, from that boy... I feel a strange conviction. Being that confident must mean he has his own methods, right? There's no harm in accepting.'
Still, as the ruler of a city, wasn't she believing it too easily? Well, if it's a regressor, that might be possible.
The Lord of Thunder paused before speaking.
"...Whether those words are true or just a bluff. We will only know once we arrive at Claudia."
Muttering that, the Lord of Thunder turned around and walked out of the cabin. Earlier, it felt like thunder rumbled with every step, but now that she had killed her momentum, her footsteps were completely quiet.
So there's no need for a battle of nerves anymore, huh? Maybe because of the Lord of Thunder's power, her emotions are directly showing in her actions. There's no reward in using mind-reading.
"For now, I will escort you to Claudia. As VIPs, that is."
The Lord of Thunder invited us with a much more polite attitude.
As with all large cities, Claudia had those hoping to live there clinging to it like excess flesh. Before reaching Claudia, the Golden Ship passed by dozens of shantytowns. Those who couldn't even become jackals and couldn't survive without relying on the city set up meager camps around the mountain and barely eked out a living.
However, that was not Claudia.
Claudia's borders were more clearly demarcated than a national border. Specifically, in the form of a 2-meter-high electrified barbed wire fence.
Outside the barbed wire was outside Claudia. True Claudia started from inside the fence.
Standing in front of the fence, the Lord of Thunder reached out her hand. An invisible energy stretched out and pulled the steel gate. With a loud cracking sound, the 2-meter-high steel gate swung open.
The Lord of Thunder walked proudly ahead and said.
"Welcome. This is the Village of Clouds, Claudia."
Claudia's first impression was hazy. Not for any special reason, but simply because a thick fog hung in the air. However, after pushing through the fog for a while, a breathtaking sight appeared.
A tall steel building greeted us first. A towering building that looked to be at least 30 stories high stood looking down at us. As it went higher, its width narrowed, and upon reaching the roof, steel branches stretched out in all directions. It looked like a giant tree made of steel.
Beneath the steel branches stretching in all directions, buildings that were smaller but still sufficiently tall stood densely packed. As if taking shelter from the rain under the shade of a tree.
Seeing that, the Lord of Thunder explained.
"It's a lightning rod. A steel structure created to avoid the Thunder God's wrath. If the weather suddenly darkens and lightning strikes, don't panic and take shelter in the shade of the lightning rod... Ah."
The Lord of Thunder, who was explaining, covered her mouth and continued.
"For you all, being struck by lightning wouldn't be a problem. I said something unnecessary."
"No, it's not? It's absolutely necessary, so please tell us everything you know."
"Woof! Woof!"
The two beast kings barked desperately. At the attitude of me and Aji, who seemed secretly intimidated, the regressor asked in puzzlement.
"You usually act like you're afraid of nothing, why are you like this now?"
"Why am I like this? Fearing lightning is instinct. If you're suddenly struck, you could die on the spot."
"Woof!"
Aji barked as if in agreement.
Lightning, which instills fear with sudden roars and light, and sometimes even gifts death. For beasts, lightning is the most common and closest natural disaster. Lately, they've gained the know-how to handle it well, but the fear carved into their species is unavoidable.
If human, one could read the signs and avoid it, or curry favor with the other party to ensure safety. However, lightning is as capricious as it is powerful. A direct hit means death, and even if one barely survives, terrible pain awaits. No wonder it became the first object of faith.
The Lord of Thunder answered as if she understood.
"That's how it usually is. Especially beastmen tend to dislike Claudia even more. Because..."
The regressor answered like an enthusiastic student.
"Because their fur gets damp in the fog, or gets frizzed up by the lightning?"
"That's right. How did you know? It's hard for outsiders to know."
The Lord of Thunder was surprised by the regressor's answer.
"Well, it just seemed like it."
'I heard that in the previous cycle too.'
Showing off previous cycle knowledge again. I understand wanting to act like you know, but is it really okay? Ultimately, every single one of those trivial actions is exposing the fact that you're a regressor. Ugh, whatever. It's not like I can advise him, "Hey, if you mention previous cycle knowledge too much, you'll be suspected." Let it go.
The number of humans living under a single lightning rod would easily exceed a thousand. And there wasn't just one or two lightning rods. With the Cloud Waterfall visible in the distance as a backdrop, there were at least over ten lightning rods.
The majesty of the Yul-guk's largest city was immense. The Lord of Thunder continued her explanation.
"The outskirts, where the fog barely reaches, are mostly residential areas. The interior, closer to the waterfall, has production areas. Seven out of ten jackals roaming the Yul-guk were born and raised in Claudia. Right now, there was a brief commotion due to the news of the Golden Realm's arrival, but... fortunately, thanks to you all blocking it, we were able to save the city. Lord of Residual Verdure, no, Lord of Gold."
Pele, suddenly called by name, answered belatedly.
"...Yes."
"Look closely. Although this place operates independently, it is still a part of the Yul-guk. The fate of this city depends on the choices you will make."
Pele's already poor complexion darkened further. Feeling the burden, Pele answered weakly.
"...You're asking me to do that, Lord of Thunder?"
"No. You have to do it."
"...I lack the experience to take on such a heavy responsibility. It's better for the outstanding Lord of Thunder to do it."
"The Golden Realm also lacked the experience to take on the heavy responsibility of being a king of a nation. But he was the king of the Yul-guk, no, a ruler close to a god. That was because of the Golden Realm's power."
With an attitude that made it unclear whether she was putting pressure on him or encouraging him, the Lord of Thunder spoke sharply.
"I am undoubtedly an outstanding human. Compared to me, you are somewhat lacking."
"...Therefore."
"Still, the one recognized by the Golden Realm is you, Lord of Residual Verdure. Since you, who possess unrivaled destructive power in the Yul-guk, have obtained that bell, you can create or destroy the Yul-guk as you wish. No matter how outstanding I am, I am ultimately just a 'human'. Taking responsibility for one city and serving a god is all I can do."
It was an attitude that made it unclear whether she was praising herself or putting herself down. What was certain was that the Lord of Thunder was clearly distinguishing her position.
The Lord of Thunder, Elkid, wearing the power of Thunder and able to wield nearly infinite power limited to Claudia. But it is ultimately the power of a 'human'. No matter how much she despises the Golden Realm, she acknowledges the Golden Realm separately as the creator of the massive system called the Yul-guk.
...To me, both the Lord of Thunder wielding god-like power and Pele look about the same, but anyway.
"The Golden Realm was a terrible god. I will help you, so become a god worth serving."
In other words, this was the utmost encouragement the Lord of Thunder could offer from her standpoint.
'...A god. I don't have that kind of ability.'
The person in question was dying from the burden.
Like that, we headed for the innermost lightning rod.
A giant Thunder Mill rotating with about a quarter of its side submerged in the Cloud Waterfall. At the opposite end, the largest lightning rod of all gently touches its tip. It looked as if it was pressing the Thunder Mill into the waterfall.
Below the Cloud Waterfall, a reservoir formed by pooled clouds faintly revealed its presence. Its exact size was unclear. That was because the clouds, not yet fully turned into water, were flowing down along the ground.
Tir, who had been silently observing the scenery until now, muttered upon seeing the Thunder Mill, which looked to be at least 100 meters in diameter.
"...The world has changed a lot. When I passed by the Cloud Waterfall in the past, there was no such watermill."
The Lord of Thunder answered even Tir's muttering one by one.
"The first Thunder Mill was the size of an ordinary watermill. As people fleeing the Golden Realm started gathering in Claudia, the city grew, and in proportion, the Thunder Mill gradually grew larger. Because obtaining metal in the Yul-guk is easy. However..."
The Lord of Thunder pointed at me and Aji, who were hesitating far behind, and said.
"Are you two still afraid of the lightning?"
Afraid of lightning? Hmph, what nonsense. I declared proudly.
"It's not that I'm only afraid of lightning. I simply always fear threats I cannot control."
"Woof woof!"
The tingling sensation was still crawling over my skin. Even Aji's fur had puffed up like a lion's mane. How could I not feel discomfort here? If one's survival instinct remains, it's natural to avoid the place.
Seeing the stubborn appearance of the two of us, the Lord of Thunder nodded.
"I understand. The power of Thunder is too rough and powerful for an ordinary human to handle. If you're not at my level, it's natural to tremble in fear."
"Wow, what a narcissist."
"For those who are qualified, it's actually a fitting description."
Not a single ounce of shame could be felt from the Lord of Thunder speaking so confidently. It's my first time seeing someone so full of self-assurance, so it feels novel.
"Under the Thunder Mill is where the power of Thunder is strongest. It can't be helped. Rest in the place you like best. As long as you don't leave the lightning rod, you won't be hurt by lightning."
"Okay. Aji and I will stay here, so go on without us. I'll be waiting in that safe-looking spot over there."
"Woof!"
"Let's go together. I want to look around too."