The old man's name was Garolbark. He was a long-serving subject of the Empire.
Being long-serving carried two meanings. It meant he was worn out, and it meant he was proven. Garolbark was an upright veteran, a man who would remain loyal to the Empire even if the sky fell.
As the reward for his upright loyalty, he must have spent his later years in a sinecure.
"Are you saying the King of Humans destroyed the Wall of Harmony and caused this massacre?"
"It is so...!"
"Really?"
Garolbark flinched at my words. Even as he panted from his wounds, he glared at me with bloodshot eyes.
"Then, do you mean to say this old body is deceiving you with lies amidst this tragedy?"
"Ah, no. I don't think you are lying. It's just..."
I was genuinely curious. No matter how barbaric my sister might be, she is the 'King of Humans'. The king of beasts wouldn't slaughter the beasts of its own kind indiscriminately.
There must be a reason, right?
"There's one fact you haven't mentioned, isn't there, gatekeeper. What are you hiding?"
At my question that pierced the core, Garolbark recalled 'that scene' like a fleeting vision before death.
The Wall of Harmony protects innocent travelers going back and forth between the Empire and the vassal states. The high, sturdy walls built between the valleys, the stationed troops, and the various combat equipment exist for that purpose.
Then, a question arises here.
Exactly who from?
Bandits, tigers, wild beasts, or the harsh and capricious weather of the Alfi Mountain Range, and so on. There are so many excuses to make. However, there is no need for fortress-level walls, hundreds of standing troops, and the Imperial Army just to block such things.
Then, what does the Wall of Harmony 'truly' aim to block?
The answer is the 'Republic'.
The Republic of Azalia was born from the Empire's failure. Azalia, one of the Three Outer Nations, had weak loyalty to the Empire, but the Empire utilized the conflict between the feudal lord and the House of Nobles to control Azalia. Faced with the increasing pressure from the House of Nobles, the feudal lord joined hands with the distant Empire to keep the House of Nobles in check.
The Southern Lord, who followed the Empire's orders, poured immense forces into the Wigeum War to overcome his political disadvantage, only to suffer a devastating defeat. The Southern Lord was ousted, the House of Nobles seized power, and the House of Nobles borrowed the name of a republic to escape the Empire's interference.
Race, climate, culture, political system. Not a single one of them was friendly to the Empire. It was a wonder they still bore the name of a vassal state. The Vassal State of Azalia maintained its vassal status because it didn't want to be isolated, but no one knew when it might suddenly turn hostile.
Because of this, the Empire reinforced the Wall of Harmony and perfectly controlled the flow of goods heading to the Vassal State of Azalia. To use it as a weapon when the time comes.
Garolbark's presence here was also for that purpose.
The Empire planted an old veteran who would gladly lay down his life for his mission.
Garolbark also knew this fact. The old veteran was ready to gladly sacrifice his life for the day that would eventually come.
And when the King of Humans arrived, Garolbark was certain that this was the moment. Standing atop the tightly closed gates, Garolbark declared solemnly.
"You cannot pass."
Then, the King of Humans looked up at Garolbark with an innocent, pure face.
"Why?"
Even Garolbark, a battle-hardened veteran, couldn't help but waver before the King of Humans. However, no matter who the opponent was or how strong they were, Garolbark had to fulfill his duty. That was his reason for existence.
"It matters not who you are or what kind of being you are. This Wall of Harmony is the bastion that protects the Empire. Stopping intruders is my duty."
"Other people besides me passed through just fine."
"If you carry a passport and identification, or are guaranteed by a qualified certifier, or pay a deposit and are accompanied by a monitor, you may pass through the Wall of Harmony without issue."
Garolbark, who read the regulations verbatim, then pointed behind the King of Humans and added.
"Of course, since you have brought thousands of armed people, this is classified as an abnormal invasion group. I will not permit passage no matter what means you use."
The King of Humans smiled. Garolbark was flustered because he didn't expect laughter here. If she had made that appeal with that smile, even Garolbark might have opened the gate as if entranced.
"Do I need your permission to go where I'm going?"
A clear, resonant voice pierced his ears. Gathering his wits, Garolbark stiffened his neck and spoke.
"Naturally. It is the Empire's law."
"No. It's a rule you arbitrarily decided on. The Empire isn't here."
The Empire isn't here? That was something that shouldn't be said even if the opponent was the King of Humans. The Gate of Harmony was undeniably Empire territory. Garolbark slammed his scabbard on the ground and shouted.
"I am an Imperial subject to the bone, following the Empire's laws and deeply loyal to the Empire in my heart. I will gladly become the executor of Imperial law, and I will block your forces right here."
At his stubborn attitude, the King of Humans shook her head in bewilderment,
"Yeah. I don't understand what you're saying at all."
she said.
"I need a ruler to measure the world; I don't ask the ruler to measure me. That's not the proper use of a ruler. But not only do you measure me with a ruler, you are also trying to confine me within a frame."
"If you don't like it, turn back. I won't stop you."
"You can't stop anything from me."
The King of Humans lightly looked around her surroundings.
Steep cliffs. The Wall of Harmony standing tall, blocking the middle of the valley. The massive gates were tightly shut, and armed soldiers were aiming down.
Clear hostility, a wall for blockade.
Humans pierce mountains and build bridges over rivers. No terrain or feature, except for the sea and the sky, has been able to block the path of humans, and even the sky is slowly being conquered.
They are not blocked by a mere wall.
Even if it was built by someone.
"I'll make a path."
***
Garolbark's body trembled. Even he, who feared not even death, felt terror as he recalled that power which shaved the mountain and smashed the wall with a single axe.
However, that wasn't the reaction I wanted from him.
"Did you not know you couldn't win? Or did you think the opponent would show mercy? Did you expect her to act according to the laws you set, or according to morals?"
Guarding the Wall of Harmony was Garolbark's lifelong duty. He couldn't have easily abandoned it. I understand that too.
But 'Sister' is the King of Humans.
The King of Humans is someone any human would recognize upon seeing them. If humans had stat parameters, she would be a being who maxed out every single one. Intellect, appearance, character, strength, charisma, and so on have all reached the extreme.
He must have known too. That he could never win.
"Knowing you couldn't win, knowing she was the King of Humans, why didn't you open the gates? Wouldn't it have been fine to just step aside?"
It seems he has finally realized that I am not a simple savior. Garolbark's expression changed.
"You...! Are you blaming me...!"
"If we are to get to the bottom of it, yes? You could have certainly avoided that situation."
At this point, 'Sister' is not the King of Sins. The King of Humans does not slaughter humans indiscriminately. Unless someone attempts to restrain or hinder her.
No, in truth, she probably had no intention of killing them. She merely removed this Wall of Harmony that was annoying her. They were there and died on their own.
The dead might feel aggrieved, but conversely speaking,
"If you had opened the gate, this wouldn't have happened, right?"
"I am Garolbark, Colonel of the Imperial Garrison Army! As the commander-in-chief of the Wall of Harmony Border Defense Force, I had to block armed brigands!"
"Are you the personification of a gatekeeper? You're a human. Is it that hard to weigh the odds a bit and bow your head when it seems impossible?"
The King of Humans came knocking with thousands of followers? If it were me, it would be a free pass. I would have treated her with utmost hospitality and even packed her a lunchbox to send her off.
What if the Empire holds me accountable and punishes me? Hmm, if the Empire can't even understand that, I'd just side with Sister.
But for him, who had devoted his entire life to loyalty, it wasn't even an option to consider.
"My duty is to guard this pass even if it costs my life!"
"Then you shouldn't feel aggrieved about dying. Right? You died fulfilling your duty."
The Wall of Harmony completely collapsed, and hundreds were buried. It's gruesome, but so what? There's no weight to death, and didn't he meet a heroic end fighting against Sister?
Then he should be satisfied. I crouched in front of Garolbark and asked.
"But you are not satisfied at all. Even as you die, you have lingering regrets. Why? Isn't this exactly the honorable and soldierly death you've dreamed of all your life?"
Perhaps this situation itself was what he had wished for. But maybe it's because the result far exceeded his imagination.
"I would gladly give my life! But that monster crushed over eight hundred soldiers like bugs with a single gesture! How is that even remotely acceptable!"
"You ordered them to."
Garolbark didn't fight alone. Standing on the wall, he ordered the soldiers to aim their weapons, and stood against Sister below that wall. This entire Wall of Harmony was an obstruction to Sister.
So Sister removed the Wall of Harmony. Without distinguishing each and every person who was there.
"They blocked her because you ordered them to, and you are the one in charge, aren't you? You gave the order, you decided the fate of all these people, and now you feel aggrieved and sad? Good grief."
The old veteran was not a mere human. He had been an Imperial from birth, an Imperial soldier for decades, and the gatekeeper of the Wall of Harmony for several years.
Tempered by the civilization called the Empire, Garolbark had become a human who could easily sacrifice his life for the Empire.
"You died fulfilling your duty. Draw your last breath with joy or satisfaction. The Empire will remember your noble sacrifice. Well, assuming the Empire can survive, that is."
Well then. Could that really be called human? A being who no longer cherishes life, voluntarily advances toward pain, and can point spears and swords at the King of Humans?
Perhaps Sister didn't abandon humanity. Maybe humanity has strayed too far from Sister.
"But you are regretful and sad. Why is that? Did you really act out of reckless courage for the sake of the Empire?"
If, here, he listens to my words and is satisfied with his loyalty to the Empire, even if he dies miserably... he would have gone beyond the point of no return.
"I wanted to prove my loyalty...! To the Empire, and to the King of Humans!"
Garolbark revealed an honest and selfish heart, true to a human.
"I thought the King of Humans would find me admirable. Even if she killed me, I thought she would be moved by my loyalty! I thought my end would be satisfying and glorious!"
To the old veteran, death was not a fearsome thing. He only feared being forgotten.
Even in his old age, he sought a place to die, wanting to use the little life he had left. Even after coming to the Wall of Harmony, he must have waited only for the day he could die honorably.
And when the King of Humans appeared, he was probably overjoyed. Because he had found a place to spend his life.
Though he probably didn't know the result would be so miserable and futile.
Tears welled up in the old man's eyes. Tears he had never shed in his entire life flowed out from regret, foolishness, and shame. I smiled broadly and looked down at him.
"You've finally become honest. What can I help you with now?"
"Stop her. Please, inform the Empire, and prevent that monster from advancing any further."
With his bare face fully revealed, he no longer had any reservations. Truthful words flowed from his parched lips, so I didn't even need to read his mind.
"Even if it was a moment of foolishness. For something like this, she cannot kill over eight hundred soldiers with a single gesture. Dying miserably like bugs without any battle, pride, or meaning is not right."
He had hoped the King of Humans would highly value his stubbornness and loyalty.
Or he thought that if he died defending this place to the end, the Empire would remember him as a loyal subject.
It was foolish. Because he had almost lived his entire life, he acted out of reckless courage to leave a single line of his name.
Even after admitting that, Garolbark thought.
"It must not be. Even if my foolishness reached the heavens, this should not happen. Even if it was because of my stubbornness and foolishness... this is too much."
"Too much." It's a word children use when scolding each other. A complaint closer to a whine, unrelated to crime, responsibility, law, or regulations, spilled from the old man's mouth.
However, it was clearly sincere, and it was the truth.
"If a monster like that is the King of Humans... I do not regret standing in her way."
Looking at the old man screaming with bloodshot eyes, I smiled calmly.
He is foolish. But everyone has this much foolishness. Humans are originally beasts, so they are inherently foolish beings.
What if you lose everything from a single act of foolishness? Going against the strong usually leads to that, but too much is still too much.
"It's a relief you realized it, even if it's late. It's a self-fulfilling ending, but since you're satisfied, it's fine."
If he hadn't blocked her, he wouldn't have died, but he also learned something by blocking her, so I suppose it's fine.
"Goodbye, Garolbark. I have no intention of granting your wish. However, even if it's just for my own survival, I will have to face Sister."
As the Wall of Harmony collapsed, rocks and dirt poured down. Sister overturned the wall in an instant, and the troops were buried under its weight. The fact that Garolbark was alive was because he was a strong Qigong Master, and even that was merely delaying his death.
Garolbark's life force, having spat out his lingering regrets until the very end, grew faint. After exhausting his Qigong and depleting his vital energy, all that remained was an old man on the verge of death. The old man grabbed my hand and said with a trembling voice.
"I beg of you, King of Humans...."