Chapter 295
"Are your injuries alright?"
With Jakaran charred black by lightning, the commotion subsided.Understandably, they couldn't just continue the soirée, so it was disbanded.
Under the pretense of receiving treatment for being punched, I was waiting in a separate room within the royal castle.After that, Jakaran was completely shut down by Lady Esmeralda's lightning, captured while charred black.
If he showed even the slightest resistance, lightning would fly. If he seemed to be regaining consciousness, lightning would fly... Even the Knight Captain, who had said "You may kill him," was somewhat taken aback by how thoroughly she was handling it.
To be clear, she didn't kill him.I'm not sure about the possibility of aftereffects, but at the very least, he won't be moving easily anytime soon, and it's clear he's been thoroughly traumatized by the lightning. By the end, he was screaming just at the sight of sparks flashing.
Thanks to Berserk God, he's tough and doesn't lose consciousness easily.And what likely awaits him next is torture, the executioner's block, or perhaps torture followed by the block.
About two hours had passed since the Edelgard Duke, who had left the venue with the King to decide Jakaran's fate and the consequences for the Boldrinde Duke who brought him, came to the room where we were resting.
"Well, an attack from a guy like that, I can deflect it."
His first words upon entering were concern for my injuries, but even the cheek that took a direct hit was completely unharmed. Seeing me perfectly fine, he seemed slightly relieved.
"For someone who says that, you went flying quite spectacularly. That was surprising.""If I had stopped it there, he might have made excuses like 'I didn't mean to punch that hard,' so I thought it was better to emphasize that 'he punched with enough force to easily kill a person.'"
He gave a wry smile at my ad-lib, as if to say, "That wasn't the plan." Let's just keep it between us that I hesitated, thinking his punch was weaker than expected and almost considered just taking it head-on.
"Speaking purely of the result, you're right."
My action, worthy of a stuntman, sent me flying spectacularly and crashing into a table. Of course, Jakaran's attack alone wouldn't have sent me flying that far; naturally, I added force by kicking off the ground.
"Thinking of changing careers to become an actor? I can put in a word with a theater director I know.""Hmm, that does sound interesting, but I'll keep it in mind as endgame content to try after I finish what I want to do."
With my current stats, I could probably appear in a Hollywood movie without any CGI, but there's no need to say that.
"Let's get to the main point. Jakaran's execution has been decided."
From jokes to the main topic.He disclosed part of the discussions he had with the King and the ministers.
"So soon?""No. We also reported the Boldrinde Duke's suspicious movements in connection with this incident. Jakaran will be executed after we make him confess his part in it.""Are you sure? If he goes berserk, he can easily destroy a prison cell and tear off restraints.""Regarding that, it's been decided, in cooperation with His Majesty, to imprison him in a room with a special结界 (barrier).""A special barrier...""You seem to know something from that reaction.""I wonder what it could be?"
Interrogating Jakaran was part of the plan, but when I pointed out a potential flaw in the method, it became clear the King was more serious about investigating Jakaran than I thought.
The room with a special barrier in the castle's basement.The ancient room passed down among the heroes' descendants has a record of sealing a demon that couldn't be defeated in the past.
Long, long ago, before this royal capital was built.There was a demon with special abilities, not an entity that could be easily defeated, so there was a ruin where that demon was sealed.
I know the history: that ruin is a product of the Age of Gods, and this castle was built upon it.Furthermore, I know the barrier's strength and weaknesses. Seeing the Duke's look of slight exasperation, I understood the basis for his "It's fine."
"Well, fine. You knowing strange things isn't new."
With that barrier, Jakaran can do nothing, and rescue is impossible.Then, it's certain he'll face the gallows or the guillotine after torture.
In that case...
"As for the Boldrinde Duke...""Yes.""I wanted to have his title revoked to make him take responsibility for his subordinate, but that didn't happen.""Even though he targeted the King's life?""Indeed."
What happened to the Boldrinde Duke, who currently needs to be dealt with most?He'll almost certainly use Jakaran as a scapegoat, but if we could punish him officially, it would make our actions much easier.If his title could be revoked, his territory, even temporarily, would fall to the state.
Then we could swiftly investigate the northern territory and secure the Azhdaha ruins.
"The Matthias Duke opposed it."
That outcome would have been ideal, but this world doesn't progress so conveniently.And I thought that serpent Duke wouldn't give up his title so easily.
"So they *are* connected.""He gave various reasons, but that's probably it."
Summarizing the Edelgard Duke's story:The Duke proposed revoking the title. Following procedure, they sought the opinions of the other dukes. The Matthias Duke opposed, and the Marduk Duke neither supported nor opposed, so the opinions were divided.
In that case, you'd want the King's final decision, but...
"His Majesty wants to agree with me, but he doesn't want to risk displeasing the other dukes carelessly. If he disposes of the Boldrinde Duke here, the country could split. Therefore, it's been decided to place him under house arrest in this castle until a verdict is reached.""Pending Jakaran's testimony, I suppose?""In terms of evidentiary value, he was a subordinate until just moments ago. We can expect some effect, but following that logic, it likely won't lead to title revocation.""So then?"
Because the Matthias Duke opposed, the King's judgment is stalled.It feels like we need one more element. The Edelgard Duke's expression changes.
"Anything will do. I need definitive evidence. I want the people you found to handle that.""I see."
Using dark operatives for verification is fine, but the Boldrinde Duke must be wary of that. So, we need disruption from a third force not affiliated with the Edelgard Duke's faction.
"And, this is my personal opinion. How much time do we have until *that* revives?"
We don't know how much time we need for that disruption and information gathering.Above all, we need time, but if Azhdaha revives while we're leisurely collecting information, it will be a disaster.
"Based on predictions, the shortest is two months, the longest around three months.""Possibility of it being shorter?""Factors like large-scale massacres or attempts to forcibly defeat the sealed Azhdaha could shorten it."
It might seem relaxed on the surface, but the decisive weapon against Azhdaha is steadily being prepared in the Spirit World.We're operating assuming the worst of the worst.
But there's no need to fight under the worst conditions if we can avoid it.
"I want your opinion, Liberta. If we strip him of his status here, do you think he'll give up?""He won't give up, and his sympathizers won't stay quiet. He might hold a grudge against the country, attempt to overthrow the state using Azhdaha, and start activities to rebuild from the ashes of a ruined land."
Looking at the current situation, we've only taken one piece, Jakaran.We managed to suspect him of treason and detain the Boldrinde Duke, but with his support base still in his territory, it's not enough.
Just having his overt movements restricted is probably the best we can hope for right now.
"I see.""Your Grace, how long can we detain the Boldrinde Duke?""Stretched out, two weeks.""Understood. What about Jakaran's execution?""That depends on the interrogation."
Assuming the Boldrinde Duke is unaware of Azhdaha's existence goes beyond wishful thinking; it's just foolish.Therefore, the Boldrinde Duke must see Azhdaha as his trump card for a comeback.
Did he tell the Matthias Duke about it?No, that cautious Boldrinde Duke wouldn't do such a thing.
"I'll have them ready in one week. We'll execute the operation the following week, so please gather information during that time.""Understood."
We need to find a way to send an investigation team to the northern territory, or we'll end up taking the worst possible route.After that, we just have to strive to improve the situation somehow.
"And Liberta, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?""At a time like this?""Yes, at this time."
Just as I was about to start planning the training regimen for Judeus and the others, the Duke, frowning as if to say "I must tell you this," prefaced his statement and presented two topics.
"Given the flow of this conversation, I doubt either is good news... Let's start with the bad one.""Alright."
Generally, in situations like this, even the 'good' news isn't necessarily good.Bracing myself for what troublesome topic was coming, the Duke could only relay it with a wry smile.
"This was originally something His Majesty was supposed to announce during the soirée. It seems the gods have issued an oracle to the heroes of the East, West, and North. 'Gather in the Southern Continent and seek guidance from the Southern Hero.'""......"
Faced with this extremely troublesome content, I held my head.The Southern Hero, the one the gods refer to, is undoubtedly me.
"Why do I have to take care of complete strangers?""That leads to the good news. The oracle says to first assess the Southern Hero, and if he is deemed worthy, seek his teachings as a disciple.""...... In other words, beat them into submission, make them disciples, and turn them into combat assets?""Precisely. Having entities empowered by the gods become allies is the ultimate reinforcement of our forces, isn't it?""......"
This is what they mean by troubles piling on top of troubles. I sighed deeply.With our current lack of combat power, we don't have time to search for named characters from scratch.
In that case, having a hero-unit type temporarily join us would be good.
"When are they coming? It would be a nuisance if they showed up on the eve of the decisive battle.""The West in one week, the East in ten days, the North in half a month.""Defeat them in order, train them... Can I do it?"
A premonition of intense work—no, a certainty of intense work—and the anxiety about whether they'll obediently listen to us is giving me a headache, despite my body being enhanced to Class 8.
"Your Grace, is it alright for other nations to learn the fundamentals of my strength?""It is not. Or rather, I should say I don't want that."
And me teaching them means strengthening other nations.Frankly, I'm not very enthusiastic about that.
If it weren't for the immediate threat of Azhdaha, I wouldn't have wanted to do this.
"Then I'll keep the information I teach to a minimum.""If the country falls because of that, it defeats the purpose, doesn't it?""It's fine. We'll win with minimal losses."
This knowledge is my advantage.So, I need to ensure I can win even with restrictions.
Thinking I might not sleep tonight, I spent the rest of the day that way.