Chapter 323
There was an ancestor named Boldorinde.What did he do, and how did he rise to become the Duke of an entire continent?
"Your Grace.""...... What is it?"
Giuseppe Boldorinde had been taught this history since his childhood.The purpose of the Boldorinde clan was to become Heroes.Giuseppe was born for that purpose, lived for it, and as a result of the education he received for it, his ideology became twisted.
In the deepest part of the ruins, in the room just before the facility where Azidahaka was sealed, Giuseppe was reading research reports, striving forward with his research on control.
"A report from the bandits. They say the forest looks strange.""...... Did they find something?""No, we have discovered nothing. However, we have a report from our agent infiltrating the royal capital that a considerable number of Griffons and Wyverns have taken flight. The direction is north. With the suppression of Hokushi complete, the meaning of sending reinforcements...""To take this place... no, to take my head, I suppose."
At such a time, a shadow serving the Boldorinde house interrupted to deliver a report.There was little time left, and the shadow likely intended to advise him to flee, but...
"Have the men outside intercept them. Don't worry about supplies; let them use as much as they want."
The master himself had no intention of moving a single step from this spot.
If he intended to flee, he wouldn't have come to a place like this.To put it more strongly, he should have maneuvered better the moment Jackaran messed up.
But Giuseppe had already given up on this kingdom.
"Yes, sir!"
This country, this world, is ruled by gods.Having realized this fact, he had come this far, using the Boldorinde clan as fuel.
He could no longer stop.
Sending his subordinate away, he turned his eyes back to the research materials.With his free hand, he swiftly moved his brush, compiling the research notes.
*'Listen well, Giuseppe.'*
At such a moment, the words that resurfaced in his mind were the teachings engraved upon his brain by the previous head of the family—the cunning old man he had killed with his own hands and from whom he had usurped the title.
*'The founder of our house, Lord Boldorinde, was prevented from becoming a Hero by that brat Rendel. You must not forget the grudge from that day, that hour.'*
That was the catalyst for the birth of the Boldorinde house.The current Giuseppe would probably say 'Heroes are worthless,' but as a child back then, he was born into a lineage where he had to accept that.
Why couldn't Boldorinde become a Hero, and yet how did he obtain the status of a Ducal House?
It all comes down to the battle with the monster that became the 'Hero.'
Simply put, Boldorinde, driven by a desire for glory, tried to steal a march.That sums it up.To add more, the founder Boldorinde had overconfidence in his own power.
He was, from the start, a man who could be called a mass of pride, with an unusually strong hero complex.He was born into a very ordinary, common family.But this Boldorinde was blessed with a talent that set him apart from those around him.Perhaps because of this talent, his self-esteem was so high that he boasted he would one day become King and conquer the continent.
And he did not become complacent.Without resting on his laurels, he accumulated effort, gained power, steadily built his reputation and substance, and was also blessed with luck, as evidenced by gaining the opportunity to potentially become a Hero.
The end of the world, and a perfect stage where defeating this monster would undoubtedly make him a Hero.
His mistake was probably trying to monopolize the position of 'Hero' rather than sharing it.Reality is not as sweet as a story.
He gathered information on the monster, identified its weaknesses, studied its behavior patterns, leveled up, prepared his equipment, became convinced he could defeat it, challenged it in perfect condition, cornered it to within an inch of its life, and nearly died himself.
Just as he decided on a temporary retreat and was preparing to challenge it again, Rendel and the others came to Boldorinde's aid, the monster was subjugated, and Rendel, who defeated the monster, was celebrated as the Hero.
Even though he had cornered it, the monster still had some strength left.In gaming terms, it had about the equivalent of its last HP bar remaining.
Precisely because of that, even Rendel, who became the Hero, had to challenge it with a desperate resolve, and after a fierce battle, managed to slay the monster.
During that subjugation, Boldorinde was sent to the rear due to injuries and could not be present.
But his efforts were not in vain.While Rendel undoubtedly dealt the final blow, they would have lost had it not been for Boldorinde's solo battle.Some said *he* was the true Hero.
However, the populace did not accept that.It was true, but he had lost.Despite cornering it to the very end, he lost.Above all, they questioned and distrusted him, asking why he faced it alone if he had that much power.
The tide of the times was against him.Normally, they should have praised one who fought for the country, but the populace, lacking peace of mind, condemned Boldorinde's judgment as evil.
Moreover, the 'what if' scenario was raised: what if Rendel and the others had lost their lives due to his unilateral decision? Boldorinde was denounced as unworthy of being a Hero.
Understanding this, Rendel and the others desperately protected Boldorinde.They tried hard to spread word of his great deed.However, the public refused to acknowledge his feat, seeing it merely as the kind-heartedness of the Hero Rendel.
His comrades acknowledged him, but the world did not.Amidst such conflict, enduring dissatisfaction, Boldorinde resolved to prove himself through results.Outwardly, he would support the bloodline of Rendel, who would become King. Inwardly, he aimed for excellence in both literary and military arts, continuing to strive to become a Hero.
At first, he was proper.He trained in martial skills, honed his scholarly arts, learned the conduct befitting a leader, and tried to become a noble more splendid than anyone.
But there is the fact that he could continue this *because* he was Boldorinde.It was precisely because he was Boldorinde—ambitious yet able to act with pride—that he did not become warped.
However, the problem was that his unwarped efforts went unrewarded.
Sometime, with each passing generation, this ideology became distorted.The influence of the surroundings probably played a part.
The bloodlines of the proud heroes gradually degenerated, became intoxicated with power, blinded by money, and obsessed with status.
One could call it the flow of time. It also affected the Boldorinde house. After obtaining the status of Duke, they grew dissatisfied at being unable to become King, accumulated resentment, and gradually became more radical.
And when looking back on history, they thought:If only they had become Heroes, wouldn't they have held a more suitable position?
The past cannot be rewritten, no matter how one struggles.But they did not think their current status was suitable.Therefore, they must act more—as a result of generations passing, they tried to achieve the reward for their efforts in the wrong way.
It was around this time that they began to cling to covert operations and shadow power.They wished to maintain their status as nobles and rule the continent from the shadows.
While they paid lip service to avenging Founder Boldorinde's regret, in truth, the Boldorinde clan gradually, gradually fell into becoming vulgar beings who merely desired status.
Giuseppe was born into such an era, saw through its essence, and cleanly cut it away, declaring it worthless.
No, he obtained the *opportunity* to cut it away.
Giuseppe was talented.Excelling in both literary and military arts, possessing an intellect that could understand ten from hearing one.
And he had no ambition.
Everything went well. Everything proceeded as he wished.Status, power, talent.
God had given Giuseppe more than two gifts, and a hollow world spread before his eyes.
*Boring. This world is boring.*A world where one is satisfied with what God has given, dances and enjoys upon it—this dominated world was nothing but a boring world to Giuseppe.
The rulers are being ruled.He realized in his childhood that this made them nothing but clowns.
Unable to prepare any countermeasures against this fact, his daily dissatisfaction grew. He was becoming nothing but a living doll, obedient to the main family, existing only to achieve its purpose. What Giuseppe found was a single research document.
It was research on monsters.One might think it was a commonplace thing, but it was a list of legendary monsters that left their names in history.Among them, it was data on dangerous monsters that brought calamity.
At first, it was to acquire knowledge. Gradually, he became drawn to the existence of these monsters that had lived to destroy this world.
Eventually, he thought:
What would happen if he unleashed this monster upon the world?
Normally, one would imagine an ending where many people die, and humanity overcomes that death to achieve victory.The process would be gruesome, a future that should never be brought about.
And, making matters worse, he considered that if he himself aided this monster, that outcome might be overturned.
A human siding with a monster—that could be considered an ideology leaning towards the Evil God Cult.However, Giuseppe had no interest in Evil Gods.
His interest lay solely in what the devastation would be like if a mighty monster were summoned.And he thought that if he could control this monster, he might be able to break free from God's domination.
When FBO players, including Liberta, learned of this... *proclivity*, they were dumbfounded, thinking, 'What a terribly troublesome quirk he has.'
He possessed a dangerous way of thinking that even a child would understand.
But the idea of obtaining great power and overthrowing the gods undoubtedly added color to Giuseppe's world.
What the world needs is not Heroes dominated by gods.He became convinced that what is needed is the power to destroy everything, to reset the world.
Spurred by that document, Boldorinde, for the first time, became proactive and decided to fulfill his duties as a noble.
Outwardly, he fulfilled his role as a Duke. Inwardly, he continued searching for a monster capable of destroying this country, this continent, this world.
He investigated dungeon keys, studied the mechanics of Stampedes, collected magic tools, searched for his target monster, and finally encountered it.
When he learned of Azidahaka, he felt it was fate.The more he researched, the more certain he became: 'This is it.'
His heart leaped at the thought of what he could accomplish if he could control this monster.
As a slight possibility, he kept a man named Jackaran, who possessed a rare skill, close at hand, but that was a failure.The more he leveled up, the more brainless he became, degenerating into a being that only rampaged.
The decisive moment was when he was utterly overwhelmed by a certain young lady.
*This will never reach the gods.*The moment he became convinced of this, his enthusiasm for Jackaran rapidly cooled.
And his enthusiasm for Azidahaka grew.
"So, it gains power by offering many lives, after all."
The entity known as Azidahaka cannot be controlled by humans.But its direction can be guided.
Convinced of this, Giuseppe grinned. It was the moment he resolved to do what he could with the little time he had left.
"A song?"
A beautiful singing voice, resonating deep into the ruins, reached his ears.
Even as his pawns outside were preparing for interception, how could such a clear voice be echoing? Giuseppe wondered.
"No, this is..."
A holy light began to pour down upon these ruins. Giuseppe Boldorinde furrowed his brow.
"A barrier?!"
A roar of anger echoed through the ruins, now covered in holy light.
It was the sign of the battle's commencement. The battle had begun.