Chapter 182

Chapter 182

The monster front will follow a completely independent route, separate from the Empire."

Yes, I had made up my mind.

Cooperating in maintaining the Empires four major fronts.

Also, marrying Princess Yun strategically to benefit the Imperial Family,

And in return, having the Imperial Family send reinforcements to the Southern Front as promised.

All these matters - I decided to refuse them.

Not only that, I declared that the Southern Front would break away from the Empires protection and become an independent front.

I had made up my mind.

...

The atmosphere in the room turned cold at my declaration.

After a brief silence, the Emperor stared at me intently and opened his mouth.

Explain yourself. Commander of the Southern Front.

I met the Emperors gaze. His expression seemed more curious than angry.

Why did you make such a choice?

...

Why, why indeed.

Sighing heavily, I swallowed a big breath.

There are three main reasons.

First.

It was because of the negative impact the Imperial reinforcements had on the Southern Front.

From Stage 1, I had requested support from the Imperial Family. Back then, Aider had said to me:

- ...Are you sure its okay, My Lord?

Both Aider and I knew that asking for support from the central Empire would trigger a fatal event in the middle of the game.

And that event was the erosion of control over the Southern Front by the Imperial Family.

As more and more Imperial reinforcements were sent to the Southern Front, they would gradually take control of it.

And eventually, they would deprive the player of authority, manipulating the Southern Front to the Imperial Familys liking.

I remember when I was a naive beginner, abusing the command for reinforcements thinking it was good, only to lose all command authority and watch the game run automatically.

Once the Southern Front was controlled, the Imperial reinforcements would never properly manage it.

They would send SR-grade or higher hero characters to the Imperial Capital and skim off high-grade items and Magic Cores for the Imperial Family.

The Southern Front would be reduced to a mere expansion base mining resources right in front of the enemy line, eventually falling into ruin when unable to fend off the monster attacks.

Thats why I decided to use the reinforcement chance only once, and on a small scale.

Just enough help to allow the Southern Front to grow strong on its own, only once.

But if I cooperated closely with the Imperial Family as it was, they would continue to send reinforcements to the South.

Sooner or later, the Southern Front would be swallowed up by the Imperial Family.

So I refused.

Thats the first reason. A functional reason for the management of the front.

Second.

What I want to protect is not the Empire, but the people.

I lifted my head and spoke with conviction.

A look of bewilderment crossed the faces of the Emperor and the Princes. The Emperor asked, perplexed:

People?

While standing on the Monster Front, I had only one goal.

I voiced the goal I had held from the beginning.

To kill the monsters and save the people.

Yes.

Never to forget, that one sole purpose.

Monsters dont discriminate between humans. They kill fairly. They dont kill the Imperial citizens first, nor do they kill other races later.

The monsters goal is simple.

Kill humans. Destroy the world.

Therefore, the goal of the Monster Front fighting against them is simple too.

Save people. Protect the world.

The struggle on the Monster Front has no ideology. No nation, no race. All that exists there is the simple goal of saving the people behind the walls.

A goal that is simple, and thus sublime.

But the moment I become subservient to the Imperial Family, this simplicity will lose its brilliance.

The Monster Front will prioritize the Empires citizens, persecute other races, and exploit and discard people from other countries, just like the other fronts.

That cannot happen.

"In the Imperial Capital, you captured citizens and tortured them to identify the true faces of the hostile hidden forces, and after the torture and interrogation were done, you selectively sacrificed those with ability to human offerings," I said to Fernandez, who continued to stare at me without averting his eyes.

- No matter what happens, we must stop that fate of destruction. We must protect the empire at any cost, even if it means sacrifice.

It wasnt just talk.

They really did whatever it took, paid whatever sacrifice was necessary, to protect the empire.

"It really is an impressive circular structure. How closely the three fronts cooperate and mesh together."

"..."

"Without the slaves of different races, prisoners of enemy nations, and citizens of the outskirts... What will you burn next?"

I glared at the Emperor.

"To maintain this massive flesh called the empire, Father, you and my brothers are killing people."

"..."

"Youre killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing again."

I spat towards them.

"To protect the empire, you indiscriminately kill innocents. Youre monsters yourselves."

My purpose is to kill monsters and save people.

This banner must not be damaged.

Thats why I cant be with you, who have become monsters for the sake of a single nation.

Its such a simple story.

"...Ha ha."

And then,

"Ahahahahaha!"

The Emperor laughed.

He laughed heartily and refreshingly. I scowled. Whats going on?

"So, whats your point, my son?"

The laughter stopped abruptly as the Emperor challenged me.

"To stand alone, fall into that monster-infested southern region, and distance yourself from wicked people like us! To proudly claim yourself as righteous and wither away?"

The Emperors voice rumbled.

"That path is hell!"

"...!"

"You say youll protect people? Then what is the definition of a person? Is it a human? A different race? Or is it a monster that speaks human language? Where does humanity end?"

Faced with the Emperors onslaught, I gritted my teeth.

"What about traitors? Rebels? Thieves, robbers, and frauds? All this foul-smelling trash heap is human! You declare youll protect them all?"

"..."

"The more you pursue a foolish righteousness, the more you will suffer! The place youre heading to is hell. Do you truly not understand?"

The Emperor roared, kicking his chair as he stood.

"Even if you raise a pure and clean flag! It will become soaked with blood and ash the moment you cross the battlefield. My young son, do you truly not understand?"

"..."

Clenching my fist,

I barely managed to speak.

"...I have already sacrificed much."

742 campaigns.

741 failures, and a single success.

In all those games, I had always sent my characters to death.

For the overall efficiency of the game, I had thrown countless subordinates into death without a moments hesitation. I never questioned that act.

I was a monster.

A monster obsessed with efficiency, knowing nothing but strategy, not seeing people as people.

I wont be that way again.

"There will be no choice but to bend my beliefs sometimes. I may end up half a monster again at the end of this path."

But I will do my best.

At least, at the very least, I will not forget what matters most to me.

"Even if theres a single white part left on the flag in my hand at the end, no! Even if nothing but the flagpole remains in my grasp. Even so, I will march forward with this flag."

I will kill monsters and save people.

I wont let go of this banner.

For that,

"I will say it again. The Monster Front will follow a completely independent path, separate from the empire."

I told the empires defenders.

"...I will protect people, not the empire."