Chapter 384

Chapter 384

Serenade is a civilian.

She is a merchant, not a soldier.

Civilians should be irrelevant to this mire. Civilians shouldn't have to brace for death.

Yet she repaired an airship, a feat not achievable by ordinary means, piloted it to the battlefield herself, and participated in combat, sustaining injuries in the process.

It was with such excessive help, taken to extremes, that we managed to win.

"..."

If the political situation hadn't turned in favor of me, the Third Prince.

If the relief forces hadn't arrived.

If the adventurers from the Lake Kingdom hadn't stepped in at Nameless's request.

If Serenade, a civilian, hadn't risked injury to help me...

It would have been game over for me here.

Only when I saw the bloodstained bandages on her body did the reality hit me hard.

My strategies were inadequate.

Driving numerous comrades to death and even hurting an unrelated civilian like her...

"Your Highness?"

Serenade called out to me with a worried voice.

"Are you okay?"

"...Yes. I'm fine."

I forced a smile.

"Thank you. Just, thank you. Serenade. Please take care until you're fully recovered..."

"It's really just a minor scratch. Don't worry!"

Serenade tried to reassure me by waving her arm, but I could tell from the pain on her usually unblemished forehead that it wasnt a mere scratch.

Nor did I have the heart to point out her pain. Instead, I gestured towards the airship.

"It might be good to consult Kellibey about repairing the airship. Hes the original designer, after all."

Sounds of Kellibey rummaging could be heard from the lower part of the airship.

Serenade gave a wry smile.

"Our people tried their best, but there were many clumsy parts. Now that we have the original designer, we can fix it better... to be of more help to Your Highness."

Instead of thanking her again, I just squeezed her hand once more.

Serenade blushed and smiled gently.

It hurt.

Inside, it hurt.

***

I went to the temple.

This was the real battlefield.

The wounded overflowed, and there were too few priests.

The silver lining was that I had amply provided bandages, hemostatics, and potions.

Other able-bodied mercenaries and civilians volunteered to help.

I saw Junior and young mages alongside Damien, sweating as they applied medicine to the wounded.

And in the midst of this chaos, she was absent.

Margarita.

The brave woman who would stand fearless before patients, although she often appeared worn out from overwork.

The R-grade healer who stayed with me until the end in my 742nd game.

She lost her life to the goblins that had raided the temple.

Despite the groans of numerous wounded, the temple, missing her scolding voice, felt eerily silent.

I couldn't bring myself to enter and just gazed at the scene from outside.

"...Your Highness."

A voice called out from beside me. I turned to see.

A man, wrapped in bandages and wearing a blunt helmet, limped along the temple's stone wall towards me. I nodded slightly.

"Torkel."

"I heard you pushed yourself hard in this battle. Are you alright?"

I clenched my teeth at his concern.

Torkel had lost all his party members. The Leprosy Extermination Squad had been wiped out, leaving only their leader.

I couldn't begin to imagine how much he was suffering inside.

Yet, he was asking about my well-being.

Why?

What am I to him?

Wasn't it due to my failure to establish a proper strategy that your comrades died?

"...I deeply regret what happened to your comrades."

I tried to keep my voice steady and emotionless.

"I will ensure they receive the highest honors and a proper funeral as soon as possible."

Torkel silently nodded his thanks to me. I couldnt bear to face him any longer and turned back towards the temple.

"Why did I survive?"

Torkel, who had come to stand by my side, was looking inside the temple - at the statue of the goddess.

"The Saintess... she shielded me and lost her life."

I had already been informed of Margarita's final moments, so I just listened quietly.

"I can't understand it, no matter how much I think about it."

Torkel's usually stoic voice began to fill with heat.

"Wouldn't it have been better if I had died?"

"..."

"Wouldn't it have been better for the Saintess to live, and for someone like me, a leper, a worthless mercenary, to die?"

Thump!

Torkel struck his own chest, shouting out.

"All I can do is swing a sword with this diseased, numb body of mine! I am nothing more than a detestable mercenary..."

He was crying.

"Wouldn't it have been better for the Saintess, who could have saved so many more lives, to live...?"

He didnt shed tears or sob.

But with his gruff voice, hitting his numb chest, he was pouring out his grief.

"Why did she die, and why am I, who should live longer to spread light in the world... survive?"

"..."

"What?"

"Kill monsters, protect people... Its a noble cause."

A self-deprecating smile curled at the edge of my lips.

"But I've realized just now. With beautiful ideals alone, you can't protect people."

"What do you mean..."

"Protecting people isn't about a flag. It's about a well-sharpened sword. That's what I've learned."

I looked around Crossroad.

The south wall, burnt and collapsed.

And the lives I had caused to be lost.

"So, that banner is now discarded."

"...Then what banner will you raise now, Prince Ash?"

"I'll still protect people. But."

I voiced my new resolution.

"To protect people, if it means having to kill people, I will do so."

"...And the definition of 'people' will be decided by you?"

I silently affirmed. A cold disappointment flickered across Skuld's face.

"If it means saving more 'people,' you could exclude entire races or nations from that definition of 'people.'"

"..."

"I guess I was wrong about you."

Skuld turned away abruptly.

"You're just like the other kings after all."

"..."

"Consider our conversation never happened."

Skuld walked away without looking back, towards her soldiers waiting in the distance.

I watched her leave, and Verdandi cautiously approached me.

"Prince Ash, are you... okay?"

"Huh? I'm fine."

I offered a faint smile.

"Don't worry about me. Go talk with your sister."

"..."

"You've met again after a hundred years. There must be a lot to talk about. Go ahead."

Verdandi, with trembling eyes, looked at me, then nodded and ran towards her sister.

I couldnt understand.

Why does everyone look at me with such worried eyes?

My mind is clear, my resolve is firm. Finally, all delusions have vanished.

I walked along the southern plains. In the middle of the plains, a dirty flag fluttered.

It was the white flag I had planted using [Imperial Edict].

Once white and straight, now it was smeared with human red blood and goblin green blood, burning and shedding ash with every gust of wind.

Like the countless lives lost following this flag. I gripped the shattered flagpole.

"..."

In all 742 games, I always threw my characters into death.

I cast countless subordinates into death without a second thought for the efficient clearance of the game.

I never questioned this act.

I was a monster.

Obsessed with efficiency, knowing nothing but strategies, not seeing people as people, a monster. And that's why I succeeded in clearing the game.

- Yes.

Why did it take me so long to realize? Havent I always known this? Thats why I cleared the game.

To save more people.

Someone has to die.

If reality is such, then command death as efficiently as possible.

Kill people to save others.

Why did I ever turn away from such a simple equation?

Because I was cowardly. Weak. Unprepared as a ruler.

But now I am ready.

- So who will decide who dies? Who will command death? Who will bear that burden?

The voice of the Goblin God-King echoed in my mind.

- To protect the world, someone must don the skin of a monster, right?

Yes.

If killing people can save others.

Then it must be me.

I have to command that death.

"You're right, Alexander."

Covering my face with my hand, I laughed bitterly.

"I have no choice but to."

Crack!

I snapped the flagpole I held in my other hand and carelessly threw the flag to the ground.

- To protect this city, there will come a time when you must sacrifice what is most precious to you.

The advice given to me long ago by Crossroad's Margrave suddenly resurfaced in my mind.

Those words, seeming both prophetic and cursed.

Now, they have become reality.

To protect this city.

To safeguard this world.

I have decided to abandon what is most precious to me.

My banner.

The objective of protecting people...

I am prepared to give it up.

To save more lives,

I must become.

A monster that devours people.