Chapter 785

Chapter 785

I shared with the kings the "strategy" I would use in the final stage of this defensive battle.

When the kings heard this "strategy," they were first shocked, then horrified, and finally let out screams.

"...That concludes my explanation."

After finishing, I looked around at the frozen kings.

"Are there any questions?"

The kings immediately shouted.

"Prince Ash! No matter what, isn't that... going too far?!"

"That method would destroy the foundation of our world!"

"It's unthinkable! It couldn't come from normal thinking...!"

"Reconsider! Even for you, this method is too extreme-"

I listened quietly in the face of their fierce opposition.

In truth, I had expected opposition, of course.

If we use the "strategy" I proposed, some "pillar" that has built up human civilization until now will disappear.

Even if we overcome destruction after the last stage, the world will change into a completely different form from the past.

It's a condition difficult for anyone living in this world to easily accept, not just the kings.

However,

"Then, do you intend to accept destruction?"

When I coldly asked back, the audience immediately fell silent as if doused with cold water.

"Clearly, the loss the world must bear is painful. However, as the price for protecting the world from destruction, it may be a very cheap loss."

No matter what price we pay.

Isn't it better than the world being destroyed and people dying?

"..."

Amidst the silence as the kings just looked at each other, a low question arose.

"Is this the only way?"

There stood my father - Emperor Traha 'Peacemaker' Everblack of the Empire.

He was looking at me with a solemn, hardened face.Fiind updated novels at novelhall.com

I nodded heavily.

"This is the only way."

Amidst the erupting sighs, the Emperor silently looked at me.

Eventually his cracked lips parted, and a tired voice flowed out.

"Ash. Whether you are the world's savior or a mad revolutionary, that judgment will be made not by us here, but by future generations..."

His lips slowly curved into a smile.

"But that judgment can only be made if the world continues to exist for future generations."

The Emperor slowly rose and declared.

"Our Everblack Empire will go along with Prince Ash's path!"

"...!"

"There's no way we can overcome the world crisis before us without any losses. There are bound to be parts we all must give up and concede."

The Emperor pointed to his chest with his one remaining arm.

"When we use this method, when a completely different tomorrow unfolds from yesterday, which country do you think will suffer the greatest loss? It's our Empire. But it doesn't matter. We will accept it."

"..."

"Let's all bear the burden together. Let's hurt together. This is not a matter of choice, but a matter of life and death."

The next moment.

Someone else in the audience abruptly stood up.

"Our Ariane Kingdom also strongly agrees!"

It was King Miller Ariane of the Ariane Kingdom.

The other kings seemed quite surprised at the agreement of this king who had once been at the forefront of opposing the World Guardian Front's path at every turn.

"Miller...!"

"You?!"

"Those who have fought together here until now must know well. That Prince Ash's proposals have ultimately led to the right path."

Miller grinned at me.

"I will support his decision to the very end."

Following that, several people stood up from their seats simultaneously.

Kellibey, Verdandi, Kuilan, and King Poseidon.

Representatives of each race.

They faced me with unwavering expressions.

"We have already decided to entrust the fate of our races to Prince Ash... to the future path of the World Guardian Front here."

"No matter what price we pay, it cannot take precedence over our lives."

"We've come this far anyway, haven't we? Let's go all out to the end!"

"If I can just protect the lives of my people, I can bear that much of a price."

Then Mikhail, Valen, and Hannibal stood up in turn.

"Vermillion agrees as well!"

"So does our City-State Alliance!"

"We'll follow to the end!"

Like a wave.

All the kings who had fought directly alongside me stood up one by one, expressing their support for my "strategy."

Even the kings who hesitated until the end were those who had remained with the World Guardian Front so far, trusting and following me.

It's just that the method I proposed was too radical for them to easily agree with.

But in the end, they too closed their eyes tightly and stood up.

"It's the result of all our hard work."

Unlike his appearance so far, Aider was wearing a very old formal attire.

After putting a glass in his hand, I handed him something I had kept in my possession.

"Take it."

It was a fragment of Nameless's soul.

The last pieces of her that remained inside the dungeon sparkled and swirled in the air before being sucked into Aider's hand.

Aider, who carefully tucked it into his bosom, smiled broadly.

"I've finished my own preparations as well."

"..."

"Now all that's left is to give them one big hit."

Snap!

Aider snapped his fingers.

Then the [Traitor's Necklace] around my neck flashed once.

"As you may have guessed, the 'achievement points' you've used through that necklace are actually... a concept of consuming the Karma we've accumulated so far."

The endlessly repeated destruction game.

Aider, who participated as a human-side player here, and I, his agent. The karma (業) accumulated as we repeated the regression was burned and manifested as power.

I smiled bitterly.

"Well, the explanation of achievement points wasn't entirely wrong."

"When you built fortresses materialized with magic, or displayed various other miraculous powers, we've been assisting by consuming this accumulated karma."

Aider smiled faintly.

"I've just released that limiter."

"..."

"It's the real final time, after all. There's no need to save the balance anymore, is there?"

The previous player, previous hero, prophet, lord's advisor, director...

This accomplice who plotted with me against the world said so.

"Burn it down to the last point. Without regrets."

"You too, Aider."

To this damned yokai director I've grown fond of despite myself, I sincerely wished.

"Let's face it without regrets. The finale of this long game..."

We clinked our glasses together.

A clear ringing sound of glass was heard.

***

After conversing with each hero once.

As the night deepened and dawn approached, near the end of the banquet.

"Serenade."

I approached Serenade, who was standing alone by the window in a corner of the darkened banquet hall, looking outside.

Serenade turned around, quickly wiped her eyes, then smiled brightly.

"Your Highness."

"Are you alright?"

"Of course. I'm going to stop seeing you off with tears now. I no longer doubt your return."

"..."

"Come back safely, Your Highness. I'll be waiting here with a smile."

After hesitating for a moment.

I carefully asked.

"Can you call me like you used to, instead of 'Your Highness'?"

"Pardon?"

"Like back then. Like in the Imperial Capital, before we broke off our engagement..."

Serenade, who quickly caught my meaning, blushed and smiled, then took a step closer to me...

She whispered in my ear like a gentle breeze.

"...Come back safely, my lord."

I smiled silently and bowed to her.

...

After kissing in the moonlight, as I was about to step back.

Serenade's long fingers caught my sleeve.

"Tonight."

With her face bowed down, redder than I'd ever seen it, Serenade whispered in a trembling voice.

"I don't want to let you go tonight."

"..."

"Tonight... I want to spend it together."

Instead of answering, I reached out my arms to tightly embrace her waist... and kissed her once more.

***

The next day.

At the end of a long journey.

Stage 50, the final battle... began.

--TL Notes--

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