2 02 Tales: Dark Dismantling

After crushing the Demon King's heart.

When I got my life back, it took me seven days to get back to the headquarters of the agency.

Kingdom of Terraria.

That's the country I belong to.

As we approached the royal castle standing in the center of the Wang capital Mykula, the two guards speared to block the gate. But both check my face and I'll put the spear down as soon as I can.

One of the guards spoke to me trying to dive the gate silently.

"On the third floor, in the extraordinary meeting room of the Kingsguard Knights, Master Chris awaits you"

To the word of the Guardian, I returned "Roger" in my lurking voice.

It's too much trouble, but my organization changes its base to corny. After the Battle of the Brave Demons entered its final phase, it was mostly based in the Royal Castle, but it had also changed its place of activity from one castle to the next.

Open the door to the temporary meeting room on the third floor of the castle.

In that room, a young woman with long, thin red hair was sitting alone in a chair.

"Good luck"

She looked at me and said with a soft grin.

"Long time no see, Chris"

"Right. I've only been communicating here lately. I got out of HQ for a month, too."

Chris says slightly tired.

She's my boss. It's been a long time since we've talked face-to-face like this, but now that we've been dating for nearly a decade, I'm not tired.

I relaxed the tension a little more than usual and lowered my back to the chair opposite Chris.

"What happened to the Demon King?"

"Everything is going well. A little later, information will be released to people around the world that 'the brave have defeated the demon king'.... even though you're the one who really knocked him out."

"It doesn't matter who put their hands down, directly. In this case, it would be the institution, not me, that killed the Demon King. I've just been following the instructions I've been given for the last ten years."

"... as always, you've reached an age point. Well, I guess that's how the institution educated you."

Chris says in a sigh.

"Ten years of big work has come to an end. … I feel like we were almost on the front lines at some point, even though it was initially just an organization to support the brave."

"I agree about that."

At the end of the day, it's the undisputed front line.

Gently open your right palm. I noticed Chris looking at this one with a serious face, blurry reminders of what it felt like when he crushed the Demon King's heart.

"You're fifteen this year."

"Oh."

Affirming, Chris slowly opened his mouth.

"This is a document with your background."

That's what Chris says. He takes a ton of paperwork out of the envelope and spreads it to the table.

"That's a lot."

"That's all you've accomplished. But that's the job behind not being made public."

Take one bundle of paperwork and Chris continues.

"As you know, the role of our organization, the Secret Service, is to support the brave from the shadows in World War IV."

As if to confirm my background, Chris says as he rolls through the paperwork.

- Secret Service of the True Soldier.

To explain this organization we belong to, you'll need to know about the Wars of the Brave Demons.

One day. The Demon King appeared abruptly.

The demon king, born and fallen, immediately began to act to destroy mankind. Vigorous monsters - creating numerous "demons" and even huge underground spaces that become demonic nests - creating "labyrinths". Over time, demons sometimes evolved into the figure of man to acquire reason, they were called "demons" and more alert than demons for what their heads worked.

The Demon King and his hosts are strong. It is difficult to prevent that invasion.

But as one who destroys such demon kings, a presence of brave men emerged.

Brave men appear abruptly from within mankind. Like the Demon King, he doesn't know when it will appear - but apparently, the Brave and the Demon King are each born at the same time. In other words, if the Demon King is born, the brave will be born within close reach, and vice versa.

Brave and Demon King. The war between the two was called the Battle of the Brave Demons and was repeated three times by ten years ago.

So far, all of that has been a victory for the brave - that is, the human side.

"A demon king is a disaster of will. And a brave man is hope of will. This wording penetrated three centuries ago… when the First Wars of the Brave Demons broke out. And ten years ago, a fourth generation of brave men was born here in the Kingdom of Terraria. This became the cut-off for the institution to be born"

Chris speaks.

"The country that gave birth to the brave can lead to other countries in every way. If a brave man defeats a demon king, his native country will be regarded as the precious nation that created the hero, and even after the war is over, more and more money will roll in on its own. The so-called" brave effect. "

Just saying there are brave men. Or there's just the fact that he was there, and there's a bunch of gold out there. After the war, the economic effects become stronger when the brave man runs a shop in his native country or becomes a knight and buys out a sword guide.

"But on the contrary - if things go wrong that a brave man can't defeat a demon king, the responsibility for it will be borne by the country that produced the brave man. The heavy towns of the Kingdom of Terraria were concerned about the worst possibility that the brave men born in their own country could not defeat the Demon King. As a result, our institution was launched"

Chris is right.

The True Soldier Secret Service is an organization born after fearing the scandals of the brave.

"While we do not know how other nations have supported the brave in the last three wars, the Kingdom of Terraria has decided to support the brave from two directions:" the table "and" the back ". The True Soldier Secret Service falls under this" back "category." Tables "are applicable to troops and knights from around the world.

The Army and Knights of the Table fought alongside the Braves all the time during the Great War. On the other hand, our "back" activities - whether legal or illegal. Working, assassinating, capturing, torturing… undertook all sorts of dirty work. By its very nature, the institution, unlike the military, became a hidden organization whose existence did not come to light. It's literally a "back" organization. "

I nodded at Chris' explanation.

"But on the border one day four years ago, the institution was to serve not only as a support for the brave, but also as a substitute (...) for the brave.... you know more about this cut, don't you?

"... are you going to talk to me there"

Chris said I was more familiar with it, but that's not true.

During the war, Chris was mostly encouraging deskwork at HQ. She certainly sees and hears more information about the war than she did about me, who had nothing but field work. Even if it was me who put my hands directly on it, she'd be more familiar with the process leading up to it.

Apparently, Chris doesn't want information, he wants to know my perception.

I spoke pale so that I could not feel bad.

"Four years ago. When the momentum of war grew, something unexpected happened for the human side. A brave man can't defeat a demon (...) I (...). The demon was an enemy that must be defeated as mankind invaded Demon King's Castle, the residence of the Demon King.... but the brave man, no matter how many times he tried, could not defeat the demon"

Perhaps the brave fought that demon countless times.

Challenge, defeat, challenge, defeat - even with knights from all over the world, they still lost.

So...

"- Because I had no choice, the man of the institution killed the demon."

The True Soldier Secret Service invites talented personnel from orphanages in the country to provide thorough Spartan education until they are used as soldiers. It was an extreme of difficulty for orphanage children to endure that intense training, and there were also mountains of people who lost their lives during the training.

It seems that the soldiers of the institutions who grew up in such an environment had at some point gained stronger strength than the brave ones.

No... it is somewhat inappropriate to refer to this as strength. Those raised in institutions do not fight with dignity. Even if the opponent is a demon or a demon king, he will carry out the most efficient battle for the purpose. Perhaps the demons did not anticipate a brutal way of fighting the institutions. So it was easy for the soldiers of the institution to kill the demons that the brave men could not defeat.

"That's far-fetched rhetoric. Honestly, I should say you killed that demon."

"It's out of my mind that you think I've got more work to do. In the first place, it was Chris who instructed you to do that."

"Oh, you're going to make it my responsibility?

"'I'll take all the blame, so just bring that demon down'... who said that?

"Uh... Shit, I think you said that"

Chris hands on his forehead. Apparently I really forgot.

We were in a hurry for boulders then. You keep challenging the demon man without giving up, and you see the brave man being rescued every time you're dying, and you're like, "This guy's seriously dying, isn't he?" That's what I was afraid of. Humanity finally wondered if he would be defeated by the Demon King. The institution was also busy at that time, so I had no choice but to obscure my memory.

"Back to the story...... anyway, with that case cut off, the institution was to be on the front line and fight many demons. However, it does not change that the institution is an organization that cannot be made public. We only secretly eliminated the mighty enemies for the brave.... Specifically, by making all its achievements belong to the brave, the institution continued to hide its existence"

"Right. You're right about everything."

Chris affirms.

But on the other hand, he had a grumpy look.

"You look unhappy."

"Well, you will. Ultimately, it was the soldiers of the institution who defeated the Demon King - that is, you, and we, whatever you think, are contributing to the war more than the Knights and Braves of the Table. Even so, our presence is not in the bright light.... Hey, you know what? Are we, ostensibly, perceived as military chores? Even before this, if I hadn't rested in the castle cafeteria for the first time in ten days, I'd be scolded by a hungry knight apprentice who's never even been out on the battlefield saying, 'Don't let the chores take a break'. Do you have such a miserable idea?

"I sympathize with you... but if you say too much, you'll be judged a risk factor on top"

"It's okay! You and I are the only ones here! If I say this outside, I know that tomorrow, accidental death will be confirmed."

Regardless, accidental death is just an assassination in the name of.

That's what institutions do best. I know because I'm part of an organization. It is not very wise for individuals to turn this organization against their enemies.

"I know what's going on.... Just like the army and institutions, the brave have a role to play. There's a big role for advertising towers.... If our activities come to light, cloudiness will arise in that ad. So all the merits of the institution will belong to the brave.... I understand, but it's hard to convince. No, I really don't want to be convinced."

"For that matter, we're better paid than the army. Nothing in the country is leaving us alone."

"Well, yes..."

The first one. The fact that I killed the demon was also a feat of the brave.

The Demon Man is inherently under the command of the Demon King and is more sublime than the Demon King.

It is not an exaggeration to say that there exists to defeat the Demon King, but there is no way that a brave man cannot defeat every demon. Now in past wars, he said, the brave never struggled with demons. In such a situation, if the fact that a third party other than the brave man killed the demon is discovered - the trust of the brave man is wanting to fall. The advertising tower will no longer function.

"So? Why, now, have you told such a clear fact?

Chris answered my question with caution.

Earlier, we decided to dismantle the engine.

I didn't say a word to Chris.

As far as it goes. Did you talk about the revealing of the institution in order to bring up this story?

If you understand about the institution, dismantling is something you can anticipate. The True Soldier Secret Service is an organization to support the Demon King's Crusade of the Brave from the Shadows. Now that the Demon King has been crusaded, its existential significance has vanished. Unlike the army and the Knights, which have an ex-Saya called Maintenance of National Security, we do not have a regression in our institutions.

"With the disorganization, I was supposed to ask you about your future."

For one thing, I'll round my eyes.

"It's like telling me you have a right to choose your future."

That's what I'm saying.

I didn't think you'd be positive. I lost my word for a while.

The True Soldier Secret Service is not a "behind" organization to Dada. A lot of the work I was given by the agency was pretty dirty. If the world is the world, all the people in the institution are criminals. It is like being forgiven because it was during the Great War. Being such a quasi-criminal, I didn't expect to be given the freedom of choice in my life. It can't be expected.

"... worst of all, I was prepared to be killed by a mouth seal."

"I wouldn't do that. You said it yourself earlier, but the country does not scorn us. Instead, he's giving me the biggest consideration. That is why until then constituents will be given all possible assistance in dismantling the institution. If there is any hope for future life design, it is instructed from above to respond to it whenever possible…"

The price is set for a good story, but Chris is a trustworthy person. I guess even if it had a back, it wouldn't have a negative effect on me.

That said, the country will not move with mercy.

"Something like giving candy at the end to avoid being bitten by a former dog"

"Well, you know what? Especially since you're special among the institutions, we can prepare extraordinarily large candy."

I chewed up Chris' words and thought.

"Hope, huh? … so easy, it's unlikely to come to mind"

"... nothing? Whatever you want, okay? You want to plow fields in the countryside, or you want to belong to the Knights and now you want to contribute to the world as a" table "person?... some of them said they wanted to have lazy days without doing anything. The state is committed to providing maximum assistance to such people."

I tied my lips to Chris, who had a sympathetic eye somewhere.

I'm younger in the institution. For the few days I've lived outside the institution, I'm twice as rich in institutional values as the others. Maybe I look like a terribly crippled person to Chris.

In the end, what came out of my mouth was an indication of a thought renunciation.

"What's Chris gonna do?

"I... think I'm going to continue to do similar work. Unlike you, I was the headquarters of the agency, so I've been exposed to all kinds of information, and I'm under severe constraints."

"Then so am I."

"No, you can't."

Chris says sternly.

"You're only fifteen. That, too, was picked up by an institution at only five years of age and spent ten years until the war ended, even for the kingdom.... Enough already. Get out of an organization like this that treats people like tools. Come on, you should find what you want to do."

"I want to do, things..."

Chris turned a strong eye on me squealing like a rumor.

"For the past decade you have lived for the kingdom. So next time, live for yourself.... If you want to put aside a little time and still do the same job as before, just tell me then. Because I admit that's what you want to do.... but I won't admit it now"

Chris looked like he wouldn't pull a step.

Even if I tell her here, "Working for Chris is what I want to do," she'll keep shaking her head sideways.

"You don't have to think hard. You've seen a lot of people through your work over the last decade, haven't you? I want to be like this. I want to do this. Have you ever thought of that?

Turn your head even to Chris' words.

Spending until I was five years old in an evil orphanage where I often couldn't even eat one meal a day, I had such a tough, trained and soaked day that I was then picked up by an institution and my days in the orphanage were summery.

At the end of the training, he was first assigned various tasks as a disposable soldier, but somehow gained trust from the upper echelons as he survived, eventually being given a prerequisite task for his return. That said, for those of us who are "back" people, the failure of the mission is directly linked to death. It's just that you're not supposed to be here.

If the mission fails, it will be cut off immediately. Since I belonged to the institution, there are no days when I am not nervous.

In flattery, I can't say a decade I could afford to look at the people around me.

But there are a few things in my work that I thought, "You have a life like this, too".

Just today, on the road until I came back to Mykula, the king's capital, I thought that. When I was wrong with the person who put the product on the little front carriage. When I saw my flower seller daughter walking down the castle town. What I thought in my mind was...

"… I want to walk through a crowded routine"

When I put it in my mouth, I felt like I had fallen to Ston's heart.

I realized who the complex emotions were, all over my chest. Oh, was I thinking this?

I don't know "normal" when I think about it. I've never seen a "crowd".

When I was working, I sometimes wondered, "What am I working for?" We exist to support the brave. Then why would that brave man try to defeat the Demon King? What the hell do people get by defeating the Demon King?

That answer is, I'm sure, the everyday of the crowd.

I didn't really know what I'd been protecting.

Many people died in the war. Countless colleagues in the institution also lost their lives. - What's it like to protect something like that?

What kind of "peace" am I, Chris, or the brave men who risked their lives to keep out?

"I want a normal life. I want to live freely, as I please. Is that... no?

It was a long and monotonous wish.

But Chris nodded sincerely, without making a fool of himself.

"No, no problem at all."

That's what I said, Chris got up.

"Thank you. Let me know what you really mean. Then wait a while. I'm going to make your life right now."

"Oh, please"