Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint
Chapter 257: The Country of Steel and the Faceless Men (6)

“You came earlier than I expected. I wanted to finish before you arrived.”

It was true.

I had intended to have everything ready before they got here.

I had succeeded in penetrating the outer wall and infiltrating the control room.

Thanks to Mind Reading, I knew the interior was empty, so I moved without hesitation.

However, once inside the control room, I encountered a major problem.

I couldn't understand anything.

With no one around to read their mind, I couldn't decipher the myriad of machinery before me.

Damn Mind Reading.

It’s really limited to reading human thoughts.

It can read human minds but can’t make sense of these machines?

I looked around for someone to help, but even the Princess was useless here.

I considered using Azzy and Nabi for indiscriminate destruction, but that was a last resort.

So, I had no choice but to wait for 'Kerapald.'

Once he arrived, I could read his thoughts and find out what the annihilation device was.

And then, 'Kerapald' arrived.

“You said you couldn’t hold on, so why did you come back?”

“I was worried you might not reach a conclusion about what to do with the refinery. Mr. Shei, you still haven’t decided, right?”

The Regressor flinched at being hit in a sore spot.

I openly clicked my tongue.

How embarrassing.

Even if 'Kerapald' was manipulating things from behind, how could you let yourself be swayed like this?

Can you really call yourself a regressor?

“…Yes, but I’m almost there. Just a little more time, and I’ll have it all figured out.”

“It’s okay. That’s why I’m here.”

I sauntered across the control room with my hands behind my back.

While they hesitated to approach due to the unfamiliar atmosphere, I quickly read 'Kerapald’s' thoughts.

｢This is bad. The stage is out of my hands. The flow has shifted.｣

In response to the unfamiliar flow, 'Kerapald’s' method was to erase his presence with a bland reaction and go along with the flow.

Forcing his presence could make us suspicious, but that wasn’t the only reason.

He was a natural actor and director.

Sometimes, a well-crafted stage moves beyond its creator’s control.

As a natural performer, he had an instinctive aversion to interfering when a play tried to transcend its script.

The Warforger was like that and so was the Camarilla.

All the Six Star Generals were abnormal.

How did the Military State gather such individuals?

Anyway, thanks to this, I had gained some time.

As long as this flow continued, as long as my dialogue had meaning, he would watch.

Alright, I'll play along.

I walked slowly, placing my hand lightly on a towering steel rod as I spoke.

“Mr. Shei has an earth-shattering power. He doesn’t need the annihilation device to kill everyone here. With both Chun-aeng and Jizan, he could bury this entire building.”

“I would never do that!”

“Yes, I know. Mr. Shei is hesitant to kill these people precisely because he can. Whether using the device or his power, it ultimately comes down to his resolve. If he crosses the line once, he fears he’ll cross it again without hesitation.”

Historia flinched at my words.

She understood the Regressor’s feelings, albeit a little. She didn’t know the Regressor could go back in time, but she knew that immense power lay dormant in her hands.

What if the Regressor, having crossed the line, used her power recklessly without considering the consequences?

It would lead to a horrific massacre, one that would make a mark in history.

“It’s a somewhat inconvenient virtue to hold onto, but once discarded, you can never regain it. Honestly, I think what Mr. Shei has is incredibly precious.”

By the way, is this steel rod the annihilation device?

I grabbed it, but 'Kerapald' showed no reaction.

This persona was a bit tedious to read. It felt like reading a book full of malicious narrative tricks.

Anyway, it didn’t seem to be the annihilation device.

I continued my flattery while moving towards a lever with a red handle.

“But Mr. Shei, Ria is in a different position. Ria has already crossed the line. She grew up in the Military State, gained power and authority there, and now, she’s given all that up to join our side.”

I placed my hand naturally on the red handle and continued.

“Ria is one of the Six Star Generals. She honed her talents desperately to reach that position. But the reason Ria became a Star General wasn’t to serve the Military State.”

“Stop, Huey.”

Don't interrupt me.

If my dialogue gets cut off, 'Kerapald' might revert to Zigrund.

I raised my voice to drown out Historia's words.

“Misguided friends. Comrades who once shared joy and sorrow. The children of Hamelin who were abandoned by the Military State and joined the Resistance. Even me, whose life or death was uncertain. We have no place in the Military State. That’s why Ria became a general. Only as a general could she appoint an adjutant.”

“You…”

“But because her friends were all so unruly, Ria eventually abandoned the hard-earned position of a Star General to join our side. She’s already crossed all the lines. Therefore, Ria must achieve significant results in every operation. This is the last thing she can do.”

The Regressor, now slightly understanding, looked at Historia anew.

“Ah, so that’s why. Somehow, I could see it.”

｢Whether the war is lost, and the New Kingdom rises, or the Resistance succeeds in its revolution and establishes the Republic, her goal was always to secure a position. It was all about gaining that seat… Alright, I can use this in the next round.｣

“Shut up! And you, don’t ruin everything with your half-hearted resolve. If things go wrong, I’ll take Huey and Shiati and run at full speed!”

Sorry for revealing your inner thoughts, Historia.

But I had to deliver meaningful dialogue, or 'Kerapald' wouldn’t wait for me.

I had no choice.

By the way, this red handle isn’t it either.

What exactly is the annihilation device?

Maybe this?

Let’s take a step to the side and see…

｢…This flow is dangerous. This stage, this dialogue. And that thing he’s standing on. What he’s aiming for?｣

Bingo.

This was it.

I smiled and stomped my foot hard.

A square panel opened, and an unnaturally large gear slowly emerged from inside.

It was so large it looked like it could steer a giant ship.

Of course, something as sinister as an annihilation device wouldn’t be in a place where it could be triggered by accident.

“Ultimately, neither Mr. Shei nor Ria is wrong. This matter is so grave that it warrants this level of consideration and responsibility. How can anyone not feel the weight of it? No matter how insidious these people are, countless lives hang in the balance.”

“You’re right. There’s no need for us to fight.”

｢Tch. I’ve received help again. I don’t know why, but that guy is convenient. The Gunmaster, and even Tyrkanzyaka. I should take him along in the next round too.｣

The Regressor thought I was here to mediate their fight.

Sorry, but you’re only half right.

I’m not here to stop your fight.

“But when you think about it, isn’t it unfair? The Military State created the device to kill everyone in the refinery, but why are we the ones agonizing over it?”

Having said that, I grabbed the gear with both hands.

I felt the heavy sensation of being part of this gigantic factory.

The gear, device, and my words.

The Regressor, realizing what I was about to do, shouted.

“Wait! Don’t tell me you’re going to—”

“Creating an extreme situation and forcing a decision under the guise of a dilemma. What an arrogant thing to do! The Military State made the environment, yet we face the dilemma? Ridiculous! Is the Military State not part of humanity? Even if it’s a country, it’s still the same!”

The last words came out as a shout of anger.

I used every bit of strength I had to turn the gear.

The device, never used since its creation, began to move slowly.

The annihilation device, the device designed to kill every laborer in this refinery.

“It’s time for you to decide, Military State! Will you save the criminals for the war effort, or will you uphold justice and execute them!”

Somewhere in the refinery, a laborer walking with a hook through him heard a loud clattering sound.

***He lifted his head weakly.

He had just finished the task assigned to him and was utterly exhausted.

The chain moving along the rail should have led him to the break room.

There, he would get a much-needed rest until his mana recovered.

But for some reason, the chain was leading him somewhere unfamiliar instead of the break room.

At first, he didn’t understand what was happening.

He confirmed dozens of times that the rail was moving differently from usual.

Eventually, he became certain.

Something was different today.

What might be seen as an ominous sign to an ordinary person was a ray of hope for him.

When you’re at the top of a mountain, any direction you walk leads downhill.

Similarly, the everyday life in the alchemic steel refinery was the most horrible in the world.

So, if he deviated from that routine, it could only mean things were getting better.

Could there be a malfunction?

Did those strangers who came earlier mess something up?

Would the supervisors come running to take him back?

Afraid of losing this fleeting peace, he followed the chain’s lead, pretending nothing was wrong.

However, he didn’t know.

The place the chain was dragging him to was the furnace where Alchemic Steel was melted.

The inferno where magical flames melt steel.

To wield mana, a living human is required.

In other words, using a living human, one can obtain mana.

After all, steel made from melted humans would produce a sound more beautiful than ordinary steel.

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