Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint
Chapter 273: The Country of Steel and the Faceless Men (14)

Shiati hated the Military State, but she didn’t hate everything about it.

Citizens, students, facilities, and steel of the Military State—these innocent entities were not the target of Shiati's anger.

Of course, there were people who possessed such indiscriminate hatred, like Tyr, who hated the Sanctum, or the Inquisitor who despised vampires.

Those entities lived in a world of dichotomy.

But Shiati, who awakened her anger from the deaths of her friends, was not like them.

"...Don't be ridiculous! Even if you weren't there at the time!"

"Even if?"

"You’re still...."

She couldn’t shout that they were responsible, that they were guilty.

She couldn’t think that way.

Even if Shiati was a monster born from the era of violence, that excuse became weaker before those who were born later.

"What is this...!"

Turning away from I.A., Shiati walked briskly toward Captain Abbey.

She grabbed Captain Abbey's shoulder violently, but the strength behind it was weak.

Depending on the perspective, it looked like Shiati was clinging to the Captain.

"You!"

Shiati tried.

She dredged up all her bleak memories to fuel her hatred for the Captain before her.

Her deceased friends.

Young faces full of potential choosing death.

In the midst of it, she survived alone.

She tried to replay her anger from the past.

But the girl before her was as young as the friends in her memories.

Her anger gradually lost its momentum.

"How… old are you?"

『This entity is twenty years old.』

Hamelin was six years ago.

A simple calculation leads to the result that she was just fourteen back then.

It was an easy calculation, one Shiati completed in an instant.

Shiati's face crumbled as if it were about to collapse.

She jerked her hand away from Captain Abbey's youthful face and slender shoulders.

Her prosthetic hand moved as she willed, but her broken left hand did not.

It took all her effort to let go.

"Ah, ahh. Why, WHY..."

Staggering backward, Shiati covered her face with her prosthetic hand, sobbing.

"Why won't you let me hate you...!"

Having lost her target for revenge, she no longer had a need for it.

Shiati's desire ended here.

"You did wrong...! You made me this way. It's because of you! If the Military State hadn't done this to me, I would, I would...!"

The Princess, watching her friend lose her life's purpose, murmured sorrowfully.

"Shiati..."

"You made me this way, so you should at least pay for it! Take my anger! You took everything from me, so you should also take my anger...! You deserve to die! But...!"

Her broken fingers trembled.

All that was left was her thumb.

She had finally found the Military State, but she couldn't break this cherished thumb.

"I… can't..."

"It's okay!"

Though her years lived solely for revenge were denied, they weren't completely meaningless.

The Princess hugged Shiati's shoulders and comforted her.

"You don't have to keep consuming yourself with revenge! Let it go, Shiati."

It was not something fitting for the leader of the Resistance to say, but the Princess sincerely continued to comfort Shiati.

"A country without a king. Such a country wouldn't be so bad. There wouldn't be a bad king. The people here may not be kind, but they aren't cruel either. They may be harsh and cold, but they won't become tyrants."

"What does it matter? The children who died in Hamelin..."

"I also wish the Military State were a bit kinder. I mean it. But it's better than having a king. If these were orders given from some king, we would have to execute him, and the cycle of the Kingdom's history would repeat."

｢I'm somewhat relieved. Though I couldn't ignore their hatred, if Shiati gives up her anger, maybe she can live an ordinary life. It’s a bit of a relief that there’s no king-like figure in the Military State. They might be cold, but they won't become tyrants.｣

Should I be happy or sad for a friend who has lost their object of hatred?

The Princess clearly inclined to the former.

As the leader of the Resistance, the Princess finally confessed what she had been holding back.

"Rather than circling the wheel of repeating history, this way is better. Mr. Huey must have known the futility of it and led Shiati here..."

"What? Not at all."

It couldn’t end like this and be called granting a wish.

A wish is a desire.

A desire is a sin.

It's about taking something from the world or from others.

The Military State tried to take that from humans.

"That's the essence of the Military State. A country where no one can commit sins. A country where no one can fulfill their desires. Or a country where only predetermined wishes are allowed to exist. I'm sorry, but it doesn't appeal to me."

"What? Then, Mr. Huey, you mean..."

"I will inherit Shiati's desire. I will destroy the Military State."

Leaving the Princess with wide, startled eyes, I stepped towards Captain Abbey.

The Princess shouted in surprise.

"Wait a minute! Mr. Huey! What are you planning to do?"

“To destroy the Military State, of course, to the point where recovery is impossible.”

"What?!"

I am serious.

The Military State, this damned country, is too restrictive.

There are so many things you can't do, you can't even have proper desires.

No wonder I can't find a single desire even after looking around.

I want to be a Level 3 citizen.

I want to turn back time and get a higher evaluation.

I hope something different happens tomorrow.

Or, I wish tomorrow never comes.

Unfortunately, those were things I couldn’t grant.

All those who told me their wishes lived in the era of the Kingdom.

"If unrestricted possibilities are barbaric then civilization is deciding what you cannot do. The Military State dreams of a solid civilization, but I can't fulfill the Military State's desire."

Because the Military State wasn’t human.

On the contrary, it was a being that devoured humans.

"Now, it's time for barbarism. I will destroy the Military State."

｢Destroy the Military State? How? There are only the Signallers here…｣

The Princess hurriedly looked back at I.A. and Captain Abbey.

At the other unopened steel doors, at the Signallers inside.

She guessed my intentions.

｢Signallers, they are the core of the Military State...! If you want to destroy the Military State, Mr. Huey, you must be planning to...!｣

The Princess's face quickly paled and she shouted urgently.

"Even if that's the case! Harming unarmed girls...! That's not manly Mr. Huey! Sir Shei will be disappointed if he sees this!"

"Hahaha. Princess, you have a big misunderstanding. Mr.Shei isn't that kind. If anything, he's closer to being a villain. Why do you think Mr.Shei specifically said to destroy this facility?"

Of course, the Regressor didn't know the structure of the Military State perfectly.

But she knew that the Communication Headquarters was the core of the Military State.

And she intended to destroy it.

Because it was necessary.

And she could do it.

As I stepped forward without hesitation, the Princess spread her arms and blocked my way.

She seemed determined to protect the Signallers.

It looked ironic for the leader of the Resistance to try to protect the key component of the Military State... but considering the Princess's desire, it was the right thing to do.

The real irony was something else.

"I appreciate your noble intentions, Princess. But it's ironic. You dream of a country without a king. A country that doesn't need a king. So… Why are you trying to take responsibility for the people of the Military State? Why are you trying to be their king? Is it because of your blood?"

The Princess stiffened at my pointed question.

I let out a small laugh.

Feeling responsible for all the people of this country, making better choices.

Even if some suffer because of it, I’ll endure it.

Hah, what the hell is that?

Such is the violence of a monarch.

"It's okay. Everyone dreams of being a king at least once! I understand your desire, Princess. No, I even like it more! This is how it should be!"

"I... I..."

Indeed, the wishes of those from the Kingdom were grand, making them worthwhile to hear.

Even though the Kingdom wasn't a good country, it was at least full of dreams and hopes.

As I passed by the Princess, whose true feelings had been exposed, she slumped down, unable to block me.

Only her disoriented gaze followed my back.

Now, to start, I need to pull the Signallers out of that small room.

But it will take some time to break open the steel doors.

"Azzy, could you break down each of those doors and free the people inside?"

"Woof?"

"No, what am I saying."

Shaking my head, I handed the paper ball to Historia.

"Ria. I'll give you this, could you free all the Signallers in there?"

"..."

Suspicious eyes turned to me.

What? Is she worried that I might kill all the Signallers?

I wouldn't do that.

That's an easy way out.

"Please. I won't kill them. Just help me this once."

"...I trust you."

Historia faithfully followed my request.

Every time she exerted force on the steel doors, they crumpled with a sound.

Even Grade-3 Alchemic Steel was no match for Historia's Qi arts, but steel is still steel, so it would take some time.

I handed over the paper ball to her so that she could use Azzy to break them, but she broke them herself.

Well, if you have strength, you have freedom of choice.

With a shrug, I approached Captain Abbey.

Even though she was wrapped around by morning glory vines, I acted as if I didn’t see them.

I raised my hand in greeting.

“Captain Abbey. Long time no see!”

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