A King's Desperate Plea
Let's take a look at Carlos II. The absolute ruler of the kingdom, master of the throne, number one in the hierarchy, the most exalted being, the king. I've heard he's called by all sorts of other grandiose titles as well. Only natural, really. In a world where the king stands above all, it's hardly strange for him to bear even loftier names. But right now, there's only one word that truly fits him.
A corpse.
That single word says it all. At this moment, Carlos II's condition is no different from a corpse. Just days ago, when I faced him, he still carried a certain dignity and vigor. His son had caused chaos and shattered the family, of course, and there was already a hint of frailty about him, but it hadn't been severe. You couldn't have called it a state where death was imminent.
"...You've come..."
Yet the Carlos II before me now was barely recognizable as the same man. His breathing was so faint it seemed he might stop at any moment. Shallow, wheezing breaths, a body reduced to skin and bones. It was dire.
Lily had mentioned the red aura that had swept over the soldiers and knights. It seemed to have affected the king as well. Unlike the younger, sturdier men, his aged body had taken far greater damage. On top of that, his mind was already in ruins. The toll on him must have been much heavier than on the others.
...Even so, I hadn't expected it to be this bad. Seeing his emaciated form, a sigh escaped me.
"Your... disciples... the Heroes...?"
"They're all fine."
Garam had been injured, but I didn't mention it. There might be listeners nearby, and there was no reason to tell the king anyway.
"That's... a relief..."
"I wouldn't call it a relief. The most important person is in this state."
It wasn't flattery. The king had collapsed. Even in a constitutional monarchy, a king's fall would cause massive ripples. This world, however, operated under absolute monarchy. Here, the king was the nation. The people believed that without the king, there was no country. And now that king had fallen. In front of soldiers and knights, no less. Not quietly, either—he had vomited blood spectacularly. The victory at the Royal Capital could easily turn meaningless. News of the king's collapse would likely spark chaos. That was why I stated so firmly that this was no relief.
"Heh... heh heh... Perhaps... I should have left the battle to you... Was it a mistake...?"
If he put it that way, it was hard to disagree. A king stepping onto the battlefield could invite the worst possible outcome. Yet the opposite was also true—his presence could inspire those fighting to the very end. From what my disciples had told me, because Carlos II had stood on the battlefield instead of remaining in the palace, the knights and soldiers had fought with everything they had. Despite his utter failure as a father and the heavy burden he carried, he had at least not failed in his duties as king. That was why he still commanded their loyalty. And because the object of that loyalty had appeared on the battlefield and fought alongside them, the soldiers and knights had found the courage to keep going until the end.
"You don't seem to have the strength to speak at length. Let's get to the point."
Of course, that loyalty meant nothing to me.
"...Help me."
"What exactly are you asking for?"
"I don't think... I'll ever rise again. So I've decided... to abdicate."
"Didn't you tell me before that the princess's condition was a mess?"
Honestly, it would be stranger if she were fine. She had nearly suffered something unspeakable at the hands of her own brother. If that trauma remained, there was no easy way to erase it. All one could do was wait for time to slowly dull the pain.
"That's why... I'm asking for your help... You... are the master of the Heroes, aren't you?"
"So you're saying that since I taught those extraordinary individuals, I must have some method to help the princess recover. Is that it?"
At my words, Carlos II nodded frantically. He must have been truly desperate. Even while suffering such pain, he showed such passionate agreement. But...
"Don't say such nonsense."
"What...?"
"The ones I taught were already prepared rough gems. I'm not claiming to have no talent, but the truth is that the level of my disciples was never something ordinary people could compare to."
"What do you..."
"Even if you brought me a cracked stone from the roadside and asked me to make it look like a jewel, there isn't a single craftsman in this world who would accept such a request."
I wasn't going to give him false hope. Nor would I soften my words or dress them up nicely. If I didn't speak harshly, this king would never accept reality. What he needed now wasn't someone's guidance or encouragement. What mattered was that he himself suppress that wound and step forward. Forcing someone to move on wouldn't heal trauma.
"Cough! Cough, cough!"
"I admit my words are harsh. But this is reality. Your Majesty knows this better than anyone. That position is no ordinary seat. Do you truly think the throne is so easily filled? If you hastily place someone unfit upon it, disaster will surely follow."
"I... I know that...! But even so...!!"
"Just because I taught the Heroes doesn't mean that, as their master, I possess some miraculous method to open the heart of someone who has closed it off."
At my answer, Carlos II's face twisted in despair. He had probably clung to my existence even while suffering. Unfortunately, I had no intention of granting his request. It wasn't that I disliked the king, but the reason I had just stated weighed far heavier. From my master to my disciples, they had all opened their hearts to some degree. Even if they hadn't, they were the type whose hearts could be pried open with a little effort. Most importantly, I already knew about them. But I knew nothing about the princess. I had only learned of her condition through the king just now. I wasn't some psychologist, and I had no idea how to handle someone suffering from trauma. As a fellow man, it would already be fortunate if I didn't scream.
"Rather, this is something Your Majesty must do. Helping the princess come out of her shell."
"I... I know that. But... but there's no way..."
"You never know. As they say, fortune can change in an instant. Perhaps in this moment, the princess will regain her senses."
"Even so, I don't know... Please, just see her once. If that's too difficult, then even one of the Heroes..."
Carlos II kept pressing, and I found myself at a loss. The prince was already dead, and the only remaining heir was the princess. There were some distant relatives, but if things came to that, this country would truly fall apart. It was already in chaos—imagine a collateral line taking the throne. Would the nobles truly stay quiet? It could easily escalate into a power struggle. And in the aftermath, the Demon God Worshippers who had barely been suppressed might raise their heads again. That was the greatest concern.
"...After seeing her, I might only become more convinced that there is no answer, that this is wrong."
"I don't care. Just... check on her condition... If you, the one who taught the Heroes, say there is no answer... then even I can abandon what little hope remains... and choose another path..."
Haah. A sigh escaped me. He still clung to his child and the prepared successor. It seemed he was using me as an excuse to let go of that attachment, and it left a bitter taste. But if Carlos II truly died like this and the throne became vacant, chaos would spiral out of control. That would render all my disciples' efforts meaningless. As their master, I supposed I had to at least try.
"Very well."
"...Huh?"
"Just once. While Your Majesty receives treatment, I will go see the princess. I don't know what she might say if I go alone, so I'll take some maids and one of my disciples with me."
"R-really...? If you do that, I would be truly grateful..."
"Don't hold any unnecessary expectations. There's a saying—it's because you have expectations that you're betrayed."
Teacher 'T's words were always right. I recalled them every time I did a gacha pull. The moment you held even the slightest hope, everything would collapse spectacularly. Damn it.
"...So you're going to meet the princess?"
"Yeah. It's the king's request. I can't just refuse outright."
At that, Garam and Jenia's eyes flashed with a dangerous light. Their gazes were filled with obvious, serious concern. It was clear exactly what they were worried about, and I wanted to tell them it was unnecessary. The princess wasn't a Hero, and there was no chance she would join my group. Besides, I was only going because the king had asked—purely as a formality. I had no interest, it was a waste of time, and overall it was all a bother. All I could think about was learning new techniques from my master.
"More importantly, this is the first time we've all gathered in one place like this."
At my words, my disciples looked around and nodded. Starting with Garam, then Jenia, Daisy, Iris, Gerard, Lily, Ester, and finally Iris (Regression). All eight Heroes had assembled in one spot.
"We don't know when we'll have another gathering like this, so I'm sure you all have plenty to say. Unfortunately, we don't have that luxury. We've taken down one of the Enemy's Wills, but another has appeared. And even now, we have no idea where the next one might show up."
The disciples—the Heroes—nodded in unison. There wasn't just one Enemy's Will, nor were there only two. As long as the fear and terror that birthed them remained, they would continue to appear.
"We'll move as we always have. However, from now on, solo actions are forbidden. It might be inconvenient for the cultists' forces, but at least two people must move together at all times."
"But Master, if we do that, our range of activity will naturally shrink."
"There's no helping that. We'll just have to move that much more, and more diligently."
"It seems we'll have no choice but to do so."
"On the other hand, since the attack on the Royal Capital failed, the enemy will be significantly weakened. From what I can see, at least half of their forces must have been wiped out. It's a shame we missed the Enemy's Will, but I don't think the Demon God Worshippers will act recklessly anymore."
According to the disciples, the dead Demon God Worshippers alone numbered nearly a thousand. Considering they had all been combat-capable, it was safe to say they had poured every ounce of their organization's military strength into the battle for the Royal Capital.
"Nothing changes. Just do what you've been doing. Drive away their fear and protect even the smallest glimmer of hope. Just be a little more cautious than before. Understood?"
"Yes, Master!"