Chapter 459: For the Savior
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 459: For the Savior
Of course, Choi Seulgi didn't suddenly evolve into a saintess or march off somewhere. She simply began watching Jane and the Revolutionary Army as if she were watching a drama, and the growing sparkle in her eyes made me uneasy.
It seemed she had no intention of moving immediately, but the unsettling feeling that she would eventually do something lingered. In any case, the current situation made it difficult for her to act.
Rebels began to rise up in city after city, and in some cases, the administrators of major and minor cities were beheaded on the spot. It was because of the rumors. The embers, having spread far and wide, had already grown into an uncontrollable blaze, and the common people, hearing rumors of the Golden Saintess's rise and the coming of the Revolutionary Army, took up their own swords and spears.
It was impossible to know whether they were simply swept up in the atmosphere or if they had truly risen with some grand purpose.
“Kill them!”
“Down with the incompetent and corrupt leadership!”
But the strange phenomena occurring in every region were accelerating.
It was the same in the other cities I had observed after leaving Little Finger's clan. The golden army, shrouded in holy power, was marching relentlessly toward the Alliance capital. Naturally, Maria, who was sensitive to this information, was reportedly scrambling to mediate the situation, attempting to hold talks with Jane and negotiate with the rebelling populace.
The interesting thing was that she wasn't using her unique ability.
Of course she can't use it.
Her opponent possessed the ability to invade dreams and perfectly alter their appearance. Even I wouldn't have been able to rely on my unique ability in that situation.
By the time I visited the White Silver Fang Clan near the Alliance capital where Maria Trump was staying, the situation had already spiraled out of control. Many areas were magically protected, so I couldn't see everything, but Maria had begun to scream and cough up blood more frequently.
She was likely under unbearable stress.
The fear of losing everything, the situation spiraling out of her control, the rising voices of dissent, and the news of the Alliance's collapse arriving several times a day. She was slowly going mad.
“What do you think will happen next? Will the Revolutionary Army and the Alliance forces clash?”
The voice that broke my thoughts belonged to Choi Seulgi.
“From that bitch's perspective, she'll probably try to avoid a direct confrontation as much as possible. Maria likely still thinks of the Revolutionary Army as her own. If she wanted to resist, she'd have no choice but to get help from Jane or the other humans there. A real fight is probably her absolute last resort. Of course, her hands are completely tied, so there's a limit to what she can do... but she probably thinks resolving this through dialogue is the ideal solution.”
“Hmm... If that's the case, they're bound to clash eventually. The Revolutionary Army isn't interested in negotiations, right?”
“Of course not, but if things go well, the two forces might not have to clash at all.”
“What do you mean?”
“Let's find that out right now.”
I looked at the curious Choi Seulgi and let a slight smile play on my lips. If things went well, we might not have to see the two armies slaughtering each other. The Revolutionary Army could enter the capital without bloodshed, seize the throne, and this continent might find peace. It would all depend on the choices made by the self-proclaimed leaders of the Alliance and the people residing in the capital, but it was quite enjoyable to push one person skilled in incitement into the capital and watch what happened.
“It's the final chapter.”
*
“Cough! Gaaack! Haa... haa...”
Maria stared once more at the clot of blood that had come from within her. She wished she could stop the flow of time; the events unfolding in every region were enough to make her lose her mind.
“Dammit... Dammit...”
She couldn't count how many times she had asked about the fact that the Golden Saintess was leading the Revolutionary Army here. Most of the clans and guilds that made up the major and minor cities had either turned their backs on her or been beheaded by the revolutionaries' swords. The army, its numbers swelling, continued its advance on the capital.
No, the Revolutionary Army had already established a forward base before the capital and was preparing for a siege. They remained silent in response to all communications from her side regarding negotiations. She considered using her unique ability, but she didn't want to take such a dangerous gamble.
I can't trust it.
She couldn't trust it. She had no certainty whether the person she met in her dreams was the real Jane or that detestable son of a bitch.
“Dammit... Dammit... Dammit...”
Just as that monster had said, she was losing. She was losing everything, having it all stripped away one by one. Her troops, status, power, territory—it felt as if she'd never possessed any of it to begin with.
Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she slowly looked around the inside of the castle. Many things came into view.
Mine.
The finest works of art, unobtainable even on Earth, and countless luxuries. She still had so much. I can do it again, she thought, but she felt no conviction.
Can I protect it?
Can I protect it?
The question, spawning another and another, began to consume her mind, making rational thought impossible. She was going mad.
She was going mad. Maria herself was aware of this fact.
It was at that moment, as she was staring blankly at a piece of art before her.
“M-My Lady Maria.”
“What is it...”
“A re-rebellion.”
“What?”
“A re-rebellion! The p-people of the capital and a p-portion of the Alliance forces have broken through the walls and are approaching the c-castle!”
“............”
“Y-you must flee. F-for now, you must flee.”
“Why... H-how...”
It didn't take long before a massive explosion echoed through the air.
KRAAAAAANG!!!!
With a tremor that seemed to shake the entire castle, a section of the castle wall collapsed, revealing the scene outside.
She could hear the voices of men and women trying desperately to block the castle entrance, raising their voices at others as they drew swords, spears, and firearms.
“Drag the madwoman out!”
“What, are you trying to get us all killed?! Whose side are you on?!”
“We must rise! We must rise! For our Savior! We must rise!”
“For whom was this war fought?! Maria, who drove countless people to their deaths for her own selfish greed, must take responsibility!”
“Block them!!!”
“Block them now!!!”
“Defend the castle to the last man!!”
“Break through!”
This was supposed to be her home. Her beautiful, noble space, adorned with all manner of splendors. The last thing Maria wanted was for it to be stained by war. Instead of the fragrant scent of perfume, the stench of gunpowder filled the air, and in place of beautiful music, there were only screams.
Her lips began to tremble uncontrollably.
“I... I have to protect it...”
“Pardon?”
“Sh-shoot those rioters! Sh-shoot them dead, now!”
“M-My Lady Maria.”
“Shoot those scoundrel rioters trying to illegally invade the castle! Stab them, st-stab them to death! I will take, cough... I will take full responsibility!”
“But... the innocents...”
“Shoot them dead now! Th-there are no innocents! There are no innocents! They are all greedy creatures. They are all acting for their own gain!”
“Y-yes, understood.”
“The t-troops will remain to the end and defend this castle.”
She had to slaughter all the foolish rioters. She had to kill every last one of them who didn't know their place. She had to get rid of all these ungrateful mutts and start over. As long as she could protect what she had, she could start anew.
“B-but. The num... the numbers...”
“My... my words! Did you not hear me?! Move! I said move, you vermin!”
“Y-yes, I, I understand.”
She screamed until her eyes were bloodshot, but it felt empty.
“Aaaaaaaargh!!!”
“Aghhhhaaaaaaack!!!”
All she could hear were screams.
I have to protect it.
“I have to protect it.”
Maria began to run deeper into the castle. Her things, her achievements—she couldn't abandon everything. She couldn't leave it all behind and flee this place. Even if she were to die, she had to protect what remained. It was then, as she kept moving, that she saw the guards blocking the path with grim expressions. They should have been fighting to stop the forces trying to get inside. Not understanding why they were here, Maria immediately raised her voice.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and clean up the trash that's pouring in! Did you not hear my command?”
“................”
“We are sorry, My Lady Maria.”
“................”
“Y-you...”
“Please, forgive us...”
She wasn't so foolish that she couldn't grasp the situation. Their expressions, their actions, the way they looked at her—it was only natural to realize they had sided with the enemy.
“Y-you traitorous bastards! After all I've done for you!”
“Seize Maria!”
“Do you have any idea wh-who you have to thank for the comfortable lives you've led?! Let go! You vermin! Let go! Gaaack! Cough! L-let go! If you release me this instant, I will forgive this insolence! Let go now!”
“Subdue her quickly! She must not be killed! Do not kill her under any circumstances!”
“How dare you!!”
She drew the sword at her waist and tried to resist, but she was no match for the number of soldiers pressing in. She screamed with all her might, but she couldn't budge the hands that restrained her. She was subdued in an instant.
Her body began to be dragged away, against her will. Her hair was a mess, and her face was a wreck, likely from coughing up blood. The marks of her struggle were all over her body. She continued to thrash, but a high-level mage's spell bound her, and chains forged by dwarves were wrapped around her body.
When she was dragged outside into the blazing sunlight, countless people came into view. It was absurd to see the trash who had captured her being hailed as heroes by the others. Before her was a large guillotine. A large guillotine she had seen once before.
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
“Kill her!”
“Kill her! Kill her!”
“Y-you... you dogs and pigs...”
“Kill her! Kill her!”
“You dogs and pigs!!!”
She could see the people on the platform. They were all familiar faces. She saw the masters of the clans and guilds who called themselves the city's influential figures, and she saw the face of the Golden Saintess, Jane, whom she had driven into the Black Rock Mountains. They stood beside the massive guillotine, waiting for her to be brought up onto it.