Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Episode 40
The figure sat on the throne, clad in black armor, flicking their fingers.
The [Death King], Thanatos, was in a foul mood, scattering a terrifyingly dense malice around him.
A complete defeat. He had lost far too much.
“What is the extent of our losses?”
Thanatos gestured to the Lich attending him, pressing for an answer.
He was aware of most of the situation, but wanted to know the exact figures.
“……Of the 30,000 troops prepared, only 400 were able to cross the gate. The rest couldn't even make it through.”
“I see. Then, the precise casualties?”
“That…”
“Answer me.”
“Of the troops waiting near the gate, approximately 15,000 were reduced to ashes by the Dragon Emperor's flames, and 3,000 of those are beyond recovery.”
The term "beyond recovery" was unfamiliar to the undead, who already resided in the realm of death.
Death in the Underworld was a trivial matter.
Weren't they already dead once?
So, even if their bodies were reduced to ashes, as long as their souls remained, the malice of the Underworld would fill the gaps.
They would lose power, but they could live for eternity.
However, everything had its limits.
The soul itself did not recover, so some soldiers, who were excessively strained or hit by attacks beyond their capacity, became wraiths, unable to regain physical form, and wandered the Underworld.
Those who were near the gate and directly hit by the Dragon Emperor Tiamat's breath were among them.
“I believe it will take at least 30 years for the remaining soldiers to regain their original strength.”
“Hmm…”
The loss of troops was expected.
He'd taken the risk, believing there would be something to gain, even with such losses. But he'd failed.
An unknown power, even to him.
If only he’d been able to capture that girl, Noah, who wielded that power, this level of loss would have been nothing.
‘I have about three more chances left.’
Considering his original objective, this failure was a major setback.
The Dragon Emperor Tiamat was powerful.
She was the embodiment of unreason.
He doubted even all the forces of the Underworld combined could defeat her.
But even the strongest beings were subject to death.
‘The Dragon Emperor’s lifespan is not long.’
As the King of the Underworld, Thanatos knew certain things.
The Dragon Emperor Tiamat’s lifespan was nearing its end.
By mortal standards, it was still a distant future.
But for Thanatos, who lived for eternity, it was like a fire at his doorstep.
‘I cannot hand over the position of [Death King] to the Dragon Emperor.’
The position of the [Death King] was not something Thanatos took lightly. That was why he'd resorted to any means necessary.
He had suffered a major blow from this incident, but Thanatos wasn’t one to crumble from something like this.
If he were to break down from something like this, he wouldn't be worthy of the title of [Death King].
But the Dragon Emperor was an exception.
‘Her very existence is cowardly.’
No matter what methods he used, protecting his position from her was near impossible.
A vast army, Thanatos’ own abilities, elaborate and perfect strategies, meticulous and vicious traps.
No matter what he employed, stopping the Dragon Emperor was impossible.
If she set her mind to it, the position of the [Death King] would be hers that very day.
“……Lord Thanatos?”
Thanatos, lost in thought about the Dragon Emperor, snapped back to reality at the sound of his name.
“What is it? Is there more to report?”
“The movements of the nobles in various regions are suspicious. It would be best to take shelter….”
“There’s no need to worry.”
Thanatos knew they wouldn't be able to act.
Because in the Underworld, there could be no common enemy.
If they considered what would happen after defeating Thanatos, none would dare to take the lead.
Even if they did attack, they would only hinder each other and self-destruct.
‘Those wretches, unaware that they’re being played from the start, are not a concern.’
In the Underworld, [Death King] was the law. In other words, the aristocracy, a system used in the human world, was also his creation.
Thanatos had distributed his authority to various factions, ensuring they kept each other in check.
He’d sown discord and fueled their conflicts.
But there were others.
Those who possessed power but held no authority.
They were the problem.
“What about the Sistus family?”
His own descendants, created by Thanatos himself, had indeed become a threat.
Those who possessed power, but whose ambitions remained unfulfilled.
In the past, he would have ruled them through fear, but in his current state, they were a considerable burden.
“There are no unusual movements.”
“Is that so? But we should take precautions.”
“Will you rule through fear?”
“No, for now, just put them away somewhere.”
He had no intention of keeping threats close.
He chose to confine the Sistus family rather than subdue them by force.
“Come to think of it…”
Thanatos, while discussing the Sistus family's treatment, suddenly spoke as if something had occurred to him.
“It wasn’t a complete loss.”
“Pardon…?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Thanatos recalled those who had dared to challenge him to protect one of the Sistus family.
Leaving aside the power that had even eroded his malice and inflicted wounds, there had been a foolish being who dared to step into the realm of the divine.
He hadn’t captured them, but simply recognizing the existence of such a being was a gain in itself.
“I won't be able to act immediately, but… I need to keep them in mind.”
The power that even Thanatos didn’t know was likely unknown to the Dragon Emperor as well.
Information was power, a weapon.
Thanatos etched the existences of Oz and Eleanor into his memory.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The faint scent of apple mint.
The refreshing scent of summer. The scent that gently wafted from Arieta's side.
“Arietta…?”
Still blurry-eyed, I called out to Arietta, and she flinched and replied.
“Ah, you’re awake, Prince Oz. I apologize, but the Saintess is currently unable to move.”
“……Olivia Blue? What are you doing here?”
We weren't close enough to visit each other in the hospital, were we?
“I came to deliver this at the Saintess’s request. Prince Oz, do you like mint?”
“If it’s not mint chocolate, I don’t particularly care for it.”
Honestly, it wasn't that I disliked it, but I wouldn't pay for it.
Even if I were rich enough to order two small, expensive steaks, it would be the same.
I’d rather eat something else.
“I don’t know what you mean, but it’s a potted plant, so I think it’ll be fine.”
“A herb?”
“Yes, the Saintess told me to bring it.”
Looking closely, I saw a small pot placed on the shelf.
Was that the scent I'd been smelling?
“Does it have any beneficial effects? Like clearing the mind?”
“I don’t recall, but… it probably has some effect.”
“Didn’t you bring it knowing its effects?”
“No, to imprint her presence… I mean, I believe she said it has the effect of clearing the mind.”
I wondered if she'd forgotten the reason.
Actually, shouldn't it be Olivia whose mind needed clearing right now?
“More importantly, if Arietta asked you to do this, how is she?”
“……Prince Oz, there is no such thing as power without a price in this world.”
“Yes, I know.”
I also had to overcome 1/100 odds to use any decent power.
But well… Olivia probably didn't mean it like that.
“She overexerted herself, I see.”
“She used too much divine power.”
“……I see.”
Arietta couldn’t see.
It was a kind of price she paid simply for possessing immense divine power.
Then, would using that immense divine power be without consequence?
No, that couldn't be.
Even if she hadn’t gone blind, it must have taken a toll on her body.
“She doesn’t blame you, Prince Oz. The Saintess is that kind of person. Even if it wasn’t you, she would have stepped forward.”
Olivia Blue spoke as she carefully tended to the apple mint plant.
She didn’t look at me.
“Rather, we should be grateful. If the Saintess had gone alone, something terrible would have surely happened. So, she won't blame you, Prince Oz.”
“What about you?”
“…….”
“What about you?”
“……A mage’s insight is not to be underestimated.”
I simply knew Olivia Blue's personality from the game; I didn't figure it out through any mage’s insight or anything.
But if she thought so, it was fine by me. It would contribute to my image as Oz.
She wasn't the type to spread rumors like Eleanor, but her impression of me would subtly be revealed in her attitude towards me.
By solidifying my image like this, one person at a time, I could naturally reduce the number of people who would think of messing with me.
“I’m not one to talk, but you don’t need to push yourself so hard. Arietta is, as you said, that kind of person.”
“……I never imagined I’d hear those words from you.”
Didn't that make it sound like I was pushing myself too hard?
It was the world that had been pushing me, not myself.
If I could live comfortably, I would have. What could I do about the twists of fate?
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good. Give my regards to Arietta when you get back.”
Olivia, who was about to stand up after finishing tending to the plant, flinched and turned to me.
Had I said something strange?
Her expression was filled with questions.
“……Prince Oz.”
“What is it?”
“If I may be so bold, can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why are you drawing a vague line with the Saintess?”
Drawing a vague line.
It wasn't wrong. I was getting closer to Arietta, but I was maintaining a certain distance.
“At first… I thought you intended to completely sever ties, but you've gradually grown closer.”
“Yes, that’s how it turned out.”
“You don’t use honorifics with me, Prince Oz.”
“Do you want me to?”
“No, considering your position, it would be burdensome, so I prefer the current way.”
She was right.
My title, as many people called me, was Prince.
Even if it was a title as precarious as a sandcastle, its authority didn't diminish.
That’s why I didn’t use honorifics with anyone except some professors.
Using honorifics would only make them uncomfortable.
“What I want to ask is… why do you use honorifics with the Saintess?”
“Arietta also holds a comparable position…”
“That’s an excuse, Prince Oz. If you truly cared about such things, you would use honorifics with me as well.”
“……Were you royalty?”
“Didn’t you know?”
An uncomfortable silence fell.
Well, that… I could have not known.
I hadn’t used any characters belonging to the [Shield of Light] in the game.
That was because the [Shield of Light] characters had synergy with Arietta, right?
Even now, it stings to remember that I couldn't pull Arietta.
There was no need to delve into Olivia's individual story.
“Should I use honorifics?”
“No, please don’t.”
“But…”
“I've already entrusted myself to the Church. So please, don’t.”
“Well, if you say so…”
“……I apologize, but I just remembered an urgent matter. I’ll excuse myself.”
“S-Sure.”
Olivia bowed her head and hurried out of the hospital room.
Her face was flushed a deep red, a sight unimaginable for her usual composed demeanor.