Antithetical Relationship

01.

────The capital had fallen to a vampire.

Lilianel Greenfield, Prime Minister of Abilia Kingdom, received the news when she was nearly at the northern fortress city of Nebirtol.

"Ha… haha…."

Inside a luxurious carriage rattling over a rough unpaved road, her hollow laughter rang out. It was not a laugh of pure joy, but a dry chuckle tangled with a dozen conflicting emotions.

She clutched her head as a headache surged through her and bowed forward, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠muttering to no one in particular.

"E-Elzerva, that damned bitch finally…."

Her prediction had been right. Elzerva, freed from her seal, would come hunting for Lilianel herself and head straight for the capital.

She had always known that Elzerva would seek revenge for that night a thousand years ago, under the full moon. What she had not expected was that the vampire would move this fast.

Barely four days after the news of her release, Elzerva had toppled Elmaile and then the capital itself. It was as if she had not rested for a single moment, driving every step of her campaign without pause.

…She had gone straight to the capital without asking a single question, without a moment's hesitation.

That fact alone was enough to measure the sheer volume of rage the vampire had nursed for the past thousand years.

Even so… two whole cities…

Elzerva had crushed two cities: Elmaile and the capital, Lexia.

According to the reports she had received, survivors in the western metropolis of Elmaile numbered roughly four hundred, while those in the capital of Lexia were estimated at around twelve hundred.

If those figures were true, Elzerva had effectively wiped out the two largest cities in the kingdom.

Lilianel had known the woman was strong even a thousand years ago, but the thought that a single person could annihilate entire cities drew another empty laugh from her throat.

"…Still."

A monster who hated her more than anyone else in the world had been unleashed.

The two cities that formed the very heart of the kingdom had fallen.

Hundreds of thousands were dead.

Cold sweat and raw tension would have been the normal response. And yet, astonishingly, the emotion Lilianel felt most keenly right now was none other than exhilaration.

"In the end, she made a wasted trip."

No matter how much havoc Elzerva wreaked, she had failed to catch her true target — Lilianel herself.

By now the vampire was surely standing over the body double Lilianel had prepared, staring in blank confusion. Or perhaps she had not even realized it was a double and was celebrating a successful revenge. Lilianel had chosen someone whose appearance and even mana wavelength matched her own as closely as possible, after all.

Either way, Elzerva was once again dancing in the palm of her hand.

…Just like a thousand years ago.

"Heh. You idiot. Go on — struggle like a dog for me."

Lilianel spat the taunt toward Elzerva. Of course it would never leave the carriage, scattering into empty air where no one could hear it. But it was for her own courage more than anything else.

She was afraid. There was no way she wouldn't be. The monster she had personally sealed after stabbing her in the back had woken up.

But pure terror was an insult to her pride.

Don't be scared, Lilianel. You're the Prime Minister of the kingdom. This isn't a thousand years ago, when you had no power at all.

She held the office of Prime Minister. She stood at the absolute peak of this nation, with all its wealth, power, and prestige in her grasp. Perhaps she was the single most powerful person on the entire continent.

Someone who had climbed to a seat that high had no intention of cowering before Elzerva — that fool who had let herself be sealed away.

"Prime Minister."

"Hm?"

"…Are you not concerned for the capital? For the kingdom?"

Across from her, her secretary Robert Whitepin carefully opened his mouth. White hair thick upon his head, he regarded Lilianel with cold eyes.

"Hundreds of thousands of people have been slaughtered without resistance. We don't even know whether His Majesty the King or our other comrades are alive. The very survival of the kingdom hangs in the balance — so why are you laughing?"

"Robert…."

Lilianel looked genuinely startled by the icy demeanor she had never seen from her secretary before. Her eyes went round, and she reached out with a pale hand to grip his shoulder.

"Am I worried about the capital?"

"Yes."

"…Not even a little."

"…Pardon?"

"Well, I'm alive, aren't I?"

"…What?"

"As long as I'm alive, what does anyone else matter?"

Lilianel snorted as if Robert's concern were laughable. She crossed her legs and looked down at her secretary with arrogant eyes.

"I am the kingdom, and the kingdom is me. You already know that, don't you?"

With the powerful backing of the Heroes, she had held the office of Prime Minister for five hundred years. Every lever of power in the kingdom had long since fallen into Lilianel's hands.

The king was a figurehead. No noble dared raise a banner against her. Given a halfway decent pretext and motive, she might already have led a Hero-backed rebellion and seized the throne outright.

That was why Abilia Kingdom possessed a bizarre political structure unlike any other nation. Elsewhere, the capture of the capital and the king meant the end. Here, as long as the Hero and Lilianel survived, the kingdom would somehow endure.

If the king died, the crown simply passed to the nearest living relative in some other city.

Elmaile and the capital had fallen, but Abilia still had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hundreds of cities and millions of subjects remaining.

There was only one Prime Minister, Lilianel Greenfield — and nothing could replace her.

"…As long as I live, Abilia will endure forever. So there's no need to worry."

As long as Lilianel was alive, fretting over the kingdom's survival was pointless.

It had been that way for the past five hundred years.

And it would continue to be that way.

"Ah, and this is the perfect chance to make that even clearer."

What's more, the people of the remaining cities would rally even more tightly around Lilianel in the name of revenge against the vampire. Her power would only grow stronger.

…Become the hope of the kingdom and defeat the legendary vampire of calamity. If Lilianel herself sealed Elzerva once more, she could aim not merely for the premiership but for the throne — or something beyond it entirely.

"…We're almost there."

And right on cue, through the gap in the carriage window, a massive, ironclad wall of fortifications began to come into view. It was the kind of impregnable defensive barrier that looked as though it would not so much as flinch under a barrage of fire magic.

Nebirtol — the fortress city at the far northern edge of Abilia, sharing a border with demon territory.

"Good."

To hold back demonic invasions, the city boasted seven layers of walls alone, along with every kind of military installation, trap, and magical barrier. It was a fortress among fortresses.

…Because she had slipped out of the capital without telling a soul her destination, Elzerva would have no idea she had come here. Even if the vampire figured it out, as long as the Teleportation Hub remained sealed, she would have no choice but to spend weeks walking here on her own two feet.

In that time, Lilianel could hurry and devise a plan with the Hero, Belia Grandius, to deal with her.

There was no better stronghold for the final confrontation.

Even just looking at those thick walls brought a sense of psychological security.

"Come on, hurry up."

Lilianel smiled and urged the coachman forward.

"…."

…And Robert could only stare at her with cold, hard eyes.

02.

"Aaaah! I'm so sorry I'm late!"

In the far north of Abilia Kingdom, where battle with the demons raged on — Nesril Village.

Judith Evergrit, a newcomer who had only recently joined the Hero's party, came bursting into the meeting tent with an awkward laugh.

"I was on night watch yesterday and overslept…! I'm sorry!"

The girl with hair the deep blue of the ocean bowed her head the moment she stepped into the tent pitched outside the village.

Four people were already waiting inside, including the 21st Hero, Belia Grandius.

…The bravest of them all, the strongest on the continent — the Hero and his companions.

"It's all right. Come in and sit down."

"Yes!"

When the Hero Belia Grandius — ash-gray ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hair, blue eyes, and a gentle voice — spoke to her, Judith smiled brightly and found her seat.

"Good. Daniel? Everyone's here, so let's begin the report."

"Understood, Hero."

At the Hero's words, a tall man nodded. He was Daniel, a holy knight from Serion who handled support for the Hero's party.

He pointed at a map marked with the current state of the war and began his briefing.

"The situation remains unchanged. The demons continue to pour in, seeking to secure the resources of the Sacred Tree here in Nesril Village."

"Hmm."

"On top of that, a demon shaman has unleashed a plague. Villagers keep dying and turning into undead."

"Into undead…."

The Hero murmured blankly as he listened to the report.

Ugh, this is seriously the worst….

Even Judith, who had only just entered real combat and still knew so little, could tell at a glance that the situation was grim.

…The Sacred Tree of Nesril Village was renowned for its extraordinary strength.

The demons wanted that tree to forge the ultimate siege weapon, and so they kept invading this northern village without end.

As if they had made up their minds, they sent armies in the thousands, and the Hero and his companions spent every day beating back the endless waves.

But no matter how many they killed, the enemy kept receiving reinforcements and pressing the attack. The battle at Nesril Village showed no sign of ending.

Worse still, the plague unleashed by the enemy shaman was raging inside the village itself. Both outside and within, the place was in utter chaos.

…After hearing the report, Judith shyly raised her hand.

"Um, I think we should call for reinforcements and wipe the enemy out in one go…."

This was the longest and largest demonic invasion in years. The Hero's party alone had its limits. Bringing in support from a nearby major city and annihilating the enemy all at once seemed the better course.

"Hmm. Miss Judith, I was thinking the same thing myself — but take a look at this."

Daniel's expression grew ambiguous at her suggestion. He pulled a rolled sheet of parchment from his inner pocket and spread it out before them all.

"…A letter arrived this morning."

His face darkened sharply as he set it down. Sensing something was wrong, the female swordsman Yuna snatched the letter from his hands. Her eyes raced down the writing on the parchment.

"It's a letter from the Prime Minister…."

"…!"

A letter from the true power of the kingdom — Prime Minister Lilianel Greenfield. At the sound of that name, the Hero Belia ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Grandius gave a visible start.

Yuna slowly read the letter aloud to everyone.

"…."

"…."

No one who heard the letter's contents could speak first. Judith's hands trembled on instinct at the shocking news.

"Th-That's impossible…."

There was more than one thing she couldn't believe.

That the legendary vampire's seal had been broken. That the great city of Elmaile and the capital had fallen one after another.

…And that their own comrade, Maiden Alice, was dead.

"Lady Alice…."

That she — who had stood at the absolute peak of the kingdom in pure swordsmanship — was dead was almost impossible to accept. She had only recently recovered from illness and been resting, but to think she had lost to a vampire, a creature that was fundamentally a monster… it simply didn't make sense.

"…."

But the royal seal was stamped clearly at the end of the letter, and that alone told them none of this was a lie.

…This was no mere mana transmission by carrier bird. A letter bearing the royal seal would not be spreading falsehoods.

"A legendary vampire… so the old records were true?"

"…A vampire. Sounds strong."

"Damn it, Alice…."

Each member of the Hero's party reacted differently.

Yuna frowned at the revelation that the legendary Progenitor Vampire had actually existed.

The archmage Milang was more astonished by what the vampire had done.

Daniel simply held back tears at the death of Alice, who had been a close friend.

"…."

…Only the Hero remained seated with an expressionless face.

A moment later, every gaze in the tent fixed on him.

"G-Grandius, what are we going to do?"

"Hero, please make a decision. Are we heading to Nebirtol immediately?"

They asked their captain and supreme commander about their next move. Without a moment's hesitation, the Hero rose to his feet.

"…Is there anything to think about?"

"…."

"Nothing is more important than the Prime Minister's safety. We leave for Nebirtol at once."

He immediately decided they would depart for the fortress city of Nebirtol, where the Prime Minister had taken shelter. Judith cried out in shock at the Hero's decision.

"W-What? Leave? Then what about this place — Nesril Village?"

Nesril Village was only barely holding off the demonic invasion because the Hero's party was here. There were also many sick from the plague. If they left, the village would fall within a day, and even the Sacred Tree would be seized by the enemy.

"A-At the very least, we should leave someone behind to hold out until reinforcements arrive! Otherwise the village will—"

"Judith."

"Hiek…!"

In an instant, a voice so cold and frigid it froze her entire body cut her off. He looked down at the new party member with icy eyes.

"…Nothing is more important than the Prime Minister. Remember that. As long as you are my companion — a companion of the Hero — you must put the Prime Minister first above all else, and you will obey my orders."

"Th-That's…!"

It was the first time she had seen such a selfish, piercing look in the Hero's eyes. Faced with an attitude that prioritized Prime Minister Lilianel Greenfield to an almost unnatural degree, Judith turned to the others with a look that begged for understanding.

"…."

It was a silent plea for someone to say something, for help — but his companions seemed long accustomed to this. They were already packing their things to leave.

…She had no allies here.

There was no way the words of someone who had only just joined the Hero's party would carry any weight.

She still didn't understand why the Hero reacted so sensitively to the Prime Minister, but in the end Judith could only bow her head weakly.

"…Understood."

"Good, Judith."

The Hero's voice softened a degree as he patted her shoulder. Then he glanced over the battle map on the table.

"…Still, as you said, we can't simply abandon things here. That would tarnish the name of the 'Hero,' after all."

"…!!"

Judith's downcast eyes brightened again.

Yes — of course. He was the Hero.

He had a plan all along.

The people's "Wings of Hope" would never abandon them so irresponsibly!

"…Daniel?"

"Yes, Hero."

"If the village no longer had its Sacred Tree, the demons would stop attacking, wouldn't they?"

"Yes. There's nothing else worth taking from this remote backwater village. Without the tree, the enemy would have no choice but to withdraw."

"Excellent."

…Satisfied with Daniel's answer, the Hero nodded. Then he called out to the party's mage, Milang, who was stretching with a long yawn.

"Milang?"

"Hm? What is it."

"…Burn the entire village to the ground. The tree included."

"…The whole thing?"

"Yes. We can wipe out the plague patients — those future undead — all at once while we're at it. If there's nothing left to take and nothing left to kill, the demons will leave on their own."

"Got it."

…Huh?

Judith dug a finger in her ear, certain she had misheard something catastrophic. Meanwhile the Hero casually began issuing orders to the rest of his companions as well.

"Yuna? Have the newspapers report that the people of Nesril Village colluded with the demons, all turned into undead, and that we had no choice but to wipe the village out entirely. Ah! And if you can tie it to that 'Progenitor Vampire' somehow, even better."

"Got it! Leave it to me!"

"Daniel? After the explosion magic, kill every last survivor. Leave no loose tongues."

"Understood."

W-What…?!

The Hero issuing such shocking orders, and his companions accepting them as naturally as if this were far from the first time. Nothing about them looked like a joke. Judith's mind reeled in chaos.

Not the demons — humans? The people we're supposed to protect? The sick and the weak? Just to reach the Prime Minister even a single day sooner?

To brutally murder the very people they were meant to protect — how could that be the work of a Hero? Even the Demon King looked after his own people!

No. This is wrong. A Hero can't do this.

Just yesterday he had been swinging his sword on the front lines to protect people. How could a person change this completely overnight — no, the moment he received a letter from the Prime Minister?

This couldn't be allowed.

Whatever the Hero thought, it went against the very conviction that had led Judith herself to join the Hero's party: the desire to protect the people.

No matter how many times she searched their faces, the Hero and his companions were completely serious about those orders.

It had not been a joke.

"…Y-You're going to kill innocent people?!"

…In the end, she drew her weapon and leveled it at the Hero.

"That's a crime! Hero, please reconsider your orders right now!"

"M-Miss Judith!"

"Evergrit, what the hell do you think you're doing?! Put that down right now!"

Startled by Judith's sudden action, the Hero's companions drew their own blades.

"…."

But the Hero calmly raised one hand and stopped them. Then he turned a gentle, smiling gaze on Judith.

"…Judith. What did you say?"

"…."

"…That the things I said were a crime?"

"…!!"

…What followed was a continuous assault so fast that Judith's eyes couldn't even track it.

M-My weapon…!!

In an instant, the Hero smashed the back of his hand into her weapon and snapped it clean in two. Then he drew his own sword and had it at her throat before she knew what was happening.

Incredible speed, power, and force.

It had all happened in the blink of an eye.

There had been no room for a counterattack, no resistance, nothing at all.

"…Judith. Listen carefully."

"…."

The Hero who had disarmed her in a single stroke whispered into her ear with ice-cold eyes. The voice that poured into her ear was so frigid she wondered if it could truly belong to a human being.

"…A crime isn't a crime if no one finds out."

"Ah… ah…."

"Understood? As of this moment, Nesril Village is a nest of wicked traitors who betrayed humanity."

"…."

"…Answer me."

"I-I understand…."

"Good."

A trembling voice slipped from her against her will. Only after hearing her answer did the Hero smile and withdraw the blade from her throat.

"Ha… haha…."

The strength left Judith's legs and she sank to the floor. But the Hero didn't so much as glance at his fallen companion. He turned back toward the mage Milang.

"Milang. Burning the entire village — you can do that, right?"

"Hmm. It'll take all my mana. But it shouldn't be a problem."

"Good. Do it right now."

"Understood."

The young girl mage who received the order hurried out of the tent on quick little steps.

…And what followed was a tremendous explosion, and the screams of the people of Nesril Village rising as if to tear the sky apart.

"Ah… ah…."

Judith Evergrit's vision swam as she listened to those sounds. She wanted nothing more than to stop this madness right now — but with the Hero there, with his companions there, there was nothing the weakest among them could do.

All she could do was repeat the same words over and over inside her head.

…They're all insane. Every last one of them.

This is wrong.

This is madness.

This is not what a Hero is.