I Am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds
I Am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds
The power of a god.
That wasn't wrong.
If one attack could destroy a division-sized army or a small city, it would indeed look like a god wielding divine power.
'The moment the nuke was developed.......'
Beyond changing the course of the war, the Empire would be reborn as the sole hegemonic power.
Once other nations learned that a new weapon of unprecedented destructive power called an atomic bomb had been developed, they would have no choice but to bow before the Empire, like it or not.
In the end, the war would be concluded, and the Allied Nations would acknowledge their defeat.
This was essentially the only way the Empire could survive and win in a three-front war.
'However.......'
As Rembador had said, it was still premature.
He had said it would take a few more years before the nuclear weapon was developed.
If the Empire couldn't hold out against enemy nations in the meantime, there was no chance of victory.
The victorious nations would never sit idly by while the defeated nation built a nuclear weapon.
Daniel, having organized his thoughts, spoke up in a strangely elevated mood.
"The Allied Nations know as well, don't they? That we succeeded in the uranium nuclear fission experiment."
"That's correct. They, too, understand the destructive power an atomic bomb holds. Perhaps they have even carried out a project similar to the one our Empire is conducting."
"......So it's a matter of time."
If the Empire didn't make it, the Allied Nations would.
The most violent and inhumane weapon in history was trying to reveal itself to the world, one way or another.
'If it was a historical current that couldn't be stopped anyway.......'
The Empire, not the Allied Nations, had to be the first to make it.
For that was directly tied to the ultimate goal Daniel sought to achieve: survival.
"The side that creates the atomic bomb first will win the war. This isn't a possibility but an inevitability. So, Doctor Rembador. Is there anything I can help with, perhaps?"
When Daniel stepped forward so readily, Rembador looked slightly surprised.
Most people, upon hearing that it had ten thousand times the destructive power of a conventional bomb and a blast radius reaching ten kilometers, would inevitably wear an expression of disbelief.
Yet Daniel was confident even without having heard a detailed explanation of the atomic bomb.
'I heard Colonel Daniel Steiner was an outstanding soldier in many fields.......'
He hadn't expected Daniel to have some expertise in physics as well.
Without basic knowledge, it would have been impossible to piece together the meaning from a brief explanation so instantly.
Of course, Daniel merely recalled a nation in his original world that had been devastated by a nuclear explosion, but Rembador, who couldn't have known that, felt a certain goodwill toward Daniel and spoke.
"It's somewhat unexpected. I didn't know we would communicate this well. To offer help, you say. Though it's shameless to ask a favor of someone to whom we already owe so much......."
Rembador shrugged his shoulders once.
"Worrying about shame in wartime is nothing short of a luxury. And so, Colonel Daniel Steiner, if I may boldly request, please devote your utmost to stabilizing the Empire for now. The matters thrown into disarray due to the Military Rebellion instigated by Duke Belvar must be set aright."
"The matters thrown into disarray. I take it that doesn't simply mean the Empire's public order has been ruined."
Rembador let out a low laugh.
"With your quick perception, it seems I can hide nothing. Very well. Since I have His Majesty the Emperor's permission, I shall speak frankly: a diplomatic envoy from Bellanos is scheduled to visit soon."
"That means it's related to this project. So......."
"The Vargov Project."
Vargov was a name Daniel knew as well.
He was Selvia's great-grandfather and the first emperor of the Empire.
"You can regard it as having been named for the purpose of honoring the Eternal Emperor Bargov von Amberg, who set the chaotic kingdom to rights and laid the foundation for the present Empire to exist."
In reality, it was probably the researchers, conscious of the Imperial Household's scrutiny, flattering them to secure even slightly more budget.
Finding it oddly authoritarian, he turned his head aside to see Selvia furrowing her brow as if wronged.
"......Could you not look at me with those eyes? I never ordered them to name it that."
Let's leave it at that.
Daniel, who let out a dry cough, looked back at Rembador.
Rembador, also gauging Selvia's reaction, spoke decorously.
"In any case, Bellanos's cooperation is absolutely essential to proceed with the Vargov Project. Not only for resource support, but also because we must recruit a physicist in Bellanos."
"When you say a physicist?"
"A scholar called Rumitel. He is someone rare in modern physics, excelling in both theory and experiment. We need his brain."
Rembador continued seriously.
"As I mentioned earlier, several difficult problems must be solved to create an atomic bomb. One of those problems concerns how to produce a neutron moderator, and Rumitel possesses extensive knowledge on the matter. He will surely derive the answer."
In short, the person with the world's greatest brain in that particular field was in Bellanos, and in order to recruit that talent, a conference with Bellanos's diplomatic envoy was essential.
Listening to the story, they had probably already set all the secret conference schedules.
But all those schedules had likely been canceled when Duke Belvar abruptly raised the Military Rebellion.
The Bellanos side would have designated the Empire, where a rebellion had broken out, as a dangerous state, so it was clear they had canceled not only the dispatch of the diplomatic envoy but all major affairs related to the Empire.
That was why Rembador had urgently requested Daniel to stabilize the Empire.
Only by informing Bellanos that the rebellion had been completely suppressed would they lift the dangerous state designation and dispatch the diplomatic envoy.
"I believe I understand what you mean. I will deal with the collaborators lurking in the Empire as quickly as possible. But may I ask one question out of curiosity?"
"Yes. Please, ask anything."
"When did the Vargov Project begin?"
The Empire's uranium nuclear fission experiment had been conducted several years ago.
That meant investment in nuclear weapons had been ongoing not only after Selvia became emperor, but from before as well.
At Daniel's question, Rembador glanced at Selvia, who nodded her head.
Receiving permission, Rembador gave a slight, silent bow toward Selvia and answered Daniel's question.
"Unofficially, it began five years ago. At the time, we scientists reported the danger of the atomic bomb to the previous emperor based on theory. Back then, the previous emperor rebuked it as absurd nonsense."
Rembador nodded his head as if it were an understandable matter.
"As you know, proceeding with that project requires an astronomical sum of money. The previous emperor was reluctant to spend money on a project whose feasibility was ambiguous. He prioritized the tanks that could be built with that money immediately and the training of soldiers."
Rembador turned his gaze toward Selvia.
"That was when His Majesty the present Emperor stepped forward. She said that if the scientists' theory was true, delaying support would be no different from the Empire retreating from the cutting edge of technology. After much deliberation, the previous emperor promised to fund us upon hearing those words."
If not for Selvia, the current nuclear weapons development would have been impossible.
"Afterward, when His Majesty the present Emperor was designated as the successor by the previous emperor and assumed regency, we faced a new phase. From that point on, we could officially form an organization."
It was only after Selvia assumed the regency that large-scale funding flowed in and the massive project could proceed in earnest.
That was also one of the reasons the nobles had raised objections.
They saw large sums of money moving, yet when they asked why, they were told it was 'top secret' and were never given an explanation, so they thought they were being ignored.
However, from a soldier's perspective rather than a noble's, Selvia was indeed a remarkably astute monarch.
"I merely sought the only possibility for the Empire to be reborn as a hegemonic power in the current situation."
Selvia took a sip of black tea and set the cup down with a casual gesture.
"Also, I merely saw the possibility and supported it. The true helper is someone else."
Selvia turned toward Daniel.
"As Doctor Rembador said, that project requires an astronomical amount of money. Regrettably, my father was right. The Empire simply didn't have that kind of money. There were times when merely maintaining the front lines was overwhelming."
But at some point, money sufficient to proceed with the project began to accumulate in the Empire.
It was all thanks to the Daniel Steiner right before her eyes.
"But not now. A certain hero subjugated the Kingdom of Eldreshia and bestowed massive resources and money upon the Empire. And what of the war bonds sold through the Total War speech? Moreover, thanks to him practically turning the neutral state of Bellanos into an ally, not only financial support but even recruitment of talent has become possible."
Selvia rose from her seat.
Her gestures, imbued with grace, held the dignity of the Imperial Family.
"Colonel Daniel Steiner. It is because of you that the present Empire could exist."
One step. Two steps. Selvia, who had slowly approached Daniel, parted her delicate lips.
"History will also judge it so."
At the closer distance, Selvia came to a halt.
"The one who commanded the project is myself, and those who carried it out are the Empire's scientists, but......."
Selvia raised her hand.
"The one who laid the foundation is none other than......."
Her hand, rising slowly as if drawn upward, touched Daniel's chest.
Feeling the pulse of his heart through the touch of her hand, Selvia looked up at Daniel and smiled quietly.
"That it is Colonel Daniel Steiner."
Only then could Daniel understand.
The reason why Selvia, the Emperor, had told him about the top-secret Vargov Project.
It wasn't simply because trust had been built up.
'As of today, Selvia has.......'
It was no different from acknowledging him as a key executive of the Vargov Project.