Under the Name of Freedom
Under the name of freedom, as I gazed upon the countless crowds kneeling before me, a certain sensation stirred within. To put it simply, it was a kind of elation. The feeling of blood boiling just before battle. A state that numbs reason and drives emotions to their extremes. That was what I felt.
But I knew this wasn't the usual elation. Facing them made it clear. —Roarrr... This is... 'divinity.' It welled up because they prayed. Because they worshipped me, seeking something from me. I recognized it as such. The problem was, I had no idea how or why this was happening.
Did gods normally feel like this when receiving prayers? Not that I knew of. They'd get complaints like remote customer service reps, listen for a bit, then mostly ignore them. For anything important, they'd pass it to a priest to handle without showing up themselves. That's why even Beul's priest had come before me.
"Ooh...! Red Dragon...!"
"Please, please hear our plea...!!"
...Why the hell had I been summoned before these people?! I couldn't make sense of the setup at all. But what was done was done. So I turned my head to Einhardt, standing at the forefront. Somehow, I had a 'gut feeling' that I needed to learn why they'd called me and resolve it.
<...Sigh. So what exactly happened?>
At my question, Einhardt showed clear distress. Even at a glance, he looked flustered, like he didn't fully understand it himself. Still, he quickly regained his composure and spoke.
"W-well, first off, we did as Leviathan instructed."
<...? What do you mean?>
"Half of Aidon's territory. We passed it on to the Kohmir Duchy."
...Ah, right, we had talked about that. Honestly, punishing Aidon's rulers was the main goal, so I'd forgotten about that part. But what did that have to do with this situation? That was my question.
However, Einhardt's next words perfectly cleared up my confusion.
"Then, while we—me and Meirina—were tidying things up here overall, various problems arose..."
<What kind of problems?>
"They're afraid of us. Of course, they're afraid of the Red Dragon too. This event was meant to ease that fear."
...Ah, already sounding like a hassle.
*
To sum up what I'd learned from talking with Einhardt:
The reason for the event was a real headache.
—Ein, the people are saying you're gonna kill them. What do we do?
—W-what? Why?
—Uh... because you're the Red Dragon's forces...?
First off, Aidon's people feared us more than necessary. We'd only smashed walls, wiped out attacking soldiers, and turned a nearby empty lot into a domain of chaos. We hadn't touched most civilians, yet this was their reaction. Einhardt had no choice but to worry about it.
—Hmm, I don't want to kill them all.
—Ah, I've got a plan that might work. Wanna hear it, Ein?
But then Meirina came up with a brilliant idea. She'd heard legends of a ferocious dragon that quieted down after accepting tribute. That's what they used for this event. They offered sacrifices on the altar with the intent of 'appeasing the Red Dragon's wrath that turned Aidon into this mess!' and performed the ritual.
The problem? They didn't expect I'd actually be summoned. Einhardt, Meirina, and the dwarves staying here didn't either. Hell, even I only learned I'd become a god a week ago—how would they know?
Anyway. 'Something's gone wrong. Very wrong.' After hearing the whole story, my head hurt even more. If they were trembling in fear and bowing like this, why not surrender sooner? Only after their country was ruined did they grovel to save their skins. I couldn't sympathize with that at all.
More than anything...
'...I think I know why I got summoned.'
That was the massive problem I faced. Normally, summoning a god through a mortal ritual would be heard in the divine realm. Then, you'd relay the god's words through priests, who act as messengers. But without the huge barrier between the mortal world and the divine realm? No messenger needed. I'd respond directly!
That was my biggest issue right now. But first, I had to clean up this mess. How long was I supposed to hover in the air watching them bow in fear?
So, looking down at the crowds below, I continued.
<...Sigh. Part of me wants to just sweep them all away.>
The crowds fell silent at that, as if sensing death. Then—
—Roarrr!!
—they turned back to me after I reduced some beasts to ash with my breath.
<Einhardt, I grant them freedom.>
"...Freedom, you say—what do you mean exactly?"
<All I ask is that they don't defy me. As long as they keep that, I won't care what they do.>
There wasn't a shred of falsehood in my words. I had zero interest in them. What did their infighting have to do with me? Killing them would be easy if I wanted, but the aftermath would be a nightmare. So my best option? 'Indifference.' Expect nothing from them, give nothing. That was what I truly wanted.
"...Understood."
Einhardt—and the countless people who'd performed this damn ritual—seemed to grasp my words perfectly.
"...Ahh, Red Dragon."
"Thank you for your mercy...!!"
"Thank you!!"
Thanks to that, light flowed into my body again, just like atop that mountain of gold. When I opened my eyes once more—
[Wh-what?! The Red Dragon!! It's the Red Dragon!!]
"R-Red Dragon! Where have you been?! We were about to send out search parties..."
I'd safely returned to my lair.
<...Tired.>
After that, I fell asleep as usual...
...Completely oblivious to what would unfold.
*
Einhardt pondered as the Red Dragon vanished. Reflecting on his words, he couldn't help but admire them.
'Freedom... Freedom.'
Granting them freedom. It was something that hadn't crossed Einhardt's mind. After seeing the Red Dragon triumph over Verinal's avatar, he'd immediately set about 'organizing' Aidon. King Chitri III had vanished, impossible to capture. But—
—White Gold Dragons, devour them all.
—he and the dragons slaughtered all the king's followers: politicians, high officials. Seizing Aidon's regime was effortless after that. The Red Dragon had crushed Verinal's avatar. Their soldiers fell helplessly to Einhardt, the White Gold Dragons, and the dwarf forces. With only powerless civilians left, Aidon was in his palm.
He'd thought it natural to make them kneel under the Red Dragon's majesty and overwhelming presence. But.
"Did you hear?"
No need for that.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
Einhardt smiled faintly at the man in front and spoke.
"The Red Dragon grants you freedom."
"Fr-freedom...?"
"The monarch who protected and led you has fled. Those who fed you, let you sleep, kept you alive—all gone from this land or dead by our hands."
"... "
"Do you understand what that means?"
"N-no, I don't."
"No one will stop whatever you do. Even if you crown someone king. Even if your strongest becomes king. No one will interfere."
"...!"
Einhardt believed that was the 'freedom' the Red Dragon meant. If they were good and rational, they'd choose a just king. If greedy and evil, a tyrant. All permitted under the name of freedom—and the Red Dragon.
He presented them with a new Aidon.
"So, do as you will. As long as you heed the Red Dragon's words. As long as you don't oppose or defy him. We won't harm you."
"... "
The crowds, hearing this, imagined their future. Some lowly drifter. Some noble servant. Or... an ambitious soul spotting opportunity. The chance to rise above. It erased their fear completely.
—Crackle-crackle-crack!!
A powerful bolt of lightning surged with that sound.
"Gaaahhh...!!!"
Countless fell to the strike. But it was just the trigger.
"You damn bastard!"
—Boom!!
"St-stop that guy!! He's crazy—"
Someone drew a weapon.
"—N-not here...! At least to where the dwarves are—"
Others fled.
[Poor things.]
Meirina murmured softly, watching them.
"That's their choice."
Einhardt stroked her chin casually in reply.
It was exactly that. Their choice. Chaos born of freedom. Unformed... 'chaos.' Einhardt was certain that was what the Red Dragon intended. Judgment without taking lives—thus mercy. All their responsibility, their duty. So the Red Dragon's followers merely observed.
That, too, was their duty.
And days later.
"I... I am the king."
A battered, blood-soaked mage appeared before Einhardt.
"Then you shall rule here. Meirina, let's go. Our work here's done."
Thus, Aidon's king was decided.
*
Meanwhile, Wendy—a Mage Tower mage watching from a remote corner of Aidon—thought gravely.
'...This is dangerous.'
It was only natural. The Mage Tower had lent elite mages for Aidon's war. Some died; survivors fled in panic. No one knew exactly what happened. So they'd dispatched more under the guise of 'investigation'—Wendy among them.
Through her eyes, Aidon was hellish.
'The Red Dragon... seems to have gained divinity already.'
Rumors were true: he'd defeated Verinal's avatar. No other explanation for that majesty, mana, and faint divinity. But the bigger issue? He appeared to reject ascension. That meant power-hungry beings would target him. As long as he stayed in the mortal world, this chaos would repeat endlessly.
Especially that new king of Aidon.
'...An exiled mage.'
Driven out for delving into necromancy and black magic. Nothing else to say but dangerous.
—Whirr...
She pulled out a communication scroll.
'First, head back. Tell the professors and masters.'
To inform the Mage Tower. To break this vicious cycle.
She had to move.