Chapter 655 - The Declaration
An explosion, a cannonade—and then, silence.
The reactive bullet from the [Ruby Rabbit Bullet] shattered, and the brilliant light and thunderous roar that were supposed to scatter across the rear guard of the North-South raid never came.
Indeed, neither reached the eye nor the ear.
Right before the eyes of the players, who were split between desperately fleeing and preparing for a final stand, the fury of the explosive warhead was crushed, as if squeezed by an invisible hand.
Now, what exactly happened? That's simple—
“Tch… There you are, my number one pain-in-the-ass fan.”
“That’s a really mean way to put it!”
Though they hadn't managed to deal with that first strike, someone had kept their wits about them amidst the rapidly unfolding situation and moved their body with splendid judgment, arriving just in time.
Still, to make it so perfectly…
“Not bad. As expected of my ‘instructor.’”
“I told you to stop calling me that, too! Honestly!”
The Northern Faction’s eighth rank, [Berumail]—it was none other than one half of my martial arts instructors, her trademark ponytail bouncing energetically as she leaped forward.
Honestly, I knew it. If they were serious about crushing me, the [Acrobat], there was no way that she—my natural enemy in so many ways—wouldn't show up.
And in addition…
“—Oh my… you’re quite the cutie up close.”
Next to Rinne, a man in a black coat who slipped out from the group spoke with a gentle, disarming tone, his words lacking any sense of tension.
“—I’ll say it again, don’t be fooled by his atmosphere. His ‘dark’ side aside, even his ‘light’ side is just a normal, nice young man in peaceful times, but in a fight, he’s… well, that.”
Finally, joining the two of them was a familiar face who had calmly brought the chaos under control, issuing the ‘advance’ command to the raid as he leisurely stepped forward.
[Berumail], [Wolf Pack], and [Full Auto]—ah, yes, I see.
“Sigh… In other words, they’re really serious about crushing me, huh…?”
This was the second time today I’d faced a three-man cell of rankers, but the composition of this one was a huge problem. It was the ‘worst-case scenario’ I had imagined, the one I dreaded coming up against… and it had just materialized right before my eyes—ah.
“Whoa! It’s starting…?!”
“Ahhh… this is a full-blown giant monster battle now.”
Forced to see off the advancing army, I stood on the pile of rubble as the massive group of players moved away. Whose flash was that? Whose roar? Whose shot? A commotion on a scale that could signal the end of the world erupted violently.
Man, that looks like a lot of fun. It’s a shame I can’t join in, but… well, I guess the pincer attack was effective in dividing their forces.
Three rankers, and all of them specialists in suppression battles. To think I was able to draw them away all by myself could be considered a more than sufficient achievement.
—Setting that aside, however…
“Our interpretations match perfectly, Princess.”
I muttered it under my breath, ensuring it wouldn't reach the three of them, wouldn't be picked up by the ears of [Berumail], and swallowed my smile.
Goldow had said it, whether as a joke or not, and I too had considered the possibility in the back of my mind. I was also aware that the world was loudly anticipating it, their expectations swelling as they waited for the moment.
But I always thought, ‘No, that’s not right.’ Because, you know?
Which would the [Sword Queen] I know prioritize?
She, who had playfully said she was “looking forward to a chance for revenge,” where would she direct that feeling—the answer was obvious.
Right now, Ashe… Iris, is the queen of a defeated army.
She is the leader of a faction that failed to achieve victory, having fallen to an irregular before the enemy's castle.
In other words, the target of the revenge she has sworn in her heart is me, and yet it is not me. The crimson eyes of Sotalm’s queen are fixed on just one thing.
The Eastern Faction base that must be brought down.
The ‘Princess,’ who has cast aside her forgotten smiles and become far more selfish than before… it is precisely because she has become so much more selfish that she will never mistake what she truly wants.
Right now, the thing she desires more than anything else…
“—is the same thing I want—‘victory’—right, Ashe?”
I knew you wouldn’t come flying over to me just based on emotion. Ah, and that’s why our interpretations match perfectly, and why I find it so incredibly endearing.
That part of you, the part that always strives for victory… I freaking love it, you strongest-of-all—
“……………………………………………… You two understand, right?”
“Ah, ha, ha… Of course…”
“Ahh… the ‘Queen’ did mention it—that we should be wary if he’s smiling.”
Well now, for some reason, three sets of eyes were looking at me as if I were something terrifying. I wish they’d at least let me quietly build up my fighting spirit.
No matter how much I strategized and bolstered my resolve, it was unlikely to significantly improve my chances against a trio that was practically my perfect counter.
And so—my odds of breaking through this remained just as they were: fifty-fifty.
Beyond the maze, beyond the passage to the base. Before our castle, a massive silver flash tore through the sky, and I couldn't stop the smile from deepening on my face… I decided there was no need to stop it at all.
“[Trance].”
With sincere regret, I sensed the multitude of sighs that were surely being directed at me from across the world as I brought the limited-time fan service to a close.
“H-He’s coming! As we discussed, Rinne-san will be the core of our defense! We must prevent him from getting through the passage at all costs! Jinn, you will focus on—”
“Treat him not as a person, but as a small, speed-focused raid boss… I get it. Leave the monster to me, that’s my specialty.”
“Can we even get away with just calling that a ‘monster’…!?”
As the voices of my enemies, saying whatever they pleased, reached me from the front…
I donned my hood and began to chant a song.
“—‘The Red Circle remains in this world.’”
No, it was not a song.
“—‘The memory is carved into the soul.’”
It was a borrowed, undeserved declaration.
“—‘The shining crown is within me.’”
The rabbit-ear motif of my hood flickered, and the white-and-blue of my clothes took on a crimson hue.
Now, wait for me, Princess. I have no intention of playing the part of some prince—a joke in the worst taste—but…
“—[My Name is Rega-Lielta, the King Clad in Red].”
I’m going to have my fun here, and then… if I can, I’ll come for you!!!
This guy has too many mode changes, what's up with that.