kscans

Chapter 148 - Interlude: An Unforeseen Event.

In the darkness, a beast groaned.

"...Ah, where is this place? Why am I alive?"

In the pitch-black darkness, the beast was confused.

Then, a voice spoke.

"Awake, are you? My friend."

What appeared was a skeleton in a purple hood.

Moreover, it was moving and speaking. It was some kind of zombie or lich.

The beast asked, "Who are you? No, that presence... Vil? What on earth happened to your form?"

Questions dominated the beast's mind.

The skeleton, Vil, replied with a smile, "Do not concern yourself. This form is merely the price I paid to bring you back to life. This form is wonderful, you know. I feel no hunger, no need for sleep. I can work endlessly."

He laughed.

The beast understood. It was a fate synonymous with abandoning one's humanity, a pitiful end devoid of any pleasure. But the beast said nothing. If his friend said so, he would simply trust and listen.

The beast asked, "So? Why did you resurrect me? What happened?"

To this question, Vil replied, "Are you not frustrated by that death?"

The beast subconsciously felt a pang of pain.

The night he was killed.

Though the attacking monster had been strong, he himself was quite old. He had the regret of his body not moving as he wished.

The beast said, "I have my thoughts, but I am a warrior. It is natural to die in battle."

He wanted to say he had no regrets.

There must be no lingering attachments. In the era when he lived as a warrior, the battlefield was side-by-side with death. It was not strange for anyone to die.

Vil pressed, "Is that really so? Do you truly think that? You know it as well, don't you? Yorune is too kind."

Those words were more painful than any attack he had ever received, piercing him through the chest.

The beast was well aware of it. Yorune had talent as a policymaker. But her gentle emotions, while wonderful in a person, were a disqualification for a monarch. One who stands above others must sometimes say cruel and ruthless things.

No matter what others may say, the survival of the nation must be the top priority. That is the duty of a monarch, a ruler. Yorune was soft in that regard.

The beast said, "Even if Yorune's support wanes because of it, that is the path that girl has chosen."

The beast maintained a stance of non-involvement.

Vil continued, "And what if, as a result, the Empire falls into chaos, many of its people die, and other nations take advantage of the situation to invade and trample over everything?"

At these words, the beast was filled with a fierce rage.

Such an act was utterly unforgivable.

He had protected the country so that people could live in peace.

In his youth, he had attacked other countries to protect his own people from monsters, to seize resources so they would not starve. No matter what infamy he had to bear, that was something he could not compromise on.

The beast asked, "My friend... why do you anger me so? What do you intend to do?"

To this question, Vil replied, "I want my friend to rule the country. If I may be greedy, I want you to rule the continent. A peaceful world without conflict. A world ruled by an absolute power."

These words, which could be called a devil's whisper...

The beast's remaining conscience and heart of no regrets shattered without a sound.

The beast declared, "Very well. I will rule the Empire once more and dominate the continent. I do not care if the people tremble in fear, if they fear me—no, Us. Fear is the one and only absolute principle to create a world without conflict."

A fierce roar vibrated through the space.

Vil, smiling, said, "That's the spirit, my friend. But wait for now. Your body is not yet fully functional. And we need military strength. No matter how strong you are, my friend, you are meaningless before sheer numbers. I will formulate a plan, so please wait here. Dion."

At these words, the beast, the former Emperor of the Empire, Dion, nodded silently.