“I see what you mean.”
“Then there you go. Rather than waste time killing people, they’ll spend it preparing to stem the assault. So we had to kill him in a way that would demonstrate that hostages had no value.”
He was right.
If they had done things Remedios’s way, it was possible they wouldn’t have been able to save anyone at all.
The King of Darkness gently picked up the corpse of the fallen boy.
“Your Majesty, I—”
“This is my job.”
Holding the boy, he and Neia returned to where Remedios had stuck the flag into the earth.
After he laid the boy on the ground, Neia wet a cloth using the water from her leather drinking pouch and wiped the dirt off the boy’s face.
His cheeks were hollow, and his arms and legs were shockingly thin.
It was clear what a horrible environment he had been in.
“Argh, those bufolk…”
“Maybe I shouldn’t say this, but I will anyway. I’m the king of the Nation of Darkness, not of these people. That’s why I can make a levelheaded judgment—like saving a thousand instead of just one. If this boy were from my country, I probably would have prioritized saving him. If you don’t agree with that—”
“No, thank you, Your Majesty. I understand what you were thinking… You’re very just.”
“…Huh? What are you talking about?”
“Sorry. I mean, you were upholding justice.”
What am I saying? She herself wondered.
She thought perhaps he was stunned speechless, but in his deep compassion, he answered her.
“…Um? Er, no, I don’t think I’m terribly just. In the first place, it’s for someone else to judge whether justice is served or not. What I do is very simple. I want to make my name known far and wide…”
Neia flashed back to the statues. If he wants to make his name known, does that mean he wants to be the center of attention after all?
“That said, I’ve decided I don’t have to force it… Ah, sorry, I’m rambling. My only goal is for me and the children to live in happiness; that’s all—and that is everything.”
She doubted that an undead had children. Maybe he didn’t mean his children by blood but children in a wider sense? Or did he think of the people of his nation as his children?
Either way, he’s very kind. A world where children, the most vulnerable, can live in happiness must be a wonderful place. I can’t imagine what it must have felt like to take that boy’s life if this is how he thinks…
It seemed as though there was sorrow on the skeleton’s face in profile as he gazed at the gate.
“Sorry for the boring conversation. That’s enough chatting. Miss Baraja, I’m in no position to talk like I know anything, but I hope you’re able to find your own sense of justice.”
“…May I ask you one more thing? Would you have done what you did if it was one of your subordinates who had been taken hostage?”
“…This is just me complaining, but I have enough other problems with my subordinates.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“A long time ago I asked them something out of curiosity: If you were taken hostage and used as a bargaining chip in negotiations with me, what would you do? Every one of them said they would kill themselves so as not to be a bother. So I said, couldn’t you wait for me to send someone to rescue you? I’m happy they’re devoted to me, but I just wish they were a bit more…how can I put it? My subordinates are rather extreme.” He flexed his fingers in frustration as he grumbled wearily.
That’s a pretty luxurious worry to have for someone in charge of a whole country, Neia was thinking when Remedios, armored, blood on her sword, appeared at the gate. She had her helmet off, but her hair was plastered to her head with sweat; she looked completely worn out.
She gave some sort of instruction to Gustav standing by behind her, and then Neia felt their eyes meet for a moment. No, it was more accurate to say that when she looked at the King of Darkness, Neia happened to be standing in her line of sight.
Remedios went back inside without saying anything, her face emotionless.
Instead, Gustav came jogging toward Neia and the king.
“Your Majesty, you have our gratitude. Some damage was done, but we’re confident it was kept to the minimum thanks to Your Majesty’s powers. Normally our commander would thank you herself, but she’s upset by the people’s tragic circumstances. I hope you’ll allow me to say it in her place.”
Gustav glanced at the boy and then lowered his eyes.
“It doesn’t bother me. Be a comfort to your commander.”
“I will, thank you.”
“By the way, what sort of tragic circumstances?”
“We heard from some that we rescued that the prisoners were getting their skin torn off. It wasn’t subhumans skinning them but demons that Jaldabaoth had sent over.”
Neia thought Remedios being upset was just an excuse for her rudeness but apparently not.
As Neia stood there in shock, the King of Darkness cocked his head. “Why were they being skinned? What was the reason? Were they eating it? Like chicken skin?”
“I have no idea… It doesn’t seem as though the subhumans were involved… Do you have any ideas, Your Majesty? Could it have been for some kind of demonic ritual?”
“No, sorry. I don’t have a clue, either. Really just no idea. Why would Jaldabaoth do that?” The King of Darkness answered with genuine puzzlement, and they all exchanged glances, cocking their heads. But anyhow, it was the act of a demon. It was entirely possible the purpose was simply a desire to torment humans.
“…Let’s ask the priests later. And then, Your Majesty, we’re searching around to make sure no subhumans are hiding so we
