“Struggle! Never surrender your precious things to the Empire… Ahem. Hmph.”
His throat seeming slightly cracked, Gruber cleared his throat.
The reason was he had been practicing the motivational speech for tomorrow in advance.
But perhaps from having overdone it, his throat was slightly sore and painful.
At that, a member of the royal guard quickly approached and offered him honey water.
“You must be careful. With His Majesty gone, there is no one left to lead the Theian People but you, Gruber-nim. If even you are gone, the Theian People will be truly finished.”
From the royal guards’ perspective, Gruber was the only one who could carry on the will of the deceased King.
He was a figure who had followed Cassius II since his days as a prince and had achieved various military merits.
Even after that, he received the trust of the King of Thedorant and successfully carried out several missions.
Then, after the King’s passing, he had swiftly taken control of the chaotic Thedorant Command Staff.
This was like seeing the King in his earlier days, when he was called Prince Georg.
The past, when the Theian People were at their most glorious and Thedorant was at its most powerful.
He who evokes that nostalgia deserves the love of the Theian People.
All the royal guards thought so and were now serving Gruber as if he were their master.
“Thank you. I think I may have overdone it a bit.”
“How about resting a little?”
“No. I cannot do that. Our Theian People are a people of struggle. If we do not fight, we disappear. Even the people of the kingdom and the soldiers are fighting against the Imperial Army in front of the castle walls, so I cannot break down like this!”
Ooooh. As expected of the one who carries on His Majesty's will. Perhaps our Thedorant can rise again.
Dreaming such dreams, the royal guards nearby even had tears welling up in their eyes.
“We will be waiting outside. If anything happens, please call on us at any time.”
As the royal guards went outside, Gruber was left alone.
After preparing his speech a little longer, he walked to a certain place as if possessed.
That place was none other than the great hall. The place with the king's throne, where only the master of this kingdom could sit.
“…Your Majesty.”
He still remembers that moment. So guilty, so lamentable, and so miserable was that time.
How desolate it was when he had to take the breath of the one who had raised the Glory of the Theian People with his own hand.
His chest hurts as if it’s being torn apart. But he by no means regrets that act.
Yes. Perhaps, his own King might have wanted that as well.
If only he could burn the flames of struggle by using that his own life as firewood.
He would have accepted the knife with a smile, saying he would do so many times over. Yes, he would have!
“I, your humble subject, am a disloyal one. Please do not forgive me.”
He knows well that no answer would come, but he continues to speak.
“However, as Your Majesty did, I too have only made a bold decision for the sake of Thedorant, for the sake of the Theian People. I have no doubt that if it were Your Majesty, of all people, you would naturally understand that decision.”
“Thedorant is in crisis. The Theian People are on the verge of collapse. The Empire grows more treacherous by the day, and foolish, stubborn people are betraying us, falling for their sweet whispers.”
“But we will never collapse, for the sake of those who have honorably fallen in battle, and for Your Majesty as well. We will not give even the slightest consideration to surrender.”
There is no answer. It is a natural thing. For his King no longer exists in this world.
Because the one who had committed that act was none other than Gruber himself.
“That treacherous Empire. The devil’s schemer, their Commander-in-Chief, continuously urges us to surrender and instigates betrayal. A month ago, he even threatened to burn down the Royal Capital. Is he not a truly foolish man? How dare he think of burning down the Royal Capital of Thedorant!”
“They will not set a single foot in the Royal Capital. Even if they do, for every step they take, a thousand Imperial soldiers shall perish. When the Royal Capital falls, we plan to leave no Imperial soldier alive.”
“Your Majesty, please watch over your humble subject to the end, and the passion shown by the other loyal subjects. If you do so…”
Gruber’s monologue did not last long.
Because the royal guards appeared and guided him, saying he had to evacuate at once.
“What is the matter?”
“What appears to be the Empire's Magic has appeared in the sky! You must evacuate at once!”
“Evacuate? I will remain here! Where does the one who leads the Theian People flee?”
“In that case, it is not fleeing, but moving temporarily to a safe place to observe the situation.”
This or that, there is no change in the fact that he is fleeing.
But that change seemed to appeal subtly to Gruber’s Heart.
“Hmm. That’s right. This is not fleeing, but a temporary relocation to observe the situation.”
“That is right. Now then, please hurry—”
Just then, a giant magic circle appeared above the Royal Castle of Thedorant.
At that sight, which they had seen for the first time, all of Gruber’s royal guards stopped in their tracks.
“What is that…”
“Good heavens, can such a large Magic even exist?”
He hated to admit it, but he had no choice. The Empire was truly an unbelievable place.
To think of Magic of such a level. To think of such an act, not knowing how much money had been spent!
—Piiing!
Just then, a single ray of light shot forth from the center of the magic circle and fell straight to the ground.
Such was the brilliant radiance that, for a moment, Gruber could only think this.
Could it be that His Majesty has finally come in a form of light to save this Thedorant?
―…!!!
Of course—such a delusion did not last long.
A pure white light covered his vision, and everything was swallowed within it.
All those who were present screamed from a heat they had never experienced before.
“Uwaaaaaah!!”
The ceiling collapsed, the windows shattered, and the pillars cracked and began to fall.
The proud Royal Palace of Thedorant, with its long history, became a ruin in just a few seconds.
The Command Staff who had been staying inside were, if lucky, crushed to death. If not, they were reduced to well-minced meat.
“Keoheok! Keoheok!”
And Gruber had, very fortunately, survived. Yes, he was alive for now.
“Keeuk! Keoheok!”
But if one were to ask whether death had passed him by, anyone would have answered no.
His arms and legs were crushed under the debris, and his appearance was unrecognizable.
All his senses were broken, his mouth had melted, and even breathing was difficult.
“Kkeoheo! Heok!”
I want to live. It hurts. Why did this happen? Such thoughts followed one after another.
Why on earth did I fight like this for the Glory of the Theian People! Why did it have to be like this!
It’s unfair. So unfair! The gods have finally abandoned the Theian People! Ahh! I'm so resentful….
—Kwajik!!
A fragment of the Royal Palace fell from above Gruber. It completely cut off his breath.
That scene was as if to say, I can’t listen to your nonsense anymore.
*
At the same time, the Imperial Palace of the Empire was in a silence, taking in the scene unfolding before their eyes.
“…”
“…”
“…”
[ ―Kugugugu…! ]
That massive Royal Capital. Had been completely devastated by a single ray of light.
It was as if a house-sized wave had rushed in and swept everything away, like a wave crashing over a sandcastle.
Even just watching it through a simple transmission Magic, it was this terrible.
What must the atmosphere on-site be like? What happened to those who were hit by that attack?
[ My apologies, Your Majesty the Emperor. Due to the aftermath of the Magic, we cannot transmit beyond this point. ]
At the sound of the Field Commander's voice, those led by the Emperor were finally able to come to their senses.
“…You've worked hard. The Commander-in-Chief will handle the rest.”
[ I will relay that to the Commander-in-Chief. ]
As the magic communication ended, only then did the ministers let out their breaths with a relieved "heo."
They had already heard that its power was tremendous and had expected it to some extent.
But to this extent—to think it would exert such terrifying power!
It wasn't just a few buildings, nor was it even at the level of a small castle.
The Royal Palace had completely collapsed, its very form vanished, and more than half of the Royal Capital lay in ruins.
In terms of area alone, a region much larger than half the Empire's capital had been literally swept away.
“…It seems there are no survivors among the Command Staff of Thedorant.”
At the Emperor's words, the Crown Princess and the ministers nodded in agreement.
It goes without saying. If anyone had survived that, would they even be human?
Even if a god had helped and their life had been spared, it would surely not be a life worth living.
Truthfully, they didn't care how many of the Command Staff had perished.
The reason for their silence was singular: they were concerned about the others besides them.
Although they had given a warning and a one-month grace period,
Still, a great many soldiers and people of the kingdom would have been swept away together.
No matter how loyal they were to the Thedorant Command Staff, or how steeped in madness they were,
To be completely annihilated like that, as if by a divine judgment, weighed heavily on their minds.
As people of the Empire, they should have found it refreshing, but as humans, it was unavoidably uncomfortable.
“Listen, all of you.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
As if he had noticed that, the Emperor continued in a stern tone.
“No one seated in this place may feel sorry for them, but do not feel guilty. Do not call yourselves sinners of history, and do not be ashamed.”
“We will keep that in mind, Your Majesty.”
“And.”
This is the most important part. For the future, the merit goes to the young, and the fault to the old.
“The Manhattan Project was carried out in my name. In that process, there was no proposal or influence from anyone. Remember it as such, and record it as such.”