Chapter 17: To the Capital of the Empire (4)
I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me.
In hindsight, it was probably to be expected.
The scene in front of me defied all common sense, even by my standards.
‘…It’s no wonder she’s the protagonist’s ally.’
I knew she was strong, but I hadn’t anticipated this level of intensity.
To think that making the first strike with a sword could inadvertently kill someone, rendering preemptive attacks ineffective?
But what does that even matter?
Just grab a spear or sword with your bare hands and bend it!
Magic?
Why dodge it?
Just punch it away!
There’s a saying that if your head isn’t working, your body pays the price, but you could flip that around too.
If your body’s in good shape, your head doesn’t need to strain; you could act just fine without thinking, and everything falls into place.
Golems attacking me?
Just smash them!
A dead end ahead?
Just smash through it!
Every obstacle in my way shatters into bits in the blink of an eye. Of course, no debris comes flying my way.
Because Siel is unfolding shadows to protect me!
…Is this what having great comrades feels like?
As I strolled through this chaos, I couldn’t help but feel like I was the boss of some sinister organization.
With that thought, I pressed on, and before I knew it, my target appeared before my eyes.
Red hair and an aristocratic vibe.
I recognized her immediately.
This person was the Rubia I was looking for.
‘…Maybe this was a bit too much, after all.’
The moment I laid eyes on Rubia, that thought couldn’t help but crash into my mind. I mean, I’d probably react the same way if someone tore down my front door and walls just to find me.
But hey, what’s done is done and can’t be undone.
In this situation, I’d best charge ahead with confidence.
“I apologize for the somewhat forceful methods!”
She looked a bit older than me, so I spoke politely as I took Rubia’s hand and helped her to her feet.
“Could we have a moment to talk?”
I wore a friendly smile as I asked.
*
Rubia looked like she was on the verge of losing her mind.
In a way, it was probably natural.
All of her guards had been rendered completely useless. All the costly security golems she’d prepared had been wrecked.
How hard could it be for someone like that to crush Rubia’s head?
‘Why has he come here? What’s his goal? Money? Kidnapping? No, if that were the case, he wouldn’t have chosen such a flashy approach…’
Her mind was like a ticking bomb.
However, one single sentence from the man wiped all her frantic thoughts away in an instant.
“The Magic Addiction Cure Project.”
Rubia’s face twisted upon hearing those words.
It made perfect sense. That was the trump card she had prepared to gain recognition from the empire’s top brass.
“According to my sources, ‘someone’ intends to sell it to the empire.”
It was obvious that this ‘someone’ was referring to her.
He knew about her plans and resorted to such extreme measures to get to her.
He must have known she was behind those schemes.
He was just hinting at it indirectly.
“But that creates a problem.”
What problem? If that project provides a more effective remedy than what’s available, who could possibly suffer?
Was it a threat from those profiting off the inferior treatments?
That thought flitted through Rubia’s mind.
But then the man’s next words took an unexpected turn.
“The magic addiction cure will actually be used to increase the number of magic addiction cases.”
How on earth could a cure lead to more patients?
It was an utterly baffling statement.
“Do you know about the rare occurrences that sometimes happen with magic addiction patients?”
…Indeed.
She had heard of a few reports.
When exposed to unrefined magic stones, some individuals suffering from magic addiction experience a dramatic surge in both the quantity and quality of their magical abilities.
“They plan to induce that intentionally.”
“What in the world…”
Rubia’s voice trailed off.
If, hypothetically speaking.
What if the Empire was deliberately causing such rare cases?
What if they intentionally exposed children to unrefined magic stones, and if their magic didn’t boost, they treated them only to reinduce the problem?
What if they were attempting to create a powerful military force this way?
The first few treatments might not endanger the subjects’ lives.
After all, the cure was something she had confidence in!
But surely, no treatment for such a severe illness would be without side effects.
And if it were used excessively…
“It seems you’ve caught on.”
Death.
A drug meant to save lives would ultimately lead to even more deaths.
Rubia was aware of what kind of nation the empire was. She had a hazy understanding of how things operated in this place.
That’s why she knew.
The empire doesn’t regard people as people.
They wouldn’t hesitate to commit mass murder if it served their interests, regardless of how many lives they sacrificed.
“This is more speculation, but I’d wager the empire will probably gather newborns for experimentation. They’ll engage every possible means, whether legal or not.”
It’s a logical step.
Right now, the empire is overflowing with abandoned children, those whose births aren’t even registered. There are countless desperate people willing to sell their children for a pittance.
Newborns don’t complain. They won’t resist, no matter how they’re treated. They don’t blow the whistle on inhumane acts.
So what happens next?
What if children were given a drug that essentially borrowed their life force repeatedly?
Rubia could easily picture it in her mind.
A newborn, just introduced to the outside world, transforming into something that can hardly be called human.
Every potential life, stolen from that child.
“Well, it’s the empire after all. Even those kids who become useless, they wouldn’t hesitate to ‘recycle.’”
Those words drained even more color from Rubia’s face. She had heard plenty of things on her climb up the social ladder.
Stories tied to the Sanctuary of Light, the kind that made one gag just hearing them.
“But that’s not the end of it.”
As Rubia’s eyes trembled, the mysterious man continued.
“The individual planning this project is exceptionally capable. They’ve assessed the demand for the treatment, gathered a research team, and secured resources to achieve results.”
He was praising her abilities. However, Rubia’s expression darkened, anticipating a grim turn in his narrative.
“However, once entangled with the empire, that talent will be used for horrendous things.”
With that statement, the mysterious man revealed a story.
The tale of someone who unknowingly became deeply connected to the empire and slowly began to dabble in darker deeds.
Compromising again and again, rationalizing each step until reaching a chilling conclusion, as if he had witnessed the future directly.
Rubia listened intently to stories about a person who had crossed the line and was gradually consumed by the shadows.
It felt far too real to be merely a tale about someone else.
She was keenly aware that this situation was fundamentally wrong. No matter how she looked at it, this didn’t feel right.
But how long could someone maintain such a conscience? After getting their hands dirty once, can they even recognize wrong as wrong anymore?
Rubia continued to hear tales of her possible future.
It was undeniably a story of success. A life more successful than anyone else’s. But what’s the true meaning behind that existence?
She wanted to live more happily than anyone else. She yearned for happiness unparalleled.
She believed that reaching the top would lead to happiness, which is why she’d come this far.
But is that really the case? Truly?
“This is why we’ve come to you. We ask you to prevent someone from making an irreversible mistake.”
The enigmatic man spoke, putting a question before her.
What choice would she make?
“Can you help us?”
This was an entirely irrational proposal.
Thus, what she needed to do seemed obvious.
Feign acceptance, fabricate a lie to safely navigate this situation, and then find a way to shake these people off.
Before her lay a pristine path promising guaranteed success.
All she had to do was run down this road of assured victory. Just keep running, yet…
Doubts nagged at her. The man’s words, the future he whispered, echoed ominously in her mind.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that this path wouldn’t lead her to happiness.
The man extended his hand toward her.
If she genuinely grasped that hand…
Everything about her future would change.
The promised success would vanish.
The power she was so close to obtaining would slip away.
But still.
Rubia took his hand without a moment’s hesitation.
In that instant, the empire’s vilest villainess, the architect of countless deaths, became the backbone of a secret organization.
Boom! ✨
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