Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

The ceiling looked like it would collapse at any moment.

Moreover, we were dozens of meters underground.

If the ceiling fell, even my Earthweave wouldn’t be able to stop it.

Captain Abbey tried to control Yuel’s actions with her Unique Magic.

Among Signallers with Synchronization Unique Magic, her Morning Glory was particularly effective as Captain Abbey herself had experienced it once.

The flower’s tendrils spread across the floor and ensnared Yuel.

The vines coiled around her clasped hands, and fine roots tried to penetrate the Saintess’s skin.

“A love that blossoms into a strong will to live… how romantic.”

However, Yuel remained unmoved.

Neither force nor Unique Magic worked.

The origin of the Sanctum, the Saintess of Origin.

Those who believe in her could replicate part of the miracles she performed.

What Yuel was doing now was the Fifteen Day Prayer, which only a Saintess could do.

While a Saintess prays, no one can interrupt her.

When the Saintess of Origin prayed for fifteen days atop a mortuary, a miracle was born.

Neither hunger, disease, curses, nor even stones thrown by non-believers could interrupt her prayer.

The miracle that arose then continued to this day whenever a Saintess prays.

A miracle that allowed a mere human to hold a siege.

If there was a true example of ‘invincibility’ in this world, this would be it.

Even if I tried to stab her with a skewer, I wouldn’t even tickle her.

Even the Unique Magic that overlaid the world’s rules didn’t work.

If it were an attack that reached the Axiom, there might be a chance, but that was not easy either.

Indeed, Yuel spoke as if not a drop of blood would fall even if she were stabbed.

“That’s mental contamination, Abbey. A Signaller should value confidentiality and orders more than their own life. If they value themselves more, the synchronization becomes meaningless.”

“Yuel…!”

“If you truly are a Signaller, be glad and bury yourself with this place.”

｢Attack invalid! Revising strategy!｣

Confirming that coercion through synchronization was ineffective, Captain Abbey sought another method.

“Stop! Killing us will only worsen the situation! Outside, Major General Historia is waiting, and the Progenitor and the Beast Kings are still intact! If he dies here, even the minimal chance to negotiate with them will be gone! It would be far more strategic to take me hostage instead!”

She is trying to sacrifice herself to ensure my safety.

That’s the best decision a single Signaller can make in this dire situation.

But Captain Abbey lacked information.

The problem was that Captain Abbey knew too little.

For a moment, regret flashed in Yuel’s eyes.

She murmured in a weary voice.

“It’s a shame I can’t explain any further to you, even though you’re destined to die soon.”

｢Not able to explain? Is there something I don’t know? If so, is the attack unrelated to me…?｣

Yuel didn’t reveal the secret, but still, Captain Abbey was a Signaller.

Having interacted only with golems all her life, she wasn’t good at reading human psychology.

However, she could piece together the given information to deduce crucial insights.

“The attack target wasn’t me…?”

Exactly.

If Captain Abbey had come alone, she would have been subdued instead.

The opponent was the first Signaller Eimeder and Saintess Yuel.

She wouldn’t resort to mutual destruction just because a mere Signaller discovered her identity.

But if it was someone else, an enemy of the Military State for example, she might kill them to protect her secret.

Naturally, the target was …

Hmm. I hoped she would explain more of the context herself, but if I stay idle, the ceiling seems likely to collapse. I don’t want to be buried alive.

First, I need to stop this.

“Doesn’t the Celestial Order forbid suicide? You’ll eventually starve to death in this cave, even if your body remains unharmed. Do you plan to dig yourself out with the angel?”

Yuel didn’t even glance my way.

Being openly ignored in this situation was a bit disheartening.

“Stop trying to confuse me and get lost, barbarian.”

Such coldness.

As expected, Yuel was more amicable towards Captain Abbey.

Compared to how she treated me, she was much gentler towards Captain Abbey.

“Barbarian? That’s a bit harsh to say to a civilized person like me.”

“A civilized person abides by norms, accepting necessary constraints to live together. Yet, you deny all norms. Where do you find civilization in you?”

“Right here.”

I tapped the deck of cards.

Although several cards had been used, more than half remained.

Medicine, weapons, magic, and knowledge.

All were the crystallization of civilizations.

Recognizing my cards, Yuel responded with a cynical remark.

“Existing solely by force. That’s why you shouldn’t exist.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the vibrations intensified.

The ceiling seemed about to collapse at any moment.

Killing the Saintess, who was shaking the pillar of the shrine, might stop these tremors, but there was no way to harm the Saintess while she prayed.

In short, it was a desperate situation.

“Humans are not beasts, barbarian! Be buried with me!”

“Sorry, I can’t do that. There’s already a man beside you. I have a policy not to get involved with those who are taken.”

While I joked, Yuel seemed deeply suspicious.

｢Strange. For a beast, survival instinct is paramount. It’s normal to struggle desperately using every means to survive… Why is he so calm?｣

What a joke.

It’s because I’m not in danger.

A beast like Azzy or Nabi might have reacted with urgency.

Dogs and cats respond sensitively to imminent threats.

Even if tied to a strong and elastic rope, a dog or cat would struggle if thrown from a high place.

But I am a human with intelligence and logic.

Even if I’m high up, if I confirm that the rope holding me is sturdy enough, I can jump without hesitation.

If the lifeline fails, it would be a mere accident.

Fortunately, my lifeline had just arrived.

｢It doesn’t matter what he’s thinking. The Saintess of Origin who blessed me, the Saintess of Sky who excommunicated me, though I am a sinner, I will preserve your dignity with my life. Forgive me.｣

As the Saintess was about to finish her prayer, I heard movement coming from outside.

Someone else had entered the underground passage and finally arrived.

Voices murmured from outside.

“S-Shiati…! It’s shaking. Was this the right way?”

“It must lead somewhere else! Hurry!”

The Princess with a warm and noble aura.

Contrasting her, sharp as a well-honed blade, Shiati.

The two, fleeing the chaos above, burst through the door.

They paused, startled by the sudden appearance of the shrine.

“Hie…! Is this a shrine? Why is there a shrine in the Military State?”

“Keep moving! Huey also came this way, so it must connect somewhere…! Huey?”

Then, within the Saintess’s perception range, the Princess appeared.

Grandiomor, one of the Five Sovereigns who supported the Saintess of Origin.

The weakest king who banished the Human King and devoured his ‘heart’ following the Saintess of Origin.

That’s right.

A human that couldn’t be antagonized by another human, in other words, an invincible human.

Upon spotting her, Yuel let out her first groan.

“Ah…!”

“You recognize her, right? The only remaining Princess of the Grandiomor royal family. The Last King.”

The Princess was not invincible.

Just as King Grandiomor died trampled by a crowd, the Princess could die from an unintended accident.

If the ceiling collapsed, the Princess would be swept along by the rubble.

However, the Saintess still had the power to prevent this.

And an attack on the Princess, even as a result of inaction, was impossible.

“Now, Saintess Yuel. If you collapse this place, the Princess will die. Imagine the innocent Princess being crushed by heavy rocks, becoming a bloody smear on the ground!”

In case she turned away, I kindly explained to the Saintess, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

“I-Iikk…”

“Oh? Still not stopping? She’ll die. Really die. Not me, but the Princess! You’re still going to collapse this place?”

｢To think he would bring the Princess…!｣

She’s the ultimate meat shield after all.

Civilization grew because humans learned how to use tools.

As a perfectly civilized person, I must use her well, right?

The tremor subsided.

The thick pillar that seemed about to topple regained its stability.

Though the ceiling remained unstable, it wouldn’t collapse immediately.

The Princess sighed in relief.

“Phew! The tremor stopped!”

“We don’t know when it might collapse again. Let’s think about escaping first. Huey, what are you doing here instead of running away? What is this place?”

They approached me.

Then, they saw Yuel despairing while hugging the corpse and flinched.

To them, she must have looked like a ghost.

I greeted them warmly.

“Welcome. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Now everyone was here.

Those who would question the Military State.

Some say that humans are not beasts.

The Human Regime claimed that humans, the lords of all creation, were superior and special compared to all other beings.

However, the fact that most humans were ruled by others brings flaws to their argument.

Who or what exactly ruled over these so-called ‘superior’ humans?

A much more superior human?

Sadly, most who claimed to be such were dead.

Even the Five Sovereigns who stole the power of the Human King have disappeared into the annals of history.

Though one remained, she was a mere shadow of their former glory.

Perhaps, something even greater yet invisible?

But in extreme situations, humans were ruled by their desires.

The many evils in the world prove that such beings were not just invisible but also non-existent.

Those who disliked complexities argue it was all about the logic of power.

That strength dictates everything.

Whether it was a powerful individual or a group united by the same cause, they ruled others with power.

They’re not wrong.

But if they are right, then humans are beasts.

And if that’s the case…