Chapter 59

Shame. If this isn't shame, then what is?

In the darkness, the residents of the slums raised their hands as if illuminated by fire, and they shouted. Strangely enough, they had even echoed my voice. Men and women, young and old.

Ah, how simple. I am deceiving them.

I am like a devil, whispering sweet nothings in their ears and driving them to destruction. What a shameless act. If possible, I would strangle myself with my own hands.

I am using them as an outlet for my hatred, involving them as a means. They know nothing. As a human, can there be any greater wickedness?

"Brother Ruis, I've made up my mind. What should I do now?"

Wood's eyes, which had opened to speak, were lit with a straight and steady light for the first time in a long while. The trembling that had been visible in his hands was gone. His tone and the tension in his muscles showed his heightened spirit.

However, even if it's all a fraud, even if I am nothing but a fraudster, I can't stop now. Once you've taken someone's hand, how can you push it away?

I lightly stroked my chin, looked up at the giant illuminated by the flames, and spoke, addressing not just Wood but the surrounding audience as well.

"For now, we'll just sleep through the night. Winning a woman's heart takes time. Today, we'll just send our first love poem."

As I said this and looked up at the night sky, a white flash of light streaked among the stars. The slum residents, as if following my lead, blinked and stared at the white line.

At the same time, a rumbling sound carried by the wind reached us. A loud noise. It was probably the signal that the Holy Maiden and the Emblem Cultists had begun their skirmish at the main gate. But today, they were only planning to make a light attack and then withdraw.

This was to make the citizens of Galuamaria realize that everything was no longer a fire on the other side of the river, that they were now part of the conflict.

Wood's gaze, which seemed to ask if they really needed to do nothing, pierced through me.

"It's fine. The work starts tomorrow. This city is already finished. Listen, Wood, you'll be the leader. Even if the city people ask for help, don't respond. Rather, slap their cheeks violently."

I spoke, my face illuminated by the flames, my cheeks pulled up, emphasizing each word.

Now that we know the Emblem Cultists are targeting us, Galuamaria cannot easily send in the guard troops. If they do, they risk being ambushed, leading to the worst-case scenario. They understand this.

So, what will happen? The residents of the city will lose the labor force necessary for a trading city, and the trade routes they cherish will be controlled by the Emblem Cultists.

The insider Emblem Cultists will also spread rumors to fuel the residents' fears, causing the city to malfunction.

Even if they seek help from neighboring city-states, it will take at least three weeks for the messenger to bypass the Emblem Cultists' vigilance and for the other city's army to arrive. It could take even longer if things go well.

If Galuamaria and the guard troops are weakened, even with Helt Stanley, the Emblem Cultists will not be overwhelmed. That's a hopeful view, but it's a possibility.

"It's simple. That wall is no longer a guardian for them. It's a fence to keep them from escaping. Inside the wall, it's already a pot. We just need to wait for the contents to boil."

I declared this with a tone of certainty.

Even in the midst of the frenzy, there is still a lingering unease in their hearts. The longer time passes, the more it will grow. Whether I can suppress it will be the key to the battle.

As I envisioned the slightly bleak scene of the upcoming prolonged conflict, Wood, who had been crouching in front of me, stood up straight.

His giant frame seemed even larger than usual. Wood had often been hunched over, lacking confidence. But now, he stood straight.

"I'll follow what Brother Ruis says. I'll tell everyone. But, I can't calm down now."

This was unusual. Wood's strong tone was very rare. I couldn't help but widen my eyes.

But what does he intend to do? Does he plan to join the battle at the main gate? That would be bad. Wood, with his iconic build, is a rare talent in the slums. If he were to lose his life on the battlefield, the morale of the slum residents would surely be destroyed.

Besides, I can't let him fall into hell before me. At least, not before me.

My hand, which had reached out to stop him, was slowly blocked by a small, frail hand. It was Cereal's hand, Wood's sister. She didn't have her usual horn.

Cereal nodded as if swallowing something, then turned her gaze to her brother's back.

*

Unforgivable. That was the only emotion etched in Wood's chest now.

The people inside the city, the guard troops, those who had looked down on them, and most of all, Wood couldn't forgive himself.

Shaken by fear, unable to protect his sister. Once hurt, he had given up on the root of his heart. What a disgrace. He had let his heart be trampled by that white wall, thinking it was out of reach.

His giant frame tilted upward, staring at the white wall.

This wall had always kept the slum residents looking down, making them give up on looking up. It was the symbol that had trampled on Wood and his people.

Of course, he would follow Ruis. Even if Wood couldn't understand, Ruis had declared that he would take down the city. He would believe him. Wood's eyes hardened, and he raised his arm toward the giant tree rooted in the center of the square.

But, he couldn't suppress this emotion in front of the city. Wood poured all his strength into the tree, which he had wrapped his arms around.

The next moment, it was the tree, not Wood's arm, that let out a scream.

The tree's trunk was etched with cracks like wrinkles, and it let out a sound like a living creature.

What was happening? The tree was not so weak that it would scream from the strength of a single human. But the force being applied now was far beyond the norm. Wood's strength was incomprehensible, almost inhuman, as if he were a giant.

After a few minutes of struggle, the tree seemed to give up, as if saying it was meaningless to resist. It stopped resisting and was slowly pulled out by Wood's two arms.

---

The surrounding people opened their eyes wide and held their breath in shock as a huge sound echoed. It was a surge of emotion, a manifestation of instinct and the spirit of combat.

In front of them was Wood, raising the giant tree.

The tree, as light as a twig, was wielded by Wood's arms and crashed into the white wall with a massive force.

---

The collision of masses, their struggle. This happened repeatedly, many times.

It was a meaningless act. No matter how strong Wood was, no matter how much mass he wielded, the wall of Galuamaria, the city's guardian, was protected by magic. It was not so powerless that it could be destroyed by mere physical force.

Wood understood this. He had known it since childhood. But the overwhelming surge of emotion prevented him from stopping. Wood himself, and the people around him, could not stop.

This wall. This wall had always oppressed them. But the slum residents had been afraid to even approach it, as if touching it was taboo, as if it was beyond their status.

Unconsciously, everyone's eyes filled with tears as they stared at the wall. They slowly approached it.

Some threw stones at the wall with their hands.

Some swung branches or tools to scratch the wall.

Men, women, young, and old. All the same.

It was a completely meaningless and futile action. It would bring nothing. But their emotions drove their bodies, and they could not help but move.

Wood, who had put down the tree, opened his mouth.

"It's just a wall! A wall that just stands here! There's nothing to fear! Cereal!"

Sweat dripped from his face as he spoke to his sister, who had lost her voice.

Cereal's eyes filled with tears. She had been afraid. Just looking at the wall made her legs tremble. She had feared that the wall would one day kill them. She thought they would live their whole lives under the gaze of the wall and die being looked down upon by it.

No. It's just a wall. A big, white wall. A wall, nothing more. Who cares if it's a great wall or a holy wall? Such a wall has no right to look down on us.

"Y-Yes, brother."

Cereal's throat made a sound for the first time in a long while, and her small, thin arm threw a stone at the wall.

*

It would be rude to say that their unease might sneak back into their hearts and threaten them again.

Seeing them all face the wall, I couldn't help but cover my mouth.

I won't say anything. I have no right to speak to these brave people. I, who am using them, have no right.

From tomorrow, there will be no more problems. With this, the preparations to threaten Galuamaria are complete. All that's left is to wait for the right moment to achieve my goal.

How to balance the power and finally cut off the Holy Maiden's head. How to grasp that achievement in my hands.

As I slowly pondered these thoughts, I suddenly looked up at the night sky. By the way, the voices of the Emblem Cultists at the main gate had not stopped. According to the plan, they should have withdrawn by now.

When the feeling of unease ran through my chest, a second flash of light, not in the plan, streaked across the night sky.

My thoughts shattered, and I deeply understood.

History is danced on the palms of geniuses, and I, an ordinary person, can only be tossed around by it.