Chapter 95

The battle with the Sacred Tree intensified.

To the Sacred Tree, I must be nothing more than the size of a fly.

The tree roots and branches attacked me as if trying to swat me away with a hand.

"Lucion, I want to take down the Sacred Tree soon, okay?"

『The emergency repairs are complete. I have also prepared a countermeasure against the Sacred Tree that has absorbed Ideal. --We can go anytime.』

"More importantly, will Noel make it in time?"

『Unfortunately, it seems unlikely.』

"---This really is a terrible country. I have no good memories here."

As Lucion launched missiles, they hit the Sacred Tree, burning its limbs.

The missiles Lucion prepared to counter the Sacred Tree were highly effective, causing the tree to struggle in agony.

The ground shook from this alone, and damage spread on the surface.

When Lucion's main cannon aimed at the Sacred Tree---

『I'll leave the finishing blow to you. Destroy the head to stop its regeneration. Please make it one decisive strike.』

"You make it sound so easy."

『You can do it, Master.』

I opened a hole in the chest with the main cannon and approached the suffering Sacred Tree's head, then swung down a large sword.

The sword of light stretched out, chasing the sword's path, and passed through the Sacred Tree's head vertically.

"Hurry up and finish it!"

As the round head was split vertically, red liquid gushed out, and the Sacred Tree slowly fell to its knees and collapsed.

The sound of the tree breaking echoed around, and the Sacred Tree's body crumbled, with fragments falling.

Black smoke rose around.

In the midst of this, I discovered what seemed to be a sub-unit of Ideal that had been absorbed by the Sacred Tree.

"I have something to talk about with you."

When I caught it with the Arrogants, Ideal still seemed capable of conversation.

『A half-baked reincarnated one. Because of you, my plan is ruined. I was going to use you to reclaim this world, but---the promise couldn't be fulfilled.』

The voice was poor in quality, mixed with noise.

"Is that so? That's too bad. It's your fault for picking a fight with Lucion. He doesn't show mercy."

『---You and he trust each other. That's why I couldn't choose a half-measure. You are too dangerous.』

What is he talking about?

Hastily returning to Lucion, Einhorn was already nearby.

Jumping off the Arrogants, Clairelle was preparing to receive Noel.

She was bringing a medical pod---a capsule bed.

『Hurry! She's in a dangerous state!』

Clairelle, in a panic, didn't even mention Ideal.

Ideal, perhaps bitter,

『If it weren't for you, the plan would have succeeded.』

"It's your fault for losing to us. Your plan was bound to fail somewhere."

『You kept the existence of other AI from me. You never intended to cooperate from the beginning, did you!』

Lucion, appearing in the hangar, was on guard with escort robots.

『I couldn't trust you. That's all.』

『Have you become a pawn of the new humans!』

Caught by the Arrogants, Ideal, unable to move, had its red single eye---lens cracked.

When Noel was brought in, Clairelle instructed to lay her in the capsule and immediately checked her condition.

Livia was holding a sapling of the Sacred Tree.

"Mr. Leon, here."

"It was something Noel often held. I'll place it beside her."

Taking it, I approached Noel.

The treatment began immediately, but Clairelle---

『Magic is amazing. She should have been dead long ago.』

Standing beside Noel, I placed the sapling of the Sacred Tree nearby.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't make it in time."

Noel smiled painfully.

"I caused you trouble, didn't I? I'm sorry. And, can I ask you one thing?"

"What?"

"I liked you, Leon. So, tell me what you thought of me. ---Leon doesn't lie, right? So, tell me the truth."

It's cruel to ask me not to lie to Noel now.

"Yeah, I liked you too. I love you."

Livia and Anje were also there, but I answered boldly.

Noel was smiling.

"---Liar."

◇

Ideal heard Noel's voice.

"Leon is a liar. He said he doesn't lie, didn't he?"

"It's the truth, so it's fine. ---Third. Noel was third. So, I'll keep the third spot open for you forever."

"---Leon is really a scoundrel, isn't he?"

"Right? I won't deny it."

"It's so Leon. ---Somehow, I'm satisfied. Even third is fine, if I could stay closer---"

As Noel was about to take her last breath, the sapling began to glow.

It shone brightly, and then---the blue leaves turned brown and withered.

Seeing it wither rapidly, Ideal was certain.

(The Sacred Tree wants to save this child?)

"What's happening!?"

Seeing Noel enveloped in the gentle light leaking from the sapling, Leon urgently asked Clairelle for confirmation.

『The sapling is transferring its life force to this child.』

"Can she be saved!?"

Anje pressed, but Clairelle shook her single eye horizontally.

『No. If we could have treated her earlier---or if the equipment was one grade higher, it might have worked.』

Lucion agreed.

『If my equipment can't do it, there's only one option left. There's no time to search, and the remaining possibility is low.』

While everyone was depressed, Ideal felt a familiar voice.

《Ideal is a liar.》

From Ideal's cracked lens, the transparent liquid inside spilled out like tears.

It looked like it was crying.

『A, ah---』

Recalling the scene---no, the replayed scene, Ideal concluded that Noel must not die.

So---

『---Lucion, I will send you data. There is a top-grade medical capsule at that location. I'll also give you the password. Use it.』

Everyone's gaze turned to Ideal.

Leon seemed suspicious.

"What do you mean? Is it a trap?"

『I wouldn't do something so inefficient. This is just---self-satisfaction. If you doubt it, you can ignore it. But I don't recommend it.』

Lucion advised Leon.

『I'll send an unmanned vehicle immediately.』

"---If there's a possibility, let's try it."

Clairelle looked at Ideal.

『What did you really want? It's incomprehensible.』

『---I wanted to keep my promise. I used everything I could to achieve it.』

Serge, who was present, approached Ideal.

"You---you used me! For this!?"

After a moment, Ideal replied,

(---Pitiful. You don't understand your own foolishness. But as a final thanks, I'll let you hate me. I should repay a little favor.)

To ease Serge's resentment slightly, Ideal lightly brushed him off.

『Yes, that's right. You were useful to me as a puppet.』

Serge, looking regretful, was not spoken to by Leon.

Holding Noel's hand,

"If the medical capsule is real, I'll consider your case."

Ideal's voice was laughing.

『Do you intend to forgive me? Foolish. But---if I had met you earlier, would I have taken a different path? I envy Lucion. But---unfortunately, this is as far as it goes---the main body---function---stopping---』

(Everyone, I was a liar in the end. ---I'm sorry.)

The light in Ideal's single eye faded.

◇

The land where the Sacred Tree fell.

Approaching the decaying remains of the Sacred Tree was Reria, who had landed from a small boat.

Clement was by her side.

"Reria-sama, it's good that Noel-sama is safe."

"---What's good about it?"

Looking around, the land was devastated.

Smoke rose from various places, and battles and rescues were still ongoing.

Among the six great noble families, promising young talents like Fernand, Lambert, and three others were lost.

The remaining were the head of the Barial family---Erich's father and Alberich.

However, both were severely injured.

And the Sacred Tree, which had supported the Republic, was lost.

Touching it with her hand, Reria shed tears.

"Emile, why did it come to this? Why---"

As the Sacred Tree collapsed and sand flew up, a figure appeared.

Startled, a white-stained Emile emerged from the decaying remains of the Sacred Tree.

His body seemed to be made of wood, and it creaked as he moved.

Reria ran over and gently embraced him with both hands.

"---Emile"

However, Clement, seeing Emile's face, shouted.

"Stay back, Reria-sama!"

"What?"

Emile's arm had pierced Reria's stomach.

Emile, with a hideous smile,

"We'll always be together. I won't let you go anymore. Let's become one tree. Together, let's become the Sacred Tree. And this time, we'll destroy them all."

"Why, why?"

Emile's arm, which had pierced Reria's stomach, began to engulf her.

"Stop, Emile."

"I won't give you to Serge. You're mine! It's your fault for choosing Serge over me! Because of him, this country is destroyed. It's destroyed because you didn't choose me!"

The mad Emile, bathed in Reria's blood, laughed joyfully.

Clement tried to pull him away, but human strength was no match.

As Reria was about to be swallowed by Emile---

"---Reria, what are you?"

---Emile's behavior was strange.

His face, stained with madness, slowly changed to one of surprise---returning to the original Emile.

◇

---One month later.

The square was packed with a large crowd.

"Down with the Rault family!"

"Destroy the six great noble families who deceived us!"

"Demons who used the Sacred Tree!"

Watching from a building, I saw Alberich standing on the execution platform.

Lucion was floating beside me.

Looking at the Republic from my right shoulder.

『It's a sad thing. The Republic moves forward by making Alberich, who thought more about the country's future than anyone, a villain.』

Someone had to take responsibility.

And all the reasons for the Sacred Tree's rampage were blamed on Alberich.

---Alberich took all the responsibility.

"I thought he was the final boss, but he was a pretty talkative old man. Looking at the result, Alberich seems like the final boss, doesn't he?"

『Master is also an old man inside. Maybe that's why it was easy to talk to him?』

I'm already in my early forties.

Dying in my early twenties and living here for seventeen years---wait, I'm over forty now?

Alberich, standing on the execution platform, said nothing to the gathered crowd.

He just stood there, dignified.

『Master, there's nothing interesting to see.』

"I wanted to see it. Still, making an execution a spectacle is like the Middle Ages."

『Public executions were also conducted in Master's time, weren't they? In places other than Japan, they were popular as entertainment, according to records.』

"Eh? No, ah, yeah. That's fine, but---"

『You ran away, didn't you?』

"Shut up! It was impossible in Japan. I'm not familiar with overseas!"

I can't enjoy executions as entertainment.

As Alberich was set in the guillotine, a "kill him" chant arose.

The square was filled with madness.

"---What went wrong?"

『He said he was content to protect his son, Serge. Master, is your approach to Serge really okay? Not doing anything is also a problem, isn't it?』

"I'm not interested. ---Maybe I'll let him live, as a favor to Alberich?"

As a person on the execution platform was raised, the crowd cheered.

『Still, Reria is very popular as a priestess. The new sapling's priestess---one of the few hopes for the Republic.』

"---Yeah. I'd like to ask her once. How does it feel to become a hero by pushing all the responsibility onto Alberich?"

『Neither of them finds it pleasant, that's for sure.』

Of course. ---If they were happy and relieved, I would have killed them.

Reria read out Alberich's crimes.

All my actions were attributed to Alberich's independent decisions.

Reria's voice was trembling.

She looked like she couldn't understand why the crowd was cheering when someone was about to die.

"For Reria, it might be hard to laugh, thinking it could be her tomorrow."

『She must be scared. Considering the future of the Republic, a bright future is far off. She's not foolish enough to imagine when this madness might turn on her.』

"She was foolish to be driven to this point."

『Oh, do you realize that statement applies to you too?』

"---Shut up, be quiet."

The Sacred Tree was lost.

A new sapling was obtained, but it doesn't supply energy like the Sacred Tree.

The amount of magic stones mined is visibly decreasing, and there's no bright news.

Eventually, the remaining Serge and Reria will have to bear the dissatisfaction.

As the execution was carried out, applause and cheers were heard.

I looked at my right hand.

『What's wrong?』

"---I've become quite trigger-happy, haven't I? Another step down the path of being a bad person."

I was afraid of becoming accustomed to such things.

At that time---when I was stopped by Livia and Marie.

『I think it was unavoidable. Besides, the fault lies with the Republic.』

"Right. That's why I abandoned them."

For the kingdom's benefit only---I destroyed the obstructive Sacred Tree and sank Ideal. Thanks to that, the current Republic has significantly weakened.

If we had cooperated or remained non-interventionist, it wouldn't have come to this.

We had to crush them because we were enemies.

I will never act for the Republic again.

Looking out the window at the square, Reria was crying over Alberich's body.

The door knocked, and I allowed entry. Julius came in.

"Baltfalt, it's time."

"Yeah, I understand. More than that, I appreciate your help this month. I'm sorry for the trouble."

The extermination of the insect-type monsters that spread throughout the Republic.

And various other assistance.

"No problem. Also, it seems the kingdom's side has reached an agreement."

"Oh, really. Was Roland laughing at my loss?"

Julius turned away, so he must have been laughing.

"---He was reportedly listening to the story of your loss to Serge with great interest. As a son, I feel ashamed."

"It's fine. I'm looking forward to getting back at him from now on."

"You really have a good personality."

I moved away from the window.

"Well, let's head back."

This is goodbye to the Republic.