29-29 The End of the King (1/2)

王は王都で最も高い場所から、自身の治める街を見渡していた.

「これが、あの男の話していた『容易い』ことか……本当に人を見誤ったという他ない──ここまで強引に力にものを言わせようとは」

王城の尖塔──ここからは王都の様子が手に取るように分かる.

見渡す限り立ち込める黒煙、炎に包まれる家々と教会、市場.

破壊された家屋は数知れず、未だ、あちこちで激しい戦闘の音がする.

その上空に突然現れた巨大な影──【厄災の魔竜】.

王はその姿を静かに目に焼き付けていた.

あの男──.

魔導皇国の支配者──皇帝デリダス三世.

先日決裂した会談で、最後にその男が言い放った言葉.

王は眼前に迫る竜を眺めながら、それを反芻していた.

「──呑めるものかよ、王国の産出する『迷宮資源』を全て寄越せ、などと」

それはクレイス王国の千年に及ぶ歴史に終止符を打て、と云うに等しいことだった.

隣り合う三国に比して、クレイス王国は小国.

面積にして、他国の十分の一にも満たない狭い国土に加え、水、鉱物、森林──あらゆる資源が貧弱だ.

そんな中で、唯一の重要資源が世界最古と言われる『還らずの迷宮』であり、そこで発見される古代遺物や魔道具の類を交易し、得た財貨で国庫を潤し、領地の殆どを農地として最大限活用することで、小さな国土を維持してきた.

ここ王都が『冒険者の聖地』と言われる所以『還らずの迷宮』──それはクレイス王国の建国の由来であり、今もって国の経済の中心でもあり、人的交流の要.

国民の殆どはその資源の多大な恩恵を受けている.

──それを、丸ごと寄越せ、などと.

国民全員の生活基盤を揺るがすだけでなく──そんなことをしたら、遅かれ早かれこの国は瓦解する.

それを承知で、あの男は要求を突きつけてきたのだ.

あの男は欲に狂っている.

前までは、あそこまで酷くはなかった.

理不尽な要求はあれど、落とし所はきちんと弁えている──少なくとも、野心と理性の釣り合いは取れている皇帝だった.

だが──あの男は変わってしまった.

それも、だいぶ悪い方向に.

近隣の迷宮を擁する国々を取り込み、そこで産出した古代遺物や古代魔導具を熱心に研究し──その複製に手を出し、成功を収めた.

そこからだ、あの男が様変わりしたのは──.

もう、欲を、野心を隠すことは無くなった.

力を得て、その必要もないと考えたのだろう.

他の二国も、かの国の動きに共鳴した.

三国は軍事協定を結び──周囲の小国を侵食し、吸収するようになっていった.

より多くの資源を得て、強大な力を得るための侵略.

「──そんなに、力が欲しいのか──」

三国の中心──魔導皇国の力の源となっているのは、間違いなく「迷宮資源」だ.

確かに、迷宮の奥深くで発見される重要遺物の中には、他国を侵略するとすればこの上なく便利なものが幾らでもある.

もし仮に、それを複製できるような技術があれば、他国を侵略することなど恐らく容易い.

その為に、奴らは喉から手が出るほどに『還らずの迷宮』が欲しいのだ.

それを使えば、さらに強大な権力を手にすることになるだろう.

──だが、得た力をそんなことに使って何になる？

力は、民を幸せにするためにある.

It's one thing to keep a tight rein on power that's beyond your control, and it's another to not dare to use it.

The king said this, and the man laughed mockingly.

That's why you're still king of a small country, you're not fit to be king.

And...

”'Your country is easy to crush by force. If you can't accept our terms to let you live, then be prepared to die. He's really living up to his threats, isn't he?

I knew what to expect.

I was aware that he was dangerous.

But I was naive... so soon.

I didn't expect him to do it on such a large scale and without hesitation.

Somewhere deep down, I underestimated him as a man.

He only wants the labyrinth that lies beneath the ground.

He doesn't care about the people, culture, or history above it.

He'd said it so clearly.

Perhaps the man was right, and I was never meant to be a king.

He's a simple-minded man with no aptitude for politics.

It is more suitable for him to wield a sword without thinking than to lead his subjects.

Just a few days ago, the king himself took care of the demons that suddenly appeared and killed three goblin emperors that were running rampant in the city.

But with his aging body, that was all he could do... He left the rest to the prince and his vassals, and served as a liaison and coordinator on the spires of the royal castle, watching the battle and giving orders...

Now, his son, Prince Rain, is practically in charge of everything on the ground.

In the event that you are a 15 year old adult, you may want to get some experience as the next generation of the country's leaders. ...... I entrusted him with the handling of intelligence units and internal affairs, and he quickly achieved more than I expected.

If that is the case, I gave him the command of the [Royal Capital Six Corps] led by the [Six Saints] and sent him to defeat the thunder dragon, and he completed the project with great, no, unimaginable skill.

That son of mine is now far more capable than I am as king...

This country will run smoothly even if I'm no longer here.

His advance warning of the crisis was excellent, and his order to evacuate everyone was perfectly swift.

The human casualties were controlled, and although they struggled to deal with the demons that appeared, they made steady progress and regained the upper hand...

And yet, the king was in this mess.

”This is all my fault... I can't even ask for forgiveness.

The worst possible outcome is that I misjudged the course of negotiations with the emperor.

This is the [Demon Dragon of Misfortune] that is now looming before our eyes.

It is the symbol of doom that has been passed down throughout the continent, and the embodiment of despair itself.

It's a great way to make sure that you don't end up in a situation where you can't get out of it.

[Sword Saint] Sig.

[Shield Saint] Dundargu.

[Archer] Mianne.

[Sage] Karou.

[Saint of Magic] Oaken.

[Healing Saint] Thane.

I'm not sure what to make of this.

I can trust them more than anyone, my friends.