33-33 March of the Imperial Reeds (1/2)

「笑いが止まらぬ──こうも思い通りの結果になろうとはな」

皇帝は目前に広がる光景を眺めながらひどく上機嫌だった.

──『魔族』に洗脳させた魔物を王都内に解き放ち、同時に伝説の生物【厄災の魔竜】をクレイス王国の首都にけしかけ、壊滅させる.

その直後に大規模編成の皇国軍を派遣し魔竜を討ち取り、王国を『救済』の名目で支配する──.

臣下からその計画(プラン)を聞かされたとき、皇帝は胸が高鳴った.

実際には【厄災の魔竜】は少し暴れた後、すぐに意識を取り戻したらしく、王都を壊滅させることなく飛び去ってしまったが──まあ、それはいい.

最初から、そこまで期待はしていなかった.

むしろ、あの不気味な『異族使い』の男に支払った金額の割には大いに役に立ったというべきだろう.

竜はミスラ教国から提供を受けた『悪魔の心臓(デモンズハート)』によって飛躍的に性能を改善された皇国の新型決戦兵器──『光の槍(ブリューナク)』の一撃を喰らい、力なく地上へと落ちていった.

皇帝は土煙の舞う王都に竜が沈み込むのを眺め、笑みを浮かべた.

「数千年を生きた竜とて、所詮は畜生──我が駒に過ぎぬ」

ここまでは概ね、予定通り.

大規模【隠蔽】魔道具を駆使し、クレイス王国に踏み込んだ皇国軍は、魔竜の『破滅の光』ですら防ぎきる、移動型魔力防壁生成装置『英雄の盾(イージス)』三機と、魔竜の鱗すら焼き貫く魔力砲『光の槍(ブリューナク)』を四門引き提げてきた.

あの伝説に謳われる『破滅の光』が火遊びに思えるほどの、超高出力魔力線放射兵器に加え、それを運用する魔術師兵団、そして、徴用したばかりの新兵を一騎当千の兵に変える新型装備──鉄をも容易に切り裂く【魔装剣(マジックソード)】、魔術を無効化し、物理攻撃も跳ね返す【魔装盾(マジックシールド)】を手にした兵士を九千揃えた.

更に、厳しい選抜によって選ばれた精鋭兵には、中級魔術師の攻撃魔術に匹敵する威力の遠距離攻撃を連発できる【魔装砲(マジックキャノン)】と、そして魔法攻撃をほぼ無効化出来る【魔装鎧(マジックアーマー)】を持たせてある. その数は千を超える.

あわせて、実に万を超える軍勢.

クレイス王国の人口は十万に満たず、その中で戦える人員など、流れ者の冒険者を含めたところで二千人にも及ばない.

さらに、この混乱の中でまともに戦える者など、何名いる？

せいぜいが、数百人といったところではないのか.

──質にも数にも勝る圧倒的戦力差.

皇帝は、こみ上げる笑いを抑えられなかった.

もはや、我が皇国に敵はいない.

それを知らしめる為の、進軍.

──筋書きは出来ている.

『還らずの迷宮』の管理を怠り、迷宮内の魔物を街中に出現させるに至り──

不要な欲を出して【厄災の魔竜】の怒りを買い、自滅しかかっていた愚かな王. 愚かな国.

我々皇国軍はそんな狂った政治を行う愚昧なクレイス王から、人民を、そして世界に名だたる重要資源である『還らずの迷宮』を解放する為にやって来たのだ.

さしずめ、愚かな王の政治のせいで破滅した国に手を差し伸べる『救世軍』といったところか.

「なればこそ──きちんと壊滅(・・・・・・)して貰わねばな」

いっそ更地になってくれた方が、その後の運営はやりやすい.

皇帝はこの地に新たな都を、そして、新たな魔道具研究所を建設するつもりだった.

その為には、今あるものなど、全て消えてしまった方が都合が良い.

無駄に愚王に対する忠誠心の高い王国民なども、後に残る火種となる.

救済したと説明に足る最低限の人数だけ生かし、あとは殺した方が良い.

皇帝はそう考えていた.

だが、非情の皇帝とて、王都が壊滅して失われるものを考えると、少し惜しくはある.

クレイス王国の首都が全て破壊し尽くされれば、過去に発掘され、王城の宝物庫に眠ると言われる数々の迷宮遺物も瓦礫の下に埋もれることになる.

探せば回収できるものもあるだろうが、壊れて使えなくなるものも出てくるに違いない.

残念だが、それは諦めるしかない.

It's a shame, but seeing as how the shrewd foolish king doesn't make use of it, it can't be very useful.

But that's the only thing I can spare.

The Black Sword, which was obtained at the deepest level of the Labyrinth of No Return.

That's the only thing I'll miss.

It's special.

An unknown metal that cannot be harmed by any object or magic.

If we can figure out what it's made of and how it's made, the world's weapons and military machines will advance by leaps and bounds.

Armor that can never be damaged by weapons or magic.

A sword that can easily pierce any armor, even dragon scales.

Weapons capable of vaporizing entire cities, thought to be unattainable with currently known metals.

It could be used for anything else.

It has the power to change the world.

If only we had it, we could literally revolutionize the world.

If we can analyze it and establish manufacturing technology, it's not a dream to monopolize a completely invincible army that no one can defeat.

That's why it's a shame...

It was the misfortune of that super-class relic that it fell into the hands of an ignorant and foolish king.

If it is never discovered, its potential power may be buried in history without being used at all.

But, the emperor thinks.

Even if we don't find the Black Sword in the rubble, at worst, all we need is the labyrinth that produced it.

There is a good chance that there are still relics made of the same material in the deepest levels of the Labyrinth of No Return.

It would not be difficult to find them if one were to thoroughly attack with an army equipped with advanced weaponry and uproot the relics that lie deep within.

There is even a possibility that the labyrinth known as the ”Oldest Labyrinth” may contain even more tremendous relics.

If that happens, our empire will make an even more explosive leap forward.

There is no telling how much of a blessing that would be to this world as a whole.

That fool does not understand.

The king of the ignorant fools has rejected all of our warmhearted requests.

That's why he's dying.

Every single one of his subjects will perish.

It will be a good example to other nations.

Only imperial witnesses can tell how it happened.

”History does not need more than one narrator, it only needs one truth.

Only the history told by the victor is the only absolute truth.

There is no need for anyone else to tell it.

If there are any survivors of the royal family, they should be silenced and sold into slavery at the end of the day.

I have already talked with the head of the commercial guild in the commercial district.

The refugees can be ”purchased” as they please.

If anyone has anything to say, or is likely to say anything, they are to be silenced.

It looks like there are a lot of them left.

As the wind blew, the dust that had been flying around gradually dissipated, revealing the city before us little by little.

The city of the Foolish King has not collapsed as much as I had expected.

The dragon seemed to have gone on a rampage, albeit briefly, but only a quarter of it was destroyed.

The dragon that was supposed to be a slaughterer has failed to deliver.

The people of King's Landing have not even been reduced by half yet.

If things go on like this, the imperial army will be able to eradicate quite a few of the rebels.

”That's also a good thing.

The Emperor laughs as he strokes his white-haired beard.

It's not like they have the strength to stand up to my Imperial Army.

What is about to take place is a one-sided killing spree.