In the distant past, when House Damus was holed up on the eastern frontier under the title of Margrave.
The Miltonia Empire… no, the kingdom it was at the time, began a war.
That small kingdom gradually devoured its neighboring countries and eventually grew into a vast empire.
That was the birth of the First Empire.
And it was also the first time in history that an Oracle appeared.
“As you know, the Empire’s wars never ceased after its founding. Not until every enemy had disappeared.”
It was a nation founded through war in the first place.
Surrounded by enemies, the empire, built on militarism, had no choice but to sustain itself through plunder.
The wars continued without end.
“It may have become a nation of this immense scale now, but it wasn’t an easy process. There was a very real chance of mutual destruction.”
The Empire did not possess overwhelming military power from the start.
“It was a war where we lost more than we gained….and a war where defeat meant losing everything. Who do you think turned that situation around?”
“Abraham Vicious von Miltonia.”
After the current Emperor Abraham ascended the throne, the tide of events shifted dramatically.
It’s not that Abraham was a monster from the beginning. He was, first and foremost, a genius of war, strategy, tactics, all of it.
The monstrous level of martial power he possesses now is simply the conclusion of that path.
“Here’s something most people don’t know: the Great Sage was one of the victims of that war.”
“Huh?”
“While he was away, his family was murdered.”
“…….”
I had suspected as much.
More precisely, I had assumed the Empire must have provoked Faust.
When he turned to dark magic, I figured it was after his family or someone precious to him had been killed.
“Who did it?”
“…You know?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I can see events. I know the future, the past, and the course of history. Though I’ll admit, it took quite some time to uncover this.”
I had thought she was merely an oracle, but it seemed she could see the past as well.
“It took me a full three years to uncover that information. In some ways, it was harder than seeing the future.”
“Because history is written by the victors, so the truth gets distorted?”
“…….”
“What?”
“You guessed it right away, and for some reason that irritates me.”
Wow. What a personality.
There’s no way we’re ever going to get close.
“Anyway, back to the story. Who do you think slaughtered the Great Sage’s family?”
“The Emperor?”
“The Emperor of that era was a heartless monster, yes….but unfortunately, he wasn’t someone with enough spare time to concern himself with a single individual.”
That was a very long-winded way of saying I was wrong.
Is she just picking a fight with me?
“The answer was a starving boy. Not a child soldier, not a spy from an enemy nation. He became a robber simply because he was hungry.”
“Good grief…”
It was horrific.
He killed because he was starving.
You can’t justify murder….but when you think about the chain of events that led there, it’s hard not to feel a measure of pity.
“That was precisely the problem. When the one to blame isn’t an individual, the resentment inevitably turns toward the system, toward society…toward the world itself.”
The Great Sage, true to his name, must have understood that better than anyone.
“After a long war, taxes rose, and food supplies including wheat were confiscated as military provisions. Do you think the soldiers themselves were eating well?”
War is a war of attrition.
It’s like burning firewood just to keep the flames alive.
And…
“Cutting off supplies is a fundamental battlefield tactic. It’s often easier to burn provisions than to plunder them.”
So of course food shortages would follow during wartime.
“And that is how the famine began.”
I had known it in theory, but it still painted a grim picture.
“These are the three events I know that came closest to the end of the world.”
It was a bitter story.
A massive current of history that no individual could easily resist.
“For reference, it was the Scriptwriter who resolved the famine.”
“That… I genuinely didn’t know.”
That old man had far more achievements than I’d thought?
The history books only mentioned that a new strain of wheat appeared, allowing the people to survive the brutal winter. It seemed that wheat itself must have been created by the Scriptwriter.
“Why do you think I’m telling you all this?”
“Information?”
“To refute the claim that the end cannot be avoided.”
The world had overcome three great crises.
You could say it had already avoided destruction three times.
“Someday, this struggle may fail, and a true end may finally arrive. But until the very last moment, I will live pushing that end back. No….it’s not just me. Won’t many people struggle to survive? Just like you, you coward.”
“…….”
The Oracle smiled gently.
It was the first time I had ever seen her smile.
Considering how she usually either mocked me or frowned in irritation, it was an unusually rare sight.
“So this time, I will trust you as well. You, who have struggled harder than anyone to avoid the end, I believe you’ll manage it again.”
Trust.
Maybe, just maybe, I had finally earned the Oracle’s trust.
***
After finishing my conversation with the Oracle, I headed further inside.
It was nice that our relationship had improved compared to before, but her smile wouldn’t leave my mind.
“Man…”
I hate to admit it, but for a split second, she overlapped with Alice.
The gentle smile was beautiful. But more than that, it was painful.
I know it’s not the Oracle’s fault, but I can’t help feeling a little resentful.
“I’m seriously trash.”
More than anything, I hate myself for even thinking that way.
It really makes me realize what kind of trashy person I am.
“…….”
There was no way I could focus on studying in this state. Maybe I should’ve just gone out to have fun with Yuna.
“No, wait.”
It’s not like I can’t enjoy myself without Yuna.
I have friends now.
I’m not alone anymore.
Hmm, first things first…
***
“You’ve completely lost your mind.”
I went to find Stan Robinhood, who had already returned to the dormitory early.
My friend Stan!
I figured I’d drop by and see him for the first time in a while, and he looked exactly the same as I remembered.
His whole face was twisted and scrunched up. It was reassuringly consistent.
“Long time no see, Stan. Glad to see you’re still healthy.”
“…….”
Stan squeezed his eyes shut.
Is he still sleepy even though it’s already close to the afternoon?
“What kind of nerve do you have to come looking for me again?”
“Since when do friends need a reason? I was bored, so I came.”
“Huh? No… you’ve completely lost it. Since when am I your friend?”
“You’re close enough to count.”
There aren’t that many people around me to begin with, so someone like Stan qualifies as a friend.
Yuna and Ariel are my fiancées, Lobelia is my superior, and Emily is like a younger sister.
The Misfits are… well, the Misfits.
After eliminating everyone one by one, Stan ended up being my friend.
“Tch… fine. Let’s talk outside. I happened to have something I wanted to ask you anyway.”
“You buying coffee?”
“You show up uninvited and expect me to treat you?”
“Why so stiff? That’s just what friends say.”
“If you’re still insisting on that setting, then fine.”
“Oh, so you’re buying?”
“No. By that logic, I paid last time, so this time you should.”
Did Stan ever buy me coffee?
I thought about it for a moment, and something came back to me.
“No, that was…”
That was when you unloaded your dark family history on me.
“Well, let’s just say it counts.”
In a way, we’re close enough to share family baggage.
I decided to remember that incident as a fond memory.
“So what did you want to ask?”
“Obviously about Emily. Can you tell me what happened at the Scriptwriter’s castle?”
“Isn’t that a bit too nosy?”
“I’ll head back, then.”
“No, I mean… if you’re family, it’s normal to worry. I’ll tell you.”
Now that I think about it, this guy’s no pushover either. He used to have such a short fuse that he was easy to mess with, but now he’s even pushing back at me.
“Let’s go, then. I’ll just buy the coffee.”
To be honest, it’s kind of creepy.
If you’re that overprotective, it’s basically a mental illness.
At this rate, I don’t even know if Emily will ever get married.
***
To be honest, it wasn’t exactly a warm and friendly atmosphere. When it’s just a bunch of guys getting together, you can’t really expect anything bright or cheerful to begin with.
Stan has his own struggles, and I’ve had a pretty rough time myself.
In that gloomy, heavy mood, we went into a café and ordered some simple snacks like coffee and sandwiches.
“Go ahead and speak first. What did you need from me?”
“I told you, I just came to see your face.”
“Well, I suppose that could be true. But, Johan Damus. You don’t really think you can fool my eyes, do you?”
“……”
Then again, there’s no one with sharper eyes than Stan.
Olga Hermod? That’s a different kind of sharpness. If the Headmistress sees through to the essence of things, then Stan can observe what’s right in front of him with perfect accuracy.
“Your expression, your eyes, the overall air you give off. I can tell you’re dealing with something weighing on your mind.”
“Oh, right. You were a Cradle student too. I’d forgotten.”
You just can’t fool these kids. Is the gap really that big?
Honestly, I thought I was doing a pretty good job acting.
“But I didn’t call you out to talk about that. If anything, I just wanted to clear my head.”
“Well, if that’s all.”
Stan chewed on his sandwich as if it didn’t matter either way.
Sometimes, I actually like how indifferent this guy is.
This bastard doesn’t even worry about me.
You son of a bitch, I’ve really got myself an outstanding friend.
“Then let me ask. What happened inside the castle?”
“A lot happened. I’m not even sure where to start. Ah, maybe I should thank you first?”
“That won’t be necessary. I didn’t do it for you. I did it because I thought it would help Emily.”
He really only thinks about Emily. Ugh, that’s disgusting….
Thanks to Stan destroying the power source at the very top, things went much more smoothly. In a way, you could say he was one of the key forces in all of this.
The only reason he cooperated so willingly was a personal whim.
I never even asked him for a favor, so it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Stan saved us.
Of course, I’m not going to thank him.
He said himself it wasn’t necessary, and honestly, looking at that indifferent attitude kills any motivation I might’ve had.
“Forget everything else. Just tell me about Emily.”
“Wow, that’s seriously unpleasant.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
I meant to keep that to myself, but it really was just too unpleasant.
“Enough. Just talk.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Well, he is Emily’s guardian, so I guess it’s fine.
I told Stan what had happened at the Scriptwriter’s castle.
And as a result…
“Johan Damas. I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to die.”
I ended up being chased by Stan.
The moment I finished the story, he pulled back his bowstring without a second of hesitation.
This bastard, in a public place…?
Judging by what he’s doing, isn’t he the real terrorist here?
What’s even more troubling is that inside the Cradle café, no one is even causing a stir. Like this kind of thing happens all the time.
Seriously, someone’s being chased….shouldn’t somebody at least report it?
“How dare you do that to Emily!”
“Get your facts straight! I was the one who acted like a gentleman!”
“I know!”
Then why the hell, if you know that, are your eyes blazing like that while you try to kill me?
“That’s why I’m saying I’m sorry. Your response was correct. I acknowledge that. But it won’t do. For Emily’s sake, please die!”
This guy’s completely crazy….
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