Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

Why did Zigrund, who came from another country, remain loyal to the Military State?

Because she liked this country?

If anyone said something so deceptive, they were either a con artist or being watched by Public Safety.

Only someone who lived in the Kingdom could see this place as relatively favorable; what is there to like about a country with no Arcanes or entertainment?

Because it paid well?

This crazy country has an extreme structure where even the most powerful, the Six Star Generals, couldn’t live comfortably.

The Military State was a highly honest country where the top 1% held 1% of the wealth, resembling more of an obelisk than a pyramid.

Most of the funds were directly managed by the Military State, which spent money on weapons rather than giving individuals substantial wealth.

Even if you were rich, there was nowhere to spend it.

So, there was only one reason why Zigrund was loyal to this damned country.

Because 'she' found her.

The 'she' in her memories, which I didn’t know well since I hadn't read ‘her’ directly, discovered Zigrund who had hidden her identity.

After a long period of hiding and losing her sense of self, Zigrund used ‘her’ as an anchor to form her identity.

‘She’ was special, but not unique.

Because I could also recognize Zigrund.

"Earlier and now, your face is still fabricated, isn't it? This time it's even worse. At least before, it was a human face, but now it looks like a statue thrown away halfway through making it. Is it okay to consider that as your true self?"

"...There’s nothing wrong though? I am myself. What do you know?"

"I'm asking because I don't know. Your real face... No, who you really are."

Real.

At the mention of the word 'real,' Zigrund's expression turned inorganic.

It wasn't as if she was pretending to be calm, but more like preparing with all her might before fabricating something.

"Is it so important who I am? I am Zigrund, one of the Six Star Generals, and changing my appearance is my specialty. It defines me. There's no need for other characteristics to distinguish me."

"What are you talking about? Who here doesn't know you're you? I'm asking because of your qualifications, not your features."

Out of fear of losing herself, Zigrund used 'her' who recognized her as an anchor and worked for ‘her’.

So how do you shake her?

Of course, you just have to remove the anchor.

"I listen to people's desires and act on them. It's different from a prophet. They see a predetermined future and change the situation, but I help people get what they want in the given situation."

"I don't see any difference. It looks the same to me."

"It's different. Their desires are real. Real lives. The only thing given from birth, living fiercely without time or need to doubt whether it's real or fake. I fulfilled those desires."

Real. Fake. Real.

Zigrund, a born actor, didn't show it, but as a Mind Reader, I could feel her twitching emotions every time real and fake were mentioned.

The anchor was a bit light.

It wobbled every time it was touched.

Could it even be called an anchor at this point?

"But you follow the Military State's orders with a fabricated face and identity. Is this the real you that you found?"

"You..."

I grabbed the anchor in her heart and pulled it out with a smile.

"You're just a tool, aren't you? Do they even use the word 'life' for tools nowadays?"

"...Pathetic provocation. You must be out of things to say."

｢It's a provocation. I mustn't fall for it. Reading desires? That too must be a form of prophecy. I need to use Shiati and Historia's hatred and suspicion to corner him.｣

She completely believed in my abilities.

She didn’t easily accept that my presence in the innermost part of the Military State was mere coincidence or luck.

She doubted and guarded against everything, digging into even the smallest details.

It had to be a personality developed from being hunted for a long time.

But because of her excessive suspicion, she completely believed in my abilities.

"I told you, didn't I? I read desires."

"...What?"

"You want to regain your lost self. Then why are you like this?"

An anchor is not a harbor.

Even if she found an anchor, in the end, she was nothing more than a drifting ship lost at sea.

So even Zigrund's self was just fabricated.

"The more you play the role of Zigrund, the further you get from your true self. Fake missions, fake life, fake face. Even your goal as a Star General is just being loyal to the role of Zigrund, not your own desire. What are you– Ria! Protect me!"

There was no need for more words.

At that moment, feeling her existence threatened, Zigrund sprang at me.

It was natural to resist when someone tried to stab you with a knife.

Zigrund tried to protect herself by repelling the attack on her ego.

But Historia was in front of me.

"Leave it to me...!"

Historia, who had been on alert, reacted just in time.

Worrying that I might get caught in the fight, she took two steps forward and confronted Zigrund.

Planting one leg firmly, she delivered a kick to intercept the charging Zigrund.

Boom.

It was a collision close to a disaster.

An explosion echoed, and the shattered floor scattered in all directions.

Historia's Qi art, the Explosive Discharge Domain, has a repelling nature.

A type of Qi art that was difficult to control but easy to use roughly.

Historia unleashed it generously.

The clash of the two immensely powerful Six Star Generals was like a collision between bouncing rubber balls.

They slid away from each other like mirrors, scraping the ground.

"Huey! Be careful!"

Realizing Zigrund's target from the first clash, Historia shouted.

"He's after you!"

Immediately, Zigrund charged again.

Not towards Historia, but straight at me.

Without even trying to hide her intent, she aimed directly at me.

Historia hurriedly ran to block him and pulled her arms back.

Explosive Discharge Domain, Explosion.

The bluish energy pushed everything away.

With the immense Qi reserve of a Star General, Historia unleashed an explosion.

Even Zigrund couldn't withstand it head-on.

Instead, she moved her body back and forth.

The basis of grappling is to flow with the force.

She dug into the gap rather than opposing the flow.

Like a ship unyielding to headwinds, she moved forward step by step calmly.

｢He's also a master of combat. I don't know if I can win the fight, let alone protect Huey.｣

Recognizing her opponent's level, Historia shouted urgently at me.

"Huey, run to a safe place!"

"Got it!"

I nodded and stuck close behind Historia.

The sudden contact made Historia jump.

"What are you doing?!"

"The only safe place here is behind you. I'm counting on you."

"It's dangerous! You can't ignore the impact of the Qi art!"

"Better to be caught in the impact than die. Watch out, Ria, in front of you!"

A hand reached out between Historia's armpits.

The long fingers tried to grab my clothes, but Historia noticed and wrapped Zigrund's arm with her right arm.

At that moment, Zigrund slid inside Historia's guard.

By deeply inserting her knee and twisting her arm, Zigrund instantly disrupted Historia's balance.

｢Grappling?! It's dangerous. He took the lower ground...!｣

Among the weak, holding the upper ground was advantageous.

You could add the weight of a downward strike.

For those who have mastered Qi art, it was the opposite.

Mere weight would not help much.

With the pushing force of Qi art being stronger than the pulling force, losing the lower ground made your feet leave the ground.

Then you would be in a free fall.

｢Dangerous...!｣

Moreover, Historia's Qi art was 'Explosive Discharge Domain.'

Strong in repulsion but weak in suction.

Unable to withstand the upward force, Historia's body wobbled.

Of course, losing the lower ground didn’t decide the fight.

But the problem was that Historia wasn’t alone.

｢Huey!｣

Zigrund aimed to push aside Historia and target me.

Despite Historia's gritting resistance, her limit came quickly.

"No...!"

Whoosh.

Historia's body bounced up, and Zigrund, removing the obstacle, immediately aimed a fierce punch at me.

The sound of air being torn filled the control room…

But her punch missed.

Because I was clinging tightly to Historia's back, flying alongside her.

Whew.

It would have been disastrous if I hadn't held on tight.

Holding on during the flight was worthwhile.

Clinging to Historia's back, I shouted in relief.

"Haha! How embarrassing! Did I hit a nerve? No wonder! All your desires I've read are fake!"

"Huey! It's better not to provoke him...!"

"It's too late! We've come this far; we have to see it through!"

Even in mid-air, Historia managed to balance herself, placing her foot on the barbed wire mesh-covered wall and standing upright.

Of course, with me clinging behind her.

In this position, I was practically lying on her back, which was oddly comfortable.

I sneered at Zigrund, who was looking up at us from below.

"Sorry, but you have no right to say anything to me! Even if I grant human desires from an observational standpoint, they are real. The real me, as my real self. I listened to the desires of people living fiercely with real lives! Unlike you, who discarded and changed your face, name, and identity whenever necessary!"

Taste the provocation of a Mind Reader.

I'll poke only your weak spots.

Enraged by my provocation, Zigrund immediately leaped toward us.

Historia, who was now caught between us, was in a difficult situation.

"Huey! You're provoking him too much!"

"I have no choice now! The die is cast!"

"I can't guarantee victory against him even one-on-one, let alone with you on my back...! Especially without a weapon...."

"Do you need a weapon?"

If it's a weapon, I have something ready to use.

I pulled out a diamond card from my sleeve.

After transmuting it through the Bio-receptor, I discreetly hooked it onto Historia's shoulder.

Without looking, she recognized the heavy object by its feel.

"A gun?"

"It's an alchemic weapon I used. The bullets are loaded."

Historia took the gun, naturally placed her finger on the trigger, and spun it once.

True to her name as the Gunmaster, she understood the structure and remaining rounds of the revolver with just that motion.

And she got mad.

"Only three bullets?"

"I didn't have time to load more."

"Still, how can I...! Why just three bullets?!"

｢Zero In is a technique with a prerequisite of three shots zeroing in. To use it properly, I need at least four shots!｣

"Shh! Zigrund doesn't know it's only three bullets! Whether it's six or three, it's the same if he doesn't know! The imaginary bullets will keep him in check!"

"Yeah… right...!"

With no better options, Historia accepted the gun and hid it under her sleeve.

I never taught her such sleight of hand, but it seems the card tricks I played with her long ago left a lasting impression.

Then, she traced the handle of the revolver with her long fingers and fell into thought.

｢This gun... It's the same kind as the one Huey gave me when he urged me to use a gun.... I wonder if he remembers｣

"Let's give it a try. Find a safe place to hide... No. Hold on tight until we get down!"

Finishing her words, Historia sprinted down the grid-like barbed wire mesh as if it were a staircase.

Just before hitting the ground, she slowed down slightly, and I took the opportunity to grab the mesh clinging to the wall and jump to the floor.

I'm used to rolling on the ground, but I don't want to get used to the ache in my back muscles.

As I struggled to stand up, I saw Historia confronting Zigrund again.