Chapter 73: Gone with the Wind (3)

“…What? Revenge?”

“Your escape plan has already failed.”

I deliberately spoke with even more leisure.

“The ones who were supposed to get you out of here have all been found and captured.”

“…!”

I had given my companions a heads-up before entering the prison.

No matter what I said from now on, they were not to show any sign that they were hearing it for the first time.

“So, you’re not getting out of here.”

Because… it was all a lie.

I was sure there were remnants who would come to rescue Ethesia, but I had no idea where they were hiding.

There was no way to know in the game.

However, I was certain of the fact that when the time for the plan came── in short, tonight── they would all gather in this city, so I planned to wipe them out in one fell swoop.

In other words, I hadn't caught a single one yet.

“…….”

But Ethesia, who had been locked up here all this time, had no way of knowing that.

--

[Deception]

Success

--

Which means, I could [Deceive] her.

“The problem is, that devil bastard wouldn't tell me the location of the hidden gunpowder barrels. He told us to work hard and find them.”

In fact, he had never told me anything about the gunpowder barrels, or Ethesia's escape plan, or the contents of their conversation.

But as I said before, Ethesia didn't know that.

“So when the bombs go off, you'll just be a rebel leader and a terrorist who massacred the city's citizens for no reason. You won't be a failed hero or anything.”

Just a madwoman.

The moment I added this, as expected, I saw a slight waver in Ethesia's eyes.

“Tell me the location of the bombs.”

I looked at Ethesia and said in a firm tone.

“Then the citizens won't die senselessly, and the devil bastard's fun will be ruined. Let’s have a little revenge.”

A clear hesitation could be felt from Ethesia.

Now was the time for the final blow.

“He asked me to tell you this. ──Your soul, I will come to reap it when it is most deliciously ripe.”

The moment I imitated Luce, I heard Ibi make a disgusted sound from behind me.

“When you, who were once called the hero of the city, have fallen to the very bottom after becoming ugly and uglier, and realize that you have become a mad murderer who only massacred the citizens without achieving your goal── that is.”

“That, son of a bitch…!”

Grind, Ethesia gritted her teeth.

She must have imagined the smiling face of that bastard who wasn't even here.

“You're not someone who ‘does what's necessary’. You're just a dictator wannabe who has lost her mind to the point of not feeling any contradiction in pointing a sword at the citizens while claiming to protect them.”

At these words, Ethesia's anger turned towards me again, but I continued without caring.

“Still… you're not a psychopath who just wants to kill the citizens for no reason, are you?”

To [Persuade] Ethesia.

“Are you really going to play into that devil bastard’s hands like this and offer up your soul on a platter?”

At that, Ethesia seemed to ponder for a moment.

--

[Persuasion]

Great Success

--

“……Kuhk.”

And finally, swallowing her anger, she extended one hand out of the iron bars.

“…Bring me a map.”

Thus, Ethesia, who was handed a map of the city, immediately marked the locations of all the bombs and gunpowder barrels she had prepared for her escape plan.

“…Send it to the philandering brat. That man will know how to dismantle all of them.”

“I was planning to.”

The sharp pen that was inevitably used.

『Give it.』

“──!”

I made sure to retrieve it so that it wouldn't be used for any foolish purpose.

Perhaps because it was a 「Word Command」 cast without taking off the mask, the effect was certainly weak, but it was enough to make her drop the pen outside the prison.

Ethesia, who was silently looking at her hand that had already dropped the pen when she came to her senses, soon clicked her tongue and glared at me.

“The next time we meet, I'll cut off that damn tongue of yours first.”

“Good for you. You'll be rotting in here for the rest of your life anyway.”

I then rolled up the map and put it inside my clothes along with the pen.

“Well, good luck with the trial.”

Then, just as I was about to leave the prison with my companions, leaving Ethesia behind.

──Klaang!

Suddenly, the sound of clashing metal echoed throughout the prison.

“Wh-What are you doing…!”

Then, the sound of the guards who were guarding nearby, startled, running to the front of the iron bars, followed.

At the same time, the other companions also turned their heads towards the iron bars all at once.

“Leave her be.”

But I, did not bother to look back.

“She’s not worth caring about anymore.”

Because I remembered well, having seen it many times, the sight of Ethesia, who, unable to overcome her anger, slammed her head against the iron bars with all her might, and then smiled a bitter, acrid smile as she tasted the blood that began to flow from her forehead.

* * *

“…That devil bastard didn't really say anything, did he?”

As soon as we left the prison, Ibi asked, as if she didn't quite understand.

“He didn't. But Ethesia doesn't know that, does she?”

“…You crazy bastard.”

Then she let out a hollow laugh in disbelief upon hearing my answer that I had just been bluffing.

“How did you know she would try to escape, or that she would use bombs?”

“She’s a woman who planted her people in the shrine for years, Lily. I thought she would have a plan in case the coup failed. She's a thorough person.”

I held up one index finger and continued.

“Besides, before we came here, I overheard Khamsin's report. That several gunpowder barrels that should have been in the warehouse were missing.”

What else would she use them for?

I shrugged nonchalantly.

“So I took a stab at it, and it was a hit.”

“A-As expected, you’re amazing, Mr. Yubin…!”

“Nah, it was just a lucky guess.”

Miki began to look up at me as if I were a prophet, but in fact, I knew because I had experienced it myself.

In my first playthrough.

After safely stopping Ethesia's coup in Daian and even receiving the insignia of alliance, I thought all my business here was done─ and left Daian with a sense of relief, only to hear the news when I went to another city.

That multiple bomb attacks had occurred in Daian, and in the confusion, the imprisoned Ethesia had escaped.

So, players who had experienced this once, in their next playthrough, would often just execute Ethesia on the spot when they caught her.

They thought that would prevent a terrorist attack in the city for her escape.

But if that happened, as I said before, it would never lead to a good result.

Those who considered her a martyr who died unjustly would bring about even greater chaos.

Moreover, whether Ethesia was alive or dead, the bombs would just go off.

Whether it was Luce's machinations, or the revenge of her remaining subordinates, I don't know.

And since the citizens had no way of knowing that the already dead Ethesia was behind the terror, they would direct their anger towards the two living wings── Khamsin and Mistral.

A conspiracy theory would begin to spread that they had committed this act to stop the citizens who supported Ethesia.

Thus, Daian would be divided, and the players would face the worst outcome.

So the best option was to keep Ethesia alive and prevent her escape.

To do this, one first had to see the scene mentioned earlier, where Khamsin hears the report that some gunpowder barrels that should have been in the warehouse were missing.

Then, using that as a hint, you would find the bombs through clues obtained by searching the city── a flow that was like a kind of hidden quest.

And since I had already solved that quest several times, I actually remembered where all the bombs and gunpowder barrels were hidden.

But if I suddenly pointed them out saying ‘There are bombs here!’, that would be something only a prophet could do.

It would be a hassle to explain in many ways.

So I deliberately coaxed Ethesia into confessing herself.

“Anyway, we need to get to Khamsin quickly.”

Then I wouldn't have to explain, and I could stop the terror.

Killing two birds with one stone.

Khamsin moved as fast as the wind of Daian.

He must have had some idea from the moment he first heard the report and ordered a search.

He wasn't very surprised to hear that bombs were installed in various places under the city, waiting to go off with the missing gunpowder barrels.

Instead, he quickly contacted Mistral and mobilized the priests to quickly secure the bombs.

Then, the gunpowder barrels were retrieved and returned to the warehouse.

“Yes? …You need gunpowder barrels?”

“Yes. I'd like to take a few. Is that okay?”

And we (strictly speaking, I) asked him if we could have some of the retrieved gunpowder barrels.

“Uh… of course, I can give them to you if you want… but what are you going to use them for?”

What else would I use them for?

Gunpowder barrels have only one purpose, right?

“To blow things up, of course.”

“Um… what, are you going to blow up…?”

This time, instead of answering, I just raised the corners of my lips in a grin.

The world is full of things that need to be blown up.

Like enemies.

Or the dens where those enemies gather.

Or Mondays.

Or overtime.

Or the capitalists who exploit the workers.

Or the wealth monopolized by them.

So I can't really pinpoint just one thing.

“Hey, are you crazy? You’re going to carry that around? F*ck, what if it explodes?!”

“Hey, hey. It won't explode, it won't explode.”

It won't explode.

I'd rather be a smiling first wife… ah, wait a minute.

Was this a different one?

“What's with the number one last words…”

It was a valid point, but in this case, it was true.

“I'll put it in the 「Magical Travel Bag」. While it's in the bag, it's in a different space, so it won't explode.”

Of course, I'd have to be careful not to light a fire anywhere when I took it out of the bag again.

“If you hear what I'm going to use this for first, you won't be able to not take it.”

“What nonsense is that?”

I beckoned to Ibi with a confident smile.

When Ibi, who approached with great suspicion, I whispered in her ear where I would ‘use’ these gunpowder barrels.

“…….”

Ibi immediately pulled back, looked at me for a moment with eyes that said ‘Is this guy crazy?’, and then finally let out a hollow laugh and shook her head.

“…Haa. Take it.”

“See?”

Thus, I put three 「Gunpowder Barrels」 into my inventory.

* * *

And when night fell, we watched the arrest of the remnants of the rebel army who had come to detonate the bombs, not knowing that they had already been dismantled.

There was no need to lend a hand.

The two wings, Khamsin and Mistral, joined forces and quickly suppressed the situation.

As befits the two who would continue to cooperate in the future and quickly resolve the chaos in Daian.

Now that Ethesia's escape was prevented, there were no more worries left in this city.

It was really time to leave Daian.

So the next day.

“When you are in trouble, please visit our Daian anytime.”

“I look forward to the day we meet again.”

After a short farewell with Khamsin and Mistral, who had come to see us off, we left the city.

Unlike when we first set foot in this city, we looked at the windmills on the hill, which were once again rotating energetically.

“The wind is cool.”

With the cool breeze we had brought.

Our next destination was Tiaria.

The largest city on the continent, and the main stage of the game.