235. Veni - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

"Huh? How did we end up in an all-out war with the Military State? I only intended to make contact for scouting...?" The hasty decision for full-scale war threw everyone into confusion. The Regressor, who had handed crucial information to the Resistance, was baffled, and so was the Princess, who had given the firm command to prepare for an attack. Regardless, someone has to do what needs to be done. There's no choice. The Princess turned to the knight to relay orders. "Sir Landemeyer, it's an order. We need someone to deliver this message to the Resistance and organize them for action." "Yes, it's necessary... But why are you telling me this?" Clearly, she meant for him to do it. His expression changed abruptly as he realized the implication behind her words. Sir Landemeyer, the knight, was the youngest and most powerful knight within the Resistance. It was his duty to lead the rebels, there was no uncertainity in that. However, he was both their commander and the Princess's Guardian knight. Even the strongest knight of the Resistance had only one body. Being dedicated to one side inevitably meant neglecting the other. "I'm telling you to do it." The Princess he was protecting had stopped her escort and was ordering him to turn around and lead her troops. The Guardian knight spoke urgently. "I can't do that, Your Highness!" "No matter how much I think about it, this seems like the only way." "But there's even the Gunmaster here!" "She's the last graduate of Hamelin who voluntarily got caught. See, She can't do anything against Shiati, right? As long as Shiati's safe, I am too." "Shiati isn't safe even alone on a wide plain! If there's nothing to burn, she'll set herself on fire! I'd rather stay, Your Highness, and you lead the Resistance! Aren't you their master?" The Princess offered a thin smile. Not at all. She didn’t have a master mindset and ruled over no one. She took on the role out of a sense of duty, and her role was simply to be a figurehead and gather people with her lineage. The Princess was a scapegoat. A sacrifice the remnants clung to, denying that the era was ending. She spoke self-deprecatingly. "A face of the kingdom, yes, a costly sacrifice indeed. Anyway, negotiating with other forces is the only role given to me, so I must be where my duty calls." "A sacrifice! Who uttered such nonsense? Just say the word, and I'll have them executed at once!" "It was me. What kind of punishment will you inflict on me?" "I take back what I said! Please reconsider, Your Highness!" The knight was firm. Naturally so. Leaving the last heir of the royal family, a cherished Princess, among the most dangerous criminals? Unthinkable. While other tired, worn Resistance members might overlook it, his loyalty to the crown was genuine. It was unacceptable. "I cannot leave Your Highness alone! Especially not at the front where a battle could break out any moment!" Even if it’s a temporary alliance, such things need careful handling. Landemeyer had received information through a spy that they wasn’t as dangerous as thought, but that was before the raid on the Command. Only five people planning to raid a Command showed they were exceptionally dangerous. Not because of bad character, but because of their ability and intention to make irrational choices. Hearing yet another objection, the Princess sighed. "It seems we can't resolve this peacefully." "I apologize, but no matter what harsh words are said, my decision will remain unchanged." The knight resolved himself to endure the Princess’s whining or anger. Until the Princess opened her mouth again. "Brother, are you joking?" The term of address, unheard for years, sparked more fear than warmth in him. He flinched, and the Princess pressed on, recalling her time under an alias. "Or what? We need at least one person on this end, right? We’re not the Military State. We have no Signallers. If they leave the base, we won’t even be able to use the Great White Wall — how will anyone contact and negotiate then?" "W-Well, yes. But Shiati is here, so there's no need for you to—" "Great! If we leave negotiations to Shiati, we’ll soon find ourselves charging into the Command with full force." “True, but…” "Should you stay, and I go to the base? Would a naïve figurehead like me lead the people there efficiently?" "W-Wait, please." "I told you there was no time left! Aren’t you going to hurry up?!" When the Princess snapped loudly, the knight stepped back, overwhelmed by her fierce glare. He might be a loyal knight, but he couldn't stand up to the Princess in her younger sister mode. Pressed by her intense demeanor, he retreated to the container's entrance. The meta-conveyor belt was constantly moving. It was wise to act quickly. Just before exiting the container, he hesitated and emphasized to the Princess: "...I’m leaving Selphie behind, In an emergency, use her to escape. Selphie is the white horse that can run a thousand miles, no one will catch her. Have Shiati assist you with any necessities, and the spare clothing packets are here…." "Just go!" The knight gave the Princess one last worried look before reluctantly turning and stepping out of the container. He quickly surveyed his surroundings and leaped off the Meta conveyor belt. He would probably gather reinforcements and follow swiftly. "...He's gone, right? Phew, thank goodness." Maintaining an angry expression until Landemeyer's presence completely faded, the Princess sighed and relaxed her face. At that moment, the Regressor approached her from behind. "Hold on a moment. Princess, are you coming with us?" The sudden intrusion, devoid of any semblance of distance, tightened the Princess's back. "Y-Yes!" "We're not going for a stroll." When the Regressor pointed out coldly, the Princess visibly flustered. "You mentioned needing a scout, right? Then having me along might be better. I've been in charge of negotiating all sorts of things that knights are too petty to do." "You might die, you know?" "I am part of the Resistance. I'm prepared for that. And I’ve something I want personally." "What do you want?" The Princess hesitated for a moment. However, with the attack on the Command now certain, the Regressor was the only one who could help her. ｢He provided us with valuable information. Hiding my true intentions here would be ungrateful. I didn’t mean to interfere, but it’s better to be honest...!｣ "I... want to meet the Command. I want to speak with them." She clasped her hands in front of her chest and confessed calmly. "Let me be honest, I don't think the Military State is inherently evil. The Grandiomor royal family was of celestial lineage. A kingdom blessed with fortune yet brought down by its people... The kingdom was already a failed nation." The Princess, a member of the Resistance and born of Divine fortune, voiced a truth she couldn't share within the Resistance. That the Regressor was her chosen confidant was unexpected, but ultimately, it was a wise decision. Due to connections in previous timelines, the Regressor could empathize with the Princess's hidden true feelings. The Regressor shared a similar perspective. "You know, it's not really something a Princess should say." "It's precisely something only I can say. Isn't that the duty of a Royal family?" "So, what's your plan? Are you going to surrender to the Command?" "...I can't do that. They wouldn't accept it anyway. Just by being alive, I'm a threat to the Military State... Regardless of what I think, they and I can’t be on the same side." Mumbling self-mockingly, the Princess swallowed her loneliness and continued. "But even if I can't, the Military State can become a better state. Instead of oppressing, persecuting and exploiting, it can become an ideal nation where everyone progresses together. I want to ask whether the Command is intentionally turning a blind eye or if they are truly unaware." "Nine times out of ten, you will die when you meet them." "Hehe. The moment I was born a Princess, my life was as good as over anyway." The Princess laughed awkwardly, a smile of resignation. "You can consider this a reward to me for my cooperation. Or you can just think of making me a scout who sneaks in first. Perhaps before attacking the Command... may I have a moment to speak with them?" With hands clasped, she pleaded earnestly, so pitiful and forlorn that any man with even a sliver of romance in his heart couldn't have helped but nod. Yet, the Regressor's sense of romance was long worn out, and besides, she wasn't a man. Despite the heart-stirring plea, the Regressor remained unfazed. "I don’t know where the Command is." ｢Even in past timelines, I couldn’t find the Command or the Commander who gave the orders in there. Till that timeline ended. When the Military State collapsed, it would just vanish.｣ ‘Huh? You don’t know?’ This was unexpected for me as well. I assumed we’d be storming the place because you knew its location. Failing to find it even after dismantling the Military State over 13 timelines? Luckily, the Regressor wasn’t completely clueless. "But I know where their orders are relayed. If you go there... you might be able to have your conversation. Whether they respond to you is another matter." "And where is that?" "The Command Control Post." The Regressor recalled memories from previous timelines. From a space beyond my comprehension, a vague image slowly formed. A part of the Command, specifically a secluded area within a warehouse, saw extremely infrequent military access. Officially, it was said to be occupied by communication soldiers, yet who exactly these soldiers were remained shrouded in mystery. A structure reminiscent of the windowless room seen during the Tantalus collapse. While imagining this, the Regressor overlaid the weary and older Princess from past interactions over the current one, realizing she looked much like the Princess she had known. ｢In the previous timeline, you didn’t have this luxury. You wanted to talk, but you weren’t willing to risk the lives of your comrades or your own. However, this time...｣ "In a corner of the Command's large base, a small post houses the twenty-six signallers who relay the Command's orders to the smaller bases. It's the only direct link to the Command. Since it's a strategic target as well... If we capture it, you can have the conversation you want." The Regressor, unconditionally kind to the one who was a comrade in past timelines, spoke with a relatively gentle tone. The Princess nodded and clenched her fists gratefully. "Yes...! Thank you!" ｢As expected, such a good person...!｣