236. Vidi - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

In the beginning, the Resistance was a Kingdom revival army centred around the local lords. At that time, they had the resources, courage, and determination. Driven by the ambition to save the kingdom, they didn't need Royal blood to fight back. However, too much time had passed. The Military State consolidated its power through a systematic structure. It achieved consecutive victories in the ensuing civil wars. The Resistance, unable to transcend the outdated kingdom mentality, found themselves being gradually pushed back until they were utterly defeated and forced to hide in corners. It was around this time that the Resistance brought the Princess into their fold. Lacking a focal point, they sought to rally around her. The Princess accepted her destiny, yet just as the Resistance didn’t truly respect her, she also didn’t trust them. She couldn’t coexist with the Military State anyway, So adhering to her duties was the only path forward. But it wasn’t all gloom and doom for the Resistance. There were positive developments. Following the incident in Hamelin, many young people discarded by the Military State joined the Resistance en masse. This influx brought new life to the Resistance, though it was akin to a body stitched together with mismatched limbs, living on borrowed time. The knights, remnants of the old era, and the youths rebelling against unjust authority were never going to complement each other well. The knights viewed the youths as their squires or private soldiers, believing that if they toppled the state, taking these youths under their wings would be reward enough. On the other hand, the youths had not intention of restoring a monarchy. Their aim was either to realize a better country or endless revenge and struggle, they wanted to either reform the Military State or destroy it completely. They couldn’t understand each other. For now, they were united under the common goal of overthrowing the state. But everything else about them, their birth, heritage, and outlook, was diametrically opposite. Amidst this chaos, even though the Princess was the nominal representative of the Resistance, she… did not harbor hatred towards the Military State. Shiati watched the conversation between the Princess and the Regressor with satisfaction. Her enjoyment was genuine: firstly, because it was heartening to see the usually reticent Princess speak so bravely, and secondly, because she gained valuable information. Shiati quietly listened and organized the necessary information. Command Centre. A corner of the Headquarters. Twenty-six Signallers. ｢If they're Signallers, they’ll definitely be with that irritating surveillance golem. As Signallers relaying orders from the Command, they won't be exposed to the outside world very often. It's more efficient to go through the golems after all. So it's reasonable to think of them being in the less populated outskirt areas rather than the central area.｣ Shiati's mind, brimming with hatred, was abnormally advanced in areas related to hunting the Military State. Like a predator sniffing out blood to know the condition of its prey, she could pinpoint weaknesses with striking accuracy, even with limited information. ‘Since they use golems, their combat skills might not be remarkable. Even though they have many golems, each manages dozens. The total number of Signallers in the country seems small. Twenty-six is indeed a significant number... If they were all killed, would it impact the Military State?’ She exuded a vicious intent to kill. Historia, who sensed this intent close by, hardened her expression. "…Shiati. Stop." "Stop? What?" "Don't increase unnecessary casualties. Signallers are pitiable if anything, they aren't inherently bad." Shiati blinked, unable to believe such words came from Historia, a lieutenant of the Military State, then clutched her stomach and erupted in laughter. "Ah-ha! Ahahah! The noble saintess, To think you'd say something like that!" Even in the face of Shiati's manic laughter, Historia didn't avert her gaze. Shiati, laughing heartily, continuously shook her head. "No, Historia. Whether Signallers are pitiable or not doesn't matter. Not at all, not in the slightest. What matters is how important they are to the Military State, how much of a blow it would be to them, and whether I can achieve it!" "It seems the Princess intends to communicate with them. Are you going to disregard your master's wishes?" "Princess Yerien is not my master. She’s a friend. Much like you and me, friends with a significant difference in rank!" Shiati sat next to Historia and pointed to the Princess with her finger—a girl with heartwarming, pale pink hair. Despite her delicate appearance, however, the Princess's eyes held unwavering resolve. Shiati gazed at her enviously. "Our Princess, isn't she quite something? She's grown up strong. Not a sheltered flower nor a wild weed like me. Haha. At times, I really feel the difference in lineage!" Historia, too, secretly agreed with that sentiment. Even though they hadn't experienced it firsthand, the aura of nobility and refinement effortlessly flowed from the Princess, suggesting it was innate. A stark contrast from the rough and wild Shiati. The Princess despite being the Resistance’s representative, was not very supportive of Resistance. It was fascinating how much it contrasted with Historia, who, despite being a Six Star General, harboured doubts about the Military State. If opposites truly existed in the world, it would be the Princess and Historia…. "You two are so alike. Both born with something innate, given chances to reject it, yet so swept up in emotions that you couldn’t cast it aside…. Isn’t it ironic?" "What?" Shiati didn't elaborate further. She merely gazed at the Princess with somewhat subdued eyes. "But the Princess is the Princess, and I am me. Though we walk towards the same place, our goals differ. We don’t need to interfere with each other. I can wait to kill them all after the conversation with the Signallers is over! I can be that patient!" "Don’t repeat tragedies. A tragedy like Hameln was enough once." "Once? Ah, ahahahahahaha! Historia." Shiati twisted her lips into a smile. Suddenly, without any warning, a prosthetic hand shot out, grabbing and twisting Historia's chin. The two stared at each other from a distance so close it seemed their noses would touch. "The tragedy isn't over. So to me, it's still the first time. It's still continuing in full force." "...Isn't it time to give up? I've let you go so many times. Haven't you done enough?" "Why didn't you kill me back then? It's because you didn't that we're in this predicament." Shiati let out a dry chuckle, almost like she was coughing, and spoke with a faint smile. "I won't die until I've torn down the Military State, but I'd be satisfied if you killed me. If I leave the biggest scar on your heart, then that'll be as good as destroying the Military State." "You think I'll listen to you?" "You're not going to kill me? Heh, then why not join the Resistance! If one of the Six Star Generals of the Military State turned out to secretly be with the Resistance, that would shock the entire country who holds the daughter of the Military State in high regard! It's the perfect scenario!" "I'm not planning on becoming a terrorist like you." "Who said anything about following me? Not the wild weed, but the Princess with her high ideals! Wouldn't it be best for an idealist to be with another idealist? You're not even loyal to the Military State..." "Shut up!" Historia shouted, but Shiati just kept smiling brightly. Staring daggers at her, Historia shook Shiati off despite her restraints and stood up abruptly. With eyes ablaze, she approached me with purposeful strides. "Huey. Take me with you. To the place where the Princess is supposed to speak with the Command alone." Startled by her sudden demand, I blinked my eyes. ‘Historia is a Six Star General. A valuable hostage, one of the few worth keeping. Initially, the plan was to parade her around as a pretend hostage before tossing her aside when no longer needed, but the plan had been postponed repeatedly, now teetering on the brink of being scrapped altogether. This is why plans should be executed when they’re made.’ "I’ll go there obediently. I swear I won’t resist, so untie me, or even bound I don't care—just take me with you." I cautiously asked, "Why? So you can betray us once you're face to face with the Command and the plan doesn’t bode well for you?" "It’s not betrayal. I’m taking action. This time, truly, with my free will." From the back came the sound of Shiati’s mocking laughter. The result of a tragedy that occurred too late still clung to Historia's back. To shake that off, Historia pled with me with firm resolve. "I won’t regret it this time. It’s not too late. I will see everything with my own eyes and judge for myself." [...It seems the demands are ever-increasing, aren’t they? Sigh, what are we to do?] Tyr, who had retreated into her coffin to conserve energy, murmured this with a sigh. I shrugged my shoulders and replied. "I'd agree with you, but the more power the better, so it's not a problem. " [Why is it that only young women seem to gather around us? The space is cramped, and I'm worried we'll end up practically shoulder to shoulder at this rate.] "You were worried the decorum?!" Worried about decorum while fighting against a nation—what a mindset, perhaps to be expected from a vampire who has clashed with the Sanctum for over a thousand years. Their conflict with the state must feel routine by now. Tyr showed no sign of tension for the battle imminent. It seemed the situation bothered her more than the impending fight. [Look at that. Isn't the Princess's gaze dripping with honey as she watches Shei? In contrast, Shei's eyes are so utterly calm.] Tyr clicked her tongue, pointing to where the Princess was chatting incessantly, occasionally glancing at the Regressor. “It feel strange. I suppose due to strict upbringing, I’ve always had a hard time with men. But with you, I feel oddly at ease.” “Ah, well... it's just.” ｢Because I am actually cross-dressing. I don't want to change my appearance now and cause suspicion…｣ At this point, it's a burden. The moment you decided to cross-dress, you started off wrong. For this round, just live as a man already. Tyr mused softly. [Phew. Every time I see them, my heart feels heavy and my throat gets choked up. Shei likes men, yet the Princess harbors an unrequited affection that won't be returned....] ‘...Indeed. It's true that she prefers men and that her feelings won’t be returned. Regardless of the misunderstanding, it’s still the Regressor’s fault. What a heartless man—no, a heartless woman.’ "Hold on. I feel like I'm being slandered somehow?" You have a keen perception for unnecessary things. Ensuring their conversation was shielded from others, Tyr suddenly spoke as if reminded of something. [Speaking of which, it’s unexpected. I’ve observed Shei—she usually avoids taking on anything bothersome, so I thought she’d refuse the Princess’s offer.] “I agree, but... Shei is strangely kind to a select few.” The Regressor tends to interpret everything negatively and has an extraordinary knack for turning words into sparks, yet she has a tendency to be exceedingly generous to those who became friends in previous timelines. Indeed, in the Abyss, she approached the strongest vampire, Tyrkanzyaka, without any apparent caution from the start. She was the first to step forward when something happened to her. As for the Princess, she was no different, if not more so. [He was overly suspicious of every move you made.] "To make up the total of her patience, he was harder on some people than others, and I must have been one of them.. It's unfair, truly. What's wrong with me?" [Exactly. What could possibly be so suspicious about you, who seems so trustworthy?] Huh? Didn’t Tyr initially say I seemed suspicious when we first met? [Fickle as a newlywed bride. How does one’s attitude change so dramatically?] "If I knew a method to gain her trust, I’d have used it first. Honestly, I have no idea." In truth, I do know. But I cannot follow it. It requires going back to previous rounds and building trust. Though I complain, from the Regressor's perspective, it’s obvious. I can’t read memories from her previous rounds, but surely she went through countless experiences then. Even if a new round begins, they retain memories and experiences, so the level of closeness is naturally different. "By the way, is it really okay for you to help us, Tyr? The Military State has a conflict with the Sanctum. Aren't you risking losing allies?" [Since when has a human nation ever been an ally of vampires? I've seen nations fight with the Sanctum, but never one that allied with us. At most, there were non-aggression pacts and nothing more.] “Still, isn’t it a bit daunting to face a nation alone?” [Shei is doing her best to save the world, and aren't you doing the same? Lending a hand can't lead to anything bad.] Tyr spoke kindly, opening the lid of their coffin slightly. Through the narrow opening, I met the vampire's gentle smile. [I am on your side, always. Even if the world turns its back on you, I will be here to help.] The Progenitor vampire Tyrkanzyaka made a heartfelt declaration. It's reassuring. Though there was no reason to doubt, I chose to delve into her thoughts to better understand these emotions. ｢And then when you’re being hunted down by your own country, we would be each other's sole refuge. From then on, like it or not, we'd constantly be together. Isn’t that romantic?｣ Huh? What does that mean? What's romantic about a life on the run? It’s nothing but savagery. Wait a second. Tyr constantly supporting my reckless actions and helping me do as I please—could it be that...? "Tyr, In the raid on the Command centre, are you planning to wipe it out it completely, or give it a good tweak and pull back? " Tyr answered as if the response was obvious. [What benefit does destruction and chaos bring to the world? We shall issue a stern warning and then retreat. Toying with a nation's fate so freely is an irresponsible action.] "But won't the remaining ones pursue me?" [Don't worry. I will protect you.] ｢Thoroughly, for a long time.｣ A bead of sweat trickled down my back. Maybe, just maybe, I had walked into a trap without noticing.