Chapter 157: Resolve
“I shall go to the Baumgarten Territory.”
Around the time soldiers began to be deployed to the border and the Evil God’s resurrection started to feel like a real possibility, Cassandra-san abruptly said this during dinner.
“That’s true. We do need to check on Baumgarten’s fortress, so it might be a good idea for us to go to the Baumgarten Territory once.”
“Dee, that is not what I mean. I intend to go to the Baumgarten Territory alone.”
“Alone?”
Why is Cassandra-san so insistent on going alone?
If we’re going anyway, we might as well all go together.
“Listen, Dee. It has already been half a month since the prophecy of the Evil God’s resurrection was made. It would not be strange if the Evil God were to revive even as soon as tomorrow. That is precisely why I must go to the Baumgarten Territory alone.”
“If that’s the case, then it’s all the more reason for all of us to go! Let’s all protect the Baumgarten Territory together!”
“No. That is not possible.”
“Eh?”
Cassandra-san slowly shook her head from side to side. Then, she looked at me with eyes that held the glint of determination.
“Dee, you and the others are the decisive fighting force that will determine the fate of the kingdom—no, of this world. You all must remain on standby in the Royal Capital and act when the time is right.”
Determine the fate of the world? That’s the role of Reinhardt, the protagonist. I’m just a mob character.
“I want to protect Baumgarten.”
My role is to protect Baumgarten until Reinhardt defeats the Evil God. To protect my comrades completely. I don’t need anything else.
“I understand. Therefore, I will protect Baumgarten. Please do not make such a worried face. Among us, I am the most skilled in troop deployment, am I not? I will definitely protect Baumgarten to the very end.”
“But…”
I know. I know that the Evil God will come from the east. Baumgarten, being at the easternmost edge of the kingdom, is extremely dangerous. So much so that even if we combined our strength, there’s no guarantee we could protect it. I can’t send Cassandra-san alone to such a place.
“Still, let’s all go to Baumgarten together. If we all combine our strength…”
“That will not do. Dee, if you are also a noble, then please, serve the kingdom, serve the world, even if it means sacrificing your territory. I will absolutely protect the Baumgarten Territory. Therefore, I implore you.”
“Ghk!?”
Cassandra-san is bowing her head to me. Even though Cassandra-san has done nothing wrong. She genuinely believes that a mere mob character like me is a force capable of influencing the world. She’s telling me to serve the world, to serve humanity, even if it means bending my own will.
I had been running away. Thinking that Reinhardt, the protagonist, would somehow manage things, I had done nothing but run away.
I couldn’t help but face that fact head-on.
That’s right. Reinhardt and the others are getting stronger, but they’d still lose to us. Reinhardt’s Gift (ability) hasn’t even evolved yet.
I shouldn’t be relying on someone weaker than myself. If I don’t—if we don’t do it, then who will!
“Guh!”
It’s painful. To think that the resolve to shoulder the world would be this agonizing.
“Raise your head, Dora. I understand what you’re saying.”
“Dee…”
“Absolutely protect everyone in the Baumgarten Territory. And protect yourself too, Dora. No one needs to be sacrificed for the sake of mere land. If it looks bad, don’t push yourself; retreat without hesitation. Land can always be reclaimed later. Treasure your life.”
“Understood.”
“Dora…”
“Clau…”
“It will be lonely, won’t it?”
“Please leave it to me. I will undoubtedly protect the place to which we are all meant to return.”
Cassandra-san and Claudia-san embraced, lamenting their brief parting.
“Please, please don’t overdo it. It’s alright to abandon everything and run away. I will forgive everything.”
“Dee…”
“Dora-oneesama, do your best!”
“Mm, I will.”
“Yes!”
And so, Cassandra-san’s journey to the Baumgarten Territory was decided in a flash.
As for me… I had been coddling myself somewhere in my heart until now. I’d harbored childish jealousy, thinking Reinhardt was the protagonist anyway, and had given up, believing that a mob character like me couldn’t change anything no matter what I did.
But, from now on, things will be different.
I will use everything I have to defeat the Evil God.
If I can subjugate the Evil God quickly, the great horde of monsters surging towards the Baumgarten Territory will also weaken sooner by that much.
It is because the Evil God exists that the monsters grow stronger.
How? How can I subjugate the Evil God quickly?
The Holy Swords, which are the key to subjugating the Evil God—we currently have two. Reinhardt’s group should have two as well.
Since the finishing blow against the Evil God must be dealt by a Holy Sword, possessing one is absolutely crucial.
This means that the only parties capable of subjugating the Evil God are ‘Reginleif’ and ‘Hekireki (Thunderclap)’. That’s a heavy responsibility.
I was actually planning to make moves to help Reinhardt’s group subtly, but now that it’s come to this, I have no choice but to step into the spotlight.
I feel bad for Reinhardt, but I’ll defeat the Evil God before he does.