Chapter 21: Ryuguin Theater I
“Hilbert!!!”
Ryuguin shouted.
“Have you forgotten the debt you owe me, you worthless pig?!”
He continued to raise his voice without a care for those around him.
“Apologize, Hilbert! This is your final warning! Are you my enemy or my ally?! Make it clear right here and now! If you’re an enemy, I won’t hold back!”
Breathing heavily, perhaps from extreme excitement, he gasped, “Hoo! Hoo!” His hoarse shouts were unsettling. It seemed that he might be the type of person who acted this way when things didn’t go his way.
“Hero-sama, I have not received any debt from you, not even once.”
A complex expression crossed Hilbert’s face. It was a mix of anger and fatigue, but more than that,
“Moreover, I have never been your ally, not even for a second.”
It was a profound sadness.
“It seems you, Hero-sama, have deluded yourself into thinking you are a person of worth, but to speak of obvious truths as if they were special knowledge is truly childish, hopelessly foolish, and utterly ridiculous.”
“Hilbert!!!”
“Oh, and by the way, I will be sending you a bill for the care I’ve provided up until now, along with compensation for this injury, so look forward to it.”
“Beubebudo!!!”
Ryuguin’s face twisted into a demonic expression as he screamed with all his might. However, Hilbert turned around and spread his arms wide to the crowd.
“Did you all see this? This is Hero-sama.”
Unyielding—Hilbert’s calm voice reached the people in the King’s Chamber.
“This expression, this behavior. Hero-sama has always acted this way whenever something displeased him.”
Ryuguin gritted his teeth so hard it seemed he might crack them, lowering his head once more. Madison seized the moment.
“Hero Ryuguin, the Hilbert you sent as a witness says this. Does this mean you admit to the numerous wrongdoings in Lemone?”
If he nodded here, the matter would be settled. But it wouldn’t be that easy—
“Aah, aah, aah, aah.”
Ryuguin’s charming voice echoed.
“Aah, aah, aah, aah, aah.”
His meaningless voice was frankly eerie and terrifying. After a few seconds of silence, he turned back to face them again. His expression was calm, as if the earlier events had been a mere illusion.
“Why do you all gang up on me… I truly don’t understand the reason…”
His performance was strikingly convincing.
“Well then, let’s assume I did something wrong—”
The intensity of his emotional fluctuations was honestly frightening. Though he was calm again now—
“Humans are incredibly fragile beings…”
His voice was laced with suppressed sorrow.
“In the world I lived in, there is a concept called PTSD.”
Many, including Madison, were rational. They did not interrupt his speech.
“This refers to post-traumatic stress disorder. In short, the emotional scars caused by shocking events can leave various disabilities on both the mind and body for a long time. For example, soldiers returning from war may find that even in peace, the mental wounds they suffered on the battlefield never heal, leading to insomnia and panic disorders that disrupt their daily lives.”
Ryuguin turned his body towards the Seekers, tracing Hilbert’s earlier movements.
“Don’t you all have similar experiences?”
His voice was gentle.
“I always seem to be misunderstood.”
Ryuguin murmured with a hint of melancholy.
“I respect all of you Seekers gathered here. You, who are considered powerful Seekers, must have pursued your dreams and worked hard to build your current status.”
But that’s not all, right? Ryuguin continued, posing the question to them.
“You proud warriors would never admit it, but no matter how much you are hurt, you continue to strive for Labyrinth Conquest for the sake of your family, friends, neighbors, and even your country.”
I know that—Ryuguin declared.
“If you are such people, then you should understand the fear of Nexbee and the hardships of conquering the Labyrinth.”
Tears glistened at the corners of his eyes.
“But there are those who do not understand…”
He spoke in a fading tone, “It’s sad, isn’t it?”
“Chancellor Madison—you are the prime example of that. But… perhaps that can’t be helped.”
Once again, Ryuguin turned to face Chancellor Madison.
“You work in such a magnificent and splendid castle, and when the time comes, you return to your grand mansion. And what do you find? A beautiful wife and children, along with all your servants waiting for you. In your tightly guarded residence, there is no danger whatsoever, and you feast on meals that ordinary people could never dream of, surrounded by a kind and beautiful family, finding peace in a warm bed—while we fight and spit blood, you have enjoyed an untroubled peace all this time, haven’t you? You can never understand the suffering of us Seekers.”
Tears streamed down Ryuguin’s cheeks, and his eyes sparkled like stars.
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What I want to say is
To be continued
Please forgive me.