38: What Changed and What Didn’t
After recounting my meeting with Liz, my audience with the Demon King, and the investiture ceremony, Liz, who had mostly been listening patiently, interjecting with occasional comments and questions to clarify my memories, looked at me with exasperation.
“…Master, you weren’t lying?”
“I’m not bold enough to lie to a cute assassin while she’s holding a knife to my throat.”
“That’s a lie. And I don’t think the ‘cute’ was necessary.”
“A difference of opinion.”
I reached out and touched Liz’s ear.
“Hmm…” Liz closed her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips.
Having confirmed the pleasant fact that she hadn’t brushed my hand away, I enjoyed her relaxed demeanor for a moment before withdrawing my hand.
“Why did you just touch my ear?”
“Just because.” Did I need a reason to confirm my happiness?
Liz asked,
“…And then what?”
“After that? Well, I moved into the mansion, and despite the constant threat of ulcers, I’ve been diligently serving as a supreme commander.”
“That doesn’t sound very healthy. …Are you feeling alright?”
“Thanks to our sleepovers, I’ve been feeling much better lately.”
“…………” Liz sighed softly.
“I’m talking about Bridget-neesama. From what you said, you’re actually on good terms.”
“I still consider her a friend… but…”
“You did something, didn’t you?” Her gaze was intense, the air thick with suspicion.
“I didn’t do anything. After I became a supreme commander, we just… had a little chat.”
“That sounds like you did something.”
A difference of opinion.
I became the Virus King, Lord of Disease, a supreme commander, appointed Liz as my vice-commander and maid, received a suburban mansion, and that’s where we were now.
However, there was a gap between becoming a supreme commander, appointing Liz, and receiving the mansion.
My last proper conversation with Bridget was when I was still at the royal castle, before I’d been granted the ‘mansion with a maid.’
A knock echoed on the door.
“Yes?”
“It’s me… Bringit Finis.”
A familiar voice.
I rushed to the door and unlocked it. Standing there was Bridget, clad in crimson armor, her silver hair tied back in a ponytail.
Seeing her again, I felt my face light up.
“Bridget—”
Before I could finish, she drew her sword. She swung it at my neck—stopping just short of contact.
“Bridget…?”
A lock of my hair, severed cleanly, fell to the floor with a soft thud. The wind from her sword brushed against my neck a moment later.
“Why? Why have you become like this?”
Her gaze was sharper than the blade she held, intense enough to pierce me.
I realized that the Bridget I knew… was Bringit Finis… or rather, just Bridget.
She was pointing her sword at me as Bringit Finis, Commander of the Dark Knights, a supreme commander of the Demon King’s army.
“Assassinating non-combatants? Inciting the populace?”
She shook her head, her expression grim. But her gaze remained fixed on me.
“—That is not the way of a knight!”
“Let me ask you this—so what?”
I walked towards her, anger swirling within me.
“I am the Virus King, Lord of Disease! A fellow supreme commander! You have no right to point your blade at me!”
[Illustration (By Mitemin)]
I had a name, a title.
I was her equal.
I was no longer someone to be protected.
I thought I could talk to her again.
I thought… I could speak with her as an equal.
“I am not a dark knight. Therefore, my methods are different. I know nothing of chivalry, nor do I intend to learn.”
And yet, the only words I could speak were those of the Virus King, Lord of Disease.
…Because that was the only name I had.
Because I had already given the orders.
Because I already had subordinates.
Because I had a mission to fulfill.
“Eventually, humans will adopt the same methods. Eventually, many more civilians will die…!”
Bridget didn’t back down. And neither did I.
“Many more civilians will die, not eventually, but in the very near future. Your knights are skilled, but they are outnumbered. In a full-scale war, they will be swept aside by the sheer numbers of a well-equipped army.”
She might be right. If humans adopted my methods, it would be a threat.
But—
“Can humans even do the same? Who could carry out such dangerous missions? Can humans, who don’t have undead assassins who require neither food nor rest, or rare races with shapeshifting abilities, fight the same way?”
An assassination squad centered around undead.
A disinformation unit composed of doppelgangers.
The ‘optimal solution’ I’d devised, based on the limited information about this nation I’d gleaned from casual conversations with Bridget.
“They are the subordinates I have chosen. They are a shield for this nation, just like the swords of the knights you command.”
The same ruthlessness as the humans who’d treated me like a mana battery.
—So, it’s true. Humans are capable of boundless cruelty.
They could do such things.
Simply because it was rational.
Simply because it was right.
They held something within their hearts they wanted to protect, even at such a cost.
“To criticize the Virus King, Lord of Disease is to insult my subordinates. To insult the resolve of those who chose to embrace ruthlessness for the sake of this nation. Do you still condemn me, Bringit Finis?”
And yet, I…
I had to win this war.
So, I glared at her, as an equal, pouring all my will into my gaze.
“…Eventually, I will make you unnecessary.”
After a moment, she looked away. She lowered her blade and sheathed it smoothly.
“Remember that.”
I, too, broke eye contact.
“…Yes, I will.”
“What?” Bridget asked, caught off guard.
“I haven’t changed. I don’t want to kill anyone. Honestly, this position is a burden. I’d quit right now if I could.”
“…Then why such ruthlessness?” she whispered, as if we were back in that sickbay, sharing secrets in hushed tones.
“Probably for the same reason as you.” There was only one reason to fight.
“Because there’s something I have to protect. …Something I want to protect, even at such a cost.”
I’d thought… we could be friends.
“Because… I was shown kindness. Because I wanted to fight for these people.”
I’d wanted… to be her friend.
“You’re the one who made me feel that way, Bridget.”
And that hadn’t changed.
“I haven’t changed.”
“…I see.” She sighed.
“But my decision remains unchanged.” She glared at me again. Not with the same murderous intent as before, but her eyes were still filled with resolve.
“I will make you unnecessary.”
If I became unnecessary.
If she became unnecessary.
…Could we talk again, like we used to?
“As soon as possible.”
I smiled. Like I used to. At a precious friend.
“I’ll do my best, too.”
“Well… a lot happened.”
I couldn’t bring myself to tell Liz everything, so I kept it vague.
“Could you please not gloss over the important parts? I’m curious.”
“It’s a secret… between Bridget and me.”
Liz’s expression turned… complicated.
“…Are you… involved with my sister…?”
Ah, the nature of her suspicion was… unexpected.
“Liz, you should have more faith in your sister.”
“I do have faith in my sister. But I also have faith in your… lack of decency, in a sense.”
“How rude.”
That was incredibly rude.
—Bridget was my first friend in this world.
And she’d saved my life. Would Bridget be angry if I were ‘involved’ with her sister? She probably would.
“Sister donburi…”(Threesome)
“What’s that?”
“Just… a random thought from my world.”
I’d blurted out a rather dubious hypothetical scenario that had crossed my mind and quickly changed the subject.
Leave a Reply