232 – Preparation for salvation
“······.”
Claire looked around her body with a puzzled expression.
Your body surrounded by golden light.
It was the first time in my life that I felt this way.
I feel filled with fulfillment both mentally and physically.
“Lucas…”
And the source of this feeling of fulfillment was the sincerity he received from Lucas.
I don’t know how it works, but the buffs and mana he gave him were multiplied by tens or hundreds of times, and they came back to him.
And that mana contained Lucas’ emotions.
“Me, like that…”
Hot.
My face heated up.
It was as if the emotion of ‘love’ had been expressed in the most perfect sentence and driven straight into my heart.
Lucas’ emotions contained within the recovered buff were pure and unprocessed.
Raw, pure love made Claire invincible.
I felt like I would win no matter what enemy I faced right now.
“This damn cocoon…”
Claire glared at the cocoon that trapped Lucas.
And then, while gritting my teeth.
I stretched out my hand and touched the cocoon.
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Then, no matter what was done, the cocoon didn’t have a single scratch.
Cracks began to appear just by applying force to the hand for a moment.
Soon, it began to melt into the golden aura that extended from the hand.
– Phoo!
Like ice cream, it melted and finally revealed the contents inside.
The sticky mucus burst out and Lucas, who had been trapped inside, came out.
“Lucas!”
-Blame! Fault! Fault!
Claire immediately supported Lucas.
He was muttering that he was sorry with his eyes dimly open.
“No. I’m sorry for giving you a hard time. “I’m glad I’m alive.”
Claire hugged Lucas.
And then he placed his hand on his chest and let mana flow.
To check his body.
‘····It’s a mess.’
His body was completely ruined.
The muscles all over my body were ruptured.
Fortunately, it can return to its original state with treatment.
Apart from that, anger soared.
“Lucas, rest. “When I open my eyes again… Everything will be over.”
With those words, Claire cast a healing spell on Lucas.
He was forced to fall asleep, but a healing spell that was the best in terms of recovery was applied to him.
“···You said Cassandra, right? I won’t leave you alone. “I feel like I can do anything now.”
Claire slowly gets up, chewing on her molars.
A golden aura explodes from her body! And it burst out.
Bernhardt always provided buffs and auras from the rear.
The time has come to move forward entirely.
At this, Ed raised the corner of her mouth and muttered something to herself quietly.
‘Finally, the difficult acting is over. Now it’s time to play properly.’
***
Honestly, this acting was really hard work.
In order to destroy Lucas, I had to pour out hateful words that I didn’t mean to.
But now Claire has awakened Bernhard’s true power.
I was finally able to do the acting I wanted.
I was able to ‘act like a third-rate villain to my cousin who is much older than me during the holidays and then make an appropriate exit.’
【Ugh! Unbelievable!? How did you melt my cocoon!】
So I continued acting in a cliché manner.
The spider started shaking its feet and screaming in anger.
“I will return the pain that Lucas suffered.”
However, Claire was quite sincere.
And when she realized Bernhard’s true power, her sincerity was quite threatening.
The beam extending from Claire’s hand pierced through Cassandra’s suit.
【Kwaeee!!!】
I checked the condition of the suit while screaming like a third-rate villain.
Even though it was supposed to be a fairly strong suit, the exoskeleton broke through before it could last even a second.
It could be seen that Claire was perfectly replicating the power of the first Bernhard.
【Don’t be arrogant! I’ll get along with you and eat you as Cassandra’s prey!】
So, I tested Claire’s strength by saying the typical villain’s lines.
Test your defense ability by attempting attacks in various patterns.
Also, test her attack ability by provoking her in various ways.
By mocking Lucas, she tested in various ways how unwavering her mentality was.
【Kuiik… Oh, this can’t be happening…】
After completing many tests.
I gave her her passing grade and at the same time prepared for her exit.
Now that all of her abilities have been confirmed, the only thing left for the virtual demon ‘Cassandra’ to do is to die for Claire.
-Pow!
The final blow pierced the head of Cassandra’s suit.
At the same time, I used the art of spatial movement to escape to where Elena and Eve were.
“Congratulations, brother. “Everything went according to plan.”
You move around like that.
Eve smiled and congratulated me on this achievement.
With this, Isabella, Enya, Lucas, and Claire are all on track to some extent.
Now that we have laid the foundation for their growth, all that is left is to build their skills through actual combat.
If you take these steps step by step, you will be able to get closer to becoming a ‘celestial being’, a mythical being in this world.
“···Phew. “So now, is it time to go to the next step?”
All preparations are complete.
The ‘Noah’s Ark’ project is progressing without any problems.
The ‘Fortress’ project is also progressing well.
The warehouses in my territory are already filled with enough daily necessities to prepare for the next 10 years.
This is thanks to the numerous food revolutions that have occurred over the years, greatly increasing refrigeration facilities and shelf life.
‘If it’s you guys, you could become a new focal point.’
However, for everything I have prepared to be meaningful, ‘my person’ must grow.
In other words, the children of the Archduke family must grow to the point where they become new focal points.
But today, Claire has completed her awakening.
All I have to do is done.
‘So now I…’
It is time to exit.
Because no matter how many future simulations you run. Because there is no way for humanity to survive as long as I live.
So the best case scenario is to have the Prince of Hell pour everything out on me.
With that, I will be able to become a new myth.
***
The devil’s invasion began to intensify.
However, the more this happened, the more humanity began to divide rather than unite.
As the situation became critical, they began to ignore all agreements, looking for their own way to survive.
[Overthrow Edgar Fix]
Furthermore, taking advantage of this chaotic situation, the Devil Church began to gain power again.
They started agitating by saying, ‘Edgar Fix is ultimately a stooge of the empire, and in the end he only uses other countries for the empire.’
And that propaganda was reaching people quite effectively.
Because there is nothing logically wrong about it.
-Isn’t it strange? Edgar Fix is not some kind of angel or volunteer. Isn’t this all for a purpose, to help us?
-That’s right. If you think about it, the agreement itself is also questionable. Open a portal between countries for the purpose of helping us. If even an imperial army crossed over, it would be taken over right away.
-Besides, aren’t there some scary rumors going around? There’s a rumor that Edgar Fix is secretly taking food through a portal.
-It’s not just that. The sky is being monitored by some strange object, a drone or something. As if he were some kind of omnipotent god. It’s unpleasant! Something like that is floating in the air, monitoring every move of another country. Does that guy have no such thing as diplomatic courtesy? How dare you invade another country’s land without permission!?
The more difficult it becomes to live like that.
The more we are driven into crisis, the more closed people and countries become.
In this difficult situation, they began to close their doors for fear that even the little they had would be looted by the empire.
“I’m sorry. “I made a mistake in judgment.”
So, exchanges between countries began to gradually cease.
The Emperor sighed and apologized to Ed.
Because the empire has a history of waging wars of conquest, other countries are closing their doors.
For them, no matter how sincere Ed seemed, they could not trust him until the end as he was the emperor’s right-hand man.
“That’s enough. You didn’t know it would turn out like this either. “I expected this much.”
However, Ed calmly nodded his head as if it was no big deal.
The Emperor sipped his beer and looked at Ed.
“Hmm. ‘I was expecting it’… “Then, I guess you have thought of a way?”
“No.”
However, Ed’s subsequent answer was unexpected.
I thought they had thought of a separate method because they said they had predicted it so calmly.
Ed answered that there was no particular way.
Ed looked at the emperor and said.
“I am not some kind of god. “They say they don’t like it, so what should I do?”
“·····Then. What should other countries do?”
“What should I do? “I have to throw it away.”
“······.”
The Emperor looked at Ed with a blank expression for a moment.
Even he, overcome with boredom, couldn’t help but be embarrassed by Ed’s words.
“Throw it away? Didn’t you do all this to save them? “Wasn’t the dissemination of mechanized divisions around the world, the creation of a scientific revolution, the transmission of technology, the creation of an economic revolution through diplomacy, and the sending of reinforcements to the devil’s invasion all to save other countries?”
As the Emperor said, Ed’s answer was contradictory.
That’s because everything Ed has done is ultimately to unite the world and overcome the devil’s invasion.
“That’s right. “I did it to unite humanity.”
And Ed readily admitted it.
He said that everything he did was to unite the world.
“But, I know humans. Humans aren’t that ideal. Rather than thinking about repaying a favor, he compares the favor he received with that of others and becomes dissatisfied. Especially in difficult times like now.”
“······.”
The emperor, who continued to think deeply, nodded his head.
Certainly, if you give something to a person, he may be grateful at first, but later he takes it for granted.
This is because it is human nature to constantly desire a higher standard of living.
“There are extremely few people who know how to be grateful. No matter how good of a person he is, if he goes hungry for a few days and has no place to live, he has no choice but to become aggressive. “Rather than resigning yourself to the fact that there is nothing you can do if the free bread you give out runs out, humans are more likely to turn into rioters and ask why it isn’t being distributed.”
The emperor nodded.
He also deeply sympathized with Ed’s words.
It was in that context that he chose iron-clad politics over diplomatic politics.
It may take a hundred years to persuade someone with words, but if you use your fists, just one month is enough.
“In short, stance is important. Are you looking restless because you can’t find it? Then, even if you save them, they will try to abuse you. “They will constantly ask for something, as if they want something back that is naturally theirs.”
“····I guess so.”
“So you have to be sure. Run to the person hanging on the edge of the cliff and quickly grab my hand! Rather than using these nuances, you should just whistle as you pass by. “Until he cried and cried and screamed for help.”
“····Hmm.”
“Then can I save you then? No. Don’t save me. Sing one more song. Pork belly with soju served right in front of you. Then you’ll swear at me like crazy. I don’t mind though. Drink soju. Eat pork belly. It’s sad. “Whistle.”
“······.”
“Then in the end, you will cry, saying you did something wrong and begging for help. “You’re letting go of everything.”
“···Hoo.”
“That’s when I save you. Of course, after you cast it, give everything you have.”
The emperor smiled with satisfaction.
As expected, because he is the leader of the Celestial People, he knows how to handle people.
If refugees are to be accepted into the empire, establishing a clear hierarchy like that will help maintain the system.
“Well, there’s nothing we can do. Because my goal is not to build an ideal society. “The goal is to save and preserve humanity as much as possible until the devil is stopped.”
The Emperor nodded his head.
Like this, Ed’s purpose is to turn his territory into a natural fortress and migrate humanity itself.
Strict discipline was needed to govern that many people.
“Then, was raising the Grand Duke family also for the purpose of ensuring control?”
“···There is such a purpose. “Overwhelming power is the most perfect means of governing.”
The emperor stroked his chin.
Indeed.
Ed’s plan was working perfectly.
I am not saying that I will not save other countries, but I will definitely take the initiative and save them.
I really liked the stance itself.
“By the way. What you are trying to do is bound to cause structural problems. “Honestly, I thought it was difficult just to unite the empire.”
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However, the emperor knew it well.
How difficult it is to coordinate numerous interests to maintain an empire.
Moreover, what Ed is trying to do is to bring together all the ‘human species’ in the world with different cultures, different races, different races, different lifestyles, and different interests.
It was like a time bomb that was bound to cause structural problems.
“···That’s right. But that doesn’t mean there’s no way. “There is only one way to unite the world.”
However, Ed was confident in saying that something that seemed impossible was possible.
The emperor tilted his head and asked what it was.
Then Ed─
“My death.”
“······.”
“To borrow a more accurate expression, ‘sacrifice.’ “Only that can become an event that will unite the world.”
He responded that his sacrifice was the only event that could bring the world together.
He declared that he would escape to salvation.