Arc 9: Chapter 31 - "A Job Done Perfectly"

Arc 9: "Light of the Nameless Star"
Chapter 31: "A Job Done Perfectly"

—Accompanied by a thunderous roar and visual effects that seemed to split the sky, a massive boulder fell.

Indeed, there is much room for doubt as to whether it should simply be described as a "boulder." After all, it was a rock mass easily over a hundred meters in size. It was more fitting to call it a floating mountain in the sky rather than just a boulder. Cracks ran through this mountain, and the hundred-meter mass shattered into pieces, raining down as numerous smaller—yet still five to ten-meter-sized—rock projectiles.

The landing site of these rock projectiles was the streets of the Royal Capital, with estimated casualties ranging from a thousand to ten thousand people. Committing such a large-scale massacre would only be comparable to 『Blue Lightning』 Cecilus Segmunt or the Sin Archbishops of 『Greed』 and 『Sloth』 in modern kill rates. However—

"If we don't limit it to the present, there were quite a few in the past."

With a voice full of fatigue and a hint of exasperation, Aldebaran gazed down from the city wall. Plan B—dropping the mountain—was a despicable tactic used by Aldebaran to create an opportunity to escape when cornered. Considering the circumstances that led to relying on this tactic, Aldebaran should have quickly turned tail and fled, ignoring the chaos and escaping from the Royal Capital. However, Aldebaran couldn't do that. He needed to take responsibility and see it through.

"—As expected."

From within his helmet, Aldebaran's narrowed black eyes reflected the scene, and he let out a hoarse compliment. As the mountain began its descent, the sound and spectacle were overwritten by the equally dramatic screams of the world, and a beautiful tower of ice rising from the ground intercepted the countless rock masses one by one. Contrary to its cold, frozen appearance, it was a warm, merciful, and compassionate saving hand. At the same time, the ice tower, shimmering pale blue in the light, seemed to express the deep sorrow of its caster.

"Isn't thinking like that a bit too poetic, old man?"

As Aldebaran watched the scene, Roy, slung over his shoulder, mocked him. Roy, with his limbs broken and rendered immobile, skillfully raised his upper body using his back muscles to observe the cataclysm that struck the Royal Capital over Aldebaran's shoulder. Despite being unable to do anything, he was annoyingly talkative.

"You're the one whose tongue is getting too poetic with my emotional portrayal. I don't know much, but that sense seems more fitting for your dead counterpart, the 『Gourmet』, rather than you, the 『Bizarre Eating』."

"Haha, attacking me about my dead family shows poor upbringing, doesn't it? Actually, it was Lye who liked to evaluate what he ate, not us. It's strange, isn't it? After all, whether it's us or me, the destination of what we eat is the same 'stomach of the soul.'"

"That's the audacity of a thief, or rather, a food thief."

"I don't like being called a thief. We just want to eat a little more than being full... just a cute little indulgence in gourmet dining."

Say one thing, and he responds with another. The 『Gluttony』's rich vocabulary and strong rhetoric, given the capabilities of his 『Gluttony』 authority, are among the best not only among Sin Archbishops but also in the world. Despite his childlike appearance and speech that reveals his rotten nature, one must not forget that the being slung over his shoulder is a monster of collective knowledge, having devoured countless knowledge and experiences. That's why Aldebaran chose to forcibly subdue him with violence and a curse seal, giving up on persuasion through words.

"......Anyway, the task is done. Let's go."

"Yeah, there's no need to throw a lifeline to the lady who dropped the rock anymore. Don't people often say you're a weirdo or a freak, old man?"

"Thanks for the overall review of my last few days."

Aldebaran responded to Roy, who had accurately guessed the reason for his stay without any explanation and added unnecessary words at the end, without any intention of engaging seriously. Then, Aldebaran quickened his pace once more after confirming the part of the Royal Capital where the damage had been mitigated thanks to Emilia—the noble district that had been completely flattened.

△▼△▼△▼△

Through the battle with Valga Cromwell, Aldebaran realized that there were formidable foes who could challenge even his power, which he had previously considered unbeatable.

Even now, his conviction that no one could defeat him remained unshaken. However, to solidify that conviction, he reminded himself not to become complacent with his power and to never stop thinking.

Therefore, during the 'Gluttony' jailbreak operation in the Royal Capital, he didn't choose an easy redo. Instead, he tackled each life of Aldebaran with meticulous care, like squeezing a tube of toothpaste to the very end, and concluded the count at 6,724.

Whether that number is considered large or small depends on the individual, but Aldebaran fundamentally believes that any count is 'appropriate.'

Regardless of the digits in the count, each attempt was necessary to overcome the wall. On very rare occasions, there was an attempt made just to let his heart take a deep breath, but even such a mental respite was a necessary attempt. Therefore, no matter what the count was, if the desired outcome was achieved, Aldebaran insists that those 6,724 attempts were the 'optimal' number of trials.

"――Hey, you damn helmet guy."

The predetermined rendezvous point—a place some distance from the Royal Capital—was an abandoned quarry, perfect for a gathering of scoundrels who wanted to avoid prying eyes. At that quarry, leaning against a crumbling stone wall, Aldebaran was greeted by Felt, whose eyes were blazing red with anger and hostility, issuing a harsh call.

She twisted her lips, revealing her sharp canines, and crossed her arms, openly displaying her disdain for Aldebaran. Her term of address had been downgraded from 'helmet guy' to 'damn helmet guy.' Felt jerked her slender chin, indicating the direction of the Royal Capital visible in the distance.

"If Emilia hadn't stopped that big rock, how many people do you think would have died? What happened to your policy of not letting anyone die? Are you planning to break your promises every time you falter? That's pathetic."

"......That's right. I'm relieved that you're safe, too, Miss Felt."

"Huh?"

"It's a joke. Otherwise, it's just a lighthearted comment or a terribly failed gag."

Aldebaran responded weakly to Felt, who became more prickly at his reply. Perhaps taking Aldebaran's attitude as insincere, Felt leaned forward, ready to lash out, when Roy, perched on her shoulder, spoke up.

"Felt-chan, I'd like to say 'keep it up,' but if you're going to nag the old man, we've already done the prep work on our side. So why not change the seasoning for a different flavor?"

"There's no 'how about' to it. ......Is it the 'Gluttony' you got caught by? The older brother? The younger brother? Either way, you've got a face that looks annoyingly similar to your siblings."

"Oh, so you know about us too? Well, I guess that's to be expected. I've heard from Louis, you know? That Roy got food poisoning because of Felt-chan."

"Is this about the time you picked a fight over my name? Serves you right."

Felt, whose sharp tongue is becoming even sharper, is said to have encountered 『Gluttony』—Roy Batenkaitos once in Priestella. It was a remark mocking the dead brother at that time, but just like with Aldebaran, Roy only laughed cheerfully at such sarcasm with a "Haha."

"By the way, among us, we don't know which of us was the eldest brother. Sometimes we felt like being the eldest, and other times we felt like being the second, so maybe that's why."

"Don't give me that nonsense. The order of siblings isn't decided by feelings. You should choose whether to give or take before it's too late."

"Haha! Both you and Felt-chan think you can say anything to the hated Sin Archbishop, don't you? It's fine, it's everyone's common understanding, after all."

"Hey, you damn helmet guy, I have no intention of having a fun chat with this one. Shut that jagged mouth of yours and answer my questions."

"I agree that he's noisy, but hold on with the Q&A session. Before that..."

Interrupting Felt's demand, Aldebaran turned his head around. Sensing the intention behind his gesture of looking around the quarry, Felt clicked her tongue and jerked her chin. Towards the back of the quarry, to a shabby hut barely maintaining its shape, Aldebaran's gaze was directed—

"—Al-sama."

"——"

Just then, Yae appeared from the hut, and her eyes met Aldebaran's. Yae, accompanied by a faintly warm aroma, was probably preparing a meal inside the hut. Her thoughtfulness was appreciated. Appreciated, but—

"Judging by that look, you got quite a beating, didn't you?"

At a glance, Aldebaran could sense the difference from her usual elusive demeanor. Her custom maid outfit with Waso taste was torn in places, and her red hair, which she never neglected to care for even on the battlefield, was disheveled. Most of all, it was her expression. It should be called solemn, lacking her usual childishness, which most undermined her character. As proof—

"…I'm glad."

Yae gently placed her hand on her chest and murmured upon Aldebaran's arrival. The emotion in her voice made Aldebaran slightly uncomfortable, but he didn't mention it, shrugging his shoulders with a "come on."

"That's not like the all-purpose helpful maid Yae-san. Unable to support me, what kind of surprise guest were you cozying up with?"

"—. Saying I was cozying up sounds bad, Al-sama. As you know, Yae-chan's heart is firmly under Al-sama's control."

For a moment, she erased the hesitation in her response and answered in her usual manner. Gently stroking her chest with her finger, she continued, "But, but,"

"It's true I spent a passionate time with a gentleman. The one who was at the mansion was 『Sword Demon』 Wilhelm van Astrea… no, Wilhelm Trias-sama."

"The old man 『Sword Demon』, huh? Well…"

Yae must have been taken aback by the unexpected assassin. However, it was hard to call them the worst enemy. Of course, they were undoubtedly one of the kingdom's top fighters, but as a swordsman, they were much easier for Yae to handle than a magician. Moreover, the Bariel Mansion was a hunting ground meticulously prepared by her, a perfect trap of the 'Red Cherry Blossom.'

However, with Aldebaran rushing to the rescue, the sharpness of the 『Sword Demon』 surpassed Yae. That expression was not one of a narrow defeat but a complete loss.

Perhaps the reason for that sharpness was—

"Isn't that old man sulking over there unrelated, right?"

Aldebaran directed his gaze to a red-haired man, Heinkel, who was sitting with one knee up, his head lowered beside a discarded chopping block near the shed. Heinkel, with his head drooping, hadn't even wiped off the red blood staining his entire body. It was unclear from here whether it was his own blood or splattered blood.

"What happened?"

"...I was in a daze, so I didn't see it properly with my own eyes."

"But?"

"I heard that Heinkel-sama defeated the 『Sword Demon』."

"――――"

At Yae's uncertain answer, Aldebaran gasped and looked at Heinkel again. Naturally, Aldebaran was aware of the relationship between Heinkel and Wilhelm. In short, it was a parent-child confrontation, where the son defeated the father.

He also knew about Heinkel's fatal flaw as a swordsman—

"The old man is caught between being a son and a father, endlessly."

Aldebaran didn't know the core of the Astrea Family's conflict. However, he understood that the existence of the 『Blessing of the Sword Saint』 and the title of 『Sword Saint』 created an irreconcilable friction over three generations of parent, child, and grandchild. This incident only solidified that friction.

"――――"

Reinhard and Wilhelm, Heinkel had completely opposed both of them in the past few days, and Aldebaran and the others had no right to worry about his feelings. They were the ones who involved him for their own purposes. Asking if he was okay would only sound insincere. So Aldebaran turned his gaze back to Yae and said,

"And what about the old man? If he was defeated, and that blood on the old man is splattered blood..."

『――I did the bare minimum treatment. Couldn't stay long, so it was really the bare minimum.』

"Whoa!?"

Aldebaran jumped at the sudden voice, looking around frantically. But there was no sign of Aldebaran, the owner of the voice, anywhere. It was the dragon shell of the 『Divine Dragon』. It shouldn't have been a size that could be overlooked—just as he thought that,

『Sorry, sorry, I'll deactivate the optical camouflage for a moment.』

As soon as those words were spoken, the space that should have been empty—a massive dragon's body, leaning against the stone wall Felt was resting on, appeared. The way the blurred air gradually gained color made Aldebaran widen his eyes in amazement,

"Optical camouflage, meaning it was made invisible by refracting light. Can you really do that?"

『It's impossible to adjust in real-time while moving, you know? But if it's only when staying still, it literally reduces the disadvantage of this huge body, right?』

"Yeah, I think an invisible 『Dragon』 is pretty awesome."

The magic that alters the refraction of light can be achieved by combining sun magic and wind magic, but maintaining it continuously is extremely inefficient. To blend into the surrounding scenery requires a highly precise manipulation of magic, and it's a challenge likely to fall short of the desired standard. In fact, even for Aldebaran, it was difficult to achieve, which is why they were kept waiting in the sky, hidden by clouds, in the Royal Capital.

"If you can do that now... it must have been quite a fierce battle."

"It was just as tough on this side. Honestly, if it weren't for the old man's backstab, I might have lost."

"A backstab, huh..."

Aldebaran slowly shook his head, processing the two surprises. One was the terror of the 『Sword Demon』 that made even Aldebaran imagine defeat. Despite having different software, the hardware specs were undoubtedly those of the 『Divine Dragon』, yet reaching that level after continuous battles with Yae was monstrous. And the other, of course, was the manner of Heinkel's intervention in that battle—

"It's not as simple as solving it by winning head-on, but if it was settled with a backstab, the old man's mental state must be a mess."

"Well, I think that's definitely true. After all, since fleeing from the Royal Capital, he hasn't spoken to us even once."

"I see..."

Receiving Yae's affirmation that Heinkel's severe condition was as expected, Aldebaran exhaled deeply and looked around at the people present. Yae, disheartened by defeat, and Aldebaran, overwhelmed by the 『Sword Demon』. Heinkel, crouching in shock from stabbing his father, and Felt, who didn't even bother to hide her hostility towards them. And Roy, in high spirits on his shoulder, with Aldebaran, the villain on a path of cowardice. A group of misfits, all in a pretty battered state.

"—Still, everyone is alive."

Relieved that everyone who faced each other at the quarry survived, Aldebaran relaxed his shoulders, quietly deactivated the 'domain,' and resumed a new matrix. The restart point was updated, and the events in the Royal Capital were now fixed in this world's history. In other words, the tears that flowed from her violet eyes were now irretrievable.

"But that's fine. Once I decided to betray everything, there was no convenient exception for just one person."

There would be no compromise. No wavering of the heart. If they slipped up, everything would be ruined. To conclude that all the pain experienced by their body and heart had meaning, Aldebaran and the others couldn't afford to fail or stop.

"Yae, if you're preparing food, give me some. I'm hungry."

"I couldn't bring food from the mansion, so I stole from a passing shop. I've noted which stores and what I took, so please pay them later."

"You're quite thorough... Got it. And this one too."

"Should I tie and hang him up? I've already done it."

With that, Yae smoothly moved her fingers, and suddenly Aldebaran's shoulder felt lighter. Roy's body, which he had been carrying, was suspended by steel threads, hanging from the stone wall of the quarry.

"What, what, this treatment again? Well, it's better than being hung upside down, I guess."

"Stay like that for a while. Once I decide how to discipline you, I'll fix your hands and feet. But only if..."

"Don't forget the curse mark, right? Isn't that fine? We won't say we're not plotting anything, but we'll quietly evaluate things for a while."

"Evaluate, huh?"

"Is it because Lye died? I have no intention of succeeding the 『Gourmet』, but I thought I might take a bit more interest in things before they end up on the plate!"

Bound hand and foot, suspended in an awkward arching position, Roy swayed his body. Shrugging at the eeriness, Aldebaran exchanged glances with 'Aldebaran.' The one sharing the same consciousness nodded his large jaw, assuring not to look away.

"By the way, Plan B saved us. Thanks to that, we managed to escape."

"Oh, you went with Origin for that one. I was thinking of it as the 'Second Plan.' Well, it's good that we ended up with the same idea."

"Origin?"

"Isn't calling the other me getting a bit confusing? So, I thought how about Origin, meaning the original. How about direct line for me?"

"Origin and direct line, sounds like family ramen."

To Aldebaran's suggestion, Aldebaran casually replied, "I'll think about it." Then, finally, he turned to Felt, who had been put off until later, with an angry face. Felt, arms crossed, still burned with unchanging anger in her eyes, but—

"You figured out well that it was Emilia who stopped that big rock."

"Huh? Are you mocking me? No one but Emilia could do something that stupid."

"The way you say it, it sounds like you're mocking her, but... that's right. We dropped the rock, counting on Emilia to catch it all."

"...You're not getting away with just a kick to the butt."

Understanding Aldebaran's despicable escape tactic correctly, Felt twisted her lips further in threat. Her threat, still tinged with the scent of the lower town, was her utmost expression of anger, yet Aldebaran felt another sentiment simultaneously.

Aldebaran's method and Emilia being caught in it. The fact they broke out 『Gluttony』 was enough to make Felt angry. However, it seemed there were other reasons for Felt's overflowing anger—

"...It's not Felt's fault about his father and the old 『Sword Demon』."

"I don't think it's my fault. It's definitely yours... yours and Reinhard's father and grandfather's fault. But still, it pisses me off, and just thinking about what face that idiot will make when he finds out pisses me off even more."

"――――"

"From the moment I made him my knight, anything related to him can't be considered unrelated to me. Remember that, you helmeted bastard."

"...What?"

"Even if you think what you did was your responsibility, there's no way it won't be talked about together with that princess. What you're doing is kicking the dead."

Felt's sharp gaze and words were the most corrosive to Aldebaran amidst all the venom. The relationship between a knight and their master doesn't disappear even if one dies. If Aldebaran gains infamy, it also tarnishes Priscilla Bariel's name. This realization was thrust upon him, and he tasted fresh bitterness and pain. However—

"The princess is no longer anywhere. Not even a body remains."

"—That's not what I meant...!"

"It is what I mean. To me, life is..."

Felt's anger was silenced by a dry response.
The fame or infamy after death holds no meaning for the deceased. Everything matters only while one is alive. The joy or sorrow over a deceased's reputation is merely the sentimentality of those who survived.

"Do your best while both you and your opponent are alive. That's all I can say."

"――. Damn helmet guy, what the hell are you?"

"……I'm a trailing star."

"Trailing……?"

"A failed attempt at the brightest star in the night sky."

With that, Aldebaran turned his back on Felt, abandoning the exchange. He then walked over to the log-splitting area where Heinkel was.

"――――"

Heinkel, with his head down, didn't look up or acknowledge Aldebaran. But he was conscious. His breathing and the tension in his body sensed Aldebaran's presence. Imagining his agitated state of mind was easy. Wondering what to say, Aldebaran hesitated a bit but,

"I'll keep my promise. Once this is over, the 『Dragon's Blood』 will be yours."

"――hk"

What Heinkel needed now was neither comfort nor apology, but a firm assurance. Hearing Aldebaran's words, Heinkel gasped, then reached out, grabbing the hem of Aldebaran's coat and pulling him close. Aldebaran instinctively knelt, feeling a cold blade against his neck, meeting Heinkel's eyes up close. Heinkel, with blood-splattered on his face, his blue eyes bloodshot,

"Absolutely……!"

"――――"

"Absolutely keep your promise. The 『Dragon's Blood』, no matter what…… the 『Witch of Envy』 too……!"

"I understand. I have no intention of ending the world. That's what 『Gluttony』 is for."

Feeling a sharp pain on his neck, Aldebaran calmly replied. Raising his hand slightly, he signaled Yae, who was about to react to Heinkel's rashness, to stand down. For a while, Aldebaran and Heinkel glared at each other at close range,

"Damn it!"

Heinkel spat out, shoving Aldebaran away. Aldebaran barely managed to regain his balance, and when he looked ahead, Heinkel had once again lowered his head, retreating into the same withdrawn state as before. Seeing this, Aldebaran fiddled with the metal fittings of his helmet, letting out a small sigh.

For the time being, he had grasped everyone's condition. It was undeniable that everyone had been exhausted, for better or worse, before and after entering the Royal Capital, but he wanted to consider it balanced by the fact that no one was lost and Roy was retrieved. Honestly, he knew he wasn't suited for it, but he had to steer things well.

"For now, we should be able to settle down here for a while. Let's eat Yae's food, rest a bit, and then resume our move. The chaos in the Royal Capital is still ongoing――"

Instead of clapping, Aldebaran snapped his fingers to gather everyone's attention. Up to this point, Yae and Heinkel, who had been with him from the start, had been on a nearly three-day non-stop march. He intended to take some time to let them rest.

――If only a giant rock hadn't been dropped from above, interrupting Aldebaran's words.

"What"

Just as a shadow was cast by thin clouds, Aldebaran was crushed by an enormous weight. However, he thought he heard the distant sound of insect wings.

△▼△▼△▼△

――Otto Suwen was furious.
He was determined to eliminate the wicked and tyrannical king.――So much so that the cliché phrase Subaru had once jokingly mentioned when angry came to mind, Otto was furious.

The cause and target of that anger no longer require explanation. Aldebaran, who had become a criminal, did something unforgivable. He betrayed the hearts of those who cared for and worried about him, and he broke the laws set by the kingdom with such severity that it nearly reached a hundred counts. However, what angered Otto the most was that Aldebaran opposed Otto's family.

Otto is aware that he is a pacifist. He generally dislikes conflicts and believes in avoiding trouble whenever possible. In fact, during his days as a traveling merchant with Furufu, he rarely got involved in disputes or chose violent solutions unless he was unavoidably dragged into them.

However, things changed after he joined Emilia's camp and took on the role of an internal affairs officer. Although he doesn't agree with Subaru's teasing of him as a militant internal affairs officer, the policy of resolving matters peacefully and gently is not prioritized in his current position. The malice directed at him now is far sharper than during his days as a light-footed merchant, and if he continues to respond passively, he won't be able to protect what he wants to safeguard.

At the same time, Otto is aware of his significant role as someone favored by one of the royal election candidates, and he constantly reminds himself not to let go of this awareness. As an internal affairs officer in the camp, involved in the administration of the Mathers territory, Otto holds a position and title of power he could never have imagined before. To avoid being consumed by it and misunderstanding his position, Otto practices self-restraint daily.

This self-restraint of Otto's efforts is cast aside the moment his family is threatened.

"Everyone has their circumstances. But if the other party has no intention or preparation to come to the negotiation table, I won't show any consideration."

If they want pity, they should be pitied. If they want charity, they should be given charity. Such compassion and kindness are present in everyone in Emilia's camp. Therefore, Otto also respects everyone's healthy disposition to the utmost. Even so, if the other party tramples on them or tries to exploit them, there's no choice.

If they want support, they should be supported. And if they wish to become adversaries, then we will oppose them as much as they desire.

"Thanks to Lady Emilia, there was no damage to the city. The evacuation guidance for the noble district was completed in advance. The Royal Capital's knights are competent."

While organizing the damage situation of the events that occurred, Otto clenched his fist. He couldn't afford to be indignant because he needed to focus on understanding the situation and confirming progress. There was just an indignant feeling deep in his chest—towards his own pathetic disgrace.

When the initial weight of the unfolding situation hit him, Otto embarrassingly lamented his powerlessness and, unbelievably, was comforted by Emilia. It was completely the opposite of what should have happened. Such a thing should never have occurred. Otto was supposed to be in a position to alleviate Emilia's anxieties. Yet, in reality, Otto was half-crying, being comforted by Emilia, and was even physically patted on the back by the very person he should have been supporting.

He jokingly told Emilia that Subaru would kill him, but in truth, Otto felt like he wanted to strangle himself.

However, the dead never get a chance to make amends. So, Otto didn't do anything foolish like putting his hands around his own neck; instead, he used all his strength to think. Fortunately, thanks to his half-crying state, his head cleared a little. Although thunder still roared in his mind, the lightning helped him focus on the depths of the darkness.

Reflecting on the past, there was a time when it was just Furufu and me, and while hurrying through a thunderstorm, lightning struck the cart, burning all the cargo to ashes. As I lamented this great misfortune, my beloved dragon said, "Let's be glad neither of us got hurt, young master," and that sentiment was indeed correct. If you're going to travel through a thunderstorm, you must be prepared for the possibility of being struck by lightning. Whether you escape with your life from the lightning is a matter of luck.

Reducing the elements that can be overturned by luck as much as possible, and advancing through the thunderstorm. That is the essence of Otto Suwen's method of fighting without choosing means—if it meant that, he could unhesitatingly play cards that might be scorned as heartless. This is reflected in—

"We can't prepare military strength greater than Reinhard-san's or forces greater than Felt-sama's while we're staying in the Royal Capital. In the first place, by the time it's our turn, military strength and numbers can no longer be absolute indicators to stop them."

Somehow, Aldebaran evaded the 'Sword Saint' Reinhard, led the 'Divine Dragon' Volcanica, and repelled Felt and her forces to reach the Royal Capital. Otto and his group, who had just returned from the Vollachian Empire and were acting separately from their companions, had no means to counter Aldebaran's incomprehensible execution power.

Therefore, sending Emilia with instructions to capture alive and contacting Wilhelm and others, who happened to be staying at the mansion, were not aimed at a decisive blow. Of course, if Emilia or Wilhelm and the others could secure a victory, that would be best, but Otto predicted that was unlikely. And currently, Otto and his group do not possess more aggressive means than deploying their maximum forces.

Neither the fighting style of Reinhard van Astrea nor the strategic wisdom of Valga Cromwell is something Otto Suwen possesses. He doesn't overestimate himself as having the talent to compete with them.

Otto doesn't expect himself to be capable of more than his abilities allow. At most, what he can do is to fully utilize his capabilities to their fullest extent. And with that full extent, what Otto Suwen can do is—

"—The abandoned quarry to the west of the Royal Capital."

Upon receiving the report delivered with a fluttering sound, Otto marked the map and narrowed his eyes. Holding a blood-stained handkerchief to his nose, he tapped his head to keep from becoming dazed. When Subaru called the overuse of his blessing "overheat," he remembered how Garfiel's eyes sparkled at the mysterious sound of it, and his lips relaxed.

"Overheat, very well. Even if my head splits, I won't stop..."

Muttering this while his nose bled, Otto snapped his fingers at the gathering fluttering sound—the Zodda Bug—and instructed them on the next action and to continue monitoring. The Zodda Bug, with their good-natured disposition and weak individual consciousness, shared their policies as a swarm. Convincing one was as effective as convincing the entire swarm. And what they sought in return for favors was mostly 'sanctuary.'

Otto intended to secure that sanctuary by leveraging his position as an internal affairs officer. In return, he would have them follow orders that endangered their lives and perform tasks impossible for humans.

—Like identifying the rendezvous point by sticking to the fleeing 'Divine Dragon,' dropping a large rock on the enemy's head with the power of a swarm of over a hundred thousand, or collecting every bit of the message left by the captured Felt, and everything else.

"…Mogoredo Great Vent."

The message was left by Felt, who was being taken as a hostage by Aldebaran's group, believing it would reach us. It was recovered from the destroyed Bariel Mansion. Felt entrusted it to a Zodda Bug, slipping past the watchful eyes, showing her courage.

The message simply listed a certain place name in the Kararagi City-State, likely indicating Aldebaran and his group's next target or destination. If they intend to move towards that place, they are free to do so. However, Otto will not take his eyes off them.

No matter where they go or try to hide, Otto will continue to monitor Aldebaran and his group's every move, at the cost of tinnitus and bleeding.

"Don't think you can sleep anymore. The whole world is now your enemy."

Otto does not possess the power to achieve victory. What he can do is continuously weaken the opponent's strength. This is Otto Suwen's way of fighting, different from the 'Sword Saint' or the 'Great Strategist', as the internal affairs officer of Emilia's camp, giving his all.