Subtraction, not addition. Well, Cigarone has an interesting way of saying that.


...... such a play on words.

　Nato is desperately trying to cut back, trying not to be consumed by the pressure that Cigarone emits.

　But it's no use. Inwardly, he's convinced by Cigarone's words. He's not quite convinced.


'You've lost ten straight Second Firth Tests, so you know what I mean, don't you?

...... .......

You can't understand anything while you're adding things up. That's the kind of man I am.

That's why I say it's .......

Don't play dumb. You know as well as I do. The Second First Test has always been able to lead the Empire in the wrong direction. It had the power to do so. But he never did. The man had never hurt anyone, never used anyone, and he had made it on merit. No matter how many times he sent assassins to me, he never complained. Even more so, I even put myself at a disadvantage to prevent my arrows from hitting the knight behind me. That knight was attempting to kill me.


　Nato would know that without being told every single thing.

　But what was the point of daring to say it here, Cigarone said as he pursued.


'The Second First Test was not an enemy of the Empire, it was an enemy of Spica Amrit. He was more than useful to the Empire. That's not just the past, but the present and the future as well. Nato Shaman, you know the truth, why don't you face it!


　Yeah, I get it. That's why Cigarone is so passionate about it.

　He doesn't want to lose Nato from the Marvel Empire.

　In terms of Nato's character, he should be on our side (・・・・). And yet, for some reason, he is about to fall into the sieve himself.

　Why?　We'll see about that. Because Cigarone and Nato are going to have a go at each other, right?


............

　I sat down on the edge of a planting about fifteen meters away from them. This is the special seat.

　Nato, pressured by Cigarone, took one look at me, then turned to Cigarone and uttered in a low voice.


'If I defect, Your Highness will be alone ...... like I used to be.


　...... Good grief. Nato, no matter how far off the beaten path Melson goes, she just can't seem to betray him. That righteousness is unusual, but it's still you.


'Did righteousness win out?'

　Cigarone muttered in disgust and put strength into his hand holding his spear.


''--!

　Immediately after, they started to move.

　Nato was the one who took the lead. He prepared the 《Flying Wheel Spear Technique》 and began to rush forward as soon as it was completed.

　In contrast, Cigarone prepared a counter of the Golden General Spear Technique just in time. He then expected Nato to switch from skill cancellation to the range attack of 《 Incense Car Spear Technique》 and quickly discarded his spear to the ground from the Golden General cancellation and began to prepare the 《Gold General Body Technique》.


''!

　Nato said while activating the Incense Car Spear Technique, "You were reading it! He shows a surprised face, such as.

　《King General Body Technique》 is a close range attack skill that tackles while defending. If they collided with each other at this point, the Golden General would defend against the incense car's attack and pop the entire Nato.


''Kukka!''

　Nato will be forced to switch skills.

　However, there are quite a few skills that can be prepared now and be ready in time to tackle the Gold General.

　Hmmm, have you decided on this ......?


Not yet!

　Nato discarded his spear from the skill cancellation and quickly escaped from Cigarone's attack range with an all-out backstep.

　Not bad persistence, I'd say, but ...... that makes the form clear.


'Sweet!'

Whoa!

　Cigarone activated the Golden General, knocking the angle of the tackle downward and swinging his hand out to gouge the ground. The impact sent dirt and stones flying, hitting Nato in the eye.

　It's an eye sore. It would be hard to duck at this close range.

　And Cigarone should be quick to go for a tome.


''It's over.''

　I knew it. He wouldn't do anything so lame as to take advantage and regroup.

　《Long King Body Technique》, this is an extremely powerful ranged attack. This skill that is difficult to evade and respond to, I'm trying to prepare for it while Nato's vision is not functioning.

　Now, it's extremely difficult to catch this, Nato.

　But that doesn't mean you can't handle it. In fact, there's still a chance of reversing the situation.

　It's only possible if you can use the ...... thing.


What's going on?　Have you given up?

　Cigarone called out to Nato as he prepared for the Dragon King.

　Nato just stood there, eyes tightly closed, just standing there. Yes, he was not prepared for any skills.


'Go to ....... I'm ready, I'm ready.

'As I'm sure you know, a critical hit will kill you. Would you still like that?　Your Highness Melson.


　At Nato's words, Cigarone waved to Melson.


''...... .......''

　Melson just clenches his fists and glares at Cigarone with an angry look on his face.

　I think she knows. No matter what she said, Cigarone was going to shoot the Dragon King.

　Still, he wanted to say one last thing.


"Regret it. That man you admire so much will surely destroy the Empire. I was the only one who wasn't fooled. Until the very end, I alone ......!


　He points at me and says hatefully.

　Well, you're not wrong. You must really love the Empire, Melson. I'm clearly an alien. It's very natural for you to want to rid the country of me. And since you're going to be the emperor, there's no way I'm going to overlook that.


I see.


　Cigarone uttered a single word and smiled - and released the 《Long King Body Technique》.



''Nato--!


　Melson's eyes widened and he shouted Nato's name.

　There is no longer any way to duck.

　The rest of us can only pray that we don't get a critical strike at least.


　Nato's mouth, with his eyes closed, moved slightly.

　Thank you ...... and.


　That, right after ----.





''-- Transformation.''



　A moment after the Dragon King's shockwave reached us, Nato activated the Transformation.

　It's a skill I taught him in a memo. As I thought, I've already learned it. Excellent.

　Nato was hit by the Dragon King, but the invincibility time when he activated the Transformation skill nullified it. The invincibility time is 8 seconds, of which 6 seconds you can't move, but the last 2 seconds you can act freely. Nato would go for the trick at that moment.


''Phew.''

　Cigarone laughs. Maybe he was expecting it.

　After the rigid time after the use of the Dragon King was over, how empty-handed he was, he opened his mouth leisurely without preparing any skills.


''Your Highness Melson, this skill was taught to Nato Shaman by the Second Firth Test. Do you know why he taught a skill so powerful that even the Dragon King could nullify it like this?

!


　Six seconds pass.

　A moment later, Nato did not turn to Cigarone, but sprinted ...... to Melson.



'For Nato to break the deadlock and escape with His Highness. Because that's what the Second wanted ......!

!


　Nato was startled by Cigarone's words and stopped in his tracks.

　Melson looked at me with a look of incomprehension.


　...... Well, I hadn't thought about it that much, but I was thinking about something similar.

　Nato Shaman. That guy is a Knight of Melson. A righteous knight who will defend Melson no matter what. I knew he'd stand by his side, even if it meant turning the whole empire against him.

　I don't hate that kind of thing. That's why I didn't want you to be the only one to lose.

　I'm not the kind of guy who can't take advantage of an eight-second window of opportunity. We're gonna get out of this. And you and Melson will have one more chance. A chance to start over.


　Come on, Nato Shaman, Melson Marvel. Last chance. There is no room for error.


"I'm going to let them get away with this!　Give him the skills to be a trump card like that!　What else can I say without calling this a second kindness!　You're the only one who doesn't get it!　Nato has known that for a long time now!　The Second has no intention of harming you in any way!　Let me say it again!　You're the only one who doesn't understand, Your Highness, you're the only one who doesn't understand!


　Cigarone said, raising his voice with all the strength he could muster.

　Surprisingly, Cigarone was trembling. That's how serious he is about saying it.


　...... Then it's time for me to get serious, too.

　It's a quick idea that just popped into my head. But because it's a flash idea, it's also my true intention. And it's the endgame I think Winfiled would have expected.



"-- the general is for Cigarone. The Chancellor will be in Melson. The Obergruppenführer to Olympia. Knight Commander of the Kingsguard to Nato. This is my proposed battle plan for the future.

Is ......!


　Perhaps it was because of the sudden announcement, but there was a startled cry from the Olympian behind me.




'And the Emperor shall be a light.'


............ Yes!!!!?



　This time, Wright was astonished.

　I'm sorry, but this form seemed like a good idea. So be the emperor, Light. I'm sorry.


''U...... lie!　I am the Prime Minister!　Wright is the emperor!　You have got to be kidding me!

　Melson is incensed beyond dismay.


'I'm sorry that I'm kidding around, that's how I feel, but I'm not lying, I swear.

'Then what!　You're going to dazzle us by making Light the emperor after tearing up the empire so much!

Yeah. I'm not. I'm always at the Zipangu embassy in the Kingdom of Castal.

You've got to be kidding me!


　Oh, scary.


What do you think of Cigarone?

　I'm afraid to shake it off to Cigarone.


'I don't think it's my fault. That is, however, if I'm not mistaken in my perception of His Highness the Light's recent behavior.

I'm fine, no need to go to the eye.

So that's a lineup that I'd expect to see.


　As I said, Cigarone seems to agree with me.

　He said that Melson is not a vessel to be at the top, but he can show his true worth by working for someone else.

　He's so much more dynamic and strong-willed. I'm sure he would be a great addition to the national government if only he could give the right direction.


"Cigarone!　You're one of them!　Don't you feel ashamed of your father!　In the first place, your father should have recognized Seven, not the man as the next emperor!


　Hmm, sure.

　But I don't think there's anything to worry about there: .......



'--back off!　d*mn it, don't retreat!

"Your Majesty!　It's dangerous!

Shut up!　Do not disobey my orders!


　Speak of the devil. Gordo Marvel showed up.

　Gordo approached us, resisting his supposedly SS guards.

　Then, after shooting me a sharp look, he looked around at all of us and then opened his mouth.


'...... Seven. No, Second. I won't change my mind. I want you to be the next emperor. If not, the empire will continue to grow weaker and weaker. You are the only one who can stand in opposition to Castal and Orangji: ......!


　It's to be expected.

　Gordo is a meritocrat. If you acknowledge Seven and not me, then you are violating your principles.

　Plus, he's quite the sore loser. It's the fate of those who have won. Rothman, Vogt, Kensin, they all did.

　Gordo apparently hates and dislikes the fact that the Marvel Empire is defeated by the Castal and Orangi kingdoms.

　He didn't show it in words or attitude, but his eyes spoke. He's begging me to make the empire stronger, as if he's about to get down on his knees.

　I've been gutted for ...... two years that I've put together a country where meritocracy is the only thing that is valued by the strongest people. The strong no longer follow me in such a way. I'm not going to be the only one.

　I'm sure that's why he thought that the head of the new empire must be a competent person.

　I understand that logic very well. But ...... unfortunately, I don't have time to be an emperor.


''I understand. I will be the next emperor.

Oh ......!

And I'll turn that position over to Wright at once.

......!


　I'm going to confront Gordo again.

　I can't refuse you.

　Just as you chose me, I choose Wright.

　If I refuse to choose Wright, that's a denial of the meritocracy and a denial of the imperial system.


　Yeah, this is painful.

　If Wright becomes emperor, he'll be able to be flexible in many ways. As long as Cigarone, Nato and the Olympians are around, Wright will be safe.

　Melson could work for his country under surveillance, and Gordo could live out the rest of his life in comfort with his wife.

　I think that's a great idea. We all benefit in the long run. At the same time, this empire has been successfully destroyed and a whole new one is about to be born.

　I'm not sure if this is going to work: ...... It's probably the lineup Winfiled had in mind. I'm sure that if that's the case, it will work out just fine. I'm not worried about it.


'I'll be away for a while, but Wright will be fine.

　I take my wine cup and wine from my inventory.


"Here's to new beginnings in the Reich.

　And then I made a toast to myself.


　Well, let's go home now--.