Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint - Ch. 298
Historia took a deep drag and spoke with a slightly dazed expression.
“This is… nice… My arm doesn’t hurt, and my head feels clear. It feels like my strength is returning…”
“Meow~. I like it too, nya~.”
A satisfied purr came in response from Nabi.
Maximilien noticed Nabi rolling around in the narrow space behind him, surrounded by piles of mana herbs, and frowned.
The trick to making sure drugs don’t affect you?
Take them in advance.
It worked, though I was a bit concerned about how much Historia had smoked.
How much did she smoke for her eyes to lose focus like that?
“You’re mistaken. Your arm doesn’t hurt because you’re just not feeling the pain and your head feels clear only because you’re addicted to the mana herb.”
Despite my comment, Historia just grinned and waved the mana herb around.
“I’m serious. It feels way better than the first time I smoked it. I wonder why.”
“The mana herb is like a beacon, only reminding you of your happiest moments. If you’re feeling happy when you light it up, that just means you are currently lost so don’t let your guard down.”
“It’s all your fault. The reason I’m smoking this, the reason I’m in such a miserable state, it’s all because I got caught up with you.”
“What?”
This is strange. Am I reading her thoughts?
She’s saying things out loud that should only be in her mind.
She seemed to enjoy my dumbfounded expression and chuckled as she brought the mana herb back to her lips.
She breathed in the ashen smoke and exhaled slowly, letting out a sweet sigh.
“Hah… Do you want to try a puff too?”
“Don’t act generous with something I gave you. Hurry up and give me back what’s left.”
“Puh. You’re so mean. What’s yours and what’s mine doesn’t matter with mana herbs. We’re supposed to share.”
Her sulky smile gave off an unsettling feeling.
How many mental barriers had been broken down?
It was terrifying how much drugs could change a person.
While I was at a loss for words, Maximilien examined the mana herb in Historia’s hand closely and was astonished.
“…Is that a leaf of the World Tree? How did you get your hands on that? No, who gave it to you?”
Historia answered with a foolish smile.
“I don’t know… Why should I care? I just light it up and smoke.”
“That can’t be! There isn’t a single thing under the rule of the Kings of Plants and Trees that isn’t under the dominion of the Human Regime! How did a leaf of the World Tree slip out? Impossible!”
“Then I guess the Human Regime gave it to me. Oh right, Huey, didn’t you give it to me? Hehe. Huey, are you part of the Human Regime?”
Her answer showed she still had a screw loose in her head.
Even Maximilien gave up on getting a proper response and shook his head.
“So even this answer depends on the King of Humans. That’s one more reason to secure him.”
“That can’t happen.”
As Historia was happily smoking the mana herb, she suddenly lost her smile.
All it took was a change in her expression and it felt like the temperature in the air dropped several degrees.
The mana herb bobbed up and down between her lips as she muttered.
“That bastard… He’s a damn scoundrel who starts things and then runs away irresponsibly, but those were still the best days of my life.”
Right after saying that, Historia kicked off the ground.
She didn’t need a running start.
She lightly landed atop the giant Steel Beetle before taking a deep breath.
Maximilien spoke.
“That’s an unrequited feeling. He’s the King of Humans. His emotions won’t be swayed by a single individual.”
“King of Humans, Human King, or whatever, none of that matters. Those memories are mine and I won’t let the Director ruin them!”
…This is why people should always try to show their best side.
See?
Living sincerely leads to past connections helping you out in times like this. It feels like I’m getting more help than I deserve for what I’ve done.
I should probably return the favor, in a humane manner.
I stopped what I was doing and climbed back onto the Steel Beetle.
Walking slowly, I stood behind Historia as if to support her.
Azzy, who had been chasing the gears, saw me and, after a brief moment of hesitation, tensed her shoulders and sat by my side.
The situation had completely changed from earlier.
In the newly shifted dynamic, Maximilien, finding himself in a difficult position, curled his fingers.
“Three against one… Even without the Dog King, it won’t be easy.”
Historia still wasn’t in perfect shape and I was only at half-strength at best.
Together, we barely added up to one full force.
However, the odds were now higher than they had ever been.
I lifted my chin and said,
“You understand well. This is your last chance. If you run now, I’ll let you go.”
Maximilien seriously contemplated it.
He was a person who, like gears, moved based on logic and reason.
He seriously considered whether to choose a dangerous battle here or retreat safely.
｢The King of Humans could destroy my body with a single touch. I can’t let him get close, but the problem is that there’s also the expert in close combat, the Gunmaster. Without the Steel Beetle, it’s hard to maintain an advantage. There are too many variables. Retreating would be the rational choice, but…｣
The decision was clear.
But one last lingering attachment held him back.
Maximilien spoke.
“You said I’m ordinary.”
I nodded without hesitation and added a word of comfort.
“Don’t be discouraged. It’s not just you. All humans are ordinary, except for a very, very few…”
“I know. Humans themselves were just another type of beast… until they made themselves special.”
Maximilien looked down at his prosthetic hand, flexing and curling his fingers.
Though it wasn’t visible on the outside, the gears inside the prosthetic interlocked intricately, mimicking human movement.
How many trials and errors did he go through to make it move so naturally?
Such a discovery was undoubtedly the result of exceptional talent blossoming in a suitable environment through relentless effort.
It was undeniably a remarkable skill.
But it wasn’t ‘special.’
After all, it was merely a replication of something that already existed.
At best, it was a substitute.
As intricate as the gears were, they were ultimately a highly simplified version of the World’s Principles, something Maximilien knew better than anyone.
“Maybe I’ve known it all along. Objectively and subjectively, I’m an exceptional person, far beyond the ordinary… but I still lacked something to reach the Divine. I sought out the King of Humans to fill that gap.”
“You came to the right place. You figured out that I’m the King of Humans. Now, be satisfied with your audience and go back. It’ll make for good drinking stories with your people over some beer.”
“But if I give up here, wouldn’t that be the end for me?”
Maximilien murmured as he placed both hands on the back of the Steel Beetle.
As he poured an enormous amount of mana into it, the prosthetic hand made of Alchemic Steel resonated and glowed white.
The tips of his mana-concentrated fingers melted like lava.
He moved his molten fingers to draw a picture—a circle, a triangle, and a single straight line.
It was a symbol resembling scales.
The beginning of alchemy, the transmutation circle.
Maximilien infused more mana into it as he muttered.
“Humans can do anything. No matter how insane it is.”
And after a brief moment, his hands sank into the steel.
Ripples formed as if he were playing in the water.
Alchemy.
The human art of manipulating and transforming matter within certain limits.
It’s bound by numerous restrictions and limitations, and no matter how skilled an alchemist was, some things were simply impossible.
Because of that, alchemy was not considered an Arcane.
Compared to the complex and mysterious Unique Magic, alchemy seems rather plain.
But the essence of alchemy wasn’t power.
Alchemy was about accumulation.
Just like how years of saving small amounts of money can eventually allow you to buy something you never dreamed of, alchemy allows you to pour accumulated power into a single moment to achieve feats that would normally be impossible.
Even I, at this very moment, am performing beyond my usual abilities thanks to alchemy.
And what if Maximilien does the same?
I immediately shouted to Azzy.
“Azzy, jump!”
“Woof? Jump? Jump!”
Azzy tilted her head but obediently jumped in place.
I appreciated her good behavior, but the problem was that it wasn’t the kind of jumping I needed.
“No, not jumping in place!”
“Woof? A different jump?”
While Azzy was still confused, Maximilien poured an enormous amount of mana into the Steel Beetle.
The Steel Beetle was the result of his meticulous assembly of Alchemic Steel.
It was a weapon in itself, but also raw material for alchemy. Just like my cards.
“Combat Alchemy: Mercury Dealke.”
Maximilien’s hands “tore” the Steel Beetle apart.
It wasn’t Unique Magic.
He simply used his mana to transmute the entire Steel Beetle.
He broke it down and split its components.
Alchemy.
A universal skill that I could freely use, but one that I couldn’t steal because it was an inherent human ability.
The ground trembled.
The Steel Beetle split apart as if shedding its skin.
My body floated upward.
Historia quickly grabbed me by the collar, stopping me from slipping.
My breath caught in my throat.
Thanks to Historia’s quick action, I was safe, but Maximilien hadn’t been targeting me in the first place.
“Woof! Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof!”
Azzy, who had jumped into the air, fell into the cracks.
She scrambled to climb out, digging her claws into the steel interior of the Steel Beetle.
“We, humans, are the lords of all things…”
Maximilien muttered as he forcefully brought his hands together.
There was a loud clang as metal clashed against metal.
Following his gesture, the steel that had split apart surged like waves.
Before Azzy could escape, the Steel Beetle’s cracks closed.
Azzy’s barking grew faint as if coming from beyond a wall.
Having instantly isolated Azzy, Maximilien raised his arm.
The steel that clung to his prosthetic was now jagged and uneven.
There was no longer any sign of refinement or craftsmanship.
What was left was pure madness and aggression.
Wielding the grotesquely misshapen metal like a weapon, Maximilien shouted.
“A beast that becomes extraordinary by killing their King with its own hands! There’s nothing we can’t do!”