Chapter 245

Thwack—!

A sound like a door being ripped off its hinges suddenly rang out. I, who had been dozing off until Leo arrived, shot my eyes open.

Leo, dressed in the Bavarian royal ceremonial robes as if he had come from the palace, was panting as he looked down at me. His face was completely pale.

I looked at him and said without expression.

“…It seems you remember, Leo.”

Before I could finish, Leo, with a face that looked as if his soul had flown away, sat on my bed without permission and muttered.

“…Alive….”

“…….”

“You’re not dead.”

“Yeah. I turned back time in front of you.”

“You’re alive.”

“Yeah. Yeah.”

Leo now looked down at his own hands and fell silent. Then he pulled me in and buried his face in my shoulder. Since his expression just before had changed to look as if he was about to cry, I was inwardly shocked that this Leo could make even a slightly similar face, and I comforted him.

“What’s wrong with this punk….”

“Aren’t you happy to see me after I came back from the dead? You’re so stoic no matter what situation you’re in.”

Leo, as if relieved by my words, chuckled and then slowly sank back into gloom. I couldn’t see his expression, but since I knew what he was feeling right now, I could guess what kind of face he was making.

And honestly, I felt a little guilty. Compared to the people of this era, my emotional capacity is significantly lower. I just feel sorry for my friend, a person who was often criticized in that area even in the modern era.

‘Come to think of it, he’s still a teenager.’

I keep thinking about his age in the latter half of the novel.

It hits me again that he’s still so young. I didn’t realize it because he responded so skillfully in the field, but at this age, it seems okay to cry a little.

Come to think of it, his birthday hasn’t even passed yet, so he’s 17….

‘…17 years old. The other kids are all 18 now, but still….’

The thought that I can’t ask these guys to do anything in the future strikes me once again. I can’t pass the buck to these kids who are still wet behind the ears. If I recalculate my age in this world’s way, a professor or someone else might see me as a brat who’s still wet behind the ears too, but I have to be relative.

“Leo.”

“What.”

“Grow up quickly.”

“What?”

So I can use you without a guilty conscience.

As a form of comfort, I patted his shoulder a few times and sat him up straight.

Leo was looking down with a dark expression. He had seemed so calm when moving people to the New Brandenburg National Park or at the Emergency Committee meeting right after the suicide incident, but now he was showing his shock without filtering. It seemed to be the difference between a real battle and not. In fact, he must have been in this state all along.

Or else….

‘There’s another reason.’

I handed Leo, who was sitting listlessly, one of the whiskeys Elias had sent and pushed the oranges that had been brought as a snack towards him.

I’m the owner of this hospital room—though its actual purpose is a prison—but I’m the one offering him various things.

Leo, seeing the oranges and whiskey at the same time, looked up at me with a questioning expression.

“This combination… what is it? Do you eat like this?”

“…….”

The fact that he’s concerned about food even in this mess reminds me again that this guy is royalty. Of course, oranges with whiskey, I wouldn’t eat whiskey like this either.

But he needs to eat something now and release the tension from the terror. I’d like to give him time, but I have something to talk to him about.

“I eat like this, so you eat like this too.”

“Alright….”

Leo surprisingly ate the orange obediently and took a sip of whiskey.

“Is it good?”

“Would it be?”

“You’re very honest.”

“Ah… I can’t. I have to eat them separately.”

‘Picky bastard….’

I stared at him and said in a low voice.

“Leo.”

Leo, who was stabbing an orange with a fork, just raised his eyes and looked at me.

“It’s good to see you again.”

Leo was about to say something, but he closed his mouth and smiled faintly. Then he replied briefly.

“Me too.”

I didn’t say anything more and just looked at him. Perhaps because I was staring at him so intently, Leo stopped his fork and looked at me as if to ask what was wrong, but I just shrugged my shoulders.

Leo said reluctantly.

“…No, explain. What’s wrong, all of a sudden.”

“Nothing. Just eat.”

I gestured to the plate with my chin, and Leo asked again.

“What is it.”

“Eat.”

At my short reply, Leo seemed to give up on retorting, shook his head, and continued to eat the oranges. I watched him with my arms crossed until he had silently emptied the plate.

When he placed the plate on the bedside table and looked at me, I nodded and asked slowly.

“Do you remember what happened earlier?”

“…I remember. There was a terror attack.”

“From beginning to end, can you tell me everything you remember?”

Leo’s lips parted in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected such a question.

“…Why should I.”

“What can’t you tell me?”

“…….”

“As someone who remembers what you said to me right before you went back, I can’t just remain ignorant.”

At that topic, Leo’s expression hardened slightly.

“I’m sure I told you to forget….”

“To forget. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can forget, Leo.”

I wasn’t being sarcastic.

Fortunately, Leo looked at me calmly, without expression.

I also continued to look at him.

“I need to know to solve it or not. What’s the point of avoiding the conversation?”

“I was on the verge of death, so I couldn’t distinguish what I should and shouldn’t say to you. It was purely a selfish remark I made at that moment, and it was something I shouldn’t have said to you.”

“Then I need to hear it even more. I only found out there was something you were hiding when you were pushed to the brink of death, and since it’s related to my ability, how can I not address it?”

“…….”

Leo quietly opened his mouth.

“I don’t know much either. What you’re guessing now, that’s all there is.”

“If you think I’m already guessing, then say it with your own mouth.”

“…….”

“My guesses are useless. I’m not even sure if they’re right or not, and it’s questionable whether acting for your sake from my perspective, based on a mere guess, is truly for your sake. Even if, by some luck, the countermeasure I came up with on my own this time is beneficial to you, if you don’t trust me and tell me your story yourself, then I, no, we are bound to drift apart someday.”

“…Yeah, you’re right.”

Leo nodded surprisingly readily. He chose his words for a long time, then wiped his face with his hand.

“Lukas. If there was anything you could have done, I would have told you everything long ago. Besides, that… it was really just a selfish remark I made. You don’t need to know about such things, and I don’t want to tell you everything.”

“…….”

Ah, now I truly understand how he must have felt when I hid the retry. I was thinking something similar at the time. It’s not much different now.

He had the same expression as I did back then, and though I couldn’t see it, I probably had the same expression as Leo did back then. He’s avoiding my gaze with a face that looks like he wants to warp anywhere to end this conversation.

No way? Since there’s no way, should I just keep my mouth shut? I know what he’s worried about. But didn’t he once tell me to share the burden, and now he’s telling me to stay quiet?

Who does he think he is?

I looked at his darkened eyes and slowly opened my mouth.

“I know you’re a cautious person. Yes. Sometimes there are things you can’t say because you don’t want to miss anything. I also know what you’re worried about that makes you not say anything to me.”

“…….”

“But if you do that, if I keep turning back time without knowing anything, is that beneficial to you?”

“Whether it’s beneficial to me or not, there’s no such thing. It’s a matter of how I think about it. I repeat, you don’t need to worry about such things….”

“Earlier, I said I know what you’re worried about that’s making you act this way.”

Leo looked at me silently.

“Let’s talk about that. It might be a bit random, but you’ll know why I’m talking about this. I can’t be the righteous person you think I am. I can change more things here than you expect, but I haven’t achieved much so far. I’m not the kind of person who has the capacity to implement it solely for the happiness of all people.”

At those words, Leo’s face contorted as he said.

“Who am I hearing this from now?”

“Listen to the end. Unlike what you said, I’m not a person who can move solely for the greater good, and in fact, I’ve never considered the greater good. My actions so far have not been because of a fighting spirit and determination for the greater good, but simply to avoid dying unfairly, and because the events so far have happened right in front of my eyes.”

“…….”

“So if something bad happens to you, who is right in front of me, by me turning back time, I can’t pursue my goals based on your misfortune. I don’t have a firm political belief like you, I prioritize what’s in front of my eyes, I’m swayed by vested interests, and I’m not free from affection. Even if you shut up about the retry now, I’m not the kind of person who can ignore it and pursue the greater good. Are you disappointed? You’re holding your tongue for Nicolaus, but because I’m not Nicolaus who pursues the greater good?”

“No.”

Leo, who had been looking at me with frighteningly sharp eyes, smiled faintly with an unreadable expression and replied.

“This is the first time I’m hearing such words from you, so I don’t know how to express it, for one thing. And right now, all your words… it feels like you’re telling me I’m not fit to be a monarch.”

“…….”

“Do you understand what I’m saying? Do you know what I’m thinking?”

“No.”

“Your injustice is justice to me.”

Leo’s gaze was cold, unlike before.

“And it’s the same for all people. The world calls that justice, and the world wants a leader like you.”

“Right now….”

“Don’t argue. No, I won’t allow it. The royal family pays its respects to all of Nicolaus’s deeds, so you know that any kind of demeaning evaluation of his achievements is tantamount to treason against the royal family.”

Damn that Nicolaus….

I replied without any expression.

“I’ll do that.”

Perhaps it sounded sarcastic, as Leo’s eyebrows tilted slightly. It was sarcastic, so I had no intention of arguing. Still, I continued slowly, without smiling.

“But as an Askanian, I have to say this. I don’t know what’s happening to you right now. But if the greater good is something that can only be achieved through your silence, then as I said before, I still don’t know what justice is, so I can’t accept your silence as if nothing happened and continue to act as I have been.”

“…Wait, you….”

I cut Leo off and said.

“Promise me.”

“…….”

“Tell me after this is over.”

Leo’s mouth slowly opened. At the same time, his brow furrowed. But it wasn’t a negative sign.

Leo said quietly, with a face that was neither smiling nor frowning.

“It’s not a serious problem, Lukas.”

“I can judge that for myself after hearing it.”

“…….”

Leo let out a breath with a helpless smile.

This guy needs a little push from behind. I held out my pinky finger in front of him.

Leo just looked at it and asked doubtfully.

“What is it?”

“Ah.”

It seems the culture of making promises by linking pinkies hasn’t spread here yet.

It’s modern knowledge, but at times like this, it’s right to push through brazenly. I waved my hand, signaling him to copy the hand shape. Leo looked at it a few times and then made the same hand shape.

When I recklessly linked our fingers and even finished copying it from memory, Leo made a questioning expression.

“Alright, done.”

“What does this do?”

“We’ve made a promise with this. Now you have to tell me after this is over.”

“…? I never said I would…!”

“You were halfway convinced by my words anyway.”

“…….”

Leo looked at me with a resigned smile, as if to say, ‘What is this punk talking about?’

When I tapped my palm, Leo finally turned his head and let out a hollow laugh.

“…Such a childish method….”

If he really hated it, he could have said no. He didn’t even refuse, and yet he’s calling it childish.

And I did it because the guy in front of me is a kid. I just shrugged my shoulders.

Since it’s a sensitive topic, he might change his mind, so I should get right to the plan so he doesn’t say anything else.

“I’ll take that as you’ll tell me. Now, this is not the time for this. I said ‘earlier’, right?”

When I stood up from my seat, the color of Leo’s face, who had been sitting with a somewhat cheated expression, changed.

He nodded with a serious face again.

“Yeah. You said you’d tell me your plan. Tell me. How can I help you.”

*  *  *

“I’m curious as to why I’m even here.”

Richthofen said, looking around at us.

Lukas, Elias, Narce, and I are currently in Leo’s building in Bavaria, that is, the Crown Prince’s palace.

And while we were at it, we brought Richthofen along. Due to his aversion to Richthofen’s human form, a crooked smile was on Elias’s face.

I handed Richthofen the paper on which I had written down the contents I had recalled before coming here.

“I need your help, senior. Here, take this first.”

“Just like that?”

Richthofen still let out a hollow laugh, as if he couldn’t believe it. But there was no time to explain slowly.

Richthofen’s face hardened as he took the paper I handed him.

“…Wait, how do you have this…?”

“Do you recognize it?”

“I asked how you have it.”

Richthofen’s face stiffened.

“…….”

Yes, since it contained information about the catacombs’ confidential technology, I had expected such a reaction. He himself had come looking for me, running his heart out to tell me this on the verge of death, and yet he didn’t remember it at all.

In fact, it was a natural reaction. Now was the past, and everything that had happened then had become a disappeared time.

I can’t go into detail, so I have to get out of it naturally.

I looked at Richthofen and shook my head.

“I’ll just say that I have it because of the Pentalon terrorist.”

“Terror?”

“What?”

Not only Richthofen, but Elias’s face also contorted. Narce, who had been called over by us, seemed to have guessed something already, and was sitting with a tense expression.

“How do you…? What does that have to do with this?”

“The terrorist plans to cast a curse on the Pentalon grounds with new technology that far surpasses ours. It’s a curse that can’t be broken no matter what dispel magic is poured on it. You’ve probably gotten a feel for it, senior, but the paper I gave you is a way to break through the technology used.”

“…….”

Richthofen still looked at me with a furrowed brow.

I know how he feels about the catacombs, so I have no intention of saying anything about it.

Above all, there was no need to say anything because his eyes were filled with confusion. He wasn’t completely dismissing my words that a terror attack could happen in that way. It seemed I hadn’t acted properly towards this person, but surprisingly, I had built up good trust with him.

“It must sound crazy. You don’t need to doubt it, as it’s information from a reliable source. The problem is that we have to implement that magic within two days.”

“Two days…? Can’t we just prevent the terror from happening in the first place?”

“Our technology makes prior countermeasures impossible.”

It wasn’t my words. Leo, who was sitting opposite Richthofen, spoke instead of me.

“They plan to cast the curse through a broadcast.”

“A broadcast? How can they do that with….”

“That’s the problem, that their technology is so advanced. The bigger problem here is that there’s no basis to propose that they stop the newspaper’s audio broadcast. Even if we’re lucky and deal with the newspaper, they could use the stadium’s loudspeakers, and if that’s not possible, they could just cast an amplification spell at the opening ceremony venue and the event grounds.”

“…I see. Before that. You’re telling me to implement this when there’s no basis to present to the institution right now?”

“Yes.”

I answered instead of Leo.

“I can’t tell you how I got the information right now. If I could tell others, I would have been able to cancel the Pentalon before even calling you, senior.”

“…….”

Right now, I can’t touch anything.

It would be a different story in a different situation, but as long as all the conditions are like this, if the essential problem, that is, the existence of the enemy, cannot be solved, then canceling the Pentalon is just a temporary measure.

Richthofen pressed his forehead with his hand and thought for a long time.

“…Alright.”

Then, I heard some welcome news.

Richthofen looked at me and nodded.

“I have nothing to lose. I’ll try.”

“…That’s unexpected.”

“Honestly, I don’t believe it, but… it’s better to have completed a skill than to regret not listening. And this, it feels like it was written by someone with similar thoughts to me, so I don’t feel much resistance to it.”

Because he wrote it himself.

I just smiled.

“But I don’t think there’s a way to do this in two days.”

“Yes, so you can’t stay here, you should go now and do your best.”

“I thought you’d say that.”

Richthofen stood up from his seat.

Leo followed him out and guided him.

Now, only Narce, Elias, and I were left.

“Luka.”

Elias said, looking at me with a dazed expression.

Before I could even ask what was wrong, Elias waved his hand and cut me off.

“First… I have a lot of questions, but I won’t ask about the terror. I want to ask what the hell this is, but there’s just no time. I’ll hear about it from Leo later.”

“…You’re right. I’ll hear about it later too. We only have two days until the opening, what on earth….”

Narce, who was sitting next to Elias, agreed with a dark expression. Narce’s expression was more serious than Elias’s. It seemed he had already figured out more information than I had said. Elias looked at me and asked.

“I’ll hold back my curiosity for now, but I have to ask this before we go in. That terror, do you have a plan to stop it? Or do we have to make that plan with you?”

He’s got the point. Good.

I shook my head.

“I already have a plan for the terror. There’s no need to make major changes to that part, so I’m planning to make a different plan with you.”

“What kind of plan do you need?”

“It’s not over even after the terror. For that matter, I need your help.”

At those words, Elias narrowed his eyes and tilted his head.

“After the terror?”

*  *  *

[Are you ready?]

“Yeah.”

The day of the opening ceremony.

I’m back in the hospital room.

But this time, unlike last time, I was wearing an artifact that communicated with the outside. I listened to Leo’s connection being cut and read the same note as last time.

[Your Excellency Askanian. This is Patrick Einhardt, head of the Emergency Committee. As you said, we have discovered a ‘new plan’ that penetrates the entire Pentalon main stadium and the Pentalon event grounds. There is no need to be pessimistic. There is still enough time. We will not let our guard down, and we have various resources to execute a defense plan no matter what problem arises. We now need Your Excellency’s help for a successful opening.]

‘We have various resources to execute a defense plan no matter what problem arises… he says.’

Reading it now, it feels new. These people, who were so confident, failed to prevent the terror and drove 1.37 million people to their deaths.

I folded the note and put it in the fireplace. Unlike last time, the notes I had organized about the terror had already been burned and cleaned up a long time ago.

2 hours before the opening.

It’s 8 p.m. on the day of the opening ceremony again.

As before, various colors of magic power are exploding like fireworks in the dark blue sky. The light of the magic field that I last saw breaking down from the sky before turning back time overlaps.

This time, I was already wearing Eszett’s ceremonial uniform and gloves in advance. As before, I straightened my tilted hat and stood in front of the door, and this time, the sound of knocking came a little later than before I turned back time.

Once again, the voice of the guard attached by the royal family was heard.

“Your Excellency Askanian. It is time to move.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep