Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint
Chapter 318: Don't Call Father 'Father'

The Military State exploited its citizens.

It gave them enough resources to survive and even indulge in a few luxuries, but nothing beyond that—any more was unthinkable.

Through a rather oppressive approach, the Military State had amassed an enormous wealth of material assets.

But gold piled up in warehouses is no different from stones.

The gigantic machinery that treated humans like gears to create vast wealth—what was it running so tirelessly for?

“One mystery of the Military State: where did all those assets go? The answer is right here!”

I said, patting the Catafract.

The Military State’s strategic weapon, the Catafract.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it an armored fortress on wheels. Its exterior was reinforced with high-cost Alchemic Steel, boasting overwhelming defensive capabilities, yet its simple and innovative structure granted it mobility.

Alongside combat-type clothing packets and combat arms, the Catafract was considered to be a Level 4 strategic grade item, a masterpiece of the Military State.

After all, it possessed a weight and power that surpassed even that of heavy cavalry.

No ordinary warhorse could rival it in speed.

Tyr looked around and muttered.

“I have seen something similar before. The tyrant of the ancient Golden Empire rode in a luxurious carriage similar to this. They said it required the labor of an entire castle to create just one, yet she had dozens.”

“The Catafract may not be as luxurious, but it’s definitely more functional so I bet the cost is similar. Also, since it’s not for personal use, there are probably even more of these.”

“They squeezed the blood of their people to create such an extravagant thing. Hmmm, no wonder the country is in decline.”

Hilde, having been likened to a vampire who drains blood from people by their Progenitor, protested indignantly.

“I’m not to blame! This Catafract isn’t mine!”

“It may not be yours, but as a general, you can use it however you please, correct?”

“That’s not true! The Catafract is one of the Military State’s strategic resources and no one can use it as they wish—not even me, a Star General!”

And that was true.

The Military State didn’t allow even its ruling class, the generals, to indulge in luxury.

The lodgings given to a general were about as grand as the room I had prepared for myself in the back alley.

Sure, generals could accumulate wealth and splurge on what little luxury they could afford, but the very notion of having to save up for luxuries already put it far from extravagance.

But for Tyr, who was both a ruler and part of the aristocracy in itself, it was hard to separate the ruling class from the country they ruled.

“Regardless, they still gave it to you when you asked, did they not?”

“That’s because we got approval from the higher-ups!”

“You are just repeating yourself. If you can use it with approval, then it is essentially yours.”

“There’s a huge difference! If I need approval to use it, then it’s clearly not mine! If I, even as the chief of Public Safety, asked for something this extravagant under normal circumstances, it would’ve been denied due to insufficient justification! This situation is just special. You all are enjoying a privilege even I’ve never experienced before!”

Hilde was bouncing around, passionately explaining how unfair it all was.

Tyr waved her hand in annoyance as if to calm the commotion.

“I understand. Stop making a fuss. The carriage is shaking.”

“Excuse me?! A light, delicate girl like me stomping a bit wouldn’t shake this massive hunk of steel! You’re too much!”

Her tantrum resembled that of a bratty child arguing with a neighbor’s grandmother.

If you consider that her opponent was the progenitor of vampires, it looked like she was recklessly putting her life at risk.

Surprisingly, though, Tyr humored her complaints despite the annoyance.

“Fine, fine. That was a slip of the tongue.”

｢Ah, no wonder. Like father, like daughter. Both are difficult to handle. It is better for me to stay on her good side early on. They say you should capture the horse before attacking the general. Since she is Hu’s daughter, it would be better for me to have a good relationship in advance.｣

My daughter?

Did you really believe that nonsense?

This is strange.

Vampires shouldn’t be so gullible when it comes to human words.

Did she not find anything odd?

Well, I think I understand her perspective.

It’s similar to how humans don’t suspect livestock.

Despite being human once in the past, vampires are predators who feed on human blood.

Even if they’re tricked, they can just devour the prey later, so there’s less reason to be suspicious.

She might get into serious trouble one day. Or maybe she already has.

But what can you do? Experience is the best teacher.

Lessons etched in scars last the longest.

I am, after all, a considerate yet stern king who protects even the right to make mistakes.

“…Wait, Tyrkanzyaka. Do you really believe that nonsense?”

But the Regressor couldn’t let Tyr have even the right to be deceived.

Folding her arms, she pointed out the inconsistency.

“I don’t know why the Camarilla is calling Hughes ‘Father,’ but it doesn’t make sense. It’s completely illogical.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Camarilla is a Star General. She has been working in the shadows since the Military State was founded. If she was active 25 years ago, when the Military State was established, she has to be at least in her forties, even if we’re being generous.”

Like some sort of detective, she made a sharp point.

It was an elementary deduction that even a child could make, but it was something Tyr hadn’t considered.

｢Ah, I forgot. I tend to lose track of other people’s ages…｣

Or rather, it wasn’t that she forgot. It was just too trivial for her to care.

For a 12th-century girl, anything that happens in the double-digit ages must feel unfamiliar.

｢Hmm. But then again… What does age have to do with this…｣

As Tyr hesitated before the forbidden truth, the Regressor stripped away her right to learn from her mistakes.

“That old lady is just using transformation magic to look like that! In reality, she’s much older! Yet she calls someone young enough to be her son ‘Father.’ Isn’t that embarrassing?”

Wow, that’s harsh.

Even if it’s true, couldn’t you show a bit of compassion?

Your words were so harsh that even Tyr seemed a little hurt.

“Wahh!”

Hilde, hearing herself referred to as an “old lady” right to her face, dropped her smile and glared at the Regressor.

“That was harsh. Not just rude, but cruel. Now I understand why you have such a pretty face but aren’t popular with women.”

“I don’t care about popularity! In fact, I’d refuse it!”

“Hmph, I must be at fault for getting caught up in such cheap provocations. This is why I should keep my mask on. When it’s not ‘me,’ I can just brush off whatever is said, but as soon as I show my real face, I get scratched up like this.”

Hilde calmed down quickly, as if reciting self-affirmations.

“This is such top-secret information that I didn’t intend to share it, but since your insults have crossed the line, I have no choice. Shei, you think ‘Eimeder’ is the Military State’s guardian angel and ‘Zigrund’ is an assassin whose identity is a mystery, right?”

“Isn’t that true?”

“Wrong. Zigrund isn’t me and Eimeder isn’t an angel, either.”

Seemingly provoked, Hilde began spilling classified information without anyone asking her to.

“The Warlord brought three heroes to the State: ‘Zigrund,’ ‘Eimeder,’ and ‘Maximilien.’ Zigrund, the assassin whose face no one knows, and Eimeder, the guardian angel of the Military State, oh please. When rebuilding a nation from the ashes, who’s going to rely on something as intangible as faith?”

“Wait. Does that mean…”

“Yes. Zigrund and Eimeder both exist. They’re real people. They’re not in the Military State anymore, but the State wants people to believe they still exist. They even had ‘me’ act the role of Zigrund!”

｢Maybe they intended to leave a spot for them, in case they ever return.｣

Hilde kept that last thought to herself.

The Crusaders, the Saintess’ personal escort.

When Yuel was excommunicated from the Sanctum, she surrendered all her authority and belongings as a Saintess, but not even the Sanctum could take away her power.

The Saintess was the intermediary of the gods and the executor of prophecies.

Whether excommunicated or in exile, her actions were all guided by the gods.

Two of the most devout Crusaders stayed by Yuel’s side and escorted her to the Military State.

Those two were Eimeder and Zigrund.

Not long after Yuel secluded herself with the body of a dead man, they too left.

The reason for their departure wasn’t hard to guess.

If I were them, I’d lose all attachment to a Saintess who locked herself away, indulging in such disgraceful and sacrilegious behavior.

Though I don’t know the details it must be something along those lines.

｢Not the happiest story for ‘me’ who got dragged into all this against my will~.｣

“And who are they, exactly?”

The Regressor was all ears, intrigued by the unexpected information.

Tsk.

It’s becoming more apparent that for a regressor, she doesn’t know much.

Even after going through all the trouble to peek into her memories, I can’t trust them completely.

She doesn’t even know the secrets between the Military State and the Sanctum, despite supposedly having close ties with the Sanctum in previous timelines.

It’s not like everyone in the Sanctum makes a promise to hide this secret.

｢Hmm, maybe I should stop here? If I say any more, I’ll only make things harder for our poor Saintess~.｣

Feeling she’d said enough to regain control of the conversation, Hilde clammed up.

She gave the Regressor a mischievous smile, pressed her index finger to her lips, and tilted her head.

“I don’t feel like telling you~.”

“What?!”

“I’ve decided I don’t want to talk anymore! This ‘old lady’ mood has soured! Hmph! Hmph!”

Hilde turned her head away dramatically, pouting like a child.

The Regressor stared in disbelief.

“Are you seriously pouting? You’re not a kid.”

“I’d rather be a childish brat than be called an old lady.”

“Fine! You’re being petty. I take it back!”

“Take it back? Do you think you can unsay words once they’re spoken? Words are like swords. Just because you sheath the blade doesn’t mean the wound is healed. Only a sincere apology can bandage the cut.”

In other words, she wanted an apology.

As Hilde stood her ground, the Regressor let out a small, resigned sigh.

｢Fine. A little bowing for information is a fair trade. I was kind of harsh.｣

After weighing her options, the Regressor gave a half-hearted apology.

“Sorry. I… ugh… wasn’t very considerate.”

“Mm, it’s a bit of a forced apology, but I’ll accept it. Just be more careful next time.”

“Ugh, got it.”

“I’m glad you understand Shei. You need to be more careful with your actions and words. Such is the folly of youth.”

“I’ll keep that in min– Wait, Tyrkanzyaka, why are you accepting the apology?!”

The Regressor, who had suddenly ended up apologizing to both of them, demanded the information anyway.

“Anyway, who are Eimeder and Zigrund? Where are they now?”

“I don’t know!”

“Huh?”

Hilde answered innocently.

“How would I know where the previous person went after leaving the job? I was just called in and did the work! Remember, whatever Zigrund was before, I’ve only taken over the role!”

“Hey! Then nothing has changed!”

The Regressor jumped up, pointing a finger at Hilde.

“So you’re still the Camarilla, and you’re still older than Hughes!”

“Hehehe. You caught me.”

“That’s not the point! What were you denying all this time?”

“I just didn’t want to be treated like an old lady in front of Father!”

“For Hughes to be your father, he would’ve had to have had you before he was born! Does that make any sense?”

Of course, it doesn’t.

So we’ve finally reached this point.

I never expected the Regressor to figure it out before Tyr.

｢It is not impossible. If Hu is that being, then everything makes sense.｣

Wait, what? What am I hearing now?

｢The mysterious power, the fact that he risked himself to recover my heart. The ancient knowledge of my heartbeat stopped long ago. No one in this era would know such things except me, but… if Hu is the King of Humans, the representative of humanity itself, he might have found out.｣

Tyr has a strange tendency to believe everything people say.

Not because she’s gullible, but because her ancient spirit, much like an old house with a low threshold, welcomes new guests more easily.

That’s why she believed everything I said in the Abyss and took the Regressor’s knowledge at face value.

And now, she even believed Hilde calling me her father.

｢Clearly that rust-smelling monster asked Hu, “Are you the King of Humans?”

So that’s it.

Tyr has been holding onto the moment when Maximilien referred to me as the King of Humans, keeping it stored for later use.

Fine. I am the King of Humans, so I’ll let Tyr’s wisdom shine here. But still…

｢If that is the case, then this child calling Hu her father also makes sense! She must be the child of the previous King of Humans, born before Hu!｣

Why are you drawing that conclusion?!