Late afternoon.
It's the time when I should have returned to my lodging, but I'm now heading towards the castle surrounded by soldiers.
They asked very politely for me to come, but sending soldiers like this must be to prevent me from escaping.
There's no need for that since I have no intention of escaping.
We go around following the wall from the main gate of the Royal Academy. The grounds of the royal palace and the Royal Academy are adjacent to each other, but there's no passage between them.
Rather, there's a heavily guarded military base between the royal palace and the Royal Academy. So if you walk from the main gate, it's a long distance.
That's if you walk. I'm heading to the royal castle by car.
For reference, it's a vehicle similar to a limousine. The power device seems to be related to magical power, but the overall usage is similar. There are wheels, a driver's seat, and a passenger space.
When I think of royalty, horse-drawn carriages come to mind, but they use vehicles here.
It's not that there are no animal-drawn vehicles like carriages in this world. However, they're only used outside the city or in areas where poor people live.
Of course, I saw them in the slums I visited too. But only carriages carrying goods, not people.
After entering the castle like that, I was immediately guided to a certain room.
It's the place where King Hypion works.
"Hello."
"Still a greeting without emotion. Yes. Come and sit down."
The king pointed to the table in front. So I went there and sat down.
A hint of disgust passes over the king's expression. Because it's not polite to sit down first. There's information about such etiquette in Aurora's memories, so I could follow it, but I don't.
Because how could I have had time to learn such things?
Assuming all moments of meeting others are being monitored, I don't have time to learn that. Rather, it would be strange if I knew.
So I sat down first and looked up at him, and he came and sat down too.
For reference, it's not that he's making easily readable expressions.
If I didn't know human emotions well, there was so little change in expression that I couldn't have read it.
But the memories of people who died violently are sensitive to others' emotions. They shine brightly, dissecting each and every one.
What can I know from that?
That he's feeling unpleasant while looking at me now?
"You treated many people yesterday. But the location being Brightshin slums, it's a dangerous place, isn't it? When going to such places, at least tell someone before going."
Brightshin slums.
So that's the official name. The harvesters there knew it by various names, so I didn't know which was correct.
Anyway, it sounds like he's worried at first glance, but in reality, he's not worried about me at all.
Rather, there's a lot of annoyance about why I move around as I please. It's probably not because I went to such a place without saying anything.
"Yes. I understand."
After the harvesters in Bern City caused an incident, if the numbers decrease too much, there's also the option of going somewhere else, so I nodded obediently.
"It would be a big problem if you get hurt."
He adds as if he just thought of it. Of course, there's not a shred of worry in his emotion, so it's purely words. Hmm?
It would be good to just agree here, but that would be a repetition of the previous worlds.
This time, let's try to move forward just a little bit more.
Let's go a bit stronger.
"No. I don't die easily. Whether my arms are cut off, my heart is pierced, or my head is gone."
As I say this, I point to my head with my hand.
"This is just a meat vessel."
I'm appealing that I'm not human. I'm showing that I'm not human to make them treat me carelessly. People easily become cruel to non-human subjects.
By becoming an easy-to-use object like that, I can dig deep into their hearts. It's the method used by pseudo-religions when they cling to those in power.
I know your dirty parts. Feel free to open up. I will help you. Your desires will be fulfilled.
A sense of kinship is an important factor.
And second.
Sorindiges told me this.
There's a witch who cursed this royal family, and the witch who realized the curse has been lifted is likely to attack me.
They're going to use me as bait for that.
Oh. Come to think of it, on the day I went to the slums. There's a possibility that the prince or the king's people followed. To find them among the spectators, my memories are insufficient.
There are a few related people, but I don't have enough memories to find them immediately.
They're measuring physical abilities in laboratories or attaching various things to their bodies for examinations. So I could also know how much the harvesters are enhanced.
It was fortunate to be able to see the results as there were quite high-ranking people among the patients.
From what I heard, physical abilities increased by more than 2 times on average.
However, the amount of magical power didn't increase.
But the skill to control magical power increased.
This is probably due to becoming smarter. This world doesn't have technology to measure intelligence yet.
No, my thoughts went off track, but in short, it means I directly saw the scene of creating harvesters.
As expected, it's important to act according to facts so that lies aren't created.
"As far as I know, it's impossible for me to die."
I included the meaning that I can be used freely to contact the witch.
The king stares at me intently.
"Why did you go to the slums and treat them? Until now, you've been terribly doing nothing, haven't you?"
He doesn't ask the boring question of whether I'm human or not.
Right. At least it would be a point where he clearly recognizes that I'm some kind of monster-like entity.
"There were the most people who needed me there. There were many people who couldn't do what they wanted to do."
So people who will foolishly rush towards even a tiny light.
People who have no vessel left to contain leisure.
The king asks me.
"What do you want them to do?"
That question is wrong.
"What they want to do."
If he asks that, I answer like this.
"You're like a god from ancient tales. A god who comes when there are deeply despairing people and gives them power for revenge. That god is also described in purple. The same in every country."
Ah.
Yes. It's here too. There are traces I left in almost every world. Traces from the time when I hunted light approaching near the surface.
"Is that you?"
There are correct answers and wrong answers.
"I'm not a god. I'm not omniscient or omnipotent, rather I'm a monster full of deficiencies."
Therefore, I say what's not true is not true.
I cover it up using the word monster. How does Hypion react to this answer?
"Yes. Then should I ask like this? Are you the monster who comes when there are deeply despairing people and gives them power for revenge?"
Yes. He's smart. He's not swayed by wordplay. Is the king truly a king?
He instantly digs into the truth. Usually, by this point, people would think I'm not a god.
Let's correct once again.
"I don't think about things like revenge."
Other than that, that's correct. It's an answer containing that meaning.
Hypion covered his eyes and leaned back in his chair.
"Why did you appear before us?"
It's a tone that strangely knows a lot about me. Is there something he knows?
I became anxious about whether Hypion would become a harvester.
If I knew it would be like this, I should have just done the yes-yes vending machine. Then I could have obtained memories too.
It's too late to regret, so let's go boldly in this world!
"The question is wrong. I always appear only when someone calls me. So it's me who should ask this question."
To make it easy to understand.
"Did you call because there's someone who will give themselves to me?"
It was you who called, I mean.
I passionately assert the desire I want. I declare that I am here solely for that purpose. It's fine if you hear that I just came because I was called. It's fine if you know that's what I really want.
Either way, I just need to obtain warmth.
"You're terribly resolute. The nameless god appearing in myths wasn't a god, that's why it had no name."
Myth?
Even scanning through Aurora's memories, there's no such myth. God of hunting, god of rivers, god of livestock. There were only pantheon myths that faded away pushed by the times.
"There are gods. I've been hit by one too. But I'm not a god."
The Supreme God of the first world. Even when directly attacked, it didn't reach me. Someday I want to obtain its warmth too. The Great Kraken and the Primordial Heavenly Lord might be gods too, but since they had their warmth taken by me, let's say they're not gods.
Because gods should be greater.
Omniscient and omnipotent. They should be able to know anything and do anything. I'm neither omniscient nor omnipotent.
Therefore, I'm not a god.
"Can't even a monster defeat a god?"
"No. It didn't reach. I just got beaten one-sidedly."
Instead, I took all the warmth of the world. But a defeat is a defeat.
I'm not foolish enough to deny my own loss. You should acknowledge defeat and think about how to win next time.
"You're trying to paint your color on everyone."
"That's wrong. I can't handle that many people. Because I lack ability, I'll only give myself to those who come to me."
The world can't handle that many people, and I don't have the ability to maintain a world with many people, but.
I'm just omitting some parts, but I speak the truth. Thus, to be understood as a monster with mediocre abilities.
"What would you do if I forbid you from using your abilities?"
"Will you make a contract?"
Now, an opportunity came and I asked unintentionally. King Hypion clearly knows something.
I've already created over 20,000 harvesters.
At most 200 years. It's okay not to create harvesters during that time.
Anyway, before that contract ends, he'll beg me to create harvesters, so it's fine to contract with prohibition as a condition.
Just like I did for Aurora.
"No, it's fine. You're just giving it to those who want it, so I who have received that benefit have no right to say anything."
I thought he would restrict it a bit more for the sake of the country, but is it because I said I can't handle too many people?
If he's leaving it alone thinking it will be controlled on its own if there are restrictions, I can understand.
Looking at the atmosphere, it's regrettable, but next time.
Since there's plenty of time, I should slowly wait for an opportunity. It's a technique I have experience succeeding with, so I'm confident I'll do well next time too.
After that, we moved on to everyday conversation.
Trivial talk like how's the Royal Academy, what do you do usually, and such.
Hypion just asked questions and I answered. He gave me chances to ask questions too, but I said I didn't have any in particular.
I pretend to have no interest at all.
It's easiest to hunt when the prey doesn't know there's a hunter nearby. Of course, he thought he was the hunter, but there might be a twist where he was the prey.
Let's think about that when the time comes.
Both I and he have a lot hidden, and there's plenty of time.
And after saying that I'll have one escort from now on, the king sent me back to where I'm living.
An escort...
I'm worried if I'll be able to go around well with Victoria.