A being clad in black armor and sitting on a throne wagging his fingers.

[King] Thanatos seemed uncomfortable, but he was scattering terrifyingly thick morale around him.

Lost, so much was lost.

“What about power loss?”

Thanatos gestured towards the lich who was waiting by his side and demanded an answer.

I knew most of the situation, but I wanted to know the exact numbers.

“… … Of the 30,000 prepared troops, only 400 were able to cross the gate. The rest could not even cross the gate.”

“Right. So what is the exact damage?”

“That… … .”

“Answer me.”

“About 15,000 of the troops waiting near the gate were reduced to ashes by the solvent flames, and 3,000 of them are beyond recovery.”

For the dead who are already in the realm of death, the word incapable of recovery could be said to be an unfamiliar word.

Death in ＜Underworld＞ is not a big deal.

Aren’t they the ones who died once anyway?

That’s why, even if his body was reduced to ashes, if only his soul remained, the morale of ＜Underworld＞ filled the gap.

It means that you will lose your strength, but you can live forever.

But anything has a limit.

Since the soul itself cannot be recovered, some soldiers who have been overworked or attacked outside of the standard do not have a body again, and wander the ＜Underworld＞ as ghosts.

Those who were near the door and received a direct hit from [Solvent] Tiamat’s breath were like that.

“I think it will take at least 30 years for the rest of the soldiers to regain their original strength.”

“Um… … .”

The loss of troops was expected.

It was because I thought there would be something to be gained even after taking the loss in the first place. But it failed.

An unknown power that even he did not know.

If he had been able to capture the girl named Noah who was using that power, this loss would have been nothing.

‘About 3 chances left.’

Considering the initial purpose, this failure was too great.

[Solvent] Tiamat is strong.

It is no different from the crystal of irrationality.

Even if everyone in the ＜Underworld＞ rushed at it, it was doubtful whether they would be able to win.

However, no matter how strong you are, death still exists.

‘The life of the solvent is not long.’

Because he is Thanatos, the king of the ＜Underworld＞, there are things he can know.

[Solvent] Tiamat’s lifespan is short.

By mortal standards, you could say it’s a long story.

However, for Thanatos, who lives forever, it is like a fire burning in his feet.

‘I can’t hand over the position of King Myeong to the Dragon Emperor.’

For Thanatos, the position of [Pyeongwang] was not something light. That’s why he didn’t choose the means and methods.

Even though he was hit hard by this incident, it wasn’t Thanatos that would collapse just because of something like this.

It was said that if he was going to collapse because of this in the first place, he would not be qualified as the [Myeongwang].

However, the existence of the [solvent] is an exception.

‘That existence itself is cowardly.’

No matter what means he uses, it’s next to impossible to keep his position as the [Myeongwang] from her.

Numerous troops, Thanatos’ own abilities, sophisticated and perfect strategies, and elaborate and vicious traps.

It is impossible to stop the [Solvent] no matter what you mobilize.

If she puts her mind to it, [Myungwang]’s seat will change that day.

“… … Mr Thanatos?”

Thanatos, who had been thinking about [Solvent] for a while, came to his senses when he heard the sound calling him.

“What? Do you still have something to report?”

“Aristocrats from all over the world are suspicious. Avoiding yourself… … .”

“No need to worry.”

Thanatos knew they wouldn’t be able to move.

This is because there can be no common enemy in ＜Underworld＞.

If you think about what happened after defeating Thanatos, no one can take the lead.

Even if they do attack, they will try to keep each other in check and destroy themselves.

‘It’s not a problem for bugs that don’t even know they’re playing around from the start.’

In ＜Underworld＞, [Myeongwang] is the law. In other words, it is said that he also created the aristocratic system that is only used in the human world.

Thanatos made them check each other by leaking his authority to many places.

That’s how they discriminated against each other.

but other than that.

There was a being who had power but did not have any authority.

The problem is they.

“What about the Cistuses?”

His offspring, created by Thanatos himself, were undoubtedly a danger.

Those who had power but did not have any desires satisfied.

In the past, he would have ruled with fear, but now he was quite burdened.

“There is no movement.”

“is it? But you may need to take action.”

“Will you rule by terror?”

“No, put it in a corner for now.”

I had no intention of putting the danger nearby.

He chose to confine the Cistus rather than subdue them by force.

“Come to think of it… … .”

Thanatos, who was talking about the treatment of Cistus, spoke as if he had suddenly thought of it.

“It wasn’t that there was no income.”

“Yes… … ?”

“No, nothing.”

Thanatos remembered those who had attacked him to protect one of the Cistuses.

There was a foolish being who dared to set foot in the realm of the gods, putting aside the power that eroded even his own morale and left scars.

I couldn’t catch it, but just recognizing such an existence could be judged as a benefit in itself.

“I may not be able to move right now, but… … . You need to keep it in your head.”

There is a high probability that the [Solvent] will also not know the power that even Thanatos does not know.

Information is both power and weapon.

Thanatos imprinted the existences of Oz and Eleanor in his mind.

* * *

The subtle scent of apple mint.

A refreshing summer scent. It was the scent that was subtly wafting from Arietta’s side.

“Arrieta… … ?”

When I called out to Arrieta while her eyes were still blurry, she replied startled.

“Ah, you are awake. Prince of Oz. I’m sorry, but the saintess is not able to move right now.”

“… … Olivia Blue? What are you doing here?”

Aren’t we close enough to visit each other?

“I came to deliver this at the request of the saintess. Prince Oz, do you like mint?”

“I don’t care so much if it’s not mint choco.”

To be honest, I don’t hate it, but it’s not to the extent that I pay money to buy it.

That’s true even if I’m rich enough to order two small, expensive steaks.

I’d rather eat something else.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but since it’s a planter, I think it’s probably fine.”

“Herb?”

“Yes, the saintess told me to bring it.”

Looking closely, I saw a small potted plant on the shelf.

Was that the scent I was feeling?

“What are the health benefits? Or clear your head.”

“I don’t remember, but… … Something will work.”

“Didn’t you know the effect and bring it?”

“No, imprint your existence… … no. It must have been said that it has the effect of clearing the head.”

I wonder if I’ve forgotten why.

In fact, shouldn’t Olivia be the one who needs to clear her head right now?

“Rather than that, if Arietta asked for it, how is Arietta now?”

“… … Prince Oz, there is no power in the world without a price.”

“Yes, I know.”

I also have to break through the 1/100 chance to use my power properly.

But what… … . Olivia’s words wouldn’t mean this.

“Looks like you overdid it.”

“You used too much divine power.”

“… … yes.”

Arrieta can’t see ahead.

It could be said that it was a kind of price that worked just by having enormous divine power.

Then, would there be any problem in using that enormous divine power?

No, it can’t be.

Even if it wasn’t that he was blind, it would have been a strain on his body.

“I do not resent the Prince of Oz. Because the saintess was originally that kind of person. Even if it wasn’t for Prince Oz, the saintess would have stepped forward.”

Olivia Blue said as she carefully trimmed the applemint pot.

she didn’t see me

“I should be grateful. If the saintess had stepped out alone, something big would have happened. So there will be no resentment towards the Prince of Oz.”

“Then what about you?”

“… … .”

“How are you?”

“… … A mage’s insight is not something to be taken lightly.”

I just know the personality of Olivia Blue in the game, but I didn’t find out with the insight of a wizard.

But if you think so, I’m fine. Because it will help my image as Oz.

She’s not exactly the kind of person who would spread gossip around the neighborhood like Eleanor, but her impression of me will be revealed in the way she treats me implicitly.

If I fix my image on each person in this way, there will naturally be fewer people who think of me easily.

“I’m not in a position to say this, but you shouldn’t push yourself too hard. Isn’t Arrieta the kind of person you said?”

“… … I never thought those words would come out of your mouth.”

Doesn’t that sound like I’m pushing myself?

It’s the world that’s driven me so far, not me.

If I could live comfortably, I would have done the same. How could fate be so twisted?

“For now, I’ll write down those words.”

“Okay, when you get back, say hello to Arrieta.”

Olivia, who was about to get up after arranging the flower pots, flinched and turned her head towards me.

Did I say something strange?

His expression was full of questions.

“… … The Prince of Oz.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry, but would you mind if I ask you a question?”

“yes.”

“Why are you drawing an ambiguous line with the saintess?”

It’s vaguely drawing a line.

That’s not wrong. I’m getting closer to Arrieta, but I’m keeping a certain line.

“Initially… … . I wonder if he was thinking of cutting off the relationship completely, but little by little they got closer.”

“Yeah, that’s how it happened.”

“Prince Oz doesn’t treat me with respect.”

“Do you want respect?”

“No, considering your situation, it’s rather burdensome, so I’m comfortable with the way I am now.”

That’s right.

As many people call it, my title is first of all a prince.

Even if it is a position like a sandcastle that may disappear at any time, its authority does not diminish.

That’s why I don’t use honorifics except for some professors.

It’s because using respect rather makes the opponent uncomfortable.

“What I want to ask is… … . Why are you using the honorific with the saintess?”

“Arrieta also has that kind of position… … .”

“It’s an excuse, Prince Oz. If you had cared about that in the first place, you would have used respect for me as well.”

“… … Were you royalty?”

“Did you not know?”

An uncomfortable silence falls.

no, that… … You may not know.

I have never used a character belonging to ＜Shield of Light＞ in a game.

That’s right, isn’t there a synergistic effect when the characters from ＜Shield of Light＞ are used together with Arietta?

Even thinking about it now makes me sick to my stomach. I couldn’t pick Arrieta.

There was no need to look closely at Olivia’s personal story.

“Do you respect me?”

“No, please don’t.”

“still… … .”

“I have already entrusted myself to the church. So please don’t do that.”

“Then what… … .”

“… … I’m sorry, but I remembered something urgent, so I’ll go out.”

“Yeah, yes.”

Olivia walked out of the hospital room with her head bowed with hasty steps.

Her face was dyed so red that it was hard to imagine in her usual appearance.