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Leciel intently listened to Noubelmag’s explanations, enhancing her understanding of Avalon.
With Larzze using illusion magic to transform the background to resemble the interior of Avalon, the attendees were all wide-eyed as they explored the mobile fortress.
‘So many functions to learn.’
There were dozens of installed combat modules: anti-air cannons, anti-ground cannons, energy emitters...Even maintaining, repairing, and managing all of these required the crew to be proficient, as there weren’t enough personnel to handle each task individually.
Although Noubelmag had simplified the processes as much as possible with automated systems, it was still a daunting challenge for the martial artists.
Leciel gazed with a weary expression at the numerous control panels inside Avalon.
‘To learn all these operations within a month…’
However, her friends seemed very excited.
Truthfully, Leciel also felt a twinge of excitement.
The vast and majestic interior, enormous magic screens, hologram maps, communication devices...
The interiors, a fusion of steel and magic, had a way of sparking childhood memories.
It was akin to her sense of security and satisfaction when she made a small fort with pillows and blankets on her bed.
“Ahem…”
Even the older adults, trying to maintain their dignity, were discreetly looking around with sparkling eyes.
Leciel felt a bit embarrassed watching Zion, sitting in her assigned seat, fiddling with various things with an excited expression. Gerald, too, wore a wry smile as he watched his father bombarding Noubelmag with questions.
“Is this my seat...? Oh my, there are all sorts of features here.”
Everyone had been assigned their seats, also known as cockpits.
Since the heroes boarding Avalon were already somewhat decided, Noubelmag had adjusted Avalon’s equipment to specialize based on their abilities.
“For example, a turret that fires mana bullets amplified by the passenger’s mana.”
Optimal equipment tailored to each user.
Thus, during battle, dozens of people would simultaneously control the defensive artifacts embedded in Avalon.
Noubelmag looked at the wide-eyed people with satisfaction and continued speaking.
“The completion of Avalon will be no later than next week. You will have ample time to board and test the functions, so there’s no need to worry.”
As Noubelmag finished speaking, the Emperor, leaning against the wall, raised a hand.
...It was time to move into the second act of the meeting now that the general introduction was over.
The background of Avalon’s strategy room slowly faded away, revealing the spacious conference room again.
The people's expressions finding their seats were noticeably more hopeful than before.
This was likely due to witnessing Avalon’s grandeur.
The Emperor silently observed them before making a bombshell announcement.
‘I have no idea how they’ll react.’
Even with her keen insight, she couldn’t predict it.
But the die was already cast.
Euphemia took a deep breath.
“We will need a captain to command the mobile fortress and the heroes aboard it for humanity’s final mission.”
People sharing their impressions of Avalon looked up in surprise at those words.
...A captain?
Leciel tilted her head.
‘The tone seems like she’s referring to someone not here...’
Almost all of humanity’s capable individuals were gathered here.
It was strange.
Leciel instinctively turned to look at Ban, wondering if he had any idea.
...She was met with the rigid face of a young boy.
At the sight of that expression, an unknown chill ran through Leciel’s body.
A strange shiver welled up from deep within her chest.
Her heart began to beat slowly, and goosebumps formed on her skin.
‘Wait a minute...’
Leciel turned back to the Emperor.
Her mouth was opening in realization.
“Then, let me introduce them.”
‘Wait a minute.’
There was no apparent logic or rational basis.
But Leciel could immediately tell who was about to appear.
“Leciel?”
Evergreen looked at her with a worried expression.
But Leciel had no time to reassure her.
The Emperor’s hand pointed to the front door of the conference room.
“Humanity’s greatest ally.”
...Wait a minute!
Despite Leciel’s internal scream, the conference room door opened without hesitation.
Leciel forgot to breathe as she stared beyond it.
She had thought about this moment hundreds, no, thousands of times more.
‘Ah...’
What would she say if she ever met the Hero again?
What expression should she make... what should she ask first?
In the end, the same questions kept coming to mind.
What was he thinking when he deceived them?
Why did he say those things to her even though he wasn’t the real Hero?
What was the support and encouragement back then all about?
Leciel had believed the day would soon come when she could ask those questions directly.
It was why she had thrown herself into the most dangerous battlefields.
Because if it were him, he would find her no matter what.
Then she would grab him and hear the belated explanation.
...Those expectations were repeatedly betrayed night after night.
Leciel’s questions gradually changed.
What did they, what did she mean to him?
...Was he even alive?
Moments of resentment and worry fluttered like fallen leaves in the wind.
Tak-!
As Leciel tried to stand up, Luke and Ban grabbed her wrists simultaneously.
In the meantime, the Hero fully revealed himself and crossed the conference room.
“......”
The room was now so quiet that even a pin dropping could be heard loudly.
Everyone’s eyes were on him.
For some reason, the Hero appeared exactly as they remembered him.
Silver hair, silver eyes, a neat and upright face.
The noble elegance and intense presence draped over his body.
Those watching were overwhelmed with indescribable emotions at the sight of the once-loved Hero.
...But soon, they realized something was different.
The warmth and compassion that had always been in his eyes were completely gone.
What remained was only cold, mechanical indifference.
No, it seemed to be tinged with cynicism and disdain.
While everyone noticed the change and flinched, thud-!
The Hero finally stood at the center of the conference room.
His tightly closed mouth opened without hesitation.
“Nice to meet you; I am the captain of Avalon...”
The Hero, who had been about to say something, stopped.
His eyes slowly dimmed.
“There’s no need to mention names. Just call me captain.”
* * *
The Hero gazed at the confused conference room.
Countless eyes darted between him and the Emperor.
Eyes demanding an explanation.
Some openly displayed their dissent.
Considering the power of the imperial authority, their reactions revealed their great dismay.
“Your Majesty, are you truly appointing that man as the captain of Avalon?”
“Please reconsider! This is akin to pouring oil on a fire.”
“What reason does that enigmatic creature have to help us genuinely?”
Particularly, the opposition from the noble commanders and imperial army leaders unfamiliar with him was fierce.
The Hero didn’t take offense... their reactions were quite reasonable.
‘Of course, I expected such reactions.’
Over the past three years, the demons hadn’t only focused on invasions but also made great efforts to inform humans about the menace of ‘doppelgangers.’
They spread various horror stories and rumors through collaborators, even secretly informing them that the catastrophe led to the downfall of the First Age.
‘They made humans recognize that the doppelgangers were the fundamental cause of their miserable situation after the First Age.’
This was also why the Hero had been unable to step forward publicly.
Despite Pia and Kasim’s best efforts to spread positive opinions, it had little effect.
Some even believed he had tried to take Ted’s place and become the Hero himself….
Even Euphemia found it difficult to defend him publicly.
“Everyone, please, calm down a bit.”
Unexpectedly, Lucas tried to calm the nobles, but unfortunately, the influence of the newly appointed young Duke wasn’t significant.
Only a glimmer of surprise appeared in the Hero’s eyes.
‘...I didn’t expect him to defend me.’
He thought Lucas would resent him for expelling him from the academy and making his life difficult, but it was unexpected.
Despite his efforts, the conference room was turning into a marketplace.
The Hero watched this quietly.
He deliberately avoided looking at the strangely quiet side.
In his mind, the conversation he had with Euphemia echoed.
“So how do you plan to convince people?”
“Convince them….”
“Hmm?”
“I don’t plan to explain everything in detail.”
Taking Ted’s place wasn’t for personal gain but because Ted asked him to.
Despite the challenges, he worked hard to honor Ted’s will.
Even now, as a public enemy of humanity, he still cared for humans, so he asked them to trust him again.
To correct the distorted history, clear up misunderstandings, and seek cooperation.
‘That’s the straightforward approach.’
He didn’t entirely rule out this idea.
But….
“There’s no time left.”
Could he afford to seek understanding, persuade, and ask for recognition individually?
The Hero shook his head.
People don’t easily believe what they haven’t experienced firsthand.
Could they truly believe him no matter how many facts he verbally listed?
‘No.’
There was a simpler way.
The Hero had vaguely anticipated that his return would unfold in this manner when he left Rosenstack.
Euphemia asked with a peculiar expression.
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“Surely….”
“Yes, the decision will be made before their dissatisfaction and fear of me explode.”
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed.
“So you’re just going to force your way through.”
“In this situation, neither side has any other choice. It will work.”
“...You choose to play the villain. It’s quite old-fashioned.”
“But it’s effective.”
The Hero’s resolve was so firm that Euphemia didn’t add more.
She knew.
He wasn’t seeking personal honor but was looking out for humanity’s future.
Affection and recognition.
Honor and glory.
Once, these had driven him to long for and integrate into human society… but now they seemed utterly useless to him.
All Euphemia could do was murmur bitterly.
“In the end, you have to keep acting.”
…Acting.
Reflecting on those words, the Hero looked at the conference room again.
One of the dissenters was staring directly at him.
“You. Why appear like this now that your identity is exposed? It’s truly insulting.”
“Is this appearance uncomfortable?”
The Hero chuckled coldly.
“I thought it would be familiar, so I chose it. My mistake. Just wait a moment.”
Creak—
Without hesitation, the Hero polymorphed into his true form.
“W-What!?”
“Oh my….”
Even for him, it was the first time polymorphing in front of so many people.
The blatant reconstruction of bones and muscles.
For a moment, the conference room was filled with disgust.
The Hero remained expressionless.
‘...This works even better.’
Shedding Ted Redymer’s appearance, he finally looked directly at the people he had avoided.
The children seemed to be trying hard not to show their surprise.
Some mumbled attempts to call out to him were seen.
“P-Professor….”
But as soon as their eyes met, they instinctively looked away.
The Hero understood their reaction.
Meanwhile, the Dawn Knights didn’t appear particularly hostile.
They must have heard about the Great Forest incident from Taylor.
Felson kept his eyes closed, and Larze watched with sparkling eyes, seemingly finding the situation fascinating.
Nubelmag and Barun….
'…….'
Surprisingly, they looked at him with eyes of compassion.
The Hero shifted his gaze.
Lastly, Yussi and Luciel.
Both were staring directly at him.
As if he would disappear like a mirage the moment they looked away.
The pair of red and blue eyes held emotions that, despite his preparation, the Hero found hard to face.
‘I’m sorry.’
Excuses welled up to his throat.
But now, he couldn’t show them what they wanted.
The Hero turned back to the crowd and spoke.
“Let me ask you. Does harboring suspicion against me change anything?”
He suddenly recalled the preliminary briefing.
Back then, he had desperately tried to imitate Ted.
Now, he was emulating the ??? he had seen in Zero’s memories.
An inhuman entity with absolute power.
Overbearing and arrogant, yet a beacon of hope in desperate times.
“Do you think you have any choice in this matter?”
The Hero exuded an aura by replicating countless spheres with different attributes.
Different types of mana surged, exuding a ruthless presence.
A power that humans instinctively feared.
The kind of strength that defied the laws of nature.
As eyes that pierced, probed, and dissected everything emitted a cold light, the attendees felt the deep fear humans had felt before ??? in the First Age.
The Hero spoke a stern truth as he looked at them.
Relying on an individual like Ted Redymer for humanity’s survival, how could they hope to survive the Demon King’s grasp now that he was gone?
They needed to find a new pillar of support as soon as possible.
The humans lowered their heads.
“Indeed. I possess the power to dismantle this Human Union. Yet, instead, I proposed an alliance to your Emperor.”
Euphemia watched the Hero’s act with a blank expression.
“Whether my reasons are goodwill towards humanity, capriciousness… or as you fear, some sinister plot.”
A firm voice that allowed no dissent continued.
“To avoid immediate extinction, you have no choice but to take my hand.”
The Hero met their stares with cold eyes.
Then he declared.
“I will board Avalon as the Captain.”
‘Doubt me, hate me, fear me as much as you want.’
“So just follow quietly.”
At the moment of the showdown
All forces must be united to bring down the King.
Anything else was unnecessary.
"……."
No one immediately agreed to the Hero’s near-threat proposal.
Those who remembered his former self seemed deeply confused.
There was no need to wait for answers or appeasement.
The Hero waved his hand.
“I’ve said all I wanted to say. Now get out.”
With this, Larze forcibly cut off the communications.
She, who had been smiling brightly, said….
“You sure know how to make a speech~!”
With those words, she exited as well.
The Hero was left alone with the Emperor in an instant.
For some reason, the Emperor looked even more exhausted.
As she took a step closer, the Hero spoke first.
“Was it okay?”
“…You spoke more mildly than I expected.”
“Having my students there kept my words from getting too harsh.”
Euphemia smiled weakly at the Hero’s joke.
“…Everyone understood. They’re not fools. They’ll accept this non-alliance alliance and hand over the initiative to you.”
“Good. That saves a lot of time.”
"……."
Looking calmly into the Hero’s eyes, the Emperor spoke gentler than usual.
….Gentle, in that her usual bluntness was slightly softened.
“When all this is over safely.”
“What?”
“I’ll make sure you never have to struggle again.”
The Hero blinked in surprise, then smiled awkwardly.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
.
.
.
After ending the communication,
the Hero opened his eyes as Ignotus in the Fourth Seal.
‘I’m tired.’
The multi-communication, where consciousness was summoned to a separate illusion space instead of regular communication, was exhausting.
The Hero shook his head to clear his dazed mind.
‘It’s time to get back to work.’
Until Avalon was completed, there was work to be done in the Fourth Seal.
The Hero reached out to store the communication orb before leaving the tent.
"……!"
A presence.
In the corner of the tent.
“Is that right?”
Before he could turn his head, a clear voice reached his ears.
Red eyes alternated between looking at the communication orb and the Hero.
The Hero immediately understood what was happening.
“Professor?”
“Ah, I called you wrong.”
From the first day in the Seal, Leciel, who had suspiciously eyed him, had rushed to his quarters as soon as the communication ended.
She had seen him during the communication, confirmed her suspicions, and then waited.
‘…….’
Even the quick-witted Hero couldn’t come up with an appropriate response to such an unexpected situation.
All he could do was feign ignorance.
“What do you mean, wrong?”
But it was too late.
“It’s true.”
Luciel’s eyes flared with a bright light.
…The Hero, who had just portrayed a terrifying doppelganger, could only swallow nervously.
“Professor… no, Captain.”
Leciel concluded.
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