The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 27

Chapter 27: The Choice

“Are you telling me to betray Ozuma?”

“Simply put, yes.”

“Absurd.”

Irma glared at me sharply, then continued rapidly.

“If you side with the traitors and abandon the country, death is all that awaits. Mudou would know even the fall of this castle… And after that, you’ll face either General Shion or Warlord Dougen.”

“Shion and Dougen…”

“Shion leads the elite Mediator Unit of fifteen thousand, and Dougen commands the legion of Yomi. Both are wielders of ‘great artifacts’ said to shake nations with a single swing.”

Irma looked at us as she spoke, teeth gritted.

“You are indeed strong, but the gap between Ozuma and Gomon’s power is insurmountable! It’s better to die with honor than as a traitor!”

Irma declared firmly, appearing every bit the loyal retainer… but.

“If you continue like this, everything you want to protect will be trampled.”

“Are you willing to use the people as shields!?”

“No.”

Reluctantly, I had no choice but to proceed. There were many reasons, but I felt this man was too valuable to let die.

“If Ozuma continues to use the power of Yomi, your soldiers and the people you wish to protect will be slaughtered by demons.”

“What!”

“If Ozuma doesn’t stop using the power of Yomi, that will happen. Even if you have to sacrifice your life.”

Irma was a man who first asked about the safety of the people. I knew that to him, the people were more important than himself.

“… The Lord had a great ambition to unify Hizuchi. If that were achieved, the power of Yomi…”

“I won’t let go.”

I immediately denied Irma’s words, grabbed his collar, and looked into his eyes as I spoke.

“There’s no way I can let go of the power to unify Hizuchi. As a king of a country, I can’t afford to relinquish the power that could also be used as a deterrent against invasion from other continents.”

“That’s something the Lord…”

“If the power to unify Hizuchi is lost, what do you think will happen? Those who have feared and obeyed that power will turn against us. If that happens, everything we’ve done so far will be in vain. As a king, even if there is a risk of the world’s destruction, I cannot afford to give up my power!”

“… Then what do you propose?”

Irma muttered as if squeezing out the words, then burst out.

“Do you think you can win!? Do you think you can defeat Ozuma, who has gained the power to destroy the world!? It’s like challenging a god as a mere human!”

“… Deploying the armored corps ‘Black-clad Holy Army Chaos Crusader.'”

Irma widened her eyes at the sight of me clad in jet-black armor.

“That appearance…”

“Challenging a god? I’ve done that before.”

I released Irma’s hand from my grip after removing the armor, and told her while looking down at Irma, who was kneeling.

“Regardless of who the opponent is, whether god or whoever, if they trample on what’s important to me, I will fight until they are defeated.”

I asked Irma again as she looked up at me.

“What will you do? Will you protect the people by stopping your lord, or will you crouch down and protect your own heart… Which will you choose?”

Irma fell silent at my words, but with determined eyes, he stood up…

Three days later, news arrived that not only had Ozuma taken East Valley Castle, but West Mizu Castle had also fallen.