Chapter 153 - Following Your Principles

We got dressed and began to move. The shocking reality was that from the harem 3P with Shinseniza and Tamagushi, all the way through the battles with Teracoas and the resurrected King of Niosebuk, we had been stark naked the entire time.

"Sir Sao, would you mind carrying Teracoas?" 

"Why me...?" 

"We can't just leave him in an open field like this. Or are you saying you'd force us 'fragile' women to carry a grown person?" 

"Fragile?"

Fine, whatever. My conscience would prick me if I didn't, so I hoisted the now-comatose Teracoas—left as an empty shell after the ghost king's departure—onto my back and started walking.

Our destination: the Niosebuk capital. Though to be fair, that’s the only place within walking distance from where we fought.

『Oh, my nostalgic stronghold! I have finally returned!!』

The King of Niosebuk, stuffed into a lamp and carried along, spoke with casual cheer.

As we passed through the city gates, the streets were deserted.

『What is the meaning of this...? There isn't a single soldier to be seen...!?』

Like I said, I killed them all. Not just the ones who gathered for the fight with Gangastra; I made sure to be thorough with the rest, so there isn't a single one left in the capital. And Niosebuk is a nation where a man cannot survive unless he is a soldier. With the soldiers slaughtered, the male-to-female ratio of the capital naturally became 0:10.

『Did you truly kill every last one? The world's strongest elites of Niosebuk...!? What a waste... No, wait. Now that the four Spirit Emblems are gathered, I suppose it matters not?』

The soul within the lamp held a monologue with itself.

『He who possesses the emblems of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air has power enough to seize the better part of the world... In that case, soldiers are nothing but useless garbage! Yes! With my son alone, world conquest is within reach!! Fuhahahaha!』

He sure loves the word "garbage." Even though he's the biggest piece of trash here.

"Hey, Tamagushi." 

"Yes?" 

"I've been wondering since I first got here... this statue..."

Right inside the main square past the city gates stands a massive bronze statue. It had that grand, "Founding Father" vibe to it.

『Oh, this?! Magnificent, is it not?!』

The King of Niosebuk interrupted to answer for her. He seemed to have an unusual attachment to this statue. Not surprising, given it was a monument to himself.

『This depicts me in my younger days—a testament to my greatness! I had it erected to commemorate the destruction of ten nations after my coronation! My legend shall be told for eternity alongside this likeness!!』

"Hmm."

So. This statue...

WHAM!!

『HIGYAAAAAAAAAHHHH!?』

Smashed by my rod, the Royal Statue of Niosebuk couldn't withstand the impact and shattered into unrecognizable fragments. It was now nothing but rubble.

『My likeness!! The proof of my deeds!! Powdered?! Now I cannot pass down my greatness to posterity!!』

Of course you can't. Did you really think anything about you was worth remembering?

"Actually, Tamagushi, I see statues like this all over the city. Isn't this a bit overkill?" 

"The Kings of Niosebuk have always been fond of monuments. They wish to demonstrate their greatness that way. Especially since stone and bronze endure long after their deaths."

Trying to project their ego into the future, huh?

"Alright, Tamagushi. Lead me to every single statue of a Niosebuk King in this capital. Every last one." 

"I don't even need to ask why. You've already demonstrated your intent."

Indeed.

And so the tour of the capital began. I smashed every statue we found. This was King So-and-So the Third, that was King Such-and-Such the Fifth... The names didn't matter. They were all going to be pulverized regardless.

『Wh-what...!? Such sacrilege...! The glorious deeds of the Niosebuk lineage...!?』

Interestingly, he wasn't as shocked as when his own statue was broken. What a self-centered ghost.

『What is the point of this?! These exist to tell the world of Niosebuk’s ferocity for generations! Each statue tells the story of our military might!!』

"Tamagushi, what's this building?"

I looked at a particularly extravagant, massive structure. It lacked any sign of daily life, suggesting it was an important institution.

"That is the Royal Library." 

"A library? This meathead nation has something so sophisticated?" 

"The collection consists entirely of Niosebuk history. Specifically, books that record only our victories. Like the statues, it exists solely to boast of conquest." 

"I see..."

Using the power of the [Pyro Stigma], I tossed a flickering flame into the library. Fire immediately filled the building, and black smoke billowed from the windows. Along with the smoke, red embers and charred pages of books danced into the air.

They dissolved into black ash against the sky.

『HONGEAAAAAAAAHHH!? The records of my country! Our history itself is...!!』

The ghost in the lamp shrieked at the sight.

『What are you thinking?! You are burning the very past of Niosebuk! The glorious trajectory of our victories! How can you turn it to ash?! Every record should be preserved for the future!!』

"None of this is worth telling to the future."

So I burned it. The history and achievements of a place like Niosebuk are absolutely unnecessary for the world to come. I will erase it. Every single grain.

"Because I decided it."

『BY WHAT RIGHT?! What right do you have to do as you please with Niosebuk's history?!』

『Right?』

I have a right. A perfect, absolute right that none of your logic can overcome.

"The Right of the Strong."

I am stronger than you. And according to you, the strong can do whatever they want to the weak.

The strong can trample the weak. They can take everything away. They can tear your pride to shreds, ravish your loved ones before your eyes, and grind your future into powder. To the strong, everything is permitted.

"So, I’m going to break everything you hold dear. Your most precious thing is the Kingdom of Niosebuk, right? I’ll destroy the kingdom, its history, its glory—all of it."

『Why...? Why would you do such a thing...!?』

"Because I am stronger than you."

Personally, I think that way of thinking is wrong. The true value of humanity lies in cooperation. Helping each other, showing compassion—that’s how we overcome problems no one could solve alone. That's how civilization develops. Those who kick others down will eventually be kicked down themselves. Humanity can never move forward in a cycle of sabotage. Every human is weak; we have to huddle together to survive in the midst of a nature that is truly powerful.

I can say with absolute confidence that Niosebuk’s arrogant "Law of the Jungle" is a mistake.

So why am I using this "wrong" method? Because it is your style.

"Everything you've done until now is finally coming back to you. The strong can do whatever they want to the weak. I don't believe that for a second, but since that's your belief, I'll follow it."

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Right now, in this situation, I am the Absolute Strong, and the Kingdom of Niosebuk is the Weak beneath me.

So I can do anything, right? I’ll slaughter the men, destroy the city, sever the history, and erase every trace that this country ever existed.

What a horrible thing to do. Is it okay to do something this cruel just because I won? Just because I'm stronger?

Yes, it is. Because this is exactly what you people wanted.

"This is the Law of the Jungle, isn't it? Your own doctrine. I will never believe this is right. But since you say it is, I’ll abide by it just for now."

『Don't be absurd! You have the blood of the Niosebuk royalty! You are a Prince! The man who would be King! Do you think it’s okay for a King to destroy his own kingdom?!』

"I do."

If I carry the blood of Niosebuk, then following the Niosebuk way is only logical.

"The strong can do as they please with the weak. Since I am of your bloodline, I will follow the Niosebuk Law and erase Niosebuk so thoroughly it's severed forever. I am strong, Niosebuk is weak. I am the winner, you are the loser. It is only natural that you are erased."

『Ah... aaaaaahhh...!?』

I looked out at the city. The Niosebuk capital was surrounded by massive, sturdy walls. To shut out invaders, they were thicker and higher than any walls I had ever seen. Standard gear for a warrior nation.

I raised my hand, and a rumble began to shake the earth. Those "indestructible" walls began to sink lower and lower.

『They're getting lower?!』 

"They're sinking. I'm using the [Earth Stigma] to collapse the ground beneath them."

Niosebuk’s pride—its walls—sank into the earth. They became so low they could no longer even function as a fence.

『STOP IT!! PLEASE STOP! Those walls are the symbol of Niosebuk’s strength! A city without walls can be conquered at any time! Stop it, stop it, STOP IT!!』

"I won't."

I'll say it as many times as it takes. The strong can do whatever they want to the weak, right? That’s your rule. Follow the rules you made for yourself.

『HAVE MERCY! Do you have no human heart? No pity for others?! Do you have no feelings of compassion at all?!』

"What are you talking about?"

You people in Niosebuk don't have a grain of that yourselves. Don't ask others for what you don't possess.

"This is what you've done to the world. Feel your own heartlessness and know it."

『I HATE THIS! WHY MUST I BE TREATED THIS WAY?! DID WE REALLY DO THINGS THAT WERE SO EVIL?!』

Your atrocities are countless, and your brain probably can't even grasp "why" they were evil. So, I’ll tell you the only sin you can understand.

"Because you are weak."

The sin of being weak.

"Because you are weak, you couldn't stop the strong from doing as they pleased with you. Weakness is a sin. That's what you've always said, isn't it? In front of me, you have become the weak. Therefore, right here, right now, you must pay for that sin."

『Weak... I am weak...!?』 

"Yes. You are weak."

You are powerless. Follow the rules you used to trample others.

If I am your successor, if I am the new King of Niosebuk, then I will follow the Niosebuk way and torture the weakling known as Niosebuk to death.

This is what you wanted. You should be happy. The Law of the Niosebuk Kingdom is being executed perfectly by the successor you chose.

As the King, you should rejoice. Go on. Rejoice.

『UWAAAAAAAAHHHHH!! NO! NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!! STOP IT!! STOOOOOOOP IT!!』

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