Leader

"So, this is the branch? Kind of unassuming, isn't it?"

"Yeah. It's really just a piece of wood, isn't it?"

Sitting inside a room in one of the many inns in Mensch, I wasn't quite sure what to make of the supposedly divine artifact in front of me on the floor.

Even though I was looking at it from multiple angles, or at least two as sub-me was on the other side of it, I couldn't help but feel like the game had made it out to be more than it actually was. Not that what it looked like actually mattered to me, as the purpose of it would still remain the same.

In just a couple of weeks, my work could finally begin. Just as soon as the base that was being built in the wastelands was completed.

To some extent, I couldn't help but be impressed that Frederick not only managed to get people willing to risk their lives to go out there, but he also managed to find more when he had gotten rid of them. All while still keeping it all under wraps.

Then again, didn't that hold oh so very true to the nature of humans?

After all, their endless number was the greatest strength of the humans, right next to their adaptability.

It didn't matter if it was when they built the pyramids, or when they went to war. Humans were always expendable, as long as they hadn't been lucky to have been born into the right household.

Naturally, I didn't feel all too good about condemning a lot of innocent people to their deaths, but if it meant that I would be able to keep the location secret, it was more than worth it. No matter how much the other voice inside me wanted me to stop.

Leaning back on the wooden chair I was sitting in, I couldn't help but get excited about the prospects of things finally getting started. Most of the preparations were now complete, and although I still had the issue of my body breaking down, I knew that I couldn't prolong things too much anyway.

"We don't have much of a choice, do we? If we want to somehow be able to match the momentum of Kurat, we can't stall for much longer."

"That's right. It's a shame that there's no choice but to get her involved in this, but it can't be helped. Because there's still one person inside of that academy that I need to deal with."

Stella and Thomas weren't people I actually needed, even though I felt like Stella could become quite an important piece in the future. There was, however, one person inside that building that I knew that I either needed to have on my side, or I couldn't let anyone have him.

"One week. After one more week, we will begin to show ourselves to the world, to show that foolish king a piece of the future."

"Seems like we are excited, aren't we?"

With a big smile on my face, I conjured the mask that I knew as home and put it on, with sub-me quickly following suit, not even the voice inside of my head could say otherwise. Despite how he felt about how I did things, he still wanted the same thing as me.

To completely flip this world upside down.

****

[Arthur's Pov]

Walking through the serene streets of the city center of Mensch, and seeing all the people around us happily enjoying the sunny day, it was hard for me to enjoy the first day of our break after having finished our midterms.

"Hey, stop looking so gloomy. I know that you aren't too happy because of the complementary assignments that you have to do, but this is our first date in ages."

"I'm sorry, Sophie..."

Wearing a very cute red dress, I honestly wanted to enjoy this time more, but because my mind was continuously going back to thinking about the make-up papers that I would have to write it wasn't easy.

Still, it did help a bit to have a beautiful and strong woman such as Sophie by my side, her giving me a bright smile while putting her hand on my cheek.

"Don't worry so much. If you need help, I will help you. But let's not worry about that today."

"Haaa... You're right. Thank you."

"Good!"

Giving me a light peck on my lips, she took my hand in hers and started leading me forward, seemingly eager to get our date started.

The capital was as splendid as ever, with its many skyscrapers reaching high into the air and an endless amount of shops everywhere the eye could see.

Even though I had now lived at the academy for almost two years, I still couldn't get used to the crowded and modern centrum of Mensch, having spent most of my life hiding and desperately training to get stronger.

Yet, to some extent, I had accepted that this was my nation, the home that I both loved and hated, for very different reasons.

Ultimately, even though I still despised the race known as the demonkind, I was already aware that my purpose in life had changed. My purpose wasn't to eradicate the demons for the sake of revenge, my purpose was to defend my home and the people I loved around me.

And it was also for that purpose that I had decided to join Obelisk with Sophie after we graduated, the guild that I felt cared the most about the everyday people, the only guild that didn't seem to pointlessly compete with the other guilds for glory or supremacy.

****

[3rd person Pov]

Sitting on one side each of the desk in the office on the highest floor of the Obelisk guild house, a grim mood had settled in as the old guild master spoke to his son, his hands clasped together in front of his face.

Even though the conflict had now ended, it didn't mean that it hurt any less to think about the faces that had been lost.

"We lost a lot of people this time around..."

"Yes, father. I'm sorry..."

"It's not your fault, Tom. It was my decision to try and assist the king to fend off the demons that had infiltrated our nation. No matter how you feel about your performance in leading our brothers and sister, the fault ultimately lies on me."

Somehow, the already-old Leonardo appeared to be even more haggard than ever, a result of feeling the repercussions of his orders. So it hurt, even more, to see his son staring down on the floor, obviously hurting as much or even more than he did.

Because not only had Tom lost as many family members as he had, he had been there to see them die.

Throughout his life, he had always tried to do what was best for his country, and this time was no different. Though he made sure to not risk losing too many essential personnel that was needed for the guild to survive, there was no doubt that the ventures this time had resulted in a lot of people losing their lives.

Standing up, he walked forward and put his hand on his son's shoulder, knowing that even though his son was strong, he hadn't lived long enough to have experienced this kind of loss before.

"My son, the one who will one day inherit all that I have built... I am happy that you are upset. Because a leader who doesn't care whether his comrades live or die isn't a leader at all, he is merely a martyr. But, you can't forget."

Looking up at his father's face, Tom couldn't help but get a bit confused.

"Forget what?"

"You can't forget what they died for. They didn't give their lives for you to fall down, they gave their lives so people could continue to walk forward. If your convictions waver now, their sacrifices will have been for naught."

After giving his son a reassuring squeeze on his shoulder, Leonardo walked back and sat himself down in his office chair again, all while seeing the small cogs in his son's mind turn. And it didn't take long until he could see that his son understood what he had said to him.

"Now, let's continue. How's the situation with our dungeon teams?"

"Yes, guild master. Our dungeon teams are..."

With his eyes narrowing, Leonardo once again corrected his son, still not wanting him to address him as the guild master when they were the only ones around.

"Tom..."

Realizing his mistake, the dark-haired son needed a moment, a moment that gave Leonardo a very bad feeling.

"Don't even think about it!"

"Think about what?"

"Don't do that! I know that you were thinking of some stupid way of addressing me."

Tilting his head, Tom looked like he couldn't at all understand what his father was talking about.

"Hmm? I don't think I understand, papa."

"I will disown you."