Ch.77The Lord of War (9)

# Chapter 77: Lord of War (9)

“The galaxy has always been burning.”

“That didn’t necessarily mean war.”

“Conflicts between civilizations, wealth disparity, racial discrimination.”

“I would make all such discrimination, injustice, and malice kneel under my banner.”

“A world where everyone becomes one—I would mobilize any means necessary for that, be it military force or otherwise.”

“But the god in the high heavens seems to have no desire for me to fulfill such a plan.”

“However, I have no intention of bending my convictions over something like this.”

“Come at me, slaves of classism, devoid of conviction or will.”

—————————-

Through the action cameras of the Purge Unit members who had crashed another assault ship into the Warlord’s flagship, I finally got to see the Warlord in person.

Facing special forces equipped with genetic modifications, enhancement suits, all kinds of weapons, psionic abilities, and heavy artillery, he stood proudly with only a few of his guards.

“Wow… he’s amazing.”

“Indeed.”

He looked like a bald middle-aged man who had been duped by some strange cult and was going through delayed puberty while performing fiery filial piety toward his father.

Riel and I kept watching the situation with growing interest, continuously stuffing our mouths with the caramel popcorn Riel had personally popped.

-“Die!”

-BANG!

True to his name as a Warlord, he skillfully wielded various weapons and engaged in close combat against the Purge Unit members on equal footing.

-“Subdue him with psionic abilities!”

-“What a pathetic trick!”

-“What!”

“Wow, so the Warlord was actually a psionic user.”

“Ohhh…”

When a psionic user among the assault forces tried to control him with telekinesis, he countered by hurling telekinetic force back at them.

-“Fire!”

-RATATATATATA…KEEEEENG!

-“Hmph!”

“Wow.”

“Wow.”

He created a telekinetic barrier around himself to block the barrage of fire in mid-air.

He truly demonstrated why he was called the Warlord, showing complete mastery in all aspects of combat.

“The Warlord is really incredible.”

“Indeed, who would have thought someone could single-handedly overwhelm an entire platoon of Purge Unit members.”

Of course, the Warlord’s valiant struggle soon came to an end.

“Additional assault ships are entering. Now there’s an entire battalion of imperial special forces including the Purge Unit aboard the Warlord’s flagship.”

“Huh.”

The Warlord’s proud guard fleet and Keshik fleets tried desperately to turn the tide of battle.

But the operation I had deployed with Ash, planned in consultation with Artraia—

The so-called “Space Monster Throwing” operation had lured in numerous space monsters, and under the combined assault with the allied fleet, they were being consumed one by one.

In the midst of this fierce battle, the Warlord’s flagship continued to fire in all directions at enemy ships in a final act of desperation, even as Purge Unit assault ships crashed into its sides…

“Aaaaah! The enemy’s massive ship is approaching!”

Ash led that enormous body forward, unleashing a barrage of close-range fire on the Warlord’s flagship.

With the flagship rendered immobile and unable to fight, the imperial special forces including the Purge Unit rammed in assault ships one after another.

-“Ugh… is this to be my end?”

The Purge Unit’s numbers grew from platoon to company, and finally to battalion level.

When such overwhelming forces pushed forward, even the Warlord reached his limit.

-“But I will never become a prisoner. Farewell, world!”

“Ah.”

Sensing his final moment, the Warlord chose to take his own life before the surrounding forces could intervene.

I felt a profound sense of regret toward the Warlord.

But separate from the regret, I also felt a sense of relief.

-“Minister, what should we do with the Warlord’s body?”

When the Purge Unit member on site communicated this, I felt a desire to send the Warlord’s body to an imperial research facility for study…

But thinking that would be crossing the line, I quickly dismissed the thought and said:

“First, leave evidence that we eliminated the Warlord, then leave the body on the flagship.”

Due to the uniqueness of being the Warlord’s final flagship, that ship needed to be destroyed and reduced to dust anyway.

There was no reason to leave the body for his followers to rally around.

Above all, it was my small gesture of respect to the Warlord, allowing him to share the final fate of his flagship.

-“Understood. Then we’ll cut the Warlord’s body into a pretty star shape before leaving.”

“What.”

Unfortunately, those on the front lines didn’t understand the level of respect I felt toward the Warlord’s existence.

I suddenly found myself in a situation where a gore video was being broadcast in real-time to me and other high-ranking imperial officials.

“…Ah, damn it.”

I collapsed while grabbing the back of my neck.

But this time, Riel was right beside me.

And Alina, who was like a walking encyclopedia, was also there.

So I was able to receive quick emergency treatment and get back on my feet without needing to go to the hospital like before.

——————————

And so, after the Warlord was neatly cut into a star shape.

When the flagship exploded and news of the Warlord’s death spread, a festive atmosphere began to overflow throughout the galaxy.

“Now that the war is over, we’ll have peace for a while.”

Even Riel, who had been watching the situation right beside me, said this—imagine how others must feel.

But I couldn’t give a positive response to Riel’s words.

And the reason for that was…

[Pause]

[Event: Death of the Lord of War]

[News that the Warlord, who had pushed the eastern galaxy into the flames of war, has finally met his end along with his flagship in the battle at the Sigmallion planetary system is spreading throughout the galaxy.]

[With the Warlord’s death confirmed, many pirates and mercenaries who followed him are deserting his forces, either returning to their daily lives or engaging in civil war to become the new Warlord.]

[Meanwhile, some say the Warlord had designated a successor, but due to the successor’s sudden disappearance, the confusion is expected to intensify.]

[Related event in progress…]

‘Damn it all.’

The cursed event message confirmed that just because the Warlord died, things wouldn’t simply return to normal.

And with additional related events still pending, I was in a state of anxious anticipation about what might happen next…

‘Wait, what was the additional event here again?’

The problem was that I couldn’t remember what events awaited us next.

‘Am I already suffering from early-onset dementia?’

Of course, strictly speaking, that wasn’t the case.

After all, it had been over 15 years since I was reincarnated here from my previous life—how could I remember everything in detail?

I don’t have perfect memory, and when my memory was still intact, I was too busy to take notes on events…

‘The more I think about it, the more pathetic I feel.’

Anyway, deciding there was no need to dwell on this further, I recalled my conversation with Riel and released the pause.

[Pause Released]

“From my perspective, the chaos will continue for a while.”

I naturally tried to steer the conversation.

…It didn’t seem very natural, but whatever.

Anyway, upon hearing my words, Riel immediately turned to me with an annoyed expression.

“Why not?”

Seeing Riel glaring at me with fierce eyes, I pulled out my etiquette injection rod that I always kept ready.

“Why would that happen?”

Seeing how she naturally corrected her attitude at the sight of the etiquette injection rod, I nodded and put it away before speaking.

“Events.”

“Ah, you mean there’s still more to come?”

When I nodded again at her question, Riel could only sigh deeply.

“This is serious. The Galactic Federation is saying peace has returned to the galaxy with the Warlord’s death.”

“…”

“So in your opinion, Minister, how long will this chaos last?”

Seeing Riel speaking as if she had reached enlightenment, I paused time again to organize my thoughts.

[Pause]

After spending what felt like several more hours lost in thought, I finally released the pause and spoke.

[Pause Released]

“…Even at the shortest estimate, it will probably take years.”

Soon after, I would share this prediction not just with Riel but also with the Imperial Council of the Holy Sebelli Empire.

As always, there were negative opinions about my pessimistic forecast.

But when they witnessed the great chaos that erupted in the eastern galaxy not long after, I once again had to endure suspicions of being some kind of prophet(???).