episode_0071

Freedom.

Those were Rain Grey’s last words to me.

With those final words, I was once again cast into the wilderness of the world.

In this gray world, where purpose, duty, and even good or evil were no longer clear.

Even amidst all this, what form of life should I, as the leader of the Black Serpent, take in front of the Serpent members who believed and followed me as their ‘Leader’?

I asked myself again.

After asking, I realized how familiar that question was.

A human life, where one lives by someone’s expectations, fulfilling those expectations, nestled between people.

That was no exception, whether it was ‘that side’ or ‘this side’.

Even the fact that there was no clear answer to that question—.

What should I do, where should I go, what is right and what is wrong—these were questions I, in my current state, couldn’t answer.

No human could answer such questions.

Just like everyone else, they simply moved towards what they believed was right, even while wandering and getting lost.

Because life, from the beginning, was a struggle in the face of such unanswerable questions.

“…Airship.”

Meanwhile, a word unconsciously crossed my mind.

“Huh? Airship… Ah, you mean that one from the Bretrona Empire?”

At the word I idly muttered, Silan of Saan brought up the topic as if he’d been waiting.

It was the blueprint for an airship they had acquired long ago.

“Haha, it was a real pain to sneak this out, wasn’t it, Selena Noona?”

“…”

Silan of Saan spoke, and Selena of Dark Moon remained silent. I didn’t care.

My interest was never in the blueprint before me to begin with.

It was just that Rain Grey had spoken of ‘freedom’ to me, who was left in this world.

Before those words, left like a spell, and facing those chains, I could only mutter.

As the leader of a villainous group, unexpectedly granted freedom, what would be the most suitable dwelling for the Black Serpent under my command?

It wouldn’t be easy.

But it was by no means impossible.

To acquire the Empire’s Dreadnought-class airship.

I don’t know why that thought came to me after I first gained ‘freedom’, as Rain Grey had said.

I just inexplicably felt that obtaining it was the ‘very first’ thing I, as a free person, should do.

—Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.

“No longer… will the name ‘Black Serpent’ be confined to something that only a few, including those in the shadows, fear.”

Now I understood.

No, even if I didn’t understand, I didn’t care.

Because I, who filled the void by taking the place of the real Rain Grey, was truly ‘real’, regardless of my own will.

“People of the world will no longer be able to define us as a mere criminal organization or an association.”

I said.

“Leader-nim.”

“You mean…?”

I couldn’t know how the members there would interpret those words. Nor did I need to.

“We will seize the Bretrona Empire’s airship.”

“!”

I spoke. Even some members couldn’t hide their bewilderment at my words, but I didn’t care.

“After that, with the airship we acquire and the full force of the Serpent, we will officially—”

I said.

“We will reorganize all existing order on this continent.”

“Reorganize, you say…?”

Aria’s voice trailed off. Because she knew what those words meant better than anyone.

“The Black Serpent and all of you who belong to the Serpent will become part of the newly reorganized order.”

“…”

A brief silence fell. At the end of the silence, Alice laughed.

“Does that mean we’re going to do something reaaally big from now on?!”

Laughing like an innocent child anticipating tomorrow’s picnic.

“Yes.”

“Yup, I’m all for it!”

Alice exclaimed loudly. As a Serpent member loyal to her leader, as always.

And so, I calmly continued.

“—From now on, no one will be able to treat us as the ‘Enemy of the World’ and stand against us.”

That was what I, having gained freedom, had to do.

A world where, in front of the members who offered foolish loyalty to me, no one would even dare to oppose or challenge the Serpent anymore.

“Because we will become the world itself.”

“…Hah.”

Silan, who was listening, let out a hollow laugh.

“Not world destruction, but world conquest?”

The goal of ‘Rain Grey’ that all Serpent members had known from the beginning. I was not unaware of it either. Yet, nothing would change.

“Yes.”

“—Has there been a change of heart?”

At that question, Selena of Dark Moon, who had been silent, opened her mouth. Her pale, ashen dark elf skin was hidden beneath her hood.

“…Not really.”

I answered calmly, as always.

“It’s simply my decision.”

Because that was Rain Grey’s way.

The ‘real’ Rain Grey I saw before my eyes was far from the leader I had imagined. He didn’t even love his members, and he didn’t care what he did to achieve his goals. He had no beliefs or resolve to uphold in the process.

He described himself that way.

I still don’t know if those words were true or not.

The only thing I know for certain is that he left me ‘freedom’ and departed.

And that freedom is solely my share, as ‘Rain Grey’ left in this very place.

“…Is that so.”

Therefore, Selena of Dark Moon simply bowed her head silently, without asking further questions.

“—If that is the Leader’s will.”

“Ohhoho, this maiden will gladly follow any decision of Rain-nim!”

Following Selena, Freya was no exception either.

“Even if this body is destined to fall into hell—”

“A shaky breath, a shaky laugh.”

Hearing those words, the ‘Laughing Man’, who had been silent, burst into laughter, grotesquely hunching his shoulders and twisting his body.

At the same time, Gretel the witch, the girl sitting beside him, mumbled in a small voice.

“I, I’ll… do as Rain wills.”

Like a true child unable to decide anything by her own will.

“Th-that is… any command.”

It was as she said.

“—Nothing will change.”

Amidst the continuing words of the members, Aria, whose eyes were covered by black bandages, spoke.

“If that is the Leader-nim’s will, we will simply be loyal.”

As the most loyal subordinate, guarding my side as always. At the same time, a being who was ‘nothing’ to the real Rain Grey, even while dedicating her all and swearing loyalty.

“…Aria.”

To me, she was not.

“Yes, Leader-nim.”

“No, it’s nothing.”

With those words, I shook my head. I no longer cared for such bewilderment or actions unlike ‘Rain Grey’.

Because the ‘real Rain Grey’ who should rightfully be in this place no longer existed.

Even if he did exist, that existence was by no means the type of human who could live up to the expectations of the members present.

“Report information about the Bretrona Empire’s airships.”

I merely stated, calmly, what needed to be done.

“Ah, what we’ve heard recently is that there are probably three Dreadnought-class airships, and the lower-tier airships are still in the testing phase, I believe.”

I listened to Silan’s continuing reply.

After listening, I calmly continued.

“Information on the armory that produces airships?”

“—Ah, that’s top-secret among top secrets. They control information so completely that not even a mouse or a bird can know about building a warship of that scale. The Empire must be that desperate.”

“Just give me the conclusion.”

“Hmm, it’s not certain, but there’s one place we can guess?”

Silan replied nonchalantly.

“Where is it?”

And it wasn’t Silan who received that answer.

“…Mother’s Forest.”

The Dark Elf, Selena of Dark Moon, interjected.

Mother’s Forest, for elves, that name meant one thing.

“There are rumors of an underground facility in the deepest part of the Great Forest, secretly operating with all the resources of the colonies mobilized.”

“Is that so.”

That answer was enough.

“We will seize one airship and inflict irreversible damage on the Bretrona Empire’s military power, including the remaining warships.”

Moreover, what needed to be done became clear.

“Aria and I will directly move on the Great Forest’s underground facility.”

“Oh, me too! Let Alice join too!”

“…Alright.”

Along with Alice, who bounced around like a child, Jinjo Scarlet laughed.

“So the next opponent is the Empire.”

Our next opponent.

“To think we’ll be facing the ‘Nation Beloved by the Goddess’ in the true sense.”

The Nation Beloved by the Goddess. It was as she said.

Nevertheless, nothing would change.

Just as Rain Grey had once declared ‘freedom’ to me.

Because according to the freedom he bestowed, I too had a duty to fulfill.

From now on, I would simply act.

Without any agony, hesitation, or reluctance—.