I Reincarnated as a Villain of an RPG, But I Want to Survive - CH 78

I’m your father

Wartaiga has left……

The front of the Resistance’s hideout looked it was ravaged by a storm

The ground was gouged out and the debris were scattering everywhere……。

The damage is not less than being attacked by a storm

「Are we foolish……!?」

The Resistance Leader sighed while cleaning up the debris

「We know from the beginning that the empire is strong, we thought we understand it enough. And yet the dread the empire just showed was far beyond our imagination……or rather, the reality is beyond our imagination……!」

He said with a feeble sigh

「So, that is the basic power of the empire, huh……!?」

「It’s as you said. Now that the world is heading towards stability, there is no hope for you to win when facing the ridiculous strength of the empire. I hope that the Resistance will move toward disbandment」

I really want to say “the resistance force against evil shouldn’t be disheartened that easily” though

Well, in the first place, the target of resistance has changed to be a splendid ruler

Is it even right to resist those who govern well?

Aside from winning and not winning (or rather, exactly because it’s a battle you cannot win), it is hard to continue fighting when you can’t retain the belief that you are right

「Okay. I will meditate you guys’ problem with the emperor」

「Is it fine? I think we have caused a fair amount of damage to the empire though……」

「Say whatever you want, but your sabotage is like a mosquito bite to the empire. Don’t mind about it」

It’s because the objective of the Resistance was to cause as little casualty as possible

「But, over there……」

Oh right

It’s the newest damage Resistance caused to the empire

The Twelve Apostles Zelimgaia and Kuwasally were still lying on the ground as they hadn’t recovered from the damage from Sero’s attack

「Uhh……, don’t come, don’t come……!?」

「A monster is approaching～？」

Even in their dream, they are being overpowered by Sero

Either way, thinking how easygoing they are to sleep soundly in enemy territory, I hit their butts while feeling slightly irritated

「These guys are paying for their mistakes, so don’t worry」

What is more worrysome than these guys is……

Sero

Beyond the circles of people, he stands alone

Naturally, he didn’t say a word and only stared at the empty sky

「Please go」

I was told by Leader-san abruptly

「Currently, we are comrades of the Resistance, but after all it’s still a shallow relationship as we only scouted him a few days ago. I think it’s better if you, a fellow apprentice who lived together with him for many years, would support him」

He is being considerate

As expected of a Leader who managed other people together

I accepted his offer and moved toward Sero

「It’s frustrating to lose, isn’t it?」

「Nii-chan……」

Even when I’m standing next to him, Sero doesn’t seem to care too much

It seems to say he has something else to care about

「You sure have become strong. Much stronger compared to when I left. I didn’t expect you to learn even Holy beast mode」

Even with me as a model and Tanu-sage’s guidance

「But, you are not a match against that guy. It’s not just about pure power. He is far ahead of you in term of experience and technique. That is a definitely advantage of someone born earlier」

「It is natural……」

Sero said

But what is natural?

The result of the battle? Or the fact that Wartaiga is strong?

「It is natural that he is older than me……, after all he is, he is my……」

「……」

「……father」

He realized it, huh?

「I couldn’t believe when I saw him at first. I thought father has died. The last time we met was more than five years ago, so I thought he is a different person……or rather, I tried to think so」

Sero’s voice gradually trembles

It’s not unnatural. Sero’s hatred toward the empire is because his father and mother was killed

And yet, one of them, his father, is still alive and is on the empire’s side

How much of a shock it is to Sero, who hates the empire the most……?

「I thought father has died. When our village was attacked by the empire, the one who stayed till the very end to fight was father. Thanks to him, many people were able to run away to live. The young me at that time was pulled by mother. The back of father who fought against the empire’s soldier was the last thing I saw from him」

The objective of the empire soldier attacking Sero’s village is to kill the villagers

Thinking about that, it’s natural to guess his father, who stayed until the end, has lost his life

But that’s not the case

His father is still alive. He also become Wartaiga of the Twelve Apostles of the empire

「Wartaiga is Sero’s father? I couldn’t think about it even in my wildest dream……!」

That is a lie

I knew it from the beginning

Before the last boss of 『Beast fantasy 4』, one would need to fight the second rank Wartaiga before fighting Grey Ryuuga

In the game, Wartaiga is fighting in beast mode so it takes time to notice, but eventually after winning the battle, he regains his memory and identifies as the should-be-dead father of the protagonist

I can’t explain the information I knew beforehand to the people in this world, so I have to pretend I just know it

「Why! Why is father with the empire! I’m certainly glad that father is still alive! But even so, the empire killed mother! Mother, who faced the empire to let me escape……I can still remember how many spears pierced mother’s chest!」

「Sero……！」

「I’m still dreaming……! Why is father with the empire who killed mother? I don’t understand……!?」

「This is just my guess, but……」

I said

As close to the truth as possible, at least according to the game

「Maybe Wartaiga……, your father is being manipulated?」

「Eh?」

「We, the Twelve Apostles, had a beast piece embedded in our body. It’s a mass of high purity beast aura. That is the reason we can exhibit beast power that is incomparable to other imperial soldiers」

But that is not the only effect of beast piece

The beast demon not only increases the power, but also erodes the mind and tries to turn the host into a beast

In fact, right after receiving the beast pieces, many of my friends were affected and became savage like wild beasts

If I didn’t adjust with holy wisdom art, they would become atrocious demon beast warriors already

「I cut off the beast piece’s mind erosion with holy wisdom art. But how about your father, Sero?」

Rather, what if the mind erosion effect of beast piece was used to wrap the heart of those who didn’t obey the empire to make them submit……？

「No way……, that……!?」

「It’s not something impossible. If the emperor had that intention, he can adjust the effect of beast piece to make it possible」

The beast piece embedded to Wartaiga is 『Tiger』。

Used as metaphor for wild, cold-hearted people, it’s a beast recognized as the most brutal beast among various animals

There is also a story about a person lost their human heart and became a tiger

Therefore, among the 12 beast pieces, the one with the highest mind erosion effect should be the 『Tiger』 beast piece

And it was the beast piece of Wartaiga

「It’s possible that he lost his memory because of the mind erosion and became a different person. Your father then became a subordinate of the empire, regardless of his own intention……？」

At least, it’s the setting in 『Beast Fantasy 4』

In the game, due to the direct showdown with protagonist Sero, the meeting with his separated son became a trigger and his lost memory was reconstructed, he then returned to his former self

From that, the tragedy begins

「Sero, no matter what you gonna do from now on, can you leave it to me for a while?」

「Nii-chan……？」

「Wartaiga……, about your father, I will try to do something. I will try to recover his lost memory and return him to the old man you know」

Therefore, please be patient for a while

Don’t take any rash action

I myself have a plan to stop this conflict