Zeroy dragged General Budo single-handedly back to the execution ground outside the city.
Then she tossed this former pillar of the Empire into the dust at the field's edge, like discarding broken trash.
Budo's body was already ruined—covered in wounds, meridians severed with precision, blood mixing with dirt, staining his armor red.
He lay limp on the ground, like a dog stripped of dignity, only his neck and eyeballs still able to shift slightly.
His gaze swept across the execution ground with difficulty, pupils trembling faintly in shock.
On the field, enraged commoners burst forth like a flood, a tide of vengeance surging toward the nobles bound by violet runes.
The once-proud aristocrats and ringleaders were now nothing but lambs awaiting slaughter.
The crowd's roars shook the heavens, mingled with painful memories and the ecstasy of revenge—
A woman raised a stone high, smashing it again and again onto a man in fine suit, stone and woman both soaked in blood.
A youth clawed at dirt and weeds, frantically shoving them into the mouth of a once-overbearing official, mud and tears plastering his face.
Others simply lunged forward, tearing flesh with teeth and nails, screams and howls intertwining as if to repay every humiliation and pain.
Budo's eyes stiffened, a low growl squeezing from his throat.
This iron-blooded general who had fought a lifetime felt not fury in his chest, but trembling weakness and regret.
The Empire he had defended, the people he had sworn to protect, had now become frenzied avengers in this judgment.
They looked like beasts unleashed.
Zeroy stood aside, her emerald eyes coldly watching.
Her voice, low and clear, pierced the clamor and stabbed into Budo's heart: "Look. This is what you protected. When laws serve the wicked, justice can only be paid back in blood."
These meek, lamb-like civilians now displayed a madness that even Budo, who had walked through mountains of corpses, found terrifying.
Especially when a little girl held up a severed tongue from some noble and giggled—then the general's throat let out a whimper, blood bubbling.
Among the persecuted nobles was the young emperor Budo had sworn loyalty to.
Though he was merely Ernest's puppet, Zeroy had not spared him, nor did the people.
The Holy Child and he were both puppets; however, the nature was different.
The Holy Child knew what had befallen the nation, wanted to change it, and strove for that, but reality left her powerless. That was not her fault. With her restricted life, unless she possessed power like Zeroy's, she could do nothing in the short term.
Rulers indeed bore responsibility for making life better. Failing that was dereliction.
Nevertheless, no one should be blamed or condemned for not being superhuman. Lack of ability is one thing; not being a superhuman is another. Sometimes, humans simply cannot.
The Emperor—he bore no great sins either.
He was not wise enough, failing to see through the minister's lies, though, given his tender age, that was excusable.
Yet—how many orders had come from his lips? How many commands had he nodded to?
Even if deceived, people had truly suffered under his rule. That was the difference between him and the Holy Child: one had done little, the other had already done.
After all, in law, there exists negligent homicide and indirect perpetration.
The Emperor had indirectly caused countless tragedies. He could not escape this responsibility.
Ignorance and youth could not shield him from such vast sins.
"..."
Zeroy looked with interest upon the vast execution ground filled with hundreds of thousands.
She liked seeing innocents swing the blades of vengeance against the pests.
Only—
It felt less refined than her own tortures.
The people's hatred and fury were genuine, but perhaps their imagination and methods fell short.
If Zeroy herself acted, she could make those screams louder and more pitiful by at least twice.
In the end, she thought, it would still take Hellfire to finish it properly.
She returned to Patchouli's side, both of them releasing healing magic as they watched.
Just then. she noticed a figure out of place.
It was a little girl, not joining in the nobles' punishment.
Like Zeroy and Patchouli, she only stood aside, watching. And now, she was looking at them.
"Why not join in?"
Zeroy walked to the girl.
"Why should I join in?"
"You hold no grudge against them? Even without one, don't you want to kill them?"
"No grudge, no desire. If the weak are bullied, that's their own fault."
"Is that so..."
Zeroy's brow furrowed slightly.
Had it not been for the absence of black mist around the girl, those words alone might have earned a blade.
"That man you brought back just now—he was General Budo, right?"
The girl seemed unaware she had brushed past death; she spoke up eagerly, clearly intrigued.
"That's right."
"And you so easily captured everyone in the Capital. And earlier, when you were inside the city..."
The more she spoke, the brighter her eyes shone.
"Can you teach me to grow stronger?!"
Finally, she revealed her goal.
"Why do you want strength?"
"Does one need a reason to grow strong?"
The girl frowned, as if faced with an incomprehensible question.
"With me, yes."
"Uh..."
She lowered her head, pondering.
Zeroy turned her gaze back to the field, to the people's vengeance.
"To survive!"
The girl suddenly cried out. Zeroy turned back, seeing her serious, determined expression.
"Strength is to survive! Without it, without fighting, I can't live!"
So you're a Kamen Rider too?
Zeroy studied her—light blue long hair, icy blue eyes, and the traces hidden in her body...
Oh, the marks of training and battle.
"I can't teach you."
"Why? I'd pay any price! Just make me strong like you!"
A child's lofty dreams.
"I cannot teach you. My power is unique; only I can use it."
"..."
The girl did not give up, stubbornly staring up at Zeroy.
Zeroy, unmoved, stared back.
After a while, the girl's resolve waned.
"No matter what, you won't? I want to be strong... I want to live..."
"I will create a new order. You won't need strength to live."
"That would be life given by others. That has no meaning."
The girl shook her head.
"Hmm... then tell me your story. After I hear it, I'll decide."
...
P.S.: In this work's setting, the Emperor is 10 years old, and Esdeath is 14. In the anime, Esdeath's adult debut is at 20; here, six years later, she will be grown, while the Emperor remains underage.
...
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