Siahti despised the Military State, but she didn’t hate everything about it. The citizens, students, facilities, and even the steel of the State—these ordinary, innocent things were not the targets of her rage.

Of course, there are people in the world who hold such indiscriminate hatred. Like Tirna, who despises the Holy Church, or the Inquisitor, who hates vampires. They see the world in black and white. But Siahti, who had awakened her anger from the deaths of her friends, was not like them.

"…Don’t be ridiculous! Even if you weren’t there back then!"

"Weren't there?"

"Even so…."

She couldn’t scream that they were to blame or that they bore any guilt. She couldn’t think that way. Even if Siahti herself was a monster born of the era’s violence, that excuse faded before those who were born later.

"What are you…!"

Siahti turned away from IA and marched over to Captain Abby. She grabbed Abby’s shoulder with aggressive intent, but her grip was weak, and from some angles, it looked like she was merely holding on to the captain for support.

"You!"

Siahti tried, tried desperately to hate the girl standing before her. She dredged up every dark memory she had. Friends dying, young faces full of potential choosing death of their own will. And in the midst of it all, she alone survived, clinging to her anger.

But the girl before her looked as young as the friends in her memories. Siahti's anger gradually lost its momentum.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty."

Hameln had been six years ago. A simple calculation told her that Abby had been only fourteen at the time.

It was an easy calculation, quick enough for Siahti to complete in an instant.

Her face crumpled, and she released her grip from Abby’s delicate shoulder with a shudder. Her prosthetic arm obeyed her will, but her broken left hand didn’t. It took all her effort to let go.

"A… Ah, why, why?"

Staggering back, Siahti covered her face with her prosthetic hand and sobbed.

"Why won’t you let me hate you freely…!"

With her target for revenge lost, there was no longer a need for vengeance. Siahti’s desire ended here.

"You’re the ones who did wrong…! You’re the ones who made me this way. It’s all because of you! If only the Military State hadn’t done this to me, I… I…!"

The princess watched her friend, who had lost the meaning of her life, and murmured in pity.

"Siahti…."

"If you made me like this, then at least pay the price! Take my anger, bear it! If you’ve taken everything from me, you should at least do that…! You’re supposed to be the ones who deserve to die! And yet…!"

Her broken fingers trembled. Only her thumb remained. She’d finally found the Military State, but she couldn’t bring herself to break even that cherished thumb.

"I… I can’t do it…."

"It’s okay!"

Even though the years she spent living solely for revenge were now invalidated, those years hadn’t been completely meaningless. The princess embraced Siahti’s shoulders, comforting her friend who had screamed out her pain.

"You don’t have to keep consuming yourself with revenge! You can let it go, Siahti."

Her words were hardly those of a Resistance leader. But regardless, the princess sincerely comforted Siahti.

"A nation without a king. Such a country may not be so bad. Without an evil king, the people here might not be gentle, but they wouldn’t be cruel either. They might be harsh and cold, but they wouldn’t become tyrants."

"What… does it matter? The children who died in Hameln…."

"I also wish the Military State could be kinder. Truly. But it’s better than having a king. If some king had ordered this, we’d have to punish him, and history would repeat itself."

‘In a way, it’s a relief. I couldn’t turn a blind eye to their hatred, but if Siahti can let go of hers, maybe she can live a normal life. If there’s no king-like figure in the Military State, it’s a small comfort. They might be ruthless, but they’ll never become true tyrants.’

If a friend has lost their hatred, should one be glad or sad? The princess was firmly on the side of the former. As the leader of the Resistance, the princess finally confessed the feelings she hadn’t dared to speak.

"Instead of being trapped in the cycle of history repeating itself, this is better. Huey knew the futility of it and brought Siahti here…."

"Huh? Not at all."

Ending it this way wouldn’t fulfill her desire.

A desire is a want. A want is a sin. It’s about taking something from the world or from others.

The Military State is trying to take that from humanity.

"That’s the Military State’s purpose. A nation where no one can sin. A place where no one can fulfill their desires. Or, a place where they can only hold predetermined desires. Sorry, but that’s not something I find appealing."

"Huh? So, what will you do then…?"

"I’ll carry out Siahti’s wish. I’ll break the Military State."

Leaving the princess, who now looked like a startled rabbit, I stepped towards Captain Abby. She shouted, alarmed.

"Wait! Huey! What do you intend to do?"

"I’m going to destroy it. So that it can never recover."

"What?!"

I meant it.

This damn Military State was too stifling. With so many things they couldn’t do, they couldn’t even hold real desires. I couldn’t find a single genuine desire even after searching.

To become a Level 3 citizen. To turn back time and earn a higher evaluation. To wish for something different tomorrow. Or, to hope tomorrow doesn’t come at all.

Sadly, these weren’t things I could grant. Those who had shared their desires with me all lived during the kingdom days.

"If to be able to do anything is barbarism, then defining what you can’t do is civilization. The Military State dreamed of a solid civilization, but I can’t fulfill their desires."

Because the Military State isn’t human. It’s more like something that devours humans.

"Now. It’s time for savagery. I’m going to bring down the Military State."

‘Bring down the Military State? How? There’s only Signalers here….’

The princess looked back hurriedly. She glanced at IA, Captain Abby, and the other steel doors that hadn’t yet opened. She seemed to realize my intention as she looked at the Signalers behind them.

‘Signalers, they’re the backbone of the Military State…! If you’re going to bring it down, Huey, you don’t mean…!’

The princess turned pale and called out urgently.

"No matter what! Hurting unresisting girls…! That’s not what a man would do! If Lady Shay saw this, she’d be disappointed!"

"Hahaha. Princess, you’re very mistaken. Lady Shay isn’t that nice. If anything, she’s closer to the villainous side. Why else would she tell me specifically to target this facility?"

Granted, the time traveler didn’t know the full structure of the Military State. But she knew the Signaler Headquarters was central to it. And she wanted to destroy it.

Because it was necessary. That’s why.

As I stepped forward, the princess threw her arms out to block me, seemingly intent on protecting the Signalers. It might seem ironic for the Resistance’s leader to defend the State’s most crucial component, but given her wish, it made sense.

The real irony was something else.

"I appreciate your opinion, Princess. But it’s ironic, don’t you think? You dream of a nation without a king, a place that doesn’t need a king…."

I looked down at her with a faint smile, and the princess, still burning with defiance, met my gaze.

"Then why are you trying to be the king for its people? Why do you want to take responsibility for them? Maybe you can’t deny your bloodline?"

The princess stiffened as if struck by my words, and I let out something close to a laugh. She wanted to take responsibility for everyone in this country, to choose the better option even if some suffered because of it….

What’s that, if not the violence of a ruler?

"It’s fine. Everyone dreams of being a king at least once! I support your wish, Princess. No, I actually prefer it this way! This is more like it!"

"I, I…!"

Indeed, dreams from those who lived in the old kingdom were always grand, with a certain charm. The kingdom might not have been a good place, but it overflowed with dreams and hope.

I walked past her as she sat down, too stunned to grab me. Her eyes followed me as though she’d seen a ghost.

Alright, to start, I need to drag those Signalers out of their little rooms. But breaking through those steel doors might take a while.

"Aji, would you break those doors and free the people inside?"

"Woof?"

"Never mind. What am I saying?"

Shaking my head, I handed a paper ball to Historia.

"Ria. Here, take this and help free the Signalers over there."

"…."

Her gaze was skeptical. Was she worried I’d kill the Signalers?

Of course not. That’d be too easy.

"Please. I’m not planning to kill them. Just this once, trust me."

"…I trust you."

Historia followed my request. As she pressed against the steel doors, they buckled and began to give way. Even Level 3 alchemic steel was no match for her, though it was taking some time.

I handed her the paper ball with Aji in mind, but she just broke through on her own. Well, as long as it gets done.

Shrugging, I walked over to Captain Abby. Though she was bound by morning glory vines, she pretended not to notice as she raised her hand in a casual salute.

"Captain Abby. Long time no see!"