In the urgent, precarious situation that seemed on the verge of collapsing at any moment, the ceiling could have come down at any second. Worse yet, they were dozens of meters underground. If the ground gave way, even with my earth manipulation, I wouldn’t be able to hold it up.

Captain Aby attempted to control Yuel’s actions with her Unique Magic. It was an effective method between communications officers who shared the same magic. Aby herself had once fallen victim to it. Morning glory vines stretched across the floor, wrapping around Yuel. The tendrils coiled around her clasped hands, while fine roots tried to pierce the Saint’s skin.

"A blossoming love born from a fierce will to live... How romantic."

However, Yuel didn’t move an inch. Neither strength nor Unique Magic affected her. Yuel was employing the Full Moon Prayer, a miracle granted solely to the Saint. Those who believed in the First Saint could replicate a fraction of the miracles she performed.

During the Saint’s prayer, no one could interfere. The miracle that occurred when the First Saint stood atop the Pavilion of Corpses and prayed for fifteen days. Hunger, disease, curses—even stones thrown by unbelievers—couldn’t interrupt her prayer. That miracle had been inherited, continuing to this day whenever the Saint prayed.

Against that, even if I tried to jab with a skewer, not a single hole would appear. Unique Magic, which imposes the laws of the world, was ineffective here. The only possible way to attack was through reasoned logic, which would be difficult even if it were possible. Yuel spoke as though even if she were pierced, not a drop of blood would spill.

"That's the contamination of the mind, Aby. A communications officer must value confidentiality and orders above their own life. If they consider themselves above everything, then resonance becomes meaningless."

"Yuel...!"

"If you are truly a communications officer, then feel joy in being buried."

"Attack ineffective! Revising strategy!"

Having confirmed that the coercive force through resonance was ineffective, Captain Aby quickly devised another plan.

"Stop! Removing the command at this moment will not change the situation! Major Historia is waiting outside, as are the Progenitor and the Beast King! If they die here, even minimal negotiation with them will be impossible! Instead, take me as a hostage! It would be far more strategic!"

It was the best decision she could make, lacking crucial information as she did. Aby’s judgment was that of a mere communications officer. But there was too much that Aby didn’t know.

For a moment, a hint of regret flashed in Yuel's eyes. She answered in a voice that was drained of strength.

"I regret that I cannot explain it to you... even though you are destined to die soon."

"What cannot be explained? Is it something I do not know? Then, an attack unrelated to me...?"

Though Yuel did not reveal her secrets, Aby, a communications officer, began connecting the dots from the given information, piecing together the crucial details.

"The target... was not me?"

That's right. Had Aby come alone, she would have been easily subdued. The opponent was Yuel, the First Communications Officer and the Saint. She wouldn’t take herself out over mere exposure. If it came down to it, she might choose to eliminate.

But the target is…

Well, if only she would elaborate a bit more, but staying idle here will lead to the ground collapsing. I’m not keen on being buried alive. First things first: I need to stop this.

"The Celestial Order forbids suicide, right? If the ceiling collapses, even if your body remains intact, you’ll eventually starve to death. Is that fine with you? Or are you planning to dig through the rocks like an angel?"

Yuel didn’t even glance in my direction. Even in this situation, being ignored so blatantly felt a bit sad.

"Begone from my sight, barbarian."

Such a cold tone. It was clear that Yuel held some kindness towards Captain Aby. Compared to how she treated me, she was being quite gentle.

"Barbarian? That’s a harsh word for a civilized man like me."

"A civilized man follows rules. They accept the restrictions needed for coexistence. But you reject every rule. Where in you does civilization exist?"

"Right here."

I tapped my deck of cards. Though a few were worn from use, there were still more than half left—medicine, weapons, magic, and knowledge. All were products of civilization. Yuel recognized the nature of my cards and sneered.

"You exist only through power. That is why you must not exist."

As she finished speaking, the tremors intensified. The collapse seemed imminent. Killing the Saint who shook the temple pillars might stop the tremors, but there was no way to harm her while she prayed. In other words, a critical situation.

"Man is not a beast, barbarian! You shall be buried here with me!"

"Sorry. It’s not that I can’t, but there’s already someone else by your side. I make it a point not to interfere with those spoken for."

I jested, and Yuel looked at me skeptically.

"Strange. The instinct for survival is a fundamental tenet for beasts. Struggling desperately to survive, using every means, would be normal... Why aren’t you moving?"

Humor flows easily. That's because I am not in danger.

Perhaps a hound or a butterfly would have sensed the crisis and panicked. Dogs and cats react sensitively to immediate threats. No matter how strong and elastic the rope binding them, they’ll struggle if you try to throw them from a height.

But I possess intellect and reasoning. Even if I’m dozens of meters up, if I’ve confirmed that the rope holding me is strong enough, I’d jump without hesitation. Sure, if there were a problem with the safety rope, that would mean an untimely death.

Fortunately, my lifeline has just arrived.

‘Whatever her plan, it doesn’t matter. Blessed be the First Saint who has graced me. Though I am riddled with sin, I shall not bring shame to you in my final moments. Forgive me.’

As Yuel was finishing her prayer, footsteps echoed from outside. Someone else had finally arrived, having dashed through the underground tunnel. Their hushed voices drifted through the doorway.

"Si-Siaty...! It’s shaking. Was this the right way to go?"

"It must have connected somewhere! Faster!"

The princess, soft and noble, and Siaty, sharp as a honed blade, burst through the doors to escape the turmoil above. Their gaze froze on the sight of the temple as they hesitated.

"Hie...! Is this a temple? Why is there a temple in the kingdom?"

"Keep moving! Huey went this way, so it must connect somewhere...! Huey?"

The princess entered the Saint’s range of perception. She was a remnant of the Grandiomor Royal Family. One of the five sovereigns who had ousted the human king by following the First Saint and devouring the ‘heart’—the weakest king.

Upon spotting her, Yuel gasped for the first time.

"Oh...!"

"You recognize her, don’t you? The only remaining princess of the Grandiomor dynasty. The last of the kings."

The princess might not be invincible, but she isn’t impervious either. Like the Grandiomor King, who died in a throng of people, the princess, too, could die accidentally. If this ground collapsed, she’d be swept away.

But Yuel still held the power to stop this. And harming the princess, even by inaction, was impossible.

"Look, Saint Yuel. If you bring this place down, the princess will die. Imagine that pure princess, unaware of anything, crushed beneath heavy rocks!"

I carefully explained it to the Saint, making sure there was no room for misunderstanding.

"Ack..."

"Not stopping? She’ll die. Not me—the princess will die! Will you bring it down anyway?"

‘Bringing the princess... here...!’

The ultimate shield. Shouldn’t it be put to good use?

The trembling subsided. The once-unstable pillars stood firm again, reclaiming their purpose. Though the ceiling still looked unstable, it didn’t seem like it would collapse imminently. The princess sighed in relief.

"Whew! The shaking stopped!"

"It could collapse at any moment. Let’s focus on escaping. Huey, why didn’t you flee? What is this place?"

The pair approached me, only to freeze at the sight of Yuel clutching a corpse in despair. From their perspective, she must have looked like a ghost.

I greeted them cheerfully.

"Welcome. I've been waiting for you."

Now, everyone was gathered. Those who would question the kingdom were finally here.

Some say humans are not beasts—that as the dominant species, humans are superior, unique.

However, the fact that most humans are ruled undermines this claim.

If humans are so special, then what governs them?

Is it other, even more special humans? Sadly, most who claimed to be such perished. Even the five sovereigns who usurped true power from the human king have disappeared. Well, except for one, who’s not much more than scraps.

Or is it something greater and invisible? In reality, what drives humans in extreme situations is desire. The many evils in the world prove that it is neither seen nor exists.

Some who dislike complexity argue that it all boils down to the logic of power. Be it individuals or groups united by a common cause, they dominate others by force.

It’s not entirely wrong. But if true, then humans are indeed beasts.

And if that’s so...