Hilde tried to stop Peru, but I signaled her to hold back. The human heart is like a boiling pot—sometimes, you need to let the steam out before things can settle.
It couldn’t be helped. Her country was on the brink of collapse. Not that it concerned me; if word spread that the military nation had fallen, I’d be the first to celebrate.

I spoke with lips that had gone dry.

“I didn’t hope for this outcome either. I didn’t know things would turn out this way. But…”

Looking at the Golden Palace disappearing in the distance, I chose my words carefully, wearing a regretful expression.

“The Golden Mirror wanted this result. He’s not the ruler of the confederated nations; he’s a restorer of the Golden Nation. To him, the confederated nations were just another group to be destroyed. The fact that he has both the power and the will to carry this out is the real problem. Though, I suppose that’s part of the Golden Mirror’s grandeur.”

No matter what I do, I can’t force the Golden Mirror to act a certain way. This is his will.
Peru realized this and, gritting her teeth, pushed me away by my collar. She wasn’t superhumanly strong, so I easily regained my balance. Casting a resentful glare my way, Peru turned her back on me and muttered bitterly.

“…I shouldn’t have helped you.”
“Help? I think there’s been a misunderstanding, Peru.”

Even if I acknowledged everything else, that was unfair.

“I didn’t bring you along to help us achieve our goal. While you were quite helpful, the outcome wouldn’t have been too different without you.”

Peru’s juggernaut, the Golden Ark, made for a comfortable journey—that was true.
But that was all.

Even without the Golden Ark, we would’ve found the Golden Palace eventually. We would’ve met the Golden Mirror and dealt with his rampage much the same way. It was just a matter of time—whether it took more or less was irrelevant. The regressor and I had the determination, and the obstacles weren’t significant.

If anything, what changed was this:

“I brought you along to help you, Peru.”
“…To help me?”

The journey we’d undergone would have happened even without Peru. Even without being a prophet, I could’ve foreseen that much.
But from this point onward, things are different.

“If you hadn’t been here, the confederated nations would’ve been destroyed. The Golden Mirror would’ve made the same choices after hearing my words. But as it happens, you are here. You, the Overseer of Verdancy, with the power of Verdancy that renders all alchemy powerless and useless.”

Peru, the Verdant Overseer, possesses unique magic that is the natural enemy of alchemy. Her power doesn’t just seal alchemy; it nullifies even the forces that form its foundation. She doesn’t even have homunculi.

That’s why Peru stands as the Golden Mirror’s direct counterpoint.

The people of the confederated nations need the Golden Mirror, but they can’t remain near him. The Golden Mirror uses unnecessary things as materials to create what he needs, so others are unnecessary in his world. Unless one is an Overseer capable of “communicating” with him, no one can even approach him.
On the other hand, the people don’t need Peru, but they don’t hesitate to approach her. Thanks to her unique magic, she needs others, which prevents her from harming them. She’s safe to have nearby, and in times of trouble, others can even seek her help.

Does such power shape one’s personality, or does such a personality grant one power? I don’t know which causes which.

“Peru, you’ve always wanted to use your abilities for something meaningful, haven’t you? But the power of Verdancy erases the value of alchemy. Your wish was never achievable—so long as your notion of ‘value’ remained tied to alchemy.”

If someone who can live alone places no value on other humans, and thus wishes to eliminate everyone else…
That would be the moment Peru’s desire is fulfilled.

“But the scales that measure this world aren’t balanced scales. The value of alchemy isn’t the only metric. The confederated nations that the Golden Mirror seeks to destroy might hold no value to him, but they certainly do to you. That’s why you have to stop him, right?”
“…You.”
“This is your first, and perhaps last, chance. A chance to protect the country where you were born and stop the Golden Mirror, whom you admire, from becoming a calamity.”

The unique magic of the Verdant Overseer—it doesn’t manifest desires or implement fantasies. The power of Verdancy holds only negative value in the confederated nations.

Peru wanted to help the confederated nations. She farmed, drove out enemies, and safeguarded people. Under her care, one wouldn’t grow wealthy, but they wouldn’t risk being plundered either. There was nothing to gain from attacking her domain.

Peru always wished for an opportunity to help others.

And now, that opportunity had arrived. Peru felt the weight of this truth and answered in a small, trembling voice.

“…This isn’t what I wanted.”

She’s sincere. Well, opportunities to fulfill one’s desires rarely come at the perfect moment. They’re more likely to appear at the peak of desperation.

Whether she wanted it or not didn’t matter. Even if she could let the opportunity go, she couldn’t allow it to slip away. I pointed with a finger, gesturing at the Golden Mirror disappearing into the distance, and urged Peru.

“Go. Fulfill your desire.”

There wasn’t much time left. Clenching her fists tightly, Peru began to run.

The tents prepared for war were gone. The soldiers had retreated. Now, only the path of the Golden Mirror’s royal road remained.

“Phew, this is exhausting.”

I had just returned from being tormented in the mental world. My body was fine, but my mind felt slightly drained.
I slumped down at the beginning of the newly-formed road. Hilde approached me, brimming with curiosity.

“Father, did you bring Peru along for this exact purpose?”

“From the start, did you choose Peru as the antithesis to the Golden Mirror? To escalate the tension in the story of the confederated nations with their conflict?”

What nonsense. The world isn’t a story, and I’m no author. I’m certainly no prophet, either.
I didn’t know what the Golden Mirror was, how it would react, or what choices Peru would make. I didn’t plan to create a narrative. I simply…

“Hilde, have you ever played poker?”
“Yes, though not as well as you, Father.”
“Good. This makes it easier to explain. When you keep a card, you don’t know what it’ll turn into, do you? Whether it’ll form a pair, a straight, a flush, a full house—or just end up as a useless hand.”

It could help or hinder. Peru could have joined the Golden Mirror and attacked us or protected us from his rampage.
I couldn’t predict how things would unfold. But one thing was certain.

Peru would have acted to fulfill her desire. That was enough for me.

Hilde gazed at me intently. It wasn’t just a look; it was closer to observation—a performer’s scrutiny of a character they were trying to interpret.

“I don’t understand. I can figure out other people to some extent, but with Father, I have no confidence. I want to know. If I can properly understand the King of Humans, I might be able to perform any human perfectly.”

Still dissatisfied with her analysis, Hilde suddenly spoke.

“Father, you grant people’s wishes. No matter what they are.”
“Who knows?”

Wishes are complicated. You can’t grant them recklessly.
Hilde pondered deeply, her expression shifting as she finally blurted out something completely unrelated.

“Father, I once received a divine revelation. Become the Sword Master of the Divine Forewarning Order. That is the only path granted to you. At a time when I lived without purpose, without even a sense of self, the revelation lit my way more clearly than anything else. Though I was treated as nothing more than a well-sharpened blade, it was the only path given to me. In that moment, I became the sword of the Holy Empire, protecting the saint.”
“Wow. Impressive.”
“But was it a twist of fate? Or perhaps even salvation is too much of a luxury for me? Because the saint who called me turned out to be a so-called ‘fallen saint,’ excommunicated by the Holy Empire. I became the sword that protected the military nation instead. To protect the country, I became a merciless blade that would strike down anyone, regardless of their circumstances.”

Placing her hand on her chest, Hilde wore a sorrowful expression, her voice laced with emotion. It was almost enough to move even the most hardened soul.
What is this? Wasn’t she trying to analyze my character? Why is she suddenly delivering her own monologue?

“As one of the Six Generals, I must stop Peru. Whether by assassination or temporary restraint. Otherwise… the Golden Mirror will destroy the confederated nations, and the military nation will profit from the aftermath. So, Father, my wish is…”

“And that’s a fascinating character. Thanks for sharing.”

Now that is a wish that shouldn’t be granted.
Whether it was true or false didn’t matter. For Hilde, falsehoods were truths, and truths were lies. The moment she believed in her performance, the distinction became meaningless. She could already ‘perform’ even faith.

Of course, Hilde always sought someone who could see through her and anchor her existence. That’s why she followed me after I exposed her.
But that wasn’t because she wanted to stop acting. It wasn’t because she wanted to remove her mask and find her true self.

“An intriguing idea. The only possible counter to the Golden Mirror is assassinated at the critical moment, throwing everything into chaos. The military nation seizes its chance to gain an advantage. Wow. The classic clash of good and evil collapses, giving rise to an epic narrative. Fascinating. I’ll applaud that.”

She needed an audience.
And only someone outside her stage could be her audience. Someone like me.

As I clapped, I shifted my demeanor, giving her a disappointed look.

“But really? Is that your best?”

Hilde, who had been feigning distress, instantly changed her expression. The tears in her eyes dried into a playful glint, and her voice, now brighter, carried excitement rather than sorrow. She spoke in a tone that implied everything before had been an act.

“It’s dramatic but lacks realism, doesn’t it? Hehe. You’re right! A rampaging Golden Mirror is far scarier than a restrained one. If I really wanted to help the military nation, I’d support Peru, who has limited abilities but a higher chance of success!”

Then, like a child seeking praise, Hilde asked, “So, Father, am I close to what you were thinking?”
“Nope. I was just curious to see who would win. Two perfectly opposing forces clashing with each other—it’s only natural to want to watch.”

Hilde’s face fell into an expression of betrayal. My answer must have been completely unexpected for her. She began reviewing my past actions, muttering to herself.

“I still don’t understand Father’s personality. But I think I’m beginning to grasp what kind of being he is. Maybe that’s why the Holy Empire calls him a barbarian.”

Her sharp insight showed. Hmm, maybe I’ve let her dig too deep? Perhaps I underestimated her.

“The King of Humans affirms everything about humanity—whether it’s good or evil, vile desires or noble missions. Even if it’s like the clash between the Golden Mirror and Peru, where one must fight until the other dies.”

That’s fine. Just as Hilde had come to understand me, I also understood her.

It was then that the regressor and Tirkanjaka approached, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. The regressor spotted Hilde and me sitting on the roadside and quickly came over.

“During the fight, all of the Golden Mirror’s homunculi suddenly retreated. Does that mean it worked?”

Ah, here we go again. Time for another explanation. It was a bit tedious, but at least Peru wasn’t here to grab my collar. Might as well be honest.

“Shei, I have good news and bad news.”
“…When you say ‘bad news,’ it always feels ominous. Did you mess something up again?”

How did he know?
Trying to calm my startled heart, I began relaying the good and bad news, this time more smoothly than before.