A Brother's Encouragement

Al appeared above Venne in Grau's form, looked down at the city, and cocked his head.

"Hm? What's going on here?"

Al had assumed Fiene was in danger, so he immediately searched for her.

He found Fiene right away.

She had picked up a whistle and climbed the castle wall alone.

"Honestly, I'm surprised. I came here fully intending to save you."

"Al-sama..."

Though Al had appeared in Grau's form, Fiene called him Al without hesitation.

For some reason, she looked as if she were about to cry.

"What happened?"

"Please...! Leo-sama is going to die...!"

"...Sebas."

"Yes, sir."

Seeing Fiene's desperate plea, Al gave up on asking her about the situation.

Instead, he called over his butler, who seemed capable of explaining it quickly.

"Explain."

"Yes, sir. Duke Kruger developed a drug combining demon blood and vampire blood. Half of the southern nobles who had been held hostage were transformed by that drug into monsters called fiends. These fiends can turn anyone they bite into another fiend, so the thousand knights inside the castle have also become fiends. The castle is currently sealed off, and the city's civilians are being evacuated."

"I see. So what choice did Leo make?"

"...He intends to purify the demon blood with a great spell and save those who became fiends... But... the great spell hasn't progressed any further for some time now..."

Fiene cut in to explain.

Al looked at Sebas, who nodded silently.

Al thought it was a decision typical of Leo.

Even in a situation where he could take six out of ten and be satisfied, Leo aimed for all ten. This was especially true when lives were at stake.

He refused to give up on anyone's life and tried to keep casualties at zero. That was quintessential Leo. That was Al's impression.

But.

"What an idiot... He could have sealed the city and ordered the Southern Border Army into action. Instead, he went and tried to save every life he could."

"That is a truly noble thing to do! But... Leo-sama can't handle this alone! Please, Al-sama..."

"I refuse."

One word.

When Al said this, Fiene's eyes flew open in shock.

A strong wind blew atop the castle wall.

When it died down, Al muttered,

"It's a family rule..."

"A family rule...?"

"Do whatever you want. But you're responsible for the consequences. That's our family's rule. Leo had a better choice. It might not have been perfect. It might not have been the best. Even so, there was a choice that could have saved many. If he killed the southern nobles, it might have bred resentment. If he sacrificed the city, it might have bred resentment. Even so, he could have stopped the war and protected many people. But Leo abandoned that choice and went to save everyone. That's Leo's responsibility. This is Leo's problem, and Leo has to deal with it."

"B-but until now!"

"The people I've helped as Silver until now were all opponents beyond Leo's ability to handle. Vampires, dragons, demons. Every one of them was inhuman, and brute force was necessary. But this time is different. This was a situation Leo could have handled if he gave up on many things. If the fiends were overwhelmingly strong, I could destroy them with magic. But if they're only about as strong as they seem, Leo's available forces would have been enough to keep them confined within the city. Doing so... might have meant losing many of Nelbe Ritter. Even so, if he could turn a blind eye to that, a better outcome was available. Leo threw that away and went for the best outcome—saving both enemy and ally. He went after it with his own strength."

"Is that... a mistake? Right now, Leo-sama is risking his life to save so many... Just like you always do, Al-sama!"

"That's only natural... Fiene. The lives you can save by reaching out from safe ground are limited. If you want to save many lives, you have to take even one step closer to the land of death. Leo is now involving even the retainers who followed him as he goes to save many lives. That's why it's only natural for him to risk his life."

Helping people isn't easy.

Saving more than a thousand people carries that much greater risk.

Since Leo is putting even his own retainers at risk, it was only natural for him to stake his life. That was Al's way of thinking. He believed that anyone unable to do so had no right to stand above others.

"Even if it's only natural... Leo-sama is desperate right now! He needs your help, Al-sama! Please!"

Fiene pleaded and bowed her head.

It was the only thing she could do.

But Al's words were cruel.

"Fiene... I can't save them. There is no ancient magic that can purify demons. Holy magic was created five hundred years ago, when the Demon King appeared. Of course ancient magic, which predates that, wouldn't have such a spell. All I can do is... destroy them. Do you want me to stop Leo from the sidelines, telling him that he can't do it and should give up, then destroy the people he's risking his life to save?"

"But... surely someone like you, Al-sama, can find a way..."

"I'm not omnipotent. I don't have even a shred of talent for modern magic. Only Leo can bring about the result he's aiming for. Well, even if there were something I could do, I wouldn't interfere. If Leo's ideals put his retainers in danger, that would be unreasonable, so I would step in then. But while Leo is still struggling, I won't interfere. This is Leo's problem and Leo's responsibility."

"But... even so..."

Al looked at Fiene and smiled wryly.

Large tears spilled from Fiene's eyes.

Wiping them away with his right hand, Al smiled.

"Don't worry. There's nothing to be sad about."

"I'm not crying because I'm sad... I'm crying because I feel so useless..."

"Then you don't need to cry. You did what you could. I did what I could. And Leo is doing what he can right now. He's pushing himself a little too far, but... just watch. He's my little brother. He'll overcome any obstacle."

Saying this, Al looked at Leo, who was concentrating on his magic.

Perhaps because he couldn't obtain the magic power he needed, he had not even begun chanting. It was a typical case of insufficient magic power, and normally, one would stop immediately in such a situation. There was no question it was life-threatening.

"Trust is all well and good, but it doesn't change how dangerous this is."

"If he dies, that's as far as he goes. But... my little brother won't die."

"Leonart-sama must be suffering. The person closest to him is also the one expecting the most of him."

"Of course. I understand Leo's greatness better than anyone."

"But you understand his weaknesses as well, don't you?"

"Heh... That's true. Then I suppose I'll go cheer him on like a big brother."

Saying that, Al drew in a breath.

Then he began to speak slowly.

"Leo... can you hear me?"

■■■

"Guh, ngh!!"

Leo felt all the strength draining from his body.

He was tormented by the sensation of his blood being drained, and it was becoming difficult to remain conscious.

Then, sweating and breathing raggedly, Leo looked down.

For just a moment—truly, only a moment—his thoughts began to turn negative.

Maybe it was impossible. Maybe he should have stopped.

As his consciousness grew hazy, doubts crossed his mind.

At that moment, a voice reached Leo's ears.

'Leo... can you hear me?'

"B-Big brother...?"

It seemed like an auditory hallucination to Leo.

An auditory hallucination brought on by his fading consciousness.

Leo mocked himself for being driven this far. After boldly deciding to save everyone, he had stumbled at the very first step—and now he was reduced to hearing things.

But that hallucination urged Leo on.

'What is it? Why are you looking down? What's on the ground?'

"Haaah, haaah... You really don't go easy on me..."

'I'm your big brother, so of course I don't. You ignored everyone trying to stop you and made this decision anyway, didn't you? No matter how many words they threw at you, you decided anyway, thinking, "Even so," didn't you? You didn't want to give up on anyone's life. Isn't that right?'

"I just can't beat you, Brother..."

The hallucination, in his brother's voice, saw right through his heart.

Leo smiled wryly at the situation. But being able to manage even a wry smile meant some strength had returned. Why?

Because he could hear Al's voice.

'Your choice is a fool's choice. Life is easier when you choose stability. You can't get a perfect score every time. Knowing when to give up is important.'

"Yeah, that's true..."

'But you knew that and chose anyway, didn't you? Then don't give up now. No matter how harsh or painful it is, grit your teeth and endure. You dragged so many people into your selfish decision. You have no right to give up.'

"...You're right... but... I don't have enough magic power..."

At least, his heart had turned a little toward the future.

But not a single problem had been solved.

He didn't have enough magic power, so the spell wouldn't take shape.

But the hallucination showed no mercy.

'"But" is not an option. This isn't about whether you can or can't. You "will do it." Not enough magic power? Have you squeezed every last drop from your entire body? You still have enough energy to talk, don't you? Enough to think, don't you? Then you haven't reached your limit. Don't stop at the line you drew for yourself as your limit. Once a man has decided to save everyone, he must see it through. Now surpass a limit like that and prove it!'

The voice that allowed no excuses drove Leo to the brink.

Yet every time he heard it, strength returned to Leo's body.

Once again, a fire lit in his heart as he realized the voice was right.

He hadn't even coughed up blood yet. He could still stand. He still had plenty left in him.

Leo recognized that as an excuse and began releasing his magic power, intending to use every last bit of it.

'There will be people who dismiss your decision as an idealistic fantasy. There will be people who laugh and call it empty idealism. They may be right that it's a choice not one person in a hundred would make. But you are the hundred-and-first. Miracles only come to people like that. Silence everyone who denies and mocks you with the results!'

"Yeah... I will... I'll save everyone... I decided I would save them all...!!"

'Good! Now look ahead. The people you want to save, and the people waiting for you to save them, aren't down at your feet.'

Leo slowly looked ahead.

Nearby, Nelbe Ritter and the knights were fighting the failed creatures. Beyond them, the fiends inside the castle were targeting them.

Their eyes had rolled back, and they staggered around; they looked abnormal, as if they were beyond saving.

Even so, Leo thought. If he gave up because he couldn't save everyone and made no effort to save them, he would save no one.

Being powerless. Being helpless. Neither was an excuse.

He had to challenge that. In the end, that was the fundamental reason he had come here.

He would save them because he wanted to save them—even if someone declared them beyond saving.

He had wanted to become someone capable of saying no. That was what he had strived for.

Now Leo's true worth was being put to the test.

"I... came here to save people... to stop the war... I came to save everyone...!"

The fiends gave him strength.

He rallied himself with the thought that he would save them.

The strain made blood rise into his throat. Leo swallowed it down.

He couldn't show them such a pathetic sight. He had to be stubborn, keep up appearances, and look the part.

That was what being an emperor meant, over and over again.

If he couldn't do it now, he would never be able to do it in the future.

"I... will become an emperor who can save people...!! I will help up everyone fallen by the wayside! Even if someone tells me it's impossible... anyone who doesn't pursue their ideals can never become an emperor!"

'Yes... you can. You're my pride and joy, little brother. Don't worry about anything else. Focus only on what's in front of you. Once you've used up everything you have, I'll take care of everything else—because I'm your big brother.'

"Yeah...!!"

At that moment, Leo felt as if someone had pushed him from behind.

Carried by that momentum, Leo brought his hands together.

Gritting his teeth, he poured all his remaining magic power into the spell.

Then golden light began to fill the space around Leo.

≪The light of salvation rained down from the heavens—≫

The incantation began.

Seeing this, Al smiled with satisfaction.

"See? There was nothing to worry about, was there?"

"Arnold-sama is the only one who wasn't worried."

Fiene covered her face with both hands in relief.

As he gently patted Fiene's head, Al slowly looked around.

"There are a few rats here."

"Probably members of the kidnapping organization."

"They're planning to interfere with Leo."

Saying this, Al grinned.

He had told Leo not to worry about anything.

To focus only on what was in front of him.

To keep that promise, Al took action.

"I'll leave Fiene to you, Sebas."

"Yes, sir."

"Al-sama!"

"Wait here. I'll finish this quickly."

With that, Al teleported.

To protect his little brother.