Paradigm Parasite

>　…This country is a complete enclave when you look at it on a map.

 

　What I'm trying to say is that the country doesn't care who the lord is as long as he pays the money.

　What is that?　I was surprised when I first learned about it.

　How can a country be sustained by such a thing?

 

　Let's get back to the story.

　It seems that Zubel was not going to tame me, but was going to physically kill Rothfeldt once the arrangements were made.

　He was going to do it because he couldn't take the title of “deputy” as long as Rothfeldt was there.

 

　There was one thing that would get in the way of that.

　Fatima.

The Lord of Liard was very angry with Rothfeldt for not coming in person, but he didn't want to treat his daughter's fiancée with disrespect, and with the advice of Fatima, he hesitated.

 

In the end, he agreed to let Fatima go to the Oratorium as a condition to help.

Zubel heard this and decided to persuade Fatima to join him.

　He told her about the situation and asked her to be his collaborator.

 

　Ah, so Fatima is his deputy.

 

I heard the story up to this point at that time.

 

…Zubel has got some nerve, doesn't he? Asking his fiancée to help him lose his job…

 

　Then Fatima thought.

She could kill this man, but what damage would Rothfeld suffer if she did so?

　First of all, the whereabouts of the hidden money would be lost.

 

　With Liard's support, there would be no problem, but the amount of money is so large that it cannot be left untouched.

　Then there is Zubel's reputation in the territory.

He uses people to manipulate his reputation, and as a result, his position in the territory is high, although it cannot be said to be rock solid.

 

　If he were to be eliminated out of the blue, it would bring unwanted suspicion on Rothfeldt.

　If it is not done properly, a riot will break out.

　She also thought about thinning out the rowdies.

　They would grow back later, but reducing them all at once would affect the collection of taxes.

 

　…You're talking out of your ass, aren't you?

 

While protecting Rothfeld, Zubel had to be eliminated.

But if he is allowed to do as he pleases, Rothfeldt may be killed.

　Therefore, Fatima chose to demand Rothfeldt's custody as a condition for cooperation.

 

It seems that the plan was to protect Rothfeldt while looking for an opportunity to unseat Zubel.

 

But then Zubel went out of control and tried to get rid of Rothfeldt.

 

　”After that, I did everything I could to find Mr.
Rothfeldt, but…”

 

　Fatima's eyes are downcast with sadness.

 

Hmmm…

 

　”I understand your story.”

 

　Fatima's face brightens.

 

　”I am glad that you understand.
I have no intention of harming Mr.
Rothfeldt…”

　”I wouldn't say that!”

 

　I slammed the Explosion III into the nearest humanoid.

　Aimed at a suspicious heat source, I don't know if it really has an engine, but it's something important, right?

 

　”Protect me?　Don't make me laugh.　If you're so serious about protecting me, why didn't you make a move when you were approached?”

 

　As far as I'm concerned, there must have been plenty of times to make a move.

It's not that hard to protect him.

　Even I could have thought of that.
It's hard to believe that this woman didn't think of it.

 

　”I'm sure.
What you're saying may be mostly true, but there are some lies mixed in.”

 

　I strain my gaze.

 

　”You've been saying a lot of nice things, but what you're saying stinks.
Let's be clear.
I can't trust you, so I'm done with you.
I'm going to kill you and then I'm going to kill Zubel.
That's the end of it.”

　”What are you going to do with your lands?”

　”I don't care.
If I leave it alone, a replacement will come from the country.
Let him do it.”

 

　There are plenty of people who want to be a Lord.

 

Don't worry, after I kill you, I plan to throw Heidi into a masquerade marriage or something.

Besides…you reek of a person who says the right things and tries to get people to do what they want.

　And it's weird because I can't read what you're thinking.

 

　”……
heh.”

 

　Fatima lets out a laugh as if she can't stand it and lightly raises one hand.

Two armored men slammed two spears into me from the top.

I quickly jumped backwards to avoid them.
The place where I was is caved in greatly.

 

…
In the end, this woman was going to kill me too, wasn't she?

 

　They really are a bunch of assholes, aren't they? What's there to protect?　They think I'm an idiot.

　The people of this world are a bunch of assholes!

　They all want to kill me, what the hell is wrong with them?

 

“I'm sorry you can't listen to me, but it can't be helped.
Now that it's come to this…
fufu…
let's just cut your limbs off and let you grow up.”

 

　Hey, you're leaking laughter.

 

　”I really don't want to…fufu…
But you don't need to worry, okay?　I will take care of you for the rest of your life.
Morning and night…ugh…”

 

　I thought I had a high tolerance, but if I talk to this woman any longer, I'm going to go crazy.

　Let's kill her as soon as possible.

　I hold up my makana and sword with both hands.

 

　I run into the armor that just took an Explosion III.

　I don't want to be surrounded and beaten up by them.

The armor has melted down to its torso, and the contents…what is that?　A barrel? …was exposed.

 

　I don't know what's inside, but smashing it will stop it or at worst slow it down.

I hit it with the makana.
The barrel exploded and the contents scattered.

　I was totally covered by it.

 

　Wow, what the ……
is this, blood?

　It smells and tastes like human blood.　

 

　Was it human?

　That makes sense.

　Was it really breath that leaked out?

 

So, they were maintaining and operating it from inside.

 

　In short, a manned robot.

　Manned robots in fantasy…novel…isn't it?

　But how do they see what's going on?

 

　There's something more to it….

 

　By the way, was a human being something that could fit in a barrel that size?