Chapter 514: Preparing (4)

-Are you really telling me that... The Round Table still hasn't reached a consensus?!

Elena asked incredulously. As for Knight Wiggins staring at her visage through the monitor, he oh-so-badly wanted to rub his tired eyes.

However, when his fingertips touched the smooth surface of his mask, Wiggins almost reflexively grabbed at it in anger.

'This bloody mask...!'

There was a time when he was deeply proud of this mask. A knight's mask symbolized how one had willingly discarded their previous self.

To discard one's identity as a citizen of a country, a part of a society, and a member of their family to solely devote their being to the Round Table and uphold world peace... This mask was the symbol of that will.

Knight Wiggins could still vividly remember the day he received this mask. The sense of accomplishment from thinking that all his efforts had been acknowledged, the indescribable joy of finally receiving his glorious knighthood, and the oppressive weight of the mask pressing down on his face...! All those sensations and memories were living within this mask.

However, Knight Wiggins had begun feeling that this mask was getting more and more cumbersome lately.

Back then, he had no idea what it meant to abandon his identity and devote every fiber of his being to the Round Table. He thought that it was merely another way of referring to a knight's honor. But the recent events helped Wiggins learn the true meaning behind that notion.

In this place, 'he' didn't exist. Only Knight Wiggins was present. Even if he personally thought this was incorrect, the right to choose was no longer his. A knight's duty was to follow the consensus reached through discussion and dialogue, after all!

Perhaps he should've thought more about what it meant to discard himself, then!

“Pawn Elena, we only need a little more time.”

-But, Knight Wiggins!

'...Dammit!'

Why did he use to think that wearing this stupid mask, even in front of his own daughter, was an honorable act! What made him believe that a life where his own daughter couldn't even call her father's name was worth abandoning everything? Unless he had let go of his senses back then, Wiggins would've never made this choice.

Even though the Round Table called this a sacred and noble duty...!

“The Round Table must weigh everyone's opinion equally first before reaching a consensus. That means we require time to approve any course of action. You know this, don't you?”

-Yes, Knight Wiggins, I do know. However, people's lives are at stake here, sir! Even as we speak, the Chevaliers could be losing their lives one by one! The Round Table exists to respond to situations like this, yes? In that case, why the delay? If the process and order of things get in the way of saving lives, why do we need to stick to this way of doing things?!

That was something Knight Wiggins wanted to say. If it wasn't for this bloody mask, he'd have said the exact same thing as his daughter! However, he could say only one thing as a knight of the Round Table wearing this damn mask.

“...You must remain patient.”

-But, Knight Wiggins!

“Dammit, Pawn Elena! I told you to be patient!” Knight Wiggins yelled at the screen after his suppressed frustration finally erupted forth. He quickly caught himself, but it was too late by then. Elena's expression on the monitor was as stiff as a human face could get.

-My... apologies, Knight Wiggins.

“N-no, I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn't have lost my temper and shouted at you. I'm sorry, Elena.” Wiggins muttered in sorrow, but this milk had been spilled already.

-I'm well aware that this is not something you can unilaterally decide, Knight Wiggins. Even so... The Chevaliers are still battling against the fear of death as we speak. If my evaluation of Kang Jin-Ho's tendencies is correct, it wouldn't be strange for him to tear the Chevaliers to pieces if he judges their usefulness has run out.

“Yes, I know that.”

-That is why, even if a consensus can't be reached right now, I implore you to at least... display some willingness to negotiate...!

“I... I'll do my best.”

-Thank you. Then... Good day to you.

The screen went dark after that brief goodbye. Knight Wiggins weakly raised his hand to rub his face, but all he could feel was the hardened metal of the mask.

“...Goddammit!” Knight Wiggins suddenly shot up to his feet before powerfully kicking his desk. “Uwaaaaaaah!”

The desk flew up to the ceiling before losing to gravity and crashing back to the floor.

Knight Wiggins continued to roar in sheer rage. “Those... Those f*cking bastards! What do they think human lives are?!”

Wiggins charged forward and kicked the poor desk again, completely shattering it. Even though he knew he should not be doing this, there didn't seem any better way to vent his steam, at least not this moment.

The agents of the Round Table had been captured. People were being held hostage!

But now... What did the rest of the knights say about the hostages? To protect their honor, the Round Table should consider giving the captured Chevaliers an opportunity to choose death?

“...You sons of b*tches!”

Shouldn't the people in question choose their fate? Why was someone else trying to decide that? Why was the Round Table toying with the Chevaliers' fate as it pleased! Wasn't that... Wasn't that...!

Wiggins suddenly stopped.

'We're protecting world peace? Really?'

A hollow chuckle burst out of his mouth. He suddenly realized that his actions until now hadn't been all that different from the crap the other knights had been talking about.

Countless people lived in this world, their fates intricately intertwined in a complicated web. And the wills and choices made by many of these people shaped the future of the world.

How was bending and distorting the wills of those people under the pretext of world peace any different from telling others to die under the justification of preserving their honor?

'...Get a grip on yourself, Wiggins!'

Knight Wiggins barely managed to stop the train of his thoughts just then. If his mind wandered even further from here, it'd be no different from rejecting the Round Table's existence.

The Round Table existed solely for maintaining the peace of this world. Doubting that purpose was the same as doubting the Round Table itself.

Knight Wiggins reminded himself that he was not just any member of the Round Table but one of its core knights. Doubting the Round Table's existence should not be allowed. It was deeply disrespectful!

Beep! Beeeeep!

Just as Knight Wiggins' thoughts reached there, one of the monitors began beeping noisily at him.

'...Dammit!'

Knight Wiggins grimaced while looking around at his messy office. He would've decisively ignored any other incoming call, but not this time. That call was coming directly from the Round Table's Master. Regardless of what his situation was, Knight Wiggins wouldn't dare ignore the Master's call.

Knight Wiggins tapped on the 'Connect' icon before focusing on the monitor. “This is Knight Wiggins speaking.”

The Master of the Round Table initially didn't say anything and simply stared at Wiggins.

-Were you... in a conflict, Knight Wiggins?

“No, Master.”

-Then, what happened?

“It was... a bout of regret, sir.”

Master sighed softly after noticing the weight in Knight Wiggins' voice.

After a moment of silence, Wiggins suddenly locked eyes with the Master on the monitor. “Sir. Master..!”

-...Yes, please speak.

“While we're wasting time like this, Chevaliers are most likely being exposed to some of the cruelest environments imaginable. Yet, we do nothing but argue with one another over petty matters.”

-...Knight Wiggins!

“Honor? Are we really arguing that such a thing is more important than human lives? Tell me, Master. If you find yourself in the same situation as the Chevaliers, will you also choose your honor over your life?”

The light in the Master's eyes gradually became withdrawn as he listened to Knight Wiggins' passionate rant.

-Do not forget that the Round Table is not controlled by one person, Knight Wiggins.

“I have not forgotten, Master. Yes, I am well aware of the fact that the Round Table is very democratic and driven by rational thinking. And that it's also extremely inefficient!” Knight Wiggins continued to rant as if he was having a seizure. “If everyone discusses at length and still comes to a wrong conclusion, do we need to follow through in the name of unity? Isn't that still repression under the guise of democracy?!”

-However, that repression has also been responsible for humanity's progress.

“...!” Knight Wiggins grimaced. A thought suddenly popped up in his head. Just what was hidden behind the Master's mask?

The Master's pitch-black mask completely hid his face. Even his facial expression was hidden from view. Which made it impossible to decipher the intention behind those words.

Once upon a time, Knight Wiggins thought the Round Table's system of putting on masks to hide emotions was exceedingly logical. However, he was beginning to feel grossed out by it. Who could guarantee that a monster wasn't hiding behind the mask?

-For the time being, I advise you to cool your head, Knight Wiggins.

“...Master!”

-I understand how you feel, Knight Wiggins. However, my hands are tied as long as the majority, led by Knight Leveaux, is unwilling to negotiate with the Koreans. I cannot make an independent decision on this issue.

“In that case, what is the point of the Round Table's Master!”

The Master flinched visibly inside the monitor. Knight Wiggins rapidly realized his slip of the tongue, but it was too late to turn back the clock.

Wiggins suddenly thought that he had been making a lot of mistakes today. Was this because he had grown far too emotional? It must be.

Not even the coldness of the metal mask pressing against his face was enough to suppress his boiling emotions.

-Knight Wiggins. I'm a mediator, not a commander.

“Even so...!”

-Yes, taking our time discussing and coming to a consensus is very inefficient, and it can come across as illogical at times. Even after a lengthy and arduous process, this system can still produce horrific conclusions. Yes, I admit it.

The Master spoke in a flat, emotionless voice from behind his mask.

.

-However, this system also has guided us to this point in our existence. If an individual led the Round Table, the decision-making process could become more efficient, and the progress made could be much more drastic. However, it'd still lead to our utter ruination sooner or later. Do not forget this, Knight Wiggins. Our system of consultation and discussion is not for the sake of achieving the best efficiency. No, it's there to avoid the worst possible situation.

Wiggins quietly bit down on his lip. What could he do other than acknowledge that well-thought-out theory? Even so, his heart refused to accept it.

-We, the knights of the Round Table, are not throwing the Chevaliers away. However, we are wary of the negotiation with the Koreans potentially endangering the Round Table's mission.

“Doesn't that imply we're running scared, Master?”

-You speak as if we are not allowed to feel that way, Wiggins.

“...!”

The Master's voice grew colder.

-If fear was an unnecessary emotion for humanity, it'd have been exorcized completely out of us a long time ago. However, that is not the case, now is it? Fear makes us prudent. It helps us avoid dangers. As such... I personally do not dislike cowards.

Wiggins clamped his mouth shut. This had to be his first time feeling so crushingly disappointed by the Round Table's Master.

-Knight Wiggins. I also do not wish to sacrifice the Chevaliers. We shall hold another conference soon, and I'll do my best to mediate everyone's opinion on this matter. That is why... As I've advised you before, cool your emotions first, Wiggins, and wait. This situation you now find yourself in.. A situation where our individual opinions do not match the Round Table's will and cause this sense of regret and shame in us? Yes, we've all been through it before. Many times, in fact.

'That's not it, Master...!'

Wiggins' expression crumpled behind the mask. He wasn't 'whining' like a little kid because no one listened to his opinions. No, he was questioning the Round Table itself on a fundamental level.

-Reaching a consensus is absolute in the Round Table. If you wish to change the playing field, then it's your job to convince and persuade your colleagues. Nothing will change just because you've lost your cool and started throwing temper tantrums. I shall wait for a more... constructive input from you during our next conference, Knight Wiggins. I hope you won't disappoint me.

With that, the monitor switched off. n(0)vel(b)(j)(n)was the platform where this chapter was initially revealed on N0v3l.B1n.

Knight Wiggins chewed his lips. “The... next conference?”

Seriously?!

“Goddammit! By then, we might not even have any living hostages left to negotiate! What kind of lackadaisical nonsense is this! Bloody hell!”

BANG!

Knight Wiggins kicked the debris of the shattered desk again. The smug face of Knight Leveaux smirking away filled Wiggins' mind as he cursed.

“S-sir!” The butler's surprised yelp came from behind Wiggins, forcing him to stop and clench his shuddering fists tightly.

'Fine! You are unwilling to make a move, is that it? In that case...!'

If the Round Table wasn't going to act, then... Knight Wiggins should do something by himself instead! After all, wasn't he a knight? Was it not his duty to protect the agents of the Round Table? Better still, the Round Table hadn't reached an official consensus yet, so he wouldn't be going against the orders, too!

“...Butler, get me the ticket!”

“I'm sorry, sir?” The butler tilted his head a little.

“Get me a plane ticket to South Korea! Immediately!”

“S-sir?!”

Knight Wiggins suddenly stood tall and stretched himself. After his thoughts reached this far, he finally felt at peace, composure returning to his senses.

Disciplinary actions? Revocation of his status? Wiggins didn't care.

“Yes, I'll personally go to South Korea. And deal with this bloody situation myself!”

Wiggins wasn't an idiot, so he could predict how intense and terrible the ripples of this decision would be. However, he still thought that was a hundred times better than sitting here doing nothing while his humanity rotted away. Now feeling thoroughly refreshed, Wiggins suddenly headed to the office's built-in fridge.

The butler blinked his eyes. “B-but, sir! What about your work...?”

Wiggins shrugged his shoulders. “I'm sure someone else will take care of it in my place.”

However, only I am willing to resolve this crisis...!

Wiggins yanked the fridge's door open, then pulled out a can of beer. Just as he popped the tab, he stopped and frowned slightly. “Oh, and by the way, butler? What do you think I should buy as a gift for Elena?”

The butler quietly facepalmed just then. The master of the house had begun acting up again, it seemed.