asily.”

Zaikuin had probably seen what Shin and his party could do with his own eyes.

He knew what the High Humans had done, how powerful they were, not through tales or legends, but as reality.

“Since you are the only ones listening, I will speak frankly. I was scared out of my wits. My responsibility as the emperor allowed me to stand as if I was unfazed, but when I heard you were coming, I trembled. And after actually looking at you, I realized it: you did not simply exceed my imagination, but much more. I recalled witnessing how you faced monsters and players much stronger than us and pulverized them as if they were nothing.”

Even if Shin and the others did not mean to, the overwhelming power they possessed made them difficult to approach.

Zaikuin had actually witnessed Shin’s battles; even if he knew of Shibaid’s connection to him, he could not approach Shin without hesitating.

His sense of duty as emperor was what made it possible for them to meet, apparently.

“Shibaid and Lady Schnee have told me about you. Now that we have met and I could learn a bit more about you, I understand there is no need to fear you so much.”

Zaikuin’s casual attitude had been an act too. He thought he could act like that because of Shin’s nature, but was still very worried that he was being too informal.

“If we rely on you, however, it will be difficult to continue hiding his existence. Sir Shin’s power is far too great. People will notice, and even if they don’t, someone will surely want to know more about you.”

High Humans were spotted in Kilmont. It was likely for such rumors to arise.

“What I fear the most is to start thinking that we can rely on you when the time comes. I am not a saint: that power of yours, greater than any monster, is terrifying but also awfully appealing. I have witnessed how fearful it can be in battle, but can’t help but think like that. Those who only know it through tales and legends are in even more danger of being enthralled. Similar things happened many times when Shibaid was here too. Some of those who support Shimaia and Shibaid’s marriage do so because of his strength. Even if we did not receive your direct help, but only Shibaid’s assistance, the same concerns would arise.”

“It’s not like we were always relied on, anyway. There were people who feared us, even if we did not mean to make them feel that way.”

Schnee reacted to Zaikuin’s words.

Schnee and the other former support characters too possessed powers far beyond the average in this world. Because of her connections with various countries, she had surely experienced herself what Zaikuin talked about.

historical

People feared and avoided the strong, but at the same time relied on and clung onto them. Shin had had similar experiences, so he couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

Zaikuin was slightly relieved to see Shin agree. He spoke frankly but was afraid he had gone a bit too far. Shin understood Zaikuin’s momentum grew as he talked, so he ended up saying more than intended.

Only Shimaia, who did not know Shin was a High Human, could not keep up with the conversation.

“Father? What on earth are you talking about?”

“There is no need for you to know..is what I’d like to say.”

Maybe because she was surprised by Zaikuin’s uneasy air, Shimaia did not realize Shin’s real identity.

From Zaikuin’s words, it was possible to guess that a High Human had returned, so she might realize it in the future.

Zaikuin seemed to be thinking about how he should explain it to Shimaia.

There were no ministers or generals in the room, even though it wouldn’t be strange for them to join in on their conversation. Zaikuin was probably the only one who knew Shin’s true identity.

“Shimaia, all of the people here have powers on par with Shibaid. Lady Filma and Sety too were subordinates of the High Human called the Dark Blacksmith. You know about Sir Girard, don’t you? All of the Dark Blacksmith’s subordinates except him are here now. Even I would get nervous.”

“Oh my! All those people who vanished for such a long time!”

Zaikuin shifted the topic from the High Human’s presence to his subordinates. He did not plan to reveal such a truth just like that, not even to his daughter.

Filma and Sety’s existence was known, but after the Dusk of Majesty they had become part of legend, so what he said was not exactly wrong.

Filma had been trapped in a 『Drop of Erathem』, but Sety could leave her village if she wanted, so Shin did not know she was treated as a myth in the same way.

He asked her via Mind Chat and Sety replied that she concealed her appearance whenever she left the village. Considering the place she was protecting, her decision was surely the right one.

“In that case, I believe there is all the more reason to petition for their assistance, is it not?”

“No, it is not such a simple matter.”

The empire was in a critical situation and needed all the help it could get. So said Shimaia, but Zaikuin seemed to be conflicted.

Shimaia’s opinion was not wrong: as the emperor, Zaikuin had the duty to resolve the current emergency and limit casualties as much as possible.

“Hmm, now that I think about it, you have only seen our large-scale battles, haven’t you.”

Shibaid had been listening to Zaikuin and Shimaia’s exchange, then spoke up as if he recalled something. At the same time, he communicated with Shin via Mind Chat.

He stated two of his opinions:

How the current flood was suspiciously different from all others before it.

That he wished to help with the counter-flood efforts.

According to Shibaid, Zaikuin’s excessive concerns stemmed from the fact that he believed Shin’s power to be uncontrollable: once it was unleashed it would bring indiscriminate destruction, much like a nuclear warhead.

If they showed him that it was not the case and that Shin’s abilities were more limited in scope than Shibaid or Schnee’s, people would not realize Shin was a High Human.

Shibaid had parted ways with Kilmont, but it was still the country he used to rule, now protected by his former comrade in arms. It was natural for him to wish he could help.

Shin could understand that much and was concerned himself by the fact that the flood was greater than any other one yet.

Shin quickly nodded to Shibaid. He had helped Shin many times since they reunited, so Shin would never refuse an earnest request from him, even if there wasn’t a greater cause involved.

“In simple terms, it’ll be fine if no one finds out.”

“Shibaid?”

Shibaid’s unusual smirk left both Zaikuin and Shimaia dumbfounded.