Published: September 10, 2025
Satou here. There’s a saying: "Hear one thing and know ten," but to truly embody that, I think it requires "a thousand lessons and ten thousand reviews." I realized after entering society that nothing stands without a solid foundation.
â—‡
"—Emperor, I have a somewhat delicate matter to discuss. I’d like to speak without involving too many others."
"Very well, come a few steps closer."
The Weasel Emperor said this in a way that felt like a subtle trap flag, but since my trap detection skill and crisis awareness skill didn’t react, it was probably fine.
Following the Weasel Emperor’s instructions, I took a few steps forward when suddenly, with a clunk, the ground around the throne began to descend.
Apparently, the area surrounding the throne was an elevator.
"Isn’t this a bit careless?"
"No worries. Before my luck, there is no enemy."
I see—the Weasel Emperor seems to have absolute confidence in his unique skill.
This elevator seemed to lead outside the map.
Probably, it connects to the City Core.
Since the descent was quite slow, I decided to talk about the divine taboo while going down.
"—Do you know that science, especially communication technologies and railroads, violate the gods’ taboo?"
"Of course."
The Weasel Emperor nodded in response to my confirmation.
"Then—"
As I pressed him, the Weasel Emperor raised one hand to stop me.
"We only began because we were prepared."
"Prepared? Are you talking about the experiments in the small countries? Or the nuclear weapons at Brains?"
The Weasel Emperor burst into laughter at my words.
"Do you know about the Overseas Chinese?"
After laughing, the Weasel Emperor suddenly asked.
Ignoring my bewilderment, he continued.
"They spread worldwide, permeating every land without losing their culture."
"So what?"
I still didn’t quite get his point.
"That is my model. My clan spreads as merchants worldwide, and even if the Weasel Empire is destroyed by the gods’ wrath, our blood and culture will never vanish."
I recalled the Weasel merchants I’d seen not only in the Shiga Kingdom but across the world.
They conducted business with their unique culture wherever they went.
"—So destruction is assumed?"
"A wise ruler prepares many contingencies."
His words brought to mind several images I’d seen within the Weasel Empire.
"The parishes and Dejima Island?"
"Exactly. Parishes gathering only devout worshippers and clergy desired by the gods, and Dejima Island, which lacks Kagaku and has broken away from our empire, are highly likely to be exempt from divine punishment."
Despite that, they seemed intent on sending a punitive army to Dejima Island—no, an incompetent commander for that purpose.
Even so, they probably couldn't save even a tenth of the mainland’s population.
"At the cost of sacrificing the majority of your subjects?"
"What kind of ruler abandons his people? The previous was an insurance plan in case we lose to the gods."
He laughed off my reproachful question.
"Do you intend to win?"
At that question, the Weasel Emperor revealed a wicked smile that seemed cursed.
Apparently, he truly intended to defeat the gods.
"Even with nuclear weapons, the possibility of winning against the gods is low. Or do you intend to threaten the gods with nukes?"
"An anecdote of the ancient kings. Have you read the stone tablets in the 'Room of Truth'?"
Oh, there’s a mysterious term.
"Room of Truth?"
"A sacred record room that has been engraving the truth since ancient times."
I don’t know who or what the "Sacred Emperor" is, but it seemed the "Room of Truth" was the Weasel Emperor’s source of information.
"It records everything — the gods’ taboo and how civilizations that violated it were annihilated."
"And yet you still resist the gods?"
"Yes. The time has come for humans to be free from the gods' dominion called 'protection.'"
—Freedom.
Since coming to this other world, the word "freedom" often brings a bad impression.
Probably because of the Demon King followers’ groups named "Wings of Freedom" and "Light of Freedom."