Is It Wrong to Explore the Dungeon Even Though I’m Overpowered? (Danmachi SI- WC) (Patreon)

Chapter 20: War Never Changes

Days Later - Kaios Desert

It had taken us two days, but we eventually arrived at a secret fort in Shalzard that Arry had told us about. Along the way, aside from a few weak monsters here and there, we didn’t encounter any real opposition. Most of our time was spent talking and me teaching Arry about what it meant to be a ruler.

"We're here," Arry muttered beside me, her eyes fixed on the structure ahead with a look of deep relief.

Sensing no danger in the area—and double-checking with Bounty Tracker—I allowed her to take the lead.

"Haah, finally! Even if Ram doesn’t feel the desert heat, it’s still uncomfortable waking up with sand in... unfortunate places," Ram complained with a small pout on my left.

"Are we going home soon, Reinhard?" Est asked from my right. Her face remained mostly blank, but I could still feel a tinge of irritation radiating from her.

"Thank you both for enduring without complaint," I said, giving them a grateful smile. "Don’t worry, now that Arry's made it here, we can use this place as a lure. If we play it right, we can draw the enemy to us and finish everything in one decisive blow."

I tried not to dwell on the cost of such a plan—to end the war, we might have to kill 80,000 people.

‘At least the town we left is still intact,’ I thought with a small sigh of relief, having kept an eye on Bounty Tracker to make sure none of the Resheph Familia had gone anywhere near Lioad.

“Thank goodness,” Ram murmured beside me. “That means we can return soon. Hopefully, Rem is doing alright back home.”

I blinked, thinking about her words for a moment before reaching out through our connection to sense Rem’s presence. The wave of longing and quiet sadness that hit me made me wince slightly.

‘It’s only been three days,’ I thought with a sweatdrop forming, especially after sensing that Hestia and Artemis were radiating almost the exact same emotions.

=====

Back in Orario – Pocket Dimension

“Rem-san! Your cooking is delicious~” Emma praised enthusiastically as she sat around the table with the others inside the Pocket Dimension.

Rem gave Emma a soft smile in response to the praise, gently placing a bowl in front of Hestia before sitting down herself. She watched as everyone enjoyed the meal she’d prepared, but her expression slowly dimmed, her gaze growing distant.

“…It’s not the same,” she murmured under her breath.

“Hm? Did you say something, Rem-san?” Emma tilted her head.

Rem shook her head, forcing another smile. “No, it’s nothing. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

But after a brief pause, she looked down at her hands resting on her lap, her voice turning small and vulnerable. “Reinhard-kun’s cooking… is so much better than mine…”

The room fell into an awkward silence at her words.

Then, clenching her eyes shut and balling her fists, Rem suddenly stood from her seat and shouted toward the ceiling with a dramatic cry full of longing:

“Reinhard-kun, come back already!!”

Her voice echoed through the kitchen, startling a few of the girls—until Hestia sprang up from her seat as well, eyes misty and hands clenched over her chest.

“Yes!! Come back, Rein-kun! I can’t take this anymore!” she wailed, slamming her hands on the table. “This house is too empty without you in it!”

Across the room, Artemis silently placed a hand over her heart, her usual calm demeanor muted. Her beautiful green eyes, normally filled with joy and happiness, seemed dull and distant.

Rem sniffled quietly, cheeks flushing in embarrassment now that the moment had passed. “I-I’m sorry… I just miss him…”

Emma smiled brightly, trying to lift the mood. “It’s okay! Senpai will be back before we know it.”

=====

The Next Day — Outskirts of the Fort, Kaios Desert

The sun hung high in the sky, casting harsh rays across the endless sea of sand. A hot breeze stirred the silence, rustling the worn flags above the old Shalzardian fort. It had been a full day since our arrival, and now all that was left was to wait.

Reports had already gone out that Arry was holed up in the fort. With the civilians evacuated to safety, it was just the four of us remaining—just the way we wanted it.

I stood at the edge of a rocky outcrop, overlooking the desert beyond. In the far distance, the faint shimmer of movement signaled the enemy's approach. The vanguard of the Warusan army would likely arrive within the hour—an ocean of soldiers marching toward us with blades and bloodlust.

“They’re coming,” I muttered, eyes narrowing as I glanced at my HUD. Several red markers flickered across the display, confirming the presence of the Resheph Familia among their ranks. Their god, however, remained farther back—no doubt content to watch the chaos from a distance.

Behind me, Ram leaned against a sun-warmed boulder with her arms crossed, eyes sharp but relaxed. “It’s about time. I was beginning to think they chickened out.”

“They wouldn’t pass up the chance to reclaim Arry’s head,” I replied calmly. “But that’s exactly what we’re counting on.”

Nearby, Est stood with her usual serene presence, her violet eyes half-lidded as she observed the desert. “I’m ready,” she said softly.

Arry sat not far away, gazing into the distance with a heavy expression. She wore proper battle attire now—somewhere between a royal guard’s uniform and a traveler’s gear. Ram had helped fit her yesterday, and though Arry wouldn’t be fighting, she refused to hide away inside the fortress.

“They’ll be here soon,” she said quietly, her voice almost lost to the wind. “It feels strange… knowing that my kingdom’s future is being decided today.”

I walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder, offering a calm smile. “That’s what it means to lead. The weight of a nation will always feel heavy. Just remember to have good friends to support you when it’s all over.”

She looked up at me, a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes. “…Right.”

Ram smirked. “Don’t worry, little princess. All you need to do is sit back and look pretty. Reinhard-sama, Est-san and I will handle the rest.”

Est nodded and stepped closer to me. “I’ll help.”

“…Thanks,” Arry murmured. “I still can’t believe people this strong are helping me.”

I smiled faintly. “You’ll believe it soon enough.”

As the enemy army crested the dunes, the first lines of soldiers becoming visible in the desert heat, I stepped forward and exhaled slowly.

“Get ready,” I said, summoning a plain sword from my inventory, much to Est’s visible displeasure.

We’d talked about it beforehand—my intention to start the battle with something overwhelming. I planned to pour all my mana into a single, devastating strike, and I feared the backlash might hurt Est.

Of course, the real reason was simpler.

I didn’t want to stain her with the blood of so many. This mission had been my decision—my burden. So I would be the one to shoulder most of the killing.

If I could cut down enough with the first blow, maybe… just maybe, Est and Ram wouldn’t have to kill as many today.

As the enemy army crested the dunes, stretching across the horizon like an endless tide, I stepped forward, feeling the weight of what was to come settle on my shoulders.

The desert sun beat down from above, but my gaze never wavered. I unsheathed the plain sword from its scabbard—simple, unassuming, but all I needed for what I had in mind. I could feel Est’s eyes on me, a flicker of displeasure still in her otherwise serene expression. She knew why I wasn’t using her, even if I hadn’t said it outright.

I closed my eyes and let out a slow breath, focusing. Suddenly I began sucking all the mana from the atmosphere at an astonishing rate. I funneled it into the sword, layer by layer, my aura beginning to shimmer visibly in the air around me. The blade, once dull, began to glow with barely-contained power. The sand beneath my feet trembled.

Then I opened my eyes—glowing with resolve—and swung.

The slash wasn’t aimed at any single person. It wasn’t meant for precision. This was devastation incarnate. A wave of pure mana, compressed and sharpened into a deadly crescent, tore across the desert in a flash, obliterating everything in its path.

The impact lit up the battlefield in a blinding flash. The sound was deafening, like the sky itself had cracked open. When the light faded and the dust cleared, there was only silence... and a massive void in the enemy’s front lines. Hundreds—no, tens of thousands—of soldiers were gone. The rest stood in frozen horror.

I exhaled and lowered the sword, the energy bleeding away from its edge. Cracks spread rapidly across the blade as its structure broke down from the overload. A moment later, it disintegrated into dust, carried away by the wind.

I looked down at the remnants and gave a small nod. “Thank you for your service.”

“The path is open,” I said quietly, my voice calm and cold. “Let’s finish this.”

Ram stepped forward, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Finally,” she muttered, wind magic already gathering in her hands.

Est returned to my side, her presence a quiet comfort. She didn’t speak, but I felt her approval, her silent support.

Behind us, Arry stared in open awe, the reality of what she’d just witnessed slowly sinking in. Her kingdom’s fate, now carried by hands that wielded power far beyond mortal comprehension.

I didn’t look back. I stepped forward, ready to end this.

“…Reinhard-san? Maybe we could reason with them now… after that attack?” Arry’s voice stopped me in my tracks for a brief moment.

Ram let out a small scoff beside me, and I turned my head slightly to glance back at Arry, a sad smile tugging at my lips.

“Sorry, Arry. Like I said before—sometimes, rulers have to make hard decisions. This is one of them.” My voice was gentle, but firm. “I won’t always be here to protect you. What if they come after you again when I’m gone… and this time, they succeed?”

I shook my head, turning forward once more, my expression hardening. “No. This has to be done.”

A soft glow caught the corner of my eye as Est transformed into her sword form. Without hesitation, I reached out and took her in hand, her familiar weight grounding me.

Raising my free hand, I stared down at the still-horrified enemy ranks. My first strike had taken out nearly 30,000. That left around 50,000 more.

“Ram,” I called calmly, my palm igniting with power, “let’s do a combo.”

“Huhuhu~ With pleasure, Reinhard-sama,” Ram replied sweetly, lifting her hand as magical wind began to swirl around her fingers—preparing Al Fura, her strongest spell.

“Great Fireball!”

“Al Fura!”

The spells collided and fused—my massive fireball merging with Ram’s powerful wind spell. The result was a roaring maelstrom of flame, a hellish cyclone that glassed the desert sands and reduced everything it touched to ash.

Screams filled the air—terror, desperation, agony—as soldiers scrambled to escape, but they were far too slow. The flames swept through their ranks like a divine judgment, wiping them out in seconds.

‘Now for the Resheph Familia.’ I thought silently, eyes narrowing as I scanned the scorched battlefield. Only the captain and vice-captain had survived the onslaught—alongside roughly ten thousand soldiers. The rest were nothing but ash.

Those soldiers wouldn’t be a problem. Ram could handle them easily.

“Ram,” I said, my voice calm but resolute, “I’ll leave the remaining soldiers to you. I’m going after the Resheph Familia—I won’t let them escape.”

Ram gave a confident smile, eyes gleaming with anticipation. “Leave it to me, Reinhard-sama.”

=====

Ignoring the carnage around me, I made my way toward the two figures who, even now, stood calmly amidst the devastation—completely unbothered by the hellscape surrounding them.

Scattered soldiers still clung to life around us, but I moved through them like a silent reaper, cutting down any who dared remain in my path with a blank, unfeeling gaze. Another hundred fell before the rest finally realized the futility and broke into a panicked retreat. Not that they got far—Ram was already sweeping up the stragglers with her wind magic, even from this distance.

“Huhuhu… I must applaud you,” the black-haired elf finally spoke, his mocking voice slicing through the settling silence. “To still be standing after all that… Though I suppose even the strongest flame flickers before it dies out.”

His sharp gaze scanned me, mistaking my calm for exhaustion, my silence for weakness.

“You must be on your last legs after that little performance, no?” he continued with a smirk. “Wasting all that power on worms… Tch. You’re either very confident or very foolish.”

Seale. The name floated into view courtesy of my Appraisal skill. Tattoos adorned most of his upper body, a detail his open vest did little to hide. Beside him stood a human—Maruzana—who unlike the elf appeared nervous. The Captain and Vice-Captain of the Resheph Familia, no doubt.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly, stepping forward. “But enough blood has been spilled today. I no longer have the patience for banter. Disappear.”

In the next instant, I appeared between them. My Luminal Shroud erupted behind me, tendrils of light surging forth and ensnaring them before either could utter another word.

The last thing I saw were their faces—no longer smug, but wide-eyed and pale with panic—before the Shroud closed in, swallowing them whole.

‘One more to go,’ I thought, almost mechanically, my mind turning to the last target: their god.

=====

Elsewhere — High Above the Battlefield

From his vantage point atop a distant cliff, Resheph watched the carnage unfold with gleeful eyes. The once-proud Kaios Desert now glimmered with blackened glass—dunes reduced to wastelands beneath a storm of fire and wind. His lips curled into a grin, savoring the chaos. Screams echoed across the sands—raw, desperate, beautiful.

“Ah… war truly is art,” the god murmured, arms crossed as his robe fluttered in the searing breeze. “To think the girl still had this much fight left in her… or perhaps she finally found someone useful.”

He tilted his head, squinting down at the battlefield. There was no mistaking it—two attacks had already obliterated more than half the army, including most of his Familia. That alone told him this wasn’t the work of common rebels or mercenaries.

But curiously… he couldn’t see another god among them. Whoever was backing Arry had to be a powerful Familia—likely one from Orario.

“That explains it,” he muttered with disdain. “Some second-rate god must’ve taken pity on the little princess and lent her their lapdogs. Tch. I suppose even desert weeds bloom on occasion.”

Clicking his tongue, he straightened and brushed off his robes. “No matter. It seems today isn’t our day. My children will buy me time.”

With that, Resheph turned his back on the battle and began walking away from the cliffside, hands clasped behind him, as if he hadn’t just sentenced his remaining Familia to die. No guilt, no remorse—only mild irritation.

“I’ll rebuild. I always do,” he muttered darkly. “Let her have her little moment of joy. It’ll be all the sweeter when I crush every bit of it the moment she thinks she’s won. Fufufu…”

“…I’m afraid there won’t be another chance, Kami-sama.”

The god froze mid-step as a figure appeared in front of him, causing him to tilt his head curiously. “Hoh? And why is that?” he asked cheerfully, seemingly unbothered.

The teen stood dressed in extravagant white garments, not a spot of blood upon him. In his right hand, he held a beautiful sword that shimmered with quiet menace—an elegant contrast to the destruction behind them.

“Because I will be capturing you here and now.”

“…Hahahaha, that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in a while~” Resheph laughed heartily, wiping a tear from his eye before sneering at the human. “Try it, human—but know this: your soul will be forfeit the moment you pass on~”