[Nightmare]

Six am the next day.

"Greetings, Alzerians."

A familiar voice waved across the kingdom in a large chain of amplification circles.

Groggy eyes met the voices' words.

Those that were awake stared into the sky with wide eyes.

"Many of you met me two nights ago.

My name is Helix Hellsgate Margrave.

I am the apprentice of Grandmaster Winter General Dame Tyrene Masney, Grandmaster Tilo Salazar, and Grandmaster Linus Trevon."

Chief Defense Salkey's eyes trembled in panic, and he quickly ordered circle masters to shut down the airwaves.

However, the circles Tilo had set up for the kingdom-sponsored Tyrene address used a special spirit mix, and they couldn't deactivate them.

They were also created with Helix's conditional trigger circles.

Therefore, [he] could turn them on and off simultaneously without Tilo's [Chain Activation].

Helix taught Tilo how to use conditional triggers during training and worked on them as a team following [Gravity Tip Trigger].

The wielder could activate all spells simultaneously by setting up triggers for a magic circle to activate by [another] magic circle instead of [proximity].

That was a primary reason the kingdom chose Helix's amplification circles.

The conditional triggers didn't require [Tilo] to activate them—but it had a glaring consequence.

Salkey's eyes widened in terror when he realized he was helpless.

Masov narrowed his eyes to the sky after the same realization.

Oakey starred along with him with a depressed expression.

"But you may not know I'm the only partner and exclusive designer for Samma Shaw who owns Samma's Exotic Fashion Bizarre."

The general citizens' eyes gilded around in confusion.

However, the awake nobles were either excited about the announcement or panicking.

"Samma Shaw is arguably the most legendary clothing designer for noble fashion in Myriad."

Many were sweating.

"Lastly, I'm in Alzeria because Grandmaster Winter General Dame Tyrene Masney acquired information concerning recent monster activity."

Many citizens started panicking.

"However, an address from Master Tyrene disclosed this information a few nights ago.

It is not new, no monsters have been sighted yet, and I'm not here to start a panic."

Salkey orders search parties to search for Helix.

Unfortunately, he was a mile away.

The Myriad Record didn't place distance limitations on conditional triggers.

Magic was processed through the Myriad Record, and thus distance was irrelevant.

It's extreme, but so are nuclear weapons and seventy-year-old Earthians ruling continents.

Such is life.

"Now that the context is out of the way, I have an announcement.

I'm leaving Alzeria due to the treatment of one or more members of the Alzerian Royal Cabinet."

Shocked gasps rang through the streets.

Helix became a hero overnight.

Now he was leaving?

Many were outraged by his audacity.

They felt deceived and were bitter.

The otakus and weebs were heartbroken by the news.

Maze and Miskie were crushed, learning their friends were leaving without saying goodbye.

However, they both knew that wasn't something the four would do.

So they had hope.

Macron smiled wryly, knowing it was a ruse.

Those close to Helix knew he wouldn't abandon the city coldly.

"I'd like to clarify that Queen Liliana and Princess Eliza have treated me well.

However, over a dozen people have tried to execute me for various reasons in the last five days.

Eight people didn't let me speak before they attacked me or ordered my death as nobles."

Many people wore gaping expressions.

They couldn't believe what they had just heard.

Salkey was crying in shock, and Helix was grinning, imagining his face.

Major Oakley turned to General Masov for confirmation.

Masov gave the major a shame-filled expression before nodding in confirmation.

Princess Eliza was stunned and speechless after learning that her guards only made up a fraction of his assassination attempts.

"However, I persisted and stayed.

Two nights ago, I had the pleasure of speaking to thousands of you directly, telling you my story, and speaking about the fight in Kozen.

We reminisced about Winter General Tyrene together.

We laughed and cried together."

Those who were initially outraged were emotionally conflicted by the news.

They didn't know what to think.

"But yesterday, the very next day, there was an orchestrated smear campaign that a cabinet member started."

Shocked gasps rang through the streets.

Salkey continued barking orders and preparing soldiers for potential conflict.

He was livid.

Multiple nobles were running to various locations to meet with others.

"There's a movement calling me a traitor for requesting the aid of Kozen after helping them defeat the Colossus.

They were one letter away from turning around.

However, neither the kingdom nor its Defense Chief, Generals, or any other military personnel called them off.

They confirmed they did not plan to turn them away, and they told me my decision to do so helped their willingness to work with me."

Those in support of the movement trembled.

Queen Liliana was holding her head in her hands.

She was getting dragged under the bus.

However, she [requested Helix's aid] and put him through the trials he was facing.

After reading the letter that Helix gave Salkey and Masov, she was trembling in fear.

Liliana [needed] Helix.

But instead of treating him like a world power, she treated him like a single person.

Even once Helix and his partners showed they were stronger than Alzeria, she did not summon him again to reset their relationship on equal footing.

Masov had the same thoughts moving through his mind.

Helix desperately networked and tried to make a relationship work.

However, people cannot burn bridges with people with power.

Helix couldn't work with the army with poor relationships.

But his support was extremely valuable, and he didn't ask for anything but trust he wouldn't seize power.

It's the most dangerous task in human history and often proceeds coup d'etat or government takeovers.

However, Helix was supported by Tyrene, and they had no choice.

"Second, I've been called a fraud for selling Samma Shaw's clothing to the nobles here.

There have been payments withheld and movement for refunds.

This movement came after Samma Shaw allowed me to sell her Earthian clothing line exclusively to Alzeria for a period….

[Upon my request]."

Nobles everywhere started panicking.

"Well. I've sent a letter to General Lackbolt stating someone in the Alzerian Royal Cabinet has deemed me a traitor for requesting his aid.

Considering Kozen owed [me] a favor, and I saved their country from ruin and equipped their army, he's certain to turn around now.

Whoever you are, I hope you're happy."

Salkey was screaming at everyone in sight.

Masov took a deep breath with anguish in his heart.

He was one of the people who questioned him.

With the new information Helix had given them, he realized Helix's decision to call Kozen was a godsend.

Liliana was trembling.

"To the nobles withholding payments or requisition refunds, I have a surprise for you.

Samma Shaw is riding a Gryphon to Kozen as we speak.

She wanted to thank you for your warm reception.

However, I'm certain she'll be pleased you've insulted her business partner and called her clothing fraudulent."

The Kina district was in a panic.

"However!"

The booming voice caused everyone to freeze in their tracks.

"There are receipts from the good nobles who have supported Samma Shaw.

I'm providing them to her so she doesn't blame all nobles for the disgusting treatment of the few.

Alzeria gave her a beautiful welcome, and she was so pleased she was visiting.

So I'm certain she'll still be grateful to those who treated her kindly and respectfully."

Many of the nobles sighed with relief.

Their beating hearts started calming down.

However, every noble desperately trying to network for support was coldly shut down on the spot.

"Additionally!"

The young man's voice made everyone's heart jump again.

"Queen Liliana, Princess Eliza, General Masov, Major Oakley, and a notable Royal Guard treated me kindly during my stay."

Saul was stunned and speechless to be called out.

After blindly attacking Helix, he deserved to be in the secondary category.

"I still owe debts to her Majesty and the Princess for saving my life.

I also owe life debts to Grandmaster Winter General Dame Tyrene Masney, Chief Elsa Lizco, Grandmaster Tilo Salazar, and Captain Macron Tazon.

There are countless Earthians I respect, innumerable servants I adore, Thymian Knights I've become friends with, a Grandmaster I've enjoyed talking to, and even a cool cat.

These are just a few."

The otakus and weebs had happy expressions.

The super-otakus were glad they had restored their relationship with Helix.

The power-weebs were happy to know that Helix accepted them.

Liliana's eyes shook in disbelief.

Tilo had a wry smile listening to the address.

He couldn't believe Helix had the audacity to create a public address without authorization.

Elsa was fearful, but her eyes sparkled.

Eliza was trembling in shock and disbelief.

She was glad that her friend didn't hate her.

The princess was worried sick after the smear campaign started.

Kylon's eyes widened in shock.

He could hear Helix's hesitation to say something like [gangster cat], but he didn't.

"So I won't forget you. While I'm leaving the Capital with my partners, if I come across a Colossus or third-evolution beasts, I will kill them."

Everyone's eyes widened in surprise.

"I can't guarantee I'll run into them, but we're traveling in the general direction of our source.

In short, I will repay my debts by alleviating dangerous enemies for Alzeria if I come across them.

We cannot handle it alone.

That's why we were requesting Kingdom support to defend the capital.

So if a Colossus is in the center of a swarm of beasts, we may not be able to fight.

However, we'll send a letter as quickly as we can.

We don't know if there is a Colossus or third-evolution monster.

We're just providing auxiliary support in anticipation of anything."

The Capital was dead quiet.

Everyone was frozen in shock and disbelief.

No one knew what to say.

"Lastly, the kingdom can also send a letter to General Lackbolt requesting their aid.

Kozen is an ally. So I doubt they will refuse you, even though they won't be happy.

It's customary for generals to work with allies, even if they are bitter or don't like them."

Masov and Liliana wore wry smiles after the insight.

Salkey was sitting at his desk, waiting for his title and honors to be stripped from him.

Everyone had the same rational fears of Helix becoming a tyrant.

However, Salkey acted on his own using a whisper campaign to which he couldn't be officially tied.

Helix grew up in the age of social media, however.

An allegation alone can have devastating effects when made public.

So the proof was irrelevant.

People in power usually call upon troops to round up the four, kill them, or sanction accusers.

However, the four could destroy the capital as easily as breathing.

Moreover, they were guests helping the kingdom; they weren't normal citizens.

Lastly, Liliana and Masov knew he was guilty, so his authority meant nothing.

"The wonderful Alzerians who have treated me graciously or I haven't met yet me—thank you.

I was humbled by the reception for my Master's celebration of life and my treatment there.

Alzeria is a wonderful country, and I made countless amazing memories here.

That is why I returned to support this beautiful Capital and its people.

I wish you no ill will and pledge my support in fighting monsters during my travels.

Thank you for your time, love, and support.

Good luck, take care, and be well.

Warm wishes from Helix Hellsgate Margrave."

"Charlotte~Kline."

"Marie Skybolt."

"Riley Singer."

"Oh… am I supposed to say something?"

"Your name, dummy!"

"Oh. Atlas."

The super-otakus burst into laughter alongside Macron and Elsa.

The power-weebs were confused because they had never met the young man.

When confronted, every otaku had two words.

[Gambling den].

The real joke was that Atlas wasn't joining them.

He just wanted to make his debt collectors think he was gone so they wouldn't check for Circle of Vanity use.

If they knew that, they'd probably die.

—

[A/N: Looooong chapter. Hope you liked it.

Consider rereading [Gambling with Cliches] and [Begging for Trouble] right before the auction.

This sub saga's thematic element is the historical consequences of fast rises to power.

While the auction and Tyrene's message were stunning, his Earthian takeover was mind-bending, and his funeral was a masterpiece [according to Tilo]—

—Helix [and Liliana] understood the consequences of Tyrene's public address to Alzeria from day one.

Liliana called it subversive. It was.

The question is never about positivity; it's a matter of influence and, consequently, power.

The ripples from that power play have spiraled out of control until they've reached a critical tipping point.

I hope you appreciate the intricate storytelling in [Nightmare].

It isn't easy to write like this, but I find it beautiful.

Thank you as always for reading. I appreciate you all.

PS: This story repeats itself throughout history endlessly like a broken record.

If ten people name historical leaders that faced similar complications, I'll post another chapter.

Please don't post more than one leader; otherwise, you're giving people the answers and making it harder.]

—

Power stones and grammatical errors = more content. :)

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