The dragon suddenly descended upon the people.
Humanity, which had been living in peace, was thrust to the brink of extinction by this threat.
Thanks to a savior named
However, just as it had begun, the dragon's assaults stopped abruptly.
But that was no cause for celebration.
The dragon posed a far more profound doom than mere physical destruction.
For the dragon, destroying a star was not exactly trivial, but it was far from a major concern.
The dragon had settled on this planet with the eventual goal of governing it as territory.
It was only natural for beings as supreme as themselves to rule a star.
And a star that could not be governed was worthless.
A star that could not be corrected — because of the nuisance called Sariel standing in the way — and was therefore already on an inevitable path to destruction was beyond the point of finding any value in ruling it.
And so, the dragon took actions that would at least marginally benefit its interests.
That was all it was to the dragon. And with that alone, the dragon set the star hurtling toward ruin.
A star that would be destroyed in a few hundred years anyway, even without their intervention. If its destruction came a little sooner, what did it matter?
Besides, it would be troublesome if this star's inhabitants ever launched into space.
Eliminating them before that happened would kill two birds with one stone.
And so, the dragon plundered the star's MA Energy.
"The end, then," the President murmured.
No one responded to him.
A heavy, oppressive atmosphere filled the conference room.
The nation of Daztorudia had maintained its ban on MA Energy usage until the very last moment.
The fact that MA Energy was nothing less than the star's life force itself, and that its continued use would lead the star to collapse, was already known to the people.
And so was the reason the dragon had suddenly attacked.
Explanations had been provided through the Dragon God faith.
The Sariel Church had issued similar warnings.
Ignoring all of it, every nation competed to use MA Energy, reveling in its benefits.
Watching other nations drink deeply of that sweet nectar, the President still refused to budge on permitting MA Energy use.
The public's response was harsh — demonstrations demanding the lifting of the ban erupted almost daily.
Yet even so, the President would not bend his position, responding with severe punishment to anyone within the nation who used MA Energy.
And now, the President was hailed as the wisest ruler in the world.
With those very same mouths that had cursed him mercilessly not long ago, people now spoke words of praise.
Hearing that did nothing to ease the furrow between the President's brows.
"What's the situation?"
"Abnormal weather patterns and various other anomalies have been reported across all regions."
"There are frequent riots among citizens, and crimes such as murders are occurring constantly."
"Suicides are also on the rise. Many followers of the Dragon God faith have carried out mass suicides in particular."
"Food distribution has fallen into disorder."
Report after report painted the same bleak picture of affairs spiraling out of control.
Of course things were out of control. The end was creeping ever closer.
"...How much time do we have left?"
At the President's question, no one could offer an immediate answer.
As though terrified of speaking the words aloud, not a single person opened their mouth.
But they couldn't keep silent forever.
"
Hearing the name Potimas, the President's displeasure was plain on his face.
It was impossible to pin all the blame for this crisis on Potimas.
But the origin was undoubtedly him.
One man's obsession had driven the star to the brink of collapse.
Yet Potimas was also the only one who might hold the possibility of turning things around.
For that reason, no matter how loathsome the man was, the President could not have him detained.
These circumstances meant the President's mood soured the moment he heard Potimas's name.
"Moreover, that estimate represents the upper limit — the maximum time before the star loses its structural integrity. The time remaining for living organisms to survive would be shorter than that."
"Additionally, the situation will only deteriorate the more time passes."
Between the lines, the message was clear: if you intend to make a decision, make it soon.
Those who had followed the President this far had already resolved to follow his will.
Whatever the decision might be, however unreasonable — if it was the choice of the man now called the wisest ruler in the world, they would accept it.
Yet the President, who had been entrusted with the final say, could not bring himself to open his mouth.
Because Daztorudia had banned the use of MA Energy, the frequency of dragon attacks on the nation had been comparatively low.
While other countries suffered catastrophic damage, Daztorudia had gotten off relatively lightly.
On top of that, backed by the President's prestige, there was arguably no nation left that dared oppose Daztorudia now.
That was precisely why the President had to render a careful judgment.
When Daztorudia declared something white, it would become white for everyone else.
"Hahh..."
The President let out a deep sigh.
No matter how he deliberated, the conclusion he arrived at was always the same.
As President, as a person standing above the people, no matter how unacceptable it felt, he had to make a decision.
"Is there... no other way?"
It was less a question than a murmur of self-confirmation.
And no one answered it.
They couldn't answer.
A long, long silence engulfed the conference room.
"What about Potimas Hyfernace's whereabouts?"
"We have him tracked."
"Then detain him immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
"Once the detention is complete, begin preparations."
"...Yes, sir!"
It was the moment when the man who could now be called humanity's de facto representative made his decision.
Those in the conference room naturally bowed their heads in acknowledgment.
The President rose from his seat alone.
Then he walked to the wall.
A dull thud echoed through the room.
It was the sound of the President punching the wall.
"What wise ruler? What wise ruler in the world?! I'm nothing but — nothing but a shameless wretch!"
Screaming, he punched the wall again.
Then again.
Over and over.
"Mr. President! Mr. President!"
Seeing blood dripping from his fist — whether from the sheer force of his blows or otherwise — the ministers rushed in to stop him.
But even then, the President continued to batter the wall.
It took three people to drag him away before he finally stopped harming himself.
"You scum! You pathetic scum!"
But the words wouldn't stop.
The self-directed invective wouldn't stop.
"Mr. President! Mr. President! You are a great man! You are no scum!"
The ministers meant it from the bottom of their hearts.
But it didn't reach the President's heart.
"Repaying kindness with malice — how can anyone say that isn't scum?! Damn it! Damn it!"
The President screamed through heaving breaths, then collapsed into his chair as though all strength had left him.
"My name will be cursed for all eternity."
"That's not—"
"It is. It absolutely is. And that is precisely why I must build that future."
The ministers fell silent before the President's grim resolve.
"I will no longer choose my means. As the scum I am, I will protect the people by whatever means necessary — until the very moment my soul fades from this world. That is the only thing a shameless wretch like me can do."
His bloodshot eyes burned with an unshakable conviction.
The President declared: "I will follow you all the way to the depths of hell, Mr. President
The ministers bowed their heads low.
A group of shameless wretches, united under a single iron conviction.
And they set into motion.
The method of planetary restoration proposed by Potimas.
A restoration plan that would convert the Goddess Sariel — and her vast energy — into MA Energy to return the star to its former state.
Which was, in other words, nothing less than asking Sariel to die.
The one who had continued saving humanity against the dragon.
The shameless wretches would not stop regardless.
They could not stop.
It was all for the sake of saving foolish humanity.