The Strongest in the World Doesn’t Want To Do Anything

3 – Episode 3 ‘Purification’ / ‘Enchantress’

Wolfgang, who had been unconscious for about an hour, regained consciousness and looked around.

It was a mess, but he could still tell that it was a palace.

Food and drink scattered on the floor, black dust and bloodstains created a chaotic harmony.

Soldiers still unconscious and collapsed added more disgust to the harsh scene.

The lower lip, turned white, still retained a bitter scent.

“It’s ridiculous… a sleeping potion.”

He smelled the herbs thousands of times more.

He sighed in disappointment that he couldn’t distinguish it.

It must have been masked to some extent by Haganess’s scent transferred from her lips.

Even so, he thought he was too careless.

“…Isn’t it strange to doubt her?”

He had been with Haganess for almost 20 years.

It was ridiculous to doubt someone like her without any reason.

A bitter smile didn’t appear on Wolfgang’s face.

Chasing away the hazy mind, he looked around.

Behind the ‘disgusting’ scenes, a pedestal with several people standing vaguely appeared.

Closing his eyes and refocusing, he saw officers of the conspiracy standing in a row in the center, with Adeus and Rosalia behind them.

As the traitors came into view, Wolfgang tried to get up towards them but couldn’t move easily.

Even though he tried to use his powers, it didn’t go as he wished.

When he looked down, he noticed a golden chain wrapped around his body.

“Ha – The Iron Chain of God.”

It is a massive chain with the ability to seal any power, a unique “relic” that exists only in the world.

“When I requested to use it, you didn’t show it, but now you accept it… Welcome, Iron Chain.”

Knowing it’s meaningless, Wolfgang expressed his complaints in a mutter that everyone seemed to hear, staring alternately at the faces of his former comrades who held him down.

“Ha… I hope someone explains it now.”

“Wolfgang, this is the best method.”

The queen replied, interrupting his question with a frightening tone.

Is she the one giving the orders? Why exactly? Wolfgang’s thoughts became even more complicated.

“Since earlier… Ha- What do you mean by the best for everything, Your Majesty?”

“Io is no stronger existence in this world than you. Because you were on the side of humanity in the war…”

“Yes, yes, aside from common knowledge. What I want to ask is what is the best? Yes?”

When Wolfgang interrupted the queen’s words, Casey stepped forward to protect her dignity.

“Shut up! How dare you interrupt Her Majesty…”

“…You’ve grown. Casey. Back then, you were so scared that you couldn’t even say a word.”

With a gaze filled with anger, Wolfgang glared at Casey.

Her hands shook, holding her rifle.

“That damn rifle… think about who’s responsible for holding it like that.”

“Shut up!!”

With a clank, her gun aimed at Wolfgang.

“Stop!”

It was Adeus’ voice.

“Casey, calm down.”

“…Yes.”

At his intervention, Casey slowly lowered the gun that was aimed at Wolfgang.

Adeus, who calmed the situation, kneeled and turned his head towards his pitiful master, who was tied to the iron chain.

“Let me explain, Master.”

…

Wolfang silently stared at Adeus.

“Do you remember the questions I asked you when I was receiving warrior training?”

“… Will I become one?”

The warrior’s face slightly frowned at Wolfgang’s blunt response.

“There was a time when I asked if there exists someone stronger than the Master. At that time, the Master said there wasn’t.”

“So what?”

“That’s the reason. That’s why you are confined like this.”

“How did it come to be like this?”

Still not understanding, Wolfgang frowned and sighed while looking at Adeus.

“What did you plan to do after the war ended?”

Wolfgang briefly pondered his question.

After the war, he had planned to retire by giving up all authority and responsibilities.

He wanted to build a wooden house near the orphanage and enjoy peace while tending to a small garden.

But when he imagined his future like that, he realized the reason why he was bound like this.

“Hah…”

A sigh involuntarily escaped him due to his absurdity.

“I wanted to retire… Just wanted to spend each day peacefully and rest.”

“Who here would believe those words?”

Even Wolfgang couldn’t deny Adeus’ words.

‘The power of the gods’ is literally an all-powerful ability.

It is not easy to give up such powerful strength and authority.

Of course, if someone is chosen by the gods, the probability of harboring evil intentions would be low.

But humans can change at any time, in any way.

Just like the current situation.

“Don’t you trust me?”

“I want to.”

“How have you seen me all these years we’ve been together?”

“It’s also based on the observations of the Master that I’ve made my decision.”

“Hah… It’s really unbelievable.”

“Pine Wells. Do you remember?”

That was the name of a certain village.

Now, a beautiful village where the sharp sea scent, which has disappeared from the map, used to linger thickly.

As Adewus spoke, Wolfgang recalled old memories and closed his eyes tightly.

His mind became noisy.

Screams of the villagers, writhing in agony, echoed in the midst of suffering.

Houses were on fire, and ships anchored in the harbor were sinking.

A man stopped those jumping into the sea, determined to survive somehow.

And then, he set fire to their bodies.

The agonizing screams of those burning alive mingled with pain echoed horribly.

Amidst the blackened pile of corpses, Wolfgang stood, watching the scene.

“Damn it! That decision was unanimously agreed upon by everyone.”

“Yes, that’s correct. We couldn’t let the devil’s plague spread throughout the continent.”

Adewus paused and swallowed dryly.

That, too, couldn’t be easy to forget from that day.

“Wasn’t it you, Wolfgang, who proposed that cruel decision and burned the village before the scheduled date?”

Accusingly, Adewus’s words with force made Wolfgang’s headache intensify.

As it was an action that even the officials and the queen had tolerated, they couldn’t hide their discomfort.

Wolfgang took a short breath and tried to maintain composure.

“Ha… whether it’s stupidity or disgust.”

“What did you say?”

“Pine Wells, about an hour away from here, was your hometown. You didn’t show it, but you were more afraid than anyone. Afraid that the plague would spread to your hometown. Wasn’t that the case?”

“What are you talking about…”

“The plague spread by the devil. That terrible plague for which there was no cure. You all knew there was only one way. You just couldn’t bring yourself to say it…”

People infected with the plague lost their reason and began attacking everything in sight.

Those attacked were infected and transformed into the same monsters.

By the time the Order became aware of the situation, the village was nothing short of hell.

Someone had to do what needed to be done.

To relieve the guilt of the conscience that the members of the Order felt, Wolfgang decided to endure all the pain himself.

So, he suggested purifying the village first, and all the members of the Order hesitated at his inhumane plan.

At that time, Adewus stepped forward and supported Wolfgang’s plan.

It seemed like an honorable sacrifice, playing the role of a hero, but it undoubtedly included concerns for his hometown nearby.

Wolfgang sensed Adaeus’s intentions, but at the moment, resolving the immediate issues took precedence. He hoped that the other members of the Order would be swayed by his argument without saying a word.

In the end, everyone agreed. Queen Rosalia, upon approving the report submitted by the members of the Order, decided to ‘purify’ Finewell at dawn the next day.

That evening, Wolfgang secretly headed to the village alone to commence the ‘purification’ operation without anyone knowing.

When the members of the Order, who had realized his departure, arrived at the village belatedly, the situation had already concluded.

Facing Wolfgang standing amidst the ruins, the members of the Order said nothing.

No one questioned or blamed him.

They simply followed him quietly to the next expedition site.

“Do you know how much I cared for you? You know that I tried to bear that horrific and disgusting act alone!”

“It’s truly repulsive, Wolfgang. Packaging the massacre you committed in such a way. They should have purified them through proper procedures!”

“This bastard!”

Wolfgang, trembling with anger, tried to rise towards Adaeus.

But the more he struggled, the tighter the chains constricted around him.

“Haganes! Say something, at least!!! Even if others don’t know, you do! You know!!!”

Watching his furious outburst like an enraged beast, Haganes looked at him with an empty expression and calmly spoke.

“It’s not just that, Wolfgang. You even brought an Enchanter into the Order.”

“Why the hell are you doing this, too?”

“Enchanters are kin who conspire with demons. You, instead of executing the person the Order wanted to eliminate first, embraced and turned them. That alone makes you a sufficient traitor.”

“Dominic! He died trying to protect us all! And you’re still saying such things?”

“…You still haven’t come to your senses.”

“Then fuck! Tendriel!! Why don’t you have a problem with that guy? He was the most heinous criminal, wasn’t he?”

“Haha… Boss, suddenly turning on me, making me uncomfortable?”

Tendriel scratched her head, wearing an awkward expression.

Haganes, looking at her like that, spoke.

“Tendriel repented.”

Her response seemed to contain no more anger.

The firm determination of former colleagues who were trying to bring him down by any means.

Expressing injustice and struggling only confirmed their pettiness.

Wolfgang stopped the riot, took a deep breath, and thought about what he could do right now.

The thought didn’t take long.