In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 125 Kill me, overthrow me, surpass me
The next day, completely unaffected by the previous night's drunkenness, Enciodes, now fully sober, arrived at the foot of the sacred mountain early.

The sacred mountain is open daily at 6:30 AM. However, if a court assembly is being held, the officials will be allowed entry at 5:00 AM by special mountain snow spirits.

The current time is 4:59 AM.

Enciodes had been lingering here for quite some time.

The area around Enciodis was also crowded with onlookers, mostly locals from Sherag who had gotten up early and were planning to go to the collective village, factories, or set up stalls to work.

Seeing the Prime Minister or other family heads at the foot of the sacred mountain was not unusual for them; in fact, many street vendors earned a portion of their breakfast money from these high-ranking officials.

[But on this day, even the most oblivious of the political situation's dynamics, the people of Sherag, sensed something amiss from Enciodes's solitary figure.]

To the people of Shelag, their usually amiable prime minister appeared unusually cold today.

He kept his head slightly bowed, his hands clasped together in a repentant gesture, letting the snowflakes fall on him, piling him up like a small snowman, yet he remained motionless.

[And the good weather that had plagued Kjerag for a whole year was unexpectedly bad today as well.]

The snowstorm was even heavier than usual, and the sky was covered with dark clouds; at this hour, even the rising sun was invisible.

The oppressive silence, as if something extremely bad was about to happen, weighed heavily on the hearts of all the Sherag people present.

And that long minute finally passed in complete silence.

[A guard from the Mountain Snow Demon arrived at the foot of the Holy Mountain as usual, setting up the security cordon while gazing at Ensiodes and saying calmly:]

"Your Excellency, His Majesty is waiting for you in the palace."

"……Um."

The moment had finally arrived. Ensiodis slowly opened his eagle-like, sharp eyes, annihilating all weakness, unease, and fear.

He straightened up, gazed at the high palace, and took step by step toward the very top of power.

Is this the path my brother walked back then?

As Ensiodis walked, the biting wind and snow grew even fiercer, as if trying to hinder his progress.

Cold, pain, oppression... and the pounding of his heart—all tormented Enciodes.

Even after climbing only a few steps, he was already feeling suffocated by the oppressive atmosphere.

In Ensiodis's eyes, the palace atop the sacred mountain was not a symbol of wealth and glory.

[It is a den of iniquity where once you sit down, you will never rise to give up your seat until your life is exhausted.]

Only the most powerful deserve to sit on this eternal throne.

[Brother... did you embark on this path of seizing power with this very mindset from the beginning?]

I thought I knew enough about my brother's great achievements.

But now, having embarked on the same path, Enciodes truly understood how powerful and great his brother was.

But these things, now, can no longer be obstacles hindering Enciodes's determined steps.

He had made up his mind to "liberate" his brother from the throne.

If this is the only thing he can do well.

So he did just that.

Because he is Ensiodis Shivaesh, the younger brother whom Inui Shivaesh is most proud of.

He absolutely could not let his elder brother down.

"clatter."

With such determination, before he knew it, Ensiodes had reached the summit of the holy mountain and arrived at the palace gates.

The palace gates remained open as always, and on the throne in Ensiodes lay your aloof, gaunt, yet still fiercely dangerous figure, like a sick tiger.

"...Second Brother? What brings you here?"

[Beside you, the saint Enya is reporting on the latest progress of the Jeragund statue.]

Upon seeing her second brother arrive, Enya was slightly surprised, but then her expression turned to one of warm joy.

But soon, noticing her second brother's serious and indifferent expression, almost identical to her eldest brother's, Enya's joyful heart sank.

For some reason, a very unsettling feeling welled up inside her.

"Enya, why don't you go back for a bit?"

However, before Enya could ask, you, who had been resting with your eyes closed, spoke softly to her in a gentle tone:

"I have something I need to talk to your second brother about privately."

"Don't worry, your second brother and I are here, nothing will happen."

"……Um."

Despite a deep sense of unease, Enya ultimately nodded, suppressing her trembling heart, out of trust in her brothers.

However, after quietly returning to her room, Enya, her mind in turmoil, quickly pressed her ear against the doorframe, trying to overhear some of your conversation.

"...They've arrived?"

You struggled to open your eyes, gazing at your younger brother who finally stood proudly before you, a relieved smile spreading across your face.

"coming."

Enciodes nodded calmly, suppressing a tremor in his heart. After taking a deep breath, he looked directly into your eyes and said, word by word:

"Brother, today is the day I come to save you."

[As he spoke, Ensiodes took out a "decree" he had prepared beforehand from his coat, slowly unfolded it in front of you, and read it aloud with a forced smile, suppressing his heartache:]

"We, your humble servants, risk our lives to offer our remonstrance—"

"Your Majesty seized power and plotted to establish the country. Since ascending the throne, Your Majesty has been lacking in personal morality. You should have been in awe of Heaven and your ancestors, and diligent in governing and loving your people."

"However, since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have been arrogant and tyrannical, refusing to listen to loyal advice, and slaughtering virtuous and good people as easily as cutting weeds."

“Reckless warfare will exhaust the people and cause widespread resentment, who dare to be angry but dare not speak out.”

“Now, Your Majesty disregards the suffering of the people and arbitrarily changes the laws. How dare Your Majesty implicate the people of Shelag because of the evil of one person?”

"Therefore, we, your humble servants, risk our lives to offer our remonstrance!"

"Your Majesty, please abdicate!"

When Enciodes forced the final word "abdicate" from his throat, his hoarse voice reached Enya's ears inside the room.

[Upon hearing that her second brother was actually Enya, who had come to force her elder brother to abdicate, she was immediately horrified!]

She didn't know why her second brother was doing this, but her only thought at that moment was to stop it as quickly as possible.

However, when Enya tried to turn the doorknob, she was surprised to find that the doorknob, which had been working fine before, could no longer be turned.

"Don't bother them, Enya."

[As Enya tried repeatedly, she heard Yeragand's pained sighs.]

"These are your two older brothers' own choices."

“Enya, your brother is about to die... Your second brother is his last choice.”

Please respect his last wish.

[Yeragand's patient words caused Enya, whose face was already streaked with tears, to collapse helplessly to the ground.]

Although separated by only a wall, it seemed to divide her and her two beloved brothers into two different worlds.

She could only watch helplessly as this heart-wrenching scene continued.

……

"……well done."

You listened quietly to your brother's edict, and your heart was filled with great satisfaction.

However, after Enciodes put down the edict, looking at you, whose face was deathly pale and who could barely stand, he couldn't help but soften.

He approached you and whispered in a voice no one else could hear:

“Brother, I have prepared a land-based ship, which is located in the underground factory.”

"This landship will take you to the countryside of Victoria, where I have had Nosis arrange for a doctor and the best care for you."

"In a moment, I will set fire to the palace and claim that you set yourself on fire and burned to death inside the palace."

"Brother, you can spend your remaining years there in peace..."

"And, if my younger brother really has some insurmountable obstacle..."

Ensiodis's throat trembled, and he forced back the tears welling in his eyes, speaking almost pleadingly:

"I also hope that you, brother, can give me some guidance."

"...Good boy."

Listening to Enciodes's meticulously planned arrangements, after a slight surprise, a warmth you had almost forgotten welled up in your heart.

It's a warm current, the feeling of being loved by a true family.

Unfortunately, you know you can't accept your brother's kindness.

[It's not just because you feel your body simply can't hold up enough to go to Victoria.]

More importantly...

“…Brother, I cannot risk your rule in any way.”

[Before you died, you looked at your brother, whose eyes were trembling, with an unprecedentedly serene smile.]

"And if I don't die..."

“Brother, you will never become a king who satisfies the Sherag people.”

"Learn not to rely on me, and go forward on your own."

As you spoke, you shakily reached out and took out the revolver that Enciodes had given you, along with the last bullet.

This last bullet was a "judgment" you had prepared long ago, reserved for yourself.

"Load the bullets, pick it up, Ensiodis." [You calmly guide your younger brother, whose body is now stiff and moves like a robot.]

[Only after your brother had inserted the bullet into the magazine did you coldly continue giving instructions:]

"Then, aim it at my head."

"shot."

Ensiodis froze.

[By the time he realized what was happening, he had already pointed the gun at your head.]

But the gun he pointed at you trembled, his white finger hesitant to press the trigger.

The eerie atmosphere persisted for several minutes, and Enciodes still couldn't make up his mind.

"--shot!"

"What are you hesitating for? What are you being weak about?!"

You couldn't help but urge him on sharply.

"Fire! Fire this shot! You are now the king of Kjerag! Fire!"

However, it was your urging that finally caused the nearly collapsing Enciodes to close his eyes tightly and pull the trigger.

But no shots were fired.

[It turns out that, in his nervousness, Enciodes hadn't even disengaged the safety; the bullet remained stuck in the magazine, unable to penetrate your brain.]

However, this single act of pulling the trigger nearly shattered your brother's psychological defenses.

"I...I can't do it."

"Brother... I can't do it... I can't..."

Before you, Enciodes's tender familial instincts are rekindled, and you witness your younger brother weeping uncontrollably.

His tall frame was almost hunched over, revealing a vulnerability and fear that he only showed in front of you.

Looking at your fragile younger brother, at this moment, no matter how many words of blame you have in your heart, it seems impossible to utter them.

After all, what harsh words can you say to a younger brother who can't bear to kill his beloved older brother?

"Ugh……"

"Never growing up means never growing up..."

You let out a long sigh, a bittersweet smile faintly appearing on your pale face.

You trembled as you reached out and took the gun from Ensiodis's hand back into your own.

"Whatever, whatever."

"Since my good-for-nothing younger brother is unwilling to kill his older brother."

"Brother, let me help you one last time."

You aimed the loaded magazine at the muzzle, then, to your brother's astonishment, released the safety.

The next second, you handed the gun back to Ensiodis.

[Guiding his icy-cold hand, he pointed the black muzzle of the gun at your head.]

"elder brother--"

"Shh..."

However, before Enciodes could speak, you gently shushed him, stopping what he was doing.

At that moment, as you approached death, you wore a smile of profound relief that sent shivers down Enciodes's spine.

You seem to have finally found liberation, no longer needing to bear any responsibility.

"Brother, come and kill me with your own hands."

"How can you gain the people's respect if you don't kill me?"

"How can you believe you're stronger than me if you don't kill this shadow that has always lingered in your heart?"

"Kill me, bury me, forget me, transcend me..."

"Little brother, don't live in my shadow forever. Believe in yourself and you can do better than me."

As you spoke, sensing your impending death, you silently cast your gaze towards the ceiling.

Close your eyes, and what flashes through your mind are the dreamlike memories of this life.

"In my whole life... I've only done one thing: make Sherag a better place."

"I overthrew the Manju Institute, pacified the clan, repelled the enemy country, and enabled the people of Sherag to live a prosperous life."

"Isn't everything I've done enough to wash away my crime of usurping power?"

Gazing at the palace ceiling, you don't know if you're questioning the heavens, the "gods," or your own inner self.

You don't know the answer to this question now.

Let posterity judge all of this.

You smiled with relief, guiding your younger brother one last time as he pulled the trigger.

"boom--!"

A clear gunshot suddenly rang out within the palace, and the moment the shot fell, the brother and sister's hearts skipped a beat.

At that moment, the restraints on the doorknob were finally released, and Enya rushed out of the house, witnessing a scene she would never forget.

His most beloved elder brother had fallen on the blood-stained throne.

[And before him stood the man with the gun, the one who had shot and killed his beloved brother.]

[It was my second brother, whom I had once trusted implicitly.]

"elder brother--!!"

A heart-wrenching cry escaped Enya's throat.

She rushed to your body, gazing at your face, so serene even in your dying moments, yet her heart ached as if a piece had been ripped out.

[Heartbreaking.]

At this moment, Enya finally understood what it meant to be heartbroken.

Overwhelmed with grief, Enya supported your body, her incredulous gaze fixed on her dazed second brother before her.

At this moment, although there were tear tracks on Ensiodis's face, there were no more tears left.

He simply stared at it all calmly, without sorrow or joy, as if he had just killed not his beloved brother, but a complete stranger.

All of this was observed by Enya.

"Why……"

[Disbelief, and belated indignation.]

Enya stared intently at her second brother, whom she had once trusted implicitly. He had actually killed their brother with his own hands for the sake of the throne.

After intense pain and heart-wrenching agony, Enya finally couldn't help but ask sharply:

"Why! Why! Why?!"

"Why did you kill my brother! Why did my brother have to die?!"

"Answer me! Ensiodis! Answer me!"

In intense pain, Enya grabbed the gun that had fallen from Ensiodes's hand and immediately aimed it at what she saw as the "culprit" behind everything.

"Click."

Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger, but no bullet was fired.

Enya didn't know how to use a gun, but she still repeatedly pulled the trigger on the "culprit" in front of her.

"Die! Die! Die!!"

"Why don't you die! Brother! Let me kill him! Let me kill him!"

However, Enya received no response.

The empty magazine and the unactivated safety repeatedly prevented Enya from repeating this tragedy.

But with each successful trigger pull, Enya, gradually regaining her senses, found herself unable to even grip the gun in her hand.

She collapsed to the ground, dazed, screaming in agony, as if only in this way could she alleviate even a little of the pain in her chest.

Now, SilverAsh, the new king, gazes upon his brother's corpse before him, and his mind and body undergo a dramatic transformation.

"……deliver an imperial order."

"King Kalan, Qi Shivaish, was killed by me during a coup in the palace."

"From this day forward, I, Ensiodis Shivaesh, shall become the new King of Kallan."

"I will lead Sherag in a new direction."

[He issued this decree to the guards who arrived later; at this moment, Enciodes's words were devoid of any emotion.]

He was completely rational, completely calm. Having lost his greatest reliance, he had learned how to become a...excellent king.

……

[Congratulations, host, you have completed the third simulation. The simulation result is rated as: B.]

[Simulation results have been covered.]

【Host, would you like to activate the "Glimpses into the Future" function?】

"start up."

[Okay, simulating the future for the host, please wait a moment...]

(End of this chapter)