The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL] novel Chapter 1099

Chapter 1099: The Surviving Heir

The day started out just like any other day.

Maddeningly similar to every day that came before it.

He woke from sleep that had long since become unnecessary, but nonetheless taken anyway simply to pass the endless stretches of time that no longer held any real meaning for beings such as themselves.

For several moments, he would stare silently at the same ceiling that had greeted him for probably longer than what could have been the lifespans of countless civilizations.

Still the same today, huh?

Same ceiling.

Same walls.

Same room.

Same existence.

Then, within that makeshift underground settlement that knew neither morning nor night, responsibilities would come pouring in like clockwork.

"...Forgive me for the interruption, Your Highness, but it’s the Eastern barrier..."

The voice belonged to a man dressed in an immaculate white uniform. Even now, he remained respectfully bowed as he delivered the report.

The figure sitting on the bed merely sighed.

"How long has it been since I told you to drop the honorifics and just get straight to the point?"

His tone wasn’t annoyed.

It simply sounded tired.

"If they’re too occupied to check on the Eastern Pylons, then I’d do it myself."

"But Your Highness—"

The uniformed man immediately hesitated.

Across the room, the figure had already risen from the bed. His feet barely even touched the metallic floor beneath him as he moved.

"Yes, yes."

A hand waved dismissively.

"I believe I already know the rest."

There was no need to hear the same concerns again.

At this point, who would need to listen to another lecture about how the de facto leader of the settlement shouldn’t personally be heading out to suppress monsters?

Especially when his answer would remain exactly the same as it always had been anyway.

"But who else do you expect to do it?"

The rhetorical question was simple.

And as always, simply honest.

"Most of the people around here would rather abandon the Pylons entirely."

"..."

The room fell silent.

Because there wasn’t really an argument against that.

Not anymore.

Not after all these years.

As expected, hearing reality would silence the likely remaining optimistic soul around, and they would return to the routine both of them already knew.

Another day.

Another battle.

Another round of subjugation in exchange for a longer time to preserve their pointless survival.

The figure stepped toward the door.

"Let’s go."

__

To be fair, things hadn’t always been this way.

Like most, there was an even earlier past that was good to remember.

Though maybe it was both too good and too painful a memory at the same time. As it was also the same past that could break even those who had attained physical and spiritual mastery.

But why?

Well, people often said it was harder when there was something to compare against.

Had they never known a different standard of living, then perhaps they wouldn’t feel quite so burdened by their survival.

Perhaps they would’ve looked at their current circumstances and considered themselves fortunate. Maybe they could’ve even felt grateful instead.

Unfortunately for them, they remembered.

They remembered all too well.

Worse, they occupied the most miserable position possible.

They weren’t strong enough to solve the problem.

But they were strong enough to understand their situation so well that they couldn’t benefit from the mercy of ignorance even if they wanted to.

They couldn’t even delude themselves with hope because it was impossible not to see through their own situation. Not when they already knew what likely awaited them in the end.

Knowing all that...

Everything just felt... burdensome.

Honestly, he personally would’ve preferred to go first if not for that.

If not for them.

Then again, that would be difficult to do when he wasn’t the only one thinking the same thing.

But to be fair, this hadn’t been their first reaction. In fact, an extremely long time ago, they were of a very different mind.

So it was not that they didn’t try to solve the problem or, at the very least, improve their situation, because all observing entities, including their ancestors, would know they tried.

Really tried.

They attempted everything they could, even going beyond what their abilities should’ve allowed, and rightfully paying dearly for it. And yet in the end, this miserable and stagnant state was the farthest from certain doom that they could get.

So what was the point?

If they were to end up like that anyway, then wouldn’t it be better to stop fighting the inevitable?

Haah...

His father, the honorable Archon, would’ve likely clocked him if he could hear his disgraceful thoughts.

Pfft.

Even then, he couldn’t deny the truth.

It was his own selfishness that kept him living like this.

A ghost pretending to be alive.

A hypocrite internally complaining about his own existence while stubbornly clinging to it at the same time.

All for one tiny possibility—

The chance of seeing his wife and children outside of that forced confinement.

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