"KING, are you also here to mock my philosophy?" Artoria looked at Meruem with trembling hands. "No, I'm not only referring to you... what I mean to say is, everyone here is trash! This so-called Holy Grail Dialogue is nothing but a laughable farce!" Ignoring the nearly fire-spitting glares from the others, Meruem downed the fine wine in his cup.
Was Artoria wrong? Should a king not wish for the prosperity of the people under their rule? No, that is correct; that is the path of the "Kingly Way" (Odo). Then was the Conqueror King wrong? No, he was also correct; he walked the path of the "Hegemonic Way" (Hado).
As for Goldie? It was just a path similar to the Hegemonic Way, but a path of a tyrant that would only make his subjects detest him.
One king of the Kingly Way discussing philosophy with two kings of the Hegemonic Way? That is the fundamental mistake.
In Meruem's view, this so-called Holy Grail Dialogue was a complete joke, a dialogue full of utter nonsense! How could a tyrant possibly understand the words of a wise ruler?
"KING, what is the meaning of your words? Are you declaring war on everyone present?" The Conqueror King stared fixedly at Meruem with his two eyes wide open.
"Even if I am declaring war, what can you do about it?" Meruem looked around at everyone arrogantly. An aura so terrifying it made hearts palpitate and breath freeze began to emanate from his body bit by bit.
Even knowing that saying such things now was tantamount to offending everyone present, and the verbal alliance formed earlier with the Conqueror King would be instantly torn apart.
But as a super powerhouse who had once dominated several worlds, even cutting down cosmic emperors and personally slaughtering several gods, Meruem naturally had his pride. Some things had to be done.
Don't think that just because Meruem's strength is suppressed to the extreme in this world, he will blindly retreat. He has his pride. At this moment, he felt like he had returned to the beginning of the Hunter x Hunter world. Indeed, there was the threat of the Miniature Rose bomb to his life, but so what? If you want war, I'll give you war!
Tricks can be played, schemes can be used, layouts can be deployed. But to become a strong person, one must possess a heart that fears nothing.
Having experienced multiple worlds, Meruem still held more than just one or two trump cards. No matter how much this world suppressed him, as long as his trump cards didn't exceed the world's standards, it would be fine, wouldn't it?
"What powerful strength..." Even the Conqueror King was startled by Meruem's aura. Meruem even saw Goldie put away his usual playful expression and show a rare seriousness.
"Hahaha, I was just joking earlier. Since it's a dialogue, having different opinions is naturally allowed." As expected of the Conqueror King; although a king of the Hegemonic Way, his magnanimity was extraordinary. "Then... KING, what are your thoughts?"
"'A king must be greedier than anyone, laugh louder than anyone, and rage more easily than anyone. He should be a human who embodies both purity and impurity, more real than anyone else. Only then can subjects be captivated by the king, and the people yearn in their hearts, thinking 'if only I were king!'' This statement is indeed not wrong... but how do you know the people under the King of Knights didn't think that way? You could even say, for the King of Knights to achieve such fame, weren't the subjects who followed her captivated by the magnanimity she possessed? Don't you find it laughable to say this to the King of Knights? A true king isn't about what they think, but about sticking to their own path to the very end! King of Knights, if you are swayed by the words of these two, you are not worthy of being called a king." Meruem said. "The path these two walk is completely different from yours. One is the path of a Hegemon, and the other is merely the path of a Tyrant."
Isn't building a world where everyone is well-fed, warm, free from war, and happy the wish of all people in the world? Like the Conqueror King said, he doesn't regret his country splitting into four and being destroyed after his death. This attitude of "after me, the deluge" ...is not worth praising. Putting myself in their shoes, as a subject, I wouldn't want to live in that situation. Of course, similarly, I wouldn't hold expectations under Artoria's rule either. She shouldered everything herself. Simply put, her ideal was what the people expected, but her path seemed to have gone astray.
"'Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.' This is an ancient saying from China, and the water refers to the people. Conqueror King, you say a king shouldn't be restrained by the people. But haven't you thought about it? You think your charisma attracts the people, that you guide them, but have you considered that it was actually the people who chose you? It's precisely because you were needed by them that you became king. The day you are no longer needed, you're just a bearded uncle with a hearty personality."
"Hahahaha... the people chose me? An interesting perspective." The Conqueror King said.
"Conqueror King, you seem to know quite a bit about King Arthur's history. You must have put in a lot of effort... everything you said earlier was directed straight at King Arthur's weaknesses."
"Is that really true? Conqueror King?" Artoria's face turned somewhat ugly upon hearing this.
"Ah... you found out." The Conqueror King admitted honestly. Did you think the seemingly boisterous Conqueror King was just a fool? A guy who didn't flinch at the bloody scene of CASTER's workshop in the original story is a simple fool? If you think that, you are the fool. No one who can become a king is easy to deal with. This guy's schemes run deep.
"However, you seem to have forgotten one thing. Arthur's philosophy of doing everything for the people has not been overturned to this day, at least on the surface! On the contrary, your path of extreme individualism and hegemony has long been eliminated by the world! There are no longer kings who rule a country alone on this planet; only interest groups ruling collectively remain. Only interests reign supreme." Meruem ignored the Conqueror King and continued to point straight to the heart of the matter.
"Conqueror King, you say you don't regret that the country you once ruled split into four and was destroyed after your death, but not realizing there was a problem with your rule makes you an incompetent ruler. Yes, not a tyrant, but an incompetent ruler."
Saying this signified the complete dissolution of the alliance between the Conqueror King and Meruem. Well, well, Sakura... indeed, some things just have to be done. Sorry. But I absolutely will not lose!
After speaking, Meruem paid no more attention to the Conqueror King, who had fallen into deep thought.
"And King of Knights... just because I said all that doesn't mean I agree with your views." Meruem looked at Artoria's peerless face and said. "Your ideal is good, but... it's too idealistic. You are a king, but you are also a human. Human strength is ultimately limited, unless you can break that limit."
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