The Reincarnated Lizardman Wants a Hamburger

Was it because the words were so utterly ridiculous?

Daria could only open her mouth long after the Emperor had finished speaking.

“What…? Do you really think that makes any sense?”

What the Emperor had said was, in a way, even more insane than declaring the extermination of all non-human races.

Frankly, saying he would wipe out all non-human races would have been more realistic.

But the Emperor, perhaps interpreting her reaction as a question about feasibility, gave a completely off-point response.

“It’s not impossible. With the Empire’s wealth, power, and the knowledge of the Ancient Empire, it’s entirely achievable. Isn’t this a peaceful and beneficial story for them as well? Even the Holy Kingdom, which values the rights of non-humans, would welcome such a tale, no?”

“…Did you ask for their consent?”

“Why would I need to ask for their consent? Caterpillars are meant to grow by eating pine leaves. If they can return to their homeland without any cost, why would they refuse?”

Even as he answered, the Emperor’s eyes remained devoid of any emotion, but somehow, I understood.

His cold response wasn’t because he disregarded the rights of non-humans. His brain simply didn’t work that way.

To the Emperor—no, to the specter of the Ancient Empire—this world was one where only humans and beastkin existed, and that was the most natural and normal state of things.

To him, the world of the Ancient Empire, the era he lived in, was the most ideal and healthy world, and he harbored not even the slightest doubt about it.

No, the very idea of doubting it was impossible.

Thus, he believed that others, and other races, would naturally agree with his views without needing to be asked.

“At first, it’s true that I also had a negative impression of non-humans. I spent countless nights pondering how to eradicate them all. But over time, as I observed this world, I realized they too were merely victims caught in the dimensional shift. That’s why I sought a way to peacefully restore this world without killing anyone.”

He claimed to have observed this world?

That was clearly a lie. If, by some chance, it wasn’t a lie and he truly believed it, then he had never genuinely faced this world even for a moment.

Countless ages had passed since the era of the Ancient Empire, and the humans of this time not only no longer remembered its history but had also completely diverged in their way of thinking. To the humans of this world, non-humans were not strangers from another dimension but neighbors with unique traits, differing only slightly from themselves.

Once lost in the dimensions, many non-humans had long since been accepted as part of this world. To them, and to me, this world was now our home.

Once a capital for humans alone, there was now a city bustling with adventurers from various races living together.

There was a Dwarven Village trading farming tools with human villages, buying alcohol and grains.

A Fairy Kingdom experimenting daily with new desserts using recipes learned from Lizardmen.

An Elf who fell in love with a human and bore his child.

A man who was once human, born as a Lizardman, dreamed of returning to humanity, and defined himself as Lizardman Kurt.

We were already part of this world.

He spoke of restoring this world to normal, but that was impossible.

Because this world was already normal as it was.

He was merely a specter trapped in the illusion of the Ancient Empire.

Thus, he was convinced that his actions were just and righteous.

“…”

“I know what concerns the Holy Kingdom. You worry that my Spine Empire might misuse the gate to invade other nations or conquer other dimensions. But there’s no need to worry. The gate was specially modified to send non-humans back home. Due to the recoil from expanding the dimensional transmission range to cover the entire continent, it’s destined to break after one use, rendering it unusable. The tragedy that befell the Dragnity Empire won’t be repeated.”

“…”

Perhaps interpreting Daria’s silence as agreement, the Emperor smiled contentedly and looked at me—or rather, at me, Lakia, and Kirsh.

“Not only that. I will create a nation truly dedicated to peace in this land. And there will be a place for beastkin as well.”

Suddenly singled out while focusing on the conversation, I was slightly startled but decided to hear him out.

“Alright. Let’s hear it.”

“In the Empire I will create, even you beastkin will be granted something called ‘human rights.'”

“…Hah. Do you think human rights are something you can just give or take away?”

“Oh. Do you not even know what human rights are? In the coming era of the Spine Empire, you beastkin will live happily as slaves, not livestock.”

“That’s quite the achievement.”

“Indeed. Just imagining it fills me with emotion. Something unimaginable during the Dragnity Empire’s time!”

The Emperor laughed eerily, like a puppet.

Even though, outside the Spine Empire, no nation openly treated beastkin as slaves, in his mind, it was normal for beastkin to be treated as livestock, and he believed they would be happy just being slaves.

It was no wonder the conversation felt so disjointed.

He was already insane.

There was no way to have a normal conversation with a madman, so it was natural for the discussion to go in circles.

For the first time since meeting the Emperor, I truly felt that the unsettling thing wasn’t the puppet-like Emperor moving at the specter’s command, but the specter controlling him.

“…Perhaps.”

“Go on. Speak.”

“Perhaps we could have resolved this through dialogue. Emperor, maybe we could have persuaded you or offered something from the Holy Kingdom to change your mind.”

“We can resolve this through dialogue. The Holy Kingdom need not offer me anything. Though the Holy Kingdom pathologically fears the civilization of the Dragnity Empire, I pay it no mind. Fear stems from ignorance. In the end, nations are different. I too desire world peace and prosperity. The Holy Kingdom and I are prepared to move forward together for the world’s peace.”

The world peace he desired would only take the form he wished.

“Frankly, it would have made more sense if you had offered half the world to the Empire and the Holy Kingdom joining hands.”

The conversation wasn’t connecting.

Daria and the Emperor were in the same space but not in the same time.

Finally, Daria raised her head and glared at the Emperor, declaring:

“We were wrong. We couldn’t resolve this through dialogue. Frankly, it would have made more sense if you had insisted on using the gate for a massacre. Your Majesty, you are a madman unparalleled in this world.”

Daria’s piercing eyes saw through the ancient specter.

“I declare here and now: the Holy Kingdom will never agree to your plans and will do everything in our power to stop this insane scheme.”

“…”

The moment she spoke.

The Emperor, who seemed to exist somewhere between human and puppet, became completely like a marionette with its strings cut.

A sinister figure, wearing human skin but less human than a wooden doll.

At the Emperor’s unsettling appearance, we all set down our utensils, tensed our muscles, and prepared for combat.

“…So, it comes to this.”

The puppet lamented in a voice devoid of emotion, like a broken radio.

“How can you not understand? How much time has passed for humanity to decline so? Civilization crumbled, technology regressed, and even the brilliant wisdom that once ruled this land has been shrouded in fog. How cruel and tragic. This is all the karma for destroying the Dragnity Empire… But even this is a trial I must overcome.”

Arrogant words, believing he alone walked the right path and that no one else could understand him.

With that, the negotiations collapsed.

From the start, it was impossible, so the only meaningful outcome was the realization that neither side could ever understand the other.

The Emperor, no longer needing to hide, began to twist his body grotesquely, and the party also rose, ready for battle.

And I, having focused during the negotiations, prepared to rush toward the specter’s true form.

“But I will forgive you. It’s only natural for uneducated, innocent children to act foolishly. Stay quiet and rest. I’ll release you when it’s all over.”

But before I could leap, the Emperor shouted an activation word and pointed at us.

My vision turned white, and the scenery before me shifted.

When my eyes adjusted, we were in an unfamiliar place.

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