While the members of the Thief Brigade clouded their faces with despair, Glard alone showed his mettle.
"I don't care how much you threaten us, I won't be your lapdog...!" Glard spat, glaring up at me. "Even a thief has his pride. Do your worst-boil me, bury me, I don't give a damn!"
He glared at me with eyes full of venom. To be able to deliver such a defiant speech while being subjected to the crushing mana of the Void¹... he's certainly got some backbone. I suppressed my mana to zero and offered a gentle, practiced smile.
"I see. Perhaps I underestimated you just a little," I replied.
With this type of man, brute force is a waste of time. Besides, rule through pure terror isn't exactly my style. Building a town through that kind of dictatorial oppression just makes the atmosphere so... suffocating. I suppose I'll proceed with 'Project M'² as originally planned.
"Well then, until we meet again," I said.
I deployed the Void once more and slipped back into the world of Ronzolkia.
* * *
Now, there is a certain principle in this world known as the 'Rule of Threes'³. It's a rough yardstick for the limits of human endurance: you can survive three minutes without air, three days without water, and three weeks without food. It's the standard metric for the point of no return.
The Void realm has plenty of air. As for water... well, I can just whip up a rainstorm now and then to keep them hydrated. The real issue-is the food. Without a meal, a person will wither and die in three weeks. Conversely, that means you can stay alive for three weeks without eating a single bite.
Sixteen days after the abduction of the Thief Brigade, I had set up a formal dining table in the middle of the Void. Knife and fork in hand, I was in the middle of a truly decadent dinner.
"Ah, there's really nothing like a top-grade, marble-fat steak... it's simply divine," I remarked.
I made a show of savoring a succulent piece of meat, making sure they heard the sizzle. The starving men of the Thief Brigade let out a collective, ragged groan, their throats clicking as they swallowed dryly.
(Yes, yes. It's taking hold nicely...)
I'd already confirmed they had spirit-especially their boss, Glard. A man who has steeled himself to that degree won't break easily. He'd probably endure torture and pain without blinking. But hunger? Hunger is different. It's one of the three primal urges. A violent, gnawing appetite can drive even the most noble man to madness.
"I'm... at my... limit..." one whispered.
"M-Meat... give me the meat...!" another groaned.
"Give it! Give it, give it, give it! GIIIIIIIIIIVE IIIIIIIIT!"
Overcome by raw starvation, the men surged toward the table like a breaking levee, hands clawing for the steak. In that instant, I snapped my fingers. A paper-thin membrane of the Void shimmered over the surface of the meat. The result? The men's hands pawed uselessly at the air, unable to touch the food no matter how hard they struggled.
"A-Ah... Aaaaaaaah!"
"What the hell is this?! What's happening?!"
"Damn it! It's right there! Why can't I touch it?!"
The Thieves collapsed into a heap of pure despair. I looked down at them, slowly bringing the final cut of steak to my lips.
"Mmm... the elegant richness of the fat, the deep, savory sweetness of the meat... it's unbearable! This... this must be what they call the 'taste of happiness'."
After delivering that masterful bit of culinary commentary, a few of the thieves looked up with hollow eyes.
"Hollow von Heisenberg, you're every bit the monster the rumors say you are..."
"This isn't human... you're a devil..."
"A demon in a human's skin..."
The gaunt Thieves glared at me with pure, unadulterated resentment. This was 'Project M'-a strategy to drive the Thieves to the brink of starvation and then break them with the irresistible lure of a meal.
(I have to admit, I come up with some truly diabolical things...)
The original Hollow's thought patterns are truly, magnificently evil. When it comes to finding ways to make people miserable, he's peerless.
(Judging by their faces, they're just about ready to snap.)
I stood up from my chair and opened a Void gate in front of me to return to the surface world.
"Well then, see you tomorrow," I said.
Just as I stepped one foot into the swirling black vortex, Glard finally found his voice.
"Hollow, what do you actually want from us?" Glard asked.
"I believe I told you before. I want to build a grand town here. 'Void Town'."
"And you want us to build it for you?"
"Spot on."
I spun on my heel and strolled back over to him.
"I think this is a win-win scenario, don't you? You're criminals who've flouted the law; you can never live an honest life in the sun again. In that case, wouldn't it be more productive to live a life of luxury here in the Void instead?"
"...Is this what they call a 'Devil's Bargain'?"
"Or perhaps it's 'Angelic Guidance'?"
"Hah. You're a pretty twisted angel, then."
As we spoke, the other Thieves began to find their voices.
"Lord Glard⁴, let's just do it! Let's build this Void Town!"
"Hollow is a total psycho-ssu! If we die here, he won't care! He'll just go kidnap another gang-ssu!"
"There's no point in dying for pride! It sticks in my craw to listen to this devil, but... let's give up on the world out there and make something of ourselves here!"
Faced with the desperate pleas of his men, Glard made his choice.
"...Fine. From today on, we're your hands and feet. Just... give us the damn food. I can't take it anymore..." Glard muttered.
"Wonderful! I'm so glad to hear it! That makes us 'Family' now! Let's build a magnificent Void Town together!"
I pointed toward a specific coordinate in the Void. There, a mountain of earth and sand I'd siphoned from the outside world sat piled high, with dozens of shovels sticking out of it.
"To start things off, I'll need you to level that soil over there."
The Void realm has no ceiling and the floor is stark white, so it always feels like you're floating. Humans are terrestrial creatures, after all; we're much more relaxed when there's actual ground under our feet. Therefore, step one of the Void Town Development Project: Create the Ground.
"H-Hey, hold on! This wasn't the deal! Where's the food?! Where's the meal?!" Glard shouted, eyes wide in protest.
"You know the saying: 'He who does not work, shall not eat.' Do the job, and I'll have a feast waiting for you. Don't worry, according to the 'Rule of Threes,' you've got another five days before you actually drop dead."
For the next three hours, the members of the Thief Brigade worked until they were drenched in sweat. The white void beneath their feet was slowly covered by rich, brown earth, creating a solid foundation.
"Huff... huff... there. Happy?" Glard asked.
"Yes, perfect. ——Excellent work, everyone. As promised, I've prepared a delicious meal."
I snapped my fingers, and a massive dining table materialized from nothing. Three enormous pots appeared filled with steaming white rice, heaps of meat, and fragrant miso soup. It was the kind of comfort food I'd had the Heisenberg maids prepare specifically for this occasion. The glistening rice, the mountain of protein, the savory aroma of the broth... the Thieves' throats bobbed in unison.
"Everyone, grab a plate and form an orderly line. There's plenty for every-"
I had barely put on my apron and bandana to serve them soup-kitchen style when the Thieves broke, sprinting toward the table like men possessed.
"Now, now, eat slowly. There's water over there-help yourselves!"
I ladled out portions of rice, meat, and soup, processing the line with superhuman speed.
"God... I never knew plain white rice could taste this good...!"
"Meat! Meat! MEEEEEEAT!"
"The soup... it's so warm... it's soaking into my soul..."
"Ma... I'm gonna live a straight life from now on...!"
Tears streamed down their faces as they enjoyed their first meal in over two weeks.
(Heh. They're completely mine now...)
While I was admiring my work, Glard walked up to me.
"Hey, Hollow. About this 'Void Town' project... where do we go from here?" Glard asked.
"Oh? Proactive already?"
"If I'm in, I'm in. Besides, we can never leave this place, can we?"
"Nope."
Glard and his men knew the secret of my true self and the Void. I couldn't exactly let them back into society. Besides, they were dangerous criminals; letting them loose would be a liability.
"Fine. If I'm stuck here for the rest of my life, I'm going to make this town so damn big it'll put the capital to shame! That'll be enough to make me forget the world outside!"
"I like that. That's the spirit."
I don't hate that kind of forward-thinking attitude. If you're going to do something, you might as well enjoy the ride.
"So, back to my question. What's the next move? You're the Boss-give the word."
"Hmm... I suppose we should build some barracks for you and your men. Sleeping on the ground is bad for morale."
"Heh, appreciated. I've got a guy who used to be a carpenter back in the day. Give us the materials, and we can build just about anything."
"I'll pull whatever you need from the surface world. ...Let's set up the supply depot over there."
I pointed to a distant spot in the Void.
"I'll be dropping in timber, stone, and soil at high speeds, so stay clear of that zone. Getting hit by a flying boulder would probably be fatal."
"Understood."
With the immediate goals set, Glard turned to his men and roared.
"Listen up, you lot! It looks like we're never going back! But that doesn't mean our lives are over! We're gonna build a city here that'll make the world tremble! Let's get to it!"
"""YEAH!"""
True to their nature as Thieves, they lived for the moment. That kind of adaptability is something I could probably learn from.
(Well, everything is proceeding according to plan...)
I've mastered the basics of sword and sorcery, secured a font of infinite knowledge in the Forbidden Library, and now I have the labor force for my very own city. One by one, I am amassing the components of true power. For a man on such a streak, there's only one logical next step: 'Healing Magic.'
Summary:
Hollow uses his unique Void magic to break the will of the Thief Brigade through starvation. By tempting them with high-quality meat and promising a new life within his hidden dimension, he successfully recruits them as the labor force for 'Void Town.' The chapter ends with the group committed to building a city in the void while Hollow sets his sights on learning healing magic.
Trivia:
- The 'Rule of Threes' is used to justify the 16-day starvation period.
- Hollow specifically avoids dictatorial fear-based leadership because it's 'suffocating' to live in.
- The floor of the Void is initially stark white and lacks a ground, requiring the import of soil.
- All food provided was prepared by the Heisenberg family maids in the surface world.
- Hollow uses a snap of his fingers to toggle the Void membrane on and off for the meat
Character Insight:
Hollow shows a preference for 'Family' style loyalty over raw slavery, suggesting he wants a functional society rather than just a prison. Glard demonstrates pragmatism; once he realizes the surface world is lost to them, he pivots entirely to building something great in the Void.
Behind the Scenes:
The author uses 'Plan M' (Meat) as a comedic naming convention for Hollow's schemes, highlighting his 'evil' but meticulous nature.
TL Notes:
1 ↩ Void: Hollow's unique magic that allows access to an empty, white dimension outside the regular world.
2 ↩ Project M: Short for Project Meat, a psychological operation using food to break the resistance of prisoners.
3 ↩ Rule of Threes: A survivalist guideline stating humans can survive 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food.
4 ↩ Lord Glard: Translation of 'Glard-sama', indicating the subordinates' deep respect for their leader.
Notes:
• Glard - 50-year-old leader of the thief brigade. Former employee of the Ministry of Magic who was framed for a crime. Smokes thick cigars. The boss of the Thief Brigade. A man of mettle and pride who initially resists Hollow's manipulation before succumbing to hunger to save his men.
• Heisenberg - Lord of the Heisenberg family. One of the Four Great Noble Houses. Noted for his immense wealth and territorial holdings.
• Hollow - Ten‑year‑old heir of the Heisenberg Duke house, now 150 cm tall, sports red medium‑length hair in a ribbon‑ponytail, crimson eyes, lean build, navy jacket and black trousers. Son of Daphnes and Leila, he is a reincarnated Japanese noble wielding Origin‑Class Innate Void magic, learning healing, and plotting as a polite yet ruthless villain.