Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 300: Chess of Giants (8)

Nothing is perfect. He will irresponsibly hand over the future of the country to the public. Also, the intrinsic evolution of humans is impossible, and limits always exist for anyone or anything.

While pondering Nicholas's statements, which sounded fatalistic in another sense, with antipathy, Adolf immediately presented the biggest counterexample.

"But... you achieved it, didn't you?"

And then:

"Ah, I'm the exception to all my logic. Some people often misunderstand, but that's possible because it's me."

"..."

He lost words at the narcissism that history would never see again.

That confident and assured attitude that would put Louis XIV to shame.

But Nicholas was sincere even at this moment.

"I guarantee, building the hegemony of this Russian Empire was only possible for me. Hmm. It would have been impossible for any human of humanity except me."

At this moment, Adolf witnessed the end of self-indulgence, a true narcissist of madness.

==

As the conversation exceeds one hour and heads toward two, the masks come off, and understanding begins.

Just as Nazism walks a completely different path from fascism, Adolf Hitler is not a derivative of Mussolini.

Rather, he was closer to a student who wanted to be my doppelgänger.

But seeing that I don't die even after meeting him here today:

'Indeed, you are not.'

I'm certain he cannot become me or imitate me.

How dare he try to interpret me in front of me?

He wanted a completed self from the beginning.

His obsession with perfection and hatred for imperfection were evident in all areas. It makes sense why Nazi Party members hated and persecuted disabled people in their country.

And when this young man first encountered ideology and tried to interpret everything through it, it was probably:

'Right after the Great War. When Russia won.'

He had no choice but to adopt me as his subject.

He's not a genius but a student who learns through repetition, not a superhuman perfect from birth but an adventurer who fills in deficiencies through trial and error.

Yes, he is not me.

While I always recognize my own shortcomings and strive not to let these aspects become weaknesses, how might I be seen from the outside?

Dare I say, perhaps they would evaluate me as perfect.

To define again the connection and relationship between him and me, who are continuously debating in this place:

Adolf is not like me; he's merely a fan of mine.

In his terms, one might say we have different origins.

So rather, knowing his identity, I became uninhibited.

"Not making mistakes? Nonsense. Weren't innocent people killed during the Night of the Long Knives? When I purged, I didn't hesitate to uproot families if necessary."

"That's an inevitable sacrifice—"

"Who determines the criteria for that sacrifice? For me, the standard was only myself. If I need it, I just do it. I'll say it again, anyway, it wouldn't have been strange if this country had collapsed if it hadn't been for me."

He did not hide his desire to align his compass with mine:

"These criteria, these necessities, are ultimately judged by the existence of 'me.' Not the state, not a fatefully chosen being. Just me. Yes, from this perspective, I can understand why your country wants to annex Austria. Hmm, it's quite reasonable."

"...What do you mean?"

I wanted to thoroughly correct the direction of that needle.

"Führer, what's the point of hiding from this old man who doesn't have many days left to live? Anschluss, shouldn't you do it before it's too late?"

"Why... do you think so?"

"Why? Ha! Because that's what I would have done."

Of course, whether that direction is right:

Or whether it truly aligns with me is not important.

What this immature person needs now is not the truth, but teachings that can cover his immaturity, and the self-assurance that he has become perfect through those teachings.

Or perhaps from the beginning, truth was not important to him, just as I did not wander in search of the truth of ideology but treated it as a mere tool.

"I don't know how large the Lebensraum should be or how solid it should be. However, at this rate, the fate of the Germans is clear. Anyway, since you're thinking the same as me, to speak openly, Germany will be crushed in the middle. Very miserably."

Again, what he needs now is my words, like a guarantee that will serve as the basis for his actions:

"Is Russia one of those axes?"

"We've made a non-aggression pact saying we'll stay still, but will the other side stay still? This is something the Führer knows better than I do."

And a little help:

"Come to think of it, was Austria a West Germanic ethnic group? Poland, a Western Slavic people, comes to mind."

"The division of ethnicities... isn't it truly a sad thing?"

"As always, I believe one ethnicity has the right to make its own political decisions without intervention from other ethnicities. This is an argument I've been making for decades, so it's not something I'm just saying now."

"Haha, I know for certain that was the case!"

Individual ideology. Discussion with a touch of emotion. And validation of state views and each other's ideologies.

But if all that was just an appetizer between us, just a conversation between Nicholas and Adolf:

Now it's time for the dialogue between the Tsar and the Führer to begin.

"Come, tell me. What can you do?"

"Before that, how do you view the success of the legal and democratic 'merger' of Austria, the Anschluss?"

"Of course it will succeed. If you want this Anschluss, don't you need three conditions? France avoiding it. Italy distracted. And Russia observing. Congratulations. You've completed all three conditions as of today."

"Conversely, what do you see as what I'll lose with the Anschluss?"

"Britain. You will lose Britain. In other words, there's no next war without ineptly excluding Britain."

"The next war. The next war..."

Adolf keeps mulling over the term "next war," which seems to not sit well with him.

He spoke on this topic with a slightly different expression, displaying a subtle sense of elevation on his face.

"You're talking about the final war?"

"I would simply call it the Second Great War."

The dialogue was just beginning.