episode_0162

000

It was about 10 minutes after Kleon lost consciousness that he reopened his eyes.

Thanks to Rubera, who was connected again through imprinting and accelerated recovery by pouring her stamina and magic power into him, his body returned to normal.

Even so, it seemed the price for moving his body without rest for the past few days had come; he couldn’t completely erase the feeling of fatigue.

As he tried to raise his heavy upper body, he felt a soft sensation beneath his head –

“…You can sleep a little longer. Flarus also said she has preparations to make in order to talk.”

And then he heard a low yet kind voice.

Rubera, who had changed her clothes sometime, was kneeling on the bed with Kleon’s head on her lap.

“…Then, shall I do that…”

As Kleon said that and closed his eyes, Rubera slightly raised the corners of her lips and placed her hand on Kleon’s forehead.

“…Flarus said that the Demiurge factor within you reacted to the demon’s curse and briefly awakened.”

“Was there something left over after giving it back to Beatrix….”

The next moment, Kleon made a sound like “Eup” and opened his eyes, feeling as though his nose was being tightly grasped.

There, Rubera was looking down at Kleon with a stern expression.

“I heard you suffered quite a bit at the academy… You’re also quite dedicated here. More so than most heroes, it seems.”

Kleon closed his mouth at her words.

As Rubera said, Kleon’s original purpose was solely to find Resia’s traces.

For that, he was cooperating with Aurelia and Amelia, but it felt like he was throwing himself into action more than any other collaborator.

“…I’m just doing what I can.”

“You always seem to be acting for your own purposes, but in the process, you try to find a righteous path. You could take the easy path of taking everything by force if you wanted to.”

“That would suit a swordsman of the dark better.”

Rubera looked at Kleon’s bitter smile, paused for a moment, and then continued the story.

“But, I don’t think it suits Kleon.”

“Unexpected. For you to say such a thing.”

Kleon replied as Rubera, who always directed insults at him, said such a thing.

However, Rubera said, without changing her expression upon hearing Kleon’s words.

“Of course. Even if you did such a thing, you would be the one who couldn’t bear it.”

“… …”

“A swordsman of the dark gains power from negative emotions. But, you suppress yourself to avoid deviating from the `right path`. To continue your relationships with loved ones. And, as someone who pursues the hero Resia. To become someone she wouldn’t be ashamed of.”

Kleon is constantly reminded, as Galatea tells him, that he is a `soft human`.

“Even with the power to control people, choosing to stand beside them is not easy. Power always corrupts people easily.”

“…Are you complimenting me?”

Rubera turns her head at Kleon’s subtle expression. However, it could be seen that the part of her ear where her hair was hanging was reddened.

“Yes…. The reason I gave you my heart. Is for that reason.”

“…Rubera.”

“Be quiet while I’m talking.”

Soon, Rubera turned her face back towards Kleon. Her face was still red, but her voice didn’t seem to come out of her throat properly, as if she was hesitating a bit about what to say.

There was a bit of fear in her eyes. It was mixed in with the gaze looking at Kleon. But it wasn’t fear of Kleon.

It was fear of the fact that she couldn’t do anything for him while being by Kleon’s side.

`Ah, I see.`

Kleon understood a little.

She couldn’t get the devilish appearance of Kleon that she saw a little while ago out of her head.

If there is no darkness in the heart, the dark sword does not appear. If Kleon was a complete `good person`, Galatea would not have appeared.

Kleon has only suppressed and suppressed all the dark desires within him to get this far.

Darkness is power, but more power than necessary only creates discord.

He said he forgave, but the scars do not easily disappear.

He said he didn’t resent it, but the fire of anger doesn’t go out easily.

Betrayal, contempt, and hatred were all simply covered up while being kept inside.

As time passes, the wounds will heal, and the fire will weaken.

The feelings for the women he loves and the sense of duty to protect will make it so.

However. It seemed that time was not enough.

If someone opens the lid from the outside.

If the chain of reason is broken, the darkness takes shape and swallows Kleon.

It reacts with the Demiurge factor inside him, turning him into a demon.

However, even when there is reason, if he can control that power.

If he accepts the darkness and is reborn as a true swordsman of the dark to walk the path of the heretic, deviating from the path of righteousness.

Not the roundabout path, little by little, like a turtle crawling.

How much faster would it be to achieve the goal if we could walk straight even if it was a thorny path?

“Kleon. I don’t know what others think…. But, if you. Even if you abandon your kindness for the sake of what you want, deviating from the current path-”

Kleon got up when Rubera was about to continue the story.

She was a little surprised when he suddenly raised his upper body, but when Kleon took her hand, she hesitated a little but grabbed his hand in return.

“Thank you. Rubera. But, I won’t do such a thing.”

“…Is that so. I guess so. Because you have the goal of chasing the light called Resia.”

Kleon looked at Rubera without denying or affirming and answered.

“Everyone is as precious to me as Resia is now. I can’t do anything that betrays everyone.”

“…Kleon.”

“Someday, the day may come when I have to choose. Like the other people who chased Resia. Like Talcheck, Sophia.”

Talcheck gave up everything else for Resia.

Sophia gave up Resia for everything else.

“I won’t give up either. Because I promised.”

Quon- The image of her future self came to mind.

The promise with Talcheck, the promise with Sophia. Everything was important.

“I. I will meet Resia again without abandoning my path. And, I will introduce everyone I have met to her. That Talcheck has a wonderful daughter. That Eska became Pope. That I have companions, a family.”

By telling that story, Kleon puts the lid back on his darkness once again.

It is impossible to completely abandon this. Because I’m human.

The reason for choosing the difficult path was the same.

“Really, a soft person…”

Rubera gave a bitter smile as if she couldn’t help it.

Kleon must have had the same expression.

001

“Is the romantic story over?”

The next moment, Flarus’ voice was heard.

She was watching the embarrassing scene of the two with a playful smile on her face.

Her clothes were all properly dressed differently from before, but she was not wearing a mask on her eyes.

“Okay. Then- now, can I ask you various questions?”

“Ah, of course. I’ve received enough payment. I’ll let this guide tell you as much as possible.”

As Flarus smiled and snapped her fingers.

The appearance of the space surrounding them changed.

Clearly, they could tell that their bodies were inside the tent. However, as if showing an illusion through projection magic on the inside of the tent.

The three were floating in the night sky.

A large moon embroidering the navy-blue paper and sparkling starlight. It was as if silvery water was flowing in the place where the Milky Way continued.

“Isn’t it quite a beautiful sight?”

When Flarus spoke as if showing off, Kleon and Rubera nodded. They had no intention of denying it because it was a scenery that both of them liked.

“…Yeah. But, why are you suddenly showing us this?”

“Hehe…”

When she moved her finger, the scenery surrounding them gradually changed. Moving as if rising upwards, upwards, it was heading beyond the sky, if you looked closely.

“Because we have to talk about the throne.”

“…Throne.”

The word that came out in the story before entering the tent.

Ishtal was said to be aiming for the usurpation of the throne.

Generally speaking, the throne that can be called the `kingdom’s` throne in this continent now.

If she is causing trouble in the royal capital to seize it and is aiming to summon the Demiurge, it might make some sense.

But it was true that there was a sense of incongruity.

To take over `only the throne of a human kingdom`, does she summon a great demon who once ruled the world?

The Black Scripture, which was the lingering thought of the ancient people, tried to reset the world by summoning the great disaster called the Golden Comet, Resia, with it.

He faintly felt that there was a deeper story.

“Be careful because it might be a little dazzling.”

The next moment Flarus said that, a completely new sight unfolded before the three’s eyes.

A blue star – if you go up further from where they were until just now, there was a pedestal like a brightly shining sun.

On top of the pedestal, which was made of marble-like material with intricate patterns intertwined and designs based on motifs such as crowns and lotuses carved into it, was a statue of a girl with golden cracks all over her body and wings of light behind her back.

“This is…”

Kleon’s heart was beating fast. Why is that? It was as if he had seen her before.

Since it was an unpainted statue, he could only see the overall appearance.

She had long hair, a beautiful face, and looked like a girl in her mid-teens, but she didn’t look like a human at all.

“This is the throne.”

When Flarus said that, Kleon answered in confusion.

“…This pedestal…? What is it a metaphor for?”

“It’s not a metaphor. Of course, it’s a spiritual image that doesn’t exist physically. She’s an existence often called the `Will of the Star` by those who know her.”

The Will of the Star. The origin of all living things in this world. The being that has led the star across the Primordial World and the Inherited World.

All the existing gods are beings created by giving divinity to the spirits who are her tentacles, and ultimately return to her.

She prepares an adversary to protect the world and creates dragons, so she is truly worthy of being called `God`.

“The throne is the place where the one who creates the providence of the world is located. The Will of the Star – to be exact. It refers to the position of Nemea, the Throne Owner of this Fourth World itself.”

“Are you saying that Ishtal is aiming for the seat of God?”

When Kleon said that as if he was dumbfounded, Flarus nodded with a smile.

“…That’s the most foolish story I’ve ever heard. She’s a human and a demon. Now she’s trying to become a god?”

Rubera’s sharp words are directed at Flarus, but she only answers as if she doesn’t care about such things.

“Yeah, that’s right. It may sound impossible. But that’s the mysterious thing about this world that makes it possible.”

Flarus snapped her fingers once again and pointed at Kleon, and the surroundings changed once again to a black night sky.

“Everyone has the possibility. The possibility itself, I mean. From the world’s point of view, we, who are no different from ants, have a limited number of ways to become the god of the world. Because we are ultimately bound by the providence created by the creator.”

“… …”

“You have a difficult face. I know. Because it’s all abstract stories. Then let me tell you simply. It’s an explanation of how to become a god. In order to erect a new statue on the pedestal you saw earlier, what should we do?”

Kleon pondered for a moment at Flarus’ words and answered.

“Destroy the statue.”

“That’s right. The statue is the Will of the Star. In other words, it refers to the world itself. This world is maintained by the Will of the Star creating it with its own will and providence. To destroy it, you dye the world with your own will. Or, destroy everything except yourself.”

At her words, Kleon recalled the story that the Black Scripture had brought up.

Destroy the world with the Golden Comet and reset it. And, paint over it with our (the ancient people of the Primordial World) world.

“So that’s what it was…!”

“Throughout history, there have been countless people who have done the same thing. The great war that the humans of the Primordial World caused was also a battle to take the throne. It ended in a battle without a victor, so the throne owner remained the same, and the era of Nemea continues.”

As Flarus clenched her fist, the unfolded illusion subsided.

“…How do you know these things?”

“Our Megido clan is a clan that has inherited the will of those who recognized the existence of the throne in the Primordial World. So we were called the guides of the throne. Of course. The original purpose of the ancient people who conveyed their will seems to have been to end Nemea’s era with their own hands and to have a human from among us take the throne.”

Flarus, who answered Kleon’s question, paused for a moment while looking at Rubera and Kleon, who seemed dizzy.

Soon, Kleon, who had organized his thoughts to some extent, opened his mouth.

“In other words. Ishtal’s purpose is to summon the Demiurge and use it as power to destroy the world.”

“Her goal is to become the new…. Will of the Star.”

“To put it simply, that would be the case. I don’t know why you thought that far, but you’ve never told me this story. I wonder how you knew.”

Flarus speaks as if she’s troubled.

“…Why did you leave her?”

“Because I don’t think the world she creates will be better than the current world? I’m not really interested in the clan’s long-cherished desire. I think this world is valuable enough as it is.”

As Flarus answered Rubera’s question, Kleon suddenly remembered something and said.

“…The adversary is a system to protect the `throne` rather than the `world`.”

“To come to that conclusion on your own, you’re amazing? Well. Generally, doing the opposite of what is judged to be `right` in the world is the fastest way to destroy this world. Adversaries only appear to be `good existences` because they appear to those who do such things…. The Golden Comet, a typical adversary, seems to be too high in output for the Will of the Star to handle.”

Kleon’s face instantly contorted.

In other words. Resia was being used as a defense mechanism to protect the world because of the Will of the Star.

He didn’t know why she, who had been exiled from the world, was in such a situation.

“No- is that so. She was originally the adversary of the `Dark Sword Emperor`. That means, the Dark Sword Emperor also-”

“Oh, right. That’s the answer. He’s also a person who started a war to take the throne.”

“My head hurts. Next is the demon…. Is it God?”

“If Ishtal succeeds in summoning the Demiurge…. Can she really usurp the throne? Eventually, an adversary will appear.”

When Kleon asked that, Flarus nodded with a serious face that she had never shown before.

“Nemea is weak. I can’t even imagine how hard it is to create a world. But she did it twice. In addition, she creates adversaries because of the guys who try to destroy the world, and she consumes her power every time.”

“Isn’t the creator’s power also infinite?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Even if Ishtal fails, she’s already close to her limit. So. It would be troublesome if Nemea didn’t save even a little bit of her strength.”

“So, to stop her, you separated and are at odds with her.”

At Kleon’s words, Flarus nodded.

“I understand Ishtal’s purpose…. And why we have to stop her.”

“Yeah. It was enough as compensation? This is a secret that leads to the origin of the world.”

“One more thing.”

When Flarus was about to erase the illusion, Kleon called her and stopped her.

“Is there a way to free a human who has become an adversary and return them to their original state?”

“… …”

Flarus quietly looks at Kleon. His eyes didn’t waver and were looking straight at Flarus.

“Kleon. I think you’re a kind person, so you won’t do anything stupid. So, I’ll tell you.”

Flarus shows the illusion of the pedestal once again.

And, the back of `Nemea` that wasn’t visible before.

There, the figure of a `woman wearing armor and raising a sacred sword` connected to Nemea was visible.

Kleon could tell at once who it was.

“Destroy the statue.”

002

When Kleon, Rubera, and Flarus came out of the tent, Galatea was looking at the bonfire with Amelia lying on her lap.

Gray, who had been wandering around for a long time, was yawning and sitting quietly.

“You’re finally out. It took too long.”

Galatea said that, quietly entrusted Amelia to Rubera, approached Kleon and kissed him on the cheek.

“Sorry. It took longer than I thought.”

Kleon smiled bitterly and grabbed Galatea’s hand, and at the same time Galatea returned to the form of a sword and was stored around his waist.

“Caliburn.”

Caliburn also slowly flew towards Kleon in the form of a sword as it was when sleeping when its name was called.

[The story you told inside. It has been conveyed to me too.]

[Is that so….]

[… …]

“…She will be on my back, and I will go back to the tower. Kleon, you must rest too.”

“Okay.”

“Today’s exploration was so-so. The first half was fun, but the second half….”

When Gray said that, Rubera spoke as if she was a little annoyed.

“You can go back on your own.”

“Th, that’s too much…”

The group slowly took a step and moved away from Flarus.

She cannot leave this place. Because she has left her soul and body here to protect the ruins.

“Kleon.”

Flarus called Kleon’s name.

There was no room for leisure or playfulness in her eyes.

She was looking at Kleon with a serious face.

“Ishtal… Please take care of her.”

“…Okay.”

He swallowed many words and left her with a request.