Ch.12842. You Are the Ones Who Created Us (2)

“What’s going on here?”

Having just climbed to the roof of the tallest bell tower in the vicinity, Mines and Venus were greeted by a cityscape unfolding in a way that defied imagination.

At least, that was the case for Mines.

Mines nearly lost her senses for a moment at the terrible commotion erupting throughout the city.

Torches rising across the darkened city center.

Those who held them, waving and brandishing them.

They were joyfully hunting people.

Freely exercising violence.

After completely breaking their will to resist,

They mocked and violated them.

They were playing.

Even a child with a bad temperament wouldn’t treat a toy

As harshly and cruelly as this.

“It’s starting again.”

Venus spat.

“Didn’t the bald guy explain it to you?”

“What explanation… do you mean?”

“This country defines its citizens in three tiers.”

Mages or nobles.

Then the incompetent.

And after that… vermin.

“But wouldn’t this cause the minority of mages and nobles to face discontent from the incompetent class?”

So, they tacitly permitted the existence of beings whom mages, nobles, and the incompetent alike could equally despise, look down upon, ignore, trample, and abuse without any issue.

Both the state and its citizens.

In a healthy nation, this would be considered an unfortunate national disease, but here, they regarded this disease as a public evil.

“Didn’t the Empire say charity and almsgiving are the foundations of good deeds? To get to heaven, one must give to the poor and hungry out of pure goodwill. That’s the Irenis faith, right?”

“…That’s right.”

“There’s no such consideration here. Only the opposite.”

The poor are parasites.

They dirty and pollute the city, refuse to work, stubbornly persist, commit crimes, and even those who don’t are lazy and negligent beyond compare.

Baggage.

Garbage.

Filth.

“They don’t work but try to find food. They endure until they can’t take it anymore and commit crimes or throw themselves into criminal organizations.”

That’s almost better.

But those who don’t even do that, what’s wrong with their minds?

Rummaging through trash?

Are they in their right minds?

“Yet they try to defend the homes they inherited from their parents.”

And those who eventually sell them for a pittance…

…illegally occupy alleys or abandoned houses.

Crawling into sewers or latrines because it’s cold is commonplace.

If they’re going to hide there, why do they crawl back into the city?

Since when were alleys and remote places their residences?

Who gave them permission?

“They don’t count among this country’s citizens.”

So killing them isn’t a crime.

Playing with them doesn’t constitute a crime.

“That’s absurd…”

“What’s absurd about it? It’s happening right before our eyes. Do you think this is something new?”

It’s like an event that has been carried out periodically.

The citizens must have accumulated resentment.

But during these times, they can freely release it.

Even if they can’t kill others, they vent their anger by tormenting these creatures.

Even if they can’t abuse, violate, or trample others, they satisfy their urges through these beings.

Doesn’t one feel refreshed after pouring out something?

That must be the meaning and logic behind it.

“It’s been about six years, hasn’t it?”

Initially, it was something the nobles did to disrupt the resistance movements and rebellion plots of the poor.

But when the poor and the incompetent began to collaborate and unite, the state further disadvantaged the poor while passing benefits to the incompetent, breaking down their fragile structure of unity.

The incompetent, having gained benefits, had no reason to complain,

But the poor were different.

The betrayal of the incompetent, whom they believed would stand shoulder to shoulder with them in times of crisis.

The poor burned with even more resentment.

This led to bloodshed.

The incompetent and the poor.

The relationship between them reached an irreversible point.

Yet, those who reaped the greatest benefits and lived in luxury during this time were the nobles, mages, and the wealthy who joined hands with them.

…But who would know these details unless someone explained them? And even if they did, what difference would it make?

The people right in front of them.

The hateful and despised enemies are the more immediate problem.

Whose fault is it, after all?

The power-holders who maliciously created the situation? The privileged class?

The ordinary, good citizens who compromised and chose to be satisfied for their own benefit?

The weak who only expressed anger even after being abandoned and betrayed?

“This is why ignorance is problematic.”

“But didn’t they… have no choice?”

“Ignorance narrowed their options.”

Even the smart and wise struggle to find proper answers, let alone those who aren’t.

The outcome is predictable.

At first, Mines thought she only needed to deal with those who might be affected in the aftermath of saving Del.

But that wasn’t the case.

She couldn’t have imagined it.

Why should people with no connection suffer simultaneously?

And so arbitrarily at that.

Their justification was simple.

Mages and their attendants were killed and injured by the mob.

One member from thirteen families even had his arm cut off.

…The attendants tried to protect him until the end but couldn’t.

They died bravely fighting.

“…”

It’s a blatant lie.

They claim deaths when there were none?

Kariel may have cut off the attendants’ limbs, but he didn’t kill them.

Isn’t this obvious?

“Truth isn’t what matters.”

Venus snorted as if this was commonplace.

“When was it ever different?”

“…”

Mines was lost in thought.

Should she intervene?

But even if she focused on this area, what about the others?

Throughout the areas designated as poor districts, hundreds of citizens were actively displaying their malice towards the poor.

Such acts were being committed everywhere.

And behind them was the implicit permission and approval of the country’s pillars.

All these horrific events were unfolding under their encouragement and tacit consent.

So.

This is both an example and a venting of anger.

It’s your fault for unnecessarily causing trouble and touching us.

It’s your fault for resisting and rebelling.

It’s your fault for causing a commotion.

Your fault for defying.

Your fault for staring with wide eyes.

Your fault.

That’s why things escalated.

“And the victims are also at fault.”

“What… did you say?”

Venus sneered.

“A life where one doesn’t fight back even at the cost of death, ends up like this.”

Moreover, the treatment given to those who don’t face crises is nothing but misery.

The treatment they give is their destiny.

There, no option other than tragedy stained with malice is guaranteed.

Indeed.

Unless someone roughly extends a helping hand of salvation.

Unconditionally.

Only tragedy awaits.

There are no other answers.

If there were any, they would be mere luck or miracles.

They should have chosen long ago.

Whether to confront the power-holders, or the citizens slightly better off than them.

Or to face the risk of leaving this place.

Or to confront the unfairness to change their miserable situation.

Whatever it was, they should have confronted it long ago.

Or at least gathered other weak individuals like themselves.

Or tried to gather that meager strength by governing them if not uniting them.

“…Tsk.”

But it’s not easy.

It was nearly impossible.

There was once someone who tried.

But the moment they lost such a leader, their focal point disappeared.

That’s probably why they deliberately branded him as a traitor in Phaesran and executed him.

Why did they do that when executing him might have caused greater backlash?

Anger tends to be suppressed by greater fear and power.

The pillars of this country knew this better than anyone.

Those in power know best how to use strength and authority, and the effects they produce.

“Either way, they’re nominally citizens of this country. If we intervene, it won’t end easily. In fact… they might be hoping for that.”

Acting out of kindness might turn the entire area into a sea of blood.

And the blame would be on those who meddled unnecessarily.

Or on those who resisted and rebelled despite being citizens.

Your fault!

“They’re using their own citizens as hostages and sacrifices?”

“They might be from the same country, but they’re complete strangers, aren’t they? And, regardless, it’s an effective method, isn’t it? It hits the core. The moment you try to protect or defend them, you’ve already been firmly grasped by your weakness.”

“This is utterly despicable…”

“So, to overturn this, you need power beyond what they can imagine.”

Though Venus was speaking with a sneer, his eyes weren’t exactly pleased.

“In Berk, after the Age of Distrust, the Empire was established, and with the unification through the Irenis faith, such unfortunate incidents decreased… But since the Demon King’s invasion, the eastern part of the continent has always been like this. It’s as if they’re experiencing the ancient tragedies and atrocities that once occurred in the Empire right now.”

“That…”

“And. You definitely had power no less than that guy, right? So, what are you planning to do? Observe? Intervene? Or abandon?”

The legacy of the Great Demon King.

The one who inherited it.

If there’s a being closest to the Demon King in the current era…

“If you’re going to act, it’s better to do it quickly. While you hesitate, someone is dying, someone is being violated, and someone is… becoming disabled.”

At those words, Mines tightly closed her eyes.

Her mouth went dry.

“I…”

She couldn’t just stand by and watch.

It’s not because her heart aches.

It’s not because of sympathy or pity that makes her shudder.

Fear?

It’s been years since she stopped feeling fear towards enemies.

I’m not afraid of the enemy.

What I fear is…

This is the constraint she bears.

She.

The more selfish she is.

…The more altruistic she must be.

Though suppressing selfishness also suppresses altruism…

…witnessing such a tragic scene.

Emotions surge.

All kinds of thoughts rain down.

They mix.

They intertwine.

“I…”

Just as she was about to trail off and gather her resolve,

Not simultaneously but intermittently, screams and wails erupted from various places.

In just a few seconds.

After another few dozen seconds.

Screams and wails began to sweep across the entire region like an orchestra.

As if cutting through the surroundings.

As if piercing the veil of darkness.

Most of the flickering torches were either extinguished or thrown away.

“What’s happening now?”

Only Venus frowned with annoyance and looked around.

“…”

But in Mines’ eyes, all the scenes unfolding both far and near were very clearly observed.

People, children, women, the elderly.

They threw themselves.

They burned.

They hurled.

As if all the fear and terror that had consumed them were lies and deceptions.

As if all such weakness and frailty had been washed away and stripped off.

Now, everyone, filled with anger and hatred… towards those who had inflicted malice upon them.

Reflexively, directly, with equal malice, anger, hatred, hostility.

No.

More than the clumsy and petty malice these evil ones had unilaterally poured out.

More hostility than such one-sided and despicable violence.

…They were explosively unleashing it with frenzy.

Even the weak.

Without exception, even with broken and twisted limbs, they crawl and attack.

Even the poor.

They try to bite with missing teeth.

Even with broken necks, they stagger like reanimated corpses, charging again and again.

Those who were relatively unharmed move agilely like spiders, rushing and leaping.

Occasionally, like wounded stray dogs or rabid beasts, they foam at the mouth and lunge.

“It’s a mess.”

Venus seemed quite pleased with the sight, shedding his previously displeased expression.

He wore a smile that seemed to fester.

“Yes. That’s what luck and miracles are.”

But he doesn’t indulge in it.

While this might be luck or a miracle for some,

It was by no means a normal phenomenon.

This is.

Not a just resistance, appeal, protest, rebellion, or anything else.

Someone’s malicious… scheme.

“But this is still much better than the situation earlier.”

The teeth and nails of the weak relentlessly tear and rip through their skin.

Yes, that’s how it should be. Even if you die, it’s less unjust.

Even if you suffer, it’s less unjust.

“Is it magic or sorcery? A curse? Black magic? Given how widely it’s applied, it seems to be a wide-area phenomenon.”

While Venus was coldly assessing the situation.

“I’m not entirely sure, but.”

Mines unclenched her fist, raised her index finger straight up,

And pointed in a specific direction.

“Over there, there’s some kind of unpleasant energy emanating.”

“Unpleasant energy?”

Venus shrugged.

“At your level, does ‘unpleasant’ mean threatening, troublesome, or just annoying?”

“That… I’m not sure.”

But.

“…It’s not threatening. At least not to me right now.”

Venus then extended his hand.

“…?”

“What are you doing? Are you asking me to jump across rooftops like that guy?”

“No, that’s not it… Are you asking me to take you there?”

“What else?”

At his brazen attitude, Mines almost forgot the seriousness of the situation.

“That attitude, I’m a bit envious.”

“What are you saying?”

Mines sighed briefly and took his hand.

Along with that,

A light frost settled over the area.

“Hold tight.”

As if sliding through the air, Mines held onto Venus and flew through the void.

“Oh my?”

More precisely,

She froze the atmosphere, using it as a bridge to slide across.

Since the frozen path was transparent and faintly visible, it couldn’t be detected by the naked eye, so from a distance, it would certainly look like they were sliding through the air.

And.

In this way.

The two were able to spot a man who was strangely calm amidst the chaos, looking around.