Ch.142Chapter 142. Francesca

# Long-Lived Species and Civilization

Long-lived species that reject change.

Barbarians who adapt to harsh environments and strive to reach the top of the ecosystem.

And the Ain species, who are slow-witted but boast tremendous reproductive capabilities…

To survive in a world where such heteromorphic beings coexist, humanity began to cultivate fraternity and sociability.

Civilization developed over generations by holding hands, sharing knowledge and skills, and passing them down through records.

Although core technologies were lost in the process of being condensed and transmitted, their results were secretly handed down from the hidden side of history.

One of these was the “automaton,” a being with a thousand years of history passed down in the Empire.

They were self-aware tools and companions to humans, guardians who fought heteromorphic beings on behalf of humanity.

“From now on, what you’ll be undertaking is far more dangerous than anything before. Are you still willing?”

“If that is the mission bestowed upon us, we shall rightfully follow it. Please give your orders without hesitation…”

The purification operations against elves who rejected civilization, the goblin hazard whose explosive reproduction disrupted the ecosystem, the merfolk who invaded the land, and the bird tribes who proclaimed themselves rulers of the sky and made humans their prey…

Many automatons fell in battles against such heteromorphs, but those who survived reflected on their fights against these foreign entities as they went to sleep after completing their duties.

Unlike humans, they could preserve their bodies by sleeping and endlessly learn by repeating experiences in their dreams.

Thus, progressing each time they were awakened out of necessity, they gradually became objects of admiration to humanity as their existence was passed down to later generations…

“Francesca. To honor your achievements as the representative of the guardians, I shall revere you as a deity of the Empire from now on. Would you please pray for the people’s peace before you enter your slumber?”

“No, that’s too much. How could I, a mere tool, be called a god…”

“Please, I implore you. Only with an idol like you as our focal point can humanity maintain its unity.”

Once a warrior, once a hero, and once a god…

It was only hundreds of years later that she learned a religious order had been established based on her.

While this meant humanity’s self-sufficiency had grown to the point where they didn’t need their help for hundreds of years, it also meant that the dangers they would face upon awakening would be incomparably greater than before.

“Guardian, I humbly beseech you. Please lend us your strength to eradicate the evil beings disrupting our world.”

Witches.

Those who awakened the power to interfere with the world’s laws through innate abilities for some reason, delve into the world’s principles without hesitation to satisfy their intellectual desires.

Just as humans who cross forbidden boundaries easily fall into infidelity, these beings, lacking ethical consciousness, twist the world’s laws without restraint, causing uncontrollable chaos.

If left unchecked, they would surely destroy the world.

They were beings that automatons rightfully needed to eliminate, and the war against these witches ultimately ended in humanity’s victory.

With the annihilation of all automatons except one—Francesca.

“I’m sorry, Guardian. Our weakness led to your sacrifice…”

“No. We should be grateful that it ended with just our sacrifice.”

While it was empty without the comrades who had fought alongside her, they too would have considered their sacrifice for humanity an honor.

But separately, Francesca, the sole survivor, felt a corner of her heart envying her comrades who had departed before her.

“If beings like witches never appear again, today’s humanity will surely be able to protect themselves.”

Because humanity had risen to a position where they no longer faced threats from heteromorphs and could overcome dangers with their own strength.

If humanity could truly protect themselves, there would surely be no reason for her to awaken again.

“So I sincerely hope that I will never need to awaken again. Well then…”

“Please wait a moment.”

Perhaps there would no longer be any need for her.

As she prepared for eternal rest with such thoughts, the current heir of the Empire stopped her and began to make a proposal.

“If you truly believe your calling is complete… would you live with us from now on?”

A mere tool awakened only when needed to fight. A weapon that exists solely to hunt heteromorphs.

Even if this stemmed from her innate destiny, if no threats to humanity remained, she should be allowed freedom from that destiny.

For her, who had been merely a human companion, to be permitted to live and die by their side, refusing her final sleep…

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t tempted.

“…No, because we never know what might happen.”

Nevertheless, Francesca refused the offer and silently prepared to enter her coffin.

“Are you truly certain?”

“Yes, the happiness of being with you would be brief, but reflecting on my life as I sleep will continue forever.”

Each time she looked back, what resided in her heart was not regret but what could be called pride.

For her, who hoped that feeling would last eternally, living with them now was unthinkable.

“So you needn’t pity me. Rather, my entering sleep signifies peace for the Empire and humanity.”

“…If that is your wish, I shall respect it.”

Respecting her decision, the leader of humanity, her master and follower, finally set aside his pity and attachment and withdrew.

Later, as she lay in her coffin preparing to sleep, he bid her farewell.

“Guardian deity of humanity, Friga.”

Using the name that had been corrupted over hundreds of years.

“May your peaceful sleep lead to eternal rest.”

May she endlessly reflect on her current gratitude.

Hoping that humanity would forever protect themselves and pursue harmony, making this possible.

****

Yes, that should have been the end of the story, but…

[To the Guardian Deity of the Empire who reads this letter.]

After resolving the situation and returning to her office in the territory, Francesca quietly took time to read the letter she had kept on her desk.

The letter that had been placed by her head when she awoke in a rural territory that barely maintained its name about ten years ago.

[By the time you read this letter, nearly half a century will have passed since the attempt to awaken you. Such a delay was necessary to prevent the risk of you waking up prematurely and revealing your existence to them.]

She understood as soon as she saw the letter’s introduction.

That the danger targeting humanity in this era was not merely heteromorphic beings but something far greater.

And that one of the reasons for this situation was partly created by humanity itself.

[After you went to sleep, ironically, humanity began to turn against each other. Humans, who reached the pinnacle of the world with the help of guardians like you, began to turn even their own kind into enemies to display their power.]

Focused on undermining each other’s strength, they failed to withstand the consecutive disasters that followed.

By the time they realized they needed to trust each other, most countries had already lost their functionality.

Without proper countermeasures, the Empire too might have met the same fate.

[So I had to make a choice. To bind all of humanity together as a focal point that could never mesh due to their hostility toward each other, I sought to borrow the power of the heteromorphs you so despise.]

Vampires.

Borrowing their power would greatly help gather the hostile human leaders together and strengthen their unity.

By surrendering power to these schemers who secretly parasitize society, enchant people, and excel at manipulating others according to their will.

[In exchange, my son will become their servant when he comes of age for his adulthood ceremony. And my grandson will be born as their slave from birth.]

And the author of this letter had long since been violated and killed by them by the time she awakened.

The current Emperor who succeeded him is a slave to the vampires, and Prince Seis, who will inherit the Empire, is a pitiful being who has submitted to his circumstances from birth.

That was the price for the mistake made by humanity when they no longer had enemies.

And the end that the human history she had taken pride in would face.

[Friga. I cannot guarantee what the outcome of this choice we reluctantly made will be.]

But even for someone like her who had fought countless heteromorphs for humanity, it would be virtually impossible to remove these parasites deeply embedded in society while leading humanity to unity.

Knowing this limitation, he too did not awaken her prematurely but set a delay, wanting to see only the results.

[So I leave the choice to you.]

Not the best option, but the lesser evil.

If it was impossible to correct things himself, he at least wanted to entrust the judgment of the outcome and how to conclude it to her.

[In case our treaty with them doesn’t align properly, I will prepare a place for you. Please watch over us from that position and judge according to your will. If you determine that we humans are walking the wrong path, then with your hands…]

-*rustle*

The guilt-laden letter was finally removed from her hand, and Francesca sat down tiredly in her chair.

She then stared vacantly at the ceiling, taking time to organize everything that had happened.

‘What the non-humans secretly occupying the Imperial family want is a paradise for the chosen ones…’

The organization’s name, “New Era,” signifies such a paradise, and even now, numerous species including humans are pledging absolute obedience to be chosen by them.

And what’s needed to complete this purpose is the witch Vivian Platonis whom she met at the Imperial Palace today.

The power she displayed was the same as what the witches she had hunted used, and like them, she completely lacked the ethical consciousness that would serve as a restraint in exercising that power.

So she must be dealt with before her research is completed.

To protect humanity and prevent the plans of the heteromorphs who abuse them.

‘And ironically, you have become the person needed for this.’

Hyoseong Woo.

The young hero hired by her while she pretended to be a noble on the surface, who has grown rapidly after forming a connection with him.

At first, she approached him thinking he could be her assistant like that girl, but if he’s loved by a witch, that changes everything.

She doesn’t understand why a witch who doesn’t know love would be obsessed with him, but whatever the reason, if she’s obsessed with him, it creates an opportunity for her to close the distance as well, having formed a connection with him.

“…I hope I won’t have to oppose you.”

She sincerely hoped he wouldn’t develop personal feelings for a witch who could destroy humanity.

The humanity she felt in their conversation taught her that he too was one of those she needed to protect…

*****

And then, on the morning several days after he left for the Imperial Palace.

Irie gathered power into her crystal ball to divine the future far ahead.

To see what future awaited her partner who, for some reason, couldn’t return home.

-Aah, ah, ah~♡

And as if on cue, moans echoed through the room, followed by a familiar voice…

-Khuhu, you’re finally starting to feel it.

Yes, that prophecy again.

Irie understood it immediately, but she still couldn’t get used to this situation.

After all, what appeared in the crystal ball was a completely different person from those who had appeared before.

-Yes, yes. I, Francesca, have awakened to the joy of sex through Master’s training♡

-But you’re merely feeling it, your reactions are stiff and you barely move… At this rate, it’s no different from using an onahole.

-Onahole…? I don’t understand, but I’ll try to move more enthusiastically. Aah, aah~♡

A series of awkward coquetry from the lips of a woman with a petite frame.

Seeing her partner gradually becoming more aroused, Irie began to shout, losing her reason.

“What on earth is happening in the future to cause this again!”

“And who is this woman! Why are there more women around you again!!!”

Aaaaaahhhhh!!!

The fierce scream of a prophet denying the future.

Hearing this from outside the window, Tashian smiled contentedly as she hung laundry.

“Our daughter is full of energy today too~”

It was just another ordinary day.