Ch.15651. Even Compassion Requires Qualification to Be Given. (2)

I set up a temporary campsite on the shoulder of the stone statue.

Even so, there was still plenty of space left.

Enough room to run around.

Supplies weren’t an issue since I could get them through both myself and Zora, so the location wasn’t a problem.

Before sunset, we already had decent shade thanks to the statue’s large head and its oversized drooping ears.

But when night fell, the area was enveloped in pitch-black darkness as if wrapped in a dark curtain.

Actually, it had already grown dark when the sun was partially setting.

That was due to our position inside a valley and ravine.

Without a fire, you couldn’t make out even a single outline.

Though Zora would be an exception to this.

I could sense most things even with my eyes closed, so it didn’t matter to me either.

“So you’re saying what looks like a collapsed wall over there was actually an irrigation canal?”

It wouldn’t be strange to call it a simple irrigation system or aqueduct.

In the past that I glimpsed through my ability, water had flowed abundantly through that wall-like structure, cascading downward.

Without that, the greenery and partial rainforest areas scattered throughout the city couldn’t be explained.

“The ability to see the past. That’s impressive. With such a talent, you must have quite an interest in ancient ruins.”

I had to explain to a certain extent, so after revealing part of the truth, Zora seemed to accept it.

When I told her about this, she added some supplementary explanations based on her years of experience and accumulated knowledge.

“As you may know, the aqueducts in the ancient Vera ruins weren’t constructed like those wall-like structures, but with arch (虹蜺) structures. Do you understand the difference between that and this?”

“…I think I’ve heard of it.”

Though I wasn’t entirely familiar, it was like an architectural style that formed a perfect semicircle, like the sun just rising at the horizon’s edge?

Its advantage was that, unlike the traditional method of filling or stacking everything, it could save more than half of the building resources.

Not to mention the time saved.

Yet it was said to be just as sturdy as a fully filled structure… or so I vaguely recalled.

“You get the point. Vera laid the foundation for their great empire using such architectural techniques. It’s well known that Vera, the capital of Vera, accommodated more citizens and constituents than Berkhart, the current capital of the Berk Empire.”

At its peak, records say it approached nearly 3 million inhabitants.

“The oval arena (Colosseo) also has a similar structural composition. Have you seen it?”

“…No.”

An empire founded on war and grown through war.

Someone once said that what’s also called the circular arena was the crystallization of their belligerence, unity, integration, and political power.

I also heard that the political strategy of “bread and circuses,” where wise rulers distract ignorant citizens from politics, originated there.

They say citizens are satisfied as long as they have food and entertainment, which is why empires pay attention to festivals, holidays, and days of rest.

I think I heard something similar at the Academy about using this to soothe and govern the people of one’s domain.

And the Vera Empire, true to its emphasis on labor, reverence for mythology, and emphasis on diligence and the duties of all people,

deeply despised the Irenis Church and the Lute Church, which stood at the opposite end of the Irenis Church.

Among many reasons, the most frequently mentioned criticism was about the day of rest.

They repeatedly condemned them as “lazy good-for-nothings,” questioning how such people could accomplish great tasks if they rested every day.

One emperor of Vera who despised this once said:

[When all the people of the empire rest for a day, it’s equivalent to a loss of 10,000 days.

Yet those lazy ones rest every week, using their god as an excuse.

This is why they fall behind us.

We achieve divine glory! While they cling to the ankles of their god!]

“Anyway, a waterway or irrigation facility is quite an advanced technology even by architectural standards. The fact that they implemented it indicates that the civilization here was quite sophisticated.”

Zora said, tapping the ground with her palm.

Thanks to that, I was able to recapture my wandering attention.

“This. This is different.”

What she referred to as “this” was probably the stone statue we were relying on.

I’d heard that statues or divine images were often created in ancient times as offerings or sacrifices to gods.

That’s why such craftsmen were respected even back then.

Many passed down their skills through generations.

However, creating stone statues, bronze statues, or divine images is a different realm from building irrigation facilities, water supply, and sewage systems.

The purpose is different too.

This must be what she was implying.

“That’s enough curiosity for now. So have you decided where to go tomorrow? We could move right away if you want.”

“……”

Rest when you can.

You never know when you’ll have such leisure again.

Rushing doesn’t automatically solve problems.

What matters is doing things properly.

“That’s right. At times like this, you need to set aside impatience. You have the right mindset. If you’re blinded by greed or anxiety… who knows what accidents might happen.”

After a simple meal, we decided to retire early.

Unless there were numerous monsters or magical beasts around, there wasn’t much point in keeping watch.

Besides, Zora was a capable magician in such matters.

“Magic is not for war or displays of power, but a blessing for the convenience of all people. Whether a knife is used to cut open livestock or a person’s neck, what matters is who uses it and how it’s used, right?”

That’s true.

If everyone had thought that way.

The world would truly, truly have been peaceful.

====

Had I ever slept peacefully?

During my time at the institution, I was always afraid and apprehensive about the next day, often staying up all night.

Then I’d briefly fall asleep as if fainting, only to wake up in a panic.

My physical condition was naturally at its worst, leading to repeated mistakes, slow reactions, and difficulty understanding instructions.

Whether I acted quickly or sluggishly, the criticism I received was the same.

If only I could have overwhelmingly silenced them, that would have been nice.

…But I had neither the skill, ability, nor luxury for that.

Instead, those guys mocked me, slandered me, and beat me.

…And.

Even after my sibling was born, even after I left the institution.

I mostly stayed up all night.

The difference was that now I feared someone might come after me at any time, so while I tried to sleep for the sake of managing my strength despite staying up with my eyes open.

…I would dream of my mother or father.

At that time, for some reason, I couldn’t even put up a decent resistance against those who came to take me.

As if acquiescing to an inevitable fate.

…Even though I had spent years honing my sword under the Demon Lord, forgetting the passage of time, with my heart worn down and my emotions dulled.

At those times, I reverted to my original state, becoming utterly helpless.

I wished they wouldn’t call for me.

I wished they would be satisfied with passing by and go far away.

But if they persistently called for me and came to take me.

Always consistently, I would close my eyes, sweating profusely, and until the moment they grabbed my shoulders, arms, and hands.

I couldn’t offer any resistance.

After waking from such dreams, I always felt a chill.

My body would be soaked.

Right after leaving the institution, the only time I could sleep with some peace of mind.

…was probably when I slept in her arms.

“……”

What was it like after that?

It was fifty-fifty.

Nightmares and dreams that weren’t nightmares.

The Demon Lord didn’t allow training in dreams at that time, saying it was too much, so there was truly nothing I could do about it.

The journey to Somern after that….

…even until the days when I nearly died there and barely revived, reaching the Lake Dragon’s Valley.

Nightmares occasionally pounded at my heart.

“……”

And now.

I’ve been able to shake them off somewhat.

Instead.

Something completely different has begun to penetrate my eyes, ears, and consciousness.

It was both the future and another facet of a completely different world.

For instance.

The days when, after leaving the institution, I was ultimately blocked by Elhermina and lived like a doll, confined without meaning or purpose in life.

…It was surprisingly okay.

I didn’t dislike it, surprisingly.

If I could just kill my heart.

If I could genuinely welcome her affection.

It was truly an attractive daily life and routine.

…A vulgar yet rich happiness, beyond satisfaction.

Perhaps a life crushed under excessive pleasure… but surprisingly, as the one experiencing it, I didn’t mind.

Giving up on thinking.

Giving up on confronting life.

It’s this attractive.

Being loved and cherished infinitely, unconditionally, and indefinitely.

It was an unexpectedly tremendous privilege.

If there was one issue.

The contract with the Demon Lord.

The curse, misfortune, despair, and pain that would result from it.

That was the only problem…

But isn’t that after death? Is there a need to worry about it?

……….

…….

….

If.

If I had gone to Somern village with Alesia to find Elbat.

But because I had someone to rely on, knowingly or unknowingly.

The sword that wouldn’t be drawn and the subsequent events. The helplessness of just having to watch.

As these accumulated and my body collapsed in the worst possible way.

With a half-dead body, being pursued, desperately embraced and cared for by her guidance.

And though I formed a bond with her and somehow enjoyed what could be called true happiness for a brief moment.

The heartbreak and loss that would follow.

…pushed me into extreme misfortune.

Thrown into the pit I had struggled to escape from.

And as if that wasn’t enough, I truly fell into the abyss.

Everything was frustration.

It was pain, despair, and days of writhing in loss.

Pain.

Pain.

Pain.

Like that, I killed many people, killed and tortured even those unrelated.

I pursued continuously.

Seeking the only… the sole hope for Alesia and me.

The only hope we had lost.

The only light in my life.

I pursued continuously.

Continuously. Constantly. Throughout.

I only pursued.

But no matter how much time passed.

I couldn’t reach it.

No, I did reach it. I did, but…

…in the end, all I achieved was the worst upon worst.

Pain.

In the end, there was only pain.

…….

….

-Ah, that’s not allowed.

Lying down in Somern.

Unable to stand up in the end.

Looking down at me as I finally breathed my last.

The girl with the golden form, the Demon Lord.

As if observing me watching the scene from somewhere far away.

She asserted, giving her gaze directly this way.

-You can peek at this later. When I’m not around.

As those words ended, the world died black.

And before my eyes again, ambiguous bubbles rose with a shudder.

Spewing out another scene different from the present.

But I don’t sink into it. I don’t fall into it.

I, as if pointing to it.

Or as if trying to touch it.

A straight, extended finger.

I gave it my gaze.

Was captivated by it.

Was held by it.

“Come here, Kariel.”

In a space both bright and dark.

It, she, murmured.

“I’m ready whenever you are.”

To grasp destiny.

If you want to capture your ideal.

“Come here. Prove your faith to me.”

…A scene I had seen before.

But now it’s different.

That finger was pointing somewhere far away.

There was a structure that seemed familiar.

I have seen that before.

Not too long ago.

Among the many buildings standing in the ruins of the Fire Giant.

It was there.

I just remembered.

“Because I promised.”

She says.

“Because I had promised.”

She said.

“Because I will come to promise.”

She will say someday.

“Come and welcome me.”

I am your completed future.

“Together, we will destroy this misaligned world and recreate it anew.”

Come, let’s lead with our hands.

The opening of the finale.

The end of the beginning.

The conclusion of eternity.

The beginning of forever.

The two of us together.