Ch.15751. Even Compassion Must Be Earned (3)

From the narrow sky to the bottom of the canyon.

As dry light falls from the sun floating somewhere and seeps into the terrain, withered vitality sprouts even in the ruins of an ancient civilization.

The air is dry with insufficient humidity, mixed with fine dust particles, making one’s nose and throat feel increasingly blocked while breathing.

Due to poor air circulation, the ancient scent emanating from the dust and sand is distinctly perceptible, though I’ve attributed different meanings to it.

I descended from the campsite on the statue’s shoulder and flew straight toward the place revealed in my dream.

For Kariel himself, traversing the surroundings regardless of elevation wasn’t difficult, but soaring and gliding like a bird was an entirely different domain.

In that respect, Zora, who could transform freely and appropriately, was extremely helpful.

While intact buildings and structures were abundant, upon closer inspection, none were truly undamaged.

The common thread was that, excluding damage from deliberate destruction, there was no immediately visible collapse or crumbling from natural causes.

“I feel not like a dwarf… but truly like an insect.”

“……”

“Your look is strange. What? Worried I compared us to insect-sized creatures?”

Actually, there are regions with human-sized insects or bugs… surprisingly, they’re categorized separately from magical beasts and monsters.

That area was particularly humid and hot, wasn’t it?

“There are even finger-sized little people in this world.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. They’re essentially the inspiration for those tiny fairy folk in myths and fairy tales.”

Elves are also called fairy folk, or sometimes fae.

For instance, fairies, like how human races are divided into numerous ethnicities and peoples, follow a similar pattern.

“Giants and god-giants are similar in that respect. In some regional myths, ice giants born from poisonous rivers are inherently toxic and evil, often described as extremely malevolent beings.”

“…Then the fire giants here?”

“Similar yet different.”

Are people important, or is the world they live in important?

“If you live in the middle realm, you’re a middle realm human; if you live in the demon realm, you’re a demon realm person. Isn’t that the difference? So giants living here are local giants, and those who lived elsewhere are giants from there?”

Despite having this lengthy conversation, we still hadn’t reached the entrance.

…I distinctly remember landing near the entrance and walking.

-I told you, didn’t I? Space is compressed here. Don’t be deceived by what your eyes tell you.

The Demon King briefly chides me for making him repeat himself.

“I’ve felt it since we arrived—the space here isn’t normal.”

“Is that so?”

Seems Zora noticed it too.

“If my guess is correct… this space was designed for all inhabitants to mingle regardless of whether they’re giants or little people, big or small.”

“Meaning?”

“It’s an extremely advanced magical function. To explain… even if a giant tens of times taller than me stands beside me, they could be perceived as being your size or mine if they wished.”

“…Just perceived that way?”

“That’s what makes it amazing and remarkable.”

Through perception, it becomes fixed.

“And whether to accept it or not is up to the giant race.”

But this doesn’t apply to all areas.

“If it did, there would be no reason for the city to have buildings of varying sizes.”

Why create massive residential zones and spaces if body size and volume can be adjusted?

That wouldn’t make sense.

“This space is special.”

And this was probably a place where many races mingled.

Under the giants’ supervision.

“They could have intimidated others with their enormous bodies if they wanted to show off… but in this space, even that is a matter of choice.”

This space she’s referring to.

In other words, the place we’ve come to… must be no ordinary location.

“Why not see for yourself? You can, can’t you?”

At this point, Zora encourages me with her eyes to use my ability.

“……”

We finally reached the door, but it was so massive that I wondered if human strength could possibly open it.

…A sight like an entire metal wall standing before us.

Could this really be a structure that dwarves could push open?

I tried pushing it, but it didn’t budge at all.

“If it requires physical strength to open, the two of us don’t stand a chance.”

Zora indirectly expresses that this is a futile effort.

“Just checking.”

I feel somewhat overwhelmed.

Somehow, only when faced with this barrier did I truly realize we had reached an impossible place.

In a world of open vistas, had we just been wandering aimlessly?

Only when the world is blocked like this do I finally see myself.

The place where I stand.

And even myself standing upon it.

“……”

I composed myself and tried to examine the old memories? Traces?

Whatever they were, I wanted to explore them.

Given how distant the past is, and that I cannot selectively examine only what I want…

…this will be a truly arduous task.

Examining human memories was surprisingly easy because of the interaction involved.

…But this requires me to unilaterally decipher it, making it more difficult.

So just like yesterday, when I inadvertently glimpsed it from atop the statue…

…the woman who greeted me as if she had been waiting might truly have been an exceptional case.

…But then.

“You’ve come.”

As if she had been waiting.

When I placed my hand on the massive door to read its memories,

the world transformed again, and she recognized me, smiling freshly as if she had truly been waiting.

Her sand-colored eyes sparkle transparently, resembling gold yet possessing a unique luster all their own.

Clothing that reveals only her face.

Her entire body wrapped in white material, secured with a golden sash.

From her briefly visible face, despite being slightly tanned from the heat, her overall bright complexion harmonized delicately with her refined features.

And the hair partially visible between them.

Though not quite red, the dark brown-haired beauty displayed golden bracelets dangling at her wrists and tight-fitting golden anklets.

“Can you… see me?”

“Of course.”

She responds immediately.

Somehow… this is hard to believe.

“You must surely be a being from the distant past.”

“Try to guess. How is this possible?”

“……”

This isn’t a matter of what can and cannot be seen.

However.

The front and back, left and right of space-time.

Up and down.

And the center.

Having roughly understood these concepts, I recognized that her approach wasn’t entirely impossible.

In this world, what can happen will certainly happen.

To say something is impossible…

Is only because one has never seen or dreamed of it.

“Can you see the future?”

“You guessed correctly. Yes, I can see the future.”

And.

I also know well that you are a being who can traverse past, present, and future.

“……”

Just hearing that makes me sound omnipotent.

In reality, I’m neither here nor there—just a weak human desperately trying not to be swayed by it all.

“Just as you understand all languages of the world.”

“……”

In truth.

Even if I somehow managed to communicate with these beings.

It’s quite remarkable that we’re conversing so smoothly, without any hindrance.

Perhaps it’s close to a miracle.

“Introductions should come first. I am…”

“I know. Kanel. Oh! Was it Kael? Kalel?”

“……”

Those pronunciations aren’t wrong if not using the Imperial style.

“Call me whatever is comfortable for you.”

“Then Kariel?”

“……”

“I’m joking. I’m… Leva? Heva? Call me whatever is easier.”

“I’ll call you Heva.”

“Good.”

How did we end up in a self-introduction situation?

More importantly, she can see the future.

…Should I consider her the same type as Grandeus?

If so, her attitude is very flexible, and somewhat vivacious.

“You want to open the door, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Be careful. After the destruction, it looks truly abandoned and desolate, as if there’s really nothing there… but most of us are immortal beings. We were all confined and sealed away.”

She said this, but for her, that future hasn’t yet arrived.

As she looked around, I followed her gaze to take in the surroundings I hadn’t fully captured.

Golden stone walls bathed in greenery and light.

Sturdy buildings lined up with various beings harmoniously existing among them.

And verdant growth blending seamlessly with clear, transparent fountains and waterways.

When I turned my gaze back, the massive door with its deep blue hue was, for some reason, wide open.

The great pathway leading to the door was peacefully traversed by not just humans but truly diverse species.

Their skin colors varied enormously, as did their appearances, shapes, and features—most were far from conventional.

Some had appearances clearly different from humans… perhaps I hadn’t noticed because Heva herself looked so normal by my standards.

This place seemed like paradise in some ways.

But setting aside prejudice and preconceptions.

This wasn’t myth but history.

…Similarly, this too was land and city where the living dwelled and thrived.

Truly another facet of the era.

“Then I’ll tell you the spell to open the door.”

With a slightly sad smile.

She brought her lips close to my ear.

And whispered softly.

Then briefly.

The world suddenly fell silent and crumbled away, disappearing sadly beyond my vision.

Like a small sand dune swept away and scattered by the wind.

“……”

“How was it? What did you see?”

“She warned me to be careful.”

“Of what?”

“That giants are immortal beings… merely sealed away.”

“Who said that?”

“……”

Who indeed should I say?

I looked up at the massive door, then gave Zora a glance as if to prepare her.

“Are you going to open it now?”

“…Yes.”

Having come this far to advance.

If we can throw open this blocked door.

…There’s no reason to hesitate.

“You who have arrived here. Recite your own verse.”

“Gening-g?”

What came to me as clear language and phrases.

Seemed to sound completely different to Zora who heard my words.

Yet her reaction suggests she somehow understood what it meant.

Perhaps she’s more knowledgeable than I thought.

BOOM!

Responding to those words, the massive metal door.

Actually a huge door formed of special bronze, began to shake and gradually widen its gap.

“If the door had opened toward us, we would have been crushed to death?”

“……”

Is she joking?

The door pushing inward.

Between its gaps, only darkness and doubt were visible so far.

With noise as if shaking the world, the door scraped the ground as it opened.

The stale air that had seeped inside rushed out all at once, while the outside air somehow surged inward.

A small gale blew fiercely, colliding with itself.

As my hair flew about, I unconsciously brushed it back to fix it.

Yet the interior remained still and dark.

Only silence and quiet unease were subtly pounding at our napes.

With a snap of her fingers, a red sphere formed above Zora’s hand.

Using it to illuminate the entrance.

There was nothing but desolation.

Yet it was still too early.

That was merely what was visible at the threshold.

“Let’s go.”

“You said to prepare, so I thought something would jump out, but I’m relieved it didn’t…”

They say words can become reality.

Crimson pillar-like roots burst through the entrance.

And them rushing to engulf us.

Was but a moment’s work.