Ch.162The NPC Who Sees the End of Trials (1)

Are you surprised that I know you so well, even though you don’t know who I am? Or perhaps you’re offended?

Personally, I hope you’re both surprised and offended. That would mean I’ve remembered you correctly and have been watching you closely.

Ah, I’m sorry. I have so much I want to say to you that my writing keeps drifting in different directions.

You must be extremely busy right now, so I’ll get back to the point.

First, how much do you understand about this world of trials?

Surely, being as wise and intelligent as you are, you’ve considered various possibilities and reached the correct conclusions and answers.

Yes, that’s right. This world is an era very similar to the world you came from. However, it’s a “world of the past” that shares absolutely nothing in common with it.

You must have noticed, right? Well, even if you had only seen the dates and years somewhere, you would have known enough.

Or perhaps you understood by connecting what you heard from the highest-ranking spirit? I’m a bit curious about how you figured it out.

Literally, this is a world of cyclical history, a world of the past. It’s approximately 8,000 years before the [Eight] continent where you were.

The history of this continent, this world, is always cycling in similar patterns.

In this era, it was normal for people to love all living beings and cherish life with all species.

And there are many people who greatly respect those who have the profession you originally had—forest keepers.

Ah, I suppose the world you’re in now is becoming like that again?

You stopped the followers of the Demon of Jealousy, defeated the Demon of Wrath to save the city’s people, and rescued poor children from the hands of wicked adults.

You’ve already made a name for yourself by resolving multiple disaster-like incidents that a single human couldn’t normally handle, and that’s how you reached this place.

However, from now on, that won’t be enough.

If you intend to continue fighting for what’s truly precious to you, you must be certain of who you are and where this world is. You cannot change your perspective.

I’m sorry if this sounds like I’m speaking in riddles. But I can’t give you any more hints than this. If I were to write everything, this letter would surely disappear midway.

So please understand, as you always do.

And around the time you finish reading this, the final trial will begin. At that moment, be certain of who you are. My hope is that you’ll become certain of it while reading this letter.

The one thing I can say for certain is that you are not the being you think you are. At the very least, your true self. And the world has already…

If I write any more, the text will be erased. Really, I don’t know why I made this bet that put me in such a frustrating situation.

But I believe that even with just what’s written here, you’ll understand enough to move forward.

And finally. Soon you’ll complete the final trial and return to Siltra. At that time, you’ll stand at a crucial crossroads.

All I can say is… I simply hope you won’t shed tears.

…No. I should write this after all. From the moment I write this, I’ll surely be touching on forbidden territory and my strength will fail, but if I don’t write it, I’m terrified I might see you like that day again.

Aigram. After seeing you there for the last time, you deeply regretted not noticing the signal then.

So please. I beg you. Absolutely…

May no one die. May you find true happiness.

My Sherpa (guide).

*

Did I understand even half of it? No, would it be fortunate if I understood even a quarter?

The only thing certain is that I’m neither as intelligent nor as wise as the person who wrote this claims.

‘…No, more than that, I’m an idiot. This clearly isn’t written by that guy.’

I thought if someone could write in Korean, it must be another version of me.

After all, it was that guy with the same face as mine who prevented me from entering that room in the first place. Above all.

‘…It sounds like someone has already died.’

My mind and heart were already at their limit. Before I could understand everything, I was struggling just to keep my anger in check.

And if someone really wanted to change that, someone who would call me something other than a forest keeper, I had simplistically thought it must be another “me.”

‘…Damn, even looking at the very end, it says “My Sherpa.” One wouldn’t say that to oneself…’

Damn, this is 8,000 years in the past? Something I could have known just by looking at the dates and years? I can’t even make the excuse that I didn’t have time.

I kept thinking something was strange. It was absurd how everything kept connecting to reality right after Naiad gave me that damn history lesson.

So.

“Johnson, can you read this?”

“…Yes.”

Without realizing it, I was caught up in another misunderstanding.

Yes, Jack, who I thought looked exactly like me, is actually slightly taller if you look closely, and his facial features are a bit different too.

It’s like someone identical living a completely different life. Honestly, I thought such differences could exist if we’d lived different lives.

I’m so confident about knowing everything about Ira, but when it comes to my own situation, I’m like this.

Thinking about it, I could have noticed when I went to the village, or rather, the city.

It doesn’t make sense that I didn’t know a single person there, right?

Even if the village head wasn’t there, I should have found it strange that not one of the butcher shop trash, the clothing store scoundrel, or any of the people I met weekly was there.

Because of my thoughtless actions, the future might change. No.

‘It’s already changed.’

The person who wrote that letter seems to think I’ve been open about everything I’ve done, but I haven’t lived that way.

I heard from Uncle Devil that the lives of forest keepers and other persecuted professions were improving, but I never heard rumors that their lives had dramatically improved.

So.

‘…If my actions here have already affected my future, or rather, my present self.’

I don’t want to debate whether the chicken or the egg came first. At the very least, it’s certain that this letter came before my actions.

So now I…

“What the hell is going on? And you can read that book? What are you? Don’t tell me you’re from the Church State?”

“…Wait. Let’s talk alone for a moment. Um, Saint, Demon, I’m sorry about the cursing earlier…”

“Oh. It’s fine. Something surprising happened, right?”

“Hmm~♡ I don’t mind. I actually thought you looked a bit cool when you were cursing.”

After apologizing to both of them with a bow, they both smiled as if it was really okay, and I awkwardly smiled back as I left the book and pulled my ancestor from this world—Jack—to a spot a bit further away.

“What’s going on? As if having the Saint and the Great Demon in our house wasn’t enough, your earlier behavior…”

“This conversation must absolutely, absolutely not be shared with anyone else.”

“Wh-what?”

When I whispered quietly in his ear, he frowned as if he’d heard something he shouldn’t have.

But now that I understand something, I can’t not share it…!!

“I am Jack the forest keeper. I protected Mount Ponia in Poria Village.”

“What nonsense are you suddenly spouting? I know that because you told me…”

“And it seems I am your descendant from thousands of years in the future.”

“…You’re insane.”

My ancestor’s expression twists grotesquely after hearing my story. Yeah, I get it. Until just now I was casually speaking informally, suddenly getting angry, and now I’m saying I’m your descendant. It must be bewildering. But seriously, I don’t understand this either!!

“I, I have so much I need to tell you, but first I want to ask…”

“Damn it, skip the introduction. What the hell are you talking about?”

Ah, really. This is maddening. I hate that I have to say this with my own mouth, and I don’t even know what situation this is.

But.

“…Um, do you have any plans to marry a human instead of Miho…”

“Are you telling me to cheat?”

My ancestor’s eyebrows arch so high they could pierce the sky.

Of course!!! He’s a zoophile with a female, and now I’m suddenly saying this. Of course he’d be angry?!!

But, even so…!!!

“Well, no matter how I think about it, I’m not mixed with tiger beastkin or any other beastkin, am I?”

“…That’s true.”

“Right?! And my younger sister… she has so many, many similarities with the Saint over there…?”

“…Meaning?”

“…How, how do you feel about the Saint…”

-Slap!

…That’s not the sound of a slap on the cheek. It’s the sound of my ancestor’s forehead as he strongly swung his hand in disbelief at my words.

He froze at my words, closed his eyes, and sank into a forest of thoughts.

Please…!!

“…Ha. This is maddening.”

“Wh-what is?”

“I already have another woman I’ve set my heart on.”

“…What? You have someone besides Miho?”

“Yes.”

“…Who on earth could that be…”

“The demon over there.”

“What the fuck?”

The words he spat out after finally finishing his thoughts were, what? Fuck?! Demon?!! You’re saying one of the Seven Deadly Sins…!!!

“She was slightly injured by me the first day we met.”

“Ah, yes. And?”

“That day she confessed to me, saying she liked how strong I was.”

“Yes, and?”

“So I set a condition. If she could quietly endure five years on this mountain, no matter how difficult or painful, I would accept all the demons she unconsciously summons as part of the mountain, and I would accept her confession.”

“…There would be endless incidents, wouldn’t there?”

“Even that, I as the forest keeper said I would accept.”

No, no. Wait, wait. This is strange?! Earlier when facing those monsters, you said you would stop their master from coming down, that you would prevent it… wait a fucking second.

“Ancestor, don’t tell me.”

“I like that demon woman too. She’s pretty, isn’t she?”

“Holy shit…”

So, because you want to live with that woman, even if she changes her mind and tries to come down, you’re stopping it? What kind of crazy bastard are you!!

My ancestor is such an asshole?! He’s really insane?! What a fucking zoophile bastard!!!

“So, I heard that demon calling you ‘darling’ earlier, how did that…”

“That’s just because I have the same face as you, and I’m about to go back soon so forget about it!! I don’t have those kinds of feelings for demons in the first place!!!”

The formal speech I was using disappears completely after hearing this truth, and now I’m even doubting if this guy is really my ancestor.

No, personally, I’d prefer if he wasn’t? I don’t have a zoophile ancestor like you!!! Don’t be jealous!!!

“This is absurd. Is the fact that she’s a demon reason enough to dislike her so much?”

“Where the hell can I find a reason to like her?! Fuck, forget about that. Then, what about the Saint…!!!”

“Even if I’m a human who can embrace all beings of the mountain, I can’t hold onto someone who doesn’t want me. Moreover, how could I, who has chosen to live with a demon…”

That makes sense!! Fucking hell!! Why can’t you just cut ties with the demon and marry the Saint?!

Where did everything go wrong?! No.

From what I can see, this is it. I was supposed to be summoned in front of that demon, and I should have killed the demon alone.

That way, this bastard wouldn’t have had other thoughts and would have married the Saint, leading to our birth.

There’s no other way…!!!

– ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯!!!!

“Kyaah?!!”

At the sudden tremendous explosion and the familiar voice, my ancestor and I turned our heads simultaneously.

And what entered our eyes was.

[Ruxria, I will take away everything from you who has colluded with the Saint.]

“…Ru-Ruxria?! What’s happening!!!”

My ancestor shouts toward the black mosaic, no, the being emitting magical energy floating in the sky, and quickly approaches the red Saint who flew away with a scream.

But I don’t move. No, I couldn’t move.

Because her mosaic was gradually being removed.

“What is that…?”

The appearance of the woman whom both my ancestor Jack and the Saint had praised as quite beautiful is gradually revealed to my eyes as the mosaic is removed.

And that appearance is.

[You have failed the trial, [Original]. You will die here.]

Purple-tinged skin, two large horns, and black hair. Her goat-like pupils are directed at me with hostility, no, killing intent, but that’s not why I can’t move.

No, rather, I want to rush to her immediately. Because.

“…I-ra?”

A woman of unparalleled beauty appears before my eyes, who shares no color characteristics with Ira, but looks exactly how Ira would if she grew up.