Ch.20467. Needle and Knot (2)

“To entrust the fate of our race to a human child! How could you make such an absurd decision?!”

An elf entered the audience chamber, voicing his discontent and anxiety to the Queen.

“This was decided by all 14 council members and myself.”

“Even so, why a human child of all things! If it were you, Your Majesty, that would be one thing, but a human! Even if they can hear the voice of the Divine Tree and receive divine blessing! Truly, is everyone in their right mind?!”

“…I’ll ask later where you heard this news.”

The Queen cast a calm gaze toward the elf with bright blonde hair as she spoke.

“Once, I was given a test to observe the metamorphosis of butterflies.”

“…”

“But what emerged from the chrysalis wasn’t a butterfly… but winged insects resembling ants.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“We have lived as parasites on the World Tree, the Divine Tree, under the pretext of supporting it.”

The man gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with shock.

This reaction was shared by one of the council members listening nearby, though he merely hardened his expression while maintaining his silence.

The Queen continued.

“Larvae that properly metamorphose into pupae and emerge as butterflies are truly rare exceptions.”

They hide among leaves, or conceal themselves in unopened flower buds.

Around certain trees or plants, creatures that seem to belong there specifically tend to inhabit or wander nearby.

And also.

Even their natural predators.

“Some survive and grow by devouring other life forms. Yet other creatures lay eggs inside them, using them as grounds for another hatching.”

“Your Majesty! What exactly are you trying to tell me?!”

“We are no exception.”

The Queen sighed briefly.

“Not just us, but all creatures and living beings have survived and grown this way.”

Predation.

Parasitism.

Or.

Symbiosis.

Civilization is the totality of principles that cultivate all three of these.

The strong protect and save the weak, harvesting their labor and yields in return.

The weak, unable to protect themselves, parasitize the strong.

When the strong are deemed unable to protect and save the weak, the weak readily bare their fangs and claws against the strong.

The strong then suppress them with force, or make examples by killing them to spread fear, subjugating them to exploit them, or conversely parasitizing them.

“Symbiosis and coexistence. They say that’s the highest good a community can achieve, but it requires compromise, consideration, dedication, and responsibility.”

“Are you saying this is related to the current decision, Your Majesty?”

“We’ve eaten away at both the chrysalis and the caterpillar inside it, and only then emerged.”

She wasn’t specifically referring to the Divine Tree or World Tree.

It could be an outdated concept, or an old-fashioned notion.

A fading faith, a misaligned belief, or conviction.

“Having hatched from the egg and emerged, we must seek new ways.”

Just as parasites that grew by feeding on butterflies will, like the mother who laid them and inserted them into the larva’s body, seek out parasitic hosts after ensuring their survival.

That is the principle of the cycle that has continued and repeated.

“Like certain insects infected by fungal spores that dry up alive to spread toxic spores, or sometimes become prey to other creatures, flying farther to spread their territory. We too must not neglect our survival and such endeavors.”

“…I am too foolish to understand your metaphor. Please! Tell me directly!”

“Keilan. I sympathize with your anxiety. If I weren’t in this position, I would likely harbor similar thoughts and feelings.”

“Then?!”

“We haven’t handed over our race’s life, our breath, to the human child you speak of. Rather, it’s the opposite.”

“The opposite? What do you mean…”

“We couldn’t be certain either. That’s why it took so long to reach this decision.”

“…”

The Queen sank deeper into her seat as she spoke.

“One thing we can hope for is that between one bound by fate and one qualified to cast off those bindings… which one to pass the opportunity to… in a way, it’s self-evident.”

====

“The truly wise sometimes make foolish choices that are incomprehensible to most.”

To some, it might seem like throwing oneself into certain death.

That’s the clear difference between the wise and those who can only see what’s right in front of them and the near future.

The difference between the wise and the blind, so to speak.

“…Maybe it’s just irresponsible.”

Back in the sanctuary, I spent a long time organizing my thoughts.

Simply verbally entrusting full authority doesn’t have much practical effect in reality.

At first, I thought it might be a formality, or a pretext to probe my true intentions.

But it wasn’t.

…They even mentioned an absolute compliance contract and sealed the deal.

Though only a few days have passed.

What’s certain is that the fate of the forest people now rests in my hands.

I’ve become someone who could make them commit mass suicide, use them as expendable troops in war.

I could even make them… burn down the World Tree themselves.

“With this, I’ve avoided the option of my own death for now… but there will surely be repercussions.”

Unless I act as the world wishes, it will certainly use every means possible to kill me.

The process doesn’t matter.

The outcome was already determined.

It might change depending on my choices, so this choice has only put things on temporary hold; the predestined path hasn’t changed.

“That should be enough, but.”

As I inadvertently let out a hollow laugh,

a strange voice echoed in my mind.

Why reject glory and choose to be a pathetic fool?

“Is victory in war such a great glory?”

At least for history, myself, and the Empire’s people, it would be an unparalleled glory.

“Do I really need such things?”

Rather than dying out like an ember, I want to become a phoenix that learns from the world. What’s so wrong with that?

“I’m not exactly a pacifist, you know? You should know I’m not the type to blindly say ‘I hate war, I hate fighting.'”

Then what more are you hesitating for? If you have a sword in your hand, a blade, and troops to command, then face the world boldly in battle once again.

“‘Once again’ is by your standard.”

Still such nonsense? The distinction between you and me has long lost its meaning. Don’t you also want to see how far you can go? Don’t you want to try?

“I can’t deny that.”

That’s right.

I too have wondered what it would be like to be called a war god or a conqueror.

Unlike the one who was called a war god, I could achieve even greater feats without resorting to indiscriminate slaughter.

“But wouldn’t someone complain that things are getting boring if they flow that way?”

Still, you have to try. What’s stopping you?

“Unfortunately, no.”

In the end, it’s just being forced onto the battlefield prepared by the world.

“There are countless people in the world who live without knowing anything. I’m not selfish enough like you to turn their lives into hell. I don’t even have a proper justification like you do.”

If I were you, I would have burned the world to the ground, taking revenge on the Empire that sent me as a hostage. If I were you. Even now, you’re not completely devoid of such emotions, are you?

“Those emotions arose because of you. Even in this situation, I was confident I could find a way to survive. The fact that I’ve made it this far proves it.”

But in the end, without me, you would have died. My memories gave you the courage to make decisions and take on challenges.

“That’s debatable. I’ve played with my life a few times even before coming to the elves’ country.”

Child, you still don’t understand anything. If you don’t act, others will eventually emerge to take your place.

“Back to the basics, huh? I don’t have enough loyalty to think that far.”

They will usurp your glory and throw you into a pit of filth. Are you willing to accept that?

“Didn’t you suffer the same fate at your brother’s hands? Your victory, strictly speaking, wasn’t a victory achieved, but a victory that was handed to you, wasn’t it?”

Yes. That’s why it was quite fitting that I, having lost the blessing of victory, was defeated by someone who had an even greater blessing of victory than mine.

“And you’re satisfied with that?”

Of course not.

“…But it’s already too late, isn’t it? What are you trying to do now? Help me? You know as well as I do that’s completely impossible.”

No. Don’t misunderstand.

I’ve given you an opportunity to help me. Because if you don’t do it, I will.

“…”

I tried hard to shake off these thoughts.

But somehow, without dispersing or retreating, their presence grew even stronger.

“You don’t mean…”

You’re just an immature personality barely over ten years old. Your intellect is still incomplete.

But I am not. I am not.

“Do you think memories can become a personality and seize control of the body?”

Nothing is impossible. Because I am.

“Very, very greedy.”

Kariel, with a twisted smile, turned away from the sanctuary wall.

“…”

But for some reason.

“You’ve seized it.”

The skinny man with whom I’d been strangely entangled recently was standing at the entrance to the sanctuary.

Spouting nonsensical gibberish, showing interest, and unnecessarily imitating what this body’s former owner called breathing techniques.

What a waste of time.

“What?”

When Kariel responded with a crooked tone, the man stared directly into his eyes, dark with shadows.

“Here.”

The man pointed to the area near his solar plexus with his slender index and middle fingers.

“I was late to notice because I was caught up in my own troubles.”

“What are you babbling about?”

As Kariel snorted and took a step forward.

“The mind cannot overcome the body.”

“??”

“That’s how it’s made.”

He said.

“When your mental state collapses, your breathing collapses first. So you need to revisit what you’ve learned.”

“Has this crazy elf lost his mind? Or what? Are you desperately trying to die or something?”

“The meaning isn’t important. Once it’s engraved in the body, as long as you don’t leave that body, it will never be forgotten.”

“You bastard…”

During this, for some reason, Kariel realized his consciousness was receding.

‘What’s happening?’

It’s sinking.

Consciousness, mind… everything that had perceived, detected, observed, and discerned the world.

It all returns to its original place.

Everything that had seemed natural and taken for granted is being dragged back into emptiness and darkness.

A familiar darkness.

Silence and stillness.

Stagnation and endless… nothingness and void.

Right into that empty space.

“…”

Kariel, who had staggered to his knees, calmly regulated his breathing.

“…”

Long, long.

He continued his deep breaths.

“…What was that?”

After a while, sweating profusely and panting, Kariel barely raised his head to look at the elf standing over him, with a perplexed gaze.

“The monster you hatched was trying to find its place.”

“…You mean me?”

“Everything is inevitable. Once you carried that egg, whether it hatched or not depended on your fate. Sooner or later.”

“…If I may ask, who exactly are you?”

“I am nothing.”

“…Hmm.”

He hadn’t changed the subject or given an irrelevant answer.

He had understood the exact point of the question and answered like that.

“I’ve been constantly pondering and contemplating how to contain the world in a single point. We, the guides of the Black Star, have been seeking answers in that way.”

With his unchanging, pale face shadowed in darkness, he continued with a sigh.

“And just now, I’ve found part of the answer.”

“Is that related to why you saved me?”

Kariel asked with a strange mixture of anxiety and expectation in his tone and expression.

“I didn’t save you.”

He declared.

“I saved the one who comes after you.”

He suddenly looked at the sanctuary wall rather than at Kariel.

“Isn’t that right, my distant junior? You’re watching us now, aren’t you?”

“…More nonsensical talk?”

Kariel whistled lightly, sticking out his tongue slightly.

“If you don’t want your body seized again like before, take note of what I’m about to tell you.”

“…”

This guy really knows how to leave me speechless.

Thinking about it, even though the conversation seemed to flow, it felt like he was unilaterally imposing something on me.

As if, despite being here, he was in a distant place or a completely different space.

…And it was quite strange that he appeared when I was in that state.

“This is necessary for your own sake. For your future as well.”

“Do I even have a proper future?”

“Even now, you don’t know what will happen one second from now. Does it matter whether it’s infinite or finite?”

“…Should I arrange a meeting for you with some old-fashioned wizards or theologians?”

Kariel quipped wittily, wiping away the sweat that had begun to flow down his brow.

“Before that, just tell me this. Did you know I would end up like this beforehand?”

“A guide of the Black Star is someone who can clearly see the near rather than the distant, and make choices accordingly.”

“Is that what you mentioned briefly earlier? What exactly is that?”

“Knowing would only complicate your mind. But when the time comes, you’ll naturally understand without having to ask.”

He stared blankly at the sanctuary wall again.

Which, when you think about it, is just a part of the World Tree.

“Just as it is now watching over the traces and trajectories of you and me, across and across.”

“Being cryptic doesn’t make you smart, you know.”

Kariel snorted in a different way and shrugged his shoulders, indicating he had given up trying to understand.

“For now, just tell me what you were going to tell me. I’ve been saved… so let’s call it even with that as repayment.”

At this, a strange gleam passed over the eyes of the elf, who had shown little change in expression until now.

“How insolent. It sounds as if you’re doing me a favor by accepting my teachings.”

“That’s right.”

Kariel was shameless.

“Isn’t it the thirsty one who carries the water? If you’d prefer, would you like to have another argument with my head friend to keep things interesting?”

“…”

This time, even the man was dumbfounded by such shamelessness.

As if he hadn’t anticipated that inevitability would work in such a vexing way.