Ch.25684. Luck Has No Place in Weighing (3)

When one speaks of the Salvation Knights Order, they typically refer to the followers of Grandeus.

I’m not sure how it was originally, but in that era, such a perception had become firmly established.

Perhaps with a bit more time, it might become obsolete or take on a different meaning altogether.

Yet its lineage was being maintained with difficulty.

And among those at the practical center of maintaining that lineage, the man was positioned almost at the core.

“What the hell, I thought you had wings on your feet or something.”

The first rumor he heard was in some obscure corner of a nameless country.

It began when he was dozing off at a drinking party and started listening to the clumsy lyrics of a minstrel, becoming intrigued enough to pay attention.

After that, he steadily advanced.

He caught up with the figure in Phaeslan, but…

Who would have thought they’d disappear without even a chance to exchange words?

It took quite a while to track them down afterward.

He even went so far as to gather scattered factions and exchange information with them.

The Snake-Eye faction had long since transformed from a true Salvation Knights Order into a merchant guild—an organization of merchants armed with the creed of the Salvation Knights.

This happened ever since their faction leader, Rupert, was captured and taken away by the Empire.

Meanwhile, in the case of the First Star faction, there wasn’t much of an issue since he himself was still intact.

The First Star inherited the sword, the Snake-Eye the creed.

And while the Black Sword faction supposedly inherited the organization, the Black Sword faction had become corrupt after Grandeus’s death, so the First Star and Snake-Eye factions, whose views aligned, joined forces and contributed to their downfall.

The infamy of the Salvation Knights Order was essentially harm caused by the Black Sword faction.

They were practically no different from a band of thieves or mercenaries.

But even they were helpless against the offensive, schemes, and ambushes launched by the one who could glimpse the future and the one who, after Grandeus’s death, was effectively ranked first in martial prowess.

The organization itself wasn’t that large to begin with.

Grandeus was always solitary and aloof, and even among his followers, he would firmly expel those with ulterior motives or different intentions, or if that wasn’t enough, he would end their lives.

Outwardly, he played the role of a virtuous and righteous knight.

But inwardly, he punished evil more persistently than anyone.

He did so regardless of race or status.

And yet, even as he was dying, his righteous cause and honor remained untarnished.

Even when the hero Rueld struck him down… he didn’t announce that Grandeus was one of the great generals of the demon realm, probably for that reason.

“Seeing you now… brings back nostalgic memories.”

On the surface, Grandeus would laugh heartily in front of people and make odd remarks.

But in private or quiet places, he was, like the figure before him now… extremely dark and quiet.

At such times, he would meditate or swing his sword as if chasing away loneliness and cutting through distractions.

…As if resisting everything, as if shaking off the pull of time, he would swing his sword.

The one who had consistently observed this was none other than Levantes, the leader of the First Star faction and the highest-ranked member, the First Sword of the Salvation Knights Order.

“……”

“I heard that Venus, that spoiled brat, escaped a crisis thanks to you. I express my gratitude.”

“……”

Did he enter with permission?

Perhaps he took advantage of the commotion during the finals of the tournament.

In the training ground within the royal palace.

Cariel, who had been endlessly honing his skills there, was caught in a peculiar contemplation as he watched the man who approached him stealthily from afar, exuding his presence, even though he had already sensed his existence.

‘This man….’

This was the human Grandeus had once described:

[He somehow learned my swordsmanship in his own way, even though I never taught him.]

However, because his nature was twisted, Grandeus had rejected him several times, but he persistently followed.

[Though I was already aware of his existence, seeing him directly was quite unpleasant.]

He forces himself to do good deeds despite his twisted nature.

Despite having a disposition more suited for evil, he deliberately chooses to perform good deeds and righteous actions.

A true hypocrite.

[But he’s someone who never abandoned his hypocrisy, even until death. Yet no matter what tests I put him through, he remained an inherently twisted villain.]

He is a villain.

Yet he commits good deeds until the day he dies.

So is this person a villain or a virtuous one?

[He also gave me insights in various ways, and at some point, I began to feel pity for him.]

So I taught him a few techniques.

But I felt regret, wondering if that was enough.

However, it was too late for regrets, as by then the hero was already standing before him with the divine sword.

[Regrets are always realized too late, I suppose.]

Though I already knew, I deliberately avoided examining it.

But when the end finally came, the most important things began to resurface.

“He, Grandeus, regarded you not as a son, but as a nephew, he said.”

“A nephew?”

It’s a confusing expression.

There’s no blood relation to begin with.

So that’s a metaphor? Some kind of expression?

The man with dark-dyed hair and dark brown pupils, Levantes, rubbed his beard with his leather gloves and asked back.

“Did you hear it directly?”

“……”

Cariel, still seated, nodded slightly.

“I see….”

The man seemed momentarily lost in thought.

Only after Cariel slowly rose to his feet did he clear his throat lightly, as if awakening from his reverie.

“So, seeing that you don’t interfere with us… it seems you have no intention of using our organization or members as your pawns. What do you think?”

“Just because I succeeded him, does that give me reason to command his followers?”

“What’s stopping you?”

“But there’s no reason why I should either.”

I might be weak and need someone’s help.

But I don’t want anyone to suffer or be harmed because of it.

After all, all of this stems from my personal affairs.

So both the beginning and the end must be washed away by my own hands.

“I understand without you saying it. Like his successor… you’re aloof.”

“……”

Aloof, he says.

“I’m not sure.”

“That’s what being aloof is. The attitude that you must, can, and will accomplish things on your own without needing to be petty about it. If that’s not aloofness, what is?”

“……”

“But I understand. Because the aloof always run ahead alone… those around them can’t keep up. Yet hesitating means time slips away.”

“……”

“So the only option is for those who can follow to do so on their own. Ah, I only realized this after finding myself in this position.”

The First Star faction wasn’t large in numbers to begin with, but its organizational structure was solid.

When did it start to go awry and scatter?

Even when scattered, they never denied their affiliation or origin.

Rather, they would proudly declare it.

But because of that, they fell to overwhelming force or petty, underhanded tactics… and faded away.

To claim to do righteous deeds means being exposed without restraint to the malice and evil intentions of those in power.

“A knight isn’t strong on their own. Knights are strong as an organization, and they become powerful only when backed by a country and a cause—that’s the essence of knighthood.”

So the Salvation Knights Order, having no country and a cause too lofty and idealistic…

…while they could protect others, no one could protect them.

In the end, those who couldn’t protect themselves all became cold corpses.

And those who remained, without exception, all became heroes in their own right.

“Both Venus and Achette. Haven’t you met anyone else?”

“……”

“I was surprised to hear that Achette was here. When I heard she had fled to the Empire or Lutania, I thought the situation was already resolved.”

If Rupert had been able to clearly see the future, he would have sent warnings about such matters long ago.

But that’s ancient history now.

No, perhaps not quite yet?

“I don’t think either of us has anything to appeal to the other about… but just in case.”

“Let me ask you instead. Is there something you want from me?”

“…That’s what I’m pondering. I thought I’d have many questions to ask. But…”

Now that we’re face to face…

“I find myself thinking nothing.”

“……”

From then on, the two maintained a long silence.

Even though faint cheers could be heard from far away.

“Can you glimpse the future like Grandeus?”

“…It’s possible, but I have no desire to do so.”

“Is that so? You’re different from Grandeus, I see.”

“He was cursed to glimpse a fixed future, so he constantly cursed his own future.”

That’s why Cariel, though capable of glimpsing the future, deliberately chooses not to.

Instead, he focuses on drawing in the future and possibilities he needs.

Hoping that the desire and longing, the will to pursue, will properly claim its rightful place.

“I’ve met prophets and seers, but they merely glimpse possibilities rather than a fixed future. So you’re saying the future Grandeus saw was far superior to that of such seers?”

“Precisely.”

“…If that’s the case, the future would indeed be cursed. It means no matter what you do, you can’t change it? Then why… why did he live such a life?”

“……”

That’s a question I have as well.

Grandeus only responded abstractly to this.

Because of the possibility, because of such a future, he chose hardship for the sake of what comes next, for the second best?

It sounds plausible, but…

“He accepted his fate. To break the next cycle of fate, the chains. That’s how he justified it to me.”

“Judging by your use of the word ‘justified’… I take it that wasn’t his true heart?”

“It was his true heart, but at the same time, it wasn’t. That’s how you should understand it.”

Even if we have something we pursue, we always find ourselves distracted or thinking of other things.

Even if we have something we pursue.

Even while training diligently.

Even while knowing better than anyone that we should be training.

Somehow we rest because it’s hard or find other interests and play hooky, so to speak.

“Not everyone lives diligently because they want to, do they?”

“Ah, yes. I understand now. That’s certainly true. That’s why I can’t help but have alcohol on my lips.”

Life is arduous.

Life is tough.

But that’s nothing now.

When it becomes as natural as breathing, and even recalling and remembering it feels unnecessary.

From then on, you just mindlessly continue doing what needs to be done.

But that doesn’t mean life isn’t tough or arduous, so we endure or weather those moments, and to endure, we inevitably…

“Because of our connection, I’ll make a suggestion.”

As Cariel spoke, Levantes, once again awakened from his thoughts, folded his arms.

“If there’s something worth pursuing until death, something that holds meaning even in the moment of death, would that interest you?”

“…That depends on what it is.”

To his brief answer, Cariel…

“The reason for life. The reason for birth. And the reason why one must continue living. Understanding that would be the priority. What do you think about this?”

“You can… know that? By what method?”

“……”

Cariel lifted his head to look up at the empty sky.

“It’s simple. We need to break the shell, the world that confines us, and step outside.”

“You make it sound easy.”

“I agree.”

But.

“If I didn’t know the method, I’d be a braggart, but I understand the way. Whether I can reach it is a matter of time… but that’s what I desire.”

“…Perhaps it would feel more realistic if you said you’d drive out all evil in the world, or conquer the continent, or become the strongest absolute being in this world.”

“That’s trivial.”

Cariel shook his head.

“Being the tallest tree in one forest means you’re only tall in that forest. In any other forest or woodland, that tree might actually be nothing special.”

And.

After all, it’s just a tree.

Even that can’t rise higher than dust and ashes scattered by the wind.

Falling raindrops descend from a distant realm that trees can never reach.

“Illusions and pleasures are blinding our eyes and ears.”

“Are you saying we need to look at the source, the fundamental?”

“……”

“How is that different from what religious people call heaven and hell?”

“It is different.”

We seek answers.

And they…

“They’re throwing tantrums to taste sweet honey forever. Or they’re struggling not to be punished.”

“Ha. What a sage we have here.”

After laughing hollowly like that.

Levantes sighed deeply with a somewhat empty look in his eyes.

“Grandeus once told me this.”

“……”

“In our lives, shrouded in fog and smoke, his successor would hold the answers, so seek answers from him.”

Why have we been obsessed with his successor?

The reason is simple.

“The questions and problems we hold. We’ve been anticipating you because we know you have the answers to them.”

“……”

“Seeing you speak like this now… it seems we weren’t wrong.”

Long ago, the existence of Irenis was meant to be one who would overcome and resolve oppression and exploitation.

A great king bestowed by the gods. The existence of an emperor.

Although Irenis could have been that, he didn’t, and he argued that he shouldn’t.

At that time, how many truly pondered his words and intentions?

“If you had been an outstanding leader and a knight greater than Grandeus, we would have followed you as we followed him.”

“……”

“But seeing you now, some will be arbitrarily disappointed, while others will harbor hatred and question your legitimacy.”

But that’s nothing.

In Levantes’s view, this Black Knight before him was not one to be obsessed with or cling to such things.

From the moment he wielded Elbat, became the master of Caligula,

And donned that black full-body armor that couldn’t be arbitrarily replicated or misappropriated,

And when he most clearly reproduced the swordsmanship that he handles…

Discussing legitimacy itself would be an error.

But.

“In the end, you’re not going to execute or carry out judgment against evil like Grandeus, are you?”

“I’m different from him.”

What I pursue, and what I will pursue as my purpose.

“If you expected me to be a savior who eliminates all evil with overwhelming power like Grandeus, that’s a miscalculation.”

“…But you’ve shown precedent. What you’ve done on your way here, to Dabas…”

“That was just on my way.”

There was no need to turn a blind eye to that.

There’s no need to go looking for it specifically.

If I were to chase down every single evil in that manner.

I could perhaps sink countless great evils in this era.

But that doesn’t mean evil would be uprooted.

Moreover, my existence would instill anxiety and fear not only in evil, but in the seeds of evil, and in everything that coexists with evil except evil itself.

That means my existence would become their despair.

…At that point, I might truly need to establish a country beyond an organization.

If I want to change even a part of the world in the right way.

And so, I’d slowly sink back into the sticky swamp of shackles and resistance.

And my existence would, for some race or clan… as a hero or demon lord, a great ancestor or hero, a great person or example.

Draw them all into a vast swamp from which they cannot escape.

And in my name and the name of the gods.

They would commit evil deeds.

Laughing, rejoicing, bursting into maniacal laughter.

Splattering blood.

Not knowing they’ve gone astray.

Without even the chance to realize they’ve gone astray.

Captured by unclear convictions!

“You seem to curse your own existence.”

“……”

Levantes.

He gave a somewhat pitiful, complex look.

“Don’t you know that following you could be glory and a longed-for desire for them?”

“It’s precisely for that reason that I cannot deviate from my path.”

If I believe it’s right, I don’t hesitate.

That’s all there is to it.

I don’t want to care about anything else now.

I just need to carry out my revenge and retribution.

The rest of my life will be devoted solely to that purpose.

“Grandeus was the same. Always looking far ahead, he never considered what was close by. You… you truly are his successor. To think you’d even inherit such a bad habit.”

“……”

“No, perhaps when one possesses such great power, their perspective changes.”

It seems the burden remains heavy either way.

Or perhaps you’re just living a newly complicated life.

“I’ve always lacked tact.”

Even the Demon Lord of Wisdom pointed that out thousands of times.

It’s not just a figure of speech; being criticized that many times truly embeds the voice in your head.

Even now, when I feel I’m being clumsy, I can hear the thunderous shout of “Fool!” as if it were just bellowed at me.

“Then as his nephew, let me say one thing.”

“……”

“Call if you need me. As long as you’re not asking me to die, I’ll be accommodating. No matter how great you are, you must know that your hands alone are not enough?”

With those words, he finally turned his back and urged:

“And don’t put strange ideas into the kids’ heads.”

“……”

“Whether for your sake or theirs. If you’re going to do something, I’d like you to do it properly.”

With those final words, I watched him gradually walk away, seeing him off only with my eyes.

“……”

I will open the door to truth.

Then, I will uncover the fundamental absurdities of this world.

Wouldn’t I, like Lutesia and Delica, have had complaints about the world?

But if there’s a reason why it must be so, if that reason is one I can accept.

I would gladly endure it.

…But because I don’t know that reason, I want to know it.

And by now, I’m becoming somewhat certain.

If I were to discover that reason.

I, at least in this current world, would no longer be able to walk freely.

“……”

Perhaps.

Even before I discover it, a calamity greater than what I’ve achieved might strike.

And everything might be in vain.

“Even so.”

I must move forward.

Once born, we have no choice but to move forward.

Whether backward or forward.

The pull of time never lets us go.