Ch.257The Scars of History. Moros Gorge (3)

The train continued to descend.

Before we knew it, the train reached the bedrock layer, and we disembarked at the station located at the very bottom, stepping onto the bone-covered ground that stretched out right in front of the station.

“We deliberately avoided building facilities here, except for the station. It’s to honor the sacrifice of our ancestors.”

“I see…”

I tapped at the bones beneath my feet.

Despite possessing strength far superior to ordinary people, I couldn’t even make a scratch on them. The bones, which didn’t move an inch from the ground, seemed to tell me that they had completely become part of the earth and history.

“Hmm…”

With a sigh of admiration, I walked along the bedrock layer shadowed by the canyon, accompanied by my companions.

With each step, the bones crackled beneath our feet, and I looked around to see if there was anything noteworthy.

But there was nothing.

All I could see were the brown rock walls and the bones beneath our feet.

They were created during the Dark Age, and very long ago at that—at least 400,000 to 500,000 years old. Naturally, nothing remarkable would have survived.

“Is this also human greed? Seeking something that remains after so much time has passed.”

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

“Just… it’s sad that despite so many deaths, they ended up merely becoming the ground.”

“…”

When I said that, my companions looked down at the ground with solemn expressions.

This land of bones stretching to the horizon meant that monsters had once swarmed all the way to the horizon’s edge.

“Standing and fighting is harsh. But what’s even harsher is knowing that if you don’t die, your children, friends, and family will.”

“That’s why soldiers fight.”

As I murmured, Simon responded with a grim expression.

“They died too long ago… Not only them but their descendants probably died without ever seeing the sun… Many likely died without even leaving behind offspring.”

“Was the Dark Age really that terrible?”

“It’s easy to imagine a world without light. But living in that world? That’s entirely different. Humans have always had phototropism—the tendency to follow light. If there’s even the tiniest light, they gather around it.”

Though I’ve never lived in that era, memories of the Dark Age would occasionally flow into me through my connection with the sun whenever I dreamed.

And if there was one thing those memories had in common, it was that they were all horrific.

The only light was what humans created, and the only places where humans could safely bask in light were in mountain ranges and deep underground bunkers.

Countless villages and cities were built and destroyed in an endless cycle. Men were conscripted en masse, and women were subjected to endless childbearing just to preserve humanity—a dehumanization of humans. It was in this literal dark period that Lord Saburo was born.

“The sun taught you this, didn’t it?”

“…Was it that obvious?”

As I wore a serious expression, Simon, who had sensed what was happening to me, carefully asked.

“It’s not that serious. He only shows me what I can handle… Besides, I’m no longer human. I can endure this level of… ‘infusion.'”

“Even as an Apostle, you don’t forget pain. The memories you see are those of one who ascended as a god. To glimpse the memories of such a being…”

Simon couldn’t finish his sentence, and the expressions of the elf and dwarf also grew serious.

There was no one in the thirteen continents who didn’t know the power of an Apostle, and I was the only Apostle they had ever met.

And from their perspective, I must have seemed on the verge of exploding.

There were so many Apostles who exploded from failing to control their divinity that recording them became meaningless. I rubbed my arm bitterly as I spoke.

“Don’t worry. I’m… still fine for now. At least I won’t explode with a bang while sleeping. Besides, there’s Raisha. If I were really struggling, my wife would be suffering too.”

“I suppose that’s true…”

“Don’t push yourself too hard. What if you really go ‘bang!’ and explode?”

“To hear words of concern from your mouth…!”

I smiled bitterly and straightened my back again.

Main was still bowing his head in the distance, but I could tell he was greatly relieved.

“The fortunate thing is… I’m not levitating in a trance like before. This heritage was created long before even the sun, so perhaps that’s to be expected.”

“Haha. That is indeed fortunate.”

Simon laughed as he leaned on his staff.

Though I had merely looked at the ground, I had gained another insight.

There are things in this world that are so simple, yet can never be understood without direct experience.

“Alright. Shall we head back now? I think we’ve seen all of this layer…”

“Mmm… let’s do that. My eyes are getting tired from looking at this. It’s scary too.”

Lucia answered while stretching her back.

As she said, setting aside its historical value, the endless expanse of bones was terribly frightening.

“If you’ve seen enough, I’ll guide you to a good restaurant. I’ll show you the essence of canyon cuisine.”

Main, judging that it was time to leave, added that he would guide us to a good restaurant, and I nodded while relaying some precautions.

“That’s welcome news. Let’s head back to the train now. Lucia, Kasia. We’ll be eating soon, so don’t drink on the train.”

“Got it~”

“I’ll keep watch.”

“Tch. It would be fine if I got a little tipsy…”

*

As we rode the train back up, we began to see airships that weren’t visible before.

“It seems the wind has calmed down. The canyon has strong winds, you see. Several times a day, airships are unable to take off.”

“I see… Have you considered modifying the airships?”

“We could, but… our ancestors need to rest too. That land isn’t made up solely of monster bones. Flying above the dead… it wouldn’t be respectful.”

“I understand. Then there’s nothing I can do about it.”

They say the dead don’t speak, but even I would feel uncomfortable if someone were leisurely looking down at me from above a field of corpses.

Some might not mind, but that’s at least how I feel.

Before we knew it, the train had stopped at the top of the canyon again, and after disembarking, we waited briefly in the station.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll call for a carriage now.”

With that, Main hurriedly went outside the station, and passengers waiting to use the train looked curiously at us who had disembarked from the luxury train.

Especially since guards were tightly blocking the path toward us.

“Who are they?”

“They look like adventurers… that man is huge!”

“Escorting adventurers like that? Are they diplomatic envoys?”

“Nah… if they were, they wouldn’t be left like that.”

“Is that so?”

Most people didn’t know our identity.

More precisely, they didn’t know “my” identity. Unlike other Apostles who exude an overwhelming presence just by existing, I appeared to be just a large adventurer at first glance.

Of course, those who had reached a certain level of enlightenment, priests who served gods, and followers of the Sun and Moon Order who served the same sun and moon could see through my identity. I quietly nodded to someone in the corner who was bowing to me while displaying a necklace with the sun and moon.

It’s truly fortunate that even in this distant place, there remains a righteous person who offers true worship to humanity’s master. Even if things go wrong, I won’t have to destroy this country.

It was also somewhat amusing to observe the reactions of priests of the Four Great Gods and Aura users who looked at us and then turned pale.

It was like the look of someone seeing a cockroach in their room—something that absolutely shouldn’t exist was brazenly present before them, and it seemed incredibly bizarre to them.

“…Disgusting creatures?”

“Don’t worry too much about it. At least we found one righteous person.”

“Hmm…”

I quietly nodded, and just then, Main returned to the station and approached us.

“I apologize for the wait. The carriage has arrived, so please follow me. I’ve informed the restaurant, so there will surely be food to your liking.”

“Your dedication pleases me. Lead the way.”

“My honor is to serve. Now… this way…”

Following Main’s guidance, we boarded a twelve-horse carriage that only distinguished guests could ride.

The carriage moved forward with the sound of the coachman’s whip, and as I reflected on the Sun and Moon devotee who had bowed to me, I held hope in my heart that there were still faithful subjects of the Lord remaining in this world.