Ch.306101. Chain of Causality (2)

“…..”

Time passes like the wind, like a whirlwind, spinning and scattering, brushing past.

Flowing away.

This moment with eyes open is reality and present.

But when eyes close, the distant past and the never-to-be future naturally come to mind.

“…..”

Meeting Mines again, and her departure.

Watching those here change little by little, while he himself constantly strived.

When the time came to visit Lutania again, he could see a child in Ases’s arms.

A young baby, whose hair had not yet fully grown.

While giving a few words of advice for that child.

Time flows once more.

The space where he can stay, the temporal reprieve, grows increasingly narrow.

Before long.

Alesia’s daughter toddles around.

Elhermina’s son crawls through the grass, distracted by butterflies and insects taking flight.

The wind blows, ice dust rises, and heavy snowflakes stretch across the sky.

“…..”

Increasingly, it becomes cramped.

The world he sees shifts from grayish-white to an even deeper ash color.

Now even that darkens.

…All he can see, all he can reach is pitch darkness.

Not the brilliant starlit scenery of the universe.

It is merely an abyss, the deepest depth.

Darkness within darkness.

Suddenly, Kariel realized.

Now, the time had come.

====

“Are you leaving?”

The first to notice and quietly ask was Adrian.

Having arrived here as a boy, now grown into a proper young man, he had been observing Kariel with eyes as profound and deep as Kariel’s own.

“…Yes.”

A day felt like a year.

And beyond that, a year passed as quickly as a day.

Time had lost its meaning, its tangibility, all its value before him.

But that doesn’t mean it ceased to exist.

Because there were things left behind, and flowers and fruits that bloomed from them.

Even this short life would have been but a fleeting moment compared to the virtual experience he had through the gold.

“It seems I can’t delay any longer.”

Knowing the day of one’s death carries more significance than knowing the future.

To already anticipate the realm I will enter, flow into after leaving—that’s truly remarkable.

No one in the world knows how they will die, nor where they will go after death.

The doctrine of Irenis says one goes to heaven after death.

Whether that’s true or false can only be known by experiencing it.

The famous, the great kings, the wise sages, even prophets who foresee the future.

…Cannot know.

Even they don’t know that much.

That is both the greatest blessing given to the living.

…And for beings permitted to possess and wield intellect and reason, an absurdly cruel curse.

Right and wrong.

Up and down.

Black and white.

Fire and water.

Front and back.

Moving forward is important because the concept of retreat exists.

Life is great precisely because death is so frightening.

Those who take no risks may seem to have a smooth path.

But before them, there will be no glory. No satisfaction.

This absurd world, designed to overcome trials, ultimately allows no satisfaction unless one grows and develops.

That’s why those who have nothing of their own steal and plunder from others, desperate to possess and retain.

Like the air spread throughout the atmosphere.

Like animals prowling daily in search of prey.

Yet life dies to become nourishment for others, but beyond that, it conceives and nurtures new life….

“…..”

Kariel took a long, deep breath.

“As for me, that’s one thing, but I wish you could stay a little longer.”

“Unlike my master, I still have mountains of skills to hone. I will probably guard this place for a long time.”

“…..”

Kariel nodded slightly.

“What shall we do?”

Should we gather the children?

Or will you personally meet with each one face to face?

Or perhaps… just like this….

“I’ll say my personal goodbyes to the women, but for you all… it’s right to gather everyone and talk.”

Adrian immediately left his seat to summon everyone according to Kariel’s decision.

“…..”

If I remain firmly on this land, no crisis will come to the Empire.

But crisis must come to the Empire, and only then will peace return to the continent, including Elimion.

Only after overcoming trials and terrible hardships.

Tragedy will be produced, and misfortune and bad luck will pour down like rain like a plague.

For living beings, complacency means extinction.

That’s not what nature, the world, or their master wants.

If that were the case, such a world would never have been created in the first place.

Hardship and trial are… the proper destiny given to living beings.

…A structure truly displeasing, but Kariel was not in a position to dictate otherwise.

No. Perhaps he could exert a small influence.

But even that would be a matter for some time later.

“Everyone has gathered.”

“…..”

A place reminiscent of an altar, but this was a training ground where they honed what they had learned.

Everyone gathered there now focused their attention on Kariel.

White and black.

All wearing uniformly designed uniforms as everyday clothes.

Looking at each of them one by one, he finally opened his heavily closed mouth.

“The time has come for me to leave.”

“…..”

There was no mention of where he would go.

But since Kariel had already mentioned several times that such a day would come, there was no great shock.

“In this life, this will be the last time we see each other.”

“You’re just leaving suddenly like this? Out of nowhere?”

Ensia asked with a bewildered expression.

“…There’s still so much to learn.”

Raymon expressed his anxiety, holding his side with his remaining hand.

“…..”

Delica was staring at him with eyes still tinged with dissatisfaction, though better than before.

And others…

Beldes, whose malice had somewhat diminished but who harbored an equally dangerous aura.

Duberin’s impression had clearly changed, now with rather peaceful eyes.

And.

“Suhan. Are you planning to return to your homeland?”

“Since the Master said he’s leaving, I suppose so. I plan to return and pass on, even if in a small way, what the Master has taught me.”

Since Kariel had long ago told him to do so, this was not merely a wish but in some sense a heavy responsibility, almost a duty.

If one keeps what one has to oneself, even that will rot and crumble.

To improve further, one must properly spread and disseminate what is better.

Because.

The world does not tolerate the selfishness of those who receive but only accumulate without sharing, such negligence.

Become a tree.

The fruit you bear will save the thirsty and the hungry.

Become a flowing river.

You are the guide to the vast world, to the sea that is the world itself.

Become a rock.

Possess the hardness that remains unchanged even after a thousand years. The firmness to stand steadfastly in place.

Become the wind.

Like it, flowing and blowing naturally, go where you are meant to be.

And so.

With passion that never extinguishes like fire.

With reason that never cools like ice.

Engraving each in your heart and mind.

Live.

“…..”

Though he had no intention of telling them.

Kariel had long since understood their futures.

Delica would probably guard this realm along with Adrian.

They would face many trials and hardships.

…But they would be fine.

As for Raymon… one day he would leave this place and return to his homeland.

After being active outside for a while, he would return here again after more than a decade.

Accompanied by several disciples.

Subsequently, the swordsmanship, sword techniques, sword formations, and the will of the sword originating from this place would be inherited and passed down through him.

If he did not transmit it, the will of the sword sect would be forgotten for a long time, only to be recreated in the distant future.

Ensia would form a new magic school.

…And that would become the framework for a new religious order called the Black Star Church that would emerge in the future.

Duberin would wander here and there before settling in the east.

And once settled in the east, he would likely establish a new exploration guild.

And after another decade or so passed, when the era of great explorer chronicles, the pioneering era arrived, he would be called the first pioneer and leader who established the Explorers’ Association.

And Beldes….

…He would become the new head of the vampire family.

He would hope to become Mines’s… lover, but in the end, he would only watch over and protect her.

Thus, he would live in solitude for a long time.

Even when carriages without horses appeared and large ironclad ships belching acrid smoke came and went, he would still be walking around.

“…..”

All that needed to be said had been said.

Some questions were exchanged, answers were given, words of blessing were offered.

And so they said their goodbyes.

……

Alesia and Elhermina were already in the mansion prepared for them to stay.

The two children, unaware, were sleeping in their arms.

“You’ll go after the children are all grown up, right?”

Elhermina let out a sigh close to lamentation.

“…..”

Alesia was silent.

“If I stay, it won’t be good for the children. Or for you.”

“…I don’t like that tone.”

Elhermina expresses her displeasure with furrowed eyes.

“I thought… we had a little more time.”

Alesia seemed somewhat regretful.

“…..”

Where there is meeting, there is parting.

But isn’t it fortunate?

That there are those who regret and mourn the parting… isn’t that a good thing?

When he voiced such thoughts, they both laughed as if by agreement, saying it wasn’t like him.

“You’ve learned to say such romantic things? Our Kariel?”

“…It would have been nice if you’d said such things more often.”

Wooong!

The child in Elhermina’s arms squirms.

“I suppose asking you to stay a few more days now won’t work?”

To Elhermina’s words, Kariel showed no particular reaction.

“…..”

Alesia seemed to smile briefly, but soon became gloomy.

“What should we tell the children later?”

Elhermina pretends to soothe the child, saying “there, there,” as if to make him feel guilty.

“Since I have experience, if possible, I too would like to directly, sincerely say as many good words as I can to those children.”

What influence his existence would have on those children….

It’s truly strange, but to protect them, he must stay away.

His existence is, in some sense, perhaps similar to that fairy in Lutania.

But unlike the fairy Morgane, he had no intention of interfering with the world.

Because he knew all too well that doing so would only destroy his descendants and offspring.

Possessiveness, desire, craving, greed must not invade him even momentarily.

This was Kariel’s resolution, his determination.

And the realm of sin he came to oversee extremely restricted his range of action and domain.

Because he had acquired the qualification to punish sin.

Conversely, he had to be freer than anyone from the concept of sin.

From simple thoughts and ideological concepts to gestures and their resulting outcomes.

All of it now affects him.

In that sense, it also has clear meaning that his blood relatives, his parents, and his brother Elimion live expressing righteous, correct, and good will.

…Coincidentally.

Whether he acknowledges it or not, he is still of the bloodline of Light.

…And has been the focus of this world’s master since birth, such a being.

The child of revelation.

“…I’ll leave tomorrow.”

It might be hard to offer comfort.

Still, he hoped they would find some solace.

There is much to say.

Though words didn’t come easily once the moment arrived, perhaps because it was the last day.

They continued their conversation endlessly, without beginning or end, as if wondering how they had held back until now, until dawn broke.

As the day faded and the outside brightened, they spoke without a moment’s pause.

……

And so.

After saying goodbye, Kariel placed the sleeping pair and the two children on the bed.

After gazing at them wistfully, he quietly turned his back and left the mansion.

…Eventually.

“You’ve come?”

“…..”

Lutesia.

With her memories sealed, she had stayed here as another family member and… disciple of his.

But she too was already in a position where she could not live a normal life.

Though her memories were sealed, the fact that she was a half-deity and an awakened transcendent remained unchanged.

And now, she had regained her memories on her own.

That was also the reason why Kariel would leave this place.

“The demon realm must be under that human’s rule as the Demon King now, so advancing won’t be easy.”

“…..”

“Well, that might not apply to you or me.”

The military deity.

And that being of light who had declared war early on.

After settling accounts with them, he heads for the demon realm waterway.

And then….

“Let’s go.”

“Are you really without regrets? It’s not too late even now.”

“…..”

Kariel gave a small smile.

“I always have regrets and remorse.”

But what can be done?

“Just as we live even when we don’t want to, and die even when we want to live.”

We.

“Have no choice but to move forward.”

It might be possible to put everything down and live ordinarily, quietly.

But that’s speaking without understanding.

The military deity won’t stay still.

Moreover, if the demon realm waterway employs even worse measures, there might truly be no countermeasure.

Saving the world, saving the universe.

It’s not about such things.

Making a contract with the Demon King to defeat his father wasn’t originally motivated by some grand reason.

This journey is the same.

“…..”

He only wishes to prevent them from doing unnecessary things, so they won’t commit sins and suffer.

He also hopes that the lives of our children, those women, disciples, those with whom he exchanged names, shared meals…

That their lives might be somewhat smoother.

In any case….

“…..”

May everyone be at peace.

That’s all I ever wanted.