Ch.313The Luster of Black Shadow. Crater Mountain Range (1)

If there was one thing that had improved the most since the Sky Warden underwent renovations, it was the quality of its facilities.

First of all, to accommodate its massive crew of 200,000 people and maintain their mental health, internet cafes, board game rooms, various fitness facilities, and movie theaters had been established. More importantly for the soldiers, the quality of their meals had improved dramatically.

The kitchen staff nearly fainted from parasympathetic overload due to excessive endorphin release when they saw the kitchens equipped with cutting-edge technology, so I’ll spare you further details.

“Managing soldiers is truly simple. Good pay, good quarters, good welfare, and a reasonable command structure. It’s so simple, yet why do people fail to understand this?”

Viktor said this while recalling the poor living conditions that nations on the ground forced upon their soldiers.

In truth, if the pay, quarters, welfare, and structure were all good, anyone would be loyal, not just soldiers. This wasn’t so much the art of managing mercenaries as it was the art of managing people.

Actually, calling it an “art” was somewhat excessive. It was simply the universal human sentiment based on empathy and the golden rule—treat others well, and they will treat you well in return.

It’s just that reality is harsh and the world cruel, so few put this into practice.

The era of lawlessness where people kill over trivial matters, and the era of wars waged on flimsy pretexts, would soon end.

Faerune, Miriam, Meridia, Yenisei, Hyacinth, Reision.

The sun’s gaze was already pointing to the edge of the sixth continent, and soon the path to the seventh continent would open.

“How much longer do we have?”

“If we maintain our current speed… about four more days, sir.”

“Even with the additional propulsion engines, we haven’t gotten much faster. I’m honestly a bit disappointed.”

“Hahaha. For a million-ton vessel, this speed is incredible. We’re traveling at 330 kilometers per hour!”

“Well, becoming a god has dulled my sense of speed. Anyway, I understand. Four days, you say.”

Viktor muttered this while looking down below.

The Hargal Plains seemed to be coming to an end, as more mountainous terrain than flatland was becoming visible even to the naked eye.

“To think such vast plains are already ending—what a shame.”

“Well, the Hargal Plains are extensive, but they’re still just part of the continent. It can’t be helped.”

Viktor nodded and spoke to his aide while gazing at the gradually darkening landscape outside.

“I’d like to have dinner alone with my wife tonight. Please inform the kitchen staff.”

“Understood, my lord.”

When the god commanded that he would spend the evening alone with his wife in the captain’s quarters, the human aide saluted and relayed the order to the kitchen staff.

*

“Master, what are you thinking about?”

“Raisha… come here. Sit on my lap.”

In the dusky evening.

Inside the massive steel whale cutting through the sky, the husband seated his wife on his lap and carried her to the window.

What they saw were scattered small villages, weathered rocky mountains, endless forests and stone plains, and people moving about like ants.

“From this height, everything looks so small,” the husband said.

“And it takes only a moment for what looks small to start seeming insignificant. It’s just a difference in elevation, yet humanity hasn’t moved an inch from the old Earth days.”

“…”

“Scientists say that a human can only maintain calculations for about 100 people in their head. Just enough to fill a single company—that’s supposedly the optimal size for human governance.”

His wife silently rested her cheek against the chest of her husband, who was larger than anyone else.

When they first met, she saw a boy.

A lonely boy who wrapped himself in countless blades, trusting no one and nothing.

At first, she was merely interested in him as a comrade, but before she knew it, he had invaded a corner of her heart. By the time she had shaken off the curse of fascination that had attached to her body, she could no longer shake him from her dreams or reality.

She never thought of herself as strong.

From the moment she first faced the boy, she knew she would be overwhelmed by him in an instant.

It wasn’t about differences in their lives or gender disparities.

It was about the “nature” or “essence” that people are born with—the fundamental part that determines a person’s character, personality, and temperament.

Her husband was strong.

Even without the “decorations” of being a god or apostle, she believed her man could surely reach the end of this world.

In his eyes, there was no hesitation, no fear.

In those clear eyes resided only a pure fervor that could be called madness, and she had become a prisoner of that passion.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be by your side. Even if you burn in place of the sun, I’ll freeze beside you.”

And in his eyes was the paragon of all women who dedicate themselves solely to him.

When he first saw her, what he felt was a spirit trapped in flesh.

A pure girl dwelled in her eyes, but her mutated and corrupted body held her spirit captive, urging her to make herself into a vulgar harlot.

And the boy who saw the girl wanted to help her.

He wanted to ride horses with her on adventures, eat meals together, and sleep together. Perhaps it was an instinctive yearning for the family love he had never experienced.

And when she lay sick in bed and asked him to become hers, he accepted.

If asked whether he truly loved her, it would be a difficult question to answer. He didn’t trust women then, nor does he now.

During his 16 years in Parcifal, the insults and contempt heaped upon him by the owners of XX chromosomes had accumulated enough to justify his distrust.

But as they say, physical closeness leads to emotional connection. Her body, attractive even compared to other women her age, eventually melted his ice-cold spirit.

After they kissed, they joined at the navel, and after sharing a bed, there was nothing more worth describing.

On October 21, 1203, when both had become adults.

First, the wife kissed him, and then the husband lifted her clothes to reveal her enchanting nakedness.

The Sun God and the Moon’s Apostle walk this earth, but the fruits of love will not be borne until their pilgrimage bears results.

Yet like dandelions that spread their seeds even though not all will sprout, love is meaningful even without bearing fruit.

The Cosmic Sun teaches that those who dismiss love and compassion as weakness are truly the weak ones, for they do not understand the value in which humans are born and molded.

The Earthly Sun says that those who love and embrace each other are truly the strong ones, for they perform the noble act of giving the seed of hope and the soil of love to humanity.

The Cosmic Moon proclaims: “O people, cherish one another and forgive the sins you have committed. It is a terrible tragedy that men who hate women and women who hate men walk the earth, while those with planks in their own eyes rebuke those with specks. Breaking the chain of revenge is breaking the chain of sin, and thus sowing fertilizer for a better world.”

The Earthly Moon declares: “Love is like a disease that no one can pass through life without contracting at least once. Mourn for those who die from the disease, and bless those who overcome it. Just as the Holy Spirit dwells in those who overcome illness, those who engrave departed love in their hearts become capable of holding even more love within.”

And now, with the moon standing tall in the sky, those gazing at it began to fall asleep.

Ah… humanity on earth, you who build towers to break the sky and dig to pierce the crust. It is time to rest now. As the sun’s radiance that burns body and soul sets, the moon’s repose will come to you, so please do not reject the small sanctuary that is dreams.

Morning and day pass, and evening and night arrive.

Until the dawn comes to shatter the daybreak, may you taste hope and passion rather than fear and despair in your dreams.