Ch.351The Road to Truth City (1)

January 1, 1204.

Simon’s long yet brief lecture had finally ended, and as if blessing it, the sun opened the first page of a new year.

“No! Don’t go! There’s still so much to learn!”

“Partings make learning all the sweeter. Reflect well on what you’ve learned, and perhaps we’ll meet again someday when the opportunity arises.”

Simon said this while struggling to detach the students clinging desperately to his clothes, and soon boarded the shuttle like a crane taking flight.

“Sob! Professor Simon..!”

The surging crowd was so immense that even deploying 200,000 soldiers would hardly contain them properly.

They were that thirsty for knowledge and wisdom, but since what filled their heads was not self-realized understanding but borrowed knowledge, the Library’s doors remained closed to them. They lingered at the entrance year-round, not just for Simon, but for anyone who might emerge, grabbing at their trouser legs and begging for teachings.

Sadly, whatever they learned this way was merely recorded knowledge, merely sharing in someone else’s achievements, making it impossible for them to pass the Library’s test.

“How pitiful. Despite such desperate yearning for wisdom, they fail to obtain the wisdom they need most.”

Viktor clicked his tongue as he observed the scene, finding it somewhat comical.

People say everyone has the right to happiness, but whether one can actually exercise that right is an entirely different matter.

To waste one’s life fixated on a single purpose seemed utterly pathetic to Viktor, who had never wasted even a single day of his time.

“It’s what they call the ‘sunk cost fallacy.’ Happens all the time. They know the item is defective, but they keep using it reluctantly because they can’t bear to waste the time and resources they’ve already invested. It’s pathetic, but… that’s the human world for you.”

As Haukman spoke, Viktor found himself nodding automatically. Those people probably knew they would never see the inside of the Library, but acknowledging that would mean admitting they had wasted their lives.

Because that was frightening and terrifying, they continued playing the role of wisdom-seeking scarecrows for decades.

Eventually, they would realize the truth, but how much knowledge would be uselessly absorbed into their brains before that realization?

True knowledge is completed through sharing, and wisdom is completed through application.

How much time would it take for those well-like people who merely pursued knowledge and wisdom to break free from their wells and become flowing rivers?

With these thoughts, Viktor warmly welcomed Simon as he returned on the shuttle.

*

“Whew… I’m exhausted… truly…”

Simon adjusted the temperature of his dark coffee by adding cold milk, then gulped it down.

After lecturing for 180 hours without rest, had he not drunk the elixir, his life might have truly been in danger.

Given both the weather and Simon’s age, it was understandable.

“How was it?”

“It felt less like teaching and more like consoling… They call themselves students, but they’re essentially disciples. Well… I suppose I shouldn’t be the one to say this…”

Simon was a sage, which meant he was a devout believer in Logos.

And since Viktor had turned Logos into wisdom tempura, he deliberately ignored the cold sweat running down his spine as he continued the conversation.

“Even from above, I could tell the atmosphere was overheated. They kept pushing forward despite being crushed by the orbital path—like zombies, really.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Things became somewhat manageable only after I warned them I wouldn’t continue the lectures.”

Simon joked, then suddenly shuddered. The fatigue of the past days seemed to hit him all at once.

“Hmm… I’m tired. I’m sorry, but this old man needs some sleep. Let’s continue our conversation tomorrow.”

“Sure. Go ahead and rest. It’s getting toward evening anyway. Not too early to turn in.”

Simon nodded and returned to his room, and soon the sound of gentle snoring could be heard.

Viktor briefly called a soldier, informing him that the sage would not be having dinner tonight, and ordered toast, soup, and cold drinks to be placed in his room for when he woke at dawn.

The soldier nodded and departed, and Viktor entered the captain’s quarters, embracing his wife while sensing the gradually fading energy of the Library.

Somehow, with each god he pickled, he seemed able to use his power more freely, though the reason remained unclear. Using a god’s power shouldn’t be a good thing.

It might sound boastful, but since Viktor was a true god, people naturally submitted to his aura without him needing to release his power. Just look at Isabella’s case—when he adopted a solemn demeanor and began speaking, people couldn’t help but be completely captivated.

Knock, knock, knock!

Just as he was stretching his wife’s cheeks like rice cakes, a knocking sound was heard.

“My lord, it’s mealtime.”

“Ah, I’ll be out shortly.”

One of the three legitimate pleasures of the day had arrived, and Viktor and Raisha went outside for their meal.

The sun’s appearance of forcing tears while complaining about not being able to taste anything just a few months ago was nowhere to be seen anymore.

*

And so the next day arrived.

Around noon, Simon emerged from his room, wiping bread crumbs from his mouth with his sleeve, then sat down and pressed his hand against his forehead as if he had a headache.

“Ugh… too much sleep doesn’t feel good either. What time is it now?”

“Twelve o’clock. Are you alright?”

At Berkman’s words, Simon waved his hand and shook his head. He then ordered a nearby soldier to bring him strong coffee, and when the soldier brought him coffee that had been brewed three times, he magically cooled it and drank it in one gulp.

“Gaaah…”

Viktor burst into laughter at the sight of him drinking coffee as if it were soup, and Raisha, nestled in her husband’s arms, asked with a serious expression:

“If it has such a dramatic effect, why don’t they make caffeine injections? Seems like they would sell well.”

It was an innocent question, but apparently not to Simon, who immediately explained with suddenly alert eyes:

“Hehehe… that’s because caffeine is lethal to the human body if absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Most of what’s in here is water or milk. Pure caffeine is minimal. If they made it into an injection, it would kill several people. Just 1.5 grams can cause arrhythmia.”

“I see.”

“I’m pushing myself, but truthfully, whether it’s caffeine or anything else that affects the mind, it’s better not to consume it. Be it medicine or food.”

He was right. Taking something to help clear your mind meant you weren’t in your right mind to begin with, and taking drugs for pleasure was harmful to the body.

“By the way, are we heading to Truth City now?”

“Yes. According to the navigator, it will take about 4 weeks. A full month, basically. Since it’s January, we won’t cross into the next month.”

“I see… Truth City already… time really flies. I can barely remember when I drank the elixir…”

He had drunk the elixir at the Belka Archipelago before crossing the three continents of Hyacinth, Raysion, and Hurichel, so it wasn’t strange that he couldn’t remember. Despite the considerable time that had passed, the days flowed surprisingly leisurely.

Paerun, Miriam, Meridia, Yenisei, Hyacinth, Raysion, Hurichel, and Terius.

They had already traversed half of the eighth continent, yet strangely felt little excitement. Their minds had fully matured to the point where they remained unshaken by ordinary events.

Two were gods, one was a sage, and the remaining two dwarves were experts who had mastered their fields—their mental fortitude was exceptional.

“You don’t need to remember. What matters is that you don’t age. When we reach Truth City, I’ll look into cell senescence removal surgery for you. Maybe that snow-white beard and hair of yours will return to its original color.”

“Cell senescence removal surgery… well, I can’t even remember what my original hair color was. That’s why the passage of time is so frightening.”

Simon laughed and took another gulp of coffee.

Despite having traversed half of the eighth continent, the Iron Worker party remained steadfast.