Ch.375The Ocean’s Eye. Blue Hole (2)

Looking back, this was probably the first time in Viktor’s life that he had used the sea as a means of “appreciation” or “tourism.”

The sea of Parsifal was not only extremely cold because it was the North Sea, but it was also teeming with all kinds of sea monsters, and its identity as a trading port was so strong that it was far removed from the image of a “refreshing sea.”

As for Raisha’s hometown of Faerus Vale, it was originally the heart city in the exact center of the continent… so there was no sea to begin with, and she had only visited the beach once or twice in her life. After her father passed away, their rapidly declining family fortunes meant they couldn’t afford luxuries like sea bathing or any other entertainment.

But now, to be floating in bubbles of air in this deep, deep sea… People say life is full of unexpected turns (bad things pass and good things come), but having lived such harsh lives, the couple felt like they might lose their sense of reality.

Floating gently…

The air bubbles moved here and there with the currents, and the sun and moon moved their bodies around in the strange sensation of what felt like zero gravity.

And finally, they arrived at a massive machine that was artificially regulating the ocean currents to mix light and heat.

“This… belongs to the ancient empire.”

The style of the ancient empire was immediately recognizable. Though not vastly different from modern styles, it had a smooth surface that looked like polished stone slabs rather than iron or concrete. It also featured an overwhelming vertical grandeur and red and white light sources emerging from the cracks between the surfaces.

The smooth surface wasn’t specifically intended, but was common to all imperial structures built with vastly superior basic technology. The vertical grandeur was typically applied not to ordinary houses or commercial buildings, but to government buildings with public authority.

This was deliberately designed to make viewers feel intimidated by the empire that built such structures.

And the cracks served as windows, alternating between red light symbolizing heat and white light symbolizing light, broadcasting to the outside world that this building was dedicated to the Lord of Radiance.

Viktor placed his hand on the massive machine, and memories of the machine—created under the sun and circulating the sun’s light—flowed into him.

Images of thousands of technicians moving parts around. The machine being fixed to a crane, dropped into the deep sea, where its built-in mechanical arms dug into the rock to secure itself and begin fulfilling its purpose.

Its operational period: 6,300 years and 12 years.

Through the flow of time in which dozens of dynasties could have changed, this machine blessed by Radiance had silently endured the ages, faithfully fulfilling its duty.

“6,312 years… that’s a long time.”

Considering that Viktor had only been on his adventure for about 4 years, the time this machine had endured could only be described as dizzying. Withstanding terrible pressure thousands of kilometers below sea level while silently fulfilling its duty, this machine was certainly worthy of the Lord of Radiance’s favor.

*

Splash!

Five hours later, the Iron Walker party simultaneously rose to the surface after enjoying their underwater tour, as if it had been choreographed.

At the same time, in the distance, reporters with cameras so long they might as well have been cannons began pressing their shutters, trying desperately to capture images of the Moon in her bikini…

“Delete it.”

“B-but…”

“Delete it.”

“Just one… couldn’t I keep just one photo…?”

“Delete it.”

“Waaah!”

The cameras of such reporters were thoroughly confiscated and censored by the Sun’s honor guard in white uniforms.

The gait of the Sun and Moon must not be judged by mortals, and capturing images of the naked form of the Moon, who should be the Sun’s companion alone, would be against the duty of his subjects. The reporters could only shed tears as they watched their carefully taken photos travel to the cyber-graveyard, never to return.

They might have invoked freedom of the press, but the Sun’s forces already had many enemies.

Not just the existing powers wary of the emergence of a unified government, but also adventurers of gem rank who were uncomfortable with absolute power that could constrain them. Enemies who, while unable to harm the Sun directly, could ruin the lives of the people under the Sun—truly frightening enemies in a sense.

With such fearsome enemies everywhere, the proper procedure was to fundamentally and principally discard all photos that could produce worthless tabloid stories.

“Soon, the Commander will say a few words for you. Be satisfied with that.”

“Huh! Really?”

“Yes.”

However, since curiosity is human nature, being too obsessed with secrecy and mysticism was not appropriate behavior either.

Therefore, the Commander, the highest of the Sun’s forces, would take on the role of spokesperson for an interview… mentioning things like what was good about this or that, and answering questions on several non-sensitive topics.

“Ah… meeting the Sun directly…”

“Know your place. How dare a mere lowly reporter wish to see the radiant face of the Lord of Radiance?”

“…That would be too much, I suppose.”

“Indeed.”

Of course, it was also in selfish human nature to ask for ten when given one, so the reporters secretly wished to see the divine face directly, but naturally, this would not be permitted.

Not only was there a difference in status, but even highly trained soldiers found it difficult to withstand the mental waves constantly emitted by the gods. If ordinary people, whose most courageous life experience was perhaps dabbling in stocks, were to approach the gods, they would inevitably suffer severe psychological aftereffects.

Even physically and mentally sound special forces members experienced numerous side effects after months of guard duty, including sensory loss, personality changes, memory deficits, and ideological extremism—what would happen to ordinary people?

In principle, even meeting with welcoming committees or representatives was dangerous, but it was possible because the Sun consciously suppressed his aura when dealing with them.

One might think that he could simply suppress his aura for interviews as well, and that would indeed be correct, but Viktor was a god and the reporters were human. With such a difference in status, wouldn’t it damage the Sun’s dignity to grant them a private audience?

*

“This is refreshing.”

Feeling the gradually fading heat of Saburo, Viktor reclined on a piece of furniture—either a sunbathing chair or a bed, it was hard to tell with its 45-degree angle—enjoying a Blue Hole cocktail.

Though he couldn’t completely let his guard down, relaxing his vigilance even slightly was quite a comfortable experience.

Closing part of his gaze, which was connected to satellites monitoring everything around him, felt like taking a sweet one-hour nap in the middle of a difficult task.

If someone were to ask how he could maintain real-time satellite surveillance for 36 hours a day, the only answer would be “because he’s a god.”

Of course, even divine power has its limits, so the mere fact that he could temporarily maintain only a mortal’s field of vision made Blue Hole worthy of being called a resort.

If divine power could solve everything, Nariakira Saburo would have had no need to establish an empire as a system and a nation. He could have reigned eternally above the world, purifying all the byproducts of human nature and creating a paradise on earth.

But nothing can go against human nature, and no system or nation lasts forever.

Even holy saints secretly sleep with seductive beauties, even the most honest and rational systems eventually collapse under obstinacy, incompetence, self-righteousness, and excess, and even the mightiest nations eventually fade away like extinguished embers.

As the Nariakiran Empire did, so too will the Victorian Empire. Viktor did not fear this.

All living things must die. This was an unchanging truth and natural order, whether for gods or humans, creators or creations.

“Someday, even that one sun and moon will set.”

“And you will create that era.”

“Hmm.”

Viktor kissed his wife’s lips, then wiped away her lipstick mark with the alcohol from his cocktail.

How long would the thirteen suns continue to illuminate the world? How long would his Empire of Victory continue to exist for humanity?

That was all Viktor wondered about.

On the day when the system he established and the world he built would be shaken and challenged.

Would those he had gathered turn their blades against his empire? Or would they take up shields to protect it?

Even as a god, he could not foresee the future.