Ch.6722. Opening Each Door, One by One (2)

Whether it was due to having an excellent guide or just good luck in many ways.

No, it was probably both.

“If we were dragging along an ordinary human, it would have taken at least three times longer than now, right? And that’s only if we were lucky.”

So she says.

Even though we had entered the Kingdom of Metran, we still couldn’t easily find a town, let alone a city, so we continued camping.

During this time, I had been giving her simple lessons, or rather, training sessions that resembled sparring.

“So it’s not about stealing or forcibly taking mana, like black magic or dark arts, but rather following the principles of natural circulation to return it, entangle it, or bind it…”

After rambling on for a while, repeating what I had told her, Luirin said:

“…I don’t understand any of this.”

“It’s not about going against the flow of a river. If you want to change the flow, you either block the space where it flows, or if you want to alter its course, you break the existing embankment or breach the built-up levee. Or create a new one.”

“I understand that, but how do I apply that physically? That’s what confuses me more.”

…Well, honestly, I have nothing to say on this point.

I came to understand this only after emptying my mind for nearly years, repeatedly practicing Grandeus’s strange sword techniques and sword formations.

The Demon King said that’s how it was possible, and just in case, I demonstrated the movements.

“What are these techniques used for?”

So I showed her by example.

Even with a sword that could be held with both hands, though it was bent, it was still usable.

Even with the sword given by Elhermina.

“I understand even less now! The movements and actions are completely different!”

“…But the principles and fundamentals are the same.”

“When using a large sword, you talk about trees and rocks? That makes sense, but when using a one-handed sword, it’s water and wind? How are these the same? Are these metaphors even correct?”

“……”

Surprisingly, they are indeed the same.

But how do I explain this?

“On this land, on this earth, there are trees, flowing water, and wind above. Looking at it that way, they’re ultimately two sides of the same coin… or rather, one unified…”

As I speak, I realize something.

First of all, I wonder why such expressions came from my mouth.

So, did I know this all along?

Not consciously, but unconsciously?

“Why did you stop talking?”

“…The point is, even though they seem different, they’re not.”

“I hate that kind of vague explanation the most.”

Well, but what can I do when it’s the truth?

If there’s one thing I’ve realized while speaking:

…Even with the same mental state and content, it can sound completely different, feel different, and be received differently.

Anyway, I was beginning to understand what the Demon King had said before.

…Though even that was still just scratching the surface.

“……”

Even when explicitly told and shown, she couldn’t understand or accept it.

I briefly wonder if those who try to hide various arcane knowledge would find Grandeus’s secrets deeply lamentable.

-Even repeating the same action, how sincerely, genuinely, and wholeheartedly you do it makes all the difference.

That’s true.

The Demon King wouldn’t have made me commit ritual suicide 100 times just out of boredom when saying sincerity matters.

I don’t neglect even the passing breeze.

Yet even I lose myself quickly when I space out or let my mind wander.

-And without a foundation in the spirit of chivalry, learning the same techniques won’t resonate anyway, right?

So while I gave Luirin instructions on the movements, I didn’t direct her to practice them repeatedly.

Rather, I judged that she had her own path, and I could enlighten and encourage her in that regard.

For instance…

“Giving your all. Sincerely, genuinely attempting, training, and planning something… I think you know something about this.”

“Of course I do. That’s obvious.”

“But I can see that even that still leaves room for improvement.”

So if there’s anything I can do for her:

“…I can tell you what true sincerity is, and help you use it.”

Though she seemed to understand well, being more mature than others her age.

I realize anew how difficult it is to grasp how to freely utilize this on one’s own.

After all, even the concept itself isn’t properly known to the world.

Even those who use it are vague about it.

“…Is that also something that different people interpret differently? Like that mental state you mentioned?”

“Yes.”

If she were slow-witted, I would have had to make her realize it firsthand.

Fortunately, she’s the type whose mind works well in this area, so I decided to try explaining it first.

“Sincerity, genuineness—it’s about using a kind of mental energy.”

“Mental energy?”

“Yes. You know how when you think a lot, concentrate, and use a lot of mental effort, you get tired even if you haven’t moved your body much?”

“Oh, I understand that. That’s right. That’s why I try to empty my mind.”

“This is about using and controlling that intentionally, and expanding its influence through your body as well.”

“…It sounds complicated, but I understand.”

“For example, your thoughts and thinking don’t always go as you intend, right? Usually, you’re led by them. Isn’t that so?”

“That’s…”

Luirin tilted her head.

“I think so? But maybe not?”

“The way to realize it is simple. When your body is tired, you might feel sleepy, but as soon as you think about going to sleep, all kinds of thoughts come to mind, right?”

“That’s… true? But I can still control it to some extent when I think about tomorrow’s schedule.”

“That means you have excellent control ability.”

“Is that a compliment?”

…I remember complimenting her all the time.

“And when you focus on something, if you’re interested, feel it’s necessary, and are desperate, you concentrate well… but for things you’re not interested in, you find it bothersome and cumbersome to even pay attention, right?”

“That’s just natural, isn’t it?”

“But suppressing the resistance you feel when trying to do something you dislike is, in a way, using your will, isn’t it?”

“I… guess so?”

“For instance, if that willpower were… let’s say money, and doing what you want is cheap, but doing what you don’t want is expensive… to pay for expensive items, you need to spend more money, right?”

“This is taking a strange turn, but I understand.”

“Thinking, exerting willpower, concentrating—all of these consume mental energy. Even arousing and suppressing emotions.”

“Ah, I get that. When I want to eat something but can’t, sometimes I can hold back, but at other times I just give in and go for it. Even when my finances aren’t good.”

“Right. Times when you can endure and times when you can’t. What’s the difference?”

“…Is it because of a lack of mental energy?”

I’ve guided her well.

If she understands, the rest will come quickly.

Making her aware of the necessity is what creates the motivation, the will to work hard at something.

If I vaguely talk about thoughts and thinking… it becomes like grasping at clouds, making it a bit ambiguous to lead her to why she should do it, why she should accomplish it.

Similarly, without feeling the necessity, there’s no basis for working hard.

Without the will to pursue something, if one still has to pursue it, then one must either borrow or overspend mental energy and willpower, wasting it.

“…Like how I work hard at things I don’t want to do if I feel they’re necessary?”

“That’s right.”

Neither humans nor beasts are exceptions to this.

They eagerly do what they want without being told.

But they absolutely hate doing what they don’t want to do, and if forced to continue, they eventually give up many things to accomplish it.

Thoughts, emotions—even harboring these eventually becomes exhausting, and one essentially serves their duties like a corpse with open eyes.

“……”

Slaves emptying their minds during labor, telling themselves not to even think about how hard it is… probably for this reason.

Nevertheless, they endure because they can.

In other words.

Even if one forcibly endures up to a certain point.

There comes a time when one can no longer endure, and then…

“So if I learn what you call sincerity and genuineness, I’ll be able to control it?”

“…Partly.”

“Huh? Only partly?”

“Trees have their way, and rocks, water, wind, and fire all have their own ways of living and pursuing things.”

Expecting water to blaze like fire.

That’s purely forcing it.

Even if you try, it will only boil or evaporate into steam.

“Innate nature, the nature one pursues—each is different. When you understand yourself… you understand that being fire, you cannot touch water. Then you avoid harm. Pain and discomfort are reduced.”

“…Well, what if I want to be fire instead of water?”

“Then you must die.”

“What?”

“…You must kill yourself until your nature changes. Even then, whether it truly changes remains uncertain.”

The reason the Demon King forced me to commit ritual suicide.

…Was it because of this?

I realized it only after saying it.

“……”

I glared at the figure who was interestedly resting their chin in the air.

I see.

Is this the way of wisdom?

Knowledge and wisdom are different.

When I asked the Demon King about knowledge.

The Demon King said he would explain simply, giving an example.

[This isn’t absolute, but to help you understand? The conditions of knowledge are first justification, second belief, and third truth.]

Let’s say there’s a river flowing over there.

[There’s a river flowing over there, right? That’s the truth. And you see it and know it? Even if you check again later, it won’t change, right? So you can have belief? But that’s clearly a fact that you see, experience, and know, right? So to make it justified? You need to bring others and awaken in them the same belief and truth as you.]

And that’s how.

[A piece of knowledge is born.]

But this isn’t absolute.

[What if one day a meteorite falls from the sky and devastates the area around the river? The river disappears? Then what about me, who knew about the river as knowledge? Is that knowledge still alive? It would change to the knowledge that ‘there was a river there at that time.’ Even this would become ambiguous as time passes? So you’d need to record it, and for justification, you’d need to verify and authenticate that record. Ah, is this getting too difficult?]

“……”

Of course, he later clarified that this definition of knowledge wasn’t absolute.

He said even that was just one subjective standard for defining knowledge?

Therefore.

The Demon King doesn’t trust knowledge.

It’s a kind of tool, a means.

Not absolute.

However.

Those who don’t know the essence of knowledge, like baby birds receiving food from their mother bird.

They blindly believe in it.

That is ignorance, that is unknowing.

And after hearing all this, I once asked.

Then what is wisdom?

[Asking that is the most foolish thing.]

The Demon King sneers.

And returning to the present…

…I still haven’t reached the answer to that question.

Though I might have reached partial answers to the previous content.

“But when you say one must die, that’s not a metaphor, right?”

“…No.”

It’s not a metaphor.

Either you really die, or you experience that level of shock and pain layer upon layer.

Perhaps that.

Would be dozens of times more arduous than truly dying.

“Then I guess I should live according to my aptitude, whether I’m water or fire.”

“Instead, you should develop that unique quality of yours well.”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

Not being obsessed with or attached to useless or absurd things.

Perhaps this too is an aspect of wisdom.

I pondered this thought while looking at Luirin.