episode_0217

Another four days had passed since Eli nursed me. As I looked back on what had happened with Aria, I focused solely on the desire to save her, and I did rehabilitation exercises every single day without fail. Thanks to that, I recovered enough to move my body properly and removed all the bandages wrapped around it. Perhaps it was due to Eli’s care during that time, or perhaps because I used magic during my rehabilitation exercises, but all the wounds on my body had healed. Of course, my severed finger couldn’t be restored….I guess it can’t be helped. I took a deep breath, shouldered Trahan in my right hand, and spoke to Trahan.

“Huuuhhh….Trahan. Did you like that transformation last time? Honestly, you know that magic isn’t such a bad power…or rather, you already knew that, didn’t you?”

“What are you saying to a sword, Mister Zeke?”

As I spoke to Trahan, Eli, who was next to me, wrote her words in a book and showed it to me, asking why I was talking to a sword. Ah…Eli doesn’t really know about Trahan, does she? Realizing that Eli didn’t know much about Trahan, I swung Trahan, resumed my rehabilitation exercises, and replied to Eli.

“Trahan is a sword that chooses its owner, you see. So, sometimes I feel like Trahan has a will of its own, and I naturally end up talking to it.”

“You’ve received a good sword, Mister Zeke. Anyway, I’m really glad you’re back to normal, Mister Zeke.”

“Yes. But are you really leaving? Your strength could be a help to the Resistance, you know?”

After finishing my rehabilitation exercises by swinging Trahan, I asked Eli if she was truly leaving. This was because Eli had announced a few days ago that she would leave once I had almost fully recovered. However, I thought that if Eli truly felt guilty towards others, helping them in this situation might actually be good for her. So I asked her again if she was really leaving, and Eli shook her head at my question and wrote her words in the book to show me.

“I am not worthy to show myself in this world. My true nature might still be garbage. So, it suits me best to just live like a mouse playing dead….And if I’m persecuted by others, my mind might break, and I could die, and if I die, I won’t be able to face the Rerise people….Honestly, my feelings are so complicated that I don’t know what to do.”

“….Alright….If that’s what you want, it can’t be helped. Before you leave, Eli. Do you happen to know where the cult’s headquarters are?”

When Eli said that she didn’t belong anywhere and that her mind was too complicated to decide on anything, making her unable to do anything, I recalled how Eli had trembled in fear of herself while helping me, and I reluctantly respected her decision. Then, when I asked about the location of the cult’s headquarters, Eli tilted her head and asked me.

“Weren’t you going to the Resistance’s base? Surely you’re not planning to take on the cult alone…”

“Ah, that’s not what I mean. I have a feeling that by now, the cult would have almost completely engulfed this world…so I suspect the Resistance might launch an attack on their headquarters. Do you know where it is?”

Eli, seeing the logical assumption that a lot of time had passed, and the cult would have almost engulfed the world, possibly leading the Resistance to attack the cult, quickly began drawing something and writing in the book. Then Eli immediately showed me the drawing and the words she had written.

“I understand. There’s a place called the Pioneer Temple in the Tania region. Considering that there were an unusual number of Saintesses and Priests around that area, I think that might be the cult’s headquarters.”

“The Pioneer Temple in the Tania region….So the headquarters was in my hometown area…Hahaha…It’s true what they say, the darkest place is right under your nose….Thank you, Eli. And… I owe you a lot. Thank you for treating me all this time.”

Receiving the book from Eli, I confirmed the location of the Pioneer Temple in the Tania region, and expressed my gratitude to Eli for everything she had done for me. With that, I left Eli, who was seeing me off, and set out for the Tania region. Eli said this place was close to Melodian, so I should be able to head to the Tania region quickly. And if my thoughts are correct, the Resistance should be heading to the Pioneer Temple by now….They must be. As I slowly walked, believing that the Resistance would be heading towards the Pioneer Temple, in the Resistance’s cave, Viola was choosing the armor and spear she would use. Then, Cecilia, who was nearby, started frantically trying to stop Viola.

“You….Are you really going to go and fight?! Don’t do it, Viola…!! Your emotional wounds haven’t even fully healed yet…!!”

“To resolve these emotional wounds and my atonement, I must participate in this battle, Cecilia. I have finally gained a mission that I chose myself. So, even if it means sacrificing my life to fulfill this mission and atonement…I will present a future to the children. Abso….?”

As Cecilia desperately tried to stop her from participating, Viola looked directly at Cecilia and showed strong resolve that she would absolutely go. At that moment, Viola saw the blue armor behind Cecilia and, as if drawn to it, headed towards it and immediately began putting it on. Then, picking up the spear next to it, she smiled contentedly and said.

“Good. This blue armor seems to fit well. Cecilia, you’re going to the battlefield with me anyway, aren’t you?”

“Huh? Uhh….I guess I will….”

“If you’re so worried, how about we…protect each other? I’ll definitely protect you no matter what, of course.”

“….Haaahhh….You’re saying you’re going no matter what I say….I give up, I give up…”

Cecilia, sensing that Viola would definitely go to the battlefield no matter what she said, finally resigned herself and sighed deeply. Then Viola smiled slightly at Cecilia’s sigh, and when she heard some commotion outside, she asked Cecilia.

“Cecilia. What’s all that commotion outside right now? It’s quite noisy.”

“Ah….It seems that until now, everyone fought separately, but now that they’re really going to fight the cult together, some people are apparently objecting. Even now, prejudices against other races still remain, but before, they fought separately so there were no complaints. Now that they’re really fighting together, it seems their dissatisfaction has exploded.”

“I know how that feels. And now I also know how foolish that action is….”

When Cecilia said that some people were expressing strong resentment about fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with other races, causing a commotion, Viola, who had previously been affected by Camilla’s divine power, said she understood how that felt and how regrettable such actions were, and looked outside with Cecilia. Then, from the wide cave entrance, everyone could be seen tearing into each other and expressing resentment about fighting together.

“Me, fighting alongside you humans…!! You were greedy beings who only hunted us from long ago, so why should we…!!”

“Hah…!! Perhaps because you’re precious beings who only live in the forest, you have to bring up old stories at a time like this, don’t you? We don’t need your help, so get lost, you damned pointy-eared bastards!!!”

“H-hey…!! Isn’t that going too far? You probably don’t know because you still feel that way about elves… But I….”

“Shut up!! If you’re my friend, you should take my side, so why are you taking theirs?! These bastards killed everyone who went to Provelitus because they kept bringing up old stories!!”

“What?! Didn’t you bastards enslave our elves!!!”

A human and an elf brought up old stories and showed hostility towards each other. The representatives of the races thought that things had improved enough for everyone to get along with other races, but in fact, that was a huge misjudgment. Prejudices and hostility among all people towards other races had not yet disappeared, and as a result, when everyone gathered at the cave entrance, small complaints began spreading like an epidemic, shaking the hearts of others. Of course, there were some individuals from different races who genuinely got along with others. But as the atmosphere grew increasingly heated, their voices grew infinitesimally small.

“Damn it….!! Me, fighting alongside these insignificant other races…!! We don’t need your help, you weakling races….!!”

“What?! Are you done talking?! Should I kill half of you before we even go to punish the cult?!”

“That damned dragon is still arrogant…!! Why hasn’t it shed that awful personality?!”

“Ughhh….This is a big problem…Everyone’s fighting like this….I had a feeling something like this would happen, so I told the other mutated monsters not to gather in the cave, but to meet in the Tania region instead….”

The leaders of each race standing before them were all at a loss. Some elves and beastfolk still harbored hostility towards humans, some fairies discriminated against each other based on their origins, and some dragons still couldn’t shed their arrogant personalities and were busy tearing others down. Rapien then sighed, saying they had expected this and had asked their mutated monster comrades to gather in the Tania region, and Protega saw that the dragons were not only failing to cooperate but were actively showing disdain, causing him to flush with irritation.

“Those….those damned disgraces to our race…to be thinking such things in this situation….!!”

“Oh no….My fairies seem to be having friction with fairies from other regions as well….Ughhh….”

“If Grand Elder-nim saw this, they’d be so dumbfounded they’d grab their neck and collapse….”

As Protega grew greatly embarrassed seeing his kin still disparaging other races in this situation, Kelly was perplexed by the sight of the fairies fighting each other, and similarly, Veronica was also greatly troubled by the elves showing hostility towards humans. At that moment, Alten, seemingly irritated, shouted at everyone with an angry expression.

“What in the world is all this nonsense!!!!!!!!!”

“…..?!”

At Alten’s sudden outburst, everyone was startled and stared blankly at Alten, who stood before them. The leaders of each race standing beside Alten and Dio V Runner also flinched in surprise and turned their heads towards Alten. As everyone’s gaze shifted to him, Alten took a deep breath again and spoke loudly to them all.

“Right now, the cult is constantly moving to destroy us…!! While we could die, or live a life more miserable than death, you’re fighting amongst yourselves over past stories like this…!! And speaking as if it’s nothing….!!! And!!! Disregarding each other’s strength and trampling on each other’s dignity!!! Is this what you’re supposed to be doing when gathered here!!!”

“That damned elf dares…!! Talking so much when weaker than us….?”

A dragon, perhaps offended by Alten’s shouting from outside the cave, ground its teeth and glared at Alten. At that moment, the dragon realized that Bivi inside the cave was staring at it with cold, murderous eyes, and flinched in surprise, closing its mouth. And at that moment, Alten pulled out a book from his backpack and shouted to everyone.

“Of course, it’s true that our past caused pain, grief, and frustration to each other…!! But that is a story of the past…!! Can’t we reflect on it and simply not repeat it in the present?! Acknowledge what we did wrong to each other, accept it, and fight together!! Didn’t we unite with that very spirit!!”

“Alten’s words are right, everyone!! Don’t we all know what pain we’ve caused each other…!! Don’t you all know how painful and bitter your pasts were through Mister Zeke’s and Aria’s exploration books!!!”

When Arvina added to Alten’s shouts by asking if they hadn’t learned about each other’s pains through Zeke’s and Aria’s exploration books, everyone fell silent. In fact, copies of the exploration book had been distributed to everyone through Kelly previously, and thanks to that, people knew what wrongs their races had committed against each other in the past. However, because they didn’t fully believe, this problem occurred, and they had to hear such a reprimand. And at that moment, Dio V Runner explained to everyone.

“I can understand why you acted that way, to some extent. Since you still don’t trust each other or harbor grudges, when you gather like this, you end up tearing at each other. I, too, know this well, as I’ve fought a great enemy with various races uniting their strength. However, my companions realized while fighting that they shouldn’t unite, and learned that when it comes to past stories, they simply need to apologize and accept each other. Thanks to accepting each other and fighting together, my companions and I were able to defeat a great enemy. So why don’t you try that too? Reflect on the wounds you’ve inflicted on each other and fill the present together.”

When Dio V Runner said he understood everyone’s feelings somewhat, having faced similar battles and situations himself, and suggested, based on his own experience, that they end all past stories with apologies and reflection and walk forward together in the present, everyone began scratching their heads and pondering. At that moment, the human who had just expressed hostility towards the elf extended a hand and spoke.

“Ahem….My words earlier were too harsh. I’m sorry. I said those harsh things even knowing that your people were indiscriminately abducted by humans…”

“I apologize too….I momentarily forgot that your race was sacrificed because of our revenge…”

“Um…our fairy race was divided due to beliefs, but…can’t we still reunite?”

“Taking this as an opportunity…perhaps we can….I spoke too harshly just now, didn’t I? I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have dismissed you just because you were from Melodian…”

“I’m sorry…!! The beastfolk suffered because of us humans, and I said those unnecessary things….”

“U-uhh….I understand, so please don’t bow so deeply and apologize like that….Ah…ahahah….”

As Alten, Arvina, and Dio V Runner’s persuasion finally led everyone to reflect and apologize for the atrocities their races had committed in the past, Dio V Runner looked at the scene, recalled his former companions, and smiled. At that moment, Gid raised his hand high and shouted to everyone.

“Alright, everyone!! Now we have two goals!! To drive Camilla out of this world, and to create a new world where everyone can live in harmony on this broken land!! If you agree to this, then follow me, all of you!!!”

“….!! Hey, Gid!! Don’t go first….Damn it…!! His feet are ridiculously fast….!!”

“Ahahaha…!! I really like this situation!! Truly!”

When Gid suddenly began running out of the cave, calling for anyone who agreed to follow him in driving out Camilla and creating a new world where everyone could live in harmony, Dio V Runner was startled and frantically began following Gid, and Rapien burst into laughter, entered a box, and then immediately flew after Gid. Then, one by one, all the others began leaving the cave, and Protega grabbed Bivi’s shoulders beside him and said.

“As per the plan, wife, take the children and follow later. This place has surely been discovered by the cult by now…So make sure to hide with the children somewhere close to the Tania region.”

“Don’t worry, darling. You worry about your own body…Make sure you survive. Alright?”

“….Understood.”

When Bivi told him to make sure he survived, Protega nodded, kissed Bivi, then immediately transformed into a dragon and followed Gid with the other dragons. And so, all of the Resistance began heading towards the Tania region. Holding in their hearts the possibility of creating a better world in the future.