Chapter 103

“Leo. The people of your village haven’t died yet.”

Back when you told me this.

You said there are times when a small misunderstanding can escalate into a big fight.

Turns out most of those things are nothing much once you actually talk it out.

Because the lack of communication leads to misunderstandings and distrust, which eventually cause problems.

…But what you went through wasn’t something small at all.

However, it’s not entirely irreversible.

Spilled water can’t be gathered back, but…

…a broken bowl can still be reused.

Meaning, there’s still a chance it might be reversible.

“Isn’t that right?”

Carriel’s words were enough to hold Leo by the ankle.

Moreover,

“You were resolute in fulfilling the contract, but my actions made it impossible. Therefore, stepping back here isn’t your fault.”

Minette approached by Carriel who then forced some cryptic words upon her, pulling her away from the place.

Most importantly, the reason why he knew about the contract also gave her pause from acting rashly.

“Did you say goodbye to the kids?”

“…”

And that question practically sealed the deal.

Though I had separately asked for their safety, truthfully, she was half dragged away like someone escaping.

Thus, Minette.

Her departure forcibly brought an end to the tumult.

Of course, the situation wasn’t fully resolved yet.

Shaking off the incoming ones,

Carriel immediately met with Luslan, handing over all his wealth while stating his demands.

And Luslan accepted the proposal.

Additionally,

“This is our legion’s.”

A blue letter was handed over by her hand.

“Were you guys also interested in the sword?”

“Of course.”

Many were intrigued by the sword of Grandeous.

Even excluding those influenced by the prophecy spread by the Relief Knights.

It was likely that Edenlevan Legion established its foothold here aiming to encompass all such elements.

Now that their purpose has disappeared, it could be seen as a lifting of constraints in another sense.

“We still plan to keep guarding this spot. After all, we don’t want to be looked down upon. We can’t abandon all the effort it took to settle in this region just because of one sword, right?”

Leaving immediately after the sword is drawn would make their intentions too obvious.

Especially for the already disliked Demons, they have no reason to create more opportunities to be targeted.

So instead, they will likely use this chance to expand their business structure and scale.

The location isn’t ideal, but if handled well, it shouldn’t matter, right?

In this non-specific manner, while observing Rusan’s calm explanation of her plans and thoughts, Carriel remained silent.

“So where do you plan to go next, Carriel-sama?”

“…To a quiet place.”

There’s only one task left now.

“I’m still unprepared. For anything.”

…

Unlike entering, leaving here is alone.

Though a guide was arranged to pull the carriage, it wasn’t Louilin.

That kid was temporarily entrusted to Leo, so he’ll mingle with them for now.

Compared to Filbar’s luxurious carriage from before, this one is smaller, but back then it was overly extravagant.

This is more than sufficient now.

Including the driver’s seat, it can accommodate up to six people.

Traveling along paved roads should ensure a very comfortable journey.

Thanks to this, he could finally relax for the moment.

His body was in a state where collapsing anytime wouldn’t be surprising.

“Haa.”

The body still spits out disharmony.

Gained much, digested little.

Just one thing is certain.

“…”

Living the same life as before is no longer possible.

Factually, I’ve died twice.

Probably the first time was during childhood, related to the World Tree or that damn Legion Commander or something.

And the second death is today.

Precisely when I encountered ‘that.’

It’s like experiencing death itself.

Still vivid.

Vaster than the night sky, dazzling with countless stars, yet rendered meaningless by an enormous darkness surrounded by overwhelming light.

A spectacle beyond imagination.

Anyway, Grandeous’ test boils down to a few things.

Are you ready to face death?

Can you throw yourself into danger for others even at the cost of yourself?

Can you assert your own will?

And…

How desperate are you?

The sword repaired by the blacksmith and handed over is still incomplete.

The essence of the Golden Beast is the Earth Spirit.

Which subsequently became the Omnipotent Spirit King.

Even though it abandoned that to become a Demon King, its essence didn’t change.

Perhaps, in terms of metal concepts, its attribute and essence are something unparalleled in the world.

Hence, the symbolism and meaning of severing its neck.

Namely, this sword, passed down eventually from Father through Partyna,

Isn’t quite a Sacred Relic, but contains the potential of being an artifact and a divine tool.

And Grandeous intended it that way.

But that alone is insufficient.

The past Grandeous replaced this function with a Sacred Sword, but that was merely half-complete.

He wanted to pass on a finished product, a completed masterpiece, to his successor.

The inspiration came from the sword used and left behind by Saint Carriel.

Not exactly a Sacred Relic, but classified as an artifact—precisely that sword.

Back then, it was nothing special.

That nothingness.

Through it, Grandeous glimpsed Saint Carriel’s past and present.

Sacred Swords or Divine Swords generally come from heaven or something closely related.

Sacred Relics are treasures written into myths and history.

For Grandeous, living among wild grass, whatever heaven bestowed must have been highly disagreeable.

“But even that will fade with time, break, bend, or shatter eventually.”

Or be misused since it was a tool.

Then what’s the best option?

What should be done?

Of course, there’s no absolute.

But design can approach absolute.

“Realized too late.”

Didn’t know the essence of the power he wielded.

Had he known, methods might have differed somewhat.

-Gravity. But understanding it solely as such is tough, right?

The Demon King spoke calmly.

About the existence of the universe.

Something higher and farther than the sky.

Deeper, farther, and infinitely distant.

To Carriel, it’s perceived as the sky above the sky.

With academic knowledge and learned facts, he understands it to some extent, but only to that degree.

“I don’t know everything either. Based on what the Supreme Demon King told me, it’s a supreme natural phenomenon that swallows even light, possibly bending and consuming time and space. Since it can’t be categorized under normal nature, He called it ‘Great Nature,’ slightly exaggerated.”

One of the answers given by the Supreme Demon King to Grandeous.

“He mentioned several ways to kill me. First, acquiring power equal to the Sun. Second, a force that consumes light. Third… something so intense that even these cannot replace—a powerful clash or explosion, blossoming. He stated implementing any of these three would destroy the world instantly.”

Meaning, unless you possess world-ending power,

Don’t even think about it.

“When Grandeous asked what method could defeat him without destroying the world, the Supreme Demon King mentioned the second power.”

This is both the cause and culprit for Grandeous’ obsession.

“Even though he achieved it, it remains incomplete somehow.”

Most of all, the absurdity of achieving something he himself doesn’t understand.

“Don’t you feel wronged, considering you were just utilized?”

“If you look at it that way, everything about existing and living is just being utilized?”

Approach wisely.

“I merely built a boat and sailed on rivers or seas. If I get hung up on every buoy, lighthouse, or reef along the journey, how am I supposed to live?”

“…”

Rather, that kind of mindset is scarier.

“Why can’t it be emptied? The cause was clear. That guy seemed hollow, so it couldn’t be helped.”

The Demon King spoke.

Even you,

“It’s similar. Empty, but in a different dimension from mere emptiness.”

Truly,

Something that consumes everything in the world and still has room.

Yet, paradoxically, it’s a path, a road, a vessel that looks empty but has no entrance or limit.

Contradictory in many senses.

“What about ignoring those guys following us?”

“…”

People trailing the carriage at a distance.

Assess, Aiseus and her mercenaries? Or some private mercenary group?

Of course, they aren’t numerous.

“If they don’t interfere, I won’t need to concern myself.”

“Among those chasing you are the Relief Knights and your father?”

“…”

That’s why I’m unable to collapse and rest, handing over all my fortune and ending up like this.

Even now, consciousness fading anytime wouldn’t be strange.

But thanks to overcoming the crisis, despite the body feeling like it’ll collapse, the mind remains sharp.

When fatigue accumulates excessively, occasionally this happens.

Exhausted to death, wanting to close your eyes and fall asleep, yet inexplicably unable to sleep.

Being able to listen to the Demon King’s rambling is due to this condition.

“So now, according to you, I should make a body, right?”

“That’s right. Originally, doing so would’ve allowed survival without dying… Quite ironic.”

Does the other side know my condition?

I’m not in a state where only consciousness remains like Grandeous.

For instance, the life and vitality we naturally enjoy?

Now feels completely unrelated to me.

“That Sacred Sword nonsense mentioned four stars, right? Now it makes a bit more sense.”

I don’t know, but the Demon King seems to have grasped something.

“There are six now. One on the left wrist, one on the right arm joint, one on the forehead, one on the solar plexus, one on the right hip joint, and lastly, one on the right ankle.”

“…?”

“Roughly checking, if all these stars form, it totals fourteen, right?”

The Demon King continued.

Wrists, joints, shoulders.

Six each on the left and right.

Ankles, knees, hips.

Also six each on the left and right.

Next, the solar plexus and head.

“Mostly, it’s a structure entirely different from the common method of distributing mana reservoirs to specific organs. Focusing less on storage and more on circulation and linkage… Your ability to manifest such things gives me a rough idea of its source.”

“…Why did you know now but not before?”

“Well, back then my perception was limited. Told you, right? Sharing part of your senses is the extent of what I can comprehend of the world.”

But now it’s different.

“Restrictions have decreased significantly. It means you’re starting to exhibit qualities closer to spatial perception rather than physical objects.”

“…”

Hard to express.

Difficult to understand.

The general context is comprehensible, though.

“In short, you’re becoming or changing into something closer to nature and space rather than a living being. Is that the gist?”

“A cheap expression, but yeah. Understanding it this way won’t harm.”

“…”

You and me.

The world and me.

Awareness grows that these benchmarks are getting increasingly vague.

Never imagined my existence would transform this way.

“Oh.”

That’s why I unconsciously started understanding the nature of trees, rocks, wind, and water so naturally.

No, not understanding, but perhaps becoming them themselves?

Yet, I haven’t lost ‘me’ yet.

If I lose that, I’d cease to be myself.

Without it, I’d be more akin to a natural object than a living being.

Maybe that’s not such a bad end.

If I disappear, so do anguish, worries, pain, and sorrow.

…

-Haa.

Like breath ceasing completely.

While leaning against one side, quietly closing his eyes, Carriel appeared asleep.

Watching him, the Demon King was seized by an indescribable sentiment.

“The main questions have been roughly sorted out.”

Also, thanks to Grandeous’ arrangements, one certainty emerged.

“Do you wish to pass on not just yourself but even mine to that guy? Greedy bastard.”

Few in the world know.

The Demon King of Wisdom didn’t possess his unique weapon, a Demon Armament.

Moreover, he reportedly left no private legacy.

Therefore, regarding wisdom and gold, he merely recalled it as terrifying in itself.

Truth is, almost no one knows.

Only a very few.

There was one treasure praised lavishly even by the Supreme Demon King, something he possessed.

“Damn annoying comrade.”

Whoever holds and wields it, whether knowingly or unknowingly, is a separate issue later.

I don’t obsess over such things.

Initially, if possession creates noticeable deficiencies,

Giving up ownership simplifies everything, doesn’t it?

Nothing is infinite.

Nothing lasts forever.

Striving to possess the unpossessable leads to anguish, conflicts, suffering, regrets, and inner turmoil…

Truly pointless worries.

After all, everything will be left behind upon death.

If understood intellectually, applying it to life should suffice.

Thus, slightly wiser individuals strive hard to etch themselves and their traces into others’ memories, records, and history.

Eventually realizing the futility of even that upon gaining wisdom.

Nevertheless, the processes of inheritance and transmission, the consciousness involved, must never stop.

Indeed contradictory, but

Such remnants are invaluable blessings to those left behind.

Good things should be shared fairly.

Isn’t that a sound principle?

“You.”

Sitting across with legs crossed, the Golden Girl observed the sleeping boy for a long time without tiring.

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