Chapter 157

The whole room froze instantly at Karas’s truly psychopathic words.

No matter how much he might want to punish his brother for his male escapades, suggesting he smash a bottle of alcohol over his head is a bit much.

One could only guess what Eli was expecting, but from that comment alone, Karas’s personality became quite clear.

“Ho… hoho. You really are joking, aren’t you? Brother.”

“May I ask when I’ve ever joked? Diana?”

“I had no idea this distinguished gentleman had a lover. I apologize in advance.”

Diana seemed a bit flustered as she bowed her head. It was an apology directed towards Eli, who was just an ordinary commoner.

The fact that a princess, of all people, bowed to someone as lowly as Eli spoke volumes about how intimidating Karas truly was.

In truth, Karas is someone who almost always keeps his word. I’ve hardly ever seen him lie.

‘It seems he feels no need to lie.’

If I, being a wild human, enjoy freedom in various situations, then Karas, being so powerful, is practically limitless in his freedom.

The reason other siblings can’t even utter a word around him is that they all possess at least one fatal weakness he knows about.

While Karas helped his siblings secure their succession to the throne, it’s safe to say he wouldn’t exactly be fond of them.

“Since you’ve apologized, I suppose it’s fine now. Hand back the bottle.”

“Here you go.”

“Hmm. It certainly looks heavy enough to hurt quite a bit.”

Karas tapped the empty bottle against his head, perhaps recalling the incident where the prince’s head was cracked open earlier.

Immediately, Diana hastily left, and just as Karas was about to follow her—

“Oh, can I take this one with me? There’s something I’d like to discuss separately.”

“Pardon? What do you mean…”

“Oh, it’s nothing much. I’m just curious about the thoughts of someone from the wild.”

“I don’t mind… but…”

Grace was looking at me with an expression that implied my opinion was the most important.

Usually, I wouldn’t want to be alone with Karas. It’s not that Karas would sulk like a brat if I rejected him.

But perhaps because I had been drinking, or maybe after witnessing his truly psychopathic behavior earlier, I was a little curious. I wondered what nonsense this man might utter next.

Blame it on the alcohol, but my judgment was a bit foggy.

“I’ll go.”

“Are you really?”

“Yeah. It’s fine.”

“Sivar, you might be okay, but we are not.”

Luna said firmly. She seemed worried that I might make a mistake.

Though her words seemed a bit harsh, it was true enough, so I only pouted my lips. I wasn’t crazy enough to hit Karas.

“Haha. You need not worry. Even if this one tries to hit me, I’d let it slide.”

“… Please don’t say such scary things even as a joke.”

“It’s not a joke. Anyway, I’m taking him for a bit. Is there anyone else who wants to join?”

“Me!”

Eli exclaimed, raising her hand excitedly. Everyone else was too busy looking around, but she was as bright as ever.

Karas seemed pleased and nodded, accepting her.

“Now that I think about it, you were also a commoner. I suppose it’s okay if I tell you what I’m trying to accomplish. Anyone else want to join?”

“… I’ll pass.”

“So will I.”

Luna and Grace declined. Luna had a look of unease, while Grace appeared apprehensive.

From Grace’s reaction, it seemed she was somewhat predicting what kind of conversation would ensue.

Just as they were about to leave, Grace grabbed my shoulder and whispered softly.

“Please try to take what he says with a grain of salt. It may be quite complex for someone like Sivar to comprehend.”

“Okay.”

After heeding Grace’s advice, I gradually understood what Karas was hinting at.

Before the banquet, Kara had bluntly stated that the primary reason people consider Karas to be a freak.

Following behind Karas with Eli, I changed my gaze and began to survey the surroundings. Just then, a familiar face caught my eye.

‘Kara… she seems to be struggling a lot.’

One of the biggest attractions at the freshman banquet happens to be Kara. She was surrounded by a throng of people.

Some were drawn to her unique appearance and beautiful figure, while others were occasionally captivated by her innate charisma.

I can say this not only because there are plenty of men but also because there were a great many women among them. She is definitely popular with both genders.

‘Didn’t Kara have a confrontation back in the day?’

Thanks to the alcohol, my memories were a little hazy. But I do recall an event involving Kara during the freshman banquet.

I’m not sure who, but someone provoked Kara by calling her a barbarian, and she ended up falling right into the trap.

If they didn’t stop her, Kara would have swung her fist at that person. Yet, surprisingly, she’s engaging in normal conversation now.

‘Ah, that’s right. The one provoking her was the prince.’

I remembered now that the one initiating the provocation was, in fact, the prince.

Didn’t he say something about wanting to have her as his concubine, implying that it would foster a friendly relationship with the Tartars?

Naturally, such words were deeply insulting both as a fighter and a woman, so she would have given him a lesson to remember.

‘Well, at least that troublemaker is out of the picture.’

In any case, I was relieved that one reckless fool had vanished. As long as everyone is happy, that’s what matters.

I shifted my attention away from the busy Kara. It seemed like it would take a while to converse with her.

Besides, I now had time to talk with Karas. Regrettably, it seemed my interaction with Kara would have to wait.

“This seems to be good enough.”

Eventually, as I followed Karas, we reached a terrace on the second floor of the auditorium. Was there really such a place in the auditorium?

It was quiet with few people around, perfect for some conversation. Even the few who were there were busy chatting with each other.

“Oh dear.”

As I looked up at the gradually darkening sky, I heard Karas’s voice laden with regret.

When I turned my head, I saw Karas with a cigar clamped in his mouth. He had matches but no striking surface to light it.

I silently extended my hand after witnessing that, signaling for him to pass me the matches.

“Hmm? Are you interested in smoking too?”

“Sivar. Smoking is bad.”

Karas looked amazed, while Eli wore a disapproving expression. But I had no interest in smoking.

Even back on Earth, smoking was never my thing. I barely even touched alcohol.

“No. Matches.”

“Matches?”

“Yeah.”

In response to my request for matches, Karas handed them over, albeit with a puzzled look. The floor was too smooth for friction.

Snap!

I flicked my fingers, and fire lit. All it took was the heat from the friction.

Karas’s eyes widened as I lit the match with just my fingers, soon followed by a chuckle escaping his lips.

“Throughout my life, I’ve encountered countless situations, but this is a first.”

Saying this, he received the matches back and proceeded to light his cigar.

After extinguishing the remaining match, he tucked it away in his pocket, seeming not to be the type to litter.

“So, where were we?”

“You haven’t said a thing.”

“Is that so?”

A somewhat bewildered look crossed his face. Karas took a deep drag of the cigar before exhaling slowly.

Thick smoke billowed up, filling the air with a pungent smell that assaulted my nose. It was impossible not to grimace.

“That stinks.”

“Isn’t it fragrant?”

“Yuck.”

“Hahaha.”

Despite my blatant disgust, Karas merely laughed it off. In the end, I had to take a few steps back.

Eli seemed to dislike the smell of smoke too, retreating alongside me. Regardless, Karas continued puffing on his cigar.

“Sivar. You shouldn’t take an interest in smoking. Got it?”

“Yup. I dislike it.”

“I can’t fathom why you would dislike something so good.”

Karas continued smoking a few more times before quietly extinguishing it. The remaining cigar went back into his pocket.

As the haze of the cigar smoke began to fade, Karas looked at us and opened his mouth.

“Before I speak, have you heard any rumors about me? Feel free to share even the most scandalous ones.”

“Freak?”

“… Sivar, that’s not a nice thing to say.”

As I blatantly stated my opinion, Eli quietly admonished me from the side. To clarify, her focus was not on my use of the word “freak” to describe the prince but rather on the fact I had chosen such a harsh term.

What’s even more absurd is that Karas nodded in agreement, seeming unconcerned.

“You’re quite informed. Then I assume you already know my creed?”

“Freedom?”

“That’s also correct. But to put it more accurately, it is this: A person reveals their true self only when they lose their freedom.”

This sounds like something an authoritarian from some universe-spanning game would say. Not to mention that guy slaughtered millions.

If the prince were an authoritarian of that calibre, there would be real problems, but curiously enough, that doesn’t seem to be the case. I distinctly recall that much.

“I, too, once lost my freedom. I lived on the verge of becoming a wild man, imprisoned by my brothers, unable to eat properly, and unable to sleep due to assassination threats. I lived in fear of dying every single day.”

“…?”

That sounds oddly familiar. I experienced a similar situation when living in the forest.

I could rarely find proper food, causing me to go hungry frequently, and even when I did, it was a matter of life and death.

As for a good night’s sleep? That was something I couldn’t even dream of. Perhaps due to my wilderness instinct, any noise would wake me up immediately.

“At that time, I realized that when a person cannot eat or sleep, they are no better than a beast. Be it a prince, a royal, a noble, or a commoner, it makes no difference. When deprived of freedom, all become the same beast.”

“Are you perhaps talking about Sivar?”

It seemed Eli shared similar thoughts, as she cautiously inquired. From what I heard, it sounded just like me.

But Karas shook his head, indicating that this wasn’t a story particular to me.

“Quite the opposite. Did you mention Sivar? That person can be seen as a true embodiment of freedom. He eats when he wants to, sleeps when he wishes, and acts as he pleases. How liberating is that?”

“And aren’t you, Prince…?”

“I had to gain power to achieve that. So that no one could interfere with my affairs.”

Even those in power cannot enjoy outright freedom. The moment one loses power, all abundance disappears.

“You were a commoner, right? What do you think freedom means?”

“Um… I suppose it’s about being able to eat well and spend as I wish, doing what I want.”

“Simple, yet accurate. But what if you were to lose your freedom?”

“I wouldn’t be able to eat or live, and I’d be oppressed.”

“That’s accurate. So, in that situation, what would you do to regain your freedom?”

Eli tilted her head, her expression suggesting she hadn’t thought that far yet.

When faced with such situations, people generally fall into two categories: they either lose their lives or resort to plundering.

Humans have always been this way. Thankfully, due to the great wall of civilization, we aren’t completely like beasts, but without civilization, we would be no different.

“I suppose you don’t know yet. Since you have never lost your freedom. Part of me wants to take away the people’s freedom and have them realize its value. But I deemed that too harsh, so I abandoned that idea.”

This is precisely why Karas is so far from being a tyrant. At least his mind seems to be in the right place.

Of course, some screws might be loose here and there. His way of thinking is undoubtedly peculiar.

“After countless deliberations, I came up with one solution. It is to create a nation where all citizens can seize their freedom for themselves.”

“I don’t quite understand.”

“Simply put, those who strive will reap the rewards of their efforts.”

“Wouldn’t that be the same even now?”

“Seems being a commoner means you don’t know much.”

His statement was rooted in a sense of elitism, but Karas is a prince, and remarks like that aren’t out of place for him.

Moreover, despite having that superiority complex, he doesn’t belittle commoners, which is key.

“The fact that one can seize their freedom implies that, as long as they put in the effort, they can ascend to greater heights. Just as my brothers and I collaborated to restore our status, commoners, too, can unite to overthrow nobles and kings.”

“Um…”

“Of course, such situations arise mostly when freedom is lost. If you’re eating well, living well, and able to do what you want, who would think twice about it?”

“It feels like… everything is a jumble?”

Even Eli, who’s quite sharp, seems to find Karas’s ideology hard to grasp. Honestly, so do I.

Yet, upon deeper investigation, it seems to be a dangerous yet romantic notion, offering freedom to all while granting the right to seize it.

It somewhat reminds me of the Western expansion era but not entirely. With the confines of civilization, the rule of law is still in play.

“Freedom should be granted, but one must bear the corresponding responsibilities. However, I shall never forgive unjustly stripping others of their freedom.”

If it’s hard to understand, we can explain it through a nickname bestowed upon him by the users.

“Suppressing the base nature of man, akin to that of beasts, under the fruit of freedom, to create a stronger, more resilient ideal.”

The sort of sentiment expressed by a communist revolutionary, perhaps.

“And to bring about this ideal, an unbreakable Iron Man must be the one at the top.”

Lucky Stalin.

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