Chapter 179

I ended up spending a night at the royal castle.

Though I can’t return to my usual lodgings, this guest room I’m staying in now is insanely lavish.

The thing is, if you compare it with my accommodations and factor in how convenient it is for staffing purposes, it’s kinda scary how my place still has the edge.

Anyway…

What on earth was so delightful about turning Aurora into a harvesting system?

From what I’ve overheard here and there, after Aurora was cursed at birth, they tried everything but failed. Every attempt to reverse it came up short, and she was fading away, nearing death.

Even the magic prepared to kill the witch when she showed up ended up failing.

Well, Maleficent was one of the strongest witches in the world, so their best efforts weren’t enough.

Maleficent was the type of witch who could erase entire countries single-handedly.

So when she saved Aurora, she must be letting her do whatever she wants as repayment.

It doesn’t make sense…

By the way…

“Looks like we have a guest.”

“Oh, busted?”

Anyone else might not have noticed, but since I’m one of the few harvesters in the castle…

“Hello.”

“Yeah, hey. Thanks for helping us again.”

Aurora Dormiens.

She has all sorts of fancy titles attached, but cutting through the fluff, that’s her name.

By the time I was summoned by the king, I had just emerged from hiding in the basement with the prince.

Right now, King Highpion and Prince Solindiges are dealing with the aftermath of the incident in the capital in real-time.

Taking advantage of her newfound freedom, Aurora came looking for me.

She’s been talking to various people and has a pretty good grasp of the overall situation – she’s not completely clueless.

Should I play it nice and gain some goodwill?

Or pretend to be an innocent kid and refuse?

Let’s go with the positive route.

Being too saintly raises suspicion anyway. Besides, given how truly malevolent my intentions actually are, pretending wouldn’t serve any purpose.

“Yes. Maleficent can no longer willingly do evil.”

Even if it’s used for evil, it won’t be by her own will.

“I see. Since you helped save me, I thought I’d come pay a visit. Do you know my name?”

“Yes, I do.”

Aurora wears simple clothing with minimal patterns, but according to Kan-na’s memories, it’s made from extremely valuable materials.

Someone knowledgeable would immediately recognize it as a princess’s attire.

Aurora knows this.

Until six months ago when she fell into slumber, she had been properly learning what a princess should.

Additionally, she’s quite perceptive of what others are thinking.

Given that she was essentially scheduled to die this year, many people felt pity for her – not just her family but also those working in the castle.

Being sensitive to emotions, she grew up constantly feeling those sympathetic gazes.

Eventually, she figured out why and even discovered the truth behind it all.

But she acted oblivious until fate’s day arrived, at which point she accepted her death and went to sleep.

She said she was scared of dying.

But she wasn’t stupid enough to not realize that her entire environment was operating under the premise of her impending death.

“Can I call you Bell?”

“You can call me whatever you like.”

There’s a hint of resentment in her expression. Will she direct it at me? Or let it pass?

I know quite a bit about harvesters, especially newly-made ones.

“Aurora.” She came up to me and bowed her head.

“Thank you for helping us.”

That’s right.

She knows I feel sympathy for her but doesn’t use it as an excuse to act however she wants simply because she’s weak and unfortunate.

Instead of using her situation to justify terrible actions toward others, she chooses to treat people well during her remaining time.

She’s not an ordinary person.

Most people are somewhat evil, somewhat good, and mostly somewhere in between. She leans slightly more toward the good side.

She’s intelligent.

After much contemplation about how best to live life, she chose to love others – she’s that smart.

I thought with the pillar collapsing and this new freedom, I could finally do as I please.

Nope.

“Alright, Aurora. If you truly wish to express gratitude, grant me what I desire.”

Then twist it.

“What do you desire?”

Aurora asks me. She’s not planning anything strange.

“For the rest of your life, do what makes you happy.”

Now that she’s a harvester, she no longer needs to guarantee her survival through affection or maintain a purely virtuous appearance. With this new future, I encourage her to pursue what she desires.

Having lots of children would be ideal.

This is an investment.

When puberty arrives and desires intensify, living a life of power struggles and mutual destruction befitting royalty wouldn’t be bad either.

In my estimation, Aurora will likely remain a good person, and that’s not necessarily bad.

Because I’ve already tasted the fruits of such goodness spreading widely in the first world – Tisah’s descendants were particularly delicious. If their numbers were sufficient, I wouldn’t even need to create a physical form to ascend.

“That’s kind of an odd thing to say.”

“Odd?”

“Encouraging me to do what I want – why is that your wish?”

Most people would interpret persuasive stories on their own, but she’s asking directly. Her unwillingness to assume understanding earns some respect.

Though it’s directed at me, which isn’t pleasant.

Shall I make excuses?

No, making excuses here would only make things stranger. Let’s confuse her with complex wording instead.

“That’s what it means to be human.”

It’s like answering “what’s the best temperature?” with “a good temperature,” but I feigned extreme lethargy.

Even if I give a somewhat foolish answer, there won’t be much criticism.

“What does being human mean? Are you saying humans should do what they want? Isn’t that basically wanting nothing?”

She’s probing skillfully.

Scary.

“Why does wanting nothing make sense? People summon me because they have wishes. I respond by giving myself. I hope the person receiving me does what they want.”

I grant wishes indiscriminately.

Believing most people will choose evil paths when given unchecked power.

People don’t commit crimes because they hate doing good, but because they believe they can profit from wrongdoing without punishment. It’s simply a choice between easier and harder options.

With normal exceptions, most people operate this way. Therefore, maintaining public order depends less on how cruelly criminals are punished and more on how effectively they’re caught. People won’t act recklessly if they believe they’ll likely get caught.

The severity of punishment comes second.

Public order maintains society, not for justice. High-ranking officials or their children avoiding punishment isn’t about bribery but about irrelevance to maintaining order.

Because public order is merely a tool to prevent livestock from killing each other and reducing market value.

And great power allows one to rise above the law in most worlds, crossing the line between livestock and human.

Newly elevated livestock lack the skills to manage others.

So they do as they please.

At that moment, warmth flows into me. The failure of powerful yet inexperienced individuals always brings me warmth.

I believe in this.

Not in good or evil, but in human imperfection. I believe everyone will inevitably fail.

“So Bell is a god who grants wishes?”

“A monster.”

“In that case, a demon then.”

The dichotomy of good and evil isn’t bad. Digital is simple and clean.

“But you survived, right?”

“Yeah. Thought I was going to die, but my body fully recovered, and the witch tormenting our country disappeared. If all it cost was my soul, that’s pretty cheap.”

She looks at me sharply while saying this. Giving the wrong answer here would be dangerous. Aurora is kind-hearted but not soft.

She has the intellect to distinguish conventional good and evil and the mental strength to maintain virtue despite knowing her bleak future.

So, I must clearly deny one thing.

“Souls aren’t necessary. I’m a monster, but… all I need is one thing.”

“Necessary?”

I nodded while looking at Aurora.

“Warmth. I no longer wish to sink alone into the darkness, gazing up at the night sky while trembling.”

This part is genuinely heartfelt.

Though the warmth I seek isn’t the same warmth she understands.

“I see.”

Aurora seemed about to say something but swallowed it. Then she apologized for disturbing me so late and left the area.

Returning to her room through a secret passage.

Aurora.

She’d be dangerous as an enemy.

Since I have time, it might be wise to exercise some restraint until she grows old and dies.

---