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The next day.

Despite the big events that happened yesterday, the Royal Academy was operating just fine.

Perhaps it was because it rained right up until the moment I left in the morning, which also meant no protestors were in sight, similar to yesterday.

For that reason, no one inside the Royal Academy was discussing what happened in the capital.

Instead, Solindiges busily talked about the events that took place at the banquet he attended for a long duration.

That was far more important. After all, events in the capital felt like someone else’s business.

Connecting with someone who might become a king in the future was significantly more valuable.

So, not a single word about the riots outside yesterday was mentioned. Instead, gossip circulated about who made a good impression on Solindiges at the banquet, who was too showy, and who seemed likely to succeed in the future.

Additionally, the riots that were supposed to happen due to Victoria’s rain were halted.

The cold rain falling in winter drains away any energy to move.

It was somewhat amusing that the warmth of those who froze to death trickled in just a little at dawn. But, rather than saying Victoria was responsible, they were already people on the brink of death.

Unlucky souls.

Five children, seven elders. And a total of 13 people, including a man who drank looted alcohol and froze to death after falling asleep on the bare ground?

It’s not unusual for a child or an elder to die in an alley when the weather is terrible, right?

Yet, if the cause is somehow linked to the harvesting machine, warmth can be obtained. It seems like they determined that Victoria was the killer.

That’s a bit fascinating.

And there’s one thing I realized through this.

While watching a harvesting machine shivering as it entered its resting place from last night’s rain, I came to understand that this kind of riot probably doesn’t only happen in this country.

Most countries have banned conventional mechanical devices in one form or another.

When the production capacity launched by mechanical devices breaks down, everything supported by that capacity collapses, turning the situation grim, just as it currently looks here.

The anger might strike places like the Mechanical Knight School, which are easier to target, or perhaps even reach the king of that country.

What’s certain is that this isn’t just a local issue.

People search for someone to blame for their hardship.

That’s why religions exist.

When thrust into unfortunate circumstances, they ask:

“Why aren’t you saving me?”

“Why am I the only one suffering?”

“Save only me.”

It doesn’t matter if everyone else is buried in misfortune, as long as it’s just them.

That’s how it goes.

I know this well because I’ve experienced it.

That’s why I dislike gods. Not the impostors who think themselves gods, but someone who has thrown me into this abyss.

Even if they don’t exist, I will still despise them.

I’m not an atheist; I’m an anti-theist. I can’t prove whether gods exist, but I deny it. Whether they exist or not.

Otherwise, life would just be too miserable for me.

This isn’t knowledge learned from information.

It’s knowledge gained through experience.

To survive, one must start blaming someone and continue living just to resent further down the road.

Cough.

There’s more to tell.

That will only fall after becoming unable to die, so ordinary people wouldn’t know about it.

Anyway, that aside.

Nothing has ended yet. In fact, it’s just beginning.

Perhaps there’s a way for the enterprise to survive. Isn’t that the truth of human affairs?

I was worried at first about how strangely kind everyone seemed, but luckily, there’s someone I know here. They might lean slightly towards being virtuous, but they’re within the realm of education’s influence.

Every human is born as a beast and becomes a person through education.

No? If you know how cruelly a child can treat a voiceless beast, you’ll be shocked.

Every culture that humans call virtuous is a totality of civilization built by humans. Someone even said that humanity began to build civilization not when they began using fire but when they started caring for the injured.

It means when they picked up the weapon of sociality in their hands.

They wrapped their actions to build that society in the cloak of virtue. Actions that dedicate to society against instinct.

That’s what they called virtue and began teaching it. That’s education.

I look at Victoria, who received that education.

I expected her face to be marred by darkness, but she looked perfectly fine. It’s not that she’s faking it.

As I obtain more memories from the harvesting machine, I can understand human emotions better. Even if she pretends to be fine, I would have known right away.

However, while emotions are certain, the moment interpretation, which is subjective, mixes in, it can become wrong.

Since I learned from last time, I must be cautious.

Even if I felt disgusted at the cockroach flying behind my back during our conversation, what I know is only the disgust of seeing a bug. It could lead me to think I made a slip of the tongue and stepped on a landmine.

But as long as I’m sure of the existence of emotion, I wouldn’t confuse Victoria’s feelings.

If she’s fine, let’s act as usual.

“Please clean the room properly.”

“Are you seriously asking after what happened yesterday?”

Lunchtime.

I stepped in casually, and she looked incredibly taken aback.

“Then what should I ask?”

“Is yesterday’s incident nothing to you?”

The situation is considerably stable right now. If the conversation drifts into an inquiry about me in such a state, I feel like I might make a mistake somewhere.

Victoria picks a topic of concern.

“That’s still ongoing, right?”

Upon hearing my words, Victoria’s face immediately tightened.

“Ongoing…? Yesterday’s incident? Is that what you mean?”

“Is there anyone who learned that their actions were wrong from that?”

No one.

They simply pulled back. Right now, they’re either tidying up their damp living spaces or moving to find something to eat, or just wandering to sell their looted goods.

The riot itself has ended.

But there’s no reason not to start another one. On the contrary, the reason for doing so will only grow alongside the depleting resources.

Besides, starting a second riot is easier.

They’ve learned that killing others yields something beneficial, right?

Some might be screaming because they can’t quietly die in this situation, while others might have figured out how to profit from it.

Desperate people, exploiters, the exploited, ignorant people, those who want to vent their rage, those who want to curse others, and so forth.

All of them remain the same.

Only fools expect different results from the same actions.

“This is a big deal.”

“Does Victoria know more people in the capital?”

At my question, Victoria fell silent.

And after a brief contemplation, she shook her head.

“There shouldn’t be.”

While actually going around collecting corpses, she recognized their faces, so she wouldn’t have missed anyone.

All her acquaintances from her time in the Mechanical Knight School are dead.

Those who entered her fragmented memories with faint warmth were boys who secretly liked Victoria but—

They’re all dead.

Or they might have become despondent while dying.

The misfortunes of those who gained warmth really don’t matter.

They could have gained far more warmth, but I regret that they received too little.

Just a bit quicker, and they could have had plenty of warmth, but there were really only a few.

In other words, all of Victoria’s Mechanical Knight School friends are dead.

Since they’re all dead, there’s no more chance of being hurt.

“Well, that’s good then.”

“Isn’t it a bit cold? You don’t care what happens to those you barely saved?”

Hmm, how should I respond?

If I answer too coldly, Victoria, who surprisingly didn’t seem very disappointed yesterday, might be genuinely disappointed.

Let’s add some plausible words.

“If you’ve respawned once, isn’t that enough of an opportunity? Either way, anything beyond this is out of my hands. I’m providing opportunities, but when did I say you should live better? Did I tell you to lead a good life this time? Live as you wish. Take care of it.”

I rested my chin on the chair and spoke to Victoria.

“If I were to give affection to every life, just how many lives would I have to let go of?”

It’s a common sentiment.

A person who is immortal suffers from goodbyes, that sort of thing.

I thought that if I said something easily recognizable, it would quiet her down, but surprisingly, it had an oddly good effect.

Victoria’s expression was filled with shock.

And then it turned into a look of pity toward me. Isn’t this too effective?

“I never thought in that way… so that’s why you…”

Ah!

That’s right. There’s no such kind of work in this world. No, even if there is, it’s not something simple to read.

The cultural elements are far below my standards, making it truly a concept that Victoria has never considered before.

Yes.

If she’s under that misconception, that’s comfortable for me.

Everything I said straightforwardly while being unemotional suddenly turns into a situation where breaking up with someone I’ve formed a bond with becomes painful.

Then let me give Victoria another shake.

To think completely emotionally.

There’s no weaker creature than someone who thinks with emotions.

“Victoria lost many people yesterday. Is it all okay now?”

It’s a similar theme. Meeting and parting. I’m from the future, and it’s reality for Victoria.

Of course, the future Victoria envisions and the future I feel are perfectly different!

“I’m fine.”

What?

Aren’t you supposed to say you’re okay? Didn’t she go back to the accommodation yesterday, casually undress, wash her body with psychic power and then sleep in bed?

Then she woke up at dawn and stared blankly for a while, didn’t she?

Wasn’t she already healed?

“Wah.”

Suddenly, a wave surged within Victoria, and tears began to overflow. Victoria is crying shockingly hard.

Whispers.

I glance at the sobbing Victoria around me.

Victoria covers her mouth, holding her breath, but that didn’t stop the flood of tears from pouring down.

Right now, Polaris went to meet his people, and what should I do with this?

Victoria is trying to contain her wails while hunched over.

At that moment, Freesia approached me with a puzzled expression and whispered softly in my ear.

“What’s going on?”

“She lost all her friends in the riot that happened outside yesterday.”

“Ah… Bring her here. This isn’t a place for a girl to cry.”

That’s right. This is a classroom mixed with boys and girls. It’s a bit awkward. And she knows about the riot that occurred outside yesterday.

Knowing that, she just doesn’t bring it up because it’s unnecessary to worry. It’s someone else’s business.

I took Victoria to the room Freesia guided me to. And there, Victoria continued to sob heart-wrenchingly. Until around lunchtime.

People can be weak.

Just like me.

Victoria wasn’t anything special.