Chapter 67: Opening the Doors One by One

Whether it was because the guide was exceptional or we were simply lucky in many ways.

No, it was likely both.

“If you were dragging along an ordinary human, it would have taken at least three times as long as this, wouldn’t it? And that’s only assuming things went smoothly.”

So that’s how it is.

Even though we had entered the Metran Kingdom, we hadn’t yet come across a village, let alone a city, so the camping continued.

During that time, I conducted lessons that were more like sparring, teaching him the basics.

“So, it’s not about seizing or snatching Mana—like Black Magic or Black Sorcery—but rather returning it, tangling it, or binding it according to the laws of natural circulation…”

Luirin, who had been rambling as if repeating everything he’d heard from me for a while, finally spoke.

“…I don’t understand a single thing.”

“You aren’t defying the flow of the river water. To change the flow, you either block the space it flows through, or if you want to change its course, you break an existing levee or a built-up embankment. Or you create one.”

“I understand the concept, but how do I actually apply that with my body? That part is even more confusing.”

…Well, honestly, I don’t have much to say regarding that part either.

The only reason I came to understand this was because I spent nearly several years emptying my mind while repeatedly practicing Grandeus’s bizarre Sword Forms and Sword Formulas.

The Demon King told me that was why it was possible, and though I taught him the movements just in case…

“What are these movements even used for?”

So, I gave him a personal demonstration.

Even if the forms were warped, they weren’t unusable, so I used a sword that could be held with both hands.

And the sword Elhermina had given me.

“I understand it even less now?! The movements and motions are completely different!”

“…But the logic and principles are the same.”

“When using a large sword, you mentioned trees or rocks? I get that. But when using it with one hand, it’s water and wind? How are those the same? More importantly, are these analogies even accurate?”

“…….”

Surprisingly, they were the same.

But how on earth do I explain this?

“On this land, on the earth, there are trees, water flows, and wind blows. In that sense, they are two sides of the same coin… or rather, they are one…”

As I spoke, I realized something.

First of all, it was questionable that such an expression even came out of my mouth.

Did I know this all along?

Not consciously, but unconsciously?

“Why did you stop talking?”

“…The point is, even if they look different, they aren’t.”

“I hate it most when people try to gloss over things like that.”

I mean, what can I do if it’s the truth?

However, one thing I realized while speaking was…

…That even with the same Heart Formula and content, it can sound, feel, and be perceived as completely different.

Regardless, I began to understand the things the Demon King had said previously.

…Though even that was still just scratching the surface.

“…….”

Even when I explicitly taught and showed him, he couldn’t understand or accept it.

I wondered for a moment if those who strive to hide various Arcane Secrets would find Grandeus’s Arcane Secrets to be utterly lamentable.

-Even if you repeat the same action, it differs by how much sincerity, truth, and soul you pour into it.

That would be true.

The Demon King wouldn’t have forced me to commit suicide a hundred times just because he was bored or because sincerity was important.

Even the passing wind is not neglected.

Even I, who is like that, often lose myself the moment I space out or lose focus.

-And if you don’t base it on the spirit of chivalry, you won’t feel anything even if you learn the exact same thing.

That’s why, although I taught Luirin the movements, I didn’t instruct him to repeat them for mastery.

I judged that he had his own path, and I could simply awaken and encourage that part of him.

For example…

“Giving it your all. Sincerely, truly attempting, training, and planning something… I believe you know a bit about that.”

“Why are you stating the obvious?”

“But I can see that even you are still leaving room for doubt.”

So, if there is anything I can do for him…

“…It would be to tell you what that ‘truth’ is and enable you to use it.”

Though she seemed to understand well, having matured earlier than others, I realized once again that whether one can utilize this freely or not is difficult to realize alone.

In the first place, the concept itself wasn’t properly known to the world.

Even those who used it were vague about it.

“…Is that also something that’s perceived differently depending on the person? Like that damn Heart Formula?”

“Yes.”

If his mental rotation were slow, I would have had to let him realize it through experience.

Fortunately, he was the type whose mind worked well in these areas, so I decided to try explaining it first.

“Sincerity and truth are, in a sense, the use of Mental Power.”

“Mental Power?”

“Yes. When you think a lot, concentrate, or pay a lot of attention, you get tired even if you don’t move your body much, right?”

“Oh, I understand that. That’s true. That’s why I try to empty my mind.”

“This is a method of using and controlling that according to your intention, and expanding that influence even to the body.”

“…The wording is a bit difficult, but I understand.”

“For example, your thoughts and reasoning don’t always happen according to your intention, right? Usually, you’re dragged along. Isn’t that so?”

“That’s…”

Luirin tilted his head.

“Maybe? Or maybe not?”

“The way to realize it is simple. Since your body is tired, sleep might come easily, but the moment you think you should sleep, all sorts of thoughts pop up, right?”

“That’s… true. But I can control that to some extent if I think about tomorrow’s schedule.”

“That means your control ability is quite excellent.”

“Are you praising me now?”

…I recall praising him at every single moment.

“And when you concentrate on something, if you’re interested, feel the necessity, and are desperate, you concentrate well… but for things you aren’t, you can’t even bring yourself to care, it’s a hassle, and so on, right?”

“Well, that’s obvious, isn’t it?”

“But suppressing the repulsion you feel when forcing yourself to do something you hate is also, in a way, using your will, isn’t it?”

“I guess… so?”

“For example, if that willpower… were money, then things you want to do are cheap, but things you hate to do are expensive… To pay for an expensive item, you have to spend more money, right?”

“This is suddenly drifting in a strange direction, but I understand.”

“For instance, thinking, exercising willpower, and concentrating all consume Mental Power. Even evoking and suppressing emotions.”

“Ah, I get that. When I want to eat something but can’t, there are times I can endure it, but there are moments I just can’t take it and pounce on it. Even when my pockets are empty.”

“Right. The times you can endure and the times you can’t. What was the difference?”

“…Was it because of a lack of Mental Power?”

Somehow, I managed to guide him.

Once they understand, it goes fast from there.

One must realize the necessity to develop the motivation or will to work hard at something.

If I just vaguely talked about thinking and reasoning… it would be like chasing clouds, making it ambiguous why he should do it or how he should achieve it.

Similarly, if he doesn’t feel the necessity, the basis for working hard disappears.

Unless there is a will to pursue it, if one must still pursue it, then even that requires borrowing Mental Power and willpower, or wasting it through overpayment.

“…Like how you work hard at something you hate if you feel the necessity?”

“Exactly.”

There is no exception to this for humans or beasts.

They work hard at what they want to do without being told.

But they hate doing what they dislike even if it kills them, and if they are forced to keep doing it, they eventually give up many things to accomplish it.

Reasoning and emotions—even harboring such things becomes grueling later on, and they eventually engage in their labor like corpses with their eyes wide open.

“…….”

The reason slaves empty their minds during Forced Labor and soothe themselves by telling themselves not to even think about how hard it is… is probably for that reason.

Even so, they endure because they can.

In other words.

Even if they force themselves to endure up to a certain point.

A time comes when they can no longer endure, and then…

“Then, if I learn that sincerity or truth you mentioned, Master, does that mean I’ll be able to control it?”

“…Partially.”

“Eh? Partially?”

“Trees have the way of trees, and rocks, water, wind, and fire each have their own way of life and way of pursuit.”

Wishing for water to burn like fire.

That is pure stubbornness.

Even if you tried, it would only boil or vaporize into smoke.

“Innate nature and the nature one pursues are each different. If you understand yourself… you understand that because you are fire, you cannot touch water. Then you avoid disaster. Pain and discomfort are also lessened.”

“…Uh, then what if I want to be fire instead of water?”

“You must die.”

“What?”

“…You must kill yourself until your nature changes. Though it’s uncertain if you’ll truly change.”

The reason the Demon King forced me to commit suicide.

…Was it because of this?

I realized it only after saying it.

“…….”

I glared at the youth who was resting his chin on his hand with an intrigued look.

I see.

Is this the way of wisdom?

Knowledge and wisdom are different.

When I asked the Demon King about knowledge.

The Demon King said he would explain it simply and gave an example.

[This isn’t absolute, but to help you understand? The conditions for knowledge are first, justification; second, belief; and third, truth.]

Suppose a river flows over there.

[A river flows over there, right? This is the truth. And you see it and know it, right? Even if you check again later, this won’t change, right? Then you can have belief. But that is strictly a fact that you saw, experienced, and know, right? Then, to make this justified? You must bring others and awaken them to the same belief and truth as you.]

And so.

[A single piece of knowledge is born.]

But this is not absolute.

[What if one day a meteorite falls from the sky and devastates the area around the river? The river is gone. Then, what about me, who knew that river as knowledge? Does that knowledge still live? It will transform into the knowledge that ‘there was a river at that time.’ Even this will become ambiguous as time passes. So, one must record it, and for the sake of legitimacy and justification, it must undergo historical research and verification. Ah, is it getting too difficult now?]

“…….”

Of course, he later revealed that the definition of knowledge wasn’t absolute.

Did he say that even that was just one subjective perspective and yardstick for defining knowledge?

Therefore.

The Demon King does not trust knowledge.

It is a kind of tool and a means.

It is not absolute.

However.

Those who do not know the essence of knowledge, like baby birds being fed by their mother.

They blindly believe in it.

That is ignorance and namelessness.

And after hearing all that.

I once asked.

Then what is wisdom?

[Asking that is the most foolish thing of all.]

The Demon King sneered.

And returning to the present.

…I have not yet reached the answer to that question.

Though I might have reached a partial answer to the preceding content.

“But that part about having to die, that’s not a metaphor, right?”

“…Yeah.”

It’s not a metaphor.

You either truly die, or you have no choice but to deeply experience shocks and pain of that magnitude layer by layer.

Probably.

That would be dozens of times more grueling than actually dying.

“Then I guess… whether it’s water or fire, I should just live according to my aptitude.”

“Instead, you just need to cultivate your own unique nature well.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying!”

Not obsessing or clinging to useless or absurd things.

Perhaps this, too, is a part of wisdom.

I looked at Luirin and pondered that thought inwardly.