Chapter 74: If You're Frustrated, Try Keeping Up

“My master should have seen my performance!”

The child staying at the chapel. Since I had already received information that he was an orphan…

I figured this was the place to go if he wasn’t returning to where the sword was embedded, and sure enough.

“I was quite surprised myself when he broke through the building wall with his bare body,” Luciri said in a tone of disbelief. Leo laughed, “Hahaha,” and nodded in agreement.

Standing with both hands on his hips and his chest puffed out, Luirin looked sturdy and innocent, exactly like a child his age.

In fact, he had quickly become friends with several children gathered at the chapel.

…Though Luirin himself didn’t seem to think of it that way.

“It’s only natural for the weak to be drawn to the strong. Besides, I am a promising female!”

…Like this.

I don’t know how Luirin felt, but Luciri, hearing that, looked appalled again and dragged him to a corner of the chapel.

“If you don’t have a suitable place to stay… it is humble, but perhaps here….”

Not long after, Luiness came over after checking on the children.

As she expressed her gratitude to us repeatedly and made this suggestion.

“Oh, would that really be okay?”

Luciri responded with a bright expression.

Despite Somern Village having as many as two inns, they were already full, so it seemed Leo and Luciri had no proper place to rest.

“We can just rent a room at the Edenlevan Branch Building, so please don’t worry about it.”

Luirin spoke up first, ostensibly to ease their burden… but if there was a problem, it was the manner in which he interrupted.

“Luirin. Even with good intentions, the way you deliver them changes how they are received. In times like this….”

The sight of Luciri pointing that out and explaining it gently reminded me of an older sister and a younger sister.

In a way, Luciri also seemed prone to misunderstandings due to her confident and gallant attitude, but she seemed well aware of that issue.

“Then perhaps you could join us for a meal… our hospitality may be meager, but I truly… I would like to treat you.”

“That’s….”

Unfamiliar with such attitudes, Luirin looked toward me as if asking for my opinion.

“By all means. However, since there are many of us, we will bring the ingredients.”

“No, you don’t have to go that far….”

Only after barely persuading Luiness, who repeatedly tried to decline, were we able to leave the chapel.

“You still love playing the benefactor.”

“Because that generosity becomes a great joy, a comfort, and a memory for someone.”

Bread given to the hungry.

And bread given to the full… I believe it was said that the difference is like that of gold and a common stone on the roadside.

…Those were the words my mother always spoke while immersing herself in service and donations.

That is why she told me not to treat even a single piece of bread lightly.

Those who have often forget. Or perhaps they simply do not know.

That giving just a little can bring immense joy to someone.

However, on the other hand, those who receive must not forget.

The preciousness of it.

That it is not a right or something taken for granted.

That it is a precious grace imbued with someone’s devotion and sweat.

And that they must build a better tomorrow based on that grace.

“But if people get used to being helped… when are they ever supposed to become independent?”

“Accept that there are people who cannot mature as quickly as you. Not everyone is as exceptional as you are.”

“…That sounds like a compliment, but somehow it feels like I’m being scolded.”

“It is a compliment. But just as there are wild grasses and brilliant flowers in the world, everyone is different.”

There are flowers that do not grow quickly, and there are flowers that bloom their buds overnight.

There are flowers that withstand all sorts of storms.

And there are flowers and plants that wither quickly in the heat or cold.

“If you do not acknowledge difference, then from that point on, every moment is a fight. After all, pushing your own will and opinion means breaking the will and opinion of the other.”

“You’ve fallen into your ‘serious disease’ again. Is this really a matter that requires such a lecture?”

“……Do as you please.”

Perhaps he was right.

Maybe I was treating the boy too much like an adult.

Because I had unconsciously harbored expectations, I had ended up reciting lessons—or something like them—so that he would meet those expectations.

“…….”

Is this also arrogance?

Or is it pride?

Or if not that….

…….

Immediately after arriving at the Edenlevan Branch Building, I decided to execute what I had only been thinking about.

“I see you’re finally planning to repair that?”

Luirin added a comment as I picked up the bent sword.

“…Yes. I should.”

It’s not that it holds any particular meaning.

…But if I’m going to carry it around, it’s better to fix it.

Otherwise, I’ll just dispose of it.

====

A fair distance from Somern Village lay a mausoleum, and nearby, a small-scale communal cemetery and ossuary were located in the same area.

In reality, ever since the first grave was created, people had buried their dead in this area as if by agreement, which is why it came to be treated as such.

Since burial methods differed by religion, there were some differences in the cemetery, as if the areas were divided.

The lord of this region was relatively generous in such matters.

He was called a Jarl, in their terms—a position equivalent to a Count in the Empire.

However, it would be problematic to view him solely as such.

Even if the Empire had first optimized and subdivided the noble class system, that was by the Empire’s standards.

To these people, the Jarl—who simultaneously meant tribal chief, lord, military leader, and warrior—was a crucial title that established the ruling order of the Ice Sea Sand People.

Because of this, they were occasionally misunderstood as being a military chiefdom rather than a feudal state, despite being a monarchy.

In fact, the Dabas Kingdom took a stance of completely denying this externally.

Surprisingly, Metran neither actively denied nor affirmed it.

In any case, the Jarl who ruled this area, Lutengar, was a generous lord who tolerated the autonomy and culture of each village to a reasonable extent.

The only conditions were taxes, respect, and whether they could properly execute conscription orders when necessary.

Naturally, since they also hunted magic beasts periodically, he would gather and command troops at those times, reaffirming their loyalty every time.

This was the reason why a guard force was established in Somern Village in addition to the Vigilante Group.

Though they numbered fewer than a hundred, the fact that a professional soldier class was established in that context.

Venus headed toward one such place.

A shabby hut located a short distance from the cemetery.

As he entered, cold air welcomed him instead of warmth.

“Haa….”

Even though the sun had not yet fully set, the inside of the hut was gloomier than expected.

“You’ve come?”

A man, who had just taken a wooden cup away from his lips, asked while habitually tapping his grey mustache with his index finger.

“Of course I’ve come. Did you think I’d dropped dead somewhere?”

“My, my… you really can’t speak politely, can you?”

“Just tell me why you called.”

“How was it?”

“…….”

Venus’s brow furrowed sharply.

“Usurf. Stop pissing me off and just get to the point.”

“This is also part of the point.”

“Maybe try gauging who you’re provoking?”

“Hmm? Is this provocation? I was simply asking for your impressions. What exactly makes this ‘provocation’?”

“…….”

The pot-bellied man played innocent, fiddling with his half-bald head.

“He’s different from us.”

“Well, that’s obvious.”

“Fundamentally different. And as I’ve told you before, that sword is mine.”

At that, the man asked Venus, not in a mocking tone, but with genuine curiosity.

“Even though you can’t even pull it out?”

“Once it’s pulled, I’ll just cut off his hands and everything else and snatch it.”

“You’re not some brat throwing a tantrum because your toy was taken away.”

“What did you just say?”

“Hahaha.”

He played the fool, tilting his cup.

Venus wanted to kill him right then and there…

But even this man was someone who had once chased the same back.

Some had realized the truth and turned away.

But these people were those who knew the truth and yet silently maintained their positions.

…If it weren’t for that.

He would have killed him long ago.

“Why was Lueld’s brat the one chosen?”

“That is for the gods to know. Or perhaps Lord Grandeus foresaw it.”

“…….”

“If even Rupert doesn’t know, how would we?”

The power to glimpse the future.

Even Rupert, who directly inherited the tool related to that from Grandeus, only knew a tiny fraction.

Even he was often wrong.

Even if he received prophecies or omens, in terms of interpreting and understanding them… he was lacking in many ways.

That is why… he, as a companion of ten years, had to stay by his side.

Not just to exalt him, but to struggle to realize the prophecies in the desired form.

That was Usurf.

That was his role.

At the same time, he was able to accumulate considerable wealth based on those prophecies.

And based on that, he could extend his eyes, ears, and hands everywhere.

“Everyone has their own role.”

Hadn’t Grandeus himself said so?

I am a messenger.

I am the one who delivers.

I could not be an executioner, a revolutionary, or a judge.

But the generations after me could be, if they wished.

“…….”

However.

That was not Usurf, nor Rupert, nor himself.

Even the various members of the small Order of Relief Knights would have their own roles.

…But perhaps even they were no different from the many beasts pulling carriages and carts.

“Still, you gave him enough warning, right?”

“…Yes.”

Normally, news would not have reached this far so quickly.

However, he made it so.

The fellow in front of him.

And what did he say? Give a warning so they have at least a minimum chance to respond? To exchange greetings?

No matter how you look at it, he’s insane.

“Why is that brat connected to the Demon King? More importantly, which Demon King is he? There’s more than one report of a Demon King on the continent right now.”

“I don’t know that far. I merely pieced together rumors that drifted in.”

“Fine, let’s say that’s true. Why are there rumors floating around that Demon Kings are popping up here and there in the Middle Realm? Is this also your doing?”

“Impossible. Don’t paint me as some absurd conspirator. You’re young, so you might not know… but what a single individual can attempt is only a tiny fraction. I consider it a miracle that I even managed to get that child this far… specifically, to make him leave the capital.”

“…….”

“Seeing how there were so many collaborators… it was likely his destiny to happen even if I hadn’t intervened. Personally, I feel sorry for that child. I mean that sincerely.”

Venus snorted in disgust.

“How pathetic.”

“Still. Honestly, I don’t know why… how that child ended up coming here. Unless there was some guidance, how could he target and find this place? Is this also an effect of the prophecy? It doesn’t make sense to treat it as such.”

Usurf’s words, exactly as he spoke them, were contradictory.

However, for those damn bastards who used prophecies as beacons, it wasn’t strange at all for them to talk like that.

The Post-Grandeus Rescue Order had split into several groups.

By now, there were only three factions.

The First Star Faction, to which Venus belonged, and the so-called Snake Eye Faction, to which Usurf and Rupert belonged.

And the insane ones who, despite knowing the truth, claimed they would carry on that noble will all the more.

The Savior Faction.

It was somewhat pathetic to include the Saviors within the Order of Relief Knights… but what can one do if they insist?

No, to be precise, they claim they are the only legitimate Order of Relief Knights, which is why it’s just pathetic.

Unless every single one of them is wiped out, it would be impossible to stop their nonsense.

…And since they hadn’t been wiped out, they were operating openly among the many.

Yet even they were on high alert for the prophecy that the Sword of Grandeus would soon be pulled and his successor would be born.

…From the perspective of someone like himself, stuck in this area like a native and struggling to pull the sword periodically, they all seemed like pathetic and annoying sorts.

“The Saviors are actually very satisfied with the movements of that child, Kariel.”

“…I really should have killed them all.”

Hypocrites.

A narrow perspective of ‘justice.’

Lawless scum living in the wretched delusion that they are good people doing good deeds.

Truly pathetic and foul.

“I think you can finally admit that the ideal you pursue has leaned just as much as ours, which desires the purification of the world.”

“Is there a problem with my will to crush the privatization of power?”

Corrupt power.

Even the atrocities of the invading Demon King’s Army.

The essence is the same.

Then, in the end, corrupt power must also be eradicated, just as one deals with the Demon King’s Army.

Without leaving a single handful behind.

“Power and authority are instincts of all living beings, including humans. Even if you suppress them, something to replace them will emerge in some form. Therefore, your effort is strictly a waste.”

While Usurf admired his conviction, which was even more twisted than their own, he couldn’t help but shake his head at the futile idea of scooping out the sands of a desert or the waters of an ocean.

The child who was originally meant to be a Hero, upon meeting Grandeus and witnessing the death of his benefactor at the hands of the greatest Hero of the age.

Came to hate Heroes.

Therefore, that child could not become a Hero.

Even though he possessed the qualities more than anyone else.

…This too.

‘Must be destiny.’

Usurf tilted his cup.

Though the cup had long been empty.

He continued to tilt the cup, as if by habit, as if by routine.

‘I’m sorry, but.’

It cannot be helped.

Kariel. Whether later or soon.

When that boy somehow discovers the truth about the various malice and conspiracies directed at him.

Even if he hates and perhaps kills Usurf and Rupert, who are part of that.

He, Usurf, was willing to accept that destiny obediently.

‘If our wish is fulfilled by doing so.’

I would die a hundred times over.

To him, who had experienced the most cruel era and lost everything because of it.

This world was still blood-red and ash-grey, then and now.

What anxiety could there be in mixing one more drop of blood into it?