novelraw Chapter 117 : Chapter 117
Chapter 117 : Chapter 117
Chapter 117: Asking the Black Sea, Four Questions (5)
They called them intelligent life forms.
Humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, trolls.
Each race had invariably formed a civilization, but their different cultural backgrounds led to conflict. Humans and elves were no different. While humans obsessed over technological advancement, elves were bound to be devoted to returning to nature. There were many cases that revealed the differences between the two races, but to cite a representative example, it was only right to mention their different attitudes toward mathematics.
“Answer, outsider. Is it not a very simple problem.”
For humans, mathematics belonged to a specialized field.
Only the arithmetic necessary for daily life was taught, and the calculations required for technological advancement were the work of experts.
“I rolled a single die 5 times.”
The elves were different. All elves were experts in mathematics.
This was because mathematics was essential to understanding nature. Even the number of petals on a flower was an example. The number of petals was mostly bound by the law of 3, 5, 8, 13. It could not escape the tendency for the sum of the two preceding numbers to become the next.
“In that case, the number of cases where the greatest common divisor of the resulting numbers is 2 or 4 is…….”
“I don’t know.”
Abel let out a sigh.
What about the dice. Sweeping his hair back, Abel continued.
“I have no interest in mathematics. Please open the door.”
“I cannot do that. Although I am staying in this humble Portsmouth, I am still an elf.”
The old elf woman made a laughing sound.
“I have no business with a human who does not know the beauty of numbers. Go and read the human society’s masterpiece, ‘Let's Rescue Them with the Math Boy, the Cute Number Friends,’ before you return.”
“I will have my prized disciple read it.”
Abel drew his beloved sword,
“I, for one, prefer the method of breaking down doors.”
He had no actual intention of breaking the door, but just as he was about to offer a light threat,
“Professor, are you an idiot?”
Roberta opened her mouth.
Beside Abel, with her arms crossed.
“It’s a really easy problem. Out of the cases where you get a 2, 4, or 6 on each roll, you just have to exclude the cases where you only get 6, so you just have to multiply 3 five times and subtract 1, and the problem is solved.”
“……What in the world does that mean.”
“The answer is 242.”
Isn’t that right, she said.
The moment Roberta asked, knocking on the door,
“You got it right.”
The door opened.
The old elf woman revealed herself.
Abel’s eyes narrowed. If he were to guess based on her degree of aging, was she about 900 years old? It was rare to see an old elf. Not only were their lifespans far longer than humans, but elves over 700 years old were bound to live in seclusion in the Snow-White Forest. They would spend the rest of their lives in the elves' holy land.
“My, you are…….”
The old elf woman’s eyes narrowed as well.
She could vaguely recognize him. The young man standing before her was not yet thirty, but he looked somehow decrepit.
“It is like looking at a Ranscendental Number.”
No, it was different. He wasn’t decrepit.
He should have been decrepit, but it seemed he wasn't. The old elf woman had a premonition. She didn't know why, but it felt tedious. The time that made up that man was like counting out pi, one digit at a time.
“Do you wish to become a Lich? Humans are greedy for eternal life.”
“I do not know what you are talking about.”
What’s a transcendental number, he asked.
Abel asked with a shrug.
“My name is Abel Argento. I am a professor from Cia-Harphe Academy, dispatched to support Portsmouth.”
“I have heard the stories.”
The old elf woman reached out her hand toward Roberta.
She stroked her hair and gave a nod.
“Call me Pnakotic. What is this child’s name?”
“My name is Roberta Sinclair.”
Roberta said with a smile.
“I’m a third-year in the Department of Theology at Cia-Harphe Academy. We’re going to save Portsmouth.”
“I see, Roberta. To have to be saved by a child of about ten. I am ashamed.”
Pnakotic laughed hollowly.
Then, she took a step forward. Her lusterless, limp platinum blonde hair swayed. After handing Abel ‘Let's Rescue Them with the Math Boy, the Cute Number Friends,’ she took Roberta’s hand and walked outside her dwelling. She stood among the remains of mana weapons, rusted arms, and furniture soaked with moisture. The junk and the old elf’s appearance formed a strange harmony.
“There is nothing but trash.”
Pnakotic said, looking around.
“Nature is eternal, but civilization is destined to become ruins. What could you possibly make with this trash.”
“It’s not trash!”
Roberta’s lips pouted.
“It can be recycled. Please wait just a moment.”
Roberta began to move busily. It seemed she was gathering materials by rummaging through the junk.
Abel stood side-by-side with Pnakotic. He glanced at Pnakotic while holding the math textbook written for children. Her elven features had long since faded. No matter how much they revered nature, elves were also one of the races that had formed a civilization. Just as civilizations fell to ruin, they had no choice but to age.
“Why are you trying to save it.”
Suddenly, Pnakotic asked.
While smiling at Abel.
“Would it not also be providence for it to disappear as it is. Portsmouth, I mean. That child is too precious to be consumed for a fishing village like this.”
Look, she said.
Pnakotic said, pointing to Roberta.
“Such a small child is making something. It appears to be a bomb. How can a child be making a bomb. At that age, an elven child would be playing a grass flute, but human life seems so very rushed.”
“While it seems rushed…….”
Abel’s gaze tilted toward Pnakotic.
“……It must also seem violent to you.”
“I like that you do not deny it.”
Pnakotic affirmed without hesitation.
“You are a madman. All humans are mad. I despise humans. As an elf.”
“I am aware.”
Because I am a teacher.
Abel whispered in a small voice.
“I don’t know if you are aware, but humans consider the position of a teacher to be noble. They even sing of the grace given by a teacher. But I do not agree.”
Because I am in the position of a teacher, I teach.
Competition. Success and failure through competition. I grade them as if it were natural. As if trying to distinguish between good meat and bad meat. Discovering talent is good, but I also guide them to decide the direction of their lives based on mere talent.
Therefore, it is difficult for the position of a teacher to be noble.
Inevitably so.
“I may be able to teach my students hope, but I will also end up teaching them despair.”
I cannot teach only hope.
The best I can do is not let them know only despair.
It is my duty to have them learn despair safely.
Abel muttered as such.
“That is why I brought the children here.”
“It is a relief that you know your place.”
Pnakotic chuckled.
“You are right. The position of a teacher is disgraceful. It is only right to consider it disgraceful yourself. While these children will harbor the hope that they can save someone……”
They will also fall into despair.
Because this is that kind of land.
Pnakotic whispered as such.
“So do not mind it. My words were sophistry. How can there be a hierarchy of lives. Your disciple should not die, and the people of this village should not die anymore either.”
I hope it turns out that way, she said.
After muttering quietly, Pnakotic turned her back.
“You may use the junk as you please. They were items that couldn't be priced in the first place.”
Because they are too disgusting.
To be counted with noble numbers.
Saying so, Pnakotic started walking. Abel watched Pnakotic silently as she headed for her dwelling. The fact that an old elf was living in Portsmouth was surprising, but the fact that she was collecting junk was the most unexpected of all. For an elf, the objects piled up here should be akin to abominations.
“Professor.”
Meanwhile, Roberta tugged on Abel’s collar.
Abel looked down at Roberta. Roberta was standing there, holding a small object.
“Where did Lady Pnakotic go?”
“She returned to her home.”
“How mean. I was going to show her the value of recycling.”
Abel reached out his hand.
He took the object Roberta was holding and examined it.
As expected, it was a bomb. It seemed she had cut up the remains of a mana weapon to give it form, and then sealed a spell inside.
“The third chapter of War Theory, ‘The Amorphous Chain,’ is inside here.”
At Roberta’s words, Abel nodded.
‘The Amorphous Chain’ was a spell that shot out a sphere with explosive power. The moment a crack formed in the remains of the mana weapon, the spell would activate. It would be fine to throw the bomb directly at a monster, and it would also be possible to inflict damage using the shrapnel from the remains generated by ‘The Amorphous Chain.’
“Roberta.”
Thus, Abel looked at the beach beyond the hill.
The sun was setting before he knew it. While dark clouds gathered in the distance, the heated sunlight merely wet the seawater.
“Are you afraid of making weapons.”
As he asked the question,
Abel threw the bomb toward the deserted sandy beach.
“Ah…….”
Roberta’s mouth fell open.
Whoosh. As the bomb flew with a light sound,
“I am…….”
Roberta bowed her head.
Boom. An explosion echoed in the distance.
“I am afraid of making weapons, but…….”
Roberta’s voice was too small.
It was nothing compared to the sound of the explosion. And so Abel took it to heart.
“I think I’m afraid of the weapon itself.”
I can make them well,
but making them is a little painful, she said.
Roberta mumbled in a tiny voice.
* * *
At the same time, on the Portsmouth beach.
As a sudden roar shook the sandy shore,
‘……What was that?’
Monika’s eyes shot open.
It seemed something had been thrown from the top of the hill. Thinking it might be a monster, she had run over, but it wasn't. A spell had been activated. To be precise, it was the result of a bomb created through a spell.
‘There should be a junk dealer on the hill…….’
Professor Abel and Roberta said they were stopping by there…….
‘Could it be their handiwork?’
Monika thought, scratching her head.
In any case, she was startled. A bomb had gone off while she was tense from standing guard.
“……Mo, Monika!”
Demian was no different.
Demian was running over, covering his mouth with his palm.
“What happened. Is it a monster.”
“No, it is not.”
Monika narrowed her eyes.
Demian’s complexion was not good. It was because corpses were scattered all over the sandy beach. What was he going to do with such a weak stomach? Monika sighed. He was a genius when it came to handling a sword, but if he wasn't used to seeing corpses, wouldn't even his talent be useless?
“Senior, you’ve looked unwell since this morning.”
“I am fine…….”
Demian’s eyes hardened.
“This is all part of training. I overcame my fear of heights by climbing the outer walls. I will get used to seeing corpses as well.”
“I hope you can.”
Before the monsters attack, that is, she said.
Monika said, gripping her great sword. The tedious guard duty continued. She had roamed the beach until sunset, but there had been no monster attacks. It was certainly a fortunate thing, but she had spent half the day in a state of tension, so her stamina was heavily drained.
‘Did Professor Abel stay up all night in this state?’
He must be used to it.
I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
Just as Monika was thinking that and about to take a step,
“──He, everyone!”
Eleanor’s shout came from afar.
Eleanor was running toward Monika and Demian. It was obvious what she was going to say. Monika cleared her throat a couple of times, then,
“There was a huge noise just now! Could it be a monster attack……”
“No, it is not.”
She answered before the question was even finished.
“It seems our professor and a student from the same class made a bomb. There were no monster attacks. Please don’t worry.”
“Ah, I see…….”
Eleanor swept her chest in relief.
The accessories decorating Eleanor’s body swayed.
Jingle, jingle.
“Thanks be to Lord Cthanid’s grace……. It’s such a relief that it was nothing serious.”
“Um…….”
Monika swept her hair back.
There was something she had wanted to ask the previous night. A question she couldn't ask because it was late and the temple was full of villagers. Monika opened her mouth to Eleanor.
“That, uh……, about Lord Cthanid.”
She was well-versed in the differences of faith.
All religions in Epezeria, though different in form, were directed toward the Pantheon. The system of worshiping gods was created by the Main Gods in the first place, and worshiping any god was, in effect, looking up to the Pantheon. The Platinum Round Table Orthodoxy was simply the religion closest to the Main Gods among them.
“……Is he by any chance a monster?”
If so, not a god,
but what would happen if one worshiped a monster.
Monika had never learned about that.