novelraw Chapter 133 : Chapter 133
Chapter 133 : Chapter 133
Chapter 133: Answer Me, Human (2)
It was a sailboat made of wood.
One, two. Small sailboats floated on the waves. They were smaller than Abel's palm. Waves were crashing toward the sandy beach, but the flock of sailboats began to cross the sea. It must be because a low-rank spell was imbued. Abel looked at the path of the sailboats with narrowed eyes. The lanterns placed on the hulls were faint.
“It is a tradition of Portsmouth.”
Suddenly, Pnakotic spoke by Abel's side.
Pnakotic's white hair fluttered while dyed in the sunset.
“Whenever someone dies, we float a ship made of wood. With a lantern inside. We believed the lantern is the soul of the deceased, and that they will cross the sea just like that and be reincarnated.”
I also thought so once.
Pnakotic whispered like that.
With a self-deprecating smile.
“It seems the residents made the right choice.”
Tilting his eyes, Abel spoke.
Shoes rampant on the sandy beach. After scanning them, he raised his head. Residents stood barefoot, treading in the water. It was to see off the departing sailboats.
“It seems they decided to face history, believing in Pnakotic-nim's memories stored in the Sensory Stone.”
“Yes, it seems so.”
“Is it a comfort to you?”
Pnakotic looked up at Abel.
Good grief. He is a man like a plaster statue. Thinking so, Pnakotic shrugged her shoulders. Abel's expression was indifferent to the end.
“Can that be possible?”
Pnakotic was also the same.
She couldn't blame Abel for being indifferent. Although the seawater surged, Pnakotic's heart was calm. Even if the residents of Portsmouth offered condolences, even if they honored those who died unjustly, Pnakotic's dead daughter would not come back to life.
“Too many have died.”
Pnakotic spoke in a blunt tone.
“Besides, too much time has passed. Now, only emptiness remains.”
Anyway……, she thought.
Pnakotic continued her words.
“I heard an interesting story from Roberta. She said she made a bet? About whether the residents would believe my memories or not.”
What to do about this.
She lost spectacularly.
Saying so, Pnakotic laughed, and,
“It turned out that way.”
Abel nodded while holding a faint smile.
“It is my defeat.”
It wasn't that he sincerely distrusted the residents.
It wasn't that he trusted them either. In the first place, something like trust didn't matter. Abel's trust was meaningless enough to be put forward as a stake. Nothing changed just because Abel trusted the residents, or because he didn't trust them.
“Only emptiness remains for me as well.”
Abel whispered toward Pnakotic.
While traversing countless worlds, he witnessed it again and again.
Historical errors. And the struggle of future generations striving to accept them, or frantically trying to avoid them until the very end.
“Pnakotic-nim said you do not trust humans.”
“I did.”
At Abel's words, Pnakotic nodded.
“It is the same now. I do not like humans.”
“I am also the same. I distrust humans.”
After saying that, Abel,
“But sometimes I believe. I became unable to choose either side.”
Quickly denied it.
What do you think of humans? If he received such a question, Abel's answer would differ each time. Abel sometimes believed in humans, and sometimes did not believe. He believed whenever he had to believe, and did not believe whenever he shouldn't believe. He became unable to argue over a single person or a single incident. It was because he had seen too much.
“But unlike me…….”
Abel looked behind him.
“The children will have to seek an answer.”
Abel's students and Eleanor were visible. They were staring at Abel while standing far away.
“It must be so.”
Pnakotic nodded.
“There are many reasons why Elves love mathematics, but one of them is because a clear answer is given in many cases.”
We Elves live too long,
And the longer we live, the harder it becomes to give an answer to anything.
Pnakotic muttered like that.
“A belief that was firm in youth is bound to shake when one grows old. As one endures a long time, one becomes burdened to affirm. It is because worries increase. Isn't it that the younger ones rather discuss the world clearly like sages, and yearn to reach such truth?”
So I will watch.
What kind of answer your young ones will give.
While Pnakotic whispered toward Abel,
“Excuse me.”
Abel bowed once and then advanced.
He opened his mouth with a stiffened expression.
“It is fortunate.”
The students stood hesitantly.
Abel's sharply forged blackish-blue eyes scanned the faces of the students. Eleanor looked alternately at Abel and the students, then stood upright, and,
“Eleanor Portsmouth.”
“……Yes?”
At Abel's call, Eleanor opened her mouth.
“You are no longer a Miko.”
“I suppose so, probably?”
Eleanor's brows narrowed.
It didn't feel real yet. Right now, ornaments were hanging all over Eleanor's body. They were items she had carried as a Miko.
“However, the villagers have followed you until now, and the symbolism you possess is still valid. You will have to become the focal point for the residents.”
Abel explained.
That an all-out war with monsters would take place soon.
The Temple of Cthanid. That place would be the sturdiest among the buildings in Portsmouth. Abel intended to evacuate the residents to the inside of the temple.
“I have no leisure. You must evacuate the residents. In addition, you must calm them down.”
Eleanor nodded before long.
It was thanks to understanding the meaning of Abel's words. Eleanor had been acting as a Miko to easily draw the residents' attention, and she possessed the leeway to soothe tension while leading the evacuating residents. Since she had performed similar duties in the frequent battles with monsters until now.
“And Demian.”
“Yes, Professor.”
At Abel's call, Demian took one step forward.
“Among these people, you have mastered swordsmanship the most.”
“Excluding Professor, that is.”
After scanning the hilt of his sword, Demian spoke.
He was aware of it himself. Excluding Abel, it would only be him and Monica. The personnel who could confront a flock of monsters with a sword were just…….
“Even if you are skilled in swordsmanship, it will be difficult to confront monsters forming a flock. We do not have much time. Reinforce the military power as quickly as possible.”
Demian turned his head and examined the faces of the residents.
Inwardly, he recalled the time when he had just arrived at Portsmouth. Vigilantes. He recalled the young men who tried to confront monsters with crude weapons. He would have to stand on the front line with them. Abel entrusted their training to Demian.
“In addition, Ernst.”
“……I have finished all preparations.”
Ernst spoke with a sigh mixed in his voice.
Ernst was aware of his role. It was natural that he should move the war situation through the Tactical Controller.
“You are going to tell me to register the vigilantes on the Tactical Controller, right? If I input their fingerprints, I will be able to help with spells.”
Abel affirmed silently.
While examining the battlefield at a glance, the Tactical Controller could imbue spells on the troops whose fingerprints were registered. Abel intended to entrust command and support to Ernst.
“Then Roberta.”
“I won the bet, Professor.”
“Understood. I will grant your wish later. For now…….”
“I will make bombs.”
Roberta spoke in a small voice.
She didn't mind making weapons, but she knew what she had to do. She would have to secure not only the bombs she showed before but also weapons to distribute to the vigilantes.
“I cannot be certain how many I can make. But I will try hard. Since there are plenty of materials in Pnakotic-nim's yard.”
“Good.”
Abel placed his hand on Roberta's head.
“Lastly, Monica and Lizer.”
At Abel's call, Monica and Lizer stared at each other.
Lizer smiled toward Monica. Several Spirits were gliding by Lizer's side.
Monica narrowed her eyes. It was because the Spirit's Nest came to mind. Would Lizer also know? The fact that this land was cursed. Such a question sprang up in Monica's head.
“You two follow me.”
Abel took a step toward the outside of the sandy beach.
Monica and Lizer, the two people's gazes tilted toward Abel's back.
“You two will take charge of the center of the situation.”
Abel, who walked a few steps, looked back.
“So stay tense.”
Not only victory or defeat,
But also the residents' lives depend on you.
Abel muttered like that.
* * *
It was a sailboat made of wood.
In the middle of the Black Sea where the sun set and darkness settled, small sailboats formed a flock and were going against the current. With faint lanterns placed on their hulls, they had finally arrived. Amidst the open ocean where Nodens stood.
‘Is that so.’
Nodens looked around.
Lanterns springing up like dots were rampant on the sea.
One of them, Nodens picked up a sailboat made of wood. Holding it in one hand, he tilted his head.
‘Is this mere thing…….’
CRUNCH, it went.
The crumbling sailboat.
‘……Human mourning?’
Nodens relaxed the strength in his grip.
Fragments of the sailboat that came across the sea fell onto the water. Scattering as pieces of wood, they sank far away. Even if called a lantern, it was unsightly. It merely got wet and faded away quickly.
Suddenly, a woman's voice reached Nodens's ears.
“You mean these things.”
Nodens shook his head.
A brief sneer scattered on the sea breeze. While eyeing the flock of sailboats, Nodens ridiculed. He had been watching the movements of Portsmouth all along. They realized the past errors only belatedly, and must be offering belated condolences. Is that the answer the humans of Portsmouth found?
“……I cannot agree.”
The woman laughed.
Dense laughter raged in Nodens's ears.
“Of course.”
Errors cannot be resolved.
What is the point of floating crude wooden sailboats away?
Can that truly be mourning? Nodens did not think so. Mourning should be a morality offered to the dead, but the existences they ought to face were not mere deceased people.
“All preparations are finished.”
Nodens waved his arm.
“The troops are equipped, and we only count the time for the advance.”
One, two.
Hands reaching out from the water.
Numerous grasps snatched the sailboats made of wood. Catching them and sinking them into the water.
“So, compatriots…….”
Subsequently, revealing gazes.
Countless Banshees poked their faces out from the Black Sea.
“……Let's go.”
Toward the Banshees, Nodens declared.
“To reclaim our hometown.”
Our children.
And our parents.
To return the home to all of them.