Chapter 378

Episode 378 With Those Two Eyes (4)

“Don’t ask me for forgiveness.”

After a long time, I finally got the words out of my throat.

“Really, don’t ask for my forgiveness on that matter. “Because I have no right to do that or no reason to do that.”

ah. I hope that you, who are more dazzling and good than anyone else, are not stuffed here for the sake of a great cause. The truth that I could not bear to express will wander here forever.

My eyes squeezed shut.

[Yes...]

Meanwhile, Gestas, who saw my reaction, did not easily forget what he said. The hooves that touch the hem of the stole or clothes seem to show some kind of regret.

[Yes, you are right. This is not something you can forgive. It’s not even possible to be forgiven by anyone in the first place. Except for those who sacrificed their lives for this purpose.]

“....”

[...Has the story gone too far? Still sleep. Now you know what my message represents, so let’s get to the point.]

Why are you regretting it? I expressed tacit agreement to the change of topic without seeming to understand his feelings.

Anyway, I didn’t want to know any more or have anything to do with such a heavy cause. It was the same even if he heard that his beloved child was going to be sacrificed for the greater good.

I have neither the qualifications nor the confidence to stop it. This is especially true considering that the reason I care about that child is because he is not a child who would back down from something like this. I cannot attempt to have any involvement in the child’s predetermined choices.

[First of all... I would like to express my sincere apologies for what happened to you. I’m so sorry. We never thought things would turn out like this.]

And the feeling of helplessness that comes from not being able to do anything is the worst. I accepted his apology with a subtle sense of discomfort. I didn’t feel that good.

[I know this may sound like an excuse. But... I’m serious. We really....]

“...You don’t know how to apologize. “In this case, I think it is better to present a reasonable and appropriate compensation plan rather than appeal to emotional factors.”

In the world, there are cases that can be appealed to through emotional theory and cases that cannot be appealed to. However, if the conditions of being a large corporation or a huge force and the existence of a victim are attached, most cases fall into the latter category.

The bigger the power, the more when a mistake occurs, rather than thinking, “It was worth it,” the thought that comes to mind is, “If there were that many people, how bad could they do their job?”

[Uh um. [Yes...]

“So you didn’t bring me here just to say this, right?”

It’s still the same now. I urged Gestas, looking at the thousands of fruits with a disapproving eye. The man who was said to have accomplished this grand feat by sacrificing his own people for a better world is somehow just scratching his cheek with an immature expression on his face.

[It’s not like that, so don’t worry. And I really wasn’t trying to pressure you with sympathy or anything sensational. If you felt that way, I sincerely apologize.]

However, it did not appear that he was immature in these negotiations themselves. It was like that when I saw it flowing like water, looking for things that bothered me. At least he is not unfamiliar with these conversations.

[You’re not angry, are you? I’m really sorry...]

No... In the first place, he was the one who fabricated the title of hero along with his fellow countrymen. He even pretended to be a warrior himself.

But is someone who has worked so hard and succeeded so naive?

Although it may have been for the sake of a greater cause, he had the audacity to instigate a lie into the truth. He was able to deceive so meticulously and skillfully that the lie persisted to this day. All of his fellow countrymen would recognize him as their representative—if he had not recognized him, he would not be in this position—leadership... It is absurd for someone who has such things to not be able to negotiate like this. After all, there is something.

“Tell me honestly. “Are you doing this on purpose?”

I’m sick of lies and deception. The same was true even if the intention was white.

A beggar who knows how to be cowardly can act like a beggar, but when a person who has even harbored resentment from their first meeting with someone is taunting them, they are nothing more or less than a sneaky bastard.

[Ah...]

So, it’s better to say it out loud. Whether it’s saying they can’t compensate you, saying there’s not much they can do, or a minimal solution. Don’t just wait and see and get upset.

Gestas gaped at my nervous reaction. Although I felt a little sorry, the guilt quickly disappeared as it was true that these four months were caused by them not being able to work. I am a pure victim here who doesn’t need to be noticed.

[Actually, I wasn’t going to say this because I was afraid it would come off as a kind of emotional appeal... hmmm. Actually, I’ve forgotten a lot of how I felt when I was human. So, you can say things that are distorted from a human perspective. That may make you feel frustrated.]

“...Do you forget your feelings?”

[Earlier... I said that if the soul is not careful, it will be absorbed by God and lose its identity. That’s the context. Although I protect my own ego as much as possible through the middle link called tree... as time goes by, I end up mixing with God.]

Gestas gave an analogy, saying it was similar to throwing a bucket of water into the sea.

[No matter how tightly you seal the water tank, something will eventually leak out. But a bucket of water can’t dilute the ocean. Even though the sea can swallow the water in the bucket as its own. That’s the logic.]

“...So, the more we assimilate with God, the more we lose our humanity. “Is that the story?”

[ah! Exactly. Yes, you are exactly right. We lose our humanity. That’s the situation with me and other fruits. In addition to the corruption, this is why we need a lot of fruit.]

I am speechless and can’t come out with anything. Aside from the bad feelings between him and me, why are you talking nonsense about the loss of humanity?

Losing one’s humanity ultimately means that one is facing death as a human being.

“...Do I even have that piece?”

There is no need to ask what the sculpture says. Even though I couldn’t understand the exact concept, I wasn’t so clueless that I was worried because I didn’t know the English language.

[huh. It’s so big. It’s as big as the one the body had.]

“....”

That body. Berserk recalled the bronze vertebrae that had been extracted from his flesh and blood. Bones of a color that cannot be seen in ordinary humans. It seems that it even happened to her herself.

[And that kid... has a rather small piece.]

“...You mean that kid too?”

[The position of the piece is different from the others... but it won’t be a problem in life.]

Even for that young piper.

[Instead, if you both feel like you’re going to die, come to me. Because when you die, the pieces left behind must be returned to the dragon.]

“...Why don’t you send them back right away?”

[It would have been true if the dragon hadn’t woken up, but why bother now that it has woken up? That guy won’t be happy either. Already, it would be crazy because so many souls would be mixed in, but if two people are added here—]

“Wait, are the souls mixed in?”

Berserk’s eyes widened at the remark, which was too problematic to just ignore. Inside her gaze, a subtle desire is burning lukewarmly.

[Oh, that. This is because if you hold the fragment, your soul will be captured by the fragment.]

“Why... are you being captured?”

[For the dragon, it would be difficult if the heart pieces were scattered far away. It was cursed so that whoever holds the fragment would not be able to leave this land and would eventually return even if they left. The soul being caught in the fragment is a side effect.]

Then, if that is really true. The sisters’ souls were trapped in those vertebrae and existed for decades? And now he’s been absorbed by a dragon?

“The soul! “What happens to the soul absorbed by the dragon?!”

A rising emotion made her stretch her hand forward. Suzaku, suddenly grabbed by a large hand, screamed.

“What happens to the absorbed soul?”

[It’s just absorbed! Nothing in particular happens!]

“...What?”

So does this mean that her sister eventually became one with that dragon? The result of decades of helpless existence in the snowy fields is to merge with that dragon and lose the meaning of existence?

That’s the end of Alsvidr?

[Ah, of course, someone born with a large piece like you or that corpse... may be a little different. Being born with a big piece means that your soul is big.]

“Tell me in detail.”

I can’t admit that. I can never admit it. But before that, I don’t think I’ll be able to breathe if I don’t hear the story to the end.

The tip of Suzaku’s tail trembled as he saw Berserk forcing an answer with his veins standing out.

[Throwing a glass of water into sea water is meaningless, but if you throw it into a river, there will definitely be an aftereffect. That’s it. Either the soul of the person who was the owner of the piece will influence the dragon, or it will take over the dragon’s soul and maintain its own identity... something like that will leave a trace. Maybe.]

“So... my sister can still maintain her sense of self?”

[sisters? It looks a bit similar somehow... And I don’t know if he will maintain his ego or not. Maybe it just melted away.]

“Damn it, what’s the answer?”

[No, it’s just a guess in the first place, so what if you try to find an answer there? Ahh! Suzaku dies!!!]

“Lord Byeol. Calm down a little...!”

However, no matter how much you ask, the answer you want does not come easily.

Berserk’s face began to lose color at some point. It was a remnant of fear brought about by the fact that his beloved sister might not be in peace after death.

Her teeth began to press against her own lips.

[Stop.]

And just when her fear had reached its limit and was about to be replaced by anger.

[Stop.]

The dragon finally opened its eyes.

[Arvark, you can stop now.]

Als Vidr. Berserk’s body completely collapsed.