180 – True Education (5)
After receiving factual violence from Kara in succession, Erica left.
She wasn’t angry, she wasn’t stubborn, and she didn’t cry.
She just looked as if she was somewhat shocked. It seems that the direct statement, “I’m selfish,” Was quite effective.
‘First of all, I told you to go to Rize just in case…’
I couldn’t even see Erica’s expression in Soul World.
In the Soul World, it was more like an ‘awakening’, and it wasn’t a reaction as if I had been hit by her hammer like now.
So she became anxious. I’m afraid that Erica will leave her academy forever or something will go wrong.
I had no intention of recruiting her, but I felt a little sorry for treating her too harshly.
Of course, it wasn’t me, it was Luna and Kara who were the fans. Luna, in particular, took it a step further, and she didn’t even show any malice.
“Um…Was that a little harsh? It’s frustrating to see a kid like that.”
“It’ll be okay. When you meet the saint, your worries will go away.”
When Kara looked a little embarrassed, Luna answered.
As I said before, she told Erica just in case. Meet Lise in Byzantine.
It is difficult to meet a person like a saint. But she asked me to give my name, so there’s a good chance we’ll meet.
From Rize’s point of view, is this another believer in chaos? “She will gladly accept it.” Very likely.
You may ask whether it will be possible just to name my name. I made my choice after considering various circumstances.
‘People probably still don’t know what kind of relationship I have with Rize.’
If you ask what kind of relationship it is, you can tell it like this. I do not know either.
Chaos is the only link, but paradoxically, that is why it will work.
‘I’m sure you’ll be very kind.’
There is also an event in Soul World where Erica receives counseling from Rize.
In order to meet that, quite stringent conditions are needed, but most of them have been met.
First of all, I benefited greatly from the fact that I am a believer in Chaos. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to establish a relationship.
“If it’s a saint, it’ll be okay. If that doesn’t work, there’s really no answer.”
“I felt something from what you said, so wouldn’t that change?”
“I hope so. I don’t know why, but I think I’ll end up hanging out with that kid often.”
I hope that doesn’t happen. I also like Erica.
I wish I could become more mentally mature, but that is in the future. Fortunately, the classes are different.
Of course, there is a very high probability that we will be in the same class after the academy collapses. This can’t be helped.
But for now, I just need to focus on what I have to do. After finishing our meal, we returned to Rode.
“Oh. I’m glad you came here at the right time. Can you lend me a hand?”
“What are you doing here again?”
And as soon as I returned, I was able to see an amazing sight.
Rod is leaving some tools on the floor, and he must be thinking deeply about something.
Rod answered Luna’s question by checking the tools, including the hammer.
“It’s difficult to dispose of all this wood. But if I leave it unattended, it would be inconvenient if it rots. So, while I was bored, I thought of making something.”
“Do you want to make a statue?”
“You can do whatever you want. Sculpture is excellent for stability of mind and body, precision of hands, and finally, image creation.”
This means that it doesn’t matter what you do with a neatly cut tree. I heard that and looked at the tree.
Now that things have come to this, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to build Porori’s food warehouse and also do some carving.
Until now, there wasn’t a good place to utilize my excellent dexterity, but I never thought I’d be able to use it in a place like this.
I couldn’t fill my days with training, so this hobby wasn’t a bad thing.
“I want to do it. Sculpture.”
“Oh. Come to think of it, you also played with sculpting during final exams, right?”
I was trying to nod my head at Kara’s words, but I flinched. I think she created a dark history at that time.
When I carefully turned her head, I could see Kara smiling her mysterious smile.
It seems like she also remembered something from that time. I tried my best to hide my burning face.
“Shall we at least play a song? That will improve your concentration.”
“··· ···”
My face became hotter and hotter. I’m sure they did it on purpose.
I tried my best to pretend not to know, but I couldn’t hide my flushed cheeks.
Kara seemed to have noticed the change in me, too, as she giggled and made a joke.
“Sivar’s face is also blushing. Her white skin makes her stand out even more.”
“Huh? Really. What were you thinking?”
“······No.”
Not at all. Not really.
I timidly denied it and finished preparing for work. Kara didn’t tease her anymore.
Soon, I started with simple carvings using the dagger, hammer, and various tools given to me by Rod.
‘What should I make first? Hmm······’
For final exams, I made a model of Kara. But I’m embarrassed to carve it now.
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I was worried and looked around. People are focusing their attention on me.
I don’t know why, but it feels like they’re placing high expectations on me and I feel a little burdened.
‘Ah. Should we do it with him?’
The devil who was the owner of the Bloody Greatsword. He is a guy whose name I don’t even know.
Instead, the appearance itself was impressive, so I clearly remembered it. I thought it was okay and started carving.
Square- Square-
The sound of pieces heard quietly. It was so quiet that you could even hear the sound of a dagger cutting wood.
It means that everyone is focused on me. I went into concentration mode and didn’t get distracted.
After about 30 minutes, I was able to sculpt the demon I had met before.
“Wow. That’s really well done. Who is this?”
“The devil. The one I met before.”
“It looks like this.”
Starting with Luna, everyone showered me with compliments. I felt proud for no reason and shrugged my shoulders.
“Could you possibly sculpt it for me too?”
“Me too. Please let me wear a dancer’s uniform.”
“Me too. Me too.”
“··· ···”
It seems like work has increased somehow.
“Hey, buddy. Can you do the same? Then you’ll forgive me for destroying my acorn storage.”
What are you?
*****
Erica thought that her mindset was never wrong.
A heart that cherishes life. What is wrong with this?
Moreover, they are not just talking about it, they are also putting it into practice. I abstained from eating meat and only ate vegetarian food.
Even the vegetarian food is mostly sourced directly from nature. She even prayed to Gaia when airlifting.
‘Am I selfish…?’
But it feels like my beliefs are not only broken, but shattered.
To be exact, I guess my faith in myself has disappeared. The idea itself is fine, but the people who spread it are the problem.
Starting from Luna’s muzzle that made her feel dizzy, to Kara’s merciless factual violence.
Her mental shock was so severe that her unbreakable heart broke. In particular, both people said that there was no problem with the ideology itself.
‘How should I do this…’
I don’t know anything else, but Kara’s selfishness struck me like a dagger. As a believer who worships Gaia, this is a word that is close to an insult.
But she could not refute. She felt like she wanted to get angry, but each and every one of her words was correct.
Belatedly, I thought of something to rebut, but it was already too late. She arrived in Byzantium as if bewitched, following Sivar’s recommendation.
She arrived in Byzantine and was advised by Sibar to meet with the saint, Lise. When she heard it, she said, she was told her name.
‘Will you really meet me? But how is Mr. Sivar related to the saint?’
Rumor has it that Shiva is also a believer in Chaos, but I’m not sure. Because that’s not what’s important right now.
Accordingly, Erica, who arrived at the Vatican in Byzantine, decided to search for Lise first. Rize is the person with the highest authority in Byzantine.
You would think that it would be difficult for Erika, who was just a believer, to meet Rize, but unexpectedly, this was not the case.
Even though the authority is high, it is so high that no one can treat it carelessly.
Thanks to this uniqueness, Rize’s personal time is generous. If only he had the slightest courage he could meet.
Click!
“Whahahahaha! Let’s catch it!”
“Huh?!”
And as soon as he arrived at the Vatican, he was able to witness a very bizarre situation.
Isn’t it true that a man came running towards me and escaped through the window of the Vatican?
Going one step further, there is a scene where a large man rushes in and subdues him. The situation is already very confusing.
“Damn it!! Let go of this!! I mean let go!!”
“The training time is not over yet, His Holiness the Pope.”
“Yes, you guy!!!”
“······?”
What kind of situation is this? It was a scene that would be astounding for Erica, who was visiting the Vatican for the first time.
Meanwhile, Gaspard, the attendant who subdued the Pope, discovered Erica. He opened his mouth, carrying the Pope like a burden.
“This is your first time seeing this temple. What brought you here?”
“Ah. Well… I came to see the saint…”
“The saint?”
“Yes. Mr. Shibar can say his name…”
“Ah! You are a close friend of Brother Sivar.”
As soon as Sivar’s name was mentioned, Gaspard’s face brightened.
I felt a sense of intimidation for no reason because I already had a muscular body.
“The saint is currently in her private room. I will guide you.”
“Thank you…”
“Now, you! Do you serve Gaia? I can tell from your energy that you do!”
Just as Erica was about to quietly follow the attendant, the Pope, who was carrying her like a burden on her shoulders, shouted.
Erica flinched for a moment, but nodded her head quietly. It was true that she served Gaia, so she had no intention of denying it.
“Run away now! Get away from these crazy guys…!”
Puck!
“Quek!”
The Pope, who was about to shout, fell limp. This is because Gaspard struck him in the back of the neck with the blade of his hand.
The development was so confusing that Erica could not even judge her situation properly. Should I run away? She had no idea.
Only Gaspard smiles warmly. He told Erica as if it was no big deal.
“You don’t have to worry. The Pope is very strict.”
“Ah, yes…”
Is this really true? The thought lingered in my head.
However, looking at the quiet inside the Vatican and the country running smoothly, it seems to be close to ‘daily life’.
Otherwise, there is no way he would commit such an incredibly crazy act as carrying the Pope like a burden and hitting the back of his neck.
Erica believed so.
Knock knock knock-
“Saint. There is a believer who wants to meet you. Brother Sivar recommended you.”
[Please come in.]
It wasn’t long before we arrived at Rize’s private room. As soon as Erica heard her tell her to come in, she tensed up.
What a saint. In addition to being rumored to be an eccentric, he was also famous for his power, but he was the most prestigious figure in Byzantium.
Moreover, compared to her appearance, she has lived longer than others. So it might make her beliefs more solid.
“Then have a nice day.”
“Yes, yes. Gaia blesses you.”
“Ugh… I can’t… I have to run away…”
It seems like the Pope is slowly coming to his senses. Either way, Gaspard took the Pope with him.
Erica stared blankly at their backs as they walked away, then she slowly opened the door and entered.
As soon as I open the door, what catches my eye is Rize in her saintly form. Erica’s gaze moved down to Rize’s face.
A voluptuous figure that makes me feel defeated as a woman. But since she was a saintly person, she felt a sense of awe.
“Welcome. You came on Mr. Sibar’s recommendation?”
“Yes, yes…!”
“Please sit here for now.”
Erica sat down, barely able to suppress her pounding heart.
I couldn’t even hear Sibar’s recommendation in the middle. Since she was in front of Rize, it was hard to discern her interests.
Erica eventually finds herself alone with Rize. She began to look at her with a stiff posture.
It was difficult for her to even meet her gaze, and her hands became sweaty.
“So what brought you here? It looks like you’re worried about something.”
“Uh…How did you do that…”
“It’s written all over her face.”
After all, it is the intuition of a saint. Erica felt her tension ease.
It wasn’t a bad idea to pour out all her worries since she was going to get caught anyway.
“Fact…”
Erica revealed everything that had happened to her so far. She asked herself why she became a vegetarian and why she came here.
Lise even smiled softly and listened quietly. Erica’s attitude encouraged her and she spoke in more detail.
“Then he told me this. There is nothing wrong with my heart, but the person I am is selfish. I was shocked to hear that.”
“Hmm. I see.”
“What do you think, saint? Am I wrong, or is my heart the problem?”
“I think both are problems.”
“······Yes?”
Lise gave a clear answer to Erica’s appealing question. A very shocking answer: both are problems.
When Erica was dumbfounded by the answer, Rize opened her mouth. The smile was still on her face.
“Erica Shindo’s feelings are not wrong, but there are problems everywhere. She said that life is precious and that she is a vegetarian, right?”
“Yeah…Yes.”
“You said she comes from a family famous for herding, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then do you know how much grain cows eat?”
“That…”
I know. Because cows are so large, they consume enormous amounts of grain.
Because if it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t be able to live. She was thinking about that when Erica said that.
“That amount of grain is enough to save other lives. But cows eat that much to survive.”
“··· ···”
“It’s even worse in the wild. Especially for elephants, they need to eat a huge amount a day to extend their life. If that happens, other animals will have nothing to eat.”
Life needs to eat something to maintain its existence. And eating means ‘competition’.
Animals overcome the risk of death every day through fierce competition, and humans, who founded civilization, are no different.
No matter how advanced civilization is, there are people who starve to death somewhere in the world. This is truly an ironic situation.
“You define harming life as evil, and consider vegetarianism as good. So are the swarms of locusts that ruin crops every year evil or good?”
“······It’s evil. If farming is ruined, people will have nothing to eat.”
“I see. Grasshoppers only eat grass.”
“··· ···”
The more she talked to Rize, the more Erica’s mind became increasingly confused.
She feels like her firmly held beliefs are being shaken. It’s different from KARA.
If Kara feels like being hit hard with a hammer, Rize feels like being dried out from the roots.
She couldn’t even refute what was happening. It was clear that the moment she retorted, another rebuttal would come out.
“Erica Shindo. The essence of life through eating is ‘evil’. That’s why people value ‘good’ highly.”
“··· ···”
“You must not deny the essence of life. That selfish mind will lead to your own destruction.”
“Then what should I do…”
Erica was crying and muttering. Even Rize speaks negatively, so I can’t figure out what to do with her.
She doesn’t know how to fulfill her beliefs. I hope someone can help me.
“Don’t worry. I’ll help you.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Brother Sivar has asked me to do this, so I can help him personally.”
“Really? The saint is just like me…”
“No.”
Rize shook her head. She continued, still smiling.
“Erica Shindo is fully qualified. It’s just not enough.”
“It’s not enough…?”
“Yes. We will help you achieve a proper balance between selfish attitude and altruistic beliefs.”
“How…”
“There is a saying: There is no gain without pain.”
Lize said with a grin.
“Are you ready to accept pain?”
“··· ···”
Erica nodded her head slowly.
Rip erica