14. School Festival – 09
“… It is peaceful.”
The top floor of the main building located in the very center of Nineveh. Right there, Nineveh’s board president, Lysitea von Edelstein, was staring out at the scene outside, which was currently only noisy due to the school festival.
“It is really peaceful. To the point where it feels as if there is no such thing as worry in this world.”
The words of the chairman were half sincere, but at the same time, half of them were words of lamentation.
In the Age of Myth, the ancestors of Ballenstein predicted the end.
The human era will one day come to an end. And that the beginning of that downfall would be nothing else but the appearance of the end.
But mankind did not heed their advice.
No, in the first place, he even laughed at them, saying, “Where is the end in the world, and even if the end comes someday, it will be a story in the distant future that has nothing to do with him.
That’s why, 200 years ago from now, when the first end, the ‘Dragon of the End’, came, no one thought of opposing it.
No, far from resisting the end, he was rather dazzled by its power and fell at the feet of the dragon and begged for mercy. did
Perhaps you don’t know, but if it weren’t for the existence of the Seven Heroes that miraculously appeared at that time, humanity would have already perished by the end.
200 years ago, even though all the seven heroes, who were not enough to be called transcendents, attacked, they were unable to kill the ‘Dragon of the End’.
I don’t know if the method was wrong or because something was missing, but in the end, they had no choice but to come to an agreement by sealing the ‘Dragon of the End’ rather than killing it, leaving the settlement of this matter to future generations.
And the seven heroes established Nineveh in order to raise awareness of all mankind who had been indulged in indolence until now, and furthermore, to equip themselves with at least the means to counteract it even if the end came once again.
All of the seven heroes have a long lifespan as they are transcendental beings beyond human limits, but they were not immortal, so they couldn’t rely solely on their help.
… yes. At least, on the surface, it was known that way.
Only a few people in the empire, no, in this world, know what the true purpose of establishing Nineveh is.
Why was Nineveh built in the middle of the archipelago? Because of its size, which boasts an area equivalent to that of a fairly small and medium-sized city, it causes a lot of inconvenience to traffic?
Does Nineveh have the ideology of nurturing all the talented people on the continent, but ironically, does it preferentially accept children from aristocratic backgrounds?
Why is it that an absolute person like Lysitea, who can be called a transcendental person in this world, is at best taking on the role of Nineveh’s director?
Of course, the position of Nineveh’s chairman is not an uncommon position, but no matter how much you think about it, it would be nothing but a waste of human resources to embed a strong person like Lysitea in Nineveh.
However, Lysitea, who is in charge of the role of Nineveh’s director, did not think so.
Lysitea herself thought that this place was not a safe rear, but the front line, and she was the last bastion in case the worst happened.
Fortunately, nothing else has happened since she took over as chairman. No, on the contrary, life here was only extremely peaceful.
A new descendant of the Seven Heroes called Jin suddenly appeared, and the fact that Erekaya ordered him to investigate the background was the biggest thing that had happened recently.
Recently, however, Lysitea has been able to sense a strange current running through all of Nineveh.
“… The wind direction has changed. And, I have a hunch that something bad is about to happen.”
When you reach the level of a transcendental person like Lysitea, you will be able to predict future fortunes through your sixth sense, if not as much as Ballenstein’s foresight.
And now, the intuition she had cultivated as a warrior was saying this.
never be careless Sooner or later, there might be a disaster that you can’t even handle and can’t solve.
“… The seal is perfect. And in this age, there are no apostles either.”
So, the odds of something happening to Lysitea’s concern would be infinitely small. No, it’s not infinitely small, but it’s safe to say that it’s not there at all.
But even so, for some reason, Lysitea couldn’t stop her body from trembling.
It was ominous. And, I had a very bad feeling.
As if something would be triggered by a very small and trivial event right now.
****
“Then where shall we go now? No, before that, where do you want to go?”
“… But it’s all good, but can’t you move it a little to the side? You know, Altina, since you’re stuck like this, something… ”
“what’s the matter? do you hate it Why am I clinging to you like this?”
“no… It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just that other people might misunderstand me. When a man and a woman stick together like this, there could be some strange misunderstandings.”
“I don’t care about that. No, I’ve decided not to care about other people’s eyes anymore. What the hell are you supposed to care about? Anyway, that kind of gaze doesn’t help me at all.”
“… And, if it’s a misunderstanding like that, it doesn’t really matter if you accept it.”
“yes? What did you say now?”
“no. anything.”
it goes away The only man she likes and wants to get her hands on is endlessly moving away from her.
And as they left, Claire looked at them with a blank face.
The surrounding scenery that Claire is so familiar with is so unfamiliar today.
Everywhere is full of crowds and energy of people enjoying the school festival, but at the same time, there is no one around you and everything you touch is like a mirage.
Buried in such disgusting feelings, Claire muttered something blankly in a voice lacking in emotion.
“… yes. After all, you guys are taking everything from me.”
I didn’t want much from the start. She had never coveted more than what she had now.
Always gave up everything. He smiles at others and has lived a life that prioritizes consideration for others rather than his own greed.
And in such a life, there was only one thing I wanted to have.
I had a small desire to stand by him, talk to him, and spend time with him.
But now, the small wish she had had was shattered.
By the hand of a greedy man who has a desire far greater than her and has accumulated more memories than her.
“… no.”
bite your lips I gripped both of my weak hands tightly enough to bleed. Only then did she notice her existence, and even what her mother said did not reach Claire’s ears.
“… I hate it, I hate it.”
Now it’s just really boring.
Why can’t I get what I want to get my hands on? Why does he have to be deprived of everything like this? Why does his world feel so narrow, dark and cold?
I don’t like being alone anymore. I knew the joy of being with someone, I realized the warmth of being with someone, and I knew the comfort of having someone in my heart.
so no I didn’t do anything wrong I haven’t done anything wrong, so why do I have to suffer so much?
That woman, who should feel pain instead of me, is feeling joy like that, so why am I hurting so much and hurting so much?
In Claire’s empty chest, something eerie seeps in.
No, to be precise, it is reversed.
The darkness that a woman named Claire has hidden under her unconsciousness encroaches on everything in her, not enough to dye her heart black.
[Didn’t I tell you that? There is already no place for you to stand among them.]
The voice that Claire once heard. The only difference is that the voice she hears now is much clearer and stickier than before.
[This is the end. That man has already lost interest in you, and other girls will silently fill in your small vacancy. Just like that, you disappear out of the man’s attention. That too, Young-young.]
I know about that. However, I have no intention of giving up like this.
So tell me how Not something abstract or unhelpful, but a way to definitively turn this situation around.
[I will give you strength. Thee.]
… strength? you to me
[yes. I don’t know if you’ve noticed it before, but you and I are connected by a contract. So, this is how I can convey my intentions to you. Well, even I didn’t expect that the fit rate would be this high.]
… Was it After all, this voice wasn’t the impulse in her own heart, but was someone else’s voice through some kind of connection.
But it didn’t matter. Whoever you are, if you can grant my wish, I am confident that I will consider you my god.
[I am like a benevolent king. If my servant wishes for something, it can be said that it is the duty of a king to give an appropriate gift.]
[So come find me. Come to me, fall at my feet and beg for mercy. Then, I will give you the power to easily obtain even one man.]
… I don’t know. The current Claire was so dizzy that she couldn’t tell what was right and what was wrong.
However, with the last remaining ray of reason, Claire barely opened her mouth to that voice.
“… If so, where are you now?”
[do not worry. Because I am now located very close to you.]
An unpleasant voice filled her head. The voice soon became so loud that she couldn’t handle it…
[The place where you are standing right now, isn’t it the top of the tomb where I sleep?]