Episode 80. I’m late.
“I’ll say it again, but I don’t like bloody battles.”
Shadien Strauss opened his mouth with a teacup in front of him.
“The Black Mages are wrong to kill innocent people. However… wouldn’t it also be wrong to kill the Black Mages mercilessly just because they killed innocent people?”
“…….”
“If we must cherish human life, it must be the same for both the innocent and the guilty. That is my conclusion.”
Shadien looked at Sirius’s face after saying that.
“What do you think?”
“I think it’s a reasonable statement.”
Sirius answered slowly.
“If everyone could share that mindset, the world would truly be peaceful.”
“Hmm….”
“But that’s impossible.”
“Is it not difficult, but impossible?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I would like to hear the reason for that.”
Shadien waited calmly for Sirius’s answer.
“First of all, may I ask how you came to such a conclusion, Shadien-nim?”
“What do you mean?”
“Perhaps Shadien-nim reached that conclusion after deep contemplation and introspection. Isn’t that right?”
“You could say that.”
“If that’s the case, it is not based on nature, but on your own thinking, Shadien.”
“…….”
Shadien kept his mouth shut for a moment.
However, he did not show any sign of displeasure.
“I would like to hear a detailed explanation.”
“Let me give you an example.”
Sirius spoke slowly.
“A parent kills a robber to protect their child. Is this an action that comes from the thinking in their head?”
“…….”
“No. It is an action that comes from the nature of nature. Even animals risk their lives to fight natural enemies to protect their young. This is a natural thing to do, regardless of right or wrong.”
Shadien listened to Sirius’s story with his mouth shut.
“Fighting to protect those close to you, those who are weak, comes from the nature of nature. Fighting to protect your neighbors, fighting to protect your village… and even fighting to protect the world, all ultimately come from this nature.”
“Hmm…”
“That’s why this is a natural human nature that is established without anyone teaching it.”
Sirius continued his story.
“Shadien, the spirit of cherishing life without discrimination is certainly wonderful. However, it does not come from nature, but from your own thinking, Shadien. In other words, only those who can think like you can understand and agree with it.”
“…….”
“That’s why it’s not a spirit that can be shared with many people in the world.”
The story he was telling now was based on the knowledge Sirius had from his days as the undefeated Baek Moo-rang of Chunrangmujae.
Among the 100 schools of thought, Confucianism pursued benevolence, while Mohism pursued universal love.
Benevolence means starting with loving those close to you like family and gradually expanding that love.
Universal love means loving everyone equally without discrimination.
Benevolence is based on the human nature of loving those close to you, while universal love is an insight through logical reasoning.
Which one was right?
Regardless of right or wrong, it was the Confucian spirit of benevolence that survived.
Mohism’s spirit of universal love was rejected by the people of the world.
This is because universal love could only be practiced by diligently thinking and realizing the truth, while benevolence could be practiced simply by following the human nature of loving one’s family.
This is also why Shadien’s ideals cannot be realized in this world.
In order to create an ideal world where even the lives of the wicked are respected without discrimination… the people of the world are still immature.
“In the future, when the world is stable and the people’s educational level improves, the world may accept that ideal. However, it is difficult now.”
“Hmm…”
Shadien silently fell into deep thought.
Then he finally got up from his seat.
“Excuse me. May I talk to you after I think about it alone for a while?”
“Of course.”
With that, Shadien went outside again.
It seemed like he was going to immerse himself in thought while looking at the sea in the backyard like before.
“What on earth kind of person are you?”
Hwanwang, who had been listening quietly beside him, said with a look of disbelief.
“You’re having an equal discussion with Shadien? No, it felt more like Shadien was being taught?”
“The Canisroot family was originally a family of scholars. I, too, have studied academics in my own way.”
“No, even so…”
Baek Murang usually studied academics by reading various books.
This was to find clues to reach a higher level… and also to study the right way to behave as the leader of the martial arts community.
The books that Baek Murang studied were mainly written by the Jejabaegga, so there were many differences from the philosophy of this world.
That’s why what Sirius was saying might feel fresh to people like Shadien and Rootvein.
“Sitting next to you, I feel like an ignorant person.”
“You have reached the 9th circle, so how can you be an ignorant person?”
“I studied magic to become stronger. I wasn’t interested in things like the truth of the world like you guys.”
Hwanwang sighed again.
“If you are bored because we’re only talking about things you’re not interested in, you may leave.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Then it’ll look like I ran away because I couldn’t follow your conversation.”
Saying that, Hwanwang crossed his arms.
“I’ll sit here and pretend to understand everything, so feel free to talk as much as you want.”
“You’ll pretend to understand?”
Just then, Shadien came back inside.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. How about we think about the story we were talking about from this perspective?”
“Please tell us, Lady Shadien.”
Shadien began to talk again, and Sirius also gave his opinion.
Hwanwang listened to all the stories with his arms crossed.
Despite the constant exchange of diverse opinions… no one blushed or felt bored.
* * *
“I’m going crazy…”
On the day of the meeting with the Southern Union.
Andres Retiud was clutching his head in the carriage.
This was because Sirius, who had to attend this meeting, had disappeared somewhere.
“Eustia, do you really not know where Sirius has gone?”
“I haven’t heard anything at all. I only saw the letter.”
Unlike Andres, Eustia was calm.
This time, Sirius and Eustia were to attend the meeting as ‘invitees’.
They were scheduled to attend as a couple representing the Rigel family, but Sirius had suddenly disappeared.
Even in such a situation, Eustia remained calm.
“Aren’t you worried? Your husband left you with just a letter and disappeared?”
“Are you saying that to me, who used to disappear every night with my husband?”
“Ugh…”
During that time, Sirius couldn’t stay by Eustia’s side because he was working as a Black Knight with Andres.
Because of that, Andres felt sorry for Eustia deep down.
“I’m sure he’s doing well somewhere. I’m not that worried.”
“It seems you trust your husband completely…”
“Don’t misunderstand. I don’t trust him 100%.”
Eustia’s voice was cold.
It was completely different from her older sister, Leticia, who always showed a lot of affection when talking about her husband.
“It’s surprising how sisters can be so different…”
“What did you say?”
“No, nothing.”
Andres coughed in vain and tried to cover it up.
“But Eustia… it’s true that it’ll be difficult if Sirius doesn’t attend.”
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“That… is true.”
“There are many exclusive people in the Southern Union. They may show their aversion to the Rigel family’s advance into the South. To convince them… Sirius himself needs to be there.”
As the head of the Cheonrangpyo Country, Eustia has something to say in front of the Southern Union.
She has to persuade the members of the Southern Union so that the activities of the Cheonrangpyo Country can be recognized.
However, Sirius must be there to talk about the Cheonrang Knights or the Southern Branch of the Alliance.
“The Southern Union’s meetings aren’t held very often. If we miss this opportunity…”
“Yes, it will be a big hindrance to the plan.”
Eustia spoke slowly.
“But Sirius probably knows that too. So… he’ll definitely attend.”
“…”
Eustia’s voice was still cold.
However, Andres felt that her voice contained trust towards Sirius.
“Alright. I’ll wait for now.”
In the end, Andres entered the meeting hall with Eustia.
This meeting was held in the castle of the Lyndenborough family, a prominent family in the South.
Perhaps it reflected the personality of the lord who loved gorgeous things, but the meeting hall was decorated as extravagantly as a ballroom.
“Is it usually this much like a party?”
“It’s usually just a social gathering.”
Many people had already gathered and were chatting.
When Andres appeared, they all pretended to know him.
“Oh my, the noble son of the Retiud family has arrived.”
“You’re handsome today too. But… who is the beauty next to you?”
People’s gazes turned to Eustia.
“Is she your fiancee?”
“Oh my, even Andres finally has a match…”
“Don’t misunderstand, everyone.”
Andres answered with a calm voice.
“This is Eustia Rigel. Everyone, please greet her.”
“Hello. I’m Eustia, the youngest daughter of the Rigel family.”
“Ah…!”
People who belatedly understood hurriedly greeted her.
“Oh my, I’m so sorry for not recognizing you. You’re from the Rigel family.”
“Now that I think about it, I heard that you were attending as an invited guest.”
“My lady Ruthven, how have you been?”
They treated Eustia with utmost courtesy.
This was because Eustia was the daughter of the Rigel family, one of the five most prestigious families on the continent.
As such, there were many in the Southern Union who valued authority.
“Oh, why has the daughter of the Rigel family, who was cast out to the rural corners of the Northeast, shown her face in the Southern Union?”
However, there were also those who expressed their resentment.
When Eustia looked up, the one who had spoken said with an indifferent expression.
“I heard that you’ve recently started working as a peddler. Are things really that difficult for you?”
“Who are you?”
“I apologize for the late introduction. My name is Utlea of the Rasende family.”
“So you’re the head of the Rasende family.”
The Rasende family was a long-established and prestigious family, and Utlea was a woman who had been acting as its head for the past five years.
According to Andres’ assessment… she was one of the most exclusive people in the Southern Union.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Utlea.”
“I’m not particularly pleased. Why would I be happy to see the face of a young lady who suddenly appears in the South and goes around doing useless things?”
Utlea openly showed hostility.
“I heard that you’ve been poaching people from the Francis Chamber of Commerce lately. Isn’t it a bit too heartless to do such a thing to a chamber that is still in mourning for its deceased chairman?”
“I believe there is a misunderstanding, Lady Utlea.”
“What misunderstanding? Thanks to you, the Francis Chamber of Commerce is now on the verge of collapse!”
“I understand that you are upset because the Francis Chamber of Commerce, which had close ties to the Rasende family, has become like this.”
Eustia spoke slowly.
“However, the Francis Chamber of Commerce was already rotten to the core and on the verge of collapse. That’s why Thousand League Nation only accepted the capable ones.”
“What, what are you saying?”
“The Francis Chamber of Commerce was closely connected to various dark guilds. They used dark guilds to eliminate their competitors or intimidate their business partners. Since Francis was at the center of all this, the future of the chamber was bleak.”
“That’s going too far! What kind of slander is this…!”
At that moment, Andres hurriedly interjected.
“Lady Utlea, what Lady Eustia says is true.”
“What?”
“It’s true that Francis was connected to dark guilds. In fact… they had a direct relationship with the Southern Branch of the Alliance.”
“What…!”
The surroundings were abuzz.
In front of them, Eustia took out a document from her bag.
“I can prove it with this document. It’s a document that Passaria, who was an executive of the Southern Branch of the Alliance, had Francis write.”
“What, what are you saying?”
“Please see for yourself.”
Utlea scanned the document.
However, she immediately returned it.
“W, what kind of proof is this?”
“It contains evidence. If you don’t understand the contents, I can explain them to you.”
“Ugh…!”
Yutleia’s face contorted as if she had been struck by a bolt of lightning.
Originally, Yutleia had left the practical aspects of the business to her subordinates.
As a result, she lacked the ability to thoroughly examine the contract documents used by the upper echelons.
“Could you please wait a moment?”
Just then.
A dignified voice interjected.
“Since we’re talking about the Black Market, I can’t just let this go.”
“Oh, Lord Royd…!”
As a silver-haired, middle-aged man appeared in the conference hall, all eyes turned to him.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Justitia. My name is Royd Strauss.”
“……!”
Royd Strauss.
He was the representative of the Strauss family, taking over for his father, Shadien Strauss.
As the Strauss family was the strongest in the south, Royd’s influence in the Southern Union was unparalleled.
“I’ve heard that there’s been a great deal of chaos among the Black Market organizations in the southern region lately. And that Francis was a casualty of that chaos.”
“……”
“I understand that there have been many victims. There have even been a series of arson attacks in the middle of the night.”
Royd’s words caused Andres to grimace.
“Lady Justilia, is it possible that the Rigel family is connected to these incidents?”
“That’s…”
“It’s strange. These incidents started happening as soon as the Rigel family visited the south.”
Royd said, looking around the room.
“I’ve also heard that the Black Market organizations in the east have been subdued. And that the mastermind behind it was… Lady Justitia’s husband.”
“……”
“Are these incidents also the work of Lady Justitia’s husband? Or perhaps the couple did it together?”
As Royd’s sharp voice rang out, Andres stepped forward.
“Lord Royd, this matter…”
“Please wait a moment, Lord Andres.”
Royd forcibly cut off Andres.
“This is a serious matter. One of the Five Great Houses of the continent, the Rigel family, is running rampant in the south, committing atrocities.”
“Did you just say atrocities?”
“Yes, atrocities.”
Royd spoke in a clear voice in response to Justitia’s question.
“Do you think you can just kill members of the Black Market as you please? They are also members of our southern community!”
As Royd raised his voice, the people around him nodded in agreement.
Royd had that much influence in the Southern Union.
“What is the Rigel family trying to do? Are they planning to drive out the Black Market organizations, seize control of the upper echelons, and… suck the lifeblood out of the people of the south?”
“Your words are too harsh, Lord Royd.”
“We find this unacceptable, Lady Justitia.”
Despite Justitia’s protests, Royd continued to maintain his tough stance.
“I don’t care what you do in the east. But in the south… don’t act recklessly anymore.”
As he spoke, Lloyd approached Justitia.
He looked down at Justitia, who was shorter than him, and said in a clear voice,
“Because our Southern Union will not forgive you.”
“……”
“Please do not threaten the peace of the south, Lady Justitia.”
However, Justitia did not look away.
She looked straight at Lloyd and maintained a dignified demeanor.
Lloyd frowned, perhaps displeased that a mere twenty-year-old was acting that way.
“Lady Justitia, when an adult is speaking kindly…”
Just then.
There was a commotion at the entrance of the meeting hall.
“T, the Lord of the Strauss family has arrived!”
“……!”
Everyone turned their attention towards the entrance.
Lloyd did the same.
“Ah, my father has arrived?”
Lloyd usually attended these meetings.
He couldn’t help but be surprised by his father’s sudden appearance.
“I wonder if I’m too late. Is the important discussion already over?”
Even though he often didn’t attend, the head of the Southern Union was still Shadien Strauss.
In an instant, the attention of the meeting hall was focused on Shadien.
“Oh, Lord Andres, it’s been a while.”
However, the first person Shadien addressed was none other than Andres.
“I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Yes?”
“From this young man here. I heard that you’ve been very active lately.”
“……?”
As Shadien said that, he stepped aside.
A long-haired young man appeared from the entrance.
Andres’ eyes widened when he saw his face.
“S, Sirius? Why are you with Lord Shadien…”
“……!”
Sirius.
Everyone gasped when they heard the name.
The husband of Justitia, who had just been criticized by Lloyd, had appeared.
And he was with Shadien, Lloyd’s father.
“You’re late, Sirius.”
Only Justitia muttered in a cold expression.