279. The Council (5)
A cold silence fell. Fernandez struggled to dissect and swallow each word. It was just one person’s statement. Personal testimony cannot be accepted as decisive evidence in any trial. Such words tangled in his mind.
“Impossible.”
“Why? Because you tried? Hey, Faijashi. Haha. Was there anyone who didn’t try back then?”
“The core personnel of civilized society… Most of those who stood up against the end survived, and some even rearmed themselves with power stronger than before.”
They ended the Walker incident at Merlyn Port and stopped the corruption that had seeped into the Phaeirn Royal Castle. Thus, the Phaeirn Griffin Knights will march across the battlefield without any hindrance.
They prevented the long decline of the Dane Kingdom and handed the throne to Vicente II’s father. Vicente II, without wasting time and resources, will stand firm, preserving his own strength.
The Franzrit bloodline, which had been encroaching on the northeastern port cities centered around Infermur, was completely eradicated. The northern coastline now connects to the trade routes of civilized society, and the North Sea trade is enjoying its golden age.
Also. And.
“Erik of the north was thwarted, two of the Elven Triarchies collapsed, and one has now become an ally of civilized society. The Great Wilderness has become fertile farmland, the Necropolis has fallen, and the Beastman Nobility united fifty years earlier than in their previous life.”
“And the war between the Emperor and the Sultan has ended, so the internal strife that was devouring civilized society will no longer continue. Right?”
“…Yes. Even if fifty more years pass and ‘that era’ arrives, civilized society will endure.”
That’s not all.
If time flows smoothly and the era when Faijashi was active arrives.
Fernandez had himself. He was confident he could find all the villains and cultists from his previous life who had not yet been born or whose locations were still unknown.
He would assassinate them, poison them, and hang them on the gallows. When the reversal begins, there will be no trace of corruption left in this civilized society.
He had himself. And, crucially.
There is no fate.
It was a truth beyond belief. It had already been proven, and now it was more than proof—it was conviction. If the world was destined to perish. Despite the full power of the Temple of the Gods, if this world was ultimately destined to perish.
What could be more miserable than that? No. It must not be. Underestimating the enemy is the act of a novice, but exaggerating pessimism and giving up in despair is the behavior of fools worse than novices.
He would never give up. He would not be discouraged or despair.
He had already tried enough.
“Information reflection is not about reading a fixed future. Nor is it a convenient function to foresee future events. You failed to interpret the information.”
“Do you want to believe that? Of course, you’re right. Seeing the future is…”
-Snap!
The old man flicked his finger as he spoke. Sparks flew from his fingertips, and white smoke rose.
“Like this. It’s just an act of guessing the shape of randomly scattered smoke. The information sent to me by my counterpart in the main world was relatively accurate, but fundamentally, reading an uncertain future is like that.”
“So. You either failed to interpret it, or your ability is incomplete.”
“But… Faijashi. I saw it.”
-Whoosh!
The space around them rippled. Beneath their feet, the deep, dark night sky spread like a carpet. Above, scattered stars and the illusion of undulating waves.
A storm raged, and an inverted waterspout tore through the surroundings. Starlight, the horizon, clouds, and waves. All of them intertwined, becoming darker, colder, and more entangled.
Amidst it all, the immortal whispered quietly.
“I will not call the future destruction, nor the world’s fate an end. The difference between prophecy and information reflection… Yes. Let me express it more conceptually. Faijashi, the world will be depleted. Possibilities and hopes are slowly being exhausted. This will not change in this world.”
“What should we do?”
Fernandez bit his lip and spoke. Anger and desperation flowed from his eyes.
The words of a single person cannot be taken as decisive evidence. But the author, at least, knows the main world. That means he is a reliable information reflector.
All information reflectors commit suicide. Despairing over their future, the world’s fate, the predetermined end, and the miserable reality. Especially an immortal? With no limit to their lifespan, they can count the approaching time of the end every morning and lament the passing days every evening.
In such a situation, not committing suicide means one of two things. Either they are mad, or they have another hope. The immortal Orcis from his previous life had another name: Orcis the Frenzied. That’s why he didn’t recognize the old man at once.
He’s too calm. Too rational. It’s a completely different demeanor from the one who, tainted by madness, built his own nest and turned every approaching being into an enemy.
So, it means there is hope. Fernandez needed that. A glimmer of hope to keep even the immortal information reflector from falling into madness.
“Find the relic from the Celestial War. The Raven Crown of Karlus the Empowered. Find it.”
“…How will that help?”
Fernandez frowned at the old man’s words. Karlus the Empowered. A mythical figure representing Charlemagne, who created the current Empire.
During the Celestial War, when humans were the weakest race in continental civilization, and dwarves and elves roamed the world alongside dragons…
In the era when demons and heavenly gods clashed.
Charlemagne is the name of the great emperor who united the crumbling kingdoms in the heart of the continent during that fierce era and established the foundation of the empire by creating the Elector Council.
Though now considered almost divine, Fernandez noticed something else.
‘Charlemagne’s crow crown?’
-I haven’t seen anyone wearing that.
This was the problem. Most of Fernandez’s information came entirely from his past life experiences. Since it was from a time before his active period, there were discrepancies with the current era.
Moreover, information about ‘tragic heroes lost to history’ who were not active in his past life, or about figures and relics outside his main period of activity, was bound to be uncertain.
Even Charlemagne. Those who claimed to be his descendants would have been killed by Empress Carvelier in his past life, and the so-called relics of Charlemagne that appeared on the battlefield never existed in the first place.
Relics that didn’t appear until the point of civilization’s collapse either didn’t exist or were meaningless. The full power of the Temple of the Gods at that time was focused on the civilized society, and they used almost every means possible to stop the demonic forces.
“If you had seen the information from the main world, you’d know. Such a relic doesn’t exist.”
“No, this isn’t information I passed on from my world.”
“……Then?”
“While observing the future of this world, I came across this information by pure chance. It was a fleeting resonance I found in a moment so brief I couldn’t replicate it if I tried. One of the countless possibilities of the future whispered to me.”
Find Charlemagne’s crow crown.
“This is information even my past self didn’t know. At that time, I was preoccupied with communicating with my other self in a different world.”
“You want me to chase after a resonance from an unknown source, without knowing where it is or what it is?”
“That’s why I’m saying it’s the only possibility. All other possibilities led to ruin. The choice is yours, Faijashi Wildcast. Whether you die drowning in regret or at least struggle a bit. Do as you wish. I can only watch.”
The old man laughed as he said this. Fernandez briefly looked into the old man’s eyes. Between the cloudy, grayish eyes, no emotion could be discerned.
After a brief exchange of glances, Fernandez chuckled and shook his head. He had learned all he needed, and there was no reason to continue the conversation. Yet, he reached out to the old man.
“……Huh?”
“Two lunatics from past lives walking in the same direction. Quite amusing, isn’t it, Orcis?”
Orcis, with a rare look of confusion, stared at Fernandez’s outstretched right hand. He glanced between Fernandez’s eyes and hand, seemingly perplexed, before slowly extending his own hand to grasp it.
“……What should I call you?”
“Fernandez Sernerd.”
“Fernandez…… Fernandez. A plain and simple name. A human’s name.”
After a brief handshake, the two released their hands. With that, the illusion ended. The curtain that seemed to envelop the world dispersed, revealing the same parlor as before.
The tea table, Orcis, Fernandez, and even Rene’s posture—everything returned to its original state. Such is the nature of a mental conversation, where even a brief moment can share a lengthy dialogue. Fernandez sipped his tea without showing any emotion.
Seeing this, Orcis smiled. After all that wariness, it finally feels like we’re on the same boat. Thorough as ever, that one. Orcis briefly reflected before raising his glass.
“Why are you two suddenly like this?”
Rene, watching the two as if they had shared some sudden understanding, asked blankly. Orcis chuckled, and Fernandez shrugged. He soon set down his glass and stood up.
“Are you leaving?”
“Time is short.”
“From this moment, the Asias Council will take root in Paltennoia. Use it if you need to.”
“That was the plan.”
As Fernandez said this and donned his robe, Rene panicked and spoke up.
“Wait, wait! We just sat down!”
“Rest is sufficient. Once you return, you won’t be able to just rest anymore.”
“You said I could stay still before!”
“The situation has changed.”
Fernandez left the parlor. Rene, about to follow, paused and looked at the old man.
“Thank you for your kindness, Grand Chancellor. Please visit the Carvelier mansion sometime. I hope to return the favor.”
“Hahaha! That would be a rare sight indeed.”
“……Huh?”
“No, nothing! Haha. Next time we meet, be prepared to repay this old man’s small favor.”
Orcis laughed heartily as he watched Rene leave. After all the visitors had gone, he sat back on the empty parlor sofa, a smile still on his lips.
“Rene Philippa de Carvelier. Haha. Political talent is innate.”
Asking to see him again. Considering the social perception of the Asias Council, it was a subtle suggestion to establish a connection. He chuckled and fiddled with his teacup.
“Nature doesn’t change, Fernandez. That you always regretted in every future…… proves your nature, doesn’t it?”
If mortals are most honest when facing death, then an unchanging heart at that moment must be one’s true nature. Orcis shook his head and sank into thought.
Hope is hidden at the bottom of despair. But that doesn’t mean the path to hope is only despair. He pondered before the repentance of an old wraith.
Saving the world doesn’t guarantee his salvation, but perhaps the process itself is his salvation. Regardless of what Vaitas’s plan was, regardless of his intentions and motives.
* * *
“What’s this sudden change in situation? I told you, if you’re short-handed, don’t try to do everything alone, let’s set up a strategy room.”
“Having a lot of work doesn’t necessarily mean political maneuvering is urgent.”
“That’s not what I meant either! So what is it?”
“First, I need to write one more document when I get back.”
“……A document?”
“Divorce papers. It’s been fun.”
At his words, Rene, about to mount her horse, missed the stirrup and slipped off the horse’s side.
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