Chapter 76

When people sometimes face injustice and lose those they want to protect unfairly, it’s only natural for a desire for power to arise.

If only someone like that Primal Demon King Grimudo had the ability to fulfill all their desires, Roka wouldn’t have lost her homeland or been sold into slavery. The world is full of sad things.

Experiencing such things makes one crave strength.

I don’t want to deny that desire. I just wish this child wouldn’t lose their way.

I knew someone who became obsessed with becoming strong, only to lose sight of their goal and end up making strength itself their sole purpose. It was pitiful.

“Long ago, there was someone who suffered a great wound. Perhaps they were betrayed by someone they trusted.”

Recalling the past he shared with us, I began the old tale.

Humans are foolish, and history repeats itself. Yet, while foolish people fail to learn even from experience, the wise learn and realize something through history.

I don’t mean to say Roka is foolish, but I hope she becomes wise.

“Even those most precious to him turned their backs, and so he sought power to ensure it would never happen again. In the end, he became stronger than anyone, but now there’s no one left by his side.”

If he wanted to gather people under him, there would be no reason he couldn’t.

If he wished, it wouldn’t be hard to find people willing to submit to him. But he doesn’t. He doesn’t want to interact with others.

Why is that? Is it because, compared to his power, we are all less than ants?

I had a different feeling. He was so absorbed in researching something that he didn’t even have time to reach out to others.

“I don’t know what he’s so diligently researching in the Arctic. But he was clearly obsessed with it. He didn’t even want to pay attention to anything else.”

I don’t know why he’s so passionately researching and training himself.

Is it because the power gained from his research has become the sole reward of his life? But is it worth dedicating one’s entire life to research solely for oneself?

The Primal Demon King is truly a strange being the more you learn about him.

Once, I thought of him as absolute evil.

I thought he was the most twisted and distorted being from birth, more terrifying than all the great evils of this world combined.

But the Primal Demon King I met was just a wandering being.

No matter how much magical power he wields or how many techniques he uses, his essence doesn’t change.

He is someone who has amassed power without knowing what to do with it. What he aims to achieve with that power, even he probably hasn’t properly defined.

Perhaps, after countless years, he forgot the purpose he sought with that power, and becoming strong itself became his purpose.

I truly hope Roka doesn’t end up like that. Gaining power is good, but I wish her motivation was more grand than just protecting me.

“Research is originally just a means, but it became a purpose, a specter that dominated his life. Roka, power is just a tool. Always remember that.”

To the child with a puzzled expression, I explained further.

“Becoming strong is good. But it shouldn’t become the sole purpose of your life. I wonder if there’s something else you want to achieve with that power. Roka, what kind of person do you want to be?”

“A person who protects you, my Lord.”

To Roka, who answered without hesitation, I patted her and told her to think again.

Making just one person the purpose of your life is twisted. I’m grateful it’s me, but it shouldn’t be that way. If I disappear, your purpose in life would vanish too.

“Hmm, I don’t know. Roka doesn’t understand such things.”

It’s not that she doesn’t know, but she doesn’t even seem to want to think about it. I wish she would at least pretend to ponder.

“What kind of person do you want me to become, my Lord?”

Is it because I’m the only precious person left to her that she follows me so blindly? If so, wouldn’t solving the cause naturally resolve the outcome?

“Then, could you become someone who can protect more people besides me?”

I said that, and the child’s eyes widened.

“Roka, I’m always grateful that you want to protect me,”

I smiled as I patted her head.

“But I hope you sometimes think about protecting more people, not just me.”

Roka’s expression hardened. I know. It’s a difficult request.

Roka has suffered at the hands of people, especially us humans. I didn’t ask what exactly happened, but the fact that she doesn’t blindly hate people is already commendable.

To this child whose childhood memories were trampled by humans, asking her to become someone who saves others is indeed a tough request.

But I hope she doesn’t push away all humans based on past misfortunes. I wish she would find someone else to cherish besides me.

“I’m not saying you have to let humans into your circle. It could be your kin, or someone else. Someone other than me…”

Once, someone told me they’d rather have a friend they’d give their life for than a friend who’d give their life for them.

Whether it’s a friend, lover, or family, I hope this child finds someone they can love just as much.

If the only person Roka lets into her circle is me, that would be too sad.

If she clings to me so desperately because I’m the only precious person left, I wish she could find someone else to share her happiness with.

I wish Roka could make friends, though I’m not sure if we can find suitable people in the Capital. Maybe we should stop by the Eastern Plains, where many beastfolk live, on our way to the Arctic.

“I hope you find someone you love enough to protect like this, besides me.”

What meaning would there be in gaining power if there’s no such person?

Power without purpose just accumulates, turning one into a being like Grimudo.

“……”

I comforted Roka, who silently bowed her head. In the end, the answer lies with her.

No one can walk her path for her. Hoping she becomes someone who helps others is just the path I suggested.

Who can force her to walk that path? The Lord? Or me?

I can only suggest it, but if her heart doesn’t move, my words are just empty.

I wish this child could help others and receive gratitude, but will there be a suitable opportunity?

“Excuse me. I’m Albert, a palace steward. May I come in for a moment?”

While I was thinking, there was a knock. When I said it was okay to enter, a middle-aged man quietly opened the door and walked in briskly.

Dressed in a splendid tailcoat that wouldn’t be out of place on a noble, he introduced himself as a palace steward and stood before me, exclaiming.

“Kyle, the priest of the Ancient God, follows His Majesty’s will. Priest, His Majesty wishes to see you in person. Please follow me.”

A palace steward would be a noble, holding immense power, but he spoke to me respectfully. Of course, that respect was more for the one behind me than for me.

I remain the same, and the Lord remains the same.

Yet, just thinking of Him as the Ancient God changes people’s attitudes.

In the past, even if I had expressed a desire to meet, I wouldn’t have been able to see people like Archbishop Armata or the Prince, who now come to me with such courtesy.

Knowing that this admiration isn’t for me, I don’t get carried away. I know how disgraceful it would be to get drunk on worship meant for the Lord. Instead, I should think about what to say to His Majesty.

‘If I can find the meaning of the cycle in this Imperial Palace, perhaps I won’t need to go to the Arctic, but it doesn’t seem like it will be that easy.’

It’s just my intuition,

but it doesn’t seem like things will resolve so easily.

Whether the Lord is guiding me, or this is my destiny, or perhaps the key to what I want to do is already firmly in his grasp.

I feel like I’ll have to face him in the Arctic at least once. It’s just a feeling. With the Observatory of Star’s Dream gone, there’s no evidence to support this intuition.

But if I dare to guess,

meeting him again might be in the realm of inevitability.