Chapter. 15. Can a person who has seen the end of the world plant an apple tree? (46)
****
For people, some moments remain as more than just memories.
It’s the first murder. The death of a loved one. Or it could be a special and powerful moment like your first kiss.
The playground of childhood. A cool night view. Or it could be a trivial moment when someone asks for cucumbers to be removed from kimbap.
If life is described as a journey, those moments are footprints. Between steps. Unlike other memories that blur with time, these memories are like analog photos that remain clear despite the weathering of time.
The feeling of this moment. Scent. I felt the pain and even the temperature etched into my memory like a stigma.
The sharp appearance of broken machinery and the smell of metal. The smell of blood mixed with stench stings my nose.
Some of the broken and scattered screens were still shining outside. The sight of the rescued paladins regaining their freedom from Falcatus’ orders, the flames of a strong red dragon and the lightning of a blue dragon falling on Termacian’s head, and the sight of Nigmi entering the tunnel worm along with some of the surviving Mutes. It was seen in
Unlike other senses that come down clearly. The sound sounded dull and blurry, as if submerged in water. My ears were deafening.
The system notification light was blinking faintly. When did you come back? no. It’s nothing to worry about.
———
“Is this… really over?”
“okay. it’s over.”
“…It was a lot of hard work…. really.”
“….”
———
Shake it off.
The soft skin of a Rakshasa falling helplessly and being held in his arms. A thread that cannot be seen by the average human eye. I felt the Rakshasa thread touching every joint, every tendon.
Falcatus is dead. From facial expressions to tone of voice and even eye contact, the person who would look at you with suspicion has disappeared.
This meant that there was no longer any need to pretend to be a winner.
———
“I… am feeling a little overwhelmed now?”
“I will help you.”
“That’s not the help I want. “You know.”
“are you okay. “I will help you.”
“What a frustrating person.”
———
How will I remember this moment? As if reflected in a mirror. Just as I became a prisoner in the digital world to stop Orpheus in Area 38, now is the time when I killed my opponent, Falcatus, who was struggling until the very end to save my people.
….Will it be remembered as the moment of victory where, after suffering and adversity, he overcame near-impossible odds and won a great victory over his archenemy?
———
“Gwok. My body relaxed. “The green kid is dead.”
“…Being controlled by someone is a less pleasant experience than you might think.”
“Oh my… look. Hey professor! “Are you…are you okay?”
“yes.”
“No… your face…”
“It’s okay.”
“Are you trying to deceive me because you have no one to deceive? If there is still a problem, you need to talk about it so we can help you!! What on earth happened-”
“It’s okay. I did.”
———
Or to survive. Will it be remembered as one of the memories of the human Professor Park’s struggle to survive and the ordinary process of overcoming the ordeal of a game?
….Fuuuuk!
———
“….Rakshasha?!”
“Guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut!!! Desert woman!!! Leave that behind! right now!”
“Rakshasha! What on earth is this? Why the professor…!”
“Leave it alone.”
“Get off right now! “She stabbed you in the heart!”
“it’s okay. “Leave it alone.”
“No, how on earth did this happen….”
“Please. Please… leave me alone.”
———
Pop. Pop.
Or else. The only reason is that it was the only card I got in my hand out of desperation.
Will I be remembered as the miserable moment when I prayed for victory by using the life of the woman who was chasing me because she loved me?
———
“Rakshasha.”
“Shh. Before you start blaming, are you going to make this clear? It wasn’t your plan, it was mine, and I would have done it even if you didn’t cooperate, and if you hadn’t cooperated and deceived Falcatus, my plan would have failed and everyone’s lives, including mine, would have been lost in the most miserable way? ”
“…Rakshasha.”
“Deceiving, deceiving, and killing the other person. “Wouldn’t it be more suitable for someone who is both an assassin and the head of an intelligence guild rather than a saint?”
“…Rakshasha.”
“…A man with a lot of tears is also quite cute.”
———
A piece of glass in the Rakshasha’s hand. The piece of glass that pierced Falcatus’ heart was now piercing my heart.
As if it was pulling its own body, the Rakshasha’s thread was trembling and struggling to restrain its own body.
The tautly pulled thread dug into her body, and red lines began to be drawn on her skin.
….Bluffing. To deceive your opponent by pretending to have a hand that you do not have.
A Rakshasa is a person whose skill in using thread and magic has reached the peak to the extent that he can catch a nigmi that moves so fast that it appears blurry in the water.
From Falcatus’ ‘Order’. Paladin John moved according to the commands, but let out a scream of pain and despair. It was probably Falcatus’s arrangement to listen to my painful senses in the final scene. At the same time, it meant that the person being controlled could freely move the tongue and lips.
For a Rakshasha, a top assassin, to handle thread, that was enough. It was enough to pull himself by the thread and move it in a way that even an ordinary-eyed Falcatus would not suspect.
[Shamefully. The woman of the desert has two names, and mine is not permitted to you.]
How could the power of giving commands to an intelligent being that animates a character be violated by such a simple loophole? Even if the names are different, it is clear who the commanding Falcatus is referring to.
However, Falcatus’s heart had already been pierced for him to realize even that simple error.
The shock of being deceived and the rapidly disappearing vitality. And the experience of being defeated by a guy who always ended up losing repeatedly was enough to make Falcatus realize that he had been tricked by a secret trick that I kept hidden until the very end.
A person with ordinary eyes could not see the threads so thin that they were invisible to the Rakshasha’s eyes, forcing her body to move.
What was pierced by the Rakshasha’s glass shard was Falcatus’ heart, but what was torn was always a shallow self-suggestion covering up the fear of his father, who had defeated him in the end. What came out along with the blood was the anxiety deeply embedded in his brain.
[Just that one thing? For such a ridiculous reason, all of this is in vain?]
So Falcatus was deceived by Rakshasha’s plan.
His plan, as always, was perfect.
The only thing that wasn’t perfect was Falcatus himself.
….Bush.
He carefully picked up the Rakshasha with a piece of glass stuck in his heart and headed outside.
Tongue. Tongue. Tongue. Tongue.
The sound of stepping on metal steps echoed through the destroyed passageway, and the blood pouring out of my throbbing chest followed my steps like a red thread.
———
“You know what? A person who has been stabbed in the chest knows that he will die, but he holds on to the knife with a hand that does not even have the strength to lift an arrow. If that monster was like that, I probably would have had the power to lift the curse that manipulated other people. ”
“are you okay. A dragon can fix it. “If you are the kind of being that appears in legends and tales, you will be able to remove the order placed on you.”
“It is said that magically, the death horse has a power comparable to the weight of life? Like a wizard’s last spell. “Like a dying knight’s sword with a bright aura that burns life at the end. Everyone was released, but I’m the only one like this. Doesn’t that mean that the monster that died in my hands struggled to live to the end?”
“…I heard that a dragon can turn a person into a dog with just a word. “There’s no way it’s impossible.”
“That would be great…ugh!”
———
The Rakshasha, unable to finish his sentence, was gritting his teeth from the pain of tearing his body to pieces.
Order given to her. Sanjan (相殘). Kill each other.
The moment the ‘standby’ order on Paladin and Otman Notum Idrasil was lifted was, as I observed, a little before his death. Just before I put my foot on Falcatus’ head, I heard Otman lose his balance and fall.
Even at the last moment, when all possibilities were lost, Falcatus did not stop struggling, and his life instinct yearned to rip off the hand of the Rakshasa, the person holding the dagger in his heart.
Since there was no power to write another command, the recovered power would have been poured out in a heap on top of the previously entered command.
‘Last moment. Falcatus instinctively retrieved all the power that had become meaningless and poured it into the person who had pierced his heart like a falling person struggling.’
The Rakshasha’s body was following its orders and trying to kill me, the person closest to me. The more her body moved to follow orders, the more the thread of the Rakshasa that restrained it dug into her skin, causing her pain.
Although I know better than anyone else that she would have moved even if I did not agree.
Every time I thought of my face, pretending to see everything and not losing anything, next to her acting while pulling the thread that was digging into my body, I felt like something bigger than a piece of glass was stuck in my heart.
“Everyone is here. Please hold on just a little longer. please.”
Throw in!
As if signaling the end of a long day, the sun was sinking beyond the horizon and a shadow was falling over the desert.
The dragons with their backs to the twilight were close enough to touch me with a single leap from my weakened body.
『…Saladin? And is it a Rakshasha?』
『If it’s Saladin… you’re probably referring to ‘that human’. Was it the third candidate?』
The dragons were flying over the glass plain created by their breath. The professor jumped towards them and carefully showed the Rakshasha in his arms.
There was no need for lame explanations in front of real dragons. I will see right through you just by looking.
『Rakshasha! Saladin This is like this….!』
“Aldarshaks. You can fix it, right? “He is the one who cherished you weak and useless siblings like his own life, and even threw himself into Mute’s hands to protect them.”
『….』
Instead of the answer I wanted, all I could see was the dragon closing its large, hollow eyes tightly.
….It’s probably because he’s still young and has just become a dragon. It’s just that it’s so young and weak that it can barely stand up to a single Termacian, so it can’t handle its power yet. If it’s an ancient dragon. It would be different if it were a being that fully acquired its own power and could control the world.
It has to be that way. certainly.
The professor turned his head towards the dragon, which was one and a half times bigger than Aldarshax.
“…. There is a request. “Atlaheba, the great ancient Nahyun Dragon.” There was a sound
of
teeth crunching in my arms. It would have been better if I had untied that thread and moved freely according to the command. If it were me, I wouldn’t mind stabbing myself dozens of times, so I just wanted the Rakshasha to untie the threads that bound my body and stop her from slowly tearing herself to pieces, but she was steadfast.
When desperate eyes met the dragon’s deep eyes, what came out instead of an answer was a long sigh resembling a flame.
『…How. I wonder if all the people I like a little bit start making demands as soon as I meet them. There are a lot of things I need to talk to you about, but from the looks of it, none of them will be on my ears right now.』
A dragon with deep red scales that seem to have been built over a long period of time. Atlaheva’s body landed and the dragon’s long snout approached the Rakshasa in his arms.
The breath of the dragon with long eyelashes smelled like ash.
『…It can be fixed. If it were me.』
“Of course! Please. She is the dragon’s protector and has looked after the dragon next to you for generations since it was a hatchling-”
『But it’s impossible.』
It’s possible, but impossible.
The first answer has functional potential.
Then the second answer is….refusal.
Atlaheva refused to erase Falcatus’ order on Rakshasha.
I had to take a deep breath to refute his contradictory answer.
“…Felix Drixiel sacrificed his eyes and legs to obtain your tail. If you need anything in return, I’ll give it all. There’s as much as you need. Even if it is a permanent loss due to the price of the contract, like your tail not growing, it is okay -”
『It is not a matter of price, human. Regardless of my abilities. It meant you wouldn’t get what you wanted. Although it is a small piece, it is a command that contains the power of the being that created the world. It takes a long time to solve it. It doesn’t take a long time. Moreover, if it was driven so deeply into the root with all the force, it would take a very long time.』
“That-”
『And. When such a high-level command is entered into consciousness, not only the behavior but also the mind, thoughts, and ways of thinking follow the command. In essence, it is not a power to immediately control someone, but a literal ‘character sheet’. It is the Creator’s power that determines what kind of character the target has, what personality and way of thinking, what occupation and ability, and past history they have.』
『The order given to her is Sanjan (相殘). Perhaps by the time I completely erase that order with my power… she will have already turned into a murderer who will kill everyone related to her. So, I can erase the order with my power, but I cannot give her back to you.』
Na Hyeon-ryong. As his name suggests, lazy and wise, he is the last remaining ancient who escaped the desert for fun and preserved his life.
Her words, like a part of the world, were unquestionable facts, justice, and at the same time a death sentence.
『If you leave it like this, it will probably affect her soul. In the next world and the next world, the soul that makes up the person called Rakshasa will be born as a murderer whose life goal is to kill people close to him. So, if you truly want to save that woman… the only way would be to ‘stop’ her while her mind is still intact. Separating her spirit from her body before that command penetrates everything that is left of her. If you stop the order by doing so, I promise that I will embrace your soul and return it to its original state. In that case, the order of slaughter will not be passed on to the next world.』
What the Rakshasa was holding on to was not only his own body. She was holding on to herself, who would disappear like a kite with a cut string if she let go of her hand like this and obeyed her commands.
Kuuuung –
The tip of Aldarshax’s nose, which had landed next to Atlaheva, touched the Rakshasha.
『Ancient. Is there really no way? This human being, a Rakshasa… is like a parent to me and my sister. Really, even you….』
『Oh my. What we can do here is to avoid the place. That’s it.』
『Even if you gain the power of a dragon. There’s… nothing I can do.』
『…I’m glad that you, so young, realized that quickly. Even if we have the power of a god, in the end we are just beings who belong to the world. There is no change in the fact that if you change or create something, you have to pay a price. That’s coordination. That is the world.』
Fuuuu –
Atlaheva’s breath fell on the Rakshasa, and her face, distorted in pain, gained a little color. A little reprieve. This was all she could do.
“professor. Third candidate. When you have finished your work and are ready to talk to me, please come back then.』
『….Saladin. Take care of the Rakshasha… please.』
Flap-!
The red dragon’s wings spread. The blue dragon’s body followed suit and began to climb the sky.
『Kwauuuuuu-』
A distant cry.
The sorrowful cry that splits the sky passes through the setting sun and passes over the moon.
The darkness of the night fell upon them as the edge of sorrow left behind by the dragon.
“Umm….has the sun set?”
“okay. right now.”
“Finally, this long day… is over…”
The professor hugged her even more deeply as the desert chill descended with the night. The piece of glass that pierced my heart dug deeper. It was an expected action that the speed at which her consciousness was fading would slow down as the order implanted in her was in progress.
“…Will you do it?”
Instead of answering, the professor expressed hope.
“The dragon said so. They too are just creatures. There are still countless ways in this wide world other than the Haram World Tree…” “
….Maybe a person this pure. Did he become such a cool-headed, strong, and unbreakable person? “How did it happen like this?”
The unconvincing words crumbled and fell with tears as the Rakshasa’s hand caressed his cheek.
I know. Even at this moment, the Rakshasa is enduring pain so as not to lose himself. With the help of Atlaheba, I was able to catch my breath for a moment. There is no time to move further from here, let alone time to search for new possibilities without even the slightest hope.
I knew it, but I couldn’t accept it.
Things that will happen in the future. I was so afraid of what I had to do next that I couldn’t even talk about it.
“….and. here. “This place is… can you help me up?”
“….”
“hurry.”
As she was dying, her eyes sparkled like a child’s as if she had discovered something.
“Well… do you remember? “The prophecy I received that I told you.”
“okay. I remember.”
Actually, I couldn’t remember. Sadness and fear were flowing inside me like a river.
“Due east. As you walk between the stars of Cyan and Doppelon, leave your mark at the third well you come across. Then, the man who crossed the desert and wandered through the stars in search of his lover and the woman who dreamed of you as if counting grains of sand scattered by the wind will meet. Anaya, the woman of the desert, will find her mate after a long wait.”
Hearing the singing voice of the Rakshasha, the professor turned his head to where she was looking, wiping away his tears so that she could not see.
“Due east between the stars of Cyan and Doppelon. The first well is the little oasis where you and I met again. The second is Kauladi Oasis. And here. Third before us.”
okay. It was a well. The moon sea lost its strength and fell. That hole full of water. The hole where the sunken moon rose was like a well containing all the sea water.
“Is there anything better than the real moon as a symbol for the leader of the Moon Shadow?”
And on top of the third well was the moon that had lost all its strength and had fallen. Leave a mark at the third well you come across towards the desert. There, Anaya will meet her lover.
“…You want me to call you Rakshasa…until you truly win my heart?”
“How can I get my heart back once I gave it to you? “My dear, who wanders through the countless lives hanging in the sky like a star wandering through the stars.”
“….”
“Death is not the end. You know it well, right? When your body dies, it becomes sand and your spirit becomes a star in the sky, looking down on you and the world. “Don’t be afraid.”
My molars, which I had forced to close to hide my sadness, trembled. As I let out an uncontrollable moan, the Rakshasha’s arms wrapped around my neck even more deeply.
Along with sadness, the words contained fear.
The fear of someone who everyone calls a saint, but who ultimately calls himself a non-believer.
“…Dead people don’t become stars.”
“is that so.”
“The sky is a world full of cold frost and dust. “A star is not a jewel containing the soul of a dead person, but is just a dried stone.”
“Oh my. “The Gwangmyeong Church needs to create a new doctrine.”
“There is no next time for a dead person. If you die here… I will lose you forever. “This conversation here… will be our last.”
It is said that the dragon will restore her data soul, so she will be able to live as a different person in another world.
but. The Rakshasha who has been with me until now will disappear from this place forever. forever. Like the people I’ve lost so far.
Being able to tolerate it doesn’t mean you’ve become insensitive to it.
Perhaps in the piling up of losses. At some point, it might not be able to withstand the weight and would collapse.
The person I spent the same time with disappearing. It was a pain I could not get used to, and a pain that would be repeated endlessly in this era.
“…If life were defined so coldly, it wouldn’t have been so difficult. “You, me, and our world.”
Her soft voice penetrated my frightened eyes and penetrated me. Her voice, held in my arms, resonated through my body as if it came through my heart, not my ears.
“What do you feel when you look at that beautiful Milky Way?”
“….”
“Will I feel the cold emptiness? Or will I feel an unexpected excitement when I am intoxicated by the cluster of stars in the distant sky? “Just because your sky is cold, does it make you cold when you look at it?”
“Rakshasha. I…”
“Shh. The man I chose is a man who is stronger than anyone else and can be called indomitable in front of anyone. If that’s how you feel, then so be it. Follow your truth.”
Her clear eyes met mine. What did Rakshasa read from me? Why am I comforted by those words even though I don’t understand what they mean?
Tsk. Clud-clack-
the sound of her thread being pulled again. It was the sound that signaled that the brief reprieve was over and the brand that Falcatus had carved was beginning to erode her will.
Even as the thread was digging into her skin, she was just looking at me without showing any signs of pain.
“You can trust that I will let you be me, right?”
A land of cold sand under the shadow of night. In a place like a wasteland full of sand and dust.
Just like that day. The woman who loved me was dying in front of me. Waiting for me to decorate the finale with my own hands for her.
“….Gonna miss you.”
“Please miss me and forget me just as much as I waited for you.”
forget it Even if I open my head and pour bleach into it, will I be able to forget this moment?
Professor. I felt that this moment would be stored in his heart for a long time. Maybe forever.
Scarred arms wrapped around her shoulders. Tears finally fell from the eyes of the Rakshasha, who buried his face on the professor’s shoulder.
“i love you. “My Saladin.”
“….Ana.”
Like the distance between their hearts, the two people embraced each other with the deepest feelings they could.
depth.
More deeply.
With tears falling.
Crack.
Don’t let her innocence be tainted. Deep in my heart.
The moment when she, who was trembling like a small bird, broke and collapsed in my arms.
Saladin hoped his tears would be enough to see her off.
The spotless desert night stretched out above the head of the lone man.
The sight of the Milky Way descending on the plain of molten glass looked as if the lovers who had spent their last days together there were embraced by the stars.
The man held her for a long time, right where he left his lover.
****
