Book Eater

Chapter 304: End of War Agreement (2)

The Sipoto Plains was the boundary that divided the north and central parts of the continent, a neutral zone that didn’t belong to any powers. Dry winds blew through it all year, while rain and clouds abandoned it. The desolate wasteland wasn’t a suitable environment for its nomadic natives, so they usually wandered the continent.

Hwiooooong...!

The westerly wind now had a bit of moisture to it now that the sand dragon, Desertio, had died. Some knew the story, but most didn’t. The first ones to realize were nature. The weeds of the wasteland were now competing with the shoots that grew from seeds that fell from the hands of travelers. It wasn’t a drastic change, but in a hundred years, no one would be able to call it a wasteland anymore.

But the plains was now welcoming visitors well before a hundred years had passed.

Flash!?

A majestic magic circle appeared out of nowhere. Unlike the usual magic circles, this one was designed for multiple uses, so as to create a round trip. It was one of the White Tower’s most essential discoveries.

The people who appeared on it found themselves in the middle of a dust cloud.

“Cough, it looks like we need to do something about the dust clouds.” The young man wearing a red robe waved his hand and sent the dust cloud skidding into the sky.

He was accompanied by a beauty in a red robe, a man with twin swords at his waist, and a magician in a white mask and white robe. This was the moment when Theodore Miller, leading the main powers of Meltor Kingdom, took his first step onto Sipoto Plains.

“... Amazing,” Orta spoke as he walked around Theo. “Even the Red Tower Master or Blue Tower Master couldn’t create a magic circle that allowed space movement from Manavil to Sipoto by themselves… Your Sorcery is more special than I imagined.”

That’s right. Theo had been the one who had cast the long distance teleport this time, rather than Orta.

“Well, I don’t fully know yet.”

Theo looked down at his hands with a subtle expression. He didn’t think it was much to be excited about, but it was different if both Veronica and Blundell had failed to do this. His Forced Harmonization may have been at work, like Orta thought.

I feel like I have taken a step further.

He couldn’t help looking at his right arm. The Umbra imprint, the tattoo that had given him its power, had disappeared. Of course, he hadn’t lost the ability. Once he reached the 8th Circle and healed Veronica’s soul, the mark no longer appeared on his skin. It had nestled naturally inside his body to lend him power. Umbra was also a multidimensional power, so there was no reason for him to be lacking when it came to comprehending space magic.

“Theo became better than you in a day or two? How refreshing,” Veronica muttered from next to him.

Randolph nodded. “I’m not trying to ignore you, but isn‘t it too late to be surprised now?”

“... Indeed.”

Theo had called a dragon, a god from an old era, and an ancient warlock... Just as Randolph said, it was too late to be surprised simply because of space magic.

“It seems like Andras has arrived first.” Theo rose into the air and found the Andras flag waving in the distance.

A splendid building had been erected, showing off the empire’s distinct architectural style. They could feel a familiar presence from the tower.

Crown von Andras, Andras’ strongest sword master and its emperor, was waiting for them.

Veronica chuckled. “Ah, we’ve been noticed.”

It was obvious that Crowd had noticed their arrival as his presence suddenly amplified. The four decided to fly over. It was no trouble to carry Randolph along when there were three magicians around.

Tak.

Crowd didn’t seem surprised when the four of them landed on his tower.

He greeted them slowly, “You came, dear enemies.”

He had black hair and turquoise eyes that weren’t shaken despite the power he was facing. The 19th emperor of Andras stood in front of them without a sword.

“You aren’t scared... What if we try to kill you?” Veronica couldn’t help asking.

“It’s a fight I can’t win. It is better to come with bare hands, since you would be alert if I came armed,” Crowd answered openly.

Theo felt a strange trust in the Crowd who didn’t hide his intentions and interrupted, “Do you really intend to end this northern war?”

Crowd nodded. “I think it’s a foregone conclusion. If we keep fighting, the empire will be defeated. Maybe we can muster up the strength for a final blow in the end, but what does that say about the value of the blood that was shed before?”

“... You’re serious.” After obtaining another divinity, Theo could see the truth contained in another person’s words. When he realized Crowd was sincere, Theo fell silent for a moment.

If Crowd wasn’t making a play, this agreement would be of great benefit to both Andras and Meltor. Continued war would only drain the resources of both kingdoms. If they pursued Andras’ complete destruction, it just might end up as a pyrrhic victory.

This was an opportunity to completely cut off the chain of hatred that Invidia had engineered for hundreds of years.

“But there is an answer that I must hear before that,” Theo spoke in a cold voice as he cut to the chase. “You, what is your identity?”

How had Crowd survived Invidia? The Invidia who could wipe out Theo’s group of four without hesitation, a monster that had even repelled the incomplete god-king, Nuada. How had a mere swordmaster survived a blow that had flattened mountains? There was only one answer. For some reason, Invidia had spared him.

Thus, Theo had to find out why. It was enough to have one monster who concealed his identity as a neighbor.

“Sigh, coming all the way here only to hide it would be funny.” For the first time, Crowd showed some emotion as a self deprecating smile crossed his face. “I am a waste.”

“What?” The four people were surprised by his words.

“A chunk of waste that Invidia, the Envy of the Seven Sins, couldn’t consume. An excrement of unnecessary ego, strength, and memories. To put it more plainly, I am food waste.”

The four of them were dumbstruck. “...”

“Five hundred, no if we count from the founding, it’s been nearly seven hundred years. It had eaten hundreds of swordmasters, and was saturated with the accumulated egos and remnant memories. So, he made me. He wanted to discard any unnecessary human debris.”

It was a horrifying truth as the four of them froze in horror. Even Veronica, who had the roughest childhood of them all, paled. Crowd wasn't human. He had been made for the purpose of holding garbage. Simply put, he was a tool, something that shouldn’t have awakened an ego and formed emotions.

“... Crowd von Andras,” Theo pushed down the feeling of nausea and spoke while staring into the Crowd’s eyes, “If this is true, why are you the emperor?”

Invidia had referred to the North as a breeding ground, where the battle between Andras and Meltor would nurture suitable sword masters. It was a place where loyalty and patriotism weren’t rewarded. The memories in Crowd’s body would have reflected it. He couldn’t avoid feeling hatred, and he couldn’t avoid blaming someone. Crowd was the one who was most qualified to hate Andras. It would have been perfectly natural if he wanted to destroy it.

Crowd smiled gently, “That was my thought at first too. I dreamed that I would destroy the empire personally if the day ever came when my sword found freedom.”

Theo didn’t ask the obvious question, and merely waited.

“Two hundred years,” The depth in his voice betrayed the sheer number of years he had experienced. “After two hundred years, the boiling anger cooled, and the hatred lost its edge. I watched humans who knew nothing, raised disciples who knew nothing, and fought against enemies who knew nothing.”

Theo prompted, “So?”

Crowd’s smile was grim. “I realized that my hatred was aimed in the wrong direction.”

Their deaths might’ve been tragic, but the knights inside Crowd had devoted themselves to the nation. Since childhood, they had lived lives of loyalty, honing their sword skills and gaining honor. Crowd didn’t know what Meltor was like, but these people loved Andras in their own way and were faithful to it.

Once his anger and hatred scattered, Crowd barely became aware of his own wish.

“Roy hoped that no one else in his hometown would die of hunger. Dixen prayed for a country where children could laugh. Carlos wanted the great empire to last forever. I received this life from them. So, it wouldn’t be strange for me to want to preserve Andras.”

A moment of silence passed as Crowd finished his story. It seemed almost fitting that the one who had not been born human wanted to live like a human more than anyone else. Their hostility disappeared. Monsters couldn’t be understood, but all four of them understood Crowd’s heart/ Crowd might have been born of a monster, but he was all too human.

Randolph muttered, “... A non-human has become a human.”

Crowd’s face creased in a smile. “I think it is quite funny.”

Theo couldn’t help laughing, and with that, everyone else smiled too. A light breeze filled the tower as a decision was made.

Theo took one step forward and politely said, “Your Majesty. Meltor acknowledges your appointment as emperor of Andras and promises to participate in this meeting for an agreement to end the war.”

“Heh. Thank you, Sir Theo.”

It was the greeting of a formal envoy. As Theo remained on one knee, he spoke of his anxiety before starting the full-fledged talks. “By the way, what did you want to talk to me about? Surely it isn’t about the terms of the agreement.”

Crowd shook his head. “Ah, I called you because you are involved.”

“What does that mean?” Theo was a little bewildered.

A strange smile crossed Crowd’s face, “The warlock who you released into the world, Jerem, approached me.”

Everyone stiffened. “What?!”