Chapter 197 - <4>
It is quiet, he thinks.
This was a sacred space, where none but he were permitted to enter.
The black obsidian that lined not only the floor but the walls as well beautifully reflected the quiet bonfire on the altar, which flickered without a single stir from the wind. The wavering light illuminated the room with the precariousness of a moon floating on the surface of water on a dark night.
Many people call the white, shining light beautiful and praise it as justice, but he could not help but think each time he touched the gleam of this black obsidian that the darkness, which gently and with great tolerance envelops all, is the most beautiful thing of all.
Unprecedented changes and an unprecedented situation were about to occur, yet this place was so tranquil it made him feel as if nothing was wrong.
But the dangerous elements that threatened this peaceful world were already fast approaching. He knew this, yet he was still unable to grasp his master's will.
He would show no mercy to those who sought to violate this beautiful darkness, and the kindness hidden within it that no one knew. That was his ultimate justice.
But his master, who always showed a clear will, was hesitating this time.
No, from the very beginning, his master had known the facts that would give rise to these dangerous elements, yet he had released the seeds of danger into the world himself.
Not just one, but two.
One of them was an absolute existence, so noble that even he could never touch it. Should he lose his master, the master had released from his grasp and into the world a being capable of becoming his master's substitute.
The other was his own kin, a sinner who had betrayed the clan.
The man, flicking the long hem of his familiar robe, turned toward the altar before him.
Wrapped in the monotonous, hard sound of his shoe soles striking the black obsidian, the man ascended the stairs at his usual, constant pace.
At the top of the altar, where his gaze was fixed, was a giant jewel.
This mysterious jewel, which changed through many colors, was the one and only existence that connected him and his master.
He had heard that person's voice through this jewel and had followed its commands. That, of course, had not changed. But the facts he could learn through this jewel had increased by several due to the existence of the dangerous elements. His jewel had begun to show, at his command, where the dangerous elements were now.
Taking that as an order from his master to dispose of them, he had used the underground tunnels that only he and his master were permitted to use to make contact with the dangerous elements. He had caused landslides, used rumors to have criminals set traps, and at times, caused them to have accidents themselves.
But the more he schemed against them, the more ambiguous his master's instructions became. When he realized that his master did not want to kill them, he could not help but be perplexed.
Dangerous elements referred to those who seemed likely to distort the very foundation of the world.
To distort the foundation of the world meant to learn the secrets concerning the creation of this continent of Eneonea and to step into the domain of a god.
Two types of dangerous elements existed.
One was the act of deviating from the natural order created by the god.
To wield power equal to or greater than that of the spirits, not through the power of spirits but through things created by man, meant just that.
To dispose of those who had committed the first transgression, and to instigate wars to throw into chaos nations that were in a situation where they might commit it—that was the mission given to his clan.
And the other was to exceed the domain of knowledge that the god had ordained for man and to obtain the knowledge of a god. The spread of this would lead the world down the path of destruction.
There was a domain that people must know their place and not enter. For them, that was a matter of course. On top of that, he, who stood at the pinnacle of the Guardians, existed here as the only one who knew the truth.
The dangerous elements currently threatening this country fell into the latter category.
If they were to learn this truth, and it were to spread throughout this continent, and people were to lose their fear of the god, then the people of this country would undoubtedly try to commit the first transgression. If the world were to become like that all at once, they would no longer be able to protect the god, and thus this continent.
Then this world would follow the path to ruin.
—Yes, just like the world the gods had abandoned.
Such a thing could absolutely not be allowed.
The jewel, as large as a man's embrace, shone quietly as if nothing was wrong, filled with a beautiful, translucent light of an indescribable color.
Before the jewel, which was one with the god, the man knelt silently and gracefully.
"My god. Are you there?"
As he waited quietly on his knees, a voice came from nowhere.
I am here. What do you want of me, Kuchiba?
It was a gentle voice. He still remembered vividly his surprise at how gentle it was when he first conversed with his master. He had imagined it would be a stricter, colder voice, as it was the god who ruled over all darkness, but this voice was soft and endlessly kind.
But that gentle voice had coolly explained the situation the dangerous elements would bring upon the world and had quietly ordered their assassination. That tone, which at first had felt gentle, had been a little frightening to him when he had just become the High Priest.
But his master, that embodiment of resolute will, was hesitating. That, in turn, made him—Kuchiba—waver. Before that wavering could be known, Kuchiba spoke.
"The princess will be arriving in Zeum soon. What shall be done?"
You are not to lay a hand on my daughter. If she wishes an audience with me, bring her back to my side.
"As you wish. Then what shall be done with the princess's companions?"
After a moment of hesitant silence, the god answered quietly.
Let it all be as fate decrees.
"Fate…"
If they can stand before me, I shall welcome them to the heavens. If they cannot, it matters not. Dispose of them within reason.
The words were dispassionate, but Kuchiba realized.
The god had made a decision. Even if they possessed the Eyes of the Spirit Kings, it did not matter if they were buried in this country.
The god, who had hesitated until now, saying that those with the Eyes of the Spirit Kings must not be killed so easily, had cast aside that hesitation. But if they reached this room, his interference would be useless. In other words, there was nothing more Kuchiba could do, and it would become a matter between the god and them.
At that point, the dangerous elements would no longer be those who disturbed the god's order, but would become the chosen guests of heaven. If that happened, the dangerous elements would become beings beyond his reach. For him, who had served the god for a hundred years, to be left alone here, able only to await the god's word, would be unbearable torment.
Because the successive High Priests were the god's faithful servants, not his guests. In other words, the High Priests had devoted their entire lives to the god, yet none had ever been allowed onto the path that leads to the heavens.
Then, while they were still within reach, he had no choice but to settle things here, in his own country of Zeum.
"As you wish, my god."
As he bowed his head deeply, the god, who would usually disappear immediately, quietly asked a question.
Kuchiba. Is there anything more important to you than reason?
At the unexpected question, his body and mind froze. Kuchiba, whose spiritual power was exceptionally high, had been relentlessly drilled from a young age that the order of the world was the most important thing. The order of the god and the world, the order of the High Priest, and the order of the Clan of Darkness.
In the four hundred years he had lived, the most important thing had been 'reason.' There was nothing more important than that. He was never allowed to have emotions or feelings. Even that was an important part of the order of the High Priest.
Therefore, he had made it his pride to erase his own emotions, and had believed that living within reason was the highest honor.
The moment he was about to answer so, a pair of deep, almond-shaped, dark brown eyes burned into his mind's eye, staring straight at him. Beyond her beautiful, flowing black hair, his dream-like, beautiful sister was staring at him.
And with a smile like a blooming flower, the likes of which Kuchiba, a member of the Clan of Darkness, had never been shown before, his sister had asked.
Brother, you are truly kind, so why do you hide it?
The words were so painful they felt like they were squeezing his heart. Something inside him reacted to his sister's words and shook violently. He himself could not tell if it was the pain of his true self hidden deep within his heart, or indignation at his sister for holding such an illusion of him.
But his mouth automatically recited the logic of the Clan of Darkness. His sister's smile gradually changed shape, and in the end, her eyes clouded over with sadness as she murmured.
Why does the great god not pour his great power into my brother's kindness? Surely there must be something more precious than reason.
A few years after those words, his beautiful sister… Moegi, disappeared, and at the same time, anything more important than reason quietly vanished from within Kuchiba. All that was left to him was reason, to protect everything—the absolute truth he had established for himself.
That was all.
For a moment, the image of his failure of a nephew flashed through his mind. Those eyes, so similar to Moegi's, and that gaze, so close to his own, as if he were cornered. He too carried something tense within him, just like himself. But such things were trivial before the god and his own vow.
"There is nothing more important than reason. I take pride in protecting the world."
When he answered coolly, the god fell silent, and after a moment, spoke a single word to Kuchiba and vanished. Kuchiba, who had been kneeling, slowly stood up and touched the giant jewel.
The god had told him, 'Go as you believe.'
Then I shall do as I please.
Kuchiba quietly left the obsidian chamber.