Chapter 7 - Episode 1. Ten Billion Stabs (6)
Chapter 7: Episode 1. Ten Billion Stabs (6)
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Jaehwan did not answer.
Beastrein was pleased to see that. The demon’s favorite moment would arrive soon.
“There is no real reason. Your world was chosen by pure chance.”
A great tragedy, born by chance alone.
Most Products could not accept that. They wondered why their species had been condemned to such a fate and tried to find its cause.
Sin. Fate. God.
They linked the tragedy to anything they could think of, desperately searching for a reason. But there was none.
Everything had happened by chance.
“...Chance?”
“That is right. Your world happened to be discovered, the Tower of Nightmares was summoned, and the game began. There is no cause or reason behind it. Things were simply meant to unfold that way. Just as neither you nor I can know why we were born into this world.”
Beastrein continued.
“Perhaps you believe you are unlucky. You must resent that a demon like me appeared in your peaceful world, built something like the Tower of Nightmares, and left your species to die so miserably.”
Jaehwan did not answer.
“But think about it. Even if I had never appeared, that would not have meant you could live forever, would it? You would have died anyway. The scale might have been different, but some equally accidental disaster or natural catastrophe could have occurred. Even if you had been lucky enough to avoid all of those, you would eventually have died from unavoidable old age. Every being and every species in the universe dies. Naturally, regardless of their own intentions.”
Beastrein's voice grew more animated.
This was the climax.
Soon, Beastrein would see the expression of a Product confronting an unavoidable truth. The demon would see the face of a Product despairing at the chance that was death, then finally accepting that despair.
And that was Beastrein's favorite moment.
“From that perspective, you are actually fortunate. This chance has given you an opportunity to leap into a new world. You can give value to an otherwise worthless death. Rather than dying as an uncivilized being from the Peripheral Worlds that knows nothing, you can advance into the Great Realm, challenge remarkable achievements, and make your name...”
“I get it, so stop boring me with this.”
“...Pardon?”
For a moment, Beastrein could not believe what had just been heard.
“That isn't what I want to know.”
“Then what in the world...?”
“You don't seem to understand what I'm saying, so I'll say it again.”
“Y-Yes, please.”
Somehow, control of the conversation had shifted.
“What I want to know isn't some metaphysical talk about whether you chose our world by chance. I want to know why you run something like the Tower of Nightmares. What reward do you get from doing this?”
“Th-That is...”
Beastrein was flustered. What sort of Product was this? Not only had Jaehwan not even twitched at Beastrein's eloquence, but he had also asked a question that struck right at the weak point in the argument.
“...It is a kind of volunteer work. Someone has to do it, so I am doing it. Ha ha.”
Jaehwan narrowed his eyes at that awkward laugh.
Volunteer work.
He looked at the particles drifting around Beastrein's head like dust.
As the ability of “Doubt” strengthened, Jaehwan had become able to distinguish the types of particles in greater detail.
Some particles stayed still, while others moved actively.
The ones circling Beastrein especially caught Jaehwan's attention.
They tapped against Beastrein and formed certain arrangements. Whenever they completed a set pattern, they swiftly vanished beyond the Tower.
To Jaehwan, the arrangements looked like strings of text.
As if Beastrein were speaking to someone far away.
‘The Lord... is sending you a message...’
‘Product... cultivation... harvest... not yet...’
‘...You must never kill him...’
‘...one... land... you... conversation...’
‘...We cannot delay any longer... but...’
Jaehwan spoke again.
“...I see. Let's return to what we were discussing.”
“Understood.”
Cold sweat ran down Beastrein's back.
“You mentioned beings called ‘Lords’ before.”
“That is correct.”
This was Beastrein's first time holding such a long conversation with a Product that had not even finished the Main Game. Beastrein worried about accidentally blurting out words like cultivation, harvest, or Product.
“What are they? Kings?”
“You could say they are similar. The Lords are the rulers of the 《Great Realm》. Those who clear the Main Game and enter the 《Great Realm》 are usually recruited by the Lords.”
“...Recruited?”
Seeing Jaehwan show interest, Beastrein's eyes lit up. No Product had ever failed to take an interest in the Lords of the 《Great Realm》. Their future depended on which Lord they chose.
Beastrein grinned.
“Of course, not every being is recruited. Only the strong. But if you clear my Tower, you will certainly enter the service of a powerful Lord.”
Instilling pride in a Product.
That was the first step.
Yet Jaehwan's expression did not change.
Growing anxious, Beastrein continued.
“If you follow my words, I, Beastrein, swear on a demon's honor that I will secure your future. That means I will do everything in my power to help Jaehwan enter the service of an excellent Lord. Of course, that only applies if Jaehwan agrees to participate in the Main Game.”
To Jaehwan, Beastrein sounded like an insurance salesman.
The corner of Jaehwan's mouth twitched faintly.
“How can you guarantee that you aren't lying?”
Thinking the bait had worked, Beastrein's lips curled faintly.
“Well, you need not believe me. If you still do not trust my words after I have told you this much, there is nothing I can do.”
“Fine. I'll do as you say.”
“Have you finally made up your mind?”
“Exactly ten days from now. I'll leave this place then.”
Footnotes:
Chapter discussion