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Turning Chapter 914
🕑 Added 2024-02-18 05:19:15 +0000 UTCChapter 914
At that thought, a feeling of suffocation suddenly overwhelmed him.
His stomach tightened, and nausea welled up within him. It was another hand placed over Yuder's clenched one that blocked the cold sensation that couldn't be suppressed as usual.
"..."
"Since this conversation seems to be a long one, shall we sit together and talk?"
Yuder, without avoiding Kishiar's gaze, slowly moved as he was led. Kishiar sat down in front of a desk with a map of the continent spread out and pulled Yuder onto his lap, enveloping him in his embrace.
It was a posture that would shock anyone who saw it, but now it no longer mattered. Yuder, with his eyes cast down, naturally inhaled the cool fragrance spreading around him. The rhythmic heartbeat from the chest just beyond the face he leaned on was a sound that more than anything confirmed the man holding him so tightly was alive.
Until just now, he had felt nothing, but then he began to sense the tension that had been threatening to shatter him slowly relaxing.
...Had I been tensing my body this much?
While exhaling a thin breath and pondering this, a low voice reached his ears.
"We still don't know the exact cause of the Great Destruction that occurred a thousand years ago. Despite long research by countless scholars and priests, no answer satisfying everyone has been found."
It was common for Kishiar to abruptly change the topic during conversations. Therefore, Yuder simply remained silent, continuing to listen.
"Some say it was due to the wrath of the gods. Others believe in the emergence of a powerful monster unknown to us. But could such monumental and significant events be the sole causes of the destruction?"
"..."
"Including the Orr Empire, there have been countries that have firmly held their ground over the past thousand years. However, there are far more nations ambitiously founded only to silently fall apart. His Majesty, during his time as a prince, was particularly fond of reading histories of such nations. Eventually, he realized something. Do you have any guess as to what that might be?"
"No."
Yuder's response was stark, but Kishiar's touch on his back remained tender as ever.
"It's that the beginning is always beautiful, but the end is invariably filthy. No matter the grandeur of the ideals or the might of the force, at the moment of downfall, each fails to shed their greed, squabbling and exploiting those around, clinging to past glories, blind to the future. This has been the downfall of countless nations, or groups comparable to them."
"..."
"Then, was the Great Destruction really any different? Having returned from witnessing the end of a previous game, what do you think?"
Yuder, revisiting the thoughts he had earlier, opened his lips.
"I think..."
Yuder Aile, who in a past life was convinced the world was racing towards its end, said,
"...as you say, the world hurtling towards its end was not at all pristine. Had there been even a slight goodness, I wouldn't have strived so hard to avoid repeating those times in my second game."
After speaking, Yuder began to sense a bit of what Kishiar might be trying to convey to him.
"Are you saying that the cause of downfall being dirty and predictable is to be expected?"
Kishiar replied quietly, "There's no need to feel empty or enraged upon realizing the blatant intentions of those who seek their own glory, hiding behind the chaos they create in the world."
"The feud between Durban and Nelarn is well-known, but few know that it originated over an apple pie at an alliance meeting 560 years ago. The King of Durban, suspecting that he was slighted with a pie with fewer apples, broke the alliance with the King of Nelarn. This was the beginning of the conflict, as he also sent away his wife, who was the beloved sister of the King of Nelarn."
"...That's absurd."
Yuder expressed his frank astonishment. Kishiar of course explained that the apple pie incident was merely the last drop in an already full vessel, not the sole cause. It's common for longstanding resentments to explode over trivial matters. Still, the fact that such a petty trigger ignited the fuse was indeed absurd.
Knowing how many have suffered as a result to this day, he could only sigh.
"Even the Diarca Duchy, now more than eager to seize the imperial family, was once counted among the most loyal vassals and allied noble families hundreds of years ago. They were the first to be officially permitted by the Emperor to maintain a private army of more than ten thousand, in recognition of their service. I wonder if the people back then could have foreseen that the spear given to protect the Emperor would eventually turn against the imperial family."
Kishiar's stories, complex yet strangely clear to the ear and mind, included cynicisms that seemed hard to believe coming from a member of the Orr Empire's imperial family.
"I believe that if the brilliant ministers and politicians who laid the foundations in the early days of the empire hadn't lived long to solidify its base, Orr would have fallen during the Tuelan Turmoil 700 years ago. The decision not to concentrate power in one place, allowing for quick recovery even when problems arose, was truly remarkable. The Empire's luck and fortune were also in having exceptional individuals appear in times of crisis to mend its wounds, but now I wonder... Is it still the same? With talents like you and the Cavalry coming at the right time."
After sharing such historical anecdotes, Kishiar lifted the corners of his lips in a smile devoid of warmth.
"Indeed. Conflicts start over such ridiculous reasons, continuing for centuries, causing suffering to many. That's why knowing why these things happen is important. To avoid repeating the same mistakes, we must understand the causes."
No matter how absurd or pathetic the truth uncovered, what's known is known. His red eyes seemed to convey that message.
"If you hadn't spent so much effort in the previous game, we wouldn't have been able to uncover the petty intentions of those stale figures through Aton today."
"..."
"So don't think that your efforts are diminished or meaningless just because of such a trivial reason. Remember, there are many more ridiculous and laughable things in the world."
Yuder remained silent for a long time, then finally nodded slightly.
"...Indeed, that seems true."
"Doesn't it?"
All the things that had seemed overwhelming and hollow moments ago suddenly began to feel a bit ludicrous. Yuder bit the inside of his lip and then released it, exhaling a sigh.
In the gaze that met his, the deep turmoil inside his own dark eyes faintly appeared.
"If I said I didn't feel a sense of emptiness at being so manipulated and played by those engrossed in such petty thoughts, it would be a lie."
"..."
"Yet, as Commander... as you say, I'm relieved to know now. It's much clearer who we're dealing with compared to other causes I couldn't even fathom, and it seems easier to think of ways to counter them in the future."
He hesitated for a moment, habitually addressing him as 'Commander' before slightly altering the term of address. Kishiar's eyes widened slightly, then he tightened his embrace around Yuder.
"The ambitions of those people are clear, regardless, and the strength and time they have prepared to fulfill their desires are certainly not to be underestimated. It will be incredibly difficult to mitigate the damage already wrought in the south."
Moreover, revealing their objectives and forming alliances with other nations would be a daunting task. It was still unclear to what extent they intended to replicate, or had already replicated, the chaos they caused in the south elsewhere.
Yuder, resting his forehead lightly against Kishiar's shoulder, continued.
"…Yet, you are here, aren't you."
"..."
"That to me is more meaningful than anything else...."
Yuder wanted to say it would remain so in the future, but he couldn't finish. Kishiar overlapped his lips over his lips before he could complete his thought.
"Ah..."
A pained exclamation rang out, intermingled with the hurriedly deepening kiss. At the same time, a surge of uncontrollable emotions from Kishiar engulfed him from head to toe.
To savor these emotions, Yuder closed his eyes.
Comments
hien
haha they’re so romantic haha i am going to explode
Antoinette Kalmus
Sofa #4’s destruction is imminent.
