Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Resolve
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Powerless benevolence is nothing more than pretense and arrogance. If you can't even protect yourself, preaching about goodness just ends up as an excuse for the weak.
Even if it's genuine goodwill rising from the heart rather than some excuse, it doesn't matter. To others, it's just a foolish idiot walking a thorny path alone.
Some even say this:
It's all hypocrisy anyway. They pretend to be good because they lack the [power] or [opportunity] to exploit others for gain.
If they rose to the same position, the same things would happen. You can't equate weakness with goodness.
It's all true.
Who could criticize these propositions? Debates on morality always spark heated discussions, but when certain opinions garner widespread sympathy, there's always good reason for it.
"Ahhuk—"
The boy needs to know. He knows my words are even more rational, and he knows he has no power to stop me.
Yet the boy stands in my way, his fist trembling with protruding red bones. He knows such feeble attacks can't reach me, but he grabs whatever he can and charges anyway.
He starts with punches, then kicks my thigh repeatedly when that's not enough,
swings scraps of scrap metal like clubs at my forearm after failing to make a cannon,
and even picks up the door cutter from far away, aiming it at me—but "...Phew."
He throws the door cutter far away again. It seems he doesn't want to use the item I gave him in this fight. Creatures naturally use their surroundings to survive, yet it's strangely fascinating how they sometimes step forward themselves and choose stupid options. There was an easy path. He could have acted like an ally, spouting bold words, only to betray me at the end. Or he could have slipped away secretly, reunited with his comrades, and devised a new strategy. Yet the reason the boy doesn't leave my side and keeps throwing punches and kicks is— Impossible to understand easily. Would that child have known the answer?
Joo-ho only knelt before me after taking a few more hits, exhaling pained breaths. He looks like he's reached his limit. He won't stand again.
His unstable, irregular breathing shows his biological limits. Unfortunately, this child can't inflict any meaningful damage on me. To subdue me, he'd have to use the weapon I gave him, but he stubbornly refuses the door cutter to the end.
Even this doesn't sit well with me. The boy's thoughts and values are so precarious. When obstacles block his path, he has no choice but to throw himself at them.
The weak get exploited. That's the natural order and truth. Without power, you can't achieve what you desire.
"Is it over?"
I ask, looking down at Joo-ho. Kneeling, he clings to my leg, trembling and grinding his teeth. It must be frustrating and heartbreaking. Failure to achieve one's will is tragedy itself.
"Then get out of the way. Stop being a nuisance."
I push his forehead, knocking him down. His body rolls away so easily it's almost pitiful.
A fate dragged around like a helpless herbivore drowning in water. The men who crash-landed on this planet can't help ending up like that, but watching Joo-ho stirs particular emotions.
Pity. This is pity.
Sprawled on the cold stone floor, gasping for breath,
he still hasn't let the strength fade from his eyes. He looks straight at me and speaks.
"I... I know too. My friends, my comrades—they all came to this planet in the end and died. We know. We all know..."
I know we can't compare our stories directly. Personal misfortunes aren't more or less than others.
I know this boy has gone through all sorts of ordeals to reach here. But even so, I lack confidence in striving for moderate solutions like he does.
Saving everyone, finding a better path...
Hearing that nonsense makes something pitch-black boil inside me unconsciously. He resembles that child too much. It's painful to watch.
But I don't want to kill him. Revulsion and longing, disappointment and resentment swirl together. In my heart, not yet replaced by machinery, processing info on this boy Joo-ho doesn't go smoothly.
"But you don't know everything yet! Right?!"
Joo-ho spits blood on the floor and shouts loudly. My earlier blow to his abdomen must have caused internal bleeding. Even with his symbiotic parasite plant's healing, it'll take considerable time to mend.
Shouting like that will only hurt him more. The wounds will reopen, delaying recovery.
Yet Joo-ho staggers to his feet again. Clutching my body for balance, he looks like a fawn taking its first steps.
"Be my comrade. If we join forces, we'll surely see a better path. I'll help you as much as I can. So, Rophuk, help me too..."
But I have no intention of looping this conversation back. No matter how stubborn he gets, this is one thing I won't yield.
"No."
I raise my hand again. I slap his fragile cheek hard, toppling him.
Slap—!
The full-force blow snaps his head back. For a normal body, it could cause instant blackout—or death if unlucky.
Please don't get up again. I hit harder on purpose, hoping he'll realize the power gap and despair, sprawling on the floor.
Cry if you want. Live your life scarred by a wound that never heals.
That's still better than dying. Death ends everything. Nothing has meaning then.
"Kek..."
Joo-ho writhes on the floor, vomiting blood and saliva. Tears, sweat, sand, and dirt mess up his pitiful, delicate face.
"Stay down there."
Please don't get up.
Just lie there and wait. Don't push yourself.
"Live like that. You don't think you can achieve whatever you want, do you? This world has more things you can't obtain. You know that. You can live thrashing about, sure. But pick your opponents wisely when you do."
Foolish thing. Poor thing.
Even as I pray for him like this, he twists his body to rise again, coughing and sputtering—a little angel sunk in the mud, dirtied and unsightly.
"...Ah, it's not over yet. I can do this all day...?"
Yes, this was fated to end this way.
The cruel universe piles one last trial on me. It couldn't let me finish everything so neatly.
A boy who resembles my sibling blocks my path in his wretched state. His body is battered everywhere, but his eyes remain clear and unwavering.
There's no stopping the resolute will in that pure gaze. Despite bearing unbearable sorrow, the child refuses to give up, to the point of exasperation.
"I won't ask you to understand... And I'll apologize. I'm sorry for making you abandon your precious Ko-ra. Sorry for ignoring your words. You must have been hurting a lot too. You must have been furious enough to blow up the whole planet. I get it..."
Joo-ho spits blood on the floor and speaks again.
He seems a bit more manly now.
Or is he just adapting to me?
In truth, he doesn't know how to fight,
nor does he have the personality for it,
yet he takes the battle I started seriously.
"So let's keep fighting until your anger cools...! If I win, it means I'm stronger than you, so from now on, listen to me...!"
"It's okay, don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you. Rest easy."
The younger of the brothers said. He handed a wooden bowl full of thin porridge to the native girl, showing her the same gentle smile he'd give anyone.
"You can stay here until your wounds heal. I told my brother."
Of course, they couldn't communicate. But the native girl with feathers shyly smiled back at the kind man who saved her.
Not the whole world was filled with injustice, violence, and absurdity. At least inside their small hideout where the three lived together, warm light filled the space.