Chapter 517: Michael
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 517: Michael
A brother's brother is a brother. For us Green Skins, there's no simpler way to become friends. Choi Seulgi would burst out laughing if she heard me say this, but I'm actually quite sociable. I don't know about humans, but by Green Skin standards, at least, I am. Goff and Black Spear, on the other hand, are a bit lacking in social skills.
I'm not the type to get close to others easily either, but those guys are even worse. If I hadn't brought them together, they never would have become friends. The same goes for Broken Bow, who's just visiting from the North. He enjoyed being a loner even in my past life, so nothing more needs to be said. He may lead a clan now, but he's a loner by nature.
Just thinking that I'm the most sociable one among them makes me feel pretty good.
The one wearing the wolf pelt on his head still seemed a little uncomfortable in this kind of setting, even though we've had gatherings like this several times now. No, it wasn't that the gathering itself was uncomfortable, but more that he seemed to be struggling to find the right time to speak.
“Umm...”
“Are those wings real?”
“I don't understand the question. They are a bodily organ, no different from an arm or a leg.”
“I want to touch them.”
Of course, the winged Michael was the one least adapted to this atmosphere. It still seemed foreign to him.
“I don't mind if you touch them, but...”
Before he could finish, Goff reached out a massive hand and stroked his wing. The angel's expression didn't change.
“They're sturdier than I thought.”
“For us, wings are tantamount to our life source. To lose them is to lose everything, including our strength and rank. Of course they're sturdy. They are the most special of all our bodily organs.”
“Hmm. Didn't you say you tore off your own wings?”
“I did, once.”
“That's strange. According to you, wings are rank, strength, and ability. Does that mean you willingly gave up what you had?”
“That is correct.”
“Why?”
“There is... no reason, but if I had to say, it was to take responsibility. Responsibility for a wrongdoing.”
“Admirable.”
I couldn't tell if Goff fully understood what he was saying, but he probably just thought it was an admirable way of thinking.
“Then does that mean you were actually stronger before than you are now?”
“I was stronger than I am now.”
Broken Bow is the youngest among us, and also the weakest in terms of martial strength. Considering that Michael is currently a little weaker than him, I figured that the old Michael was probably just a bit below our level. If he had fought with his original power, Choi Eunju might not have been able to handle him alone. Even if she had won, she would have had to suffer a significant loss.
“So you threw away what you had because of something your race did, not something you did?”
“It cannot be seen as the fault of my race alone. I, too, was in the midst of it, and my silence is also my responsibility. It cannot be said that it was only their fault. Nor was it some grand gesture. It was done on impulse, and those who should receive an apology are no longer here. It was a foolish act. But I do not regret it.”
“Honorable.”
“Honorable.”
I figured that since he and I got along, he'd maintain a decent relationship with the others, but it felt like they were clicking even better than I'd expected. The hearty Goff repeatedly clapped him on the back, and Black Spear kept refilling his cup. Seeing Broken Bow also pouring out questions about him, it seemed their previous meetings had left a good impression of the angel.
“Honor?”
“We Green Skins revere three things. I don't know much about religion, but it's probably the same kind of thing as the salvation you speak of. In the sense that we hold it as a value.”
“Hmm...”
“Strength, wisdom, and honor are the things we hold most dear. The strength to fight, the wisdom to think, and the honor that dwells in our hearts.”
“I know of strength and wisdom. But honor is a bit unfamiliar.”
“Umm... how should I put it...”
For someone who had spoken so proudly, he seemed to be at a loss for words, as Goff glanced over at me. But even for me, who isn't very eloquent, it was difficult to explain. This kind of explanation is best left to Black Spear. I also stared at him, passing the baton, and as if to meet our expectations, he slowly began to speak.
“Honor... honor... It's difficult to explain precisely, as the standard probably differs for each individual. I don't know what others think, but I'll start with my personal view. Is that all right?”
“I don't mind.”
“The way I see it, honor is pride.”
“Pride.”
“Yes, pride. The reason we called your act of tearing off your own wings honorable was because you chose to do it, knowing you would lose so much. Because you gave up something that could not be given up.”
“Hmm... We consider what is on our backs to be a source of pride. The number of wings is authority, power, and everything. I, too, know what pride is. To borrow your words, our wings are our pride and our self-esteem, because it is what everyone values. Are you saying that the act of tearing off my own wings, which are everything, is what you call pride, what you call honor?”
“I believe that depends on how you think of it.”
“What do you mean?”
“How did you feel? When you threw away what you possessed.”
“.........”
“How was it?”
“It... didn't feel bad.”
The curious expression was gone. Michael slowly nodded and began to look at us. He was beginning to understand, if only a little.
“I think I understand what you're saying. Honor. Honor. So this is honor...”
“We are a people who live by struggle. Things have changed a bit now, but we consider it honorable to fight a strong opponent and die in a warrior's embrace. The same goes for other things, like giving one's life for a brother, or fighting for one's ideals. We call that honorable.”
“Hmm...”
“There is no one who does not cherish what they have. What Green Skin would not value his life? It's probably the same for everyone. I, too, am afraid of giving up my life. Giving up the power I possess is even more frightening. But even knowing that, we are a people prepared to throw ourselves into the fray for a value greater than that.”
“It's a little... different. No, it's very different. Everything is different from what we pursue.”
“Of course it's different. You are not a Green Skin. I don't know how your actions are perceived by the standards of your race, but to us, at least, your actions feel honorable. For the sake of what you believed was valuable, you threw away the most important thing you had. Even giving up your power to do so.”
“Is that so.”
When Black Spear lightly raised his cup and drank, the angel seemed somewhat embarrassed. He was aware that he was being praised. Broken Bow also looked like he wanted to say something. After cautiously watching for the right moment, he finally spoke his mind.
His words were unexpected.
“If your comrades understood the meaning of your actions, they might also consider you honorable.”
“I doubt that.”
“I also thought I would never be understood. But things are different now. After meeting the brother before you, my life changed completely. We understand you now. And you understand us, even though our races are completely different. The reason you're trying to do what you're doing now... isn't it, in a way, because you want to be understood by your own kind? To have your worth proven—is that not a joyous thing?”
“That might be so. Yes, I think you're right. If such a day were to come, I would be happy. I certainly would.”
“Do you have brothers?”
“No.”
“That's not what I mean. I'm not talking about sharing blood under the same parents. I'm asking if you have someone you can live alongside, even if you don't share blood.”
“I don't think so. As I've said before, we are...”
“Let's talk without bringing up the hidden stories of your race.”
“It's impossible to speak of it without them. It is impossible for my race to form normal relationships. The feelings we have are mostly fabricated and influenced by a persistent effect. The higher the rank, the more one is loved; the more wings one has, the easier it is to gain favor. Most relationships are vertical. If what you mean by 'brother' is a relationship like the one you all have... then I have no brothers.”
When Goff, Black Spear, and Broken Bow first met him, he had already told them about the unique effect he possessed. He had warned them to be careful if they felt an inexplicable sense of goodwill. Certainly, I can't say it had no effect at all.
After all, he did blend in with us that quickly.
But if that was all he had, we never would have grown close. Myself included, the guys in front of me are by no means foolish. They would all be mindful of some trivial effect like that. Even setting that aside, he was worthy of respect.
He has integrity and is honorable.
“Well, you have them now.”
It was a bit of a cheesy line. But hearing Broken Bow's words, I burst out laughing.
“Pfft.”
“A brother's brother is a brother.”
“A brother's brother is a brother.”
Without anyone needing to go first, we all raised our cups. He had a slightly bewildered expression. We had seen each other quite often, but it seemed he never expected to be accepted. No, more than that, he seemed unable to adapt to this kind of atmosphere in the first place.
If the relationships between angels were truly as vertical as he said, he would have never seen or heard of a situation like this.
He, too, knows that this act of raising our cups is not simply about drinking. It is asking if he is ready to be with us. That must be why he wears such an unfamiliar expression.
It was also natural that I felt a sense of gratitude toward Goff, Black Spear, and Broken Bow. To be honest, I never thought he would be accepted. All I did was suggest we get together because there was a guy I liked, and I hadn't even given them a proper explanation beforehand.
It was hard to get used to them making a bigger fuss than me, even though I was just sitting by.
Michael looked around at us and carefully raised his cup.
He didn't seem to understand if this was the right thing to do or what was even happening, but he looked pleased as the corners of his mouth lifted.
“A brother's... brother is... a brother.”
Nothing more needed to be said.