Chapter 504: Atonement(1)
Chapter 504: Atonement(1)
After getting a piece of Mora’s mind, I didn't waste any time getting ready. The most immediate thing I could do was go on a writing marathon, pushing all the way through to the Invasion of Poland.
I’d already proven I could maintain a terrifying pace—writing a full volume every week—so reaching that point within a month wouldn't be difficult.
Of course, once the story entered the full-scale World War, my pace would likely slow down significantly. I’d have to depict not just the horrors of war, but its various complexities as well.
For now, the goal was to clearly demonstrate the flaws of National Self-Determination through the Invasion of Poland, temporarily dousing the sparks currently spreading through Stavirk.
"So, we only have to wait one day?"
"Yeah. It’ll be a month for me, but only a day will pass out here."
"That’s incredible. I didn't know Divine Power could do things like that."
I returned to the dormitory and made sure to explain the situation to my companions. Marie reacted with pure wonder at my explanation.
Cecily, who had escorted me to Mora, wore a similar expression. However, a mischievous glint entered her eyes as she spoke in a sly tone.
"Is it really that surprising? He’s a literal reincarnator; making time flow slowly should be child's play for him."
"I guess you're right. Putting it that way makes it feel more real. I suppose this sort of thing is even easier for the gods, right?"
"Probably, don't you think?"
I wondered if they held me in too high a regard. Or perhaps they had just become desensitized after encountering so many extraordinary things.
I gave them an awkward smile before turning my gaze toward the bed.
I knew my conversation with Mora had taken quite a while, but Lina was still sound asleep, her breathing steady and deep.
Seeing her like that, as if she were releasing layers of accumulated exhaustion all at once, made me feel even guiltier. I was essentially the one who had put her in that state.
I need to write this quickly.
I felt bad for the Stavirk people, but I hoped they would postpone their independence for now. At this stage, it would only throw the international community into further chaos.
"What about supplies? Do you need anything? Food, a bed, things like that?"
Marie asked while I was looking at Lina with pity. I turned my head back to face her.
"I don't need any special supplies. They said I won't need food or sleep there. According to Lady Mora, it's a space created for ancient heroes to cultivate their minds or grow stronger in a short period. I'm just using it for the time."
"Ah, I've heard of that. It was a method often used by the Incarnations of the gods in the past. I heard human heroes used it frequently during the Race War."
Adelia, being a knight, added an extra layer of explanation. Even in historical records, human heroes who rivaled entire knight orders and surpassed Elven warriors often appeared during 'wars.'
Unless one possessed innate genius, it was difficult for humans to keep up with Elves given their short lifespans.
Thus, they used that method to grow strong in a short time. But one should consider why a hero is called a hero.
As Mora mentioned, it requires an enormous amount of Divine Power, meaning a vast amount of preparation is necessary.
Since I had only used the Divine Power I’d gathered for physical enhancement and regeneration, I had a staggering amount left over.
To put it simply, am I basically a natural Super Soldier?
A Super Soldier strengthened by Divine Power rather than drugs like Captain America.
I could have grown stronger through sorcery, as Grandfather Clark had taught me, but that was inhumane in many ways.
Regardless, I was about to use a method fit for heroes solely for the purpose of writing.
"Anyway, all I need is plenty of paper, my typewriter, a desk, and a chair. The typewriter might break, so I should pack a spare."
"I've already prepared a spare typewriter. There's a limit to how much you can repair one, after all. So, when are you leaving?"
"There's no reason to delay, so I'll head out as soon as I'm ready. I need to put out this fire as quickly as possible."
Just in case, I started jotting down a list of supplies in a notebook to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything. Even if I didn't need meals, I planned to bring some light snacks.
Other items included books to stave off boredom and paper for drawing. I needed a wider variety of things than I thought, though the total volume wasn't that large.
I was only going in to write, so it would be strange if I needed too much.
"Can only one person go in there?"
Marie asked curiously as I checked off items in my notebook. Her blue eyes were filled with pure inquisitiveness.
"Yeah. It's not a system where Divine Power is injected beforehand; it's a method that consumes your own Divine Power. It would mean I'd have to give my Divine Power to you, but as you know, I'm not a priest."
"Hmm. But I've received plenty of... 'Divine Power' from Isaac before. Won't that work?"
"..."
Something similar to Divine Power. And she had received a lot of it from me. I didn't need to explain what that meant.
Any normal person would have turned bright red the moment they understood. I was no exception.
Cecily, the master of mischief, looked impressed, while Adelia cleared her throat, looking embarrassed.
But Marie was dead serious. She looked lost in thought, seemingly unaware that she had just dropped a massive sexual innuendo.
"...Marie?"
"Yes? What is it?"
"I just learned something new from you."
"?"
Marie tilted her head at Cecily's cryptic response. In her own way, she probably just wanted to be with me.
Because she loved me with such pure intent, she didn't even realize what she had said.
Cecily, finding Marie's reaction cute, gave a soft laugh and kindly explained.
"What you're thinking would be difficult. We've received a lot of energy, including Divine Power, from Isaac, but it's literally just energy—it doesn't 'charge' us. It's not like we can store it."
"But when I squeeze Isaac, I feel so refreshed the next day. Isn't that because of the Divine Power?"
Marie’s characteristic, unfiltered way of speaking continued. As the listener, it made my ears turn red.
"That's because you sucked up his mana and essence, not Divine Power. It might be hard for you to understand since you're not a priest serving a god, but Divine Power is hard to gather that way. Unlike mana, there's no limit to the size of the vessel, but conversely, that means it's very hard to grow the vessel."
"Aha. I understand what you mean now. So that means I can't go in with Isaac."
Marie nodded clearly at 'Instructor' Cecily's short lecture, but her expression quickly turned to one of disappointment.
She was someone who wanted to be stuck to me like glue, anytime, anywhere. Even though it had been nearly two years since we started dating, her affection showed no signs of cooling.
I also hated the thought of being away from her for even a day, since I saw her face every single day. Still, work was work.
"Just one day. You only have to endure for one day. People would think we're parting for over a month."
"If I don't bite Isaac's cheek at least once a day, thorns grow in my mouth."
"You too? I don't go for the cheek, but I do have other—"
"Stop."
Cecily pouted when I cut off her innuendo. I felt bad for her, but if we kept chatting like this, we’d run out of time.
"I'll head out as soon as I'm ready. There might be word from home, so please wait here until they come to get me. Got it?"
"Understood. We'll come to get you together in exactly one day. It's only a day for us, but it's a month for you."
How could she say such sweet things? I felt a lump in my throat at Marie's warm words and gave her a soft smile.
However, I didn't have time to soak in the sentiment. As I said before, every hour was precious.
I immediately packed the necessary supplies and, with Cecily's help, headed to the Temple of Mora.
The furniture, like the desk and chair, was provided by Helium. It was quite a sight to see them being placed instantly using Spatial Magic.
However...
Is it really okay to put all this in a chapel?
Everything was placed in a private chapel, which was slightly spacious. It was about twice as large as a standard chapel for convenience, but it still felt cramped.
I wondered if one could truly cultivate their mind or train their strength here. I had expected a vast space to appear once I passed through the door, like the Room of Spirit and Time, so this was a bit of a surprise.
[Don't worry. Once the actual training begins, it will become much wider than it is now. You will see a world that is appropriate for you.]
Like virtual reality?
[I don't know what that is, but it'll be similar to what you're thinking. Time is difficult for even gods to touch, but space is not a difficult field.]
True enough, while Spatial Magic existed among spells, there were almost no time-related spells. At most, there was Stasis, which temporarily slowed down time.
Even Elves and Demons considered it a profound and difficult magic, yet they used Teleport like it was nothing. That should give you an idea.
On Earth, we can't even use Teleport, yet they manage that difficult feat here. The balance of this world is always strange to behold.
When should I start?
[I started it a moment ago.]
What?
[Open your eyes.]
At Mora's words, I slowly began to open my eyes. Then, I slowly lifted my head, which had been bowed in prayer.
"Uh..."
It was white. There was no other word to describe it.
Except for the furniture I had brought with Cecily's help, the entire space was pure white. A space so vast it was impossible to gauge its size.
I looked around with a dazed expression before slowly standing up. Then, I took a step forward.
Step— Step— Step—
Even though I had moved a much greater distance than the chapel I saw earlier, the space still stretched on. As Mora said, it completely ignored the constraints of space.
It was a space that was truly 'fantasy' in every sense of the word. I looked around for a while before returning to my original spot.
Then, I politely knelt, closed my eyes, and bowed my head.
Lady Mora?
[How is it? Impressive, right? Hurry up and praise me.]
"..."
I actually wanted to praise her, but the moment I heard those words, the feeling vanished. Mora seemed to read my mind and spoke in an embarrassed tone.
[Ahem. Anyway, you'll be staying here for a month. Good luck.]
Weren't you going to stay with me, Lady Mora?
[This is a space completely separate from the original world, so the moment I interfere, the consumption of Divine Power increases drastically. Except for specific situations.]
Can you tell me what those specific situations are?
[You'll find out in time. Well then, I'll be going now.]
I was just about to say goodbye to the departing Mora.
[I hope that through this training, you will realize both your recklessness and your responsibility.]
...Training?
No answer came to my question. It seemed she had departed for the outside world.
I opened my eyes and looked ahead. It was still nothing but a pure white space.
I wondered if apologizing through a writing marathon counted as training. But writing up to the Invasion of Poland within a month wasn't that hard.
If I didn't lose focus and kept writing steadily, I could write all the way to the outbreak of the German-Soviet War, not just the Invasion of Poland.
"...Let's just write for now."
I sat in the chair and prepared to write. The words Mora left behind lingered in my mind, but my goal remained unchanged.
Volume 11 will cover the FIFA World Cup and the Munich Agreement. And Kristallnacht, the beginning of the Holocaust. If I focus on those three...
Step— Step— Step—
Just as I was about to start typing, an unfamiliar sound reached my ears. Just to be clear, I was supposed to be the only one in this space.
Startled, I snapped my head up.
Step— Step— Step—
Someone was trudging toward me from the front, their steps heavy and listless. I blinked and stared at the person.
What? She said no one else could come in here?
While I was thinking that, the person walking toward me—or more accurately, a person who was pure white like the space itself—slowly approached.
Just in case, I pushed my chair back and stood up. I wanted to see what purpose this entity had in walking toward me.
Luminous or Mora wouldn't harm me, so it should be safe to get closer. I walked toward the person approaching me.
Finally, just as I arrived in front of them.
Step— Step— Step—
The white figure didn't seem to notice my presence and simply kept walking straight ahead.
As I watched with a puzzled expression, I noticed something hanging on the white figure's back.
And it read...
[I know 3 trades.]
[I have contracts with 3 countries.]
[I served as a soldier for the Duchy for 3 years.]
[I have 3 children.]
[I haven't had work for 3 months.]
[But I only need one job.]
It was one of the most famous photographs from the Great Depression in America. Those few lines were enough to guess just how severe the Depression had been.
But something was different. Although similar, the differences were clear in several places.
It was as if...
Flash!
The moment I began to sink into thought, the pure white space began to fill with color. Like drops of ink falling one by one, the world bled into various hues.
Before I knew it, the space had transformed into a 'street.' I had traveled through various countries, including the Minerva Empire, but I had never seen this place before.
Judging by the architecture, it had a medieval appearance. I looked around with a bewildered face before turning my gaze back to the man.
The man wasn't wearing an American suit, but a suit one might see in the Middle Ages.
No.
That man was wearing 'modern' clothing. By the standards of this place, an American suit would look strange.
And the one who had made that man so miserable...
Was none other than me.
"W-Wait a second..."
I hurriedly ran toward the man. The thought that something was wrong and the urge to reach him somehow consumed my mind.
Crash!
Then, a noise pierced my ears. It sounded like a window shattering.
Both I and the unemployed man walking ahead turned our gazes toward the sound.
And before my eyes.
Thud!
A person fell.