Even in a Life Like This (2)
"Aigoo. Sky was lookin' all gloomy an' thick, an' wouldn't ya know it—real rain's comin' down."
Had they decided to break off once the fourth wave of reinforcements arrived? Before those troops could even show, rain began to fall once more over the crude tent village.
"So the rain's come after all." The trouble was that this was no light drizzle; it came down heavy enough to punch straight through cloth. "What about the mages?" As if to prove they were by the sea, the wind was fierce too. "Well… with Great Sage Cheongsanho detained and the entire Magic Tower under suspicion of heresy, cooperation is probably…." The clustered humans grew restless again.
"Why's the wind so fierce? Ain't like it's a typhoon."
"Bet it is a typhoon."
"Eh, for real?"
"Yeah."
And of all things, it truly was the harbinger of a typhoon.
Sangun took Yukgui's words at face value. Even with most of his power gone, the dignity of an Ancient Beast did not simply vanish; that was the ground of his trust.
"I reckon them folks might all get blown clean away."
"Whether they get blown away or not, that's their lookout."
"It's tough, though…."
But the source of that trust was not the issue right now. Sangun hurriedly wrapped Yukgui with care. He could still read the flow of air and waves, yet he no longer had the strength to withstand them; the step was only natural.
His manifested body coiled tight around the tiny tortoise like a bird's nest. "Even with the greatest worry gone, the situation somehow refuses to improve." In the center of those coils lay a soft bed of grass and fruit for eating.
"People are gonna start dyin' again, ain't they?"
Over the past few days, not a single human had died of trauma. With someone who wielded the power of the gods at their side, that was only proper.
Yet that did not mean no one died at all. Those who perished from cold and hunger could not be saved even by divine power. A little Holy Power was not the sort of thing that fixed such things.
So tonight would likely be another crisis. Things had improved a great deal, yet the humans' living conditions remained wretched.
"Ah, light."
"Preventin' it before it hits? Gonna be hard."
But those expectations were overturned when a golden barrier spread over the tent village the humans had made. The red-haired human they called the Hero had clearly stepped forward.
The golden film blocked the driving wind and sheltered the people. "…The temple will grow even more high-handed." Some of the humans' irritation rode the wind to him.
"The little one's workin' herself hard."
Yet their relief was premature. How far could something like that really go? And the typhoon had not even properly arrived yet.
"They don't know it's a typhoon."
"Aigoo…."
At this rate they would have no strength left when they truly needed it. Sangun knew that and grieved for them. Wanting to advise yet unable to make himself understood only doubled the pity.
His tail twitched restlessly, mirroring his fretting heart. "Somehow persuade the mages. I've never seen anything good come of leaving everything to one person." Look—even that human shared the same view. "What if the temple brands us heretics too?" Of course there were… a few small problems, "We're already finished. Prepare to protect the people." Still.
"It's noisy."
"The little one's a bit pitiful, ain't she?"
"She brought it on herself—why start frettin' now…."
"Still, though."
"Weren't you the one who said you hated humans?"
"Well…."
Yukgui was not wrong. Even his long patience had been worn thin by the humans' disgraceful behavior; most of them had become a disappointment to him.
Even so, someone who knew how to use great power for others was still a good thing. That was where this sympathy came from.
"She's kind, so what's a body to do? An' that ancestor you know said she was decent enough, didn't he?"
Besides, the Hero was the only human who came every day to give thanks. How could anyone simply ignore someone that earnest and good?
"The humans who looked after the ancestor will be sufferin' right alongside the Hero, too."
And this feeling was something Yukgui shared. He was not so shameless as to forget the grace he had received, and those who had cared for him when he first hatched were still over there.
"…Then at least lend me some strength. Let's turn the typhoon's path."
Sure enough, Yukgui finally grumbled his agreement. He had only stayed silent because he lacked the power; he had clearly been concerned all along.
The corner of Sangun's mouth curled up in a grin.
"Glad to hear it."
"Honestly. He even purified the Demon Energy that was about to devour me, an' now I've got to stop a typhoon too… I barely have energy to recover, an' here I am workin' myself to death."
"Heehee."
"What're you laughin' at? This is comin' out of your power."
As if he hadn't wanted to step in himself, scolding like that. Sangun only grinned wider, looking down at him no matter what Yukgui said. The next instant, the strength drained clean out of him.
"Hweong."
The typhoon that had been set to strike the coast where the humans were turned south without anyone knowing. In exchange, Sangun lost even the strength to lift his head.
His great head settled onto the coiled body. The sounds leaving his mouth were nothing but meaningless whining.
"Can't give out today's rations…."
"Today's? You'll need to save your strength for at least three days."
As if he felt no pity at all, Yukgui kept scolding him.
Do you even know how dangerous it is to use power beyond your station? If your rank had been even a little lower, you would have suffered the same searing agony that beasts feel when they force a god's power. Stop grinning like a fool and think of your own body when you decide things from now on.
Round and round the words went, yet in the end they were only worry. Sangun felt as if he had returned to the Great Forest and grinned foolishly once more.
"How did I ever end up with a child like this…."
"Ah, what did I even do?"
"Enough, you silly thing."
"Hing."
"More than that—I knew you could handle it, but you're in better shape than I expected. That's a surprise."
Even for a direct descendant, the side effects were far lighter than anticipated. Yukgui sank into thought on that point.
"Even across generations the blood never thins, so of course the rank is preserved… still, it's strange."
"Hm?"
"You didn't grow up eatin' anything weird, did you?"
"Um… I was born from corrupted mana, so I did grow up eatin' mana an' Demon Energy an' everythin' under the sun…?"
"That's just how your traits formed. I mean… did you eat things higher in rank than yourself or anything like that?"
"Uh… ah!"
And that inquiry at last succeeded in finding the true cause.
"W-well, a tiger lord used to live here, didn't he?"
"He did."
"But he got a little corrupted… an' the humans finished him off, y'see."
"…He fell too?"
"I heard he went mad over one human… anyway, only a bit of the corpse was left, an' somehow a piece of it came to me."
"Good heavens. The whole world's gone mad."
"Yeah… from what I know, the west ended up the same way."
"……."
The air between Sangun and Yukgui, having found the truth, settled into something strangely heavy.
One side felt awkward; the other felt unsettled that every being who shared the common ground of being an Ancient Beast had fallen to corruption.
That was the reason for the silence.
"…Right. Stagnant water rots—that's the way of nature. Maybe it was a destined end."
Yet the awkward quiet did not last long. More precisely, Yukgui forced a new subject into it.
The little tortoise buried his head among his limbs and curled up tight.
"In that sense, you eatin' those things… might actually have been for the best. Well done."
"Yep."
He had been praised, yet he could not feel particularly cheerful. Sangun tried to scratch his forehead with his tail, then flopped limply when he found he lacked even that strength.
Had the knight known this would happen when he gave him a heart? The thought that rose in its place was at least the sort that let him breathe a little easier.
Sangun began turning over in his mind whether the knight's gift of a heart had truly been chance. Thanks to that, he soon forgot the situation around him.
"Don't send any more hunters out today. If any have already gone, have them hurry back."
"Yes."
"Haa… honestly, the fact that Lord Sangun still bestows food is the one stroke of luck we have."
Yet one thing Sangun overlooked was that a matter he had taken lightly was anything but light to certain others.
"Lord Sangun is no longer bestowing his grace. We already can't go out for food because of the wind and rain… at this rate the mood in the temporary shelter will hit rock bottom again."
Had Sangun, after overusing his power, fallen asleep for a swifter recovery?
When the expected mercy still failed to descend, the humans who had felt a faint unease waited one full day; when it continued into the next, they urgently convened a strategy meeting. It was a meeting to solve the ever-dwindling food problem.
"We're short on firewood as well. At this rate people will freeze to death in the dropping temperatures."
"The rivers are rising by the hour. The low ground may flood."
Yet a closer look showed that food was far from the only shortage. Even with several companies of reinforcements having arrived, the situation remained grim.
"So what's the plan?"
"We have to conserve as much as possible."
"Is that all?"
"…I apologize."
"Haa……."
Conserve as much as possible, reuse as much as possible, as much as possible, as much as possible…….
Who had gathered here without already knowing that? Yet no one could produce a better idea. Realistically, that was all they could do, so there was no help for it.
"Food and firewood can't be solved right away, so we'll handle those by conserving as best we can. Move the tents to deal with the low-ground flooding. Keep working on the drainage ditches as well."
"Yes."
"Then this meeting is adjourned. Ah—you stay behind."
So the city lord, rather than waste time on unsolvable problems, simply dismissed the rest.
A face that had aged ten years in a single twenty-minute meeting let out a deep sigh.
"What about the mages?"
"Given the circumstances they promised cooperation, but their morale is terrible. We can't expect the enthusiasm we saw at the start."
"Is that so……."
Even that much was something to be grateful for.
True, the Magic Tower was steeped in individualism, yet it was also a place that held respect for its pioneers—and their foremost forerunner had been seized on charges of heresy.
Worse, the heresy charges had spread to the entire Tower. Even those mages whose individualism had outweighed their respect for a Great Sage would have begun to feel resentment by now.
"At least Cheongsanho's influence means they still have a strong sense of duty."
What if Bemyurhen's Magic Tower had been under White Crow rather than Cheongsanho? Would even more people have died?
"And the temple?"
"They're quiet for now."
"Hah. If they have any shame, they should be."
The Demon Knight who had set the temple and them at odds was gone. Cheongsanho, suspected of colluding with the Demon Knight, was quietly detained and lending his power under watch.
The same went for another Great Sage who had sheltered the Demon Knight, for his companions, and even for the awakened Hero. Leaving aside the once-sleeping Hero, the rest had clearly gone to great lengths to defend and honor the Demon Knight—yet now they said nothing. It was consideration for the situation, without doubt.
And in the midst of all that, if the temple dared stir up trouble? They would no longer be able to call themselves followers of the gods.
"And the Hero? Is she well?"
"She says she still has strength to spare, so not to worry."
Even so, the temple still failed to satisfy the city lord.
He asked about the temple and the Hero separately. Unlike the temple that only tormented people, the Hero had become his sole comfort, so he did so all the more.
"Whatever else, look after her well-being without fail. If she falters now, everyone will suffer."
Indeed—without her, those complaining of hypothermia would have been several times more numerous. The same for the citizens grumbling that food rations had been cut.
If not for the Hero, who had shown with her own body that a great miracle itself could become hope, they would have had to endure yet another trial.
"We're doing our best, but she insists she can't enjoy comfort alone and flatly refuses……."
"Then find a way to persuade her. Right now the influence of the power she produces matters more than the comfort of solidarity that comes from eating the same thin gruel."
Better to give her the good things so she could keep her strength than watch her collapse after forcing down gruel for the sake of shared hardship. Yet even that simple thought seemed beyond these people.
Under the city lord's sharp glare, the one making excuses fell silent.
"Lastly… go ask the Archmage. See if he is willing to visit Lord Sangun and sound out whether something has gone wrong. Have an escort ready in advance in case he agrees."
"Understood."
"Good. You may go."
"Yes."
He did not believe Lord Sangun would have stopped his work for no reason, yet right now that single mercy was desperately needed.
The city lord decided to send someone even if it meant setting aside all shame, and clutched his throbbing head. The headaches that worsened by the day were beginning to interfere with daily life.
"I only hope I don't drop dead before this is finished."
"M-my lord! How can you say such a thing!"
The adjutant who had silently attended him throughout could not hide his shock, yet the words just spoken had been no joke.
He sank onto the crude chair. A body that had survived nearly two weeks on nothing but catnaps felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
"My lord, reinforcement banners in the distance…!"
"…No time to rest, is there."
Yet even the backside he had just managed to plant had to rise again at once. When he put strength into his knees to stand, his vision went white for a moment.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm fine."
He steadied his swaying body with the adjutant's help and blinked several times. Sight returned.
"Adjutant—if I die, shift every crime that would fall on us onto me."
Even with his vision restored, the fact that his body might have reached its limit would not go away. So the city lord decided to issue an order just in case.
"The same for Cheongsanho's crimes. If those charges are confirmed… testify that I was the one who ordered it. No matter what Cheongsanho says—understood?"
"Have you lost your mind? If you do that, my lord will…!"
"Not even have a grave, I suppose. But what of it? Once I'm dead I won't see whether a grave is raised or not. No parents, no spouse, no children—no one to suffer for it."
"Lord Cheongsanho will hate it."
"Then tell him it's the karma for acting so kindly at my family's funeral."
Yet this was only a precaution. The city lord straightened his shabby cloak as best he could and prepared to go out.
He was still alive, and work remained to be done.