Chapter 205: Negotiations and The Hammer (2)
Chapter 205: Negotiations and The Hammer (2)
I was in the middle of a journey to another world, holding a single eyeball I had received from him.
With my mind a tangled mess, I tossed a question to Al’shel, who was standing beside me.
“So, what exactly are we doing?”
“…Did you not hear the explanation earlier?”
Well, I heard it.
Something about races, something about numerical values, something about authority, blah, blah, blah, yada, yada.
“I stopped listening the moment you two started talking about keys and whatever.”
“…Doesn’t that mean you stopped listening from the very beginning?”
Is that so?
I thought I listened for at least twenty seconds.
Still, it’s not my fault.
Honestly, what else was I supposed to do while you two sat there debating for hours over nothing? I had nothing to do but count the cracks in the stone tiles.
I did try looking through the documents scattered on the floor to see if there was anything interesting, but they must have been encrypted; the translation didn't work, and all I saw were strange squiggles that looked like wriggling earthworms. I couldn't read a single word.
In the end, I just blankly counted dust motes and cracks until I fell asleep.
“It’s not exactly fun listening to you guys babble amongst yourselves.”
“Aside from that, I’m fairly certain I woke you up and explained everything afterward?”
Ah. That.
I have a memory of Al’shel saying something, but I wasn't fully awake, so the details are a bit fuzzy.
“Didn’t hear it.”
“…Sigh. Fine. I will summarize it as much as possible.”
Yeah, just like always.
“After our discussion, we reached the conclusion that the Demon Train cannot be changed through conventional methods.”
‘It would be solved if we just killed everyone and reduced the population, but even I think that’s a bit much.’
…Look at this guy.
“Regardless, several methods came up during our talk. Burning currency, collective production, currency distribution—moderate things like that. And since the current trial administrator has vanished due to some sort of accident, there was also an opinion that we should just take in people indiscriminately to create chaos and then conquer the place in thirty days. Oh! I should add, that wasn't my idea.”
He’s rambling.
“Where’s the summary?”
“Just keep listening. It’s coming up. Due to various issues, the plan we originally had to replace the higher-ups has been scrapped….”
Well, that makes sense.
Now that I’ve gained a bit of information, even I can see that the plan never would have worked.
“Instead, we’ve decided to obtain authority.”
“What kind of authority?”
“The authority to access the Demon Train’s system. Isn't it obvious?”
Ah, so you’re looking for a detour.
“So, you’re going to change The System itself?”
“Yes, because that is the most fundamental and fastest solution.”
As he said this, Al’shel suddenly opened his mouth.
“With authority, we can confiscate currency and freely design a new system. We can add or change rules at will, and we can find the secrets the races are hiding—or even find the races that have gone into hiding themselves.”
He began to launch into a grand lecture about that authority.
“If we get that, everything’s solved then.”
And here I was thinking it would be incredibly difficult since Al’shel was talking about social reform.
“Of course, that’s assuming the authority buried in The Tomb is of the highest rank.”
…For some reason, those words make me think it won't be. Those kinds of statements always act as foreshadowing.
“Then what happens if it’s not the highest rank?”
“If the grade is low, we won't be able to access the currency system, rendering most of what I said useless, but…”
Grin.
Al’shel wore a twisted smile full of malice.
“At the very least, simply having more authority increases the range of things I can do.”
Heh. Hehehe.
Including that dirty laughter following his words.
Ugh. How disgusting.
I wonder what kind of dark schemes he’s cooking up.
Well, if Al’shel does something weird, I can just keep him in check.
That’s what The Hammer is for.
So, I basically understood the plan.
A simple yet brutish plan.
So I understood the plan, but there was one problem.
“Yeah, the plan is all well and good, but…”
“Is there a problem? Even if there is, since you didn't participate in the meeting, your objections will likely be overruled anyway.”
“…No, it’s not that I’m unhappy with the plan.”
It feels like he’s insulting me more and more as time goes on. The moment he crosses the line, I’ll have to beat him a bit to set him straight.
Setting that aside.
“According to that plan, we need to go to The Tomb where your race is buried, right?”
“Correct.”
“Then why are we poking around in another race’s backyard?”
Just as I said, we were in another race’s room.
Perhaps this wasn't a room for a single race, as various humanoid species were walking the streets.
Just looking at the ones right in front of us.
Creatures that looked like beastmen.
A race that looked almost human but had skin covered in scales.
And beings that were translucent and sparkling as if their bodies were made of glass.
“We are here to find The Tomb, obviously.”
“The Tomb is in this corner of the room?”
That’s surprising. To think such an important place would be in a crowded area like this.
Or is it harder to find because of that?
What was the saying? If you want to hide a tree, put it in a forest.
In a room this massive, there must be plenty of places like tombs, so blending in would actually make it harder to find…
“As if. Do you know what would happen if someone accidentally discovered it?”
…Give me back my deep thoughts.
“Then why did we come here?”
“It’s about The Key I mentioned earlier…. Since it seems you weren't listening, I shall explain it ‘again’ quickly.”
As he spoke, Al’shel swiftly moved his arm, stole something from a passerby, and tucked it into his coat.
“Regarding The Tomb where the administrators are buried. It’s said that those who signed the peace treaty at the end of the war discovered it and realized its danger. They knew they couldn't obtain Administrator Authority themselves, but they feared someone else might find a way.”
He seemed to be saying something important, but my attention was already elsewhere.
“Wait, more importantly, what did you just steal?”
“A magic device. I need information again. Anyway, I shall continue the explanation.”
Al’shel continued his story while fiddling with a rod inside his coat.
“The rest is a predictable tale. They signed a treaty for the sake of peace, yet no one could trust each other. Therefore, they erased the information about the location from their own minds and divided the fragments of that location among themselves.”
‘Isn't it foolish? Their inability to trust one another is pathetic enough, but to go as far as sharing memories because they couldn't give up a power they couldn't even wield.’
I nodded, agreeing with his final monologue.
However, I didn't agree entirely.
Beyond mere greed, there was likely an element of deterrence.
The idea that if someone betrayed the rest, the other races would open The Tomb.
They couldn't extract the authority back then, but who knows what would happen after research?
If even I could think of it, the higher-ups must have had the same thought.
“Map fragments, huh? It sounds just like a game….”
“Doesn't the world work in all sorts of ways? You say it’s like a game, but it’s actually quite common for multiple people to share security keys for important data.”
Even if that’s plausible in reality.
The fact that what we’re looking for is an ancient tomb is just…
My vision of a Demon Train revolution or an Otherworld despair tour wasn't like this.
It was definitely a solemn atmosphere until yesterday, so why does it feel like a fantasy adventure after just one day?
Gathering fragments of a tomb hidden within the memories of the chosen ones to find hidden power… no, wait.
Memories?
“Hey. Al’shel. One question.”
“What is it?”
“You said The Key was a memory earlier, right?”
“I did.”
“Is that a metaphor for an object or something?”
Please let it be so.
I don't want to see that disgusting Al’shel-slurping anymore.
“It is literally a memory.”
Dammit.
And with that one sentence, I realized why we were here.
“Ah. Hey, Al’shel-y?”
“What on earth is ‘Al’shel-y’?”
Just let it go. I’m feeling troubled right now.
“So, what we have to do is find the higher-ups again and beat them up, right?”
“Negotiation is the priority, but if that fails, then yes.”
Right. It always ends up like that.
“My life is truly a piece of work….”
To steady my momentarily reeling mind, I rummaged through my coat, pulled out a metal rod, and bit down on it.
“Why the sudden change in mood?”
“Well, a lot has changed between yesterday and today, hasn't it?”
An opponent I fought until our eyes nearly popped out became an ally.
A social reform story that started with a single hammer became a quest for treasure.
We, who I thought were purely righteous, turned out to be idealists who didn't know reality.
Un-ho’s belly, which had lost some weight, got a bit plump again. Things like that.
“But no matter how the world changes, it’s a bit depressing that all I ever do is swing a hammer.”
It might be because I don't really know how to do anything else.
Even after leaving Earth and coming all this way, the fact that I’m doing the exact same thing stung my heart a little.
Even Al’shel had shed his sinister solitary psycho vibe and become a silver-tongued black negotiator.
“Isn't it fine? Even if all you can do is swing a hammer.”
As if to soothe my heavy heart, Al’shel spoke.
It was completely unexpected.
For Al’shel to speak without mocking or picking at someone’s wounds.
“Everyone has things they are good at and things they are not. And while you, Lee Ha-ram, are bad at most things…”
Yeah, let’s pretend I didn't have that thought just now.
He’s really digging into the wound.
Crunch.
Thanks to Al’shel’s sarcasm, I bit down hard, and the texture of the solid rod transmitted itself to me.
“However, you possess an overwhelming advantage in one single area. Overwhelming violence. And it is violence that can be controlled. That is enough.”
“What’s the use if I’ve wrecked everything else?”
I know from my own life that violence alone can't solve everything.
Though it has solved more than I expected.
“It all depends on how you use it. There are times when a specialized existence is more important than a mediocre all-rounder.”
“I don't know. Being an all-rounder seems better to me.”
My power is strong, but it’s not the only answer.
I haven't won in every single situation, and power is something that can be created by many people coming together.
Oxymoron alone couldn't beat me.
But if Macbeth and the Heavenly Sword joined in, I would lose.
That’s all the power I have.
My heavy heart didn't lift.
Al’shel, seemingly having nothing more to say, offered no further comfort or advice and simply walked down the main street.
Bit by bit, the crowds thinned out.
A single, dark, towering spire came into view in a corner of my vision.
The atmosphere changed tangibly as the people around us began carrying weapons with visibly grim expressions.
Through that, I realized that the tower was our goal, even without Al’shel saying a word.
And so.
Ptu.
I spat out the saliva that had pooled in my mouth while I was biting the rod.
“Time to work. Work.”
I summoned The Hammer, rested it on my shoulder.
And pushed my heavy heart deep into a corner.