Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: City of Dreams and Revelry, Kara.
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"And this too..."
I picked up Yojjo and unleashed an Aura Blade. Focusing my gaze intently on the blade of light extending nearly ten centimeters, it was clear that I, who had only just stepped into the Master realm recently, had now reached the lower Master level. This was a telltale sign that something profound had shifted in my mental state during my clash with Catrine.
Masters delve into the deeper layers of mana and the gateway to the mental world. Given the limitations of mana growth—which requires long-term cultivation for progress—such a rapid advancement in such a short time could only mean there had been significant mental growth. Unlike mana, mental development can stagnate for decades or centuries, then surge forward in a single moment.
Right after Yojjo's magic activation, which seemed tied to mental invocation, I had advanced a full step as a Master due to this mental maturation. It was a coincidence suspicious enough to question if it was fate.
"Here you go. Whatever."
I shrugged it off, sheathing Yojjo back at my waist. Exploring the mental world was profoundly subtle and elusive. It wasn't something you could resolve just by mulling it over. True growth in the mind came only from broadening one's thoughts and perspectives through vast experiences.
As I finished training and turned to leave, I spotted Shura sitting nearby in a neat, eyes-closed posture. She appeared to be deep in meditation.
"Shura."
I called out to her. Interrupting someone's meditation was poor etiquette, but there was one thing we needed to clarify first. I hadn't permitted her to meditate until she found her true path. Meditation only held meaning after discovering one's way; doing it beforehand was just futile effort.
Shura opened her eyes.
"Yes, Master."
"Have you found your path?"
"Yes."
"Really? What is it?"
"Balance."
I rested my chin on my hand thoughtfully.
"Why balance?"
Shura drew her cherished sword and stroked it gently.
"Because of fate's guidance. My father is a high elf of the light race, and my mother is a dark elf of the shadow race. The Dalahan that chose me is also a divine artifact embodying both light and darkness. So, I believed balance was essential to wield these opposing forces."
"Ah, so that's why balance."
"Yes."
"But do you know about the trap of balance? Falling into it is a real headache. Countless fools get stuck there and never become Masters."
"What do you mean?"
Seeing her interest piqued, I sat down beside her.
"First, what is balance to you?"
"The principle of coexistence between two or more forces or truths, without bias toward either."
I chuckled softly. As expected, Shura had fallen into the trap of balance.
"Okay, so how exactly are you going to make those forces or truths coexist?"
"Pardon?"
"Let me give you an example. Say you have chores at home and errands outside. How do you balance those two? You're not planning to dither at the doorstep, are you?"
"Well..."
Shura couldn't answer right away. My question was one that anyone trapped in the balance fallacy would find excruciatingly difficult.
"What else? Handle the urgent one first. Even a three-year-old knows that."
"Then what about balance?"
"It doesn't exist. All you can do is make choices based on your values. If you think the home chores come first, do them. If it's the errands, do those. It's not up to you to force balance. The laws of nature gather people like you and harmonize them naturally—more harmony than balance, really. Got it, you dimwit?"
Shura bowed her head deeply. The path she'd so proudly found turned out to be a dead end. She couldn't hide her disappointment.
"I'm sorry. I'll look for another path."
I let out a weary sigh. She hadn't just escaped the balance trap; she'd tumbled straight into the world's trap.
"Are you an idiot?"
"Pardon?"
"Why abandon the path you've found?"
"But you just said the path of balance doesn't exist."
"You think my path is flawless? What did I say mine was before?"
"Life."
I nodded emphatically.
"Exactly. And the most important part of life? Eating. Here's another question. You've got fried meat that comes with sauce. Do you pour the sauce over the meat, or dip the meat in the sauce?"
"That's..."
Shura's lips twitched. It was a matter of personal taste; there was no right or wrong.
But that was the closest thing to a true answer. The genuine Way defies clear explanation.
"Right. All truths in the world are vague and ambiguous. They seem to exist yet don't, seem right yet wrong. So, you have no choice but to follow your own selections. In other words, walk your own path. That's why the Master's path must be walked alone. Remember that."
"Yes."
Shura beamed with gratitude, seemingly grasping the essence of the path to Mastery.
Balance doesn't exist. You simply pursue your path with the purpose of seeking balance.
"Alright, train hard then. I'm beat; time for a nap."
"Yes. Rest well."
Leaving Shura to sink back into meditation, I headed to the back door of the office building. Armida was waiting there, legs crossed, clapping her hands.
"Oho~ Your teaching style with your little sister is no joke. You've got real talent."
Feeling awkward, I brushed past Armida and entered the building.
"I learned from someone."
Armida followed.
"Who?"
"Some old geezer curmudgeon who only spouts his own wisdom and ignores everyone else's."
"Who the hell is that?"
"Cloud Grand Duke."
Armida's eyes widened round.
"That guy's still alive? I thought he kicked the bucket since I hadn't seen him lately."
"Nope, still kicking. After becoming the Imperial Slayer, he went into hiding out of shame."
Cloud Grand Duke was once the Yosrahim Empire's greatest general, but sixty years ago, he abruptly stepped down from the front lines. After assassinating the tyrannical Emperor Lotfze, he deemed himself disloyal as a subject and withdrew from military and political life.
These days, he only showed up briefly at year-end imperial gatherings; otherwise, he was a total recluse.
Of course, he'd return to the military soon enough, but for now, he was content playing the shut-in elder.
"Huh. Humans sure live long sometimes. He's gotta be over 190 now, right?"
Indeed, early 190s. But he wouldn't pass 200.
The old man would depart for the afterlife in six years, one fateful night, shedding tears of regret. He died from despair over failing to reach Soul Master and worry for the empire's future.
Still, he was lucky in a way. He went without seeing the ugly fallout. Right after his death, the Yosrahim Empire erupted in border rebellions and plots, staying chaotic for a while before plummeting into ruin eight years later.
"Yeah, guy had all the luck."
"Because he lived long? Or because he's the world's strongest swordsman?"
"Nah."
"Then what?"
"He lived exactly long enough to envy—nothing more, nothing less. Makes me jealous as hell."
Human lives are such twisted things. The old man died feeling utterly wretched, but to me, it looked like the happiest end imaginable. All he missed was the Soul Master realm—no human had ever reached it anyway. Everything else? He had it all.
"What does that mean?"
"It's one of those life lessons Valkyries could never grasp."
Armida's eyes sharpened.
"Are you mocking me right now?"
"Then give up immortality and live a mortal life. You'd get it without me explaining. Seriously, you have to know death to understand. Tsk tsk tsk."
"Hey!"
I ignored Armida and went to my room. Debating death with an eternal Valkyrie was pointless; it'd just hurt my mouth. I could make her understand intellectually if I hammered it home, but her heart? Never. And if the heart doesn't get it, it's not true understanding.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Inside the Yosrahim Empire's imperial palace. Amid the ongoing imperial council, a middle-aged man seated on the throne gazed down at the assembled ministers with a troubled expression.
He was Emperor Bonaparo Eilsar Kizer Yosrahim, current ruler of the Yosrahim Empire.
One minister stepped forward. It was Marquis Alfred, the Foreign Minister.
"Your Majesty. Protests are flooding in from across the continent over that regrettable incident at the Divinum Cathedral."
The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly.
"And?"
"We must swiftly devise measures to quell the church and foreign powers' discontent."
"Any solutions?"
"First, declare Grand Duke Karl's heir a filial traitor to the realm and strike him from the imperial registry."
"Yahn is my own nephew."
Marquis Alfred bowed deeply.
"The situation is grave, Your Majesty. Temples across the land are condemning our empire, and the people are gripped by anxiety. This is no time to be bound by blood ties. Besides, Karl Grand Duke's son was slain by the Grand Saintess of Flames and is no longer of this world."
The emperor wrinkled his nose and glanced at Karl Grand Duke. He was the root of all this mess. The empire's top chancellor couldn't even keep one kid in line? Unbelievable.
But it wasn't all bad. Rumors said Yahn was a Master swordsman. Like the reincarnation of Cloud Grand Duke.
Another Cloud Grand Duke? The thought was dizzying.
"Karl Grand Duke?"
Karl Grand Duke stepped forward.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You must be the one to declare your son a filial traitor. He's your child. Can you do it?"
"What words could I possibly have? I shall obey Your Majesty's will."
"And expel him from your house as well."
"As it should be."
"Thank you."
As the emperor turned his gaze, a blond youth flushed red and stepped forward. Crown Prince Simon.
"Your Majesty!"
"What is it?"
"Yahn is Your Majesty's nephew and my cousin. And now he's dead."
"So?"
"I believe accountability must be assigned."
At his son Crown Prince Simon's resolute stance, the emperor rested his chin thoughtfully.
"The one who killed Yahn was none other than the Grand Saintess of Flames. What of it?"
"What fault could the Grand Saintess of Flames have? She merely delivered heaven's judgment upon Yahn, who rampaged like a thug in the holy grounds."
"Then?"
Crown Prince Simon glanced subtly at Karl Grand Duke.
"Isn't it the fault of the father who raised such a thug? Yet that man sits as the empire's Grand Chancellor. I cannot fathom it."
"But Karl Grand Duke has admirably fulfilled the role until now."
"I know. But going forward, it will be difficult. After all, he's the father of that depraved heir."
There was merit to Crown Prince Simon's words. Yahn's near-atrocity at the Divinum Cathedral would inevitably drag his father down.
And such cracks in power could disrupt imperial governance. In many ways, appointing a new Grand Chancellor wasn't a bad idea.
The emperor alternated glances between Karl Grand Duke and Crown Prince Simon.
"Any alternatives?"
"Duke Manfred."
At Simon's recommendation of Duke Manfred, the emperor smirked.
Duke Manfred had long served as Interior Minister and was undeniably suited for the Grand Chancellor role.
But he was a kingmaker who'd played a key part in seating Simon as crown prince. Elevating him would bolster Simon's power accordingly.
"Anyone else?"
"I believe Duke Manfred is the most fitting, Your Majesty."
"I know. Yet the empire is vast, and talents abound. Surely one duke is not the only candidate for Grand Chancellor?"
Duke Manfred, pale as a ghost, hurriedly stepped forward.
"In my view, Grand Duke Lupert would be even more suitable for the role."
The emperor chuckled again. Desperate times—pushing Grand Duke Lupert, who was bedridden and on his last legs.
< 꿈과 환락의 도시 카라. > 끝