Chapter 94. The One Who Does Not Fall.
Chapter 94. The One Who Does Not Fall.
The moment the president said he would be at the very front of the formation passing through enemy territory, everyone from the 1st Fleet was astonished. Naturally, the president only said it so casually because he knows me—but they don't know that.
"But you do understand that guns and missiles mean nothing to me, don't you?"
They hadn't seen it firsthand, but they would have heard the reports from their captain. Of course, seeing and hearing are two different things.
"If the President himself is willing to go that far... then we will place our trust in you."
"I can see you're all worried sick, but I won't let so much as a hair on his head be touched, so please don't fret."
Even after I said that, the people showed no sign of their anxiety lifting. At that moment, the president spoke up to shift the atmosphere.
"Since you've all come this far, why don't you stay and have dinner before you go?"
Because it was the president himself who suggested it, the military personnel naturally agreed to stay and eat. Then the commander himself spoke up.
"Would it be all right if we took a brief look around here?"
"I'll assign someone to guide you, so please feel free to look around."
A few special mission agents and researchers were attached to them to act as guides. The rest of the personnel went off to prepare the meal. And so, those of us who remained talked among ourselves.
"By the way, Representative, was there a particular reason you urged them to come here first?"
"No special reason. I just thought it would be nice to have people who can operate and repair the ships."
"I see. But, how do they seem to you, Representative?"
"They don't strike me as underhanded or malicious."
"Heh heh, if that's how the Representative sees them, then it must be so."
Since quite a bit of time had passed since they arrived, dinner time came quickly. The end of their tour and the timing of the meal aligned, so we all decided to eat together in the assembly hall. They had apparently been living quite frugally, and they were amazed at the quality of the food.
"Good heavens, it's astonishing that fresh meat and sashimi like this still exist."
"You're right in front of the sea, don't you have any of your own?"
"Nothing of this quality... I heard you even operate a separate fish farm."
"Yes, the quantity isn't large yet, but we eat like this from time to time."
"Heh heh, one thing I noticed while looking around is that the faces of the people here are brimming with vitality."
We finished the meal sharing light chat, and a simple drinking session got underway. Then, the Advisor broached a somewhat sensitive subject.
"From what I've gathered so far, it seems Cheon Sihu is the true representative here, not the President. May I ask why that is?"
Given the sensitive nature of the topic, the hands reaching for side dishes or raising glasses all froze in unison. It wasn't a question meant to ask, "Why are you the representative instead of the president?" The atmosphere turned suddenly cold, and even he, flustered, hastily added more.
"I-I'm not raising a complaint...! I'm simply asking out of pure curiosity... If I've offended you, I sincerely apologize."
From my perspective, there was absolutely no reason to be offended. From the perspective of someone who doesn't know me, if a mere civilian, not the president, is called the group's representative, anyone would tilt their head and be perfectly justified in having doubts.
"No, I'm not offended. I was just mulling over how to answer you."
"..."
"To be honest, I didn't want the position of representative at first."
It was a deeply contradictory statement—saying I never wanted the position of representative while currently acting as the group's representative.
"I simply formed bonds naturally within the apocalypse, and people gathered one by one until we became a group."
"Honestly, I had my doubts about the fact that a civilian, not the head of state—the President—is the group's representative. I understand you possess considerable military might, but ruling over people as a representative is another matter entirely, isn't it?"
It's not as if I gathered people to rule them, nor do I wish for them to look up to me. Perhaps what I always feel is...
"Neglect..."
"Neglect...?"
"What I want is closer to neglect than governance. To put it bluntly, this place is my fence. And I am the one who tends that fence."
At my absurd remark about a fence, the Advisor tried to retort but found himself at a loss for words. To him, a person named 'Cheon Sihu' might have seemed like someone who 'herds' people with brute force. Once his thoughts reached that point, he began to grow slightly agitated.
"Do you truly believe a nation ruled by an absolute philosopher-king who never corrupts is possible?"
"Are you afraid?"
"The world has already changed too much. It's a world where safety only comes from possessing force, not from leaning on law or morality."
"What are you trying to say?"
"The Representative is still young. You are at an age when people gather followers, care for them, and shout for justice. How long can that last...?"
I felt I understood what the Advisor wanted to say. This man is afraid that I will change. He has realized the reality that he can do nothing but fervently pray that I, who can exert overwhelming violence, do not grow capricious.
"In the past, democracy was won through bloodshed. But before the Representative's force, we wouldn't even have a chance to struggle... And, I am truly sorry to say this, but even if the Representative never corrupts, can you guarantee that future generations of your descendants will not?"
Suddenly, an old memory came to mind. I felt a bloom of enjoyment, remembering the old man who used to chatter beside me like a parrot, telling me I wasn't doing things right. That bastard who kept my already worn-down humanity from shattering completely. I projected his image onto the Advisor's serious face.
And before I knew it, I snorted with laughter. The president must have interpreted my laugh differently, because he barked at the Advisor.
"Advisor! What is the meaning of this!"
"I apologize again for my repeated rudeness. But I am saying this with my life on the line."
"Please, calm down! The Representative truly did not want this! People just naturally came to call him the representative!"
It was enjoyable.
I haven't enjoyed myself this much since coming to Earth. And for the first time, I felt the desire to go back to 'Titan,' the place I had always hated even the sight of.
'Is he still alive, I wonder?'
"It is true that the people I have seen here all wear expressions of happiness and peace. But can you guarantee you will never change?"
Yes or No. To him, as he asked that question, I said something completely out of the blue.
"Dictatorship, philosopher-king, corruption, youth..."
"Suddenly..."
"A young man who shouts for justice and leads a revolution with noble meaning is bound to change once he tastes power..."
"..."
In reality, if you look back at history, there are many heroes who became dictators whose names anyone would recognize the moment they hear them.
If that's the case, then I simply have to show him. Show him that things like power, honor, or wealth are utterly useless to me. If I don't want them in the first place, is there any reason to seize them?
If he harbors such anxiety, then I just have to dispel it.
I gestured into the empty air, splitting and splitting and splitting the fragments of origin down into tiny pieces. Then I ground them to dust and scattered it before them. The dust was naturally absorbed into their bodies, their eyes gently closing as they fell asleep right there on the table.
"Have a good dream."
* * * * * * * *
I left the sleeping figures where they were, went outside, and headed toward the pavilion next to the assembly hall. A few of my companions followed, perhaps trying to soothe my restless mood. But I always think this—the time for my emotions to be swayed by such things is long past.
"Representative, please don't let it bother you too much. Still, wasn't all that just them worrying about the nation...?"
"Humans are bound to fear change like that. I don't mind it at all."
Even after I said it was nothing, the president's tense expression showed no sign of easing.
"Pffsst, I really don't mind. It's just that it's been a long time since someone spoke to me so boldly."
"You're speaking of your days on Titan..."
"Yes. He was a truly stubborn old man, dense as a bear."
"Huhh..."
"At some point, he told me this. If I run a mercenary company like that, it's going to crash and burn and we'll all end up out on the streets."
"..."
Not caring if anyone else was listening, I prattled on about the old days. At that, the president smiled faintly and said,
"As I thought, the Representative is human after all."
"Ha ha, did you think I was a monster?"
"Even your jokes are the same."
Chuckling to myself, I looked around and spoke.
"Well, no one died here. So relax your faces a bit."
Only then did the people seem to feel better, their expressions loosening as they tossed a few jokes my way. Back in the assembly hall, we cleared up the drinking session, carefully laid the sleeping men on one side, and went home.
We too returned home, finished our showers, and lay on the bed ready to sleep. Then, Chaeyeon and Jia lay down on either side of me and clung to me.
"What's this?"
Both of them were burying their faces in my chest, acting coy.
"Sihu, don't let it get to you too much..."
"Heehee..."
They seemed to still be thinking about the conversation from earlier. Their actions were so adorable that I stroked their hair.
"I'm not bothered."
The three of us didn't say a word and just enjoyed the silence. At some point, when I looked to both sides, I saw they had both fallen asleep. I carefully pulled my arms free and helped them lie more comfortably.
'This kind of feeling isn't bad, once in a while.'
I turned my head to the side and looked out the window, where a bright moon hung in the sky. In that moment, the night sky of 'Titan' suddenly came to mind. It was a feeling I wouldn't normally have had, but I'd been feeling it unusually often lately.
I slept with that newfound sense of comfort, and sensed the Chaos within me growing a little denser.