Goblin Knight - Chapter 391



Only Noblemtl

EP.391 Scarecrow in Search of Wisdom (45)

After a chaotic evening full of talk and trouble.

As I was blankly staring at the shining curtain shimmering over the night that had come again, I heard a girl exclaim, “Wow…”

It was Mephisto.

“That… that… it looks like an emerald river flowing in the sky. Do you know what that is?”

“What a poetic expression. It’s called the Aurora. It’s said that it can only be observed in the north or south… This is my first time seeing it in person.”

“Why does something like that appear? Could that also be an art that Yul created?”

“No, it’s a phenomenon that occurs when the wind blows from the sun and burns invisible clouds.”

“yes?”

“… … It is a prank caused by the one in heaven.”

How can one explain something one doesn’t even know well?

If Annelie (= Nelivia) had been here, I wouldn’t have known, but she was still unaccustomed to sleeping rough and marching, and was already in a deep sleep.

When I gave up on explaining and started beating around the bush, Mephis narrowed his eyes and spoke in a dissatisfied tone.

“Do you think I won’t understand because I’m young? Of course, my knowledge and experience are inferior to yours, but please don’t ignore me!”

“I can assure you that it is not true, and I do not know enough to explain it to others. In the first place, isn’t your sect extremely reluctant to seek knowledge of places higher than the clouds?”

“Ah… that’s true, but… … .”

“Aren’t you aware of that part yet? By the way, what I just said is that even discussing the heavens is considered heretical thinking among you, and you will be punished. So you should watch your mouth wherever you go.”

“No matter what, it can’t be that extreme! Please refrain from making such irresponsible remarks!”

“Well, I’ve had quite a few extreme experiences like that. Including you.”

With a small, bitter smile.

He looked down at the sky and looked at Mephisto.

“What’s wrong? Can’t you sleep?”

“… … Not really. Since I have a duty to watch over you right now, if even one of you is awake, I will-”

“So that’s what it felt like.”

“yes?”

“It was so enjoyable to hear the lies of someone who was surprisingly bad at lying. But no matter what, I don’t think I’m that good at it… … .”

“Don’t tease me!”

After another burst of laughter, Blanc asked her what she was feeling.

“Is it because of the story I overheard earlier?”

“… … .”

“I heard that war is coming. And it’s not our monsters who are trying to start the war, it’s your sect that is trying to start the war… … .”

“Not really, that’s… not true. There’s no way to trust your monsters’ stories in the first place.”

“For something like that, my heart is pounding really hard. I’ll tell you again, you have no talent for lying. At least not now.”

“You actually have a very annoying personality.”

“I’m surprised at myself like this. Up until now, I’ve never had many colleagues around me who I could show my playfulness to. Should I say I’m somewhat fearless? Or should I say I’m scared because I feel like I’m going to get eaten… …”

“Are you scared? A monster like you?”

“… … Well, the world is big.”

How did you interpret the silence as Blanc kept his mouth shut and his eyes misty as he recalled the past (and future)?

Mephis was the first to speak.

“Your story earlier… I don’t know what you talked about in the latter part, but anyway, listening to your story about war made me think of many things.”

“It’s our story, so it’s okay not to know. So what did you think?”

“First of all, let me say that I have no sympathy for you monsters. I still believe that all monsters should be executed. You are just a very small exception. But.”

Mephis said, lowering his gaze to the ground.

“I thought that when the war started, not only your monsters but also many humans would die.”

“… … .”

“I don’t know who or how many will die, but the innocent and good villagers, the soldiers and knights who protect them, the priests of the church, the executors… people I know, people I’m close to, and maybe even my teacher.”

That you will die at the hands of your monsters.

Mephis muttered softly.

“So you want to say that monsters are bad?”

“Yes. As an executor, I think the reason the sect decided to go to war is because they can no longer tolerate the sacrifices your outrages are making.”

“Well, I can’t deny it. I also think that all goblins should die.”

“You?”

“There are goblins like that in the world. So?”

“But, beyond that ‘obvious thought’… I also think this. Is it really necessary for humans to die in order to achieve that permanent peace?”

“… … .”

“I have never experienced war, but I have seen where it has passed. There is no light or salvation there. Regardless of the outcome of the war, only the cries of those who have been robbed and lost remain.”

To speak in a gloomy voice.

“I am not sure if that is really the only way to eliminate the threat of monsters and bring peace to our time.”

“… … Is that so.”

“Is it because of my lack of experience, as you said?”

“Are you asking me that? Even now, you are trying to kill me, calling me a monster?”

“Apart from that, I thought your story was worth listening to. It’s up to me to decide whether to accept it or not.”

“under.”

Blanc burst into laughter as he answered.

“I’m sorry I can’t live up to your expectations, but I don’t know the answer to that question. I haven’t experienced war myself. But I think you and I can at least share a common ground.”

“What kind of common ground?”

“There should be no war.”

The voice naturally had a blazing power.

“In war, good and evil are meaningless. In that place, both good and evil are just numbers.

And the essence of war is that the one with the greater numbers suppresses and takes away the one with the lesser numbers, so where can we find good and evil in that? Right and wrong?

I’ve heard many knights find romance in war, and a few say that war is a last resort… but I think even that is wrong.

War should not be chosen.

The last resort? No, there must be another way. There must have been one. They just avoided it because the ‘damage’ was too great, or they didn’t even think about it in the first place.

If we must discuss good and evil… Those who advocate war to avoid losses, and ‘war itself’ – these are the evils I must eradicate.”

Mephisto’s eyebrows twitched.

In this case, it was the religious order that advocated for war, so Blanc must have felt that he was criticizing the religious order.

Blanc hit the player.

“Let me say this in advance, I have no intention of defending the monsters up until now. I have suffered from monsters just as much as I have from villains in various incidents.”

“Then what should we have done? How could we stop the monsters from persecuting the innocent and weak without war?”

“Well, maybe try communicating with the leader?”

“Speak sense! There’s no way you can communicate with beings who were evil from the start… … .”

“aha.”

Blanc met Mephis’ eyes, whose words were blurry without him knowing, and snickered.

“Are you starting to get the hang of it now?”

“No… you, you are… the exception… … .”

“Of course there are exceptions. Exceptions so great that I can’t even imagine that they exist. But at the same time, those words only support my statement that I ‘never even thought about it.’”

Blanc gestured toward the tent.

Where Nellyvia is sleeping soundly.

“Coincidentally, the Nelivia who is sleeping there and whom you have spoken to several times… is also a woman who would become the de facto ruler of all the monsters in this world if she could just return safely.”

“… … .”

“Just as you and I do not want war, Nellyvia does not want war either. The reasons are slightly different… but in the end, the root of it is that she does not want those who are precious to her to be hurt. It is not much different. Do you intend to deny it, saying that there is no way to communicate?”

Blanc let out a cold sigh.

“I’ll say it again. There must be another way. I just didn’t think about it… The order that ‘monsters must be executed’ was blocking my thoughts.”

“… … How can I believe what you say?”

“I never asked you to believe me. You were the one who asked me what I thought in the first place.”

“But, but… that’s… … .”

“Still, let me add my personal opinion.”

He said with a bitter smile.

“It is much better to believe and be deceived than not to believe at all.”

“… … .”

“Well, that’s not something that should be said by someone who is being distrusted. I hope this helps you solve your problem.”

Blanc, who had finished speaking with a chuckle, observed Mephis’ expression.

She looked back and forth between the sky and Blanc with a face that seemed to be holding something back, and only the great ones in the sky knew what was going on inside her.

Still, it was clear that a fierce conflict was taking place.

That is precisely why… … .

‘… … And yet, after slaughtering countless monsters, you will end up becoming a golden executioner.’

The future.

Blanc, who knew that in the end she had failed to prevent the war and that the monsters would be defeated by her own hands, could not help but feel bitter.

What suddenly comes to mind is a vision of the future.

Blanc asked her, who had given up all thought and was now simply following the will of the law.

Do you think that is right?

What was Mephis thinking at that time?

Surely, Mephis would not have forgotten this dialogue.

What on earth happened in the meantime… … .

– Everything… flows according to the law.

– … … Not a law?

– There’s no particular reason to answer that question.

Is that the answer you gave?

Silence flows as each person harbors their own questions.

Beneath the Emerald River, another night was passing.