Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint - Chapter 558



Civilization x Barbarism

Life is work. Therefore, to live is to do something, no matter what it is. Whether I defeated a wicked dark sorcerer or saved the lives of over three hundred people, the truth remained that if I was alive, I had to work.

“Oh dear, it’s my fate. I can’t relax at all.”

I sighed in front of the three hundred refugees.

The temporary shelter was built by the returnees who overturned the land. The food was filled with what little support the returnees provided from what remained in Piuchon.

However, in this land where people first pray with water when they fall ill, there was no one to heal the mentally and physically exhausted refugees. Calis, being from a military background, considered mental injuries to be mere exaggerations, while the returnees only knew peculiar healing methods like Haeju or purification.

Nevertheless, people create their places, and places create their work. If you clear out the worker ants from an anthill, the idle ants will become workers.

I became a doctor and diagnosed the injured refugees.

“Ugh, it feels like my head is going to split open… I’d rather be dead.”

“Really? Is that your true wish?”

“…Ugh, no. Please make it hurt less…”

“That’s unavoidable. The only way to lessen the pain is with anesthetics.”

“Even that…!”

“What you ate in the dark sorcerer’s prison was exactly that anesthetic. It’s quite similar. When you wake up from the anesthesia, it’ll hurt even more. Just bear with it.”

I waved my hand dismissively, sending the patient away. The barbarian, clutching his head and groaning, shot me a resentful glance as he left the tent.

“Quack…”

Hmph. I don’t care. I am indeed a quack. Letting those who can endure the pain endure it. That’s my job.

In the first place, if they can walk out on their own, they don’t really need treatment.

I glanced at the tent I had set up in the distance. Among those who had been sacrifices to the dark sorcerer, there were some barely clinging to life lying there. Their consciousness was present, but the way their thoughts were unnaturally interrupted suggested their lifeline was running thin.

Dealing with the aftermath is more troublesome than saving them. Looking at it this way, it’s fortunate that the returnees haven’t been able to prevent the downfall yet. Managing a world that has been saved from ruin is far more difficult than preventing the ruin itself.

Having roughly finished the diagnosis, I prepared medicine for those in need, and just when I had a moment to spare, Rash burst into the tent.

“Doctor, are you there! Oh no, should I have knocked before coming in?”

“There’s no door, so what’s the point of knocking? By the way, why is the healthy Rash here?”

“It’s nothing, but I have a favor to ask!”

“Oh, I’ve developed an allergy to requests lately.”

Ignoring my obvious displeasure, Rash proceeded to state his business.

—

—

“They say that when making a vow, you need a presider? Someone respected and trustworthy, like a priestess, to watch over it. So, I want to ask you, teacher, to preside!”

I never thought I’d receive a request to preside over a wedding in my lifetime. Until now, I’ve only dealt cards at gambling tables.

“That’s a fabrication. I’m not a teacher, and I got in here by trickery.”

“It’s fine! Anyway, my kin won’t know whether you’re a teacher or a fraud!”

“I don’t mind doing it, but we need to coordinate the timing. I won’t be staying here long.”

“Oh? Then let’s hurry and hold the wedding! Calis! Come here for a moment!”

Wait, are we doing it now? What kind of wedding is faster than opening a gambling table?

“Is it really okay to treat marriage so casually?”

“Casually? I’ve already spoken about it several times throughout the village, and I’ve received the blessing of the offering deity through the priestess. It’s just that there’s been a problem with the way of marrying, so we’ve been putting it off.”

If it’s a wedding of the immortals, does that mean they bury the bride and groom together and leave them for nearly a month? The immortals might not care, but Rash, who has returned from studying abroad, is secretly realizing how barbaric that custom is.

It’s practically saying that unless you’re the same kind of immortal, don’t get married. That’s why they’re trying to hold a different ceremony.

“But right now, we have the gifts and the teacher’s party here, don’t we? Isn’t this a good time with good guests?”

“Hmmm. In other words, you want us to lend a hand?”

“Hahaha! Exactly! Even if it’s called a foreign custom, it’ll just be the two of us, me and Calis, floating in the air. We need guests from the same place to save face!”

Though he speaks harshly, he has many thoughts. Just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s foolish.

After all, the physiology of immortals and ordinary humans is vastly different. Immortals can treat their bodies roughly, but ordinary humans can easily fall ill and die. The premises are different.

“Rash? Did you call for me?”

While I was listening to Rash’s wedding plans, Calis appeared, lifting the tent.

“Oh. Calis!”

The two exchanged a deep kiss as soon as they met. They didn’t seem to care that I was there at all. Only after they had indulged in each other did they finally pay attention to me.

“By the way, what was the reason you called me?”

“Oh. Here. I wanted to ask the teacher to preside.”

“Excuse me? Not a priest, but a criminal?”

“What does it matter? No one will know anyway. And the teacher possesses the power of a druid. Druids are the sages of the forest. You might not care, but in our village, they are respected even more than ordinary priests.”

“A druid…? I don’t think that was mentioned in the special notes.”

Humans are evolving beings. How long will I keep thinking of myself as a bottom-dweller in the abyss?

Calis withdrew his doubtful gaze and spoke.

“Rash. I have a proposal.”

“Are you saying you don’t like the presider? Still, the only suitable person right now is the teacher, so why not just endure it?”

Are you saying my presider needs to endure? You suggested it first, and there’s a limit to rudeness!

—

—

Perhaps it wasn’t intended. Calis shook his head and replied.

“No. It’s not about the officiant. If we hold the wedding in a military manner, both you and I will become outsiders in this land. My proposal with Rash will be easily dismissed, and the village of Piou will remain stagnant without any real improvement.”

One might think it excessive to make a fuss over marriage, but the ceremony carries significant meaning. Marriage, at its core, is the union of different bloodlines. If we are not to be entirely independent, it naturally results in one side belonging to the other.

The ceremony is an event that shows ‘where one belongs.’ Whether Rash is my right arm or whatever, if we insist on holding the wedding in the way beyond the plains, we will be treated like outsiders.

“Then what do you propose we do?”

Rash knew as well. But there was no other choice. Yet, if we were to hold the wedding in the manner of the immortals, Calis would cease to be a part of this world.

Bringing the wool of the king of sheep was all for that wedding ceremony. To fill the lacking authority with offerings.

However, Calis approached it from a different perspective.

“I will hold the wedding of the immortals.”

If we can endure the trial of the immortal’s wedding, we can both gain something. It was an extremely risky mindset.

Naturally, Rash became furious.

“It’s dangerous! A month, and that’s with the earth covering you! You must endure that weight without any external help!”

“I’ll bring food and protect myself with magic. I believe that if I prepare properly, the chances of getting through the month safely are quite high.”

“High doesn’t mean absolute!”

“Rash. If I’m with you, we can overcome it.”

“And that’s why!”

Rash clenched his fist tightly, the tendons standing out.

“I…! I can’t bear to watch you weaken right before my eyes…!”

I can somewhat understand the heart of the regressor. It’s nice to be immersed in their world, but being set aside like a screen feels somewhat unpleasant.

Well, that’s that. I understand both sides’ arguments. No matter what choice is made, it won’t change much.

If you ask which side I prefer, I would naturally lean towards taking the risk.

“Rash. I have a question. Can’t we just slip away in the middle?”

“…That’s difficult. The pair who are to become spouses must be placed in a basket, skin to skin. That basket will be buried deep in the ground under the priestess’s supervision. While there will be air holes, it’s hard to dig up from the inside. The strength I use to dig up the earth will also tear apart Calis’s body.”

“What if we dig a passage beforehand or create some space? Just because we’re buried doesn’t mean we have to stay there uncomfortably the whole time, right?”

It doesn’t have to be this method specifically. Buried in the ground? Just escape, that’s all. After a month of lounging around, we can just sneak back and pretend to be struggling.

“Are you suggesting we cheat?”

“Cheat? Call it flexibility. No matter how traditional it is, does it make sense to bury a person in the ground for a month? In times like this, it’s wise to let things slide a bit.”

“Indeed…! Truly, you are a teacher! To think of deceiving the ceremony! An idea that the culprit wouldn’t even conceive!”

Why on earth has no one thought of this? Am I strange? Am I the one who’s strange?

Calis was also impressed by my statement.

—

“If it can be done without being caught, it’s a sufficiently good method. However, it seems difficult to create such a passage while avoiding the eyes of those who ask. A tight-lipped collaborator is needed, but….”

“I’ll ask Ms. Shay. With Jizan’s power, she should be able to carve out a secret passage without anyone knowing.”

“Thank you!”

You’re willing to help, but why are you pretending to be so clean? You, who were part of the military’s private organization, are worse than a petty criminal like me.

“Just a moment. I’ll go take a look around.”

Anyway, I’m in the midst of concocting a scam that’s called flexibility. There’s nothing to gain from someone overhearing. I stepped out of the tent and glanced around.

In my line of sight, a very peculiar person was walking this way.

Barbarians typically wear clothing that is just as barbaric. The immortals either go completely shirtless or cover themselves in a way that barely qualifies as clothing.

However, the immortal approaching me was hiding their body completely. As if their skin should not be revealed, everything from their head to their face was covered.

Yet, amidst all that, there was only one place. The area around their mouth was unnaturally exposed. I looked closely through that empty space.

It seemed as if it had been stitched together from somewhere, with scars around the mouth.

“Teacher? Why are you standing outside like that… ‘Mouth’?”

The priestess of the Offering God. Among the immortals who offer parts of their bodies to gain immortal power, those chosen ones who have offered their eyes, ears, and mouth.

From noble mtl dot com

The priestess, who truly communicates with their god, had come personally to convey a message.

‘Mouth’ walked straight toward me and spoke in a bizarrely resonant voice.

““I have come to convey the will of the Offering God on behalf of the Mouth of the Offering God.””