Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint - Chapter 596



A Tale of the Past. Old Testament – 3

At the edges of the continent, there are four monsters.

Unlike the human king who roamed the central continent, the four monsters at the borders were savage and violent. With cruelty, they hunted and devoured their fellow humans. In the monsters’ territory, humans suffered and trembled in fear, often killed while trying to escape in desperation.

Meanwhile, the king’s nation was gradually expanding its radius. Humans who managed to escape from the monsters’ territory by luck heard about the human king and clung to a thread of hope as they sought him out. They denounced the four monsters, spewing out their pent-up anger over how cruel and terrible they were.

And ‘Nuna’ replied briefly.

“Me? Why?”

In the early years, there was no hesitation in fighting and killing each other. If they weren’t part of one’s group, they were no different from wild beasts, and if they were to be killed, it was better to annihilate them completely.

Although conflicts had decreased as they transitioned into an agricultural society and became territorial animals, such cruel rationality still lingered in the hearts of humans.

Now, as the autumn of humanity arrived and the nation prospered, a different wind was blowing. But the wind of change had not yet soaked in enough.

“They haven’t done anything to me? They didn’t try to bite me, nor did they attack my group. I don’t even know who they are, so why should I go and kill them?”

‘Nuna’ asked with pure curiosity. The king’s warriors also showed reluctance as they answered.

“No, Your Majesty’s words are correct.”

“There is no reason for Your Majesty to intervene in trivial disputes.”

“Besides… the borders are too far.”

Although the human king wandered the world, it was also done according to his mood. When the weather was too hot, he set up a tent near the river and spent time swimming, and when it was too cold, he bundled up and sat by the campfire to warm his body.

When he saw a village, he would sometimes peek in, and he would also give teachings to those who came to him. The places where he mainly stayed became the foundation of the ‘nation.’

The human king was like a moving capital. Although the king’s warriors followed the human king, they too were people who had come from the major villages of the ‘nation’ to serve the king. To them, the borders were too far and unfamiliar lands.

“The journey is over a thousand miles. Even if you move lightly, it will take a year. Moreover, how many fierce and terrifying beasts must there be in that unfamiliar land? Although it is said that you will not be defeated, if the monster is as powerful as the rumors say, there is no reason to fight it.”

Sending the king of humans, especially the ‘Nuna’ who led the most brilliant era, to such a place. The king’s warriors, who had already lost the previous king to the mountain lord, strongly opposed it.

“Your Majesty. Please listen to my plea. I earnestly beg of you.”

Even Nebida, who supported ‘Nuna’s’ will, sincerely opposed it, so it seemed that this matter would be settled as it was.

“You must punish them.”

However, the chronicler requested ‘Nuna’ to punish them.

“The monster is not a beast. They are all humans. Humans who devour, indulge, and violate other humans like demons.”

The chronicler, kneeling before ‘Nuna,’ took out four dark red scrolls. The ominous forbidden scrolls that recorded the legends of the monsters of the frontier. The chronicler recited the legends of the four frontier monsters.

“Ankra, who eats a thousand people. He eats a thousand people a year and hunts more than twice that number. To him, humans are livestock. They are just food to fill his and his subordinates’ bellies, and materials to devour their lives. The forbidden gluttony that devours everything will covet this land beyond the jungle.”

Southeast of the continent. The monster that eats people in the endless jungle. Ankra, who eats a thousand people.

“Bahmet, the lord of black water. The mother of monsters, she handles the black mud full of life and gives birth to beasts that have never existed before. If you cut up humans and beasts and put them in the black spawning pond, a monster with all kinds of beasts mixed together is born. The forbidden grafting of life will push out the beasts and cover the world.”

Southwest of the continent. The land where black water flows beyond the desert. Bahmet, the creator of mud who mixes the remains of life to create monsters.

“Jotun, the king of giants. Living in the snowy mountains, he violates hundreds of women and kills all but the largest and healthiest of the children born. Having selected and raised only the best seeds for hundreds of years, they are much larger and stronger like giants. The forbidden mating will trample and violate other humans.”

Northeast of the continent. The giants who leave large footprints in the cold snowy mountains and kidnap people. The chief of the giants, Jotun.

“…And. The place where I first opened my eyes. In that mountain where madmen distort the world at will and spread twisted minds. The forbidden heresy will seduce our minds like demons.”

And northwest of the continent. The lonely mountain Yulim, where the mad cult leader who burned his eyes while worshiping the sky. The Bright Lord Beel.

After reciting all four legends, the chronicler pleaded with an infinitely sad and pitiful face.

“Your Majesty. They are extremely dangerous and harmful. If the demons who continue the chain of sin rule with great power, they will gradually corrupt like paper soaked in ink. They will lead humans astray. Eating others will become common sense, boasting about how many they have eaten will become a virtue, and the weak will become livestock, endlessly groaning in pain.”

A cold wind blew. The chronicler’s cry was desperate but lonely. In the autumn of humanity, a dry and cool wind passed by.

“Please consider the grievances of the wronged until your feet are blistered, your heart bursts, and you cough up blood. In your name, please punish all such forbidden acts.”

Who dares to command the sovereign? To urge a journey of a thousand miles, and request the beheading of his own people.

Who dares to use the king of men as a mercenary?

A biting wind, heralding winter, blows. The knife-like wind that seems to tear the skin swirls inside the tent. It feels as if it could tear someone apart at any moment.

The king’s warriors step forward. The victors stand against them. The taut string seems ready to snap at any moment.

Yet, in the midst of the conflict that is about to ignite, ‘Nuna’ was free.

“I’ll go see.”

Nevada shouted.

“Your Majesty!”

“Aren’t you curious? He came to leave a word even as he was dying. He must have fled because he didn’t want to die, but he came and died anyway. I want to know what he wanted to leave behind.”

What does a beast live for? The most foolish question. Life is not a means but an end. Every beast struggles to maintain life for even a moment longer.

From noble mtl dot com

Thus, the king of men felt curiosity as he recalled the man who met his death before him.

“I’ll go!”

The journey would take a few years at the shortest, and over a decade at the longest. Even the warriors who swore to serve the king could not easily follow the long journey across the continent. The line of stragglers would stretch long like shadows at twilight.

At the mere request of the victors, the ‘nation’ lost both the king and the victors. Some cast hateful glances at the victors.

Nevada and the young, healthy warriors prepared to serve ‘Nuna’ on the long journey.

“I will serve you.”

“Do as you wish!”

‘Nuna’ responded without refusal or acceptance.

It was a long and arduous journey. Beasts never seen before ran before their eyes, and majestic sights never witnessed before allowed humans to evaluate themselves. The victors wrote scrolls to capture even a fraction of the emotions they felt. Seeing, hearing, and touching new things, ‘Nuna’ and the warriors steadily walked toward the distant snowy mountains.

‘Nuna’ and the king’s warriors were the most outstanding group among humans. They still had the leisure to enjoy the journey itself.

Until they approached the territory of the giants.

It was immediately clear why the giants were called giants. They were three heads taller than an average human, with hands and feet as thick as cauldron lids, wandering around with clubs in hand.

The sight of them dragging people around, tied with rough, thick ropes, was unmistakably that of giants. As soon as they saw ‘Nuna,’ they muttered.

“Female.”

“Small.”

“Pretty.”

“Looks sturdy.”

“Take her.”

The language of the giants was primal and unfamiliar. None of the king’s warriors could understand it. However, seeing the giants striding forward and reaching out their hands, no one could fail to sense the threat.

“Kill the males.”

“Take the females.”

The king’s warriors drew their weapons in response. Though they were skilled warriors, the giants were too large and powerful. The warriors were pushed back by the giants’ immense strength.

“Huh?”

But ‘Nuna’ reached out her hand to meet the outstretched hand of the giant.

“Uooo!”

The giant’s wrist was twisted effortlessly. The giant, with hands as large as cauldron lids, was forced to his knees and crawled on the ground by the strength of ‘Nuna,’ who barely reached his waist.

The giants who had ruled the snowy mountains were subdued by a mere small girl. The king’s warriors, who had been pushed back, also brought down the giants in the manner they would hunt beasts.

The captives who witnessed this scene approached, still bound, and bowed their heads.

“Please save us! We can’t be taken away like this!”

“Please, at least spare our lives…!”

Although the language they used was different, the human king could understand their words. ‘Noona’ understood and replied.

“Oh? I’m not going to kill you guys?”

The human king did not need anyone’s recognition. Even when meeting other countries and other tribes, the human king was their king. The reason the ‘nation’ could be united was,

Words have weight. Instinctively realizing that it was the truth, the captives felt relieved and entrusted their safety.

While taking care of the hungry and tired, ‘Noona’ and the king’s warriors heard about the customs of the giants.

The highest mountain in the world, Bulaksan. The giants who settled at its foothills roamed the snowy mountains in groups, sometimes descending to the plains to raid villages. They would eat the men on the spot and kidnap the women, dragging them back to their base.

What awaited them there was a life of endless breeding. They would conceive, give birth, and watch ‘failures’ being killed right in front of their eyes until they wore out and died. They created life and death within their wombs.

By repeatedly giving birth and discarding, only the bigger and healthier children were kept. This was the reason the giants grew so large and strong.

“My God…”

Even the king’s warriors, who were not fond of the war maiden, were disgusted and horrified by the truth. Some of the warriors who had been skeptical of her words began to sympathize with her.

The captives, who had been watching cautiously, clung to ‘Noona’ with a glimmer of hope.

“…Wandering traveler. Ho, could you possibly save those who have been captured…?”

However, ‘Noona’s response was a bit different.

“No.”

“…What?”

“Aren’t they humans too?”

‘Noona’ was the king of all humans, and even the atrocities committed by some humans were just ripples spreading across the sea. No matter how much a storm raged, it could not change the height of the sea.

To the human king, who represented all humans, attacking and capturing other humans was a natural thing. There was no reason or need to stop it.

“People often abandon newborns too. If I have to kill them for that, I would have to kill other humans as well. Every time they abandon a child.”

Even if the giants were more violent and cruel. Similar things were happening all over the world.

The King of Humans is special. This uniqueness bound everyone together, but among them were also the cruel and savage giants.

This is a matter of essence. As long as ‘Nuna’ was the King of Humans, this grand premise could never be overturned.

The chronicler said nothing.

Instead, he sat by the head of the captured giant and whispered something in the language of the giants.

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! The female King of Humans has come!”

Shortly after, hundreds of giants approached ‘Nuna’ who was preparing to leave, shaking the ground as they came. At their forefront was Jotun, the chieftain of the giants, a head taller than the other giants.

“This is perfect timing! The soil to receive my seed has been barren! If it’s the King of Humans, surely healthier fruits will be borne!”

Jotun eyed ‘Nuna’ with crude and primal desire. It was so blatant that it couldn’t be misunderstood.

“I will impregnate the king and bear the supreme fruit!”

Seeing the approaching Jotun, ‘Nuna’ did not shy away from the challenge and gripped her hand axe.

The eternal snow, which had never lost its purity, was stained red.