Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint -
Chapter 268: A Far Away Tale, The Back Stage
What does a young lamb feel like when being led to the slaughterhouse?
Humans are not lambs, so they probably won’t understand the feeling.
However, the laborers in the alchemic steel refinery who had barely survived a moment ago were probably feeling something similar.
The death presented by the refinery was like a blade slowly approaching the neck, easily understood and slow.
A hook burrowed into their arms and dragged them forward.
When the person caught by it disappeared into the furnace, screams mixed with blood-filled foam would rise along with fiery heat and then vanish like bursting bubbles.
The furnace, which had swallowed a human whole, was not satisfied and pulled the hook again to take the next victim into its gaping maw.
It was easy to understand, with plenty of clues and ample time to interpret.
Without needing any high-level intelligence, most of the laborers realized they were heading toward their deaths.
Even those who had cried to be killed rather than suffer in the alchemic steel refinery felt an instinctive rejection towards this kind of death.
Was it a self-preservation that made them unable to accept any death other than the one they imagined?
Or was it that they had said so but were not truly ready to face death?
In any case, the refinery fulfilled its role as a punitive institution by revealing its dreadful secret.
It drew out both blood and tears from those deemed heartless murderers, made lifelong atheists clasp their hands in prayer and repentance, and even gave the will to live to those who had given up to criminals who committed crimes in despair.
As the laborers were being slowly and quietly exterminated, a prayer must have reached the heavens, because someone burst through the ceiling and leaped in.
Shei aimed a pitch-black stick at the furnace.
Facing the heat that could melt steel and the molten metal, Shei protected herself with her Qi and swung Jizan.
Terra Firma Art, Parting the Red Sea.
A black slash created a red wave.
The molten steel, bright red from the heat, split to the sides.
The heavy molten metal surged and tried to fill the gap again, but it couldn't defy the repulsion force of Jizan.
The molten steel clung to the walls like a frightened child.
In the sweltering heat, Shei pulled off her sweat-soaked clothes and examined the floor.
Just as the officer had informed, there was a large magic circle at the bottom of the furnace.
Heat is the force of change.
If you removed the heat from molten metal, it solidified into hard steel.
That magic circle was designed to channel the extracted heat elsewhere, likely for melting alchemic materials.
“They put a magic circle on the floor... Tch, they really did a terribly good job.”
Shei clicked her tongue at the malicious design.
The weakness of a magic circle was the magic circle itself.
Not only was its physical durability an issue but if its structure was analyzed, it could easily be neutralized or even exploited.
However, to see the magic circle of the alchemic steel furnace, the molten steel must be removed.
But if you emptied the furnace, there was no need to analyze the magic circle.
The need to neutralize or exploit it vanished along with its value.
It was a very efficient method, befitting the Military State.
“Jizan!”
But for Shei, the Regressor who had conquered everything through dozens of regressions, this was simple.
Shei easily destroyed the magic circle.
The furnace, losing its outlet for the heat, shook violently.
Shei was about to escape before the molten metal surged back.
At that moment, Shei discovered a hidden small magic circle inside the broken one.
A sinister and ominous... large ancient rune circle devouring the smaller one from the edges.
Anathema Ritual, Gluttony.
An ancient curse that used humans as materials.
A symbol of barbarism.
It became an Anathema when humans became the lords of all creation, hence, the Human Regime.
The most common yet the most horrific symbol of Gluttony glowed ominously.
An Anathema that ordinary people could never encounter.
However, for Shei, who had fought countless threats of annihilation, the forbidden circle of Gluttony was so familiar that it almost felt nostalgic.
“…Come to think of it, the Military State has this but never used it.”
In every timeline, the Military State faced numerous crises.
There were times when Command collapsed due to the knowledge of the Regressor and the machinations of the Resistance, and new regimes rose, and times when they went to war and were destroyed by the intervention of the Regressor on the opposing side.
Each time, the Regressor helped establish either the Republic with the Princess as the leader or the New Kingdom with the Princess as queen.
But never, in any instance, had the Military State used the annihilation device to consume the laborers.
She only came across information that said such a device exists.
It was just a story, like a rumor, It went in one ear and out the other.
“…Well, probably not for good reasons, but it’s a rational choice.”
The alchemic steel refinery was a goose that lays golden eggs.
Cutting open its belly might produce high-cost Cursed Blood-Steel, but in the long run, it would decrease the Military State’s war capability.
Rationally, there was no reason to kill people to make steel.
Then a question arose.
“So why... did the Military State create such an annihilation device?”
No answer came easily.
Even after leaving the furnace, and hearing the cheers of the surviving laborers, Shei kept pondering.
Why on earth did the Military State create an annihilation device they would never use?
“Get out of here, you beasts! Ugh. I have to personally run to save these bastards...!”
General Toruk pushed the laborers aside mercilessly.
The laborers scattered left and right, shouting and cursing.
Quickly approaching Shei, General Toruk spoke with extreme displeasure.
“Hey, kid!”
“Who are you calling a kid?!”
“Shall I call you an adult then? Anyway! What the hell are you doing?”
Shei, feeling guilty, hesitated for a moment.
She had been overdoing it, destroying the facility without the officers' knowledge.
Destroying the alchemic steel refinery would significantly weaken the Military State's war capability.
Therefore, General Toruk and Shei agreed to focus on rescuing the laborers rather than destruction.
Of course, Shei had no intention of keeping that promise.
In any case, she was the most capable of destroying the facility with Jizan.
If she put in a little more force and claimed it was accidental, what could they do?
If they fought, she would win anyway.
Shei decided to be more brazen.
“I destroyed the furnace, so what? We agreed on that much, right?”
The fact that she destroyed the magic circle wouldn’t be discovered.
That was her calculation when she answered.
“Not that!”
But that wasn’t General Toruk’s concern. He pointed inside with a furious expression.
“The presence inside the refinery is gradually diminishing. This isn't happening just here! It's happening all over the refinery! While saving the dying humans, the number is decreasing! Are you secretly smuggling them out?”
Shei, having received the query, reconsidered her actions for a moment.
Was she smuggling the laborers out?
No.
Did she intend to?
No.
Her review complete, Shei confidently shook her head.
“I don’t know anything about that.”
“Then who is it? Who’s releasing those scum of society outside?!”
Shei had no idea.
Saving the dying humans was entrusted to Tyrkanzyaka.
The Progenitor who used the dark knights as her limbs was more suited to rescue work.
Ironically, she was the person most fitting to save lives, despite being the most prolific killer.
Life and death might truly be two sides of the same coin.
Having made up her mind, Shei waved her hand.
“Ask Tyrkanzyaka.”
“…Hm!”
But General Toruk showed a clear reluctance to Shei.
Shei was puzzled.
“Why? Are you scared of Tyrkanzyaka?”
“...Eheum!”
“Really? Seriously?”
Shei asked, half in disbelief.
General Toruk avoided eye contact without giving a definite answer.
General Toruk had much to say.
In the Kingdom days, with temples everywhere and everyone worshiping the Sky God, Tyrkanzyaka was a symbol of terror.
The Knightbane. One-Man State. Queen of Night and Shadows.
From time immemorial till this day, she destroyed temples, killed priests who invoked the name of gods, demolished temples, and cursed the faith while dragging her cursed body.
Countless heroes had given their lives to stop her, but their heroic efforts only added bloodstained marks to Tyrkanzyaka’s history.
The Progenitor marched with her bloodthirsty army, spilling blood and spreading death.
Without the Blessed Enver Great Plains, the shadowless land that took three days to cross, the Sanctum might have collapsed under Tyrkanzyaka’s repeated advances.
Though the Kingdom fell and the Military State rose, the people didn’t change.
The fear of vampires... though not as intense, it was still deeply ingrained in the people.
Not long ago, they had tried to trap her in a light trap.
For the old-timer General Toruk, that act was a crime deserving of a bloodletting execution.
Though born after the Military State was established and not having learned such fears, Shei still understood the fear that the Progenitor brought.
She asked.
“You’re not asking me to ask her because you’re scared, are you?”
“Keuhum!”
“Geez, in such a critical time…”
Shei tended to comply with straightforward requests if there was no reason not to.
To change an uncertain future, doing something was always better than doing nothing.
In any case, checking on the situation was necessary.
Deciding to owe General Toruk a favor, Shei took a deep breath and called out the name.
“Tyrkanzyaka!”
[You called?]
The shadow answered before the person. Emerging from the shadow cast on the wall, Tyrkanzyaka slowly approached Shei and General Toruk.
Tyrkanzyaka’s expression was impassive.
She showed no particular emotion towards the Military State that had trapped her in a light trap, nor towards General Toruk who had tried to push her into it.
Instead, she carried herself with grace, making her approach to listen.
“The laborers are disappearing. Do you know anything about it?”
[Well. I do not know their fate. Mayhap they are so scared of the impending doom that they have scurried somewhere.]
A blatant deflection.
Her manner and tone suggested she knew something.
However, an obvious lie can also be a strong expression of will.
Tyrkanzyaka was not allowing any rebuttal, her will clearly conveyed.
General Toruk, bristling with frustration, gathered his strength.
“…We’ll see about that!”
He said and left.
Tyrkanzyaka smirked faintly as she watched him scurry away.
[Pitiful and laughable. The back of one who struggles between fear and pride is quite comical. I like it.]
“You like it? Why?”
[Unlike you, those who fear me do not dare to pester me, which is convenient. Those types I let live longer.]
“Hm. I see… Huh? What about me then?”
Tyrkanzyaka smiled gently and continued.
[The world is never one color. Those who do not fear me keep me company, which is necessary too.]
“Well, thanks… By the way, why are you helping the laborers escape?”
[Is there a problem?]
“No, none. It’s actually good. It’ll take the Military State a while to clean up. I’m just curious.”
[Well…]
Though he had asked her to keep it secret, there was no need to hide it anymore.
Better to reveal an inevitable truth.
As Tyrkanzyaka was about to speak, the face of the one who requested the favor appeared.
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