Osian came to see Cromwell in a new light. Cromwell was known to the world as a scientist obsessed with experiments. That opinion wasn't entirely without merit. However, to dismiss him simply as a mad scientist would be to ignore the firm sense of purpose that Cromwell possessed.
'Cromwell is an extreme utilitarian.'
To Cromwell, life was distinguished by numbers. He could sacrifice the lives of 9 without hesitation for the sake of 10. Because that was the path that could save even one more person.
What if it were compared to the extinction of all humanity?
'He would willingly sacrifice any number. Even if half of humanity died, it would be better than extinction.'
Naturally, there were blind spots. For instance, what if this method of repeated sacrifice upon sacrifice ultimately failed? What if his actions were merely burning lives meaninglessly?
Until now, he would not have reconsidered that anxiety even for a moment. But Cromwell ultimately failed. The artificial knight project he poured his heart and soul into could not surpass the original and faded into obscurity.
Cromwell, though he didn't show it, must have felt considerable shock.
'I don't know his thoughts. I don't know what past he had or what life he's lived.'
Even as people pointed fingers at him, he simply prepared for the future in silence.
"I continued the experiments. According to various calculations, I believed this method was the most correct. But that's all over now."
Cromwell readily admitted his defeat. Until now, he had pushed forward believing only this method was right. Even though it was denied, he didn't despair. Rather, he seemed to feel a kind of relief at the fact that his method was wrong.
"In the end, power created this way cannot surpass the original. However, there is still something I cannot concede. Osian, you are strong. But can you shoulder the future of approaching destruction alone?"
This was exactly what Cromwell was worried about. Having lived in the darkness of Tirna, he had seen many people.
Among them were many who possessed strength that surpassed the masses as individuals. However, most of those who flaunted their power either conformed to the system or died resisting it.
No matter how powerful an individual was, the system and structure created by the masses gathering together was far stronger. The strength of the many. A perfected system. The strength it possessed was beyond imagination.
Because Cromwell knew the strength of systems, he sought to pursue it to the extreme. His defeat was mainly because the system he established was weaker than Osian's individual strength, rather than because he was wrong.
He still wasn't certain about Osian's strength. There was no denying he was strong. But whether he was strong enough to encompass the entire city of Tirna—that wasn't the case.
Osian wasn't a fool either, so he was creating a knight order and raising people who used ancient power like himself, but...
'The pace is too slow.'
The time and resources required to raise one skilled knight were considerable. It was clearly different from Cromwell, who could create over 100 artificial knights in a matter of days.
'But there's no need to reveal such anxiety now.'
He had been defeated and was held here as a hostage. At the same time, Osian was also Cromwell's savior. Since he had saved him from being captured by the Puppeteer or killed by Delford.
And this place, Violet Fox, was a place even the Puppeteer couldn't touch recklessly. On the surface, it looked like an ordinary tavern, making it one of the few safe places in the world.
Returning the story to the starting point.
"My experiment failed. Moreover, it wasn't something Solenon had permitted. That's why the Puppeteer came to capture me. Because I conducted an experiment without approval."
"What do you think Solenon's purpose is?"
"I don't know that much either. I was in a position to receive instructions and orders from him unilaterally. I've never even met him face-to-face. He's a very thorough man. He never reveals himself to others. Perhaps he's in a hideous state."
He had lived beyond the lifespan permitted to humans. Whether that form still retained the shape of a former human was questionable.
"However, one thing is certain. Deliphiros is deeply connected to King Solenon. He might even be someone who met him face-to-face."
"You're saying we have no choice but to seek him out directly. Is there anything else you know?"
It was a somewhat abbreviated question, but Cromwell easily understood.
"I'm willing to provide information about the Outer Beings that I know. I don't have the documents, but I remember everything, so it shouldn't be much different."
"How much do you remember?"
"Everything."
Cromwell answered confidently. Even if the number wasn't that great, it would be quite extensive data, and the fact that he remembered it all showed his genius.
"Then the ones we need to be careful of are Deliphiros and King Solenon."
"That's correct, but there are others that concern me. As you know, this world isn't just the city of Tirna."
Osian nodded. Beyond Tirna, there were various kingdoms, and beyond them, there were still remote regions untouched by human hands.
The world was vast. And those living in that world were living for their own purposes. Cromwell was the same.
"Mother Goose."
The moment that name was mentioned, everyone's gaze naturally turned to Diolan. Diolan's expression, which had been listening with some interest, froze coldly.
"Do you know about Mother?"
"I've never met her directly. I don't know exactly where she is either. She has been hiding herself for a long time. I released various test subjects and tracked her traces, but couldn't find her."
"Then why did you bring up that name?"
"Because I could roughly determine the movements of her subordinates—the witch's familiars, I suppose? And their purpose as well."
The purpose of the familiars aligned with Mother Goose's will.
"What exactly does she want?"
Loraine couldn't contain her curiosity and asked. Tirna had recently suffered considerable trouble from Mother Goose's attack. From the moving candy castle to familiars wielding all sorts of bizarre powers, Mother Goose was an extremely dangerous entity. That's why the story of her destroying a country in the past wasn't a lie.
"The revival of the old era."
It was Basilio who spoke in place of Cromwell.
Seren asked in a flustered voice.
"How do you know that, old man?"
"While wandering outside looking for those related to Outer Gods, I made contact a few times. They mainly approached me. While boasting about their grand plan."
"You didn't mention this until now?"
"It wasn't really something worth reporting anywhere, and at the time I was busy rejecting their proposal and pursuing my own purpose. However, hmm...now that I've said it, I think I definitely know what their purpose is."
"Revival of the old era—does that literally mean returning to primitive times?"
"It could seem that way."
"That's absurd. Returning a world where civilization has developed like now back to primitive times—what does that even mean? It means they'd overturn everything that exists on the continent. You'd have to be insane to do that."
Then Cromwell spoke up.
"In an era where civilization has developed like now, it would seem impossible. But according to their strange recent actions, they seem to have obtained something from outside. And they're trying to use it to bring down Tirna."
Something capable of bringing down Tirna. Could it be an ancient secret weapon? If not, perhaps they created another familiar, or joined hands with another witch?
While everyone was sharing their opinions, Osian suddenly recalled something Amenora had said recently.
'Could it be?'
But he still couldn't be certain. The evidence was weak, so it might be a leap.
"That's all I know. If there's anything else you're curious about, feel free to ask. I'll answer to the best of my knowledge with sincerity."
"My constitution—you can properly cure it, right?"
Seren asked again for confirmation.
Cromwell thought for a moment before nodding.
"Yes. With the power that man possesses, it's fully possible. Of course, as I said earlier, we don't know what additional effects might occur, so I'll need to keep watching from the side."
"Watch?"
"Rather than just recklessly charging in meaninglessly, it's much more efficient to set preparations and direction first. Didn't you want to cure that constitution quickly yourself?"
Seren couldn't offer any particular rebuttal. But that didn't mean she wanted to let Cromwell observe her either.
Even knowing that he wasn't as evil as she knew. To Seren, Cromwell was still a monster who conducted human experiments.
She would have felt more comfortable if Cromwell had been ignorant, just a pure villain. But after hearing his story, Cromwell had his own goals. The aspiration to protect humanity from external threats.
Some would say he was delusional, but at least no one at this table denied Cromwell's words because everyone here had seen or heard about the Outer Gods.
The danger of extinction wasn't a matter of the distant future. It was a major issue that could happen tomorrow.
Seren agonized. To act emotionally—she had overcome one major crisis. Perhaps because her mind had become somewhat at ease, she didn't burn with hatred toward Cromwell as sensitively as before.
"...If you have other intentions, I'll really kill you."
"I'm aware that I'm a loser. I'm not that stupid."
Rather, Cromwell conceived a new plan at this table. If artificial knights didn't work, he would choose the path of fully supporting the original knights.
Seren was dumbfounded hearing this. To Cromwell, his own defeat and such things weren't important. Though he might have wavered a little, he was still someone preparing for extinction.
She felt foolish for acting emotionally toward him for no reason.
"Ah."
Then Ena made a sound. Wondering why, Ena was staring beyond the window.
Tap. Patter. Tap.
Water droplets began falling beyond the glass window, drawing diagonal streaks of rain. The drizzle that had been falling gradually grew thicker and stronger.
"It's raining."
"Surprising."
Loraine muttered.
"Rain in Tirna at a time like this."
Tirna's long rainy season had already ended. What should come with the cooling weather was a dry season filled with arid air.
But the rain falling now seemed strange no matter how you looked at it. It wasn't just a brief localized downpour.
Looking outside, the sky was already covered with dark clouds.
When everyone was thinking such thoughts, Osian suddenly stood up.
Just as everyone wondered why, the door opened and a bell rang loudly. Soon after, someone wearing a white robe entered.
At first, they thought it might be Amenora, but it wasn't. It was a face from memory. One of the members of Heavenly Bell Sound who followed Amenora.
A woman of small, petite stature looked at Osian with trembling eyes, soaked from the rain.
"Sir Osian."
"You're from Heavenly Bell Sound. What's the matter?"
"Lady Amenora."
The anxiety and fear felt in the trembling voice. Reading it, Osian's expression froze coldly.
The thing he had been worried about had finally happened.
"I understand. Tell her I'll come right away."
"Th-thank you."
The person from Heavenly Bell Sound who came to deliver the news left through the door with staggering steps. At the sudden commotion, everyone at the table looked at Osian.
They sensed something in Osian's attitude.
"What exactly is about to happen again?"
Loraine particularly emphasized the word "again." With several incidents already occurring in succession recently, she had been feeling considerable fatigue.
"It's not going to be another situation where we have to go out and fight, is it?"
"This time is different. Perhaps all of Tirna might have to mobilize."
"Enough for all of Tirna to mobilize?"
Osian nodded. He looked at the rain beating against the window.
"It's coming. The oldest dragon that has lived since ancient times."