I was honestly surprised. I hadn't expected Delran to grasp the situation this well. This wasn't out of disrespect for him. The events that would unfold—for instance, the approach of the Outer Gods and the world standing on the brink of destruction—weren't information that could be easily known.
But the moment I saw Delran's resolute gaze, I had no choice but to acknowledge it. He was a person of Goldiron, and he had inherited the blood of his father who had been called a madman.
From the moment he hired me and we first met at the villa, I knew that Delran was no ordinary person. His extraordinariness was even more contrasted by the lacking and inadequate appearance shown by his siblings.
"When you're in this position, you come to hear things others can't hear and see things they can't see. And after the District 17 incident, I've been carefully observing anything related to it."
So that was it. The District 17, Eternal Church incident must have been quite famous even among the wealthy.
Most of the Eternal Church followers were people who were socially and financially affluent, those who had everything but only lacked youth. Or people who wished to enjoy what they possessed for a long time to come.
They entrusted themselves to the Eternal Church and became monsters rather than humans, coveting eternal life. This must have been what the Eternal Church was aiming for as well.
Having to forcibly let go of what you possess because of the inevitable aging and death of living beings. For people who had come this far to seize that, it must have been like a bolt from the blue.
The Eternal Church secretly approached wealthy people in that way and tempted them.
After that terrible incident broke out, he must have realized his anxiety was correct, and on top of that, he must have diligently searched for related cases.
"If you know that much, there's nothing to hide. Actually, I came to talk about that very thing."
"Why?"
"The world might end, but even so, isn't it good to see the faces of people you know? Of course, I won't let the world end. Just as I resolved the District 17 incident, I plan to do the same this time."
"Seeing you so confident oddly puts my mind at ease. But I don't plan to just sit still either. If the world might end, what good is all the money I have?"
"Then..."
"I've already circulated all related matters to my acquaintances. Same with the members of the various clubs I belong to. Some were reluctant to believe me, but since they were people who climbed to that position because they were smart, they accepted it quickly. Everyone is conveying their willingness to cooperate with me."
Delran handed me a list. It contained the personal information of the club members he was involved with.
It was only at the level of names and photos, but since it was a club where wealthy people gathered, these people were probably also accomplished individuals. They too had recognized the seriousness of the situation and stepped forward to respond actively. The mayors of Tirna would announce it on their own anyway, but still, having reliable support was inevitable.
"So, you do what you need to do. I'll do my work."
Delran said. Looking at him, I had no choice but to nod.
Right. This is Tirna. A place where everyone continues the struggle of life in their own way. That's why I liked this city.
The next place I headed to was the North Blinders. The streets were quite messy. However, this was a positive reaction, half mixed with admiration.
It's hard to find places that weren't affected by Wilde Jagd's attack. A considerable part of the city had been devastated. Even if the casualties were minimal compared to the incident that occurred, the property damage was bound to be significant.
Nevertheless, the streets here were only slightly messy at most. There was no sign of worry in the eyes of the citizens walking around.
I could understand why. It was thanks to the North Blinders organization members walking around the streets.
"To think the mafia is in charge of public safety in a place without guards."
It was funny, but such cases were surprisingly common. Mafia don't go around exploiting people or extorting money. They're not third-rate thug gangs. The North Blinders are an organization that forms a proper enterprise. They, who conduct legitimate business are in charge of distributing food ingredients, and that business has been so successful that it has become quite prosperous.
For them, maintaining street safety was an action to protect their source of funds, that is, their customers.
"Oh! Isn't that Brother Osian!"
A North Blinders member on patrol recognized me. I didn't need to introduce myself and explain one by one.
They treated me respectfully and guided me attentively. That way, I entered the North Blinders building and was able to meet Balud.
"This is unexpected."
"What's unexpected?"
Balud asked sensitively. I pointed at him, who was diligently wiping and maintaining his hand axe, with my finger.
"A person who normally should be wearing ill-fitting glasses and earnestly looking at documents is instead maintaining an axe—it's quite unfamiliar."
"Are you picking a fight?"
"If that's how it sounded, it can't be helped."
Balud glared at me for a moment, then let out a sigh.
"I can't deny it. I wouldn't have done this normally."
"You must be taking the current situation seriously."
"Didn't we just recently have the witch's attack? Familiars rushed into this area too. As many as three of them."
"As many as three?"
That's unexpected. Mother Goose's familiars are different from other familiars. They're very strong and filled with hostility toward humans.
If three of them had appeared, the streets dominated by the North Blinders should have been destroyed beyond recognition, leaving no trace. The fact that it didn't happen means.
"Did you take care of all of them?"
"I dealt with two. For the remaining one, the organization members put in the effort."
The North Blinders stepped forward and fought the familiars directly, bringing them down.
There's also the possibility they held out until Mother Goose's death, but I'm certain that's not it. If so, the familiars would have rampaged longer, and there would have definitely been casualties.
The reason this street is strangely peaceful even after Wilde Jagd's attack is because they finished off all the familiars before any notable damage occurred.
"You seem to have gotten stronger than before."
I gauged Balud's presence. He had become sharper than before. Originally, barbarian warriors possessed very explosive and destructive power. In other words, it also meant that power hadn't been properly refined.
But Balud was different. What kind of inspiration he had obtained, he was very sharply refined. To the point where I thought a finger brought close might be cut.
A barbarian warrior refined to the extreme. Now it's almost embarrassing to attach the word barbarian. Balud had now become a great warrior, only called legends in the North. His talent was such, and the level he had actually reached was such.
Just as a wandering knight became a knight of heaven. A barbarian warrior becomes a great warrior of the frozen land.
"In that state, there should be no problem with fighting."
Balud put down his axe. He didn't ask what fight. He just confirmed with me if it's soon through his gaze.
"Right. It's soon. A fight that might be the last of this world will begin."
"The last. You're making weak sounds unlike yourself."
"It's not weak sounds, I just stated the facts as they are. It will be different from what you've fought so far."
"Even that ridiculous clown?"
"Even the clown was merely his minion. He's someone who bowed his head and entered because he was intimidated by that power. Even among Outer Gods, the difference in power is clear."
"Then it will become even more interesting. That clown was too weak."
Balud said nonchalantly.
"And with you here, what's there to worry about?"
"You rate me highly."
"I just stated the facts as they are. Not only you, but the knight order you lead is also strong. And so are the warriors I lead."
The North Blinders organization is largely composed of Nords, and under Balud's guidance, they repeat harsh training every day.
As a result, they became strong enough to rival a knight order. Just looking at them eliminating Mother Goose's familiars showed that. Well, they still don't match our knight order. Our knights eliminated more familiars.
"When war breaks out, we will fight because that's our life."
"I'll look forward to it."
Balud would never speak carelessly. He would step forward and fight more valiantly than anyone. The same goes for the organization members who trust and follow him.
I wonder if they desire eternal combat like their ancestors. Do they want to ascend and become the curtain of stars? That wouldn't be it. Balud isn't belligerent enough to go looking for fights.
He fights simply to protect what's precious to him. This organization. His precious comrades. Going further, the woman he loves.
As reasons for a man to fight, it was more than enough.
After that, I went around meeting various people and had conversations with them.
At the very least, when the world's destruction arrived, I didn't want the people I knew to meet death without knowing anything so I conveyed the truth to them, from the existence of Outer Gods to the fact that a huge and dangerous one was coming.
Surprisingly, most people believed my words.
I thought someone would call it an absurd lie or deny reality, but they didn't. There could be various reasons. For instance, certain rumors circulating in Tirna right now.
There's that, but perhaps most people were also aware. It's a matter where a continent, and going further, an entire world might be destroyed. For the intelligent beings residing within it to feel some kind of crisis overall was probably an inevitability based on survival instinct.
Therefore, they felt some threat. And there, though initially bewildered, they soon accepted it.
From there, depending on the atmosphere, they probably moved on to the stages of resignation or despair. But they didn't do that.
"We'll fight too."
The organization members of District 45 said so.
"Let's fight together."
Lukai and other Liberation Army members also said so.
"Well, if we do nothing, we just die. Then we should do our best and at least struggle."
The people of Zero Ground also said so.
At everyone saying such things, I even felt a certain calm emotion. I didn't say that even if they stepped forward, they would only become food for the Primordial Void. There would be nothing more terrible than waiting for death calmly while doing nothing.
These are all people who have fought in their respective positions. The object of struggle has simply changed.
What use is it to be overwhelmingly strong? If everyone is going to die anyway, rather only the resolve to burn everything one last time becomes clear.
I looked up at the sky.
Before I knew it, the sun had set and night had arrived.
The sky was dark. The starlight that normally wouldn't have been visible due to smog was particularly clear today.
Was this because of Mother Goose's attack? Because her attack, wanting to collapse civilization, had partially destroyed the city, had the light created by the city decreased and the light of the sky returned?
Or had the lights on the ground, belatedly realizing the existence of the terrible predator about to arrive, turned themselves off to hide their presence?
No. That's not it. The light still exists. Not light in a physical sense. I can see it.
The flames possessed by people walking the streets. The embers they hold within. That was what I had sown.
Some were powers that had dwelt in stones or metal, unable to find masters, but the rest weren't. The light of heaven that flows seeking emotions was dwelling in the hearts of people living in this world.
It has continued without disappearing, passing down through generations. So the light still exists. It hasn't been severed either. It only seemed that way.
The light of heaven is beautiful. Like the calm night before a storm strikes, that beauty is even chilling. But that was originally what the sky looked like. We just couldn't see it and had forgotten.
The world's destruction doesn't proceed in a gloomy end-of-century atmosphere that has sunk down. It happens suddenly. Like an extension of daily life, as if it's natural.
So we too must live that way.
As if it's natural, we must stand against destruction.
I hoped it would be so.