NOVEL NEXT Chapter 502
<502 – The Temptation of a Revolutionary (2)>
“Ah, the Principal of the Academy?!”
Gulp.
Both the scale of the situation and the size of the goal are enormous.
Even the Emperor, who dreams an absurd dream.
And the Revolutionary, who has seen through it.
The mere fact that one of the continent’s Top Ten Thieves is a lifelong nemesis of Lilia doesn’t even compare to this vastness.
“So why are you telling me about that?”
“It’s funny, isn’t it? Didn’t you want to know why I resist the Empire? I’m giving you the answer now.”
“That the Emperor’s scheme to eliminate the Evil Dragon is the reason you take action? That’s… nothing but sweet talk for the commoners of the Revolutionary Army!”
“You seem deeply in denial about reality. Do you really need an explanation? You already know, deep down.”
“…”
“That for the Empire to kill the Evil Dragon, the sacrifice of the commoners will be needed continuously in the future.”
“……”
“That the countless laborers and resources from the Empire and the Border Regions will be infinitely sacrificed until the day we obtain a tribute to kill the Evil Dragon through alchemy.”
“I… don’t understand. Who’s worse, the Emperor who does such atrocities or you, who uses people as shields while claiming to stop him?”
The Revolutionary was unlike the Sympathy Thief.
In contrast, the Sympathy Thief resembled the Emperor.
The Sympathy Thief, who commits and overlooks tragedy to steal compassion and spread ruthlessness.
The Emperor, who mocks the value of labor, plundering grain across the Empire to produce mythic materials needed for eliminating the Evil Dragon.
And the Revolutionary, who sacrifices the commoners while using them to stop the Emperor.
There is no denying all three are villains.
However… if one must name the least bad person among the three, it would undoubtedly be the Revolutionary.
“Don’t look away. Look into my eyes. No matter how cruel and futile reality may be, turning your eyes away and ignoring it will change nothing.”
“Still, the fact that you’re a villain does not change. Even if you add a few more words, that fact remains unchanged. Your past actions prove it.”
“I have never denied that I am a villain. It’s a sense of pride as a member of the Three Great Evils designated by the Empire. I must not make the sacrifices of those who have died meaningless.”
This man’s actions and ideology are extreme and ruthless.
Yet, what about the goals and the outcomes that come with achieving those goals?
Is the objective of stopping the mad Emperor, who impoverishes all life on the continent for the sole purpose of eliminating the Evil Dragon, truly wrong?
Is forcibly coercing someone into giving up the hunt for the Evil Dragon really a mistake?
Isn’t it better for the Emperor, who forces the sacrifices of the citizens and exploits the people of the Border Regions, to die by the Revolutionary’s hand?
“You now know what the greater good is. You also understand what sacrifices must be made to achieve that greater good. Through the Emperor and the Revolutionary.”
“…”
“Thus, I shall ask again. When you open this door, the Destroyer and Oknodie will be waiting.”
Inside the Thief Guild’s headquarters.
As the Revolutionary looked up at the [Thief Lord’s Lock], protected by many locks and magical traps, he smiled faintly with anticipation at encountering a long-standing nemesis.
His eyes no longer glanced back at Lilia, yet his voice clearly focused on her.
Lilia, as if he intended to pierce through every thought she herself was unaware of.
“I have created a new greater good and sacrifice for the Thief Guild and the Destroyer: the mission to hunt down the Revolutionary and the sacrifice of Lilia’s life.”
“…”
“What do you think the Destroyer will do? What about the Thief Guild? Will they truly be willing to sacrifice your life to achieve the aspiration of hunting down the Revolutionary?”
“……”
“Is it a just act for the world to stop me from achieving my goal of eliminating the Emperor? If I were to die, how long will the Emperor’s mad gambling continue? Can the Destroyer stop this?”
“………”
“To save the commoners, the Destroyer desires the sacrifice of you alone, while I require the further sacrifice of more people to save the weak of the entire continent. Can we discern who is right and who is wrong?”
A tremendous question, one that she could not dare to respond to, crashed down on Lilia’s sense of justice like a tsunami.
“Now, let’s find out the answer.”
The lock of the Thief Lord, released by the hand of the Revolutionary’s minion.
As the last barrier opened, the golden light of treasures seeped through the crack of the door.
What awaited beyond the light was a figure cloaked in the blackest ebony robe, as if staring into the world’s deepest darkness—the world’s strongest thief, the Destroyer.
*
“Oknodie First Year. I have much wisdom to impart to you, but we no longer have time left.”
Myung So lowered his head with a sorrowful expression.
“Why so, Professor?! Why are you bowing your head like someone who committed a sin? Did you do something wrong?”
“With just a month of teaching, it is too limited a timeframe to convey the teachings of Sakyamuni entirely. However, now I must challenge you to acquire the written text, how can I find peace in my heart?”
“Aha. You’re worried I might kyaaa and die while reading the skill book?”
Myung So closed his eyes and expressed deep remorse with his entire being.
That monk sure has a lot of worries!
“Don’t worry. I learned about Buddhism even in the college entrance exam! It’s easy to memorize logical reasoning, I got a top grade!”
“…To pride yourself in understanding Sakyamuni’s deep teachings through the Foundation’s shallow teachings makes my heart even more uneasy. Isn’t this the first time I’m hearing it now? Why didn’t you say so before?”
“Umm. Because I wasn’t asked?”
If I must spill every piece of knowledge I have, then from today onward, Oknodie would become a blabbermouth!
Unaware of the player’s plight, the monk fiddled with a long stone while holding back his prayers.
“Oknodie First Year… Did the Foundation scheme to seek the relics of the old gods?”
“Not particularly? Everyone sees the philosophy during the entrance exams, it’s not just about Buddhism!”
“Oh, so the Foundation’s scholarship students are educated to covet all relics of the old gods.”
That was meant to be reassuring, but the monk’s expression grew darker and more haggard with each word.
If the monk were to suddenly end his life, it would immediately make sense to me that it was my fault.
But even while suffering from inner turmoil, there was a glimmer of determination in Myung So’s eyes.
“While I cannot shake off the ominous feeling of becoming a pawn of the Foundation, I will trust Oknodie First Year before my contract with the Destroyer.”
“Really?”
“Yes, truly.”
Once resolved to believe, there was no more doubt or hesitation in the monk’s eyes.
“Oknodie First Year is different from the Director of the Foundation. Just because a villain’s heir does not mean they must walk the path of evil. I believe the story of achieving the top grade in Sakyamuni’s teachings derives from an inherent goodness.”
“Wow. So my hard work studying paid off!”
“Haha. To think that pure smile contains the teachings of Sakyamuni brings a cleansing sensation to my troubled mind. The light of Sakyamuni shines even in the deepest darkness, how could it be a disgrace that such a humble monk attempted to measure the depth of that light?”
Myung So took off the prayer bead bracelet from his wrist and placed it in my small hand.
“Here. This is a gift from me, separate from Sakyamuni’s teachings.”
“Wow! A prayer bead bracelet! How hip it is when worn on the wrist!”
“I’m glad you like it. As long as Oknodie First Year does not forget the kind teachings of Sakyamuni, this bracelet will protect the purity of that heart.”
Myung So’s gentle expression seemed strangely unfamiliar today.
“Masugaki Princess.”
“Huh?!”
The Masugaki Princess, who had been nervously reading the expression of the text, startled and dropped her book.
“I’m not even remotely interested in the teachings of the old gods~! You’re not thinking I’m sneaking around trying to learn the text that Oknodie threw away, are you? Please say I’m not, you ridiculous monk!”
“It is never against Sakyamuni’s will for good individuals to share learning. Just the Gift Academy alone has numerous students who have received part of the teachings through my lectures.”
“Really?”
“So please, do not learn secretly and continue to proudly enjoy the teachings of Sakyamuni in the future.”
Delighted by the monk’s reassurance that she did not need to secretly learn Sakyamuni’s teachings, the Masugaki Princess giggled, feeling quite content.
Just for a moment, as she beamed with that innocent smile, Myung So again spoke with a serious expression.
“Masugaki Princess.”
“What is it~? Are you trying to clarify our teacher-student relationship through the Eastern tradition of the bowing ceremony? Pffft. For a mere monk, your expectations are too high♡ But since the princess values tradition and courtesy, I’ll do it♡”
“The ceremony for teacher and student is fine. But if needed, escape with Oknodie.”
A flicker of unease crossed the Masugaki Princess’s face after spending the last month together.
“Although the Destroyer is stopping the Revolutionary from invading, he may not be able to buy enough time. The Revolutionary is someone whose power knows no bounds. It is prudent to escape cautiously.”
“And the professors?”
“It’s not an easy position that would cause professors to be worried about mere first-years. The Teleportation Device is open, so if it becomes difficult to acquire the written text or if you succeed in acquiring it, escape through the Teleportation Device at any time.”
Myung So left to assist the Destroyer, trusting us to cover his back.
The Masugaki Princess looked back and forth between the main entrance where Myung So had left and the back door with the Teleportation Device, then at me holding the skill book.
“What will we do?”
“There’s no need to delay any longer; let’s open the skill book!”
Suddenly flipping open the skill book, the Masugaki Princess screamed.
“Aren’t you an idiot?! What if something goes wrong because you opened it without any mental preparation?!”
“Huh? What’s wrong with it?”
“Didn’t you hear about the side effects where you might turn into an idiot or die if you open it with insufficient mastery of the text?! You dolt!”
“I’m done learning it!”
“Already?!”
Originally, the college entrance exam study involved pinpointing the core concepts, so how could the training of the core teachings not be similarly basic?
Hehe. This is the power of getting a top grade in the exploration area of the college entrance exam!
“Alright, shall we go?”
“Go? Go where?”
I playfully tapped the trembling shoulders of the princess, grinning mischievously.
“Of course, to watch the fight! The Previous Hero vs. the Revolutionary. You’re not going to miss this, are you?”
“You’ll get scolded for being reckless! You idiot!”
“If you’re scared, then just don’t watch. While the dumb princess tosses and turns in bed, wondering how the fight went, I’ll be sleeping like a baby!”
Having genuinely turned off the lights and covered myself with a blanket, it seemed she replayed an inner simulation of not being able to sleep with curiosity, the Masugaki Princess’s face twisted in agony.
“Not exactly? Holding back curiosity to that extent is manageable, right? You could end up with a tombstone saying that Masugaki Princess slept well because she was too curious!”
…This idiot, why is she being so absurdly pretentious!
“If you don’t want to see it, then just go through the Teleportation Device!”
“The ridiculous monk said it. The ridiculous one is ridiculous, so the princess must take care of the ridiculous one. I don’t especially want to see it, but since I must look after the ridiculous one, I’ll accompany you♡”
With a good excuse, the princess and I finally stealthily opened the main entrance and stepped out.