Chapter 87

"This is... the work of the old man Hinga..."

Upon hearing my mutter, His Majesty said,

"Hmm, you know Dr. Hinga?"

"…I’ve heard he was a pioneer in the study of the Covenant and the Celestial Pearl."

That’s what I heard from El, the rabbit High Priest in the Holy Kingdom of Kurvaan.

"Indeed. Despite the short life span of the human race, he conducted quite deep research. Unfortunately, he stopped his research abruptly, around ten or twenty years ago."

"Dr. Hinga was apparently a noble or a high-ranking person in the Kingdom of Forsa. I heard that the research was lost when the kingdom fell."

"…So, the Kingdom of Forsa…"

"? Is there something you recall?"

"The Kingdom of Forsa is said to have fallen due to a power struggle within the Keithsgran Federation, but that’s not the case. It was hit by a localized epidemic, which killed most of the population. By the time the disease subsided, there weren’t enough people left to support the country, and it was annexed by King Gheffelt."

"Such a thing... is a localized epidemic even possible?"

I know this isn’t a world where you can travel to neighboring countries by train or airplane, but even so, transportation by carriage is frequent, and there should be plenty of movement of people.

And yet, a disease that could destroy just one country...?

"Unlikely, I would say... under normal circumstances."

"What do you mean by 'normal'?"

"The disease targeted the Kingdom of Forsa alone... as a punishment for this sin."

With a tap, His Majesty’s emaciated finger pointed to Hinga’s paper.

The title on the cover was simply "Considerations on the Internal Structure of the Celestial Pearl," but what was inside?

"…Shall I take a look?"

"It’s fine. But be sure not to tell anyone."

I picked up the bundle of faded papers, which had probably been around for a long time. When I opened it—

"This is…"

I immediately understood the content.

"Considerations on the modification and destruction of the Celestial Pearl…"

"That’s right. A paper that investigated how to change the number of stars or destroy the supposedly indestructible Celestial Pearl."

Indestructible? Are Celestial Pearls indestructible? I had never thought about breaking one.

They look as hard as minerals, but they are a mysterious object that can be taken into the body.

Even with [Omniscience], Celestial Pearls can only be identified as "Celestial Pearls."

"—But, I’m sure dragons destroyed Celestial Pearls."

I recalled the battle with the dragon in the capital of the Duke Ahrenbach’s territory, Yuvelmainz.

The dragon had destroyed the Celestial Pearl with a breath attack from its mouth.

"Rage, dragons are mediators."

"Oh..."

"Of course, they can interfere with Celestial Pearls. But we can’t—no, it’s not entirely impossible. Dr. Hinga studied this."

I quickly read through to the end. I would memorize the details and examine them later.

"'Celestial Pearls can be destroyed or modified by mixing all eight types of magic in equal amounts'...? Did you use this technique to create something like a heart that connects to the Life Dragon Kurtusvita?"

"That’s right. It was an incomplete creation, but... The king who completed this technique was much earlier than me. Dr. Hinga merely rediscovered our technique."

"Right..."

Since the Life Dragon Kurtusvita went to sleep a long time ago, the High Elf king must have discovered the technique hundreds or thousands of years ago.

"Even if it was a rediscovery, there were things I didn’t know... I was impressed that humans could conduct such research, but so, you received the punishment for breaking the taboo?"

"…Are you saying that the epidemic that hit the Kingdom of Forsa was the 'punishment for breaking the taboo'?"

"Otherwise, there would be no such unnatural disease as you described."

"……"

I remembered. The words the old man Hinga said while looking at the sun he wanted to see before he died.

—This body exists to receive punishment. I have committed a sin that cannot be atoned for by death. However, I have been blessed with the fortune of basking in the light of the sun at the end. O omnipotent god who governs heaven and earth, I pray that you grant a blessing to this cursed child...

Did the old man Hinga know that the Kingdom of Forsa was destroyed because of him?

Was he in the "Six Heavens Mine" to atone for that sin?

—Rage, I wish you a life full of happiness.

The person who died wishing for my happiness, who brought about a disease that killed many people—was he a great sinner?

"…This is ridiculous."

If the "omnipotent god who governs heaven and earth" created the world and Celestial Pearls, why does it complain about human activities?

Isn’t it natural to want to unravel a mystery when you see one?

Isn’t it natural for scholars to study Celestial Pearls?

And yet—punish and give disease to stop their actions?

"Haha, you’re young, Rage. But youth is a good thing."

His Majesty laughed softly and said,

"When it rains, the earth is moistened, and when the wind blows, the green sways. Who would complain about that?"

"…Are you saying that my anger is like spitting at the sky?"

"The king who first started the research on modifying Celestial Pearls died from a strange disease that caused his fingers to rot and fall off. The next king died from a cough that wouldn’t stop, spitting blood. The one after that lost all the hair on his body... By the time it came to my generation, the severity had lessened, but my lifespan is still much shorter than the average High Elf, and I will die soon. To the elves and the High Elves who don’t know the situation, the job of king is cursed."

"Still... you continued the research?"

"Without Kurtusvita, all the elves would have died. To repay such a great favor, the life of a king is a small price to pay. The previous kings continued their research, writing papers with blood as their fingers rotted and fell off, and continued their research even as they froze in the winter after losing their hair. I am happy to carry on their will... to pass the research to the next generation and die."

"……"

"Yuri has a noble ambition. She will surely lead everyone as queen and fulfill this 'responsible job.' Not just Yuri, but all my siblings are excellent. They wish to take on the job of king, even knowing it is cursed. Of course, Matvey does too."

"…What about Asha? Is she not excellent, which is why she was sent out of the country?"

His Majesty shook his head.

"That’s not the case."

"The Celestial Pearl embedded in Asha had a star I had never seen before. Wasn’t that something you created?"

It was a Celestial Pearl called [Magic Propagation ★★☆☆]. The star was floating, but it emitted a dim and weak light.

"Yes. Asha could communicate through writing, even though she couldn’t speak. I knew she had a noble ambition. That’s why I gave her the Celestial Pearl I created... It was a Celestial Pearl that naturally emitted magic, designed so that even if she accidentally activated [Fire Magic], it wouldn’t cause a big fire."

"Asha might have been given a punishment by the gods too."

"Asha wanted to be useful to the High Elves. If accepting the job of king is a punishment, then she has also taken on the job of king."

I thought it was twisted. This person’s love was completely twisted.

But it was the core of the elves’ spirit, supporting the entire forest.

Even knowing that modifying Celestial Pearls would bring disaster upon oneself, they united everyone’s hearts through self-sacrifice.

"…I can’t understand."

I said honestly.

"That’s fine, human. That’s why I can entrust Asha to you."

"Eh...?"

In front of me, His Majesty said,

"Right now, just now, not as the 'king who broke the taboo' but as a father... I want to ask you."

He bowed deeply.

"Make Asha... happy. She has suffered from disasters since birth, even though she is not a king. She has suffered enough. I want her to leave this forest and soar under the vast sky."

"Ah, please raise your head."

"Will you take her?"

Still bowing, His Majesty glanced at me.

"I understand... if she wishes it."

"I want you to take her even if she doesn’t wish it. She might feel responsible and decide to stay."

"That... I see, but I can’t force her."

"Are you saying Asha isn’t cute?"

"No, she is cute."

"And she likes you. There’s no reason not to take her."

"No, no, such a reason—eh? Asha likes... me?"

His Majesty, who had suddenly stood up, shook his head in exasperation.

"What are you, so insensitive? There’s no other woman as obvious as her."

"Eh, eh? But Asha wants to be with me as a fellow adventurer..."

"Did she say she wants to be 'with you'? And you took it as 'fellow adventurer'?"

"A, eh, u..."

"Be clear. My daughter is the cutest in the world."

"Ah, well, I think she is cute."

"Then, take her!"

"No, that logic is..."

His Majesty, who had stood up, grabbed my collar and shook me.

"Hey, Your Majesty!?"

"I’m giving you permission to take her. Got it! Tomorrow! Leave tomorrow!"

"Eh!?"

The door slammed open, and the Secret Service rushed in.

"Your Majesty, what happened!?"

"Did this man cause trouble...? Oh?"

Seeing that I wasn’t causing trouble but rather that His Majesty was the one acting out, the Secret Service froze.

Well, that’s the reaction you’d expect...

Thank you for the review from Kenta-san! I appreciate it.

The recent increase in reviews might be due to the start of the book and manga adaptations.

In any case, I was thinking "I need to speed up a bit...!" regarding the main story, so the opinion "It’s fine to take it slower" was refreshing.

Indeed, it might be good to follow up on what happened to the people left behind...

I hope you continue to enjoy Obasuki.

The line that Raze felt a sense of déjà vu from, "Sin and Punishment," was from the old man Hinga. The old men use the same words (not really).