Chapter 494

In the end, they had to clear the snow piled up on the roof. It was a strange job to clear the snow up to a person's waist, not just a reasonable amount. They had to chop the snow with a shovel and lift it out one by one. When they pushed the snow under the roof, it made a terrifying sound as if it was the sound of snow falling. They had to keep clearing the snow until the sun went down, and other villagers had to do the same. When they finished the last pile of snow, Luna got hit by the falling snow and looked at them with a frozen expression. For dinner, they had a warm meal of meat and vegetable soup with thinly toasted bread. They didn't know when the snow would stop. Lena brought them an apple pie that her grandmother wanted to share with them. They often shared their meals with each other in the village. Translation: The word "neighbor," which had become a strange concept to me, still existed in Rizia. We had dinner with an additional menu item. Since I had been in Rizia for a long time, I often ran into people other than Lena, Arta, Ronan, and Luna. People like Arta's older brother, Daelen, or Lena's younger sisters, their parents, and grandparents. I knew almost everyone in Rizia since it wasn't a very large village. There were always too many names and people to remember. I felt like I was living in Rizia as if it were my last vacation, oppressed by the long-standing obsession of having to remember and know everything. However, I still knew some strange things. There were quite a few elderly people in Rizia, and it was inevitable that they would become a large family since they had been living in the village for generations. Rizia didn't seem to reject outsiders, so it didn't seem like the kind of village that would be isolated like it is now due to the gate incident. If that were the case, the village would have disappeared a long time ago. But what I was curious about was something else. Arta and Lena had many grandparents and siblings. They were a large family. However, the leader of Rizia, Luna Artorius, and her husband were the only ones. Luna's parents and Ronan's parents were not there. Lagan was dead, and Ellen was outside. But even if she was there, I didn't know why only they were a nuclear family. There must be some reason for this. "How is the work going?" Ronan asked. "Um... we'll probably have to see the snow melt, but if we continue like this, we'll probably finish before winter is over." "I see." There were some difficulties due to winter, but the speed of the work was increasing. We could finish everything before spring. I didn't want to leave Rizia, but the fact was that I had to. By the time winter was over, I wanted to have accomplished something. When I first arrived in Rizia, Luna said that I would become a little stronger here, but that wouldn't change anything. I agree with Luna's words. Even if I reach the master class, can I fight against the monster that appears last? However, I couldn't just sit still, and the fact that I hadn't reached the master class yet might give me new possibilities, so I spent this long time in Rizia. Even if I reach the master class, the possibility is slim. So, in the end, what I can rely on is the relic. "I now have some understanding of the hidden powers of the relic. Tiamat allows for the use of powerful divine energy, enabling the simultaneous use of healing and destructive powers. Ellen's lamentation can unleash the power to bear anything. Alsvringr is the strongest relic that can summon the power of the gods, but at the cost of one's life. I do not know the true power of Raphael. Tiamat's keyword is anger, Lament's keyword is sadness, Alsvringr's keyword is sacrifice, and Raphael's keyword is hatred. Even if I reach the master class, the possibility of surviving is slim. Perhaps I need to do something else. I asked Luna and Ronan if they knew where the Holy Spear, Alixion, was. They did not know. Luna explained that Alixion is a relic that comes to those who need it, and it rarely appears in the world. It does not respond to ordinary wishes. It is a relic of the god of courage, responding to the wishes of those who possess courage. So, if I need it, Alixion will appear before me. Its true power is related to the wishes of those who possess courage. It is not a relic that responds to ordinary wishes." Translation:

"Even though it may be a questionable action that almost got me killed, isn't it a courageous act to ask for help from someone who almost killed me? Don't I have the qualifications to become the owner of Alixion? Maybe it's just my arrogance, but I definitely think so. Seeing my confused expression, Luna looks at me with a stern expression. 'Reinhardt, what do you think is the most important thing in courage?' '...Yes?' I didn't understand Luna's words for a moment. 'What's the most important thing in courage...is it bravery? Confidence? Something like that?' As I didn't seem to understand, Luna shook her head. 'Let's say there's a formidable enemy. Let's say it's the dragon from the other world that you mentioned. It's a scary enemy that you can never face in a normal way.' '...Yes.' 'Let's say you try to stop it somehow. Even though you know you can't compete with it. Try to think of it as confronting it with the mindset that it will somehow work out.' '...Yes.' 'Is that courage?' If that's not courage, then what is it? I was about to say that, but Luna seemed to have something to say, so I held back. It was Ronan who continued the conversation. 'That's not courage, that's recklessness.' At his words, I lost my words. 'What do you need to turn recklessness into courage?' Luna stares into my eyes. Recklessness and courage. The difference between two concepts that I had never seriously thought about. Recklessness and courage are strictly speaking very similar words. The concept of confronting or opposing something is the same. But recklessness inherently includes foolishness. Why is it foolish? Because of the belief that you can oppose an opponent that you can't compete with. Then what's different about courage? If recklessness loses its foolishness, it becomes courage. Recklessness without arrogance and foolishness. The recklessness of someone who is wise and properly aware of their abilities. '...' Even though you know you can't compete with an opponent, you still confront them, knowing that it will be difficult. If confronting the opponent despite understanding them properly is the basis of courage, then I could only realize what was most important in courage. 'Fear...I see.' 'Yes.' What makes courage courage is not bravery, pride, or determination. It's knowing your opponent. It's being afraid of your opponent. And still confronting them. That was the true condition of courage."