WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 593: A Story from the Past. The Old Testament - 5

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Humans, with their exceptional intelligence and ability to use tools, were still an overwhelmingly powerful species. It was only natural that the King of Humanity was powerful as well.

Yet no matter how prosperous a nation became or how complicated society grew, even if people established complex rules to live together and punished those who broke them.

As long as humans remained beasts, the King of Humanity would not change.

"I've watched you too. I vaguely understand what you want. You want to stop people from fighting, don't you? You want to browbeat everyone else into not fighting?"

Because humans were still beasts.

"But I still don't understand. How is what you're doing any different from what they do?"

The King of Humanity asked with pure curiosity. It was a question only the King of Humanity could ask.

Snowy mountains were cold. On mountains blanketed in deep, unmelted snow, it was advantageous to have a large body. It was easier to preserve body heat and spot prey or predators. That was why beasts living in cold regions tended to be large.

Giants were humans who had survived in snowy mountains, the result of deliberately accelerated evolution in the name of tradition. The giant race had, in a sense, been selected by nature.

Jungles overflowed with life. Countless things were born, eaten, and rotted away. Life circulated every moment like a vast, rushing current.

In such places, survival of the fittest was perfectly natural. Even those of the same species were no exception. Humans adapted and survived in jungles too, maintaining greater numbers than other beasts. With so many humans competing over resources, it was only natural that they would attack and devour one another.

Deserts were the opposite. Life was scarce in the dry, desolate sea of sand. Beasts there were not so much competitors as comrades facing the harsh environment together. They could also lead one to water or other prey.

There, people developed ways to make the most of beasts by using the unusual resource called black water. The result was magic beasts, creatures made by mixing beasts together. Tainted by black water, magic beasts wandered in search of beasts, yet they also filled that desolate desert with life.

The King of Humanity knew these things. Rather than understanding them intellectually, she had naturally accepted them through the process of representing humanity itself.

If they had not attacked her, the King of Humanity would have left them all as they were. Struggling desperately to survive was what life was.

"Humans want to fight? Then they can fight like they always do. If they want to reconcile, they can reconcile. If I step in before they even fight and tell them to make up, then beat up everyone who won't listen... that would mean I was taking all the fighting for myself. How could I, the King of Humanity, take all the fighting for myself when humans aren't allowed to fight?"

Even though she understood the Keeper of Lore's argument, she could not accept it, just as she could not casually kill the other monsters.

Despite the earnest request, the King of Humanity answered firmly.

"Human fights belong to humans. I can't be the only one allowed to fight while keeping them from fighting."

"Big Sis" shook off the Keeper of Lore's hand. Leaving the limp hand that fell to the ground behind her, "Big Sis" walked away, leaving footprints in her wake. Step, step. Dry footsteps filled the growing distance between them.

"You should do it. Like those giants, those cannibals, and those magic beasts. Achieve it with your own strength."

"...I suppose I must."

The Keeper of Lore remained facedown on the ground, sobbing.

"If I cannot change every human, then I cannot change the King of Humanity. That is what the Beast King is."

The Keeper of Lore knew everything there was to know. El must have known what the King of Humanity was and what choice she would make.

Still, the Keeper of Lore had needed to ask "Big Sis."

"But, Your Majesty. You are far too special. Humans know of your existence. Even if you do not realize it, every human already follows and learns from you. What you do becomes the standard, and what you say becomes virtue. No matter how incorruptible or great another sovereign may be, compared to you, they would be a firefly beneath the sun."

She had never tried to become great. Strength had been given to her from the start. Understanding other humans was only natural for the Beast King. "Big Sis" had intended nothing.

Yet whether she intended it or not, "Big Sis" was already a great king with the power to control a vast empire spanning the continent.

She neither governed nor reigned. She was simply there.

As king, "Big Sis" would exist in lofty solitude.

"The world needs a king to guide humanity."

Muttering those words, the Keeper of Lore rose. She gave a lonely smile and bowed one last time.

"Your Majesty. One still remains."

"One? Ah, you said there were four monsters on the frontier. We've seen three of them."

"Yes. Fanatics who offer people as sacrifices on Lonely Mountain Yulim, worship superstition, and deceive people with lies. Lonely Mountain Yulim is close to this land, so how about we make a brief visit?"

Even the Warriors of the King, exhausted from the journey, agreed. Lonely Mountain Yulim lay within the sphere of influence of the "country." Walking through land where they would be welcomed by the people of the "country" would be more like an outing.

It was strange, though. If it was so close, why did it have so little effect on the "country"? Why were there no tales of the fanatics?

They would learn when they reached Yulim. "Big Sis" decided to go there.

News that "Big Sis" had coldly rejected the Keeper of Lore quickly spread. She had already been away for nearly ten years because of the Keeper of Lore. No one showed it, but everyone was deeply pleased inside.

Nevida felt the same.

"Your Majesty. You did well."

"Huh? Did I do well?"

"Yes. Your Majesty made the correct judgment."

"Hehe. It feels nice to be praised again after so long."

Unlike a great and lofty king, "Big Sis" became bashful. Nevida remembered the old days. When Nevida had found a lost child somewhere in the Great Forest. When the two lonely people had been together, each other being their entire world.

The girl learned remarkably quickly. She carefully watched and copied Nevida's every action. The girl was so clever that when taught one thing, she understood ten.

Nevida studied hard, showing off as much as possible while fearing that the girl would catch up to her and no longer need her.

Fortunately, the Warriors of the King found them before Nevida's limited knowledge was fully exposed. Thanks to that, Nevida did not have to reveal her ugly jealousy. Her service to "Big Sis" and her talent were recognized, and she became a Warrior of the King.

To Nevida, "Big Sis" was a king, a benefactor, and a friend.

Nevida consciously tried not to think of herself as a friend, but that was also the role she held closest to her heart.

"You need not listen to everything El says. Though El may be capable, she is only one of Your Majesty's subjects. She ridiculously tries to sit above Your Majesty and handle all matters as she sees fit. As you did today, you must clearly distinguish who stands above and below."

"Above and below... I suppose I'm above because I'm strong. Yeah."

Perhaps "Big Sis" felt that way too.

Muttering sadly, "Big Sis" asked Nevida, "What do you want from me?"

"Pardon?"

"The warriors say they want to receive orders from me. What command did you want that made you become my warrior?"

Nevida waved her hands and answered, "Commands are for Your Majesty to issue. I could never presume to desire something."

"But I don't particularly want anything."

Nevida felt the same. She did not particularly want anything.

Just this was enough. No matter where they went or what happened, as long as they stayed together like this, that alone was enough. If Nevida had a wish, it had already come true...

"Until Your Majesty has a wish, I will remain with you."

Lonely Mountain Yulim did not have even a single blade of grass or tree. The mountain looked as though it had been built from layers of rock, scattering gray-tinged sunlight in every direction. No mist rose from the barren land, so clear light roamed freely without restraint.

Yulim was perhaps the best place to appreciate the beauty of emptiness. No trees, grass, mist, or clouds. Only after all of them were stripped away could one see what truly filled this world.

This journey took a long time despite the distance. It was not because there were many obstacles. Far more often, time passed because they were welcomed and lingered wherever they went.

It was still an era with few disputes. Countless humans came just to catch another glimpse of the King of Humanity. Some came asking her to resolve conflicts, but even after learning the truth, "Big Sis" did not impose punishment. People called it generosity and mercy.

The Keepers of Lore turned "Big Sis's" achievements into stories and spread them. The three frontier monsters who had fallen to "Big Sis's" hand were described as vulgar, cruel, and grotesque. They were portrayed as demons who had dared violate a taboo and been punished by the King of Humanity.

Their circumstances were erased, and they were given only the epithet Kanjaka, meaning a calamity that ought not exist. People pointed at them and slandered them.

Though truths shaped by others spread everywhere, "Big Sis" offered no correction.

Leaving countless stories behind like footprints, "Big Sis" headed for Yulim.

To meet the final monster, the fanatic who deceived and misled the people.

To meet the Luminous Heavenly Venerable.

Footnotes:

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