Cold World (3)
Dante looked over the village.
Instead of walls and roofs, it followed a unique dwelling style called the Sun Path.
Where the trees tangled and sunlight slipped through, the ground glittered like a field of stars.
'They eat, of course, but in extreme conditions they can survive on water and sun alone.'
And they never ate meat. Walking beneath the straight-open ceiling of the Sun Path, a smile bloomed on Plarino's face.
"Ah, just look at this sunlight. What a beautiful sky. You should all walk this Sun Path and—"
He wanted to share the Flowerfolk's joy, but Lupist's cold gaze met him instead.
"I-I'm sorry."
Unexpectedly, Lupist tilted his head and looked up.
"Do you like the sun?"
"Huh? Oh, of course. For the Flowerfolk, the sun is the greatest gift of joy."
"I like it too."
Plarino's mouth fell open.
"Still, you don't look up for no reason. How many humans do you think go through life believing there's a sky?"
"Why not? It's lovely. Standing in the sun with your eyes closed feels happy."
"Happy?"
Lupist snorted.
"Do you know what we first discarded to build this system? Individual happiness. We use the suffering of the entire population as fuel."
The Flowerfolk man asked, baffled.
"What does that mean? If no one can be happy, why do it?"
"To rule you." "If being superior is possible, humans will give up happiness. Call it madness in pursuit of the best. But then a system appeared that was even more obsessed than we were."
The Flowerfolk never left their territory, but they read the situation through sub-world apertures.
"Depending on which side is madder, the system's victor will be decided. Understand? Humans live in such a world. And you go on about the sun and happiness."
Plarino lowered his head sullenly.
"We know we're a failed race. That's why we live hidden like this."
"It's still too early to say that."
When Plarino turned back, surprised, Lupist jabbed the air with a finger.
"Still… the weather's to die for."
How long had it been since he realized there was a sky and that he could look up at it?
'Maybe it's time I retire.'
When had he started indulging in nostalgia?
"You've arrived."
In a sunny spot, a woman with black hair draped down sat cross-legged.
'That woman—'
Lupist halted at the rich scent of lotus that filled the air.
"Are you a direct descendant of the Flowerfolk?"
The woman smiled and bowed.
"Yes. I am Protea of the Lotus bloodline. Thank you for visiting such a humble place."
They had given the village a place to live as part of a deal, but they hadn't paid much attention to who the clan chief was.
They'd only heard afterward that a Flowerfolk had come here on their own.
'Lotus bloodline. So some remained.'
The origin of the Flowerfolk was told to be the lotus.
"Long ago, an unnamed Buddha sat upon a lotus and devoted himself to enlightenment for forty thousand years," Protea said.
"That lotus neither withered nor died, and it listened to the Buddha speak of human life."
Lupist continued.
"And when the Buddha left, the lotus awakened into an incarnation and became human. That's the creation myth of the Flowerfolk."
It was folk tale, but without it the variety in the Flowerfolk bloodlines couldn't be explained.
'It couldn't have arisen naturally. The first Flowerfolk must have spread through a sub-world aperture…'
So the Lotus bloodline standing before him was a direct descendant of a Flowerfolk who had received the Buddha's enlightenment.
'Annoying.'
If it had been another Flowerfolk, he could have barked orders and it would be over, but Protea was not someone to be bullied.
"Yes. Our benefactor Lupist, what brings you here?"
"If you know, say it."
If they were direct descendants, it wasn't an exaggeration to say they controlled the whole forest down to the nerve units.
"Heh. Yes, actually… I've heard Lupist's philosophy about systems. It seems you're facing a situation that requires precise control of the living flowers."
Dante admitted without resistance.
"Yes. It's a super-large structure. We built a separate interface, but precision work requires dozens of people."
"Whereas with a sub-world aperture, one Flowerfolk could control even the nerve units."
Lupist stepped forward.
"Things will move fast once you understand. If we lose, you won't survive either. You'd do well to cooperate."
"The Flowerfolk's judgment—"
The smile drained from Protea's face.
"We refuse."
It was an unexpected answer, but Lupist was ruthless.
"Then die."
Blades shot up around her; Plarino screamed and leapt back.
"Killing just you won't change the strategy. If we parade your head around, other Flowerfolk will join in."
Dante asked.
"Why? Half the world has already fallen to the demons. If humans lose, you won't be safe either."
"We'll die anyway."
All eyes of the Flowerfolk fixed on her.
"The living flowers are ancient weapons. If the entire clan is mobilized, there must be at least hundreds of units. If there's an enemy those weapons can't stop, aren't we just scapegoats?"
Lupist didn't deny it.
"Humans will pay an equal price. War is staking everything to gain everything."
"It's a human war only. Present a way to guarantee the Flowerfolk's survival. Otherwise cooperation is impossible."
Flowerfolk who had been listening in the forest revealed themselves and activated sub-world apertures.
The forest trembled; a sensation like nerve bundles writhing beneath the ground reached them.
"Hmph."
As Lupist snorted, a blade larger than a person shot up beside him.
"Ugh!"
Some Flowerfolk frowned, but Protea didn't even blink.
"Intimidation won't work. You've treated us as you pleased until now, but we'll choose death ourselves."
"I-I'll do it."
All eyes turned to Plarino.
"I'll move the living flowers, so don't fight. I've done it before—I can do it well."
Protea glared.
"Plarino, what are you doing? This fight decides the fate of the entire Flowerfolk. You have no choice."
"If there's no choice, then at least we must fight. If humans lose, the Flowerfolk will be annihilated too."
"No. If we're to be annihilated anyway, I won't help humans. Think of what they've done. They toyed with your body and violated your mind! Humans are the most selfish!"
"I know."
How could he forget?
"But I think Lupist is different. He seems cold and clinical, but if he were truly like that—"
Plarino's gaze turned to Lupist.
"If he were, he wouldn't have provided the Flowerfolk with a village from the start. This place is truly what we wanted." It was the optimal spot.
"You're being deceived. The author prepared to use us for this situation…"
"The weather is nice," Plarino said.
"A person who knows the warmth of sunlight doesn't necessarily not understand true happiness."
Her eyes grew moist.
"Even knowing that, we have no choice but to fight. Not everyone can be happy, so we must be colder, colder… But the truth is we wish everyone could be happy, right?"
"No. I'm naturally a cold man. And humans are evil. I'll do whatever it takes for my goals."
That was why Lupist had trouble dealing with the woman.
'Unnecessarily sentimental in the wrong places. Irritating.'
An enemy worth tearing apart was approaching—what did it matter whether they were kind or cruel?
'We have to fight first. Make the optimal plan and carry it out.'
Still, on the other hand,
He felt a small satisfaction that someone understood why he fought.
"Hah."
When Lupist released the Spirit Zone, Dante lowered his killing intent after a moment.
"Fine. We'll resolve this by discussion. I'll do my best to ensure your survival. Satisfied?"
"No. We need concrete guarantees." Just then, as a vein throbbed at Lupist's temple, a woman's voice came from the forest.
"I will handle that."
Lupist and Dante's pupils shifted as they searched for the voice, afterimages trailing.
'Quick.' Even the speed at which she slipped out of sight raised their guard to the limit.
Protea's eyes flickered.
"You are—"
She was a woman whose ears were more pointed than a human's, face pale and sculpted, eyes clear as a spring.
"Hello?"
She turned and waved brightly, and Lupist recognized her.
"Enox."
She was the elven people's representative, one of the Holy War Kings.
"Yes. The Grand General told me to come. He said I might be of help."
Dante's eyes went hollow.
'If that's the case, at least tell us in advance.'
When Protea knelt and prostrated herself, the rest of the Flowerfolk followed and bowed.
"Sovereign of the forest."
"Long time no see. Indeed, the Flowerfolk always give off such a lovely scent."
Enox raised a finger.
"Anyway, don't worry about the war. We elves will step in and protect the Flowerfolk."
"…The elves will join the fight?"
"Of course."
"Why help humans? They destroy the nature we cherish."
"Exactly."
Enox stroked Protea's chin.
"Humans are thrilling."
That night.
Tormia's royal castle.
While King Adolf lay on sick leave, Lupist and Plu attended a royal banquet.
Pony, a graduate of the Alpheas School of Magic, was present, and small talk flowed.
"The world situation has gotten dire. There are countless people who invested abroad and lost everything."
Even with the war against the demons raging, the nobles were obsessed only with expanding their own wealth.
'The most unreal place.'
Lupist ate in silence.
'That's needed by the system.'
An appendage that cries only for ideals, completely detached from reality.
"By the way, the new Chief Secretary is quite cute. The last one was fierce—she wasn't my type."
Plu gave a coy wink.
"Thank you for the compliment." Taking advantage of the light mood, Lupist brought up a difficult request.
"The demons will invade Tormia. I want to deploy the castle guard."
"The castle guard?"
The air thickened; the royal guard was the royals' last bulwark.
"Yes. You needn't worry. We have a flowerbed. We only need troops for support missions."
They're going to die anyway.
If they were going to be wiped out, Lupist intended to use everything he could.
"Well, a flowerbed makes it safe. Tormia has the world's strongest defenses."
He was the one who'd built that.
"Anyway—"
A dark-browed noble jabbed his fork, pointing it alternately at Lupist and Plu.
"How's the bedroom chemistry? There were rumors. They say you're a secretary-killer. Hahaha!"
The nobles burst into laughter.
Regardless of the truth, they merely wanted to see the reactions of the head of the Magic Association and the Chief Secretary.
"Not really," Lupist said with no change of expression.
"Not very entertaining. The previous Chief Secretary was actually much better."
"Oh? Is that so? Well, Plu is too skinny. Eat this and put on some weight."
Plu puffed her cheeks.
"That stings my pride. The Association President has strange tastes. And I can't even prove it."
"Why can't you? Leave it to me. My virility is renowned worldwide."
"Eek! That's a bit frightening."
As the nobles erupted with laughter, only Pony didn't smile.
'They're lying.'
Having attended the School of Magic, she knew.
Behind the smiles of the two mages lay an icily cold emotion.
'Pro mages. But they're not political enough to pander to nobles. And the castle guard—'
A chill ran down Pony's spine.
'Something huge is about to happen.'