Treatise Of A Failed Knight-Chapter 241: The World Is Ugly Because Of People

Night has arrived.

The darkened sky stretches far, like a black canopy decorated with stars.

Everyone has already retreated within their tents, save for the patrol officials who have been closely guarding the settlement.

Right now, as I watch all of this from a high altitude in the sky, I am not alone.

Kalakuta is here as well.

The Maggiore we both sit on gently flaps its wings as it drifts aimlessly around while hovering around our territory.

However, my focus isn’t on that or even the settlement beneath.

It’s resting on Kalakuta...

Particularly his complex expression.

"... And so, the battle lasted for three days, that is if I count from the first contact with the enemies of the Eastern Sects." Even as I explain details of what happened in his absence to him, observing his facial features throughout, I cannot help but think that something is off about this matter.

What is going on with Kalakuta?

I eventually completed my narration, though I naturally excluded my many details that could taint the experience for my audience.

Although I wish for our leader to see me as competent, his view of me shouldn’t change.

Thus, the torture part, or me attacking first, were largely exclided. I focused more on the battle strategies employed and how many lives were saved as a result of my actions.

"I see..."

Kalakuta’s voice rings hollow.

Although I can sense it in his crimson eyes that he is proud of me and pleased with my accomplishments, there appear to be certain emotions eating through him which prevent him from properly appreciating them.

’Should I ask him?’ I hesitate at this moment.

The War Council meeting is tomorrow, and I will likely learn what is bothering Kalalita once we make our reports there.

But—

"Knight... I have one thing to apologize for."

"... Okay?"

"That woman, the former Minister of Combat, perished in battle."

"R-really? That doesn’t sound like her."

"I couldn’t believe it at first too... but after seeing her brutalized corpse on the battlefield, I had to believe it."

"...."

"I am deeply sorry, my brother. I should have protected her more. She was your woman, and while she was indeed very helpful to our cause, it was not worth her life."

"Don’t talk like that..." I sigh harshly.

"Like what?"

"Not worth her life? Are you kidding me? All the men here are willing to die for the cause. That is how important it is in our hearts. It is far bigger than a single person—man or woman."

"I know, but..."

"I understand where you are coming from. I am also saddened by her death. But she was a warrior who knew the risks before charging to battle. Same as our brothers who march to war, many of which lose their lives. Would you insult their resolve the same way?"

"She was a woman, brother. Your woman. I do not think the battlefield was the last place she was meant to see."

"Does it matter what you think? Is that not what freedom means? People making their own choices and standing by them?"

"A-ahh..."

For a moment, the two of us are quiet.

We cast our gaze to the wilderness beyond us, watching the black dunes and twinkling stars with serene appreciation.

"In this battle... I realized just how ugly the world is." He admits to me with a bitter look on his face.

"...."

"I have seen wars before. I have participated in them as well. But... the level of cruelty I witnessed in this battle. Those Southern Kingdom soldiers used children and all kinds of underhanded tactics. They lacked honor and did not value human life at all. They went after civilians. They held out and stubbornly clung to the land like a festering disease. Even after we cut off their supply chain, hoping they would grow weary and starve, they began to consume their hostages."

"Cannibalism...?"

He nods solemnly, and then shakes his head.

"It was then I truly recognized the depths of this world’s cruelty, and the ugliness embedded in our reality."

"Yes, but there is also endless beauty as well."

"I agree..." Kalakuta laughs bitterly, casting his gaze down to the patrol officials. "But I have to admit that the ugliness has become impossible to simply ignore, and it is caused by none other than people."

Nature is neutral.

It is unbiased, operating in an emotionless operation with no moral compass.

Thus, many of its cruelties can be interpreted as a bittersweet interpretation of what it means to be alive.

Even the gratuitous aspects of suffering can be treated that way.

But with humanity, things change.

We are moral agents.

Our actions bear moral consequences due to our consciousness, providing an additional layer with which we view the world.

This causes a certain kind of ugliness to manifest itself in this world.

—Evil.

Humans are capable of good, but we are also equally as capable of many bad things.

So... I understand Kalakuta’s sentiment and where it is coming from.

But where will it lead?

"You don’t have to worry about me being genocidal." He laughs heartily, though there remains a trail of bitterness in his voice.

"I already thought about it, and it is something I do not wish to do. Humans cause evil to be born into this world, but we also have endless potential for good. Purging everyone will snuff out yet another of this world’s beauty. That, perhaps, would be the greatest travesty."

I smile and nod.

"I’m glad you understand that."

"I just wish for people to change. The actions of the Freedom Fighters, I do not merely wish to set people free, but to give them an opportunity to reflect. I wish for humanity to be inspired and grow..."

"That may never happen," I tell Kalakuta flatly, though it is with an accompanying sigh.

It isn’t my intention to be a pessimist.

In fact, I do believe it is possible for people to change themselves and walk a different path than the one they previously chose.

That is indeed the case for me.

But most people do not seem capable of such.

Perhaps not until they have tasted death once and realized the futility of existence.

In such situations, two things can happen.

The mind either further devolves into deeper evil and atrocities, or an essential fire of compassion is born.

A desire to influence the world positively. To truly live and allow the same for others.

But there is no way to tell.

One can only hope.

"I agree... but I have to try, don’t I?" He smiled in response to me. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

I return the gesture.

This is what I admire most about this man.

His perseverance.

"From what I can tell, the Great Bridgeworks will soon be successfully completed across the Northern Empire. It’s about time we start expanding to other continents, starting with the Central Plains."

"I was hoping you would say something like that..." A chuckle leaves my lips.

However, Kalakuta’s face shows deep seriousness. He doesn’t even crack a smile, but maintains a grim but determined attitude while continuing.

"This means we have to end things soon so as to prevent the three-pronged situation from ever happening again."

I nod in agreement.

"The immediate threats are the Eastern Sects and the Western Alliance. We can deal with the Southern Kingdom last."

"I agree. Although we defeated the people of the South, they were able to preserve their forces and even retreat due to their dirty tactics." Kalakuta admits with a heavy sigh. "I don’t think we’ll be able to take them down without you, since their land is infested with Magivores and we require an effective way to travel to secure safe passage to their fortress nation."

"I’m with you all the way."

I also can’t help but be excited about these words that Kalaluta is saying. I’m happy to see him so motivated about taking down the opposition.

After all, the sooner the better.

’So far, I have protected Tyrrion and Enrydral. Although we defected to the side of the Freedom Fighters, I have gotten close to Kalakuta and also made some arrangements that will be beneficial in the long run. Now, all we need is action to speed things up...’

I can sense it.

The time is nearing for us to end things once and for all.

My Apotheosis—this Trial Scrnario—may soon be coming to an end this time.