Chapter 147 - Heaven and h.e.l.l (3)
The Albatan forest was a demonic land located at the eastern end of the continent. The members of the Plain of Darkness didn’t dare intrude on this location thanks to the beings that ruled over the forest. When high caliber troops like Niberis and Duran was sent out to find the whereabouts of Saibein, they avoided all confrontations within the forest. Instead, they had run away at first sign of danger. They had to be very cautious in their search.
This had been the case during and before the Dragon Demon war. It was a demonic land that was left over from the olden days…….
“Can you guarantee that the wise Dragon Albatan won’t be hostile towards us?”
-I can’t.
“Wait a moment. You can’t?
-However, I can’t think of another place to go to. Especially now...
“Especially now?”
-The Demon King Balserk spoke about it. He said the answer is with Albatan.
“What?”
Yuren became surprised. Azell spoke.
-My curiosity is mounting as to who the guide really is. He is reading my moves as if he had seen my future. How could he arrange all of this without it?
“Mmmm…….”
-If there were other options available to me, I might have rejected what he had arranged for me. These subtle arrangements fit too well with my situation. It makes me wonder if I’m drinking from a poisoned well.
“You are saying we have no other options?”
-The cards we hold is limited. If we had been successful in completely escaping the clutches of our enemies then maybe…..
“It’s fine. If we are going to die anyways, I’d rather not to be killed by the Dragon Demon king worshippers. When we have time, I’ll take a nap. Maybe, the guide will give us a decent plan.”
Azell and Kairen was taken aback by his words, so they stared at Yuren. Kairen spoke.
“I know you trust the guide, but…. Is it ok to put all your eggs in one basket by blindly trusting the guide?”
“I’ve always lived liked this. Maybe, I’m the one that should be called a fanatic.”
Azell and Kairen was at a loss for words. The more they saw this side of Yuren it became harder for them to understand him.
Yuren queried.
“What was the truth that Balserk wanted to impart on us?”
-He wanted to tell us about the ident.i.ty of the Demon race.
“Mmm?”
Azell told the two puzzled men about the last conversation he shared with Balserk.
3
Balserk spoke.
“You are kind. So is it three lines?”
“What?”
Azell became surprised at Balserk’s words.
Demons had deep ill will towards humans, and they led humans to destruction by baiting them with knowledge. How could beings that are so engrossed in destroying humans be humans themselves?
Balserk cackled.
“…honestly, I am surprised. However, it isn’t as if it is unbelievable.”
“You said they were humans.”
“The beings that hate humans the most are humans. If you frame it like that, it seems obvious.”
The ones that had the deepest understanding of humans were other humans. The ones that were capable of hating humans the most was also humans.
Azell didn’t know any existence that hated humans more than other humans. Hatred and ill will towards other humans seemed like a natural phenomena.
Balserk spoke.
“What are you referring to?”
He had been in absolute isolation, and he had been pining for his own destruction. The Demon King spoke with a sad voice..
Azell didn’t give a reply. Balserk looked at him for a brief moment before he continued to speak..
The Demon race yearned for human, yet they hated humans at the same time. If the Demon race were once humans, it really was an obvious conclusion.
They were the product between Dragons and the Demon race. Dragon Demons were a high rank species that was the last amongst the races to walk on the surface of this world.
They were a a completely different species, yet they held resemblance to humans. On top of that fact, they were able to procreate with humans. The Dragon Majins were the product of such unions.
In nature, the Dragons were tyrants that were born with ma.s.sive amounts of energy. Humans were the weakest if one took away their wisdom and weapons. It was an odd match.
The way one thinks differed depending on where one lived. Every humans are the same at a fundamental level, yet humans from different regions had different languages.
This led to magicians wanting to stop all tragedies that stemmed from a breakdown in communications. They consolidated the language of the human race into one.
“Are you trying to say the existence of the Demon race should be included as one of them?”
Balserk gave an affirmation.
“There is something I am curious about…….”
Azell asked a question.
“Where do the Demon race get their knowledge? How can you be so sure that you are right?”
“What?”
“Do you mean h.e.l.l really exists?”
“What is it?”
“Hmm…….”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Basically, you are saying it includes the thoughts within a humans head?”
If a human discovers something, does the knowledge get transferred to everyone?
No.
Does an achievement attained by someone benefit all humans?
No.
Balserk raised a finger, and he focused Azell’s gaze on it.
“Humans that possess hate becomes a Demon?”
“…I’m just trying to confirm something. Death is part of the process in becoming a Demon?”
“So everyone that dies with hate in their heart becomes a Demon?”
It didn’t matter how, but one had to hate humanity after being murdered by a stranger.
Moreover, the hate had to be so enormous that the hate doesn’t become limited to a single person. The person has to hate everything that was made by humans in this world.
“You’ve met him? How?”
“The very first human to be murdered by another…. It really does sound like a myth.”
“Hmmm…….”
“Something went awry? Do you mean this world? Or are you talking about humans?”
“The ones that have hate in their heart after being murdered is thrown into h.e.l.l. The temple tells us that we reap what we sow. It seems that is far from the truth.”
“Do you want sympathy from me?”
“…….”
Balserk let out a self-deprecating smile.
“That is h.e.l.l?”
They knew where the world was, yet they couldn’t approach it.
Even as they brushed by it, they couldn’t reach the world.
“It is... paradise.”
They were able to perceive the existence of other beings, yet they were thrown into a world where they couldn’t vent their feelings. Moreover, it didn’t matter if one wanted to or not. One was able to observe the world that they had once existed in.
This world had happiness within it.
There was anger.
There was sadness.
There was joy.
They could only see it.
No matter how enticing it was they couldn’t possess it.
No matter how sad it was they couldn’t save them.
Moreover, they couldn’t share what they had seen and felt with others.
“…….”