chapter 103
103 – EP4. Afterword (2)
Maestro and Shadow.
They were beings born with the great disaster that struck the world.
In addition to those who have reached old age in the present era, those who lived through an era of war in their childhood.
“Just half a century ago, the world was very damaged. Civilization collapsed due to all kinds of disasters that occurred as the continents came together, and people who lost their way wandered around the lawless area…….”
I have seen evil closer than anyone else, so I am able to adapt to it.
Attempts to drive them out are also bound to be extreme.
“… Who knew that such a brilliant civilization could be established in such a harsh and empty land?”
Afterwards, Shadow’s eyes, looking down at the outside of the association’s building, slowly began to change.
The barren landscape, as vivid as it was just yesterday, is disappearing, and a cloud of light illuminating the sky is illuminating the entire world. It would be strange not to feel admiration.
“But the world is still sick.”
Humanity has truly succeeded in hiding the ugliness of this world by creating a cluster of stars on this earth. And… ….
“Unlike the days when we understood that there was clear malicious intent, everyone here is exposed to malicious intent without knowing anything. “You live without even knowing why you are suffering.”
In the end, this era.
Furthermore, this world is nothing but something that was built starting from what is called ‘evil’ in the world.
In this era, anyone can pursue justice, but on the other hand, anyone can fall into evil.
The current era as seen by the two villains was such a place.
“In that sense, we are probably in a slightly better situation than them. “Because you can pursue what you want without worrying about what others think.”
“… ….”
“…… Well, the responsibility that comes with it is definitely ours.”
Freedom means taking on many responsibilities.
The only one who can be free from such responsibility is an absolute being who has risen to the top of this world.
Yes, he is like the person they served in the past.
But he was like an unfortunate god who never rose to the top again.
[Did you achieve what you wanted?]
A card was suddenly presented after silence.
Shadow smiled bitterly after seeing what was written inside, and put the empty beer can down on the railing.
“I think I achieved more than expected, but I don’t think I was satisfied.”
The suppressed power was awakened.
His strength is not at the level of being the strongest, but he had an unsuppressed tenacity even in the harshest eyesight.
“But I won’t give up. “He is a person who went from the darkest place to the brightest thing.”
Will of Fortune.
That power will most likely be of great help in pioneering the future he wants.
[…] … It looks like you have made up your mind.]
“Yes! “I will be by that person’s side from now on!”
Shadow leans his upper body against the railing and smiles brightly.
She was so bright that it was impossible to think of her as a follower of great evil, but from the very beginning, her world was rooted in evil.
Even though it was unintentional, he was the one who buried his family, neighbors, and even his hometown.
In fact, the monster driven out of the sun always lives as a shadow of others, and that is why it has always longed to stand by the side of pure evil.
Gingerbread.
Right now, his side is where I belong.
“What are you going to do next, Maestro? “Will he continue to infiltrate the Association in the future?”
Then what about the person in front of me?
He, like himself, lost his idol in the great war three years ago, so what does he plan to live for in the future?
[…] We might fight someday.]
In response to that question, Maestro quietly opened his hand and showed the card in his hand in front of Shadow.
She received a card with words written on it that she had never expected.
-You’re fighting, are we?
[Because I am now on the side of justice.]
The side of justice.
It was something you wouldn’t expect a villain who held a higher position in the organization to say.
“… “It wasn’t just a case of infiltration.”
[Even in justice… ….]
A card presented in response to Shadow’s cautious question.
It was some time later that the part that was covered with the finger was revealed.
[Because I learned that there are many forms of justice.]
Yes, what leads the world is never justice or evil.
The fight between justice and justice. Or the fight between evil and evil…….
In the end, each person has a different meaning, and the one that receives support from many people becomes universal.
Even things that have become so universal cannot withstand the flow of time and become corrupted, so the fight to control the world soon becomes between those who want to protect existing justice and those who want to change the world.
Ouroboros and McCoy are ultimately just defeated justice in that trend.
In the end, being able to discuss justice is a right given only to those who have achieved victory after a fierce fight.
[And even though many justices have been defeated so far, evil continues to appear. Among them, there will be those who receive the support of quite a few people and eventually grow into what is called justice.]
“…… Seras. “Are you saying she’s the new justice you’ve found?”
Maestro.
The first servant born in a time of war, harboring evil, and taken away by a being destined to rise to the peak of evil.
Is it a change of heart that made him choose to become a follower of justice, or is it because he hates the justice that the current era worships?
[I want to see the future of the organization that defeated us. Meeting that person will be enough even after everything is over.]
With those words, the Maestro quietly puts down the bottle in his hand on the railing.
As if he had finished what he wanted to say, he silently turned his back, and Shadow, who had seen the sight of his back, smiled and focused his energy on his body.
“… “If that is your will, I must respect it.”
Even though our paths may be different, we do not feel betrayed.
They are villains in the first place.
Because they are beings who set foot on the path of evil to satisfy each other’s selfishness.
“Still, can I come visit you sometimes?”
Sigh, the maestro greets by raising his hand.
Shadow, seeing the empty space he had left, drew a faint smile and began to gradually hide the light his body received.
And… ….
***
“…… “Is this the first snow?”
About four months have passed since the disaster that day.
As I watched the snow slowly falling from the sky, I felt the chill on my skin becoming deeper.
The frown is slowly starting to pile up on the streets. As if they couldn’t overlook this, people working on construction on the passing road began to lay down their work one by one.
“It’s snowing, so let’s take a break from construction. “If an accident happens, you’ll be in big trouble again.”
Well, it may not be cold, but if it snows, the risk of accidents will increase considerably.
Of course, depending on the site, there were cases where construction was carried out regardless of the situation, but as far as rebuilding buildings in District B, such enforcement would have to be quite cautious.
He died in an accident while working in a place where a major incident that was remembered even in textbooks occurred. We have to do our part to treat it as a cursed land.
“… “That construction is going really fast.”
Only 4 months. Within that time, most of the damage in District B had been controlled.
Even if it wasn’t completely destroyed, it was full of buildings that almost had to be rebuilt, but it was still a land that had been devoted to the construction industry for more than half a century. It was something I couldn’t help but want to do.
Well, the income hasn’t been bad in this area lately, so I won’t have to deal with construction projects like that in the future.
“Okay, there’s a lot to do, so what can I do to waste time?”
I smiled and turned my attention away from the construction site and headed toward the facility at the end of the street.
An incense burner erected in front of the tombstone erected to commemorate the tragedy of that day. Among those who came out from time to time, there were people who were sobbing or wailing.
Even though 4 months have passed, are there still people looking for it? Of course, some people were taking pictures or laughing and talking as if it were a tourist attraction, but if you think about that, it is also the nature of people, so it is not that strange.
The world is from a first-person perspective.
No matter what happens on the other side of the continent, in the end it is worse than a needle stuck under my fingernail.
And that was also the reason I came here.
Not for light reasons like tourism, but to commemorate a man who is recorded here.
“Hey, wait a minute. “I’ll do some testing.”
A richly decorated altar. As I stood in front of him, a security guard waiting nearby stopped my actions.
Perhaps he was placed here out of concern that someone might commit a bombing attack just because he was visiting a grave.
“What is this white mask?”
But I couldn’t even recognize the mask I was holding in my hand, so I couldn’t help but be quite disappointed if the person in question found out.
Unbreakable Vanguard.
Everyone in the world knows his name as the hero who killed Seolhwaran, but they can’t even recognize the costume he was wearing or anything similar to it.
“Oh well, I just bought it nearby.”
“Hmm, I see.”
After examining the mask for a moment, he was convinced by what I said and returned the item.
In fact, it is common for hero products to be brought to a hero’s memorial service.
Of course, most of them were items symbolizing heroes, but there were no white masks or bike suit-like items symbolizing the guys at all.
Despite the name written in large letters in the center of the tombstone……. Well, that probably means that he has been avoiding the public eye.
“Rest in peace. “Justice fool.”
After bitterly expressing my condolences to such an honest man, I quietly turned away from the funeral home and went out into the street.
Okay, I guess I’m almost done. Now let’s go home……
“Ah, uncle!”
…… I tried to do it.
Here I am again faced with an unwelcome face.
“… “Why are you here?”
“Well, I came because there was an event.”
A woman of Asian culture in her early 20s wearing a scarf and sunglasses.
He was an S-class hero whose status rose even higher after defeating Gigantes in a deadly battle four months ago.
Of course, since we are not on stage or in the field right now, she will have to be called ‘Kana Suzuki.’
“District B will soon become quiet, and refugees will return here again……. “Her agency received a lot of support to hold a celebration performance for them.”
“hehehehe, there was such a situation, but now I can’t believe I’m smiling at the thought of a festival.”
“You can’t stay depressed forever.”
No matter what, if the world is too negative, there will be no progress.
People who don’t know anything can just think about spending the day enjoying the festival without knowing anything.
“Of course, it will take some time until the performance takes place, so we can spend some time together.”
And on the surface, I also belong to the category of ordinary people who know nothing.
“Ah! Since we’ve met like this, how about having lunch with me? Oh, of course, you can eat me for lunch… ….”
“Just go your way.”
“Huh!? It’s been a long time since we met, so how can we part ways like this? “I see a motel over there, so let’s spend some quality time together!”
“Didn’t you come here to work too?”
What the f*ck, an idol who immediately tries to drag an acquaintance he hasn’t seen in a long time into bed.
Pangaea’s hope is dead.
“Work is important, but I am also human and need a little rest.”
“Why give me such a break…” ….”
It’s time to think about it further.
“… “Is it not possible?”
Contrary to her previous aggressive approach, Kana looked up at me with an uncharacteristically timid expression.
I felt that the resolute attitude I had tried to take before was collapsing due to that action.
Yes, no… …. Before talking about that, I was in a position to keep my distance from her in the first place.
“…… Are you okay?”
But not yet.
It cannot be said that the decisive time has arrived yet.
So, if she wants, wouldn’t she be able to hang out just a little bit?