Translator: Alpha0210
Me, Lukas Trowman?
Residue’s body froze on the spot.
He wanted to dismiss it as nonsense… but thinking it over, he couldn’t say for certain that there was no possibility of it being true.
[Ho, ho, ho. Are you shocked? Of course you are. But please, don’t resent me. Always… understand? Always, ‘I have no ill will’… Rather, I am simply telling you the truth you will come to know someday-]
The Negotiator’s ramblings were half-listened to and then dismissed. It was judged that there was no value in focusing on them.
While he had begun to think that this guy wasn’t just spouting nonsense, for the Negotiator’s words to be entirely true, several conditions had to be met.
First of all, could Residue, or more accurately, the willpower of a remnant, endure the harsh environment known as the “Outside”?
Residue had never once been outside. Everything he knew about it was from what Lukas or the Exile had told him.
But even if only half of what they said was true, even the Lightning God himself wouldn’t last long out there, let alone Residue.
Why was Lukas able to go outside in the first place?
Wasn’t it because he was destined to someday become the “Fifth Destruction,” the “Final Destruction”?
In that case, could a being like “Residue” truly replace that role? This wasn’t a matter of stubbornness or pride. Every being has a role, things they can do well, and things they cannot.
It’s similar to talent, but a slightly different realm.
That was the case with Destruction.
Lukas’s unwavering willpower certainly deserved respect and admiration, but that alone wouldn’t be enough to endure the environment of the “Outside”.
Which meant that enduring the “Outside” was precisely Lukas’s role, a role assigned to him.
In other words,
“This body can also endure the Outside.”
Even when pride was set aside, that was the conclusion he reached, but even then, there was still a bigger issue.
If the one who left was the “remnant of the Lightning God,”
And the one who remained was “Lukas Trowman, who is under the illusion that he is a remnant”…
…then why was such a thing necessary? What was the reason for complicating the situation to such a degree?
[…Of course, there’s no need for you to be disheartened by this fact. Now I shall tell you why I am called the Negotiator.]
“……”
[It must’ve been hard, yes? It must’ve been unbearably painful. Because taking someone else’s place is no easy task… It is difficult, both for yourself and those around you. That is the truth.]
The Negotiator’s speech, which had been erratic, was gradually becoming clearer. It was like watching someone who used to stumble over their words gradually find their rhythm through repetition.
Residue gazed at that ugly face. Since there were no eyes, the flaring of the nostrils each time he spoke was particularly noticeable.
[That is why the First Destruction… the one you call Hide, was so feared.]
“……”
[I really must ask this question. Right now, how do you feel? What are you thinking about?]
“It doesn’t matter.”
At that knife-like reply, the Destruction halted.
[…Ye-es?]
It was the reaction of someone suddenly slapped in the face.
Residue found nothing amusing in that attitude and continued speaking in a calm tone.
“Everything you say is trivial.”
[…Oh ho. So you’re pretending to be calm? I know that this is what people call bravado.]
“This body doesn’t put on bravado. More precisely, it has no reason to. There’s no need to fake strength.”
Because he was strong in reality.
Residue swallowed that last part of the sentence.
[Then did you not properly understand my words?]
“I understood perfectly. You made quite the sharp point regarding this body’s identity. But so what. Whether this body is Lukas Trowman, Residue, or some other being entirely. What does it matter?”
Even with that explanation, the other didn’t seem to grasp what Residue meant, so he tapped his forehead a couple of times and continued speaking.
“Let’s say, for argument’s sake, that everything you said is true. Even so, does the fact that I am ‘me’ change? Does the subject of thought shift? Do I suddenly become an entirely different being? Not particularly.”
[That… what are you…]
“It means it’s an outdated concern. Just like I said in the beginning.”
Residue looked at the Negotiator with pity for the first time.
“You call yourself a Negotiator, yet you don’t seem to deserve the title. You haven’t brought a single tempting deal. Pathetic.”
[…]
The Negotiator remained silent.
Then, he began tilting his head.
To a grotesque degree, to the point of dislocating his neck bones, enough to remind one of an owl.
[…I seeee.]
Then he spoke in a voice devoid of laughter.
[That’s who you are. I understand now. I shall return with a more enticing offer. Next time.]
Pussshhh…
And just like smoke, the Negotiator vanished.
Residue suspiciously stared at the empty space the being had occupied for a moment, then casually brushed his shoulders off.
“He’s not completely dead, is he?”
“…Forgive me, Your Majesty. Even with my Qi Sense, I can’t detect anything.”
There was no need to blame Agolet.
From the start, how many beings in the world could hide their presence from the two of them?
“Still, he seemed to have no combat ability whatsoever. That’s what’s strange. I once saw a being that looked like him toying with the ‘First Destruction’… Was it a different entity?”
“……”
“Perhaps when he said ‘he can’t be killed’, he was telling the truth. It might be impossible to destroy him by our universe’s conventional means. That got me thinking.”
Residue said, eyeing Agolet’s sword.
“What if it were the Red Knight’s sword? That weapon completely annihilated the Demon God that had parasitized both the body and mind of Sedi Trowman, the ‘0th Demon’. It was probably due to a special power imbued in the blade. If your sword has a similar ability, isn’t it worth trying?”
“I must apologize again, but my humble blade possesses no such grand ability.”
“Of course. The one with special power… is more likely the shield, isn’t it?”
“……”
Agolet’s eyes narrowed slightly, and the corner of his lips twisted subtly. Still, after spending a few days together, Residue felt he was starting to understand the man better.
For one, he had a habit of revealing a bit of his true self when struck at his core.
Residue let out a snort and changed the subject.
“But the Negotiator’s words may not have been complete nonsense.”
“Yes?”
“The changes in this body have been quite radical. If we’re being precise, the dominant control of the psyche leans more towards the Lightning God… but now and then, I’ve caught myself thinking things that Lukas might have thought.”
Agolet stared blankly at Residue, as if he couldn’t fully grasp what he was trying to say.
“Both are Lukas, and both are Residue, it could mean that.”
“…What does that mean?”
“Let’s say there are two canteens, one filled with sugar water and the other with salt water. Now, if you pour both into a larger canteen, shake it up a few times, and then pour it back into two cups… could you say they’ve been separated?”
“……”
“No. It would just be two portions of already-mixed ‘sugar-salt water.’”
“The concept of the mind is very difficult and complex. Isn’t it a bit inappropriate to compare it to sugar or salt in water?”
“That’s true. That’s why, even though Lukas and I spent a considerable amount of time together, we never fully merged. However, we undoubtedly had a profound psychological exchange. To the extent of peeking into each other’s memories. And since we separated after such a connection… you can’t deny that we’ve become a part of each other, right?”
Agolet remained silent.
It seemed he had nothing to say, or perhaps he simply wasn’t interested in the topic.
Residue hadn’t brought it up expecting any advice from the man anyway. He just felt like organizing his thoughts aloud.
“Nothing really changes. The things this body must do remain exactly the same. It’s just that… if there’s even a sliver of ‘Lukas’ left in me-”
Residue let out a wicked laugh.
“What is amusing you, Your Majesty?”
“Ah. Just the faces of those who were absolutely convinced I wasn’t Lukas flashed through my mind… I’m quite curious to see what kind of expressions they’d make once they learn the truth.”
“……”
“In any case, if I were to explain the current state of this body…”
Residue pulled out his secret joke.
“Residue, now containing 10% Lukas… you could say.”
“……”
“Between Lekas and Lusidue, which sounds better?”
“Do as you please, Your Majesty.”
Of course, this humorless man’s reaction was as expected.
Residue suddenly looked out the window. A pitch-black sky stretched out before him.
It was a night that made him miss Retip.
***
After that, a peaceful journey continued for a while.
Whether what they were doing could really be called a “journey” was debatable, but at least no further incidents occurred.
Residue mostly dozed off in the warm cargo hold using boxes as pillows, and Agolet observed the scenery outside intently with his characteristically ambiguous expression.
The two were traveling together, but their purposes were completely different. So, rather than calling them a group, it was more appropriate to say they were companions.
Of course, the most accurate description would be a transactional relationship. As mentioned before, the two were using each other.
Residue occasionally took naps and sometimes manipulated a pad on board to check on the situation outside.
“Look at this, Agolet. It’s the public network of the Grand Galactic Alliance, and there’s quite a lot of useful information here.”
Though there was also just as much garbage content. With that slight addition, Residue opened the intranet.
“Quite a decent-looking setup, wouldn’t you say? Let’s see… they even have real-time search rankings.”
The current number one search term was “Greatest-Ever Summit”.
“We called it that a few times, but I didn’t think the name would stick. Should’ve come up with something flashier. Agolet. How about Intergalactic Summit?”
“Most users of the network are just insignificant lowlifes with nothing of value to contribute.”
Ignoring Residue’s nonsense, Agolet continued speaking.
“Even such small fry have now come to know of the summit. People too weak to accept the truth. They don’t yet realize the severity of the situation, but eventually they will. After that, fear will spread and chaos will follow. Is this also the situation Your Majesty was trying to create?”
“It wasn’t planned from the start, but it’s close.”
“I cannot understand it. What can an earthworm do knowing a typhoon is coming? There are times when ignorance is bliss, and this is one of them.”
When talking with Agolet, there were moments when it felt like they were fundamentally misaligned.
However, this was not happening because of differences in their personalities.
The problem lay entirely with Agolet.
No matter who he was with, regardless of the other person, this man would claw at their insides. As if he would fall ill unless he exposed the hidden vileness within.
“An earthworm could dig into the ground.”
“Pardon?”
“And a child might witness that.”
“What changes because of that?”
“After returning home, the child could tell their parents what they saw. That the earthworms rolling in the mud today were unusually active.”
“……”
“If the parent is suspicious by nature, they might grow curious. Creatures like insects are weak, so they never waste their movements. If their behavior changes, there’s always a reason.”
Agolet still didn’t seem to grasp what Residue was trying to say.
“That parent might bring it up again over drinks that night. Mentioning that the worms near the house seem unusually lively… And by chance, if someone well-versed in meteorology happens to be there.”
“……”
“If that person doesn’t brush it off and deeply analyzes the climate, and thereby discovers the path of the approaching typhoon. What, and how much, do you think might change? How many lives do you think could be saved, all because of an earthworm digging into the ground?”
“……”
“Agolet, that is what we call possibility.”
The words he was speaking now were, in fact, the ultimate reason why Residue did not take lives lightly.
“Do you think there’s a being who can calculate all of this? Probably not. You said some things are better not known? I disagree. Of course, knowing the truth will be hard. It will be painful. But between ‘knowing’ and ‘not knowing’, there exists a difference as vast as between existence and nothingness. That’s why I believe. That in a dramatic moment, this difference will bring about a miracle I couldn’t have calculated.”
As he had said many times before.
Residue had no intention whatsoever of knowing everything alone and bearing all the responsibility alone.
Just because humanity was weak, he had no plans to keep them in a cradle forever.
When it came to the ones he had to protect, Lukas was excessively overprotective. It might sound unbelievable, but he also lacked trust in others.
If one were to dress up the word “distrust”, it would become “concern”.
Ultimately, the reason he tried to solve everything on his own was because he couldn’t trust anyone besides himself.
Residue was different.
Several disasters had already passed. Whatever had survived until now, no matter how dull or inferior it was, must have acquired some kind of know-how to keep living.
In that case, he had no intention of keeping this fear to himself.
If it was shared, if it spread widely, a solution might arise from an unexpected place.
“…Residue.”
It was then that Agolet spoke.
“I warn you, don’t try to teach me.”
The chilling voice was like a dagger piercing the nape of his neck.
Of course, that didn’t mean he felt like nodding and saying yes.
Residue instead sneered and said,
“If you don’t want to be taught, get smarter. You idiot.”
“……”
The moment their gazes met in the air, the atmosphere froze over.
If neither of them looked away, absurd as it was, they might actually end up fighting a life-or-death battle right here and now.
Even knowing that, he didn’t want to avert his eyes. He’d admit it, this time.
It was a matter of pride.
Of course, there were more reasons he couldn’t back down.
Residue had not the slightest intention of watching what he said or did because of someone else. All the more so if that someone was a guy who’d be sticking around for a while.
Once he started being mindful, there was no end to it. He’d start considering Agolet’s position in everything, and that would ultimately lead to a loss of autonomy.
If that happened, it wouldn’t be Residue using Agolet, it would be Agolet using Residue.
So even if it was childish, he couldn’t back down in this battle of nerves.
Grrrk, grrk…
The ship began to shake violently. And this wasn’t just an illusion.
The aura emitted by the two men was beginning to have an actual impact on the surroundings.
‘Should I strike first?’
Since he had not become ‘White Knight’ yet.
Residue was thinking that when.
Thunk! A loud sound rang out as the spaceship suddenly began plummeting rapidly.
Had they arrived at the target location? It did not feel like it. The lights were flickering as if broken, and the hull was shaking wildly even while falling.
In short, this wasn’t just a descent, it was a crash.
Then did the overwhelming aura of the two finally break the ship? No, it wasn’t that either.
Just now, it felt like something heavy had struck the spaceship.
KWAANG!
With a rough noise, the vessel collided with the ground.
Before the shock could fully settle, voices came from outside.
“Hahaha! How about that? My shooting skills!”
“T-this is totally insane!”
“It’s a spaceship from the Grand Galactic Alliance!”
“……”
As the rowdy voices grew louder, the ship’s entrance was forcibly ripped open, and a group of people appeared.
At the front of the group, a bearded man shouted boldly,
“Kehahaha! We are the bandits who rule the Green Center region! If you hand over everything you’ve got, we’ll at least spare your liv-”
The bearded man peeked inside the ship and met the eyes of Residue and Agolet.
The moment after, his face turned pale, and he gulped dryly as he finished his sentence.
“…es.”
*****
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