Paradigm Parasite - Chapter 167: "Revelation"

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“…but what did you do to make it like this?”

I shrug my shoulders at Bedzhiv’s words.

The location has changed and we are now in Bedzhiv’s workshop, the dwarves’ dwelling place in the mountain range.

On the platform is a club monster, the tip of which has almost evaporated.

I’m taking it in to send it back to Royal Capital to find a replacement weapon.

“So… so? Do you have any weapons that could replace it?”

Bedziff growls lowly.

“I’m sorry, but a weapon with a contraption like that is out of the question.”

“No, I’m not looking for that much. I want something long-handled, reasonably heavy and sturdy.”

“A spear… or a long-handled battle-axe halberd, for example.”

I think a halberd is a combination of an axe and a spear, isn’t it?

Well, as long as it’s strong and unbreakable, it’s good.

“I’ll take it.”

He told me to wait and withdrew to the back.

After a short wait, Bedzif came with a large number of halberds along with other dwarves.

I picked up each of the weapons on display and felt them one by one.

This one is light. This one is fragile. This one is short.

They’re all delicate.

Then I realised.

“Could these be for humans?”

“No, they’re wide enough to be used to some extent by any of our guests, be they goblins, orcs or trolls.”

…Ah, so that’s why it’s so half-baked.

“Do you have any weapons for trolls?”

“…yes, but they’re almost all iron, and you’d have to have the strength of their arms to lift them, let alone wield them.”

“That’s all right.”

Bedzhikh is somewhat astonished, and gives orders to the others.

After a short wait, several men came with several halberds.

I pick one up and lift it.

It’s a reasonable weight.

A little lighter than a Club Monster?

The people around me are a little surprised that I lifted it with one hand.

“Come to think of it, you were waving that weapon around like a twig…”

Bedziff was muttering this, but I ignored him and checked the others.

Weight and length are fine.

The rest is strength.

I tap it lightly with the back of my hand to check and choose the one that looks the hardest.

“I take this one, is that all right?”

“Oh, yeah, that’s fine, but… are you sure that’s what you want? It’s not the most flattering…”

“It’s fine.”

Heavy and sturdy.

If it meets those requirements, it’s fine for now.

It’s just a temporary fix anyway.

I collected what was left of the club monster, thanked him and left.

I had heard that the battle was indeed over, but that the really hard part was the post-war process, and I was convinced that this was the case.

First of all, it’s about the territory of Oratorium.

We are expanding the field to Shudras, so we are currently mobilising orcs and trolls to improve the soil.

We are ploughing, replacing the soil and making modifications to the land to make it easier for plants to grow.

It was a little regrettable that we could not obtain many plant-related items in the magic used by the High Elves, but there is no point in asking for something that is not there.

At this rate, the harvest will increase significantly and the food situation in Shudras will be solved without problems.

No explanations were given regarding the territory, and the connection to the outside world has been cut off by building a vast wall around the mansion, so there will be no leakage to the outside world.

…Well, there’s no doubt that people will wonder what’s going on…

Those who enter without permission because they can’t control their curiosity… well, they’ll have to be used as fertiliser.

The rest of the time, there’s a lot of maintenance work to be done, but I’m not really concerned about that.

If you leave them alone, they’ll do it on their own.

The four races – goblins, orcs, trolls and dwarves – seemed to be made to work like cart horses as a workforce.

Naturally, there was some protest, but anyone who had a problem with it was used as fertiliser or material.

Goblins are basically used for fine work, while orcs and trolls are used for heavy work.

Dwarves, needless to say, are blacksmiths.

They also sell the armour they have struck, so Oratorium has a new source of income.

Naturally, all but the dwarves are recognised as monsters in this country, so they are not allowed out in the open and are asked to live in the mountains or in the forests.

The rest are the survivors of the elves and the modified species I created.

In the end, most of the survivors of the former escaped and only a handful remained in my possession, but I decided to leave them in Fatima’s care after brainwashing them, because I thought it was too good to be true.

…Well, Fatima was pleased that even though there are individual differences, their face deviation is far higher than that of humans, so they are good-looking as servants, but this also has nothing to do with me.

I checked to be sure, but as expected, I did not receive any information relating to Grigori or High Elves.

However, one interesting thing did turn up. It was a drug that the High Elves were said to have handled.

The purpose of the drug was unknown to them, but it was said to make people near cripples when taken.

When I burnt down the ones on top of the temple, the reason they weren’t moving was probably because they were using that medicine.

I had guessed that it was probably used to possess Grigori, but I don’t know the details.

For the time being, let’s keep this in mind as a reference.

And both of the latter modified species – especially the Kongamato – could be used, so they were increased in production and engaged in transporting materials, etc.

The Shrigala and others specialising in combat are said to be in charge of security.

Although this cannot be disclosed.

For some reason, Riley and Trust were looking at me with eyes that seemed to want to join me, but I had no intention of taking them with me, so I gave them a shout-out and told them to hang in there.

If they were here, they would probably be useful, but I don’t feel the need to take them with me…

Savage is enough.

Finally, there’s Fatima, who is in charge of running the territory.

I have no intention of helping her, so you can be as hard as you want.

…Well, they made me do a lot of things instead, but it was incidental and trivial.

They also helped us with road money and other things, so it was a good deal considering it was just a small fee for the effort.

We got weapons and the baskets were repaired.

We had coats made of a similar design, and we’re ready to go.

All that’s left to do now is to set off.

“Guys! Let’s rest here today!”

I – Brosdan – instructs everyone else to rest.

Everyone following behind me sits down on the spot, breathing out in exhaustion.

But it’s too early to stop moving.

“The scouts’ duty is to keep an eye on the perimeter. Those who are available, please prepare the camp!”

Everyone moves into action with a look of fatigue on their faces.

More than ten days have passed since the attack on the village.

After that, we chose not to surrender but to flee.

We set out on our journey, abandoning our homeland for a safer land.

…but the enemy would definitely come after us.

So we all decided to split up.

There are less than twenty surviving High Elves, including me, and we are all children.

In order to disperse the pursuers’ aim, one High Elf was the leader and each was followed by a group of Elves.

Each of them chose who they wanted to follow, and only a little over a hundred people followed me.

I have to do my best for everyone who believed in me and followed me, and above all for everyone who died.

So far, I haven’t encountered any enemies, but as long as I don’t know about the others, I can’t let my guard down.

I don’t know what happened in the village that day.

However, according to the testimony of those who survived, it was goblins who attacked us, and how they did it, they used monsters to turn them against us.

I can’t forgive them.

We should have lived peacefully and not harmed anyone, but they attacked us unilaterally.

I am filled with anger towards these unreasonable invaders.

Why? What on earth have we done!

I shake my head.

Perhaps due to fatigue, I become strangely irritated.

I’m not used to using other people, being on the lookout for pursuers, living and eating.

There’s a lot to think about.

…And.

I look back at everyone.

All of them, without exception, looked tired, indicating that they are approaching the limits of this life.

At times like that, I think.

I wonder what my parents, who have led the village, would have done.

That’s how I’ve survived until today, but it’s only a temporary fix.

The fact that we can only get by on the spur of the moment makes us feel helpless.

It’s also not good that we have no clear destination.

This life with no end in sight is more stressful for my mind than my body.

I myself feel the urge to throw everything away and run away.

“Father… mother…”

I can’t help but mutter to myself.

Once that happens, I can’t stop myself.

Weaknesses spill out from my heart.

I can’t lead everyone.

I can’t do it as well as my father and mother.

Please help me. …… Help me…

Tears spill out as if caught in the water.

How could this happen…

I don’t know how many times I’ve lamented about reality.

I want someone to take my place. I want someone to understand.

I can’t. I can’t. And above all…

“I want to see…”

I want to see my parents.

Until now, both my parents were busy, but at least I could see them whenever I wanted to.

That’s why I felt safe.

My parents are gone now.

No one can help me.

“Somebody… help me…”

I hold the ornament around my neck tightly.

It was given to me by my mother when we parted.

It is an ornament with feathers on the pillars, a symbol of the High Elves.

“Hot…!”

Suddenly, the necklace begins to heat up.

At the same time, something like ringing in the ears begins to be heard.

–‘It’s a child.

… voice?

Isn’t that tinnitus?

–Little one.

“Who is it?”

I look around, but no one is there except the elves a short distance away.

–Do not be afraid, little ones. We are ριγορι, whom you call great beings.

Great beings!

So this is a ‘revelation’!

The voice continues slowly, as if to calm my confusion.

-It is only that thou and we are related. Since the temple is lost, I can only bring you the voice, but I will give you wisdom to help you.

“Oh, please! Please help me!”

I jumped at the chance.

I would do anything to escape this predicament.

–Thou. Do you accept our blessing?

“Yes. Please help us.”

I clasp my necklace and pray.

–Herein is the covenant made. Thou shalt accept all my will. In return, I give you my wisdom.

I feel various knowledge flowing into me.

At the same time, my body changes… and I feel something slipping away.

In this way, I became a king who leads the elves in the true sense of the word.