It's been about a month since the Cathedral Slaughter Incident, as it is now being called, and an interesting development has occurred.

After our joint effort in eradicating the scum of the Kingdom, all nine of us came to realize how effective we are as a team. As a result, we have undertaken a few other projects together, which has greatly improved our efficiency.

What an intriguing and unexpected phenomenon!

Initially, I thought I worked best alone, but after working with these eight, my view has changed slightly. The ease of missions has reached an absurdly new level, allowing us to take on more challenging assignments.

As someone who thrives on the thrill of difficulty, I find it fascinating that I can face powerful foes with the aid of these competent allies.

In fact… we actually faced a Cadre 4 Magivore the other day, and we won!

We beat the Cadre 4 Magivore together!

Maybe you don't get how amazing this achievement is, so let me put it into perspective so it can be better understood.

Cadre 5 Magivores are known as great disasters that can only be fought against by peak-level humans. In essence, humans wielding S Grade Armaments are the only match for these monstrosities.

Anything beyond that level is beyond human capacity to defeat.

As such, Cadre 4 is actually a big deal.

Usually, people need to use A Grade Armaments to win, or several B Grade Armaments to stand a chance. However, out of everyone, I wield the Armament with the highest Grade, and it's only C Grade.

Of course, with Shamans, Alchemists, and Fabricants in our team, our use of mystic powers skyrockets beyond what a normal wielder of a B Grade Armament can even muster.

Because of this, our combined strength is synonymous with those who use A Grade Armaments.

We are exceptionally powerful together.

After making this discovery, we have made a temporary pact, journeying together and completing incredibly difficult requests for a great amount of profit.

Since our name has traveled far and beyond after our actions at the Holy Cathedral of Lerois, many Nobles hold deep scorn and fear towards us. However, some of them also desire to have us on their side, so they show us favor.

This is especially true with Nobles belonging to the Royal Faction.

In fact, our most recent mission was given to us by an Earl—something we could never have received by working individually. Remember that in the Randalorion Kingdom, there are only about three hundred Earls.

Such a thing is a noteworthy achievement, if I do say so myself.

Right now, I'm seated on a stone pavement in the wilderness at our rendezvous point. I've completed my part of the mission, which is why I'm waiting for the others to arrive, so we can depart and receive our reward.

And… I'm not the only one.

There's one other person who's waiting here, and he even got here before me.

It's none other than the gentle giant of our team—Brad.

The sun slowly descends in the sky, painting the world in a dark orange hue. I remain quiet, enjoying the sunset, but also feeling a little awkward in the quiet atmosphere.

Normally, I like silence.

But there's a discomfort that comes from being in the presence of a comrade while both of you are quiet. It almost feels… inappropriate.

Even my old age can't erase the level of unease that I feel at this very moment.

'Of all people, it just had to be Brad…' I sigh to myself, slowly casting my gaze to the ground to distract myself with a robust, finger-length bug that crawls next to my feet.

I hold nothing against the man, to be honest.

He's a handsome, tall, and well-mannered young man who seems to have a bright future ahead of him. His peach-colored hair can be a little distracting, but it never bothered me.

However, the issue with Brad is that he hardly speaks. Even when he talks, it's in very low whispers… almost inaudible.

He is certainly not mute, but he doesn't like to speak much.

I find that unnerving.

Especially since I'm quite an observant person, and I can tell he's the same. I've caught him staring at me many times, and I have a feeling he has a few things he wishes to say—not just to me, but to the group—but he keeps them to himself.

He's also the most mysterious in the group, making it very difficult to interact with him.

I cannot understand him at all, and I find that frustrating.

Why can't I fathom this man?

Weird…

'Oh well…' I step on the bug the moment it crawls close to my feet and sigh. 'I'll just indulge in my thoughts a little until the others arrive, and—'

"Why… did you do that?"

My body shudders a little the moment I hear a voice softly plant itself in my ears.

"Huh?"

I stare at Brad, realizing that the voice came from him.

His words were like a whisper, so soft and delicate, but I heard them with no problem at all.

What's that all about?

"What do you mean?" Arching my brows, I stare curiously at him, hoping to hear him speak again so I can relive the sensation from earlier.

"You just stepped on that Black Carapace Caterpillar and killed it…" Brad's voice appears yet again, and his calm expression shows a hint of anguish.

"Why?"

"…." I'm speechless.

He asked the question too suddenly

What am I supposed to say in response to that?

After exhaling slowly, I decide to go with the most honest answer I can think of.

"I was bored. It was close to my feet. I didn't think too deeply about it." Shrugging as I speak, I notice his expression change again, showing his sinking mood and saddened gaze.

"Hmm…"

Brad's eyes narrow as he stares at me, his gaze seemingly burrowing into my very thoughts.

It's uncomfortable, to put it mildly.

However, I don't detect an expression of disapproval or anger from him.

His gaze carries mostly sadness, but it's still calm.

Unmoved.

"Look over there, Javier…" He points in a direction, somewhere near the pavement I sit on, and sends my gaze to a few more insects like the caterpillar I killed.

"What do you see?"

"Um… more Black Carapace Caterpillars?" I answer a little awkwardly.

"Yes. But also the family of the one you killed."

"…."

"Look closely. They're rather small, aren't they? Those are young ones, probably only a few days old." Once he draws my attention to the details, I notice them for myself. "If you observe them well, they don't have mandibles, unlike the large Black Carapace Caterpillar you killed. They only develop them after a few weeks…"

"Okay…?" I still don't know why Brad is telling me all of this information.

I know I'm curious about the world, but I'm not particularly interested in insects. We learned a good deal about insects in the Academy, but there are far too many animals, and there really is nothing special about the Black Carapace Caterpillar, so I never really studied it.

Even now, my interest in it is minimal.

However, this is the first time I've seen Brad speak for so long, and it's the first time he's talking to me like this, so I don't stop him from speaking.

"Once the female Black Carapace Caterpillar lays her eggs, she dies, leaving the male to take care of the children. These young ones cannot properly hunt, break down food, or even chew, since they're so small and haven't developed mandibles yet. As such, they rely on the Adult Male, their father, to survive."

"I see. So I killed their father…" I sigh, finally understanding what Brad is driving at.

He nods slowly.

"Indeed. And because of that small action, those children will starve to death."

"…."

When he explains it that way, it does seem rather wicked that I would end an entire chain of living creatures merely out of boredom. I didn't put a lot of thought into my actions because I didn't fully understand the repercussions.

But even now that I know the details, I don't feel any particular sense of guilt.

That's because I have never really had much regard for animals.

We eat animals for sustenance and kill them for sport: they aren't the same as humans, and so, they have never held the same value in my eyes.

In essence, I don't particularly have any sense of consideration towards them.

"You cannot be bothered to care for the lives of the small, yet you still curse your own gods when they grant you injustices of similar apathy…" He murmurs softly.

'Huh?'

His words… as I listen to them, something in my heart stings.

What is it?

Back when I thought of the tragedy of the Fae'lkyns and their subjugation, and even after witnessing Living Chess for the first time last month, I felt great disgust in my heart.

More than that, I also felt a strong sense of anger at the Gods.

Why would they allow this?

According to my belief in Talidology, the Gods have given us free will as humans and the ability to dominate the world, but why would they allow us to subjugate one another in such a cruel manner? It has always boggled my mind.

But—

'Now that I think of it… Why do I hold such resentment towards the Gods?'

If I view animals with such apathy, why do I hold the Gods to a higher standard and expect them to be concerned with the affairs of humanity?

The Gods… if they indeed exist… would view humanity the same way I see the insects.

—As insignificant.

"Nothing is insignificant in life. All actions have consequences. That insignificant action of yours, borne from boredom, holds deep consequence towards those young ones…" Brad looks at me and utters those words with a calm, sad smile.

"When we experience the world and its injustices, we should not see them as abstract concepts, but as consequences of actions. The suffering of others is a consequence of the actions of other humans, and many of them view their actions the same way you view yours—insignificant. But is it really? Are any of our actions insignificant?"

As he asks the question, I already know my answer to it.

No.

All actions indeed have consequences.

But that's not why they aren't insignificant. After all, there are actions that hold very little meaning, that affect nothing or no one.

What makes an action significant is the fact that it takes time.

All actions use time.

The time of the individual who acts.

That alone makes it valuable.

After all, is there anything more important than time itself?

However, it seems Brad and I see the world differently. He holds a deep compassion for the animals of this world, and so, he would never harm them with his actions.

I understand.

"Do you really understand, Javier?" Brad looks at me and sighs. "We don't empathize with the insects because we believe they hold little value to us. However, insects contribute to the ecosystem, nourish our soils, and contribute to the cycle of nature. Without them, life would be completely different. Even beyond emotional attachments, there is a reason to attribute a level of value to them."

I slowly nod, more or less understanding his sentiment.

The world exists in an ecosystem.

I understand that much.

Predator and Prey need to exist in a certain quantity, else there will be an imbalance in nature.

The same logic applies to flora and all the things that exist in the world.

But nature is cruel.

This perpetual cycle that it uses to sustain itself is filled with suffering and all manner of injustices. It is largely indifferent to the plights of those who exist within it.

Also—

"I doubt my single action will cause that much of a difference, though." I smile at Brad, offering my soft rebuttal.

"You think so?" Brad laughs gently. "I disagree. But even if you were right… as long as many people think the way you do, your collective actions will cause enough damage. Or do you disagree with me?"

"I agree."

He's not wrong in that respect.

If everyone went around killing Black Carapace Caterpillars, it would definitely affect the ecosystem in one way or the other. It's the same way excessive deforestation or the poaching of animals can cause an imbalance that would be harmful to human civilization.

But… this is just one insect.

At most, an entire family is killed, and not—

'No, hold on…' I pinch my nose and sigh deeply. 'By exterminating this family of insects, I've pretty much wiped out all the other insects that will come out of them.'

In essence, my insignificant action has actually borne a lot of consequences—not just for the present, but for the future as well.

So that is what Brad meant…

"Are you a Druid or something?" I ask Brad with a slightly playful smile, slowly comprehending his philosophy on life.

However, he gives me a knowing smile and doesn't answer.

I was only kidding, but… could he actually be one?

If he is actually a Druid, then this line of reasoning would make sense. Not only that, but it would even explain his personality and why he excels so well in evasion and capture.

But Druids are very rare.

After all, they are able to not only control animals but also Magivores through special taming techniques. They are even rarer than Shamans, who are already very powerful with their Spells.

Instead of answering my question, Brad pivots slightly.

"You seem to believe that only human life holds value, and even your consideration towards animals is only to the extent of being beneficial to humans. For example, you probably wouldn't approve the mass slaughter of animals, but it's only because it can negatively affect humans, and not for the sake of the animals themselves… am I wrong?"

"No. You're right."

"But I believe differently. I believe animals hold worth, and so do plants. Why kill an animal unless you need it for sustenance? Why cut down a plant unless it is required for shelter? In all actions, one must understand the cycle of nature and respect the sanctity of life. It is all sacred to me, and it's simply because life is made beautiful because of the collective efforts of all these things—not just humans, but animals, plants, and even the Magivores."

I smile and shake my head.

"That's a naive way of thinking. Not all animals and plants are beneficial, and that's simply a fact of nature. They also don't bear the same consideration towards us and would kill us if they got the chance to. Take Magivores, for example; untamed ones would kill me as long as they possess the strength to. They do not care about balance or anything of the sort, so why should I put them into consideration when taking actions?"

Brad laughs lightly.

He looks at me with a deep gaze, almost like he is hiding some unknown secret of life.

I truly cannot fathom this man.

"Only the weak should be allowed indifference. Only the powerless ought to be careless." He tells me with a smile.

"They will suffer for it." I sharply respond.

"Indeed." Brad sighs. "We punish the weak to the point where they are not allowed to be indifferent to life and their actions towards the strong, but when you look at it closely… what can the weak do to the strong?"

"…."

"What can the Black Carapace Caterpillar do to you? Even if it crawls on your body or nibbles on your toes, it can not harm you in any way. Hence, its indifference is allowed. It does not need to show consideration towards you. But, a single action of yours can kill it and its entire family. That is simply because you are strong. As such, I believe it is the duty of the strong to hold consideration for the weak."

"Tell that to the Magivores…" I laugh hysterically at Brad. "Your logic only works when we consider harmless animals. But Magivores are largely indifferent to humans, and they are extremely dangerous. If we don't kill them, they can only harm us."

Brad nods.

"Yes. So we have to kill them."

"Huh?" My face twists in confusion as I stare at him.

Then, he laughs. "Do you believe me to be so naive? Of course, I know that once life is threatened, it is only natural for life to defend itself. I am not against people killing Magivores if it means protecting humanity from the danger they pose. If a Magivore were to attack me, I would waste no time in killing it. If it threatens to destroy a nearby civilization, I will be the first to take up arms to fight it. Such is nature… and such is life."

"Oh."

In that case, I believe his position is respectable—albeit a little too passive.

"Why should humans go out of their way to plunder from nature, intentionally provoking and exterminating the Magivores who dwell in the wild out of greed? We covet the Natural Resources that they have because of the power they provide or the economic gain from selling them, hence we pursue them and slay them—all for what?" Brad shakes his head. "Many people don't realize this, but most Magivores do not care to harm humanity. They are rather territorial and would simply remain in their regions, undisturbed, if humans do not interfere."

Indeed.

I can understand this logic.

Magivores require special environments and special nutrients to survive—most of which humanity cannot provide. As such, humans hold very little attraction towards Magivores, and we would largely be ignored by them unless we probe first.

For example, if we invade their territory or affect the ecosystem that sustains them, they will be forced out and will attack nearby human settlements. It's the same way extreme poaching of Prey can cause beast tides since Predators would have a shortage of food and would have to hunt down humans to survive.

Nature exists in a delicate balance, so if you poke at it… It will often poke back.

"Even if you recognize all of this, though, nothing will stop…" I tell Brad with an understanding gaze, more or less understanding him now, far better than I did in the past.

Even I can't deny it—I am moved.

"Special Resources give us Armaments and Potions. They are useful for Shamanic Arts and Spells, and Diviners use them in their ritual. Killing Magivores gives a lot of financial incentives to Hunters and Knights, and it also boosts their reputation. I understand that it will be harmful to humans in the long run, but the short-term benefits are too much to pass up on for most people…" I explain with cold logic. "Most people make a living from this stuff. Without the plunder and slaughter of these creatures, the economy would collapse, and the world would not be the same."

"… But humanity can survive and thrive without them."

I sigh.

"Can we, really?"

He nods.

"In the Village I grew up in… I have seen it. We used to be just like the rest of the world, but one day a mysterious Druid came to our community and changed the way we lived. She taught us that we can live a prosperous and enjoyable life while still respecting nature."

"A mysterious Druid? So you admit you're a Druid?"

"I don't dare call myself one…" Brad smiles, shaking his head. "Most who are called Druids are only mere disciples of the true Druids of the world—the Vey'lithars."

Vey'lithars, huh? I've heard of them.

They're one of the Nine Major Races on the Continent, especially known for their Druid Arts.

Many refer to them as the Original Druids.

"My dream is to one day find a sanctuary of the Vey'lithars and learn Druid Arts from them. Eva, the woman who came to my Village, died as a result of a mysterious illness, so I was never able to learn properly from her…"

'I see. So that's why he won't refer to himself as a Druid.' My thoughts flow calmly as I carefully dissect his words.

"But Vey'lithars are an endangered race. Because of their power, they are both feared and desired by all the other Races, so they have to hide in secret sanctuaries—protected by nature and guarded by Magivores." Brad sighs sadly. "Because of this, it is extremely doubtful that I will ever achieve my dream and find one Sanctuary. I may also never get to see a world where people live according to my beliefs."

"What of your village?" I ask sincerely. "You said they live that way, right?"

Brad nods, but chuckles lightly.

"We're barely a hundred people there, though… not really a lot. In a single Sanctuary, hundreds of thousands of Vey'lithars dwell in peace and harmony. I left my village because I wanted to find the Vey'lithars and see if my people could join them in that life."

Now I see why Brad became a Mercenary.

It seems he has quite the ambition as well… I can respect that.

He goes on to tell me that the reason he stayed in a particular area and limited his work to that place is because he is pursuing a clue regarding the possible existence of a Vey'lithar sanctuary hidden somewhere deep in the region.

"Aren't you worried I might sell them out by revealing this, informing the Kingdom's higher-ups?" I ask him with a slightly surprised tone.

After all, Brad has already told me so much about himself in such a short time.

Why does he trust me so much?

"You don't seem like that kind of person, Javier…" He tells me with a sweet, gentle smile.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I just am."

I sigh, nodding in understanding.

Still, I swear on my life that I won't tell anyone the information he just told me.

I have to say… this is rather unexpected.

This evening certainly has taken such an unexpected turn, giving me an insight into the mysterious identity of Brad. It turns out he is what you would call an environmentalist, one who simply adores nature.

He does not argue with those who hold differing views from him.

Despite how seemingly unattainable his goals are, he is happy pursuing them and simply enjoying life in the process.

What a guy!

All my earlier awkwardness and unease vanish as I stare at Brad in a completely new light.

This experience has changed me somehow.

I don't know just how much yet, but I can attribute it all to this single conversation I had with Brad as the sun sets in the vast sky above.

[A/N: Honestly, this chapter ended up being longer than I expected. But what do you all think about this exchange? I'm curious about your thoughts…]

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