Chapter 1862: Chapter 1860: The Embodiment of Death
After this, Fang Zheng told the girls stories from other worlds about those who tried to "save the world".
This included, but was not limited to, Emiya Kiritsugu and Amakusa Shiro, who attempted to save the world using the Holy Grail, Charles, who sought to eliminate global strife by waging war, and Emiya Kiritsugu, who intended to use the Human Instrumentality Project to destroy all of mankind...
Their pasts are lamentable, their motives admirable, but their actions cannot be forgiven for these reasons.
"Do you see? This is the evil committed by those who try to save the world."
Fang Zheng chuckled, picking up his teacup and looking at the bewildered girls in front of him.
"In my world, there is an old saying: ’If you can’t sweep a room, how can you rule the world?’ Meaning, if you can’t even manage a room, how can you hope to rule the world? It fits these people’s circumstances perfectly. Remember, you must learn from experience and don’t think ’This sacrifice is necessary for my ideals’ whenever something happens... In fact, if you need such sacrifices to make your dream come true, it means you don’t have the capability."
At this point, Fang Zheng sneered and pointed at the screen in front of him again.
"Here, I must specifically mention Emiya Kiritsugu. As you’ve seen, he went through a lot of suffering when he was young, and then? To save the world, for justice, for humanity’s happiness, he not only killed his teacher with his own hands but also tried to sacrifice his wife and daughter. But himself? He didn’t even know what to do! He merely placed his beliefs on the idea that as long as he obtained the Holy Grail, he could save the world. Yes, that’s the epitome of foolishness. He never thought about how to save the world; he just hoped that he could make that wish and rely on the Holy Grail to fulfill it!"
"............"
Hearing this, the girls’ expressions turned a bit complex, and soon, Saten Reiko raised her hand.
"So why didn’t he stop? Before participating in the Holy Grail War, he could have escaped, right?"
"Exactly, but he couldn’t run because if he left, the acts he committed in the name of justice as a child, like killing his father and destroying his teacher, would become meaningless. His sacrifices would become worthless, so he had to continue to give them value, but..."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng chuckled.
"The fact is, everything he did was indeed meaningless. Life, subjectively, is tragic, but objectively, it is a comedy. His story seems to me to be an absurd comedy, a kind of black humor. His so-called determination and sacrifice, simply put, are merely self-consolation and self-hypnosis. You see, his thoughts are very understandable — I’ve sacrificed so much, my determination to save the world must be real!"
"Ugh........."
"But sorry, the world doesn’t care if your determination is real or not. To the world, there’s only the distinction between can and can’t do. If you can, you can change the world; if you can’t, shouting as loud as you want won’t help. Determination, will, effort, sacrifice, these are just additional conditions."
Fang Zheng tossed Emiya Kiritsugu’s portrait aside, then pointed to the Human Instrumentality Project in front of him.
"Another lesson is not to try to save the world on one’s own."
At this point, Fang Zheng fixed his gaze on Ai, who shrank under his scrutiny.
"See, like I said, the Human Instrumentality Committee wishes for humanity to be completely complemented, to become one. One is all, all is one. But? This didn’t have the consent of the majority. I admit that in many cases, the direction of human evolution and survival needs to be led by someone, but regarding matters of racial life and death, even if you don’t seek majority consent, you should at least let others know about it. Yet these people done things in secret, in the name of all humanity... How arrogant is that?"
"Ugh........."
Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Ai pouted in displeasure.
"Wanting to help others is good, but you also need to see if others are willing to accept your help. Moreover, when it comes to saving the world, it requires a clear goal."
Fang Zheng snorted coldly, looking out the window.
"Just like now, I gave those dead a choice. Whether they agree or not, I don’t care, because I told them about both scenarios of choice. Maybe they won’t choose the one we want them to choose, but at least they know the results of their choice instead of making a decision impulsively and then regretting it afterwards."
"Ugh......"
Misaka Mikoto groaned, almost getting directly hit in the gut by this sentence, while Fang Zheng helplessly looked at her. Misaka Mikoto probably still doesn’t know how many people’s lives have changed just because she nodded that time.
"So, Mr. Fang Zheng......
This time it was Alisa speaking.
"Which choice do you want the dead to make?"
"The second one."
However, unexpectedly, Fang Zheng quickly gave his answer.
"Wh-why?"
Hearing this, Feli was stunned, and Lei beside her was also surprised, eyes wide open, while Fang Zheng shrugged.
"It’s simple, because they’re dead. Dead and alive are two different matters. Honestly, if we eliminate all the dead from this world, it would actually be a good thing. Sure, it may bring some sorrow in the short term. But as they say, better a short pain than a long one. People die eventually, and grief is a necessary process, isn’t it? If they turn into ghosts, there’s a chance for endless suffering over time. So, for their own good and for my convenience, I’d indeed hope for them to choose the second option— after all, it can all end in two hours."
"You’ve thought that far ahead?"
"Nonsense, I’m a deity after all. If I can’t consider problems from a temporal angle, how am I any different from a Zerg player too focused on home base development to establish new bases?"
"......What do you mean?"
Though the girls couldn’t comprehend Fang Zheng’s last quip, they were left bewildered, staring at each other at a loss for words. Initially, they all hoped the dead would choose the first option, but after Fang Zheng’s explanation, they felt maybe... the second option was indeed better?
Though it sounded cruel, like Mr. Fang Zheng said, better a short pain than a long one, and those people were already dead... perhaps it’s better to die happily together, than to suffer eternally?
No, wait, why does it feel like Mr. Fang Zheng brainwashed us?
"Uh? If you think it’s better like this, Mr. Fang Zheng, why not just explain to them clearly or just act?"
Saten Reiko frowned, while Fang Zheng chuckled.
"I said, I provide choices, they make the choices, and the consequences are theirs to bear. Whether they want to die in eternal pain or experience a moment of happiness and destruction, it’s all their own choice. Let’s take you as an example, if I told you that in your next life you would reincarnate as an ability user even more powerful than Mikoto Misaka, and then asked you to die immediately now, would you be willing?"
"Of course not!"
Saten Reiko shook her head desperately.
"I still have my family, and so many friends. Although my power isn’t that strong, I have so many friends who care about me, and Lei is still by my side!"
"Reiko..."
Upon hearing this, Lei who was beside Saten Reiko felt touched and looked at her, wishing she could toss herself over to embrace her immediately.
MMP, truly worthy of being the main character, even when I’m giving you ideological education you don’t forget to flirt, I, Fang Zheng, am willing to call you the strongest!
I want to record this moment and take it back for Index to see.
By then, I must shout beside, "Fight!" "Fight!"
Thinking of this, Fang Zheng, who was stuffed with unexpected dog food in class, suddenly felt uninterested and waved his hand to close his personal terminal.
"Alright, that’s it for today. Go to sleep, and tomorrow whatever decision they make is their own choice."
Just like that, a night passed.
Fang Zheng slept quite soundly, but the other girls seemed worried about this, so much so that when they gathered the next day, Fang Zheng saw that each had some dark circles under their eyes.
"Did none of you sleep last night?"
"Mr. Fang Zheng, you slept quite peacefully, but we were all very tense."
Saten Reiko yawned.
"I slept with Lei last night, but neither of us slept well. Lei is also very concerned about what choice those deceased would make."
"..."
Showing off girls’ affection to me, huh?
MMP, when I get back this time, I must make your harem catch fire.
When Fang Zheng led the group back to the great hall again, they saw many elegantly dressed dead people respectfully standing on both sides, looking like officials surrounding an Emperor. Surprisingly, this time the black-haired girl sitting on the throne wasn’t as dressed up as before; the bandages and eye masks which originally wrapped her face were all removed, and she was sitting there with her eyes closed.
Soon, the ceremonialist shouted again.
"Heramatika Wira is here, guests please come forward!"
Hearing this, the black-haired girl gradually opened her eyes, looking forward.
Meanwhile, Fang Zheng raised his eyebrow.
"--------------!!"
In just a split second, suddenly the entire ground started shaking violently, as if some invisible entities were colliding in the air. The next moment, the black-haired girl let out a muffled groan and closed her eyes again.
"Her Royal Highness!"
The blue-haired boy from before hurried over, blocking Fang Zheng from the black-haired girl, glaring at him.
"What are you trying to do!?"
"Hehe..."
However, Fang Zheng looked at him with a smile yet not a smile, then glanced around at everyone.
"I see, I finally understand why a living person would become the ruler of this city."
"Huh?!"
"Wait, Mr. Fang Zheng, are you saying that lady is alive?"
Upon hearing this, the girls behind Fang Zheng were shocked, jokingly, isn’t this a well-known realm of the dead? Why would the living be made rulers!
"That’s right, actually I was puzzled before, but now I understand."
"Shut up!!"
Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, the blue-haired boy suddenly roared angrily, yet Fang Zheng stared at him and spoke.
"Because this lady possesses the power to kill others just by looking at them and speaking to them. Isn’t that so?"
"--------------!"
At that moment, the originally noisy great hall instantly became deathly silent.
