Chapter 536 Chapter537-A Greater Secret
Ali, in truth, did not know the race of Gick, a fact that remained uncertain even within the hallowed confines of the "Hall of Truth."
Could he actually be a subhuman?
"Your observation is quite meticulous, noticing so much in such a short span. You're not just any ordinary adventurer, are you? Your disguise even fooled me, which means I've indeed miscalculated," Gick noted with a hint of respect.
"But that's not all there is."
"If you wish to uncover the whole truth, you'll have to kill me. Otherwise, those secrets will never be fully revealed."
"Now, let's circle back to the beginning—what exactly is hidden within that village?"
Gick extended his right index finger, placing it vertically between his eyes.
"A complete, Orc United Empire-era Mana Research Institute Ruins!"
The revelation of a complete set of ruins!
Ali stood frozen, shaken by the profound truth hidden behind those words.
If what Gick claimed held any truth, it wouldn't be surprising for the forces of the Silverwind Kingdom's monarchy to intervene.
The attention of every nation, big and small, in the southeastern territories of the Avala Continent would converge on this tiny jungle!
"This can't be possible!" Ali interrupted, unwilling to ponder any further.
"If there truly were a complete set of ruins here, how could it have remained undiscovered for so long? Even a completely sealed ruins would have some form of exchange with the outside world, whether it be materials or mana. Perpetual motion is the domain of the gods."
No matter the structure of the spell, mana is always depleting.
Without sufficient replenishment, as time elapses, the spell will gradually weaken and ultimately disintegrate naturally.
The exact time of the destruction of the Orc United Empire is now beyond verification, but it certainly spans several centuries.
Over such an extended period, even minimal exchanges of mana could significantly alter the environment surrounding a village.
A completely enclosed mana cycle is a technique only deities possess; even legendary dragons are incapable of achieving this feat.
While the Orc United Empire was once formidable, the magic techniques on the continent have evolved significantly over hundreds of years.
Yet, even now, humans are baffled by the concept of a completely closed mana cycle.
"You're right; a completely enclosed mana cycle is indeed a divine technique. But when did I ever say that these Ruins had not been discovered?" Gick spread his hands, his statement adding to Ali's confusion.
How could the ruins of a mana research institute from the era of the Orc United Empire, if discovered by humans, remain perfectly preserved until now?
That is, unless the one who found these Ruins was a subhuman!
Moreover, this subhuman must possess the formidable power and wisdom necessary to keep such a discovery utterly secret.
Ali considered a possibility.
Her gaze settled on Code 19's somewhat pale face as she spoke, "Do you mean to say that the founder of this village is the one who discovered the Ruins? He's a subhuman, and quite possibly a half-orc?"
"Whether that person is a half-orc, I do not know, but I can assure you, he is a subhuman," Gick nodded, affirming Ali's conjecture.
"The individual is known as Kurot. If you've studied the history of subhumans over the last century, the name should be familiar to you. Of course, much of that history has been drastically altered by humans."
The name Kurot was indeed familiar to Ali, unmistakably so.
Even among the advanced elves, there were many who revered Kurot.
Awakened, prophet, pathfinder—numerous titles were bestowed upon him.
Perhaps he was not without flaws, but for all subhumans, he was a saint.
An unequivocal madman, he sought the liberation of subhumans, searched for niches of subhuman existence, and endeavored to establish a nation solely comprised of subhumans.
He even attempted to restore the former glory of the Orc United Empire.
From the human perspective, of course, these were unforgivable crimes.
Thus, he became a wanted criminal across almost the entire Avala Continent.
More than half of the kingdoms and duchies issued warrants for Kurot, and without exception, all empires put a bounty on his head.
At the height of his ideological influence, his bounty could purchase a city!
In the end, no one knew of his whereabouts.
Apart from being a fervent revolutionary, Kurot was also an incurable adventurer.
Legend has it that he met his end during a grand exploration, targeting an ancient Ruins that dated back thousands of years, rumored to possess advanced and extensive space techniques.
"This is where he made his final stand," Gick said, pointing to the ground beneath them, revealing a secret that would astonish all subhumans.
"He died here, right at the entrance to that Ruins. Back then, it was he who established the village in the forest, all to protect the Ruins, to keep it hidden from the prying eyes and safe from those who might seek to destroy it."
"Monka was actually one of his companions at the time."
"In that ultimate adventure, Monka was the youngest member, dearly beloved by Kurot. In the end, Kurot chose him to inherit this secret, while all the other companions vanished without a trace."
"No one knows how Kurot died, but I know that the man who once kept half the continent's kings awake at night died without any regrets."
He had planted a seed, and soon, that seed might germinate, drawing nourishment from the blood of countless individuals, blossoming into the most lurid of flowers.
Its name is Awakening.
"How can I believe you? This truth is so astounding, it sounds like something out of a story."
Ali shook her head.
"Less than ten minutes ago, I was fighting your underlings, and now you're sharing secrets with me that should never reach a third person... Are you absolutely sure you can kill me?"
Without a doubt, the knowledge she now possessed would become her greatest threat.
Regardless of how many end up believing her, there will always be someone willing to take a chance on it.
Perhaps Gick is a person of significance within the Silverwind Kingdom, but whether he can overcome Nula remains an open question.
"Under the current circumstances, of course, I have no certainty of killing you. But, do you wonder why I've told you so much?"
Smiling, Code 19's face revealed a complex expression.
"Some things, some truths, must always be passed down to someone."
Does being a subhuman inherently mean being evil? What exactly does the term 'outsider' refer to?
In the end, it's nothing but a fear-driven attempt to bury one's head in the sand.
Gick, controlling Code 19's body, stood up as mana ripples spread outwards in concentric circles, their color gradually fading until they returned to a latex-like white.
He raised his hand, pointing a finger at Ali's forehead.
"Now that you are aware of these facts, regardless of whether you end up dead or alive, you bear a responsibility—to carry on this truth, to open that Ruins, to find the black box for which Kurot spent his entire life searching, dying at its doorstep! No matter if it encases Pandora or something else, you must open it!"
This is the so-called legacy, the duty of all free subhumans.
To carefully tend to the flame of freedom, and then watch as it one day burns down all the current structures and edifices.
Ali began to vaguely understand what Gick really wanted to do.
He was simply an idealist, but this world does not belong to ideals; it is grounded in reality.
"You want to open that Ruins, to find freedom for subhumans? No, that's not it; you're not that noble... You want the power to change the current situation, to rewrite the rules? You, are truly mad!"
The power to shatter all existing rules, that is the true essence of what Gick refers to as 'power'.
"Have you finally understood?"
Gick began to laugh, Code 19's form swaying uncontrollably.
"I'm merely a warrior, perhaps even half a merchant... But, is that my limit? Why are there so many constraints in my life? These so-called rules are nothing more than collars held in the hands of those at the top!"
"If I cannot remove the collar from subhumans, then it's better the collar is in my hands than in those of the monsters!"
If Kurot is seen as a saint in search of hope, then Gick is undeniably an unapologetic imperialist.
Though he too seeks a path for the survival of subhumans, his methods are far more radical.
Or perhaps, could they be considered more rational? His seemingly unrealistic ambitions, compared to Kurot's approach of "liberation," undoubtedly hold a higher chance of success.
Humans are unlikely to relinquish such a potent force as subhumans.
Not to mention the lower-tier subhumans who have replaced so much of the labor force in human society, even the loss of middle and high-tier subhumans would set human technology back by at least a decade!
Complete independence for subhumans...
It's an unattainable fantasy until a being of overwhelming power, capable of unequivocally dominating all of humanity, emerges among them.
"Have you ever considered how your actions appear to subhumans? It would be war—a war between subhumans and humans, and among subhumans themselves! Countless people would die!"
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