Chapter 195: The Liquor of Anecdotes (3)
TENa4tEPeophe’s face became rigid when she heard Shirone’s words.jVi
rOYWShe could not understand what was happening inside her.xvg7Q7X
KghyhAAt the moment when the hope of being able to live arose, the firm emotions that dominated her began to fade like foam.JWdghB
Qudw“A-are you mocking me? What do you gain by humiliating me?”mvw57
em36u“Mock you? Don’t talk nonsense. Saving someone who asks to live is natural. Because I also want to live. My life is valuable, and that is why I know how valuable the lives of others are.”HxW
VdvShirone had still not decided to release her definitively.C0N
Eq1Until the last instant, his decision remained uncertain.7Zp
WM1kpBut he thought about Kanya and Lena.Rvs0
ki01He could not allow them to die like that.3JPwLst
Hg7ARZJ“I will count to three. One.”vZpT34
xeyHe tightened the hand holding Peophe.XSjSKmF
Io6KB“Two.”rdZOYq
AoJs0“S-save me.”4ZlM
4jx70Peophe said it in a low voice.Pi6Oh
FChsWYShirone did not loosen his grip.tIjEbc
q7Gr5YAnd just when he was about to say three, Peophe, with her eyes tightly shut, shouted.lfVvj
dHhp“Save me! I’m telling you to save me! I don’t want to die!”4ejIG
8khShirone released her.5txHW
JrHOAfter regaining her freedom, she flapped her wings and rose into the air.ToDqL3
ITKsv83With her face red like the sunset, she rebuked him furiously.QyDY
4lB“Do you think you will come out unharmed after doing something like that?”38TeyDq
RrUC8H“What did I do?”Q34
pz03“You tried to kill me!”gAY2
PVyxSXA“Yes. And that is exactly what you did to Kanya and Lena.”VrKsuQ8
SLLJl3Peophe could not reply.VzOt3WW
9URFShe had been an executor of the law since her birth.z7ma7
mMeqwH3She had never reflected deeply about the life expectancy of the faithful.PDh
1URRaBut when her own life had been in someone else’s hands, the matter became complicated.QqRbgz
6GGmDeath was frightening.mkv6Q
PPSLife was sweet.96g
MAQEven for a fairy who could live ten thousand years.aAULNq
i2Xyv6o“I also think what happened to Kanya’s mother was unfair. Return her life expectancy.”hdm8B2
Y17uWTJPeophe, still unable to organize her thoughts, became irritated by the pressure.QEmqw
Hin“I already told you! Only the upper leadership of the seventy-two hierarchies of fairies can touch the life record. A verdict that has already been issued cannot be reversed.”wehn
O2Vq“Then judge Kanya and Lena again first. You can do that, can’t you?”er4hZmz
3PpPulPeophe rested her chin on her hand and thought.MpC8b
kB8mCsp“Well… then I will leave it as a reduction of one year.”flQpM
YYPOShirone let out a dry laugh.bXf
yr3dThat the sentence was reduced was a relief, but the difference in judgment was absurd.mIwR
2JVqIt seemed that from the beginning there had been no standard at all.XxZi0E
ffyx8t“What is this, a junk shop? Can you deliver a sentence however you feel like it?”Qmbz
IsOd86“If I reduce it you also complain! Then should I raise it again to twenty years?”DpE
15mku“That’s not it. Doesn’t it seem strange to you? There should be a criterion for applying punishment.”j5d1Ju
E8syKwz“I am the criterion! I am the executor of the law! You know? Now that I think about it, you are quite ignorant.”Npx0a6
nutqte1Shirone remained silent.wbWH
tj6Mwp8He had to accept that fairies were a species different from humans.0O0hK
YqtA fairy’s way of thinking was more encompassing.dEJ
NFVyAOcWhile humans could divide love into countless nuances, for a fairy love was simply love.m14o
ts5Peophe was an executor of the law.oIaCDP
8kBe4kwThat was why she never doubted her own judgment.KNs
q8HShe knew how terrifying death was, and that was why she left it at one year.7IUH5ZL
nsTThat she could not make detailed evaluations like two years and three months or seven years and six months was also understandable.Vere4WS
KdwxPerhaps after thousands of years her thinking would become deeper.ONP7vj
pQ00But now she was only one year old.wJiaW
jtXuTg“Is it fine now? Then I’m leaving. Fairies have a lot of work.”3JvYo
eFkQA“Leaving? And Kanya’s mother? Aren’t you going to resolve that?”RfP
pwEUTiPeophe turned toward him with eyes reddened by anger.OzplVin
EZwWPzE“And how do you want me to resolve it? At that time I had not even been born! Besides, I am the youngest of the seventy-two hierarchies. I do not have the authority to modify the life record.”fnXo
uARjt“Then at least tell me the method. You are a fairy, you must know something. I will not let you go until you speak.”u6RQ
JzSOPeophe had a twisted character typical of a spirit of the spiral, but being so young she was not difficult to handle.F4j7thA
auXvzgIf he could extract information from her, perhaps there would be a way to save Kanya’s mother.EoIbH9c
msTJ3B“Ha. Do you think I cannot leave if you block me? And no one can intervene in the affairs of the fairy realm. That is established by the law.”MUIVnhG
9hGee“I don’t know what that law says, but you also know it is unfair. Life is valuable. Is it really fine to reduce someone’s life by twenty years just like that?”vxjrf
r9SBQPeophe blinked with moist eyes.7bSt
tvUIn truth, not even she herself knew.zP4
yRX5To judge the rightness or wrongness of the law with one’s own criterion, one would probably have to live at least six hundred years.xnk
VCm“Why do you keep pressuring me? I only do what I am ordered to do!”7fu2n
yb7s“Weren’t you the executor of the law? When you were so confident in yourself, what happened? Are you running away now?”T7G0
CUMK“Ah, enough! What do you want to know?”BOjWSZ
k5L31“First tell me what the liquor of anecdotes is.”vgFXCaR
EpKGT“The liquor of anecdotes? It is a sacred technique. The law of the faithful is purified and they are reborn as new life.”5JLIeY
WeZMAroPeophe answered smoothly, as if she were finally talking about something she knew.EO5p
FxgU4But Shirone perceived nothing more than an embellished definition.GbR
5hFa“That explains nothing. Explain it concretely. What it exists for, how it is performed, what foundations the technique has, things like that.”4Pwas
PZtJd“Ugh… how annoying….”lGy
lRBU6Peophe’s face became rigid when she heard Shirone’s words.F0HQ
x09She could not understand what was happening inside her.6mCTiK9
XriE4rRAt the moment when the hope of being able to live arose, the firm emotions that dominated her began to fade like foam.dHd
BS88WdPeophe brought both hands to her head.2dr0u2
INfLQTGThe liquor of anecdotes was simply the liquor of anecdotes.RhXjNA
mNJXShe had never reflected on the information she knew through innate knowledge.KtOPS
kCDwRGROnly one method remained.J53Vgz
3IrDtR9When she remembered memory transfer, her eyes lit up.qA8B
Q1rgVX“If you really want to understand it, there is a clear way to explain it. We will use mental resonance. Fairies can transmit memories. I will show you my memory of the liquor of anecdotes. Will that be enough?”BEAA
vxLww7Mental resonance was dangerous.BgN
x18It did not seem that Peophe had bad intentions, but even so she was not an ally.y6dNqE
g6dPLguArin spoke through the mental channel.oaeZW
a8m— It’s fine. I can control Peophe.QFwX
1eIhNbt— Are you sure? Even if we have good defense, irregularities outside the norm also exist.fW1H5
ssIyWlm— Peophe is emotionally immature. I can read the particular pattern of an irregularity through transcendental perception. If she tries something, I will knock her out with a mental shock before she activates it.Ucyi
1yh9xIt seemed that Kanis’s group had also experienced irregularities before.Osfc8G
BHXThinking that that transcendental perception was truly extraordinary, Shirone accepted.2jIG
cLB“Fine. Show us your memory of the liquor of Ilhwa.”OA9v
5x35VSh“Alright. I will begin.”G0CHw9X
ymrtUOgPeophe activated the memory transfer technique.KoFp0cZ
kVoThe minds of Shirone and the others were absorbed into the memory.mYHCiW
I2ecreNThe plaza from a year ago appeared.bdqXj3E
eV9dbwlIt was the place where the statue of the giant stood, and the faithful maintained absolute silence.9zyx66
WKpGhShirone called his companions, who had appeared scattered, and they advanced through the faithful like spirits.UV5fP
R4wEY0Although it was someone else’s memory, it felt as vivid as reality.jbbM
7wwAvAIn the state of memory, Shirone could observe whatever he wanted.PPTjU
y7tA5Even approach someone’s face without them noticing.tFiOOk
rveThey moved toward the statue.FVP3B
SAkh3RqWhen the crowd parted, a shocking scene appeared.lKYb
lOOXSeveral hoses were connected to the statue of the giant, attached to eight large glass spheres arranged around it.Ejx3F
d01Each sphere was large enough to contain a person.sw5uq
Ly01nOwAlthough silence reigned, some people were crying.hQUNL
nuJedkbThe mixture of devotion and despair generated a deep uneasiness.MdvsYed
Dq7BThe kergoinos ran around the statue preparing the ceremony.tVc2
9Jc86Eight faithful stepped out from the group.MPaHc6
j9Abu2xThey were people between fifty and sixty years old, except for one young woman.ModNiuy
vpbbcShirone saw the hidden crying in their smiles.4hbxpO3
wh9Trembling pupils.FmQP
dzaFUdQuivering corners of their mouths.UoKLvaR
JKSiCold sweat on their foreheads.wsR
Bkx5LThey were thinking about death.q1J
FX7rThey entered the glass spheres naked.p8bxh
yzB5GqThe black liquid began to fill them.u6L3
lThDyaLThe relatives ran crying and struck the glass, while other faithful prostrated themselves on the ground shouting “Anke Ra.”XRg
xzjLMother. Father. Grandfather.7yHn5C
HUD0The kergoinos forcibly pushed the relatives away.GsDtKP
2M8Inside the rising liquid, the condemned smiled.xHP44nP
c6MUh5uDeath by drowning?YmXKf
MIfIt was cruel.gmCDg
fGotnBut when Shirone looked more closely, he stepped back in horror.yal
ULYIt was not drowning.hzASH
6VLKTheir bodies were dissolving inside the liquid.jQul
vlGHFvLIt was the most grotesque scene he had ever seen.CgcQGE
QqDHe wondered about the composition of the liquid.hIMc6
uYNyCPtNow he understood why it was black.Spx
gYizyIf the relatives had seen that process, they would have gone mad.4DRe
ATplKqOThe liquid was sucked through the hoses.j1SeSr
pASjNxWA disgusting sound was heard, like viscera being expelled.oGbLx
tHX6The chants to Ra rose even higher.ksOr
fYoWhen the level descended, the spheres became completely transparent.PL6f29c
hGtNothing remained.bb4A
Q26IkxThe people who had been smiling moments before had been absorbed by the hoses.Rh0e
x9mu1eQTrembling, Shirone followed the path of the hoses.CsabaX
lhL5The statue of the giant.9Bsn
sfsUToward its base, eight people were being poured in.Qiu6
YspSgThen what was now filling the statue?w8hYG3
JYGRa, eternal and immortal.SV9G
sTAmgNThe cries of “Anke Ra” pierced the sky.eb6
8wjSuddenly, the statue vibrated violently.iYjuj
t5hRZoWThe faithful fell silent.1hGvKU
GO5QAll the liquid had been transferred into the statue.YnO25I
Hle08JAs if it were a mold.hVTn
r9AShirone shook his head.
It could not be.2lvoGGk
cxqzKHcBut once the idea appeared, he could not stop it.NHLQ
JFlA mold that melts human beings in order to pour them.OKM
XYuJThen what was being created inside was—0nsIEC
qeBpqThe statue opened along a cutting line.pglP0HY
ww371An enormous foot emerged and shook the earth.nmsBX
Z20K8nxShirone felt a chill when he saw the giant covered in a gelatinous substance.HFX04Z
HQa6zIts expression was distorted.z8B
Twugt7tIt did not seem human.O1j7iTb
I7imArin murmured through the mental channel.sQmQjQ6
FMyz7GsThey had not been able to connect mentally with the giant because multiple consciousnesses were mixed in a single body.JSb
jo0fThen what was that mind?6eh
rkREight consciousnesses?4fPT
O9BJleOr something completely different?pcq
7GxcfsThe faithful begged for mercy.kZk3Elu
bWP38SIThe giant was the one born from the law and guardian of the law.HzI
kBeTherefore it had the right to execute those who violated it.u7CJjjv
qboMIf at that moment someone were crushed under its foot, it would not be the giant’s fault.gUP
SfwIKThose who met its gaze collapsed convulsing.9jtZfsD
Mo6PIt was the ocular technique called Pressing.yedTzIU
kez7TAh…fGn9zMD
4D4Shirone trembled.Hm6BTi
Tj4The origin of the schema.rHIC
2IOOThe primordial schema was the superposition of the human diagrams melted in the liquor of anecdotes.zVEFz6
7bdrlAHe heard conversations while the giant moved away.DQyR6tD
98r2cThe giant would leave Heaven and go to Purgatory, where it would eliminate heretics who threatened it.tWuo1Uz
yiKto7Then it would return to the Fifth Heaven, Matei, called by Ra.yyLr
sjZ5JhThe relatives cried.lmIM2k
MeFJdXdMother! Father! Grandfather!VbksB
1vy3The giant seemed to tremble, as if it had reacted to the voices.pt9Rwa
hoPElBut it did not look back.D4I6hi
6MRnIt kept walking toward the gate as if nothing had happened.zX4rPE
obyKPeophe’s memory disintegrated like burning paper, and the scene returned to the house.Aibf
hFUnfIGShirone and the others looked around.erU
M0NPeophe had disappeared.jRfD
gERYydShe probably fled while the memory was playing.PYK
qBzXBut they did not have time to worry about it.5Y7Y
AOzNow they knew what the liquor of anecdotes was.6D7C
uxhThe condemned is decomposed in the liquid.3t40
lgAqAThen poured into a mold, where a special transformation occurs and they are reborn as a giant.zOa9I
UaSHuman consciousnesses are mixed.XzqH
oBMFRAnd in that process the schema emerges.a8Time
lQIThe stimulant that Kanya had bought was for that.hdPW
rB2BnFGTo preserve at least a fragment of consciousness in that unknown darkness.yFqUF
1K8Gardrak was right.UwAe
nXVnQqIt was no different from applying anesthesia to a patient who dies in pain.cz7Iw
ZiI“This is…”WghJA
4uuhTess’s face was completely pale.vVLd
AW77KAThe giant’s schema.LsRE
Y4z2osCAnd her own schema.dOQL
zeAswaWhen her mind connected both, she ran to a corner and vomited.8y0w65
5eVwoJkNo one reproached her.LOGqPAY
Gr7nv1EEveryone felt nauseous.jxaNTk
GgnYmRian approached, but Tess stopped him with her hand.LXjLOaK
q6yAhz6It was not that the memory was more brutal than a battlefield.Au0RSeJ
ug6QSzkIt was a mental nausea.7fQp
H6OSchema was the technique of the giant.9I9K4ew
Qa2xTThen why could she open it?P1cXpRk
JCfPjQ7Did she have giant blood like a Nephilim?wqxcb
r37hpDQBut giants did not have reproductive organs.3fhgZ
TIL“Now you understand why I did not say it.”mTY
83F2DqKanya murmured sadly.TrpJT
INylsSome call it a blessing.Uxim
QNbXdgYOthers, a curse.9LUX
IJtl0lbNo one wanted to speak of that ceremony that divided even the faithful and the heretics.AwZ1Eq
v9AJ6Bz“According to the law, humans were born from giants. That is why they return to become giants. That is the liquor of anecdotes.”fa40s
xVPvnsEven if her words were true, Shirone could not accept it.dMg9BGC
cnDWhat he had seen could not be hidden behind any pious façade.QNF
JiGgaAGAt last he understood.nCaxvJt
HV3The liquor of anecdotes practiced in Heaven was a technique that used human flesh and viscera as raw material to manufacture giants.os9QOQ9
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