The Weight of Civilization (7K)

Let's not even talk about the endless dismantling of magic and experimenting with all sorts of possibilities.

Now, he's even testing the limits himself, directly confronting Yan Longxiao head-on...

Even though it's a replica of Ex-Machina, its power is still considerable.

However, none of them stepped forward to stop them.

This was an experiment requested by Yotsuba Mahiro, whereby Schwi was to unleash his strongest attack, which he then countered with his new, still-unfinished defensive magic.

"More importantly, Schwi, could you calculate the energy interception rate for me this time?"

A complex stream of data flashed through Schwi's eyes, and she gave a startling answer, "Conversion rate... 85.68 percent..."

Even Schwi herself didn't realize that there was a hint of disbelief in her voice.

Although her Dragon Roar wasn't as powerful as the original, nor could it reproduce higher values like her battle form, its power was still strong enough that even the Flügel wouldn't dare to directly withstand it.

However, the man before them did it, managing to withstand Yan Longxiao's unfinished magic!

It even reached such a high value.

However, Yotsuba Mahiro pouted in dissatisfaction, "Only 85.68... That means it's approximately 85, which is still 15 percent short... It's completely insufficient."

That's right, it's simply not enough.

Although the 14.32 points of energy that had just dissipated wasn't much, it still affected him. Even though his body recovered quickly, he had to admit that he was injured.

Moreover, that was just Schwi's Dragon Roar; if that's all, how can they face Artosh?

I reckon even a casual slap from Artosh would be countless times stronger than Schwi's version of Yanlongxiao, right?

What should we do? Do we really have to find that crazy old woman named Sink Nielbaren from the Elf?

This was the idea Jibril suggested to him: kidnap the woman and have her studied.

But he didn't trust that Elf; he remembered that woman was very good at holding grudges and scheming in the original story...

Yotsuba Mahiro pondered, weighing the pros and cons.

Chapter 417 The Weight of Civilization (7K)

"... Why...?"

Seeing Yotsuba Mahiro looking dissatisfied despite having succeeded, Schwi asked, puzzled:

"... Why are you, Mahiro, able to so readily risk your life...? Even though the success rate is less than one percent... you can still do it without hesitation..."

Even after achieving success, they are still not satisfied.

In her calculations, the possibility of Yotsuba Mahiro being able to withstand Yan Longxiao was extremely slim, almost zero.

"I'm talking about Schwi."

As the words were spoken, a large hand suddenly landed on Schwi's head, causing Schwi to look up at Yotsuba Mahiro.

The two looked at each other, Yotsuba Mahiro smiled and said, "I don't understand your calculation logic, but I firmly believe in one thing: humanity has endless possibilities."

"Possibility?"

"Yes, that's right, it's a possibility." Yotsuba Mahiro paused for a moment, then continued, "Although many races in the world of Disboard look down on beings like humans, because humans are a race that evolved on its own, and there is no Old Deus protecting them..."

But they seem to have forgotten why humanity has survived this great war to this day."

Upon hearing his words, Schwi's eyes gleamed with the light of data streams, as if she were recording something.

Yotsuba Mahiro saw it, but didn't pay it any mind, continuing to explain, "It's precisely because of the possibilities inherent in humans that, starting with the earliest Homo sapiens, which you call monkeys, we gradually learned, gradually evolved, learned to use fire, learned to make tools, learned to seek good fortune and avoid danger, and survived in the cracks, which is why we've survived to this day..."

These achievements were all due to their own hard work, not because of some high and mighty deity.

"... Schwi... still doesn't understand... what logical connection does this have with Yotsuba Mahiro... risking his life...?"

"Of course there are." Yotsuba Mahiro smiled. "We humans don't have the complicated calculation formulas of you Ex-Machina. For us, there are only two paths: success or failure."

As he spoke, a coin suddenly appeared in his hand.

He placed the coin in front of Schwi.

"It's like this coin, Schwi. It only has one head and one tail. Now I'm flicking it up, and when it falls again, what side do you think it will be?"

Bite--

In front of Schwi, the coin was launched into the air, spinning rapidly in mid-air. Schwi's eyes were fixed on the spinning coin until he caught it in his hand.

Let's guess!

"... spun... thirty-two and a quarter rotations... and it's heads up."

This was the answer Schwi gave, but what was revealed when the answer was unveiled was...

"... the other side."

Schwi's eyes widened slightly.

"Surprised, aren't you?" Yotsuba Mahiro smiled. "We humans are like this coin, with only heads (success) and tails (failure). No matter how excellent your calculations are, and you can calculate all kinds of situations to arrive at an accurate answer, in our eyes, it's just that success and failure each have a fifty percent chance."

Does a high probability of success guarantee success, and a low probability of failure guarantee failure?

The answer is not definitive.

Simply put, it's the philosophy of gambling addicts.

No child cries every day, and no gambler loses every day.

Eating, drinking, and whoring all lead to losses, but gambling always results in a return.

"But... this is very unreasonable..."

Neither the game just now, nor Yotsuba Mahiro statement, can be understood by Schwi's logic.

However, Yotsuba Mahiro said about these illogical things are all actually real.

The current planetary environment is deadly harsh for humanity; simply surviving is an anomaly, yet humanity has managed to perpetuate this anomaly without being able to correct it.

It was based on this understanding that Schwi wanted to understand the human "heart".

"That's fine, it's unreasonable. Isn't your goal to try and understand this unreasonableness?"

Yotsuba Mahiro put the coin away.

Actually, Schwi was right; the coin did land heads up. He just cheated a little by replacing the coin in his hand with another coin from his backpack, fooling the Ex-Machina girl.

Although this seems unfair, there is no such thing as fairness in anything. The real skill is to cheat without getting caught, and the goal is to deceive the opponent and win.

"... Is this what 'heart' is...?"

"That's true to some extent."

"... Unable to resolve...[Contradiction][Error][Violation][Error][Contradiction]--"

Schwi muttered incomprehensible words, her CPU was running at full speed, but she couldn't understand it no matter what, even though the CPU was emitting a pleasant fragrance and wisps of smoke were rising from its head.

Ultimately, only one conclusion can be reached--

"... Schwi... still doesn't understand 'heart'..."

This is inevitable.

The Ex-Machina can only perform rational calculations; it cannot think or act emotionally, nor will it try unknown methods to rewrite its calculation results.

But--

"You've actually done very well." Yotsuba Mahiro patted her head again, comforting her, "Perhaps you haven't realized it, but you've already unconsciously come to understand many human emotions: sadness, joy, happiness, surprise, and so on... These are all necessary paths to the 'heart.' When you can truly perceive them, the 'heart' will appear before you."

Schwi looked up at him, her eyes sparkling, and whispered, "... Yes... Schwi... will try her best..."

Although she couldn't understand what Yotsuba Mahiro saying, the feeling of the power core seemed strange at this moment.

The tests showed everything was normal...

However, it doesn't seem to be disliked.

A few days later, Yotsuba Mahiro suddenly received a request for help from Riku.

Their settlements are in grave danger because the Dwarf have launched a major war.

When he received the letter, Mahiro at Schwi, who was playing around with Est and was already familiar with Schwi and the Miyuki, and decided to go and lend a hand.

This was partly as compensation for Riku, and he also wanted to see what was so special about this legendary blacksmith Dwarf was said to be skilled in technology and weaponry.

Based on Riku's description and the anime's portrayal, these short guys seemed like green-skinned creatures.

They can all use the essence as a weapon to detonate it.

That's completely out of line.

However, if we analyze it further and combine it with his improved version of Material Burst, wouldn't it be possible to kill an Old Deus being in one hit?

He could only dream about it.

Each Old Deus possesses unique characteristics; for example, there's the Kainas, a master of magic, and the War God Artosh, whose very power makes the laws of nature tremble beneath him...

How could someone like that be killed so easily?

Meanwhile, Riku and Corone were methodically arranging for the evacuation of the settlement's inhabitants.

Corone gazed at the blood-red sky, now stained crimson by the gunfire, and said with concern, "Riku... will Mahiro really come? And with a war of this scale... will he be alright?"

"It will come."

Riku also stood on the lookout tower, gazing at the Dwarf warships in the distant sky, his words resolute.

"And I believe that man will be absolutely fine."

How could a man capable of rivaling the Flügel and capturing the Ex-Machina without taking damage be defeated by a few airships?

Just then, the ground suddenly began to shake.

Rumble--!!!

The earth-shattering explosion swept across the land, and even the caves where humans lived trembled slightly.

A golden beam of light shot up and soared into the sky.

Looking at the scenery in the distance, Riku laughed. This was the first time he had laughed since his heart had been sealed in cement for so long.

"He's here."

A flame flickered in his empty eyes, as if he had seen a savior.

At the same time.

On the vast and boundless desert.

I advise you not to move around.

Amidst the raging flames and ruins, Yotsuba Mahiro forward, stomping on a figure with brown skin and muscular build... a dwarf?

That's right, judging from his height, he is undoubtedly short.

Even when he stepped on the dwarf, the dwarf was still restless, grabbing his boot with one hand and trying to move it away, while reaching for a large, mechanical-looking hammer that was abandoned not far away with the other.

"You damned monkey... cough cough... you destroyed our warships and killed my people... we Dwarf, and our Father God Okan, will never let you get away with this! Cough cough cough!!"

Even though he was spitting blood, the dwarf continued to utter harsh words to him.

"Ha... haha..." Yotsuba Mahiro laughed a few times speechlessly, then stomped on the other person and stood firmly on the ground. He sneered, "Whose fault is this? I just came up to mediate a fight, and you all started attacking me without saying a word, and then surrounded me with a whole bunch of people."

Calling me a monkey is one thing, but to actually threaten to kill me is another. How can you blame me for that?

"You're allowed to kill others, but others aren't allowed to kill you? That doesn't make sense, don't you think?"

"..."

The Dwarf being trampled underfoot did not respond, but gritted its teeth in resentment, its eyes filled with venom and hatred as it looked at him.