The Weight of Civilization (7K) (Continued)

This time, it wasn't Yotsuba Mahiro started it; it was the fault of these Dwarf.

He just wanted to cover the settlement's evacuation, but who knew what had gotten into those dwarfs, who opened fire on him without a word.

Left with no other option, he could only teach them a lesson.

I first tested the effect of "Absolute Defense Domain," and then directly replicated Lion's Gold to defeat it.

"However, this 'spiritual attire' you're wearing seems quite interesting; it's mine."

They snatched the so-called "spiritual equipment" directly from the Dwarf, intending to take it back and study it carefully.

"You monkey... you actually attacked us Dwarf! You're dead!"

Originally, Yotsuba Mahiro had intended to spare the lives of these dwarfs, after all, they had paid for their lives, but upon hearing this, Yotsuba Mahiro stopped in her tracks, narrowed her eyes, turned around, and smiled:

"It seems you really want to die. Then die."

"The Nihility"

There wasn't even a mournful cry; the air was filled with silence and the falling snow of departed Spirit Corpses.

Several Dwarf were completely reduced to ashes and merged into the black snow.

Some time passed.

Perhaps the last great battle made Riku see many things more clearly, or perhaps Corone told Riku what Yotsuba Mahiro had once told her.

Riku rallied completely and changed his course of action.

No more hiding, no more concealment, but a proactive attack. He wanted to bring an end to the great war and to give humanity a wider world to explore!

So Riku invited him to a secret meeting.

In a cave far away from the new settlement led by Corone.

Deep inside, in a makeshift secret base, nearly two hundred people were gathered at this moment.

Besides Yotsuba Mahiro, Schwi, and Jibril, who was hiding in the shadows and had the size of a child, there were 179 other people, including Riku, each wearing a heavy, dark robe.

In this dim environment, it existed like a ghost.

Ivan and Ale, who initially followed Riku, were also among them.

These people, including Riku himself, were carefully chosen pawns, destined to end this great war and sacrifice themselves for the future of humanity.

At the round table, after surveying each member, Riku, as the "Chief of Ghosts," slowly began to speak:

"The great war will eventually come to an end, but I have decided not to wait for that vague and uncertain future!"

Riku's voice wasn't loud, but it was enough to draw everyone's attention.

"In such a hopeless world, are we merely fleeing for our lives, praying for the end of the war—to whom are we praying?"

Those self-proclaimed gods, destroyers?! Or is it the heavens, which even cannot stop them, or some other being?! In this damned world, are we born to live a wretched existence, regarded as ants and weeds by those high and mighty races and gods, until the war ends?!

And then what?! What should we do after that?!

"I heard they're fighting for the throne of the One God. Those bastards who participate in such a war, whoever the final victor is, will their future be any better than their present one—right?!"

Riku unleashed a torrent of words he had never dared to say to anyone else before, slamming his fist on the table and shouting as if venting his emotions.

Once his emotional outburst subsided, he regained his composure. His lifeless eyes swept over everyone equally, and in the calmest tone, he uttered the future that no one wanted to acknowledge.

"We should wake up from our ignorance and lies, and it's about time we admitted... there is no hope in this world."

Everyone present remained silent.

What Riku was saying, hadn't they already discovered?

They simply refuse to admit it, because once they do, they will completely "collapse." So they deceive themselves from beginning to end, trying to survive in this apocalyptic war and praying for that vague day to come soon.

Just as their sorrowful expressions surfaced beneath their hoods, Riku spoke again:

"So—it's time for us to rebel! Let's end this war with our own hands!"

You might think this is just wishful thinking, but I can tell you now that it's not some vague future, nor is it just wishful thinking!

Because we have welcomed our savior--

As he spoke, Riku had already made room for him.

All eyes turned to that direction.

The person standing there was none other than Yotsuba Mahiro.

And the savior Riku speaks of is self-evident.

Surrounded by hopeful gazes, Yotsuba Mahiro paused for a moment, then smiled wryly, "Riku, you've really put me in a difficult position. You've put me on the hot seat. How am I supposed to be a savior? I'd admit it if you said I was a world-destroying Demon King, and besides, I have absolutely no idea how to give pre-battle speeches or anything like that..."

"It's alright, Mr. Yotsuba Mahiro, you can say whatever you want. We will believe you no matter what you say!" Riku said firmly.

Even if no one present believed in Yotsuba Mahiro, he would choose to support Yotsuba Mahiro forever, even if it meant losing his life.

In Riku's eyes, Yotsuba Mahiro is hope, humanity's only hope.

"All right."

Yotsuba Mahiro sighed softly, slowly walked to the spot where Riku had just stood, and looked around at the 179 people gathered around the round table.

He took another deep breath, until his heartbeat gradually subsided, until Schwi's gaze was completely fixed on him, until everyone was anticipating his speech.

Yotsuba Mahiro to speak:

"... Here, I would like to ask you all a question: what do you think is the weight of a civilization?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present looked at each other, their faces full of confusion.

They thought Yotsuba Mahiro would say something grand and impressive, but all he did was posed a question?

And it's a strange problem--

What is the weight of a civilization?

Even Riku couldn't help but frown at this moment.

He couldn't figure it out.

At that moment, Yotsuba Mahiro's voice came again. "Actually... I saw this question in a book--"

If a human being weighs 3.5 kilograms, what would a civilization weigh?

At first, I shared the same curiosity and confusion as everyone else present, but as I read on, the book provided an answer.

It's roughly the quality of a roll of film.

Upon hearing this, everyone frowned.

They still knew what film was.

But--

Aside from newborns, no human being could possibly weigh only 3.5 kilograms. Civilization is an abstract concept; how could it be weighed, let alone weigh the equivalent of a single roll of film?

Only Riku seemed to understand what Yotsuba Mahiro meant.

A human's weight is 3.5 kg; that's human remains. That roll of film, on the other hand, is the ashes of a civilization after its demise. Historical records bear the weight of an entire civilization...

Just then, Yotsuba Mahiro continued:

"But now, I've come to a new answer--"

Everyone looked up at him, and he said, word by word, "It's 0."

"Worthless to strangers is a laughable joke, a thing of the past that fades away..."

"But--

For those involved, however, it is of immeasurable value, beyond measure.

Yotsuba Mahiro's voice wasn't loud, but his words were like thunder, resounding in everyone's hearts.

Yes...

To outsiders, the civilization of others is simply a joke.

For those involved, however, it carries immeasurable hope.

"Everyone here has nothing left to lose, not even their lives!"

In this devastated world filled with despair and with no hope of tomorrow, death is not the end, but a form of rest.

But now, a future with a sliver of hope awaits your choice!

I cannot guarantee that this future will come after you pay the ultimate price, nor can I guarantee where this path will ultimately lead...

But there is one thing I can assure you—

Even gods bleed, and we are the sharp daggers piercing their hearts!

Language has power.

That's true; at least for those present, their blood is boiling.

Are the things Yotsuba Mahiro insane?

That's for sure.

His mentally unstable and extremely erratic behavior, when considered with common sense, can be described as arrogant talk.

How could humans possibly defeat the gods?

However, no one present refuted him; they subconsciously chose to believe what he said.

"Gentlemen, we must admit one thing: we humans are not a race adept at violence, nor are we a race born for battle and slaughter like the Flügel."

"We are not like Elf, who are born with the ability to use all kinds of magic; nor do we have the Warbeast; and we are not like Dragonia, who have long lifespans."

"We are the weak, the weak who only have a few decades to live!"

"But--!"

"No matter the era or the world, the strong always hone their claws and teeth, while the weak hone their wisdom!"

Because we are the weak, we learn to think, and we learn how to survive!

Because we are human beings, our wisdom is our most powerful weapon!

"So what if we don't have the nerves connecting to the Spirit Circuits? So what if we don't have magical adaptability?! We've still survived this war of cataclysmic changes!"

"The wheel of fortune turns, and it's time for a change of leadership in this war."

"Now is the time to use our wisdom to launch a counterattack!"

"Fight for your families, fight for our civilization!"

"Give your heart to our civilization!"

"We humans will never compromise!"

The Yotsuba Mahiro's impassioned words lingered.

A few seconds later, an astonishing roar erupted from inside the cave.

"Fight for your family!"

"Fight for civilization!"

"Give your heart to our civilization!!!"

"We humans will never compromise!!!"

Listening to the shouts and heartfelt sentiments of everyone present, and seeing their passionate expressions, my heart pounded in unison, creating a hymn of courage.

Slowly, Yotsuba Mahiro down, giving up her seat to Riku, but the smile on her lips never faded.

The way they looked into the shadows and at Schwi seemed to say—

See? That's humankind for you.

Humans who will not back down even when faced with dire straits.

The anthem of humanity is forever an anthem of courage!