The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 296

294. Outside (1)

In that tower, the king of the world was imprisoned.

It started as a village. Founded by those who fled into the desert, it lacked everything. It was *meant* to lack. Above all, what was most needed was water.

The shaman, the leader, performed a ritual to gather water. To maintain a small stream, he had to constantly manipulate his mana, unable to move from one spot. Thus, the village survived and grew little by little, but it was entirely based on the shaman’s sacrifice.

If the shaman disappeared, so would the village. Human lifespan is not eternal, so the next generation, and the generation after that, were continuously needed. They educated children who showed talent in handling mana, praising them endlessly as the future leaders and guardians of the village.

As new shamans were born, died, and reborn, one day, a child with unparalleled talent appeared.

The small stream became a river. Forests grew, and crops flourished. Unlike the shamans of the past, who merely drew water, the child began to change the environment itself with a delicate control of mana that was difficult for ordinary people to imitate. They made rain fall at the right time and stirred up the wind. They created large dolls of earth and stone, moving them to shape the terrain.

The lush, green land gradually expanded, and the village grew into a city. At the same time, people became afraid of losing their precious treasure. If the child disappeared, the city would decline. Relying on a small stream and toiling all day would yield less than half of the current harvest.

“We will protect you.”

The shaman’s small house gradually grew larger. High walls were built around the mansion. It was strictly guarded to prevent outsiders from even approaching.

It was, of course, forbidden for the child to go outside. Unlike the previous shamans, the child had the ability to prosper the city even while freely roaming, but they were confined to the house under the guise of tradition and external dangers.

Even the gentlest child could not help but feel discontent. But when so many people spoke with one voice, they naturally believed it to be true and followed it.

But eventually…

“There is a treasure hidden in the desert.”

Despite the efforts of the city’s people, the story of the mysterious change spread far and wide. A treasure with the power to cover the desert in greenery and prosperity. It was not an old legend or a baseless rumor. There were countless people who had directly witnessed the land completely transformed in just over a decade.

Naturally, power-hungry individuals appeared. Strangers frequently appeared in the city, and soon news came that an army was on the move. The people of the city flocked to the child, now an adult but still the same as before. They asked the child to protect the city with their power.

The child created powerful dolls as they wished. Some were small and fast, only a few tens of centimeters tall, while others were huge and imposing, several tens of meters tall.

The army dared not attack. Instead, the powerful individuals sent a messenger to the mansion where the child resided. Under the cover of darkness, avoiding the eyes of the guards, the messenger silently slipped in and asked the child.

“Why is someone with your power trapped here?”

Even though they could escape at any time and live freely, enjoying everything. The child answered as if it were obvious.

“Because everyone will be happy if only I endure.”

To keep the shamans bound, all talented children were taught this. Everyone can live through the sacrifice of one. That is the right thing to do. It is a great and noble achievement.

The messenger spoke again to the child’s answer.

“There are only about ten thousand people in this city. But there are tens of millions of people in a great nation. According to your words, shouldn’t the people of a small city sacrifice themselves for the sake of the great nation?”

The child hesitated and nodded. The messenger’s words were correct.

The powerful individuals built a large, tall tower for the child. They lavishly filled the interior and firmly blocked the exterior so that no one could enter or leave, leaving only a small window at a dizzying height. They hailed the child as the greatest king of the world, wishing for eternal prosperity.

As time passed, the world continued to become more and more prosperous. The range of the child’s abilities gradually widened, and soon the whole world received its grace.

Beyond simply making life easier, small dolls even took over the labor that people had to do. It was a paradise where one only had to enjoy.

Hundreds of years, and then more than a thousand years. The king of the tower was thought of as a legend. Every year, a festival was held to commemorate and thank them, but no one was curious about their true form.

‘Snow.’

Beyond the high window, snowflakes carried by the wind fluttered and danced. Then, one by one, they came inside.

The interior of the lavishly decorated tower had long since become old and faded. The silk-covered walls were completely rotten, and the finely painted wooden pillars had collapsed. Only the tower, carefully built with the hardest stone and mobilizing all the technicians of the time, stood firm, bearing the marks of time.

With the child’s power, all of that could be restored to its former state. It was also possible to make it even more luxurious. But they did not use their power for themselves. All abilities other than surviving were used for the people outside.

Because that was the right and desirable thing to do.

While wistfully gazing at a piece of sky beyond the window, they did not try to possess it. They only welcomed the snowflakes that naturally came in. That’s why they liked winter. The white snow that piled up and could be held in their hands, unlike rainwater.

Time passed again. It was a world where magical creatures had always existed. But at some point, those magical creatures began to grow stronger. The dolls armed themselves and fought off the magical creatures, but the damage gradually increased. People’s dissatisfaction grew, and the child also felt anxious. Then, one night…

[You possess remarkable abilities.]

Moonlight streamed in through the window. It was unusually thick and silvery, considering it was from a small crescent moon.

[You alone in this world.]

The moonlight whispered kindly. It was a very gentle and beautiful voice. The child stared at her, mesmerized.

[Yet why are you huddled here alone?]

“Th-that’s… because it’s right.”

It had been so long since they had spoken aloud that it felt awkward. Had they spoken properly? The child hesitated but stammered, telling her about themselves. The moonlight shook, smiling.

[If that is your wish, then devour this world.]

“…Pardon?”

[There are countless worlds. Countless worlds are born and disappear. This world is just a small world with only 4.1 billion intelligent beings. Like you, one of the 4.1 billion, it is just one of countless worlds.]

Like the child, like the small village and city of long ago.

[If you devour this world, you will gain the power to save countless other worlds that are disappearing. That is the right thing to do, don’t you think?]

The child nodded. The moonlight’s words were correct.

“How can I devour the world?”

[Plant your power in every corner of the world and kill all intelligent beings. Then, the world will naturally become subordinate to you and you will be able to devour it. You have already almost accomplished it.]

It was possible just by making up their mind. The child did not hesitate. There was no reason to hesitate. They were already the king and god of the world. With no one to stand beside them and share their heart, they did not hesitate to sweep away everything they had managed in an instant to pursue a higher ideal.

The dolls scattered throughout the world moved. People who had entrusted everything to the dolls, even protecting themselves, could not resist in the slightest.

Thus, one world was devoured.

* * *

“It’s not working…”

The newbie sighed. Beige fur, the fluffy ears drooped. The system of one world had stopped. He couldn’t access it properly.

The system, twisted by Chatterbox’s interference, had been partially damaged by the intrusion of the Harmless King. And it was blocked by an unknown powerful force. The newbie groaned and plopped down on the round chair.

Around him was a white snowfield, and it was snowing. Sparkling icicles floated in the air.

“What should I do? They’ll be angry. I’ll get scolded again.”

The sharply raised black eyes vividly came to mind. They’d glare at him for not doing his job properly, complaining and demanding immediate compensation. The newbie fidgeted and looked at the items he could give out under his authority.

“It’s true that they suffered damage due to the system error. And I couldn’t give them point exchanges. Honey will take care of her younger sibling first, right?”

Even though he was going to get ripped off, he smiled a little. The tips of his ears twitched slightly.

“I need to take care of Honey’s too, but they only ask for other people’s. Should I say there are only a few I can give?”

The newbie rummaged through this and that, then suddenly touched his head. *Is it because he’s a guardian?* He remembered the gaze that looked at him with fondness when he appeared in his original form, and the voice that thanked him.

“…It’ll be okay, right?”

Nothing will happen. Even if something goes wrong, it can’t be helped. It’s a shame since he put so much effort into it, but it’s just one of the small sacrifices that have always been there.

Even as he thought that, the newbie couldn’t take his eyes off the stopped system.

“It’s difficult.”

He was fixing it, but it seemed like it would take a long time to restore it. He couldn’t even grasp how to break through what was blocked. As he worried and tried this and that, then…

[You’ve worked hard.]

A message window appeared. The newbie’s ears perked up.

“…Who?”

[A very senior senior.]

A faint figure was cast beyond the message window. It looked like a woman in a suit. The newbie’s red eyes widened.

“Could it be, then… Are you one of the people who created the system…?”

[One of them.]

“But, I heard that all the initial system creators were absorbed into the system.”

For the completion of the system, which can be said to be a new law encompassing countless worlds. At the newbie’s words, the blurry face smiled.

[It’s stopped now, so it’s rest time. This is just a small part of it. That’s why only I’m awake. Oh, I took care of the point settlement for you.]

“If it’s point settlement, are you talking about Honey and the others?”

[What’s blocked will naturally reconnect soon. But newbie…]

Even though it was a message made of letters, he could feel the heavy, sinking tone.

[The system was created to give opportunities to all worlds.]

“…Yes?”

[Basically, it’s a guide for sudden changes, and in addition, it’s a sponsorship for those with potential. I wanted it to be a hope given equally to all worlds.]

Help for those who want to survive.

[But look at the state it’s in now. How many worlds have been sacrificed? It’s not wrong to say that management will be easier if the number of transcendents who share the same purpose increases. Clearly…]

But in the end…

[If it stays like this, what difference is there between the Origin and you guys?]

“I’m…”

[You must have followed the words of the crescent moon. I know. But newbie, don’t give up easily. If there is someone who wants to survive, help them to the end. That’s who we are. The system is a guide and helper, not a decision-maker.]

The newbie blinked. Discard the trivial. If the possibility is low, give up. Lead a place with greater potential with those resources and abilities. That was the path he had believed in and followed until now.

“But, a few more worlds…”

[Value is not that simple, and we shouldn’t arbitrarily decide that value. Newbie, can you exchange everything on a 1:1 basis? Isn’t there even one thing that you’re more attached to? If you were to weigh the lives of two people with objectively the same value of ability, hasn’t there ever been a case where it tilted to one side?]

The newbie couldn’t answer. If everyone told him to give up on the world he was currently concerned about, if they said that was better, could he easily follow?

[Newbie, don’t forget…]

The system that had been messed up was quickly being restored. The newbie stared at the movement as if possessed. He concentrated and observed, engraving it in his eyes.

[The reason why we created the system. Don’t cross the line, and stop those who try to cross it.]

The faint figure became even fainter. Almost half of it scattered like mist.

[Oh, Chaos asked for your contact information.]

“Yes? Chaos?”

[There’s an old guy on the side of the first Origin. I don’t know what wind blew, but contact him.]

Her presence completely disappeared. The newbie blankly stared at the restored system. The snow had stopped.