Chapter 145 - World War – 5 (1/2)

World War – 5

We’ve always misjudged and overlooked many things. And because of that, we harbored resentment for the disaster that arrives for us. I judged and laughed at the behaviors of others as if I were some high scholar. I couldn’t help it, after all that happened, but that was no more than an excuse. I was now paying the price of utterly neglecting what I should’ve thought of.

“It’s something I expected, to some extent.” Rain said with a kind smile.

“It’s like this in the end.” I quietly looked down at Alec’s body. All I could tell was that he was stabbed a few dozen times and died in pain. Just a mere twenty minutes ago, it was an ill-fitting end for this man who tried to regain the right to live for all those who became dwarves. I didn’t have the energy to speak, but I was worried about what Rain said.

“You expected it?”

“Yes, Fate. Who do you think they are? On the outside, they may be dwarves, but they are basically the same as those humans out on Earth.” I believed they wouldn’t be like humans. They were trapped in a dwarf’s body and suffered for nearly two years, after all. Only to come to Earth to get caught in a war and be discriminated against. I thought they would take a different path.

But they hadn’t. Nothing had changed. Nothing could change.

“Fate, what would you like to do?” The question had no energy behind it. What was the cause? Perhaps it was the influx of new dwarves. There had only been a few hundred originally in the underground, but now thousands had joined. Maybe they ignored Alec and wouldn’t listen to him. Or maybe they killed him out of fear he would control them all.

“The culprit?”

“No one will tell you.” I looked back at the dwarves who looked about as if they didn’t care. Some of them turned away or gave me a tense look. Some even laughed. Until now, I was confident they would form a strong alliance with me and become a part of the ideal humanity that would make up a new world. But now I only felt the same discomfort I did when I faced the humans outside.

“You are no detective, no judge.” One of the dwarves stepped forward and responded sharply to me. Looking at the dwarves behind him, it looked like he was the leader of a fair number of them.

“Of course not.”

“Then I hope you will fulfill your promise now. You said you would create an environment where we could live without persecution from the humans.”

“Yes, I did.”

“We’ve already organized everything on our end, so I hope you hurry. It is unfortunate that Alec ended up like this, but we will elect his successor in a fair way. Isn’t that right?” I stared at him. He was one of the dwarves I saved directly. His aggressive nature made me want to flinch away and step back, but all of the dwarves were watching me. I stepped forward, setting my face in stone. I couldn’t stand it, laughter welling inside of my heart.

“That is definitely the case.”

“Then, we will do everything we can as your allies so long as you help us.”

“But I have a slightly different idea.” I used Causal Control to fix all of them in place. They were strong, but not one of them had reached the higher system. Thus, they couldn’t resist me.

“This…what the hell…!”

“I need to know who killed Alec.”

“That’s none of your concern!”

“No, this is my concern.” I stared at them all blankly.

“What I wanted was not a representative to lead the dwarves, but Alec, who led you. But now he is dead and gone, and I need to find the one who interfered with my plans.”

“Nonsense…!”

“You have five seconds.” I spread spheres of blackmines all over the place, each filled with the energy of Predation. A Flame of Destruction circled far around us, preventing them from leaving. Even at a distance, we could all feel the heat from it. I embraced it calmly.

“Tell me who killed Alec, and everyone who helped. If you lie, you will die. If no one answers within five seconds, everyone will die. In that case, there will be no alliance.”

“Coward!” The dwarf leading the charge, who asked me to act as their ally, burned away without a trace. The square instantly became silent.

“Four.”

“I will tell you! These ones threatened us to be quiet…!”

“Three.”

“That one! And the one who just died! The three groups united…!”

“Fuck you!”