Ubermensch – Chapter 152

Chapter 152

Mason frowned.

“We have to kill everyone?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Scáthach spoke in a calm voice.

“Because it is their fate.”

There was no emotion on Scáthach’s face as she spoke those ominous words. No pity or sadness, not even murderous intent or malice.

It was just a matter-of-fact tone, like stating that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

Mason glanced at Cú Chulainn.

His face was also impassive.

It meant he agreed or understood.

“The Shadowland is Eriu’s underworld. They will all die someday and come to the Shadowland.”

“Then why is the underworld killing people?”

“Because of the law of contradiction.”

Scáthach calmly explained.

“They used the power of contradiction too much, and eventually the balance collapsed. Just as the contents spill when the vessel tilts, the Shadowland overflowing into Eriu is simply their karma, not our will.”

Eriu used too much magic. Renowned warriors would have one or two Geas.

However, Geas is the power to intervene in fate through the loophole of contradiction.

The arrogance that the process of life could be changed since everyone dies anyway was Geas. Too many fates had been changed, and it resulted in the land of death, where everyone would eventually go, coming to them first.

Scáthach calmly continued.

“They played with contradiction, the power of fate, too much. Now, they are paying the price.”

Cú Chulainn spoke up.

“Is there no other way?”

“Do not discuss other ways here. Your other ways have brought things to this point.”

Unlike the politeness she showed Mason, Scáthach spoke sternly.

“What I taught you was not just martial arts. Did this not happen because you tried to navigate the world solely with martial arts, forgetting all my wisdom?”

“…”

After a long silence, Cú Chulainn spoke in an earnest tone.

“Then, is there no way to reverse it?”

“Can you truly say that setting the tilted vessel upright is reversing it? You cannot say it is reversed until the contents are refilled.”

“That means…”

“If you want to reclaim your lives, return death to us. Know that only correcting the contradiction can reverse karma.”

Cú Chulainn’s lips moved several times as if his mouth was dry.

However, since he was the one in need, he had no choice but to say the words he did not want to say.

“Then… are you saying we should kill people?”

“Only enough death can stop the Shadowland from overflowing.”

Cú Chulainn wore a dejected expression.

Mason couldn’t bring himself to say anything, and Scáthach remained silent.

After an uncomfortable silence, Cú Chulainn spoke with a bitter expression.

“Let’s go, Oztalon.”

The two retraced their steps.

The return journey was several times more tiring than the arrival.

The path was just as treacherous, but the hope that had been there on the way in had vanished.

Mason spoke as if to console him.

“There must be another way.”

“Master is not one to speak idly. If there was another way, she would have told us.”

Cú Chulainn wore a bitter expression.

“If she said death is the only answer, then it truly is the only answer.”

“Even so, there must be another way…”

“Don’t you understand?”

Cú Chulainn said with a pained expression.

“Because we have been cheating in life, the inevitable ending has come to us?”

The two returned to the castle in silence.

The castle was already abandoned.

Cú Chulainn and Mason briefly replenished their supplies and fed their horses before setting off again.

To Emain Macha, the capital of Ulster.

Emain Macha was not a particularly impressive city. Wood was used more than stone, and even then, logs were used as they were rather than being made into plywood.

Even the royal palace was only large in size, but just as shabby.

Mason’s negative view of Emain Macha was due to the gloomy atmosphere that enveloped the city.

Despite being the capital of a kingdom, Emain Macha had a sense of fatigue unique to a dying city instead of a lively atmosphere.

Cú Chulainn entered a house with Mason.

There, a pregnant woman sat by the fire, knitting.

“Edrid.”

Cú Chulainn spread his arms with a happy smile that Mason had never seen before.

Edrid then got up from her seat with a bright smile.

“Cú Chulainn!”

“Edrid, please move slowly. You’ll startle the baby.”

“What else can the baby do but kick?”

Cú Chulainn embraced Edrid.

Edrid, while hugging Cú Chulainn, looked at Mason.

“Oh my. We have a distinguished guest!”

“Do you remember me?”

“How many times in my life will I have the experience of meeting a god in person? You are already a face that is hard to forget, and the fact that you haven’t changed a bit makes it even more unforgettable.”

She still spoke as if she were singing. She was as cheerful as ever, making it hard to believe that decades had passed.

“Oh my. My manners. We have a guest, so I should prepare food.”

“Don’t do that. It must be hard for you to move around.”

The dignified warrior Cú Chulainn tried to stop his wife, flustered. However, Edrid rolled up her sleeves and said,

“This is an offering to the greatest warrior of Eriu and a god, so I will show off my skills after a long time.”

“Then let me handle the sword work.”

Cú Chulainn hovered around Edrid, looking for things he could do. He looked like a large dog circling its owner, and Mason smiled unconsciously.

No matter the weight of fate Cú Chulainn carried on his shoulders, only happy smiles filled this house.

It was a magical happiness. It was so magical that it felt like real magic.

Dinner time was enjoyable. The food was delicious and the alcohol was good.

But the best part was seeing the two of them smiling brightly.

Painful things like war and fate did not dare to approach this moment, this dinner table.

After finishing the meal, Cú Chulainn rose from his seat.

“Then I will report to the King.”

“Yes.”

Cú Chulainn headed for the royal palace.

Edrid, holding warm milk in her hand, quietly asked,

“Is it a bad situation?”

“Did you know?”

“He didn’t talk about the war at all.”

Edrid was still wise. Mason said with a bitter expression,

“I met Scáthach. She said the Shadowland’s overflow is due to the magic that interferes with fate.”

“I see.”

She didn’t seem particularly surprised. Mason was surprised by that fact.

“Did you expect it?”

“The druids warned the warriors. They said not to abuse the power of contradiction. But the warriors wanted to choose efficient Geas.”

Edrid said with a bitter expression.

“Even my husband, Cú Chulainn…”

“Why did he use Geas?”

When Mason first saw him, Cú Chulainn was an arrogant and confident young boy. Someone who didn’t feel inadequate wouldn’t resort to the power of magic.

“Because he was afraid.”

Edrid quietly said.

“He was afraid of dying and leaving me alone.”

“Because of love.”

“That’s right.”

Edrid wore a sad expression.

“So… I couldn’t stop him.”

As a druid, she would have wanted to stop him. As a wife, she couldn’t. She too must have struggled with conflicting emotions.

“Is there no other way?”

“The Shadowland’s overflow can only be solved by balancing life and death.”

Edrid hesitated before speaking.

“But… there is a loophole, so to speak.”

“What is it?”

“Since it happened because those with Geas tricked the scales of fate, if those with Geas die, there would be no reason to balance it.”

At that moment, Mason felt a sense of foreboding.

“Is that your thought, or is it a common thought among druids?”

“It’s a thought any druid who has learned about balance can have.”

“Is balance advanced knowledge?”

“No. It’s the first thing we learn.”

“How much do druids involve themselves in politics?”

“Archdruids are usually advisors to the King.”

“That’s not good.”

“Pardon?”

It was not good in two ways.

Ordinary people would want the warriors with Geas to die, and conversely, the warriors with Geas would want the ordinary people to die.

“There will be war.”

There was only one case where these two groups, who were bound to be at odds, could agree.

“Between nations.”

Killing the warriors and ordinary people of ‘other countries’.

“A war of slaughter.”

If it was an ordinary war, they could compromise. If it was a war for wealth or territory, they could stop the war by handing over wealth or territory.

But a war where death itself was needed?

It would be a terrible and cruel war.

There would be no compromise, no diplomacy, only slaughter.

Especially…

“No. Between nations and one nation.”

If it was a war with a designated scapegoat.

“What do you mean?”

“An alliance will be formed. The surest way to avoid becoming the nation to be killed is to become the nation that kills.”

Mason looked at the royal palace of Emain Macha.

“Diplomatic efforts are probably already underway. I hope your nation is handling it well, but…”

At that moment.

Cú Chulainn returned.

His expression was darker than when he came to Emain Macha, filled with despair.

Mason and Edrid realized.

This nation, Ulster… had been chosen as the scapegoat.