Ubermensch – Chapter 190

Chapter 190

“What happened?”

It was a simple question.

However, the answer was far from simple.

Mason and Red Girl looked at each other.

Would it be better to say nothing?

Or would it be better to tell everything?

If they were to tell only a part, where should they begin and where should they end?

“If there’s something you don’t want to talk about, you don’t have to. The opposite is fine too.”

Seeing the two exchange awkward glances, Yekaterina gave a calm smile.

“You know, I’m actually quite good at keeping secrets.”

Red Girl made a bitter face.

“I know that well…”

In her world, the world where the Destroyer was born, Yekaterina, the Heavenly King, Red Girl’s master, said nothing until the very end. The fact that Mason the Destroyer was her savior and hope.

And that very moment was when Mason’s downfall was decided. He was pushed down the path to a predetermined ruin, and finally became the Destroyer who threatened the entire universe.

A brief silence fell.

Yekaterina waited patiently for the two to gather their thoughts, or their words, with a gentle smile.

“We…”

Mason paused for a moment, even after opening his mouth.

He spoke hesitantly.

“…failed. We failed at something very important.”

“How important is it?”

“Something the entire universe depends on.”

Yekaterina said with a calm expression.

“Try again.”

“It’s pointless.”

Mason had watched countless universes be destroyed. He had seen an almost infinite army of machines. He had witnessed the birth of evil gods. And above all, he had seen the Lord of Time being unilaterally beaten.

The most painful scene… was watching someone with his face beat his uncle to death.

Even while being beaten, the Lord of Time helped Mason escape. It was a scene similar to when his real uncle had sent Mason through dimensional travel to the past, escaping the monsters.

“All my efforts so far… have been meaningless…”

The same scene as when he was leaving the 28th century. He had become stronger, from a cyborg to a god, through constant effort, but he had to watch the same result unfold.

Mason was broken, and so was Red Girl.

“I’ve been sharpening my blade for countless years. For one single purpose.”

Red Girl muttered with a gloomy face.

“But… I was just a trophy to him. Just a souvenir to reminisce about his horrific victories…”

Seeing the two with broken spirits, Yekaterina sipped her cheap coffee.

“You lost.”

Yekaterina murmured with a sad expression.

“The two people I trust the most, have returned in defeat…”

“I’m sorry, Kacha.”

Mason sobbed.

Yekaterina in front of him wasn’t his ‘Kacha.’

But Mason, broken and shattered, whimpered as if making a confession.

“I’m sorry. I let you down. I’m sorry. I couldn’t save you. I’m sorry. And I couldn’t save the world either. I… I couldn’t achieve anything…”

Yekaterina silently watched the two. Without saying a word, she waited for them to collect their emotions, just with a look of pity in her eyes.

There were times when people needed time, and Yekaterina knew that well.

Because she had been through the same.

It was when the coffee had started to cool that Yekaterina opened her mouth.

“Can’t you start over?”

“It’s pointless.”

“It’s more meaningful than giving up.”

Yekaterina said in a calm voice.

“There might be things we can’t help. There might be things that are impossible. But that’s not a reason to give up. Even if you struggle and cling on, it’s better than giving up.”

“It’s an opponent we can never defeat.”

“Absolutes never exist.”

Yekaterina looked at Mason.

“I’m fighting against humanity’s hatred. I’m fighting against people’s common sense. There are too many enemies, and they’re too strong, so I might not be able to win with my own power. But I’ll still fight. Using every means I can.”

“You won’t win.”

Mason said with a gloomy expression.

“Until a savior appears, you’ll never win that fight. You’ll just repeat a painful cycle.”

“Yes. We might need a savior to come and help us win. A savior who can do the things I can’t might need to appear. But even if a savior comes someday, we have to fight until then. Because that’s the only way the savior can help me.”

“…!”

Yekaterina looked straight at Mason.

“The more impossible it is to win, the more we have to fight. We mustn’t give up. We have to struggle, ugly and messy. Because that’s the only way we won’t miss the opportunity when it comes.”

Mason gritted his teeth with a grinding sound.

“There is no opportunity!”

Bang!

Mason slammed the table, and the table legs broke, collapsing with a thud.

“You know nothing. You don’t know what kind of enemy we’re fighting!”

The only thing left intact was the cheap coffee cup Yekaterina was holding. The expensive tea set she had brought out for Mason shattered with a clang.

“He now has time on his side. There’s no possibility anymore!”

“Are you despairing?”

Yekaterina looked at Mason.

“Or are you making excuses because you want to give up?”

“…!”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re despairing or not. If there’s an enemy you have to fight, and people you have to protect, then fight. Fight even if you’re despairing, fight even if you want to give up. Fight even if you can’t win, fight until the very moment you lose.”

Yekaterina was a lesser god. She was closer to being an empty god who had lost her followers. But she was speaking with more dignity and majesty than any other god or evil god.

“Do your followers want you to give up?”

“…No.”

“Do the people you have to protect want you to despair?”

“…No.”

“There’s only one person who wants you to give up and despair. Your enemy.”

Yekaterina looked at Mason with piercing eyes.

“Then why, why would you do what your enemy wants, not what your people want? Why would you do something you shouldn’t do, not something you have to do, or want to do?”

Mason was speechless.

He moved his lips as if to say something, then closed his mouth, having nothing to say. Mason’s hardened face showed defeat, self-deprecation, and then a faint longing, in order.

“Right. That’s the kind of person you were.”

He never gave up, no matter the time or situation.

Yekaterina was truly strong because she was truly wise, and her steadfastness was enough to inspire even Mason.

Mason waved his hand and created a new table. And even steaming, sweet coffee.

Yekaterina was amazed by his incredible divine power.

“Mr. Mason, you’ve truly become a powerful god, haven’t you?”

“Not yet. I’m too weak to face my enemy, and too stupid to argue with you…”

“…Mr. Mason.”

“I get it. I get it. I was just being humble.”

Mason grumbled and sipped his coffee.

“Absolutes…”

“…never exist.”

Yekaterina smiled.

“Let’s start again. From the beginning. Then surely, there’s something you’ve missed somewhere. Among the reasons you believe you can never win. There must be a way to create a breakthrough within the things you consider your weaknesses.”

“What if, there isn’t?”

“Then we struggle.”

Clink.

Yekaterina put down her coffee cup.

“Until the opponent makes a mistake. Or until an opportunity comes to you.”

“…Right.”

“It seems like this is going to be a long story.”

Yekaterina stood up.

“I’ll bring out a late-night snack.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I have to eat, you know?”

Yekaterina said with a smile.

“A sandwich will be enough for Mr. Mason, and Red Knight, you…”

After a moment of thought, Yekaterina said.

“…Should I bring you a whetstone and some lubricant?”

“I appreciate the thought, Heavenly King.”

While Yekaterina was briefly in the kitchen, Mason and Red Girl looked at each other.

The two shared a smile filled with awkwardness, emptiness, and pride.

“I’ve truly met a good master…”

“You’re right. I really have a good girlfriend.”

“…”

At that moment, Red Girl frowned.

“…You were the Heavenly King’s lover?”

“Uh, yeah. Didn’t I tell you? I was dating Kacha in my world.”

“…Did you sleep together?”

“Of course we did.”

Thud!

The hilt of the cursed sword struck Mason’s side.

“Why?!”

“You’re asking why?”

The broken cursed sword grumbled.

“If I only had a body…”

Yekaterina came back with a sandwich and bread as hard as a rock.

Mason asked with a puzzled expression.

“What’s that?”

“Sawdust bread.”

“Isn’t that something people ate during World War II…?”

“Yes. I made it myself. I got fresh sawdust from the carpentry shop.”

“Why would you go through the trouble…”

“During World War II, my tongue must have been messed up. If I eat bread that’s too good, it doesn’t digest well.”

“…”

Yekaterina sat down.

“So… what’s the problem?”

“About that, I think I’ve found the answer.”

“Already?”

“Yes. A truth I’ll never forget.”

Mason looked up at the night sky.

“Absolutes…”

“…never exist?”

“Right.”

And he looked at Yekaterina.

At the strong goddess who had always been a place to return to, and who would be a place for him to return to someday.

“We might not be able to win. We might be destined to lose. But I swear to you. I, no, we…”

Mason gripped the cursed sword.

Then Red Girl said.

“…will never give up. My lord.”

“Right.”

Yekaterina said with a gentle smile.

“Go. Do what you have to do.”

Mason and Red Girl soared into the sky.

Looking up at them as they disappeared into the night sky, becoming a single star, Yekaterina smiled.

“Farewell. My most precious people.”

Yekaterina offered a prayer to the statue in the room.

“May the blessings of Oztalon, the Guardian Deity, be with you…”