...
"So, the dragon died?"
"Yes."
"Then what about that man?"
"He was still alive at the time."
"Wasn't that armored man the kid who got beaten for stealing a piece of bread?"
"I think so too."
"There's no need to beat a child like that, though. Well, stealing is wrong... I'd be angry too if someone stole something that belonged to me."
"But... But..." Rian tried his best not to curse out loud.
"They're all bastards." Rian sneered with a bitter, flat expression.
"The king and his subjects are the same. At least if they don't want to help, they shouldn't sacrifice people's lives so carelessly. Especially that dragon. What a majestic dragon. He's a damn dragon who's too lazy to find his own food and plays with people's lives so carelessly. He thinks just because he's strong, big, and terrifying he can do whatever he wants? Damn it. Feel what death feels like." The words quickly fell from Rian's mouth.
The corners of Evan's lips lifted slightly at that.
"Your comment is exactly what I said before."
"Everyone who hears that story will surely say the same thing."
"Is that so?"
"By the way, that child was thrown into the Forest of Darkness. How did he survive?"
"And also when he fought the dragon. The dragon seemed to sense the power of the Abyss. Isn't it said that humans die before even touching it? How did he manage to do that?" Rian's question flowed out.
Evan pondered for a moment.
"Well, I don't know."
"Why?"
"Because that's all he told me." Evan took a sip of his tea.
"You don't want to ask?"
"I've asked before, but Zain wouldn't tell me. He said it was too long."
"I even spent two hours telling the story." Evan pointed to the clock on the wall.
"Yes, you're right."
"To this day, I'm still curious about the parts he didn't tell."
"Me too. It's a good story."
"You seem to like stories like this."
"Of course. There are lots of books like that tucked away in the library."
"I thought you only read math books."
"..." Rian narrowed his eyes.
Evan chuckled.
"You think it's just a made-up story?"
"Isn't that right? Even before the gates appeared, fictional stories like that existed. Although now real monsters do exist."
"Well, maybe so."
'Ring' 'Ring'
The phone's ringtone rang. Rian picked up the phone and looked at the caller ID.
"It's Mrs. Clara Hein." Rian showed Evan the screen.
"Please answer." Rian answered the call.
"Mrs. Clara asked when you'd be back."
"Huh, can't they just leave me alone?" Evan sighed.
"But by the way, I'm curious about something."
"What?"
"You already know about this story?" Rian asked.
"Yes. I know."
"But why did you act like you'd never heard it when Mr. Zain told it?"
"Haha, it's been so long, I think I forgot."
"You can even tell me from the beginning." Rian narrowed his eyes.
"That... Because I suddenly remembered." Evan looked away from Rian.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, that's it." Evan smiled awkwardly.
...
In a tall building in the city of Lumiville, a man wearing clear-rimmed glasses and his graying hair slicked back entered an elevator.
A woman in black high heels and her hair tied back neatly followed him. The woman was carrying several stacks of documents.
"Have you contacted Evan?" Asked the man, the Minister of Defense, Louis Wallson.
"Not yet, sir." Replied the woman, his secretary, Adella.
The elevator doors opened, and Louis walked to his office.
"Schedule my meeting tomorrow with Mrs. Hein. And contact Luke now." Louis said to Adella.
"Okay." Adella nodded.
...
"When you hear the word 'death,' what's the first thing that comes to mind?"
Zidane was a little surprised by the sudden question.
"Hmm, maybe fear?" Zidane replied.
"Why are you afraid?"
"If you ask why, isn't it obvious that it's scary? Hmm... Maybe because it looks dark?" Zidane scratched the back of his head.
"When you sleep, you close your eyes and everything goes dark. But why aren't you afraid?"
"Because I know I'll wake up again."
"If the dead don't wake up again?"
"Yes. Wouldn't their bodies disintegrate and disappear?" Zidane didn't understand what Zain meant.
"Do you know why not everyone can awaken powers like yours?"
"According to researchers, this is possible due to an adrenaline surge or something. That's why everyone who joins the military is faced with a terrifying entrance test. They say that if someone is truly under pressure, their powers can awaken."
"But that's just a theory. Although some can truly awaken their powers through that test, others can't awaken them through anything."
"Still not sure what's true." Zidane said.
"Hmm, I see. What I'm about to say is my opinion." Zain looked at Zidane.
Zidane nodded, allowing Zain to speak.
"The people who gain powers are those who can't accept death. And the people who can't gain powers are those who accept death."
Zidane furrowed his brows.
"Sorry big brother Zain. But I really don't understand what that means."
"Should I explain?"
"Of course."
Zain paused for a moment. Silence fell over them.
"When we first met, how did you feel?"
"I felt scared and like I was giving up everything."
"What were you thinking then?"
"Hmm... I felt like I was going to die, no, I definitely would. But I also didn't want to die. I hoped someone would help me."
"But you didn't gain any powers then. And you gained them after the training test."
"Yes."
"During the test, what were you thinking?"
"Hmm, remembering that rather terrifying test... I felt like I was going to die again. But I won't die. No, I can't die." Zidane looked at Zain in confusion.
"That. Just like everyone else. They think, 'Ah, I'm going to die. I don't want to die, I want to live.' And 'I won't die, I will live'."
"Even though they look the same, the meaning of the words is different."
"'I don't want to' and 'I won't'. At that point, those words influence a person's thinking. Although it's not immediately apparent, it's a clear distinction."
"The difference between those who want to be saved and those who are saving. And the difference between those who resign themselves to death and those who refuse to die."
"'I don't want to die, I want to live'. They ask for help. But if no help comes, they die."
"'I won't die, I will live'. They don't just wait for help, they still want to fight. Even if no one helps, they will do whatever it takes to save their lives. They refuse to die."
After hearing Zain's explanation, Zidane pondered for a moment.
"But even so, there's still no proof of where this power comes from."
Zain smiled faintly.
"Yes, you're right. No one will ever know the secret behind the world."