Chapter 42: Two Powerful Drugs Part 2

"At first glance, it looks like just another flintlock. But I know that your invention is something that could never be made with modern technology."

──The world creaked.

“I know how much knowledge it takes to shape that thing.”

──The world is flooded with a blue divine authority that cannot be perceived by any other person.

"Geniuses who lived in their respective eras. The studies established by the accumulation of their numerous wisdoms and the products of the advanced technology established by them."

───The demi-god releases his supreme energy without any restraint.

“That knowledge should never have existed. It is outrageous to actually formulate it, much less inadvertently spread it. I will not tolerate falsehood. Then explain this folly. Convince me. Otherwise, I will kill you and your sibling right here and now."

　A definite killing intent and an unshakable will. The spirit of absolute zero is spewed out.

　It was obvious at first glance that it was not a bad joke. The murderous intent directed at him was too severe to be dismissed as a misunderstanding. It is unmistakably the demi-god's malicious intent, which does not allow even the escape from reality.

"... what, what is it...?"

　Someone raised their voice in response to the pronouncement of such an absolute authority, asking why.

　It was not Rick who was asked to explain himself. It was his sister, Natra, who voiced her protest.

　A girl who is not good with people in authority and who a few minutes ago was reprimanded by a demi-god for ' intruding'. And at this very moment, Natra continues to be bathed in killing intent.

　Her words trembled and her face was pale. She looked weak, as if she might faint at any moment, but she held Rick to her chest and stared at Lute, frightened.

"......What, what have we, Rick, done......!!"

"Hey, nee-chan..."

　To protect her brother. To protect her beloved and only family, a fragile young girl pushes aside her fears and stands her ground.

"Yes, that's how it always is with high and mighty people! They don't care what we want, they just want to mess everything up! They don't even know how Rick feels about being an inventor. ......!!!"

　And the fear implanted in the mind. The survival instinct as a living thing. The social barriers of status. Natra screams, ignoring everything. Natra screams, claiming that it is unreasonable.

　That defiance is never called recklessness. People call it "courage" to risk one's life for the sake of something precious.

　I must say that Natra's resolve is admirable. Even Lute would have admired her nobility with words of admiration when confronted with her sturdy figure.

"Shut up. I don't care about your feelings or the dreams of that little shit. Stop talking nonsense and answer me now."

─ ─ But that was in peacetime. As the new demi-god figure in the service of the empire, Lute, who reigns here as grand duke, simply and cold-heartedly crushed Natra's cries.

　No matter how noble she may appear, no matter how much he may inwardly acknowledge Natra's resolve. But that is not the same thing. Lute will never retract his words.

　Because Rick's foolishness can never be covered up to that degree.

“What did he do? He did something outrageous. And you were a part of it. That's why we're in this situation. It's not unreasonable or anything. It's just what he deserved.”

"We didn't do anything! What's with that flintlock thing!?"

“If you have the knowledge to make that thing, what if a large country on par with the empire is eventually created?”

"……eh?"

"Don't be silly. This is a fact. With the knowledge that this little shithead must have, you could create a third superpower on this continent."

　Lute nonchalantly explains the dangers of Rick to Natra, who is taken aback.

"I don't know what kind of knowledge he has in his head. But I was able to guess to some extent by the previous conversation. I know that his head is filled with the knowledge of a civilization that is two or three hundred years ahead of the present day.”

"...!"

"Natra. Don't tell me you didn't know. If you have actually produced what you call a flintlock, a metal match, you would know what I'm talking about. Even with the use of magic, there is a lot of work that I would like to say is tedious. And the abnormality of the little bastard who ordered it."

"that is……"

“I don't care if he explained all the seeds of knowledge to you or if you only heard the instructions and don't know the details. Either way, you are just as guilty as anyone else when you come in contact with a piece of forbidden knowledge.”

　If you know the details, no questions will be asked. Even if you didn't know the details, you would still be targeted for elimination as a disturbing element. Knowledge of the future is that dangerous.

“If the contents of his brain leaks out to other countries, all kinds of technology in those countries will develop at a frightening rate. If productivity increases, the population will increase. If medicine develops, life expectancy will increase. If industry develops, national power will increase. If weapons develop, military power will increase."

　They won't come true anytime soon. Not everything will go at the same time. But the knowledge of the future means that the possibility exists that we may one day have a third superpower.

"Isn't that just a hypothetical story!"

“Is it possible to overlook it at this point? Well, the possibility of it happening is low. The empire, the Republic state, and other neighboring countries can’t afford to overlook a country that is developing rapidly. Numerous countries will be in the dark, then some countries will start a war.”

　And the victorious nation will engulf the knowledge, or the defeated nation itself. Then a new war-making nation will emerge and repeat the process.

　The end result is a great war. Hundreds of years of knowledge is the reason why many countries are willing to go to war.

“Knowledge cannot be developed without a miraculous flash of inspiration from the mind of a genius who will go down in history as having racked his brains over and over again. It takes a lot of trial-and-error to put it into actual technology, and to shape it into a practical invention. The relationship between new technology and inspiration. You who grew up in a workshop should understand that better than anyone else."

"that is……"

　Anyone who cultivates knowledge understands it. In the past, even things that are considered common sense in modern scholarship were treated as insane or delusional, and in fact, many of them were not even conceived of at all.

　Knowledge shows signs of development when a person with a solid foundation "gets a flash of inspiration”. From there, through repeated trial and error, knowledge finally advances to the next level.

“What you have in your head, you little shit, is an answer sheet about civilization written down by such geniuses after much hard work and effort. It's a veritable 'Book of Sages' with explanations and applications. It's a powerful medicine that can make the world go crazy just by existing."

　It is like a fairy tale, a magic book that tells you everything you want to know. It is a cursed book that exists in reality and stimulates the desires of many people.

　It would be less of a direct danger. There are much more fearsome super forces in this world.

　However, in terms of "danger," it is by no means inferior. The wisdom of this person, which will cause many battles and the shedding of vast amounts of blood, can even be compared to that of a demi-god wizard.

　A genuine, powerful drug that undermines and destroys the world.

“If that little shit there was an out-of-the-ordinary genius, if it was all his own knowledge and ideas, I'd have missed it too. A few geniuses accelerate the history of mankind. Such cases are not uncommon. That's just the way of the world.”

　But the Rick before them is different. He did not start from scratch with a flash of inspiration and a lot of trial and error. He stole a copy of the Book of Wise Men from some other world, compiled over the course of time.

"The world is a ruthless place. You can come up with innovative ideas and inventions from scratch that don't bother anyone else, and still be hunted for heresy. But if your knowledge is too advanced, you can be hunted as a heretic."

　That is the work of mankind. We move to eliminate what we do not understand, without regard to the dangers.

"Then what about you guys? An idea that you didn't think up yourself, wisdom that is so innovative it could cause a major war. And you were about to unintentionally spread it around."

　Then if something truly dangerous and not to be understood was about to be released into the world. It is perfectly natural to move to eliminate it.

"Am I the only one who thinks such foolishness deserves to be dealt with?"

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter