53. 2-33 Truth in Silence – The Hidden Entity
1. A Truth Without Proof – Vanishing Traces
The Titan had fallen.Yet not a trace of its remains remained.
Moments after the battle ended,the massive mechanical frame, the strange code-like patterns, the unfamiliar flow that was not of magic—
All of it began to fade with time, slowly, as if it had never belonged to this world.
The mages of the Wizard Guild rushed in, sifting through the ashes,but every magical clue they sought had already vanished.
Armand clenched his jaw.
"This… someone definitely interfered."
Lean stood still, watching the scene unfold.He could feel it too.
This wasn't natural decay.It was more like… deletion. No trace left behind.
And—There were witnesses to the phenomenon,but no evidence remained.
2. Silence of the Powers – A Truth to Be Hidden
Wizard Guild – A desired outcome, yet a bitter aftertaste
The Wizard Guild was quick to issue an official stance.The high council reached a singular conclusion:
"This incident officially never happened."
No records were kept.A strict gag order was placed on all participating mages.
"Without evidence, truth is unnecessary."
Some questioned the order.Others felt relief.
"In the end, things turned out how we wanted. The laws of magic remain intact. This is just an anomaly."
But Armand couldn't shake the unease.
"…What if what we witnessed wasn't just an anomaly, but the collapse of fundamental laws? What if there exists a being capable of altering those laws?"
He swallowed his thoughts, unable to say them aloud.
Order of Paladins – Guarding the divine will through silence
The Order deemed the entity a heretical anomaly unrecognized by the gods.
After the battle, Lars Bark personally investigated the remains.But there was nothing left.
He quietly reported to the elders of the Order:
"A heretical being emerged, but was purified by divine will. To avoid further unrest, we will seal this incident within the Order."
"It was a being denied by the divine. As servants of the divine, we need not acknowledge it."
Although opinions differed among the knights,the matter was ultimately closed with the declaration:
"This was divine judgment."
Lars Bark spent days silently cleaning his sword.
"…Is burying this truly the right thing?"
But he too was bound by duty.He could not reveal the truth.
The Sorcerers – To question law is to question existence
The sorcerers, never directly involved in the battle,believed in freedom of magical research.
But if this incident implied not just magic, but the collapse of the very structure of law,the implications would be existential.
"If it turns out we don't live within magic but outside it—then what are we?"
Bound by their reverence for magic itself,they chose to remain silent.
"This event must be forgotten."
They, too, wished for the incident to remain hidden from the world.
3. The Party – A Choice That Could Not Be Refused
And so, only Damien's group remained.
They had been at the heart of it.They had seen the truth more closely than anyone else.
Yet—
The Wizard Guild said:
"What you saw was a mere anomaly."
The Paladins said:
"It was divine judgment."
The Sorcerers said:
"This is not magic. It must remain unspoken."
And then they all looked to Damien and his allies.
"It would be best if you said nothing."
Damien quietly looked down at his sword.Lean wore a bitter smile.Ian muttered, staring out the window.Cain calmly cleaned his bow.
Their silence was not coerced.It was simply… the necessary choice to survive in this world.
And so, they chose silence.
But even they knew—this was not the end.
4. The Occult Group – Those Who See Beyond, Fade Deeper Into the Shadows
Elsewhere, the ones who see beyond sank deeper into the darkness.
They had already gained enough.
"Even without our intervention, they have seen the truth."
"And now… they've chosen silence."
"Which means… we go deeper."
They had already anticipated that the Guild, the Order, and the Sorcerers would choose to bury the event.
And within that silence—they were already seeking the next key to the truth.
"When the laws of the world begin to fall, we must be the ones who are prepared."
They no longer studied just magic.
They studied...the foundation of this world itself.
***
Chapter : The Weight of Choice – Who Will You Save?
Limited Resources, Two Crises
After the battle, Damien's party barely had time to catch their breath.But peace was short-lived.
A courier came running, his face stricken with fear.
"Please! We need your help—two emergency rescue requests just came in!"
Damien frowned.
"What's going on?"
The messenger panted and explained:
"First, the western noble district.A noble family has been attacked.The head of the household is elderly and in poor health.Most of their guards are wounded and unable to fight."
Ian crossed his arms.
"A noble family, huh? They've got money.We might get a decent reward out of saving them."
The courier continued urgently:
"Second, the eastern slums.An orphanage is under threat.Some thugs are trying to burn the building down.The children—completely defenseless—have no means to protect themselves."
Lean's face hardened instantly.
"…Did you say children are in danger?"
The courier's eyes were desperate.
"But… we don't have enough people.Please—you have to choose. One or the other."
"We're not exactly in top shape," Damien muttered.
He checked his pouch.Only three healing potions remained.
The party was in bad condition.Cain had a deep wound on his arm.Ian hadn't rested properly in days.
They could only go to one location.
Lean spoke, grim.
"We're low on potions and healing magic.If we make the wrong choice… more people will die."
Ian exhaled.
"No matter what we choose, we're abandoning someone.That's messed up."
The Trolley Dilemma – Damien's Decision
Damien closed his eyes.
He had lived his life by the law of the strong.And the strong must choose—Whom to save. Whom to leave behind.
There was no time for deep reflection.
He opened his eyes.
"…We'll save the orphanage."
Ian raised an eyebrow.
"Seriously? You're abandoning the nobles?"
Damien's voice was firm.
"Nobles already have the means to protect themselves.But those children don't.They can't afford to wait for us."
Lean nodded.
"Then it's settled. We're going to the slums."
Cain was silent for a moment before asking:
"You won't regret this?"
Damien answered curtly.
"I'll make sure I don't."
Inferno in the Slums – The Rescue Mission
By the time they arrived, chaos had already consumed the slums.Flames roared into the sky.Children screamed as they searched for a place to hide.
Ian moved swiftly, guiding them.
"Kids! This way! Hurry!"
Lean cast ice spells to contain the flames.
"Careful! The building's about to collapse!"
Cain fired arrows at the falling debris,knocking it down before it could crush the children.
Damien drew his sword and stood between the children and their attackers.
"No one else is getting hurt."
They saved every single child.
Noble Fury – A City Whispers
But the noble society didn't stay silent.
By the next day, rumors had already spread across the city:
"The Black Cloud Swordsman turned his back on the nobles!""Mercenaries worse than thieves—they only care for their own gain!"
The nobility was furious.They claimed Damien's group had intentionally abandoned the noble family.They began to brand him as a threat to the existing order.
Sorcerers Stir the Flames
And that wasn't the end of it.
Radical sorcerer factions seized the moment.
"See? The nobles are already rotten!""The Wizard Guild hoards magic to protect them!""It's time we tear down this corruption!"
They began to spin Damien's actions as a symbol of revolution.
Now, the city was being pulled deeper into unrest.
Damien's Choice – And Its Aftermath
Cain looked up from a newspaper.
"They're calling us anti-establishment mercs."
Ian shrugged.
"Still, we made the right call… didn't we?"
Lean quietly looked out the window.
Far away, the children—now safely moved to a new home—were smiling and laughing.
Damien let out a slow breath.
"…I don't know what this choice will cost us yet."
But deep down, he knew—
This choice… would reshape the fate of the entire city.