[Your answer is quite unique.]
"Thank you."
[It sounds as if your previous determination was a lie.]
"It wasn't a lie. It's just that I heard that answer from someone else."
[Not your own thoughts?]
"Sometimes we need to hear other people's opinions."
[Then you gave me that answer?]
"Yes. Because I also think it's the right answer."
[And even after knowing that, you still want to save the world?]
"Yes."
[Why?]
"Because I believe there's still a chance."
[Even if that chance is the remainder of your life?]
"Yes."
"..."
Varjha continued to smile.
[I understand, my child. Right now, you're even willing to erode your soul just to pray to me. Explaining the sacrifice of your life won't sway you.]
"Thank you, O great god."
[There's no need to thank me, my child. Because you'll be the ones paying the price.]
"Even so, someone once told me that thanks still need to be said."
[He must be quite a unique person.]
"I think so too."
The heroes, corrupted by the Abyss' energy, became walking disasters.
The overflowing energy awakened the monsters slumbering in the depths of the forests and the depths of the oceans.
The rampaging monsters and heroes clashed, creating a new battlefield.
It was utter chaos. Truly terrifying.
After slaughtering the monsters, the heroes still hadn't calmed down.
Varjha, who was in front of them, became their new target. Even so, Varjha wasn't afraid.
With all his might, he bound the rampaging heroes. The chains were connected to his soul.
Varjha's consciousness penetrated the heroes' minds. Since direct communication was impossible, he resorted to communicating through his soul.
Bound together by those chains, it was difficult at first.
Entering the Abyss-tainted consciousness, Varjha had to hear the terrifying screams, the pain that seemed to tear his body apart, the intense anger and regret, the pitch-black darkness, and other inexplicable things the heroes felt.
If he hadn't possessed such strong willpower, Varjha might have gone mad with them.
Nevertheless, he continued to delve deeper, reaching the very core of their souls.
After experiencing these terrible experiences, he arrived at a place.
As if blocked by a curtain, he saw light.
In the depths of the heroes' hearts, their light remained unextinguished. Amidst the darkness, they all still struggled to survive.
They all truly loved this world. Only for the peace of this world.
Varjha reached out to the heroes' souls that hadn't been corrupted by the Abyss.
With the help of the gods, their bound souls moved to another realm of consciousness.
A faint, light voice rang out, like leaves blowing in the wind.
[Why do you strive so hard just for this world?]
The voice of the World Tree.
[Those you've saved may not even remember you.]
[Why are you still willing to suffer just to save the world?]
Before them all, a vast tree appeared, its trunk reaching to the sky and its roots piercing the earth.
Although it appeared real, it was merely a realm of consciousness.
"Because it is our duty." The soul of the human hero, Lucian, spoke.
[Because you are heroes?]
"No. Even if we were just ordinary citizens, we would have done it." The soul of the elf hero, Myrielle, spoke.
[Why?]
"Because it's the right thing to do." The soul of the beastman hero, Reon, spoke.
[If that were the case, you wouldn't have the power to do it.]
"There are still many ways to do it." The soul of the dwarf hero, Aderon, spoke.
[They won't thank you.]
"We don't need thanks. Because it's also for our own good." The soul of the vampire hero, Cyan, spoke.
[But now, after you've become a walking disaster and have destroyed half the world, your name has been tarnished with infamy. Your name will probably be hated by the new history.]
"It's alright. Even if we're hated by the whole world, we believe there will be those who understand our actions." The soul of the demon hero, Varjha, spoke.
[Those chosen to be heroes have unique souls. But unfortunately, for the first time in history, heroes destroyed the world.]
[There's no guarantee that the next hero won't fall like you.]
"Therefore, allow us to make one more request."
[What is it?]
"Memory magic. Through it, we will send a message to those who will become the next heroes to prevent the same thing from happening again."
[It can be done. But will it be a definite guarantee?]
"We know it won't be certain. No living being is perfect and without fault. But at least it will be a companion for them, helping them make better decisions."
[Even after your deaths, you still want to protect the world...]
[Then I will add one more thing to this world so that your sacrifices won't be in vain.]
"??"
[A scale.]
"A scale?"
[Yes. A scale that will measure the good and evil of a person's soul.]
[A scale that will not take sides, only looking at the truth and handing down direct punishment for their crimes.]
"In that case, then no one will be allowed to correct their behavior."
"Isn't that too much?"
[It's something they must bear alone.]
[You too fell because of their actions, right?]
[It's worth the price you paid for your lives to save this world.]
"If they can't bear this, destruction will happen again."
"But destruction is for something better."
"That's just the way the world goes."
"Nothing is perfect."
"Nothing is certain."
"There is no shadow without light."
The heroes voiced their thoughts.
"May we ask what kind of scales those are?"
[A truly just scale. A scale with eyes that judge and a mouth that pronounces judgment.]
[A scale that cannot be created or manipulated by anyone.]
[A scale with a soul.]
[A being created by following fate.]
[We call it 'Haechi']
Although the heroes' rampage had caused great destruction and many lives had been lost, strangely, there were still some who survived that destruction.
It was as if the world hadn't let everyone disappear instantly.
The survivors had witnessed the terrifying wrath of the fallen heroes. They seemed no different from the monsters that existed.
So, were they afraid of the heroes?
Would they reject the birth of a new hero?
While some were afraid, others understood the heroes' feelings.
Even a normal person could feel heartache if betrayed by even a single friend.
How could a hero, who bore responsibility for an entire society, endure such a thing?
Even the gods would be enraged.
But well, everyone had their own thoughts.
After the destruction of the five kingdoms, they all began to slowly recover. New kings were elected, economies recovered, and so on.
A new history was being written.
With the appearance of an unprecedented being, the fallen heroes became a story that left a lasting impression on the hearts of the people.
However, no one knew that it was the souls of these heroes that saved this world.
It took a long time for things to return to normal.
In the midst of that difficult time, the sky rumbled once more.
Amidst the lightning, a voice boomed from a thunderous and majestic voice.
[I will be the judge of this world.]
A giant lion with its body covered in scales like a dragon with a golden color that looks noble, large, sharp horns on its head, its open mouth revealed sharp and dangerous fangs, between the fangs is a chain that connects two golden trays that embody a scale.
The aura it radiated was divine, yet its form also resembled that of a monster.
It was neither a god nor a monster.
It descended at the cost of the souls of the fallen heroes.
It was a judge in the form of scales who would judge this world.
It transformed into a statue that inhabited each of the kingdom's territories.
The creature, calling itself scales, changed the existing legal system.
In the past, a person had to face a legal council governed by the nobility. Once sufficient witnesses and evidence proved a person guilty, the council would pronounce their verdict.
But now, that's no longer necessary.
A person accused of guilt is brought before the scale statue, Haechi.
Someone will explain their wrongdoings, and the accused will defend themselves.
Lying or manipulating anything is useless before it.
Haechi sees directly into their souls.
Haechi's eyes will emit a blue light and pronounce its verdict. After its verdict is pronounced, two trays chained to its fangs will fall to one side if the person is guilty, and will remain motionless if innocent.
Isn't that wonderful? No evil person can escape.
Of course, that's wonderful.
But what if just a single thought in one's mind makes the scales fall to one side?
When someone is angry or hates someone, they will consciously or unconsciously harbor evil thoughts toward that person.
While not everyone will actually carry out the evil intentions in their minds, what if Haechi sees them as partly evil?
Like a footprint leaving a mark on the floor. Even if it can be cleaned, it's still obvious that dirt was there. And the scales of justice are the ones who clean it up.
It's the destruction of the world once again.
*
*
*
*
*
"Sir... If we are indeed going to die..."
Sometimes it's a friendly blond young man.
"And our bodies crumble to dust..."
Then a girl with beautiful yellow eyes.
"Even if we turn into monsters..."
A spirited boy.
"To destroy the world with our own hands..."
A young man who doesn't give up.
"And drown the world in blood..."
A polite young man.
"And hated by the whole world..."
A kind boy.
"May we have a place to sleep here?"