chapter 383: dice (6)

    i almost got hit by rina as a joke, but i managed to dodge it.

    i laughed so much at her reaction, her face growing redder the more she listened to me.

    however, just a little—really just a little—she showed some interest.

    in this world, there are only novels and drawings, but no videos.

    it might seem quite lewd, but even earth’s porn can be considered a product of science and culture.

    humans have an innate sexual desire and inevitably need a way to release it.no?v(el)b\\jnn

    although there are individual differences, no medium conveys messages as effectively as video.

    rina, however, wasn’t interested in porn but rather in video as a medium itself.

    “you’re saying even commoners can easily do that?”

    “that’s right.”

    “it’s a technology that’s hard even for nobles to access, but it seems that’s not the case in your world. just hearing about it makes it sound doubtful.”

    “if science develops enough, it’s possible. besides, there’s magic too.”

    though video-call magic hasn’t been invented yet, it will emerge soon since the elves are researching it.

    elves are unmatched in the depth of their magic, even if their development is slow overall.

    the problem lies in their unique narrow-mindedness and isolationism.

    if they could fix these, they would advance much faster than other races.

    “that, and the concept of democracy is fascinating. to think commoners could vote to choose their king, disregarding social class.”

    “do you think it’s a good idea?”

    “it’s not about good or bad. i think it would be hard to apply to our world. fairness and equality may seem similar, but they are fundamentally different.”

    exactly.

    democracy doesn’t grant power to a specific class but ensures political power shifts through elections.

    for someone like rina, a member of the elite, it’s not very appealing—she would have to relinquish all her authority and power.

    also, as she said, fairness and equality are different.

    at this point in time, there will inevitably be dissatisfaction with democracy.

    historically, democracy took root firmly only because people witnessed the atrocities of totalitarianism during world war ii.

    “you’re right. honestly, there’s no need to rush into a new system.

    as i mentioned earlier, radical progress inevitably brings turmoil. in this world, individuals possess great power, so there’s a lot to consider.”

    “instead of blindly applying it, we should start with the basics.

    for instance, even the emperor shouldn’t have the right to unjustly deprive people of their freedom.”

    “that’s true, but fundamentally, freedom should be guaranteed. and if freedom is violated, there needs to be someone to address it.”

    in democracy, the most important thing is civic awareness—citizens understanding their freedoms and rights clearly.

    ironically, those freedoms and rights are often easily suppressed by ‘power.’

    in my home country, south korea, the gwangju democratization movement occurred, and in myanmar, a coup destroyed democracy.

    of course, there have been many cases where democracy showed its strength, but they were all initiated by the citizens themselves.

    there’s a reason people say the true power of democracy comes from its citizens.

    in that sense, for democracy to take root in this world, it would require a long and arduous process.

    after all, even totalitarianism hasn’t emerged yet, and freedom and rights are already sufficiently guaranteed.

    maintaining the status quo might be enough for now.

    “at least in your generation, democracy won’t take root, so don’t worry. unless a revolution breaks out in the kingdom of teres, that is.”

    “that would be concerning. our people might be stirred if they witness such a revolution.”

    “but you have no justification to stop a revolution, do you? you can only watch. let’s see... based on the knowledge you’ve shared...”

    rina asked me for a sheet of paper and a pen, apparently to organize her thoughts.

    it’s much better to write things down in a notebook than trying to sort it all out mentally.

    as she filled page after page, a smile gradually appeared on her lips.

    whether it was because a brilliant idea had struck her or simply the joy of imagining possibilities, one thing was clear:

    there was going to be a significant change in the political system of the minerva empire.

    “hehe.”

    she was so pleased that a peculiar chuckle escaped her.

    “right.”

    “then we should work more closely with machina. if what you said is true, the dwarves’ era is coming. we might even consider recruiting ains...”

    rina, unable to contain her overflowing ideas, began writing again on another sheet of paper. her usually composed demeanor had given way to fervent enthusiasm.

    for me, these are just ‘possibilities,’ but for her, they seem tangible.

    one thing is certain: only those with such a pioneering spirit can advance the world.

    moreover, one crucial element for this world’s development remains.

    “rina.”

    “hmm?”

    “i forgot to mention something. development is good, but if not handled cautiously, it might invite divine wrath.”

    “what do you mean?”

    at the mention of ‘divine wrath,’ rina blinked her large eyes and quietly asked again.

    her voice subtly trembled, as if she intuitively understood the weight of my words.

    i calmly sipped the remaining tea and began speaking about environmental destruction—humanity’s greatest challenge post-industrial revolution.

    “our world achieved rapid development, but unfortunately, side effects began to emerge. i’m not talking about science or culture, but about “nature,” the mother of all life.”

    “nature? why?”

    “humanity recklessly destroyed nature while consuming enormous resources.

    forests were cleared, rivers polluted, seas grew harsh, and the sky developed holes, leading to abnormal weather patterns.”

    “....”

    by the time i died, earth’s average temperature was rising, causing increasingly inexplicable natural disasters.

    some institutions even said that unless carbon emissions ceased immediately, earth wouldn’t survive.

    some islands were already sinking due to rising sea levels.

    “thankfully, in my world, there was no direct divine intervention. otherwise, we would’ve faced judgment long ago. in this world, hirte and the other gods might issue warnings.”

    “...is there a solution?”

    “i don’t know. but with mana here, you could probably find a way to manage it.”

    “nature is the mother of all life, and yet humanity destroyed it? that’s pure hubris.”

    rina stopped her pen, seemingly absorbing the gravity of my words.

    she had realized something.

    industrial revolution inevitably brings environmental destruction.

    but perhaps mana and magic could offer alternatives in this world.

    even gods like hirt might hesitate to interfere, knowing it could provoke discontent from their children.

    as the atmosphere grew serious, i glanced at the clock.

    we had been talking for quite some time.

    “let’s wrap up for today. you have a lot to do, don’t you?”

    “got it. this was a productive conversation. you’ll tell me more later, right?”

    “whenever you want. although... maybe the next time will have to be in bed—i might not have much free time otherwise.”

    “huh? that makes sense, but—hey!! seriously!!”

    rina is most entertaining when teased.

    ★★★★★

    the next day, just as the chronicles of zenon was being released.

    “father, did mother say anything about the mansion?”

    “this time, she said she’d hold back.”

    father, who had just returned from a visit to the mansion, brought good news.

    it seemed that the incident with jin’s demonization served as a sort of cautionary measure, as mother hadn’t made an appearance.

    “that’s a relief.”

    “but she did say that if jin and lily don’t end up together, she’ll separate your bones and flesh.”

    “...”

    if that happens, i’ll have no choice but to run away for real.