Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 704 - 487: Gaiate (Part Two)

Chapter 704: Chapter 487: Gaiate (Part Two)

"...It’s a wonderful ideal, but I’ve never believed their ideology could succeed. I’ve even doubted whether my own ideas would work, because, old soldier, a Utopian world requires all people to have knowledge and empathy. They need to understand that everyone must exert their utmost strength, and it requires the selfless dedication of generations upon generations to build such a world... This is an almost unattainable dream." Malin walked over to the old soldier and helped him towards the exit.

The elder looked at Malin, and it wasn’t until Malin entered the hallway that he expressed his doubts, "If all this is destined to fail, why bother doing it at all?"

"Because by doing so, the world will know we existed, and it will give people something to aspire to. We can fail, we can die, but what our generation has done will be remembered by history, and it will remind future generations that there’s another way to live, apart from living like dogs," Malin said with a laugh.

The reason they give you these things is not because they have a conscience, but because we were here.

"Old soldier, the path lies before us, and everyone has the right to choose. Some may wish to be dogs in an era of prosperity, others to be people in times of turmoil; that is their freedom. We are just mortals, merely paving the way for them to walk and choose their own fate."

"...You’re right. How wonderful it would be if our generation could end the Tide of the Dead, and then the next generation could end the suffering caused by Chaos, preventing anyone from being tempted by it... If we could achieve all this, wouldn’t it mean that the greatest war among humans is about to begin?"

Such was the old soldier’s question.

To which, Malin nodded.

"Yes, it will be the greatest of wars, one that will end all strife. I believe that day will come."

Yes, there will come such a day, for this world never cares for the tears of the weak; only the strong are entitled to survive.

And I, I have always been a... romantic destroyer.

......

When Malin escorted the old soldier home, he saw his son—who he last saw as a snotty little rascal, now donned in a scout’s uniform.

"Mr. Malin!" The boy saluted Malin, then reached out to help his father.

"I entrust my chief political commissar to you, Scout Lawson. Take good care of him."

"Mission guaranteed, sir!"

Children are full of spirit. After bidding farewell to the father, Malin braved the snow, heading towards the old mansion to see his foster father.

It had been nearly half a month since their last meeting. Although the newsboys said that Old Gaiate would take a big dog out every day, Malin still wanted to see him because he was the first person to show kindness to Malin after he arrived in this era.

Moreover, there was business to discuss today, so there was no room for carelessness.

The snow was falling heavily, and Malin walked on the somewhat slippery road with ease, thanks to his good balance. Whenever he saw someone slip, he would always support them with Spiritual Energy, in exchange for thanks or a salute.

Malin always responded with a smile and a nod. This beautiful world was exactly what he was intent on protecting.

Although Malin always said he didn’t want to be a Savior, but... a man always has dreams. In dreams, one could be a superhero or possess the grace of an immortal, doing good deeds to save lives.

As for those who destroy a village for a single elixir and consider fellow disciples as livestock, treating each other’s banditry logic as the rightful place for the virtuous, Malin certainly did not want to become such a person.

It is best to rid oneself of such chosen by Chaos at the earliest opportunity.

Lost in thought, Malin arrived at the front gate of the old mansion. Looking at the half-open door, he pushed it open—his father lived on the ground floor, so opening the door revealed the big dog.

The ’big dog’ was actually more like a wolf, a Spirit from the Dark Zone in the Eastern Kingdom that his father had brought back on his last adventure. The wolf had followed Old Gaiate for four days and nights, initially intending to have him as an extra meal, but instead, it was the wolf that found itself starved senseless. On the fourth night, the hungry wolf finally lost its patience and joined Old Gaiate in an epic struggle between man and nature on the vast grasslands.

Of course, the result was that the wolf eventually gave in to Gaiate’s iron fist and the alluring taste of jerky.

In any case, that’s how it turned out; humans had jerky and fists, and if they couldn’t be beaten, they had to make friends instead.

"You see, whether to be a wolf, a big dog, or the sole male lead in a meaty stew, the road is right there, and this little bastard knows how to choose," Malin patted the big dog’s head, and the latter, who was now familiar with Malin, barked energetically. Not only did it get affectionate with Malin for a while, but it also ran ahead of him, leading Malin to his elderly father.

"Father, I’m back," Malin beamed, standing at the doorstep, looking at his old father who was wearing an apron.

Gaiate’s hair had whitened a bit more, although he had turned away from the Sequence, he was still a being who had glimpsed the Legendary path, looking much more hale and hearty than an old soldier.

"Good to have you back, will you eat here at noon?" After speaking, the old father lifted the knife in his hand, "I just bought meat today, if you’ll eat it, I’ll grill it for you."

"No, I have to go to Rongma this afternoon... Oh right, Maya is pregnant," Malin told the elderly man before him.

Old Gaiate was silent for a while, and just as Malin felt he might have to flee from his father’s wrath, the old man smiled, "Should I say congratulations?"

"Thank you, I came back to tell you this, she’s going to recuperate in Rongma, so she can’t come back to see you before the baby is born. But I can take you there, Father, Carterburg is too cold, let me take you to Rongma."

Malin observed the old man before him who, without saying a word, shook his head in lieu of a yes or no answer.

"This city holds the one I loved the most, now at eternal rest, I don’t want to leave her... Can you understand that?"

"...I understand."

Of course, I understood. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have chosen to leave the service, to return to my hometown, to become an ordinary person, and eventually, to be sent to this era because of a simple good deed.

Malin nodded, opened his arms, and embraced his old father.

"Malin, my child, take good care of Maya, my most beloved daughter. When I took her away from The Great Forest Land, she couldn’t even walk. I raised her and entrusted her to you... Do not let her down," after finishing, Old Gaiate whispered in Malin’s ear, then let go of his hands.

"Of course, I definitely won’t let her down."

And so, father and son each took a step back.

"Tell Maya, I will definitely come to see her in two months, and I will stay in Rongma for two months at that time."

"Hmm, I will surely pass on the message."

Malin was happy because for Maya’s sake, the old man finally made a concession and chose to leave his fortress for his most cherished daughter.

"Father, I’ll be going now," Malin said as he got to the doorway and looked back at his old father.

"Go ahead, I know you’re busy, and so am I, no need to see you out," Old Gaiate said, then picked up the knife from a nearby table and waved it.

Malin smiled, took off his hat in salute, and headed for the door.

"Don’t go wasting yourself out there!" an old father’s voice of caution followed behind him.

"Don’t worry, as long as the world doesn’t end, I won’t log off!" Malin said, and laughed.

Though my body is young, my spirit has aged.

No, a man’s a boy till death.

Me too.

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