Chapter 48 Part 1: Exchange
“I think it's a bit small.”
“How insolent of you, to see this great technology and not recognize its value! It's stupid!”
Snap.
“Ouch!”
I tapped him lightly because his way of talking was quite annoying. I wanted to flick him off, but I thought he was too small to take it, so I held back, but he couldn't take it either, so he kicked at my fingertips and ended up taking a small bite at it.
Of course, it didn't hurt at all. I'm a Hunter, after all, and my body has a different kind of durability.
“I, for one, have been working day and night on this technology… to communicate with Earthlings!”
“Hmmm…”
I don't know why something resembling Theodore's projectile is here, but it's not a bad thing. I came here to find Theo's Arrangements in the first place, and now that he's here, I can ask him questions.
Theodore knows very little about Earth at this point in his life, and his thirst for knowledge is understandable.
He's so hungry for knowledge that he's built this technology so he can actually experience the planet he's only seen on paper.
“Okay, Theodore. I'm the Earthling representative, and you're the Toluk representative. Shall we ask each other some questions?”
“Ho ho…. You Earthlings are intelligent creatures who can still talk properly! But how do you know about the Toluk?”
“I saw the note you left.”
His face lit up at my words. His blue eyes sparkle with delight.
“I, really? Did I help you?”
“You saved my life. I got the Holy Grail and killed Beelzebub.”
“Ah… That red devil!”
It was only a projectile, but that seemed to frighten Theodore enough. He kept blabbering about how he'd been told the gate had been cleared, but hadn't expected to meet the person who cleared it in person, and how he was embarrassed that it had been cleared so early when he'd built it thinking it would take at least three years.
“That's not the point,” I said, “you must have questions about Earth, and I have a lot of questions from you as well.”
“Mmm! That's right!”
“Then let's talk quickly.”
“But wait, First Earthling, what's your name?”
His question gave me a pause.
Should I tell him my name?
Of course, it shouldn't be a problem, but…. ‘First Earthling' must mean quite a bit to this Earth Enthusiast, so I wonder if I should be bothered.
‘What can I do since we've already met.'
I resignedly introduced myself.
“Hunter Han Seo-ha.”
There was no other explanation. This alien probably didn't understand the concept of the Netherworld or guilds in general.
“Yes, Hunter, you are unique among Earthlings! I've always wanted to talk to one of you, and it's like a dream come true!”
“So. Theodore. Can you tell me about yourself?”
“Oh, yes. I forgot my manners for a moment. My name is very long, but…. You Earthlings seem to prefer short names, so please call me Theo as well!”
My name is short just because I'm Korean, but I pretended not to notice because I was tired of explaining the concept of countries and the different naming cultures in each country.
“I am very interested in you. Earth is a fascinating world. We have very different cultures.”
“So you built a gate…”
The snide remark slipped out of my mouth.
I couldn't help it.
To us, the Toluk are the very definition of ‘Invaders' or ‘Outlaws' who threaten our way of life and exploit us for their own gain.
Theodore made a piercing gaze as he realized what I meant.
“I understand. You must resent us a lot. Even as I was building the gates, I wondered if it was the right thing to do, so I secretly set up an arrangement to help you. Ironically, I was able to do so because I am the foremost authority on gate technology.”
It's not that I'm angry with Theodore. He's been called the traitor of the otherworld for a reason, and he's friendly to Earth, but what Toluk has done, is doing, and will do to Earth is unforgivable.
“It's an excuse. But we certainly have a moral responsibility to bring other worlds into our world to solve our own problems, but isn't ‘Morality' pretty shallow in the face of survival?”
“I should point out that when we first developed the Gate, we were desperate. I know you're probably wondering what that has to do with anything, but… I get it. It makes sense in my head. The world we're in now is polluted, and we have to find a way to survive.”
“You're the unfortunate targets, and I don't blame you, because I know how cruel humans can be when it comes to survival. On the other hand, we would have stood on a sinking ship to defend justice if we were not in such danger.”
“You're right. It has nothing to do with anything.”
But that doesn't mean we, as victims, should take their current situation into account.
“I'm not shirking responsibility. It's obvious that we are the perpetrators.”
It was a meek admission.
“Is that why you planted your ‘Arrangements'?”
“What? Of course not!”
Theodore smirked.
“I only planted it because I owe Earth a favor, not because I feel guilty about it.”
“You don't feel guilty….”
“Well. I'm sorry, but in our position, We had to do what we had to do to survive. We can't deny that what we did was wrong, but apart from that, we don't feel guilty.”
‘Wow.' This was coming from the perspective of the perpetrator, and it made my head spin in disbelief.
“If we had to go back in time and do it all over again, we'd make the same choice— survive at the expense of others.”
“If that's the case, then why did you make the arrangement? It would be in your best interest if we died sooner rather than later.”
Theodore shook his tiny head from side to side. He smirked in a knowing way, but it was so small it was almost funny.
“This and that are very different matters! I would rather see Toluk destroyed than Earth.”
“What?”
Chapter 48 Part 1: Exchange
“I think it's a bit small.”
“How insolent of you, to see this great technology and not recognize its value! It's stupid!”
Snap.
“Ouch!”
I tapped him lightly because his way of talking was quite annoying. I wanted to flick him off, but I thought he was too small to take it, so I held back, but he couldn't take it either, so he kicked at my fingertips and ended up taking a small bite at it.
Of course, it didn't hurt at all. I'm a Hunter, after all, and my body has a different kind of durability.
“I, for one, have been working day and night on this technology… to communicate with Earthlings!”
“Hmmm…”
I don't know why something resembling Theodore's projectile is here, but it's not a bad thing. I came here to find Theo's Arrangements in the first place, and now that he's here, I can ask him questions.
Theodore knows very little about Earth at this point in his life, and his thirst for knowledge is understandable.
He's so hungry for knowledge that he's built this technology so he can actually experience the planet he's only seen on paper.
“Okay, Theodore. I'm the Earthling representative, and you're the Toluk representative. Shall we ask each other some questions?”
“Ho ho…. You Earthlings are intelligent creatures who can still talk properly! But how do you know about the Toluk?”
“I saw the note you left.”
His face lit up at my words. His blue eyes sparkle with delight.
“I, really? Did I help you?”
“You saved my life. I got the Holy Grail and killed Beelzebub.”
“Ah… That red devil!”
It was only a projectile, but that seemed to frighten Theodore enough. He kept blabbering about how he'd been told the gate had been cleared, but hadn't expected to meet the person who cleared it in person, and how he was embarrassed that it had been cleared so early when he'd built it thinking it would take at least three years.
“That's not the point,” I said, “you must have questions about Earth, and I have a lot of questions from you as well.”
“Mmm! That's right!”
“Then let's talk quickly.”
“But wait, First Earthling, what's your name?”
His question gave me a pause.
Should I tell him my name?
Of course, it shouldn't be a problem, but…. ‘First Earthling' must mean quite a bit to this Earth Enthusiast, so I wonder if I should be bothered.
‘What can I do since we've already met.'
I resignedly introduced myself.
“Hunter Han Seo-ha.”
There was no other explanation. This alien probably didn't understand the concept of the Netherworld or guilds in general.
“Yes, Hunter, you are unique among Earthlings! I've always wanted to talk to one of you, and it's like a dream come true!”
“So. Theodore. Can you tell me about yourself?”
“Oh, yes. I forgot my manners for a moment. My name is very long, but…. You Earthlings seem to prefer short names, so please call me Theo as well!”
My name is short just because I'm Korean, but I pretended not to notice because I was tired of explaining the concept of countries and the different naming cultures in each country.
“I am very interested in you. Earth is a fascinating world. We have very different cultures.”
“So you built a gate…”
The snide remark slipped out of my mouth.
I couldn't help it.
To us, the Toluk are the very definition of ‘Invaders' or ‘Outlaws' who threaten our way of life and exploit us for their own gain.
Theodore made a piercing gaze as he realized what I meant.
“I understand. You must resent us a lot. Even as I was building the gates, I wondered if it was the right thing to do, so I secretly set up an arrangement to help you. Ironically, I was able to do so because I am the foremost authority on gate technology.”
It's not that I'm angry with Theodore. He's been called the traitor of the otherworld for a reason, and he's friendly to Earth, but what Toluk has done, is doing, and will do to Earth is unforgivable.
“It's an excuse. But we certainly have a moral responsibility to bring other worlds into our world to solve our own problems, but isn't ‘Morality' pretty shallow in the face of survival?”
“I should point out that when we first developed the Gate, we were desperate. I know you're probably wondering what that has to do with anything, but… I get it. It makes sense in my head. The world we're in now is polluted, and we have to find a way to survive.”
“You're the unfortunate targets, and I don't blame you, because I know how cruel humans can be when it comes to survival. On the other hand, we would have stood on a sinking ship to defend justice if we were not in such danger.”
“You're right. It has nothing to do with anything.”
But that doesn't mean we, as victims, should take their current situation into account.
“I'm not shirking responsibility. It's obvious that we are the perpetrators.”
It was a meek admission.
“Is that why you planted your ‘Arrangements'?”
“What? Of course not!”
Theodore smirked.
“I only planted it because I owe Earth a favor, not because I feel guilty about it.”
“You don't feel guilty….”
“Well. I'm sorry, but in our position, We had to do what we had to do to survive. We can't deny that what we did was wrong, but apart from that, we don't feel guilty.”
‘Wow.' This was coming from the perspective of the perpetrator, and it made my head spin in disbelief.
“If we had to go back in time and do it all over again, we'd make the same choice— survive at the expense of others.”
“If that's the case, then why did you make the arrangement? It would be in your best interest if we died sooner rather than later.”
Theodore shook his tiny head from side to side. He smirked in a knowing way, but it was so small it was almost funny.
“This and that are very different matters! I would rather see Toluk destroyed than Earth.”
“What?”
