Humans, who use tools with outstanding intelligence, are an overwhelmingly powerful race even at present. Therefore, it is only natural that the King of Humans is also powerful.
However, no matter how much the nation prospers and society becomes complex. No matter if they set complex rules to live together and punish those who do not follow them.
As long as humans are beasts, the King of Humans does not change.
"I have watched you too. I vaguely know what you desire. You want to stop the fighting, right? You want to yell at the others to not fight?"
Because the beast called human is still as it was.
"But, I still do not understand. How what you do is any different from them."
The King of Humans asked out of pure curiosity. It was a question only the King of Humans could ask.
The Snow Mountain is cold. On a mountain piled high with unmelted snow, having a large body is advantageous. It is good for preserving body heat and easy to spot prey or natural enemies. That is the reason why beasts living in cold regions are large in size.
Giants are the form of humans who survived on the Snow Mountain, the result of intentionally accelerating evolution under the name of 'tradition'. The Giant race was, in a sense, a race chosen by nature.
The dense forest overflows with life. Countless things are born, eaten, and decay. Life circulates like a massive torrent every moment.
There, the law of the jungle is perfectly natural. Even within the same race, there are no exceptions. Humans adapted and survived even in the dense forest, maintaining a larger population compared to other beasts. With so many humans competing for resources, attacking and eating each other also occurred naturally.
The desert is the opposite. In the dry and desolate sea of sand, life is sparse. Therefore, beasts are more like comrades overcoming the harsh environment together rather than competitors. They are also guides that show the way to water or other prey.
There, they developed in a direction that maximized the use of beasts by utilizing a unique resource called Black Water. The mixed beasts, Demonic Beasts, were the result. Demonic Beasts tainted by the Black Water wandered in search of beasts, but conversely, they were also the ones that filled the desolate desert with life.
The King of Humans knew these facts. Rather than understanding it with her head, she naturally accepted it in the process of representing the existence called humanity.
If only they had not attacked her, the King of Humans would have left them all as they were. For struggling to survive like that is exactly what life is.
"Humans want to fight? Then just fight like usual. If you want to reconcile, then reconcile. If I step in before they even fight and tell them to reconcile. And then beat up all the ones who don't listen. That means I'm hogging all the fights to myself. If humans don't fight, how can I, the King of Humans, hog all the fights?"
And the Succession Bearer's argument was also something she could not accept, even knowing it. Just like she couldn't kill the other monsters arbitrarily.
Despite the earnest request, the King of Humans answered firmly.
"Human fights belong to humans. I can't be the only one fighting while preventing them from fighting."
'Older Sister' shook off the Succession Bearer's hand. Leaving the Succession Bearer's hand falling powerlessly behind, 'Older Sister' walked away leaving footprints. Thud, thud. The dry sound of footsteps filled the space between them as it grew distant.
"You can do it. Like the Giants over there, like the Cannibals over there, like the Demonic Beasts over there. Try to achieve it with your own power."
"...I suppose I must."
The Succession Bearer still sobbed, lying face down on the ground.
"If you cannot change all humans, you cannot change the King of Humans. For that is the very nature of the King of Beasts."
The Succession Bearer, who knew everything in the world. She must have also known what kind of existence the King of Humans was, and what choice she would make.
However, the Succession Bearer had to request it of 'Older Sister'.
"But, Your Majesty. You are too special. Humans know of your existence. Even if you do not intend it, all humans already follow and learn from you. Your actions are the standard, and your words are virtue. No matter how honest and great another monarch may be, compared to you, they are but a firefly under the sun."
She never particularly tried to be great. Power was given from the start. Understanding other humans is a natural action as the King of Beasts. 'Older Sister' intended nothing.
However, whether intended or not. 'Older Sister' was already a great king, and possessed the power to control a massive empire spanning the continent.
Without ruling, without reigning. Just being there.
'Older Sister' will exist loftily as a king.
"The world needs a king to lead humans."
The Succession Bearer, who murmured that, stood up. With a lonely smile, she bowed her head one last time.
"Your Majesty. There is still one left."
"One? Ah, you said there were four monsters of the frontier, right? But we've seen three."
"Yes. Fanatics serving superstition, offering people as sacrifices on Solitary Mountain Yulrim and deluding others with falsehoods. Solitary Mountain Yulrim is close to this land, so how about we casually drop by once."
Even the King's warriors, weary from the journey, agreed with those words. If it's Solitary Mountain Yulrim, it is inside the sphere of influence of the 'Nation'. Walking a land hosted by the people of the 'Nation' was closer to a sightseeing trip.
It was questionable why there was no particular influence on the 'Nation' if it was that close. Why no succession regarding the fanatics had been passed down.
That was something they would find out once they went to Yulrim. 'Older Sister' decided to go to Yulrim.
The news that 'Older Sister' had coldly rejected the Succession Bearer spread quickly. It was already the case that 'Older Sister' had been away for nearly 10 years because of the Succession Bearer. Everyone was exceedingly delighted inside, even if they didn't show it.
Nebida was no different.
"Your Majesty. You have done well."
"Huh? I did well?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. You have made the right judgment."
"Hehe. It feels good to hear a compliment after a long time."
'Older Sister' acted shy, unlike a great and lofty king. Nebida recalled the old days after a long time. When they picked up a lost child somewhere in the Great Forest. When the two loners were together with each other as their entire world.
The girl, who was unusually quick to learn, carefully watched and imitated every single action of Nebida. The girl was so smart that teaching her once would make her grasp ten things.
Nebida strutted as much as possible, but studied hard, fearing that the girl would catch up to her completely, or that she would no longer be needed.
Fortunately, the King's warriors arrived before Nebida's true capabilities were fully exposed. Thanks to that, Nebida did not have to show her ugly jealousy. And thanks to being recognized for her merit in serving 'Older Sister' and her talent, she became a King's warrior.
To Nebida, 'Older Sister' was a king, a benefactor, and a friend.
She tried not to consciously recall the status of 'friend', but it was also the status she held closest to her heart.
"There is no need to listen to everything El says. Though she is highly capable, El is merely your subject. She ridiculously sits above you and tries to handle everything to her will. You must clearly distinguish the hierarchy as you are doing now."
"Above and below... Since I am strong, I guess you call me above. Yeah."
Perhaps 'Older Sister' was the same way.
'Older Sister', who murmured lonely, said to Nebida.
"What do you want from me?"
"Pardon?"
"The warriors said they want to receive orders from me. What orders did you want to become my warriors for?"
Nebida waved her hands and answered.
"Orders are for Your Majesty to give. This humble servant dare not wish for anything."
"But I don't particularly want anything."
Nebida was the same. She didn't particularly want anything.
Just, like this. No matter where they go or what happens. Just staying together like this was enough. If it was Nebida's wish, it had already been fulfilled, so....
"Until the day you have something you wish for, I shall stay by your side."
On Solitary Mountain Yulrim, there is not even a single blade of grass or a single tree, let alone anything common. The mountain, which looks like layers of rocks piled up, scatters sunlight overlaid with a gray hue in all directions. No fog rises from the barren earth, allowing the clear light to run without restraint.
Yulrim would be the best place to feel the aesthetics of emptiness. Only after stripping away all trees, grass, fog, and clouds, would one finally know what this world is truly filled with.
This journey was a long one compared to the distance. It wasn't because there were many obstructers. In most cases, time was delayed because they stayed and were hosted wherever they passed.
It was still an era with few conflicts. Many humans came to see the King of Humans even one more time. There were also those who came asking to resolve disputes, but even when 'Older Sister' uncovered the truth, she did not punish them. This was called generosity and compassion.
The Succession Bearers turned 'Older Sister's achievements into stories and spread them. The three monsters of the frontier who fell by 'Older Sister's hand. Depicted as vulgar, cruel, and bizarre, the three were painted as demons who dared to commit taboos and were punished by the King of Humans.
Their environment or circumstances were erased, and they were only given the title 'Kanjaka', meaning a disaster that shouldn't exist. People pointed fingers at them and slandered them.
Even as the processed truth spread by someone, 'Older Sister' did not make any corrections.
Leaving countless stories like footprints, 'Older Sister' headed to Yulrim.
The final monster, the fanatics of Huoshi Wumin. To meet Guangming Tianzun.