Treatise Of A Failed Knight-Chapter 230: How The Hero Was Born

"I’d like to have a brief word with you, if you don’t mind."

After the meeting, Kalakuta suddenly approached me, his massive build casting a dark shadow over my smaller frame.

The thing is, I’m actually considerably swole in this new body of mine. In fact, this form is more muscular than my original body.

However, it is nothing compared to the Ebony Giant.

Kalakuta is simply too huge.

"Sure."

I pretend not to be intimidated and accept his proposal.

Thus, under the gazes of everyone present, we leave the hall together and I follow him towards wherever he is taking me to.

Thankfully, it isn’t a silent journey.

"How did you like the meeting?" Kalakuta asks me, his smile unassuming and friendly.

’Do you really want my honest thoughts?’

I look into his blood red eyes, and they tell me that he indeed seeks my sincerity.

In that case...

"It was fine. Everyone brought up valid points and arguments, but I feel like they were much more averse to my ideas than that of one another. I thought we were family here."

"Hahaha!" Letting out a heart laugh, Kalakuta pats my back, nearly making me stumble forward.

"We are indeed family, but it is as you have said. They did resist you. You may have gained the camaraderie of the Freedom Fighters, but you have not earned their trust. That is something even I cannot help you with."

Kalakuta is correct.

Many people already treat me so amiably due to Kalakuta’s influence. Since the Freedom Fighters are like family, they all refer to me as their brother..

But all of this is a superficial treatment borne from one man’s ideal.

I haven’t actually proved myself yet.

I haven’t won their admiration, love, trust, and so much more. This ties into why those two warriors earlier appear bitter.

They have yet to acknowledge me in this brief period that I have joined their ranks.

This is why I received more questions and less dissenting remarks from those I already had a meaningful interaction with.

Jeophrey even supported me.

The rest were very skeptical of the merit of my plan, and I’m certain some even suspected me of having ulterior motives.

"Don’t take it to heart, Knight. Family members have disputes all the time. Think of this as one of them." Kalakuta smiles in encouragement and I nod.

"Of course... It’s understandable."

"I’m glad you feel that way." We take one final turn until the two of us reach a large, open balcony.

The balcony exposes us to the exterior of the palace, letting us even see what lies beyond the compound gates.

Kalakuta grabs a hold of the railings and stares passionately at the world beyond.

"To tell you the truth, Knight... I truly like you. I feel an inexplicable bond with you, one I have never experienced with anyone else."

"...."

I don’t know what to say in response to that.

However, I don’t think I need to respond to his words. It’s clear to me that Kalakuta wishes for me to listen to his words.

So... I will.

"Could it be because of your strange specialty in so many distinct fields? I am not sure. What I am certain of, however, is that you are special. There’s something about you that is different from everyone else. It gives me some comfort... knowing I am not the only one who is like this. I feel better knowing there is someone like me, someone inexplicably powerful, out there. I am glad it is you. It brings me relief that you believe in the cause like I do, and that we are not enemies."

"Me too..."

Kalaluta’s smile broadens.

"It is why I wish to trust you, Knight." He adds in a calm manner, and I watch as his gaze burrows deeper into mine.

"So you admit you don’t yet trust me?"

"I can’t afford to trust others so easily. I am not so naive as to believe that people are entirely honest about their intentions. As someone who has been used and betrayed in the past, I would be a fool if I did not learn from those mistakes I made and become more cautious around people."

I chuckle softly.

"A wise decision. There is nothing as unfathomable as the hidden emotion that dwells at the depths of the human mind."

"You..." Kalakuta stares at me, dazed, but this only lasts for a short moment before he concedes with a nod. "You are correct."

"...."

"To tell you the truth I want to deepen our understanding of each other. If that’s alright with you, of course."

I laugh heartily and shrug.

"I have no problems with getting to know you more either. But..."

"Hmm?"

"I’m not sure if this will sit well with the others. They might not like that you are giving me special treatment."

"Ah... That." Kalakuta laughs. "I don’t intend to treat you any differently in relation to others among the Freedom Fighters. You will gain no preferential treatments, and your ability will determine your position within battle. I will also only award appropriate rewards based on your contributions to the cause—nothing more, nothing less."

"That seems fair."

"In that case, what is there to complain about?" He shrugs. "We’re just having conversations, something I have encouraged others to have with me on many occasions. It’s a shame that many revere me too much to have casual talks with me, but I can see that you are different."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"The reverence that I see in the eyes of others... I don’t find that in yours. You do not treat me as a separate existence that you cannot understand—something above you. I can also see that, just as I am interested in you... you are interested in me as well."

’This guy...’

I have to hand it to Kalakuta. He is quite a perceptive man.

I can’t stop thinking about his strangely defined existence and how similar it is to Seth’s.

That is likely the source of his unreal level of strength, or rather, the explanation behind it.

’Are people simply born this way?’

I can only wonder.

No.

Maybe I can ask him.

He did say that he desires us to get to know each other better. My story in this world isn’t very interesting, so I think delving into his own will be more worthwhile.

"Have you always been this strong?" I blurt out my question, staring at his surprised face without flinching.

I’m guessing he isn’t used to being asked this.

How strange.

I mean, his strength is very unnatural. It has far surpassed human limits.

’Let’s not even mention his durabilty...’ I shudder once I remember how my blade bounced off his skin when I first attacked him.

"Ahh... yes. Of course, I’ve not always been as strong as I am now, but it’s true that I have always been much stronger than others. I don’t even know why. It’s just something I was born with." He admits solemnly, his eyes asking if I have any other question about him.

’Oh, plenty!’

"How about your parents? Maybe they have a hand in it somehow."

"No, they don’t."

Kalakuta goes on to explain.

"My mother died while giving birth to me. She had always been fragile, or so I was told. My dad was a completely normal person. Because he couldn’t pay his debt, we were both brought into slavery, and he died not too long after since he couldn’t bear the suffering. I had other family and members of my community in slavery, but they all died one after the other."

"I see. None of them had the constitution that you possess."

"Yes. I even tried to help them, and many others, with their tasks. I tried to reduce their burdens. But this only brought attention to me and caused the Masters to hand over more work to me and still burden them." Kalakuta sighs, his brows creasing likely due to reliving many unpleasant memories.

I should stop probing now. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"After seeing so many people suffering, especially at the hands of a few, something within me began to stir. Why should the majority heed the words of the minority? Why was I, despite being much stronger than anyone else around me, taking orders from my weak oppressors. I realized something had to change, so..."

’So...?’

"...."

Kalakuta doesn’t respond for a whole minute.

He stares absentmindedly at the world beyond, a warm smile slowly replacing his previously distressed expression.

"The first time I killed a man, I was surprised by how easy it was. I didn’t even need to exert a lot of effort to do so. Just one simple movement, and ’pop’, a man is dead." He laughs silently.

It isn’t a cruel laugh, but a rather reflective one. In fact, I can’t help but think he is being self-deprecative with his soft chuckles.

"After killing one, it became a lot more bearable to kill the rest. I slaughtered our oppressors singlehandedly and freed my people. But by doing so, we became outlaws. Left with nowhere to go, we could only flee until we were picked off one after the other. In the end, I was the only survivor. It was then that I realized that I couldn’t simply save others from the tyranny of the oppressors. I had to create a world where they could live in security."

"A free world for free people." I smile at him.

"Yes."

He laughs even louder while bobbing his head.

"Aftet having this epiphany, I regained my will to live. I still had to live with the guilt of sending so many people to their deaths by freeing them, but I became more determined in my ideals. I finally killed all our pursuers, but I was severely injured. That was when I stumbled on a certain village."

"You met Kamal there, right? He was the Chief." I ask him.

"Oh? He told you?" After seeing my nod, he bursts out laughing, rubbing the back of his neck rather awkwardly. "Yeah, that’s right."

Just like that, he continues to reminisce with me about his journey.

The tale of his life.

As I listen to this incredible man’s story, I feel moved to my core.

His hardships... his loneliness... his pain...

... And his resolve.

They all resonate deeply with me.

Even after encountering so much loss and despair, he never stopped moving forward.

He kept persevering.

Even now.

Why?

’Why does he persevere? What makes him persevere to this extent?’

"I simply have a dream. Freedom for all. It might be arbitrary, but that is the purpose I have ascribed to my strength."

’Purpose, huh?’

Humans are creatures of pattern. We often liked to make sense of the chaos, thus we ascribe meaning to things that might not necessarily have them.

Many would say suffering is the will of God.

Others would call their success divine providence rather than mere chance.

Kalakuta, too...

’At least he recognizes this. But, I can’t help but to recognize his line of reasoning.’

Strength for the sake of others.

He reminds me of Brad.

"I really respect you, Kalakuta. You might not trust me yet, but I trust you." I tell him, a warm smile on my face.

"My brother..."

I place my hand on his shoulder and nod.

Although my resolve may be lacking compared to his, I can only persevere by his side towards the future.

"I will stand by your side until the end. Until you—no, we—achieve this goal together."

"Thank you..."

Deeply moved by my words, Kalakuta also places a hand on my shoulder and returns my nod with the same veracity.

At this moment, I can sense a powerful bond being made.

A friendship forged.

’No, Kalakuta. I should be thanking you.’

My inner thoughts stir once I recognize something I never quite realized before. I initially thought Kalakuta was the antagonist of this Trial Scenario, but this conversation has made me rethink everything.

He isn’t the antagonist.

’You actually the protagonist, aren’t you?’