TCOB: CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Philosophy | How to Give a Mage Existential Crisis 101

Four days later…

In regards to dungeon breaches, there have been many speculations about their creation even amongst the common folk. While most might never see a dungeon even once in their entire lifetime, it was still a very common topic to converse about in taverns and for parents to scare mischievous children at night.

Dungeons have been an integral part of Ethania's history for as long as the oldest surviving texts. One could say, that without dungeons, the culture, and the socio-economic and political systems that are present today would have not existed.

Many believe dungeons are formed from the main body of a system of labyrinths, so large and elaborate that they support entirely separate ecosystems of magical creatures. It is speculated that when enough mana builds up in a portion of this underground system―possibly due to organic magical reactions similarly present in mana veins―it forces its way up to the surface, breaking off that portion from the main body and erupting into what is known as a dungeon.

Others theorize that dungeons are merely a result of spatial rifts connecting Ethania with other realms already overrun with monsters. Some even say dungeons are a curse from the first evil―one who shall remain unnamed―to continue to plunge the world into a constant state of chaos long after their demise. Regardless of the true origin story of dungeons, it is of popular agreement they are threats that should be dealt with with utmost prejudice.

Still, despite the threat that dungeons present, they are still a great source of wealth to be sought after and exploited. From the rare magical minerals that abound in these caverns to the highly sought-after body parts―like the leather used to manufacture 'dungeon grade' gambesons popularly used by dungeon delvers―harvested from slain monsters, it is clear that despite the glaring dangers, every additional dungeon breach is a rare chance to cash in an absurd amount of profit.

In Clyde's previous lifetime, there was a popular saying amongst his former business associates; Industry is predated by the birth of perpetuating wealth. Dungeon delving is a prime example of this, proving that even something as dangerous as this, in the light of perseverance and ingenuity, has the potential of being monetized. The relatively simple process involves the 'recycling' of Irrelevant members of the population by their lords to be used as a cheap and affordable medium for the exploitation of the value that dungeons present.

Although there are many other ways of profiteering off dungeon breaches that are humane and highly efficient―such as the use of professional mercenary services or even private armies―none can match the cost-effectiveness of disposable labor. Similar to how plastics remain integral in the human life cycle back on earth despite the harm it does to the ecosystem, cannon fodders would continue to be used to conquer dungeons regardless of the long-term harm they do to the population.

Clyde's assessment of Ethania might be harsh and biased due to his position in all of this, but more than a glimmer of truth resided in his argument and it all boils down to one final, indisputable conclusion.

Ethania is a cruel and remorseless world.

But as Clyde marched along with his fellow yeomen to what might very well be their final resting place, he only had more questions. Like why?

Why me?

Why here?

Why this?

Clyde felt he could have very well been reborn as a nobleman, a position which would have allowed him to put his innate skills to better use. Or in another world more suited to the mentality he had cultivated for the last twenty-plus years. He wasn't stupid enough to believe everything that had happened since was a result of chance. There had to be a reason.

The unlocked hotel room door… Woo Hee's decision to divorce her spouse while he was armed, enraged, and emotionally unstable? Hyun Bin's inexplicable decision to pull the trigger and ruin his own life? These were all highly unusual in Clyde's opinion.

Clyde knows he never forgets to lock his door. Locking the door was an almost religious activity to him as it signaled the start of greater things to come; either a secretive business deal or an illicit affair. Not once in his life had he ever left his or any of his partner's privacy at the mercy of nosy hotel staff, paparazzi, and suspicious lovers…

Well, not once until that faithless day at least.

As for Woo Hee, from the time Clyde had spent with the woman, he had long confirmed she was a very socially adept person, so much so that he had a hard time deceiving her into climbing onto his bed. Yet, despite this, the woman Clyde had put so much faith in failed to read the atmosphere when it mattered most and brought up the issue of divorce at the least appropriate time.

And while one might argue that Hyun Bin's decision to pull the trigger at that moment seemed to be the most natural, Clyde still felt everything was highly suspicious. The entire incident preceding his death felt oddly…

Choreographed.

It almost felt as if the world was conspiring to send to his death.

His arrival here was also a particularly dubious one. Why did he have to reincarnate in the body of a peasant? A villein! One who had managed to draw the attention of a relentless individual such as Lorin, for that matter.

Clyde's suspicion only grew. He felt a sinister plot brewing underneath all of this. A plot he would very well want nothing to do with yet can do nothing to escape from.

Clyde wasn't a narcissist. He didn't delude himself into believing he was the main character, like in those novels he read about when he was younger. That sort of thinking was bound to guarantee him a slow and gruesome death.

So…

Why?

The ominous itch in his heart only grew stronger.

Glassy-eyed and caught up in his own thoughts, Clyde didn't notice someone settling beside him until they waved a curious hand in front of his face.

"You know, being absent-minded like this out here is a quick, one-way ticket to Infernia," Mage Nai said as she sat beside Clyde at the secluded spot he chose. The expeditionary group had paused for a quick break. Yet, for some reason, the woman left her colleagues and seemingly made a beeline towards him.

If one took a moment to read the small frown between Clyde's brows, they would quickly realize he wasn't too elated about having the woman anywhere near him.

"Infernia?" Clyde mumbled a sound of confusion before a memory clicked, "Oh, the underworld?"

He glanced at the strange woman giving him a curious stare. Over the period of their lengthy march from Neverna, he had long noticed the mage's unusual interest in him. But if one Ignored the probing and pointed stares she had been giving him over the course of the march this was his first real interaction with her.

Though he would very much have preferred to be left alone by the eccentric woman.

"Is there something I might be able to help you with, Miss Nai?" Clyde asked politely as she continued to silently observe him. Calmly turning his gaze back ahead, his eyes roamed, desperately searching for Sir Justin's figure.

He sincerely hoped the knight took no offense to 'his' mage's antics, as he was well aware of how unreasonable men could be in regard to the women who hold their affection.

The last thing Clyde needed now was a jealous man breathing down his neck in a cave filled with man-eating monsters. As for how he became aware of this budding affection when even Miss Nia herself seemed ignorant? Let's just say he was well-versed in reading people.

He had a Masters in human psychology after all…

"I was just curious," the woman said, causing Clyde to frown deeply.

'No shit, Sherlock!' he yelled inwardly, but his outward expression remained unchanged.

"Curious, Miss Nai?" Clyde asked. "I don't think there is anything about me that should manage to intrigue a person of your stature, lady mage…"

In response to his words, the woman chuckled warmly with a hint of a giggle. 'Stop it, dammit! Woman, are you trying to get me killed? Again!'

"You are a funny man, Clyde," she said with a small smile before falling silent and looking away to stare off into the distance.

Moments passed before she spoke again. "As I said, I was curious. I heard you once had the privilege of 'fraternizing' with a demon and walked away to tell the tale. Some even say you managed to somehow inherit the vile creature's memories. Would you mind enlightening me on this matter…"

The last part of her sentence wasn't a question.

Clyde sighed audibly in response. "It wasn't a demon, lady mage," he corrected, "It was just a minor ghoul."

"Little difference," Nai replied dismissively, "I take the fact you didn't deny inheriting the demon's memories as a silent agreement, no?"

"I did," Clyde sighed again as his eyes continued to search for Sir Justin. For some reason, the knight seemed to have disappeared, as Clyde couldn't find him anywhere. 'Hopefully, he stays away long enough for me to get rid of this troublesome woman.'

Turning his attention back to Miss Nai, Clyde realized she seemed to have fallen silent again for some reason.

"So again… I was curious," she asked, still calmly staring ahead. "Given you happened to have been enlightened in a way most haven't, what do you think a person's life is worth?"

"Pardon my ignorance, but I don't understand what you mean, lady mage."

Miss Nai just turned to calmly stare at Clyde. She seemed to be saying; 'I assure you that you don't want to make me repeat myself…'

Realising he couldn't avoid this, Clyde sighed ruefully before silently ruminating over her question.

"In a world without magic? Without mana, without the system, one could have argued about the paradoxical value of human life," Clyde began. "One could say life, as a set of experiences that are good, is what has value, and our capacity to have them is the intrinsic value of life. Our values of life come from our environment. The heaviest influences are our contacts in our daily life and the culture and society we live within. Hence, a life with a set of experiences that are bad could be said to be without value. Worthless.

"One could yet again say that human life is priceless. In a world without magic, no amount of goods or money equates to the value of a person's life. In short, human life can only be balanced against human life. Hence, invaluable…"

"In a world without magic?" Miss Nai asked, confused.

"Yes," Clyde nodded. "In such a world, once a life is lost it can never be regained, hence invaluable. But here in Ethania, Necromancers exist. At the will of Dante―the prince of Infernia, the God of the Underworld, Crime, and Commerce―the souls of the dead can be freed from the river Styx and brought back to life at a suitable price. Hence, a value figure has now been attached to human life.

"But this does not imply that all lives are of equal value, as some lives are worth more than others. Take mine, for example, compared to the Grand Duke what am I currently worth? A few copper coins on the slave market? Maybe a cart or two of minerals from the dungeon. It all depends on who is asking…"

"So you agree the lives of all of you here are worth nothing more than a few pounds of ore each?" Miss Nai asked, baffled by Clyde's reasoning.

"Personally, I feel the price of my life is not something anyone can simply quantify. But let's be realistic, I don't possess the strength to back those claims. In essence, my opinions in regard to the value of my life are worthless. So yes, the lives of we yeomen, currently, are only worth so much."

Silence.

"...What do you think my life would be worth?" The woman mumbled suddenly. Clyde glanced at her to realise the lively light in her eyes seemed to have dimmed greatly. A depressed aura hung around her form.

'Did I just give our Mage existential crisis?' Clyde asked himself with a strange expression as he looked around, only to see Sir Justin ride in with a person―a seemingly dead one―at the back of his horse.

"...Erm, I don't know, lady mage," Clyde replied, suddenly sweating buckets.

'Fuck…'

"Nevermind…" the woman said solemnly as she walked away with hunched shoulders.

'Not even a goodbye? How rude…'

Clyde shook the thought out of his mind as he realised Sir Justin raised a palm, addressing the entire group. The yeomen and squires all turned to stare curiously at the knight who alighted from his horse and started untying the corpse on the back of his horse.

Clyde was quick to note that the corpse wore the same clothing as the rest of the yeomen in the group.

"This man"―Sir Justin addressed the yeomen watching as he unceremoniously dumped the body on the floor―" was one of the fellows who, earlier, thought it would be a great idea to sneak out of camp in an act of desertion. I hope you learn from their mistakes and endeavor not to do the same."

Clyde shuffled closer to the corpse to see its face frozen in despair, eyes bulging in an animated expression. Glancing down to where the corpse's necklace should have been was a circular indent that went around the deceased fellow's neck.

It appears the necklace does work as advertised, Clyde mused, his left eye twitching from the absurdity of the scene.

Joining the remaining yeomen to gently caress the ornament around his neck, Clyde nodded as he reaffirmed certain decisions in his heart. For one, all plans to cuck Sir Justin would remain on hold…

Indefinitely.

Well, at least until he got rid of this necklace and discovered a way to escape the man's eventual wrath. Clyde might be a thrill-seeker, but he wasn't stupid or suicidal.

Giving one last glance to the desolate but beautiful Miss Nai in the distance, he shook his head helplessly.

"Ah… What a pity," he mumbled with a hint of regret and a predatory glint in his eyes, seemingly unaware of the consequences his words today to the woman would bring on the entirety of Ethania…