Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 236 - 235: The Door’s Anomaly

Upon hearing Gawain’s response, Tiel blinked. She didn’t speak but motioned for Gawain to continue.

After all, she wasn’t well-versed in the human world—although it seemed the sea demons would often observe the situation on the continent, leaving information not entirely closed off, Tiel herself clearly wasn’t someone who concerned herself with news about other races.

"You must know what happened on this continent seven hundred years ago," Gawain sighed, beginning to explain the current technological stagnation faced by humans, "At that time, the Gondor Empire was the most advanced nation on the continent, but the explosion of the Well of Deep Blue led to a massive decline in our technology—and beyond that, the Well of Deep Blue’s uniqueness and the complete annihilation of the ancient empire’s high-end talents caused our technological decline to far exceed your imagination. It’s not just technology that regressed, but also social structures and people’s levels of thought. To this day, the production technology level of human kingdoms is as you said, with a few craftsmen and a few Mages working in their workshops or laboratories to create some handmade products. Concepts like industrial mass production are essentially a blank slate."

After a short pause, Gawain continued, "And Cecil is currently the only place attempting to establish an industrial system—I don’t know if you can understand the term ’industrial system’ that I’ve coined in the common language of humans. In any case, I hope to establish a completely new mode of production and development. I hope to popularize ’magic’ as a convenient power, to make it a tool accessible to everyone rather than a privilege of the few. On this foundation, I hope to achieve great technological progress and use it to transform our production model. I wish to use tools and the power of wisdom to mass-produce industrial goods, like these rune triggers produced on assembly lines before your eyes."

As he spoke, he watched for any changes in Tiel’s expression—he noticed that the nonchalant look on the sea demon’s face finally began to fade, with Tiel attentively listening, her eyes exceptionally focused. The ends of her beautiful long blue hair even emitted faint glowing particles, perhaps a sign of her pleasant disposition?

When Gawain paused after finishing a part, Tiel blinked and seriously asked, "And after that?"

"An abundance of living materials will change our society, the way people interact, social relationships, and the corresponding laws and tier systems," Gawain straightforwardly said, "No doubt, that is what I pursue."

"Interesting...you’re more interesting than I imagined..." Tiel swung her long tail, circled around Gawain (to be honest, if this salted fish essence’s walking posture weren’t so embarrassing, her style might at least double), "Your ideas surpass your compatriots, even those of your compatriots in that so-called ’advanced’ empire over seven hundred years ago. I know a bit about that ’Gondor Empire’—it was indeed a powerful human empire with advanced magic skills, but it was just an illusion sustained by a natural energy reservoir. All the while, the civilizations on this continent—including the still powerful civilization of the silver elves—are incredibly backward. The abundant resources and convenient magic-pervasive environment on this continent have nurtured you, but also shackled your thoughts. But...for such an anomaly like you to appear on this continent..."

Tiel, with her chin pinched, casually made a rather poor evaluation of all the kingdoms on the continent. Yet Gawain knew that, given her civilization’s level, she was entirely qualified to make such an assessment; it was objective and factual. More encouraging, however, was that from Tiel’s attitude, he could roughly speculate about the development path the sea demons had taken—which was probably the same as his own.

They should have also embarked on a path where technology drives the development of productivity and the liberation of productivity promotes social progress.

"I experienced a glorious and prosperous era, witnessed firsthand what an advanced civilization looks like. I once led a group of people in pioneering and expanding in the wilderness, hoping to reestablish that glorious civilization," Gawain gently sighed, thumbing through the memory of Gawain Cecil and his own memories from planet Earth, sincerely lamenting, "Then I slept for seven hundred years, only to awaken to find that this society had not returned to its former glory, but had become more backwards, more declining, and more corrupt... I couldn’t endure such backwardness and decay, so naturally, I wanted to do something about it, even if merely to live a little more comfortably. I still had to drive social development."

"I agree, much technological progress is about making it easier to sleep in," Tiel cheerfully wagged the tip of her tail, then suddenly posed a question, "But aren’t you worried that if magic truly became widespread one day, even commoners could use magic to resist their rulers, and wouldn’t your rule be threatened then?"

At that, Gawain couldn’t help but chuckle, "If the majority of people are driven to the point where they’d rather use the Fireball Technique to blow up their leader, then that leader deserves to be dead a long time ago. I firmly believe one thing: if a ruler or leader can only govern their subjects through violence and oppression, then their rule isn’t genuine governance because even a random wolf or tiger could do what they do.

"As for the consequences of popularizing magic... it may indeed create new contradictions, but I believe its benefits will far outweigh the risks. Technology develops through dissemination; to acquire more talent, more people must have the opportunity to encounter these technologies. Making the learning and research of technology barrier-free or with very low barriers is the only way to generate enough researchers on a large population base. Only then can we truly uncover the secrets of the world’s truth, rather than like now, when only a handful of talented people can use magic. They end up wasting all their research on maintaining appearances and enhancing personal power... in such a manner, even if a million years pass, the world would only gain a few more archMages. Once a chaotic wave comes, even if these archMages survive, won’t human civilization still be lost? Then these archMages would have to live like savages, fighting beasts for territory in the deep mountains and forests?"

Tiel stared steadily at Gawain for a while, then turned her head to look at those booming machines casting magic symbols, her tail tip unconsciously tapping against the factory floor. After a long while, she randomly remarked, "You should have woken up earlier..."

"What?" Gawain heard it but didn’t understand, "Why should I have woken up earlier?"

"The Great Magic Tide is indeed approaching," Tiel suddenly turned her head, seriously staring into Gawain’s eyes, "The chaotic wave will cause devastating damage to all civilizations. We sea demons, being elemental creatures, have inherent resistance to it, allowing us to escape several times, but you humans of flesh and blood cannot evade the ’material reshaping’ during this process.

"We’ve always had a theory: if the chaotic wave is a natural phenomenon, then any natural phenomenon should have patterns to follow and principles to delve into. However, due to some of our own... ’peculiarities,’ we sea demons have yet to find what these deeper principles and rules are, but we believe in the correctness of this approach...

"The technical advancements and methods for exploring truth that you’re seeking align well with our theory. I think the path you’re taking might be right, but... I’m worried you might have awakened a bit too late."

Gawain’s face was unsure of what expression to make; many words ultimately turned into an awkward and stiff smile. He slightly twitched his mouth: "Don’t you think saying these words directly is quite discouraging?"

"We sea demons are accustomed to speaking straightforwardly," Tiel’s attitude was quite candid, "Besides, I like to start with pessimism—you can view things optimistically; after all, as I said, the cycle of chaotic waves isn’t that precise. Maybe this time it will be delayed by a couple of hundred years, and you’ll figure out how to resist the chaotic wave, or your technological advances will suddenly unravel its principles in two years, which isn’t impossible."

Gawain twitched his mouth: "...You’re being overly optimistic. I’d rather hope there’s an almighty Creator in this world who, the day before the chaotic wave erupts, suddenly changes the world’s settings so human civilization will flourish forever."

"Who knows," Tiel shrugged (and the tip of her tail), "The progress of civilization is sometimes unreasonable and illogical. Some races can’t even glance at a clear sky for hundreds of thousands of years, while others may fall from prosperity to the abyss overnight. But as long as one is still alive, they must hold on to hope. Sea demons believe that as long as life continues, there’s always something worth looking forward to."

Gawain looked a bit unexpectedly at this self-proclaimed pessimistic sea demon, feeling her words had hidden meanings. Yet upon closer examination, Tiel’s face returned to that casual and lazy demeanor.

She turned around, continuing to curiously observe the operation of those machines, while Gawain smiled and followed to prevent this seafood from affecting the workers’ activities in the Rune Forge Factory.

But just then, there was a sudden commotion outside the factory gate, and Gawain frowned while looking over, only to see a lightly armored Cecil Clan warrior rushing in.

This soldier jogged all the way to Gawain, hastily saluted, and while panting heavily, quickly said, "Sir, the door...that door is showing signs of activity!"

"Door?" Gawain furrowed his brow, "Don’t be so vague; catch your breath and explain clearly what’s happening."

The soldier hurriedly adjusted his state, took a deep breath, and reported: "It’s the ring-shaped magic door at the bottom of the ancient facility. The soldiers guarding the door report that it’s undergoing changes! It seems to have activated!"

"That door activated by itself?!" Even Gawain was stunned this time. He briefly pondered before instructing, "Go notify Aunt Heidi, and well, Pittman, have them come immediately."

Then he turned his head to Tiel: "You should go back first..."

"Forget it, I’ll go with you and have a look," Tiel immediately swayed her tail, "I’ve been hearing you mention there’s an ancient facility in the mountain, supposedly a crystallization of Gondor Empire’s technology, and it’s made me curious. But if that place is confidential, I won’t go."

Gawain looked at Tiel, slightly hesitant, but eventually nodded: "Alright, if you want to come along, let’s go together. Your knowledge might even come in handy."

He thought of the fact that the mountain relics once researched the flesh of the gods. If the door at the bottom layer of the relic leads to a place associated with gods, then Tiel, as a deep-sea heretic god who dares to consume the flesh of gods, might prove useful...at least as a consultant, right?