Chương 11: Who was that cosmic beauty?

The train jolted as flashing lights outside streaked across the sky like shooting stars. Chump shifted to the front of his seat, fixing his gaze on his companion.

He sat down, making sure to keep Clem in his line of sight. He leaned against the seat's edge, tapping one end of a pencil nervously against a sheet of paper.

He took manual breaths, unsure if his lungs felt heavy or if he was simply not breathing correctly. His mouth felt a bit dry, and his left knee bounced uncontrollably.

In contrast, Clem remained almost motionless, displaying little emotion apart from turning his head to look at Chump. He patiently waited to sit down and continue his explanation. His expression remained calm, his smile somewhat forced, and he blinked at a normal pace for his comfort.

Chump inquired, "Why?"

"Our world is facing a silent crisis. We—"

Chump cut him off, "Silent? Then how the hell—"

Clem raised an open hand, knitting his eyebrows and coughing sternly and sharply to silence the human.

Clem interrupted, "Please. Allow me to explain without interruptions. I understand your curiosity, but it's better if I explain everything first and address questions afterward. Are we on the same page, Mr. Chump?"

Leaning back, Chump sighed in frustration, casting a sharp gaze at Clem.

Chump apologized, "I'm sorry. Please continue…"

"Thank you. As I was saying, our world is grappling with a silent crisis that only the upper echelons and their closest associates are aware of. For five generations, the birth rate has been declining at an alarming rate."

Clem continued.

"Tensions are escalating between the main kingdoms and the frontier clans. Because our lifespans are quite large, age-related changes are hardly noticeable."

Chump picked up the pencil, his facial expressions changing rapidly as he took notes. He jotted down the number "1" in a column, nodding as his demeanor grew more neutral and he concentrated on Clem's auto-tuned voice.

Clem proceeded, "The last straw wasn't the lack of understanding about the decline in births. It was the directive from the Guardian." Chump made more notes.

Clem continued, "The Guardians are entities that oversee the flow of our power, the Remenant, ensuring its stability and safeguarding it from threats. They serve as the voice of our Goddess and intervene in significant events. However, they typically maintain a neutral stance and rarely involve themselves in our affairs."

"This is a rather lengthy explanation," Chump thought.

Clem pressed on, "The being we encountered during the contract is called a Herald, the highest rank among the Guardians. The higher the rank of a Guardian, the more cosmic their appearance becomes."

Chump questioned, "Oh then she must create those, right?"

Clem shook his head "Anyone has the potential to become a Guardian, but only a select few are chosen, and the criteria for selection remain shrouded in mystery. The last individual chosen as a Guardian was two generations ago."

The train lifted its head gradually, emerging from the tunnel into a beautiful morning. The sun shone brilliantly, illuminating the cabins with a warm, radiant glow, rendering the interior lights almost ineffective.

They were now outside the city, cruising along the highway with thriving farms to the west and a coastline visible in the distance. The sea gently lapped against the shore under the bright sun, and there was a stillness in the air.

On the highway, another chase unfolded. A car attempted to evade Gunnhildr, Ephiron, and Beastie, maneuvering through the obstacles with barely enough room to pass.

The conversation was inaudible. Gunnhildr gestured toward the train, receiving a calm response from Ephiron, met with a grumpy reaction from Gunnhildr. The trio ignored the train and continued pursuing the speeding car.

Chump peered through the window, cautious of the situation and partially concealed. He watched as they sped away, focused on their next target.

Chump commented with astonishment in his voice, "I got lucky... Thank goodness that I'm nearly invisible from the outside."

"You're welcome, by the way," Clem remarked, nodding, while Chump's attention remained divided.

Chump replied, "Yeah, yeah, I owe you one. So, my question is, what do you know about this declining birth rate?"

"I'm afraid I only possess the information my master provides. I can gather very little beyond rumors," Clem explained.

Chump looked at him after ensuring the hunters had moved away. "That's alright. I don't want to spread misinformation."

Chump scratched his chin, a sense of comfort settling in as he asked his next question, "Have the Guardians expressed an opinion about this situation or made any moves?"

"No, they have intervened only on a handful of occasions in recorded history, rarely even in times of war or mass genocides. It can be counted on one hand. They intervene in the world solely to avert apocalyptic threats."

Chump took urgent notes. "Okay, it makes some sense...divine sense, but it's logical. How can these cosmic beings be differentiated from one another? Visually, by their voice, demeanor—any information you can provide."

Clem responded, "It primarily begins with changes to their hair, which then extend to their limbs, torso, and eventually their head. They progressively shed their original form to adopt a more neutral humanoid appearance.

"Huh, a free haircut!" Chump grinned at that amusing thought.

"Their titles range from Starlight to Protector, Archmenant to Herald. However, most people simply refer to them as Guardians or by other divine titles out of respect.

"Is that classification necessary?" the human muttered.

Clem ignored that question. "Their voices become more diluted as they ascend to the rank of Herald until they merge into a single voice with that of the Goddess. Additionally, no male Guardians have been documented to date.

"Huh, that's weird…" Chump's notes were piling up.

"However, melding their voices and visions with that of the Goddess does not appear to alter their personalities directly. They tend to remain close to the Sacred Monuments."

As another village came into view, its landscape devoid of tall buildings and featuring only small patches of wild vegetation and freely roaming animals, Chump asked, "Are we approaching Massalfasar, the largest industrial zone outside the city? Is it located there?"

Clem confirmed, "Yes, I've established a nearby camp, as per your request for refuge. I believe you may find it suitable."