Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 975 No one or everyone?
At dusk, the snow on the Eastern Alps was dyed into a magnificent dusk by the blood-red sunset. A figure slowly climbed up the main peak of Mount Osor along the steep and rugged mountain path. He was Wilhelm Dart, the leader of the Usu tribe. According to the agreement in the morning, he came to collect the manuscript of Saint Tumi and to ask for an answer from a young man.

Perhaps, the latter thing is his real purpose. In the heart of this taciturn man, the Saint's manuscript is far less important than his daughter's future.

But he might hear a regrettable answer.

"Songtaya refused." After handing the transcribed Saint's manuscript back to Chief Wilhelm, Linger took the initiative to inform him of the result before he could ask any questions. He said concisely, "She said she didn't want to leave the Snow Mountain and wanted to stay and take on her responsibilities."

When he said this, the girl's bright but determined eyes also appeared in front of his eyes. She might not understand that every choice in life is important, but she has realized without any instruction that some choices can only be made by herself, and no one can influence her will, even if that person is her only relative.

The Xiatoto people are a nation that chases blizzards, and the girl is as free as a snowflake. She is born, grows, and floats here, and finally slowly withers away, merging into the endless glaciers and becoming a part of the eternal winter and snow. Once the snowflakes leave the snow-capped mountains, they will melt into water and evaporate, so she will only feel at ease if she stays here.

I don't know if it's a coincidence or fate, but there are spring days with vitality, summer days with prosperity, and autumn days with coolness and sunshine on Cloud Whale Island, but there is no winter day with frost and snow. This is not because the owner of the island is partial, but for the people living on that barren land, winter is not a good memory. The angel lady who inherited their wishes has long regarded Cloud Whale Island as the continuation of Avignon Village, and naturally does not want to see winter fall here again.

Her resistance created a warm, prosperous and peaceful paradise on earth, but it also unintentionally became the perfect excuse for the girl to refuse the invitation. Many things in the world were destined a long time ago, but people at that time had not yet noticed it.

"I see."

After listening to Lingge's reply, Chief Wilhelm only said this, then raised his head and silently gazed at the mountains and snow valleys under the setting sun. In his eyes, dusk had not yet faded, but night had arrived early, and the darkness was so deep that it was unpredictable.

Is he regretting? Or is he repenting? Ling Ge couldn't get any clues from his tone, eyes or eyebrows. Perhaps asking directly was the fastest and most convenient way, but the young man at least knew how to read people's expressions and wouldn't do such an impolite thing, so he could only guess his mood at the moment.

Regret or regret, each of these emotions is reasonable, but it seems that none of them can summarize the inner thoughts of Chief Wilhelm. This man, whose words, deeds and spiritual core are perfect in people's minds, has a traditional image of a Chateaunaut. Just standing there, he gives people a feeling of being unseen, as high as a snowy peak and as deep as the bottom of a valley.

"I was just thinking," he suddenly said, using a voice as heavy as a rock to frankly confess his thoughts at the moment: "I don't think I have ever understood Songtaya's thoughts. I just made judgments based on my status as a father and leader. I am really unqualified."

He did not explicitly say whether it was his disqualification as a father or as a leader. Perhaps it was both, or perhaps neither was important.

"I think you've done enough." Linger said, "Leave the rest to that girl. Although she's a little reckless, she actually knows exactly what she's doing and what she wants."

The saying "great wisdom appears foolish" refers to this situation.

Chief Wilhelm glanced at him and said, "You seem to like her very much, Lord Ling?"

"Yeah." The young man did not deny: "A child as cheerful and lively as Songtaya, who is also well-behaved and sensible, I think no one would dislike her, right?"

Leticia is not a human.

"Haha." Leader Wilhelm suddenly laughed. This seemed to be the first time that Linger had heard this man laugh since he met him. For a moment, he thought it was an illusion. The next sentence he heard made him more certain of his thoughts, because if it was not an illusion, how could he hear such an outrageous sentence? "How much of your love for Sontaya is based on pity, and how much is based on the admiration between men and women?"

"Cough cough!"

Don't get me wrong, this wasn't Ling's cough, but came from the Saint's Stone House. It seemed that a certain girl had been paying attention to the conversation here. Ling pretended that he didn't hear it, and looked at Chief Wilhelm helplessly: "If you say this is a joke, it's a bit too sudden."

Leader Wilhelm shook his head and said seriously, "I'm not joking, Mr. Ling. Your answer is crucial. I wonder if you have heard of the story of the Mechanical Saint Midei and the Holy Creation Knight Dayang?"

Ling Ge's expression changed slightly: "I have heard a little bit about this, but does it have anything to do with the topic we are discussing?"

"There is indeed a connection." Leader Wilhelm said, "It is said that in that long-forgotten holy war, the reason why the united cults were able to defeat the steam-powered mechanical god Alexander who mastered the power of time and space, in addition to the power of the Seven Gods and the might of the constructed mecha, was another crucial factor. The Holy Creation Knight Dayan sacrificed himself and awakened the refined mechanical saint Midei with a love that transcended time and space, allowing her to see with her own eyes what a big mistake she had made. The regret and pain impacted the kingdom of the mechanical god Alexander from the inside, causing it to collapse. This is enough to prove that love is an incredible power in the world, and it can even fight against the refinement of the conceived gods."

"This..." Ling Ge instantly understood what he meant: "So you hope that one day in the future, if Songtaya becomes the carrier of the conceived god, someone like the Holy Creation Knight Dayang can awaken her with the power of love?"

"exactly."

Chief Wilhelm was a far-sighted man. After Sontaya refused to leave her hometown, he quickly came up with another solution, but this solution made Lingge laugh and cry.

The power of love is infinite... I always feel that this is something that only Alice would say, but there is indeed evidence that if the feeling of missing someone can transcend time and space, and even transcend the kingdom of God, lovers can watch over each other in the eternal world until death. The story of the Mechanical Saint Mida and the Holy Creation Knight Dayan is as beautiful and cruel as a fairy tale.

The question is, why would Chief Wilhelm set his sights on him? Linger was sure that he only regarded Sontaya as a lively and lovely sister. After all, he had only known her for a week or so. It would be too frivolous for someone to develop feelings for her in such a short time.
Moreover - "If I remember correctly, Songtaya is only fifteen or sixteen years old?" Linger gave Chief Wilhelm a strange look: "It seems a bit too early to consider such things now?"

Chief Wilhelm said, "According to the customs of the mountain people, girls of fifteen or sixteen are old enough to get married, but Songtaya's standards are too high, and there is no boy in the tribe that she likes. Perhaps only a man who is calm, knowledgeable, and dares to challenge miracles and replicate the old deeds of the saints is her ideal partner?"

Lingge was speechless. What’s the difference between this and naming names?
Seeing that the topic was going off the topic, the young man was afraid that Chief Wilhelm would take it too seriously, so he quickly changed the subject: "That being said, perhaps this is not the only way to do it? According to the principle of the birth of gods, it seems that as long as the emotions are strong enough, they can impact the kingdom of God created by them and call back the refined souls. Therefore, the deep family relationship between you and Sontaya can also become that bridge."

"I hope so."

Chief Wilhelm sighed softly, looking somewhat bored. The young man thought that he probably felt that as a father he was unable to protect Sontaya, as a leader he was unable to stop her from becoming the core of the ritual, and that he had always been harsh on her, so he probably didn't leave a good impression on his daughter. In that case, it seemed a bit greedy to expect family affection to be the bond that connected them.

However, the young man felt that he was just confused by the situation. Songtaya did avoid her father intentionally or unintentionally, but it was not because of fear, but because of respect and admiration. She was eager to become a great man like her father, but she was worried that her ability was far from enough and would disappoint her father, so she was distant and did not dare to express her feelings.

Every snowflake dreams of becoming a mountain, even though they all feel inferior to their tiny reflections in the ice when they land on the earth.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the girl chose to stay in her hometown.

Chief Wilhelm seemed to have figured it out. He stopped worrying and mentioned another matter to Lingge: "Since Songtaya has no intention of following you, I will not force her. But there is one thing I hope you can agree to, Mr. Lingge."

Ling Ge said: "If there is anything I can do to help, I will do my best, but if it is still that matter——"

He hesitated, as if he was worried about something.

Chief Wilhelm saw through his thoughts, and a faint smile appeared on his stern face: "Of course I won't make any requests that would embarrass you. I just hope that when you leave the human world and go to the universe, you can allow Songtaya to watch from here and witness the miracle of the saint's return. Ten thousand years ago, a Shattoto witnessed the saint's ascension to heaven with his own eyes. I think this tradition should probably continue."

He put away his smile and looked up at the sky. The dusk gradually faded away, and the night was sweeping over the mountains and valleys of the Eastern Alps. On the distant horizon, the light of a few stars appeared faintly, twinkling lonely. Was it the Serpent? Red Star? Or the Ancient Ship? In the ancient legends of the Shatto people, these stars all have the meaning of guiding the direction.

This request was indeed not excessive, but Ling Ge was a little curious: "Are you so sure that we can replicate the deeds of the saints?"

“I’m not sure.” Chief Wilhelm shook his head slowly. “I just think that if even you can’t do it, then perhaps this tradition has no need to exist.”

This is really a high evaluation. Lingge was silent for a moment and said, "It sounds like we cannot let you down, Mr. Wilhelm."

“Everything in the world is up to human beings.”

Chief Wilhelm turned around, holding the wooden box containing the saint's manuscript in both hands, and said to Lingge: "I sincerely wish you all success, not only to fulfill the long-cherished wish of the Shattoto people, but also for the great ideals you shoulder. Before that, I will watch in silence, just like Mount Osor for thousands of years."

After he finished speaking, he nodded slightly, as if to say goodbye. However, before leaving, Linger called him, then took out a pair of golden bells from his arms, untied one of them and handed it to him, saying: "This bell is a gift from me to you... no, it is a gift to the Wusu tribe, thanking you for your care and help during this period of time. If one day the mountain people encounter any difficulties, or if something unexpected happens to Songtaya, you can shake this bell and we will hear it then."

He said it ambiguously, but Chief Wilhelm instantly understood the meaning of the bell. It was more of a promise than a gift, and it seemed to be more serious than his promise based on the Mist Mountain Hermitage. Chief Wilhelm was not sure what the mountain folks had done to deserve this young man who was comparable to a saint. Was it because of Sontaya? But no matter what, it seemed to be a good thing.

After he took the bell, he said seriously, "I will give it to Songtaya for safekeeping."

Only she is qualified to keep it.

Lingge didn't say anything, which was considered as tacit agreement. He thought he was not a very kind person, and he only did what he could. Therefore, he could only give such an illusory promise to Songtaya. Whether it could be fulfilled did not depend on the determination of the young people, but on that illusory future.

If you make a promise and then fail to keep it, isn't that as cruel as giving hope and then taking it back?
Maybe this was a wrong decision?
The young man looked at the figure of Chief Wilhelm leaving, and couldn't help thinking in his heart. However, the facts could not be changed. His fate had been determined when he made a request to Lorena. The only thing he could do was to walk along this path unswervingly until the final judgment came in the distant and mysterious Temple of Heaven.

If the goddess' help could be obtained, not only Songtaya, but all those who were in the same situation as her would be saved, and it would not seem to matter whether the bell could work or not; but if it went against the ideal plot... I'm afraid it would be a cruel result.

Or, save everyone.

Otherwise, you can't even save yourself.

Give me some meow