Chapter 726


Some say that after World War II, the world experienced a great upheaval.

World War I did change many things, but compared to World War II, it was nothing more than a drop in the bucket.

A disaster that could be termed the worst event in history—a moment when humankind’s many madnesses erupted violently.

That madness was too much for humanity to bear, and there was no escaping it without being swept away.

And if you were to ask what was the peak of that madness… opinions would likely differ from person to person. Some might think of the experiments conducted on colonized people to scientifically establish phrenology in England, while others might consider France offering Paris as a sacrifice to blow up alongside the German army. Some might remember how Nazi Germany used tarot cards to classify and massacre Jews, while others might recall the countless bio-experiments conducted on various ethnicities.

But one thing that people with differing views can agree upon is that this was truly an impressive event.

It showed that war could mobilize not just blood and weapons, but something much deeper and more terrifying.

There was one thing they could say in unison:

That was the emergence of bio-weapons.

A paradigm shift.

An idea born from civilization that had progressed to a level of unbelievable efficiency, paired with ethics that had fallen to the ground.

The emergence of weapons created using people they deemed “inferior races” was nothing short of revolutionary. To those who could see a person as a person, it became an even more heinous symbol of sin than the Aztecs who, day by day, practiced human sacrifice and ate human flesh. For those engaged in war, it was terrifying, disgusting, and brutal when faced with as enemies, but a paradoxically reassuring weapon when wielded. For those without the ethics and morals to accept and use the concept of “inferior races,” they became another resource to effectively utilize ‘human-like livestock’ and ‘inferior breeds’ that could only be used for plantations or slavery.

For that reason, World War II can be said to be madness itself.

What existed, named as the mysterious, suddenly burst forth into light, causing chaos. All of that chaos, handed to humanity driven mad in the name of rationality.

It was like handing a knife to a naughty and wicked child.

Naturally, the child with a knife would not hesitate to swing it, poking at toys, ants… and even the weak animals that couldn’t rebel against them.

Yes.

What reason could a wicked child have not to?

They could transform beings thought to be too genetically inferior to serve military purposes into soldiers through scientific surgery! They could use those barely above livestock as soldiers to save the lives of superior beings—’humans’!

Moreover, it was a subject so intriguing that scientists who didn’t have to worry about future repercussions swarmed to research it.

What reason was there not to do this?

So they did.

To take revenge on the young men lost during World War I, they tossed in colonized people to create berserk warriors, spreading them among those entrenched in trenches, and learned from the lesson of the Black Death by unleashing every manner of disease upon enemy lines.

When they discovered a gas that generated powerful toxicity when reacting with a specific substance, they performed simple surgery on the bodies of colonized people, preparing them to explode from within, creating a kind of biological chemical bomb that reacted with substances previously injected into their veins.

Other than that… well.

There were the bio-weapons created by combining machines and humans.

Those bizarre beings represented the prototype of cyborgs brought into reality.

Of course, despite their intimidating and bizarre appearances, they weren’t really that useful. By the end of the war, these cyborgs were mostly just used as trophies to flaunt the superiority of the regime and scientific prowess.

However, life is truly unpredictable.

Ironically, those prototype cyborgs that were nothing more than empty showpieces became symbols of madness during World War II.

Biological weapons that contributed to the emergence of berserk warriors, biological bombs, and other bio-weapons that actually survived in warfare became overshadowed by them.

And thus, that established ‘symbol of madness’ was consumed throughout the ensuing time of reflection and contrition, quickly gripping the public consciousness. It took shape as a formula: ‘Madness of World War II = Bio-weapons.’

If we were to argue about it, it could be seen as a good thing.

People were creatures that remembered stories, events, and images far better than facts themselves. Therefore, imprinting the unforgettable image of a cyborg in their minds, linking it to the historical event, could be seen as one of the top methods to prevent experiencing the madness of World War II again.

But, as expected, it can’t be all good.

If someone benefits, someone else must bear the burden.

Otherwise, the balance of the world wouldn’t be achieved, right?

And so, those who were suffering the worst times in order to balance the world were precisely the ones who contributed to the birth of such ‘symbols of madness.’

The scientists who participated in bio-experiments, their collective bodies, or companies.

The alchemists who conducted all manner of brutal experiments under the pretense of seeking truth.

The wizards who willingly responded to the state’s requests to study the efficiency and suitability of magic and mana.

Even the explorers who, under Hitler’s command, scoured the ruins across Europe performing magic rituals.

They faced vehement oppression from those who needed somewhere to direct their grievances.

Explorers with long histories fell into ruin, denounced as Hitler’s accomplices, and the investors who backed them suffered great losses or were utterly wrecked. Naturally, such smears spread broadly, and instead of being maintained along with the flow of the times, the guild itself fell apart, leaving the profession of explorer as something only found in novels or movies.

The capable individuals like scientists, wizards, and alchemists who contributed to the birth of bio-weapons also faced similar fates.

They began living under strict regulations and surveillance, forbidden from conducting experiments on humans without permission from international organizations and governments, whether it be dangerous substances like psychotropics or seemingly trivial things like cosmetics or health products.

Moreover, individuals significantly involved in the birth of bio-weapons were hanged and executed, and groups and associations faced public disbandment, punished and exampled by being devoured by other companies.

This can truly be called the embodiment of righteous retribution.

Evil perished while good triumphed.

And thus the world became peaceful.

Righteous retribution.

Ah! The scriptures truly state that what you did not do for even the least of these, you did not do for Him; they will face eternal damnation while the righteous enter eternal life.

Righteous retribution, righteous retribution.

How wonderful it would be if it could come to pass?

If it were truly accomplished, how great it would be if the righteous received rewards and the wicked were punished, allowing the world to revolve fairly?

But reality is not so.

Reality is incredibly ambiguous.

Because there isn’t a clear distinction between who should be rewarded and who should be punished.

And the proof of this is right here.

This is neither unique nor rare.

It is spread across the entire world, comprising countless pieces of evidence and proof.

‘How long has it been since the world was turned upside down? Even still, they’re still cursing us.’

These are the oppressed.

The ones who, post-World War II, appeared in textbooks and all manner of media, reaped the punishments again and again, and had no choice but to live in silence.

They say,

‘I don’t know how long this will last. We’re not the only ones at fault here.’

What filthy hypocrites.

How much more must we apologize?

How much more must we be oppressed?

To demand that a handful of individuals or groups bear the responsibility for the massive war that engulfed the entire world—is that even reasonable?

If there were instigators, then those who followed the instigation are accomplices, conspirators.

Why do they not stop beating one and assigning all sins to them?

Just as when Jesus bore all sins and died, nothing has changed.

The method of placing all sins upon one person and executing them truly remains steadfast.

‘Back then, it didn’t seem like a serious wrongdoing.’

They think so.

They feel wronged.

They acknowledge the fact that they contributed to the birth of bio-weapons and conducted bio-experiments.

But they believe it’s not enough to warrant such oppression.

Some claim, ‘Back then, it was only natural; we were merely following the currents of the times. We are unjustly being targeted.’ Others say, ‘We acknowledge our mistakes. However, isn’t it a fact that we share the blame? Are they not attempting to shift the blame onto us to prove their own innocence and highlight our unethical aspects? By strictly evaluating the facts, there’s no reason we should be subjected to such oppression.’

If the victims were to see it, surely they would spit blood in outrage…

Amazingly, however, they sincerely believe this.

Their collective taught them so.

And.

There exists a great power that shelters them.