193 Chapter 190 Objectively Evil (1/2)

They were floating over a large open field.

”Are you sure they are below that?” Stella asked, a faint smell of oranges permeated the air around her.

”Yes, I just need to dig down now. Ready?” He gave her a smile, and took her hand as they settled onto the ground.

EARTH VISION.

Joseph stood there patiently, as he looked down below their feet, until he finally found what he was looking for.

ALTER TERRAIN.

The dirt and rock below their feet began to move, lowering them until they stood against the edge of a s.h.i.+mmering barrier. Behind them a staircase wound back up to the surface.

Joseph reached out to touch the barrier, and found it solid under his hand. Studying the magic that was inside his territory, he saw that the barrier was meant to prevent evil from entering, and would then cause damage to any evil that managed to enter it, as well as preventing any dirt and rock from squis.h.i.+ng whatever it hid within it.

”It's pretty, whatever it is,” said Stella, as Joseph studied it.

With a shrug, Joseph pushed on it, and was able to push past the barrier. With a firm grasp on Stella's hand, they stepped through, and found themselves on the edge of a fantastic city. In front of them, a tiny golem, barely a foot tall, was meticulously grinding a stone. As they stood there watching, it carefully placed the stone back into place among the stones that made up the walkway, then carefully pushed all of the stone dust into the cracks around it.

Joseph shrugged again, realizing he felt hot and p.r.i.c.kly, as if insects were biting him all over. Stella also looked uncomfortable.

'What do you think, Joe?' asked Joseph, baffled by the constant damage he was taking.

'The barrier should protect against evil, not against any non-gnome,' said Joe, also confused.

'That's what I was thinking. Could it be targeting us because we are Wizar and it doesn't know what that is?' he wondered.

(JOSEPH THE BARRIER IS WORKING JUST FINE. YOU ARE JUST OBJECTIVELY EVIL.)

'What?' Joe was just as surprised as Joseph was.

(YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR PEOPLE, RIGHT?)

'Of course! Shouldn't that make me good?'

(BUT YOU LEFT AN ENTIRE REALM IN CHAOS AND DESTRUCTION, BECAUSE THEY ANNOYED YOU.)

'Not the entire realm… And I saved the oppressed beast-kin.'

(AND USED OVERWHELMING MAGIC TO BRAINWASH THEM INTO ACCEPTING YOU AS THEIR KING.)

'Some of that was you,' he said.

(EVEN THE DEMON WORs.h.i.+PPERS THAT YOU HAD THE OPTION TO 'RESCUE', YOU OPTED TO KILL INSTEAD. YOU HAVE KILLED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.)

'You're counting them? I saw what they had in their heads! The world is definitely better off without them!'

(YES, AND LOOKING INTO THEIR HEADS HAS CAUSED YOU ADDITIONAL TRAUMA. YOU ARE OBJECTIVELY A HIGHLY FUNCTIONING SOCIOPATH.)

'I think I kind of get it,' said Joe.

'I still don't see it,' Joseph said, shaking his head.