Mystery: She came from the Chaos Sea

Chapter 25 We are the inevitable dust
The research institute is located at the easternmost end of the "Escape Land".

It is even difficult to include it in the tribal territory because of its long distance from the tribal settlement.

The institute was built on the basis of a natural cave by generations of tribal people and is divided into a cave part and an above-ground building part.

"This is where the collected extraordinary materials are kept, as well as the backup data of the researchers' research content. We are also conducting some less dangerous research topics." After taking Amanesis to collect some daily necessities, Hermione introduced them to Him while cleaning and decorating her own room in the institute.

"So, all your research materials are kept here?" Amanisis also followed human habits and took the initiative to water and clean, and put a mattress made of animal fur on the newly moved wooden bed.

Hermione put down the bucket filled with water and shook her head. "Not necessarily. Because the dangerous research is conducted in a research institute built in the wilderness far away from the tribe. That part of the research content cannot be transferred here in time, especially if the research institute loses control and is destroyed..."

Hermione paused and sighed:
"Even if the tribe actively organizes manpower to collect those precious research materials, the death of researchers will inevitably leave those materials incomplete... Sometimes, those research institutes even become extremely dangerous and treacherous places of disaster."

In those scattered research institutes, there are humanity's most powerful Beyonders like Hermione, as well as lucky individuals who have just embarked on the Beyonder journey, and some ordinary humans with ideas and no fear of danger...

After cleaning up the living room, Hermione took Amanesis to visit the research institute that condensed the tribe's efforts.

Here, more mature research content is engraved on walls or stone slabs, while complicated or unconfirmed conjectures are recorded on parchment, wax tablets, etc.

There are also some closed off research sites and material rooms guarded by Beyonders.

Amanisis browsed through one magnificent room after another, called "libraries," or remodeled natural caves, and saw humanity's research into extraordinary powers and the repeatable but dangerous methods of acquiring them.

But these records do not contain the much knowledge that Hermione had mentioned.

The two of them tacitly agreed not to discuss the matter.

And Hermione spoke of spreading the faith among the tribe:

"As long as the beliefs of other extraordinary races do not invade, the giants do not care if we humans create and spread our own beliefs."

Hermione smiled wryly and said, "Most giants are aloof, like they don't care about the opinions of ants... Of course, this is also due to the efforts of generations of tribal leaders to communicate, and various aspects of the tribe have gained the sympathy and support of a very small number of giants."

"Although there are no statues of gods, the statues of the tribe's ancestors are scattered in public places such as the research institute, meeting hall, square, and school. This actually has the embryonic form of faith."

"Even statues of me, Ouroboros, Leodros, and others are displayed. This stems from the speculation of a deceased sage, who speculated that the great power of the gods of the Beyonder races was born from the faith of a large population. Therefore, the tribe has a custom of building statues of living, powerful Beyonders."

While the idea is beautiful, the reality is cruelly the opposite. The authority of the gods is not born from faith, but rather the gods with authority give birth to faith...

It is the prayers, submission, and conversion of living beings to a powerful being...

Amanisis said thoughtfully, "Didn't you correct this deviation?"

Hermione pretended not to understand the deeper meaning of His words, and only responded superficially, "At that time, I hadn't figured out many things. Moreover, this custom carries the hopes of many people in the tribe, and it can't be abolished just like that."

Too many people hope that a human god will be born in their prayers. It has even become the belief that keeps some people surviving in this dark and hopeless era.

"Now, I don't want to abolish this custom." Hermione said, "I plan to build a statue for you according to this custom after you enter the sight of the tribesmen in human form." Although according to the "anchor" theory described by Hermione, Amanesis inferred that the people's faith played a huge role in maintaining his rationality, he still had doubts in his heart before he truly felt this effect.

But Amanesis did not have the arrogance of the other gods, and was willing to follow the arrangements of Hermione, who had obtained a lot of secret knowledge from unknown channels.

This trust was also the main reason why He left the Demon Wolf Kingdom and followed Hermione to the human world.

"There seem to be very few Beyonders in the tribe? When I got here, I only saw Leodro, who greeted us, and a woman who had a similar background to me, who was guarding the materials room..."

"It's quite rare," Hermione explained. "But we're not the only ones there. In the tribe, there are thirteen seats, known as 'councillors,' held by the most capable and prestigious individuals in the tribe. Currently, eleven of these seats are Sequence 5 and Sequence 6 Beyonders."

"Besides that, there are demon-hunting teams that protect the tribe and go out on exploration, and the research team that lives in the Wilderness Research Institute... Some of them are Beyonders, and some are ordinary humans."

Amanesis nodded and said, "It's quite a large-scale order, but... I don't seem to have seen it all."

Hermione sighed, "Except for those who remained behind, such as Leodro, all the young and strong men, regardless of their roles or professions, including councilors and researchers, have been conscripted by the giants to prepare for the festival."

"Does the 'Congressman' have to go too?" Amanesis asked doubtfully.

Participating in the festival is a very dangerous thing. Even the Sequence Five and Sequence Six councilors are just slightly larger ants among the giants.

Understanding the source of the other party's doubts, Hermione explained, "The extremely harsh and oppressive living environment, coupled with the development of the philosophies of the ancients, has led to the gradual formation of a survival-oriented communal ownership system in the tribe. The concept of private property is very weak in the tribe."

Amanesis still had doubts: "Aren't Sequence 5 and Sequence 6 Beyonders extremely precious to humanity? Aren't they worth protecting as much as possible?"

Hermione smiled and said:
"Although becoming a Beyonder, especially a powerful Beyonder, necessarily relies on a considerable degree of luck..."

"But in Irusha, through case studies of more human tribes, humans discovered that, in addition to luck, becoming an extraordinary person also requires a strong will and the courage to fear nothing."

Sunlight filtered in through the tall, narrow windows, and tiny particles of dust floated in the air, like the ups and downs of the human race in this hopeless world.

But tiny dust particles, when accumulated, also have weight.

In the dim light, Hermione whispered:

“It’s not that there aren’t people who escape, but those who are willing to stay won’t escape again.”

"Besides... in a world like this, where can humans escape to?"

A place to escape.

It is a gathering place for people who cannot avoid it.

(End of this chapter)