Chapter 1304: Neither Of You Know Enough

Ok so... I most definitely did not sign up for this...

Ira and Tsara have been arguing over their ideals and beliefs for over an hour now.

Tsara’s counter to Ira’s claims were that there were also others that weren’t Off-Worlders who suffered such a fate and this was all because of political manoeuvrings.

The fact that those Off-Worlders were taken out doesn’t mean that they were specifically being targeted but more of them being victims of a system that was already in place. They were just more susceptible to it because they don’t know the new World’s culture enough to protect themselves from it.

Especially when the Off-Worlders are pushing ideals and agendas that run against the norm of the World.

Honestly, pretty valid reasons.

I’m sure to the others, the Off-Worlders might be seen as problematic idealists or extremists and the idea that these people came from another World might not have even crossed their minds.

Ira didn’t give up and continued to argue about the various different ways that Off-Worlders faced oppression or how the Gods might have oppressed the World and Tsara would argue back stating various different reasons and arguments to counter Ira.

One thing I realised pretty quickly was the fact that both of them were basically arguing on things that they have heard from second hand or even third hand accounts with neither of them actually experiencing it themselves.

And I’m just stuck here listening to both of them go back and forth as they debated their ideologies to each other.

Feeling a little tired, I decided to call them out.

"Girls? Err... Are the both of you done? Could I leave first?"

""No!"" Both of them cried out at the same time while grabbing my hand.

"You have to agree with me, right? Aster? You’re also an Off-Worlder so you must have also seen what I said earlier so you know what I said is true!" Ira argued.

Tsara tugged on my arm, "Lady Nilm! You have lived amongst us for several years already, haven’t you? Surely you also know that what this rude woman claims is only applicable to a small number of people? You don’t think the same way, do you?"

I cleared my throat, "Ahem... I just want to point out something though... Both of you aren’t even speaking from experience and all your arguments are just hearsay... There’s no actual statistics to back them up and you’re only doing all this based on how you feel... Not because of objective fact..."

Ira huffed, "What do you mean, Aster? Isn’t it true that the World is being stopped from advancing technologically? This is proof that the Gods are intentionally limiting it?!"

I shook my head, "If you didn’t know... I’ve introduced the idea of trains to the King and they’ve begun working on a prototype which would link cities together and shorten the travel time drastically. Yet there isn’t any pushback against it either from the people in power or the gods themselves so I don’t think it’s a matter of the gods restricting it. If you ask me, I think it’s because people are so used to magic and the fact that there is literally an option where you can teleport, they don’t have much of an incentive to come up with a more convenient method of travel since there are already several options. Apply that to everything else and you could see a pattern as well. There aren’t any sewage treatment plants because people can just purify the water using magic and power plants don’t exist because we have Mana Crystals already."

Ira frowned but said nothing as she probably saw the truth behind my words.

Tsara had her chest thrust out in pride but I turned to her and shook my head.

"For your points though... I could also point out that there isn’t actually an institution or just a way for Off-Worlders like myself to properly integrate into this new World that we were dropped into, especially for the ones who are just dropped in as adults. I would agree that there are problematic people amongst the Off-Worlders but some are just misguided and had no safe path of integration laid out for them. I would say that it would be better if this was made public and an institution of sorts be set up to educate them instead of removing them instead. But well... That might be hard considering you would need time, resources and manpower to handle that and not every Off-Worlder might agree and it could also spark off more hatred towards them... But to jump right into elimination might be a little too much, don’t you think? It is still a fact that Off-Worlders are also bringing in different things and inspiring advancements and changes in this World which is mostly a good thing too."

Tsara also made the same face as Ira and she went quiet after hearing my points.

Both of them then looked at each other and it really felt like they were having a private conversation telepathically with how they were looking at each other so intensely.

Eventually, Ira sniffed at the Trasif, "Perhaps I had been too hasty in my judgement of this World."

Tsara nodded, "I feel the same... But I also cannot ignore the fact that many of the problems that have appeared is a direct result of Off-Worlders meddling with the World. And the fact that your group seeks to overthrow the Gods to install themselves as the new Gods is something that I do not agree with."

"Fair enough. I also cannot ignore the fact that your Gods literally do not guide this World towards improvement and merely adopt a watch and see philosophy like this World isn’t their responsibility. They are the ones who oversee the entire World so they also bear the responsibility of making sure it flourishes. If they won’t do it, someone else should."

"It seems we do not agree on that particular point then."

"It seems like we don’t."

I thought they might start fighting again but both of them turned back to me.

"That’s why... Allow me to accompany you on your journey Aster!"

"The same goes for me as well, Lady Nilm. Let me join you on your journey."

I blinked at them, "Ok... I heard you girls the first time when you suggested that but... Erm... I’m not sure if you girls know this but I’m currently on a journey towards Aerialla Academy so that I can continue my studies in magic you know? Right now I only returned to deal with that problem of the Tree of Life and I will be returning back to Emmeflero City to continue my journey from there."

Tsara tilted her head at me, "I don’t understand, Lady Nilm... You could board a ship from this city to travel towards Dunsang Trade Port and board the airship to the Academy directly itself. Why are you travelling through Emmeflero City?"

"Because we’re headed towards Anam City to board the airship there instead. And before you ask... Yes, I know I can also get on a ship to travel there as well but the main goal of my travels is to see the different countries and the lands of this World. As you already know, I am an Off-Worlder and I had been given the opportunity to experience and see this new World that I was given a second chance at life in. Why would I not want to go out and see what is out there and all the interesting things that are present in this World that aren’t in my old World?"

Both girls stared at me for a moment without saying anything.

Ira tilted her head, "So... Are you saying... That you are just travelling for fun, Aster?"

"What else do you think I’m doing? I’m definitely not travelling for work if that’s what you’re wondering. I’m a tourist. So I’m touring~"

"And... You are just travelling through the various different territories... Just to experience them?" Tsara asked.

"Of course? Isn’t that what tourists do? I’m learning so much and have already seen so many interesting things! I didn’t even know that Trasifs lived in trees that have grown to be as big as buildings in size! And I also learned the truth that Immana did not actually abandon the Trasifs but had exiled them from her domain to save them instead!"

Tsara immediately panicked, "Lady Nilm!! You... You can’t do that!! You have to address her properly!! It’s Goddess Immana!!"

I waved my hand, "It’s fine... I’ve also met her and she gave me permission to call her that. Oh and if you want to know, the goddesses I’ve met are Drebann, Hiandoca, Ralaie, Immana and also the one that you worship, Srii."

The Trasif priestess stared at me for a good few seconds before Ira broke the silence.

"Aster... I have decided I am definitely following you now."

Ok, ok geez... I’ll go talk to my girls about this...