Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Every time Josh felt that this ghostly place was unbearable and wanted to leave, he would think about the horrifying question, ’How would I find my way home if I died?’

He really didn’t want to be like a certain colleague, who, after proudly declaring that he was fighting against evil deities, would lower his head and cautiously admit... well, that was a thousand years ago.

The River Styx is quite long, and he accidentally went the wrong way.

Thinking about this future, no matter how annoying this world is or how bothersome the people around him are, Josh managed to persist.

Alas~

Josh also knew that many times, as a Dawn Believer, he couldn’t stand the compromises in life... yet those were things that mortals could never do without.

But how could someone who can tolerate those trivial matters still worship the Lord of Dawn?

Especially since their Lansendel actually allows anyone to leave him once they suddenly become ’mature’ and want to enter the adult world.

’If one day you choose another path, I hope our journey together has no sorrow or silence.’

With such a Lansendel, how could someone with fiery passion in their heart easily leave him?

But there will always be those who, having experienced too much on this path, let their inner fire slowly extinguish... even if such a person is the head of the Dawn Tower, Lansendel would let them go without hesitation.

Because the great Lord of Dawn has no unseen, dirty secrets that require silencing the knowledgeable!

Parting without hard feelings is the Lord of Dawn’s most beautiful blessing.

Josh never thought there was anything wrong with still being that chuunibyou teenager... he wasn’t incapable of learning lessons, he just didn’t want to change his behavior or accept certain realities.

But this time, he really hit a snag.

In that small, musty place, a temporary hideout, what were they fighting over?

So what if they were stronger than others, what more could they gain?

He personally oversaw the food and water... Dawn Believers are well-traveled; their refusal to accept reality doesn’t mean they don’t know reality.

They’ve organized plenty of places like refugee camps.

So, Josh knew very well that although it’s a hassle, as long as the most crucial survival resources were in his hands, the camp wouldn’t fall into chaos.

Yet those fundamental things were in his grasp... what were they fighting over, dog food?

So Josh was really bothered during this time.

Clearly, those archmages who resolutely sacrificed their lives at the Tower of Despair understood everything well... they were also willing to give their lives for their world and their loved ones.

But what they sacrificed everything to preserve, why were they left with this kind of rubbish?

Josh completely didn’t understand... as a Dawn Messenger departing the Stellar Realm independently, he wasn’t as adept in social dealings as those colleagues staying on Toril managing the Dawn Tower.

Those unwilling to stay in one place for long, or perhaps those who don’t like interacting with people too much, would take his path.

It’s imaginable how much Josh endured over these years.

Of course, this could be seen from his longing gaze, and his eyes full of enthusiasm... although he’d have to stay in this world in the future, he wouldn’t have to deal with this group of mortals anymore.

At worst, he’d build a Dawn Tower next to him to protect the mortals, and once he trains a high-level follower capable of bearing the tower defense duties, he can go his own way!

Then, Josh’s smiling face slowly disappeared into the equally sincere smiles of the two small faces that appeared from the slowly opening Magic Tower doors.

The great Lord of Dawn, was he intending for him to raise children?

Since the Dawn Believers were always said to be perpetually immature children... then the notion of children raising children, wasn’t that too cruel, right?

”Hello, Dawn Messenger, Mr. Josh.” Russell discovered that this Dawn Messenger seemed a bit dazed... no wonder the teacher’s Tower Spirit had instructed them that the Dawn Messenger might act strangely and advised them to proactively control the conversation, preventing the topic from veering into the unthinkable.

No matter what thoughts come to mind when he saw him and Carpenter, he shouldn’t be zoning out like this!

In that protective shield behind him, there was still a group of nosy folks!

Those were the mortals under his protection, his subjects... while it’s not necessary to be too cold to them, they shouldn’t be given an opportunity either!

Mortals, whose abilities are unknown, are the ones most prone to causing problems.

Unlike animals who can keenly sense danger... without witnessing the might of a strong person firsthand, they would only imagine based on their own perceptions.

A person who has only seen a level 10 mage will only imagine a meteor shower falling from the sky.

Russell couldn’t imagine, if this Dawn Messenger frequently showed such a pure expression in front of those mortals, what mischief that group might come up with.

Yet, he already greeted him and called his name, proving that he was an acquaintance introduced by his family’s Main God... why was Mr. Josh still spacing out?

How has he managed this camp for so many years without any major incidents?

Minor issues are inevitable, which even Carpenter could see at first glance... no, even Carpenter could see!

Russell took a deep breath: ”Mr. Josh, hello, I am Archmage Hill’s student, Russell.”

”Carpenter.” Carpenter gently added.

”Honorable Lord of Dawn, let us welcome Mr. Josh back with honor.” Russell decided to change his initial decision and get this dazed guy inside first.

Carpenter didn’t understand why her brother suddenly changed his mind... At the beginning, the two agreed to leave a good impression on Mr. Josh, and to act respectfully, exchanging pleasantries outside the door for a while.

Otherwise, the friendly time their teacher fought for would be wasted.

Although their teacher and the Lord of Dawn are quite good friends, that person possesses formidable divine power.

While the teacher may disregard restrictions, their teacher’s subordinates should be more astute, doing more themselves, so they won’t have to seek the teacher due to certain discord, or even request the Lord of Dawn to mediate.

Though Russell believed the benevolent Messengers who bravely fight for other worlds wouldn’t do anything excessive, and he confidently trusted that he wouldn’t waver from his stance.

Yet, doing more initially, fostering harmonious relationships is always wise, and it can also ease the teacher’s mind.

Russell, knowing that he must manage a Magic Tower in the future, has been contemplating a lot during this period.

However, who would have thought Josh was so...

Completely different from what he imagined!

How indeed did he manage a camp of several thousand for so many years!

With a sidelong glance at the camp in the ruins, Russell noted that Josh was completely unguarded, allowing them entry without hesitation.

Yet, even as their Magic Tower doors were closing, not a single person in that camp rushed out to ask ’What’s happening?’

Even if Josh said he came to see the Main God... no, he shouldn’t have said that, right?

Carpenter looked left and right, finally asking in her innocent voice, ”Mr. Josh, in the camp, is there anyone you need to notify?

Your subordinates...”

”Hmm?” Josh, snapping back to reality, asked confusedly, ”Inform them about what?”

Russell took a deep breath, finally understanding why List always said the Dawn Messengers seem unreliable in many places.

Yet, they are good people, and once things are explained clearly, they certainly become good friends.

It turns out the key lies in ’clearly explaining things’!

Can he explain things clearly?

Without even starting to deal with the more troublesome Undead Tribe that List mentioned, Russell felt a bit uncertain about his future.

The teacher always said that strength isn’t everything; intelligence, intellect, and emotional intelligence are also parts of strength... what is going on with people like Josh?

Anyway, Hill could hardly say that reckless madmen are more terrifying, and though his friend isn’t quite mad, one can’t say he’s not mad either.

And his followers are quite similar to him, right?

Russell’s enthusiasm and youth were worn down shortly after he became a Mage Apprentice, his occasional small tantrums pale in comparison to the completely different Chuunibyou Teenager.

This world finds everyone struggling to survive in harsh environments... even those living comfortably or considered luxurious don’t possess childishness.

Looking at the ground, the dried-up rivers, the bare peaks, who can say they are living happily?

Perhaps there once were such fervent attributes, but thinking of the Tower of Despair’s outcome shows that such attributes always lead to the quickest demise.

Russell felt he needed to carefully consider his dealings with this Dawn Messenger, Josh.

It seems that traditional Mage ways might not work well.

In the Sia Tower, where he enjoyed smooth sailing and seamless social exchanges, Russell hesitated.

Then, as he slowly led Josh up the Floating Stairway, in the short time of their conversation, Russell’s head buzzed: Teacher, do you really think this Mr. Josh can help them in the future?

Won’t they end up dragged down because Josh is hunted?

”Your student seems a bit bewildered, Hill.” Shaer looked toward the Floating Stairway, smiling at the corner of her mouth, ”Letting an Orderly Mage born and raised in this world, have their first outsider contact be a Lansendel’s follower, for him...”

Hill gently interrupted her further evaluation: ”But, Shaer, Josh is much easier to deal with than the Undead Tribe, isn’t he?”

Lansendel completely ignored the nearby conversation, merely adjusting his perfect stance before his water mirror, then placed a fist-sized Dawn Stone and a set of red and rose gold attire in front of him.