Lem took the martial elder’s words to heart. He could already feel the constraints that were put upon him by the world. They had given him a feeling of helplessness in the past.
For one, he remembered vividly that it was about this time in the first simulation that he was on his deathbed, about to be killed by the evil. Because of this, he considered evil as the most pressing danger to him, but it was not the only danger.
There were the powerful beasts of the forest, who could kill him in an instant…
If his presence was revealed to the sects, he would face an extermination by his own race, but even if he did not die in such a way, he still had to worry about being killed by the one person who was currently helping him.
Now, the martial elder was giving him additional worries about anomalies with means like the racial lock that could affect him even if he never came into conflict with them.
How many more threats could the world produce?
If he kept on increasing in strength, would there always be another level of insecurity?
It felt like a karmic entanglement of the worst kind. He just wanted to live his own life in peace, but everything around him insisted on his death.
That was, everything except for the life simulation system and the mysterious goddess who had given it to him.
As these thoughts rushed through Lem’s mind, Master Brightflame continued.
“Of course, there are other theories as to what occurred with the wolf race, apart from the racial lock theory. Some speculate that they became incorporated by the anomaly and alienated by the world.
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“It should also be said that even if the anomaly did not directly kill off the other powerful members of the species, it might as well have. It affected their strength enough that they were quickly hunted and consumed by other top predators, and the race of wolves fell apart in a matter of years.”
Master Brightflame gave a grim smile. “The world is brutal, and there are few who you can trust, but they are all of your own race. Remember that.”
Lem knew that the martial elder was making the point that if Lem did not trust him, there would be no one he could trust instead.
Lem’s simulated self nodded.
“Do you know why the species did not go extinct?”
He shook his head and Master Brightflame continued.
“It seemed once again to be related to the strange rules of anomalies, or to that anomaly in particular. After the Great Wolf Ancestor died, wolves became one of the few races that can travel freely at night without being affected by common anomalous phenomena.
“They now occupy the niche of being the scavengers of the night, picking off the kills of the day and preying on beasts that have to stay in place to avoid the phenomena. At least, this applies to common members of their packs. Wolf kings are known to still become ensnared by phenomena.
“Some speculate that the reason is because anomalies only have an effect on individuals of races that have powerful members, but it also gives credence to the theory that they became accepted by the anomaly as a race.
“Of course, hanging over this discussion is the obvious fact that with their limited potential, wolves are not very threatening. Of all the beasts in the forest, I fear them the least.”
It was clear that Master Brightflame was finished with his history lesson. “Come,” he said, gesturing for Lem’s simulated self to keep walking.
Lem does not know what to think of the story he had just heard.
If anything, he began to feel bad for wolves.
Like him, their lives were ruined inadvertently by the actions of others. For him, it was his parents who had eaten tainted beast meat. For them it was their ancestor who had investigated an anomalous phenomenon.
He continued to think about the nature of anomalies, as they set out, leaving the carcass of the wolf king behind them.
It would soon be set upon by dust cats and deathbears. If there were any remains, they would be consumed by wolves at night, leaving nothing left in the morning.