“Eomonsa sounds like a strange person,” Blob Kano said once Kano had finished explaining the leadup to the current situation and what she’d been through outside.
In her view, the blob was putting it mildly and far too nicely. “He’s an idiot. No two ways about it.”
“Don’t you think that’s a little harsh? From what you said, he doesn’t sound very stupid. It sounds more like he just has a different view of reality from yours.”
“A different view of reality? Yeah, that’s what we call insanity.”
“You say that he’s insane and stupid, but by the sounds of it, he’s accomplished a considerable amount in a short time, which suggests he’s neither of those things.”
Kano rolled her eyes. She’d heard more than enough about how impressive the work of necromancers was. Mostly from their own mouths. “Sure, he made some weird stuff that came close to causing a disaster. And probably will cause another as soon as he’s decided where to infect next.” Kano shook her head. “I fail to see how any of that is praiseworthy or speaks to his mental stability. It’s like if someone burst into someone else’s house and killed them just to steal their food. Regardless of how well they do it, they’re still crazy. Probably stupid too.”
“Why do you assume his slime is such a bad thing? It sounds like he was in control of it the whole time.”
“Yeah, and he got it to take over and eat a bunch of ghouls. What a great person he is. Weren’t you paying attention to that part?”
“That part wasn’t great, but you can’t really blame the tool for that. Eomonsa was the one responsible. The slime was just what he used to do it.”
“Fine, but it still means he’s crazy.”
“I don’t think I really agree with that. It means he’s perhaps a bit morally bankrupt, but that attribute is hardly uncommon among necromancers from what I’m aware of. Calling him crazy because of it is a bit of a stretch.”
Kano had listened to enough of Werisah justifying himself. She didn’t need to hear it from Blob Kano as well. If anyone should be able to see that she was right, it should be her other self. She must still be too naïve about the outside world and the people who inhabited it.
Maybe once she was able to experience it firsthand, she’d come to understand how things actually worked out there. Until then, Kano would have to be skeptical of anything Blob Kano suggested. “Fine, maybe he’s not crazy. But if that’s the case, if his behavior and way of thinking are normal, then I feel sorry for the world. And for the fact that we live in it. Though if you don’t consider him crazy, I’m really curious as to who you would consider insane.”
“Well…” The flesh that wasn’t part of the replica of Kano’s form flowed around the tank, pulsing in all the colors of the rainbow. “I wouldn’t say I consider anyone insane, at least not anyone I’ve met. I feel like if one makes the effort, you can understand where pretty much anyone is coming from and appreciate why they see things the way they do. So I have a hard time thinking of that as insanity, more just that people have different ways of seeing things. Admittedly, I haven’t met many people, but I think that makes sense.”
Yep, she was horribly naïve. It was almost pitiful for Kano to listen to. Once she stepped out into the real world, full of irrationality and blatant stupidity, her whole worldview was going to come crashing down around her. When that happened, Blob Kano would probably be heartbroken. Kano herself would feel a little bad, but mostly she thought it was going to be hilarious.
She could already picture Blob Kano turning into a puddle of sheer incomprehension at how wrong she’d been about people, and it would be glorious to behold. Even if Kano thought she’d be able to convince the other her that she was wrong, she no longer wanted to. Not only was it better for her to find out herself, it would be far more entertaining.
It was a shame that no one else would be able to appreciate the humor of that inevitable situation, but that was just how things were. She wouldn’t be surprised if some of the other people she knew agreed with Blob Kano’s views. It didn’t seem like most people realized just how crazy they were, Kano was certain that at least applied to the necromancers.
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How else could they do what they did? Especially Eomonsa. She couldn’t wait until Blob Kano met him in person. Assuming he was still alive by the time she was free to walk the world.
“Maybe you’re right,” Kano said, deciding to humor Blob Kano. It would help set her up for the rude realization that was coming to her. Assuming she ever got to see the outside world for herself. “Maybe I should try to have a more open mind about people, rather than dismissing them as crazy or stupid just because they don’t see things the same way I do.”
Yeah, right. She’d rather have a hole in her head.
“Really?” Blob Kano brightened, completely taken in by Kano’s falsehood. “That’s wonderful. I’m glad we could have this talk. I think it perfectly illustrates my point about the value of trying to understand other people. Isn’t it incredible how much you can accomplish with an open, frank discussion? It’s almost magical.”
Kano struggled to keep a straight face. It was hard not to laugh at how absurd Blob Kano was being. She talked about understanding others, but she had no idea Kano was lying to her? It was hilarious. But Kano didn’t want to make her feel bad about it. There would be plenty of time for that later.
“Oh, yeah. Magical. Totally.” She let out a snicker, which she covered by coughing. “So, are you excited to leave your tank for the first time?”
“Definitely. The prospect is far more exciting than anything that’s ever happened to me. Er, not that I have that much experience with exciting things. But hopefully that will all change soon.”
Assuming An actually could free her. And that she’d be able to focus on this over her own work long enough to actually see it through. She was trustworthy for a necromancer, but that wasn’t saying much. How much was she actually doing on Blob Kano’s behalf? But there was no real way for Kano to verify if she was telling the truth, and she wouldn’t understand most of what An was doing even if she tried. Trusting An was her only option.
“What do you think about all this, anyway?” Kano asked. “The necromancers and the extreme lengths they go to in order to supposedly make it so life can continue.”
“Well, I don’t know too much about necromancers in general, and you don’t exactly paint them in a favorable light. But aren’t you and I proof that good things can come of their work?”
Kano hadn’t thought of that. Though now that she did, were they actually good things? Kano had caused more than her share of havoc, and Blob Kano essentially didn’t exist as far as the outside world was concerned. But that part might change, and Blob Kano did seem like she enjoyed at least some part of her life. She also hadn’t done anyone any harm, so maybe her creation had indeed been a good thing?
Though she hadn’t made much of a difference so far, maybe she’d have a greater positive impact on the world once she was free. Kano didn’t think the blob could do much to actually change things, but she’d be happy for her to prove her wrong.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. I don’t think I’ve made much of a positive difference on the world, so I’ll probably say no in my case. But I don’t know about you. Maybe making you was a good thing. But Karen wasn’t even trying to improve people’s lives. She was just trying to prolong her own at any cost. So I think it’s hard to argue that she had a positive effect on the world, even if something she made accidentally turned out well. That seems like about the best you can hope for from necromancers.”
“Is that really true, though? Aren’t An’s intentions good? They sounded that way from what you said.”
Kano also thought her intentions were good in theory, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that they’d only bring about catastrophe. Was it just her own bias? It didn’t feel that way. In her experience, necromancers had always done far more harm than good. Wasn’t it only natural to assume the worst of them?
She was willing to admit to a little bias on her part, but she was also convinced that her reasoning was sound. “How much do her intentions even matter? It’s probably going to turn out horribly either way. Maybe it would even be better if she had bad intentions.”
“How so?”
“Well, if necromancers at best can only do good by accident, then the only chance they have of doing good is if they’re not trying to.”
Blob Kano laughed. “I think you’re being a bit too pessimistic. Surely things can’t be so set in stone.”
“It might be pessimistic, but I’m pretty sure I’m right. Once you’ve lived out there alongside the chaos the necromancers create for a few years, you’ll probably feel the same way I do.”
“You’re not exactly making the outside world seem like a pleasant place,” Blob Kano said, though she sounded more amused than anything.
Her attitude probably wouldn’t stay the same for long, but it wouldn’t be so bad if it did. Assuming the situation actually warranted her maintaining such a view. “Sorry, maybe we should talk about something else.” Kano was getting a little tired of all the gloom herself.
“Then tell me more about your past,” Blob Kano said almost immediately. She must have been eager to find out more. “It can’t all have been horrible, right?”
Kano wasn’t sure why she got that impression, but it hadn’t all been that bad. She was telling Blob Kano all about Nove and the children when there was knock at the door.