Orb: On the Movements of the Earth (チ。―地球の運動について―)

No matter when I look,

the night sky is always beautiful.

So why...

Why must our world be an ugly place?

It's because the Earth is at the center of the universe.

But wouldn't that make it special?

To be at the center

is to be at the bottom.

At every location on Earth,

heavy objects fall downward.

That is because Earth's center

is the lowest point in the universe.

That's how God created things.

But why?

God made the Earth a lowly place full of corruption

to remind us that humankind is helpless and sinful.

The sky above looks so beautiful

because you are gazing at it from this corrupt realm.

If Earth is at the bottom of the universe,

why don't the stars fall from the sky?

I don't know.

We humans can only comprehend the realm in which we live.

The heavens are sublime, solemn,

sacred, and sweeping.

They don't mingle with the lowly Earth.

Sorry. Have I kept you waiting, Oczy?

Not at all, Gras.

The stars look so beautiful on such a clear night.

It never fails to amaze me!

Every evening, the stars share the rich splendor of their glow.

Don't you ever have a look?

With your eyes, I'm sure the stars are quite vivid.

No, uh... I...

I don't like to gaze at the sky.

I see.

Oh, that's right!

Today marks one year since you transferred to our chapter.

When work is done, let's celebrate.

My treat, of course.

Oh, uh... Thank you very much.

Now then. Let's get to work.

ON THE MOVEMENTS OF THE EARTH

THE FACT THAT THIS WORLD IS FAR MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN HEAVEN

I'll do it.

Thanks.

We're members of the Civilian Watch.

I will serve as witness.

Please allow us to wear masks

so that we may avoid personal retribution.

Now, let's begin.

Commence the duel.

W-Wait!

It was Count Nastula who I challenged to a duel!

Why does someone of my stature have to fight you peasants?

Count Nastula hired us

to fight as his champions.

I believe you approved it too.

B-But if I...

If I lose, I'll die!

Correct. That's the way it works.

Gotcha!

N-No...

I don't want to die.

I know! I have money!

Let's make a deal!

You have nothing against me, right?

Murder is a terrible sin!

You don't really want to do this, do you?

Well...

To be honest, I really don't.

I-In that case--

But this is my job.

B-Burn...

in...

hell.

I've handed over the body.

That takes care of tonight's work.

Still, your reflexes impress me.

You really do have good eyes.

Huh? Are you okay?

D-Do you think he went to heaven?

You're concerned?

I'm worried.

Doing this work, I've seen many people face imminent death.

But not a single one seemed to die in satisfaction.

They all passed away in terror.

As if they saw the entrance to hell.

Could it be that only a handful of people go to heaven?

If so, a murderer like me will never make it.

Oczy.

What do you like best about our world?

Why ask me that?

It's inappropriate to like anything about this corrupt realm.

Come on, that's not true!

Enjoyment can't be bad.

With nothing to look forward to,

our souls plunge instantly into darkness.

Things like love, dreams, and hope

should never be cast aside!

I guess you're right.

I'll rethink my outlook.

Oh, sorry.

I've made you nervous.

Please be frank, and tell me what you really think.

But... my opinion doesn't matter.

Don't be so shy!

We've known each other for a year.

Don't hold back!

I believe expectations are bound to be betrayed.

You'll be less hurt if you give up from the very beginning.

Or rather, nothing enjoyable ever happens in life anyway.

The only ones who can be happy

are a select few born with that privilege.

For those who aren't chosen, even trying to be happy is useless.

Our world is sick.

And that's why

the only hope is in heaven.

Heaven is wonderful.

I wanna go now.

Just kidding.

In other words,

because there's nothing perfect or eternal here,

you can't trust anything?

No, I--

I get it!

In truth,

I was just like you not long ago.

But then I found it.

Something worthy of absolute hope.

Wanna know what?

No, not particularly.

This time, you can feign interest.

I want to know.

- Hey, those guys... - Yeah, they're assassins.

Here we are.

Two cups of wine, please!

Huh?

This tavern is frequented by the nobility.

Duelists like you should leave.

I'm sorry if we've offended you.

However, this tavern is also open to us guild members.

So I hope you'll allow us to stay.

- You've got it wrong, Gras. - Huh?

With people like him, you have to be more direct.

I'm sorry for being born!

C-Cut it out! That's enough!

I'm sorry for being born!

See? If you apologize sincerely, they'll forgive you.

Uh, right.

Thanks for that.

Now then. Let's pick up where we left off.

Left off?

Huh? You know!

We were talking about the hope I found.

Oh, right. Of course, I remember.

Here it is.

It contains my observations of Mars.

Mars?

What's that?

I guess we start there, huh?

You're aware that the constellations

are always arranged the same, right?

Their appearance never changes,

and every night, they move from east to west

until morning comes.

But one day,

as I was looking aimlessly up at the stars,

I noticed something incredible.

Among the fixed constellations in the sky,

some stars move!

They move ever so slightly in a single night.

But if you watch for days,

their positions clearly change!

I was fascinated,

so I asked a monk.

The moving stars are called "planets,"

and I learned there are as many as five.

The one I found had the most obvious movements of all.

It's a planet called Mars, and it has a fiery red glow.

From that day on,

I decided to record the trajectory of Mars.

And what did I find?

Mars moves through the constellations in a circular path!

For one month, six months, or a year,

its circular orbit continues without fail.

Swaying grass, flowing rivers, wavering flames...

There are many things that move in nature,