C552
[Why did you accept her?]
An irritated voice resonated.
[That woman asked you to accompany her, but if you had refused, she wouldn't have insisted further. She would have quietly withdrawn, accepting your decision.]
'……'
[You don't expect a miracle to happen and for her to regain her emotions, do you? Please, Lucas, abandon those childish expectations. Don't you yet understand what happened to that woman? It's a permanent loss...]
Permanent loss.
Lucas understood the meaning of those words.
Even if Min Harin traveled the world and experienced great stimuli from new scenes or relationships, any resurgence of her withered emotions would be like a dream quickly evaporating.
'Is the influence of the "Lower Universe" so persistent? Enough to follow her permanently after the [deal] is over?'
If Min Harin's vessel expanded to encompass the "Lower Universe," could it break free from the bindings imposed on it? Surely, he also thought about that.
However, Residue refuted Lucas's words in a completely different direction.
[...The Lower Universe might simply be a system.]
'A simple system?'
[It summons those who meet certain conditions and gives them power in exchange for something, or shows them a vision of how to become stronger... Is it possible that someone's will is involved in giving strength or a vision that can strengthen those who meet certain conditions and are summoned?]
'……'
[Of course, there must be a being who created the Lower Universe. Whether it's God or an existence even this venerable one doesn't know.]
Residue had changed. His tone was still arrogant, but his egocentric way of thinking had experienced a definite shift. That's why Lucas silently listened to Residue's words.
[If the Lower Universe is just a system, then the restrictions one obtains there are probably integrated with that woman now.]
'Does it mean that as Harin grows, the restrictions will also strengthen?'
[That's right. Because the power that woman will gain in the future is something she originally couldn't have obtained, and her future growth is also made possible by the restrictions.]
...How dreadful.
Lucas sighed. If that was the kind of system, even if Lucas went to the "Lower Universe" and destroyed it completely, Min Harin's emotions wouldn't return.
'You're right about everything. Except for one thing.'
[What?]
'I don't have the childish expectations you mentioned either. That's why I want to keep Harin by my side for a while.'
[What do you mean?]
'We won't know until we observe. A way to recover Harin's emotions.'
[There's no such method─]
'There is.'
Interrupting Residue, Lucas added to the surprised being:
'...Of course, I have no idea at this moment.'
However,
There's nothing in the world that's truly irrecoverable.
--------------------------
It took longer than expected to find the "Hope Flower." The "Waterfall of Destruction" had cracked the world itself, and the detection methods Lucas knew didn't work properly.
However, in the end, with the help of the Ice Spirit, probably called "Biofrost," they were able to find it.
The flower was deep within a giant crevice. There was not a single piece of ice at the bottom, hundreds of meters below the surface. Lucas felt a powerful energy there.
The Hope Flower was there. It glowed with a bright pumpkin color, but it was much smaller than he had imagined. Even counting the visible part and the roots, it probably wouldn't reach Lucas's calf.
"Is it okay? Is there no problem handing it over like this?"
[It's a cheap price compared to the disrespect I committed. No problem, as they bloom once or twice every 1,000 years.]
The Ice Spirit said indifferently. This being had probably lived longer than imagined.
"Thank you."
Lucas nodded briefly and then cut it without damaging the roots. The Hope Flower didn't lose an ounce of its vitality despite being separated from the ground. It probably wouldn't rot even if left like this for decades.
Min Harin cradled the Hope Flower carefully. Although she would travel with Lucas for a while, she kept it for when the time came to return.
And the two left the 23rd floor, the Ice Land, without any remorse.
"It seems there's no being called 'Wizard of the Magic Tower' here either."
Min Harin murmured quietly. She had lost her sight, but in exchange, she could see a world made of waves and souls. In a way, she might be more sensitive than Lucas in some aspects.
Lucas looked back up at the sky.
The "Waterfall of Destruction" flowing from the sky was still visible.
The calamity in the form of rain that had attacked the cave for the first time no longer occurred, and there were no signs that it would.
The waterfall fell unsettlingly peacefully.
"Let's go a little higher."
According to Residue, the higher they climbed, the closer they would be to the truth of the incident. However, they found no wizards on the 25th or 26th floor. There weren't even any corpses.
A vague sense of unease began to grow gradually.
'Before encountering the 'Destruction,' I'd like to find at least one wizard.'
Judging by the conversation with Redrun, the Tower seemed to be aware of the abnormal phenomena occurring. What Lucas needed now was information. He also had questions about the Beginning Wizard.
'It can't be that we won't find anyone until the last floor.'
Should I go down now and see Redrun on the 11th floor or Viya on the 22nd?
They seemed to be able to communicate with the higher floors, so they should have a general idea of the situation. Of course, they probably wouldn't speak candidly to a stranger like Lucas, but he didn't have time to be polite.
He had to get information, even if it meant using unorthodox methods...
“…”
Lucas realized Min Harin's presence and dismissed that plan. He didn't want her to see him intimidating someone.
And now what?
Lucas pondered, but those thoughts became futile the moment they entered the next floor, the 27th floor.
"Good morning."
Because there was the person Lucas had been looking for, a being from the Tower.
"I was waiting for you, Lucas Traumen."
The man with yellow hair bowed.
-----------------
The man raised his head and his face filled with perplexity. His gaze wasn't directed at Lucas, but beside him.
"Who are you?"
Of course, he referred to Min Harin.
Before responding, Lucas asked first.
"And who are you?"
"My name is Baltak."
"…One of the Seven Magicians?"
Lucas sensed the same peculiar energy he had felt in Redrun, Viya, and Altata.
"Although I am an incomplete being, I also hold that title."
"This is the 27th floor."
It wasn't the place known as the "Double Floor."
Baltak nodded calmly.
"Yes. My original area of responsibility is the 33rd floor."
“…”
No other presence was felt around.
... Why was Baltak, who should have been six floors above, in this place?
"I have revealed my identity. I ask you again, who is she?"
Although he didn't agree with answering questions with questions, Lucas didn't hide anything and answered honestly.
"She's my disciple. We unexpectedly met on the 23rd floor and, due to circumstances, decided to travel together for a while."
"...The 23rd floor."
Baltak, who had been silent for a moment, asked.
"What happened to 'Roster,' the man who was there?"
"He's dead."
"...I see. That's a pity."
Baltak showed a bitter expression for a moment, but he didn't seem too surprised. Instead, his reaction was as if he had expected it to some extent.
"The Magic Tower manages a limited space in the Three Thousand Worlds, but originally, people from the outside cannot enter and leave that space as they please. It seems that restriction has also disappeared due to the aftermath of the abnormal phenomenon."
“…”
"Have you been caught up in something unfortunate? Has the world on the 23rd floor completely collapsed, and you've been forced to move with her? If that's the case, I can use my power to send her 'back' outside."
"No."
It wasn't Lucas who responded, but Min Harin.
"I'm here of my own free will."
"It seems you're determined. Understood. Originally, this wouldn't be allowed, but now is not the time to argue trivialities."
Baltak spoke with a professional tone and then looked at Lucas again.
"You may not fully understand the current situation. I'll explain it to you step by step."
Lucas looked around. The 27th floor seemed like a wizard's workshop. A dark, damp place with the smell of dust. It wasn't an open place, so the "Waterfall of Destruction" couldn't be seen, but the 27th floor was not exempt from its influence.
This world was also in as dangerous a state as the ones he had seen before, as if it could collapse at any moment.
"Firstly, the reason I was waiting on the 27th floor, instead of my responsibility area on the 33rd floor, was to see you, Lucas. I had to confirm something."
"Confirm?"
"Yes."
"If that's your goal, then finish it quickly. I have to go up as soon as possible."
"Why?"
Lucas restrained his irritation.
"...Do you ask because you don't know? To find the origin of the 'Waterfall of Destruction' that has turned the Magic Tower into chaos."
"You say strange things."
Baltak said with a doubtful voice.
"Haven't you seen with your own eyes the phenomenon you call the 'Waterfall of Destruction'? Is there any way to counter it? Any method to eliminate it? No, is there even a way to delay it?"
“…”
"It can't be. That's why I suspect you."
"Suspect?"
"Yes."
Baltak's eyes filled with a cold gleam for a moment.
"I'll assume you know nothing and explain it to you. First, the one responsible for the Waterfall of Destruction, the source you're seeking, appeared on the highest floor. We provisionally call it [The Darkest Darkness]."
...The highest floor,
Lucas's expression changed.
"Do you mean the place where the Beginning Wizard is? What is he doing now? It can't be that he's unaware of this situation."
Baltak looked calmly at Lucas and answered one question at a time.
"The Lord's room is in the Magic Tower, but it's an individual space that can't be considered part of it. The highest floor I'm referring to is the 77th floor. And at this moment, contact with the Lord has been cut off."
"...If it's been cut off, then..."
"No."
Baltak shook his head.
"The Lord is alive. All the Seekers know that."
“…….”
"Let's continue with the explanation. Darkest Darkness is expanding from the 77th floor, one floor at a time, but there have been different opinions on its speed. Sometimes it was fast, sometimes slow, and even sometimes it stopped completely. So, one of the Seven Magicians, 'Haik,' noticed something. About the movement pattern of Darkest Darkness."
Movement pattern.
That could be a clue to the true nature of the Darkness or how to defeat it.
At that moment, Baltak's finger pointed at Lucas.
"It's you."
"What...?"
"The speed of the Darkness exactly matches yours."
Lucas's body froze.
"What do you mean?"
"The Darkness appeared on the highest floor, the 77th floor. And from there, it has been descending one floor at a time."
"...You've already explained that."
"Yes. But I don't understand it. Don't you find anything strange about what I've said?"
Lucas fell silent for a moment. By calming his head, which had heated up a bit from Baltak's words, he noticed several inconsistencies that he hadn't noticed before.
"...It appeared on the highest floor, not the lowest, and it's descending one floor at a time?"
"Yes."
Baltak nodded.
"You know the destructive power possessed by the Darkness. If it wanted to, it could destroy from the highest floor to the 1st floor without any problems. It could make the Tower collapse in the blink of an eye. But it hasn't. The Darkness is moving meticulously, one floor at a time, to the point where it's irritating."
“…”
"Sometimes it even stops completely. Even after completely corrupting a floor, it stays in that area. Yes, that's what happened on the 55th floor."
"...55th floor."
Even with that information, Lucas didn't know what kind of world the 54th floor was.
Baltak looked calmly at Lucas and said:
"What if we look at it the other way around? Let's consider that the Darkness is ascending the Tower, with the uppermost floor as the 1st floor. In that case, the 55th floor would be the 23rd world from Darkest Darkness's perspective."
Baltak emphasized his words.
"23, 23rd floor. Don't you feel anything?"
“…!”
Lucas's expression hardened.
The ice world, the world where he met the Ice Spirit Biofrost and Min Harin. And the world where Lucas stayed for a relatively long time, compared to others, to search for the Hope Flower.
─23rd floor.
"Darkest Darkness is moving exactly like you. Every time you ascend a floor, the Darkness descends one floor."
The Darkness he had never seen,
He didn't even know what it looked like.
However, an unsettling feeling impossible to ignore seized Lucas's chest.
"You said you have to climb to the top to see the origin of the Darkness. Fortunately or unfortunately, perhaps it may not be necessary to do so."
He spoke with a low, monotonous voice.
─ 39th floor. In the midpoint between the 1st floor and the 77th floor, that's where you'll encounter Darkest Darkness.
Tags:
TGMRA (Novel)