C518
The relationship with Pale wasn't so bad until the end. Just by seeing the attitude she showed before killing Lucas, one can assume.
Until Lucas openly provoked her, Pale wanted to find a different ending. That's why she gave him several chances unexpectedly.
She wanted to come to terms with Lucas somehow.
In the end, Lucas rejected that proposal, but,
"It would be fine if our relationship progressed to that point."
Maybe making Pale, the Blue Knight, a complete ally is impossible. However, it wouldn't be difficult to progress to a relationship they had already reached.
At least this time, things won't get as complicated as they did last time.
He accepted the presence of Lightning God's remorse within him,
Diablo, who joined Iris, couldn't help but confront Pale,
And finally, he found himself in a completely hostile relationship with her and had to stake his life.
He now understood all those circumstances.
"...The end."
He remembered the words left by God and remained vigilant.
The unexpected thing was that Lightning God was already present within Lucas.
'Lightning God.'
[...]
Although he called out to him mentally, there was no response.
But he hadn't disappeared.
Lightning God still existed somewhere inside Lucas; he was just silent now. That was something he could clearly feel.
'This time, I must make sure to conceal it.'
If there's one decisive mistake Lucas could have made in his previous life, it was revealing the power of Lightning God. However, he had also learned something from it.
The Rulers and the Four Knights are beings that can never coexist.
Pale was even more so. As she never had anything since birth, naturally, she couldn't help but blindly hate the Rulers, who were born with the destiny to rule.
'Alright.'
He saw the relationship he should have with Pale. To lead the situation so that she accepted him, so that she didn't reject Lucas's existence. Once he had established a certain degree of familiarity, he simply must avoid making fatal mistakes as he did in his previous life.
It's not difficult. In fact, it's easy.
Lucas knew everything.
Pale's past, her mental state, what she likes and dislikes,
He knew how to please her, how to make her feel uncomfortable with his actions and words, he knew everything.
"..."
He knew.
'But...'
Lucas suddenly stopped at a thought that arose.
But, what?
Is there something that worries me?
He asked himself, but naturally, there was no answer.
'It's not the time for useless thoughts.'
Finally, this is the Last Regression.
No more failure will be tolerated beyond this.
If a small mistake leads to death, then he must dedicate all his attention and effort to every judgment and action. All the multiple Regressions he has experienced so far have been for this.
But what Lucas really feared wasn't his own death. He remembered Iris's death. He remembered his past, his emotions at the moment of dying, he remembered the hand that was about to reach out to him before pulling back.
"..."
He forced himself to suppress any feeling of weakness that arose.
…
"So, here I'm the oldest!"
Pale straightened up and raised her nose. Lucas nodded absentmindedly.
"Yes. Count on me."
"Hehe. Yes, uncle!"
...Uncle.
First, I have to change that way of her speaking. I have to find a way to make her call me "Lucas" again.
As he continued with his thoughts, Lucas didn't stop moving. Now it was also important to use time efficiently.
First was to save Lesha.
Swish~
Teleporting to the coordinates he had set in the Void, he saw Lesha staggering, soaked in blood.
"Ah, ugh..."
Lesha stopped. And she looked at him with her eyes bloodshot. Judging by her dilated pupils, she probably could only see a blurry shape of him.
Lucas approached her slowly and asked:
"Are you okay?"
"...Who are you?"
Her voice was hoarse and rough, but now there was no way to answer her question.
Without difficulty, Lucas placed his hand on her shoulder and healed her wounds.
"Eh...?"
Since he was at it, he could also check something.
"I've completely healed your body. I've also replenished your mana."
"Eh, eh, really?"
"Yes, I mean mana. Do you feel anything strange when using it? This is something only you can know."
"Eh, that's..."
"We don't have time, so tell me quickly."
Lesha hesitated for a moment, then examined herself, and her face filled with surprise.
"Eh? How...?"
It was a soliloquy that couldn't be considered an answer, but her reaction was enough.
It seemed that there was no problem in using the Void to restore someone else's mana.
"Oh..."
Pale watched the scene with eyes full of curiosity, but she didn't seem to intend to ask about the Void. She had always been like that. Even in his previous life, when she directly asked him about the Demon Castle, Pale wasn't surprised by how Lucas knew of its existence.
"So..."
He had resolved a small doubt.
Lucas led Lesha and Pale to the gates of the Underground City.
"Go."
"Eh, who are you?"
"..."
Lucas wondered if he should reveal his full name like last time.
Before answering, he looked at Lesha. Her dark golden hair, her blue eyes, and her crimson robe reminded him of himself.
However, he wasn't sure about the facial features.
'Do they look alike?'
Yes, they must look alike.
Although the concept of siblings was still strange to Lucas.
"Are you a Demon Mage?"
"No."
"But then, how do you have this power...?"
..."
This power.
Did Lesha know about the Void?
...Well, even if she did, it wouldn't be surprising.
The Beginning Wizard knows the Void. Lucas was able to enter the "Minimal Time Zone" thanks to the hint given by the Beginning Wizard.
"Go."
Lucas nodded and said. This time he didn't feel like revealing his name.
Lesha seemed to have a good eye. She noticed Lucas was reluctant to reveal his true identity and didn't inquire further.
"Aren't you coming with us?"
Instead, she made another proposition.
"Why me?"
"I'd like to return the favor."
"Why?"
"...If there's something you desire, please, tell me."
Lucas was about to reject her immediately, but suddenly something occurred to him.
Michael, the master of the Underground City.
...There might be something to gain from him.
"Fine. Let's go together."
Lucas nodded indifferently and teleported to the Underground City.
It had been a long time since I last set foot in the Underground City.
The cityscape beneath this sand desert, as expected, hadn't changed.
"Wow!"
"He's back! Traumen's back!"
"That's right! That's right!"
The Miglings (small dwarves) were still the same too.
These little dwarves were delighted that Lesha had returned.
"Have you been well?"
Lesha also responded to them with a soft smile. At least, that's how it seemed at first glance.
‘She's still a bit immature.’
Even so, most of the attention seemed directed towards him.
Yes. It's the right reaction.
Even though he saved her life, to Lesha, Lucas remains an unknown character. It's natural for her to be wary of him. If she weren't, he would be disappointed in her.
‘Is there no way for her to act more naturally?’
He would like to give her some advice, but upon reflection, Lucas wasn't very good at acting either.
Probably, one of the reasons Lesha brought him to the Underground City is to investigate him. However, leading him straight to the base seemed like a risky gamble.
‘Does she trust her citymates?’
It could be.
In any case, Lucas had no intention of revealing his true identity.
"Hey! Traumen!"
...He didn't.
When a Migling pointed at him and shouted, the heads of the other Miglings turned towards him at the same time.
Lucas was about to step back from the inexplicable feeling of oppression.
"Another Traumen!"
"Two Traumens!"
"Twice the joy!"
"Hehehe."
The Miglings surrounded Lucas.
"Just a moment, we don't have time for..."
Lucas couldn't help but feel scared seeing the Miglings rush towards him as if they wanted to crush him.
"Traumen...?"
Lesha looked at Lucas with eyes of bewilderment. The situation was getting complicated.
Just when he didn't know how to fix it.
"We're in a hurry, could you step aside?"
"…!"
Pale's words made the Miglings stop in their tracks.
"Uh, yeah. Understood."
"It can't be helped if they're in a hurry."
"Let's go, let's go. Let's not get in the way."
And they dispersed to both sides, nodding repeatedly.
Pale said with a satisfied expression.
"All right, let's go."
Just before entering the temple, the Miglings stopped Lesha and Pale.
"It's not allowed."
"From here on, only this Traumen can enter."
"..."
Pale looked at them with a radiant smile, and the Miglings averted their gaze.
"T-That kind of look isn't allowed."
"There are no concessions even in the face of the apocalypse."
"Kill me if you want."
"Who said that? Give me something to chew on. I'm hungry."
While Pale smiled cheerfully, as if she didn't dislike the Miglings, Lesha approached stealthily.
"Do you happen to know anything about Michael?"
"...Something."
Lesha nodded as Lucas replied vaguely.
"I see. I hope you have a productive conversation."
Lesha's caution diminished noticeably. Just by knowing that he knew Michael...
Somehow, it bothered Lucas that she trusted Michael so much.
It was a strange sight, the trust that had formed between a Lord Demigod and a Mage known as Traumen.
‘...It's not the time to think about nonsense.’
Lucas nodded and headed towards the chapel.
Crunch-
Upon opening the door, he saw a long hallway and an altar at the end.
There were no signs of Michael. He wasn't visible.
He was praying the last time.
Maybe I've arrived much faster than I thought?
He was about to sit on a chair to wait when a book on the altar caught his attention.
"This is..."
It was the book Michael used to read every time he visited the chapel.
Curiously, he examined the book's cover more closely.
[Even in the garbage dump, the night sky stretches on]
[Mark]
"..."
Is it a novel?
The name below seemed to be that of the author.
Just as Lucas was about to open the book, a voice echoed.
"Who are you?"
Lucas remained unmoved and placed the book back on the altar.
"Sorry for the disturbance."
"..."
Michael.
He felt a deep wariness from the being who looked exactly like the Lord.
Unlike his usual behavior, he made no comments that seemed to see through his essence. Lucas had carefully disguised himself to not make the same mistake as with the Miglings.
Before confronting him, he doubted he could communicate properly, but from his reaction, it seemed he had succeeded.
‘Really?’
Had he now become a being that not even Michael's insight could comprehend?
"You don't need to be so alert. I have no intention of harming you or this city."
[I would like you to understand that it's hard to believe just by your words alone]
Suddenly, he felt a strange sensation.
When he first arrived in the Void World and saw Michael in the guise of the Lord, Lucas felt doubt, caution, and confusion. And he could only ask questions in a dependent manner. The Lucas of that time was ignorant and weak.
However, after repeating several Regressions, that relationship had now been reversed.
Michael now felt what Lucas had felt before, and Lucas was no longer curious about him.
And...
"Michael."
[How do you know my name─]
"Don't you want to make a deal with me?"
Now, he could even say these words.
Tags:
TGMRA (Novel)