C539
There's only one chance left.
I've already decided what to see.
But before that...
"Phew..."
I exhaled and straightened my hunched back. I looked up at the sky. The newly dawned sky was as clear as ever.
And Lucas's body began to rise slowly.
The levitation took place with astonishing calmness. The surrounding grass didn't stir an inch, but the height to which Lucas rose soon surpassed the trees and left the entire forest beneath his feet.
[Where are you going?]
"Nowhere."
[Hm?]
"I just want to go a little higher."
[...]
"There's no special reason. There's still time until tomorrow, and I just want to check a few things before the Beginning Wizard arrives."
It's part of a change of scenery. My head is still thick, so maybe thinking about something else is a good stimulus.
Soon, at a height of 2,000 meters above the ground, Lucas realized that calling Magic Planet an asteroid was a bit misleading.
"It was more of a continent than a planet."
[That's right.]
The general shape of Magic Planet was not a sphere but a flat continent.
And Lucas could also see the true nature of the sun illuminating the sky.
"An artificial sun made of magic?"
[It's set to orbit approximately every 24 hours. Hmm. Were all those things that looked like stars also devices?]
"They must be the work of the Beginning Wizard."
The environment of Magic Planet was probably created by the Beginning Wizard. Lucas was sure of it.
That's why he didn't understand.
Every world has its own laws, and the Void World is no different. Although the rules of the Void World were quite strange, most of its inhabitants accepted them and lived with them.
But the Beginning Wizard... is different.
He was forcibly imposing the laws of the Three Thousand Worlds on the Void World. Even using his immense power. Surely it wouldn't be easy.
Despite being created casually, the environment of Magic Planet was too meticulous and full of passion. And it wouldn't be an exaggeration to change the word "passion" to "obsession".
...Magic Planet...
The truth of the territory known as the Planet of the Magicians was an artificial continent, with most of its environment artificially created.
[So? Have you found anything?]
"Yes."
Lucas murmured as he looked towards Magma Planet.
"...The Beginning Wizard may be yearning for the Three Thousand Worlds."
---------------------
When the sun set, the stars came out, and the sun rose again.
Lucas rose from his seat. And he walked to the Fountain of Wisdom, looking at the calm surface of the water.
─Last chance.
This is the last time I can see the landscape with this spring. No regrets.
On the contrary, the number 7 set by the Beginning Wizard was really appropriate. If it had been less or more, I might have worried more.
[No turning back?]
"Of course."
What Lucas wants to see is what he decided at the beginning. He will remember the "destruction" that the Exile claimed to have witnessed.
But the spring may not show anything. If the "destruction" is really an existence that makes those who witness it experience their own powerlessness, as the Exile said... there's a possibility that not even the Fountain of Wisdom can detect it.
No matter. If that's the case, I've prepared some other alternative views.
Splash~
Lucas dipped his hand into the water and focused on the Destruction. In response, the water's surface rippled, a faint light shone...
Saaah-
─and disappeared in an instant.
And then it appeared. Slowly, like ink seeping from somewhere, the water of the spring began to turn black.
"..."
Lucas's expression hardened beyond possible. He wouldn't say it was familiar, but it was a darkness he recognized, that he had known.
[Lucas Traum, this darkness is....]
Residue's voice gradually became inaudible.
Perhaps because Lucas's concentration had intensified? That could be one of the reasons.
However, the most important reason was that another sound, coming from somewhere, had drowned out Residue's voice.
──.
That sound harbored an ominousness that Lucas had never heard before. A viscous, dirty screech, like a baby's cry. Although perhaps "screech" would be more accurate. Just hearing it seemed to taint his mind.
A shiver ran through his body.
"What did I just say?"
Viscous and dirty? Closer to a screech than a cry?
Are those words fitting for a baby's cry?
He didn't have time to pursue the questions. The sound grew gradually louder. In response, Lucas felt his heartbeats intensifying too.
Dangerous.
His heart, about to stop.
[Lucas─!]
With a voice like thunder, Lucas's heated mind suddenly cooled. The darkness had dissipated. The screech had also disappeared. The sky was dark, and his body stiff. As if he hadn't moved for a long time.
"The sun has set again...."
How long have I been like this?
[What have you seen this time, you bastard?]
"...I haven't seen it. I've heard it."
[Heard? What?]
"The cry of a baby."
Lucas struggled to calm his breath. However, it took him longer than expected to calm the shaking of his body. Residue didn't press him further and waited patiently. When his trembling finally subsided, Residue spoke.
...The darkness that covered the spring a moment ago. If my insight hasn't rusted, that's....
"Yes. It's the darkness we've witnessed once before."
The word that simultaneously appeared in their minds,
─Void King
[What does that mean?]
Even Residue seems to need time to make reliable inferences based on the current situation.
However, Lucas wasn't like that. He could discern, and the process was too natural. Possibilities came to him as if someone had whispered them in his ear.
"It's one of two things. The previous Void King has already been devoured by the Destruction, or...."
He fell silent for a moment. What he was about to say was an extremely faint possibility, almost a wild guess.
It was also a possibility that Lucas preferred to deny.
But... he knew, didn't he?
That such things are often closest to the truth.
─You are worthy...
Suddenly.
─I'll tell you... the form of Destruction that I saw...
The Exiled's words echoed in his mind.
─There were five...
Lucas continued.
"...he has become one of the Destroyers."
[That's...]
At that moment, Residue froze.
Clap, clap, clap.
An empty applause sound resonated from somewhere. They turned and saw the mask of an elderly man floating in the darkness.
"──."
At that instant, Lucas felt an inexplicable chill.
And the Beginning Wizard stopped applauding and said:
"You've guessed it, Lucas Traumen."
His voice conveyed joy and a faint trace of bitterness.
---------------------------
"Have you been well?"
When he spoke again, that sensation had completely disappeared.
The Beginning Wizard spoke with his usual demeanor.
"It seems I've arrived a bit early, as I see you're frozen. Should I come back in half a day?"
"......"
"It's a joke. We don't have time for that."
The Beginning Wizard approached the spring and knelt down, placing his palm on the surface.
Hum~
A faint light shone from the "Fountain of Wisdom," which was clearly under charge. Was he trying to show him the view he wanted to see? It didn't feel like it.
"It seems you still can't fully control the spring. Don't worry about that for now. I'll teach you in the future."
"What?"
"Although we call it the 'Fountain of Wisdom,' its form is not fixed. You can change it at your will. Your imagination is the basis."
"What are you talking about?"
"The spring is the most basic form and, therefore, the easiest to handle. But my favorite is..."
Pop.
A change occurred the moment the Beginning Wizard's palm touched the surface.
Boom!
Everything turned black.
It wasn't like when he saw the Void King or the Destruction, where only the "water" had been tainted. The change extended beyond the spring.
Suddenly, they found themselves in the void of space. It wasn't dark. On the contrary, it was dazzling. The Milky Way filled space, threatening to blind them.
"I've always yearned for space. In the Void World, there are very few places where such a view can be seen."
"......"
"Now. If you think of the view you want to see here... look at this."
The moment the Beginning Wizard extended his hand toward the Milky Way, a star fragment slid toward him. It transformed into a book just before touching his finger.
"Isn't this much more efficient? It's not a video, but text, so it takes up much less space. It means you can view it without having to reload it."
"...That's."
"It's my favorite story. Would you like to hear it? Just the final part of chapter 221 of the first book." (Note: Chapter 239 here haha).
He didn't wait for a response. He opened the book unceremoniously and began to read aloud.
"[Lucas finally understood his role. He was the Savior of all Humans existing in the Three Thousand Worlds.]"
"…!"
"[When they despair, when they become frustrated encountering an insurmountable wall, when they want to give up everything. Lucas will appear before them, within them or in person, as a symbol of hope.]"
Lucas's expression hardened.
"[“Now is the time to depart.” A smile formed on Lucas Traumen's lips. The Great Mage, with hope to return, took the first step on a long journey…]"
Plop.
He closed the book.
Lucas said nothing more.
He looked at the Beginning Wizard with a somber gaze.
"Don't you think it's a wonderful story?"
"…"
"It's my favorite scene. It touches my heart. A clean ending. A good ending where you can close the book with satisfaction. How beautiful it would have been if this man's story had ended here."
The Beginning Wizard murmured with a hoarse voice.
"But it wasn't so. Of course, life can't be a story. It can't conclude with such a bland phrase as [And so, the man never gave up and achieved everything he desired]. Those who close the book there will be happy. Without a bitter aftertaste, they'll be able to believe that Lucas Traumen never gave up and moved on to the next level."
"…"
"But the man's life began again at that point. The man who turned from Human to Hero and from Hero to God became a puppet of destiny, fighting to break free."
Haha. The Beginning Wizard laughed.
"It's a story that can't be popular. What appeal does a story where the protagonist only suffers have? Reading it would only provoke irritation."
"...My life 'after that' is irrelevant."
Said Lucas.
"Is that what you mean?"
Beginning Wizard: "Obviously. But I'm not a reader."
He felt the face behind the mask smiling.
Beginning Wizard: "And it's arrogant for one human to judge another human's life. In my opinion, not even a sage has the right to do so."
Lucas: "Who are you?"
Beginning Wizard: "A spectator who until now couldn't intervene. An observer who could only watch no matter what happened."
"…"
"But not anymore. Now that you've come to the Void World, I can also step onto the stage. Lucas, there's not much time left."
"Time?"
"Destruction."
The Beginning Wizard opened his mouth.
"If I were to say I know a way to prevent that Destruction, called by various names like Annihilation, Reset... would you believe me?"
"A method even the Rulers don't know, you know?"
"Of course."
"But you don't seem intent on telling me."
Lucas predicted the flow of the conversation from the experience of his life so far. However, the Beginning Wizard shook his head.
"That's a mistake. I do intend to tell you everything. But for that, a condition is needed."
"A condition?"
The Beginning Wizard said calmly.
"You have to die."
Tags:
TGMRA (Novel)