C533
Seeing the Beginning Wizard, Lucas's head immediately cooled.
Lucas realized two things at once, and Residue mentioned the first.
"It's fake."
He wasn't referring to his identity. In terms of definition, he was the Beginning Wizard, but he wasn't the main body of the being.
The best way to describe it was as an avatar. The method was similar to the puppets that the Rulers often used in the Void World.
In this case, he seemed to have imbued his own mind into an inanimate object like a doll or a statue. In other words, the power he could wield in this state was only a small fraction of that of his main body.
"Did you want to meet me?"
Lucas repeated the words the Beginning Wizard had spoken.
"That's correct."
"Do you mean you'll take me to Magic Planet?"
"Is that your goal, isn't it?"
There was a cheerful tone in his voice. Of course, that was his plan, but it was always annoying when someone read his intentions so lightly. Besides, Lucas hadn't even figured out the other's identity yet.
More importantly, how did the Beginning Wizard know about his goal? At this point, the only person who should know that his destination was Magic Planet should be Pale.
"Is it possible that the Blue Knight told him?"
"No. The current Pale wouldn't do anything to harm me."
"You might be wrong. She might have thought that revealing your destination wasn't a big deal."
"You still don't know her well. Pale has an innocent side, but she's not a fool. In fact, her instinctive intuition is quite sharp and her mind is quick. Moreover, she distrusts the Beginning Wizard a lot. I don't think there's any chance she would have told him about my goal."
"Hmm."
Residue seemed to nod in agreement.
Lucas thought for a moment and then spoke again.
"The Beginning Wizard probably has some means that I'm unaware of."
"A means?"
"I don't know what it is, but it must be something I can't imagine."
"Oh. There must be very few truths you haven't discovered..."
"That's only as far as the Three Thousand Worlds are concerned. In the Void World, I'm still a strange newcomer. Isn't it the same for you?"
The Void Records or the Regression.
If someone asked Lucas where he got the information he had, he would feel very embarrassed before being able to explain it. After all, this was also "information obtained from a phenomenon that is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people."
"Really..."
Residue's voice also had a tone of interest for the first time.
"Does the Beginning Wizard have a 'method of obtaining information' that even we can't imagine?"
"......"
"Don't even trust him because he's a puppet. Lucas, there's something sinister about him."
It wasn't even necessary to nod. Lucas was reconsidering when to use Omniscience. He wondered if he could get any clues about the identity of the Beginning Wizard using it.
"I can't use it lightly."
That power was dangerous. If he used it in a situation like this, where they were so close and completely aware of each other, the other could directly read his intentions.
"It seems this isn't the place where I should be."
Yang In-hyun said that and prepared to leave. Lucas felt a little intrigued. He knew that Yang In-hyun greatly appreciated the Floating Cloud Pavilion, a place only allowed for entry to the Leader of the Hua Mountain Sect.
Leaving Lucas and the Beginning Wizard alone in a place like this was unusual.
Moreover, this man had met the Beginning Wizard before. He didn't seem to know him in detail, but at least when Lucas fought Yang In-hyun once, he described him as "a Wizard much stronger than Lucas."
"If you're just going to talk, I can provide you with a place, but don't cause any trouble. The wounds of Hua Mountain have not yet healed."
"You worry too much. My goal is conversation. There's no reason for there to be a conflict."
That said, the Beginning Wizard laughed softly again.
"Of course, that's only if the other party also harbors no hostility."
"...I'll wait outside."
Yang In-hyun gave them a not-so-friendly look and left the room, shaking his head.
Outside...
The moment he heard that word, Lucas understood Yang In-hyun's intention.
He was a dangerous being no matter where you put him. At least it was better to keep him in a place with few people where he could be watched. The Floating Cloud Pavilion was the ideal place for that.
In the room where Yang In-hyun had left,
Their gazes met again, now that they were alone.
The Beginning Wizard wore a mask, but his eyes were visible. His pupils were a dark blue.
Exactly like mine.
"Are you 'me'?"
Without realizing it, Lucas had spoken those words. He surprised himself for asking such a direct question, but thinking about it, it wasn't a bad idea.
He could at least get minimal information by observing the other's reaction. Of course, the Beginning Wizard wouldn't easily reveal his secrets, but he might detect the slightest inconsistency.
At least the answer to this question,
If this being was 'Lucas', or not.
"No."
However, the Beginning Wizard denied with a lightness that puzzled him. In other words, he had honestly answered Lucas's question.
"Then what are you?"
"Beginning Wizard. The Master of Magic Planet and the first Seeker of the Path."
He didn't just want to know those simple titles.
Lucas frowned and said:
"...Take off the mask. I'm curious to see the face underneath."
Even if he wasn't the true Beginning Wizard, he might get some clues. However, he only smiled and said:
"I refuse. You're not qualified for that yet."
"..."
"If you don't like the identity I've kindly revealed to you, I'll tell you something else. I'm also your fan."
"What?"
Lucas asked, puzzled, but the Beginning Wizard said nothing more. However, he could see that his eyes behind the mask curved like a crescent moon.
...Fan?
What does that mean?
Is there any other meaning to that word that I don't know?
"Calm down. That guy is enjoying your reaction."
"I know."
The Beginning Wizard spoke again.
"Did the Blue Knight go to Demoncio? Not to kill the '0th Demon' turned puppet, but to save him. It's understandable. After all, the new 0th Demon has a rather special connection with you."
"Is it because of Pale's absence that you've presented yourself to me?"
"That could also be one of the reasons."
"How pathetic. What's so important about that? Regardless of Pale's presence or absence, in your current state, you can't even scratch me."
"Oh."
The Beginning Wizard let out a surprised sound.
"Have you noticed this lure of mine? You're impressive. There are no more than three people among the Twelve Void Lords who can discern it..."
Twelve Void Lords, a small but not surprising number. Each of them had their own specialty. Analysis was one of the areas where Lucas stood out.
"Yang In-hyun believes it too, you're mistaken. I've said it several times. I didn't come here to start a war."
"What you want is a conversation?"
"Correct. And the Blue Knight is clearly a presence that interferes with our smooth conversation. As you may know, she... is a bit afraid of me."
With that said, he added with a smile:
"To be more precise, all the Knights fear me. Ah, of course, I haven't met the Black Knight yet."
"What kind of conversation do you want to have with me?"
"This kind of conversation is fine. Killing time chatting about trivialities... Haha. It's quite pleasant."
[This guy is serious. That's why it's even more annoying.]
'Don't you notice anything about him?'
[Well. Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, the puzzle becomes even bigger.]
After a brief silence, Residue said:
[One thing is certain. Don't use Omniscience. If my prediction is correct, even gathering all the remaining Thunders won't reveal that guy's identity.]
'What do you mean?'
[The mask he wears. It's made of a material that even I don't know.]
'... The body is fake, but the mask is real?'
[It could simply be that a fake object can wield such power.]
'...'
[It seems to have several effects besides hiding his identity, but I don't know more.]
A material that Residue, who possesses all the knowledge of the Lightning God, doesn't know.
Where did the Beginning Wizard get that material from?
"By the way, what's your goal now?"
The Beginning Wizard suddenly asked.
"My goal?"
"Haven't you managed to make the Blue Knight, Pale, an admirable subordinate? I'm curious to see what you'll do after gaining the loyalty of the most violent and wild Knight that no one has been able to control. Ah, this is just a curiosity I feel as a member of the Twelve Void Lords."
"......"
"First of all, why do you want to go to Magic Planet? Are you curious about my identity? Then, what will you do if I take off my mask right here? What will you do after seeing my true face?"
Nothing came to mind to say. The Beginning Wizard, as if knowing it, continued speaking with a playful voice:
"You're not particularly hostile to me. As long as the face behind this mask isn't your mortal enemy, you won't attack me. Of course, I want to make it clear that such a possibility doesn't exist. You and I are meeting for the first time today, at this very moment."
"......"
"I'll ask you again. What is your goal now?"
Goal...
The Beginning Wizard's question echoed silently in Lucas's mind.
Before, he had postponed similar thoughts.
I decided that dealing with the matters before me was a priority and that it wasn't time to think about it. But now, the major issues have been resolved. There's no longer a need to worry about Sedi, nor about Pale, as I sent her away.
The Beginning Wizard's words are correct. After discovering his true identity, what should I do?
'Destruction?'
To prevent the destruction that will soon cover the whole world? Should I strive for that?
Is that the final task the world has given me?
If so.
'...It's boring.'
And tiring.
Lucas had two thoughts at the same time.
─The predetermined destruction.
Everyone has given up on it, but maybe there's a way to stop it.
There might be a means to it.
Not even God has stopped it, nor have the Rulers found a clear solution, and even Void King or the 4 Knights have remained silent, but maybe Lucas, maybe he alone can stop it.
'It's always been like this.'
What everyone said was impossible was always possible for him. ...But how much suffering must he endure to achieve it?
'No.'
Suffering is no longer something he fears. What Lucas truly fears is what comes after.
"Sometimes, the people around me are so unpleasant that I can't bear it."
It was then that the Beginning Wizard spoke. His voice drew Lucas's attention like a blade cutting through consciousness.
"..."
"It's as if they're passive, as if they don't think or strive. They're like children crying sitting on the ground, not attempting to stand up for themselves."
For a moment, Lucas almost stopped breathing.
"Why is that? If you fall and hurt yourself, shouldn't you get up, disinfect the wound, and bandage it to prevent infection?"
"..."
"Sometimes, you simply have to warn children eating dirt to spit it out. But when you see such a sight thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of millions, billions of times...".
...This thought,
This idea,
No one would know.
No one would have said or expressed it.
"At some point, they may seem a little smarter like monkeys. Then, you feel an unbearable nausea. 'Is this real? Is this really the best for you?', every time you confirm the possibility in them, the frustration grows. Because I─"
"The answer is too clear to me. Because I know what to do in such crises, in such difficulties."
"But they don't know. They'll never know until I tell them first. It's surprising how naive they can be. Sometimes─"
"How foolish they can be."
"How foolish they can be."
They spoke as one suddenly.
[...Lucas Traumen. You.]
Lucas ignored what Residue said.
At this moment, his attention and consciousness were completely focused on the Beginning Wizard.
"Still, I'm not going to evade my duty. Isn't it obvious?"
"Because we've been living like this for too long to change."
"And when I approach them, when I extend my hand and give them advice, they smile brightly and shake my hand. It's a truly addictive sight."
The laughter vanished from the serious voice. This tone was new to him, but it felt more fitting than when he was more arrogant.
Perhaps this is his true nature.
"..."
I'm curious to see the face behind the mask.
It's a reason slightly different from the previous ones. Just the fact that the Beginning Wizard has reached a higher state than his has made those thoughts disappear.
Lucas felt simpler and more direct emotions.
I need to know who he is.
"Lucas Traumen."
The Beginning Wizard slowly extended his hand towards Lucas.
"You have to come with me to Magic Planet."
"..."
It wasn't just a suggestion, but it also felt like an imposition.
And Lucas didn't refuse.
Tags:
TGMRA (Novel)