C537
Amazing scenes unfolded one after another.
The false Lucas, no, the "Beginning Wizard," who had been focusing on aid activities, suddenly shifted his gaze.
For a moment, Lucas and the Beginning Wizard's gazes met. At first, Lucas thought it was a mistake. But that idea crumbled when a faint smile formed at the corner of the other's mouth.
─... Hmm.
The smile deepened.
The Beginning Wizard spoke with a radiant face.
─You've wasted an opportunity. You shouldn't glean specific information by looking at me.
It's safe.
Now, the Beginning Wizard is clearly aware of "Lucas."
─Ah, could you consider the fact that you now know my appearance as a reward? It's not like I was trying to conceal it.
I don't know how it's possible.
Not even Min Harin, nor the Knights, nor the Sun God realized that Lucas was spying through the "Fountain of Wisdom."
Only the Beginning Wizard is aware of Lucas's existence and was speaking to him.
"...Why are you posing as 'Lucas Traumen'?"
Lucas said that, unsure if his words would reach the other. Then, the Beginning Wizard chuckled lightly.
─Well... why?
“...?”
─I don't even know myself... but well.
The Beginning Wizard extended his hand.
─This is all you can see.
The palm of his hand blocked his view, and everything darkened. Not a single sound could be heard. As if the lens of a camera had been closed, only a dark landscape stretched out silently.
And shortly after, the waves rising on the surface vanished completely.
The current "vision" had ended completely.
"...Can I assume that guy recognized me completely?"
[You even had a conversation.]
"I didn't know the true face of false Lucas was the Beginning Wizard."
[If you think carefully, there might have been many clues.]
"Clues?"
[I mean, in your previous life, in the Three Thousand Worlds, that guy was always lurking near you.]
“…”
Always, huh.
There's no way to confirm if that's true now, but the false Lucas definitely interfered in the last battle that took place in the city. Furthermore, just before Lucas died, he even showed his face directly.
'There was something significant about the moment of his appearance.'
If that wasn't a coincidence, if his appearance in Manjuri wasn't to participate in the meeting but to verify Lucas's status, and if the fact that Lucas realized that was also intended by him...
...What is his goal?
[He said he was your fan. The reason he imitates you might be related to that.]
"Is there any evidence?"
[Yes. You said the way the Beginning Wizard looked at you was like he was soaked in oil.]
What does that mean?
[Don't you know? He didn't have an ounce of hostility towards you.]
"But the Exile said the Beginning Wizard would kill me."
[Hostility and murderous intent are not synonymous. When love turns into obsession, there are cases where one wants to possess the other even through death.]
"That's scary."
[You better be careful. If my intuition is correct, the Blue Knight also has a bit of that vibe...]
Hmm, Residue seemed to think those were unnecessary words and stopped for a moment.
[Anyway, the Exile might have used the same way of speaking as we do.]
The way of speaking "we" refers to the way the Rulers speak.
Not that they lie, but they do hide the truth.
[Do you remember the things the Beginning Wizard did while posing as "Lucas"?]
"...They were charitable activities, humanitarian aid, and conflict resolution."
[From a human perspective, one could say they were quite heroic actions.]
"Yes."
He responded with a rough expression.
Residue was now speculating that the Beginning Wizard's actions might have been for Lucas. It was an unpleasant possibility, but he couldn't deny it completely, so his trembling expression was the utmost rebellion he could show.
...The false Lucas was called the Great Mage.
He no longer cared about the title, nor did he feel any possessiveness towards it, but that didn't mean he liked the fact that someone was impersonating him.
Even if that person was only doing good.
"Because I don't know his intentions."
The Beginning Wizard had never revealed his purpose even once.
That was the source of Lucas's disgust.
[...The false Lucas was the Beginning Wizard. That's the only information we got this time. What do you think, Lucas Traumen? Do you consider this useful information?]
"I think I need to see more to know, but one thing I do know."
[What?]
Lucas looked at the spring and murmured:
"The Beginning Wizard is a truly incomprehensible guy."
---------------------------
Another day had passed.
Lucas immersed his hand in the spring, envisioning the "landscape he needed to see." When he wasn't sure what to look for, he had concluded that this was the best he could do.
The waves stirred, and the surface reflected someone's form.
And unlike with Min Harin, this time Lucas could immediately recognize the identity of "that someone."
"...Peran."
Peran Jun walked with a haggard face through what looked like a desert. His golden hair, shining like gold, was covered in sand dust, indicating he was in the midst of a long journey. Moreover, his overall appearance was so unkempt and disheveled that it didn't fit at all with the man Peran was.
"Is this the landscape I need to see?"
He had definitely thought the same, but the end result was completely different.
Min Harin, and now Peran.
Was there any common denominator between them?
What is the "Fountain of Wisdom" trying to tell me?
─...Cough, cough.
Peran coughed lightly.
The landscape shifted slightly, and he was now camping. Sitting on the cold desert sand of the night, he looked up at the sky with sunken eyes.
"It's difficult," Peran murmured.
The vision ended the moment he said that.
"..."
It was even more bewildering than with Min Harin.
Just as Lucas was trying to recall the clues the vision had left, Residue spoke.
"There were some things that didn't quite fit, but now I'm sure."
"What?"
"It seems that the landscapes you've seen so far aren't necessarily 'things happening right now.' Although, of course, it's also possible to see the present."
"I don't understand what you mean..."
"What I mean is that some of the landscapes you've seen may have already happened, or may happen in the future."
Lucas's expression hardened.
"Do you mean I can see the future or the past through this spring?"
"Yes. Indeed, that's the purpose of the spring: 'to allow you to see the landscape you wish to see.' Time doesn't matter."
Thinking about it, there was something that didn't quite fit.
The case of Pale was an example.
It hadn't been long since he had parted with her, and yet she had already encountered the Red Knight. Moreover, the situation she was in was too delicate.
Wasn't that the landscape Lucas had unconsciously imagined the moment he saw the Red Knight?
Residue continued:
"What this venerable one means is simple. This is a much more valuable opportunity than you think... You have 3 chances left. You should use them more meaningfully."
Lucas remembered the opportunities he had left.
...3.
What should I see during these 3 remaining opportunities?
---------------------------------
A day later, Lucas had come to a conclusion. Before making contact with the spring, he said to Residue:
"With this power, it's also possible to observe the Rulers, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"What's the likelihood of them noticing...?"
"Well. It can't be said that it doesn't exist. In the first vision, the Sun God didn't realize you were spying on him, but maybe it's because he was in avatar form. If you were to spy on the main body of the Demon God or the Sun God... hmm."
It means there's a possibility.
Lucas nodded and asked:
"And you?"
"What?"
"Isn't there anything you want to see?"
There was a beat's pause before he responded.
"...What are you talking about?"
"I mean the vision you want to see now. Since I have 3 chances left, you could have one..."
"This idiot... dares to pity this venerable?"
Residue erupted in rough anger, but he wasn't really angry. This guy was just raising his voice to cover up his current embarrassment.
Lucas pretended not to notice and taunted:
"It's not pity. You and I have completely different perspectives, don't we?"
"And?"
"To be honest, I don't think the visions I've seen so far are that significant. There are too many ambiguities."
"..."
"No matter what scene you want to see, it won't be completely disconnected from me. Maybe we can gain unexpected profits from it."
"Hm, idiot. You're good at coming up with hole-ridden arguments."
The words remained rough, but the anger had disappeared from Residue's voice.
"Okay. Of course, this venerable also has things he wants to see."
"So..."
"But I don't intend to use the Fountain of Wisdom to see them."
Lucas fell silent for a moment and then asked:
"Why?"
"First, the visions I want to see wouldn't be of much help to you. Second, I have a feeling that these 7 opportunities should be used by you."
"...Is it just a hunch?"
"Hm. I don't like those vague concepts. ...I'm just starting to understand a little bit of the action principle of the Beginning Wizard."
"..."
"I'm not at the point where I can say it for sure yet, so don't ask anymore."
Residue said that with annoyance, and Lucas decided not to press him further. The other was a Ruler. Once they rejected something, they wouldn't reconsider unless the Universe restarted.
"And you? Have you decided how you'll use the 3 opportunities you have left?"
"Yes."
"Oh. What are you going to see?"
Lucas spoke out what he had been thinking:
"The form of the being known as the 'Ancient Void King,' the actions of the Seven Fanged Dragon God in the 'Void World,' and finally, the 'Destruction' that the Exile mentioned witnessing."
"...Ha. What an idiot you are."
In the face of Residue's criticism, Lucas retorted:
"Why again? Have I thought something wrong?"
"It's not that. What you just mentioned are things that, from your current perspective, you should definitely see. There's nothing you can afford to overlook."
"So..."
"But weren't you going to waste one of those opportunities?"
"...It's not that I wanted to waste it, but I thought things like the Seven Fanged Dragon God had a lower priority and might be more useful for you..."
"You're wrong. The actions of the Seven Fanged Dragon God might be the most important of those you mentioned."
Residue's statements rarely went wrong, so Lucas was convinced.
"Then, where are you going to start?"
"With the form of the Ancient Void King."
"Hmm. That also interests me."
Splash!
He submerged his hand into the surface while imagining the Void King.
The waves stirred, and a blurry shape began to appear.
Tags:
TGMRA (Novel)