C536
[There might have been brainwashing.]
Lucas raised his head at Residue's words.
"Brainwashing?"
[There are many names for 'destruction,' aren't there? Annihilation, extinction, elimination... If it's a completely ignorant human, they won't feel more fear than necessary. They accept it as no different from death. It's like a baby who doesn't understand the danger of a moth.]
"..."
[The most fearful are those who understand 'somewhat,' Lucas. They are the ones who 'partially understand' what destruction is, and fill the other half they don't understand with their own imagined fear. And from my understanding, most people here on the Magic Planet fall into that category.]
I understand what Residue means.
Lucas nodded and said, "Do you mean that the reason they're so calm about destruction can't be explained by anything other than brainwashing?"
[Is your opinion different?]
"..."
Instead of directly answering the question, Lucas looked down at the spring water. He had returned to the Fountain of Wisdom after leaving the village.
As he stared at the water's surface where the starlight danced, the chief of the village, "Selen's," gaze came to mind.
There was no madness in his eyes. Nor was there the dissonance typical of those who have been brainwashed or mentally manipulated.
Just a clear and kind look.
Had he understood and accepted the end of annihilation?
'No.'
It can't be.
Not even Diablo could overcome that fear. And most of those on the Magic Planet probably don't have a higher mental strength than him.
"I'm almost in agreement, but I have a feeling there's something more hidden."
[Hm.]
"Everyone in the village had different types of magic."
[Different types of magic?]
Residue seemed perplexed, as if not fully understanding.
"Yes. Of course, the magics of each universe are different. The composition of mana existing in the atmosphere is the same, but the amount the body can absorb, the part of the body it's stored in, how it's released after being stored, and how it unfolds after being released... The method is completely different in each universe."
[…]
"If I had witnessed this when I was immature, maybe I would have been influenced too."
[What does that have to do with their mental state?]
"It's not that everyone uses different types of magic because they're from different universes. For example, if there are a million wizards on this Magic Planet, there are a million types of magic with different rules."
[Hm…?]
It seems Residue still doesn't understand.
Indeed, Lucas's doubts were also limited to the stage of conjecture and hypothesis, so he had no intention of continuing to speak.
"Dogmatism."
He felt that word might be a clue.
[It's a concept I struggle to understand.]
"Really? 'Ruler' and 'dogmatism' are words that go well together."
[Hm. You still don't understand the Rulers enough.]
Lucas smiled.
"Anyway, if my prediction is correct, I don't think we need to explore the Magic Planet further."
Because they would only see similar landscapes wherever they went.
In the end, the only person who has the answer that can resolve Lucas's doubts is just one of the many wizards of the Magic Planet.
-----------------------
[There might have been brainwashing.]
Lucas raised his head at Residue's words.
"Brainwashing?"
[There are many names for 'destruction,' aren't there? Annihilation, extinction, elimination... If it's a completely ignorant human, they won't feel more fear than necessary. They accept it as no different from death. It's like a baby who doesn't understand the danger of a moth.]
"..."
[The most fearful are those who understand 'somewhat,' Lucas. They are the ones who 'partially understand' what destruction is, and fill the other half they don't understand with their own imagined fear. And from my understanding, most people here on the Magic Planet fall into that category.]
I understand what Residue means.
Lucas nodded and said, "Do you mean that the reason they're so calm about destruction can't be explained by anything other than brainwashing?"
[Is your opinion different?]
"..."
Instead of directly answering the question, Lucas looked down at the spring water. He had returned to the Fountain of Wisdom after leaving the village.
As he stared at the water's surface where the starlight danced, the chief of the village, "Selen's," gaze came to mind.
There was no madness in his eyes. Nor was there the dissonance typical of those who have been brainwashed or mentally manipulated.
Just a clear and kind look.
Had he understood and accepted the end of annihilation?
'No.'
It can't be.
Not even Diablo could overcome that fear. And most of those on the Magic Planet probably don't have a higher mental strength than him.
"I'm almost in agreement, but I have a feeling there's something more hidden."
[Hm.]
"Everyone in the village had different types of magic."
[Different types of magic?]
Residue seemed perplexed, as if not fully understanding.
"Yes. Of course, the magics of each universe are different. The composition of mana existing in the atmosphere is the same, but the amount the body can absorb, the part of the body it's stored in, how it's released after being stored, and how it unfolds after being released... The method is completely different in each universe."
[…]
"If I had witnessed this when I was immature, maybe I would have been influenced too."
[What does that have to do with their mental state?]
"It's not that everyone uses different types of magic because they're from different universes. For example, if there are a million wizards on this Magic Planet, there are a million types of magic with different rules."
[Hm…?]
It seems Residue still doesn't understand.
Indeed, Lucas's doubts were also limited to the stage of conjecture and hypothesis, so he had no intention of continuing to speak.
"Dogmatism."
He felt that word might be a clue.
[It's a concept I struggle to understand.]
"Really? 'Ruler' and 'dogmatism' are words that go well together."
[Hm. You still don't understand the Rulers enough.]
Lucas smiled.
"Anyway, if my prediction is correct, I don't think we need to explore the Magic Planet further."
Because they would only see similar landscapes wherever they went.
In the end, the only person who has the answer that can resolve Lucas's doubts is just one of the many wizards of the Magic Planet.
It dawned.
In other words, a day had passed.
Lucas looked down at the Fountain of Wisdom and said, "Is it charged?"
[Yes. It seems it can be used.]
"I don't see any change."
[If you use Omniscience, you'll see something different. Anyway, have you decided what you want to see?]
Of course.
Lucas nodded and said, "First, I have to see Pale's perspective again. I'm concerned about what happened afterward."
[That's a sensible judgment.]
He walked to the spring and dipped his palm as before. He felt the bubbling sound of the water and a cold sensation.
In that state, he recalled Pale's face.
"..."
However, the same change as yesterday did not occur. The waves didn't spread as before, nor did a faint light appear. Lucas, feeling curious, focused even more on Pale.
"..."
When there was still no change, Lucas's expression changed.
"You said the charging was complete, Residue?"
[It's definitely finished. There's no issue with the spring.]
Lucas frowned at the significant words.
"Then is there an issue with me?"
[Nor that. Hmm...]
Residue, who had been thinking for a moment, said, [Perhaps you can't see a 'target you've already seen' twice. You haven't already forgotten the face of the Blue Knight, have you?]
"…Hmm."
It's a plausible reasoning. Though the plan may have veered slightly, there's nothing to be done. Getting angry won't improve the situation.
If he couldn't see Pale, whom should he remember?
The Red Knight? Or the Sun God?
...No, it's likely the situation has already concluded. In terms of time, it wouldn't be strange for Pale to have already left that place and arrived at Demoncio. Of course, she said it would take her a long time to convince the Red Knight...
"..."
Sedi Traumen,
Should he remember her?
[This is the spring, after all.]
Residue said at that moment.
[You shouldn't have to visualize it in such a specific way.]
"A non-specific way?"
[Yes. For example, you can ask the spring, 'Who should I see now?']
Lucas was speechless for a moment.
"Are you serious? Wouldn't that require this spring to have processing power large enough to understand everything about me?"
That means the spring would give him values he doesn't even know. Of course, he couldn't believe this small spring had such capacity.
[Give it a try. There's nothing to lose.]
...Residue's words were decisive. Lucas placed his hand back in the spring and concentrated.
Not the person I wanted to see, but the person I should see now.
Uuung-
Residue's assumption turned out to be correct.
The spring water began to ripple, and a faint light shone as it did the last time.
Lucas narrowed his eyes and focused on the shape forming on the surface.
Whose face will appear?
-------------------------
It's a place where a huge typhoon rages. It looks like the surface of a planet where life probably can't exist. The sky is filled with black clouds, so nothing can be seen.
Krang!
A lightning bolt strikes at that moment, and its scale is terrifying. It was a lightning bolt the size of a considerable continent.
Someone was walking in that place.
It was someone in a brown robe, but their face wasn't visible due to the typhoon and the raised hood. Visibility is too poor in various ways.
However, Lucas didn't lose patience and kept his focus.
If the purpose of the 'Spring' is to teach him something, the image can't end like this.
Suddenly, that person stopped. And as they turned around, the black sky split in two, and a huge creature appeared.
It was a monster that seemed to have a body made of black clouds. It was so large that it could completely cover the sky, and it emitted overwhelming pressure just by looking at it.
As the golden eyes turned towards him...
Ku-u-u!
The monster threw a punch. It seemed to move in slow motion at first, but the fist was approaching at a terrifying speed.
Would this be the perspective of an ant watching a meteorite fall?
However, the person in the robe remained unfazed. Without showing signs of fear, they stared fixedly at the fist, which was larger than a mountain.
And when the fist was about to reach, they slowly extended their palm. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew around them, and the robe lifted.
For the brief moment their body shape was revealed, Lucas realized it was a woman and that she only had one arm.
Kwang!
An invisible wall blocked the monster's fist.
[Wizard.]
Residue quietly mentioned one of the woman's identities.
The monster's fist couldn't penetrate the wall. And the woman tightly clenched the fist she had extended.
“…”
Her dry lips moved, murmuring something. The moment Lucas heard that voice, his eyebrows arched.
Pit~
A blood-red glow shot out and pierced through the monster of dark clouds.
“──!”
The monster roared with a shaky cry and staggered. Just because of that, the sky and the earth trembled again, but anyone could tell it was the last breath before death.
The monster's body gradually disintegrated and disappeared without a trace.
A strong gust of wind swept in all directions, and the black sky suddenly opened.
The hood lifted with the gust of wind, and the woman's face was revealed.
“…”
She was a woman with a face as expressionless as frost. She wore a black eyepatch, which contrasted with her white hair, making it stand out even more. Her only eye was also sunken into a somber color, like the eyepatch.
[Who is that woman?]
“…”
Although there are some white-haired women he knows, Lucas didn't recognize her facial features with anyone he knew.
…Of course.
She wasn't white-haired.
Although many things had changed, her voice was the same.
“My disciple.”
[What?]
The vision ended.
However, the image of the white-haired woman didn't easily fade from Lucas's mind.
─What the hell happened to Min Harin?
------------------------
He thought about it for a whole day, but he didn't reach a satisfactory conclusion.
Min Harin.
The girl with black hair and warm eyes now had an appearance that perfectly matched her nickname, Ice Flower.
Lucas regretted not investigating her more thoroughly when he was in the Three Thousand Worlds. Of course, it was already too late to regret.
‘…One week.’
He remembered the deadline mentioned by the Beginning Wizard and summarized it.
Now he only has five chances left to use the spring?
‘What else do I need to see?’
It's a tough situation.
Every time he saw a vision in the spring, he felt like he had more questions than answers.
When he saw the cooperation between the Red Knight and the Sun God, Residue mentioned the possibility that the spring itself was fake. Though half in jest, Lucas was now thinking something similar.
He couldn't help but think that after witnessing Min Harin's such radical transformation.
[If you stay like this, another precious day of this opportunity will be gone.]
“…Don't worry, we still have time.”
Lucas said that as he submerged his hand in the spring water.
“I've come up with something good.”
[Hmm?]
And he thought of the being he wanted to see now.
Woosh-
The waves stirred, and the surface began to reflect someone's form.
It was a man with dark blond hair. He smiled with a refreshing and bright smile.
However, the atmosphere around him was quite the opposite. Was it a place where a war had broken out? He seemed to be rescuing people in a terrible scenario.
Residue also knew who this blond man was.
[…Isn't that the 'fake' Lucas Traumen? The one we saw in the Three Thousand Worlds.]
“Yes.”
[Of course, you were curious about his identity, but... why do you want to see this guy now?]
“You're wrong. It's not the fake Lucas Traumen I wanted to see now.”
[Then...]
Lucas looked at the man mimicking him and said:
"I've been thinking about the Beginning Wizard."
Tags:
TGMRA (Novel)