episode_0087

Has the world been saved?

After those words, the Enlightened One said nothing more. After staring blankly at the group, they simply turned their body and began planting the sapling again.

“Heh, you still like giving cryptic answers.”

Asila said. Asel quietly organized his thoughts while looking at the Enlightened One’s back.

‘An ancient being. One who sealed themselves.’

Who could that refer to? Are they the same person? Or different people?

Was there a reason they stared at me and Grace? Were those words just now said by the Enlightened One or by the Devil of Possibility?

“…….”

Countless thoughts followed one after another. Asel narrowed his eyes and stared at the sapling the Enlightened One was planting.

“Has the world been saved? Isn’t the Enlightened One’s taste surprisingly like a young girl’s?”

“……?”

Words Asila suddenly blurted out. Asel furrowed his brow slightly and turned his head towards Asila.

“……What connection does that have?”

“……? Why wouldn’t it? Has the world been saved? Isn’t that implicitly saying they like strawberries and peaches?”

“What kind of nonsense is thaㅡ”

Asel said up to there, then stopped speaking at a hypothesis that suddenly occurred to him. Then, after a brief silence, he opened his mouth again.

“……Then how about you? What do you think of these words?”

“It means they like teddy bears, doesn’t it? If you interpret the meaning of the words, that’s what it is.”

“…….”

Asel was silent. Instead, he looked back at Grace. She recognized the meaning in Asel’s gaze and said with a somewhat stiff expression.

“……It sounded to me like it meant to go to the World Tree.”

That made it certain.

The words the Enlightened One said. A cryptic answer whose meaning was unknown.

It was something that possessed a bizarre characteristic: the content was different for each listener. Just as what Asel and Grace heard was different from each other, and what Asila and Grace understood was different.

Perhaps the past records of the Enlightened One written in the documents also looked different to each person.

How could that be possible?

To call it merely a monster’s power, the power to alter perception is too strong. Sentences that sound and look different to each person? Even high-level illusionists need long preparation to do that. Even then, it is incomplete and is all destroyed by just a slight tremor.

Could a mere monster be capable of wielding such power?

“…….”

Asel activated his Magic Eye just in case. But the Enlightened One’s words in his mind remained unchanged, and the content written in the documents was also the same.

A power impossible to break through even with the Magic Eye of Ability.

What that meant was that this was the result of the power of a transcendent being who had far surpassed the realm of Grand Wizards.

Perhaps it was possible because the Devil of Possibility added some of its authority when creating the Enlightened One.

“……Ha.”

Thanks to the ridiculous power of perception alteration, it had become a situation where it was impossible to know how much of the Enlightened One’s words were true and whose interpretation was correct. But were his past statements matching what was written in Aleph and his statements related to the Devil of Possibility, who had the highest connection to it, truly a coincidence?

‘If it’s not a coincidence.’

……Crack.

An electric current, so subtle that it would be hard for anyone else to notice, bloomed from the tip of the sapling. A sapling barely the size of a weed. A plant of an ominous color that would need decades more to become a tree.

‘If the Devil of Possibility is trying to tell me something.’

Just in case, Asel sparked a current between his fingers and sent it flowing through the window.

At that moment, the black lightning blooming from the sapling began to writhe more violently, as if responding to Asel’s current. It looked like hundreds of black snakes ascending towards the sky. Asel silently watched the scene and retracted his magic.

‘What kind of connection is there between me and that?’

The depth of concern in Asel’s eyes deepened.

***

His thoughts became complicated, so Asel postponed the battle with the monster and left the club building.

Grace met him. She also seemed to have complicated thoughts, as she slumped down next to Asel on the bench and let out a long sigh.

“What could it mean to go to the World Tree?”

Swaaaah!!

The sky, which had been clear until now, spewed out rainwater as if it had been waiting for this moment. Gloomy clouds covered the sun, and took away the warmth peculiar to spring.

A rather chilly wind carrying rain blew in. Asel used Water Magic and Wind Magic appropriately to make the bench an untouchable area, then answered Grace’s words.

“You haven’t gone to the World Tree in previous loops?”

“No. There was no real reason to go. In the first place, the World Tree was the first thing to collapse when the devils started coming out in droves. Black lightning struck and it just disappeared.”

“…….”

Black lightning.

Asel remembered the black current blooming from the Enlightened One’s sapling and said.

“Do you know who struck the lightning?”

“I don’t know. It’s definitely the work of a devil, but not a single devil handled lightning. No one caused the black lightning up until the moment they died.”

“Is it the same for the Devil of Possibility?”

“That one didn’t even participate in battle in the first place. Whether devils died or not, it just wandered the continent.”

“……Why did it do that?”

Asel asked. Grace pursed her lips and shook her head.

“I don’t know. But according to someone who encountered it, its expression was very wistful. It didn’t fight either. They said it just stood still and then disappeared.”

It was a strange one, Grace added.

Instead of answering, Asel looked up at the sky. The rainwater pouring down as if spitting out resentment was wetting the ground and adding humidity to the air.

A heavy rainfall after a long time. It seemed it would take several more hours for it to stop. Asel quietly stared at the falling raindrops and thought.

‘In the end, I think I have to meet it in person to know.’

The connection between the Devil of Possibility and himself. The sage’s testimony that it desired salvation. The word written in Aleph. The Enlightened One’s statement.

They are points that could be connected if one wanted to, but drawing lines like that yields no picture. Just as critics give their own evaluations upon seeing a painter’s work, none of which match the painter’s intention. Erecting various hypotheses right now would only complicate his head. The human brain is too small to fathom the true meaning of a devil.

At least, he would need to have a conversation with it. Only by standing on equal footing would he be able to understand.

“Asel.”

The moment he thought, Grace spoke to him. Asel turned his head towards her.

“Hmm?”

“Um… about that going to the World Tree thing. I’m thinking of going first? It’s better to minimize variables as much as possible.”

“Ah… right. It wasn’t something that happened in previous loops. You’ll want to confirm it yourself.”

“Yeah, yeah. So, about that… could you perhaps go with me?”

“……Together?”

This was another unexpected suggestion. But thinking about it calmly, it wasn’t such a bad suggestion either.

Grace said the World Tree was erased by black lightning. If that was true, the possibility of such a thing happening in this loop was high.

Black Thunder (黑雷).

The lightning that bloomed when characters were carved into Aleph. The lightning that bloomed from the sapling planted by the Enlightened One, who originated from the Devil of Possibility. All were inky black. Could the lightning that struck the World Tree and those things really be unrelated?

‘No way.’

When coincidences overlap, it’s destiny. There was definitely something.

If he had a chance to witness those things with his own eyes, there was no reason to refuse. Asel smiled slightly and nodded.

“Okay. Let’s set a date sometime.”

“……! Ah, okay! Vacation! Let’s go during vacation! Or submit an experiential learning application and go officially!”

“What’s an experiential learning application?”

“An application that lets you roam around outside without attending classes for a set period! With just this, it’s fine to be absent from the academy for at least 3 months!”

There was something like that.

“Okay. Whatever’s good, let’s go.”

“Okay! Look forward to it! I’ll prepare everything properly. I already know everything you like, you know?”

Asel let out a slight laugh at the declaration she shouted, jumping up.

“Okay, I’ll look forward to it.”

“Yeah! And separate from this, go on a date with me this Sunday!”

“Understood…… Hmm?”

He answered unconsciously, then realized something was strange and raised his head. But Grace ignored Asel’s question and waved with a wide smile.

“You answered!”

A distance so far he didn’t even know when she’d gotten there. Brushing back her hair soaked with rain, Grace skipped.

“Look forward to it!”

“……Huh.”

It was an innocent, childlike attitude. Asel was about to retort, but instead just smiled faintly and waved back. Then Grace giggled and turned around.

“Have you been waiting long?”

Not long after that, Celine came out of the building. Asel looked up at her and stood up from his seat.

“No. Let’s go.”

***

April 10th. Saturday. Around 9 AM.

The rain that had been falling since yesterday had not stopped yet. It had grown stronger instead. Dark blue lightning flashed within the clouds, acting violently as if to descend to the ground and sweep everything away. Because it was truly fascinating, I sat on the palace rooftop and looked down at the lightning.

-What are you doing?

While doing that, the teacher came to visit. He was wearing a black robe, his face hidden by the white mask he always wore, and he sat beside me. I replied rather curtly.

-Watching.

-Lightning?

-Yes. It’s cool, isn’t it?

-Do you think so too? So do I.

His voice was very faint. Was it the power of the mask, or because he was old? I couldn’t tell. I didn’t know his age, let alone his gender.

In the first place, he wasn’t even a magician hired by my father. He was just a wandering mage who had settled down, saying he saw potential in me and would teach me magic. Since he said a place to eat and sleep was enough as payment, my father accepted him. Thus, he became part of our family.

-Look.

He was a magician who handled the power of lightning. It wasn’t Cromwell. She was making a name for herself on the northern front. This was the center of the continent. There was no possibility he was Cromwell.

Nevertheless, he handled the power of lightning. He was an unofficial lightning user. And he had tried to teach it to me.

-What is lightning?

-Well. Something violent?

-Violent, isn’t it? At the same time, it shines, flows, and leaves a trace in the world. My lightning focused on the flowing aspect among these. What do you want to do?

He asked me in a gentle voice. While sparking lightning that flowed like waves between his fingers.

I answered without hesitation.

-I want to leave a trace.

-A trace?

-Yes. That I lived here. Had lived. That the kingdom’s cutest princess was here and saved you all! Wouldn’t something like that be fun? I think I could look back and laugh even after death.

-That’s like you, you rascal.

He often stroked my hair. Unmistakable affection could be felt in that gesture. Whether teaching magic, complaining about food, or playing together. He cherished me endlessly.

-If you ever take on a disciple in the future.

So, I didn’t dismiss his words, even if they were just a casual joke. It was the same that day.

-Cherish them.

-Why?

-Because they will like you very much.

He said that in a rather wistful voice.

-They will probably love you. So you too, cherish and love your disciple. Just as I did.

-Don’t I have to become stronger to take on a disciple? I can’t even use basic magic yet.

-I mean later.

-Hmph. Then you’ll have to teach me well.

-I will try.

-Then I promise too.

That day’s promise was made like that, under the thunder and rainwater.

April 11th. Sunday. 00:00 AM.

The devil descended.

***

“Are you really going in alone?”

Yufia asked. Ena gave her the same answer several times.

“Yes.”

“It’s dangerous. You know it’s a trap. If something goes wrong, it truly cannot be undone. Don’t you have a disciple as well?”

“Disciple.”

Ena mumbled the word and smiled faintly.

“Yes. They are an amazing child. There’s still a lot to teach them by my side. I’m also curious what kind of inner world they will embrace. If possible, I hope it’s an inner world related to me.”

“If that’s the case, the reason to go in alone dangerouslyㅡ”

“It’s a story I must finish.”

Ena looked back at Yufia. Yufia met her blue gaze and flinched.

“The story of my clan. A story I must finish as the last remaining royal. I don’t need the help or sacrifice of others. Because I don’t want anyone else to die because of me.”

“……Lord Kaebyeok.”

“Not informing Wiheim about the contents of the Small Palace, and keeping your mouths shut, was also because of that.”

Ena tightly gripped the brooch around her neck. As if it were an amulet.

Without any special effect or magic. A simple lucky brooch.

An accessory for just one person, gifted by Asel for the first time.

“I won’t leave a will. Because I won’t die.”

“…….”

“If you’re going to wait, wait. I’ll be back after taking care of it quickly.”

“……Please don’t die.”

The center of the continent. Right next to the ruined kingdom. Above a pit whose depth could not be measured.

At the entrance to the Small Palace, Yufia said. Ena nodded with an expressionless face.

“Yes.”

Ena threw herself over the pit.

Simultaneously, her vision was dyed black. A floating sensation enveloped her whole body, and all sorts of auditory hallucinations penetrated her ears.

They were words of curse. The cries of the people cursing the kingdom’s last princess.

“…….”

She endured it. She opened her eyes and ears. She faced their resentment head-on without averting her gaze.

After a moment of that.

Ena stepped onto the floor.

-Kieeeeek!!

It was a floor crawling with parasites. Without hesitation, Ena immediately released her magic. The lightning that shot out just from that interfered with physical phenomena and dominated the space. The parasites burned, and applause was heard from beyond.

“Welcome, Princess.”

It was a voice that sounded like hundreds of insects crawling.

“Welcome to the Magical Kingdom.”

She raised her head. Before her eyes unfolded the kingdom of its brilliant era. But only the outward appearance was fine. Inside, the smell of decay vibrated.

Citizens devoured by parasites walked the streets. They tore apart corpses sprawled on the roadside and cut off their own arms to plant on their heads. Blood and flesh were scattered everywhere.

And at the center of it.

A saint dressed in pure white clothes was smiling widely.

“The person you just killed was a girl named Roa. You remember her, don’t you? She was the child who made flower crowns in the flower garden every day.”

“Shut up and just prepare.”

The answer came from Virsia. She was sitting on the stone bridge next to the saint, and she pushed back the robe she was wearing and gazed at Ena. Ena also glared back at her, sharpening her eyes.

“Hello, my little sister. How long has it been?”

“……Virsia.”

“You should call me sister, shouldn’t you?”

Virsia swung her staff.

“Do we need a long conversation between us? I have to kill you, and you have to kill me. Since we both know each other’s circumstances, let’s avoid unnecessary words.”

“I agree. Since we both know everything, let’s avoid private talk.”

The saint smiled.

“You kill us and completely eradicate the devil. We kill you, retake the royal power of the Magical Kingdom, and revive the devil. It’s a simple story.”

“Right.”

Ena replied.

“It’s a simple story.”

She reached out her hand towards the air.

Kwooong!

A heavy aura surged everywhere. The inner world of a Grand Wizard who had reached the 8th rank collided with the world. Violent currents surging up occupied everything, tearing the skin of the saint and Virsia to shreds. Their very existence trembled just from being exposed to the inner world.

“Is it this from the start?! Hah, you’ve gone mad!”

“Prepare. It’s coming.”

The saint and Virsia distorted their faces and formed hand signs respectively.

The mouths of the three people opened simultaneously.

“Inner World Release.”

“Inner World Release!”

“Inner World.”

Ena closed her eyes.

“Release.”

Ppa-ji-ji-ji-ji-jik!!

The sky opened.