Ch.116Ep.116: World of the Transcendents

Radios couldn’t bring himself to say anything to the Sword God who wore a bitter expression.

To witness the birth and death of the universe inevitably comes with attachment.

And that’s why one cannot lose their emotions.

Just how long has this person been continuing their existence?

He looks like a sandcastle that would collapse if touched.

I don’t understand why someone like that continues to live.

I know that Transcendents, those at the Multiverse level, cannot commit suicide.

However, they can die by external means.

If he wants to die, couldn’t he just ask Director Lillia and be done with it?

“Is that what your face is saying?”

“Rather than continuing to suffer like this… I think dying would be better.”

“Better to die… Well, that might be true… but I’m not so sure.”

The Sword God recalled the past.

Though now called the Plum Blossom Sword God, in the past, he led the Hwasan Sect as the Plum Blossom Sword Emperor.

To eliminate the Heavenly Demon Cult that terrorized the martial world, he gathered warriors from across the land and headed to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

With the sacrifice of everyone except himself, he succeeded in bringing down the Heavenly Demon Cult.

However, for some reason, he woke up in a world 3,000 years later.

With new connections, he uncovered his past and ascended to the Multiverse level.

“I don’t want to forget. The memories I shared with those precious people.”

“…”

“If I die, all of that disappears. It’s the same as those who were with me disappearing forever. I can’t let that happen. Those kids went through so much under my leadership.”

He still checks on them occasionally.

Although it might be overstepping his authority, it wasn’t something he’d be severely punished for.

There was a certain joy in finding the reincarnations of those he held dear.

That’s how he’s endured for so long.

And his sense of responsibility for saving the world has never dulled.

True to his title as Sword God, he sacrifices himself so that all universes can live in peace.

Radios couldn’t respond to his words.

For someone who thought the Management Bureau didn’t need to exist,

Hearing the mindset of a person who runs the Bureau was making him waver.

“Want to hear about the others?”

“…Just a few, if you don’t mind.”

“It feels wrong to talk about those stronger than me… but I’ll tell you about the other two.”

First, Kim Yu-hyun, known as the Poison Demon.

He was an ordinary human, but was manipulated by those who wanted to believe in gods and fell into a dimension called the martial world.

He received both a blessing and a curse of death regression.

Kim Yu-hyun, who gained the ability to go back one day when he died, grew stronger at a rapid pace.

He discovered that if he died by poison, he could control that poison and even develop immunity to it.

Utilizing this to the extreme, he earned the title of Poison Demon, the greatest achievement in the martial world’s history.

But even he had someone precious to him.

The female palace lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, who was also his wife.

After returning from the martial world to his original world, the Poison Demon eventually met his wife.

Fighting against those who had dropped him into the martial world, he gained immense power and eventually joined the Multiverse Management Bureau, taking charge of the surveillance team.

“Yu-hyun is quite easy to work with, so that’s fine.”

“Seems like many people here have led eventful lives.”

“Have you heard of ‘return from ashes to glory’?”

“..?”

“It’s a famous saying on Earth. Everyone here has gone through that. You’re the ‘glory’ part.”

“I’m the glory?”

He didn’t care about returning from ashes to glory or whatever.

Since it seemed interesting to hear these stories, he asked to hear about someone else.

“About Noah… that guy was quite interesting too.”

Noah Whitlein.

A member of the management team and arguably the busiest man in the Bureau right now.

Someone who clearly wouldn’t be allowed to die even if he wanted to.

His life was tumultuous, working continuously without a day off for five years.

Betrayed by trusted colleagues and reduced to a wreck, he succeeded in going back in time with a mysterious message.

Meeting new companions, he challenged the gods who had mocked him.

However, his true enemy turned out to be one of his many multiverse selves.

Calling himself the ‘God of Gluttony,’ he grew stronger by devouring Noah Whitleins across the multiverse.

But Noah grew stronger at an even faster rate.

In the end, he defeated his counterpart and was scouted to join the Bureau.

Of course, Noah constantly laments that he should have died back then.

“…Even I think what he does is beyond what any person should handle.”

“Is it that bad?”

“No matter how much we’ve transcended everything, we still want to rest, sleep, and eat, right?”

“Yes.”

“But that guy has been working for years without any of that!”

“Hmm…”

That’s too pitiful.

Just as Radios was about to say something seemed off,

The Sword God spoke first.

“But he owes a huge debt to this place… so it can’t be helped.”

“But…”

“By the way, before he started helping, the Director was working alone? I’m guessing… she was alone for tens of billions of years?”

“..!”

“So reconsider your thoughts about the Management Bureau. This isn’t a den of villains.”

Rather, it’s a place where people who are too kind sacrifice themselves.

With those final words, the Sword God disappeared, saying he had work to do.

Left alone, Radios couldn’t help but be lost in thought.

‘The Multiverse Management Bureau… huh…’

If asked whether his thoughts had changed… they had.

The Bureau was an essential existence.

If, hypothetically, something were to emerge that disrupted the multiverse.

Wouldn’t someone need to stop it?

The Bureau exists to move efficiently in such situations, so what can be done?

After hearing about the people working there, it seems a bit like an exploitative company…

But it’s somewhat fortunate that people with good intentions are doing the work.

“Why am I even thinking about this?”

Anyone watching might think he’s considering joining.

But he has no such intention whatsoever.

“Are you sure about that?”

“..!”

Radios felt a chill run down his spine at the sudden voice.

A feeling of indescribable, immense pressure.

Without anyone telling him, he immediately recognized.

That the owner of this voice was Lillia Lastin, the Director of the Multiverse Management Bureau.

“What… business do you have with me?”

Radios found himself speaking formally.

The situation demanded nothing less.

Regardless, the aura emanating from her truly inspired awe.

How long must one live to reach such a state?

He thought, only someone of that caliber could truly be called the strongest in the entire universe.

But despite initiating the conversation, Lillia didn’t continue.

Wondering if she had left, Radios waited.

The memory of causing trouble at the Bureau made him slightly nervous.

“You’re an interesting one. It’s the first time I’ve seen destinies overlap like this… fascinating.”

“Destinies… overlapping?”

“It’s not something you need to worry about. However, I think I understand your wish. Do you want to save them?”

“..!”

“Those who died in battle, you want to save them, don’t you?”

At Lillia’s words, Radios’s heart began to race.

Do I want to save them?

Of course.

Kraud, who sacrificed his life to buy time to escape from Azathoth.

Poseidon, who sacrificed her life to buy time to escape from Chaos.

Veichel, who sacrificed her life to transfer Chaos’s power to him.

If asked whether he wants to save them, how could he answer anything but yes?

“Is there… a way to save them?”

“There is. It all depends on your choice.”

“I want to save them. Please help me.”

Radios noticed that the restraints around him had disappeared and bowed toward the direction of Lillia’s voice.

Hoping his feelings would reach her.

“They shouldn’t have died like that. I definitely… want to save them.”

“Even if the price is irreversible?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll lose your power. Not just your Ascended Order called Judgment, but you won’t even have an Order at all. You’ll become an ordinary person.”

“…”

“Will you still do it?”

Lose all his power.

Upon hearing those words, Radios felt his life flash before his eyes.

Everything he had accomplished was thanks to his power.

And now he has to lose all of it?

To save everyone?

If that’s the case…

“Of course. I’ll do it. If I can save them, I wouldn’t even mind giving my life.”

“You shouldn’t give your life, you idiot. Your lover is waiting for you, isn’t she?”

“Ah…”

Radios gasped at the woman who suddenly appeared before him.

Deep purple hair and navy blue eyes reminiscent of the deep sea.

A woman of such beauty that one might wonder if such a person could exist.

The Multiverse Management Bureau Director, Lillia Lastin, had appeared.

“Look at this guy. Are your eyes wandering to another woman when you have a lover?”

“No… that’s…”

“Let’s talk more, you cheating boyfriend.”

“Cheating boyfriend! That’s not–“

Ignoring Radios’s protest, Lillia snapped her fingers.

And with that, Radios and Lillia disappeared into the depths of the Management Bureau.