Ch.120Ep.120 What I Must Lose, What I Can Gain

“Disappear.”

Fwooooosh!!

At Radios’s command, all the Hounds of Tindalos that had been rushing to tear him apart simultaneously vanished.

Azathoth felt a chill run down his spine as he witnessed the terrifying scene.

Even Azathoth himself could dispose of the Hounds of Tindalos in less than 10 seconds.

After all, it was just killing dogs.

But to annihilate so many hounds at once with just a single word…

That was impossible even for Azathoth.

“What are you thinking about? You know I can read all your thoughts, right?”

[I know. I was just a bit surprised, that’s all. No need to worry about it.]

“Well then, enough of that… Is this sufficient to qualify? Beyond the Truth?”

[Not bad. You’ve passed the first stage… Shall we move on to the second?]

“..! Kuhehe, this bastard really knows how to get under my skin.”

Radios smirked as he saw the person who appeared with Beyond the Truth’s announcement of the next stage.

How could he pretend not to know? Deep down, he was disappointed he couldn’t kill him personally.

He never expected to resolve it this way.

[This is Hades, the god you once served. Perhaps compared to the Hounds of Tindalos—]

“Die.”

Splaaash!

Once again, with just a word from Radios, Hades was torn apart without leaving a trace.

Beyond the Truth fell silent for a moment, apparently not expecting this.

But honestly, Radios found him utterly ridiculous.

“Think about it, you fool. Even Hades is no match for a pack of Tindalos Hounds.”

So this is Beyond the Truth—overestimating those who should be underestimated, and underestimating those who should be overestimated.

“Can you really claim that you’ve awakened to the truth?”

[How arrogant. Even if you’ve reached the pinnacle of this world, you’re useless before the truth.]

“Really? Then bring on the third stage.”

[The third stage is Kraud—]

“Get lost.”

Swaaash!

When Beyond the Truth tried to form Kraud, Radios quickly swung his Twilight Sword and shattered whatever was about to become Kraud.

He didn’t want to face someone he should protect as an enemy.

“What bad taste. Someone I know would be disgusted by this.”

[…This is truly the final test. If you pass this gate, I will no longer interfere.]

“Fine, let’s see what you’ve got. What will come out..!”

Radios, who had been maintaining a casual attitude throughout, froze when he saw the face of the new figure appearing.

Azathoth found this reaction very unfamiliar, since it was his first time seeing this face.

He never expected someone who seemed ready to kill anyone who appeared…

To swallow hard at the mere appearance of a woman with black hair and red eyes.

[The final gate is the Demon Queen, Ain Devileon. The woman who defeated you at the Management Bureau, wasn’t she?]

“…”

[You will never overcome this woman. Before even considering skill, the fear of defeat is already engraved in your mind.]

Radios lowered his head at Beyond the Truth’s words.

Demon Queen Ain Devileon.

The woman who had merely subdued him rather than killing him when Radios went on a rampage.

Ranked second among all beings across the universe.

She was someone far beyond Radios’s level.

That’s why he couldn’t help but flinch at just her appearance.

But regardless, when Radios raised his head again, his eyes no longer wavered.

“If you thought I wouldn’t attack such an illusion out of fear, you’re mistaken, Beyond the Truth.”

Ain Devileon, the Demon Queen, is strong.

So strong that even a hundred Radioses might not be a match for her.

But could someone like Beyond the Truth possibly imitate such a person?

Of course not.

Beyond the Truth is weaker than the Sword God. Weaker than the Hero, weaker than the Poison Devil.

A mere illusion of a powerful being created by such a weakling is no obstacle.

“Twilight Sword.”

Swoosh!

At Radios’s call, the silver Twilight Sword rushed toward the Demon Queen’s form.

If she were truly the Demon Queen that Radios knew, she wouldn’t have dodged.

She would have already overwhelmed Radios with an even stronger attack.

The Demon Queen’s form showing no reaction was proof that she was not the real Demon Queen.

[…You pass.]

“What an unsettling way to announce I’ve passed.”

[Enter. This is the true ‘Beyond the Truth.’]

A massive iron gate full of radiance appeared in the darkness, dispersing the shadows.

This was the true Beyond the Truth that Radios had been seeking.

[Only Radios Magnum has earned the right to enter.]

“You heard that? Shut up and stay here, Azathoth.”

[…Understood.]

Beyond the Truth stopped Azathoth when he tried to cross over with Radios.

Azathoth was no longer a being who could utilize Beyond the Truth.

Following Beyond the Truth’s guidance, Radios arrived at a vast white space with no visible end.

“So this is Beyond the Truth…”

“Welcome. To Beyond the Truth.”

“Are you Beyond the Truth?”

“To be precise, I am the librarian who manages Beyond the Truth.”

“Librarian?”

“Since Azathoth didn’t explain properly, I’ll explain again. The true name of Beyond the Truth is…”

As the self-proclaimed librarian spoke, countless books began to densely fill the pure white space.

Radios could predict what the librarian would say next.

The place that records everything in the world.

“The Akashic Records.”

“…The Akashic Records.”

“You probably understand the concept roughly? This is an endless library where the fate of all things is determined.”

Even this conversation we’re having is being recorded in this library.

The librarian said this while walking around the Akashic Records, organizing books.

As if Radios had never been there.

“What… can I do here?”

“Hmm? You can only read. How could anyone change predetermined fate?”

“But Azathoth and Chaos…!”

“They didn’t change fate. They simply lived according to their destiny.”

With those words, the librarian summoned the shelves containing the books recording Azathoth and Chaos’s lives and opened them before Radios.

“You should be able to read quickly. I’ll leave the judgment to you.”

“…Is all of this true?”

Radios gritted his teeth as he briefly skimmed through the fates of Chaos and Azathoth.

The records in the Akashic Records described exactly what Azathoth would sacrifice and what he would gain in return as his fate.

In other words, Azathoth hadn’t forged his own destiny.

Living in a way that made him think he had was itself his destiny.

“Do you understand now?”

“So… predetermined fate cannot be changed, is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s right.”

“Nonsense!”

Rumble!

As Radios stomped his foot, the Akashic Records momentarily shook.

The librarian frowned at his sudden action but didn’t attempt to fight.

Radios Magnum was already a being beyond his capabilities.

Provoking him would only result in tremendous loss.

“Are you disappointed? Feeling like your only chance has disappeared?”

“Disappeared? Don’t make me laugh. I think I’ve already succeeded just by getting the Akashic Records to let me in.”

“You…!”

“For example… what about this?”

“No!”

Riiip!

Radios tore out a page from the book containing Azathoth’s life.

The librarian gasped and used magic against him, but…

He had already used the Ascended Order of Judgment to claim control over the space around him.

Now, whatever he did within that space, the librarian could not stop him.

“The Akashic Records must not be damaged! The order of the universe will collapse!”

“Fuck that. I don’t need any of that.”

“You know there are worlds above worlds! Stop this!”

The librarian continued pounding on an invisible wall, trying to stop Radios, but…

He had already opened the final pages of the books detailing the lives of Poseidon, Kraud, and Veichel.

In the book about Kraud’s life:

-Dies heroically fighting against Azathoth, believing that Radios Magnum will return.

In the book about Poseidon’s life:

-Dies heroically fighting against Chaos, believing that Radios Magnum will return.

In the book about Veichel’s life:

-Dies heroically, giving all her power to Radios Magnum, believing he will certainly triumph.

The end of all their lives was written there.

But if he could make it as if it never happened… he could save them.

‘Let’s stop living in pain now.’

In an era where all calamities have ended, let’s live peacefully, wandering the world free from battle.

Hoping that this choice is the right one.

Riiiiip!

Radios tore out the pages describing the deaths of the three people.