Ch.9191. Remnants of the Past (2)

“Title: Hey, About Those Ancient Documents

-Sometimes when running dungeons, you can get these one-page documents, right?

I’m trying to piece them together naturally but it’s not working well. Any lore nerds who’ve figured it out?

└Shit, I can’t figure it out either… How are you supposed to do this?

└Why do I have to study even in games?? I’d rather just flirt with the goddess

└Lore peasant;

└Even overseas players who made it their personal mission to decode it failed

└At this point, aren’t the devs just jerking off to their own lore? lololol

└The whole world is just dev masturbation material

└I collected a few based on info I found, and yeah, it’s definitely weird. Feels like they stitched together completely different worlds

└If you look closely, all the doctrines are different too. Maybe this chaos existed even in ancient times”

“Title: Based on Official Information Only

-From what’s been decoded so far:

In ancient times, there were fewer constellations (but they did exist).

Back then, the world was also a mess due to the constellations’ power plays, just like now.

But unlike us, there weren’t any whale players beating up constellations with cash items, so the Source of the World apparently did something about it.

Nothing beyond that has been revealed yet.

└So what’s the conclusion?

└That’s it. There is no ‘after’ part.

└Such a tease;

└So basically we need to protest in front of the developer’s office, right?

└How did you even reach that conclusion?

└It makes sense though? If it’s only in the devs’ heads, we need to crack those heads open

└Lore nerds having a collective seizure;

└Mods not doing their job? This is obviously trolling, right?”

#

“Constellation ‘Forgotten Wisdom’ requests your help!”

“Constellation ‘Forgotten Wisdom’ requests your help!”

“Constellation ‘Forgotten Wisdom’ requests your help!”

-Ding!

“Ah, just hang in there a little longer.”

I’d like to step in, explain the situation and help them understand, but I don’t want to interfere when they’re doing so well.

“The ‘Source of the World’ silently stares at you.”

“What?”

Shamelessness is required here.

Can a person always do only good deeds in life?

Sometimes you have to throw your comrades into danger(?), even if you don’t want to.

Of course, this is all part of a planned scenario.

“…”

At the same time, I had a thought.

The Source of the World.

An entity that remained hidden throughout the game and in real life, suddenly revealing its presence.

It approached me like some kind of confession(?), emphasizing its necessity, but there are still parts that make me uncomfortable.

Back then, many users on the Ragnarok gallery were curious about the Source of the World.

-What exactly is the Source of the World, and what is its purpose?

The “Stardust” ending that appears when you fail to manage dungeons properly or achieve certain conditions.

I’ve experienced it, and countless other players have too.

What exactly are the reset criteria that the Source of the World desires?

Why did it not intervene during the game’s story of the “Constellation War,” only to reveal itself now?

‘It said it wanted me.’

It wanted a constellation with a relatively normal way of thinking.

Then naturally, the previous absolute constellations must not have been to its liking.

They all had intentions to burn the world or drive it mad.

But that wasn’t my only question.

Why, then, does it want a peaceful world?

“The ‘Source of the World’ asks if you shouldn’t be helping by now.”

“Not yet, a bit longer.”

With the Source of the World hiding its true intentions beside me, I decided to observe the situation a little longer.

#

“‘???’ requests a conversation.”

Before sending Forgotten Wisdom to the scene, I had a conversation with one constellation.

One of the Past Remnants I had met once before.

It was amusing that after what happened last time, it was requesting to talk again, so I accepted.

“You really want to die.”

After provoking me so much, it clearly has some nerve.

“W-wait…!”

The ‘thing’ that flickered like smoke convulsed at the divine power I had just drawn and stopped me.

“I’m busy, so let’s finish this quickly.”

“Just wait a moment! I have something to tell you…!”

“Your tongue is too long.”

“I cast the advanced divine skill, ‘Luminous Exterminatus’!”

Light that will annihilate everything shines down.

A cataclysmic phenomenon that resonates throughout the entire space.

“You crazy bastard!”

The flickering smoke convulsed and cast a defensive spell.

In truth, attacks between constellations don’t do much damage.

It’s like trying to cut water with a sword.

Unless it’s a “curse” or “church annihilation” imposed by the system, there are no means to directly damage a constellation—

At least, that’s what I knew about the world of Ragnarok.

Therefore, the reason I unleashed such a one-sided attack was simply to vent my frustration.

“Wait, let’s talk…!”

“Yeah, sure.”

We struggled like this for quite some time.

By the time the situation ended, the smoke had revealed some sincerity after deploying massive divine power.

“Huff, huff…”

“Pretending to be tired? How touching.”

“You crazy bastard…! Out of nowhere…!”

“Not thinking about what you did?”

Who was it that invaded someone else’s dream uninvited and dredged up painful memories?

Living this kind of life, the best and most optimal method was to avoid recalling the past as much as possible.

I shouldn’t be arguing about going back or not while I’m here.

There were too many lives depending on my choices.

“Let’s just talk!”

At the constellation’s almost tearful cry, I sighed deeply and withdrew my divine power.

-Whoosh…

Even though this was a domain created by a constellation, it was wailing and had lost its original form after my fierce attack.

In this space that looked like it would collapse if someone touched it, I took a moment to clear my mind.

“If it’s nothing important, I’ll really kill you.”

“I-I’ll get straight to the point.”

Good attitude.

“We want you to join our side.”

“Good to be direct. But no.”

“W-why not?! The Absolute position?! That Source of the World won’t leave it alone. Do you know how many Absolutes we have on our side?!”

Multiple Absolutes?

I truly felt the mess that the Source of the World had created.

‘So this is all because it’s been doing resets without any prior consent?’

At this point, even I was confused.

Should I just give up and change my approach to permanently sealing the Source of the World?

Immediate safety or a bigger picture?

Either way, the future risks were so vast that it gave me quite a headache.

‘To Black Sun…’

Even if I sought advice from a constellation I could somewhat trust, would I get an answer?

I can only imagine they would be just as confused as I am.

“Hmm.”

“Think carefully, Absolute. We’re not asking for much. We just want to re-establish our roots in this world, that’s all.”

Looking at the smoke pleading desperately, I took a long time to carefully consider.

#

‘P-please help me now!’

Forgotten Wisdom cried out in its heart like a baby bird looking for its mother.

The pressure had grown too strong to bear any longer.

“Why are you silent? Have you rejected our offer? If so—”

“N-no!”

-Whoosh…!

And at that moment, as massive divine power raided the scene, a smile unconsciously formed on Forgotten Wisdom’s lips.

A somewhat servile expression.

It was an ugly expression that abandoned all dignity as a constellation, but pain was unwelcome.

‘You came…!’

Forgotten Wisdom was elated at the Absolute’s arrival.

“T-this is…!”

“Hi.”

The Absolute’s incarnation, which had been observing the situation from a safe distance until now, had arrived.

With traces of the Source of the World beside it, it moved forward leisurely.

-The Absolute…!

-And that one is with him too!

-Is it time?!

The Past Remnants collectively expressed their anger.

One constellation claimed that now was the time to reveal their hidden cards.

But.

-Isn’t it too risky to reveal our cards now?

-What?!

-But if we don’t use them now…!

-Think about it. Is this the moment our plan has ripened? Is it now?

-W-well.

-Trust me. If this fails, you all die, and so do I.

The constellations who were about to raise their divine power withdrew their energy for a moment.

-Kuk.

“Have you all been well?”

The Absolute greeted the Past Remnants with a bland greeting.

Some constellations felt anger at that detestable attitude, but it was an awkward situation to take immediate action.

-Why have you come to us? Do you want to die?

“Die? Me?”

The Absolute seemed to hold back laughter before speaking seriously.

“I came to retrieve my lost toy.”

At the end of the pointed finger was Forgotten Wisdom, trembling.

-Toy? You mean this?

“Yes.”

Calling a constellation a toy.

An expression that could only be uttered by an Absolute, the Past Remnants felt intense malice from him.

Toy…?

Forgotten Wisdom looked at the Absolute with a lost expression.

‘You’re doing well.’

When the Absolute winked to convey this meaning, Forgotten Wisdom’s despair deepened.