Chapter 45: Dark but not dark, empty but not empty

Children, gathered with their friends as usual, ran around playing tag…

Suddenly, one child, running away from the tagger, stopped.

“Huh…?”

What caught the child’s eye was something shimmering.

Just as the child tilted their head and was about to approach it,

The girl who had been running ahead shouted at him.

“Hey! Going that way is cheating!”

“Oh, right…”

While he hesitated, remembering the rules he and his friends had set, the shimmering something had already vanished.

‘Did I see it wrong?’

The girl called out to him loudly once more, as he was lost in thought.

“What are you doing? Hurry up!”

“Alright.”

Since he was still a child who prioritized playing with friends over his own thoughts, he reluctantly pushed aside the uneasy feeling and followed the girl.

As he ran at full speed after her, he glanced back for a moment.

“Huh…?”

Standing there was a blonde woman more beautiful than anyone he had ever seen…

But when he blinked, her form vanished without a trace.

This was the story of a child with the talent to someday reach transcendence…

It was an unforgettable experience for a child who had, however faintly, sensed the realm of transcendents—a realm that should be entirely imperceptible.

****

After the two transcendents who had visited left, Hestia, who had briefly stopped at an inn, examined the item they had given her.

“History…”

Varkan and Krevyn, the Great Pioneers, had simply said it was information extracted from history, but Hestia knew.

This was truly difficult.

For a transcendent who reads history to extract that history, materialize it, and process it so that even mortals can use it…

While a transcendent giving information to another transcendent is something that can be done simply by having a high enough realm, the story changes when a transcendent transmits information to a mortal.

It requires not only a high realm but also exceptional technical skill to barely achieve.

With just the one item Krevyn had handed over, Hestia could gauge his level.

However, she was still debating whether to use the item.

‘I don’t like it… but there’s no reason not to use it.’

They had given the item upfront, without asking for anything in return.

They claimed it was to rectify the mistake of their first impression, but Hestia was not so naive as to take such words at face value.

There was always something hidden behind goodwill…

Clearly, there was another purpose.

Hestia had an inkling of what that purpose was.

It seemed they genuinely wanted her to participate in the process of capturing ‘that being’.

‘They probably deliberately showed their emotions in front of me for that reason…’

While she didn’t think their anger was fake, it was unlikely that everything they showed in front of Hestia was true.

Because it was strange for a transcendent to be swayed by emotions so easily…

It seemed they wanted to show how desperate they were and that they had no intention of deceiving her.

If she were a Hero with a predominantly good nature, she wouldn’t be able to ignore them, so it was safe to assume they intended to use her.

But Hestia was completely different from other Heroes.

While she did possess a good nature, she was a woman who knew how to distinguish between public and private matters.

Furthermore, though not as quick-witted as Arie, she was quite perceptive.

She only acted foolish when dealing with a certain someone; in reality, she was not foolish.

If it were the original Hestia, who was a loner, she would have simply accepted the information and refused the request for help.

She hadn’t promised to participate, and there was no need to risk her life simply to uphold a duty…

But now, the situation was different.

Hestia needed even more information and experience.

Unlike herself, who could reach transcendence with her unnecessarily outstanding talent, her friend was truly ordinary.

The path of transcendence he had promised to walk was long and arduous…

Transcendence was not an easy realm to challenge with a complacent mindset.

Having seen other transcendents and felt this keenly, Hestia intended to wholeheartedly assist him until he reached transcendence.

Even if it meant risking her own life…

‘This might be information I can never obtain again.’

Information about the most anomalous being.

No one knew what path he had walked, but if she could directly confront him and glimpse that path, it was an undeniable fact that it would be helpful in some way.

And that experience would certainly be a great help in assisting her friend.

Transcenders who were not satisfied with their own realms and wished to ascend higher were also likely to accept negotiations with the Great Pioneers for the same reason.

That was why Hestia was even more curious.

Why did the Great Pioneers so desperately want a Hero, who hadn’t even reached transcendence yet, to join the fight?

No matter how much she thought, she couldn’t understand the reason, as she was unfamiliar with the world of transcendents.

‘Therefore… obtaining information is the priority now.’

Having resolved herself, Hestia shattered the fragment of history she held in her hand.

– Crackle!

And then…

She gazed into history from the boundary between reality and fiction.

****

After a long journey, we obtained great treasures.

Savoring this achievement with brighter smiles than ever before, we set out on our way back.

With realms higher than before and newly acquired powers akin to mysteries…

Our journey was not in vain!

Let us all raise a toast together and anticipate a brighter future!

This is just the beginning, and with the power of our authority and treasures, we shall venture deeper into the tomb.

****

Torn void and scorched earth…

Countless magic circles placed everywhere and traces of unknown powers…

It was a chaotic sight, one that could not be witnessed unless transcendents were waging war en masse.

The remnants of battle scattered everywhere showed just how desperate the fight had been.

Yes, a desperate fight.

Seven transcendents, utterly shattered, barely clinging to life…

All the traces of battle were scenes they had created.

However, their opponent was perfectly fine, without a single scratch.

His clothes, entirely shrouded in darkness, were also completely undamaged.

He simply stood still, watching the groaning transcendents with empty eyes.

– Why…! Why!!!

One transcendent spat out despair.

– Never, I can never hand it over…!

One transcendent burned with fighting spirit.

– Were the treasures so coveted…?

One transcendent sighed.

The hatred and resentment each of the seven transcendents spewed forth…

However, their emotions ultimately failed to reach him.

He paid no attention to anyone lying defeated and left the spot.

Taking all the tomb’s treasures that the seven transcendents had brought.

Thus, the mythical war ended meaninglessly.

Hestia absorbed everything she had seen into her mind.

Though entirely shrouded in darkness, no darkness emanated from him.

His eyes were empty, yet not vacant.

The image of the most contradictory being was etched deep into her memory.

****

“Gasp…!”

Hestia, waking from her sleep, gasped for breath.

Her entire body was drenched in cold sweat, and her thin clothes clung to her figure.

It was a dangerously alluring sight, almost too embarrassing to look at, but there was no one in the inn to see her alone.

“Haa…”

Hestia, letting out a deep sigh, recalled the chilling sight she had witnessed.

Seven transcendents collapsed in a miserable state.

‘That being’ who silently collected the treasures from opposite them and vanished without a word.

She had, in essence, witnessed the Great Pioneers’ vulnerability.

‘I think I understand why they are searching with such desperation.’

Seeing the past, Hestia could now somewhat comprehend the feelings of those who had lost everything.

She recalled the being who had subdued all the Great Pioneers and taken their treasures.

The torn void and traces of power…

Clearly, that wasn’t his doing.

It was merely the Great Pioneers’ desperate struggle to protect the treasures against him.

All he did was overpower his opponents with overwhelming strength and seize the treasures.

He took no further action and simply left.

As if there was no need for such troublesome things…

Hestia, recalling the being with empty eyes shrouded entirely in darkness, clutched her head.

A headache tried to disrupt her concentration.

But Hestia was a Hero.

She endured the headache, trying to recall the ‘forgotten things’ she had seen.

The information given by Krevyn, the Great Pioneer, contained everything related to him.

This meant that the battle with him should also be included in the information…

Clearly, Hestia had seen his battle through history, but for some reason, only the outcome of the battle remained in her mind.

She instinctively felt she knew why.

Hero, Hestia.

As she was not a transcendent, she had not yet been granted permission to view the information.