Chapter 34

Chapter 034

A Robe and Hood. A mask and Gloves.

I had seen this being, whose entire body was wrapped in white, before.

“Herman?”

[Is that the name by which you call me?]

Even the voice was the same as the one I remembered, but the being before me instead tilted his head as if puzzled.

[My apologies, but I am not the being called “Herman.” You seem to know me, but this is my first time seeing you.]

“…….”

However, the being before me denied that he was Herman.

Now that I thought about it, his manner of speech was subtly different as well.

Herman had called me “you” in a dignified way, but this person was calling me “young man.”

‘Is only his appearance the same?’

If they were not the same person, was there some kind of connection between the two?

……I did not know.

Maintaining my guard, I spoke to the unidentified being.

“Who exactly are you?”

[I was…… one might call me a kind of Apostle who served the Golden Rule. After the Golden Rule collapsed, I fell alongside it, but I was drawn by the “Fragment” you brought and briefly opened my eyes.]

“An Apostle……?”

[That was in the distant past. For now, you may simply think of me as a being who exists to explain the Fragment and assist in its use.]

The Golden Rule’s customer service center…… something like that?

The one who introduced himself as an incarnation of the Golden Rule pointed to the jewel embedded in my sword.

[I was waiting for the one who would bring that.]

“What exactly is this?”

[A Fragment of God. A portion of the Authority that broke away when the Golden Rule collapsed.]

“…….”

[However…….]

After rubbing his chin for a moment, he abruptly approached me.

[Hmm…… You are a being who came from “outside,” are you not? By the Golden Rule’s request for salvation.]

“Pardon?”

[Hmmm……. How peculiar, how peculiar. A Possessor who possessed a fairy, yet obtained a body, and one who gave up her body and instead became a fairy and fell asleep? And the Privilege that should have been given to the Possessor is held by this sleeping friend.]

“…….”

[What exactly is this?]

With only one look, he saw through both my identity and Ishara’s.

As though he could not understand our existence, he kept letting out thoughtful hums. Then, without warning, he burst into laughter and clapped his hands.

[Ha ha! A power that overlays her own realm onto you, is it? And she took it in order to use the characteristic that a fairy’s power cannot be detected from outside? It must have been to hide the strange Mana possessed by the Privilege!]

After seeing through even the characteristics of my Unique Ability, he turned back to me.

Why was it?

His face was hidden behind a mask, but somehow, I could tell that he was smiling.

[It seems this friend cherishes you terribly.]

“…….”

As he said, Ishara had trusted me and given me her life and body.

Across more than three thousand regressions, what had she seen in me, and what had she received from me?

I could not know.

But even the words “cherishes you terribly” felt insufficient to me.

“So what exactly does this Fragment do?”

[It borrows the Authority of God. Of that Authority, the one you brought is the Authority of “Transference.”]

“Transference?”

He nodded.

[Originally, it was the power to spread the will of God. Though this friend seems to be using it to transmit knowledge.]

“Wait…… You are saying she is using this?”

For a moment, I could not understand.

Ishara should be asleep right now, so how could she be using this?

Perhaps noticing my question, he added an explanation.

[It has been set to react to the Fragment from the beginning. It is not something she is doing consciously, but something that happens automatically.]

“Is something like that possible……? A sleeping fairy reacting to something outside?”

[That is certainly impossible. However, do you not know of a power that makes the impossible possible?]

“…….”

A power that made the impossible possible.

A power that distorted Providence and forced my own laws upon the world.

There was certainly such a power.

‘Aura.’

Thinking about it, Ishara had been able to use Aura.

And her understanding of Aura had been so outstanding that she could unfold it even with a weak body immediately after a regression.

In that case…… what if she had done something with Aura before falling asleep?

‘Ishara went through more than three thousand regressions. There is a high chance she knew about this Fragment as well.’

If she had predicted that I would obtain this Fragment.

Could she not have used Aura to set up her sleeping self so that she would react to the Fragment?

[Originally, a Fragment can be used for various purposes, but this time, the sword strongly desired it, so it dwelled within the sword. It wishes to convey something to you.]

“If it wants to convey something…….”

[Do you not already know what that is?]

The power of my Unique Ability.

Ishara’s original realm, which she had forgotten along with her regressions and recalled through me.

Originally, that should have evaporated together with the ability the moment the power turned off, but for some reason, this time alone, it had remained intact in my memory.

“So it really was because of this jewel…….”

Suddenly, I realized that this method of transmitting knowledge felt familiar.

Overlaying one’s own realm and transferring knowledge based on it.

‘It resembles the way I transmitted knowledge when I was a fairy.’

Only then did I feel like I understood what Ishara had been aiming for.

The fact that she had taken the Unique Ability, and the fact that she had used the characteristics of a fairy to hide the Mana, were merely secondary elements.

“From the beginning…… she wanted to teach me?”

Just as I had taught her.

She also wanted to teach me.

So that, even after she fell asleep, I would not wander and would be able to find my path forward.

Ishara…… truly did cherish me terribly.

[Impressive. For such a mighty being to willingly place herself in her current position for the sake of only one person.]

“A mighty being?”

[If she were released, she would be a being fully capable of shattering the sky and tearing the earth apart. If she wished, she could become either a god or a demon.]

A being so powerful that she could become either a god or a demon.

Ishara, completed through three thousand regressions…… just how strong had she become?

[Do you wish to know? The true extent of her power?]

“Do you use mind reading or something?”

[Ha ha. I am, in name at least, the Thought of a God. Something like this is simple enough.]

After laughing for a while, he pointed to the Fragment embedded in the sword.

[If you use the power of the Fragment, it is not impossible. Once…… and only for a very brief moment, she could come outside while preserving her full power.]

“Once? And only briefly? Why is it like that?”

[The Fragment would not be able to endure any more than that. If the Fragment breaks, even the inner being manifested through the Fragment could disappear.]

Disappear.

In other words, cease to exist.

“That is no different from telling me not to do it.”

[When did I tell you to do it? I said it was not impossible.]

……Was he a psychopath?

He had said he was a different being from Herman, but that absurd logic was identical.

RUMBLE RUMBLE……

At that moment, a strange tremor came from beyond space.

At the eerie sensation that made every hair on my body stand on end, my shoulders trembled without my realizing it.

[Tsk, has he already noticed? That old geezer has uselessly sharp senses.]

“Who are you talking about?”

[There is a sinister old monster who obsessively watches for anomalies in the dungeon. It seems he noticed that I emerged.]

“……?”

[Unfortunately, it will be difficult to keep talking for long.]

When he snapped his fingers, the Fragment embedded in the sword emitted a bright light.

“What did you do?”

[What I was originally supposed to do. I helped the Fragment take root completely within the sword. The sword’s performance has probably improved as well.]

“If it improved, then how much?”

[By your standards, it should be around the third-floor level.]

“……!”

Insane. That was possible?

Even if one used every enhancement slot on a Starting Weapon, it could not grow beyond the level of a first-floor graduation weapon……?

If it had the performance of a third-floor weapon…… that was practically the same as recreating it.

In that case, I would not need to change weapons even if I descended further.

[If you obtain Fragments in the future, bring them to the Temple. I will do the same as today.]

“By the same as today…… you mean you will enhance the Starting Weapon?”

[Enhancement…… Well, I suppose it could be seen that way. To be precise, I am dissolving the power of the Fragment into the sword.]

This was truly an unexpected gain.

A Starting Weapon could be strengthened to the level of an ordinary weapon?

Not only did that mean I no longer needed to change weapons, it also meant I could try far more builds in the future.

An immense possibility had opened up.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE……!

[Now there truly is no time. Is there anything you are curious about, before I go?]

Something I was curious about…… If that was the case, there was.

Ishara’s real name, Ethrana.

The reason her last name was the same as the name of the game.

I thought this person might be able to tell me, so I opened my mouth.

“Eth─”

CLAMP!

At that moment, he flew over like an arrow and reached out to cover my mouth.

It was a speed I could not even react to, almost like teleportation.

[Goodness. You are trying to drop a massive bomb from the very start.]

He murmured in a low voice.

[Do not carelessly utter “that name” when you are with others, especially beings above you like me.]

“……?”

[You look as though you do not understand. Do not try to learn about it carelessly, and do not try to speak of it carelessly either. That is not yet the kind of problem you can endure.]

It was a deeply warning tone I had not felt from him until now.

The compulsion to ask rose all the way to my throat, but at the dense ominousness I felt from it, I had no choice but to close my mouth.

[Ask something else.]

He released my mouth.

Something else…… Now that I thought about it, there was one more thing.

“Then please tell me about ‘Possessor Enlil.’”

[Hmm…… You only ask difficult questions. I thought you might ask something like the location of other Fragments.]

Of course, I was curious about that too.

But that did not really matter whether I knew or not. I had cleared the Final Chapter even without those.

[Enlil, is it…….]

As though choosing his words, he tapped his chin for a moment.

[That cunning thing.]

Then a strange reaction came out.

He chuckled as if displeased and spoke.

[“Enlil Grace Rosetta” is a Possessor who came to this land one hundred years ago. Yes…… I still remember. Her graduation results were excellent as well, and she received a Platinum Token like you.]

He let out a sigh and continued.

[This may not be something I should say after telling you to ask, but it is better not to take too deep an interest in her.]

“Uh…… why?”

[Because she is dangerous.]

He murmured in a deeply warning tone.

[Most Possessors are dangerous, but Enlil is especially dangerous even among them. Immediately after possession, she killed the most people in the shortest period of time. That is why her epithet was also “Executioner.” Perhaps she may be even more dangerous than the being currently searching for us.]

Executioner Enlil.

The epithet I finally heard was filled with an exceedingly ominous air.

“……Why is this the first time I am hearing such a story?”

[The Royal Family erased the records. Back then, a literal storm of blood swept through Ebla.]

“…….”

[Do not dig into it if possible. Not until you have raised enough strength to endure it.]

A Possessor who killed the greatest number of people in a short period of time.

And at the same time, a being suspected of having laid down provisions while waiting for me.

What exactly was her purpose?

I felt goosebumps rise all over my body.

[It is not much of a substitute, but if you go to the second floor, you should be able to encounter traces of her.]

“Traces?”

[I heard she has ties to the longtime resident of the second floor.]

Who was that?

I stared at him sullenly, but he did not answer any further.

Because now, there truly was no time.

[You will naturally learn once you go to the second floor.]

“…….”

[Keep my advice in mind. Then, we shall meet again.]

With that, he left.

The colors of the world returned, and the time that had stopped began to flow again.

“……Then we will begin the Mana Stone Absorption Ritual.”

The Priest who had entered with me announced the start of the Mana Stone Absorption Ritual.

A Thought of God had come and gone, yet the Priest seemed unable to sense even the slightest trace of the Thought’s aura, let alone any sense of incongruity.

‘He really does seem to be divine.’

Clicking my tongue inwardly, I entrusted the Mana Stones to the Priest.

The Mana Stones I would absorb this time were worth about two hundred thousand Runes.

Naturally, there was no chance of reaching the maximum limit.

There was a limit to Mana Stone Absorption, but…… it was not as though I had that many Mana Stones.

‘Well, that is the sort of thing only rich kids like Persica have to worry about…….’

For an ordinary little guy like me, it was not usually relevant.

In any case, this would be far from enough to rise to 3-star, but it should be enough to endure the side effects of the second floor.

FWOOOSH─The Mana Stones placed on the altar transformed into light and seeped into me.

It felt as though the Mana inside my body had grown denser.

Somehow, a light and refreshing energy seemed to circulate throughout my entire body.

“Then I will see you again next time, brother.”

Leaving the Priest behind, I returned to my Lodging.

─Do not carelessly utter “that name” when you are with others, especially beings above you like me.

─Do not dig into it if possible. Not until you have raised enough strength to endure it.

The words the Apostle had left behind kept circling in my mind.

He had told me to ask what I was curious about, so I did, but somehow, it felt as though my questions had only increased.

***

A month passed after that.

After visiting the Temple, I temporarily stopped going to the dungeon and settled into the Training Grounds attached to the Temple, focusing on internalizing the power I had newly obtained.

“At this point…… I think I have learned all the stances.”

After a month of practice, I succeeded in learning the fundamental portions of Ishara’s swordsmanship.

And the more I used it, the more strongly I felt that there were gaps missing here and there.

‘It is not incomplete. They were deliberately left empty.’

They were not empty spaces that could not be filled.

I could tell that they were spaces left with the existence of “Skills” in mind.

“Skills…… and among them, the focus is Parrying.”

A swordsmanship designed with Skill combinations centered around Parrying in mind.

And it also felt like a structure that had considerable compatibility with my build style.

‘Well, I suppose that is not strange.’

This was swordsmanship Ishara had completed through countless regressions.

Since the being who must have given her the most advice during that process was me, it was only natural that my style would naturally melt into the swordsmanship.

“But…… does this have meaning?”

I admitted that the more I learned, the more my know-how in handling the sword increased.

However, the more I practiced, the more I had no choice but to ponder the reason for the existence of swordsmanship.

An Adventurer’s representative means of growth were Mana Stones and Skills.

One absorbed Mana Stones to raise one’s specifications, and learned and synthesized Skills to acquire even more powerful abilities.

This did not require any special training process, so unlike swordsmanship, which required endless practice without any promise of success, its growth was visibly faster.

Naturally, the ability to handle Traits also increased during that process.

‘What meaning is there in mixing swordsmanship into this?’

I did not think Ishara would have taught me something meaningless.

She must have taught me swordsmanship because there was a reason, but even over the past month of training, I still had not found that reason.

This was something I had also felt while training with Gordon.

He had not taught me swordsmanship in particular, but he had consistently expressed the advice, indirectly, that I should not rely only on Skills.

‘I feel like I almost understand something…….’

Enlightenment.

I was missing one tiny piece of enlightenment, but I could not tell what it was.

The only person I could ask for advice was Gordon, but he had not returned since going down into the dungeon.

So all I could do was practice blindly.

I had been unable to realize that something, which seemed within reach yet not, for an entire month, so I felt frustrated enough to die.

“What exactly am I lacking……?”

I had been so frustrated that I had even used my Unique Ability.

Since this was the Temple, I could receive help from Robin for recovery.

But nothing changed.

What remained through the Fragment was only knowledge of the swordsmanship.

Understanding and sensation disappeared, so I had no choice but to realize it on my own.

Skills and swordsmanship.

Since I did not know the connection between the two, even when I mixed them, everything only became awkward.

Should I say they failed to harmonize with each other and produced only dissonance?

At this rate, there was not even a sign that I could reach that world of “lines and trajectories,” and I could not grasp even the faintest clue of my final goal, Aura.

I sprawled flat on the floor and let out what must have been my countless sigh.

“Are you lying down again?”

“Ah, Robin.”

I did not know when he had arrived, but Robin handed me a towel and water.

Whenever I was lingering in the Training Grounds, he would come by once in a while like this and check on my condition.

‘Does this person never rest?’

Robin was the only Caretaker of this Temple.

Since it was on the outskirts, it was not very large, but managing it alone should still have been quite burdensome.

Yet he always managed it perfectly with a benevolent expression and not a single complaint…… From my perspective, I could only find it fascinating.

Should I say it felt like watching a master of daily life?

“I am stuck in one place, and I simply cannot figure out the answer.”

“You have met a Wall. Congratulations.”

“Is this something to congratulate?”

“Of course.”

He spoke with a benevolent smile.

“To have met a Wall means that you have reached the ‘end’ of that realm. You are standing before growth, so how could I not congratulate you?”

“For that to be true, I do not see any sign that the Wall is going to break.”

“A Wall is not something you break, but something you leap over. The moment you surpass it through enlightenment, it is no longer a Wall. It becomes a solid Foundation for you to stand upon, Sir Isran.”

“…….”

Something philosophical came out.

Come to think of it, this person was always like this.

His age did not seem that different from mine, but when I listened to what he said, it was often profound and plausible.

“Please do not be impatient. You have met the Wall because you already possess the answer. You merely have not recalled it yet. If it is you, Sir Isran, even a very small catalyst should be enough for you to realize it.”

“Uh…… thank you?”

“Not at all. So please rest for today. You have an important schedule tomorrow, do you not?”

“Ah.”

I had completely forgotten because of practice.

“It is tomorrow.”

At last, tomorrow.

I would head to the dungeon’s second floor.