Book 2: Chapter 531
He landed on the ground and looked around.
The half-collapsed appearance of the Mount Hua was visible. The debris that fell like a downpour had turned the once magnificent scene into a mess of weeds. It was the landscape after a disaster had swept through, but considering who had caused that disaster, it could be seen as minor damage.
The Thunderous Lightning God had withdrawn relatively easily. However, the mere ‘Thunder' he initially unleashed was enough to cause the surrounding space to collapse.
‘It's not completely destroyed, so it should be recoverable.'
The territory seemed to have a degree of self-healing, so it was entirely possible.
The real problem was the casualties.
“All those who could be rescued have been gathered.”
Yang In-hyun said in a brief voice.
…He had gathered those who could be rescued. Then, what about those who ‘could not be recovered'?
“I’m sorry.”
Instead of mentioning that, Lukas briefly apologized.
Yang In-hyun sent him a puzzled look.
“Why are you apologizing?”
“I could have driven the Lightning God out more perfectly. The chaos he caused with his preparations and rampage was because of me.”
To be exact, it was because of the Lightning God inside Lukas’s head—no, because of Residue, but in this case, Residue's fault is Lukas’s fault.
“That’s strange to say. I’m sincerely thankful that the damage ended at this level. Even if it was against a puppet, the opponent is a Ruler. Expecting a better outcome would be too unscrupulous.”
“……”
No, that’s wrong.
In his past life, Lukas had stopped the Lightning God in a much more perfect way. Although it ended with him taking on the remnants of the villain, there was ultimately no damage to the Mount Hua.
[There’s no need to mention such things.]
Residue said in a short voice.
[Of course, if you think of yourself as a saint, it might be different.]
‘No, I don’t plan to talk about it either.’
Lukas smirked bitterly, then nodded towards Yang In-hyun, and slowly sent Lee Jong-hak, who was floating in the air, towards him.
“He has no external injuries, but the mental burden will be significant. It might look okay on the outside, but that might not be the case.”
It would probably take a considerable amount of time for him to regain his senses.
Yang In-hyun received Lee Jong-hak and nodded.
“Let’s take this man in. There’s no need to confine him anymore, so we will treat him as a guest.”
There was no longer a need to confine him.
At this point, Yang In-hyun seemed to have somewhat realized the danger posed by Lee Jong-hak. He might not have known that a Ruler was involved, though.
“If Lee Jong-hak wakes up…”
Lukas started to say something but then abruptly stopped.
Yang In-hyun looked puzzled but could say no more.
After all, at this point, it was not possible to ask to take Lee Jong-hak as a disciple.
[Just leave it be. Don’t interfere at all.]
Residue spoke again.
[Fate has surprisingly bizarre aspects. If it’s a ‘relationship that is meant to be,' no matter how misaligned or awry it goes, it will eventually cross paths again.]
‘…I agree about the attractive force of relationships, but it’s strange to hear you say that.’
[Hmph. You’d better get used to it. It’ll be tiring for both of us if you’re surprised every time I give advice.]
‘…….’
Residue had changed a bit. Originally, he only sporadically spoke up when he found a situation interesting.
Now it was different. His words took the form of advice and were much more intuitive. Starting to express opinions even on matters not directly related to him meant that Residue fully understood his own situation.
Whether for better or worse, he had become a fate-sharing companion with Lukas.
* * *
Lukas stayed at the Mount Hua that day, helping to restore the torn or significantly damaged spaces. Even if left alone, it would recover to some extent, but using the Void he possessed could drastically shorten this process.
While doing so, he organized his thoughts and considered future matters.
‘What should I do now?'
Currently, he had two major options.
One was to head straight to the Magic Planet, his original goal—to finally reveal the identity of the Beginning Wizard.
However…
A girl with black hair flashed through Lukas's mind.
Sedi Trowman.
His adopted daughter, colloquially known as ‘the Pit,' residing in the Demonsio territory.
‘If she doesn't meet me, Sedi won’t go berserk right away.'
He knew that, which is why he hadn’t thought about her in his last life.
Looking back, it was a cruel choice. Just because she wouldn’t go berserk didn’t mean she wasn’t suffering at this moment.
He knew very well how mentally unstable and precarious Sedi was currently. Yet, Lukas had ignored it. He had put it off with the excuse that there was no immediate solution.
Even now, her consciousness would be wandering in dark oblivion.
‘I’m failing as a parent.’
He grimaced bitterly, recalling the Black Horned Demon God.
Probably the most hostile Ruler to Lukas…
Lukas wondered.
‘I want to completely expel the Demon God possessing Sedi.’
[Hmm.]
‘Is there no effective means?’
[Like you did with me, if you confront him directly in the world of consciousness, it might be possible…]
Residue shook his head.
[It will be tough. Your mind is very sturdy, but mere willpower isn't enough to defeat a Ruler.]
‘Then, there’s no helping it.’
He clicked his tongue, thinking of another way.
[Are you thinking of going to the ‘Red Knight'?]
Residue quickly read Lukas's intention and asked.
‘I definitely need to meet him once.’
The fact that he had never encountered the Fourth Knight alone was reason enough to meet.
[But aren’t you bothered by what the White Knight said?]
Of course, that was true.
─I thought you could help the Red Knight.
The White Knight’s voice echoed in his ears.
The Red Knight was currently in danger.
In a land where Magic Planet existed, somewhere in the snowfields.
He had refused because he didn't want to get involved. Even now, his reluctance was much stronger.
But to ignore the faint possibility of help would be the same as ignoring the situation Sedi was in.
[If you don't want to get involved with the Red Knight, why not just not go yourself?]
Residue abruptly made such a suggestion.
‘What do you mean?’
[You fool. Right now, you have the most powerful and loyal servant in the universe, don’t you?]
Residue seemed to imply someone he had an idea about.
‘Pale is not a servant.’
[So you say.]
‘…Are you suggesting I ask her?’
Residue smirked.
[The Blue Knight seemed to be on good terms with the Red Knight.]
‘Well, they are knights, so it’s not strange. But will it resolve that easily? There’s also a chance that the Red Knight might be hostile to Pale.’
[You’re seeing 4 Knights from the perspective of the Rulers.]
He was quick on the uptake, indeed.
Lukas didn’t need to reveal his thoughts for him to know.
[Their relationship is different from ours. From the way the Blue Knight mentioned the Red Knight, he wouldn’t have done so if it were a Ruler.]
That made sense upon hearing it.
The relationships among the Rulers were somewhat mysterious.
They were not each other's enemies, but they were certainly not allies either.
Lukas sometimes wondered why those who often sought challenges did not clash with each other, but there probably were complicated reasons beyond what he could imagine.
That is, it wasn’t something to ask about right now.
‘So, I should ask Pale for Sedi’s liberation, and in the meantime, I should go to the Magic Planet alone?’
[Why. Are you afraid?]
‘A little. The Beginning Wizard is still a mystery after all.’
Lukas paused for a moment and then asked.
‘Speaking of which, do you have any clue about him?’
[He's probably an ‘abandoned.' Not something that banished from the Three Thousand Worlds, but a being that originated from this world from the start.]
‘……’
[And… I sensed a presence somewhat similar to yours.]
At that, Lukas asked back.
‘A presence similar to mine?’
[Yes.]
‘Does that mean he could be [another Lukas Trowman]?’
[The probability is quite high.]
Residue did not confirm it outright, but he seemed half-convinced. Perhaps it's the intuition of a former Ruler. It’s a speculation that can’t be taken lightly, though…
‘…Could it really be?’
He was confused.
The indirect encounter with the Beginning Wizard happened when Sedi held him captive. At that time, he had disguised himself as dead in Sedi's grasp and appeared before Lukas in the form of a frog.
And he had given advice to move on to the ‘next stage’.
‘He was much stronger than Sedi, or me at that time.’
─The Beginning Wizard.
He had to see the face behind the mask.
The reason Lukas was currently conserving his ‘Thunder’ as much as possible was because of this. If he used the power of omniscience in front of him, he might catch a clue about his identity.
“Alright.”
Lukas voiced out and stood up.
[Have you made your decision?]
“I'll have to ask Pale. It seems like the best option right now.”
A way to save Sedi without directly confronting the Red Knight.
Of course, he would have to operate separately from Pale for the time being, but it was unavoidable.
[Hmm. Then you will need to explain well.]
“Yes. Even if Pale follows my words well, she wouldn’t want to directly rescue someone controlled by a Ruler.”
[Idiot. That’s not the problem.]
His tone was as if he was looking down on him, which made Lukas flinch.
It felt like he had been treated like this not too long ago.
[Explain well what your relationship with Sedi Trowman is.]
“Even though I’m the one saying it, I’m pretty confident in that area. Your worry is unnecessary.”
[…Really? Hmm.]
Residue let out a sound that seemed filled with reluctance.
* * *
Pale was not staying at the accommodation provided by Yang In-hyun.
Naturally, it seemed that Yang In-hyun, including other people of the Mount Hua, did not know her whereabouts, so Lukas had to do a short search.
Fortunately, it wasn’t long before he found the blue-haired woman sitting on a rock at the base of the mountain.
“Pale.”
He called her name softly, and Pale turned to him with a refreshing smile.
“Hi, Lukas. Good morning!”
There wasn’t much time for lengthy explanations.
Lukas first stated his purpose.
“I need your help with something.”
“Got it.”
He was thankful that she responded immediately.
Lukas climbed up to the rock where Pale was sitting and sat next to her. On closer inspection, she was holding a fishing rod.
The Lightning God had shattered the mountain just a day ago, yet Lukas wondered if fishing was even possible here. Were there even fish in this shallow stream to begin with?
As he pondered this pointless thought, Pale’s lips parted again.
“So what kind of help do you need?”
“…Demonsio.”
Lukas erased the unnecessary thoughts and continued.
“There’s someone I know in that territory called ‘the Pit.’ Right now, she’s a puppet of a Ruler, and I really want to save her.”
“A Ruler?”
“The Black Horned Demon God.”
“Hoohoo.”
Pale nodded as she jiggled her fishing rod.
“I’d like your help to rescue her.”
“Hmm?”
Pale tilted her head slightly in confusion.
“Why?”
“…No, it's nothing! Please, continue.”
“……?”
Lukas felt a moment of puzzlement but continued speaking.
“Right now, she is…”
“Hmm.”
“…likely to have become the ‘0th Demon,’ the ruler of Demonsio and a Twelve Void Lord, compounded with the power of a Ruler.”
“…….”
“She wouldn’t be a threat to you, though. Actually, in one of your past lives, you fought with her and won quite easily.”
At that, Pale smiled again.
“Aha! So in that life, Lukas was killed by that Demon God’s puppet!”
“No, it was you who killed me.”
“Oops.”
Pale scratched her head sheepishly for a moment then changed the topic.
“…What were we talking about?”
“…I’m asking if you could call the Red Knight and remove the Ruler’s remnants from her body.”
“Hmm.”
Pale pondered for a moment and then slowly nodded.
“It’s possible. Subduing the puppet shouldn’t be too hard either.”
“Then…….”
“But before that.”
Pale stopped an eager Lukas with one hand, smiling quietly.
“There’s something we must clarify first.”
The smile she wore while saying good morning was completely different now. Just the slight narrowing of her eyes changed her expression so distinctly, something only Pale could accomplish.
“Who is this woman that Lukas so desperately wants to save?”
[Be careful with your answers now.]
Pale’s airy voice,
Residue’s stern voice intermixed as if crossing each other.
Lukas internally nodded.
Of course, he knew.
If there was a turning point, it would be now.
“Her name is Sedi Trowman—”
“Trowman?”
She cut him off before he could finish.
“Trowman…….”
Pale slowly rolled the word off her tongue and then spoke again.
“Ah. Sorry, Lukas. Please, continue. This is interesting.”
She said it was interesting with a face that showed no amusement, causing Lukas to momentarily shut his mouth.
He wasn’t sure why, but he could feel the atmosphere had frozen solid.
[Hey. You fool.]
‘Why.’
[Things seem quite messed up already, but want a piece of advice?]
‘…I’m listening.’
[It might be best to keep your relationship with Sedi Trowman as hidden as possible.]
‘Relationship? ─Ah.’
The moment he heard that advice, something clicked.
Right. Sedi is Lukas’s daughter. And Pale had a complicated love-hate relationship with the concept of parents.
If Lukas were to try to save her just because she is his daughter, Pale might perceive hypocrisy and revulsion in his actions. Being his adopted daughter wouldn't be a good enough excuse.
‘Still, I don't want to lie to Pale.’
…It can't be helped.
He wanted to avoid this method if possible, but he had no choice but to use the ‘Ruler's rhetoric.'
“Sedi Trowman is……”
What is the Ruler's rhetoric?
“She is the only, truly precious being to me.”
It’s about obfuscating the truth without outright lying.
Lukas thought he had made the right choice. A faint smile even appeared on his lips.
[…Congratulations, idiot. You’ve managed to navigate through a slim possibility and made the situation as bad as it could possibly be.]
Then, like cold water, Residue’s scornful voice was dumped on his mind.
[Considering the numerous choices available, you’ve practically performed a miracle. I truly commend you. It seems I underestimated you. Calling you an idiot seems insufficient.]
Residue sighed.
[From today onwards, you’re a complete idiot.]
And there it was.
He saw Pale’s face, her smile cracked as if it was broken.