Book 2: Chapter 566
Side Story Chapter 2
A wizard.
Certainly, that must be it.
Peran first realized that fact, and then recognized that the man was young, handsome, and had a slightly stern impression.
His entire body was soaked as if he had fallen into water, and the dripping liquid was an ominous black color. Mud of the same color was smeared on his clothes and face. It wasn’t hard to notice that it was odorless, but just a glimpse of it brought back the fear from earlier.
Only then did Peran realize that the source of his fear was not the man but the black mud on his body.
“…Where.”
A voice was heard soon after.
“Where is this place?”
“……”
While Peran was confused about whether he should interpret it as a soliloquy or a question, the man’s indifferent eyes turned towards him.
The moment their eyes met, Peran involuntarily shuddered again.
“Are you a wizard?”
A low, sunken voice flowed out.
He, too, instantly recognized Peran’s identity. No, it was more than that. The man's eyes contained an unusual insight, and Peran felt as if even his deepest secrets had been instantly seen through.
“A face I haven't seen before.”
“What?”
Peran asked, not understanding, but the man continued, ignoring him.
“Why don’t I know a young man like you?”
“What are you talking about…?”
“……”
By that time, the man had completely risen to his feet.
Surprisingly, he appeared uninjured. It wasn’t normal. The man had fallen from beyond Peran's observation range, which meant the starting point of the fall was at least beyond the planet.
Despite such a grand fall, there was no sign of severe bleeding, bruises, or even abrasions on the man's body. At most, his robe was a bit dirty with dust.
Come to think of it, the explosion from the impact was strangely small too. Did he use some trick?
While Peran was lost in confusion, the man straightened his posture, showcasing his intact appearance.
And just as he was about to speak.
Cough.
Instead of his voice, something black was vomited out. It was clear from his wide eyes that this was unintentional.
“Blaaargh, blaaargh……”
The man then displayed a painful retch as if expelling life itself. Black liquid flowed out as if being wrung out.
At first, Peran thought he was vomiting rotten blood or pieces of his insides, but it wasn’t that. Even considering it was vomit, it was too mushy, clotted, and, above all, ominous.
“Are, are you alright?”
Peran eventually repeated the words he had first uttered.
By then, the man had stopped vomiting and was wiping his mouth. Aside from looking a bit pale, he seemed fine, which made it even more bizarre. The amount of vomit he had expelled was unreasonable. Even if it was the most useless part of his body, vomiting that much should surely cause some problem.
“…I don't seem to be alright. My body is in a mess. And this place… hmm.”
The man’s expression hardened as he looked around.
“What?”
“Could you help me, young man?”
Although the man didn’t look older than Peran, Peran nodded almost reflexively.
“Thank you.”
The moment the man nodded and reached out his hand.
Peran felt,
Death.
“……!”
He hadn’t let his guard down for even a single moment in front of this mysterious man. Though he had been continuously surprised and bewildered, he had maintained his vigilance.
That must have been why he managed to survive.
Bang!
Several layers of barriers manifested without casting spells formed between Peran and the man, but they shattered instantly, as if pierced by something colossal and overwhelmingly powerful.
By then, Peran had managed to create a considerable distance between them, but he couldn’t precisely understand what trick the man had used.
‘Is he a wizard?’
The certainty he felt when he first saw the man was now in doubt.
And he couldn't continue to speculate whether the man was truly a wizard. He sensed another formless attack approaching once again.
With a hardened expression, Peran extended his hands.
Tszzt-
As a crimson light emanated from his fingertips, a strange light flickered in the man’s eyes. Unaware of this, Peran shot Absolute Lines in all directions. It was the most basic response, but against an unknown attack, there was no other option.
Crack!
Red lines that could affect space enveloped the surroundings. The space subtly shifted, and Peran finally understood the nature of the attack targeting his life.
At first, he thought it was a pillar, but it wasn’t.
It was a finger. Naturally, it wasn’t ordinary. It was thick and huge, like the finger of a giant carrying a mountain. And it was blurry.
The finger soon disappeared.
“……”
An uncomfortable silence lingered for a moment.
The distance between Peran and the man was very far, and the man had his head slightly lowered, obscuring his expression.
Should I attack first?
Just as that thought crossed his mind, the man’s voice emerged.
“…Hoo.”
A low sigh mixed with bitterness.
When he lifted his head, Peran realized it wasn’t a mistake. The man’s expression was filled with despair, as if he might collapse at any moment.
“Forgive my rudeness.”
“…Why did you attack suddenly?”
“It was necessary. However, if you can’t control your anger, I can give you an arm or two.”
It was clear from his face that it wasn’t a joke.
“Of course, now, you could easily do that without my permission. That magic just now was my final struggle.”
“Are you saying you have no strength left?”
“Indeed.”
“……”
It made even less sense.
According to the man, he had no means of resistance now. Not only taking his arms but even his life was up to Peran’s will.
‘Why did he waste the last means to protect his life?’
─It was fortunate for the man.
Peran felt more curiosity about the incomprehensible situation than anger over the threat to his life.
“What technique did you just use?”
“Magic.”
“…I’ve never heard of such magic.”
“That’s right. I understand now. You are not a Truth Seeker, nor are you from the Magic Planet. This world is not affiliated with Tower 77 either.”
Although unfamiliar words poured out, Peran patiently remained silent.
“It seems it’s a miracle that I’m alive. Thanks to that, my body is a wreck.”
“Then the magic you just used….”
“Compared to my full strength, it’s less than a speck.”
“……”
Peran shivered at his indifferent words.
The man’s eyes turned toward him.
“…Perhaps there is a destiny in this encounter, wizard?”
The man’s peculiar aura of intimidation prevented Peran from losing his courtesy. Bowing his head to the one who nearly took his life, he spoke.
“I am Peran.”
“Right. Peran. I must return to where I was, but in my current state, it’s impossible. So, I have a proposal.”
“A proposal…?”
“I will impart knowledge to you.”
“……”
“I will teach you. Judging by the looks of it, you’ve been stuck at your current level for quite some time, haven’t you?”
It was a precise judgment, so Peran remained silent for a moment.
“In short, you must become a wizard capable of traversing the universe. It won't be easy, but…”
“I will do it.”
Peran's firm declaration caused the man to show a hint of surprise for the first time, but he soon nodded. As he had felt when he first saw him, this young man had a tremendous desire for power.
And for a wizard, that desire was no different from a thirst for knowledge.
“But, what should I call you?”
“……”
The man briefly recalled his background.
…‘Seven Magicians’, ‘Wizard of the 77th Floor’, ‘Resident of the Top Floor of the Magic Tower’, ‘Future Beginning Wizard’.
At this point, none of these titles held any meaning.
“My name is Harun, but that's not important to you. From today, call me Master.”
*
“It’s funny how we look, isn’t it? If I were a bit more intact, I would have laughed my head off.”
[…….]
Lucid had been silent for a long time.
He knew who the man in front of him was. Although much had changed, he wasn’t unrecognizable.
So this silence was, in fact, because he knew who the man was.
[…Kasajin.]
Unable to remain silent any longer, he forced himself to speak.
[What on earth happened to you?]
Kasajin didn’t answer and instead grinned. Though his smile was similar to the past, Lucid couldn’t shake the feeling that it was merely an imitation.
“I didn’t expect you to become the last of the Four Knights. Truly, the arrangements of the Void King are inscrutable.”
[…….]
“Did you ask about my situation? That doesn’t matter. It's not important at this point. What’s more interesting is why you are obeying that skeleton.”
[…I’ll return the same answer to you.]
Kasajin paused and then burst into laughter.
The one who had been the epitome of stubbornness and straightforwardness had changed a lot after dying and coming back. Kasajin pretended to wipe away non-existent tears and changed the subject.
“…Things are getting interesting. You should be considered from the Void World rather than the Three Thousand Worlds now. I am the same.”
[I don’t see what’s so interesting about that.]
“Iris and Schweiser are still on the outside. And… Lukas has become a being that belongs to both worlds.”
Even his supplementary explanation failed to pique Lucid’s interest. This was evident enough through his helmet, prompting Kasajin to shrug and change the topic.
“There will be a Twelve Void Lords meeting soon. I heard the Four Knights will also participate?”
[The other knights didn’t seem to be that idle.]
“Really? It’s not the ‘Blue Knight,’ is it? That woman is in our territory now.”
Lucid actually showed more interest in that statement.
[The Blue Knight, Pale. I don’t know her personally, but I've heard she’s the most unpredictable knight. It seems no one has ever served her as a ‘king’, so she must be impossible to control. I can’t picture her attending the meeting.]
Would it be more accurate to consider the opinion of a fellow Four Knight over his own? However, Kasajin had known and observed Pale long before Lucid.
As a result, he concluded that speculating about that woman was meaningless.
“Many things will change with this meeting.”
[Do you know something?]
“Well……”
[…….]
Lucid closed his mouth for a moment before asking.
[Aren’t you participating in the meeting?]
“Why should I? I'm not a Void Lord.”
[But I know you can accompany them.]
For someone pretending not to care, you seem quite knowledgeable. Kasajin chuckled.
“I’ve retired. I’m no different from an old man leisurely awaiting death.”
[That’s an ill-fitting joke.]
“…Does it sound like a joke?”
As his voice turned sharp for the first time, Lucid’s bright red eyes flickered like candle flames.
The two men stared at each other for a while, and it was Lucid who first looked away.
[…I still know nothing.]
“About what?”
[Why the Four Knights exist, why I, who should be dead, have become such an entity. Whether I… am truly the Black Knight.]
Kasajin was momentarily at a loss for words.
[War, conquest, famine. All the Four Knights are fatefully entwined with what they symbolize.]
Lucid shook his head.
[Not me. I have no unique view on death, nor did I have any deep connection to become such a being. If anything, that would be Diablo. Of all the people I know, he is the closest to death.]
“What are you thinking?”
[That my existence might simply be…]
Lucid stopped speaking and shook his head.
[…I won’t say any more now. Not until I am certain.]
“…….”
Kasajin’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He knew Lucid was a thinker, but it seemed that hadn’t changed even after death.
“The meeting. I plan to attend if I can. …Though it seems difficult since I don’t have a good relationship with the lord.”
[You spoke as if you had no interest.]
“Normally, that would be true, but with the change in the host, my interest was piqued.”
[The host?]
Kasajin grinned.
“Your source of information is slow. Didn’t you know that Lukas went to the Magic Planet?”
[……!]
“He will likely succeed the title of the Beginning Wizard, considered the strongest of the Twelve Void Lords.”
[…He will become the next Beginning Wizard?]
“That’s why this meeting is important. With him… perhaps he could achieve what even the Void King couldn’t.”
Kasajin said with a smirk.
“Standing above all Twelve Void Lords and the Four Knights.”
*****
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