Book 2: Chapter 572
While walking through the corridor, the two escorts on either side of Residue did not speak. Come to think of it, they rarely spoke first. From their attitude, gaze, and expressions, it was clear that they only had strictly professional feelings towards Residue.
It wasn’t the same attitude as when they dealt with the previous Beginning Wizard, Mark Trowman. Suddenly, he realized what the difference was.
Lack of respect.
They were following him as a superior, but it was merely an impersonal subservience arising from the hierarchy of their positions.
‘This is unfamiliar.’
More than that, it was intriguing.
When he was the Lightning God, no one dared to take such an attitude.
There was no need to create an intimidating atmosphere or reveal his true power. Everyone worshipped him as naturally as breathing.
That’s why he was even more bothered by the few who held their heads high.
“Where are we going?”
Residue looked around and asked.
By now, he was quite familiar with the geography of the Magic Planet.
There were a total of five places that could be considered exits here. Six if the Beginning Wizard's personal passageway was included.
Of course, with the instability of the space being more precarious than glass on the verge of breaking, soon the exits might become meaningless. Still, for now, they would barely maintain their role.
The place the two were leading Residue to was underground, and if memory served, there was no exit here.
There seemed to be something like an underground lake.
“The Beginning Wizard is the coordinator of the Twelve Void Lords.”
Coordinator.
He barely managed to suppress a scoff at that word.
“And so?”
“The former Lord used to say repeatedly. Because he is the coordinator, the Beginning Wizard must be the most distinctive and eye-catching among the various Void Lords.”
“……”
“We came here for the preliminary preparations for that.”
“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”
“People say that first impressions are everything.”
Saying something incomprehensible, Altata stopped walking, and Residue had no choice but to stop as well.
The lake situated underground was pitch-black. At first, it seemed so due to the darkness, but that wasn’t it. The liquid here was truly jet black.
As he squinted and stared at the lake, the surface began to ripple.
“This is the Beginning Wizard’s ‘exclusive ride’.”
The ripples soon turned into vibrations. The vibrations seemed to spread not only to the lake but also to the ground, and it wasn’t an illusion. Dust was falling from the ceiling of the cave as proof.
Altata and Hyke showed no agitation. As if they were witnessing a sight they had seen many times.
Then Residue shouldn’t show any wavering either. Not that he was particularly surprised to begin with.
Splash!
However, when the lake split and the form of the ‘ride’ was revealed, Residue’s expression hardened.
It was a ride of an unimaginable shape.
It was bright red and relatively round in shape. At the end was a green stem, and it looked incredibly fresh and ripe, perhaps due to the moisture clinging to it.
“Is this the ride?”
“Yes.”
“But this is… an apple, isn't it.”
What emerged from the lake was an apple of somewhat large size.
“It is the exclusive ride of the Beginning Wizard. In life, the previous lord called it ‘Apple’.”
It was a naming skill he wished he hadn’t known.
“Are there no other rides?”
“There are none.”
“…Any other options?”
“None.”
Altata said.
“This is also one of the tasks the former lord requested. The lord wishes you to respect his last arrangements.”
“……”
Residue clicked his tongue.
*
It was a fact he didn't want to accept, but the inside of the apple was quite comfortable. It was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside, easily accommodating up to ten people. It was equipped with food supplies as well as simple conveniences, making long-term stays not a problem at all.
“……”
With a subtle expression, Residue sat quietly inside, or, as one might humorously say inside the fruit.
The two companions, Hyke and Altata, had already closed their eyes and were deep in meditation. They had requested permission to sharpen their senses as much as possible before arriving at the King’s Castle. He saw no reason to refuse, so he let them be.
This strange ride moved without making any significant noise. Thanks to that, even the breathing of someone a few steps away could be heard clearly.
That silence did not quite please him, so Residue turned his attention outside.
─The Void World.
The most closed-off space, known as the dumpsite of the entire universe.
A crack had formed in that dumpsite.
A space fractured like shattered glass. Everything flowing in from that crack was foreign to this world.
‘Beings of the Three Thousand Worlds.'
To the Void World, it would seem as though unfamiliar beings were appearing from beyond the broken space. From a certain perspective, it could be considered an invasion.
But there’s a difference.
This phenomenon should be named fusion rather than an invasion or incursion, from an essential point of view.
A world merged into one, a collision. The simultaneous phenomena that occurred as a result soon transformed into a single common form.
War.
“……”
The scene of slaughter, which he ad seen so many times, unfolded below.
Residue looked down at the sight with a disinterested face.
The battle between the Three Thousand Worlds and the Void World surprisingly maintained a balance. Was it because the Void Lords hadn’t joined yet? Come to think of it, most of the Void Lords would be attending the King’s Castle.
‘Should I stop that war?’
Is it his role, as the Beginning Wizard, to control the Void Lords to make that happen?
Half of the universe had disappeared, and the flames of conflict had been thrown across the entire universe. It seemed like a great disaster, but Residue’s perspective was slightly different.
‘It’s not a bad situation.’
War is the most precise and efficient means of distinguishing between the strong and the weak.
Wasn't it simple?
Regardless of how they fought, or what means they used, or what interests were involved—those who survive are stronger.
This was an absolute and immutable truth.
What’s needed now isn’t hundreds of billions of small fries. It’s one usable individual.
There’s no need to intervene directly when the situation is naturally selecting the strong, so why should he stop it? Residue even wondered if the Three Thousand Worlds might have intentionally created this situation.
‘…That’s Residue’s perspective.’
Then, what about the perspective of the ‘Beginning Wizard’, and more importantly, the perspective of ‘Lukas Trowman’?
To them, is this war an irreplaceable tragedy rather than a selection process?
Is it a great disaster that the wizards emphasize with their mouths, something that can’t be justified with rationality?
He didn’t know.
However, there were things he understood at this moment.
The upcoming meeting,
Depending on the outcome of that meeting, the fates of countless lives, whether in the billions or trillions, would change.
And the Beginning Wizard was the only one who could formally lead that meeting.
“…Hmph.”
The fate of the entire universe rested on his shoulders, but he didn’t feel any pressure.
Because he thought it had been the same when he was the Lightning God.
*
[Everlasting Plum Sword Yang In-hyun.]
[Territory: Flower Mountain in the western region.]
[Main Subordinates: The Seven Flowers and Sleeping Dragon, Elders, and First-Generation Disciples.]
[Special Notes: He does not fully control his subordinate forces. Flower Mountain is the most ideologically diverse among the Twelve Void Lords’ territories, and many people hate Yang In-hyun. The most surprising thing is that Yang In-hyun is aware of this fact yet ignores it. Considering the decisive nature of Everlasting Plum Sword, this is somewhat unexpected and is likely related to his past.]
[Relationship with Magic Planet: Not bad, but this relationship does not extend to other individuals within his territory.]
Residue needed to understand the Twelve Void Lords the most thoroughly.
The twelve lords who existed in the Void World had immense influence.
Even Yang In-hyun, who had a relatively small territory, held absolute power in the western region.
Additionally, the vast territories of the [Dumpsite] where all discarded possibilities were piled up and [Demonsio]… And upon reading the documents, he realized that the territory and forces of the Magic Planet were also significant.
Though the overall level was unknown, the average level of the wizards residing in [Tower 77] was exceptionally high. The executives known as the ‘Seven Magicians’ were comparable to high-level absolute beings.
This revealed an important fact.
If more than half of the Twelve Void Lords regarded the beings of the Three Thousand Worlds as enemies and announced it, the current war would escalate to an unstoppable level. Even the Four Knights or the Ruler would have no means to stop it other than extermination.
Thus, the role of the Beginning Wizard becomes even more important.
The one who can, at least formally, lead the Twelve Void Lords,
The only one who can lead the upcoming meeting.
For this, it was necessary to understand the Twelve Void Lords in as much detail as possible.
[Golden Eye.]
[Territory: The Golden Room in the northern region.]
[Main Subordinates: None (presumed).]
[Special Notes: While it seems he has no subordinates, he cannot be classified as a ‘wanderer’. Unlike the ‘Exile’ who roams around with a mobile base or the ‘Beast’ who doesn’t stay in one place, he has a small but definite territory.
The Golden Room, Golden Eye’s territory, is the smallest among the Twelve Void Lords’ territories. Even by the standards of regular territories, it is very small, measuring only a few dozen pyeong.
The power of Golden Eye’s golden eyes is one of the most bothersome and annoying abilities. That ability is likely why he doesn’t regard me favorably.
[Relationship with Magic Planet: Not good.]
If there is a Void Lord to be wary of, it would be someone like him.
A person with a bad relationship with the Beginning Wizard. He is very likely to cause trouble at the meeting.
Residue categorized Golden Eye as a person of interest and organized his thoughts.
Out of the eleven Void Lords, four had a good relationship, three had a neutral relationship, and four had a bad relationship. Of course, there was no guarantee that these relationships would continue. These relationships were formed by Mark Trowman.
Rattle!
At that moment, a strong vibration was felt, causing Apple to shake violently.
It felt like they had either collided with something or made an abrupt stop.
“It doesn’t seem like we’ve arrived.”
“…Yes. We still have some distance to the King’s Castle.”
Hyke quietly answered his muttered remark. He had finished his meditation in an instant and was ready for combat.
Altata was no different. She went to the cockpit and started checking a few things, then muttered in a serious voice.
“The rear section of Apple is damaged.”
“Damaged?”
“No. Rather than damaged… it’s like something gnawed at it……”
At that moment, Residue abruptly spoke.
“Get out of here.”
“What?”
“And don’t come back until it’s over.”
“What do you mean…….”
Having no time to explain, he waved his hand.
Hyke and Altata's bodies floated up and flew outside through the wall. Though they were several thousand meters in the air, those two wouldn’t die from falling from that height.
Ignoring them, Residue approached the rear section of Apple and tore off the wall.
Inside, there were no mechanical components.
What came into view was a mass of darkness, ominously rippling like waves at midnight.
Of course, Residue knew it wasn’t just darkness.
Kikikik-
It was insects.
Innumerable tiny, disgusting insects. They were interconnected and writhing together as if they were a single organism.
Somehow, these insects had infiltrated Apple and damaged its interior.
“…Insects.”
Residue frowned, focusing on that fact.
That was when it happened.
Some of the insects spread their wings and took flight. They didn’t seem to have an intent to attack. Residue silently watched them.
The flying insects clustered together, forming a shape that couldn’t be considered natural.
[Who are you?]
It was a word.
Residue responded.
“The Beginning Wizard.”
Then the insects formed another word.
[You are not him.]
“You could feel that way.”
[I will ask again. Who are you?]
“Should I say the next Beginning Wizard?”
The insects’ movements suddenly halted.
Residue spoke indifferently.
“So, what business do you have with me, Deathworm?”
[You know me.]
“Well, yes.”
Residue cast his gaze at the documents he had just read, recalling what he had just gone through.
[Deathworm.]
[Territory: The Hive.]
[Main Subordinates: Seven Plagues.]
[Special Notes: Holder of an impossible wish. Because it’s a misguided wish that could lead to a great war, special attention must be given to its management and control.
Having had its wishes thwarted several times because of me, it harbors great resentment towards the Magic Planet and the position of the Beginning Wizard. Requires particular caution.]
[Relationship with Magic Planet: Worst.]
*****
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