Chapter 89
Chapter: 89
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 89
>Chapter Title: Otherworldly Apocalypse (4)
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Phantasmal Dimension.
A colossal phantasm that had solidified and taken form, eventually giving rise to an entire dimension.
To some, it was the be-all and end-all, a complete world. To others, it was dismissed as a mere dream—a lesser dimension.
‘The Earth I lived on... was just a dream or an illusion, not real?’
If he’d heard that while alive on Earth, Seongjin would have scoffed and told them to stop wasting time on nonsense and hunt one more monster instead. But now that he himself had been hurled into another dimension, he couldn’t just brush off such tales as bullshit.
[It’s not that simple, Yi Seongjin. It just started that way. A phantasmal dimension is still a proper dimension in its own right. The fact that it’s a completed world doesn’t change.]
Sensing his rare agitation, the Demon King spoke soothingly.
[Look. You’re a solid, existing soul, aren’t you? And here you are in the Primal World, alive and breathing just fine. What better proof of your reality could there be?]
The Demon King insisted that the Earth dimension Seongjin had lived in was still a unique dimension distinct from the Primal Earth. It was called Sigurd 34 Earth, which made it seem like there were quite a few Earth dimensions, but compared to the countless phantasms born and vanishing daily from the Primal Earth, it was truly a minuscule number.
For a phantasm to become an individualized dimension meant that its originating phantasm had been that deep and powerful.
Phantasmal worlds simply had boundaries less firm than Normative or Primal Worlds, making creation and destruction relatively easier compared to other dimensions. With enough will, interference or invasion from other dimensions was comparatively straightforward as well.
That was why the Storyteller frequented mostly phantasmal worlds.
For such a phantasmal world to gain solid boundaries, the only paths were fusion with another dimension to ascend into a full Normative World, or two dimensions interlocking to form a complete resonant loop.
Hearing the explanation up to that point, a memory suddenly flashed in Seongjin’s mind—something the Demon King had said while casting enchantment on him during their final battle.
—You’ll have both Earth and the demon realm. Imagine the potential of those fused worlds!
Come to think of it, hadn’t the Demon King said Gehenna was also a phantasmal dimension?
[Correct. Gehenna was already a phantasmal world that had undergone one dimension fusion.]
The Demon King admitted calmly.
[That’s why I planned to fuse Sigurd 34 Earth and Gehenna to create a new Normative World with even firmer boundaries.]
* * *
Sigurd Sigurdson.
The dimension’s Storyteller, who wandered a thousand dreams and spoke with a thousand voices.
The one who discovered Seongjin’s Earth and named the dimension after himself—and possibly the Puppeteer intent on utterly eradicating Gehenna’s Demon King.
Staring at the ancient tome that seemed to bear his traces, Seongjin’s heart grew a bit heavy.
‘It’s not certain it’s that Sigurd yet.’
[Of course, it’s possible it’s someone with the same name.]
The Demon King agreed, though inwardly convinced the author was indeed the Storyteller.
[But who else but that boastful Storyteller would leave behind such a massive tome on other dimensions?]
‘…….’
Truth be told, Seongjin had a vague hunch that the two weren’t entirely unrelated.
“Now, everyone in the task force. This is a historic moment! It’s been nearly fifty years since we’re the first to open this forbidden book before even the Holy Assembly’s professors!”
The red-haired Inquisitor was utterly thrilled. His exaggerated, theatrical tone reminded Seongjin of his old college juniors buzzing about a haunted house experience.
“You seem awfully pleased, Sir Valerie.”
Gibril smiled as she gently wiped the surface with a rose-scented handkerchief, careful not to spritz perfume directly on the aged tome.
“Yes! Stories of other worlds are just too exciting, aren’t they? When I heard it was approved for viewing, I was so looking forward to it I barely slept last night!”
He’d apparently rushed straight to the Theological Academy the moment he clocked in.
But was this okay? For an Inquisitor of Saint Marcia, practically the arms and legs of the Heresy Tribunal?
“Hm, this is a secret, but once you become an Inquisitor, you get freer access to fun stuff like this. Whether you believe it or not, the stories themselves are riveting, right? It was quite the topic among the seniors too.”
He glanced at Masain’s disapproving face and grinned sheepishly.
“Of course, my faith in the Lord God is utterly unblemished!”
Sure, whatever you say.
They all gathered and turned the first page of the massive tome together.
A historic moment indeed, as Sir Valerie had said. Seongjin barely read the preface before confirming the Demon King’s words were true.
—I, the great king who freely roams a thousand dreams, hereby record the journeys of Sigurd, who treads the path to become the one story, the one law that pierces the worlds.
In other words, it was grandiose from the very first sentence.
[Ha! What arrogance...]
The Demon King clicked his tongue. Regardless, it seemed the Storyteller at least fancied himself the Dream King.
The Inquisitor, meanwhile, grew even more excited.
“Wow, intense from the first line! Gives me total chills!”
—This book records the most memorable among the dreams I wandered. A great explorer’s signposts for any who might one day face those dreams yourselves. Benevolent counsel from the king so that you pitiful souls may at last find rest in the grand law.
This guy outdid even that evil dragon said to have clashed with the first Holy Emperor. The cringeworthy pomp was beyond what a modern sensibility could handle.
“The reason this book became forbidden isn’t just because it records other worlds, is it?”
Gibril said, furrowing her pretty brow.
Well, someone proclaiming himself the great king and the world’s sole law— if that wasn’t heresy, what was? In modern society, it might even get banned for public deception.
Pushing past the boastful preface with effort, the actual content was surprisingly written in a normal style. Seongjin’s group soon lost themselves in the book.
Legendary creatures like unicorns and mermaids; bizarrely shaped monsters and sea beasts; aberrant lifeforms blurring plant and animal boundaries; and various monsters Seongjin knew well.
It brimmed with wondrous tales sure to captivate any story lover.
Sir Valerie’s eyes sparkled with joy as he turned each page.
Short descriptions of the dimensions housing these otherworldly beings, detailed accounts of their ecologies, and simple yet well-captured illustrations of their features.
To Seongjin’s eyes, it was an impressively substantial book.
Preface aside, that is.
[Ho?]
As they skimmed along, sections on monsters began to appear. Seongjin felt the Demon King focus intently.
[Not bad?]
Spotting entries on the scissor-legged monsters the Demon King often summoned instead of weapons, Seongjin inwardly concluded the book’s contents were quite credible.
“It’s like a dictionary. But why is the title [Apocalypse]?”
At Gibril’s question, Sir Valerie smiled and replied.
“A valid point. The decisive reason it was forbidden lies in this book’s final page.”
He flipped straight to the very end and opened it.
And there unfolded an apocalypse true to the title.
—The first star shatters, and one with a blackened face appears. In his wake, not a blade of grass or drop of water remains—a great famine. Thus he is called Greed. All of Delcross shall suffer hunger.
Gasp. It directly foretold Delcross’s doom.
—The second star shatters, and one with a pale face appears. He calls for rest, trailed by an army of cold immortality. Thus he is called Death. All of Delcross shall gain eternity.
Ahem. Masain broke into a cold sweat and stepped back. His face had gone stark white from the terrifying prophecy.
The book detailed five stars shattering and the calamities befalling Delcross. Roughly, the finale went like this.
—At last, heaven and earth join, and from within emerges the apocalyptic executor crowned high, wielding three swords. As he swings one, the sun loses light, and a third of the stars fall to earth...
Thud. Masain snatched the book with a grim look and slammed it shut.
Puff. Lingering dust billowed into the air.
As the task force stared at him wide-eyed, Masain spoke in a trembling voice.
“Th-this page... we shouldn’t read this final page anymore.”
“It’s just the ravings of some pompous fool, Sir Masain.”
Sir Valerie shrugged, but Masain’s face was resolute.
“These wicked passages hinting at the millennium-old Holy Kingdom Delcross’s fall are sinful merely to lay eyes upon!”
“However...”
“Moreover, we must ensure these sinful words never reach the young prince’s eyes!”
Seongjin looked up at him curiously, blocking his view.
Sir Masain, who didn’t seem particularly devout usually, was awfully sensitive to heresy.
“Ahem, ahem...”
The red-haired Inquisitor cleared his throat, face slightly flushed. It was embarrassing for a holy knight like him to be called out by a regular knight.
“Sir Masain has a point. Since it’s a book branded heretical, even with permission, we should handle it carefully.”
You say that while reeking of disappointment, Sir Valerie, and it kills your credibility.
Seongjin sighed, watching the task force members enveloped in awkward silence. Time to refresh the mood.
“Sir Masain’s right. Let’s not forget we’re the task force gathered to stop the [Gray Plague]. Shall we go back to the monster entries in the dictionary?”
At Seongjin’s cue, Masain hesitated before reluctantly placing the book on the table.
They silently reopened the Otherworldly Apocalypse and slowly turned the pages.
“Hm... it’s not here?”
How much time passed? They thought they’d skimmed all the monster sections, but they couldn’t find anything on egg-laying parasitic monsters anywhere.
It was possible they’d overlooked it, but the Demon King stuck to Seongjin wouldn’t have missed such a passage.
[Yeah, it doesn’t make sense for one book to cover every otherworldly lifeform. It’s just Sigurd’s picks of what interested him—not an encyclopedia.]
The Otherworldly Apocalypse recorded only what caught Sigurd’s eye. Even gathering odd shapes and bizarre habits made a huge volume; no need to devote pages to some obscure minor parasite.
Seongjin glanced at Masain, still fidgeting anxiously, and said to the red-haired Inquisitor.
“In case we missed something, Sir Valerie, could you give it another thorough look? Masain and I might as well investigate the Heresy Tribunal prison instead.”
Both men’s faces lit up instantly.
“Yes! I’ll check carefully, Your Highness!”
“Then allow me to escort you to the Heresy Tribunal, Your Highness!”
Sir Valerie gleefully snatched the Otherworldly Apocalypse and retreated to his seat. With the book out of sight, Masain’s face visibly relaxed.
Good. Everything resolved smoothly.
Except for Gibril’s parting spritz of perfume as she wished them a careful trip.
“The Heresy Tribunal prison isn’t exactly hygienic.”
Seongjin could only manage a trembling smile back at Gibril, who beamed while wielding her atomizer.
Damn that Lionra Plague Society!
[Um...]
Waiting for the carriage in front of the administrative building, shaking off the perfume scent, the Demon King groaned. He’d been pondering something since earlier.
‘What’s wrong?’
[No, something’s been on the tip of my tongue since before, but I can’t pin it down.]
The Demon King’s unease transmitted clearly, making Seongjin increasingly uncomfortable.
[Maybe we’ve been so fixated on Lofelum’s egg that we’re overlooking something crucial?]
‘...?’
There’s a parasitic monster, so we focus on that—what else could we miss?
But they soon found the answer.
That is, standing before the Heresy Tribunal building, one corner smashed and billowing smoke.
“Your Highness, have I ever implied that I bring incidents and accidents your way?”
Seongjin could only shoot Masain—a dazed mumbler—an aggrieved look.
What did I even do!