534
Chapter 534
The Proof of 9th Circle Magic.
Whether Jorge's magic could be theoretically proven was an important issue, separate from him entering the realm of the 9th Circle.
If his magical theory couldn't be proven, other mages wouldn't be able to learn the derivative magics stemming from it.
The proof of magic was a process of demonstrating that not only the creator, but other mages could practically implement it through system and theory.
Without this process, magic would lose its value as an academic discipline and would only remain as a form of training or self-cultivation, like ancient magic.
Jorge jumped around his office in excitement.
"Proof, proof! It's proven! The Ouroboros theory I created has been proven!"
Zeke watched the excited Jorge with a soulless expression while clapping his hands.
"Congratulations, Master Jorge."
Despite his dry congratulations, Jorge shed tears of joy as he ran to Zeke and embraced him.
"HNNGH! Today's proof is all thanks to Sir Zeke! I want to give this thanks to Sir Zeke!"
Zeke didn't particularly need the thanks , but he nodded and seated him.
Jorge was still caught in a cauldron of excitement, unable to escape.
Zeke actually had little interest, but out of courtesy, he asked about his magic.
"What is this Ouroboros theory you mentioned?"
When Zeke showed interest and asked about his theory, Jorge became excited and began explaining with flying spittle.
"The Ouroboros theory is, well, simply put, it refers to a snake biting its own tail and spinning in circles eternally. No, that's not an easy explanation."
He pondered deeply before speaking again.
"What the image of a snake biting its own tail and spinning in circles represents is permanence. What I wanted to research was precisely this aspect of permanence."
"Permanence? Is it similar to immortality?"
Jorge shook his head at Zeke's words.
"Similar but different. While immortality literally means not disappearing, permanence could be described as continuously striving not to disappear. The determinism you mentioned, Sir Zeke, immortality is close to that determinism. It's about the process continuing to fit the conclusion that it won't perish no matter what."
Jorge moistened his lips as if his mouth was dry and continued.
"But the permanence I researched is not about a predetermined conclusion, but about continuously choosing a sustainable future among countless possibilities."
Zeke wore an expression that suggested he both understood and didn't understand Jorge's words.
Then Jorge took something out from his breast pocket.
It was a flat piece of lead.
"I'll show you what permanence is with this."
He levitated the lead piece in the air and applied force from all directions to distort its shape.
Jorge placed the distorted lead piece on the desk and pointed to it.
"Look, Sir Zeke."
As he said, Zeke looked at the lead piece.
Amazingly, the distorted lead piece was slowly returning to its original shape.
The lead piece soon completely returned to its original form.
Jorge said, looking at the lead piece that had completely returned to its original form:
"This lead piece has been imbued with permanence that makes it want to return to its original shape."
"To its original shape? Does that mean it's capable of self-healing?"
Jorge nodded.
"That's right. I've changed its properties so that the object can maintain this original form forever."
"Changed its properties? So without replenishing magical power, when it changes, it tries to return to its original form by itself?"
"You certainly pinpoint the core issues. That's right. The property of permanently maintaining its original form without magical power replenishment - creating that structure with magic is the Ouroboros theory."
Zeke looked surprised after hearing Jorge's words.
'It seems similar to the power of immortality?'
After pondering, he asked Jorge:
"Can this property change be applied to living beings, not just objects?"
Jorge immediately shook his head at Zeke's question.
"That's impossible. Living beings cannot exist while maintaining permanence from the beginning. Because the essence of life is to change continuously without stopping for even a moment."
"Life changes without stopping... I see."
While Zeke understood Jorge's words, he still had questions.
'Then by what principle does my power of immortality work?'
What had been impossible for living beings was openly happening in Zeke's body.
Self-recovery that started as healing had now exceeded that level - he had become an immortal being, so Zeke was also curious about where the source of this power came from.
Jorge began adding annotations to his notes scattered throughout the office.
Seeing this, Zeke said to Jorge:
"Master Jorge. Since we still have fifteen days until the continental assembly begins, how about using this office as your research lab to refine your theory?"
Jorge trembled with excitement at Zeke's words.
"C-can I really do that?"
He nodded.
"It's a place I rarely use, so it doesn't matter. If you tell me what you need, I'll have the furniture rearranged."
Jorge shook his head at Zeke's words.
"OHHH, it's fine! I'll take care of what I need myself!"
As he swung his staff, the room's furniture moved and rearranged itself.
Zeke could newly appreciate that this seemingly eccentric old man was truly a great mage who had achieved the 9th Circle.
'At least I don't have to worry about Nirvana backstabbing us.'
Jorge had decided to make a thousand golems because he had seen the future where a thousand golems were made.
As of now, why those thousand golems would be made remained undetermined.
As Zeke was about to leave the office while Jorge focused on organizing his theory:
"Ah! Sir Zeke. There's one thing I haven't told you."
Zeke turned his head to look at Jorge.
Jorge scratched his head and said:
"About the future I saw earlier. Actually, I didn't just see the thousand golems."
At that moment, a voice through communication magic flew to Zeke's ear.
—In a scene from the future, the thousand golems were fighting something alongside you, Sir Zeke.
* * *
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
Various carriages were entering Agamemnon Castle in Mycenae.
Representatives from the major kingdoms and houses of the Central Continent had gathered in Mycenae to attend the continental assembly.
Originally, they had planned to hold the continental assembly in Atlas, but it was decided to hold it at Agamemnon Castle on Kali's suggestion that it would be meaningful to hold it in Mycenae, which had directly experienced the demon invasion.
Numerous people entered the great hall of Agamemnon Castle.
Among those who entered were continental celebrities including Pope Beatrice of the Holy Kingdom and her successor Roban, Princess Melissa of Allensia, Angelina Graham, the successor of Panstas and famous as the continent's greatest beauty, and Herman Solma, the Royal Guard of Thebea.
As people who knew each other greeted and conversed, someone entered the great hall, and the knight standing by the door announced the name of the entrant.
"The young master of the Ishtar family! Lady Yelin Ishtar!"
At the mention of Ishtar's successor, everyone in the hall turned their heads in surprise.
THUD!
Yelin, wearing a veil on her face and Ishtar's unique martial attire, appeared with her guard warrior Himel. Everyone who saw her couldn't continue speaking.
It was because they were breathlessly shocked by Yelin's unique dignity and beauty.
Even though her face was covered by a veil, they could tell that her beauty was no less than Angelina Graham, who was called the continent's greatest beauty.
It was completely unexpected that the successor to the Ishtar family, only known as the epitome of terror, could be so beautiful.
And following Ishtar, another noteworthy figure entered the great hall.
"The head of the Nirvana family! Master Jorge!"
Master Jorge and Zeros entered the great hall together.
Jorge, who had stayed up all night immersed in research until this morning, was walking in a disheveled state, nodding off.
"Master. Pull yourself together."
At Zeros's words, Jorge, barely awake, wiped drool from his mouth and waved his hand.
"Huh? Oh, yes. Hahaha! Nice to meet everyone. Nice to meet you!"
Though he looked absentminded, no one laughed at or despised Jorge.
That's how much the name Nirvana created tension among the kingdoms and houses of the Central Continent.
Right after, as the hall doors opened wide, there was a final figure entering.
"The head of the Draker family! Lady Kali Draker!"
Kali appeared wearing the new silver armor that Zeke had given her as a gift to commemorate her inauguration as family head.
Behind her, Zeke and Helen followed side by side.
The new head of the Draker family who had convened the continental assembly.
Since Kali had been famous throughout the continent from the beginning, many already knew her.
She walked confidently to the center of the great hall.
At this gathering of major kingdom and family dignitaries of the continent.
Kali looked at them and spoke with a dignified voice.
"First, I thank all the distinguished guests for attending this hastily arranged continental assembly."
She looked around the audience slowly as she continued.
"The reason we have gathered here today is none other than this."
At her gesture, screens projected by magic projectors appeared throughout the great hall.
The screens showed monsters and demons attacking Mycenae.
The continent's key figures, who didn't know what battle had actually taken place, gaped at the screens.
The countless monsters and magical beasts pouring out of the massive gate floating in the sky, the attacks of demons wielding powers beyond common sense - all of this shocked the entire hall.
After watching with them, Kali continued.
"All of this actually happened right here in Mycenae."
She raised her voice again as she looked at the gathered people.
"What would you do if something like this happened to you?"
At Kali's words, the expressions of those gathered in the hall hardened.
The seriousness of the situation hit harder as they imagined what would happen if such a demon invasion occurred in their own kingdoms or territories.
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly sank.
It was quite different from when they first gathered.
Kali looked around the audience again and opened her mouth.
"The reason for convening this continental assembly today is that the entire Central Continent must join forces to prevent an even greater calamity that is to come."
At that moment, one of the high officials from the Central Kingdom raised his hand and said:
"Lady Kali! What is this greater calamity you speak of? Are you referring to the large-scale monster wave that people talk about?"
Kali shook her head at those words.
"The monster wave is just a sign. The greater calamity means something else."
The eyes of everyone in the hall were fixed on Kali.
She slowly opened her mouth.
"The greater calamity... means none other than the advent of the Demon King."
At Kali's words, the expressions of those gathered in the hall instantly turned to bewilderment.
"D-Demon King?"
"Surely not the Demon King from the stories?"
"The descent of the Demon King..."
When the topic of the Demon King's advent was brought up, most reactions were of disbelief.
It was because they had never thought that the Demon King actually existed.
As the audience murmured, Zeke, who had been standing behind Kali, stepped forward.
"My name is Zeke Draker, known to the world as the Knight of Salvation."
As the most renowned Knight of Salvation on the continent stepped forward, the audience stopped murmuring and paid attention to his words.
Zeke slowly opened his mouth toward them.
"The name 'Demon King' doesn't seem to resonate with you."
He looked at those gathered in the hall and slowly opened his mouth.
"Then how about this name? The evil dragon Bahamut that made the continent tremble with fear a thousand years ago."
Instantly, the atmosphere in the hall froze like ice.
Zeke looked at their faces, stiff with shock, and said:
"It's another name for the Demon King who descended to this world."