Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Sage of Truth 'Libramon'
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"To be precise, it's more accurate to say you returned."
"What do you mean by that?"
Did that mean my arrival in this world wasn't by chance?
And what did "returned" even imply?
My already muddled thoughts grew even more chaotic.
"Are you saying my possession of this body was part of someone's plan?"
"Possession? Hmm, possession. An intriguing term. The idea of seizing another person's body and moving it around... It's the perfect word to describe your situation."
Libramon muttered to himself, something along the lines of, "What an interesting concept."
If a perfectly fine person like me ends up crossing into another world, isn't that just possession, plain and simple?
"Then can you explain why I possessed the vessel called 'Rowen' instead of the Hero's body?"
"...How the hell should I know that?"
"You could have become the son of an ordinary farmer or an old man awaiting his final days. A demon, a knight, royalty, nobility. You could have inhabited any living being in this world."
In that instant, the space warped, and scenes flashed by in rapid succession.
A farmer harvesting fields golden with ripened grain.
An elderly man sitting in a rocking chair, gazing at the vanishing sunset.
Knight and demon locked in a deadly duel where not even a moment's carelessness was allowed.
It was as if he were showing me the lives of people in this world.
"Coincidence does not exist. The more knowledge one gains, the more one realizes how hollow the notion of 'inevitability' truly is."
"...?"
"No matter what, you were destined to possess Rowen's body. If the soul and flesh were mismatched in form, you wouldn't have lasted long."
By this point, I could grasp what Libramon was trying to say.
The reason I'd adapted so quickly to Rowen's body despite possessing it.
The fact that I could wield a sword I'd never held before with such skill.
It seemed my soul and Rowen's shared some profound connection.
"Exactly. Your guess is correct. You and Rowen's souls share the same form. No—it's safe to say they're the same soul."
The character from my favorite game actually having the same soul as me?
Normally, I'd brush it off as a joke, but for some reason, those words rang true.
"So what does that have to do with why I came here?"
"Everything, of course. To reiterate: you returned to this world. Your time on Earth was merely circumstantial. Your origin is here. That's why your souls match."
To sum up Libramon's words, it boiled down to this:
Rowen from [Avillon Academy] was actually me.
For some reason, I'd been living on Earth, and now I'd returned to my original world.
...What kind of novel protagonist bullshit is this?
Then again, crossing into this world in the first place defied logic. Complaining about realism now felt a bit late.
I hadn't had much attachment to life on Earth anyway, and learning I had ties to this world actually put my mind at ease.
But one question lingered.
What about the [Avillon Academy] game I'd played so much on Earth?
Suddenly back in my old dorm room, the game screen before my eyes displayed every event that would unfold from here on.
As if someone had deliberately created it to reveal my future.
"I can't reveal everything. But there's one thing I must tell you."
"...What?"
"The time of this world has been rewound. The entire dimension."
As if shifting to the main topic, Libramon changed the location.
We returned to that vast sea expanse from when I'd first arrived.
"As you know, time magic comes at a tremendous cost. And its use is extremely limited."
Libramon pulled out an apple and took a bite.
Then, murmuring an incantation under his breath, he cast time magic on it.
The dented flesh of the apple filled back in.
I finally understood what rewinding time meant.
"Time magic can only be used on oneself or inanimate objects without will. If cast on a being with mana, the backlash prevents anything from happening."
Libramon immediately turned the spell on me.
But this time, I only felt a slight resistance—nothing more.
"I poured every ounce of my mana into that spell. Yet nothing happened. Do you understand now?"
The fact that Libramon, a 9th-circle powerhouse, couldn't rewind even my time alone despite going all out...
Implied that rewinding the entire world's time demanded an unimaginable price.
"What price could possibly rewind an entire dimension's time? If I didn't feel curiosity toward such a tantalizing mystery, I'd have to relinquish my title as the Demon of Wisdom."
Libramon shuddered, gripped by dread at the mere thought.
...What truth could terrify a being of his caliber?
"A magic circle forged from one person's dazzling, radiant 'fate.' Paid for by the 'sacrifice' of another who would destroy everything."
"Just two people could rewind the world's time...?"
"It's not so surprising. Human and demon race—their fates and wills as the strongest held such power. But the truly terrifying part... is that this world has been repeating infinitely."
Infinitely repeating? What did that mean?
As I opened my mouth to ask Libramon, filled with questions—
Zrrrk...!
The star-filled night sky split open with a chilling screech.
"Haha! You won't even allow this? The more you descend personally, the more I want to speak."
From the ragged tear in space, an aura so horrific it raised goosebumps poured forth.
Back in the workshop, when Libramon's lingering will had staked everything on the ritual...
That eye which had glimpsed through for a split second now fully revealed itself.
"[Avillon Academy] is no mere game! It's the atonement of those who lost you—and the record of eternally repeating time!"
"That's enough."
In that moment, time seemed to freeze.
Every fiber of my being screamed in terror, urging me to flee.
As if declaring no more would be tolerated, ■■'s two hands forcibly widened the narrow rift.
Between them, ■■'s eyes demanded I kneel before■■'s will,defy not,merely worship and accept the fate to come as my destiny.....
Tsriiiing!
"Snap out of it!"
When I opened my eyes at the calling voice, an incomprehensible sight filled my vision.
Libramon's body was cracked all over, as if struck by lightning.
Behind him, thick mana formed a magic circle blotting out the night sky.
He was devoting everything to time magic to halt the expanding rift.
"I can't hold much longer. Focus from here on."
Crack... craaack...
Even with space itself frozen, ■■'s hands inched the dimensional rift open, ever so slowly.
At this rate, this space would surely be consumed by that horrific aura.
"This world has perished infinitely. That thing out there is targeting our dimension."
"What...?"
"No need to understand now. I'll seal these memories in yours. You're not ready yet. You need at least that realm to barely endure it."
Shatter!
The magic circle behind Libramon, unleashing 9th-circle spells at ■■'s eyes, shattered like glass.
Each spell powerful enough to annihilate a city, nullified by mere gaze.
Soon, it adapted to the time magic too—the rift's expansion accelerated.
"I can't face ■■ alone. Gather your comrades. You hold the power to defy fate, Rowen."
The patterns forming Libramon's eyes vanished, turning to a stream of light that flowed into mine.
[Swordsmanship Lv. 5]
ㄴ [S: Serin-style Swordsmanship Lv. 1]
The translucent window filled my vision briefly.
Then, overwhelming information flooded my mind, bringing a splitting headache.
◆ Title: ■■-stalking ■■ ◆ Stats
[Strength ■■]
[Agility ■■]
[Stamina ■■]
[■■ ■■]
◆ Traits ◆ Skills ◆ Unique Traits
The moment my eyes met the massive eye filling the sky, incomprehensible information surged, along with visceral disgust.
"It's best not to gaze carelessly at such abominations. That's not how those eyes are meant to be used."
Libramon's mana enveloped my burning-hot eyes, cooling the searing pain.
Then, as if teaching me how to use Eye of Truth, he urged me to look at him.
His eyes were tightly shut, bleeding, and faint light leaked from the cracks covering his body.
[Magic Lv. 10]
ㄴ [View Details]
"Yes, that's how you use it. Don't try to see everything. Pierce to the core. I hope my eyes aid your journey."
Zrrrk...
The headache subsided briefly.
But the last of the time magic crumbled, and ■■'s hand seemed poised to break through the rift.
"This really is the end. Back at the workshop, you'll find some useful items. That foolish remnant made a mess, but it should still be fine."
"Why go this far for me...?"
"Hahaha! Because you showed me a new world. It was worth all the preparation."
...Fitting for the Demon of Wisdom, right to the last.
Facing total annihilation, yet content with gaining new knowledge.
"One last thing."
"Stop! That's knowledge not permitted to you!"
As if to block those words, immense energy poured from the rift.
Kwaaaaang!
"Don't forget the precious bond from your Earth days. That person is still sacrificing for you."
"They're... alive?"
"I can say no more. It would only poison you. Find that person. Only then can you defeat ■■."
With those final words, Libramon clapped his hands—clap!—and sent me back to reality.
"Insolent worm, daring such folly!"
"Don't think you'll reign forever. Knowledge will pile up and up, until it claims your neck."
In my fading vision, Libramon's ultimate spell, fueled by his everything, came into view.
Shrieeeek!
A blinding light washed over me, and I lost consciousness.