Chapter 131
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Limbo (7)
In the dim space, the Apostles exchanged opinions, their shadows stretching long behind them.
But a voice that instantly silenced their whispers rang out deep in each of their minds.
[A new force we didn't know about has revealed itself.]
It was the Lord's voice.
The Apostles all bowed deeply to greet the Lord.
One Apostle cautiously spoke up.
"Could it be... you already knew about this situation?"
[I do not know. Even I cannot count how many groups exist, each harboring their own intentions.]
[However, what is clear is that they have already amassed enough power to warrant our caution.]
The Apostles all nodded in agreement.
"Who would have thought there'd be a Transcendent of non-action."
"If it's the king of the Heavenly Dragon Clan as we suspected... isn't it a tragic fate? He ultimately failed to ascend to greatness."
"We have no need to concern ourselves with his fate."
"Is there no way to bring him to our side?"
"Hm... who knows. If he's already joined some group, they must have their own intentions and goals. A being of non-action can't be forcibly recruited."
One of the Apostles, Ad, muttered lowly.
"The revival of the Demon King..."
"Oh, right. Weren't you in charge of that business with the Demon King or Hero...?"
Ad flinched at the words before shaking his head.
"Couldn't find the Hero."
"Hmmm. You've had no results lately."
At that moment, the first Apostle, Seiton, spoke.
"I don't think it's that simple. Doesn't something feel off? Lately, our plans have been subtly going awry everywhere. It's as if someone knows what we're trying to do in advance and is interfering. Not just Ad, but even Asma's matter."
"You mean the force the Heavenly Dragon Clan's king belongs to... has figured out our plans?"
A rebuttal came immediately.
"That seems like too much of a leap. Connecting every recent annoyance into one thing... isn't that overreaching?"
"Come to think of it, there was that human named Ivan who fooled us before Asma."
"You think that bastard's part of the same crew?"
"Think about it. Didn't we discuss Asma's plan while that guy was around?"
"But even if they knew the plan, how did they pinpoint Limbo's exact location in that short time?"
"..."
There was no response to that.
"Damn it. No matter what trick that human pulled, we should have recovered the body."
The Apostles recalled the scene.
As soon as the Lord appeared, the being they believed to be Ivan shattered into pieces and scattered in an instant.
It had been a fake. The Lord had known and slaughtered the impostor Ivan.
Yet none of the Apostles had realized it was a fake until then.
The fragments vanished lightly into the air without light or smoke.
Confirming this, the Lord had departed without a single word.
As a heavy silence fell over the Apostles, the Lord's voice rang out once more.
[Interference will continue endlessly from here on.]
[Simply carry out your assigned tasks.]
[Nothing will change because of this.]
The Apostles all bowed their heads.
"Yes, Lord."
I escaped Limbo alongside the Tower of Wisdom.
This was, of course, after securing the Oracle Stele.
Of course, we still couldn't be certain that the stele we'd taken was truly the Oracle Stele. I couldn't check its nature with primal mana right in front of the watchful Tower of Wisdom.
I was the one who first suggested taking the stele and leaving, while the Tower of Wisdom pointed out that we should inform '0' first.
It was too mild to call it an argument, but the conclusion was simple.
Given Limbo's current state, there was no choice but to take it with us.
The Tower of Wisdom ultimately agreed quickly.
Stepping out of Limbo felt like emerging from a fierce dust storm into a blue meadow.
The suppression on mana use had lifted, amplifying the sensation.
But I couldn't simply rejoice. Traces of prisoners who had escaped through cracks in the ground and vanished dotted the surface everywhere, and even now, the presences of those who had fled were spreading in all directions.
As I scanned the surroundings, the Tower of Wisdom, shouldering the Blazing Glory, spoke.
"What do you plan to do with this one?"
"Is there a separate treatment method?"
"Well... unless there's some special elixir I don't know about somewhere, it's progressed too far. Overcoming it on his own is the only thing that comes to mind."
"Then someone will have to stick with him until then."
I said that and stared straight at the Tower of Wisdom.
The Tower of Wisdom met my eyes, held out for a few seconds, then let out an incredulous chuckle.
"...Surely you're not telling me to do it? You want me to play babysitter for this guy?"
"..."
Silent affirmation.
The Tower of Wisdom's face grew even more incredulous.
"...What the hell do you take me for?"
Of course, I knew better than anyone that he wasn't the type to be ordered around like that.
But there was no helping it.
With things as they were, I'd have even more to handle going forward.
As Ivan, as Cedric, and as '0'.
I took a moment to steady my breath and spoke honestly.
"I've got a lot on my plate."
"Anyone else?"
"What else is there?"
"..."
The Tower of Wisdom seriously rolled his eyes in thought.
And his conclusion.
"...No."
"I'll look into a separate treatment."
At that, the Tower of Wisdom clicked his tongue.
"It'll probably resolve itself before you find anything... Having to nurse a male... There's nothing more dreadful."
I ignored the Tower of Wisdom's complaints and smoothly shifted the conversation.
"Anyway, our business here is done."
"Mm... We should keep an eye on whether that Chamal guy makes it safely to the Merciful Crown. Well, if he was locked in Limbo, there's no worry now that he's escaped."
I thought the same.
One potential issue: Chamal might have changed his mind in Limbo.
Experiences in Limbo were enough to twist most minds.
...All I could do was hope he hadn't.
I couldn't control that much. For now, communication via the chat room with the Merciful Crown was the only option.
Once word came that he'd arrived safely, I could demand what I wanted then.
"We'll have to part ways here for now."
"Yeah. But are you taking the stele?"
"Seems best. If you plan to ask something of '0' in return..."
"Nah, doesn't matter. Strictly speaking, you found it first."
The Tower of Wisdom handed over the stele more readily than expected, without the slightest hesitation.
"We might meet again soon... Perhaps before long."
"Before long?"
"Doesn't it feel like something's about to happen? '0' must have anticipated this. I don't know what he truly wants, but we've learned quite a bit this time. That his goals are being achieved step by step, and that '0' is definitely connected to the Sephirot somehow."
"...Is that so?"
"Think about it. Has anything '0' said so far not come to pass exactly as he predicted?"
In truth, it was because I already knew and acted accordingly.
The Tower of Wisdom had no way of knowing the inside story.
But that misunderstanding would only solidify '0's image.
Then, curiosity struck me, and I asked.
"Why do you follow '0'?"
At the question, the Tower of Wisdom pondered again before letting out a short chuckle. A soft pfft.
"Simply put, it's fun. I have no intention of being relegated to a spectator in this intriguing game. My place isn't some back-row seat. And you? Why do you follow?"
Well... because I'm '0'.
But obviously, I couldn't say that.
"Something similar to you."
"Something similar?"
"You know."
"You're one shady bastard."
"Not shady, discreet."
"Same difference."
The future was unknowable.
The Tower of Wisdom might learn someday. That I am '0'.
How would he react then?
Would he rage? Or chuckle like now and say he knew it?
Or perhaps grow even more intrigued, savoring the thrill as all the pieces fell into place?
Even actually meeting and conversing with the Tower of Wisdom like this was something my past self never would have foreseen.
So I couldn't presume.
Still, as before, I'd steer the future as much as my reach allowed.
Even if it was like rowing a small boat through raging currents.
Lifting the Merciful Crown's curse, and if possible, resolving the constraints on Naked Truth as well.
This was the task I'd set for myself right after achieving magical integration.
But more urgent was finding the Hero's arrangements.
The former were things I could accomplish with my own will to some extent, but finding the Hero's arrangements required more than that.
Roselin would soon realize she was the Hero.
I felt that moment approaching.
Would this stele contain arrangements for the Hero?
But before that.
After parting with the Tower of Wisdom, I headed straight for the Empire.
The continent was in turmoil now; the Empire needed to know. With my family and those close to me there, preparations had to be made.
And to handle Limbo's prisoners, at least Maron's group would need to mobilize. They'd step up to defend the Empire.
