Chapter 63
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Choice
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I just can't buy it.
Calling yourself a Transcendent when you don't even know what the Open Forum is.
When exactly did you go from the 6th Hierarchy to the 7th?
Anonymous 1's tone had subtly shifted. He usually tossed out comments with a disinterested air, but now he sounded genuinely serious. Probably because he felt like he'd been tricked, changing his attitude.
Was claiming to be a Transcendent without knowing about the Open Forum that untrustworthy in their eyes?
It hasn't even been a year.
To be precise, I'd skipped the 7th Hierarchy entirely, but I'd already introduced myself to them as a 7th Hierarchy mage.
Part of me wanted to say I'd really skipped it. Being honest might get me more accurate advice.
But there was no helping it. Judging by their reactions, they probably wouldn't believe me if I said that.
What a clown.
You can't lie if you don't know the basics.
Do you think that makes any sense? Normally, you'd have spent the most time in the 7th Hierarchy compared to the others.
You're not lying about being a 7th Hierarchy mage too, are you?
We want to help our junior as much as possible, but lies are a problem.
If even Anonymous 2 was saying that, maybe I should reconsider... What was I supposed to do? It was the truth.
Why would I bother lying here of all places?
At that moment, Anonymous 2 spoke up.
I'd like to confirm with '0' if it's the truth. Would you require any compensation?
I swapped Manaphones as if I'd been waiting for it.
No, no need. Anonymous 4 is telling the truth.
Thank you. Someone unworthy of fortune-telling wouldn't have been let in here by '0' in the first place.
...Wasn't the attitude change a bit too quick?
Well, it wasn't bad for me.
It was a bit ridiculous, but... it was true that I'd become a Transcendent in less than a year since reaching the 7th Hierarchy (Phenomenon Realm).
Really?
But it's so unbelievable it's almost credible.
What are you?
I thought the most aberrant human was that guy everyone's calling the Hero now.
I've been watching him since he made a name as a Sword Master. But even his growth rate is mortal-level compared to yours.
Can you understand why I can't believe it?
A Sword Master was a realm comparable to a 7th Hierarchy mage.
He was saying even that Hero couldn't surpass it in less than a year.
Then, as if reaching some realization, Anonymous 1 sent another message.
Don't tell me.
You're this generation's Hero?
What's a Hero?
I knew all about it, but Anonymous 4 was supposed to be too new to know.
And besides, what Hero? I was the one about to forge a sword for one.
No, no way.
Magic Hero?
What about the sword?
Anonymous 1 had always been very interested in the Hero.
Then his train of thought must have reached '0'. After all, '0' knew the Hero's tomb location.
I want to ask '0'. Even if I have to pay for it.
So I swapped Manaphones again and replied.
Compensation can wait. He's not the Hero.
Huh...
Verification over?
By the way, what happened to the flower I gave you?
Anonymous 3 had been quietly watching, then seized the chance to ask.
Maybe he'd been busy parsing the fast-flowing conversation.
It's still here.
So you didn't become a Transcendent through some other means.
You really do have extraordinary talent.
There must be a reason '0' let in someone who doesn't even know about the Open Forum yet.
So you're a once-in-a-generation genius mage who surpasses the Hero without being one?
Anonymous 1 seemed to be grumbling exaggeratedly because it was hard to accept.
I knew he'd quiet down soon enough.
I never said that.
I just sought your help because your identities seem extraordinary.
I had no intention of lying.
But from the mood, do I need to pay to get help?
Strutting around was enough for '0's concept.
I had no intention of acting superior as Anonymous 4, so I humbled myself and laid it all out honestly.
And at the same time, signaling to them.
Genius this, talent that, but I was just a fledgling Transcendent.
The people gathered here treated even Probe Rank Transcendents as no big deal.
'Now... I want to know what the Open Forum is.'
Well... I wasn't planning to get anything from a newbie Transcendent anyway.
I'm willing to help. You've already asked a bunch anyway.
As my junior, I probably have a lot I can offer.
Then one last question before that.
Answer this, and I'll sincerely answer all your questions from now on.
Of course, magic's Anonymous 2's domain.
Did '0' choose you?
Anonymous 1 definitely knew a lot, was curious about a lot, and couldn't hold back his questions.
So he often asked things that made me nervous.
This time was no different. What choice?
Fortunately, I wasn't the only one wondering.
Choice? What choice do you mean?
Hmm.
I mean, have you become an Apostle?
Apostle?
What's an Apostle?
Apparently, even Anonymous 2 and 3 didn't know about it.
Even Anonymous 1, who asked directly, didn't sound entirely certain.
An Apostle related to '0'...
I had to think about it too.
What did he mean by Apostle?
'Is he talking about something like the Hero?'
I knew the Hero was a servant of some great being. And that the Hero faithfully followed it.
Otherwise, why would he engrave oracles on his sword every set period?
Right on cue, Anonymous 1 followed up with his speculation.
I've thought about why the Hero didn't ascend to greatness.
Maybe he received his power from someone else from the start.
Are you saying that someone is a great being?
Yeah.
Guidance is one thing, but beings who can directly share power are exceedingly rare.
I know. Serkanos is a prime example. He couldn't have given power directly to Anonymous 3.
Correct.
It's only been a short time since he ascended, so it's natural.
Serkanos was Anonymous 3's father—something Anonymous 3 had mentioned directly before.
The World Tree could do it back in the day, but now...
Yes, it's weakened now.
I haven't stepped into that realm myself, so I don't know much, but I've heard things.
Sephirot.
Anyone heard of it?
No.
First time for me too.
One who holds absolute authority among the great beings.
I suspect he granted power to the Hero.
I don't know the purpose, but the Hero drew a major line in his era and vanished.
Even thousands of years later, it's still talked about—no need to say how big the impact was.
A silence fell over the chat room at those words.
No one answered easily.
I was the same.
Sephirot?
If Sephirot was the one who gave power to the Hero as Anonymous 1 said, then Sephirot used primal mana.
And the massive tree behind the Hero's tomb would be connected to Sephirot too.
The problem was, no one knew if such an absolute being was still alive or dead.
'It felt like it was looking for a successor.'
- He who inherits the roots, you are not servant but master. The sword is the Hero's, but the hand that illuminates creation's light and leads fate is yours.
I remembered the inscription on the tombstone. I could enter my consciousness right now to confirm.
And I was pretty sure it referred to me. After all, I was the only one who could enter there.
I don't know much about the Hero, but isn't Anonymous 1 saying he was Sephirot's Apostle?
Exactly.
And Anonymous 4 is like '0's Hero.
Maybe even more than that.
Just look at the growth rate—he's already surpassed the Hero.
This was turning into something I couldn't answer right away.
If I agreed, it would nail me as greater than the being who made the Hero a servant.
Precisely, '0'.
Of course, staying silent would mean they accept it as true.
But denying it was ambiguous too.
Because...
'Am I Sephirot's successor?'
I was confused myself.
If the Hero was indeed Sephirot's Apostle... and Rozelin wasn't just a Hero candidate but the real next Hero.
Then what about me, planning to forge a sword with primal mana—the light of creation to lead fate—for that Hero?
He who inherits the roots. Not servant, but master.
Didn't all that point to being Sephirot's successor?
I even planned to bring the real Hero candidate Rozelin into this chat room.
Not as Anonymous 4, but somehow I ended up trying to bring my Apostle here, just as Anonymous 1 said.
Of course, all this hinged on Anonymous 1's info being accurate. He might be wrong.
That made it even harder to answer.
'Sephirot... Sephirot...'
In the end, I needed to learn more about Sephirot.
Did Joart know?
Then a stray thought hit me.
Apostle. A great being who grants power.
Didn't that sound a lot like the forces of evil?
Then the one called 'Him'... a great being on par with Sephirot?
Was Ard 'His' Apostle?
'What the...'
I just wanted to become a Transcendent and get some info, not have the conversation go like this.
For now, I picked up the Manaphone as Anonymous 4.
Anonymous 4 would say honestly that he didn't know. '0' could dodge somehow, but Anonymous 4 risked exposure if he pretended to know.
This is all new to me, so I'm a bit flustered.
I thought it might deflate them, but surprisingly, Anonymous 1 accepted it easily.
It might be something even you don't know.
The chosen one might not even know they're an Apostle?
Yeah. And doesn't it feel off somehow?
What feels off?
The fact that the chosen one doesn't know.
Suddenly, the chat room went dead silent, as if holding its breath.
For a brief moment, no messages appeared.
Then Anonymous 1's message came up again.
So I want to ask '0'.
No, I must ask.
Are we the ones chosen as your Apostles?