Chapter 97
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Fate (3)
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What do you mean, "what do you do"...?
Anonymous 1 paused briefly before replying right away.
You could say you've been chosen.
Chosen... you say?
I wondered how Rozelin, who knew nothing, would take those words.
For the newcomers, I'd used the word "invitation" at first, then told them they'd been "chosen" as my apostles.
The process had taken longer than expected.
From a Transcendent's perspective, it was a mere instant, but to those in the chat room, it felt like a natural flow of conversation.
Rozelin was different, though.
She'd essentially stumbled into a room where everything was already set in place.
...Would she feel repulsed?
Of course, it was too early to say one way or the other.
Right now, she was just surrounded by an unfamiliar situation and a swarm of questions.
It's the choice of '0'.
And who is this '0'?
You must have a ton of questions right now, but in time, you'll come to know naturally.
You've probably heard... of the great existence.
The great existence...?
?
Wait, no way... you're not... right?
What do you mean, not...?
Enlightened.
???
Whoa.
...Do these two even realize how ridiculous their exchange looks to outsiders?
I was also curious what reaction Anonymous 1 would have upon learning that Anonymous 5 was the hero he'd been searching for.
Deciding when to reveal it was a homework assignment for me, too.
As Anonymous 1 had casually mentioned in the past, it would expose that we were on the same side as the hero.
Of course, I had no intention of revealing it until Rozelin became a Transcendent.
To think a greenhorn who hasn't even achieved enlightenment would join us.
I have no idea why I have to take that from you.
And what the hell is this "enlightenment" anyway?
No, no.
You wouldn't happen to be some twisted monster, would you?
...A twisted monster somewhere?
Is he talking about me?
That makes me sound like some freakish being...
If anyone's a monster, wouldn't it be Anonymous 1 himself, who's been alive since ancient times?
Though I suppose I have to admit even an ancient creature like that is new to her.
I don't know why you're talking so carelessly.
If you're going to say stuff like that, why not show your face and talk?
Anonymous 1 seemed to enjoy playing the veteran.
But only he could lavish that much attention, replying to every single message.
In a way, he was covering some of the duties I'd have had as Anonymous 4.
As always, Anonymous 1 had such a peculiar personality.
Gruff on the surface, but deeply interested in others. The strongest in raw power and the most knowledgeable, yet equally curious.
Oh ho, I love face-to-face chats too.
But '0' might not allow it.
Don't forget we're anonymous here.
And if you leave it to Anonymous 1, even simple things will take forever.
Ask me if you have questions.
The chat room was buzzing again after a long lull.
When Anonymous 4 joined, I already knew everything, so I skipped unnecessary questions and blended into the flow quickly.
But Rozelin was noticeably green, and the ancient Transcendents couldn't miss that.
Not exploiting her, per se... but sorry, Rozelin, she was just fun to tease.
Rozelin seemed to catch on and started asking Anonymous 2 proper questions, who answered calmly.
So everyone here is a Transcendent.
From Anonymous 1 to 4, all of them...
I'm scared you might be another one like Anonymous 4.
I'm scary?
The world is scary.
...
So Anonymous 4 wasn't originally a Transcendent either.
That's for him to explain when he shows up.
He's so busy he only appears when he has business.
Anyway, I only called you a monster because of Anonymous 4.
You said this '0' is the strongest being who invited us all.
The reason is...
The day will come when he'll tell you himself.
Even when speaking of '0', Anonymous 2 avoided the word "apostle".
She was probably wrestling with the same dilemma as me. Hearing "apostle" for the first time might burden her.
Or maybe she felt it wasn't her place to say.
Still, having heard "chosen" and "invited", she could probably guess.
That this wasn't just any chat room.
I was still biding my time. The day I'd speak to her as '0' would likely be when my preparations for the next hero came to light.
And her joining this chat meant she'd imprinted her Unique Mana Pattern.
If she knew of me—or rather, had heard the name Ivan—she'd know about mana pattern recognition.
'...We'll cross paths at the banquet soon enough.'
I could gauge her reaction then.
What would she think of me?
The Manaphone creator? A follower of '0'? One of the anonymous members? Or... could she even suspect I was the real '0'?
Few would imagine a 7th Circle mage hiding the existence of '0'.
She might connect the dots if I released real smartphones nationwide under the name Ivan.
By then, I'd already have one foot in the Origin.
In any case, Rozelin didn't fully grasp the chat room's inner workings yet.
Even so, there was definitely a risk.
'The risk of holding the hero in my grasp...'
I was confident in evading with vague words, as always. No matter how sharp, no one could press me with clues that thin.
In the meantime, the carriage arrived at a small territory in the empire's south.
My hometown, Vieirn.
Rozelin eyed the words continuously scrolling across the black stele.
She was in a rundown training ground, just borrowing the space temporarily, so she couldn't use it freely.
The stele was only meant for a quick glance before training, but she'd already spent half the day staring at it.
It wasn't wasted time, though. Anonymous 2 had cleared up several curiosities.
'Transcendents, huh...'
Not just Anonymous 2—everyone already in the room was a Transcendent.
How strong were they?
Transcendents seemed like insurmountable mountains to ordinary folk like her, but Cedric had taught her otherwise.
That even among them, the strong and weak were clearly divided.
'Stronger than Cedric?'
And who was '0'? The being who'd gathered four Transcendents ahead of time. The great existence.
From the vibe, clearly stronger than them, and they seemed to trust and follow this '0'. Like any organization with a hierarchy.
'He invited me?'
Hard to swallow easily.
All those traps she'd broken through, even toppling the stone giant—just to get these items, all planned?
No, did Cedric even know?
He was the one who'd sent her to where she found the stele.
But right now, nothing could be confirmed.
Cedric said he'd return once she became a Transcendent.
Honestly, if she could meet him now, she might spill everything.
He knew so much and answered her questions without hesitation.
'...Am I relying on him too much?'
The thought hit her, and she steeled herself.
Come to think of it, she'd come to trust Cedric deeply. Beyond trust, she was leaning on him. Every tough spot, his name popped up first...
'I can't expect Cedric to solve everything.'
She'd barely even seen his face properly.
'This isn't the old me...'
Having never leaned on anyone before, it took time to notice the change.
'Think of something else. Anything else.'
She deliberately turned her gaze back to the stele.
What purpose did '0' have in choosing and inviting her?
The other anonymouses just said '0' would reveal it in time.
But even waiting, '0' said nothing.
She had tons more questions, but she'd lingered too long.
She still had her daily training quota.
The stele's meaning and how to handle it weren't clear yet, but it was worth keeping close.
This tiny thing letting five Transcendents—including '0'—chat freely without limits.
That alone erased any thought of discarding it.
And it firmed her resolve. She had to become a Transcendent quickly.
As she vowed that and moved to set the stele down, she hesitated.
'What if he messages me while I'm not looking?'
Leaving it lying around made her uneasy for no reason.
So she tucked it snugly into her waistband.
She twisted her body a few times to check comfort, adapted, and reached for her sword again.