Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: There Are No Good High Elves in the World (5)
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Great Sage.
The world calls them observers, or bystanders.
The fact that it's "them" means there isn't just one Great Sage, but two in total—twins.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 【 Great Sage - Alena 】 【 Great Sage - Elena 】 "What is it you wish to ask us?"
In truth, "Great Sage" refers to the two of them combined as one.
It's said they possess clairvoyance that lets them see the past and future: the younger sister, Alena, glimpses the past, while the older sister, Elena, peers into the future.
But why are they called Great Sages, who know all the knowledge of the world...?
Simply seeing the future and the past.
That's all it amounts to for an ordinary prophet or chronicler.
Those two twins could merge their powers to access the Akashic Records, containing all truths of the world—that's why they were called Great Sages.
In fact, that's the very reason elves dream of becoming High Elves.
They can feel the forces moving the universe and even experience the cultures of other worlds... How could any elf resist that temptation?
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 【 Great Sage - Alena 】 "We have seen fates."
Elves, already blessed with long lives and little to do, all fall to that temptation and begin secluded training.
Following the exact method provided by the Great Sage.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 【 Great Sage - Elena 】 "We have heard voices."
It involves spending centuries in utter solitude, focusing solely on the flow of mana without any contact from the outside world.
Do that without fail for centuries, and you'll sense the flow of all mana in this world—eventually even the movements of the universe itself, they claimed.
Once you grasp the universe's movements, you'll reach the domain of the legendary Transcendents...
...Yeah, it was all bullshit, really.
Of course, it wasn't entirely a lie.
It did contain one method for an elf to evolve into a High Elf, but honestly, it was bloated with unnecessary crap.
The true way for an elf to become a High Elf ties into the authority of Time's Transcendent Diavela—it's not something you achieve by mindlessly living as a hermit in the woods.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 【 Great Sage - Alena 】 【 Great Sage - Elena 】 "Transcendent Diavela whispered as much to us."
That raises one question.
Why spout such bullshit?
Even if an elf becomes a High Elf after enduring such torment, the result is pathetic, by their own admission.
High Elves who spend centuries tormenting themselves until their souls drift away from their true selves, losing emotions like humanity and unable to live normal lives.
And at the end of such High Elves lies only death.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 【 Great Sage - Alena 】 【 Great Sage - Elena 】 "Tell you the future of this world."
Yet they still needed High Elves.
It was also the trial imposed upon them.
Not every High Elf can see the future or recall the past.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 【 Great Sage - Alena 】 【 Great Sage - Elena 】 "Beneath the gears of this world's fate, only you can move freely."
It was the authority of the Transcendents.
They could see the future and past only because they shared in that authority.
Moreover, for mortals to wield such immense power, a tremendous price was required.
It was a force too great for one person to bear, so the "apostle" had to be split into two.
That's why they needed "feed."
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 【 Great Sage - Alena 】 【 Great Sage - Elena 】 "Thus, only you... only you alone can change this world's predetermined future."
They were apostles and messengers at once.
Their role was to deliver power capable of opposing Fallen Transcendent Delatros to players, beings from another world.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 【 Great Sage - Elena 】 "And ultimately, decide this world's fate."
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 【 Great Sage - Alena 】 "...Whether the fate you choose for the world is ruin or salvation is none of our concern."
That was the sole purpose of the Great Sage twins, Elena and Alena.
Here, High Elves were just one form of feed to sustain their power.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 【 Great Sage - Alena 】 【 Great Sage - Elena 】 "He has already descended. This world will soon face judgment. Time is running out."
The authority of a Transcendent consumed vast amounts of mana.
Even a High Elf with immense mana reserves would exhaust and die from continuous use.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 【 Great Sage - Alena 】 【 Great Sage - Elena 】 "So follow us. Transcendent Diavela awaits you."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 1.
《 ~Neutral Stage~ Miresho Cabin 》
Good thing I boosted my holy resistance beforehand.
"Now, if you want to live, spill everything you know. Great Sage Alena."
Honestly, midway through, my consciousness blurred from the holy power of Transcendent Diavela flowing from her.
As a demonkin, I have properties opposed to the Transcendents' power, so contacting their apostles like "saints" or "judges" isn't a smart move.
'It was a gamble of sorts, but I can call it a win.'
I figure it was a battle of mental fortitude.
Until she brought her real body here, I had to play possum and endure.
And thinking about what she did in the process...
Ugh, not something I want to dwell on.
Who in the world would want to go through that? Especially when it leaves you feeling so disgusted with yourself—count me out for round two.
"...Haa, I surrender. You just want to go back to your original world, right? That Earth or whatever."
She bit her lip, glaring at me, then let out a sigh and schooled her face into blank neutrality.
Right, what I want is to return to Earth—
"...How do you know about Earth?"
But this is unexpected.
She said it like she knew all about it.
Well, I knew from the lore that Great Sages can perceive other worlds.
"I'm a Great Sage, you know? I can easily read the mind of a demon like you."
"Sure, and that's how you got caught messing with one."
"Argh, seriously! Shut that mouth of... No, I mean, could you please close that insolent trap?"
...What kind of attitude switch is this?
She just yelled at me to shut up a second ago, but now she's shaking her head and adopting some refined air?
'In Novel Online, she definitely spoke more like the latter...'
Anyway, let's set that aside.
If she knows about Earth, it speeds things up and works in my favor.
Besides, I've got her captured.
That means I might skip the bullshit rituals to enter the Great Sage's tower.
I prepped the materials already, but some are rare enough that it'd be nice to save them.
"Fine. I'll shut up special for you, so spill everything you know."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A moment later.
"...And that's how you came to this world."
The Great Sage finished her tale.
Honestly, her ten-minute rundown wasn't anything groundbreaking—it was just everything I'd been through up until arriving here.
My peaceful daily life, suddenly dropped into this world.
Then the six months in that cursed magic tower.
And from there to now—short if short, long if long—she knew it all.
...Including the current state of Earth.
You are an Irregular. A being that shouldn't exist in this world by rights, an unstable state that somehow manifests due to some reason despite being impossible. She even tacked on that incomprehensible bit.
"See? Now do you understand why I know about the world you lived in?"
"You read my memories. Today or yesterday."
I suspect she peeked during that mess recently.
I knew those shady acts she pulled were to siphon my mana.
Probably read my memories in the process.
Before realizing she was the Great Sage, I just thought she was a perverted brat. Unless my mana hit zero—which it didn't, regenerating as fast as she drained—I had no clue...
"Exactly. Your mana was top-tier. Something no ordinary High Elf could touch."
She licked her lips seductively with her tongue.
-Rustle
Then she slyly wrapped her arms around me.
Pulling me gently toward her, she whispered into my ear.
"...So, why not let me taste it again? This time, in my bedroom."
Her voice drilled straight into my mind.
That sweet timbre tickled the ears and toyed with the brain.
It even heated the body slightly, stirring a strange excitement...
"What do you say? So won't you let me—"
-Slap!
"Ahh?!"
So I slapped her cheek.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ultimate Illusion Magic Seduction has failed.] The nerve of this bitch.
"I shut up, and you think I'm a pushover? Damn, if you weren't the Great Sage, I'd have killed you on the spot."
"Ugh, got it, I understand! No, I-I'm sorry. Anyway, your questions are answered now, right? I even told you your world is (censored)—"
She snaps in anger, then flashes a bright smile.
Just like in the game, her innocent grin signals she's harmless.
'Can't let my guard down. Turn away for a second, and she'll scheme behind my back—just like in Novel Online. Appearance matches perfectly, bar the outfit.'
Well, up close, she's pretty cute, objectively speaking.
She is a High Elf, after all.
Unlike the others, her eyes are golden...
"No, can't do that."
Either way, I can't release her here.
Not killing her, though.
She deserves death for what she did while I slept yesterday and today, but she's the Great Sage.
'Unlike Lewis, she's no idiot—might backstab anytime. Slave contract... she could break it. Rip out her womb to seal her magic?'
In other words, she knows all the truths of this world.
"Capturing a Great Sage outside her tower, and one of the twins at that, is no easy feat."
"Y-You're not thinking something scary, are you?"
"Heh, who knows."
So keeping her around as a guide isn't a bad idea.
Plus, while returning to Earth matters, reclaiming the "Great Sage's Magic" does too.
"Once you're useless, I'll send you back. Oh, I'll extract and store your memories separately, of course."
"Ugh... No helping it, huh."
Threaten her here, and I might reclaim those spells without trekking to the tower.
-Crackle!
"Huh?"
Then Alena suddenly cast transformation magic again.
A variant of Transform—she reverted to that child elf girl form.
"Pointless. Think I'll fall for that twice?"
Won't work.
Now that I know it's fake, one shock breaks the spell.
"I'm not trying to trick you."
...She's smiling?
But she was grinning.
Does she think I won't hit a kid? Sure, I'd hesitate, but I can stomp a perverted brat like her no problem.
She knows that, though...
'Why?'
Hmm, no idea what scheme she's cooking, but better dispel it quick.
Leave it, and it might get risky—
-Creak!
"Cyan! Are you in this roo—"
"Lewis?"
Suddenly, the cabin door swung open as Lewis barged in.
Come to think of it, I hadn't seen him in a while. Actually just a day, but it felt like four—
-Thud!
"Guh?!"
A heavy impact to my side.
I'd poured most of my qi into the boundary to block her teleport, so I couldn't react.
No damage, but I lost hold of Alena.
Because Lewis body-slammed me.
"Lewis, you bastard—"
"Wh-What the hell are you doing?! I wasn't enough, so now you're going after a little kid too, Cyan?!"
I glared up at him, and there he was, clutching the child-formed Alena protectively while eyeing me warily.
Idiot doesn't even know what she is.
What stupid misunderstanding this time?
"Hee hee hee..."
Laughter tinkled in my ear.
From Alena, suddenly in Lewis's arms.
'Why's she so pleased? This is bad.'
No matter how he shields her, Lewis is a pushover—snatching her back would be like taking candy from a baby...
...Wait, she pushed me back way more than expected.
Five meters at least. Don't tell me that's what she was aiming for!
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Heavenly Demon Divine Art 3rd Form - 『Boundary (界)』 ※ Attribute: Physical / Range: 5m / Max Targets: 1
> Creates a fixed area as your own space. Within this range, external barriers have no effect.
"That's exactly it."
"You little—!"
"Huh?"
I charged straight at her.
Now I get her game.
She used transform to fool Lewis and put distance between us.
...And Lewis fell for it beautifully.
"Bye-bye, you dumb demon! No wonder you're still a virgin at your age! Idiot! Moron!"
-Flash!
"Ah—"
And just like that, the Great Sage teleported away.
Probably back to her tower, wrapped in dozens of impenetrable barriers. No tracking her.
"U-Um, Cyan? Did I mess up somehow?"
Yeah, I let the captured Great Sage slip right through my fingers.
Lost the chance to grab her magic and more, without all that grind.
"C-Cyan? I don't know what happened... You're not mad, right? It was an honest mistake."
All because of that damn red lizard brat.
"Lewis."
"Yeah?"
"...Until I return from Arke, I'll lock you in a room with tentacles. Should take a few days. No resisting, by order."
"P-Pardon...?"