Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: The Monolith's Sage
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It was a low, rumbling cry. Tearing his gaze from the campfire, he turned around. A magical beast was approaching, radiating murderous intent.
Gilliud pulled a potato from the fire and tossed it at the beast. He was tired. He wasn't in the mood to bicker.
When would the Monolith appear? He'd pinpointed the location, but the timing was unknown.
Events seen through the "Eye of Prophecy" were certain to occur, but the exact moment was unclear.
Sometimes it predicted down to the second, but often it didn't.
It was an unstable power. Even so, he had no choice but to rely on it.
Mana surged behind his back. The moment he twisted his body, the beast lunged. Spikes protruded across its entire form. Nerve poison seemed to seep from them.
Gilliud sighed. Newly born magical beasts were such a hassle. They lacked any judgment.
He channeled mana into "Bianc." From the activated Legacy extended a pure white arm.
The arm of will seized the enemy and tore it apart left and right. The beast shrieked as it was ripped open. The surroundings grew noisy, but he paid it no mind.
Intelligent magical beasts didn't come near this area.
Only the dim-witted ones reacted to smells and sounds. Or perhaps wild animals unable to endure their hunger.
Silence returned. Even the insects fell quiet.
He bit into the potato and cast his gaze toward where the Holy City lay.
By now, the massive chaos unleashed by "that thing" would have struck the Holy City. Rivers of blood would flow, walls of corpses piled high.
Both the humans turned into magical beasts and the explosions among the faithful were devices meant to provoke "that thing."
The monster harbored within Charlotte. The great being from another layer.
A supreme existence even veteran spiritists couldn't perceive would have crippled half the Holy City's functions.
Gilliud stared at the flickering flames.
If he hadn't commanded the faithful, if he'd diverted Charlotte elsewhere, the massacre wouldn't have happened. The innocent wouldn't have died unjustly.
But this was an event that had to occur. Sacrifices were inevitable for the future he desired, for the natural order he sought.
His emotions had dulled since he began foreseeing the future, but today, anxiety made his body tremble.
If this was the wrong choice, if no way to turn back the clock ever appeared, he would be branded a devil in the history books.
He exhaled deeply to clear his stray thoughts.
It was water spilled on sand. Impossible to gather once absorbed.
All that remained was to manipulate events perfectly so the destined future could arrive.
When "that day" came, everything could be reversed. At the very least, his future self had succeeded.
Returning to the origin while escaping the Realm. Humanity would finally gain free will.
The campfire flickered violently. An alien energy welled up behind him. Something that hadn't existed suddenly appeared.
An entrance defying the laws of existence. Gilliud turned from the fire. A massive monolith greeted him.
The Monolith. The Hut Sage had appeared.
Gilliud grabbed the prepared bottle of liquor and entered the hut.
"I told you I don't like that, but it doesn't matter, does it? We'll repeat this conversation endlessly anyway."
The Hut Sage said.
"I came back because I have questions for you."
"I know."
"I've realized it now. Our conversations are the chance to overturn the structure. Our last meeting was chance, but this one is deliberate. I'll change it. All of it."
"You've said similar things to me countless times. And I've given similar answers just as many. You've sought me out each time with tireless passion. And I've cooperated to escape this exhausting phenomenon."
The Hut Sage slumped into his chair as if truly weary.
"I've even forgotten what being tired means anymore. Do you know what my wish is these days? Death or oblivion. Just grant me one."
Gilliud looked at the sage's face. When he first discovered the Monolith and met the Hut Sage, he'd thought the man was a god.
The creator of the world. The maker of the Realm's laws. A being transcending time.
But no. The man before him couldn't be called omnipotent.
"Before we talk, there's something I need to confirm."
The moment Gilliud spoke, the Hut Sage bared his teeth in a loud laugh.
He laughed until he nearly choked, bending at the waist, then lifted his head. His eyes were hollow.
"Mr. Gilliud. You're truly tireless. And cruel. Though maybe it's natural. This challenge is 'the first' for you."
The sage stood. He paced the narrow hut, speaking in a low voice.
"I'll tell you something you'll want to know. I'm not a god. Just a pitiful human. A poor soul bounced from another Realm and fixed here."
"Another Realm?"
"I've explained it endlessly, but I'll do it again. This time, I'll share the info with both you, Mr. Gilliud, and Mr. Kalligo. For reference, you devised this plan. Connecting you two geniuses is my role. Boring, tedious, but necessary."
The sage clenched his fist. A glass appeared there. He poured the liquor Gilliud had brought and stared into it for a while.
"Realm, universe, world, existence. The place holding our concepts isn't one. Various Realms exist. Realms are severed worlds, usually unconnected, but unfortunates like me pop up occasionally."
"Did you come from another world?"
"Yes. A world different from this one. No such thing as magic there. Human history stretched long, citizens chose national leaders, classes were abolished but money created a new one..."
The sage shut his mouth.
"Anyway, it's different here. Though people are people anywhere."
"Were you exiled from that world?"
"Exiled? I'd prefer that. At least it'd have a reason. One day, I just fell here. Literally. Settled here with this hut."
"Was it your world's god?"
"No idea. I woke up, my apartment gone, living here instead."
Apartment? An odd-sounding word. Before he could ask, the sage continued.
"It's communal housing. Think of it as a large house. Not important."
"Fine."
"Now that you get I'm an outsider from another world, let's address what you're curious about, Mr. Gilliud. What follows is what you figured out, told me, and asked me to pass to your future self."
The past me to the future me. Gilliud watched the sage's mouth.
"You succeeded in turning back time, but failed simultaneously. A perfect failure at an unaware point."
"How many times have I repeated this?"
"About thirty? Maybe more. I stopped counting after twenty. Definitely under fifty, though. Not sure if that's good."
Thirty times. A dizzying number.
"How do you remember it?"
"No idea. I'm not a genius like you or Mr. Kalligo. I was average in school, a mediocre office worker. So don't ask me. I'm just a parrot repeating what you two deduced."
"Alright. Let's say it's because you came from another Realm."
The Hut Sage sat again. He ran his hands through his hair.
"As expected, calm. If our situations were reversed, I'd be shocked or disbelieving."
"I don't believe it. But facts and belief are unrelated. If it makes sense, my belief doesn't matter."
"Yes. That's you, Mr. Gilliud."
The Hut Sage downed the liquor in one gulp.
"Can't even get drunk here. It's maddening. Anyway, continuing. You've grasped that events repeat. Second point. This is your and Mr. Kalligo's hypothesis."
The sage placed his interlaced hands on his knee and leaned forward.
"That this Realm was suddenly created one day. By a single intelligent designer. A common language, common units, a social system subtly at odds with human rights ideas."
He unlinked his hands and continued.
"One moment, from a point, it expanded—like the Big Bang theory—this place was born.
* * *
"Inevil. I want to go outside."
"Staying cooped up here is suffocating, right?"
"Yeah. I want to go out and see the sky."
"You must have had it rough, our Charlotte. But can you hold on a bit longer? I'll visit every day."
"Do I have to endure this?"
"I'd be so grateful if you did."
Charlotte grimaced, then grinned.
"A lady knows patience."
"As expected of Charlotte. You're the only one who understands me, sis."
"I'll endure, so you really have to come every day. Sanka doesn't listen to me well."
"Promise. Every day."
Inevil hugged Charlotte and lay on the bed with her. Lander, watching from outside, smiled at the stabilized girl.
"It must be nice, Mr. Lander. You'd surely make a great dad if you had a child."
Kalligo said. He stood with hands behind his back, observing Charlotte like an intriguing specimen.
Lander raised a hand to block Kalligo's gaze.
"She's still a child."
"My mistake. That peculiar spirit she commands piqued my curiosity too much."
Those in research robes checked corridors here and there with clipboards in hand.
Three days after the incident, the Holy City buzzed with unprecedented efforts to repair the damage.
"Guchi! Help here!"
Belluna shouted.
Guchi, with his epaulets, passed by. Their eyes met briefly—her look pleading for rescue.
"That guy's too nice for his own good. These researchers go crazy for labor. With his top security clearance, they exploit him freely."
Kalligo chuckled as if amused. He waved at Guchi. A gesture of encouragement to keep going.
"How's the situation above?"
Lander asked, gazing at the blocked ceiling.