Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Law Addition - 1
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Kuung.
The place where I crashed was a flat plain.
The moment I drank the greed sludge, I imagined this lava zone turning into a plain.
And that imagination became reality.
Tak.
My companions, who had fallen with me, planted their feet on the ground.
Risel's voice echoed from the sky.
-Maide, did it work?
"Yeah. Come back now."
-Can you hear my voice?
"It comes through fine, so come back."
-What do I do? I guess you can't hear me.
No, you're the one who can't hear me.
Neril snickered and spoke through her soul connection.
[He says it comes through fine, so return to normal.]
[Oh, got it!]
The next moment.
Risel was by our side.
As if she'd been there from the start.
The moment she returned to human form, she said,
"Who would've thought even something like the greed sludge... I mean, liquid... could be stolen."
"Not sure."
"Huh?"
"I'm not sure if I really stole it or not."
"But we're actually standing on solid ground now."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Acteon's voice rang out.
"You caught on quick. Another one of your instincts?"
"......"
"You're right. No way could the power of just the Greed Demon King fully strip me of my ability. It's only temporary... just a few minutes at most."
I looked at the greed sludge in my hand.
'It's completely dried up.'
I was sure I'd left at least a couple sips behind.
The greed liquid regenerates to fill the vial as long as a single drop remains.
But now, the bottom of the vial was bone-dry.
The core of the Greed Demon King, the greed liquid, had vanished.
I'd never once thought the shit taste was good, but thinking about how incredibly useful it had been made my stomach ache.
And yet, it could only be stolen for a few minutes.
[Look on the bright side. Right now, at this moment, that special ability is yours.]
I was about to agree when.
Tak.
Without any warning, a screen popped up.
'What the hell. No time for this right now. I didn't even ask to see anything.'
[Wh-what's going on?]
'What are you talking about.'
[The screen came up on its own. I didn't do anything.]
What?
Then text began to appear.
[Ding! Your level has increased.]
[Level: Chosen by the World.]
What the hell?
Why did my level suddenly go up?
And what does this level name even mean? Chosen by the World?
Then lines of text scrolled down.
[Congratulations! You who have overcome all trials and gathered fame.]
[You have met the following conditions.]
[Fame 1,000,000 or higher - Achieved!]
[Handover from predecessor - Achieved!]
[Resolve to give up your most precious possession - Achieved!]
[As reward, 'Complete Eye of Omniscience' is granted. You can freely view secrets of all grades without needing to know the target's name.]
[As reward, 'Complete Blood Letters' is granted. You can now view your own Blood Letters.]
[As reward, you may 'add' one law to the world. However, laws harmful to humanity cannot be added.]
My head spun, nausea rising.
Understanding just that one message felt like it would take a full week.
What?
Where do I even start focusing?
Then Acteon's voice came.
"What's wrong. You look off."
"......?"
"Oh? Ah, I see. You stole my ability, didn't you?"
His voice sank.
"In other words, this world sees it as me handing it over to you."
How does he know that?
He's right.
There were three achievement conditions.
Fame over 1 million.
Handover from predecessor.
Giving up something precious.
I'd already met the first and third.
The second, handover, had just happened. By taking his ability.
"Tch. Must feel shitty."
"......"
"I get it. The burden you just took on is too heavy for you to bear."
"......"
"For now, my condolences. To you, who's at least temporarily become a 'slave to the world.'"
Slave to the world?
No. No time to worry about that now.
I gathered all my mental strength.
And told Trail,
'Show me the secrets. The one I tried to see earlier but failed.'
[What? Now?]
'Especially now. The handover I took from him is temporary. Once the ability returns to Acteon, I won't be able to use the Complete Eye of Omniscience.'
[Then just kill him with the world-manipulating power before that.]
Is it that easy?
'Acteon's survived 50,000 years hopping from body to body. I doubt the power to change terrain and climate here can kill him.'
[Ugh.]
'Hurry. Show me Acteon's weakness.'
[O-okay.]
Trail brought up the screen.
[Used Eye of Omniscience.]
[Current Eye of Omniscience level is 'Omniscience.' All secrets can be viewed.]
[Selection condition: 'Secrets related to Acteon Oscar's weakness.']
[This secret is 'Top Secret' grade. Viewing.]
And at the same time, time stopped.
I clicked my tongue at this frozen world I'd grown used to.
'Come to think of it, no time to leisurely check secrets like this.'
Not just me and Bellosian, but lately Neril and Adwin, who'd converted fame to power, could move in the Eye of Omniscience's frozen world.
Offense, Serein, and Risel, who'd snapped a twig just before, could too, naturally.
Let alone someone like Acteon...
'Huh?'
But he was frozen.
Acteon stood rigidly facing forward like a doll, not even blinking.
My companions, Idria, the arms of deceit—same for all.
'Ah. Because it's the Complete Eye of Omniscience? Trail, what about you?'
I waited a bit, but no voice from Trail.
The Complete Eye of Omniscience was a world permitted only to me.
I steadied my mind and checked the screen.
A familiar face appeared on the screen.
Impellium.
Across from him was someone I'd never seen before, bleeding and collapsed.
Who is that?
The moment I thought that, a name appeared above the figure's head.
-Acteon Oscar.
'They said I can know all the world's secrets.'
It was intriguing how it showed me right away when I wondered who it was.
Then Impellium spoke.
"Acteon. Who are you?"
"Kuhk. Cough. What a profoundly belated question. Can't you recognize your own party member?"
Then a woman's voice came from behind Impellium.
A voice I'd heard before.
Serad, who'd gifted the world's finest delicacy at the banquet.
"You're not Acteon. You're some trash that took over his body."
"Whew. I knew you'd figured it out, but damn, your mouth is foul. Impellium, you're in for a rough ride."
"Shut up. Give back our original comrade. Give us the real Acteon Oscar!"
From Serad's sharp voice, I realized.
'Acteon said he's survived 50,000 years hopping bodies.'
I checked the top right of the screen.
10,000 years ago from now.
In other words, just like he'd taken over Batore's body now, 10,000 years ago he'd taken over Impellium's party member's body.
Impellium spoke again.
"I'll ask once more. Who are you?"
"Acteon Oscar."
"......"
"Hey, hey. Don't get worked up. I'm not teasing—that's my real name."
Ptooey.
He spat blood-mixed saliva and continued.
"I've hopped bodies for a long time, but never changed my name."
"So... from the moment we first met?"
"Yeah. This body's original owner was eaten by me long before meeting you. And from then, I introduced myself as Acteon."
"......"
"So I didn't really lie. Right?"
Impellium's face hardened.
"Then let me rephrase. What do you want? Why side with Bellosian."
"Why ask me? Just check with your Eye of Omniscience."
"......That."
"Kekeke. Yeah, you couldn't see it. You don't have the 'Complete' Eye of Omniscience yet."
"Complete Eye of Omniscience?"
"Yeah, that exists. Anyway, I lost, so kill me."
For a split second, I almost yelled at the screen.
'Don't kill him! It's a trap!'
Bellosian had probably already interfered with the world's laws.
Unconditionally changing it to 'Heroes must not kill.'
Killing Acteon here would trigger punishment.
But of course, my voice didn't reach Impellium.
Swish.
He raised his sword.
"I have no hobby of playing judge, nor the qualification. But even I can confidently say this."
"......"
"Humanity would gladly agree to your death."
Screech.
Impellium's sword passed through Acteon's neck.
Even to me, who'd swung swords for years, it was flawlessly clean.
Thud.
His head hit the ground.
Serad patted Impellium's shoulder with a complicated expression.
"You okay?"
"No. Kinda bitter."
"Impellium."
"I knew from the Blood Letters that Acteon had sinned against us. But it was a level the Eye of Omniscience couldn't see."
He let out a deep sigh.
"So I ignored it."
"......"
"I believed, without evidence, that my party member wouldn't do wrong to me or us. A hero shouldn't do that."
"It's not your fault, and it wasn't too late. You weeded out the traitor right before the final battle with Bellosian."
Serad comforted him like that and hugged him.
After she soothed him for a while, Impellium regained his composure and said,
"Yeah. Can't mope like this. The fight's not over."
"Right."
"Whew. Down to just us two in the end. That bastard Adin sided with Bellosian too."
"I never liked him from the start."
"Heh. Lucky the one I can trust my back to at the end is you."
Serad blushed slightly and smiled.
"Same here."
"Thanks always, Serad."
"No problem."
"Alright. Time to head out."
They clasped hands tightly.
And walked off somewhere, step by step.
The screen flickered black.
When it brightened again, a completely different scene unfolded.
Hero Impellium and champion Serad.
Opposite them stood the Demon King of Deceit Bellosian and traitor Adin.
No.
More precisely, they were battered to a pulp.
'Huh.'
Bellosian in that state.
Just how strong was Impellium?
Then Bellosian, on the brink of death, opened his mouth.
"Cough. At this rate, I'm really gonna die."
"Bellosian! Do something now. I trusted only you to come this far..."
"Adin. You're the worst partner. Lecturing me at a time like this?"
"Sh-shut up."
Impellium glared fiercely at Adin.
He said,
"Never thought the final battleground would be Kiar Plains. Adin."
"H-hic."
"This is where we first met, right? Where you were preparing to become Spirit King."
Adin's lips trembled.
Impellium continued sternly.
"I knew long ago you had ulterior motives. Unlike Acteon, your secrets were plain to see."
"My secrets? What are you talking about."
"But I let you live. Know why?"
Adin shook his head instinctively.
Impellium sneered.
"Because I thought I could uncover Bellosian's secrets through you."
"......!"
"I hoped you'd interact with Bellosian as much and as long as possible. Any 'secret' between you would become prime intel for me."
Adin's face drained of color.
Bellosian looked at his partner in exasperation.
"Did I really team up with a total dud?"
"Shut up! Ugh... Impellium. My bad. Forgive me just once."
"Flipping like a lightning bolt."
"I told you to shut up."
"I'll make you flip once more."
Bellosian's final words were profoundly meaningful.
Serad glared and shouted at him.
"What nonsense?"
"I'm telling Adin. Your choice was excellent."
"......?"
"In other words, I'll kill Impellium right here."
"Ha. Talking big when you're one step from death."
Honestly, I'd thought before—Serad's personality resembles Neril's in some ways.
Then Bellosian said,
"Alright then. Time for my hidden card."