Chapter 769: The Final Guidance
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 769: The Final Guidance
"One" represents the unique; it also represents the first.
"Descent" represents a coming from the heavens, a birth, an emergence into the world.
Combined with her teacher’s mention of the "Source of the Great Chaos," Ariel immediately deduced the true identity of the entity wandering not far from her.
Having explored so many ancient ruins and witnessed so many historical remnants, she was acutely aware of just how terrifying the source of the calamity that had nearly wiped out an entire civilization truly was.
Civilization severed, humanity destroyed, cities abandoned and turned to dust.
To describe it as an apocalyptic disaster was no exaggeration. Even now, a full thousand years later, human civilization had yet to return to the heights of that golden age.
One could glimpse the brilliance of that era through the ancient ruins and ancient magic whose principles remained a mystery to this day.
Unfortunately, no matter how brilliant the era, there comes a moment of collapse—and "He" was the source of it all.
"Control your thoughts! Do not think His name in your mind!"
Sensing that Ariel had realized the answer, Peles immediately issued a stern warning.
"We are too close to 'Him.' Not just speech, but even keywords in your thoughts could be detected."
"I know." Ariel nodded. "I’m not so foolish as to break such a taboo."
"Good." Peles visibly relaxed.
Even for her, waking up to find the most terrifying Evil God in history—even if it was just a remnant shadow—practically in her face was enough to make her heart race. Though, as a soul, she didn't actually have a heartbeat.
Still, she was somewhat used to this. This was Ariel, after all. The last time Peles had awakened, Ariel had provoked some unknown entity in an ancient ruin, and Peles had to carry her through a desperate escape to prevent even their souls from becoming the creature's food.
Ariel was brave, fearless, and possessed a fighting spirit... but occasionally, she had a bit too much of it.
One never knew if the reason they were being woken up was because Ariel had stirred up some massive trouble.
"But speaking of which..." Peles stroked her chin, a hint of confusion surfacing. "I can understand you getting into a mess, but why is Muen Campbell by your side? And why is he wearing the face of that Miss Muse you’re always pining for?"
No matter how much she thought about it, Peles couldn't understand how this had happened.
Compared to why "He" was here, this matter was significantly more complicated.
As Ariel’s closest mentor, she knew that Ariel used to mutter the name of that beautiful girl—who perfectly fit her preferences—even in her sleep. On countless nights spent tossing and turning, Ariel had hesitated over whether to dial her frequency.
Though she claimed to be a master of emotions, at those times, Ariel was exactly like a brat experiencing their first crush.
But why was Miss Muse here now? And more importantly, why was the person beneath that skin the Muen Campbell she hated most?
Peles might have missed it earlier while suppressing her power, but now that her soul power was fully active, she could see through "Miss Muse’s" true form at a glance.
Even for someone who had seen countless absurdities over a long life, she couldn't help but feel a profound sense of shock.
She simply could not understand.
"...That is a long story." Ariel let out a long sigh, her eyes turning into those of a dead fish again, as if she had seen through all the truths of the world. "Teacher, all you need to know is that the first thing I’m going to do when I get out of here is hack him to death."
"Is that so?" Peles thought for a moment. "Then should I protect him? After all, he’s exposed to the influence of 'His' pollution. Even if he seems fine for now, it might not be long before the corruption twists him into a total monster."
"..."
In the real world, Ariel peeked through a tiny slit in her eyes, forcing herself not to look toward the direction of that seductive "rustling" sound. She only looked at Muen beside her.
His expression was pained, and one of his hands was flailing about, seemingly trying to grab onto something.
He looked like a drowning man—pathetic and ridiculous, liable to sink completely at any moment.
Ariel sighed softly.
"Fine. The guy still owes me a hundred million. If he dies, who’s going to pay me back?"
Yes, it was all for the hundred million.
And so she could personally kill him later.
Enduring the disgust in her heart, Ariel reached out and grasped that flailing hand.
Warmth transferred between them.
In an instant, Muen’s expression calmed, as if he had returned to a place of safety.
"Oh my." Peles raised an eyebrow in surprise. "It seems I’ve missed quite an interesting show while I was asleep."
"...There was no show. You’ve misunderstood, Teacher."
Ariel sank her consciousness back into her spiritual space, staring expressionlessly at her gossiping teacher.
"Instead of thinking about such meaningless things, isn't the most important thing right now figuring out how to leave? By the way, is your protection actually useful? We're talking about 'Him,' after all."
"Heh. If it were 'Him' in His full form, ten of me wouldn't be enough. But what you’ve encountered is merely a remnant shadow."
"A remnant shadow?"
"Yes. A shadow wandering this place, following the tracks of the past. But even a remnant is terrifying enough. That’s why I told you not to do anything that might draw His attention. If He discovers there are little bugs hiding here, even I will be helpless."
"Is it really that scary?"
Ariel couldn't help but shrink back. This was the first time she had heard her teacher—who always seemed capable of solving any problem in the world at the critical moment—so bluntly admit her own weakness.
Usually, when facing an opponent she couldn't handle, she would stubbornly insist, "Back in my day..." or "If I only had my physical body back..."
Now that she wasn't even being stubborn, it meant "He" was truly terrifying beyond imagination, even as a mere shadow.
"I feel like you’re thinking something very rude again."
Peles flicked Ariel’s forehead. Since it was just a manifestation of mental power, it didn't actually hurt.
"As for the way out... we can only wait."
"Wait?"
"Wait for 'Him' to leave on His own. If I’m not mistaken, He is only wandering this area and won't stay in one spot for long."
"That makes sense."
Ariel recalled Zagu’s soul saying that "that entity" had been drawn here by their battle.
Since it could be drawn here, it would naturally leave once it failed to find its target.
So, they waited.
Ariel composed her mind and waited quietly.
Muen did the same. After confirming that Ariel’s side was completely safe, he temporarily shut down all his senses and fell into a state of total stillness.
The two of them were like infants, holding hands, floating in a space so twisted and malformed that even the concepts of up, down, left, and right seemed corrupted, waiting in silence.
Finally, after an unknown amount of time.
"All right."
Buzz.
Peles’s voice and the slight vibration of the Black Book echoed simultaneously in Ariel’s and Muen’s spiritual spaces.
The two of them opened their eyes at the same time, instinctively looking at each other.
In the first instant, they both saw the relief of having survived a disaster on the other's face. Then, as their gazes moved from their faces to their tightly joined hands, that relief turned into the horror of "let me explain" and the fury of "why aren't you dead yet?"
Ariel violently flung Muen’s hand away, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her own hand repeatedly.
Bad luck! So much bad luck! The "Yellow Hair Virus" was going to infect her!
And to think she had encountered such a cursed thing more than once in such a short time.
Beside her, Muen curled his lip. It’s not the first time, is such an overreaction necessary? You’re still wearing Miss Muse’s appearance—just because I’m a blonde guy on the inside, you don't love me anymore? Slut!
But...
What he thought was one thing; what he said was another.
"Ahem. Thank you."
Gratitude was still necessary. Although he hadn't been in mortal danger at the time, compared to the Black Book—which liked to wash its hands of things and let him handle it himself—Peles’s soul power was much more considerate, sparing him a great deal of external mental torture.
"No need to thank me. I only did it for my hundred million."
Ariel crossed her arms and turned away grumpily. It seemed that having to save the detestable Muen Campbell once again had made her very unhappy.
"Fine... okay."
Muen swallowed the flattery he had prepared.
Ariel didn't have a particularly obvious tsundere trait; she wasn't like Celicia, who was completely dishonest with her feelings. It was better to take her words as her true thoughts.
Otherwise, her Heavenly Fire Greatsword might actually come swinging down at any moment.
"So, next, we should..."
"You’re asking me?"
"Right. Fair point."
Muen scanned their surroundings. Although "His" remnant shadow had left, the twisted traces remained. Countless mad, chaotic lines were interwoven. Standing there, a normal person would doubt whether this was even reality.
Fortunately, both of them had means to block the pollution. Any normal person would have already become part of those twisted lines.
"Since He’s gone, there’s no time to lose. Let’s head to the final destination."
"Wait a moment."
Suddenly, a pleasant female voice rang out.
Muen’s eyes widened as he saw a translucent shadow drift out from Ariel. It looked like a wisp of dense green smoke, but it transformed into a figure with an hourglass silhouette and a face that rivaled any beauty Muen had seen. However, the depth and world-weariness occasionally glimpsed in her eyes highlighted a maturity that didn't match her youthful appearance.
"Teacher?"
Muen wasn't the only one surprised; Ariel was too. "Why did you come out?"
"I don't know to what extent you trust this cross-dressing pervert..." Peles let out a helpless sigh. "But how could you be so negligent? He was in contact with that level of distortion for so long, and you didn't even think to check if he’s been polluted?"
"Wait, what’s this about being a pervert..." Muen quickly raised his hand, like a student trying to point out a teacher's mistake.
"Ah." Ariel clapped her hands, seemingly not hearing a word Muen said. "Right. How did I forget?"
"Never mind. You’re meticulous in a crisis, but you’ve been careless in small matters more than once. Focus on recovering your state; I’ll handle this."
Peles’s figure drifted, appearing in front of Muen in an instant.
Because she was just a soul phantom, Muen didn't sense any aura, but the pressure was very real.
"Hello, Muen Campbell. You may call me Peles. I am Ariel’s teacher."
"He... hello."
"Oh? You don't seem surprised by my existence at all?"
Peles—the ancient being—scrutinized the current Muen. Of course, she wasn't looking at his false outer skin, but the real Muen Campbell.
For a moment, Muen felt as though he were being completely seen through, but this state seemed limited to his physical body and didn't penetrate into deeper places.
It was better than his first meeting with the Old Loli, which made him breathe a secret sigh of relief.
"It’s nothing. It’s just that that powerful soul force from earlier didn't seem like Ariel’s." Muen made his smile as kind and reserved as possible.
"Smart brain, and your body is well-trained. It’s hard to imagine you’ve grown this much in just over a year. You’re practically as fast as Ariel."
Peles nodded with satisfaction. "Your personality has certainly become more likable, too. I just don't know why you’ve developed this particular hobby... I never heard about it before. May I check you for pollution?"
"..."
Muen’s mouth twitched.
Does looking like a girl mean I have a cross-dressing fetish? He felt a surge of indignation. When would a macho man like him, who was only forced into a skirt by accident, finally be able to stand tall?
But he had to keep smiling. "Of course."
He had to smile. This Miss Peles had a name that sounded like an elegant noble lady, but she was a 24-karat powerhouse. Although the plot Muen knew was vague about her true identity, based on the story's trajectory, anyone who could push Ariel into the role of Savior was definitely not simple.
"Don't worry, I have no interest in prying into other people's secrets. This is just a routine check."
Peles beckoned with her hand, and several small items flew out of Ariel’s ring automatically.
As her soul power surged, these items were quickly arranged around Muen. She then drifted around him, chanting under her breath.
Wisps of smoke rose, emitting a charming fragrance. A specialized instrument dripped silver liquid, which rippled as Peles moved. She watched the ripples, waiting for a change.
"Smoke, incense, mithril... such ancient methods. Aren't there specialized instruments for detection now?" Muen’s gaze followed the ethereal figure.
"I trust myself more than instruments."
Peles waved her hand again, putting everything away. "No abnormalities, and no signs of pollution. You’re quite impressive."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Muen nodded modestly, not at all surprised by the result.
After all, he had both the Black Book and the Black Sun inside him. He had gone head-to-head with several Evil Gods before and been fine... he didn't think any Evil God’s pollution could affect him now.
Unless, of course, it was a true descent of the main body.
"Speaking of which, shouldn't Ariel be checked?"
"I have my teacher protecting me personally. Do you think I’d have a problem?" Ariel greeted Muen with another massive eye-roll.
"True..."
"Don't worry. I woke up before 'He' even appeared. With my soul power protecting her at full capacity, Ariel is perfectly safe."
Peles stroked her chin, staring at Muen with interest.
"Wh... what is it?" Muen felt his hair stand on end under her gaze.
"Nothing. You may continue."
"Continue? Continue what?" Muen looked bewildered.
"Whatever it was you weren't finished with, of course. Ariel told me she followed you here." Peles blinked in surprise. "Are you really the kind of scumbag who woos them but won't wed them?"
"..."
Muen’s heart skipped a beat. What kind of analogy is that? Since when am I a scumbag? Does having one girlfriend, one fiancée, one lover, and one little maid make me a scumbag? Can you people stop slandering me? My Campbell reputation was ruined by people like you, you know!
"Um... I think at a time like this, your advice would be more important..."
"I have no advice."
Peles crossed her arms. "I generally don't interfere with the choices of young people. You can ask Ariel about that."
"..."
Damn it, why are all these old fogeys like this?
Muen cursed inwardly again.
But as annoyed as he was, he had to bite the bullet and move forward.
Because, as Ariel’s teacher said, he was the one who had dragged Ariel into this and brought her here.
Therefore, he had the responsibility to take her to find the final truth and get her out.
It had nothing to do with guilt, nothing to do with a hundred million—it was about responsibility.
Muen raised his hand again, letting the chain on his wrist hang naturally.
In reality, this tower was already its "destination," so it shouldn't have been moving. Muen’s previous attempts to fiddle with it hadn't yielded anything.
But after what had just happened, Muen knew he didn't have the luxury of leisurely searching this Inverted Tower anymore.
If they ran into "Him" again, they might not be so lucky.
Besides, on An’s side...
So...
Please. If there really is some will I don't know about that wants me to find that important place... if you want me to save An, to save 'them'... then please, help me one more time.
He should have viewed an unknown will with the utmost suspicion, but along the way, the results of its—or her—secret guidance had clearly been on his side.
Since he had come this far, there was no room for second-guessing.
If you're going to be a good person, go all the way. Help me one last time.
Muen didn't hold much hope; it was just an attempt.
However...
The chain rattled.
A wind seemed to blow.
It swayed like a wind chime, pointing in a specific direction.
"There really is one!"
Muen felt a surge of joy.
But in the next moment, his joy froze on his face.
Because in the direction the chain pointed, those nauseating twisted lines were acting as if they’d been injected with adrenaline—even more frenzied and chaotic than the ones around Muen. Countless malformed tentacles swayed, creating a bizarre hallucination that seemed to say, "Come play, big boy."
It was obvious.
That was exactly the direction "He" had gone.