NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 63 - From Now On, Use It for Me
Chapter 63: From Now On, Use It for Me
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“Talent?”
Shusia—no, Maiev—faced Flan and repeated his words.
“Yes. You have talent, but your magic lacks substance.”
Ha, Maiev let out a hollow laugh and shrugged her shoulders.
“Substance this, substance that… nonsense.”
Their gazes met in the empty air.
At the same time, ripples began to form in Maiev’s crimson eyes, reminiscent of a blood-red lake.
Click—
She took a step forward.
With that alone, the world transformed.
In a world of entirely white, coarse textures, everything existed only as a sketch in graphite.
“Too late, Flan.”
Click—
She took another step forward.
With that, the world transformed again.
Shading appeared in the previously sketched-out world, finally bringing the concept of depth into existence.
“This is the World in the Painting (화중세계). A black magic I invented and honed myself. Once you’ve met my gaze, it’s already over.”
Maiev filled the space, freely manipulating the World in the Painting. Just meeting her eyes was enough to be ensnared by her illusion.
Thirty-two dotted lines, resembling a cut line, were drawn over Flan’s body. He calmly asked Maiev,
“…It’s not just a simple method that consumes life force, is it?”
“Do you take me for a demon? Of course, there’s a theory behind it. In this world, I can do whatever I want.”
“Interesting. This is worth watching.”
Flan confirmed that the black magic of this world was not merely a power gained by offering something as a sacrifice.
There was a unique theory behind it, and the magic manifested based on that.
“‘Worth watching’… How ridiculous.”
Maiev muttered.
“You sure talk big for a mere human. You know that?”
Flan was still deeply engrossed in analyzing the ‘black magic’ of the vampires.
If he could fully grasp this theory and incorporate the way this world utilized red mana…
…he could surely surpass even the heights of the previous world. The thought that it was impossible never even crossed his mind.
“Maiev, can you control time in this world too?”
“I told you, it’s entirely my world. Of course.”
“…That’s quite appealing.”
At his sudden remark, Maiev let out a hollow laugh.
“You’re the first human I’ve ever met like you. The very first.”
Humans are endlessly powerless in the face of fear.
If they were trapped in someone else’s world, with cut lines drawn all over their body, it would be the perfect environment to feel fear.
But Flan was different. He remained completely calm, and Maiev was curious as to why.
This time, Flan spoke first.
“About three times… It seems you can extend the time here to about three times that of the outside world.”
“…?”
He was spot on.
“This place is a perfect environment for research and training. It doesn’t even seem like aging occurs.”
Rather than feeling fear, he was genuinely intrigued.
Maiev’s black magic. The World in the Painting.
Flan was determined to unravel everything in this world, and he was already coming up with almost accurate interpretations.
Arrogant, conceited, and ridiculous. Maiev slightly tilted her head and moved her lips.
“Hey, Flan.”
“What is it?”
“Soon… this time, I have something I want to ask you.”
Flan nodded calmly.
“Alright. Listen carefully, okay?”
Maiev lowered her voice dramatically.
She carefully approached Flan and began whispering in his ear.
“What I want to ask is… right… now…”
Slash—!
At that very moment, a red line appeared over the thirty-two dotted lines on Flan’s body.
Rather than being drawn, it felt like it was being formed. It happened so quickly.
Maiev grinned.
“…You let your guard down, didn’t you? I didn’t actually have anything to ask. Just die.”
Maiev darkened part of the white ground. An ominous abyss appeared.
She spat into it.
“Why would a mere human dare to be so arrogant? Your role is to be scared, beg for your life, and die pathetically in the end.”
Now, Flan’s dismembered body would fall into the pitch-black abyss.
Fall and fall, leaving no trace of him behind. Maiev only needed to observe the end of this arrogant human.
It was about time for him to fall.
It was about time for him to fall…
“This World in the Painting.”
“…!”
At the voice that struck her ears like thunder, Maiev reflexively looked up.
Even with the red lines drawn all over his body, Flan was standing tall.
“It has many intriguing aspects. First, I need to learn your theories.”
Maiev looked at Flan with disbelief.
“How… are you still alive without being cut into pieces?”
“Interference is still possible… but creation will require a bit more conditions to be met.”
Blue mana began to swirl in Flan’s hand. He placed his hand on a certain point in the world.
“Interference? What nonsense are you talking about…”
Ripple—
But at that moment, the entire world began to ripple like a wave. Maiev’s mouth dropped open.
“Maiev. It seems we need to have a proper conversation.”
Crack—
At the same time, Maiev felt something thin and string-like snap in her mind.
“Human…”
Crack, crack—
It wasn’t just one. A bundle of them snapped all at once.
Her hand trembled slightly. Soon, the trembling spread throughout her entire body.
“A mere human…”
Her red eyes narrowed, revealing the whites of her eyes. The entire space began to tremble.
“How dare you interfere with my world—!”
Screech—
Like a large brushstroke, red lines began to be drawn across the world.
They multiplied, each one soaring like a comet, flying towards Flan.
Boom—! Boom—!
They shattered various parts of the world, rebounding.
But Flan evaded them with minimal movement. No, it seemed the lines were slightly veering away from Flan.
“Die, die, die—!”
The surface of the red lines became rough, like serrated blades.
This world began to be carved out entirely like a woodcut.
Scratch—! Scratch—!
The world shrank to the size of a mansion, then to the size of a room. Even that was soon whittled down to the size of a palm.
And finally.
Boom—!
Flan’s entire existence was dug out.
“Haa… haa…”
Finally, the world was entirely painted red.
Catching her breath, Maiev spoke with her lips trembling.
“That… that wretched human…”
In the world that was now entirely red, with nothing else left, Maiev muttered as she panted.
“Vampires… are fundamentally different from humans. You get that?”
She felt that she needed to spit out every word to relieve her anger.
“Every moment is a struggle for survival, and if you’re weak, you can’t survive.”
Maiev wiped the sweat beading on her forehead with her sleeve. Her anger still hadn’t subsided.
“We are fundamentally different from you, who chant magic in a comfortable environment. You worthless…”
“Grumbling nonsense.”
A cold tone.
A stillness that was almost complete silence.
“…!”
It took Maiev a beat to react in surprise.
“You chant black magic like that.”
At the source of the voice was Flan.
In this world that had been entirely gouged out in red, he was still standing.
He straightened his collar, adjusted his sleeves, and slowly ran his fingers through his hair. Then, he asked Maiev,
“Is this all there is? This so-called World in the Painting?”
“Ha… haha… hahaha…”
Seeing him completely unscathed, Maiev burst into involuntary laughter.
Had she ever seen a human like this before? No.
But what needed to be done was clear. She wanted to crush this human until nothing was left.
“Hahaha… haha! Hahaha! Hahaha—!”
The laughter wouldn’t stop.
In the midst of her crazed laughter, Maiev gathered all her strength and drew out the red mana.
“Fine. Fine. For you, I’ll show you something…”
A white world began to emerge, again and again.
“…that I’ve never shown any other human.”
The world multiplied in layers, and she shattered them again and again.
Boom—!
At the same time, a massive snake-shaped black line cascaded down on Flan like a waterfall, pushing his body endlessly.
Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!
One World in the Painting shattered, leading to the next. Shattering again and again, leading to the next world…
Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!
The line continued to extend endlessly, breaking through numerous canvases like glass windows.
Boom—!
Finally, when all seven World in the Paintings had been completely destroyed.
Click—
“Haa… hahaha…”
Maiev took a step into the eighth canvas.
This time, he must have died. His entire body must have crumbled, leaving not even a trace of him.
“This time… this time he must be dead…”
Savoring the moment, Maiev slowly pondered the title of her masterpiece.
A worthless human, an arrogant piece of trash, someone with mediocre skills and unnecessary meddling…
But considering that he had tried to interfere with Maiev’s World in the Painting, and had endured several attacks, he deserved some praise.
Even Maiev herself was somewhat impressed, to be honest. Regardless, she needed a name that encapsulated all of this.
But then.
“…?”
Once again, the familiar figure of the man caught her eye.
“I had high expectations.”
Someone who could not be left as a mere exhibit.
“But it’s just an illusion.”
A Grand Magician can never be bound by
an illusionary world.
His soul, and the willpower etched into it, would never allow it.
“Haa… haa…”
Maiev’s eyes widened in disbelief. Beyond shock, she was now in awe.
The fact that even the illusions of the World in the Painting couldn’t affect his willpower… that a mere human could possess such a thing.
Thump— Thump—
Maiev’s heart began to pound.
Tension, anxiety. She hadn’t felt such things in a very long time.
“You… you… you, of all people…”
Red sparks flew from everywhere. The shattered World in the Paintings began to merge together.
“I will definitely break you—!”
Maiev cried out, almost like a scream.
In a world overlapped with a total of eight layers, Maiev intended to shatter everything completely.
Crack—
In the white world, black spiderweb-like cracks began to appear.
Rationality was long gone.
Even if she had to destroy herself, she wanted to see this man shatter with her own eyes.
However.
Ssssss—
The entire space was filled with white once more.
“Illusions are affected by willpower.”
Flan murmured softly.
“What do you think of my willpower?”
At the same time, the world began to reassemble itself.
“…”
Maiev blankly stared at the scene.
What in the world was happening? The question didn’t linger for long. Soon enough, a neat, tidy office took shape.
A large wooden desk was placed, and Flan leaned back in a grand chair.
Thud—
Another chair fell beside him.
“Maiev. Sit down there.”
“Haa… haa…”
I can’t win.
“Haha…”
That simple realization dawned on her at that moment.
“Cough, cough…!”
Her palm, which covered her mouth, was stained with blood.
She had pushed herself to the point of coughing up blood, yet her opponent didn’t even have a speck of dust on him.
His willpower alone was a world in itself. He had never been trapped inside the World in the Painting in the first place.
“Ugh…”
But even so.
Maiev had her pride as a vampire. Her name carried pride, and her deeds had built her confidence.
So once again, she would give it her all…
She didn’t even notice Flan approaching.
Step— Step—
She didn’t hear the footsteps, nor did she realize a shadow was looming large over her.
Grab—
Finally, Flan grabbed Maiev by the chin. She was forcibly dragged out of her thoughts.
“Maiev.”
Their gazes met slowly.
His red eyes shone with more depth than those of Maiev, a vampire.
“…I said sit down.”
A voice colder than ever.
She couldn’t resist. Her confidence, pride, and self-esteem all crumbled in an instant.
“…”
In the end, Maiev collapsed into the chair.
◈
“Do you know why I spared you?”
In the office created within the World in the Painting, Flan glared at Maiev as he asked.
“…”
Maiev could only swallow her tension. The reason Flan had spared her? She didn’t know.
As Flan glanced sideways at her, he spoke.
“Your World in the Painting exceeded my expectations.”
It was possible to use magic within it, and based on [Saphora], it was even possible to accommodate multiple people.
The potential applications of this virtual world were truly endless. Every time it was used for a specific purpose, it would yield results.
So, I plan to use it to my liking.
“Exceeded… expectations?”
Maiev bit her lower lip hard.
The idea of her black magic being praised by a mere human was something she still wasn’t used to.
“Are you dissatisfied with this situation?”
“…No.”
“Your tone makes it seem like you are.”
“No, no… Haa… no, sir.”
At that moment, Hera spoke up.
[ Wow~ She’s still so arrogant, Master. ]
Maiev’s eyes widened at the unexpected comment. Hera laughed as she continued.
[ All vampires are like this, you know? Their pride is absurdly strong. They think it’s some sort of privilege. Ugh~ ]
“You… A spirit of the night? Aren’t you the Princess’s possession?”
Hera snorted.
[ Who said that? I’m seriously offended by being treated like an object, you vampire. ]
“Pathetic. Are all spirits this stupid? You’re throwing away the honor of being the Princess’s possession to serve a human as your master…”
[ Excuse me~ But you just got your butt kicked by a human. If you get subjected to a servitude contract, you’ll be nothing but an object too. Hmph. ]
As their bickering continued.
“Why don’t you both shut up?”
“…!”
[ …! ]
Flan’s icy voice cut through. Maiev shuddered, and Hera immediately went silent.
“Maiev.”
“What.”
“What?”
“Haa… Yes, sir.”
As Maiev bit down hard on her lower lip, Flan asked her,
“Explain what a servitude contract is.”
“It is as the name suggests.”
The fact that Flan even asked about something so obvious was clearly intended to trample on her pride.
“Do you not want to explain?”
“No, no, not at all.”
“Let’s put it this way.”
A dagger appeared in Maiev’s hand.
“Either kill yourself or give it your all and attack me again.”
“No, sir.”
“Don’t live with such an attitude. Choose one.”
“…”
Maiev didn’t know the exact extent of Flan’s abilities. She only knew that he was stronger than her.
Silently, Maiev set the dagger down.
“A servitude contract… It’s literally an engraving that binds you to someone for life, pledging your loyalty to them.”
Though she kept her head bowed and looked elsewhere, her tone was quite well-adjusted.
Flan nodded.
“You know it well.”
And without a moment’s hesitation, the next words came out.
“Engrave it.”
“…?”
Maiev snapped her head up.
“Engrave the mark.”
Their gazes met. Flan nodded quietly, and she suddenly found herself struggling to stay calm.
Huff— Huff—
She had never imagined the thought of being bound to a human. Such a thing should never happen.
But.
“From now on, use the World in the Painting for me.”