NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 387
Chapter 388
It was undoubtedly a bewildering sight.
No, the folks who claimed they were studying the ruins suddenly started digging into the ground and began piecing together the scattered traces of the ruins in a rather convincing manner.
Naturally, there had to be a reason behind their actions. It seemed as though the magical markings inscribed on the column were whispering to them, urging them to restore the Sacred Grounds.
If the sorcerers had etched magic during the construction of the temple, then the environment where that magic would flourish had to be in its completed form.
Considering that, at the very least, they had to pile stones and re-erect the columns.
With Nea’s management and supervision, everyone began to collectively create the Sacred Grounds, causing it to rumble with a mighty noise.
As Yeon-woo scanned the surroundings, the atmosphere was saturated with an uncomfortable and inexplicable magical energy.
Is it because the place had already perished? The sudden overflow of magical power in a space where nothing else existed except for the mana possessed by Yeon-woo and the group felt oddly out of place.
“Hmph, I’m starting to get a rough idea.”
Nea muttered quietly as she observed the scene. Wait, how did she already sense something starting?
When Yeon-woo, wondering what was actually happening, glanced at her, Nea opened her mouth.
“Though you wouldn’t know by looking at me, I’ve worked with countless sorcerers in the lab. I can tell what a sorcerer is trying to do.”
Well, that makes sense. Given her line of work, she must have seen countless spells and it wouldn’t be strange for her to interpret the magic circles through a dragon’s eyes.
After all, humans just piled up knowledge without knowing how to actually use the magic.
But perhaps the components of magic don’t vary greatly even across different dimensions. It was impressive that she could easily decipher the magic of another world.
Nea, seemingly aware of Yeon-woo’s curiosity, provided an answer.
“Just like how using coal to generate energy makes you think of steam engines, if you use the same energy source in a similar way, there shouldn’t be too much difference.”
“I see.”
Just like boiling water to run an engine, the principles of magic are likely to be similar.
In other words, Nea was saying she had previously witnessed the magical occurrences happening in this temple.
“Don’t worry too much. It’s really not that significant. It’s just a spell for recalling memories.”
If Nea says so, then it must be true. With that thought, Yeon-woo relaxed his shoulders.
Just like Yeon-woo, a child sighed with relief. It was Dawn.
His demeanor, resembling that of a child fearful of ghosts, surprised Yeon-woo a bit.
After all, the version of him that had returned from death was a hundred times scarier than any ghost.
“Oh! Looks like it’s starting! Can I get the popcorn!?”
Across from where they stood, a magical projection began to crackle to life.
While pulling out snacks for kids from Relin’s Warehouse, Yeon-woo felt a sense of déjà vu.
Wait a minute, this feels like a space I’m familiar with.
“Aha! This is like a drive-in theater in another world!”
“…It’s quite frustrating that I can’t deny that, isn’t it?”
At Yeon-woo’s very easy-to-understand analogy, Lucrecia’s lips twitched.
Still, it felt strange to be downgraded to something like a drive-in theater, considering it was an ancient civilization from their world.
*
Once upon a time, there was a man of the mountains, light, and darkness.
The light was eternal, and the darkness emerged when illuminated, thus it too was everlasting.
Of the three beings, the only one not eternal was the long-lived man of the mountains.
Their friendship seemed as though it would last forever.
The light and darkness were eternal, and the man of the mountains lived for a very long time.
They always traveled together. They loved each other.
As long as the light didn’t disappear before darkness and the man of the mountains.
*
In this world, there exist spaces containing principles and laws. Usually, this is referred to as the “Origin.”
Yeon-woo had seen it. The space of principles where the Demon King of Fire resided.
Yeon-woo had unleashed a sword stroke towards it, so one could say he was a man who nearly destroyed the world, just like the Demon King.
Surely, if even one of those principles malfunctioned, the balance of the world would collapse.
No one knew why the principles and laws that comprised the world were gathered in one space and why such spaces existed.
Originally, it was merely an unknown space that assumed the existence of sorcerers.
Though Yeon-woo and a few companions had confirmed the reality of the space, that fact hadn’t reached the Magic Tower.
There was no way to open it again and prove it, so why would they go through such trouble?
One might think this was a rather outlandish story to start, but after witnessing the memories displayed by the Sacred Grounds, Yeon-woo believed what Leviathan had mentioned was something immense lying within that space of principles.
No, he couldn’t think of it any other way.
Light and darkness, the man of the mountains. The projection recounting their tale disappeared with a blue spark.
After that, nothing else occurred. It really was as though it quieted just for that purpose.
“…How interesting.”
“Very… strange story,” as Shar remarked, the tale of the three felt rather unsettling. Light, darkness, and the man of the mountains had spent ancient years together.
Starting from the moment he abruptly came into existence, until the man of the mountains awakened as a Demon King.
Incredibly, it was not for any other reason that the man of the mountains became a Demon King, but rather because of the love he bore for light and darkness.
Though the man’s lifespan was exceptionally long, it could not compete with the everlasting nature of the light and darkness.
Slowly aging, unable to withstand the passage of time with both of them, the man of the mountains was losing his life.
Grieved deeply by that fact, the two great beings decided to share their immortality with him.
They believed that sharing just a bit would cause no harm, but as is often the case with such stories, a problem arose.
Should one say the man’s power was greater than they had anticipated? Or that he had a much wider capacity?
He completely absorbed the light.
Not just its eternality, but its essence too.
The man of the mountains, who had effectively devoured his own brother, was drenched in sorrow, and at that moment, darkness approached him with a somber expression.
Like humans, accepting someone’s virtues within your boundaries means you also embrace their flaws.
In other words, light and darkness had such a connection. Because of darkness, light could shine, and because of light, darkness could exist.
This implied that the balance of the world began to crumble.
The reason was simple. Light and darkness could no longer stick together…
In simpler terms, that was the story. Ultimately, the man of the mountains, who had absorbed all of light and darkness, shattered the principles that demanded the world be maintained.
The world, no longer needing to be preserved, crumbled due to the three transcendent beings. The world that Lucrecia had protected.
However, even if the “Origin” was related to the methods Leviathan had recalled, Yeon-woo couldn’t begin to guess.
After all, it was nonsensical, and what could possibly be related between defeating the Demon King and the Origin?
What rules were there related to the Demon King? Restrained powers and not being able to run wild. And…
Suddenly, a light bulb flickered on in Yeon-woo’s mind.
“A rule that prevents one Demon King from killing another…?”
If Yeon-woo believed there was an answer to this problem, saying that it was undoubtedly that would be no exaggeration.
Images of Hwayo and Nephren-Ka flashed in his mind. The sight of Nephren-Ka, appearing to be a Demon King yet concealing Hwayo’s strike through camouflage.
But what if there were no such restraints?
Then, the story changes a bit. An attack from Hwayo, which was once unable to overcome principles, would have struck true. That’s the tale.
‘…Could Demon Kings actually gang up on each other?’
Of course, the possibility of the remaining Demon Kings accepting such a proposal was uncertain.
However, if even one accepted, there might be a chance to overcome Hwayo’s Demon King alongside Leviathan.
How strong the other Demon Kings were remained unknown, but humans have historically revered the idea of “poisoning the poison.”
They believed that even if it was poison, if only a small amount was ingested, it could become medicine.
Open the space leading to the Origin. From there, remove the rule that prevents Demon Kings from attacking each other.
That way, they would finally get to see a battle between Demon Kings. As for how to open it, they would somehow figure it out.
After organizing everything in his mind, Yeon-woo nodded. He looked like a truly insane person.
*
“Ugh, this is tiring.”
Thud, thud. The sound of a woman gently washing fabric in water came alongside her weary voice.
She was Noel, the current hero of the Alkeon continent. She was washing her sweat-soaked clothes and overly dusty robe.
Of course, saying it was tiring meant more than just laundry. How hard could hand-washing really be? It was more about everything in general.
Battles against the Demon King continued throughout the continent. Some were pushed back, while others were advancing.
In this fight for humanity’s survival, Noel quietly burrowed her way toward the Demon King’s castle.
Being a hero is akin to being an assassin. Like a moth drawn to the flame of the Demon King with a special mission.
Noel didn’t want to be that way, but right now, she was in a state that was utterly pitiful.
Yet, the only thing she could do was hurry along with the holy sword nestled in her arms.
After all, nothing would be resolved until the Demon King was defeated.
Defeat the four generals, the subordinates of the Demon King, and take down the Demon King. By doing so, an unprecedented peace would reign in Alkeon along with her name.
“I wonder if everyone is doing well.”
While drying off her damp robe, Noel muttered that. There were so many faces she missed. Shar, Tae-oh, and even Yeon-woo and Yuri.
They were all people she truly cherished, which is why Noel loved Harmony City.
“I want to go back soon.”
It was the reason why a girl who couldn’t even be called an adult was willing to throw herself into such a harsh environment.
Because she believed happiness awaited on the other side.
(To be continued in the next episode.)