Episode 1011 Fourth Guest of Honor (4)
I opened the door.A long hallway appeared.On both sides, there were many doors lined up at regular intervals.
Not only insight, but magic is also forbidden. Physical abilities are also restricted to a certain extent.
Verden walked calmly, observing the environment that served as the stage for the first game.The restrictions on the power granted to the mansion resembled the taboos of the world, but… unlike the taboos Verden knew, he felt no particular threat.
The taboos of the Arcadium can be broken at any time simply by raising one’s rank. But is it structured so that one is expelled from the Arcadium as the price?
The level of physical ability the host tolerates would, at best, be limited to forcefully opening a wooden door without a lock.
Even if you blindly sprint down the hallway trying to catch intellectuals, a large-scale massacre is difficult.In the meantime, other intellectuals will run away with all their might. Even if you try to grasp the sand, you will only catch a single grain of sand.
This place is truly a place for games… … .
The pleasure of competing in knowledge? The fun of watching a battle of wits? The survival of the fittest among intelligent beings, where the winner cooks and devours the loser?
As an operator who does not participate in the knowledge game, what is the host pursuing? What goal has been set for the host to continue holding the banquet of knowledge?
A neutral apostle who belongs to fate but does not follow it.
I cannot stop contemplating existence.
Thump, thump.
Lost in thought, Verden wandered aimlessly through the hallways and rooms. Then, he came face-to-face with a guest attempting to open a door from the opposite side.
“Yes, the fourth…… Nghaaaak!”
Before the guest could even step back, Verden’s hand touched his head.
with a splash!
I will propose the issue.
A demon dressed in butler’s clothes appeared, and a problem regarding magical understanding was presented.
Wizard Ganbaro’s Law of Maximum Variance Stability, which states that horsepower is in its most stable state when distributed among multiple terms within a certain range.The Doric Equilibrium Model, which posits that even if distributed horsepower terms have different values, they maintain equilibrium around the mean value under specific conditions. A fundamental correction method that simplifies the theoretical answer by correcting for the inevitable losses incurred when calculating the effective horsepower coefficient.
The numbers specified by each of the three theories are transformed as they become entangled in the calculation formula. As expected, the answer the butler demanded was not a multiple-choice question, but a short-answer subjective question.
Verden swallowed his boredom inwardly.
“Compared to the problem presented with the tenth distinguished guest, the quality is inferior. They merely artificially inflated the solution by increasing the number of digits. Even Uniana Cain could solve this.”
The law of maximum variance stability is an outdated claim, and the Doric equilibrium model is a logic utilized by mid-level wizards in the Magic Tower or in experiments.The basics correction method is a convenient proposition designed to allow Academy students who have not mastered advanced courses to solve magic problems within their curriculum.
The theories of magic that Verden had come to understand around the time he was a low-ranking researcher at the Bohemian Magic Tower, frequently visiting the general library.
Of course, if the genius twins saw this problem, they would have gotten angry, asking what kind of nonsense this was.
“4,918,230,913.”
In the Arcadium, most magical comprehension problems required numerical answers.This was because numbers were the most definitive.Above all, the butlers were not intellectually gifted enough to judge the correct and incorrect answers of subjective magical solutions.
“That is correct, fourth guest of honor.”
Thump, the guest dropped the pen.
“W-W-What kind of difficulty is this…?”“The difficulty of a question is determined by the intersection of the knowledge levels of both parties. However, given the severe disparity between the fourth guest of honor and the guest, I had to present a question that is actually much, much closer to your intellect and wisdom. In other words, I could not present a question befitting the fourth guest of honor. Now then, take him away.”“How is this suitable for me, ugh!”
Water rose from beneath his feet, and countless arms surged from within, instantly dragging the guest in. His short scream faded away at the same time…
Verden asked.
“The Host said that the Intellectual, defeated by me and Terrin for refusing gluttony, pays a price. Exactly how does it work?”“The Loser personally determines the amount of knowledge in their mind corresponding to their defeat, and then that knowledge is extracted by the Chefs. Then, like other Losers, they return to the stage of the game. If there is insufficient knowledge to be extracted, they degenerate into a Specter of Knowledge, just like other Losers. Once you participate in the first game, you can never leave until the end of the first game is declared.”
The butler answered politely.
“The act that the Fourth Guest of Honor abhors—the act of cutting off the bodies of sentient beings or cooking them alive—does not exist. That is, in the case of sentient beings defeated by the Fourth Guest of Honor’s party.”“I see.”“May I ask a question, if you may be presumptuous?”“Go ahead.”“Do you happen to sympathize with the sentient beings who participated in the game?”
The butler trembled, having committed the breach of etiquette of daring to question the guest of honor. Yet, he could not take his eyes off Verden’s mouth at all.The butler of Arcadium was, without a doubt, an intellectual of the deep sea.
“Choices come with consequences. Participating in the game was entirely your own decision, so I feel no pity for you. It is simply that your disregard for dignity is offensive. Enough to make me want to destroy Arcadium.”“…….”
The butler, receiving Verden’s contemptuous gaze, lit the glowing device on his head. Fear. Yet, the demon butler savored the ecstasy.Even conversing with the guest of honor like this was a great honor for a butler of like him.
“By the way, what happened to Shelbronn?”
Butler Shelbronn.
He, who had lied to Verden’s party on the orders of the sixteenth guest, Luzak, and caused them to face Luzak one-on-one, was reprimanded by the host and faced punishment.
Butler Agwi smiled broadly.
“Hahaha, the 27th Butler, Shelbron, has received a favor from the 4th Guest.”“A favor?”“The Host said that if the 4th Guest mentions Shelbron, he should restore his status as Butler No. 27, and if he does not, he should be thrown into the Landfill of Knowledge. So, it is a favor.”
Shelbron’s life was decided by Verden without Verden knowing it.Here, he ended up sensing the Host’s intentions a little.
You are… testing me.
Is it born of curiosity?Is there another purpose that necessitates it?
Verden does not like being tested, just as he has always done.It was in this context that he was angry at the Ark’s Listener, who had secretly observed and investigated Verden in the Principality of Livaant.
However, he did not show any displeasure.
Unlike the Listener who acted after understanding the Ark’s will, this Angler Butler doesn’t even know what the Host is doing. Immediate anger will just be a needless venting.
Verden’s game continued.
Whether VIPs or guests… the moment they entered Verden’s range, the game was forced upon them. Some instinctively sensed that it was unavoidable and accepted the intellectual duel as a majority, but this was precisely the attitude Verden desired.Verden’s goal was to minimize the number of participants to shorten the total game time.
Ah, it’s overwhelming.
The butlers of Knowledge, who had been watching the whole scene from outside the game, broke out in a cold sweat.
“With three fourth guests of honor, the victory is uncontrollable. To think there are so many defeated attendees that even the kitchen can’t keep up…!””Without a single exception, for any problem, the answer emerges immediately after the explanation is finished. Are you saying that for the fourth guests of honor, the calculation process itself is meaningless?”
The butlers looked north and their faces stiffened.
───Aaaaaaaah!
───[Hehe.]
The guest, who had returned to the stage after being defeated by Alpha and having their knowledge stolen, was unfortunately discovered by Alpha again, chased, and eventually caught.The guest screamed throughout the entire time the problem was given and was kicked out of the game.
“That guest is definitely the Phantom of Knowledge.””At this rate, the second game is going to end quickly.””Still, considering he has only encountered double-digit VIPs so far…”
The single-digit number of VIPs leisurely accumulated knowledge in their respective places. There were times when they crossed paths, but in such situations, they simply exchanged greetings and went their separate ways.
They agreed not to settle the matter in the first game.Arcadium is a place where, as long as the rules are not violated, it does not matter how the game is conducted, whether it is collusion or whatever else.
It was then.
“……Gasp!”“Wait, if it turns out like that!”
The butlers’ eyes widened.
The fourth guest of honor moves from room to room. And opposite him, there was another intellectual moving from room to room.
“Wrath, the aesthetics of probability.”
Soon, the door opened at the same time.
───… … .
───… … .
The third guest of honor, ‘Magion’, and the fourth guest of honor, ‘Asher’, entered the same space.
* * *
Intellectual conflicts proceeded ceaselessly, either quickly or slowly.
{Do you understand now? That is why… death is a means.}
The host continued speaking while taking notes with one hand and moving pieces with the other.Draven, sitting opposite him, kept his head down and stared only at the board game—no, it would be more accurate to say he was glaring rather than staring.
{Draven Lemarque, very few understand the true nature of the concepts of fate and resistance. You are one of the few beings who have come to know the truth of this world. This is possible precisely because this is the Arcadium. For only I, the Third Apostle of Fate, can conditionally lift the restrictions of the taboo.}
“…….”
{The game of knowledge is one of the excellent conditions. By determining the winner and loser, I can release the condition with the power of ‘you’ given to me.}
“…….”
{Mate.}
The intellectual conflict ended in several defeats.
The host instantly put the pieces back in their places with his tentacles. An intellectual clash was prepared before the afterglow of the previous round had even faded.
Now, here is the final truth.
“Stop… it. Please.”
Draven crouched down. He covered his ears with both hands and lowered his head further. Bloody tears welled up in the corners of his eyes and trickled down his skin.
“Please. I said, stop it…….”
Only one step left. You’ve already heard everything, but you won’t listen anymore? Take courage.
The host’s voice reached Draven’s soul even though he covered his ears.
It’s not like anything will change anyway.
“Ah… ah….”
Draven’s mind, which had been as solid as a fortress, cracked as if it were about to shatter into pieces. Having nearly lost his sense of self, he had effectively lost his ability to make judgments.Guided by the host’s whisper, Draven, with eyes that had lost their light, …thudded the object.
Ss
The host’s hand recording Draven’s status moved a little faster.
{Before Verden destroyed fate, a thread of destiny was attached to most people. In other words, fate can be seen as a ball of yarn. If so, the Transcendent is a ‘straight thread.’ A product of madness that is entangled in other threads yet goes its own way. The Transcendent is an existence that pierces through fate and interferes with its trajectory so that it does not go according to ‘your’ will.}
“…….”
{The concept of the resistor that Oldark created by turning fate against itself is the transcendent being. The ideal you pursue is the very embodiment of resistance.}
“…….”
{Thus, the Follower of Fate decided to use the Transcendent, who was a thorn in his side. By manipulating his ideals, he made him stand on Fate’s side. Draven Lemarque, you are the result.}
“…….”
{Of course, this task was not simple. You were the only one among the Transcendents to succeed. Nevertheless, since you alone had a positive impact on the destiny of the Old King’s resurrection on the majority of Transcendents, directly or indirectly, it can be said that it was worthwhile.}
“…….”
[Naturally, the resistance forces did not stand idly by. Just as they manipulated your memories to resurrect the Empress, the Great Emperor, and the Great Cataclysm of Light using the power of the ancient king, Fate intervened without your knowledge.]
Draven paused.
“That can’t be. I surely made a deal with them…….”
{The seeds of resistance left by Oldark. As such, they too are as tenacious as fate. It had to be. Otherwise, they could not have survived.}
The host advanced the knights and soldiers.They penetrated deep into the opponent’s territory.
{Well, anyway. Separately, the Followers of Fate could not be satisfied with merely inducing the Transcendent’s ideals. The probability of success was so low that it was impossible to expect.}
This intellectual clash was also one-sided.
And so, after conducting countless experiments over hundreds of years, they finally created the transcendent being they desired. His name is Dantel. With the birth of a transcendent being who takes destiny itself as their ideal and pursues it, the ‘Artificial Apostle’ will surely be chosen before long.
The outcome was decided.
In other words, he is the finished product of the experiment.
The host destroyed the king of the Draven faction with a wizard artifact.
You were just a temporary test subject.
“……!”
This is the final truth you must accept.
Draven trembled and staggered. The chair tipped over backward. He slumped onto his knees, his head pointing toward the endless ceiling.
“I am the test subject.”
Upon encountering the taboo that there is no heaven, Draven committed murder. He killed countless people for the sake of his ideals. Just how many people has he killed over the course of hundreds of years?Including the war of the Transcendents in distant times, the recent Bloodcry Plague, and the opening of the Four Gates, the number of indirect killings has already exceeded hundreds of millions.
I felt no guilt.
For it can be reversed later when an immortal world is established and souls are liberated.If death disappears, there will be no need to distinguish between the dead and the living, and since the afterlife ceases to exist, the suffering of souls will also disappear.
But an immortal world never existed in the first place. His Majesty had no such intention. Rather, His Majesty the souls—
Draben’s vision went blurry.
Then I… … .
My head feels like it’s going to explode.
‘Why on earth have I lived… …? That time… …’
Draven, with his eyes almost rolled back, struggled to part his lips.
“What did that mean……?”
Draven was driven to the edge of a cliff.
“What meaning did my existence have…?”
The meaning of existence.
The host pushed him as if nothing were wrong.
{You were a ‘servant’ of fate and a puppet of resistance. From birth to death, you were thoroughly exploited even in determining your own ideals. If I were to summarize such a life, it would be like this.}
The dagger of knowledge was plunged.
{Worthless transcendent being.}
Crack.
If you had not existed, the souls of your pitiful and helpless disciples would not be suffering more than they are now.
A loud crash of glass shattering erupted from inside.
Death sentence.
“───!──!!───!!!!───!!!!”
Draven grabbed my face. Beyond the temporary body, the soul wailed.The soul crumbled.It was over.It was a scream and sorrow filled with endless despair, enough to give me that intuition.
The host was deeply moved.
{Truly… … truly sweet.}
The scream of an ignorant person who understood an unwanted truth was always a delicacy. This time, it was an especially exquisite delicacy in that the person was a transcendent being.Every reaction of a transcendent being, whose pursued ideals had been destroyed, was itself new knowledge.
It is the best arcadium.
That was the reason!
The Host revived Draven precisely to witness this moment!It did not matter whether fate rebelled or resistance targeted him. He had gathered the fragments of Draven’s soul for the knowledge he had not yet obtained.
The effort paid off. It wasindeed a feast worthy of expectation and satisfaction.
{Now that I’ve seen the Transcendent completely crumble, it’s Verden’s turn next. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Verden handles the final third game─}
It was just when the host was about to put an end to the record of the transcendent being, Draven Lemarque.
{… … ?!}
A massive murderous intent surged.Power level was irrelevant.A cruel and sticky killing intent, enough to make even the host flinch, engulfed the study.
The old king.
Draven shouted.
“The Old King. The Old King, the Old King, the Old King……! Akhand!”
A face truly contorted with evil spoke volumes about Draven’s emotions. There was no longer any loyalty left in his blood-stained eyes.
“Arkhand Lineagea Tain Xerion!!!!!
Kugugugugugugugugu!
The transcendent being who had fallen into helplessness and lost all will was gone. Draben Lemarque’s eyes were filled with immense vitality.He was still one of the mad transcendent beings pursuing ideals.
{An ideal that was like an extinguished ember… … has been revived?}
The host’s left hand moved immediately.
Draven’s transformation is also fully captured in the records of the Transcendents.
{Amazing. Wonderful. To think that one hasn’t lost their ideals even though their soul has been completely shattered. Hahahaha! Oldark has truly created dangerous things.}
It seems that not all of the new knowledge has been revealed yet.
The host’s tone rose slightly.
{Draven LeMarque, it seems it is not yet time for your soul to find rest.}
“……I am.”
Reason returned at the sight of Draven’s eyes.
I have not yet achieved my ideal.
{Pursuing ideals even in the midst of this?}
The host sincerely asks again.
{how?}
* * *
Verden and Magion, the third guest of honor, ran into each other in the same room by chance.
A quiet standoff.
The moment Magion pulled the doorknob of the room he had just entered, Verden asserted it on the spot. It was nothing short of a threat.
“If you run away, I will chase only you until the first game ends.”“…….”
Magion pondered for a moment as if calculating, then took his hand off the door.
