Episode 292
“…I was actually planning to ask you.”
The Sage’s words promising to tell him who he was.
This was the information Hanbit had also been hoping for.
Questions about his identity had repeatedly surged and vanished countless times throughout the 55 episodes.
Fundamentally, it was also the reason he wanted to know why this had happened to him.
“Why did the Goddess of Silence choose me?”
“Choice… yes, it was a choice.”
The Sage subtly turned his head to gaze at the sea, a jumble of colors.
The horizon, meeting the sky, was strangely twisted.
After a moment of silence, he looked back at Hanbit and asked,
“How much do you know about your father?”
“…Huh?”
A voice of bewilderment escaped his lips at the completely unexpected question.
His father, who had left the world leaving only light behind, inflicting pain upon his mother.
He didn’t have many memories of him, nor did he harbor any positive feelings toward him to begin with.
Yet, the word “father” was coming from the Sage’s lips.
It felt strange.
“Do you know my father?”
“It is a bit ambiguous to answer that question. What I know is not your father, but another being from the past.”
“……?”
The words that followed raised even deeper doubts.
Reading his expression, the Sage immediately continued.
“Your father was a member of the primordial dragon race and a guardian of the Otherworld. Lady Serenia took in his body and soul, which had been destroyed by Barcasia, and brought him back to life as a human.”
“Wait… wait a minute. The Otherworld?”
Hanbit, who had been maintaining the utmost decorum, was shaken to the core.
Even tracing back his entire past and recalling every story his mother had told him, there was no such preposterous tale.
Far from sensing anything, accepting it was impossible.
“I think you are mistaken. That really makes no sense.”
“It shouldn’t be incomprehensible. Was your experience of living 55 lives at the behest of a god a plausible story?”
“The situation is… different from that…”
“It is no different. After all, we are beings who must struggle to survive.”
The Sage slowly rose from his seat.
Then, raising his hand lightly, he created something. *
Swoosh*—
The light that appeared in the pitch-black sky was molded into a structure that looked familiar. It was
a space akin to a galaxy in the universe.
It was the Sea of Souls.
“As you know, the allies who aided you are souls saved by Lady Serenia. Originally, they were destined to be torn apart and annihilated without a trace.”
“…Yes. I heard they were caught up in an anomaly.”
“It is not an anomaly. It was caused by Barcasia, who intended to use hundreds of millions of souls as pawns.”
“Hundreds of millions? Are you saying he intended to summon hundreds of millions of people to become players?”
“Yes. It was a wicked act exploiting the difference in divine power. Even then, if you discarded the broken ones, only a tiny fraction remained.” *
Swoosh*
—With those words, the light in the sky moved.
It split into two spheres and fell far apart.
“The blue sphere is Earth, and the yellow sphere is the world of the gods. The black space filling the margins represents the Otherworld. Your father was the chief of the guardians who protected this place.”
Shhh—
The white dust that fell from the blue sphere began to flow into the yellow sphere, the Otherworld.
However, its movement was blocked by the black space of the Otherworld.
“In the beginning, the souls that Barcasia pulled in by force were blocked by the guardians. Enraged by this, the Goddess crossed over to the Otherworld herself and waged war against the guardians. As a result, their bodies and souls, destroyed without dying, came to wander endlessly in the void.”
“…Did you intentionally not kill them?”
“That is the Goddess of Turmoil. The pain and tragedy felt by her opponents would be a delightful game for her.”
Ssss—
The gray particles scattered in the black space floated helplessly.
But that wandering light was suddenly gathered by something and coalesced into a single mass.
“Lady Serenia, realizing the situation, gathered the remnants of that soul. However, as he was a being from another dimension, even divine power could not fully revive him.”
“…Is that why you sent him to Earth as a human?”
“It was the best choice. The other Guardians also lost all their memories and became ordinary humans living on Earth. However, your father, the leader, could not have such a life. The curse planted by Barcasia blossomed into misfortune.”
“…A curse?”
“Originally, he was destined to die within a few days. The only reason he managed to survive was thanks to Lady Serenia’s efforts to dilute the curse. As a result of living a new life like that, it coincidentally led to your birth and made you Lady Serenia’s hope. Of course, I find it regrettable that the curse’s influence caused various misfortunes.”
“…….”
Hanbit clenched his fist at the phrase "various misfortunes."
The debt left by his father and his mother, who had to endure a long period of suffering because of it.
If that was a predetermined fate, or even a curse left by Barcasia, it was truly the epitome of absurdity.
As for his father, who had passed away early without recalling a single thing, where could he vent his grievances?
No, had he ever even asked his mother about his father in the first place?
It felt as though his past life had creaked and gone awry.
"It seems you need time to sort out your thoughts,"
the Sage said calmly, observing his expression.
However, compared to his complex thoughts, his emotions were settling quickly. After all,
this was a tragedy that had begun at Barcasia's hands.
"No, I beg you to continue."
"…Very well."
Whoosh!
The white light escaping from Earth flew toward the other world at tremendous speed.
To think that all of that was a soul was absurd.
“After the Guardian disappeared, Barcasia freely summoned souls. Most were discarded because their natures were unsuitable, and Lady Serenia strove to gather as many as possible and return them to their original worlds. However, those that were severely damaged consumed a considerable amount of divine power.”
“Are those your allies?”
“Yes. She poured her efforts into personally gathering the scattered fragments and restoring them right before her eyes. After much deliberation, Lady Serenia decided to entrust them with preparing for the future. That is the situation that has led to the present.”
Whoosh—
Having finished tidying up, the Sage extinguished the light in the sky.
Then, gazing at Hanbit, he continued speaking.
“Barcasia poured immense divine power for destruction and revelry, while Lady Serenia used her meager remaining power for protection and salvation. Isn't it already decided who should be the master of the world?”
A god who shakes the world, and a god who seeks to protect it.
Naturally, choosing the latter is the right thing to do, but Earth was teeming with people who did not.
Whether it was Barcasia's brainwashing or just a simple influence, I couldn't let her go to that side.
Though my feelings for Serenia were still complex.
"Do you resent Lady Serenia?"
As if reading my thoughts, the Sage asked. It
was also a question about my feelings regarding having to endure a life I hadn't wanted, starting with the 55th cycle. After
a moment of contemplation, Hanbit shook his head.
"It is difficult to say for sure, but I do not resent her. After all, if it weren't for that goddess's efforts, I think most of the Earth would have been destroyed."
"…I see."
He lowered his gaze and looked at the dragon crest in his hand.
The Sage, lost in thought for a moment, raised his face.
"You are a descendant left behind by the Primordial Dragon Race. In particular, you inherited the blood and soul of a man who stood as the Guardian of the Otherworld, and a leader at that. I believe you are different from other Primordial Dragons."
"Honestly, I don't feel anything… Should I consider you a hybrid like Princess Elencia?"
“That is not for me to judge. I cannot know what influences you were subjected to as you were born and raised, nor what changes you underwent while passing through 55 lives. Even Lady Serenia would likely be unable to read this.”
A feast of countless variables, difficult to even pinpoint.
It seemed that even a god could not comprehend the state of Hanbit, who stood at the center of those waves.
“Then what is the name Black Dragon? I heard you were a dragon who assisted the Goddess of Silence.”
“There are two reasons for using that name. One is that ‘Black Dragon’ was the title given to the leader of the Guardians of the Otherworld. This was absolutely necessary when considering the future. The other signifies that the vessel containing your soul is the Black Dragon that perished by Lady Serenia’s side. It was also his earnest wish.”
“…What is the reason for his perish?”
“It was the aftermath of the war waged against Barcasia. Knowing his own condition, he chose to perish alone while he was still somewhat intact. That became divine power and was of great help to Lady Serenia.”
“…….”
A choice imbued with clear will.
Hanbit suddenly recalled the message he had obtained through the faded stone tablet.
'I do not know what situation is unfolding in that dimension. I merely hope that someone with potential will stand on the side of the Goddess of Silence. In the name of the Black Dragon, I leave this record, lost amidst the time of chaos, as a code.'
Words he had thought were simply a wish for the future.
However, this was a last will and testament written down as he sensed his own death.
Was it a desire to protect this world at all costs?
*Swoosh*
—At that moment, a black light flickered from the dragon crest held in the sage's hand.
There also seemed to be a slight tremor.
"This object was created with the power of the Black Dragon, a dragon race that split from the primordial source of the other dimension. To awaken as a member of the primordial dragon race, you must meet their king and be recognized." "
…It seems it is possible to go to the other dimension."
“It is thanks to the power shared by Lady Serenia. The problem is that since the body and soul are transferred together, you will cease to exist in this world. In other words, it is tantamount to saying that if you die there, everything ends. That is why I cannot force this upon you.”
“…….”
It was a result far too extreme to be considered merely a possibility.
The repercussions following death were not simple.
After all, the Black Dragon was the most critical element of the plan Serenia had poured her divine power into.
“You said you cannot force it; is there another way?”
“You could receive a portion of the power through a Guardian who survived at the time. However, this is so insignificant that it is highly likely it will not lead to any meaningful results.”
“…Then there is no choice.”
They had come too far to make a choice based on risk.
Under the condition that defeat meant destruction, there was no room to spare.
“Are I taking this body and abilities with me?”
“Yes. It is a new system created with the power given by the Goddess. It would be most accurate to think of it as another dimension of RP.”
“That is a relief.”
Hanbit slowly clenched and unclenched his fist, realizing that he had fully returned to his normal state.
Rising from his seat, he spoke to the Sage.
“I am going. If it is something that must be done anyway, let’s get it over with.”
“Is that so?”
The Sage, who had risen just as quickly, extended his hand.
The black light emanating from the Dragon Crest placed upon it had grown even stronger.
After a moment of silence, he raised his head and spoke.
“I am sorry. I seem to be placing a heavy burden on you again.”
“Well, I suppose it is less than what you have done, having existed as a Sage since the very beginning. Fifty-five lives were disgustingly long.”
“…That is true, too.”
The Sage smiled faintly at the remark laced with playful banter.
It was partly because he felt a sense of kinship stemming from their shared long journeys together.
“Activating the crest will transport you to the vicinity of the Dragon King’s Castle. You will naturally know what you need to do. Raise your hand when you are ready.”
“Understood.”
*Swoosh*
—Hanbit cautiously extended his arm.
And the moment his palm covered the crest
—Whoosh!
Along with a twisted sensation, my surroundings became distorted.
