Episode 1025 Adventure Story (3)
It’s not here, and it’s not there.
Thanks to Beta silencing the third VIP outside the rules, Tearel searched Talacan’s library maze without any competitors.
Unable to tell what Cheongram looked like, I had no choice but to search through the entire bookshelf. Using Taehae’s demonic path, I widely spread minute moisture to expand the detection range to the maximum.
The magic path must now be closed before 4 minutes have passed.
Otherwise, not only would hierarchical magic be difficult to use, but movement would also become impossible.That is the limit allowed by the Arcadium.
Sararak, sarak.
Talakan sat as if he were alone, writing something in a book. What could he be recording? The outside was shaking due to dragons, the remnants of evil gods, and Deus, but Talakan alone appeared at ease.
What on earth do you want?
Perhaps because the third VIP had been effectively eliminated, he seemed to have no interest whatsoever in the game of finding Cheongram. He was simply engrossed in writing.
widely.
Tearel was moving to find clues about Cheongram when he suddenly stopped.
‘Wait, is Cheongram… … an object?’
Talakan introduced himself as an independent soul derived from the Host, as well as the observer and manager of the adventure.However, his essence does not change. Talakan is another Host.
I recalled Talakan’s words.
───{True to a transcendent being embodying the concept of the sea, you keenly perceive the unknowns of the deep.}
I also recalled what the host said.
───{The fluttering of a butterfly’s wings is truly astonishing. The desperate struggle of a wizard with power inferior to that of an insect has mercilessly twisted the causality of this world. Though the day you came to Arcadium was set for the distant future, it is as if you have set foot in my domain at this very moment.}
───{I am the very fear of the sea you were searching for.}
I am your ideal.
Long before Tearel found the deep sea… Host knew her. She was certain that she would come to Arcadium in the future.Host was the terror of the sea that Tearel had been searching for like an ideal.
Like Luzak Paltein, perhaps all the VIPs, with the exception of Bloodia, are the undead. The Host has been advancing the game by holding banquets of knowledge with those souls. Even the leader of the Glory of the Dead has been reduced to the Host’s plaything.
Tearel slowly turned his head.
In contrast, Verden and others are the living VIPs and guests of honor. The host pretends to uphold fairness, but… does he really view the dead and the living as equal in the first place? The former are nothing more than toys.
The countless books surrounding her began to feel hollow. Doubt turned into belief, and a strange impulse pulled at her hand.
The host values me.
The first intellectual to arrive at Talakan was the third distinguished guest.However, Talakan only started the game to find Cheongram after Tearel arrived, and created a loophole in the game rules to induce Beta’s intervention.
The game was… … biased.
However, from the host’s perspective, it would not be favoritism. After all, they did not regard the deceased as official participants from the beginning.
‘I see.’
Closed the magic path.Finished searching the archives.
It was said that a distinguished guest who failed to find the Blue Light would lose all knowledge, but Talakan did not want Tearel to turn into a specter of knowledge.He did not want to see him defeated.He was convinced that Tearel would win. This is an adventure drama. The participants decide the direction, but Talakan is the scriptwriter.
Cheongram. The clue was in that meaning.
Tearel tapped the frame of Beta, who was busy scanning books, and retraced his steps. He arrived at the observatory where Talacan was located.He climbed the stairs… and stood beside Talacan, looking at the exact same scenery.
Clear and pristine scenery.Talakan’s books stacked neatly.
The two of them were visible at a glance.
“Cheongram, I found you.”
The Cheongram specified by the task of knowledge was neither a blue gem nor an object. Cheongram was the dictionary meaning itself.
A clear view.Others seeing one’s writing.
The scene that encompassed the two meanings above was precisely the blue spectacle that Talakan spoke of.
The intellectuals of Arcadium revere the Host more than knowledge itself. As the being possessing the greatest knowledge, they would not dare to even attempt to share the same perspective. It is a game that would end if only one understood Cheongram’s will, just as the Third Distinguished Guest did not consider that possibility at all. In the end, he must have wandered the labyrinth of the library until the adventure ended.
Scribbles on the paper with a fountain pen.
Just as the host is described as ‘the fourth most intelligent person in history, past and present,’ the quantity of knowledge does not represent intelligence. It is knowledge only when utilized. Knowledge that is merely accumulated is a book that no one reads.
Swoosh!
Talakan finished writing and put a splendid period at the end.He handed the new book to Thearel.
{The nineteenth distinguished guest, Terin, won the game.}
As soon as the declaration ended, the third distinguished guest lost consciousness and scattered like smoke. Oh, third distinguished guest. There is no need to feel sorry for him.A specter craving knowledge is better off than a helpless soul.
Once I receive this book, the task is finished… … .
Tearel calmed his gaze ahead of the moment to escape the adventure. He had no intention of leaving the game alone, leaving Beta behind.
Thearel asked.
“You said you selected a pool of candidates and then randomly assigned tasks from within it. So, is it purely a coincidence that I’ve run into you here?”
You have likely had this thought upon witnessing completely unintended actions fit the situation perfectly: “Ah, so that is why it is like this.” That moment that truly feels like fate.
Talakan placed the new book—Cheongram—on the desk and walked away. He stood close to the window and took his place in the center of the battlefield.
{Current fate has been destroyed.}
“You said Asher did.”
{However, even if fate does not exist, the roots intertwined with it still exist. And there is also the accidental destiny formed at the end of coincidence upon coincidence. The Host refers to these two as ‘necessity’.}
Necessity has not been proven.New knowledge.The Host is undergoing countless experiments to prove necessity. Even now.
{It can be said that the task of Cheongram was given to you was inevitable. Even though you did not wish for it, you are fundamentally entangled with the Host.}
“…….”
Tearel quietly gazed at Talacan’s back as he basked in the sunlight. Beta looked at Cheongram. She let out a small sigh and spoke.
“I beat the eighteenth VIP in the first game, and the third VIP in the second game. So, I got two question rights.”
If you defeat a double-digit VIP, you get a lower-level question right.If you defeat a single-digit VIP, you get a middle-level question right.
“You know the answer I want. Even though you’ve become independent, you’re still a host. So I’m going to use my right to ask a question right here.”
Thearel asks.
“Why did I choose the Host as my ideal as a transcendent being?”
Even before mastering magic, Tearel realized that there was an inescapable terror in the sea, and he made it his ideal to subdue it.
And the host was the fear of the sea.
Tearel understood that he could not essentially coexist with the Host. However, the Host whispered that there was a clear reason for that realization.
You can listen to it alone if you want.
“Tell me now.”
Naturally, Tearel had no intention of ostracizing Beta. After all, Beta was fully entitled to know the secrets related to her.
Talakan looked out the window and said.
There are beings called seeds of resistance.
“Seeds of Resistance?”
{This is the underlying power prepared for the final war by Oldark, who was defeated by ‘your’ fate. All modern transcendents created by Oldark are, in fact, seeds of resistance, but… some of those transcendents, and some of the seeds that are not transcendents, carry a special mission.}
I could feel his voice clearly.
{A resistor who opposes ‘your’ apostles. We call this the ‘adversary.’ In that sense, the Host is ‘your’ third apostle and… … .}
Tearel heard the truth.
{You are the adversary of the Third Apostle, O Transcendent of the Sea.}
“I…… the Adversary.”
The corners of Tearel’s eyes twitched.The corners of his mouth twitched.
“I don’t know anything about that. I never wanted it either.”
Most transcendent beings are ‘chosen’ transcendent beings. They did not make the choice.
Talakan stabbed without hesitation with the dagger of truth.
You were chosen by Oldark.
“……select?”
Thearel’s usually expressionless face began to contort. It is the nature of a transcendent being. The master of their own lives is, above all, themselves.They do not tolerate being used by others without even realizing it. This is all the more true when it comes to matters concerning their ideals.
“Chosen? Me?”
The tiny blood vessels bulging in the whites of the eyes burst.The pupils of the deep sea were surrounded by the red strait.
The First Demon King, who is he to choose me?
He is the god of magic.
“I’ve never even worshipped you, so what god are you talking about…!”
Her breathing grew ragged. Barely suppressing the rage that threatened to burst, Tearel asked as quietly as possible.
“Say that again. Did the First Demon King… really decide my ideal?”
He interfered deeply.
“Where is he? He’s not dead. Since he’s the Demon King, he’s hiding in the Demon Kingdom, right? In the Demon Kingdom of Akenad.”
Tearel could not refine his language.
“Maybe they’ll crawl out if I destroy about three major cities.”
Statements threatening to kill millions of innocent people.
If the opportunity had arisen right before Tearel’s eyes, he might have done it with all his heart. That is how much Tearel could not control his emotions.
[… … .]
As a creation of the First Demon King, Beta could not say a word. Alpha and Beta were abandoned. The First Demon King was heartless and cruel. I didn’t want to think that way, but clues kept emerging.
“say.”
Tearel tried to reopen the magic path, which he had little time left to open.
“Where is the first Demon King?”
{This is a matter that cannot be answered with the low-level question rights you have left. Furthermore, you have no time to answer. It is now time for the adventure to draw to a close. Therefore, use your low-level question rights on the host’s main body.}
Talakan narrowed his eyes.
This is the last arcadium.
[What does that mean?]
The final phase is drawing near, where no one dares to guarantee who will win. There will likely be no more opportunities to host a banquet of knowledge. Therefore, shouldn’t the game of adventure be wrapped up as well? Even for me, who observes and manages this adventure drama.
He accepted his inevitability.
My existence ends here.
The royal city vibrated.
Kwag
A dragon’s head shot up from beneath the window and shattered half of the observatory. The floor tilted. Beta and Tearel grabbed the sloped tiles to avoid falling.
{Are you… satisfied with your newly acquired knowledge?}
Talakan’s waist was caught between the dragon’s sharp teeth. Not even resisting, he glared at Tearel and his party while spewing blood from his mouth.
I hope it was a fun adventure.
Crunch! Crunch!
Talakan was mercilessly chewed and torn to pieces by the dragon’s teeth, then swallowed as a piece of flesh. The host’s independent soul had died.Talakan was also part of the game.It was his fate that if the host destroyed the game, he, too, would inevitably disappear.
Still, the adventure doesn’t end right away—
Tearel, who had been watching Talakan’s final moments, turned his head in realization.
Cheongram.
[Here it is.]
Beta snatched Cheongram before it could fall through the gaping hole outside the royal castle. As long as Beta has Cheongram, she does not have to leave for an adventure immediately.
“Keep it safe. We have to hold out until Asher completes the task.”
You may go out first.
Let’s go together.
Tearel held the heavy Beta.
Run.
[All right.]
Tearel and Beta let go of each other’s hands and slid down the slope. BAM! A dragon’s claw dug into the spot where the two were.
If you leave the study through the main gate, you will have to face not only the dragon but also the royal castle’s troops. There is no solution if you are surrounded on all sides.
So I changed the escape route.
Whoosh───
Tearel and Beta, having passed under the dragon’s body, fell from the high royal castle.
* * *
Bloodia, skilled in the game of Arcadium, deliberately provoked Verden’s psychology. In doing so, she made him hit rock bottom.
I controlled the dragon in real-time to make it complete the task of knowledge.
Bloodia was in a terrible state as she faded away and exited the game, but she smiled arrogantly at Verden’s reaction.
‘A strategy using the rules of an adventure story… … I was played a spectacular game, with no room for excuses.’
At that moment, Verden’s gaze dwindled.
But I can’t just let it go.
Verden activated the magic circuit that had already been shattered by the magic release. She did not realize that all her physical senses had been destroyed.
Absolutely not.
The final magic in the adventure story.
Verden still pressed the dagger toward Bloodia’s neck with his body weight.As he did so, he muttered into her ear.
“The Followers of Fate must be commanded by one of the Apostles. Excluding the Old King, Host, Ishur, the Giants, and the First King of the Human World… either you or the First Apostle must be the master of the Followers. Or perhaps both. But.”
[… … .]
I think that’s you.
Bloodia’s resistance had weakened to the limit. Dragon traits are meaningless. After all, this is an adventure story. In an adventure story, she is not a mighty dragon.
“Where are you?”
Bloodia, who would disappear in a dozen seconds or so, sneered with her torn mouth. Now that the task is complete, she will not die.
[A funny question… … .]
Verden instantly dropped the dagger and placed his hand on her forehead.
Through magic as a medium, the memory Verden had arbitrarily decided and the memory Bloodia had just naturally recalled intersected.
A strange scene flashed through my mind.
[?!!!]
Bloodia’s expression hardened as she hurriedly opened her mouth. Flames overflowing from within soon poured out, illuminating the darkness.
Breath.
It was a faint breath.
It was a force capable of pushing Verden back only a few meters at best. Bloodia, who had fallen from him while crawling on the ground with one arm, twisted her composure.
[You bastard… …]
“A statue worshipping a dragon… a dragon worshipper. Was that the head of those who follow fate?”
Verden ruminated on the brief memory he had seen in an instant.
“One of those strongholds is a hidden fortress located to the west of the Maren Kingdom. It was quite close. I should stop by before attending the summit.”
Verden raised his upper body with his body, which could barely exert any strength.
I will come visit as soon as the arcadium is finished.
Malice toward the Apostle overflowed.
[……under.]
Bloodia let out a hollow laugh. Part of the Followers of Fate’s stronghold had been discovered.It was only a part, but it could not be ignored. Becausethere were things there that could not be overlooked.
Even so, I cannot give up on the third game. Stopping the Destroyer of Fate in the third game must be the only best course of action.
That’s all for the second game.
Whoosh.
Bloodia moved the severed finger she had previously infused with power. It had fallen right near the Knight of Dawn, and before long, it approached the remnants of the fabricated evil god and tossed the remnants at her.
I want to retrieve the starlight too, but I have no choice but to be satisfied with this.
Since Verden and the Knight of Dawn could not move, neither of them could block it. Then, a small object flew in and struck the debris floating in the air.
Alpha, having rolled along with the debris, soon stopped in front of the fallen rock debris.
[Remnants of an Evil God. Alpha Go.]
Alpha confidently struck the remnants of the evil god with his remaining arm.
Bloodyia’s expression vanished.
As the remaining time passed, Bloodia exited the adventure.
