Episode 1188 The Sixth Apostle (12)
The city of the Citadel, inverted vertically, exuded a sense of alienation detached from reality, imbued with a gloomy and heavy grandeur.
When I looked up at the ceiling, I saw a street of ruins filled with cracks. How should I put it? It felt like walking over a massive city without flying.
Legions of the undead were found throughout the underground caves that had just formed from the fall of the Citadel.Of course, they were dead. As if the strings that kept their limbs moving had been severed, they lay sprawled motionless, greeting the Destroyer of the Citadel.
A zombie, its upper body hanging from a building window, slumped limply, dragged down by gravity. Unless someone closed it, that mouth would remain open forever.
Thump, thump, thump.
Verden and his party proceeded with the search directly, without relying on
For reference, Feldianne, who appeared unlikely to regain consciousness right now, was left at the entrance and taken to Rateon and Aldevan.
[Exploration continues.]
Alpha was happy to set out on an adventure with his favorite Verden and the manager.
It was a shame to leave Beta behind since this was an unplanned adventure… but anyway, it was the first time I had personally explored the unknown with the Administrator by my side.Whether at the Golem Research Facility or the Silent Desert, the Administrator had never been able to venture outside the designated zones due to the existential limitations of their clones.
“I never imagined you would leave Nuhara. You have been away from the Great Tree of Life for quite some time; are you feeling alright in your current physical condition?”“As you can see, I am stable. Now that I can generate magic on my own without receiving it from the Great Tree, my range of action is no longer restricted like it was when I was a clone. Of course, a little nourishment is essential to move on my own like that.”
You cannot create something out of nothing.The same applies to transcendent beings.Although their bodies have transformed to be extremely efficient and specialized for sustaining life, they cannot survive for extended periods without consuming anything.
In that sense, the manager’s true nature has become clearer.
As food intake, which had been merely a hobby and entertainment, reached a stage where it directly influenced the body’s fundamental functions, he could finally be classified as a full-fledged living being physically.
“It is a bit of a shame that you couldn’t play a significant role because you joined the war late. Furthermore, even though you can conceal your appearance with a mask, the fundamental magic has distinct characteristics that cannot be utilized openly.……“If the First Demon King had appeared in the midst of this, it would have been difficult to manage the chaos.”
Verden shrugged his shoulders.
“Or how about you, Master, pretend to be the First Demon King? It would undoubtedly be a move that neither ‘you’ nor the First Demon King himself ever imagined.”“What? Hahahaha! Right, that would turn into total chaos.”
The manager laughed loudly, then turned serious.
“You’re joking, right?”“I’m joking.”“Really?”“…….”
The administrator wanted to avoid provoking the main body more than necessary as much as possible. This was because, having once been a clone himself, he instinctively understood just how fearsome and powerful the main body was.
Verden knew this, too, but he could have caused even greater chaos if necessary. A nature that springs back when pressed. His rebellious nature was particularly intense.Had it not been for that, he would have been unable to refuse his given fate and would have already died.
“……Alpha, if you see Verden engaging in extremely dangerous antics later on, try to stop him. Even if you cannot stop him, make sure it serves as an opportunity for him to reconsider.”
[Administrator’s Request. Confirmed.]
Alpha grabbed the ash hair and climbed onto Verden’s head.
[Alpha. Your Majesty Verden. Suppressor.]
Yeah, yeah.
They continued their conversation while examining the buildings embedded in the ceiling here and there with
As an 8th-tier transcendent, Verden also closely observed the administrator’s current hierarchy.His level has risen compared to before.
The manager said.
“I, too, spent a meaningful time in my own way while rebuilding Tuhar. It was truly enjoyable to test my limits for the first time and to grow through it. How about you? It seems you have undergone far more diverse changes than I imagined. Now that you have reached a level beyond that of a god, does the world look different to you?”
The Administrator sensed Verden’s stature amidst the sight of the Citadel’s destruction. A presence qualitatively different from the ancient gods seen in the Main Body’s memories.That, indeed, must be the status akin to the Absolute that ‘you’ and the Main Body once stood upon.
“I have become able to perceive more, but the world hasn’t changed much. To me, Alpha is Alpha, and Master is Master.”“It couldn’t be better. It serves as proof that you have held an upright perspective from the very beginning.”
[Alpha is Alpha. Administrator is Administrator. His Majesty Verden is His Majesty Verden.]
Alpha asked the manager.
[Administrator. Free. Future plans?]
The manager stroked his beard.
“Well… I haven’t really thought about it deeply, but I do have a desire to experience the unfamiliar culture of the continent that doesn’t exist in Tuhar.”
Verden understood the meaning of those words.
“I will take you to a nice restaurant.”“I look forward to it.”
The manager had a deep interest in various delicious food cultures in addition to premium jerky and wine.
Thump, thud… … .
The underground city was unstable, so debris fell even with a small impact.Except for the buildings and foundations that remained intact from the fall, it would not have been surprising if anything had collapsed at any moment, so we proceeded while reinforcing the precarious parts.
Ss
Then something moved again.
Verden calmly turned his head and directed his gaze toward the darkness beyond. A figure hiding behind the corner of a building, revealing only half its face. Itlooked like a shadow, and for a split second, their eyes met.
Bloodshot eyes.
The being vanished once again with mysterious movements, but left a trace behind.
“They are leading us somewhere. Or perhaps it is a trap.”“Let’s check it out.”
What do you want?
I chased the unidentified creature, considering the possibility of a trap. I moved through space, but I couldn’t keep up with its movements.The moment the distance narrowed, it vanished completely, only to reappear before I knew it.
So, had we entered about two-thirds of the way from the entrance into the underground city?
Xerion Imperial Castle. Is it on the outskirts?
The ceiling had lowered, and the top of a building that appeared to have broken off from Xerion Imperial Castle was touching the floor.
Squeak… … squeak… … .
A broken window rattled with a metallic sound and soon stopped. A being connected to ‘you’ had entered inside.
I’ll lead the way.
The manager took the lead.
Pow!
The magical light emanating from the white staff drove away the deep darkness. The moment I stepped inside, the scent of paper brushing past my nose intensified dramatically.
Is it a library?
[Strange Space.]
The Citadel was devastated, yet the library was clean. The bookshelves were tall, and there were many books. The building was upside down, yet not a single book had popped out.A strange incorruptibility seemed to tighten its grip on Verden and his party from all sides.
Verden took out a book.
It was a blank page.
The book contained no content whatsoever. I checked, and the book next to it, the book next to that, and even the book on the opposite bookshelf were the same… … .
Thump!
A book fell from above.
Without a trace or a sound—an unidentified book placed precisely between Verden and the administrator. It could not be said to be closer to either side.
The master and disciple agreed silently.
The master volunteered to pick up the book first. Even after examining the front and back closely, there was no title whatsoever. It felt unsettling, but he ignored it and slowly opened the pages.
“……!”
The manager flinched for a moment, tilted his head, and turned the page. Parak, pararak. Parararak. The speed gradually increased until it returned to the first page.
It’s not a blank page.
[Content. Curious.]
Exactly one sentence is written across three sections.
The manager grabbed the top of the book and opened it.
Verden flinched inwardly.
Oldark is.
you.
I intend to become.
An intense power emanated from the words. Verden could assert it with certainty. This was a kind of message sent by none other than ‘you’.
Alpha tilted his body.
[You intend to become the Demon King?]
“It’s ambiguous…….”
Verden attempted to interpret the situation from various angles, but the answer could not be clear.There were four reasons for this.
First, noun.
It was not clear whether the ‘you’ referred to ‘you’ or to the listener.
Second, singular noun.
You, not you.
If it implied the latter, it was ambiguous as to who it referred to among Verden, Alpha, and the Administrator.Naturally, it was highly likely to be Verden, but the fact that the book did not fall directly on Verden himself left a lingering sense of unease.
Third, the original meaning of the sentence.
Oldarc is trying to become you… Even if the two problems above were not present, it was not something that could be understood based solely on the clues obtained so far.
Fourth, ‘your’ purpose.
What on earth are you drawing that you sent a message like this?
───Verden, we can be together.
The first Apostle, ‘Humanity Gathered Around the Light,’ whom I had encountered on the island of the Hiaremar Inland Sea and who had wasted Verden’s time, said such words.The second Apostle, the First King of the Human World, expressed genuine murderous intent, but there were indications that ‘you’ were trying to appease him.
‘Then is it a friendly act… … or is it a hostile intention since the Sixth Apostle was executed?’
It was difficult to judge even that, just as it is difficult to distinguish between good and evil.
He is indeed god-like. Seeing how he can make things this unsettling with a single, concise sentence.
Verden did not obsess over interpretation. He had learned enough from experience. If clues were lacking, it was better to obtain other clues rather than fill them in with imagination.
“It seems we won’t be able to figure out the true meaning of the book right away.”“I see.”
The manager also gave up cleanly and closed the book.
Still, I should ask the messenger.
I sensed a presence.
Swoosh.
The guy with bloodshot eyes climbed the bookshelf toward the door at the top. I tried to distort space, but it was hard to be sure I could catch him.
Mado
At that moment, the Administrator flashed the azure light characteristic of the First Demon King, and as the blue and gold intertwined, green magical power was born.His pupils were stained the same color.It was the prelude to the unique magic the Administrator had cast as his final act to deal with the intruder Verden at the Golem Research Facility—the origin of that element.
The manager snapped his fingertips.
Simple Super-Level Magic.
El Ivero
The primordial ice stopped in a mere instant and covered the whole. Except for Verden and Alpha, everything, including space, froze completely at absolute zero and came to a standstill at the particle level.
[wow.]
“Using Super-tier magic like this…?”“I named it ‘Simplified Super-tier Magic.’ The original Super-tier magic is so difficult to use that I arbitrarily reduced its power like this. It may be inefficient, but as you can see, it is quite useful.”
The magical talent innate by the First Demon King is at its peak since the beginning of time. The potential of the Administrator, who originated from his clone, is no less than this.
“I need to have something to teach my disciple to even be able to act as a master. Now, let’s talk about magic later.”
‘Your’ messenger, unable to resist the primordial ice, soon fell, andVerden caught him with
Let’s reveal your identity first.
[check.]
The three of them gathered together and observed the being whose life activities and thoughts had ceased.
“This appearance is…….”
* * *
Valion, who was racing through the mountain range of the ownerless land, clutched his head. Bang! Crash! Even as he smashed several trees, he never stopped.
“Finally…… Aaaargh……!!”
Balion lay face down in agony. After reading the [Book of Destiny], strange information swirled in his head. It felt as if his brain was literally being sliced apart.
However, he desperately guarded the experimental container while struggling violently.
The blood of Verden.The blood of the ancient king.
He finally obtained Verden’s biological information, which was his original objective. Even the former king’s. Having secured two types of blood in this way, Valion headed like a madman toward Gluttony’s base.
‘Three types of blood’ trembled in his bosom as the completion of the new humanity was imminent.
* * *
The being that guided Verden and his party to this archive had the appearance of a human.
However, there were many scars.
androgynous appearance. In addition, no physical characteristics were visible that could clearly distinguish gender.
The manager said.
“You look like a test subject to me.”“I feel the same way.”
The messenger was literally a rag. His body, which appeared to have been made by stitching together different bodies, aroused physiological revulsion.
On the one hand, I also felt a sense of pity.
Verden opened his mouth after deep insight.
“Would you please lift the spell?”“I will.”
The administrator spread his hand and melted the primordial ice. The frozen messenger soon blinked. Then, startled, he thrashed about but could not dare to break free from the gray gauntlet.
“Speak.”“……!”
Verden asked.
Who are you?
The messenger blinked and answered.
“U…… Ah.”“What?”“Ua.”
The manager narrowed his eyebrows.
“Is it a lack of language ability?”“Master.”
Verden’s expression hardened. He realized the messenger’s identity the moment he heard his voice.
“They are gods. No… they are gods.”
