Chapter 177

“……What on earth is that?”

Water Wizard Hwi Someong was utterly mesmerized by the <World of Fire and Wind> surging before her.

The tsunami of fire and wind that instantly annihilated those terrifyingly wicked servants of the Mad God… It was as if a completely different world had opened with Baek Jun-woo at its center.

And she could guarantee it.

No one in this world could be more shocked than she was.

Since she handled the spirits of water and light herself, she understood this phenomenon better than anyone else, and that’s precisely why she couldn’t help but be astonished.

“That preposterous… that’s the power of spirits? He manipulates spirits so freely like that?”

The power of spirits, which she had thought was the exclusive domain of the Magic Emperor and Truth Tower. She had long known that Baek Jun-woo was using it. But… this was…

‘How can a boy who hasn’t even lived twenty years manipulate spirits in a way more masterful than what Truth Tower has achieved over hundreds of years?’

Only now could Hwi Someong understand. Why the Magic Emperor became so sentimental whenever he dealt with Baek Jun-woo.

Now she could understand the Magic Emperor’s judgment. The sight of him shouldering burdens to protect Baek Jun-woo had made her worried, jealous, and even resentful… but without realizing it, those knots of emotion melted away.

Baek Jun-woo was someone who couldn’t be measured by human standards. Just like the Magic Emperor.

‘How is this possible? Has he also lived for hundreds of years? Or does he possess some divine artifact like the witch of Ragnarok?’

Filled with confusion and curiosity, Hwi Someong raced across Crossroads Hill.

To meet Baek Jun-woo as the Magic Emperor had commanded.

Thump-thump.

Without even realizing that her heart was pounding like a girl meeting a celebrity.

* * *

It was a great victory, but not without casualties.

We decided to camp at Crossroads Hill for the night.

Several mages, terrified by this battle, left our group, but most of the mages burned with even greater motivation.

“Did you see that? Did you see? When the Divine Wizard stepped forward, it was over in one strike!”

“Wow… seeing him completely melt that incredible counterattack in one go, I was… Wow, as expected of the title Divine Wizard.”

“At this rate, we’ll make it to the end. We can’t lose for a while now!”

The camp was in a festive mood. They ate, drank, and chatted beneath the multicolored Crossroads Hill. But even amidst this, they didn’t completely let their guard down. Even without anyone giving orders, I could see mages checking barriers and standing guard on their own. It’s their own lives, so naturally they’d take care of themselves… but I liked their attitude nonetheless.

I sat on a hammock and conversed with Hwi Someong, who had come out to meet us.

Last time in the [Simulation] she had been so stubborn, but today she was very compliant. She freely shared information I wanted to know.

“You’re being very cooperative today?”

“Pardon? This is only our second meeting. Did I perhaps show some discourtesy last time…?”

“Ah, no. It’s just a feeling. Just a feeling.”

Whew. We fought so earnestly in that [Simulation], but she doesn’t remember any of it… This is oddly disappointing in its own way.

Fortunately, Hwi Someong didn’t seem too puzzled and seemed to accept it on her own.

“Well, that could be the case. This time is different from last time. His Majesty gave direct orders. ‘Cooperate as much as you can.’ For him to say that much… practically means to open everything within my capabilities. Any information, any assistance. So please ask comfortably.”

Hmm? Is that so?

Actually, during the last [Simulation], I didn’t get much information. Hwi Someong was such a tough customer that I could only get indirect information, and later I became much more interested in Hwi Someong’s secret technique <Milky Way Eruption> than in information about the Outer Gods.

So this opportunity was very welcome.

“Then I’ll ask without delay.”

I could feel the surroundings tense up at my words. Hwi Someong hadn’t excluded the Pathfinder delegation from the conversation. So Beatrice, Ak-hu, Lytol, and Yuria had all gathered around us, perking up their ears. It was a rare opportunity to hear intimate stories from one of the most secretive organizations, Truth Tower.

Hwi Someong lifted her light green-tinged aqua eyes and quietly gazed at me. Even with everyone’s attention focused on her, she showed no sign of being intimidated.

“How did you know about the Outer Gods?”

But the moment my question dropped, Hwi Someong’s eyes wavered.

“…How did you?”

The voice that barely returned was rough, as if choked.

I shrugged once.

“I learned through artifacts.”

“Ah…”

Hwi Someong’s mouth opened slightly, then she nodded repeatedly.

“Right. You captured the Prophet and secured the Well of Wisdom Mimir. Then it makes sense that you’d know.”

Actually, it wasn’t that—I had heard it directly from Hwi Someong through [Simulation] and later learned details through Shadow Library. Even the Well of Wisdom Mimir was still under the Outer Gods’ influence…

Well, since she’s thinking it through herself, it’s convenient.

“The official name is Outer God. His Majesty first discovered those records in Knight Order ruins exactly 597 years ago.”

“Knight Order ruins…”

That made sense. Come to think of it, Shadow Library could also be classified as Knight Order ruins.

After all the gods died, the surviving administrator-type egos waged war against the Outer Gods together with their creations… It was probably ruins from that era.

So that means…

…Huh?

Wait a minute.

What?

“Hold on. Wait. The Magic Emperor excavated ruins when? 597 years ago?”

“…I would prefer if you added the honorific ‘His Majesty’ to Magic Emperor.”

Hwi Someong wrinkled her pretty face, expressing strong displeasure, but I had no intention of accommodating such a fanatic. More importantly, as someone who possessed a formal administrator authentication code, I couldn’t afford to acknowledge the Magic Emperor’s superiority. No matter how strong the Magic Emperor might be, I don’t think he has an administrator authentication code. So even if the Magic Emperor is actually stronger, in front of the mages, I should always act like I’m stronger.

And perhaps… now I might be able to compete somewhat? If we’re talking purely about combat, excluding other abilities?

“So you’re saying the Magic Emperor has lived more than 597 years.”

Hwi Someong’s face wrinkled even more. But as if she couldn’t help it, she continued her answer.

“Yes. His Majesty entered training to save the world after noticing the existence of the Mad God. And he ultimately transcended the limitations of created beings. I believe this year marks the 633rd year he’s faced.”

The one who reacted to those words was Beatrice.

“Ah! I knew it was that!”

“Huh? What?”

“The Holy Grail! The Holy Grail! The one that Magic Emperor old man took! When that old man stole it, he took all the related records too, so the Holy Grail’s exact abilities weren’t passed down. Only a few guesses remained. But now it’s clear! The Holy Grail’s effect is immortality! It has the power to prevent its holder from aging and dying! Ahh… that’s why when we had the Holy Grail, we didn’t make efforts to find the reincarnated saint. The saint wouldn’t have died. Wow… so that was it.”

…Wait a minute.

Then just how terrifying were the Ragnarok of old?

A saint with Dragon Heart… who doesn’t even die? While also accessing information recorded in the Akashic Record through the Well of Wisdom Mimir?

Insane… I should be grateful that the Ragnarok of that era didn’t wish for the world’s destruction. If they had tried to destroy the world, it would have been destroyed long ago.

As everyone was imagining Ragnarok’s golden age and couldn’t contain their shock, there was one person whose face turned bright red with rage, unable to contain her fury.

Of course, it was Hwi Someong.

“You, you, you, youo little brat! Are you done talking? O-o-old… Aaaah! How dare! How dare you say such things about His Majesty! And the Holy Grail? It’s not like that! Our Majesty would have transcended the fate of created beings even without such a thing!”

Woooom-!

Even her Circle resonated as Hwi Someong rolled her eyes back.

But Beatrice didn’t bat an eye.

“What are you saying?”

She dismissed Hwi Someong with her words,

Grrrowl-

And with the Dragon Heart in her Circle, she growled low in threat.

“Hmm…”

“Ahem.”

“Tris. Calm down.”

The pressure emanating from the Dragon Heart was enough to make even the 6th Circle Ak-hu feel uncomfortable. The pressure quickly subsided when Yuria intervened, but Hwi Someong was already at her boiling point.

“Hiiik! A brat who was just being used by the Mad God after being manipulated…”

“Well, it’s true, so there’s nothing to say. Just like it’s true that Magic Emperor is an old man who stole the Holy Grail.”

“Hey!”

“What. Ah, but didn’t you say earlier that Outer God is the official name? Why are you suddenly calling it Mad God?”

“The official name is Outer God, but among ourselves we call it Mad God more often… No, is that important right now?!”

“It is important. Do you know what Outer God means?”

“How would I know! It’s just a name of unknown meaning recorded in the ruins! Isn’t it just a god gone mad trying to destroy our world?! Anyway, you! Apologize!”

“Hooo… Really?”

It seemed the battle of wills between Beatrice and Hwi Someong was Beatrice’s overwhelming victory. Beatrice, who could calmly accept slander about herself, versus Hwi Someong, who absolutely couldn’t accept slander about the Magic Emperor… It was a battle of character, so the outcome was clear from the start.

“Hmph! I’ll stop here for today! We’re leaving early tomorrow, so don’t sleep too late!”

In the end, after fighting for a while, it was Hwi Someong who turned away coldly first. She had tried to get an apology to the end, but only received more unbearable insults in return, and decided that continuing to exchange words would only further dishonor the Magic Emperor.

Though her shoulders clearly showed she was thoroughly sulking as she stormed off.

‘Still, it was because the other party was us that she just sulked and left…’

If other mages had committed such discourtesy, she probably would have definitely killed them. Truth Tower’s fanatics were notorious for that aspect.

As I watched Hwi Someong’s retreating figure with strange sentiments, Beatrice tugged at my sleeve.

“But did I do well? Seeing how she was talking, it seemed like she’d only give distorted information glorifying the Magic Emperor, so I lightly provoked her.”

What?

I looked at Beatrice in surprise. Beatrice stared back at me wide-eyed, then frowned.

“What’s with that expression… Don’t tell me you thought I was being childish and bickering with her?”

…Wasn’t that it?

“Ugh…”

Beatrice let out a puff of air and said,

“Think about it, Senior Elder. The way that Water Wizard was acting was a bit… well, think about it. If I hadn’t provoked her lightly like that, would she have properly explained why she calls Outer Gods ‘Mad Gods’ given her personality? She would have confused us with more flowery rhetoric. But because I provoked her, what happened? Her true feelings came right out, didn’t they? In other words, she doesn’t really know what Outer God means, so she calls them Mad Gods. Isn’t that an important clue about what the Magic Emperor knows and doesn’t know?”

Beatrice explaining everything step by step felt unfamiliar.

This kid… why has she become so mature?

Why do I feel like… I’m the only one who’s become childish?

Damn it…