Dialogue (1)
Chapter 65
As they entered the tiny secret passage, the surroundings were pitch black.
Guided by the light emitted from Resina’s clone, they didn’t have to walk far before reaching a dead end.
Cugugung-
Facing the wall, a small vibration began, and the floor started to rise.
Along the grooves carved into the wall, mana flowed down from above, faintly glowing.
The distance to the ceiling appeared to be over 50 meters, but the elevator stopped just before touching it.
Ray realized that the source of the cascading mana was ahead.
‘Hm…’
Ray glanced back briefly.
Ropheiren hastily bowed his head and trembled.
The man who had been so proud as a capable mage was now completely cowed, crawling on all fours.
Ray found this…
Extremely satisfying.
“This seems like a pretty good method.”
It was a world where status and titles ruled like thugs.
Even if one was an insignificant noble, without quiet compliance, one had to cater to their whims.
But me, Harshia reincarnated?
A rank so high that I could march into the Imperial Palace and slap the Emperor, who would then laugh nervously and entertain me.
“Truly, liberation from the shackles of status…”
Ray recalled himself laughing while accepting a cup offered by the Emperor, then immediately frowned.
If I recklessly play this bluff, my head might roll in no time.
“I need to figure out how to shut Ropheiren up.”
Though he crawls now, isn’t it the nature of mages to harbor ulterior motives behind their backs?
Ray clicked his tongue and heightened his tension.
Even Resina’s seemingly cooperative clone could unpredictably change at any moment.
Though created based on a third personality, the fact remained that the woman who made it was also a mage.
Having skillfully deceived someone they’ve just met, absolute vigilance was necessary.
[We are here, Lady Harshia.]
They reached the end of the corridor.
A blue-glowing square artifact was encased within a translucent shield.
[This is a procedure prepared solely by Lady Resina for welcoming you, Lady Harshia.]
“Procedure?”
[This square artifact serves as the core supplying power to this area. Do not attack the shield; simply destroy the core inside.]
An impossible task.
For most people, anyway.
Ray felt Ropheiren’s gaze directed at him.
‘Well, if I’m going to bluff, I might as well do it properly.’
A sword unsheathed from Ray’s waist.
Passss!
Blue sword energy concentrated on the blade.
The moment Ray swung the sword, the energy vanished into thin air.
Ropheiren held his breath, tracking the disappearance of the sword energy.
No trace of it could be felt in the surrounding area.
Just as disbelief began to form in Ropheiren’s eyes—
A deep-blue sword energy tore through the Absolute Shield from within.
“…!”
Ropheiren’s eyes widened impossibly large.
The Leaping Sword Energy plummeted towards the core.
His legs giving way, Ropheiren collapsed onto the spot.
Kwaang!
The square-shaped core shattered into pieces.
The shockwave from the explosion rocked the narrow space.
Ropheiren gasped for breath.
“It’s… It’s impossible…”
The pinnacle of imperial swordsmanship, long thought to be lost—Harshia-style Spatial Blade—had revealed itself, transcending 600 years of time.
“Ah… Ah… This… This can’t be…”
Ropheiren muttered, his spirit utterly drained.
After wandering aimlessly for some time, Ropheiren rose upon feeling Ray’s cold stare.
“I… I have sinned!”
Ropheiren knelt with trembling legs, bowing his head to the dusty ground.
“Lady Harshia. Please, please forgive my transgressions! My rudeness!”
The unparalleled virtue displayed by the young boy after 600 years left no room for doubt.
Harshia.
The great hero and peak of the empire had reappeared.
Why hadn’t I noticed sooner?
Looking back, there were so many hints.
Regret overwhelmed him for the days consumed by greed, unable to regain his senses.
“Please, mercy!”
Ray approached step by step.
Ropheiren’s heart raced wildly.
Tuk!
Ray placed his foot atop Ropheiren’s head.
Though it was the first humiliation of his life,
Ropheiren pressed his forehead against the ground as if honored.
Ray thought to himself.
‘Should I really bluff against the Empire?’
A hazy sense of euphoria coursed through his spine.
He had to bite his tongue to maintain his composure as his lips twitched uncontrollably.
Ray rarely had opportunities to showcase what he possessed.
Constantly suppressing his abilities, living in restraint, showing off the Leaping Sword Energy openly like this was quite gratifying.
“Here…”
Ray forced out a heavy voice.
“Stay put and wait.”
“Understood. I won’t move a finger.”
With his face planted firmly on the ground, Ropheiren even suppressed his breathing.
Satisfied, Ray nodded and turned around.
As the core shattered, the corridor split open, revealing a new location.
Pushing his body through the narrow gap, a shimmering barrier sealed the entrance behind Ray.
“So.”
Ray faced Resina’s clone.
“Where are we?”
[One of the control rooms existing within the Obelisk.]
“Got it. But you… Are you an AI created by Resina?”
[What do you mean by that?]
“Artificial intelligence.”
[That definition fits me well. Yes.]
“Do you possess individuality?”
[I am capable of thought. However, as I lack emotions, I cannot claim full individuality.]
“You don’t seem emotionless though.”
If truly emotionless, it would mean being programmed to appear human-like.
Internally impressed, Ray sat down on a chair.
“What should I call you?”
[Lady Resina referred to me as Aptel.]
“Alright, Aptel. Why did you bring me here?”
[There are limited spaces where I am allowed free speech.]
“I understand that. So, what did you want to say by bringing me here?”
[Heir of the Spatial Blade, who might you be?]
Loaded with implicit meaning, Ray responded equally loaded.
“The Apostle sent by God to save the world.”
[Understood.]
Laughing lightly, Ray asked, but Aptel’s response was eerily solemn.
[Among hundreds of geniuses gathered by the Empire, none succeeded in inheriting the Spatial Blade, only becoming cripples. This place was originally designed for the Empire’s heir but has since lost its purpose.]
“…”
[I went into hibernation. Centuries later, you arrived. Initially, I judged that the royal family had finally raised a legitimate successor, but I was mistaken.]
“That is…”
[No matter how many coincidences align, a being like you cannot naturally occur.]
Aptel declared definitively.
[You are a being of inevitability. If you are indeed the embodiment of the world’s will, cooperation is essential. Lady Resina foresaw such a situation and granted me autonomy.]
“…Are you offering to help me?”
[Yes. Successor of the Spatial Blade and heir to Harshia.]
Bending one knee, Aptel bowed her head.
[Please guide our future with the light of your wisdom.]
“…”
Ray scratched his head after a brief silence.
While suspicion could still arise, there was nothing immediate to gain by being wary of Aptel.
Lowering his guard, Ray asked.
“I have a question.”
[Speak.]
“Why did God send a savior?”
Though vague and seemingly naive, Aptel pierced through Ray’s intent.
Aware of himself as a savior but unsure of what to save the world from, the situation was fraught with contradictions.
“From the Demonic Realm? From demons? Or perhaps a rebellion by dark wizards? What exactly am I supposed to fight against? What should I be cautious about?”
Ray vented his accumulated frustration to Aptel.
Without clear knowledge of the enemy or the future in this world where he had reincarnated, the continent seemed relatively peaceful compared to an intense war scenario.
“Who is my enemy? By what standard should I judge victory or defeat? Do you know the answer?”
Silence fell.
An inorganic gaze swept over Ray.
Calculating probabilities, Aptel produced the most likely answer.
[Dimension Alignment.]
“…What’s that?”
[A specific time period. Also, a term referring to a certain disaster that arrives without warning.]
“Am I supposed to prevent this disaster?”
[This is not a disaster that can be prevented. It is one that must be endured. If you truly are God’s emissary, soon enough…]
Narrowing her vision, Aptel glimpsed into the past.
[The madness of the fallen will engulf the continent.]
A chilling silence followed.
Swallowing the thick air, Ray exhaled a dry sigh.
Before delving into the heavy future, he wanted to exchange hopeful words.
“Can you share magical texts or knowledge stored in the Obelisk?”
[Possible.]
“How about that Resina Record thing? Isn’t it stored inside the Obelisk?”
[For what purpose do you intend to use it?]
“I have someone much greater than Resina—a prodigy destined to become a grand wizard.”
Thinking of Luna, Ray chuckled.
“If I provide the Resina Record to that child, wouldn’t their skills improve much faster?”
Surely, our dear Luna would become an impeccable grand wizard. Ray hoped so.
However, Aptel shook her head.
[I cannot provide the Resina Record.]
“…Security issues?”
[Firstly, the Resina Record is not textual knowledge.]
Confused, Ray tilted his head as Aptel continued explaining.
[Lady Resina inscribed various phenomena achievable by those who have mastered the ‘extremes’ of magic into an A-Space. Collectively, these are called the Resina Record.]
“Inscribed?”
[By immersing one’s consciousness into the designated space, one can observe the ‘extremes’ infinitely and as desired.]
“…Is it a space created for enlightenment?”
[Roughly, yes.]
“Then how does one enter that space?”
[The coordinate value of the A-Space where the phenomena are inscribed is required. Even a mage capable of creating simple barriers can enter the A-Space and experience the extremes if they possess the coordinates.]
Pausing briefly, Aptel adopted a distant look.
[Lady Resina intended to disseminate the coordinates for entering the Resina Record worldwide so that any mage could experience the extremes and attain enlightenment for the future, raising the level of all mages.]
“But… why does the Empire monopolize the Resina Record? Could it be…?”
Ray momentarily envisioned a tragic backstory—perhaps Resina was assassinated by the Empire before she could distribute the coordinates.
Aptel continued speaking.
[However, when she decided to freely share her achievements, it hurt too much. So, she sold them to the Empire.]
Is she insane?
Muttering unconsciously, Ray pressed his temples with his fingers.
“So, you don’t have the coordinate information either?”
[No. I can provide access to the Resina Record’s coordinates. However, entering the space recklessly will allow the Empire to trace you back.]
Dead end.
As Ray was about to give up and change the subject, Aptel moved closer.
[However, Lady Resina left a backdoor in anticipation of situations like this.]
“…?”
[There is a place you, as the successor, must visit. Only by going there can you obtain the arrangements and backdoor codes Lady Resina left for the successor.]
