Chapter 585

Book 1 Chapter 585

585

Following the manifestation of Erebos’s Flame within the realm of Lumerne.

Lodia was rushing toward a destination with Kyle.

“Lady Lodia! Another dark blaze is right ahead!”

“Curse it!”

Lodia spat out.

The dark blazes remained completely invisible to Lodia’s sight.

They were fires that could only be perceived through the Conqueror’s eyes.

Yet, despite being hidden from her view, Erebos’s Flames inflicted undeniable devastation upon the inhabitants residing within the Hero’s World.

“Aaaaagh!”

“P-please save me!”

Citizens traversing the Hero’s World shrieked in terror without understanding the cause.

Observing this, Kyle bit down hard on his lip.

From Lodia’s perspective, they appeared to abruptly wail before disintegrating into cinders.

For Kyle, however, the sight of them being consumed by the fire was starkly apparent. They seemed to scream out of nowhere, and in Kyle’s vision, they were clearly burning to nothingness within the dark blazes.

Kyle clamped his teeth together.

“Do not falter, Kyle Thomas!”

Lodia barked at the boy.

“They are illusions! In actual history, their lives did not conclude in this manner… Ugh!”

Lodia gripped her skull.

The agony stemmed from the impact of her consciousness being fractured once more.

The Hero’s World attempted to subvert Lodia’s mind each time she recognized her own artificial nature.

“I understand.”

Kyle steadied the stumbling Lodia, speaking with conviction.

“Finding Lady Lumerne remains our immediate objective.”

“…Indeed.”

Lodia recovered her footing and inhaled deeply.

“I am virtually a sightless individual with functioning eyes at the moment. Therefore, will you serve as my vision once more, just as you did a moment ago?”

“Understood. I’ve actually conceptualized a viable approach.”

Kyle smirked and channeled his magical energy.

Fuuu!

Suddenly, a fire manifested right before Lodia’s gaze.

Lodia blinked in astonishment at the sight.

“What is…?”

“It is phantom magic.”

Kyle fixed his gaze forward and explained.

“I have duplicated the dark blazes that I perceive ahead of us.”

Lodia felt a surge of respect for Kyle’s resourcefulness.

“You possess a talent for adaptation, don’t you?”

“I am remarkably skilled at rapid problem-solving!”

Kyle flashed a grin.

‘That surpasses mere rapid problem-solving.’

He was offering flawless assistance to Lodia in this critical crisis.

Naturally, the phantom projected before her vision was incredibly rudimentary by Lodia’s advanced standards.

It amounted to a basic projection overlaying Kyle’s personal sight.

Nevertheless…

‘Mapping out an unfolding environment into a phantom in real-time demands exceptional perceptual capabilities.’

Additionally, during their prior engagement with the dark blazes, he had flawlessly guided Lodia—who remained blind to the fire—allowing her to handle the threat.

‘His tactical leadership is superb.’

He possessed an innate talent for deciphering the battlefield and directing others.

‘And he is merely a young child.’

Even if his raw magical aptitude might be developing, the underlying potential was undeniable.

Lodia, having snuffed out the remaining dark blazes with Kyle’s guidance, retracted her energy and spoke.

“In the eras to come, youths like yourself will presumably ascend to the rank of a champion, correct?”

“Pardon? Lady Lodia, that inquiry…”

“It is of no consequence.”

Lodia’s vision grew hazy for a brief moment.

Her skull throbbed with agonizing pain, but she dismissed it.

Faced with Lodia’s inquiry, Kyle paused, then rubbed the side of his face.

“No.”

“Pardon?”

“The future remains unchanged. Only those possessing the capability to execute monumental feats are designated as champions.”

Lodia offered a melancholy smile at Kyle’s response.

“As expected… the preferences of the divine do not transform easily.”

Lodia harbored an expression of disappointment.

“I harbored the desire that numerous individuals might uncover their hidden talents through the medium of the Hero’s World.”

“Ah, yet we gained immensely from its existence.”

Kyle gave an encouraging thumbs-up.

“Had the Hero’s World not existed, I wouldn’t have even qualified to attend Lumerne during my second term. It is entirely owing to Lady Lodia. I feel appreciative every single day!”

Lodia laughed out loud at Kyle’s bright disposition.

“On another note, were you aware of the divine presence?”

Upon discovering that Lumerne had departed to seek a deity, Lodia mentioned she suspected a location.

Lodia advanced with rapid strides and responded.

“I lacked definitive knowledge. However, I recognized that a particular entity rested at the core of existence, which is to say, beneath Lumerne. That remains the reason Lumerne brought us together initially.”

“Hence, if a deity resides anywhere, they must be situated beneath Lumerne.”

“Precisely. Prior to the Era of Calamity. The remnants dating from the Era of Gods lie undisturbed beneath Lumerne. Should a deity endure, that is their sole refuge. We are currently proceeding to the threshold of those very remnants.”

What Kyle observed upon reaching the subterranean depths via the concealed corridor was an immense, unsealed gateway.

Lodia appeared utterly perplexed by the sight.

“It stands unsealed?”

“Was it secured previously?”

“Indeed. It resisted every endeavor we made to unseal it.”

“…Let us enter regardless.”

The pair stepped inside the sanctuary.

Unaware of what hazards might block their path, they advanced with extreme vigilance, monitoring their environment.

Yet, despite their caution, they arrived at what seemed to be the innermost sanctum of the sanctuary without encountering significant resistance.

Furthermore, the gateway leading into that core region was thrown wide open.

Past the gateway, an elongated passage extended forward.

Reaching the termination of the passage, they encountered a tightly shut slate-colored door.

“Past this point… what could possibly reside here?”

Lodia, her expression fraught with tension, applied pressure to the slate-colored door.

Screeech-

The door glided open effortlessly.

What revealed itself was an unfamiliar domain filled with innumerable book-laden shelves extending infinitely.

“This place?”

Lodia and Kyle exchanged bewildered glances.

“Presently, we are encountering several uncommon occurrences.”

A striking youth with ash-colored hair and eyes, whose gender remained entirely ambiguous, strolled toward the pair.

“An entity materialized by the Record System alongside a Conqueror arriving to locate me simultaneously… It is practically a shame that this entire reality is an illusion.”

“Lady Lian!”

“Oh? You recognize my identity?”

When Kyle uttered her title, Lian tilted her head slightly, before swiftly adopting an detached demeanor.

Observing this, Kyle experienced a bizarre sensation of disconnect.

‘The Lady Lian I encountered in the washroom was, to put it a certain way, benevolent.’

While the genuine Lian exuded warmth, the Lian within the Hero’s World was an entirely separate entity.

Her gaze toward Kyle lacked any sentiment, resembling the way one might view a pebble along a pathway.

“You are indeed a deity, then. You truly persist here… Agh!”

Lodia pressed her hands to her face.

Lian, watching Lodia’s distress, ran a finger along her jawline.

“Ah? So you preserve your cognitive functions by fracturing your own consciousness? Truly befitting the Dragon of Creation. Quite appropriate for the champion who salvaged reality.”

Lian let out expressions of mild amusement.

“You arrived seeking Lumerne, did you not? Quite unfortunate. Lumerne was present here resisting that abomination a mere moment ago, however…”

Lian gestured toward the upper vault with her finger.

“Presently, she has ascended to the surface domain, pursuing the abomination that broke free from this chamber.”

Having delivered that explanation, Lian appeared to lose all engagement and immediately retreated to her seat within the collection, settling down.

“Well, since your inquiries have been addressed, would you mind departing?”

Kyle addressed Lian.

“I maintain an inquiry. Lady Lodia has suffered mental degradation ever since realizing this domain was the Hero’s World, so why do you remain perfectly stable, Lady Lian?”

“For what reason should I provide an answer? What benefit do I receive by doing so?”

‘This deity. Far more troublesome than I anticipated.’

This contrasted sharply with the future iteration of Lian, who would address any query Kyle presented.

‘If this represents her true demeanor… does she solely focus on matters that provide her with amusement?’

Kyle, processing this thought, spoke up.

“You were observing Lady Lodia with significant curiosity just a moment ago, were you not? Does that not constitute an adequate return?”

“So you imply I must respond because this circumstance offered a modicum of diversion? How arrogant.”

Lian cast a dismissive glance at Kyle, then answered with irritation.

“It is straightforward. The Hero Record represents an implement fashioned by a deity. Consequently, the system is incapable of regulating entities possessing power equivalent to the divine.”

Lian maintained a haughty demeanor.

“Though I exist as an illusion manifested through the capacity of the Hero Record, I remain an entity equivalent to a deity, and therefore cannot be treated as an anomaly.”

“What regarding the Great Heroes?”

“Oh? Have there been occurrences where Great Heroes identified Conquerors as outside entities? How fascinating.”

Lian manifested a look of curiosity.

“Great Heroes are distinct. They function as the controllers of the Hero Record. Naturally, the criteria for the reality to persist when a Conqueror’s presence is detected are highly stringent. The Great Heroes themselves must deduce the Conqueror’s presence through their own means.”

Kyle, who had gathered from Leo that Dwenno recognized his true nature when he mastered Dwenno’s domain, gave a nod of understanding.

“Well, have your inquiries been satisfied now? I trust I have sufficiently compensated for the diversion you provided me.”

Lian made a dismissive gesture with her hand.

“Now, depart, you are vexing me. Do not consume any more of my focus.”

“…Do you not possess an overabundance of time?”

“Can you not perceive that I am crafting an image of Lord Kyle at this exact moment?”

Lian displayed the crystalline image she was shaping and remarked.

“Depart swiftly and assist Lumerne in conquering that abomination.”

“Could you not enlighten us regarding Erebos’s vulnerability or something similar?”

“Tiresome. When requesting insight from a deity, an appropriate, equivalent tribute must be presented.”

Lian directed an annoyed look at Kyle.

“Could a commonplace mortal like yourself afford the compensation for requesting wisdom from a deity?”

Kyle became absorbed in reflection, observing Lian who was openly deriding him.

Lodia remarked to Kyle.

“Kyle. We cannot extract further insight from this deity. Therefore, let us depart to assist Lumerne.”

“Regardless, if one lacks the Pure Mana attribute, neutralizing Erebos is impossible.”

Kyle directed his gaze toward Lian.

“And this deity absolute possesses the knowledge to neutralize those dark blazes.”

Hearing those words, Lian curled the corners of her lips upward.

“You are a discerning mortal.”

“If you possess that knowledge, for what reason are you withholding it from us?”

As Lodia’s expression turned severe, Lian countered as though stating something entirely obvious.

“Because it provides amusement.”

Lodia manifested a stunned expression, watching the snickering Lian.

“This domain is an illusion regardless. Even if I combust and fade away, I shall not perish.”

Lian maintained her haughty demeanor.

“I have supervised solely the Hero Record for millennia, hence it has been profoundly tedious. For an entity such as myself, Lumerne’s conflict against the abomination represents the absolute highest form of diversion.”

“Ah, is that the case?”

Lodia smirked and began to step toward Lian.

Kyle gasped in panic and gripped Lodia’s arm tightly.

“L-Lady Lodia. Please remain composed. Remain composed.”

“Release your grip! Deity or otherwise, I intend to reduce them to splinters!”

Lodia’s eyes flashed menacingly.

Lian merely exhaled a lengthy yawn in response to Lodia’s outburst.

“I! I shall attempt to convince her!”

Following Kyle’s exclamation, Lodia exhaled sharply and stepped back.

“That constituted a tedious little display.”

Kyle addressed Lian, who maintained a disinterested expression.

“Therefore, if I provide you with sufficient curiosity and diversion, you will disclose Erebos’s vulnerability to me, correct?”

“Could an individual of your standing present curiosity and diversion to me, who comprehends everything within existence?”

“In the era to come, the Hero of Beginnings shall undergo rebirth.”

“…”

Lodia manifested a stunned expression.

Lian chuckled softly.

“You possess a creative mind. To fabricate such a preposterous tale.”

And she stared Kyle directly in the eyes.

Lian, who had been studying Kyle’s unblinking gaze, stood up from her bench after a brief interval.

And then she commanded.

“Take a seat.”

“Eh?”

“No, I insist, take a seat. Please sit down.”

Kyle, thoroughly startled, took the seat Lian had just vacated.

Lian, dropping to her knees before him, gazed upward at Kyle.

“Am I permitted to sit right here?”

“Naturally! To permit such an elevated individual, who has arrived to convey Lord Kyle’s pronouncements, to remain on the floor while a mere insignificant creature like myself relaxes upon a seat and pays attention would be an absolute outrage! Presently! I am prepared to pay attention. Lord Kyle. Therefore? What did the Hero of Beginnings, who stands superior and more elevated than any deity, declare? That they underwent rebirth? Please disclose it to me immediately. Yes? Yes? Yes?”