Ark

Ark

Among the numerous mages watching me, not one recognized the true value of the magic I had used.

Of course, they must have felt the wildly raging magical powers. Those of higher rank might have even seen it directly. But they couldn’t distinguish whether it was due to the great cataclysm or a miracle performed by a god’s fragment. All they saw was probably just a boy who had collapsed pathetically, cried, and then awakened with black hair.

Sigh…

I’d like to explain, but I have neither the time nor the energy.

Whatever.

They’ll figure out what I did eventually.

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing. Just prepare for evacuation. We’re heading to Lanciel City.”

“Lanciel City?”

“Yes. The Waiting Stairs is definitely going to collapse. We can’t even determine how much more will break apart. For now, we need to leave the Tower and go to Lanciel City on the Floating Island. Only then can we plan our next steps.”

“Outside the Tower? The probability of it being more dangerous outside is high. Even if it’s safe, what if we can’t re-enter the Tower after the great cataclysm? Then we lose everything.”

Kim Ji-woong, the wizard who stood as gracefully as a brush pen, politely refuted my words. Though they didn’t speak, Sonnet, Ak-hu, and Hedric all seemed to share the same opinion. Even that Refinement guy was frowning as he looked my way. All senior-level members were against it.

At times like this, the Chairman of Pathfinder with the highest decision-making authority needed to step in. I looked at Pan-Dalus, who had been appointed as Chairman. Though his expression wasn’t entirely convinced, he eventually nodded heavily.

“…I will follow the Senior Elder’s words. According to our organizational principles, his opinions regarding extinction take priority.”

Haah… thank you, Pan-Dalus.

A busy evacuation procession began. Finally finding some breathing room, I sat down on the stairs and looked down at the Great Water Plains.

The wind Ari blew cooled my heated head.

Though [Time Reversal] had completely restored my physical condition, mentally I was still exhausted. The price for a mere human glimpsing the Akashic Record was greater than I had anticipated.

My mind kept churning. I wanted to drop everything and leap down toward the Great Water Plains visible far below. Like fragile glass artwork shattering as it falls—a beautiful yet sharp impulse tormented me.

Whooo…

Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Pull yourself together.

“Are you really okay?”

It was Yuria. Monggu was beside her too. While others were busy with evacuation preparations, these two had finished long ago. Living in the wilderness had ingrained in them the ability to be ready for a journey within five minutes, regardless of the situation.

…These unsophisticated wilderness kids. How can they be so lovable? Damn…

“Huh? Are you crying?”

“No. No, I’m not. I just have a fever.”

Ugh. My emotions are completely out of control.

“Your hair…”

Yuria pulled at my black hair with a concerned expression.

Ah, right. That too.

“It’s really nothing. Nothing has changed. My Gift is fine, and my magical power is fine. It’s just…”

Why am I like this? I keep getting choked up.

Deep breaths. Deep breaths.

“It’s just… someone disappeared, that’s all.”

It wasn’t me that had changed, but the world.

All that happened was my white hair turning black, but the will of a certain god that had dwelled within me had completely vanished.

Designer… who was it again?

Anyway, the being whose name alone filled all the magical powers in the world with emotion and agony was gone forever.

The magical powers that had been calling his name just moments ago now approached me awkwardly, as if they had suddenly sobered up.

-Something incredible just happened.

-The highest authority command was granted to the Akashic Record. It was a simple measure, but definitely the highest authority.

-The Divine Mage did it.

The magical powers seemed to remember neither ‘his’ name nor his existence. The world had completely forgotten him, and the miracle he left behind became my glory.

The power he left behind—[Simulation], and the ability to see magical power and mana that I could draw out because of him—all remained as mine. Only his existence had vanished. Just one white-haired child who would have been born again in the distant future after my death became ordinary. The only being who could fully understand what I had done was gone forever. A story completely finished.

There’s nothing disadvantageous to me about this… but today my mood is still low.

Everything disappears. Even those called immortal.

We are living in an age of extinction.

“Sleep for at least 30 minutes. I’ll wake you.”

Yuria sat beside me and laid my head on her lap. Her fingers stroking my hair were soft and slender.

I’m not a child… This choked complaint wandered in my mouth before dissipating, and I closed my eyes for a moment. A sticky, sweet sleep pulled my body downward.

* * *

Mmm…

Just 30 minutes of sleep and my mood is completely different.

Was I crazy earlier? I felt so down, like I was about to die.

The sensitivity left by the Akashic Record was incredibly intense, deserving a name like “emotional bombardment.” If something had gone wrong at that moment—if, for instance, Pan-Dalus had doubted me and rejected my proposal, and if Yuria and Monggu hadn’t come to find and comfort me—I might have suddenly taken my own life. I wasn’t aware of it at the time, but thinking back now, I was that unhinged.

That’s chilling to realize…

“The evacuation preparations are complete.”

Opening my eyes, I saw Hwarin standing beside me. Hwarin always accompanies me like a secretary. From what I heard, she had come looking for me right after I fell asleep and had been standing guard by my side the entire time.

“What about Evan and Beatrice?”

I asked, still lying on Yuria’s lap.

I don’t really want to get up. It’s too comfortable.

“I’ll bring them.”

Hwarin glanced at Yuria and me before walking away, fiddling with the slime wallet attached to her waist. The “kyuu-kyuu” crying sound of the slime wallet was peaceful.

“Hey. Get up now.”

Yuria said.

“Mmm…”

I pretended to still be in low spirits and wriggled around.

“Very funny. I can clearly see you’re perfectly fine even from just that ‘mmm’ sound. Get up now, kid.”

Hmm… she’s not easy to fool.

I got up, stretched, and checked if I had forgotten anything.

“By the way, why did your hair color suddenly change?”

Yuria, who had been observing me, asked abruptly.

Well…

Though I’m not certain, I can form a hypothesis. The fragment of will residing in me was far larger than other fragments. The fact that only I had white hair when both my parents had black hair was likely due to the influence of that fragment. It was probably a trace left on my body by a powerful god’s soul.

But his will has now disappeared, leaving only its shell. Yes, the shell. [Simulation] and the ability to see mana that still remain with me are precisely that shell. It’s like the callus that remains even after you pull your hand out of soil.

Hearing this much, Yuria was startled.

“Huh? Then won’t your abilities weaken?”

“If I do nothing from now on, by the time I’m sixty, they’ll probably drop to about half of what they are now. Don’t worry. A shell left by a god doesn’t disappear easily. And during that time, I can reinforce and expand that shell with my own power. It’s just that what was once a god’s power has become my power. I haven’t lost anything.”

Yes. That’s why he called me a ‘successor’ with such joy. Of course… unlike him, my power will disappear when I die.

Anyway, that’s why my hair changed from white to black. In other words… there is no longer a god’s will within me. There is only Baek Jun-woo’s will.

“W-wait a minute…”

Monggu, who had been listening quietly, made a strange expression. Did you notice? I gave him a meaningful smile.

“If white hair is evidence that a powerful soul fragment is dwelling within… then what about Beatrice?”

“That’s right. She has an extraordinary Gift and white hair, so she might be harboring a fragment comparable to mine. Perhaps… she too could use ‘miracle’-level spells like I just did.”

That’s why I asked about Evan and Beatrice as soon as I woke up.

I should have more discussions with Beatrice.

She’s become much more docile and seemingly closer lately, so it might be good to talk more openly? What exactly is her ability, what kind of god’s fragment might she be harboring.

Whether we could possibly share common goals.

As I was internally organizing these topics to discuss with Beatrice, I saw Hwarin running urgently toward us. She was with Evan, who wore a sullen expression.

…Huh?

“Where’s Beatrice?”

The one who answered my question wasn’t Hwarin but Evan.

“She went home. During the commotion earlier, somehow the restraints you created were released.”

What?

“She asked me to come with her. I told her to go alone.”

Speaking curtly, Evan held out his hand. On his wrist was a gold bracelet covered in cracks.

“So give me a new bracelet.”

Sniff.

Beside Evan, who was extending his wrist, the vampire Kaisel leaped down. She too held out her hand to me.

“Give me one too. Wearing that thing actually helps. Hurry up. I feel like I’m about to go crazy and kill everyone around me.”

Vertical, slit red pupils.

Ah… right. There was Kaisel too. The vampire who accompanied Beatrice. Though her priority had been somewhat pushed back, I had plenty of questions for her as well. But…

“You didn’t leave?”

“I hid, afraid she might forcibly take me along. Hurry up. Haah… I feel like I’m about to attack… hurry.”

Ah… so that’s what happened?

Well, then I don’t know either.

“Someone bring Evan’s weapon.”

I put a bracelet on Kaisel, who was losing her self-control, and had someone bring a weapon for Evan, let alone a gold bracelet. I still hadn’t returned his coin though.

“What are you thinking?”

Evan asked me with a peculiar expression.

Yuria and Monggu were also shocked and grabbed my arm.

But I gently removed their hands.

Why am I doing this?

It’s because of my experience connecting fully with the Akashic Record.

Though it was brief, I knew ‘all the stories’ of the world.

Of course, I’ve forgotten most of it, but I did remember what emotions Beatrice and Evan were currently feeling. Honestly, I had forgotten until just now, but seeing Evan’s sullen face suddenly brought back the memory.

I thought Beatrice would stay too… but she left after all? As a child, I suppose she couldn’t help it.

But Evan had just made up his mind.

“You’re not leaving, right? Then make yourself useful.”

I passed by Evan without waiting for an answer.

I could hear him trying to call me several times before swallowing his words.

Come on. If you’ve made up your mind, don’t hesitate and follow me wholeheartedly.

From now on, I have to pay attention to someone else.

Yes.

There was one more person.

Someone who had made up their mind.

Unfortunately,

In the wrong direction.