The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years Book 2: Chapter 513

Book 2: Chapter 513

One day, Diablo appeared.

[The ‘wall’ has been torn down… Now, I can tell you the truth about everything I’ve learned.]

“…”

By that point, the number of beings Diablo had killed had already reached millions. Naturally, no one really believed what he said.

In particular, Snow’s followers were the ones that opposed it the most. After all, not only had she lost her eyesight, but her body had noticeably weakened, and she was no longer able to display even half of the skills as in her prime.

[Do you resent me? Do you want to kill me? That’s fine too. However, Iris Peacefinder, and the puppet with Schweiser’s memories. Have you never wondered why one of your best friends, who has already died, follows me?]

“Excuse me?”

[…I don’t have a puppet that doesn’t have a mind of its own. This man has an ego and is capable of making situational judgments.]

[That’s right.]

Nodding, Lucid agreed.

Momentarily speechless, Iris couldn’t help but ask back.

“…the ma.s.sacre you inflicted naturally included the weak, like children. Lucid, are you saying that you killed them all while you were still of sound mind?”

[I’m not sure if I’m still of sound mind.]

Lucid muttered bitterly.

[However, I won’t deny that I made that choice.]

“…”

[You were like this when you came to me in the past too, Iris Peacefinder. I’m just making the best choice I can make at this point.]

How on earth was slaughtering millions the best choice?

Iris couldn’t understand. Lucid’s voice was that of a dead person. The distinctive low tone was dry like sand, but there was no madness mixed in.

Of sound mind*. (*:meaning to be fully sane or rational)

…Did he really do that while being of sound mind?

[I will tell you the truth.]

Diablo reiterated his previous words.

Then he started giving his speech.

About the system that made up the world,

About the existence of G.o.d, and the Absolutes,

About the Three Thousand Worlds and the World of Void,

About the capacity reaching the limit,

About the apocalypse that would come without warning,

About ceasing to exist instead of dying.

‘…sounds crazy.’

Empty words.

Truths that were too heavy for a mortal to accept, no.

Truths that were too scary.

—That was what made them all the more convincing.

Although each of them seemed like tales a megalomaniac would tell, they were all intricately intertwined and provided a basis for each other.

[Iris Peacefinder… I know about the power of s.p.a.ce that you possess. Now that the barrier is no longer working, it should be possible for you to enter the Void Records.]

“…the Void Records?”

[The ‘Great Medium’ should be able to tell you the coordinates… Because she was the only one in our world who could touch the Akas.h.i.+c Records.]

After saying that, Diablo left. Some radicals were unable to hold back and expressed their intention to attack, but they didn’t clamour to kill him like before.

“…do you believe what that guy said, Black Witch?”

Glancing at her, Ivan spoke.

“I wish I could just dismiss everything he said as bulls.h.i.+t.”

Iris muttered with a tired smile. In situations like this, being smart was counterproductive.

After the conflict, Iris headed to the Void Records.

And found out first hand that the things Diablo said really weren't bulls.h.i.+t.

As if to compensate for her ignorance until then, Iris immersed herself in the knowledge of the Void Records. Or maybe she immersed herself in order to forget something.

Then, one day.

That happened.

* * *

“…who is it?”

In the Void Records, Diablo’s voice rang out once more.

[Lukas Trowman.]

Iris’ body shook.

She had only heard his name, but it was already enough to send a chill down her spine and make her heart pound loudly.

It was like the ‘dawn of the day she realised too late’ all over again.

[I will talk to him in a moment, but he probably won’t easily believe me no matter what I say.]

“…”

[I would like you to convince him. At the very least, it should be more effective than what I say.]

After falling silent for a moment, Diablo continued.

[Of course, if that is too difficult…]

“Please send him.”

Iris spoke in a trembling voice.

“Here, please send him here. I will appease him.”

[It will take some time.]

Ttuk, his voice cut off.

Iris stood there blankly.

…Right.

He was still alive.

The record of Lukas Trowman in the Void Records had been cut off at some point. It didn’t end with a full stop. The middle section had disappeared as if it had been lost, which was something that Iris had never seen among the countless records. The Great Medium had said that it was as if someone had intentionally erased the traces of him.

And Diablo had said.

Lukas was probably alive somewhere.

A world that could not be recorded, a dump site where all the abandoned things flowed into.

Lukas had probably gone to the place called ‘The World of Void’…

Then, Iris met Lukas again.

“…”

The moment they met, her voice didn’t come out easily.

She tried to hide her emotions completely, but she was unable to hide the surprise in her eyes.

At the reunion that she longed for, Iris’ throat was locked.

Again, he had changed.

Now that she thought about it, he had changed every time they met.

Even after 4,000 years, when he was Pray Blake, even after he returned to their home universe, he kept changing. Not all of those changes were possible.

However… this time, the change was a bit different.

‘…’

She was so sad that it felt like if she were to let down her guard for an instant, she would burst into tears. She wanted to ask questions right away.

‘What happened’, ‘What the h.e.l.l did you forsake’, and ‘Are you okay’.

If she could, she wanted to give him words of comfort.

“However, I cannot think of you as an acquaintance at all.”

The words that came out of her lips were the exact opposite of the truth.

It was fine.

She was used to hiding her true feelings anyway. She could trick him. She could fool him perfectly.

“I can understand the feelings of the ‘Iris’ written here, but I cannot recognise her as ‘me’.”

Nevertheless, as expected.

“I just wanted to make this clear before we started talking. I’m sorry.”

She couldn’t bear to see his sad face.

* * *

“Since you’re done with your business, let’s get going. The ‘top’ seems a bit noisy.”

When the blue haired woman appeared, she felt her throat stiffen.

She knew from the knowledge.

This young looking woman with a seemingly unstable att.i.tude was one of the Four Knights, a monster on par with a Ruler.

…She didn’t have any good feelings.

She’d managed to keep her composure in front of Lukas, but the presence of Pale, who came after, once again caused a stir inside Iris.

“You forgot your oath. Did you know that? It’s much harder and crueller to forget a promise than to break it! But every single one of you betrayed Lukas.”

“…that was done by G.o.d.”

“Was it because of the rule? Ah. Of course it was. However, that doesn’t mean exceptions were impossible, does it? Moreover, I don’t think you can even fool yourself with that excuse!”

Ahh.

Those exact words. They were not all wrong.

She wished she could laugh out loud at the words that were so far from the truth they were refres.h.i.+ng. The pain of barely healed wounds being torn open again wracked her, but more than the pain, Iris felt disgusted by herself.

But she wasn’t the one that felt it the hardest.

The person that felt it the hardest was standing right in front of her. Who felt what real pain was.

Then, Lukas and Pale left the Void Records.

Pale was standing beside Lukas.

Standing in the place that Iris wanted to stand so badly, a place that she wanted to obtain no matter what, even if it cost her soul.

‘…I see.’

She felt it.

Pale didn’t rely on him one-sidedly. Iris could tell from his att.i.tude when she arrived.

Lukas also relied on Pale to an extent.

‘Smile.’

Smile, Iris Peacefinder.

What do you plan to do with that stiff expression on your face?

You have to smile, smile even if you have to force it, please smile.

However, in the end, she couldn’t smile.

Even when Lukas looked back for a moment.

Iris couldn’t smile.

* * *

“Still, I thought I could leave him to you.”

On the [Next Stage], facing an opponent she couldn’t beat.

Iris muttered with a sneer.

[…]

She felt the Blue Knight turn her head.

After slowly taking off her helmet, her face was revealed.

“People keep appearing one after the other. It’s so annoying.”

There was a trace of boredom on Pale’s face.

“…I thought that you could support Lukas. Because you are strong.”

It wasn’t exactly certain what emotions were exchanged between the two of them.

However.

“What Lukas needed the most was practical strength, not warm comfort. So I expected you, whose power is equivalent to a Ruler, to be by Lukas’ side and help him overcome the things he couldn’t handle.”

“Why are you saying weird things? That thing is no longer Lukas.”

Pale spoke in a baffled voice.

“A Ruler, that disgusting being, has already devoured Lukas’ mind. His appearance and the way he speaks is just pretending to be Lukas, but the inside is already a completely different being. Ah. Or do you not understand what Rulers are because you’re a mortal?”

“No. I know. I know very well. But so what?”

“Huh?”

“I can see now that you don’t know anything about Lukas. Lukas is not a man that can be defeated by a Ruler.”

Iris smiled confidently.

“He is not that weak.”

“…”

“My judgement was wrong. You didn’t deserve to stand beside Lukas.”

Pale was silent. She put on the helmet that she had taken off. As if to cover her face.

A short while after, a giggle leaked out of the helmet.

[I can’t beat you with words.]

The blue eyes within the helmet looked behind Iris.

“…!”

Just as Iris was startled, Pale’s figure disappeared.

Puk-

Then a blade pierced flesh.

[It was obvious.]

Iris could manipulate s.p.a.ce. This meant that if she wanted to run away, it would be difficult for Pale to kill her.

That was why she deliberately revealed her goal.

Looking at Lukas just before disappearing was no different from declaring that she was going to target him.

Obvious intent, obvious attack.

But Iris had no choice but to respond in an obvious way.

“…”

This was probably the first time her chest had been pierced by a blade. The aching sensation was greater than the pain. A cold feeling, as if ice was directly pressed to her heart.

Pshk.

The moment Pale pulled the sword out, she felt something warm rapidly escaping. It wasn’t just the splattering of flesh blood, but the feeling of her life crumbling away with it— a clear feeling of death that she had only felt once in the past.

“Cough.”

She didn’t wipe the blood that dripped down.

[What should I do now… the Black Knight is still alive─]

Pale’s attention to this place disappeared in an instant. After that, she couldn’t hear her voice anymore. All she could hear was buzzing as if there was a swarm of bees nearby.

Iris forcibly braced her staggering steps. With her end nearing, her gaze and mind were focused only on the man in front of her.

Lukas’ face with his eyes closed was one of her favourites.

He looked focused.

Ah, but at the same time, he looked great.

His angry face, thoughtful face, interested face, puzzle face.

Nevertheless,

Although most of his faces are wonderful.

“…not the sad face.”

Iris let out a laugh.

“The sad face is not nice at all. So I don’t want to see that face anymore, I won’t.”

She carefully reached out.

She wanted to wipe the sweat from his brow or stroke his chin. But in the end she gave up.

If she did that, it would leave a bloodstain. Because he was quick-witted, in such a position, he would be able to see that she had used herself as a s.h.i.+eld. She didn’t like that.

She didn’t want to reveal the fact that she had become his s.h.i.+eld.

She didn’t deserve his compa.s.sion.

“…but still.”

Iris’ gaze turned to Lukas’ mouth.

“Lukas’ smiling face, is the most wonderful face.”

Because it was that smile that saved her.

Her vision blurred. Her voice was slurred because of the sadness that was greater than the pain.

Why did we…

Fall apart so much.

‘Seriously, why was it so hard?’

To see him smile.

* * *

[You lied again.]

He heard Pale’s voice.

[Didn’t you say that woman no longer meant anything?]

“…”

[If she doesn’t mean anything, why does she have that expression? Oh, you’re not Lukas anymore.]

Pale had already lost her mind.

It was clear just from looking at her voice and att.i.tude.

[Omniscience is a great authority.]

This time, the voice he heard was the Lightning G.o.d.

[Depending on the capability of the user, it can even guarantee victory against much stronger foes. However, in the past, every mortal with a similar ability was destroyed without exception.]

“…”

[This is because their weak minds couldn’t handle it. Not just because there is a lot of information. There is a saying ‘there are some things it’s better to not know’. This is that case. You were able to learn everything about that woman because you used ‘Thunder’.]

That was right.

Iris wouldn’t have told anyone about her inner turmoil. She would have let it quietly rot, and embrace it on her own. That was the kind of woman she was.

[Now. What will you do, Lukas Trowman?]

What would he do?

‘I… don’t know.’

[…]

‘Lightning G.o.d, what kind of expression am I making right now?’

[Are you asking me about human emotions? Kukuku…]

The Lightning G.o.d let out a laugh.

[Is it anger?]

‘…’

[Does it feel like your mind is going blank with rage? Does your breathing feel fast and it feels like blood is rus.h.i.+ng to your head?—If so, then let it out. Run as wild as you want. There’s an opponent standing right in front of you.]

The Lightning G.o.d’s voice rang in his head like thunder.

[This Lightning G.o.d will help you, Lukas.]

Crackle─

Electricity flowed all over his body.

He saw Pale take two steps back.

The Lightning G.o.d spoke,

[Roar like thunder, strike like lightning.]

And so Lukas did.