Chapter 179
With his wings gone, Seiman couldn’t stop Han and Vargan’s relentless attack.
In an instant, the situation reversed, and Seiman’s massive body crashed to the ground, leaving a tremor like an earthquake.
Erica stood over the fallen Seiman.
Even standing was a challenge as she squeezed out every bit of strength. Breathing heavily, she checked on her condition with a dazed expression, scanning every inch of herself.
“My rank has risen…”
The total amount of mana, which had just been waiting at the edge of high rank, surged dramatically. It was overwhelming but exhilarating, and Erica, who had directly experienced the higher tier, felt her accomplishments rise to a new level.
Warp Magic was the same.
After investing so much time, her limits that seemed unbreakable were finally shattered, and it felt like she was riding the uplifting current.
Breathless and gasping, a refreshing sense of liberation came over her.
Both fields had simultaneously reached the rank of ‘Comprehension’. It felt suffocating as if she’d never ascend, but that feeling was gone now.
She found the direction she had lost before.
Once she experienced a higher level, determining the direction to move forward was no longer difficult.
—Look at that. Did I not say it would be beneficial?
She could almost hear the arrogant male voice. It never actually spoke, but it felt perfectly natural to flaunt.
Erica turned to glance at Vargan, who realized she was looking at him and met her gaze.
“…It really was helpful.”
A small mumble escaped Erica’s slightly pouting lips.
Vargan couldn’t quite hear her voice, and just as he was about to ask for clarification, Erica quickly shifted the topic.
Pressing down on Seiman with her small feet, she said, “Uh, shouldn’t we start wrapping this up soon?”
“Yeah. We need to end his life properly, or we won’t escape this past world.”
Vargan slowly observed Seiman, one of the Twelve Divine Beasts.
Seiman was still alive.
Weakly, his heart struggled to continue beating, fighting for survival. However, the damage Seiman had sustained was massive, rendering any self-healing utterly meaningless.
If left alone, he would eventually succumb to death.
“For his sake and ours, it’s best to finish this quickly.”
Time was a finite resource—just as Vargan was about to say that, he closed his mouth and turned his gaze. Han’s red aura, which had cooperated in bringing Seiman down, flared up once more.
The resources are finite—Barghan, who was about to say that, shut his mouth and turned his gaze elsewhere. The red aura of Han, who had cooperated to bring down Seiman, surged again.
“Do you know what that means?”
Barghan spoke to Han, who was pointing his sword at them.
A swordsman in tattered clothes, with his hair tied back.
Although he had sustained quite a few wounds from facing Seiman directly, there was no hint of disturbance in his majestic eyes, nor any openings.
It was as if he were saying he’d slice through anything that dared to move.
Releasing a calm intent to kill, he extended the tip of his sword.
“I’m expressing it in an easy-to-understand manner.”
“Oh ho. So, after using me as much as you wanted, you’re going to cut me down? This feels just like the fate of a dog after being used.”
“……”
Han slowly closed his eyes. It seemed as if he was recalling something. Even with his eyes shut, there was no sign of carelessness.
As Han’s eyelids opened once more, his dry lips began to move.
“You, from the beginning, have sought me out since entering this dungeon.”
“What can I do if our destinations are the same? Reaching the center of the dungeon is only a natural flow.”
“No. You moved your mana as if you anticipated my presence. It was mana designated for a specific target, not simple searching.”
Han’s words hit the mark.
However, Barghan showcased his natural acting skills and denied it.
“So, you’re saying my goal wasn’t to break through the dungeon, but was you instead? Nonsense! To think I could know both the movements of the Bishop of the Goddess Church and the manifestation of the dungeon simultaneously. If such a mystery were possible, I would have been a fortune-teller, not a magician.”
Han silently scrutinized Barghan. His eyes were steady and unwavering, and the muscles in his face showed no signs of suspicion.
He appeared perfectly sincere.
Yet, that was precisely what made him seem too perfect and hard to read. Though Han was keen, he found Barghan’s thoughts elusive.
What thoughts he harbored and what emotions he felt were well concealed.
Gazing at Barghan, Han quietly stated.
“I know my words don’t align with logic. However, you…. Perhaps you really might have known.”
“That’s quite the overestimation.”
“A being who cannot be complacent, one willing to become a monster voluntarily. That’s how you appear to me.”
“So, because I can’t be complacent, you mean to cut me down before I become more of a nuisance…. So, what’s next? Are you planning to go at it right here and now?”
Barghan asked cynically. His unwillingness to shy away from a fight shone through.
“……”
This time, Han’s gaze shifted to Erica.
Erica had already overexerted herself; any more mana output could risk damaging her mana circuit. Yet still, she was rapidly circulating her mana, ready for any response.
In her eyes, just like Barghan, there was no fear.
“The magic of that woman is also threatening. Even if temporary, with enough power to sever the wings of that massive Seiman, I wouldn’t emerge unscathed either.”
Han’s counter was aimed at Erica. Barghan recognized this point too, which is why he had brought Erica into this dungeon.
Ultimately, Barghan and Erica could potentially become significant threats to Han in the future.
Vargan and Erica. These two could potentially become great adversaries for Han in the future.
Erica was exhausted from casting a massive Warp Magic, and before Vargan grew any stronger, this might be Han’s last opportunity to subdue them.
He knew he would incur significant damage himself, but considering the future…
“……”
Han slowly lowered his sword. The red light shimmering on the blade dispersed as well.
Clang. As he sheathed the sword, the sound of metal striking metal echoed.
Having dispelled his Intent to Kill, he spoke.
“I want to become a person.”
But, if I can’t become a person, then at least I want to be a monster that mimics one.
Han quoted what Vargan had said to him. He conveyed his intentions to them.
“If I draw my sword here… I will no longer even be able to mimic a person.”
Altife spoke of feelings.
He couldn’t strike down a comrade who fought alongside him against a common enemy right at that spot, so he sheathed his sword.
“Even if disasters befall us in the future, my true desire now is not to shed blood with you. If you permit, I wish to achieve my goal here without further conflict and leave.”
“No conflict, huh… Definitely a quirky one.”
Vargan smirked, while Erica maintained her vigilant stance. Recognizing Han’s will not to fight, Vargan shrugged his shoulders.
“Fine then. It seems fighting here would only lead to pointless bloodshed, so I shall follow your wishes.”
The mad scientist Cardinal Jephar.
In the original story, Vargan had come here to capture Han in advance to make him his subordinate in the future.
And this man chose to align with Han’s opinion and step back. No one here could know what he was truly thinking.
Han expressed his gratitude with a simple nod and proceeded to mention his purpose.
“I seek to regain my memories. I covet nothing else, so take everything. If I come to understand the weight of my sins, I will leave this place empty-handed.”
“Do you know how?”
“No. I only know that Seiman is the master of this dungeon. If I take this life, perhaps…”
Han trailed off as he spotted a woman who had suddenly appeared.
“Anna?”
Erica called her name. The one who had asked for the expedition against Seiman. Anna, who appeared to emit a faint glow, paused in her steps.
Without responding, she extracted a mysterious energy from around Seiman’s heart.
Thump, thump.
That energy resonated continuously like a heartbeat, soon forming a heart shape made of sparkling small stars.
Seiman’s heart.
Though it was his first time seeing it, he recognized from the mana that it was a miniature version of Seiman’s heart.
Thump, thump, thump…
The heartbeat gradually weakened. The heart resting on her palm slowly approached death.
Vargan raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Anna. He mumbled something akin to, ‘So it was really like that,’ as he turned to her.
“You were the true master of this dungeon, Anna.”
In the original story, after Han cleared the dungeon in Seiman Gorge, those who came afterward found nothing but a single corpse left behind in the dungeon.
After a gasp, the crowd that rushed in found nothing but a single corpse in the dungeon.
The corpse was presumed to be the owner of the dungeon, appearing as a young woman — or so it was described.
It felt unlikely that Seiman was the owner of this memory, but if Anna was the owner of the memory, it made sense.
After stopping Seiman’s heart, Anna turned to look at everyone.
With eyes that seemed both joyful and sorrowful, she opened her mouth.
“Thank you, everyone…”
She spoke in a delicate voice, genuinely grateful for being saved from Seiman by them. Eventually, she nodded in agreement with Vargan’s words.
“That’s right. This is my memory. My last memory from my lifetime.”
In the original history, the city of Urna was destroyed by Seiman. Being naturally sensitive to mana, she tried every possible means to persuade the citizens but ultimately failed to evacuate them.
Even the being hailed as a Magician did not appear, and Seiman arrived in the city without any hindrance, destroying everything.
Anna was also a victim then, disappearing into history without being able to do anything.
“But since I can’t change the past, is this why I wanted to see Urna being saved, even if just like this? Pathetic.”
Vargan spat with a tone close to contempt. It was just self-satisfaction that wouldn’t change anything. For Vargan, it was an incomprehensible way of thinking.
A bitter smile formed on Anna’s lips. She couldn’t deny Vargan’s words, but she didn’t agree either.
“I wanted to see Urna not destroyed. A future where Urna thrives in a peaceful land…”
Pieces of light began to scatter from all things in the world.
As her grudge was released, the world created by the dungeon completed its mission.
Drip. Blood flowed from the corner of Anna’s mouth. She spoke lightly with a faint smile as if nothing was wrong.
“But… it’s truly cruel. Seiman’s heart being my heart. The dungeon seems malicious. In the end, I can’t see the future I want.”
When the dungeon manifested, Anna’s reformed personality understood her desires and the structure of the dungeon. She could save the Urna in her memory, but she could not see the outcome.
The dungeon was structured in a slightly distorted form of hope.
Anna scanned over Han, Erica, and Vargan in order. She deeply bowed again, expressing heartfelt thanks and apologies.
“I’m sorry for putting you through hardships because of my regrets.”
She said she couldn’t offer much in return for defeating Seiman.
Perhaps for some, it would be meaningless; for others, it might hold enormous significance to the extent of changing their personalities.
And yet, for some, it could bear a dreadful and painful meaning.
“But… whatever the form, please treat it as precious. So that it won’t hurt anymore.”
Anna said sorrowfully.
With that last pleading sentence, a cough mixed with blood was heard.
And everything in this memory world returned to light.
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