Chapter 412

Chapter 412

Kim Chul-Soo texted Marshmallow.

[I have a lot of questions about recent events. Can you arrange a meeting with Encyclopedia for me?]

Marshmallow sent an affirmative reply. As the appointed time approached, Marshmallow thought, ‘He will be here soon.’

Marshmallow’s marshmallow-shaped head always reflected his emotions. Currently, his head had hardened and grown slightly larger. This meant he was feeling a bit embarrassed and angry.

“Hey, why are you making that face?” Marshmallow asked.

The person he was irritated with was none other than Encyclopedia, a book-shaped member of the Boclings.[1]

Encyclopedia flipped his pages. “How can I have a facial expression?”

“Why wouldn’t you have one?”

Being book-shaped, Encyclopedia indeed did not have facial expressions. However, an expert observer like Marshmallow could discern Encyclopedia’s expressions. Right now, Encyclopedia was looking at Marshmallow with eyes that seemed to say, ‘How pathetic!’

“Isn’t it a bit much to insist that a Bocling has facial expressions?” Encyclopedia asked.

“You just looked at me like I was pathetic.”

“That’s just your inference. You didn’t actually see my expression.” Encyclopedia provoked Marshmallow by flipping his pages repeatedly. “Isn’t it about time you admitted it, Marshmallow of Chul-Soo Land?”

“I’m not a Chul-Soo Lander!” Marshmallow’s head grew even larger and harder. His head, which was now tinted black, reflected his determination.

“You’re a Chul-Soo Lander. You’re excited right now,” Encyclopedia said.

“No, I’m not! I’m not excited at all!”

Marshmallow was excited for one reason: Kim Chul-Soo was on his way to this place.

“No, you’re excited right now.”

“I’m just a bit nervous about meeting a future competitor.”

“Oh, hey! There’s Chul-Soo!”

“Where?!” Marshmallow whipped his head around, but didn’t spot Chul-Soo.

Encyclopedia laughed loudly, his pages rustling. “Right, you’re definitely not a Chul-Soo Lander.”

***

Marshmallow introduced Encyclopedia to Jin-Hyeok. “Ahem. This is my old friend, Encyclopedia. He’s rude but knowledgeable.”

“I’m Encyclopedia, the online debater. Nice to meet you, Chul-Soo.”

Jin-Hyeok stared at Encyclopedia. It was his first time seeing a Bocling in real life. He said, “Is it okay if I record this?”

“Go ahead,” Encyclopedia nodded.

“Is it okay if your face gets recognized?”

“Sure.”

“People might recognize you and bother you. Is that okay?”

“Then I will just go sit on a bookshelf.”

“But people with keen eyes might still recognize you.”

“Nope. Even Marshmallow, who has pretty good eyes, can’t find me when I’m determined to hide on a bookshelf.”

Encyclopedia seemed to be proud of his hiding skill. If Jin-Hyeok were still socially inept, he would have just let this go, but being an Eltuber, Jin-Hyeok would not miss such an opportunity.

“Come on... Boclings aren’t top-tier Assassins or anything.” Jin-Hyeok provoked Encyclopedia.

“What? Are you looking down on Boclings?”

Jin-Hyeok incredulously looked at Encyclopedia. ‘Based on what happened before... Maybe he really is less smart than I thought.’

From what he had seen over the internet, Encyclopedia seemed capable and wise, but the real-life version seemed different. Encyclopedia was a bit like a keyboard warrior.

“What does it mean to have a soul with the same wavelength as that of Demons?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“It means having an existence value that can resonate with them.” Encyclopedia closed his pages, thought for a while, and then gave an easy example. “Humans can’t hear sounds above the audible frequency range, that is, above about 20,000 Hertz.”

Jin-Hyeok wanted to say something again. ‘But I can hear above 20,000 Hertz...’

It was not just Jin-Hyeok; high-ranking Eltubers were generally very sensitive to visual and auditory stimuli, possessing better eyesight and hearing than average people. As an ultra-high-level Eltuber, Jin-Hyeok could hear ultrasonic frequencies. It seemed Encyclopedia’s reputation was a bit inflated.

“Sounds about 20,000 Hertz exist, but humans can’t hear them. This concept is similar to that. The dimensional gate that appeared in the Demon Sealing Ceremony is located in Arvis, but it has a dimensional value that humans cannot access. We might express this as having different dimensional frequencies or values, though the terminology is not important...”

As the conversation continued, Jin-Hyeok had doubts about Encyclopedia’s abilities.

‘Is he just glossing over what he doesn’t know?’ Jin-Hyeok thought.

“Anyway, ordinary people cannot affect the dimensional gate, so the fact that you did suggests your existence has a dimensional value similar to that of Demons.”

“What does it mean to have a similar dimensional value?”

“It means you’re like a Demon or rather...” Encyclopedia cleared his throat. Marshmallow’s glare seemed particularly scary today. He could tolerate insults to himself but not to Chul-Soo. “It’s not an established theory, but sometimes, a very, very tainted soul might have the same dimensional value as the Demon’s dimensio—”

Jin-Hyeok slammed Encyclopedia shut. He did not need to hear more.

“No, I think you’re wrong. It’s probably related to the universe-level Scenario,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“That’s your opini—mmph!”

Suddenly forced shut, Encyclopedia struggled but could not overcome Jin-Hyeok’s strength. Jin-Hyeok had come here for wisdom but only heard strange things. So, he picked up the pen again and scribbled on Encyclopedia’s blank page.

“I, I won’t allow any more doodles...Ahhh!!”

[I (Encyclopedia) am actually quite stupid. Is that true?]

Encyclopedia was a Bocling who pursued the truth. A person was insignificant if they did not strive to find the truth. No matter how much one studied, there was always more unknown than known in the world, and the more one knew, the humbler one became. Encyclopedia’s principle was that even sages had to be foolish before the countless truths of the world.

[That is correct.]

Encyclopedia hoped that his humility as a knowledgeable being would be widely spread through the livestream. After all, everyone had to be humble before the truth.

“Encyclopedia seems to be more overhyped than I thought,” Jin-Hyeok said.

Instead of Humble Encyclopedia, Overhyped Encyclopedia became more widely known in the world.

***

Oliver III, the Pope of the Helen Empire, praised and encouraged the Priests and Paladins who had participated in the Demon Sealing Ceremony. “Your sincere prayers and faith have caused a miracle. This holy war of ours will be recorded and passed down to future generations.”

Many people criticized the Papacy.

-Wasn’t it Chul-Soo who did it?

-They completely left out Chul-Soo!

-For a Pope, he sure lacks conscience lol.

While he received quite a bit of criticism, the Pope had no choice. The Demon Sealing Ceremony had to be recorded as an achievement of the Priests and Paladins. He foresaw that if they officially recorded that it was Chul-Soo, who had never properly demonstrated any faith, who had the greatest impact on the Demon Sealing Ceremony, it could shake the foundation of the Holy Empire of Helen. Moreover, while there could be various protests now, everything would eventually return to its proper place.

Garcia, the head of the Feyler Family, personally invited Jin-Hyeok. “I have something to discuss.”

Garcia was not interested in the Pope’s public commendation of gifts. Participating in the Demon Sealing Ceremony was simply a natural duty of a Priest or a Paladin. He applied the same standard to himself and others.

“Sir Chul-Soo, have you ever considered becoming a Priest or a Paladin?”

[Would you like to change your Job to the Special Job ?Heir of Feyler??]

1. The name boclings, also known by their scientific name Homo biblios, comes from the Old English words for book + person. ☜