Chapter 212

Chapter 212

“...”

Se-Hoon immediately narrowed his eyes upon hearing what the voice whispered in his ear.

The Seeker? What kind of nonsense was that? Unable to make sense of the situation, Se-Hoon instinctively checked his mental state.

I don’t think it’s schizophrenia... or anything like that.

His temporary mana circuits, which had been corroded, were cleanly separated from him by the power of Boundaries. There was no sign of a mental breakdown either, and even if there were, he would have noticed earlier. So then what was it?

Unable to figure it out, Se-Hoon wrestled with how to interpret the situation. At that moment, the voice whispered to him again, “Uh... do you not recognize me? Even though I haven't been active lately, I'm still pretty famous.”

“...Yes, I do know who you are.”

Natalia Kanayeva, the Seeker, was a genius mage who had developed countless theories on magic, laying the groundwork for all modern magic. She hadn't been very active during her hero days, but she had still made significant contributions during the war against the Demon Force, such as uncovering crucial information about the Abyss of Demons and demonic aura.

“But I'm not sure if you’re really her.”

Although the Seeker's whereabouts had been unknown for some time, it was still difficult to immediately believe that the voice belonged to the Seeker.

“Is that so? Well, I wouldn’t believe it either if I were you. How should I explain this then... ah!”

The voice seemed to have thought of something.

“Look at that guy up ahead. Do you see his right arm?”

“I see it.”

“Hold on.”

The voice went silent, and then, a few seconds later, Allen's right arm twitched slightly and his fingers began to move, all completely unknown to Allen. Looking between Allen and his thumb that was pointing upward, it all seemed like a joke.

“What the...”

“Phew... that was close. Now, you believe in what I’m saying, right?”

Most people wouldn't know what to make of it, but Se-Hoon, who knew plenty about Dawn due to covert investigations in his last life, could quickly grasp the situation.

“So, you're who they were referring to as ‘Him.’”

Regions, the commanding officers of Dawn, had gained immense power by transplanting the body of the one they called Him. Before now, Se-Hoon had assumed that the body was either that of Dawn's founder or something artificially created. it was the body of the missing Seeker.

“It seems that's the case. Being called ‘Him’ feels a bit awkward, though.”

“Awkward? You're talking as if it doesn't concern you.”

“Well... oops, let's just focus on what's in front of us for now.”

At the Seeker’s words, Se-Hoon naturally turned his gaze forward.

“...”

Allen was staring at him with a strange look. So, without avoiding Allen's gaze, Se-Hoon calmly asked, “Is there something you'd like to say?”

Allen continued to stare at Se-Hoon. Noticing that Se-Hoon’s eyes were hazy, likely due to the whispers he had just heard, Allen ended up waving his hand dismissively.

“...No. It's nothing.”

For a brief moment, Allen had felt a strange sensation, almost as if he had received a revelation, but it seemed impossible since Se-Hoon wasn't a Region. Convincing himself that it was just his imagination, Allen checked the time.

“That's enough for today. You should head home. If anyone asks about what happened here, just be vague. Do you understand?”

“Understood.”

The two of them then exited the warehouse, and a taxi, which Allen had called earlier, arrived to take Se-Hoon home.

It was only after putting some distance between himself and Allen's workshop that Se-Hoon once again spoke in his mind. “Are you still out there, somewhere?”

“Hmm? What do you mean? I'm dead, you know,” whispered the Seeker casually.

Se-Hoon had wondered if the whispers would only occur within that workshop, and now it was clear that the Seeker was residing within his body. Pondering how such a thing had happened, Se-Hoon quickly deduced the answer.

The power of Boundaries.

The power Dawn controlled was derived entirely from the Seeker, which meant the mana that corroded his body also originated from the Seeker. And because that mana was now intertwined with the boundary between life and death, reviving the mind of the dead Seeker wasn’t totally impossible.

But still...

Could the mind of the Seeker really have been resurrected with just a portion of his mana circuit that was tainted by some corrosion? It seemed very unlikely that someone like him, who was merely mimicking Wurgen's abilities, could have done this subconsciously.

Lost, Se-Hoon eventually asked the Seeker to gain more information.

“You said you were already dead; then how did you revive within my body?”

“Revive? I didn’t revive.”

The Seeker sounded as if it were obvious that she hadn’t revived, leaving Se-Hoon more puzzled than ever.

“Then how are we having this conversation right now?”

“Hmm. How should I explain this... ah! Do you know what my power is?”

“No, I’ve never heard of it.”

The Seeker had been inactive for so long that all Se-Hoon knew was that she could cast magic on massive scales.

“My power is Omniscience. While it may sound grand, it's essentially like artificial intelligence.”

“Artificial intelligence...?”

“You can think of it as an AI that knows all the knowledge in the world and provides answers to me. Something like that.”

Se-Hoon was speechless. Even just that brief description revealed how overwhelming her power was.

“Oh. So, the whispers I heard... were also from this Omniscience?”

“Exactly. The person you’re talking to is part of it too.”

“Is something wrong...?”

As everyone stared at him in confusion, Allen slowly recovered. He turned his head and awkwardly smiled at them.

“Ah, sorry. I got distracted by a radio call from the security team.”

He resumed walking as if nothing had happened, but his left hand, which was rubbing his right wrist, trembled uncontrollably.

A revelation... I’ve received a revelation...

Unlike the random whispers that shared vast amounts of knowledge, he had just heard a revelation that directly answered the doubts he held in his heart. It was a phenomenon Allen had only experienced four times since becoming a Region, and like every time, it filled him with overwhelming emotions.

Right... The One must also want to be resurrected as soon as possible.

He thought about all of the false mages who turned their backs on the truth, spreading ignorance like a plague even at this moment. With a newly renewed resolve to bring back the One as soon as possible, Allen cast aside his hesitation and stepped into the workshop deeper inside the factory.

“Now let us experience the process of automaton creation firsthand. We’re going to pair up in groups of two, and a staff member will assist each group,” Allen instructed.

The students quickly paired off, Se-Hoon and Luize naturally forming a team. But instead of a staff member, Allen approached the two of them.

“I heard that you two are honor students, so I'll personally assist you. Will that be alright?”

“...”

Frowning at the suggestion, Luize glanced at Se-Hoon, who nodded without much reaction.

“That would be fine.”

“Then... me too.”

“Good. Let's get started then.”

Under Allen's supervision, Se-Hoon and Luize began crafting their own automaton, skillfully completing each task as Allen instructed. And for a while, everything proceeded smoothly. But then—

BOOM!

A massive explosion suddenly shook the entire workshop. Alarms blared, and red lights flashed throughout the facility.

Taking advantage of the sudden chaos, Allen patted his pants pocket with his right hand.

Woong-

Preparing for the next event, he secretly transferred the Synesthetic Mindscape Storage Device to Se-Hoon. And once he had confirmed that all of the preparations for his plan had been made, Allen shouted urgently to everyone else.

“An unidentified explosion has occurred in Section Three! It’s suspected to be a terrorist attack from the Demon Force! We’ll evacuate through the workshop's shelter. Follow me!”

Under Allen’s lead, the group swiftly moved, with Se-Hoon and Luize trailing at the rear. The sight of Se-Hoon accurately grasping what he should be doing made Allen smile inwardly.

Continuing with the plan, Allen opened the door leading to the shelter.

“Once inside, the security team will guide you. Move quickly!”

The students rushed in one by one, and soon, only Se-Hoon and Luize remained.

BOOM!

Before they could even attempt to evacuate, a massive sword shattered the ceiling, blocking the entrance to the shelter.

Then, the shelter door slammed down, sealing the facility shut to secure it from further intrusion.

Clang!

While the three stood there frozen by the situation, demons entered through the broken ceiling.

“Finally found them.”

“It's those guys, right?”

The demons all had bodies mutated by demonic aura. However, their prosthetic limbs, each as rough and crude as their altered bodies, set them apart from normal demons.

“Damn it...”

Recognizing the unusual appearance of the demons, Luize swiftly gathered her mana, preparing to cast a spell. But she couldn’t unleash it.

Thud-

Wrapping his arms around her from behind, Se-Hoon suddenly pressed the Synesthetic Mindscape Storage Device against the choker on her neck.

Woong-

A crimson light, mixed with dark blue hues, filled the room. Surprised, the demons, ready to attack at any moment, halted. Likewise, Allen also stood silently, watching the scene unfold.

Then, when the light finally faded, Se-Hoon removed the device from Luize’s neck.

“It's done.”

Luize, now limp in Se-Hoon's arms, showed no resistance. It was a sight that made Allen’s heart pound in his chest.

Just like that...

Perhaps he had been too concerned, thinking some problems would occur. In fact, Allen even felt foolish for worrying, and a deep sense of reverence for the One surged within him.

So, this is the reason the One gave me a revelation.

Whether it was the Ten Evils or the Perfect Ones, Allen believed they were just ignorant vermin before the One’s knowledge and wisdom. The scene in front of him was proof.

Overjoyed, Allen approached the two of them.

“Let me take a look.”

Though he assumed there were no problems, it was better to check carefully given the circumstances. Filled with anticipation, Allen reached out his right hand to examine Luize.

“Abgrund.”

Thunk!

And a jet-black sword tore through the air, piercing through Allen’s body.