Chapter 474: Observer of the World (1)

The medical records left behind in Ars Nova, does that mean that data already exists in the Central City’s medical records?

Naturally, Lennok couldn’t answer that question rashly.

The possibilities and secrets swirling in his mind were endless, yet he couldn’t easily confirm a single one.

Murphy watched Lennok silently, then quickly turned his head.

“Once the data transfer is complete, there will be an additional examination. I’ll make you a life-support device far more effective than the one you’re using now.”

“……”

“Considering the examination results, even with that device, I can’t guarantee a normal life. You’d best follow my advice.”

He wasn’t wrong.

After all, this staff Lennok held was an artifact created from the Penteract that Myeong had gifted him.

Since it was unknown how long the Penteract’s power would last, he’d need a new life-support device to maintain the current illusion.

Lennok also instinctively knew that his meeting with Murphy wouldn’t be a one-time affair, so he gave a moderate nod.

After that, Lennok received all the examination data via Davi, completed the additional examination, paid the custom order fees, and then stepped out onto the street.

“Ars Nova, huh…”

Murphy, seeing Lennok’s reaction, didn’t press further, but he couldn’t have known how tangled Lennok’s thoughts had become the moment he heard those words.

He liked Murphy’s suddenly kind demeanor, as if he thought they were from the same hometown, but what he’d just heard was too shocking to take lightly.

A being with the same spirituality and existence projection rate as Lennok, who had received an examination in Central City.

Was it Lennok himself before he opened his eyes in this world, or was it someone else entirely?

Where had this body, which worked in a factory under the name Lennok, truly been before then?

Where was Lennok himself, who hadn’t existed beyond the kaleidoscope of branching paths containing the possibilities of the Outer Sea?

There were too many possibilities, worst-case scenarios, or uncertain futures to easily define any one of them.

The meaning of the message he encountered just before opening his eyes in this world for the first time.

Coincidence and inevitability, and fate.

Where was Lennok now, and where did the other two remain?

Perhaps, among the countless people and monsters he had encountered, already—

“Damn it…”

Sighing, Lennok naturally pulled a cigarette from his pocket.

He flicked his finger to light it, slowly inhaling and exhaling the smoke.

His complex feelings twisted with the cigarette smoke, rising above his head, then vanished into the cold air.

Lennok, having left Murphy’s hideout, stood there for a long time, then shook his head deliberately and began to walk.

There was much to do, not only with the examination data received via Davi, but also because he was back in the city after a long time.

He could think just fine while moving.

His fourth move.

From a cramped, old hotel room to a shabby dormitory, then an apartment in District 30, and now, a spacious mansion.

Lennok had outright purchased a two-story private mansion located in District 20 under the name Evan Vylun.

This was because the royalties from the thesis he’d written at Rebatenon University had started coming in, significantly increasing the amount of money he could legally use.

Most expenses incurred under Van’s name were for purchasing elixirs, artifact shopping, or acquiring research books and materials, so it wasn’t difficult.

He applied magic-insulating materials, skillfully drew security magic and barrier formations around the mansion, then fixed them in place with top-grade catalysts.

As his available funds increased, the strength and durability of the barrier formations and the quality of the catalysts also dramatically improved.

By utilizing Jindun’s barrier magic to its fullest extent, fortifying the entire mansion like a fortress, a barrier would be completed that even Lennok would find difficult to penetrate without a password.

Now, there was no need to dedicate just one room and convert it into a laboratory.

He brought all sorts of materials into the enormous basement beneath the mansion and, with Davi’s help, constructed an entire laboratory.

Barrier magic practice materials, research books and theses, and artifacts that had been modified but failed and broken, all of which he’d just piled up due to lack of space.

Catalysts and spell materials used for researching and applying magic circles and spell formations.

Even potions, extracts, and medicinal ingredients needed for alchemically producing elixirs and tobacco.

“Hmm…”

Lennok nodded in satisfaction, gazing at the thousands of items filling the walls of the enormous basement.

“Now, it finally feels a bit like a wizard’s laboratory.”

Visiting Olivera’s splendid laboratory a few times had given him much to think about.

Despite knowing the obvious truth that he shouldn’t spare any investment in his own achievements and magic research, hadn’t he delayed expanding his laboratory due to lack of time and circumstances?

Folding and unfolding space as she did might be difficult right now, but at least he should avoid struggling with a lack of space any longer.

Next to Lennok, who wore a proud expression, the dusty cyber spirit grumbled.

“To me, it just looks like a cluttered material storage.”

“Are you going to keep being so grumpy?”

Lennok laughed, holding Davi by the tail and lifting him upside down.

“I even made three power distribution boxes, just like you asked.”

“Hmph, wasn’t it to increase power sources with the intention of bringing magic regulation equipment into the lab?”

“……”

The cyber spirit’s clear protest.

Since his words weren’t wrong, Lennok subtly closed his mouth.

The reason he’d significantly expanded the lab space itself was because he intended to purchase and cram various equipment inside to supplement Lennok’s abilities and assist with research.

He hadn’t explained anything to Davi yet, but the spirit had already uncannily caught on to Lennok’s true intentions.

“Master is strangely transparent when it comes to magic research.”

“……Is that so?”

“Anyway, after learning strange things from that Mystic Eye user… you should invest that time and effort in a capable spirit like me.”

Davi, perched on Lennok’s head, shook his body vigorously and grumbled.

The dust accumulated on the spirit’s body fell onto Lennok’s shoulders, but Lennok was already covered in dust himself, so it didn’t really matter.

“Hmm, I thought you wouldn’t know since I found and dealt directly with an equipment manufacturer that trades with Carlyle Research Institute. I guess I boasted for nothing.”

When Lennok visited the Carlyle Research Institute through Bailla, who was acting as a temporary professor at Rebatenon University, he wasn’t just researching partial deployment of his Domain there.

Various top-grade equipment located in the research institute directly under the City Government.

Ultra-expensive magic regulation devices that boasted performance surpassing Commander Wizards in certain aspects of rotating or accelerating mana.

He had successfully hacked the entire research institute’s system to obtain the manufacturers and contact information for such equipment.

He’d placed the order with the equipment manufacturer under the name of Evan, an assistant professor at Rebatenon University, so they probably thought it was for the university.

Indeed, the equipment manufacturer had accepted the order without any suspicion and had contacted him to say production had begun.

Once all the ordered equipment arrived, even if building something on the scale of the Carlyle Research Institute was difficult, it would be enough to achieve that level of standard and quality.

“Once the resources consumed by repetitive tasks are reduced, I’ll be able to begin much more delicate spell adjustments.”

“Are you planning to customize spells by borrowing the power of machines?”

“To be precise, I’m borrowing your power.”

Lennok patted Davi’s head.

“I’ll delegate all control authority for the incoming equipment to you. I’ll entrust you with controlling all operational devices to assist with spells during the research process. Can you do it?”

The achievement Lennok had newly gained by transcending Hierarchy didn’t merely end with his existing magic becoming stronger and faster.

It was about naturally perceiving causality as concepts and ideas reached new horizons, and then manifesting that causality in the form of spells.

Through that process, new high-level spells were born and filled the existing spell systems Lennok possessed, while also shedding outdated notions.

The process by which Lennok had previously created countless new spells and discarded old ones was now being realized from a point that transcended Hierarchy.

Naturally, this process required immense time, effort, resources, and mana.

It was also the fundamental reason why Lennok couldn’t let go of his research for a single moment while balancing freelance work and various battles.

Therefore, to the extent that time and capital allowed, Lennok had decided to minimize the series of processes involved in developing and mastering new magic with Davi’s help.

“Hmm… I’ll only help when Master researches spirit spells. Other times, I don’t know.”

He embraced the grumbling Davi and lay down in the dusty laboratory.

“The equipment should arrive in about three days… It’ll take ages to adjust based on the examination data I got from Murphy this time. There’s just too much to do.”

The magic regulation equipment Lennok had ordered now was solely for the purpose of spell improvement and research.

Naturally, he would need to research and acquire new devices for maintaining the human body.

As much as he wanted to dedicate himself to research all day, there was simply too much to do.

“Since my leave is over, I should show my face at the university and also check on the contact from the Agents. I’ll also need to prepare my second thesis in time for the expo…”

“The moving hasn’t even finished yet. What are you talking about?”

Davi, perched on Lennok’s stomach, poked his side with a paw.

“Oh, this is surprisingly fun…?”

Lennok stared blankly down at Davi, who, having poked his side, seemed to unexpectedly enjoy the kneading and suddenly became engrossed.

“……”

When he first hid in this city, he was unbearably anxious.

He worked tirelessly to maintain a precarious balance that seemed ready to collapse at any moment, fearing and worrying constantly just to survive.

If he didn’t focus on something, if he didn’t struggle to create a better situation, he felt he would be immediately discovered and killed.

Even now, having run as if chased and climbed this far, that thought remained unchanged.

However, he had to be careful that all the achievements Lennok had made in that manner didn’t, in turn, gnaw away at his time.

Lennok thought up to that point and then abruptly stood up.

“Alright. Shall we begin?”

“Begin what?”

“I need to isolate the lab’s power supply from the mansion and modify it to allow for self-conversion and supply.”

Lennok grinned, naturally taking Davi’s body, which was perched on his head, and placing him on the workbench.

There was no time to be frustrated or sad about having so much to do.

Hadn’t all these problems been things Lennok himself desired, wished for, and brought about?

Even if it was impossible to enjoy and savor every moment, there was no need to simply sink into depression.

“Let’s tackle things one by one, starting with what can be done before the adjustment devices arrive. Ready?”

Fzzzzzzzt…!!

A cluster of brilliant blue electrical current burst from Lennok’s fingertips, illuminating the lab.

Amidst a silence so profound it threatened to deafen, footsteps echoed like thunder.

A cloud bridge traversed an enormous underground cavern thousands of meters in diameter.

A man, who had unhesitatingly climbed onto the bridge’s railing, casually glanced down.

It was a dizzying height; if he fell from here, his limbs would be crushed on impact and then some.

The cavern was so deep and treacherous that a faint, hazy mist and dust obscured the view within it.

But the face of the man walking on that bridge, the 2nd Apostle, was subtly alight with curiosity and interest.

The man stopped in the middle of the bridge, quietly looked down, and asked.

“It’s been quite a while since we’ve talked like this, hasn’t it?”

“……It was you.”

Between the majestic stone pillars, tens of meters high, supporting the enormous underground cavern, a young boy sat weakly hunched.

The sheer size of the underground cavern was strangely vast, far too large for a single boy to live in.

But what was more astonishing was the sight of the boy himself, bound between those pillars.

The boy, whose entire body was covered in wounds and scars, had both his arms bound by chains thicker and larger than his torso, lifted high into the air.

It looked like a massive prison built to confine a gigantic monster, not such a tiny boy.

“I was quite surprised to hear you’d regained consciousness.”

In the center of that prison, the man smiled, looking at the boy.

“I thought even if someone were to regain their sanity, it wouldn’t be you.”

“……”

“Even before you went completely mad, you secretly welcomed that insanity. You were indifferent to following the doctrine, even… The other Apostles knew that fact but condoned it. Would even the Pontiff not have known?”

The smile on the man’s lips, as he adjusted his glasses, somehow looked chilling.

“What meaning is there, even if you are an unparalleled vessel for the Divine? With such a weak mind incapable of bearing responsibility, you ultimately cannot stand by His side.”

As the man, who had been precariously perched on the bridge railing, unhesitatingly took a step forward.

His body lightly descended hundreds of meters into the cavern, landing before the boy.

“Honestly, I still don’t like you.”

The man whispered softly.

“It just seems so pathetic that the 3rd Apostle, who should have been the third pillar of the cult, surrendered his body without even attempting to resist the madness.”

With just a momentary release of killing intent in his words, the air in the cavern instantly constricted, beginning to choke the boy.

It wasn’t merely a light display of dominance, but true crushing force that genuinely shattered and pulverized the boy’s neck and joints.

Crunch!!!

The boy’s neck, bound by chains, snapped cleanly, spilling blood and bone fragments everywhere.

But before the fallen blood could even wet the floor and congeal, the boy’s body began to restore itself as if time were reversing.

Torn muscles reattached, flesh stitched itself together, and blood flowed backward.

Squish…!!

A bizarre sight, making one doubt if it was even a living human.

Yet, even amidst all this, the expressions of the two facing each other remained utterly serene.

The man also smiled faintly and stepped back.

“Well, I suppose that’s enough of my personal impressions. This meeting today is merely for me to hear your confession as a fellow believer, after all.”

“……”

The 2nd Apostle hadn’t just taken time out of his busy schedule to visit him for nothing.

It was because the boy, who had awakened after a very long time, had suddenly conveyed a message that could not be ignored.

“You said you had something to say about the death of the 6th Apostle and a wizard named Victor from Pandemonium, didn’t you? Shall I hear it?”