“Paman, kau bisa saja membunuh mereka semua.”
Pale mengipasi api.
Secara pribadi, Lukas juga ingin membunuh Pale yang pertama kali mengusulkan hal itu, tapi dia hanya bisa menahannya untuk saat ini. Belum tentu buruk untuk melakukan apa yang disarankannya. Tapi dia perlu mengatur ritme.
Jika dia bertindak sesuka hati secara sembarangan, pikirannya tidak akan mampu bertahan dan akan hancur dalam waktu singkat. Belum waktunya untuk itu. Setidaknya, dia perlu menjaga kewarasannya sampai dia membunuh salah satu dari Dua Belas Void Lords dan pergi ke tempat yang dikenal sebagai Kastil Raja.
Syuk.
Dia mengulurkan lengannya, menyebabkan tubuh Sama Ryeong yang tak sadarkan diri melayang. Setelah itu, dia memberi isyarat dengan jarinya dan wanita itu mendekat seolah-olah ditarik. Sebenarnya, Lukas tidak perlu melakukan ini untuk memindahkan sesuatu, tapi dia tetap melakukannya. Ini untuk menipu orang-orang di sekitarnya, serta Hantu Mayat yang mungkin mengawasi adegan ini.
Lukas dengan kasar mengangkat tubuh Sama Ryeong sebelum merobek ruang sekali lagi.
Hantu Mayat hanya memberi izin kepada Lukas untuk pergi, jadi dia mungkin tidak ingin Lukas membawa Sama Ryeong keluar dari tempat ini.
Tapi dia tidak peduli. Dia tidak berpikir Hantu Mayat akan menjadi bermusuhan dengannya hanya karena masalah ini. Dan bahkan jika dia melakukannya, itu bukan masalah besar.
“Tunggu…!”
Haspin memanggilnya, tapi Lukas dengan dingin mengabaikannya saat dia melangkah melewati ruang itu. Pale mengikutinya. Tapi hal yang paling mengejutkan terjadi di akhir.
Tepat sebelum celah di ruang itu bisa menghilang sepenuhnya, Jacob melemparkan dirinya ke dalamnya.
Haspin dan Daihad tidak punya waktu – dan tidak punya alasan – untuk menghentikan mereka.
Empat orang.
Dalam sekejap, sebagian besar kelompok telah menghilang.
Sekarang, hanya Haspin dan Daihad yang tersisa di hutan.
“…Aku merasa seperti terlibat dalam sesuatu yang besar. Pertama-tama, aku bersyukur bisa bertahan hidup.”
Daihad mengusap dagunya sebelum menoleh untuk menatap Haspin.
“Apa rencanamu sekarang?”
“Ujiannya belum berakhir.”
Haspin berbicara dengan suara dalamnya yang khas.
“Kita masih harus menyelesaikannya.”
“Dan setelah itu?”
“Aku akan kembali ke wilayahku, [Demonsio].” (TL: Aku benar-benar lebih suka 'lubang')
Haspin tahu mungkin ada konsekuensi karena apa yang dia lihat dan dengar.
Meskipun begitu, dia harus membuat laporan. Karena itulah peran yang diberikan kepadanya.
* * *
Swusy!
“Kuk.”
Jacob mengerang.
Dia baru saja keluar dari celah di ruang angkasa. Dia tidak bisa bernapas atau menggerakkan tubuhnya. Tindakannya telah sepenuhnya diblokir.
Bahkan pergerakan sel-selnya pun tampak terkekang.
“Apakah tujuanmu mati? Jika begitu, aku dengan senang hati akan membantumu.”
Lukas berbicara dengan nada menakutkan. Mata hitamnya seolah menembus langsung ke jantungnya. Jantungnya berdebar kencang. Ini bukan hanya karena dia takut.
Memaksa sudut mulutnya yang kaku untuk bergerak, Jacob berbicara.
“Mati di tanganmu… akan menjadi kehormatanku…!”
“Kau tampaknya percaya kematianmu akan memiliki makna besar. Aku bahkan tidak akan mengingatmu.” (TL: kalimat yang sangat dingin.)
“Kuku…”
Jacob terkekeh alih-alih menjawab. Matanya tampak bersinar redup.
Lukas menatap sosok yang menatapnya dengan mata terbelalak ini.
Apa tujuan pria ini? Apakah hanya untuk membawanya ke Planet Sihir? Apa sebenarnya arti itu?
Dia mengingat kata-kata Hantu Mayat.
Dia menyarankannya untuk menghindari Penyihir Permulaan, Lord of the Magic Planet dan salah satu dari Dua Belas Void Lords, dengan mengatakan bahwa ada kemungkinan besar dia memiliki kekuatan yang berbeda tapi lebih tinggi dari Lukas.
Tentu saja, Lukas tidak percaya bahwa dia memahami dan bisa mengendalikan Void lebih baik daripada dirinya. Namun, dia tidak berniat mengabaikan peringatan Hantu Mayat begitu saja.
…Mungkin, tujuan Penyihir Permulaan adalah mengumpulkan mereka yang memiliki kekuatan serupa di Planet Sihir dan kemudian melahap mereka. Dia bisa saja menyebarkan makhluk kuat seperti Jacob di seluruh Dunia Void untuk mencari mereka.
Meskipun itu akan menjadi cara yang bagus untuk menjelaskan sebagian besar hal… satu hal yang tidak bisa dijelaskan adalah sikap hormat Jacob terhadapnya.
“Jangan merepotkan. Aku tidak punya niat untuk pergi ke Planet Sihir.”
Setelah mengucapkan kata-kata singkat itu, Lukas melepaskan kekangannya. Terengah-engah, Jacob jatuh.
Seluruh tubuhnya telah terkekang sampai saat itu dan rasa sakit yang pasti dia rasakan sama sekali tidak kecil, tapi tidak ada tanda-tanda kebencian di wajahnya.
“Bunuh saja dia! Pria itu layak dimakan!”
Pale menghentakkan tanah dan mendesak.
Layak dimakan… Sekarang dia memikirkannya, ada alasan baginya untuk menghindari kanibalisme untuk saat ini. Kekuatan yang berputar di dalam Lukas belum meleleh. Tidak akan baik untuk menambahkan lebih banyak hal ke tubuhnya. Jika terjadi kesalahan, retakan di kaca bisa menyebar lebih cepat.
Yang mengejutkan, Jacob dan Lukas memiliki banyak kesamaan.
Jika dia memakannya, dia mungkin bisa mendapatkan banyak hal. Hanya saja ini bukan waktu yang tepat sekarang.
‘…Aku bisa menggunakannya.’
Lukas melirik Jacob. Dia tidak yakin apa niat pria ini, tapi dia adalah Penyihir dari Planet Sihir yang diselimuti misteri, jadi dia layak digunakan.
“Apakah kau berniat terus mengikutiku?”
“…jika aku melakukannya, apakah kau akan membunuhku?”
“Aku tidak akan membunuhmu. Selama kau setuju dengan kondisiku.”
Jacob ragu sejenak sebelum berbicara.
“…Aku tidak bisa memberitahumu apa pun tentang Planet Sihir.”
“Itu tidak ada hubungannya dengan itu.”
“Hah?”
“Pertama, jangan merepotkan. Jika kau berniat mengikutiku, diamlah.”
“…”
Jangan merepotkan.
Ini adalah kondisi yang sangat samar. Ini karena pihak yang mengajukan kondisi bisa mendorong Jacob sesuka mereka dengan menafsirkannya sesuka hati.
“Dipahami.”
Meskipun begitu, Jacob tetap menerimanya.
Ini karena dia menilai risiko setingkat ini sepadan.
“Apa kondisi kedua?”
Suara Jacob dipenuhi ketegangan.
Biasanya, kondisi yang datang setelahnya lebih sulit untuk dipenuhi.
Lukas menjawab tanpa menatap Jacob.
“Bicara yang sopan.”
“Hah?”
“Berhenti menggunakan bicara yang sopan, itu tidak perlu.”
“…?”
Jacob menatapnya dengan aneh sejenak.
Seorang Penyihir yang menunjukkan rasa hormat padanya dan berbicara dengannya dengan sopan. Karena itu, dia mengingat kenangan tidak menyenangkan dari masa lalu.
“Aku tidak bisa melakukan itu.”
Tapi Jacob menolak dengan nada tegas.
“Kau adalah Penyihir hebat yang mencapai level bisa meremehkan Pencari Kebenaran. Aku tidak bisa memperlakukan orang seperti itu dengan cara seperti itu.”
“Bahkan jika itu berarti kau mati di sini?”
“…itu sifatku.”
Sikapnya tidak fleksibel.
Dengan ini dia bisa mendapatkan gambaran kasar tentang kepribadian Jacob. Karena betapa tingginya harga dirinya, dia tidak akan menarik kembali kata-katanya setelah diucapkan. Bahkan jika dia mencoba membunuhnya sekarang, ada kemungkinan besar dia akan menerimanya dengan tenang.
Dia menatap Pale. Sambil mendorong bibirnya sedikit, dia mengucapkan kata 'bunuh saja' dengan mulut.
Lukas mendecakkan lidahnya.
* * *
Dunia Void sangat luas dan tidak ada landmark yang jelas.
Setelah berjalan sepuluh langkah, mustahil untuk kembali ke tempatmu berada bahkan jika kamu berbalik dan menelusuri kembali langkahmu. Agar tidak tersesat di negeri ini, perlu ditemani oleh seorang 'pemandu'.
Untungnya, Lukas telah mengalami apa artinya menjadi pemandu bahkan sebelum datang ke tempat pembuangan sampah.
Tentu saja, dia tidak perlu menggunakan keterampilan itu sekarang.
Retak-
Hanya dengan merobek ruang, dia bisa kembali ke gurun abu-abu.
“Kekuatan itu luar biasa… Prestasi seperti itu tidak mungkin dilakukan hanya dengan bakat dan pengetahuan tentang ruang.”
“…”
Mengabaikan gumaman Jacob, Lukas menatap ke langit.
Seperti biasa, penampakan langit tampak menunjukkan aliran warna.
Lukas duduk dengan kasar di pasir. Dia tahu persis di mana Gunung Bunga berada, tapi dia tidak berniat pergi ke sana sampai Sama Ryeong bangun.
“Aku akan melihat-lihat.”
Jacob mengambil sendiri tugas-tugas itu. Dia sangat sopan sehingga Lukas tidak bisa membantu bertanya-tanya apakah dia pria sombong yang sama dari pertemuan pertama mereka. Lukas tidak menjawab, tapi dia sepertinya tidak keberatan seolah-olah dia sudah memutuskan untuk mengambil peran itu.
Segera, dia menghilang dari pandangan. Lukas tidak khawatir dia tidak akan kembali. Jacob mungkin memiliki keterampilan pemandu juga, atau setidaknya beberapa metode lain.
Lukas mengulurkan tangannya ke udara.
‘Seperti yang diharapkan, itu jauh lebih berlimpah di luar.’
Dia bisa dengan jelas merasakan kehadiran dan pergerakan void di atmosfer.
Di Dunia Void, kekuatan void bisa melakukan hampir semua hal. Tidak hanya membunuh seseorang, jika kondisinya terpenuhi, mungkin bahkan kebalikannya bisa terjadi…
“…”
Lukas tiba-tiba menoleh dan menatap Pale. Dia sedang menatap ke langit dengan ekspresi serius yang tampak seperti campuran kewaspadaan dan kekhidmatan.
Ada apa? Lukas mengikuti tatapannya dan menatap ke langit.
Langit yang mengalir yang unik untuk gurun abu-abu. Setidaknya sejauh yang bisa dilihat Lukas, tidak ada yang aneh tentang itu. Tepat saat Lukas menyipitkan matanya sedikit lagi.
“Di sini benar-benar sepi.”
Jacob kembali.
Dia memiliki ekspresi yang sedikit mencurigakan di wajahnya.
“Aku hampir tidak bisa merasakan tanda-tanda kehidupan… Gurun di Wilayah Barat, tidak pernah setenang ini ketika aku datang ke sini.”
Kata-kata terakhir itu lebih seperti gumaman.
Lukas setuju dengannya. Di masa lalu, ketika dia berkeliaran di gurun ini bersama Pale, monster akan muncul hampir setiap jam.
“Haruskah kita menunggu dia bangun dulu?”
Jacob melirik Sama Ryeong saat mengatakan ini.
Lukas mengangguk.
Bagaimanapun, dia perlu berbicara dengan Sama Ryeong, seseorang yang berasal dari Gunung Bunga, untuk rencana kasarnya.
* * *
Saat Sama Ryeong membuka matanya, dia disambut oleh langit beraneka warna.
‘…’
Ini bukan hutan yang menjadi tempat ujian. Itu bahkan bukan tempat pembuangan sampah.
Dia saat ini berada di luar.
Hal pertama yang dia sadari adalah fakta itu. Kemudian, dia menggerakkan jari-jarinya sedikit. Mereka bergerak. Sepertinya tidak ada yang salah dengan organ sensoriknya dan
“Uncle, you could just kill them all.”
Pale fanned the flames.
Personally, Lukas also wanted to kill Pale, who brought it up in the first place, but he could only endure it for now. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing to do what she was suggesting. But he needed to pace himself.
If he were to just act as he pleased at random, his mind would not be able to hold out and would collapse in no time. It wasn’t yet the time for that. At the very least, he needed to maintain his sanity till he killed one of the Twelve Void Lords and went to the place known as the King’s Castle.
Shuk.
He stretched out his arm, causing the unconscious body of Sama Ryeong to float up. After that, he gestured with his finger and she came towards him as if she was being pulled. In truth, Lukas didn’t have to do this in order to move something, but he did it anyway. This was to deceive the people around him, as well as the Corpse Ghost who might be watching this scene.
Lukas roughly picked up the body of Sama Ryeong before tearing space open once again.
The Corpse Ghost had only given Lukas permission to leave, so he probably wouldn’t want him to take Sama Ryeong out of this place.
But he didn’t care. He didn’t think the Corpse Ghost would become hostile with him just because of this matter. And even if he did, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal.
“Wait…!”
Haspin called out to him, but Lukas coldly ignored him as he stepped through the space. Pale followed him. But the most surprising thing happened at the end.
Just before the crack in space could disappear completely, Jacob threw himself into it.
Haspin and Daihad had no time – and no reason – to stop them.
Four people.
In an instant, most of the group had disappeared.
Now, only Haspin and Daihad were left in the forest.
“…I feel like I got caught up in something huge. First of all, I’m thankful that I even managed to survive.”
Daihad stroked his chin before turning to glance at Haspin.
“What do you plan to do now?”
“The test hasn’t ended.”
Haspin spoke in his uniquely deep voice.
“We still have to finish.”
“And after?”
“I will return to my territory, [Demonsio].” (TL: I really preferred ‘the pit’)
Haspin knew there might be some repercussions because of what he saw and heard.
Nevertheless, he had to make the report. Because that was the role he had been given.
* * *
Fwoosh!
“Kuk.”
Jacob let out a groan.
He had just come out of the crack in space. He couldn’t breathe or move his body. His actions had been completely blocked.
Even the movement of his cells seemed to have been restrained.
“Is your goal to die? If so then I’d be happy to help.”
Lukas spoke in a frightening tone. His black eyes seemed to pierce directly into his heart. His heart pounded. This wasn’t just because he was afraid.
Forcing the motionless corners of his mouth to move, Jacob spoke.
“To die by your hands… would be my honour…!”
“You seem to believe your death would have great meaning. I wouldn’t even remember you.” (TL: such a cold line.)
“Kuku…”
Jacob chuckled instead of responding. His eyes seemed to glow faintly.
Lukas looked at this figure who was staring at him with wide eyes.
What was this man’s goal? Was it just to take him to Magic Planet? What exactly did that mean?
He recalled the Corpse Ghost’s words.
He’d advised him to avoid the Beginning Wizard, Lord of the Magic Planet and one of the Twelve Void Lords, saying that there was a high chance that he might have a different but higher level power to Lukas’.
Of course, Lukas didn’t believe that he understood and could control Void better than he could. However, he didn’t intend to simply ignore the Corpse Ghost’s warning.
…Perhaps, the Beginning Wizard’s goal was to gather those with similar powers in the Magic Planet and then devour them. He could have spread strong beings like Jacob all over the World of Void to look for them.
Although that would be a good way to explain most things… the one thing it couldn’t explain Jacob’s respectful attitude towards him.
“Don’t be a nuisance. I have no intention of going to the Magic Planet.”
After saying those brief words, Lukas released the restraints. Gasping, Jacob collapsed.
His entire body had been restrained up until then and the pain he must have felt was by no means small, but there were no signs of resentment on his face.
“Just kill him! That man is worth eating!”
Pale stomped on the ground and urged.
Worth eating… Now that he thought about it, there was a reason for him to avoid cannibalism for the time being. The power swirling around inside Lukas hadn’t melted yet. It wouldn’t be a good idea to add more things to his body. If anything went wrong, the cracks in the glass might spread faster.
Surprisingly, Jacob and Lukas had a lot in common.
If he ate him, he might be able to obtain many things. It just wasn’t a good time right now.
‘…I could use him.’
Lukas glanced at Jacob. He wasn’t exactly sure what this man’s intentions were, but he was a Wizard from the Magic Planet which was shrouded in mystery, so he was worth using.
“Do you intend to keep following me?”
“…if I do, will you kill me?”
“I won’t kill you. As long as you agree to my conditions.”
Jacob hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“…I can’t tell you anything about the Magic Planet.”
“It has nothing to do with that.”
“Huh?”
“Firstly, don’t be a nuisance. If you intend to follow me, keep quiet.”
“…”
Don’t be a nuisance.
This was a very vague condition. This was because it was possible for the party who raised the condition to push Jacob around by interpreting it as they pleased.
“Understood.”
Nevertheless, Jacob still accepted.
This was because he judged that this level of risk was worth it.
“What’s the second condition?”
Jacob’s voice was filled with tension.
Usually, the conditions that came after were more difficult to complete.
Lukas answered without looking at Jacob.
“The polite speech.”
“Huh?”
“Stop using polite speech, it’s unnecessary.”
“…?”
Jacob looked at him strangely for a moment.
A Wizard showing him respect and speaking to him politely. Because of that, he recalled unpleasant memories from the past.
“I can’t do that.”
But Jacob refused in a firm tone.
“You are a great Wizard who reached the level of being able to look down on Truth Seekers. I cannot treat such a person like that.”
“Even if it means you die here?”
“…it is my nature.”
His attitude was inflexible.
With this he was able to get a rough idea of Jacob’s personality. Because of how high his pride was, he would not take back his words after he said them. Even if he were to try to kill him now, there was a high chance that he would just accept it calmly.
He looked at Pale. Pushing out her lips slightly, she mouthed the words ‘just kill him’.
Lukas clicked his tongue.
* * *
The World of Void was incomparably vast and there were no clear landmarks.
After walking ten steps, it would be impossible to return to where you once were even if you were to turn around and retrace your steps. In order to not get lost in this land, it was necessary to be accompanied by a ‘guide’.
Fortunately, Lukas had experienced what it meant to be a guide even before coming to the dump site.
Of course, he didn’t need to use that skill now.
Crack-
Just by tearing the space apart, he was able to return to the grey desert.
“That power is astounding… Such a feat is not possible with just talent and knowledge of space.”
“…”
Ignoring Jacob’s muttering, Lukas looked up at the sky.
As always, the appearance of the sky seemed to show a flow of colours.
Lukas sat down roughly in the sand. He knew exactly where the Flower Mountain was, but he didn’t intend to go there until Sama Ryeong woke up.
“I’ll take a look around.”
Jacob took it upon himself to do the chores. He was so polite that Lukas couldn’t help but wonder if he was the same arrogant man from their first meeting. Lukas didn’t respond, but he didn’t seem to mind as if he’d already decided to take the role.
Soon, he disappeared from view. Lukas wasn’t worried that he wouldn’t come back. Jacob probably had the skills of a guide as well, or at least some other method.
Lukas stretched his hand into the air.
‘As expected, it’s much more abundant outside.’
It was possible for him to clearly feel the presence and movement of void in the atmosphere.
In the World of Void, the power of void could do almost anything. Not just killing someone, if the conditions were met, perhaps even the reverse would be possible…
“…”
Lukas suddenly turned his head and looked at Pale. She was looking up at the sky with a serious expression that seemed to be a mixture of caution and solemnity.
What was wrong? Lukas followed her gaze and looked up at the sky.
The flowing skies that were unique to the grey desert. At least as far as Lukas could see, there was nothing strange about it. Just as Lukas narrowed his eyes a bit more.
“It’s really quiet around here.”
Jacob returned.
He had a slightly suspicious expression on his face.
“I could barely feel any signs of life… The desert in the Western Region, it was never this peaceful when I came here.”
Those last words were closer to a mumble.
Lukas agreed with him. In the past, when he was wandering this desert with Pale, monsters would appear almost hourly.
“Should we wait for her to wake up first?”
Jacob glanced at Sama Ryeong as he said this.
Lukas nodded.
In any case, he needed to talk to Sama Ryeong, someone who came from Flower Mountain, for his rough plan.
* * *
When Sama Ryeong opened her eyes, she was greeted by a multicoloured sky.
‘…’
This wasn’t the forest that served as the test site. It wasn’t even the dump site.
She was currently outside.
The first thing she noticed was that fact. Then, she wiggled her fingers slightly. They moved. There didn’t seem to be anything wrong with her sensory organs and she wasn’t bound. Next, she checked her muscles.
…Their condition wasn’t perfect, but at least it was enough to move. It was enough since even her fatigue had been completely relieved.
‘…this feeling.’
The feeling of the ground felt like sand.
Sama Ryeong was shocked by this fact. If this was the desert, that meant that she was in the Western Region.
‘Why am I here…?’
Was she brought all the way here while unconscious? How long had it been since she’d fallen unconscious?
Sama Ryeong calmed her confusion and focused her attention on her surroundings. There were three presences that she could feel. And it seemed that none of them were paying attention to her.
‘My sword…’
Naturally, it was not on her waist.
A small investigation showed that it was lying beside a woman who was the farthest away from them.
The other two were having a conversation.
“…then is your goal to kill Yang In-hyun?”
For a moment, she almost trembled. The contents of the conversation that she’d overheard were too shocking.
Kill? Who? Yang In-hyun? By who?
“Do you think it’s reckless?”
“Definitely not. You can certainly discuss killing one of the Twelve Void Lords.”
Sama Ryeong finally realised that the owner of the voice was Jacob. But his voice lacked any of his characteristic arrogance. If she had to say, it felt like he was being strangely obedient or polite.
“Nevertheless, it won’t be easy. The Everlasting Plum Sword is strong and ruthless. I heard that once he considers someone an enemy… he will eliminate them by any means.”
Eliminate.
In this world, where the meanings of defeat, exclusion and death were relatively light, this might be the surest method.
Sama Ryeong knew.
Yang In-hyun didn’t blindly kill those who didn’t follow him. Instead he used their desires and desperation in order to get what he wanted from them. In Sama Ryeong’s case, it was vengeance.
‘Jacob is talking to someone…’
Was it Lukas Trowman?
Then that meant two out of the three were identified.
It was the woman at the far end of the campfire that was still an unknown. She was the one who had her sword, and she was not someone that had been in the test area.
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