Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint chapter 480

480 – A Distant Tale, The Temple of the Demon God

Hillde disguised himself as Huey and crossed the kingdom. Since he disguised himself as the king of humans and the founder’s confidant, it wouldn’t seem strange no matter who came looking for him.

But he never imagined that someone from the military nation would come looking for him.

Huey, Historia, and Rankart were all classmates in Hameln, Hillde knew that. Although he later found out that Huey was the king of humans, he didn’t treat the incident in Hameln lightly.

The two talents, Rankart and Historia, who he was certain would become new stars, were involved in the incident. The military nation investigated to confirm whether it was an act of a neighboring country, but when they discovered the director of the education center had gone rogue, they concluded it was a failure in stress management and closed the investigation.

However… Hillde recalled the question that he had intentionally ignored at that time.

Colonel Rankart. Director Historia. The two who were unusually talented and had grown remarkably.

And the one who, although falling behind them, was trusted by both for some reason.

Now he knew. The king of humans easily gains favor from humans. Just like the kings of other beasts.

But is that all? Is it just because of simple favor that Historia was obsessed with him and Rankart, who even betrayed the military nation, came looking for him?

“Rankart. A 1st class dangerous individual who betrayed the military nation and joined dangerous people. How did you end up here?”

“Danger is relative. If they’re not left-handed, they can’t harm me, and there’s no reason to fight someone who’s left-handed. But more importantly…”

Rankart looked at Hillde askew and asked.

“If you disguised yourself as Huey and lured the pursuers, then you must be one of his subordinates. Why are you on guard against me? Hasn’t he said anything about me?”

“Friend.”

Despite Hilde’s efforts to extract information with wisdom, Rancard responded coolly.

“I am both a disciple and a sponsor. Also, a colleague chasing the Maeshin.”

Maeshin. Hearing an unexpected word, Hilde recalled the information about Rancard that she had investigated in the past.

In the military nation, everyone thought of Rancard’s betrayal as a mere whim. However, his betrayal was an event orchestrated under a meticulous plan.

Mujugeng Tantalos. The sealed place of the Earth Deity. Saint Yuel, with determination, decided to use that location for the benefit of the military nation, selling the information to the Zomoshin and gaining their extensive support.

This fact was treated with utmost secrecy and kept as confidential documents by the military nation’s intelligence agency. Fragmented and scattered information was inaccessible without the capabilities of communication soldiers or top-notch agents.

However, to Rancard, the shooting star of the military nation and the youngest general candidate, some of this information was disclosed. Knowledge and imagination were tools that could enhance a magician’s abilities. There were even things he had not dared to dream of in terms of his betrayal.

“But it was a handshake. Rancard, who obtained the information, betrayed the military nation. Later investigations revealed that a significant portion of the classified information he read was related to the Zomoshin.”

Even being arrested and confined in Tantalos was part of the plan. The moment Hilde, who had grasped this fact, moved to capture Rancard, he escaped, taking all the prisoners with him.

“You weren’t looking for the Zomoshin. You were chasing the Maeshin. My father also entered Mujugeng to find the Maeshin… Wait a moment.”

If Rancard had been in contact with Hughes all along.

“If you’re looking for the Maeshin… After you escaped, did he enter Mujugeng? Could it have been a coordinated plan?”

“Oh, you figured that out?”

Considering Hilde as his colleague, Rancard willingly revealed the secret.

“That’s right. I planned it in advance. Since I was attracting attention from the military nation, I had to investigate appropriately and escape at the right moment.”

To fulfill the contract with Jiseon, they needed to unseal Mujugeng, and for that, it was necessary to keep humans in Tantalos. So, he hastily detained the recently captured criminal, who happened to be Hughes, the human king.

“Once I take all the prisoners out as bait for the escape, that’s when Huey, who was being held in prison, would be escorted. Well, I wanted to find the Maeshin with my own hands before Huey entered. But things didn’t go that smoothly.”

Rancard, muttering self-pityingly, soon sparkled with determination. Unlike a little while ago when he ignored everything with his magician-like arrogance, his eyes were now filled with admiration and longing.

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“But Huey succeeded! The enlightenment that had vanished and been sealed away was released, and earth magic was granted to humans! And on top of that… the King as well… I never even thought about touching the King! As expected of Huey! Always surpassing my expectations! I don’t want to admit it, but if there is a human who is superior to me in this world, it’s only Huey!”

Lancart’s praise of the absent human king seemed more like that of a devotee than a friend. Hilde became even more curious, her excitement mounting.

Why does the human king seek out the Mashin?

And if he finds all the Mashin, what in the world will happen to humans?

A great change will come to the human race. And that change will be irreversible. Hilde didn’t know what the king of humans was planning or where he was going, but just imagining it made her heart race and tingle.

“It was an interesting story, Lancart of the Mashin War.”

“Huh? What? You knew about me?”

“It wasn’t something my father told me. I obtained the information on my own. I didn’t know if you were still in contact with my father or not.”

The title of “father” was unfamiliar, but it was a trivial matter. Lancart, who guessed that it referred to Huey, asked with a hint of curiosity.

“Was it based on information? I don’t know where Huey found someone like you… So, where is Huey?”

“I don’t know the exact location. Probably crossed the mountain range that borders the nations.”

“Well, if he lured me here, then Huey must be on the opposite side of the border. Damn it. I came to meet him once I found his whereabouts.”

Lancart scratched his head in response to the obvious deduction. Hilde looked at him, covering her face with her hands and shaking her head. With each sharp turn of her head, a short strand of Huey’s hair grew longer. Like air escaping from a balloon, Huey’s body gradually shrank and transformed into Hilde’s appearance.

“Can you handle being chained? You have quite a strange ability.”

Even Lancart was amazed by the sight. Hilde tousled her long hair roughly and spoke.

“I didn’t have any positive feelings toward you, who betrayed the kingdom… but if the situation has come to this, I’m willing to join hands with you.”

Lancart replied with a wry smile.

“I don’t know who you are, but would you consider me your comrade? The only reason I think highly of you is because you are Huey’s subordinate.”

“It’s the same for me. If I weren’t your father’s friend, I wouldn’t even show my true form. The only connection between you and me is my father.”

Hilde’s cold retort strangely satisfied Lancart. He seemed more pleased with Hilde’s interest in Huey than with his own existence.

“Hmm. I like that. We should be able to communicate well. Besides, I needed information about Huey…”

“The cost will be high~. Searching for your father is not something only you are doing right now.”

“Others too? Who else is there?”

Hilde immediately thought of the Prosperity Order. If they aimed to uphold order, they might want to thwart the king of humans.

But whether Lancardt knew the true identity of Huey was unknown. If it was such crucial information, it needed to be kept hidden for now. Hilde mentioned the closest presence.

“The ancestor, Tyrkanshakado, is also targeting your father.”

“Ah. Ancestor? That’s fine.”

“It’s not something I can explain briefly. Sending the Elder is not the only reason. If it’s the ancestor, they might try to find your father directly.”

“Briefly or not, it’s over. Someone has already gone there.”

Hilde paused when she heard Lancardt casually mention the Mages. Mages were scarce, and most of them had died, leaving only traces. But the fact that the ancestor went to the Mages…

“…Mages, you say. Could it be?”

****

For a tree to grow, several elements are necessary. The soil to anchor its roots, fresh air, water to nourish its veins, and sunlight to settle upon its leaves. Common yet precious components nurture a small seed into a flourishing giant.

In other words, nothing is as important as the seed itself.

The earth is everywhere, the wind always blows, and unless deliberately avoiding sparse places, finding water and sunlight is not challenging. That is, the trees that humans see and admire consist mostly of common and worthless materials. The seed, which initially cultivated it, is the key determining what it will grow into.

The seed. That small and delicate point decides whether it will create a giant or cultivate weeds.

So, at this point in contemplation, humans face another question.

Where did this seed come from?

“The flowing stream can be temporarily held but never reversed.”

A tree grew in front of the ancestor. A tree rapidly grew in sight, spreading its branches lushly and forming leaves.

“When one approaches the eyes of knowledge, enlightenment inevitably comes, even if the eyes are covered. Eventually, the seed of the drink also sprouted into a new shoot.”

And within the tree, a graceful woman with draped robes slowly took steps.

Horns resembling tree branches. A calm demeanor reminiscent of plants rather than animals. Hair indistinguishable from leaves, flowing gracefully, with a strong smile like an ancient tree.

Alive and breathing, Navida, the Druid of the Origin, an ancient Druid.

She welcomed the newly born drinker.

“Is that the created body? Indeed, it is.”

Navida gazed at the shadow of the prophecy with a voice mixed with admiration.

The shadow was staring at Navida with outstretched arms, as if ready to leap out at any moment, trembling as if frightened. The shadow was still, yet simultaneously busy, disassembling and reconstructing in response to Navida’s small gestures.

“Now, humans can create even their own bodies. Without relying on time like me…”

That’s not a human. It’s the result of disassembling and reassembling all components of a human. Muscles, nerves, blood. It was made so powerful that it could surpass humans.

At the same time, it is human. Its form, function, and movement all follow human logic. If someone wears that shell, they won’t feel discomfort and will control it.

Created by Tyrcanjaka and dependent on him, but excluding that, the shadow becomes a superior race in every aspect compared to humans.

“One, O Drinker. The current world is bound by fate. Your power cannot change the world or humans.”

The prophecy reacted faintly to the words that it cannot change humans. Behind the two letters ‘hu,’ a voice seemed to say ‘king.’ No matter how hard the prophecy tried, he could not change what had never changed.

“The abhorrent saint has bound the fate of humans. The enlightenment found by humans belongs to all. That is the essence of the drinker. Until it is revealed, the power of the drinker remains exclusive. It is due to the lie that humans are absolute and, above all, dignified.”

Navida reached out towards Tyrcanjaka and the shadow. The tree that brought her also extended its branches as if shaking hands.

“O Drinker. We who have realized must be liberated. From humans, and from fate. You must have resentment in your triumph. I will share wisdom; how about defying the gods together.”

It didn’t take long for the shadow to grasp the branch and shake it.