The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years Book 2: Chapter 569

Book 2: Chapter 569

Side Story Chapter 5
Cloud Pavilion in Mount Hua was a space solely for the sect leader.
Of course, it hadn't been long since Yang In-hyun became the sect leader, but he didn't break the tradition. However, if someone were to ask him why, he wouldn't be able to answer easily.
Yang In-hyun sometimes found it hard to endure his own contradictions.
Sitting in the position of leader of a force he had hated so much, what did he want to do? What does Mount Hua mean to him?
When he looked at the foliage spreading out below the peak, such empty questions never ceased.
But today, he couldn't continue that contemplation for long. Because a guest had arrived. This rude guest had intruded into Cloud Pavilion with dirty feet, brazenly lifting his head.
It wasn't difficult to point out the rudeness, but he didn't do so immediately. Because it was his own will that had called the guest.
Sssshk-
He poured the tea. Of course, it wasn't to entertain him. Though he had called him, they were not close enough to pour tea for each other.
“─I found a lake in the middle of the desert yesterday.”
He started speaking like that, but there was no reaction from the guest.
Yang In-hyun continued speaking without haste.
“It wasn't entering a territory. Nor was it a hallucination. There was a lake in the western region of the Void, the most barren and empty place. The water was clear enough to drink immediately, and there were even a few blades of grass growing around.”
[…….]
“The changes were not only on the ground. The brilliantly colored sky turned pitch black… as if night had returned.”
On the table, besides the tea cup, there was also a bowl containing porridge of a clear color.
─Food.
Something that could not exist in the Void.
Yang In-hyun scooped a spoonful of porridge, put it in his mouth, and chewed slowly. The taste of the mixed grain porridge he ate for the first time in half a year wasn't too bad. If he had to express it, the sense of longing was greater than the taste.
After swallowing the porridge, Yang In-hyun finally lifted his head.
And he sent his gaze to the being sitting in front of him.
[It seems… you didn't call me… to serve tea… Everlasting Plum Sword….]
The ‘Exile of the entire universe' was sitting with a bent waist.
His physique was more than twice that of an adult male. The remodeled Cloud Pavilion felt cramped, and if he stood up straight, his shoulders might touch the ceiling.
“I thought you would know the reason.”
[Indeed… is that the reason….]
“Were you disappointed?”
[No way…. Rather, I'm relieved…. I thought, without knowing… that our relationship… had become so amicable….]
He jokes inappropriately.
Feeling a strange sense of incongruity at that sight, a sharp retort came out of his mouth.
“If you're looking for a fight, I'll respond. But only after my questions are answered.”
The Exile, who had been silent for a moment, let out a bizarre sound.
[Kakakak… Kakakakaka….]
Yang In-hyun frowned.
Because he knew that unpleasantly creepy noise was laughter. The Exile, who had been laughing bizarrely for a long time, waved his hand.
[No more…. Now is… not the time for that…. From now on… I must conserve my strength….]
“Why?”
[Because the Three Thousand Worlds and… the Void… are merging….]
Yang In-hyun flinched.
The Exile's words couldn't be seen as the right answer to his question, but they weren't something he could easily dismiss either.
Merging, what does that mean?
Is it a simple metaphor? Or…
As he stayed silent, not knowing how to interpret it, the Exile spoke again.
[You must be wondering…. Why is that… happening…? To prepare for the upcoming disaster… a divine being's arrangement…? Does it want all beings to combine their strength… to fend off the calamity…?]
The Exile's words soon turned into a monologue, a mumble.
Reading his complexion or eyes to discern his intentions was impossible, so Yang In-hyun had no choice but to ask again.
“What exactly are you talking about?”
[Many absolute beings… must have various interpretations of this situation… But I can assure you, they are all wrong… And I am… the only one who knows the truth…]
At that moment, a strange light flickered on the Exile's right arm.
Yang In-hyun somehow couldn't take his eyes off that phenomenon.
[This is merely part of their preparation process… You can't even dip a finger in a tiny bathtub… so it needs to be expanded…]
Among the Twelve Void Lords, the Exile was the most eccentric. Although all the Void Lords classified as ‘wanderers' were mysterious, the Exile was the most enigmatic among them.
Therefore, it wasn't surprising that he spouted incomprehensible words, but the things he was saying now were extremely severe.
It was only natural for Yang In-hyun to frown.
However, he didn't get angry.
Because he saw the madness flickering in the Exile's voice. And the unmistakable fear he couldn't hide.
“What are you afraid of?”
Yang In-hyun knew the Exile's strength better than anyone. He had already clashed with him several times.
He was the one who made Yang In-hyun recognize that the existence of the Twelve Void Lords was equal to his own.
[Destruction…!]
“……”
[Do you understand… Everlasting Plum Sword… From now on… you must move… with me…]
“Why?”
[Because it seems… I will need you… to meet the king…]
“…The king?”
In the Void, there is only one being referred to as the king.
But.
“The Void King's seat should be empty…”
[Do you…. also… think so…]
“……”
Is the Void King really alive?
Yang In-hyun couldn't easily believe it, but he couldn't dismiss the Exile's words as lies either.
“I refuse.”
Nevertheless, he said so first.
“For now, that is.”
[That means…]
“Before that, we have a duty to uphold.”
[The Twelve Void Lords meeting.]
Yang In-hyun nodded.
[Hmm… Fine… I agree with that… I also have something to convey… to the new Beginning Wizard…]
“Wait a minute. What do you mean? The new Beginning Wizard…”
[What are you surprised about… You've already met him…]
“……”
The Exile didn't mention his name.
But Yang In-hyun thought of the wizard who suddenly appeared and suddenly disappeared.
─Lukas Trowman.
Has that man become the Beginning Wizard?
[That man is… the key……]
The Exile muttered in a low voice.
*
An infinitely small existence.
From the perspective of the Ruler, there was no better way to describe it.
Physically and conceptually, an insignificant being, no different from a speck of dust.
Such a bug was looking up at him with its head held high. Without any fear or reverence in its eyes.
An impossible situation.
The Black Horned Demon God had countless means to prevent this situation, and in the past, he had done so innumerable times.
Gouging out eyes, breaking spines, snapping necks… The Demon God knew as many solutions as there were methods of killing he knew.
But he didn't do any of that.
For one simple reason, he did not crush the bug before him.
[Have you regained your memories, dragon?]
The fact that this green-haired girl originally possessed power equal to his own as a former Ruler was the one and only reason, but in truth, that alone was sufficient.
“I am Beniang now.”
Beniang first corrected her identity.
The Demon God did not hide his sneer. Because he knew well the state of her inner self.
[A name not worth remembering.]
Therefore, even this seemingly rude remark was a form of positive expression for the Demon God.
“And as for the memories you mentioned, yes. Some have returned. Thanks to them, I was able to come to this universe where your true form resides.”
[It’s not something that could be accomplished just by recovering memories. …More than half of the Three Thousand Worlds have disappeared, and the remaining universes show signs of merging into one. The barriers that existed between the universes have also crumbled.]
“Thanks to that, the difficulty of inter-universe travel has significantly decreased.”
Beniang did not deny the Demon God's words.
Thanks to that, the difficulty of inter-universe travel had significantly decreased, and as a result, Beniang, weakened as she was now, could come here.
After a brief silence, the Demon God spoke.
[Then let me tell you in advance. I have no intention of returning your ‘tooth’.]
“…….”
[Of course, this tooth holds no great value to me. But when it came into my possession, I decided. Unless you regain the power equal to mine, I will never return it.]
A contradictory condition.
For Beniang to regain her power as a dragon, she needed the tooth, but without such power, the tooth wouldn't be returned to her.
[You didn't come here without such resolve, did you? You recklessly undertook the most careful challenge we should have faced, and that was the result. And I do not grant the right to speak to the weak.]
Despite hearing the unreasonable declaration, there was no change in Beniang's expression.
Instead, she slowly shook her head and spoke.
“You are mistaken. I did not come to ask for the tooth.”
[Oh……]
For the first time, the Demon God showed interest in an unexpected answer.
[Then what is your business? Answer more carefully than the previous question. Your existence arouses unpleasantness in me… It is not a pleasant feeling to see the fallen figure of one who once reigned in the same realm as I.]
Perhaps if what Beniang said from now on did not pique the Demon God's interest, he would kill her without hesitation. Or worse, make her suffer a fate worse than death.
Despite this, Beniang's demeanor did not waver.
“I will prophesy one thing. You will return the ‘tooth' to me by your own hand.”
[…By my will?]
“Yes.”
[…….]
The Demon God fell silent.
Even though he heard such absurd words, he neither sneered nor got angry. He simply considered the possibility calmly.
What kind of situation must arise for Beniang's words to come true?
“I have things to tell you. First, about what I experienced in the Void.”
[I'm not interested in tales of defeat.]
“Yes. They are tales of defeat. But aren’t you genuinely interested in knowing who defeated the ‘Seven Fanged Dragon' who once held power equal to yours?”
[It was a beast of the Twelve Void Lords, was it not.]
“That was the final defeat. By then, I was already significantly weakened.”
Beniang looked up at the Demon God with clear eyes.
“In the future, you will experience unprecedented events one after another. Perhaps the former me fell to experience them ahead of you.”
[Ridiculous. There’s nothing more pitiful than embellishing failure.]
“It is not embellishment. I have prepared in my own way. And I know. Demon God, you too are preparing various measures.”
[…….]
“But it won't be enough.”
Beniang murmured.
“The same goes for the Giant. He is just beginning to learn about cooperation, but at this rate, it won’t be in time.”
The Demon God suddenly burst into laughter.
At least Beniang succeeded in one thing.
She managed to draw the Demon God’s interest.
[Alright. Infinitesimally small being. Let’s say all your words are true. Then what is it that I need to know?]
“Defeat.”
The laughter abruptly stopped. The atmosphere changed. It was as if the air itself was screaming.
Within it, Beniang looked up at the Demon God and continued speaking.
“The reason I came here today is to teach you that.”
*****
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