“So, you mean they’ve all disappeared already….”
“The ones in the casino, yes.”
“That’s a relief. And, thank you. Thank you so much.”
He had heard about her past.
About the meteor that suddenly fell upon Lilac, once a peaceful and beautiful place, unlike its current state, and the Outer [entities from beyond their world] that came from it.
She created the current Lilac and investigated the Outer to ensure that the fall of Lilac and her husband’s death were not in vain.
Hearth Rabbit.
Listening to her past, Seun was filled with thoughts, and his conversation with Tuning came to mind.
‘Candidate…….’
The Administration designated Seun as a candidate and asked him to eliminate the Outer.
When he eliminated the Outer on the 5th floor of the casino, he received contribution points as a reward.
However, Seun’s information about the Outer was very limited.
He now knew various characteristics, such as how to kill them and their survival instincts, but those were things he learned by directly confronting them.
Finally, there was someone he could ask about this.
“How much have you investigated the Outer?”
“I did my best. Did you mention the Tower? I have acquired all the information about the different dimensions that exist here.”
“Then…….”
There were so many things to ask.
He didn’t expect her to know everything about the Outer, but there was one thing he wanted to ask right away.
[Fragment of the Abandoned]
The name of the meteor that was kept on the 5th floor of the casino.
It was the meaning of that name.
“Ah, that’s…….”
“Could that be related to the name ‘Deposed King’?”
The name of the Outer mentioned by the head of the Red Fish merchant group he met in Jeheton.
She nodded silently at Seun’s question.
“It seems Wolf Mask-nim has heard something as well.”
“There was a bit of a situation.”
“To explain… Ah, did you see the mural in my vault?”
“Are you talking about this?”
Chwaarrk-
Seun unfolded the scroll he got from Mammon.
A long mural that defied physical limitations, like a subspace pocket, unfolded.
The mural combined the mural obtained from the basement of Scavenge and the mural from the 5th floor of the casino. There were still many gaps, but more than half of it had been restored to its original form.
Hearth Rabbit’s eyes widened at the sight.
“You’ve restored more than half of it! Amazing! I’ve spent my whole life and only managed to find a small part.”
“Scavenge… I got it from the second place among the paintings you collected.”
“You mean the city surrounded by that sandstorm? Amazing. This is really…….”
“The explanation?”
“Yes, yes. I’ll explain it to you. I couldn’t interpret it perfectly either. First, would you look here? It’s easier to see since it’s been restored.”
She pointed to the very front of the mural.
Whether it was obtained from Scavenge or the casino, all the colors had faded over time.
The front was the least damaged, but the painting style was different from the current era, making it difficult to understand.
Seun, who had some knowledge of archeology, tried to understand it somehow…….
‘Stars.’
He could tell that there were stars floating above and below the front mural.
Stars that brightly illuminate the world, and stars that hide in the darkness of the world.
She also pointed to those two stars and began to explain.
“The stars you see here probably represent ‘Constellations’ [powerful, often godlike entities].”
“You know about Constellations?”
“They didn’t exist where I lived. Or rather, they existed, but they were different from the concept of Constellations. Gods or transcendents. It seems they call them Constellations here.”
– The Constellation, ‘The Bowing Crow,’ is interested in her explanation.
As she pointed to the next scene and continued her explanation, Seun also nodded.
The paintings were so abstract that he couldn’t interpret them on his own, but her claims were plausible enough.
“Those who embrace the world, destroy the world, and contemplate the world. I don’t know the details, but the following pictures prove that they are Constellations.”
Her interpretation was appropriate. It wasn’t for nothing that she said she had been researching the Outer for her entire life.
She even looked at the restored parts and nodded, then presented a new hypothesis.
“I had difficulty understanding this part, but I can see it now that it’s been restored. Maybe… it’s a scene of stars falling.”
“Constellations?”
“Yes. It’s a scene of a Constellation being stabbed by a spear and falling. There are similar parts in the back as well. The reasons are different, but they are all scenes of Constellations dying.”
– The Constellation, ‘The Bowing Crow,’ looks around the mural with a serious expression.
– The Constellation, ‘The Serpent Enclosing Jealousy,’ doubts the era of the mural, saying that the fall of a Constellation is not a common occurrence.
“Most importantly, it’s here.”
“The place where the Constellations fall.”
“Yes. It’s not the earth. It’s like…….”
“……Space.”
“Yes. Beyond the universe. Can you see the waves rippling at the end?”
He could see it.
How could he not see it?
The waves she was pointing to retained their black color even among the faded paintings of the mural.
Although it was heavily damaged, the black waves seemed to fill the back of the mural.
Seun soon realized the meaning and couldn’t help but frown.
“……Outer.”
The entire rippling sea is Outer.
That’s the only interpretation that comes to mind.
If you connect it to the story she has listed so far, the identity of the Outer quickly emerges.
“Did the fallen stars become Outer?”
“Yes. That’s why I named the meteor ‘Fragment of the Abandoned.’ Perhaps the ‘Deposed King’ that Wolf Mask-nim heard is also a similar meaning.”
– The Constellation, ‘The Bowing Crow,’ bristles its wings.
– The Constellation, ‘The Serpent Enclosing Jealousy,’ bristles its tail.
– The Constellation, ‘Sleeping Capricorn,’’s eyes sink deeply.
When a Constellation dies, it becomes an Outer…….
It’s just a guess, but it’s her guess based on gathering information through numerous dimensions and researching the Outer since entering the Tower.
Moreover, seeing her explain while looking at the mural that has been restored by more than half, he felt very trustworthy.
Besides…….
‘Then I understand when the Outer attacked the Tower.’
Listening to her, he remembered when the Outer attacked before his regression.
After the Holy War, countless Constellations died, regardless of whether they were good, evil, or neutral gods.
If that mural and her guess are correct, then all the Constellations that died would have turned into Outer.
‘The rapidly increased Outer must have overflowed into the Tower.’
The Outer, which had become uncontrollably numerous, invaded the Tower.
Thinking that way, all the situations before his regression made sense.
‘Then could it be that Pan and Triton too?’
– The Constellation, ‘Hungry Prince,’ lets out a long burp, saying it was a feast after a long time.
– The Constellation, ‘The Bowing Crow,’ frowns, saying that the dirty bastard has no tact.
The two Constellations, Pan and Triton, who were brought down by Seun.
Although they were eaten by Beelzebub’s Gluttony Authority, there was a possibility that they too had become Outer.
Perhaps the invasion of the Outer might have been brought forward a little more.
‘No. It wasn’t just this much during the Holy War. The important thing is still to prevent the Holy War.’
The reason Seun originally tried to prevent the Holy War was to keep the forces to fight against the Outer alive.
But now, it’s different. No, that’s also true, but an even more important meaning has emerged.
To prevent the Outer from increasing further, the Constellations must be kept alive.
And ultimately.
‘I need to find that place.’
The other side of the universe where the Outer are overflowing.
It was necessary to find that place and incinerate the Outer.
Of course, it would be absolutely impossible with Seun’s current power, but it might be possible if he eliminated all the Outer in each shelter and strengthened the power of destruction.
Since they can’t do anything without a host, constantly incinerating them from a distance might eventually eliminate them all.
Perhaps that’s what the Tower wanted from Seun? He had such a thought.
“That’s all I’ve found out. Ah, it seems like time is running out.”
Her body, which was already faint, was becoming more and more transparent. It seemed like there wasn’t much time left for her to remain in the mortal realm.
Frankly, it was amazing that she had maintained her sanity with just that one short soul thread while being trapped among so many evil spirits.
No, maybe she deliberately summoned the evil spirits in order to meet Seun and express her gratitude like this.
While sealing her mansion herself before she died so that no one else would be harmed.
“I’m glad I could express my gratitude like this. I’m happy to hear that they’ve disappeared.”
Her body was becoming more and more faint, but her smiling face was clearly visible.
Tears couldn’t flow from a ghost’s body, but her eyes seemed to be getting wet.
“I’m glad I didn’t let my husband’s life be in vain.”
Hearth Rabbit.
He met her in an unexpected place and was able to obtain unexpected information.
Through this meeting, he was able to correct not only his mindset but also his plans in the right direction.
Therefore, Seun also quietly bowed his head to her as she disappeared to express his condolences.
Just before she completely disappeared, her voice was left behind like an echo.
“I’ve prepared a small gift for Wolf Mask-nim. I hope you like it.”
A gift that Hearth Rabbit left for Seun. She didn’t mention the location, but there was no difficulty in finding it thanks to the guidepost of the journey.
When he lifted the worn-out bed, he saw something like a long coffin.
It was a coffin that seemed perfect for storing something, and he could feel an unusual aura just by looking at it.
[Box of Myriad Weapons]
Classification: Storage
Rank: SS
Description: A storage box that can hold all the weapons in the world.
Abilities: 1. Myriad Weapons – There are no restrictions on the quantity or weight of weapons that can be stored.
2. King of Weapons – The first attack is strengthened when a weapon stored in the Box of Myriad Weapons is taken out and used.
3. Contract – When contracting with the Box of Myriad Weapons, it is possessed in an intangible form, and you can take out any weapon you want anytime, anywhere.
4. Recovery – Weapons that have been taken out of the Box of Myriad Weapons and used at least once can be recovered.
5. Weapon Wall – Automatically recognizes moments of crisis and blocks attacks with stored weapons or the storage box itself.
It was an SS-rank item.
As written in the ability called Contract, as soon as Seun’s hand touched it, the storage box recognized Seun as its owner and melted away.
He couldn’t see it, but he could feel the storage box existing beside him.
‘I should focus on practicing with this for the rest of the time.’
Seun took the reward, silently paid his respects at the place where she disappeared, and soon left the place.
The day to leave Lilac was slowly approaching.