NOVPUB“How... how is this possible...?”
The magicians stammered, dumbfounded. The ancient magic circle created by the sorcerers of old, which they hadn’t been able to approach, had been utterly destroyed.
Bardray let out a short laugh and asked, “You can use magic too?”
“I have some experience,” Taesan replied.
“Some experience... It hardly seems like that explains what you just did. Amazing. You’ve dispelled a barrier that the Empire’s best magicians couldn’t even touch.”
Bardray’s face was filled with admiration as he looked at Taesan.
“If it’s you, you might truly save this world.”
“May I proceed inside?”
“Yes. Go and receive the recognition of the world, Hero.”
Bardray smiled as he spoke, and Taesan stepped beyond the shattered barrier.
Inside was a vast, overwhelming presence. It brushed against Taesan, as if testing and observing him.
For the first time, the Spirit, who had been silent, spoke up.
[The will of the world will assess whether you have the resolve to defeat the Demon King and if you’re truly worthy. It will try to reject you, but there shouldn’t be any issue.]
As soon as the Spirit finished speaking, the world’s will shifted to a more hostile, aggressive stance.
The energy swirled, gathering and pressing down on Taesan, attempting to push him out.
“Hm.”
Taesan felt the oppressive aura of rejection and hostility within the world’s will.
Its message was simple:
You are not worthy.
This energy carried that singular intent.
“So, it’s about worthiness.”
Taesan quickly understood what this meant.
The Demon King was an entity designed to bring ruin to the world, and the prophecy laid out the conditions and trials needed to defeat it.
Defeating the Demon King was a task meant for a hero, a hero who must belong to the world in question.
Only those who originated from this land could gain the world’s recognition.
Born on Earth, Taesan wasn’t eligible.
But Taesan wasn’t pushed back.
He brushed off the pressure of the world’s will with ease, feeling no burden at all.
“Compared to the will of Harfran’s world, this is weak.”
[That’s because all the will of that world had merged, becoming almost like a Demon King itself. This one isn’t quite comparable.]
Even so...
Taesan focused his own will.
He gathered his intent, then turned it back on the will of this world.
Boom!
With a ripple of force, the world’s will faltered. Taesan stepped forward steadily, unfazed as it unleashed everything it had, only for its attacks to be blocked by his overpowering intent.
“I’ll save this world my way. Just give me the recognition I need.”
As he advanced, he saw a small sphere in the distance.
It resembled the world’s core that he’d encountered in Harfran’s world, though the power within it seemed much weaker.
Taesan applied pressure to the sphere, and it trembled, slowly releasing its energy.
[Quite forceful, aren’t you? Poor thing,] the Spirit murmured quietly.
From within the sphere, a concentrated power slowly floated toward Taesan.
This was one of the powers that would enable him to face the Demon King.
[Take out Kabart’s relic.]
Taesan drew his sword, and the energy drifting toward him was absorbed into the relic.
[You have received the world’s recognition and gained the qualification to save it.]
The prophecy contained five trials. Passing each one would grant him new power. The Spirit spoke softly.
[I couldn’t fulfill the prophecy... but you’re different. You’ll obtain the strength to defeat the Demon King.]
Taesan stepped out of the magic circle. Bardray, waiting for him, widened his eyes.
“You’re back quickly. I thought it would take much longer.”
“It wasn’t difficult.”
“Is it always so violent? It looked almost like a battle. Fascinating.”
Taesan said nothing, and Bardray grinned.
“Very well. Then let’s discuss the next part of the prophecy.”
---
Bardray began explaining as he led Taesan onward.
“Do you remember the second trial?”
“Yes, it mentioned passing the trials of those who have reached the pinnacle of strength at the world’s center.”
“At the center of this world, you’ll find warriors and sorcerers who have pushed their limits and reached their peak. They are drawn to a small island at the world’s core the moment they reach that level. There, they live, cut off from society.”
Bardray sipped his tea.
“Passing their trials is the second step. It won’t be easy. Little is known about that island due to its isolation, but the last kingdom that attempted an invasion was completely wiped out.”
“I understand.”
Taesan replied calmly, and Bardray sighed as if disappointed.
“This was the trial I looked forward to most when I intended to be the hero.”
The ones who had severed ties with society upon reaching the peak of their skills.
As someone who pursued the sword, Bardray had dreamed of meeting them at least once.
“I wonder how powerful they are. I wish I could come along.”
“You mustn’t, Your Highness.”
Laughter sounded from behind Bardray. A woman with golden hair chuckled softly.
“The hero’s trials are his alone. Besides, Your Highness, you have a duty to protect the Empire.”
“True, Rebancia.” 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝘣.𝘤𝘰𝑚
Bardray turned to look at Rebancia with a fond smile.
Even without reading his mind, it was clear how much Bardray cared for her.
“But I can’t help being intrigued. Can’t you make an exception?”
“No, Your Highness. You also have to protect me, don’t you?”
Rebancia smiled gently.
[You’d best appreciate her presence while you can, before the obvious becomes inevitable.]
The Spirit spoke gloomily as he watched them, as if he couldn’t hold back his words even though he knew they wouldn’t be heard.
As they continued on their way to the world’s center, Taesan asked,
“Did you love her?”
[Love? Yes. I loved her.]
The Spirit’s voice was calm, yet weighed down with sorrow.
[Initially, it was a political marriage. She was beautiful, but I thought of her as nothing more than a piece of decoration. But as we spent time together and shared conversations, I began to see her true self. In the end, I grew to love her.]
It was a feeling Taesan was unfamiliar with. At least since entering the labyrinth, he hadn’t felt anything close to that emotion.
[I believed I’d spend my life with her, that we’d grow old together. But...]
“The Demon King appeared in the midst of it all?”
[Yes.]
The Spirit fell silent once more.
Taesan glanced at the Spirit briefly before pressing forward.
Before long, Taesan arrived at the world’s center.
In the middle of a lake stood a small island.
Crossing the lake, Taesan reached the island, where a group of elderly men dressed in black awaited him as though expecting his arrival.
“...So, you’re the hero acknowledged by the world.”
Taesan nodded.
The elder at the front frowned immediately.
“Weak.”
He spoke in a tone of disappointment.
“I sense no power. Did the world truly acknowledge someone like this?”
The elder clicked his tongue and turned around.
“You’ve passed the first trial, so we must follow the prophecy, I suppose. Come with us.”
The elders moved toward the forest, and Taesan followed, asking,
“Have each of you reached the pinnacle of your respective fields?”
“We have reached the end.”
One of the elders replied, his voice strong and firm.
He held a sword in his hand.
“There is nowhere further for us to go. Society is merely a hindrance now, which is why we live here.”
He glanced at Taesan.
“Even if you fail to defeat the Demon King, it matters not. We can deal with such a creature ourselves.”
He spoke with a confidence that came from never even considering defeat.
Taesan followed them in silence.
They stopped at another magic circle and positioned themselves around it, guiding Taesan to stand within.
“Step inside.”
The elders began channeling their energy.
Their powers amplified and layered upon one another, pressing down on Taesan.
Rumble!
A tremendous force bore down, trying to crush his mind and subdue his body. An elder spoke dispassionately.
“Give up. I don’t know how you managed to pass the first trial, but without any power, you cannot overcome this trial. It would have been better if the Empire’s prince had come instead.”
The elder clicked his tongue, as Taesan appeared weak in their eyes.
They believed even a light application of pressure would break him.
But then they sensed something strange.
Taesan remained unfazed by their pressure, his expression unchanged.
In fact, the word “unfazed” didn’t quite capture it.
Their energy wasn’t even reaching him.
Due to the overwhelming disparity, their power was simply erased.
“...What?”
“This is the limit of what you call ‘reaching the end’?”
Taesan murmured. He had expected something worthwhile, but found himself disappointed by how trivial it felt.
[You have activated the Proof of Three.]
What Taesan had accumulated began to take form, exerting its own influence on the world. The elders’ power began to crumble, their faces blanching.
“A-ah...”
“Ugh...”
Despite keeping his strength restrained, the elders couldn’t withstand it. Taesan gradually drew back his power.
[You have been acknowledged by those who have reached the pinnacle at the world’s center.]
The qualification was complete.
Taesan left, ignoring the elders, who now sat stunned and bewildered.
“If you ever have the time, you
might want to visit the labyrinth.”
This world was a creation born from the Spirit’s memories. It probably didn’t matter, but Taesan left them with a parting suggestion.
He then moved on to fulfill the third prophecy.
“Nothing to it.”
[If even an experienced adventurer could be pressured, fulfilling the prophecy would be nearly impossible.]
The Spirit was right. The prophecy wasn’t particularly difficult. Given Bardray’s current state, he could have achieved it.
Yet the Spirit had failed. He hadn’t saved his world.
Taesan walked until he arrived at a deep valley.
Entering the valley, he sensed a powerful presence.
[It seems we have a guest.]
A soft voice accompanied the appearance of a being within the valley. Scales shimmered, wings unfurled, and a massive, draconic creature revealed itself.
[You have encountered the Blue Dragon, Kareista.]
Like the golden dragon he had seen in Vequeseta, this being was majestic and awe-inspiring.
Back then, he had felt the dragon’s overwhelming power and the hopelessness of ever defeating it.
But now, things were different.
“Seems doable.”
Taesan quietly examined the dragon. In turn, the dragon gazed at him and murmured in admiration.
[You are strong. I couldn’t overlook someone of your caliber.]
The dragon shifted its gaze to the Spirit, a look of understanding dawning in its eyes.
[Ah, I see. This world is a manifestation created by a god. That must mean this world fell to the Demon King.]
The dragon’s gaze softened with sympathy.
[Prince of the Empire. You failed to save this world, journeyed into the labyrinth, and met your end there.]
[...Yes.]
[A pity. With the power I now sense from you—even with half that strength—you could have saved this world.]
[That’s not it.]
The Spirit denied the dragon’s words.
[Even without such power, even with just the strength of this nation, I could have succeeded. I could have won.]
[Yet you failed.]
[That’s because of those vile, foolish beings! They ruined everything!]
The Spirit’s voice rose with a rare show of emotion.
The dragon smiled gently.
[I understand. It is unjust and foolish. But those hardships are part of the trial. Only by overcoming them does one prove worthy of being a hero.]
[I can’t accept that.]
The Spirit growled, his anger palpable. The dragon seemed to acknowledge his frustration.
[I understand. But this is how things turned out. There’s no changing it. Time cannot be reversed.]
[No,] the Spirit murmured softly.
[That may not be entirely true.]
