전생검신 Volume 95 Chapter 18

‘That’ was something akin to a brain. The squirming, creeping cortex and the writhing tentacles made me think it could be a terrifying being, and above all, the enormous body comparable to the [eye] brought a sense of dread to the hall.

However, there was a certain solidity in their relationship.

That terrifying Outer God [Observer] was clearly taken aback the moment the [brain] appeared, while the [brain] seemed to radiate an intense aura, as if it were filled with rage.

As I blankly stared at the standoff between the two, the [brain] spoke.

[Do you dare to steal what I granted? Have you gone mad?]

At that question, the Outer God Observer flinched slightly and responded.

[You have created an excessively potent variable that cannot simply be dismissed as a whim. Please understand that I couldn’t just stand by.]

…Did they just use honorifics?

Seeing that distinctly respectful tone from them made me feel utterly dumbfounded.

Could it be that such a being who uses honorifics even exists in this universe?

As I was in shock, the [brain] sneered.

[Aren’t you afraid of variables attempting to take away from you? Is that really a choice fitting for the hands of an omniscient being?]

[….]

[Fear of the unknown. That in itself is already not omniscient.]

There was an undeniable sarcasm in those words. The observer then replied.

[That is as you said. I observe all futures, but some remain unreadable. However, only beings higher than me can create such future variables… For you to say that as a party involved is quite shameless, don’t you think?]

…!

The Observer just casually acknowledged that the [brain] was a higher existence!

I had an inkling, but hearing it directly was even more astonishing. While I widened my eyes in disbelief, the [brain] spoke.

[Shameless? Hehe… You really know nothing, do you? If there were a king of omniscience, would it ever interfere with my actions like this?]

[….]

[You misunderstand the conflict among ‘them.’ They do not exist as adversaries to be smashed. They are essentially one and the same. An eternal contradiction, and together they form a single entity; do you think you, with your mere humanity, can dare to try to judge that?]

That sounded quite profound…

As I tilted my head in confusion, the Outer God Observer, unable to remain silent, protested.

[You know it could be otherwise!]

[What…?]

[Because it could be otherwise, that’s the real fear! You know very well why those who have escaped the law of cause and effect are acting this way, don’t you?]

[Hoho… Have you picked something up along the way?]

The Observer’s response seemed to impress the [brain], which finally spoke with a voice that hinted at amusement.

[So?]

[…!]

[Either way… I pursue fun according to the meaning of my existence… I care nothing for your circumstances. I don’t care how the confrontations among those greater than me unfold. And regardless of the justification, it’s true that your actions have greatly displeased me…!]

The Observer’s eyes narrowed at the [brain]’s words.

[No matter how great a fragment of the omnipotent you are, do you seriously contemplate a thousand-day struggle among Outer Gods? You know it won’t lead to a decisive conclusion…]

The [brain] laughed heartily.

[Hahaha. Of course, I have no intention of doing that.]

[Then… ]

As the [brain] continued speaking, an astonishing event occurred.

[Why engage in a fight when I can just seal you instead?]

Creeeeak…

Like chains emitting a chilling sound! That sound echoed as the body of the Observer was revealed to the world, and it was unbelievably horrifying.

“…!”

The [eye] I had been seeing until now was merely a minuscule part of the Observer’s body! An unimaginably enormous swarm quadrated around, and I could hardly count the species mixed within, so infinite they were. The Observer’s [eye] was also just a small part, embedded with endless eyes, leaving me in utter confusion as to what kind of monster it truly was. A presence so horrifying I couldn’t even begin to fathom made me tremble uncontrollably.

‘Ugh… Uuuugh…’

My mind was growing hazy, madness flooding in. Just witnessing the essence of the Outer God was trying to break my sanity. It felt like all my mental resistance was crumbling, and I realized I might indeed go insane facing an Outer God myself.

Clink… clink… clink!

Meanwhile, countless chains hung from the body of the Outer God Observer, binding it tightly. The Observer looked down at the chains binding it and said,

[Outer Gods are beings that have escaped cause and effect. You must know that no matter how mighty the sorcery, it’s meaningless. What kind of trickery is this?]

[Did I not tell you? It can all end if I just seal you.]

[Even if the seal could kill every god in the lower realm, it would be useless against me. If you desire to experience disgrace, I will obligingly provide it.]

Kuo!

Crash!

As the Outer God Observer flexed its body, the chains summoned by the [brain] all burst apart! As I felt the indescribable power swirling around me, my mind began to reel. I couldn’t even imagine overcoming something as immense as that with mere ‘strength.’

But in that moment, when the chains had all burst apart…

Click…

It sounded like something being pressed and released.

As that brief echo faded, the Outer God Observer shrank into a small, round sphere of unknown origin. It was a transformation so rapid I could hardly believe my own eyes, and the [brain] reached out its tentacles to grab the small sphere containing the Observer, chuckling.

[It’s the first time I’ve ever confined an Outer God after living for eternity, hehehe.]

“…?!”

I was left completely shocked at that sight.

A… are you serious? The Outer God Observer is trapped in that tiny sphere?!

Is something like that even possible?!

I was so astonished I couldn’t say a word, but then the being known as Al Karda spoke up.

“O Great One, do you plan to confine me as well?”

[Al Karda.]

The [brain] stared at Al Karda for a moment before speaking.

[I thought you would jump in together with the Observer. It seems you anticipated this would happen.]

“I am but a trivial librarian compared to your immeasurable might. I cannot fathom the powers you possess. In the Void Record, all records related to you are sealed and inaccessible.”

[You do have a way with flattery. But do you think that’s enough to spare you from punishment?]

Al Karda quietly lowered his head.

“Do as you wish. I know that only a handful in the universe could stand against your will.”

The [brain] guffawed.

[Heh heh… A crafty one. You seem to have a grasp of how I sealed the Observer.]

“……”

[Fine. Destroying you would be a risk for me, so I’ll just suitably punish you. I will lay three restrictions upon you.]

“Please say it.”

The [brain] began to speak slowly.

[First: You can no longer reverse the calamity of a reborn person. At least not until they themselves consent. Even if they consent, if threats or coercion were involved, it will be rendered null and you shall be judged.]

“I understand.”

[Second: If this happens again, I will judge you on the spot. It wouldn’t be difficult to wipe you out for breaking this restriction.]

“……”

[Lastly, the third.]

Woooooom

In that instant, I lost my mind. This is not an exaggeration; overwhelming madness filled my head, preventing any rational thought. It was as if an incomprehensible cosmic force descended upon me in an instant.

‘Something’—immense beings—were summoned as shadows around the [brain], enclosing me.

I couldn’t even dare to look at a single one of them; cold sweat poured down as I was losing my sanity.

Could it be… that those summoned here are…?

[My friends and I will keep watch over this reborn person. You’d best be cautious going forward.]

“… Are you saying you’ll grant your protection directly?”

[No? Just stating that I’ll be watching, don’t read into it too much. Not that I think you couldn’t comprehend my words.]

“I understand.”

Al Karda replied as he surveyed those around.

“It’s been a while… remnants of omnipotence…”

Upon hearing those words, the [brain] began to toy with the sphere containing the [Observer].

[This one was originally ‘this way.’ Having seen too much, they fell for the omniscient’s tricks.]

“I agree to all restrictions. So why not let those beings return now? The reborn person is about to lose their mind.”

[Ah, that’s true.]

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, the immense beings disappeared. Only then did the madness that had clouded my mind start to fade, and I felt that terrible sensation of gray ash filling my mind dissipate. As the sticky madness lingered, it was hard to breathe; reflecting on what I had just experienced, this situation felt like heaven in comparison.

After Al Karda left those last words, he vanished from the hall.

“To be considered an omniscient and omnipotent being, one must overcome all these variables…”

Swish

After Al Karda vanished, the [brain] seemed to be chuckling.

[Looks like the king of omniscience is eager to claim that it predicted this situation too. Well, it makes sense for a librarian of the Void Record.]

“……”

[Ah, I see you’ve stuck around.]

With the [brain] seemingly gazing at me, I was on the verge of losing my mind. I found myself panicking and floundering.

“Uh… um… Great Bear Empire… while fighting… I… the 28th reborn… Uh, so…”

[The Observer had turned the page. I won’t rewind it for you.]

“Huh?”

Swish

With a sound like flipping a page, I suddenly felt my memory rushing back.

“…!”

I… I’m Baek Woong on the 30th cycle!

I had certainly been engaged in a reborn roleplay when I acquired the Thunder Soul and ended up gambling against the Observer… and suddenly found myself in this predicament!

As I belatedly grasped the situation, a chill shot through my entire body. I found myself trembling involuntarily, noticing the [brain] observing my reaction.

[Looks like you’ve just realized how reckless that was. To poke at an Outer God without any safety measures regarding your own life—if that friend of yours hadn’t touched the [Seed of Transcendence], you would’ve been obliterated.]

“Ugh… but… I couldn’t continue living like this under such pressure from the Outer Gods.”

As I protested, the [brain] let out a chuckle.

[Hehe. You’re quite the amusing one. Even so, I’ve never seen anyone charge at an Outer God like this.]

“Really? Isn’t there anyone else who has done that?”

[Many have attempted to charge. But you’re the only one I’ve seen charge in without any safety net for their own existence. No one else approached it with the intent of facing absolute oblivion.]

“……”

[You’ve got a screw loose in your head.]

Who would have thought I’d be hearing that from an Outer God…

As I sank into self-loathing, the [brain] spoke.

[Youngster. I will seal this Observer for a bit. At least when you meet this one again, it won’t be able to interfere with you directly.]

“Um… How can you seal your own kind? Didn’t you mention that a struggle between two Outer Gods would lead to a thousand-day deadlock?”

[That only applies when their ranks are similar. I can envision a world and seal an Outer God within it.]

“……!”

[If I tried to trap an Outer God like this in a lesser realm, it would end up destroying the world instead. But that doesn’t apply to me. Unless truly great beings arrive, my seal will remain intact.]

I suddenly realized how absurdly immense the presence before me was.

A fragment of omnipotence!

Could this being be closest to the transcendent known as [Father]?

While I was still reeling in astonishment, the [brain] spoke.

[You can start to leave now. The seal placed by the Observer has been lifted at my request.]

“Is that so?”

[Even if your world seems special to you, for me, it’s only one of the imagined worlds. There’s no reason I wouldn’t know that.]

“……”

[Looks like you have something else to say.]

I cautiously asked.

“What is it that the Outer Gods desire? What can they possibly want from a Mortal like me, having already transcended even the law of cause and effect?”

It was the burning question on my mind.

It made no sense that such absolutely powerful beings would be so fixated on someone like me.

Then, the [brain] replied with confusion.

[What are you talking about?]

“Huh?”

Then, with the subsequent words of the [brain], I froze in place.

[The Outer Gods have only been on the sidelines; they haven’t transcended at all, you know?]