전생검신 82권 5화

I felt absolutely ridiculous at Nyarlathotep’s words.

‘You want me to figure out what you are?’

Why the heck are you asking me that!

Honestly, I never thought the most powerful enemy I’d end up fighting in my reincarnation would ask me such a thing, leaving me in a daze. But snapping back to reality, I replied.

“You mean to tell me that you wield the power of an Outer God and don’t even know what you are? Close to omnipotent, yet you’re unsure of your own identity? What kind of nonsense is that…?”

“Omnipotent? Not even close.”

Clack!

Nyarlathotep switched from a mask of anger to one of a silly smile, continuing to speak.

“In this world, there are only [Father] and the Void Record, that’s it. The rest are mere scraps in comparison. Those beings you call Outer Gods are practically insignificant compared to them.”

“……”

“Why did I task you with finding my identity? Well, it’s because you’re the most clueless among the Reborn that I’ve encountered.”

I flinched at that.

“Clueless? What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? I’m saying you’re the most enigmatic person among all the reincarnated beings I’ve met. Under normal circumstances, someone would at least grasp the outline, but I have no idea what your essence is. Your talent is like nuclear waste compared to the other reincarnators, though.”

“……?!”

“To put it simply, you’re an [alien] existence. Even with my wisdom, I can’t tell what you are. Who would’ve thought that with the Law of Cause and Effect stacked this high, your true nature would be completely invisible… Are you even really a reborn person?”

Nyarlathotep, muttering in awe, regarded me with eyes full of intrigue.

“Although the outcome seems certain, I want to enjoy the game with you a bit longer. You could say this is a pure favor I’m showing you.”

“Are… are you some kind of pervert? What’s there to enjoy?”

“Cough, ha ha ha.”

Squeak!

Nyarlathotep giggled and suddenly morphed into a beautiful young woman.

‘Huh?’

The image of that dark-haired girl in vintage medieval attire was stunning, but given the situation, her transformation was utterly absurd. While I was lost for words, Nyarlathotep said,

“Think about what I just said. In the operation of this world, what exactly separates you and me… If you want to claim I’m evil, what would it take?”

“Of course we’re different. You cause harm, while I don’t….”

Nyarlathotep pretended to wipe tears with an exaggerated pout.

“But you’re causing harm to the Emperor and the chaotic evil gods too, aren’t you? Don’t you feel sorry for Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen? You bad guy.”

“……What the hell are you talking about?! Harming those bastards is good!”

“Not necessarily. The relative good required for correction and total annihilation can ultimately become the same.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Just give me a hint.”

Nyarlathotep picked up one of the masks lying on the floor with her slender fingers. Slowly, she placed it over her own mask, saying,

“Every reborn person I’ve faced has come up with their own answers. In the end, I may have won, but I wasn’t able to stop the legacies they left behind in this world, which now underpin your power and sustenance. So going on this way, doesn’t it mean that one day I might end up losing because of the karma built up by the reincarnators of the next generation?”

“……”

“Honestly, I’m kind of annoyed. Even if the difficulty is extreme, I enjoy it, but somehow, if you reach ascension… it feels like you’ll trigger some ridiculous changes. So, I’ve resolved to make this game with you my last.”

I scoffed at Nyarlathotep’s words.

“Calling yourself someone who enjoys everything, yet you’re making a ridiculous statement. You don’t want to play a game that you’re going to lose?”

“Isn’t it natural? Games are fun only when you win. I can enjoy losing as a ‘process’ for a genuinely fun game, but I can’t enjoy a game where defeat is fixed as the outcome.”

“……”

Could a game that ultimately loses still be fun?

Well, maybe this jerk thinks like that…

Nyarlathotep continued, “Reborn person. When everything is over, go to where it all began.”

“……Is that the hint?”

“Yes. It’s a hint I gave at the risk of immense consumption of the Law of Cause and Effect.”

With that, Nyarlathotep wore a devilish grin that clearly showed she was enjoying herself. The moment I saw that expression, I realized.

‘Damn… those Absolute Beings… they’re using me as a proxy.’

I had a gut feeling I was getting swept up in the plot of that Demon Emperor concerning the Law of Cause and Effect. Nyarlathotep likely intended to interfere with the calculations of that Demon Emperor by deliberately giving me this hint. Two Absolute Beings were toying with me as if I were a mere plaything.

I wasn’t thrilled about it, but instinctively, I felt this hint was a very crucial turning point.

“So what now? What’s going to change if I do that?”

“Honestly, I don’t know.”

I couldn’t help but shout out in disbelief.

“What? You don’t know, but that’s a hint?!”

“It’s a hint read from the world’s record. Only you can decipher its meaning.”

“……”

“But at the same time, the Void Record told me when providing this clue… that you would know what I am at that moment.”

Sssss

Nyarlathotep’s body started to dissipate slowly like mist.

“Reborn person. From now on, I won’t show up before you to take you down by force. The constraints of the Demon Emperor still bind me, and I can’t even recognize your existence, plus that’s just plain boring.”

“……”

It seemed he was smiling as he vanished along with the sofa.

“But… if you make me bored, I might become capricious.”

BANG!!

In the next moment, I found myself back where my companions were. I heard Cheon Woo-jin’s voice in front of me.

“If you pass through this passage, you’ll arrive right at the battlefield with Dharma. Are you prepared?”

“……”

“Baek Woong! Are you lost in thought again?”

When Cheon Woo-jin yelled, I jolted in surprise.

“N-no.”

“Snap out of it. Once your body and mind unite, who knows what will happen.”

“……”

Even Cheon Woo-jin as an Asura seemed unaware of my recent kidnapping by Nyarlathotep. That’s how momentary it was, and it meant that Nyarlathotep’s power was beyond imagination.

‘Should I tell my companions about meeting Nyarlathotep?’

I shook my head as I pondered.

‘No. I just need to focus on fighting Dharma…’

The conversation with Nyarlathotep was too abstract, and thinking about it wouldn’t yield answers in this situation. Besides, if we were about to reach the battlefield with Dharma, I couldn’t risk losing focus by discussing something that wouldn’t help, especially with Life and Death Decision waiting.

BANG

Moments later, after passing through the blue passage, we arrived at the place where we’d be fighting Dharma. As soon as I got there, I felt a sense of confusion.

“No…!!”

Isn’t that ‘my body’ over there?!

I’d expected it, but seeing with my own eyes that my body and soul were separated left me dumbfounded. My body, with two horns protruding from its forehead, was standing there with arms crossed and utterly still.

And at my body’s feet lay Dharma, transformed into a blood-soaked rag. His powerful demonic body had been torn apart for a long time, limbs scattered everywhere, dark blood pooling beneath him.

Anyone could see it was clearly a situation where my body had emerged victorious!

However, I cautiously stared at Cheon Woo-jin and asked,

“…If I just approach my body, will we merge?”

That’s the problem.

I had no idea how my body and mind had become separated. My body had apparently fought independently and defeated Dharma, but now I couldn’t figure out how to restore everything to normal.

Then Cheon Woo-jin said,

“Hang on. It seems Dharma has something to say.”

“What?”

Whoosh…

In the next moment, something like a faint spirit rose from Dharma’s corpse. It took on the same form as the living Dharma, making it easy to identify as his soul. Dharma looked at us and said,

[Having countless reincarnations, I’ve never seen a case as bizarre as this. Baek Woong, how on earth did you separate your soul and body and bring your companions with you without knowing?]

“…I don’t know, damn it.”

I truly couldn’t fathom how this happened.

As I replied heatedly, Dharma continued,

[Regardless, your victory is still a victory. I, Dharma, acknowledge that I lost to Baek Woong and declare that you have passed the first trial.]

Kugugung…!!

In the next moment, a massive black iron door summoned behind Dharma opened with a creak. Beyond the now-swinging door, a riot of colors swirled in chaos.

[Challenge the next trial.]

“……”

I remained silent for a moment before addressing Dharma.

“Dharma, I’m not going to challenge the second trial.”

[…….]

“What happens if I come back next time to challenge? Will I have to fight you again to win?”

My question was entirely valid. If you don’t succeed in this trial this time, would you have to start from scratch? In reality, Dharma’s abilities were incredible, so there was no guarantee I would win in another match. Unless Chi You’s horns didn’t suddenly rampage, I should logically have lost to Dharma.

But Dharma shook his head.

[Not at all. You can pass directly through this place next time.]

“Phew, that’s a relief.”

[However, Baek Woong, since I lost anyway, I want to give you a piece of advice.]

“What is it?”

Dharma slammed his stone tablet down with a thud.

[At least don’t even think about challenging the second trial if you’re not a hundred times stronger than now.]

“……”

[Those who exist behind this are… beings you can’t dare to challenge. If you’re not a strong enough individual to end all stories, it’s best not to even consider it.]

Dharma’s advice was sincere. No, in fact, Dharma had been urging me to go back since the very beginning. He had pointed out that there were beings awaiting me who were incomparably stronger. Now that I realized the seriousness in his warning, I asked Dharma,

“If I pass this trial… will I see the end of my reincarnation?”

This is actually the biggest issue.

The most challenging last trial hidden within the depths of the Heavenly Secret!

While I had seen the utterly absurd difficulty with my own eyes, I had no understanding of why I was even attempting such an inconceivable trial.

I recalled Nyarlathotep’s words.

[Whether you believe what I say or not is up to you. What do you think was the reason the brainless transcendent tried to prevent me from intruding this deep? That door is the final trial prepared for reincarnators, and the Brainless transcendent, being part of the Heavenly Secret system, had no choice but to stop me. And if it’s the last trial, it must be the moment when you end your reincarnation and escape the cycle of rebirth.]

[I’m going to share my hypothesis. The being that enters that [door] after opening it will become the next reincarnator. If you enter directly, you will reach ascension right away.]

The reason Nyarlathotep had gone so far as to invade the Heavenly Secret just to open the trial door.

He believed that by passing this trial, one could either become a reincarnator or reach ascension.

So, if that’s the case, it could be said that this trial of the Heavenly Secret rewards you with the greatest treasure all the gods in this world deeply desire.

Then Dharma spoke.

[The order is wrong.]

“What do you mean the order is wrong?”

[That hypothesis from Nyarlathotep is somewhat true. If you complete this trial, you may gain the qualification for ascension or become a reincarnator. But that’s the wrong order… so challenging this trial to obtain that is a contradiction.]

“Wait a minute. I don’t quite get it… but in any case, the outcome is achieving your wish, right? What’s wrong with the order?”

[……]

Just then, Asura cut in, having been listening.

“Baek Woong. The order being wrong refers to the difficulty of passing through this trial to the end.”

“Asura, what are you saying?”

In an instant, I ran out of words at Asura’s continuation.

“Beings who have already attained ascension… the level of strength that may rival the Outer Gods will likely be waiting in the trial tower, so challenging this trial to achieve ascension is the utmost foolishness.”

“……!!”

“It’s the opposite. Only after attaining ascension should you consider challenging this trial.”

“W-what…?”

I panicked and finally shouted at Dharma.

“Dharma!! Then what on earth is the purpose of this trial? If ascension or becoming a reincarnator is merely the minimum condition… what on earth do you gain by completely passing this trial!!”

[…… You mean to say you’ve come this far without knowing that?]

Dharma, who had been muttering under his breath, eventually made an unexpected statement.

[Successfully defeating me in this trial allows you to reincarnate again.]