전생검신 95권 19화

I felt like my head was stuck after hearing what [Brain] said.

What does that even mean?

So the Outer God didn’t transcend the Law of Cause and Effect?

I panicked, thinking it was different from what I knew, and said, “W-what do you mean? Surely the Outer God is one who ascended and left the stage… a perfect being who returned all earthly cause and effect to nothing upon ascension, right?”

[You seem to know most of it, but you’re misunderstanding something important.]

[Brain] had a smirk, as if amused. Then it replied.

[“‘Going beyond the stage’ and ‘transcending the Law of Cause and Effect’ are not synonymous. They’re completely different dimensions of discussion.”]

“Different? How is it different?”

[Come on, do I really have to explain that to you?]

“……”

I was left speechless by [Brain]’s jab. When put that way, it’s hard to retort.

As I struggled to find my words, [Brain] observed me with what seemed like interest and then said,

[Well… it’s not a big secret, so I’ll tell you. You’re just confused because you’re not bright enough, but you should be grateful for my kindness in explaining it to you.]

“… Yes, thank you.”

[Look at how you’re talking… sigh.]

[Brain] chuckled and continued,

[Let me ask you again. How do you interpret the phrase ‘transcended the Law of Cause and Effect’? What does it mean to have transcended it?]

“It means doing whatever you want without being bound by the Law of Cause and Effect, right?”

[Is that so? Then do the Outer Gods completely disregard the Law of Cause and Effect?]

“Isn’t it? When Al Karda brings me over for a reincarnation play, or the Observer arbitrarily turns my past into a past life… it looks like they’re doing whatever they want…”

[No. That’s not it.]

“Not so?”

[Although it looks like they’re doing as they please, all those actions are still subject to cause and effect. They’re just operating under a higher level of cycle than you think.]

[Brain] slowly continued,

[In the first place, there’s only one true being that has genuinely transcended cause and effect. Just because the Outer God exists outside the stage doesn’t mean it should be compared to that one existence… Even as an Outer God, its relationship with cause and effect is only slightly different from that of mortals.]

I gasped in surprise at those words.

“What…? What do you mean? Are you saying they have the right to act as they wish?”

[Yes. They have that right. Because you are bound to them by the cause and effect.]

“……!!”

That’s ridiculous!

[You look like you can’t believe it. Am I right?]

“Please don’t read my mind like that.”

[I haven’t. I don’t need supernatural abilities to guess what you think; you’re so simple that I can predict your thoughts pretty easily. Aren’t there plenty of humans who can do the same?]

“……”

I can’t believe I’m hearing this from an Outer God…

[Just now, you’re thinking, ‘How can I hear this from an Outer God?’ and feeling self-deprecating.]

… Damn it… that’s all true…

As I was feeling embarrassed, [Brain] continued speaking.

[You have an entanglement of some sort with the Outer Gods. That’s why they can interfere with you. Without that, even Outer Gods wouldn’t be able to meddle with someone as significant as you without any cause and effect—especially because they are Outer Gods.]

“Um…!!”

[However, due to constraints, they themselves can’t disclose the details of that connection until everything is concluded….]

In disbelief, I shouted, “When the heck did I form a connection with them? No matter how I dig into my past memories, I can’t recall anything like that!”

[……]

[Brain] fell silent for a moment before speaking.

[I’m not directly involved in your contract, so even if I know what it is, I can’t tell you about it. You’ll have to figure it out on your own with your abilities.]

I felt like I was grasping at air and grumbled.

“Damn… If you’re just going to talk like that, it’s no help to me at all.”

Then, I felt a crumpling sound and noticed [Brain]’s form twitching.

[You cocky little brat. Just sharing this much is skirting dangerously close to what I’m allowed to share, and you dare to complain? Really, you’re such an idiot, not knowing your place.]

“Huh.”

[Brain] seemed a bit angry, and I flinched, feeling chilled. If that monster—the Outer God Observer was sealed away—was getting angry, what would happen to me? Perhaps sensing my fear, I hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

“No, no! Hehe!! I was just rambling out of frustration. Please forgive me just this once…!!”

As I kneeled and begged, [Brain] said with a look of disbelief,

[… Aren’t you just way off the mark?]

“Yes?”

[If everything was so different, I wouldn’t even need to get angry.]

“……”

As [Brain] mumbled something incomprehensible, it stared intently at the sealed orb held in its tentacle marked ‘Observer.’

[Anyway… I’m not a being that helps you. In fact, they might be the ones providing you aid.]

I tilted my head in confusion.

“You just attacked me trying to snatch away the Seed of Transcendence, and now you say they were helping me? What does that even mean?”

[That might be how you see it. However, from the perspective of merely advancing toward the end (the end of it all), they behaved as good companions to you. In reality, I’d prefer you to not reach that point quickly.]

There was something strangely off about that statement. I pondered its meaning for a moment, then asked,

“… Why wouldn’t you want me to reach it quickly?”

[There might be another ending, you know. That’s what I’m hoping for.]

“Another ending means… is my ending set in stone?”

[Hehehehe.]

Suddenly, [Brain] laughed. The laugh sounded somewhat bright, but sensing it as a sinister chuckle, my heart sank. Then [Brain] said,

[Did you expect to use that book and still be fine in the end?]

“……!!”

[Of course, my idea of ‘another ending’ doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be happy… So far, you’ve seen the book’s atrocities and are running that overly happy thought process in your head.]

Finally, I understood one thing clearly from [Brain]’s words.

The final fate left for anyone who uses the Heavenly Secret is pure destruction…!!

I don’t know when that destruction will come, but the fact that I’m simply heading toward that end—this was confirmed by the words of the Outer God [Brain].

……

Unexpectedly, I didn’t cry out. I didn’t feel suddenly sad or distressed either.

It seems, to some extent, I had instinctively sensed this fact myself.

… Anyway, even if I ask [Brain] what the destruction of the book is, it probably won’t respond. According to what was said, Outer Gods are somewhat bound by the Law of Cause and Effect, so revealing my final conclusion would go against that law.

Then what I really should ask is…

When I reach the [Throne], what’s the best course of action for me?

In the end, I’ll have to arrive at the [Throne] and end up fighting anyway.

[That’s a good question. Becoming calm seems to sharpen your mind.]

“Did you predict again?”

[No, this time I read your thoughts using my supernatural abilities.]

“……”

[But anyway, to answer your question, what you must do is simple. By the time you arrive there, you must be so strong that you can’t even compare to your current self. If you acquire that level of strength, you’ll find another option at the [Throne].]

“Just get strong, huh? That’s so straightforward. However, I’d appreciate it if you could at least give me a rough standard of what level that might be.”

[Hmmm.]

Upon hearing my question, [Brain] pondered for a moment while scrutinizing me and then said,

[At the very least, you’d need to be able to withstand the life and death of the multiverse.]

“… How strong is that?”

[Well? Is there really any point in my explaining that? After all, this is only the minimum condition. If you genuinely want to have another option at the [Throne], you will need power beyond whatever you could imagine.]

“……!!”

W-what kind of fight is going to happen at the [Throne]?

Even the Outer God seems to be vague about the level of power required, leaving me confused…!!

However, I composed myself and weakly said,

“… So, if I don’t meet that standard, that means I’ll have no choice but to accept whatever predetermined conclusion awaits me?”

[Correct. You’ve finally understood it properly.]

“Then I have another question… Is it alright if I liberate all these [Names]?”

I showed him my forearm. Somehow, I had liberated a high-ranking name, and who would have thought one of them would be the Outer God of Dark Heaven Village! Since I had no clue about what the other high-ranking names were, I had no choice but to ask.

To that, [Brain] replied curtly.

[That’s your decision. Why are you asking me?]

“No, but an Outer God popped out of my forearm…”

[I don’t care about that. I’ll just say that liberating all those names could give you another option. Of course, I’ll mention that you can still reach the [Throne] without freeing all of them.]

“Hmm…”

It seems… those names on my forearm are not essential conditions…

Then what the heck are these names that exist? And when the heck did I get my hands on such things?

While I was perplexed, [Brain]’s form began to fade away.

[Looks like I’ve said all I needed to say. Guess I should get going.]

“Wait…! The most important thing hasn’t been discussed yet!!”

[You want to know what the Seed of Transcendence is and how to use it, right?]

“Yes!”

[But I won’t tell you.]

“……”

[I enjoy the chaos that comes from ignorance. I think it’s fun. Whether the variables I’ve introduced become a MacGuffin or are genuinely utilized… That’s part of the amusement. If you’re truly someone who’ll get to see another ending, then you’ll be able to use it, but if you’re not, then there’s nothing you can do.]

[Brain] let out a sinister chuckle.

[Hehehe… Go ahead and struggle… kid…]

Then, in the blink of an eye, a bright flash enveloped me, and I found myself inside the massive palace on the planet Belial.

‘……’

Did I return?

As I blankly stood there, someone’s voice brought me back to reality.

[What’s going on? You went and came back in an instant.]

‘Astaroth.’

Standing there was Astaroth, one of the four major powers in the universe and a high-ranking officer of the Evil King’s Division, one of the 72 Kings beneath Solomon of the old demon empire. Not just Astaroth, but also numerous others among the 72 slowly emerged from the palace. I looked down at my body, which seemed still in spirit form, unlike before.

Astaroth carefully asked,

[Baek Woong… so what did you find out? Has Solomon’s seal been lifted?]

‘… For now, it should be released.’

[But Solomon still doesn’t seem to have changed in that state…?]

I looked at the throne where Solomon sat. His skull still languidly rested atop it.

Wait…? What’s going on? Wasn’t the Outer God supposed to release Solomon’s seal?

I mulled over this confusion, stubbornly responding to Astaroth.

‘The seal is broken. I can assure you of that under my name.’

[But why isn’t Solomon moving?]

I thought it over and shared my experience,

‘I don’t know. Maybe he’s already awake and just trying to assess the situation?’

[What?…]

‘You’ll find out if you attack.’

With a clang!

I used Thunder Soul to forge a Thunder Sword and aimed it at Solomon’s immobile skull, declaring,

‘Solomon. I know you’re already awake. If you don’t get up to talk, I’ll have to attack.’

……

After a brief silence, Solomon’s skull finally opened its mouth.

“Interesting fellow. To be able to assert that I’m awake… are you really saying you negotiated with the Outer God Observer to lift my seal?”

Blazing Flame!

Light filled the empty eye sockets of Solomon’s skull as his body slowly began to regain vitality.

And Solomon’s skull locked its gaze directly onto me.

The old demon empire’s king, Solomon.

He’s really awake…!!

While I held Solomon’s gaze, Astaroth, who was behind me, stepped forward and spoke.

[Solomon!! Now that you’re awake, it’s time! We’ve fulfilled our contract, and now we will serve our new master, Baek Woong!]

Solomon glanced at Astaroth and said,

“Shut up, I’m trying to discuss something important here.”

[What…??]

Whew!

At that moment, Astaroth’s massive form was caught by some unseen hand and flung into another dimension. It all happened so fast, and Astaroth seemed unable to resist at all.

It was clearly some kind of banishment spell I didn’t know, but the level was something else entirely.

It was shocking. Astaroth, despite being a being of that caliber as a demon, got banished so easily?

Solomon’s magical abilities must be on an astonishing level.

[Ugh…]

[Solomon…!!]

The 72 demons seemed to understand Solomon’s power and were grinding their teeth, unwilling to make a move against him. Solomon, uninterested in those demons, continued to focus his eerie eye sockets directly on me.

“Baek Woong, is it? You really did manage to resurrect me by lifting the Outer God Observer’s seal?”

‘That’s correct. That was my contract with those demons.’

At my answer, Solomon burst into laughter, seemingly astonished, bringing his hand to his face.

“… Hahaha!! You truly drew the short straw in that contract. What kind of fools would seek out the Outer Gods? Hahaha!”

‘Well, I did get the short end of the stick.’

I crossed my arms and retorted.

‘But it was a worthy challenge. Honestly, saving you was just a bonus.’

“……”

At my words, Solomon’s eyes sharpened slightly.

“Who exactly are you? I’ve never seen nor heard of a spirit like you… living for tens of trillions of years yet appearing in human form…”

‘I am Baek Woong. But what about you? How is it that you appeared in human form when you originated eons ago…’

“Hmmm. Are you really asking me that after meeting an Outer God?”

‘I really am.’

Solomon continued to gaze at me with interest and replied.

“The reason I take on a human form? Obviously, it’s because I am a human.”