Turning Chapter 1166

‘Following that, I went on a journey, seeking out other remnants of the past without any specific destination. I explored the former dwelling of the last dragon descendant, the waterlogged ruins of a lake library that vanished with countless books during a fiery disaster, and even an island submerged beneath the sea, rumored to be the abode of the world’s most ancient spirit.’

None of these locations rang a bell. They were likely vestiges from a time preceding the Great Cataclysm, existing in Luma’s era but now lost to all memory.

‘After visiting all these places, a realization dawned upon me.’

‘The entities that relentlessly plagued and corrupted this continent—even those abominations I’d rather not revisit—all hailed from origins of incredible brilliance. When one peels back the layers of dazzling legends, a stark and simple truth emerges.’

‘Those who now hold power, having retreated to the South, were once hailed as heroes who defied death and preserved the world. The corrupt priests, now entrenched in depravity, originated from individuals more devout than any other, saviors who acted for the world guided by divine pronouncements. The spirit-summoners, whose existence is now only recalled by ancient spirits, live on in faint tales of their own attempts to save the world. And the dragons, capable of supporting the heavens against falling stars, have vanished entirely, leaving behind mere bone fragments and feeble human descendants.’

‘They all saved the world, repeatedly—so why does the world continue to face peril, time and time again?’

‘Then, what precisely did they save?’

‘What were the things my friend and I endeavored so fiercely to protect?’

Ever since his return to the past, Yuder had been relentlessly striving to avert the calamity only he remembered. Now, this was the final testament of the great mage who had trod a remarkably similar path.

“......”

He creased his brow and turned the page. The facing page was blank, indicating this was the last of Luma’s recorded thoughts.

‘To me, left with a profound and unanswered question, a spirit encountered at my journey’s end imparted a new narrative.’

‘This spirit, whose age was indeterminate, like others of its kind, was merely awaiting its eventual dissolution.’

‘It inquired if I had ever truly grasped the human essence of speaking of world salvation. I had no response.’

‘—We perceive the world’s very breath each moment. If you recognize it as a living entity, you will grasp the utter futility of it all. If one professes a desire for salvation yet continues to sever the limbs of their own land, preventing the flow of blood from ceasing, what conceivable meaning could such actions hold?’

‘I asked for clarification. The spirit offered no reply. It simply delivered one final, self-directed statement.’

‘—It will persist in repetition. As long as the world’s breath endures, those like you, born from the very blood the world has shed, will continue to emerge......’

Luma recounted that he was never able to converse with the spirit again. He then penned:

‘A singular conclusion arose from my extensive quest. This world is fated to cycle through periods of destruction. Those who overcome these trials are memorialized in history—sometimes as the first priest, other times as a hero. While the process may vary, if my understanding is correct, the great calamity we averted will inevitably resurface. As the first priest once cautioned, should the world be imperiled by malevolence, and as the prophet of the wolf foretold upon returning from death, if the delicate equilibrium once maintained is fractured anew...’

‘The fact that they all conveyed warnings to subsequent generations feels significant. Even my companion left such a legacy. Although I, who facilitated his return to the past, do not fully comprehend what transpired, perhaps my friend, who truly experienced death and returned, perceived or felt some hidden truth of this world.’

Is that so? Yuder too had faced death and returned, yet he had experienced nothing so monumental—not yet.

Still, perhaps with the passage of time, that might change. Yuder ensured that this particular passage was etched clearly and permanently into his memory.

‘I now understand my imperative. After confronting and halting the paramount calamity, I must once again embark on the path of the vow shared solely between my friend and me on that humble night of celebration.’

‘Back then, in my inebriated state, I admitted my uncertainty about what I would do if this wasn’t the end. I even mused aloud that perhaps constructing a barrier would be the sole means of achieving security. My friend did not belittle my vulnerability. Instead, he shared a tale—a legend of a once-great nation that erected a towering wall to defend against a monstrous threat that might one day emerge.’

‘Thus, we resolved to erect a new stronghold, a secure bulwark, at the very location where the greatest number of lives had been lost. Our decision stemmed purely from apprehension regarding a future yet to unfold.’

‘Back then, what I felt was merely apprehension regarding an unknown future, but now, it seems my friend possessed a certain conviction—an unfathomable certainty that overshadowed everything.’

‘Now, I find myself with the same conviction my friend once held. With the power he safeguarded and entrusted to me, I aim to uphold his will and avert a future catastrophe that mirrors the past.’

‘Yet, the brevity of human life is a stark reality. Regardless of a person's greatness, their will cannot endure for more than a century. Perhaps this is why a new hero must always emerge, and why the warnings of past heroes gradually fade. Upon my demise, I will never ascertain the correctness of my convictions, nor will I ever have the chance to meet any subsequent hero.’

‘However, I harbor no intention of yielding. The instant I conclude this writing, I shall embark on a new quest to discover a resolution.’

‘For the sake of what my friend and I vowed to protect. For the sake of my cherished protégé.’

‘Towards a future shrouded in mystery......’

The pages that followed were devoid of any script. Yuder, acting out of an abundance of caution, meticulously examined every last page before closing the tome.

The content was so startlingly unexpected that his mind reeled. It left him feeling more depleted than an entire day of strenuous cultivation. As a sigh escaped his lips, the shoulder supporting his back stirred.

"Did something displease you? Your expression has darkened."

The man turned his head, his voice laced with gentle inquiry. Yuder met his gaze, his eyes clear and unwavering, and let out another sigh.

"Did you manage to glean anything of value?"

This conveyed that the information he'd just absorbed was far too taxing for him to articulate. Kishiar, with his customary perceptiveness, grasped the implied message instantly. A smile played on his lips as he playfully engaged.

"Hmm. I certainly did. I discovered that my dear Yuder had a particular fondness for milk infused with spring blossoms during his childhood. He loved it so much that he journeyed down to the city, traversing the mountains thrice, solely to procure more."

A faint recollection surfaced in Yuder's mind—a beverage he had consumed with some frequency in his youth.

"Ah... yes. My grandfather used to acquire Rembo and frequently prepare Remprit with it."

"So, it is called Remprit. What was its flavor profile?"

"Imagine milk imbued with a tart, fruity essence. Although, if my memory serves, my grandfather appeared to enjoy it even more than I did."

"There is even a recorded instance of him acquiring charcoal pens and paper to instruct you in calligraphy. However, it all vanished a few months later, so..."

"Hmm, indeed. I was hardly a child who applied himself to diligent study."

He responded with candid honesty, prompting Kishiar to erupt in laughter.

"I was no diligent student myself. We would have undoubtedly formed a strong bond from an early age."

"Yet, you possess a fondness for books, do you not?"

"Perusing books and attending formal study are distinct pursuits. I perpetually evaded classes, consequently facing punishment, while His Majesty, my brother, never missed a single session. Once, we both tumbled into a frozen lake during winter. While I seized that as a pretext to sneak away to Zone 2, His Majesty, afflicted with a fever and thoroughly drenched, dragged himself—laden with a considerable stack of texts—to the classroom before the teacher's arrival, only to collapse from the induced heat. The attendants who witnessed this spectacle reportedly fainted on the spot..."

Kishiar's anecdotes of his wayward princely youth proved far more captivating than Yuder's own childhood reminiscences. Utterly absorbed in the narrative, Yuder momentarily forgot his throbbing headache and the chaotic swirl of his thoughts. Upon regaining his composure, Kishiar's mischievously smiling crimson eyes were fixed directly upon him.

‘Ah.’

"Feeling somewhat better now?"

"...Yes."

"Excellent. Then, would you care to enlighten me now? What caused that particular expression to grace your features?"