Book Eater

Theo pushed the Supreme Monk along, leaving the others behind. It wasn’t a story that should be overheard, and he needed time to sort it out in his head. They didn’t speak until they had reached a quiet clearing, accompanied only by the squeaks of the wheelchair.

... Kirik.

Theo brought them to a stop. “How long have you been on this continent?”

The question came out of nowhere, but the Supreme Monk didn’t flinch. Rather, his white eyebrows gathered together like he was worrying over something. Theo waited a few seconds.

The leaves blew around him as the old man replied, “Before I answer that question, I want to let you know one thing.”

“What is it?”

The Supreme Monk looked straight into Theo’s eyes. “I’m sure that you’ve guessed my origin, but I’m the Supreme Monk. I hope you don’t confuse me with the person you've met before.”

Theo examined him. “Then you are separate entities?”

The Supreme Monk nodded. “Yes. I’m an avatar born from Prometheus’ divinity, but each self has an independent ego. The avatar you met in the West Continent is a different person.”

Myrdal Herseim hadn’t been the only avatar that Prometheus had left behind in this world. Theo could see the truth of his words in the Supreme Monk’s eyes. The weight of time on the monk and his eyes resembled Myrdal, but there were differences. Myrdal was one of the greatest elementalists of the West Continent. But the East Continent had the Supreme Monk. Both of them were amazing as avatars of a god, but they weren’t the same person.

Myrdal Herseim was dead.

Theo considered it for a few seconds before nodding. “... I understand.”

The Supreme Monk’s face wrinkled in a smile. “Now this old man is going to answer. I have been living since the black dragon fell to the ground and the end of the Investiture of the Gods era... It was enough for the snake to ascend three times.”

“Th-three thousand years?” Theo’s eyes widened.

It was said that once a snake lived for five hundred years, it would become an imoogi. Once an imoogi lived for five hundred years, it would become a dragon and ascend to the sky. If this was true, it meant the Supreme Monk had been in the East Continent since the days of the Age of Mythology.

“Well, I didn’t play any large role. It was only around a thousand years ago that I took a position as a monk. Ah, please don’t reveal this about me. The children under me think that I inherited the position.”

Theo nodded. “Of course. It wouldn’t be good to have these words leaked.”

“Thank you,” the Supreme Monk thanked Theo and took a deep breath. It seemed that the Supreme Monk’s body, which had survived for three millenia, was reaching the end of its lifespan. “Before I return to the dust, I have something to tell you.”

“I’m listening.”

“My connection to this world of gods has long been broken, but the things they left behind still remain. I will hand them over now. In exchange, will you listen to one of my requests?”

Theo’s eyebrows raised slightly as he was reminded of Taeryun’s ward. He wanted the barrier’s defensive and camouflage ability. Unlike magic, which artificially manipulated the world, shamanism manipulated natural phenomena that already existed in the world. It might fall behind magic in areas such as efficiency and destruction power, but it could exercise greater strength in barriers and stealth.

“As you know, the qi of this world is greatly reduced,” the Supreme Monk started the story regardless of whether Theo knew, seeming to have accepted Theo’s silence as consent. “The creatures born from nature will decrease, but humans will become weaker over the next three hundred years. It won’t happen now, but there will be great sacrifices over the next century."

“Umm, maybe not.”

The descent of the heavenly demon was something that would never be seen again in the material world. However, unlike the West Continent, it would have a big influence on the East Continent. It would take decades for the population to recover, and large swathes of the empire would be under monster control. It wasn’t enough to influence the material world, but it could potentially be a great disaster.

“I don’t know if another enemy of this scale will appear again. But this old man won’t be around to see it. Please don’t turn away from the people of this land.” The Supreme Monk couldn’t raise his body from the wheelchair, but he turned his pale face toward Theo.

One of the most mysterious figures in the East Continent, the Supreme Monk, bowed his head humbly.

“Raise your head.”

Why did a non-human want to protect humans? Prometheus treated this world like a chessboard, yet his avatars were devoted to humanity. It was the same for both Myrdal and the Supreme Monk. Thus, Theo didn’t feel the slightest anger.

“The dragon lord handed me the responsibility to defend this world, and the East Continent is also under my jurisdiction. For as long as I live, I will not neglect this duty.”

“Ohh...!” The Supreme Monk made an admiring sound at this short declaration. “You are truly the right person to be a hero of this age... A person who doesn’t care about the arrangements of the old era and walks the right way. This old man can sleep well now.”

His tear glands had also dried up. The old man’s eyes wrinkled several times before he pulled a carefully wrapped scroll. Once it was opened, it looked like a watercolor painting. There were three illustrations meticulously depicted on the scroll: one of three rings decorating a staff, a crescent-shaped sword, and a rope wrapped in light.

“The Mountains and River drawing, open.”

Once the Supreme Monk activated the scroll, the image shimmered and became reality!

Pasasak.

The scroll was clearly a one time use item, as it disintegrated, however the Mountains and River Drawing that came into form was in pristine condition. 𝙗𝒆𝒅𝙣𝙤𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝙢

“There is no owner. Will you give it a try?”

“Yes,” Theo accepted without hesitation and picked up the staff with the three rings with his left hand. Gluttony scented the treasure and extended a tongue straight away.

[+17 Fleeing Dragon Staff (Treasured Object)]

[A sacred relic from ancient times, it controls the power of the mountains and rivers. The three rings symbolize the heavens and the earth. It can be used to supplement techniques, but its proper usage lies in throwing it at a target. Once thrown, the Fleeing Dragon Staff distorts the space around the target, sealing it off.

* The rating of the treasured object is Legend

* When used, the spatial coordinates around the target are sealed.

* When consumed, your ability in space magic will greatly increase.

* When absorbed, space magic understanding and aptitude will increase slightly.

* When absorbed, you can obtain clues about the space system.]

Hoh.

Theo had encountered several divine objects by now, but this staff clearly couldn’t be made in this era. If someone used this staff properly, they could disable a swordmaster with ease. A proper owner would also be able to amplify its sealing ability. The two other treasures were equally impressive. The Wugou Sword could cut off the head of a giant monster, and the Immortal Rope could tie up a sacred creature. They were treasures which exerted more power than a master if handled properly.

Even so, the Supreme Monk said reluctantly, “Huhu, it is my fault that I couldn’t preserve the Tashinpyeong or the Taegukdo. These objects could be compared to the three treasures of Japan...”

“Why are you blaming yourself? Just these items will be a great help. Thank you, Supreme Monk.”

The Supreme Monk smiled at Theo’s words and pointed. “But I can help you with one more thing. I will complete the work that you are preparing on that mountain. When it comes to barriers, I pride myself on being better than onmyōdōs.”

“... You saw through it with just one glance. I understand.” Theo smiled. The old monk had seen through his plan in a single glance.

It was something he was planning on using on the evil spirit. The combat ability of a magician increased in proportion with the time they had to prepare. Lust would regret giving him nearly a month to prepare.

***

The sun was just about to set. A day has passed since Theo had met with the Supreme Monk, received the three treasured objects, and had the gaps in his magic circle filled in. Theo felt his instincts stirring, the sign that the whole world was sinking into a deep sea, just before something terrible was going to happen.

... There isn’t much time left.

As light cast a shadow on the ground, a foreboding feeling started to rise in everyone’s hearts. They could feel an evil energy constantly flowing from Geongun Castle. All the wickedness in the heavens and the earth seemed to be drawn into an abyss in the ground. After preparing for battle, the party stood gazing in the direction of Geongun Castle. Their concentration was so extreme that they could see the trajectory of a lightning strike.

―Thump.

At that moment, everything in the area felt a single vibration.

T-This...

Theo recognized it before anyone else.

“This vibration… Surely, it isn’t?”

“It hasn’t even been born yet!”

As the party members froze in panic, Theo reacted immediately, “All members! Remember my instructions and take your positions!”

It had been a long time since masters had faced an enemy they couldn’t battle. Even with their full support and the strength of magic and shamanism, it was a mythical disaster that mere mortals simply couldn’t face.

Randolph Clovis, Kamiizumi Nobutsuna…

Miko Suzuka, Veronica, Titania, the dragons, and so on…

Shuten-doji, Daitengu, and the two monks…

Flash!

Theo left his eleven colleagues and climbed to the top of Hwang Mountain with a single space movement. He could clearly see Geongun Castle below him. Although it was difficult to see inside the castle due to the influence of the barrier, he could make out a few buildings. Given the distance and the situation, the enemy was bound to aim for Theo. Thus, Theo moved away from the party.

―Thump.

It was a heartbeat.

Theo was convinced that the next time he heard the heartbeat, it?would be born. His super sensitivity that reached the realm of foresight was sharper than ever, so Theo waited tensely as he got closer to the moment he didn’t want to arrive.

One second, another, and yet one more… Time flowed mercilessly. Then the moment arrived.

―Thump.

Beyond the wall of time and space, the sense of its existence was delivered to Theo’s body like a lightning bolt. A great demon that reigned in the sky had been born into this material world.

Wuooooong...!

It was at this moment that…

“Ha, so it was like I thought.” Theo glanced at the pattern on his right hand and felt power start to flow into him from somewhere. A source with no limitations; it was the strength of this material world itself.

“A force that can only be used if the enemy of the world appears.”

Theo couldn’t use it blindly. If he borrowed too much power, then this material world would be ruined. It was a fatal blow to the world that had lost a lot of mana because Sloth had been expelled. He dropped his right hand, which felt heavy, and looked at Geongun Castle.

“Dimensional Leave.”

The power of Umbra suddenly spread out from his body!

「Search with administrator authority. #Space coordinates # Theodore Miller.」

He invoked the search feature as he disappeared from this material world. Theo had entered the astral world with Umbra’s power. Thanks to that, Theo wasn’t caught in the search feature of this administrative authority. However, he caused this situation because he predicted the result.

[Object name “Theodore Miller” can’t be found.]

[Showing the spatial coordinates and names of the entities with a link to object name ‘Theodore Miller.’]

[Veronica, Aquilo, Sylvia Adruncus, Ellenoa, ■■.]

Theo focused on the final target. The information couldn’t be published completely, even with administrative authority. There was only one such monster in the world. The world couldn’t endure the endlessly pouring information.

[Heavenly demon, X-12745, Y-98329, Z-82712.]

Kiiing-

Simultaneously, Theo released Dimensional Leave. His body returned to the material world, and he raised both hands. From now on, he would be using summoning magic. It was an accomplishment beyond Satomer.

Normally, it would be too much for a new transcendent. However, now that my administrative authority has been activated, my magic can even break down dimensional boundaries.

Ordinary space magic wouldn’t be able to accomplish this, especially since the Geongun Castle’s ward was so simple that it was nearly unbreakable. It was unreasonable even if Theo used Orta’s technique. However, what if he reached the realm of dimensional magic? The ward was proven to block physical phenomenon from this material world, but it was relatively defenseless against interference from other dimensions.

「 Authorizing as the administrator. Opening the dimensional door, specifying coordinates―」

Theo had one key to another dimension.

[Dimension coordinates have been recognized. The key is activated.]

[CODE: L?vateinn]

[Correctly enter the space coordinates to open the door to the dimension called ‘Muspelheim.’]

Theo scoffed while enduring the stifling pressure of the world. The heavenly demon was just happy to be born while Lust caused this disaster. It was time to open fire, literally.

「 Door to Muspelheim, open!」

Exactly three seconds later, the inside of the ward surrounding Geongun Castle was lit by a pale light.