Chapter 5
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Episode 1 - Akáshic Library [5]
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The strong will to move forward led me to become truly strong.
I experienced the true meaning of the word "suffering" to reach the top of the organization. Even with all my effort, it was not easy at all.
At the same time, being the strongest and losing my emotions propelled me to the top in just two decades. Now, as I gazed at the summit, I could see where the monarch sat on the throne of the strongest.
In this world, strength depends on the number of circles reached. Even with talent, reaching the first circle seemed incredibly difficult. But I am no fool. If I had become the greatest and reached the top in my previous world, achieving the first circle here would not be impossible.
"This dwarf is even more talented."
Encrid seemed to admire me.
He could see the sheer determination that drove me to reach the first circle. Since entering the Akashic Library, I had demonstrated talent even greater than Encrid.
Encrid smiled. It had been thousands of years since I had seen someone so extraordinary, giving his all, even surpassing the talent of any being in this world.
Talent alone did not always lead to the top. He knew that all too well. Effort is sometimes the surest and quickest way to rise above the countless humans striving for the ultimate peak:
The king's seat on the throne.
The absolute summit that everyone seeks. I had already reached the top in my previous world. However, the life I gained there was the one I wanted the least.
So, I set out to reach the top again, in a world governed by different rules than the ones I knew.
'You're close to the first circle.
''Even so, the amount of mana required is equivalent to a ton of water.''
'However, you are even more talented than me. It's only been three days and you're already approaching the first circle. You're close, so keep going.'
Encrid had told me earlier.
'Once you reach the first circle, I will become pure energy. At that time, I will join you, appearing on your arm as a tattoo in the shape of a crescent moon. We will be able to communicate through your mind, as if I were still in this form.'
'Now then, once you become a first circle and I merge with you, this library will disappear and all its stored information will remain in your mind. All of my abilities and everything of mine is contained within this library. However, as a first circle, you will not be able to access anything in the Akashic Library'.
In simple terms, the information in the Akashic Library will gradually unlock as you progress through each circle.
'If you reach the ninth circle at some point, half of all the information will be unlocked. However, to access the other half, you would need to reach the tenth circle'.
In the Akashic Library were all of Encrid's abilities, the knowledge about this world and the secrets and legacies left behind by the Great Wizard of the Tenth Circle, Encrid.
Encrid had never planned to have a successor, but someone once told him:
'You need an heir for the future, Encrid. Even though we barely managed to win, it's not over yet. All seven said the same thing, the chances of an eighth appearing are not low. So, for the sake of this world, leave everything to your future heir.'
At that moment, Encrid had been naive. After all, he was about to die.
Still, he had never thought it would take ten thousand years to find a successor. In truth, he had never expected anyone to come to this library. Only someone who possessed the mana of darkness could enter.
"Hmm, looks like you're only a step away, dwarf."
"....."
I opened my eyes after a while. I looked around me, then at my body and finally at my wrist. That's when it hit me.
The semicircle that was once semi-transparent is now completely black, and in the center of the circle... there are ten golden stars.
A circle with ten golden stars had formed on my wrist.
This means that I have become a first circle, right?
For the first time, I felt genuine joy at achieving a goal. It was the first time I smiled at accomplishing something in this world.
I looked at the place where Encrid had been speaking moments before.
"I've finally arrived..."
At the same time, I looked fully at Encrid. He was a youthful looking man, about 25 years old, with black hair and violet eyes identical to the features of my new body. They could even be mistaken for siblings if it were true.
"That's your true form... I imagined it as that of an old man."
"You fucking bastard don't talk shit.... Ah... This is really amazing. You're already in the first circle and now you're officially a mage. Congratulations, you bastard."
"Well, it was no big deal. I was too slow anyway."
"That's not slow. No one has reached the first circle in three days and understood mana like you. Even nobles who have everything take a year to reach the first circle at the age of 15. The second circle is usually reached at the age of 20, depending on your talent."
"....."
I hadn't considered this, but Encrid was right. My talent was no coincidence. In my previous world, I reached the top in 20 years and became the monarch of the organization, inheriting it completely.
It was all thanks to my talent, even though I rarely put effort into completing any goal.
I clenched my fist.
"I really don't care if my growth speed is fast."
'However, you must be cautious. The aristocrats of this era, the royalty and, in general, all the nobles of this empire would find ways to kill you if they discovered your growth rate.'
'Remember this, Park Chan-woo: even if I am by your side, it is impossible for me to help you. My strength depends on the amount of mana you possess if I physically manifest myself'.
"Tch, I don't need anyone's help. I've always done everything on my own."
***
Somewhere on the continent.
The abyss known as the 'Akashic Abyss' disappeared without a trace. From its depths, I emerged to the surface, a moon-shaped tattoo was visible on my forearm.
After reaching the first circle, Encrid would become part of me. As long as I had enough mana, Encrid could manifest in his physical form, just as he had been inside the Akashic Library.
This is the outside world.
I looked around me.
Behind me was a huge forest with trees even taller than the buildings in my previous world. Every tree in this area was red.
This felt like hell itself.
I walked deeper into the forest.
'Normally, forests are filled with level 9 or 8 monsters.'
"Monsters..."
Monsters existed in this world, as I had learned from Encrid. I remained calm, letting it be known that I was aware of their existence.
I wasn't sure what would happen if Encrid discovered that my soul came from another world and I had taken over the body I was currently using. It would be illogical and would mean that I had stolen everything that rightfully belonged to the original owner of my new body.
Mentioning reincarnation could be incredibly dangerous.
"What levels are you talking about?"
"Don't you know the ranks of monsters?"
"....."
"Monsters are divided into ranks. Level 9 monsters are the weakest, while level 1 monsters are, simply put, a walking calamity."
I was not surprised.
Although monsters existed, I had expected it ever since I discovered mana. After all, I was in a completely different world where even magic was real, just like in fantasy tales.
"As it turns out... this world really sucks if you want to live in peace, huh?"
I laughed internally, but didn't show it externally.
"Now you should find a place to stay and get out of these woods. Lately, they've been throwing people into the Abyss or my library since they were 8 or 16, even teenagers and young adults around 20. All thanks to those damn slave traders."
Slave traders.
They were usually small groups or smaller organizations that traded money for humans. I had seen this countless times before I became the monarch, the endless deaths and suffering I had witnessed.
I had been helpless to do anything. If I had made any foolish move, the organization would have killed me instantly. That helplessness was one of the things that drove me to destroy the Night Triad.
I clenched my fists.
It was really infuriating to hear about it again, to see innocent people suffer for no reason.
I saw myself mirroring them, as I had endured the same suffering.
"Where exactly are these slave traders?"
'Are you a hero now, or just a jerk? I doubt they are ordinary slave traders anyway. Last time they dumped bodies, I felt someone from the second circle.'
"I don't care."
"....."
'See that path over there? I think that's the one the slave traders use. If you follow it, you might find where they hide.'
I quickly headed down that path.
Certainly, it was upsetting to save others, but it was equally maddening to watch them go through the same torment I had once endured.