Episode 5
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The strong will to move forward leads the weak to become truly strong.
Park Chan-woo experienced the true meaning of the word "suffering" to reach the top of the organization. Even with his efforts, it was far from easy.
At the same time, being the strongest and losing his emotions propelled him to the peak in just two decades. Park Chan-woo gazed at the summit, where the monarch sits on the throne of the strongest.
In this world, strength depends on the number of circles achieved. Even with talent, reaching the first circle seemed incredibly difficult. But Park Chan-woo wasn't a fool. If he had become the greatest and reached the top in his previous world, achieving the first circle here wouldn't be impossible.
'This dwarf is even more talented.'
Encrid admired Park Chan-woo.
He could see the pure determination driving him to reach the first circle. Since entering the Akashic Library, Park Chan-woo had displayed talent even greater than Encrid's.
Encrid smiled. It had been thousands of years since he had seen anyone so remarkable, giving their all, even surpassing the talent of any being in this world.
Talent alone doesn't always lead to the top. Park Chan-woo knew that. Effort is sometimes the safest 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. Park Chan-woo had reached the top in his previous world. However, the life he gained there was the one he least desired.
So, he aimed to rise to the peak again, in a world governed by rules different from his own.
"You're close to the first circle."
"Even so, the amount of mana required is equivalent to a ton of water."
"However, you're even more talented than I am. It's only been three days, and you're already nearing the first circle. You're close, so keep going,"
Encrid had said earlier.
'Once you reach the first circle, I will turn into pure energy. At that moment, I will attach myself to you, appearing on your arm as a tattoo shaped like a crescent moon. We'll 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 my abilities and everything of mine is contained within this library. However, as a first circle, you won't be able to access anything from the Akashic Library.'
In simple terms, the information in the Akashic Library would gradually unlock as Park Chan-woo advanced 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.'
Within the Akashic Library lay all of Encrid's abilities, knowledge about this world, and the secrets and legacies left behind by the Great Mage of the Tenth Circle himself Encrid.
Encrid had never anticipated having 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. The seven of them 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 the time, Encrid had been naive. After all, he was about to die.
Even so, he had never thought it would take ten thousand years to find a successor. In truth, he never actually expected anyone to reach this library. Only someone possessing the mana of darkness could enter.
"Hmm, it seems you're just one step away, dwarf."
"....."
Park Chan-woo opened his eyes after some time. He looked around, then at his body, and finally at his wrist. It was then that he noticed:
'The semi-circle that was previously 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 Park Chan-woo's wrist.
'This means I've become a first circle, right?'
For the first time, Park Chan-woo felt genuine joy over achieving a goal. It was the first time he had smiled at accomplishing something in this world.
Park Chan-woo looked at the spot where Encrid had been speaking moments before.
"I've finally reached..."
At the same time, Park Chan-woo looked completely at Encrid. He was a man with a youthful appearance, about 25 years old, with black hair and violet eyes identical to the features of Park Chan-woo's new body. They could even be mistaken for brothers if it were true.
"That's your true form... I imagined it to be like that of an old man."
"You rude bastard... This is truly surprising. You're already in the first circle and are now officially a mage. Congratulations, you bastard."
"Well, it wasn't a big deal. I was still too slow anyway."
"That's not slow. No one has reached the first circle in three days and comprehended 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 by the age of 20, depending on their talent."
"....."
Park Chan-woo hadn't considered this, but Encrid was right. Park Chan-woo's talent was no coincidence. In his previous world, he reached the top in 20 years and became the monarch of the organization, fully inheriting it.
It was all thanks to his talent, though he rarely put effort into completing any objective.
Park Chan-woo clenched his 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's impossible for me to help you. My strength depends on the amount of mana you possess if I manifest physically."
"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' vanished without a trace. From its depths, Park Chan-woo emerged to the surface, a tattoo in the shape of a moon visible on his forearm.
After reaching the first circle, Encrid would become part of Park Chan-woo. As long as Park Chan-woo had enough mana, Encrid could manifest in his physical form, just as he had been within the Akashic Library.
'This is the outside world.'
Park Chan-woo looked around.
Behind him lay an enormous forest with trees even taller than the buildings of his previous world. Every single tree in this area was red.
'This feels like hell itself.'
Park Chan-woo ventured into the forest.
'Normally, forests are filled with level 9 or 8 monsters.'
"Monsters..."
Monsters existed in this world, as Park Chan-woo had learned from Encrid. He stayed calm, letting it be known that he was aware of their existence.
Park Chan-woo wasn't sure what would happen if Encrid discovered that his soul came from another world and had taken over the body he was currently using. It would be illogical and would mean he had stolen everything that rightfully belonged to the original owner of his new body.
Mentioning reincarnation could be incredibly dangerous.
"What are these levels you're talking about?"
'Don't you know the ranks of monsters?'
"....."
'Monsters are divided into ranks. Level 9 monsters are the weakest, while level 1 is, in simple terms, a walking calamity.'
Park Chan-woo wasn't surprised.
Even though monsters existed, he had expected it ever since he discovered mana. After all, he was in a completely different world where even magic was real just like in fantasy tales.
"As a result... this world really sucks if you want to live peacefully, huh?"
Park Chan-woo laughed internally but didn't show it outwardly.
'Now you should find a place to stay and get out of this forest. Lately, they've been throwing people into the Abyss or my library people as young as 8 or 16 years old, even teenagers and young adults around 20. All thanks to those damn slave traders.'
Slave traders.
Typically, they were small groups or minor organizations that exchanged money for humans. Park Chan-woo had seen this countless times before becoming the monarch the endless deaths and suffering he had witnessed.
Park Chan-woo hadn't been able to do anything. If he made any foolish move, the organization would have killed him instantly. That helplessness was one of the things that led him to destroy the Triad of the Night.
Park Chan-woo clenched his fists.
It was truly infuriating to hear about this again, to see innocent people suffer for no reason.
He saw himself reflected in them, as he had endured the same suffering.
"Exactly where are these slave traders?"
'Are you a hero now, or just an idiot? I doubt they're ordinary slave traders. The last time they dumped bodies, I sensed 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're hiding.'
Park Chan-woo quickly headed down that path.
It was certainly annoying to save others, but it was equally maddening to see them go through the same torment that Park Chan-woo had once endured.