Translator: Alpha0210
Residue took in the sight of the King's Castle, considered the time remaining, and looked at the Negotiator once more. Upon closer inspection, it wasn't just the way he spoke that had changed. Like last time, he had dressed himself in proper clothing, and his build had become somewhat more average. The lanky, beanpole-like impression had definitely faded. Judging by appearance alone, one might say he had undergone a dramatic evolution from savage to civilized man.
Of course, that impression only held when judging by appearance.
That hideous face he no longer even wanted to describe, the rough, boil-covered skin, the unkempt nails jutting out in every direction... no matter how well he dressed, a clean impression was impossible. If anything, it was revolting, like looking at a monster wearing a suit of human skin.
In truth, even if Residue encountered an actual monster like that, he wouldn't be particularly revolted, so this creature's aura was, in a sense, truly innate.
"Negotiation."
Residue let the word sit on his tongue.
"......Negotiation."
He deliberately let it sit there once more.
What kind of deal had this thing brought last time? Thinking it over, he realized he hadn't properly heard the details of the offer back then. The Residue here might be "Lukas", and the Lukas over there might be "Residue"...... Something along those lines had been suggested, and that was where it ended.
An interesting story, but that was all.
None of it had been enough to shock Residue in any meaningful way. The Negotiator had seemed more flustered by Residue's composure than anything, which killed the mood, and he'd been chased off just like that.
"Interesting."
Residue said this while looking at the Negotiator.
The creature flared his nostrils and grinned again.
"Yes. Interesting, isn't it? Once you hear what I have to say, it'll get even more interesting."
What to do.
Residue closed his eyes, mulling it over, but the conclusion came surprisingly fast.
"Speak."
Setting aside whether to accept or reject, he was curious about the bargaining chip this thing had brought.
The Negotiator deepened his smile, as if he had expected exactly this.
"But you've been planning something interesting yourself, haven't you? The Greatest Summit...... To think you'd conceive of gathering all the powerhouses of the Integrated World in one place."
He said that much, then tilted his head once before giving it a slight shake.
"No. I suppose anyone could have had the idea. But you actually went through with it. That's tremendous drive."
"Flattery isn't your bargaining chip, I trust?"
"Ho, ho, ho. Of course not."
That choppy laugh of his remained unchanged, it seemed, even as his eloquence improved.
"Not long ago, you dealt with a key figure among the first wave of Destruction, the ones you call 'Hides'."
"You mean the Twelve Void Lords?"
"Yes."
"Who knows. There might still be a few more lurking around."
"Ho, ho, ho. True. They probably haven't all vanished entirely. But believe it or not, the remaining Hides won't pose much of a threat anymore. In other words, you have effectively and successfully held off the First Wave. Truly impressive."
Whether he was sincere, whether it was even true, who could say.
The Negotiator offered an awkward round of applause. Perhaps it was because of those fingers that looked like bones with skin stretched over them. His clapping was every bit as unpleasant as his laugh. Clap, clap, clap.......
"I don't think that's something I need your gratitude for. And your preamble's dragging on. I asked about your bargaining chip."
"This ties directly into it. Residue. You will likely be the one steering the mood at that summit. Since you personally organized it."
Well......
The summit wouldn't be easy enough for the organizer to take the reins simply by virtue of being the host. The caliber of the attendees alone made that clear.
Residue didn't bother stating the obvious and gestured with his chin.
"And?"
"......I will give you the right to select five."
"What?"
"The Second Wave...... The force that could be called the second Destruction consists, as I forewarned, of only five."
"I already know that."
"Indeed. In any case, your side must also play by our rules. Since we've put forward five, your side must put forward five as well."
The Negotiator rattled this off as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I will give you the right to choose those five."
Pop-pop.
"Is this your bargaining material?"
"No. That's just a gift. The real terms of the deal start now. Residue. Why not fill those five slots with the individuals I name?"
An absurd suggestion.
But what followed was even more shocking.
"If you accept... I will tell you about every Destruction to come."
"Every Destruction?"
"Yes. The characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, and strategies for the third, fourth, and fifth Destructions."
"......"
Residue faltered.
And for a long time, he stared into the eyeless face of the monster.
"...Hmmm."
His gaze slowly drifted away from the Negotiator, settling on the King's Castle.
Naturally, the twenty minutes had long since passed.
And... it would probably take a bit more time.
***
Inside the King's Castle, there was no sign of anyone.
"They really ought to clean this place up. You can't even tell inside from outside."
Sedi grumbled in a low voice. Indeed, sand was scattered across the carpeted corridors, crunching softly underfoot with every step.
"Fair enough. I'll agree with that."
Futurix, walking at the front, said as much.
"Once this matter is settled, I'll have the interior cleaned."
The latter part was murmured more quietly.
Whether Sedi heard it or not, she let out a derisive snort, her face twisted in its signature scowl.
Click.
Agolet, bringing up the rear, planted his gaze on the backs of those walking ahead as if marking each one, then slowly surveyed the interior of the King's Castle.
The residence of the Void King, the heart of the World of Void, the barren Royal Capital.
It was a strange feeling. He had never thought he would come back here. No, before that, he had never imagined there would be any reason to go outside in the first place.
Desolate corridors, crumbling walls, a ceiling that looked ready to collapse at any moment. Taking in the scenery, which deserved to be called an Ancient Castle rather than a King's Castle, Agolet let his mind drift back to older memories.
The destruction of the Great Universe, uncontrollable desire, the dull voice that whispered from time to time, the realization that it too was part of himself, entry into the World of Void, the moment he became the White Knight of Conquest, the face of the Former King, the decisive circumstances that led to his seclusion, the pastoral life that was the longest yet left nothing worth recalling...... And the visitor who appeared abruptly in his twilight years.
Had he nodded at the proposal because he found an irresistible charm in the man's words?
Or had he simply been waiting for an excuse?
If it was the latter, he might find himself a little disgusted.
"This is the place."
Futurix said curtly.
A massive door came into view.
Sedi and Beniang, who had attended once before, thought it was the same venue where the Twelve Void Lords' summit had been held last time.
"I don't think this is a place for me."
Michael said.
"The presences inside are extraordinary. I've grown stronger based on Residue's guidance, but I'm far from being able to contend with the ones in there."
"Come in with us anyway, Michael. Not everyone beyond that door is an opponent you can't handle."
Despite Beniang's words, Michael still looked reluctant, but he nodded in the end.
Futurix pushed open the massive door. It swung open with a sound surprisingly gentle for its size, and Agolet saw the scene within.
First, the Void Lords were visible, and the first to catch his eye was the Executor. Sensing the multiple presences, the Executor looked their way, scanning each member of the group one by one until those eyes finally landed on Agolet.
"......"
So you actually came.
That was what the face said. It seemed the Executor still couldn't believe Agolet had come out of seclusion.
Beside the Executor, the Void Lords sat in a row.
Maesanggeom, Sigui, Deathworm...... Those were the only Void Lords in the room. Futurix felt a quiet pang. Even counting himself and the 0th Demon, that made only six. Which meant only six of the twelve Void Lords who had once reigned over the World of Void had survived.
A short distance away sat another group.
Futurix realized they were the proxies of the Void Lords.
First, there was Golden Eye's proxy, "Optic Nerve", and God Eater's proxy, the "Son of Eden". There was also a woman whose aura resembled that of the Sinking One, and a blond young man who appeared to be a mage.
Beyond them, various others were scattered throughout the space, gathered in clusters large and small or standing alone. There was little in common among those who kept apart, but one thing was certain: every single one of them was powerful enough to debate the fate of the world.
Had the Half-King not arrived yet?
"So you really did crawl out."
The moment that snickering laugh reached her ears, Sedi's head snapped toward the far end of the chamber. There sat the Blue Knight, Pale, behind a comparatively small stone table. Beside her was the Black Knight, Lucid, and... the Red Knight was nowhere to be seen.
Was that the reserved section for the Four Knights? Perhaps, perhaps not. On Pale's lap sat a girl, stiff as a board. She looked almost like a doll. Her rigid expression and near-complete stillness made the resemblance especially striking.
Beniang let out a low hum. She recognized the face.
The girl who had vanished with Pale from the Apex Universe: Luca Trowman.
"Is that the one?"
"Yes."
"...Hmm."
Sedi's crimson eyes turned toward Luca. Luca looked half out of her mind, unable to even notice the piercing stare boring into her.
Sedi snorted, then padded over and sat down beside Deathworm. From there, she shot occasional glances at Luca, her expression flat. By coincidence, Deathworm's gaze was also fixed on Pale, so the two of them, seated side by side, ended up staring in exactly the same direction.
Futurix then took a seat among the Void Lords, and Beniang hesitated briefly before heading toward the group of Void Lord proxies. She was, after all, also the Beast Tamer. Michael made his way to where the Apex Universe's Absolutes had gathered, and...
The last one remaining was Agolet.
The White Knight's entrance had instantly drawn every eye in the room. And not simply because of his striking appearance or the Sacred Light draped over his armor.
Agolet walked forward as though oblivious to every gaze upon him. Even a simple stride carried an air of dignity and restraint.
Agolet took a seat across from Pale.
Pale smiled and spoke.
"How's the fresh air after all this time?"
Those eyes were directed this way.
Which meant the first remark, too, had been aimed at Agolet.
Agolet straightened his posture and regarded Pale. What was the intent? Mockery? Or genuine curiosity about how he'd been? Unlikely. Agolet smiled gently.
"Same as I remember."
"Hm?"
"Meaning there wasn't much to it."
"Ah."
Pale nodded, then suddenly rested her chin on top of Luca's head. The girl in her arms stiffened even further.
"So where's that guy, and why'd you come alone?"
"That guy?"
"Scrap, was it? Vermin? Something like that. You know who I mean."
Residue.
"...You're referring to His Majesty."
"His Majesty?"
This time it was Pale who echoed back.
And then she spoke as though she'd heard something she shouldn't have.
"His Majesty? Don't tell me you've decided to serve that thing as your king? Ah, ahaha......"
As if she'd heard a joke too good to contain, her shoulders shook with laughter. When Pale burst into ringing peals of it, the eyes of everyone present turned their way.
Some with curiosity, some with fear, some with fascination.
"......"
The convergence of attention. Exposure.
Residue felt the sensation of his own existence being laid bare, and quietly closed his eyes.
Walking through the King's Castle. He hadn't realized it at the time, but he must have been riding a fairly pleasant mood. He hadn't been able to smile while reminiscing about the past, but he had been able to face it with relative composure. It was a refreshing feeling.
But now?
That passably good mood had plummeted straight into the abyss. A foulness like being submerged head to toe in muddy water. The gazes creeping across his skin, crawling and insidious, felt like the squirming of insects.
"Listen, Agolet. You did screw me over last time, but I don't hold a big grudge against you yet, so here's a piece of advice. Snap out of it already, you dumb bastard. That thing isn't fit to be king. From birth, it's vermin-class."
Pale's lips twisted.
"If there's anything in this world more revolting, wouldn't it be vermin that don't know their place? Seems like it deluded itself into thinking it could stop Destruction and blew this whole thing up to this scale, but let me say one thing for certain. That bastard can't stop anything. I'm telling you, it can't. It never had the caliber for it."
"Then who does possess such caliber?"
Pale faltered for a moment, then spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.
"...The original owner of that body."
Her blue eyes turned opaque, as if gazing into the past.
"The role of savior was meant for him and him alone."
"Ah."
This time it was Agolet who smiled.
"You mean that deserter?"
Pale's expression hardened.
"Or perhaps it would be more accurate to call him the supreme commander of Destruction. Our Great Enemy."
"......"
"You're the one deluding yourself. Look at reality. The man you followed so devotedly, Lukas Trowman, fled. Whatever circumstances lay behind it, that is the truth. And whether it's his mission, his convictions, his will, or simply his body, the one who has inherited it all and is fighting right now is His Majesty. Do you understand?"
......This was bad.
The first to feel it, and the one who felt it most acutely, was Luca, still held in Pale's arms. Though she was too shrunken to utter a single word, cold sweat had been trickling down, leaving her forehead slick.
Over the past few days spent together, she had come to understand just how much the Blue Knight Pale adored Lukas. And why she despised Residue. It wasn't that they'd had any heartfelt conversations; rather, Pale had been monologuing in her presence, and she had simply listened the entire time.
From that perspective, Agolet's words had struck Pale's deepest nerve with devastating precision.
And Pale was not acquainted with the word patience.
Pale reached for her sword hilt. Agolet was still wearing that easygoing smile, but he seemed ready to counter at any moment.
'N-no, no no.'
Luca let out a soundless scream.
Somebody help. Stop them, now.
Her desperate gaze fell on the man sitting nearby: the Black Knight.
But that stoic man, whatever thoughts occupied his mind, stared off into the distance without so much as twitching.
He looked less like a person and more like a stone statue.
'Hyung, where are you, what are you doing!'
In the end, Luca sought the one person she trusted and relied on most.
Someone had to stop this.
At this rate, forget the summit... this place was about to become a battlefield.
"Kahahaha......"
Just then, a familiar laugh rang out.
Luca's face lit up instantly. As far as she knew, there was only one person in existence with such an infuriatingly smug laugh.
"Hyung! Huh......?"
Forgetting Pale's presence entirely, she raised her voice for the first time in days.
But bewilderment flickered across her face almost immediately.
The figure that appeared was not the one she had been hoping for.
A frame twice the size of an ordinary person, a top that barely covered anything, and an aura that, for some reason, called to mind a raging storm.
"It certainly seems your lot's relationships are just as much of a mess as ours. No, perhaps even worse? What's your take, Demon King?"
"...Not interested."
Radiating an overwhelming pressure, two figures strode in from beyond the doorway. Their sheer presence seized every gaze in the room.
'Oh no......'
Belatedly, Luca realized who they were.
......The mightiest beings in the Three Thousand Worlds. The arrival of the Rulers.
The situation was careening in a direction beyond anyone's control, and yet the organizer was still nowhere to be seen.
*****
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