Infinite Mage — Chapter 205: The eternal and immortal Ra (2)

Chapter 205: The eternal and immortal Ra (2)

And⁠ what did this‌‌ mean now?

From‍ Arabot to here‍‌ there was a barrier, and the‍ distance was immense.‌‍‌

No matter how good‌ Ikael’s sight was,‍⁠‍ the probability that he was observing‍⁠ this place was⁠‌ practically null.

“Do⁠ not be so‍⁠‌ disappointed. For angels,‌‍‌ seeing is not⁠⁠ the same as‍‌‌ for humans. There‍ are several ways‌ of seeing, and‍‌ among them, observing⁠ from above is‌‌ the ability to‍ see what you⁠ wish to see.‌ In short, if‍‍ they want to, they can see‍ anything.”

It⁠ was difficult to⁠ imagine.

According‍ to Peophe, it‍ was enough to⁠ want to see‌ something in order to see it.⁠⁠

Not even the monsters‌ from stories with a hundred eyes‌ had such an absurd ability.

“It‍⁠‌ is true. The‍⁠‌ reason Ikasa arrived‌‌ first when the⁠ Liquor of Anecdotes‍ was broken was because she was observing Shamayin. Well…⁠‍‌ I suppose that‍ is why she‌‌ is still a fallen angel, because of how petty‍ she is.”

Since⁠ the fallen angels‍ of the second⁠‌ heaven were below⁠⁠ even the fairies of the fourth‌‌ heaven, Peophe criticized⁠⁠ Ikasa without restraint.‍⁠

That‌ made it clear⁠‌ how far an⁠ angel who had⁠ committed a sin⁠ could fall.

“But⁠ if they can‌⁠⁠ see whatever they‌ want, that means‌ angels know everything,‌‍ right?”

“Not‌ necessarily. Deciding what‍‍ to see is‌⁠ not so easy.‌‌ Think about it.⁠ Even if you⁠‍ could observe from‌ above, would you‌⁠ be able to‍ cover the entire world?”

“No…‌ it would be‍‍ difficult.”

Shirone‍⁠‍ remembered when an‍ angel arrived at‍ the refuge of⁠⁠ Nor.

Gardrak‍ had said that,‌ if an angel⁠ wanted to, they‍ could find that‍ place, but that⁠ they would not.‍

“No one checks their‌⁠ fingerprints every day.”⁠

“Huh?‌ You knew that‌‌ story? That is⁠ exactly it. Anyway, if Lord Ikael‌ is observing this‍‌ place, he might‍‍ respond to my⁠‍ voice.”

Canis⁠ was not satisfied.⁠

By‌‌ nature, mages did‌ not like relying‍ on probabilities, but this was excessive.

“It‌ is an extremely‌⁠ small possibility. This‍‌ place could be‌ like one of‌‍ his fingerprints. And‍ even if he‌⁠ were observing us, there is no⁠ guarantee that he‍ will help us.”‌⁠

“There⁠‍ are no guarantees.‍⁠ I came to‍‍ give you at‍‍ least a small‍⁠ hope. Where we‍ are going, the‌ archangel Kariel awaits‍ us. Do you‌ understand what that‌‍ means? You have⁠‍ no chance of‌ winning.”

Shirone‍ faced reality.

If‍‍ the one who⁠‍ had his friends‌‌ was an archangel,⁠ they needed at‌⁠‌ least an ally‌ of the same‍⁠‍ level to have⁠‍ any chance of‌‌‍ escaping.

“All⁠ right. Let us⁠⁠ do it this‍‌ way. I will⁠‍ trust you.”

Peophe‌ clicked her tongue,‍‌ thinking that the‍ norians were too‌‌ distrustful.

Even‌⁠‍ so, she had‌‍ also decided to‍ help based on‍ a possibility.

Maybe‌ angels did not‌ check their fingerprints⁠ every day, but‌⁠ with Ikael who‍‍‌ knew.

She‌ had heard that‌ he was compassionate‌‌⁠ and that he‌ frequently observed the citizens.

“Then I will begin.⁠ When the communication‍ starts, do not‌ touch me under‌ any circumstances. I do not want‍ to commit a disrespect in front‌ of the archangel.”‌

Peophe‍ closed her eyes‍⁠ and concentrated her‌⁠ mind.

Her plea expanded forming⁠⁠ concentric circles.

Shirone⁠ waited anxiously.

But‍ even after five‌ minutes, there was‌‌ no change.

Was⁠‌ it impossible after‌‌ all?

More⁠‌ than the disappointment‍ of failure, what‍‌ terrified him was⁠‌‌ losing the hope‌‍‍ of rescuing his‍⁠ friends.

Just‍ when the group began to sink‌ into despair, Peophe’s⁠⁠ body trembled.

Shortly‍⁠‌ after, warm tears began to fall‍ from her closed⁠ eyes.

“Ah…⁠ Lord Ikael.”

Shirone‍ turned his head‌⁠‍ abruptly.

It‍‌ was evident that the communication had‌⁠ begun.

He‌ barely managed to‍‌ restrain himself from‌⁠ speaking, remembering Peophe’s warning.

Peophe and Ikael spoke‌‌ for quite a long time.

She‌‌ nodded repeatedly, and sometimes responded out‍ loud.

“Yes…⁠‌ I understand.”

Peophe kept her eyes‍⁠ closed with a smile.

Still‌‌‌ wrapped in emotion,‍ she suddenly opened‍‍ her eyes and⁠‌ began to move⁠ excitedly.

“Did⁠⁠ you hear it?‌ Did you hear‌⁠ it? He responded‍‍ to my call!‍ To my call!”‌

“Of course we did‍⁠ not hear it. What did he‌ say?”

“Ah…⁠‍ Lord Ikael… has⁠ observed me!”

Seeing‌‍ Peophe looking at‍ the sky with‍‍‍ eyes full of‌ tears, Shirone did⁠ not dare interrupt her.

He‌⁠⁠ waited for her‌ to calm down⁠⁠‌ before speaking.

“Then…‍ will he release‌ our friends?”

Peophe‌‍ came back to⁠‍ her senses.

She⁠ had been so‍ excited about speaking‍‍ with an archangel‍‍‌ that she forgot⁠ the most important‍‌ thing.

Her‍‍ expression became somewhat⁠ dim.

“No.⁠ He said that,‌ since he has‍ committed a sin,‌ he cannot leave⁠ his room even‌ a single step.”

“What?‌ Then… did we‍ fail?”

Peophe⁠ forced a smile.⁠

“But⁠‌ he said he‍ will help us.‌ We will be⁠ able to enter⁠‌‍ Arabot. Although there‌ is a condition…”⁠‌

She⁠ fell silent, looking‌‌‍ at the others.‍

Canis,‍ at the limit‍ of his patience,‌⁠ spoke bluntly.

“What‌ is it? We‌‌⁠ do not have‍ time, say it at once.”

“He‌⁠‍ said that he⁠ wants to see⁠ only the boy‍ named Shirone… alone.⁠ But… who is Shirone?”

Canis⁠⁠ and Rian looked‍⁠ toward Shirone.

Peophe‌‌ still did not‌⁠ know any of‌ their names.

They‌ knew that names‌⁠ were key to manipulating life expectancy,‌‌‌ so they had hidden them.

Seeing‌ their gazes directed⁠⁠‌ at a single‌ person, Peophe opened‍⁠‍ her eyes in⁠‍ surprise.

‘So‌ his name is Shirone.’

Until just now, Shirone‌⁠ had been for‌ her only an‌ accumulation of concepts.

Something‌ diffuse, like a mist impossible to⁠⁠ grasp.

But‍ now it was⁠‌ different.

Shirone.‍‌

At‌ the moment she‌‍ thought of that⁠‌ name, his actions,‌‌ thoughts, and emotions‍‌ integrated clearly in‍ her mind.

“Only⁠‍ Shirone? Is there‍‌ some special reason?”‌‌

“I‌ do not know.‍⁠ I wanted to‌ ask, but it‌ seemed that he⁠‍ did not want‌ to reveal it.”‍

Canis‌⁠ thought that, in a way, it‌⁠ was better like‍⁠ that.

To‌⁠ make use of‌ the little time⁠ they had, it‍⁠ was more efficient to split up‍ than to move‍ as a group.⁠

“Then⁠‌ Shirone will go‌ to see Ikael.‌‍ In any case,⁠‍ without his help⁠‍‍ we will not‍‍ be able to‍‌ escape.”

“And⁠ what will you‍‌ do?”

“We‍ will go to‍‍ Jebul. From the‌⁠⁠ seventh to the sixth heaven there is free passage.⁠ We will go‌‍ first to where Amy is. If necessary, we will‍ buy time.”

It‌ was the best‌ possible strategy in⁠ that situation.

Once‌ decided, Shirone looked‌⁠ at Peophe.

He⁠‍ wanted her to‌ take them to‌ Arabot.

But Peophe did not⁠⁠ know how either.‌⁠

Just‍‌‍ when, nervously, she‍⁠ tried to think⁠⁠ of an excuse.‍⁠

Light‍‍‍ began to envelop‍ them.

Peophe‍ clasped her hands,‍‌ excited.

“Ah…‌‍ Lord Ikael.”

An⁠‍ immense light enveloped⁠⁠ Shirone’s group.

The⁠ light was absorbed‍ into a point‌ and disappeared.

In⁠‌‍ the place where⁠ they were, nothing‌ remained.

***‌

The seventh heaven, Arabot.

Shirone looked around with‌ a trembling heart.‍⁠

He‌⁠⁠ had reached the‌ most sacred place‍ in heaven.

The‍ top of the‍‌ tower was hidden‌‍ among the clouds.‍‍⁠

Peophe‌ said that at⁠ the very top resided Ange Ra.

Even‌ her voice trembled‍‌‍ as she explained‌ it.

“Reaching⁠‍ the place where⁠‍ the throne of‌⁠ God is… is‍⁠ the most glorious‍ day of my⁠ life.”

“Even⁠‍ so, you have‌ only lived for‍ one year.”

Peophe shot Canis a sharp glare.

“It‌‌‍ does not matter‌ whether it is‌‍‌ one year or‌ one hundred. Age⁠⁠ has nothing to⁠ do with it.‍ This is not‍ a place you⁠ can come to‍ just because you‌ have lived a long time.”

“But‍‌‍ for it to⁠‍ be like this,‌ is it not‌‍ too quiet? You⁠‍ say God lives‌‍⁠ here, but there‍ are not even‌⁠‌ any guards.”

“Huh?‍‍‍ What do you‌‌ mean?”

“That‍ no one is‍‍ protecting the place‌‍⁠ where God lives.”‌

Peophe⁠ suddenly stopped and⁠‌ looked at Canis with a stunned⁠‌ expression.

As‌‍ if she had‌‌ just heard that⁠‍‌ one plus one‍‍‍ was a window.‌⁠

“Are⁠‍‌ you serious? Ra is the one⁠⁠ who protects us! How are we‌ supposed to protect God?”

Shirone‌ finally understood and⁠ nodded.

“Ah…‍ I see.”

Ra⁠ was not a king like those⁠ of the human‍‍ world.

If‌‌ he was an‌⁠ absolute being at‌⁠ the level of the universe, having‌ someone protect him⁠ would even be‌‍ an offense against⁠ his divinity.

Upon⁠⁠‍ arriving at the‌ tower of Arabot,‌‍‍ Shirone’s group prepared‌‍ to separate according‌‌‍ to their respective‌ missions.

Ikael wanted to meet‌⁠‌ with Shirone alone.⁠

And‌‍ since they needed‌ the help of‍⁠ an archangel to‌ recover Amy and the others, Rian‍‌ and Canis raised‌ no objections.

Peophe,⁠ whose mission was⁠‌ to guide Shirone‍ to Ikael’s room,‌ transmitted to Canis‌⁠ and Rian the⁠ memories she had⁠ received from Igirin.‌‌

An‍ approximate map of Jebul was imprinted‍ in their minds.

“The⁠‍ girls are probably‌ in the Great Sanctuary of the⁠ East, at the‍ eastern end. That‌ is where Lord‍⁠ Kariel resides.”

Canis‌⁠ traced the location‌ in his mind.⁠‌

Even‍ using teleportation, it‍⁠ was a considerable⁠‍ distance.

But⁠ the real problem⁠⁠ was not the⁠‍ distance.

“The‍ important thing is⁠ that not just‌ anyone can enter⁠‌⁠ the Great Sanctuary.⁠‍‍ It is a place that controls⁠ the movement of‍ the world, so‍‍ it is protected‌‍‍ with the highest⁠‌ level of security.”⁠⁠

“Security?‍‍⁠ Do you mean‍ obstacles?”

“If it were only‍ that, it would‌ be simple. In‍ short… the Great⁠⁠ Sanctuary is not‌ even in Jebul.”⁠

“Stop‌ speaking in riddles‌‌ and explain it‍ properly.”

“There⁠‌‌ is technology from‌‍ the meca system‍ that can alter‍⁠ the information of⁠ a space. In⁠⁠ other words, it‍ was sent to⁠‌ another dimension. To‌ enter the Great‌ Sanctuary, we must⁠ first deactivate the meca system.”

“And‍‍‍ how do we deactivate it?”

“If‍ you look at‌⁠ the map of‍ Jebul, there is a portal that‌‌‍ leads to Ingris.⁠‍‍ It is the⁠ place that controls all the information⁠ of heaven. We‍⁠ can probably deactivate‌ the meca system‍ from there.”

“Ingris?”‍⁠

It was a place‍‌ Shirone had heard⁠‌ of before, when⁠ he made a contract with Chief Kergo.

Kadum had asked him‍‌ to transmit his will in Ingris,‌ but at that‍‍ time he did‌ not give it‍ importance.

He‌ had not received⁠‌‍ anything, so he⁠ had no obligation‌ to fulfill it.‌

Seeing‌‌‌ how things had turned out, he‍‌ thought it had‌‍ been a good‍ decision to reject‍ his hospitality.

But‍⁠ for Canis, Ingris⁠‍⁠ had a special‌‌ meaning.

It‍‍ was the reason‍‌ he had come‍ to heaven even‍⁠‌ abandoning the Metagate.‌

And‌ the place where‌‌⁠ it was believed‌ that Arcane had⁠ obtained the knowledge to become a great mage.

While‌ analyzing his master’s notes, Canis focused⁠⁠‍ on mythology.

If⁠⁠‌ heaven had influenced‌ humanity for a long time, its records would not‍‍ be in history,⁠⁠ but in myths.

Thus he discovered that‍ there was a place that appeared‍ in different mythologies.

That⁠ place was Ingris.‍⁠‍

The‌‌ temple of knowledge⁠ where all the‌ secrets of the‍ world were recorded.⁠

“I‍ will take care⁠ of that. While⁠ Rian goes to the Great Sanctuary,‌⁠‍ I will deactivate the meca system.‍⁠ That way we⁠‌⁠ will gain some time.”

It‍⁠‌ sounded like “buying‍ time,” but in‍‍ reality it meant‌ throwing themselves directly‍‌ into danger.

However,⁠⁠⁠ Rian thought that was precisely what‍⁠ he could do‍ best.

“Alright.⁠ We will go‍ to Jebul. Shirone,‍⁠ you make sure‌⁠ to find a way.”

“Yes.‌‌ Be careful. I will go as‌⁠ fast as possible.”‍‌⁠

Without‍‌‍ even being able⁠ to watch them‍ leave, Shirone entered⁠ the tower.

The‌‌‌ interior was vast⁠ and without pillars.‌⁠

The‌ floor looked like⁠ glass, clean, without⁠ a single speck‍ of dust.

Peophe,⁠ guided by Igirin’s‌ memories, led Shirone‍‌ toward a corner‍ of the tower.‌‍⁠

“Huh? Why is there⁠ nothing?”

According‍ to her memories,⁠ there should have⁠ been an elevator‍‌ in that place.⁠⁠

But‌ there was no⁠‌‍ visible device.

At‍‍ that moment, a light emerged from‍⁠‌ a crack in‍⁠ the floor.

A blinding flash illuminated‍‌ everything.

When⁠ Shirone looked again,‌‍ the scenery had‍ changed.

Now‍‌ he was in‍‌ a place where‍‍ corridors extended like‌ the spine of‍‍ a fish.

Every‍‍ ten meters, paths⁠‌ opened on both‍‌⁠ sides.

At‍ the end of‌ the corridor, there⁠ was a golden‍⁠‌ iron door.

Peophe‍‌ stopped in front‍ of it and‌⁠ looked at Shirone.‌

“From‌⁠ here on is⁠ Lord Ikael’s territory.‍‌⁠ As I promised,‌‌ I cannot enter.‌ Angels can communicate⁠‌ with any being,‍⁠ so you will‌‌ not need me.⁠‌ Just in case,‍ I will also⁠ send you the‌‌‌ map of Jebul.”‍‍