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Infinite Mage Chapter 207: The truth of heaven (1)

Chapter 207: The truth of heaven (1)

Ymir⁠⁠ understood that the⁠⁠​ time granted to⁠‌‍ him had ended.‍⁠

As⁠ he slowly turned,⁠ an indescribable indignation⁠ and anger were‍⁠​ etched into his‍⁠ eyes.

If‍ Ra said so,‍​ then so it‌‍ was.

But‌‍ his instinct told‌ him otherwise. He⁠​ was not perceiving⁠​ the truth that‌ Ra was hiding.​

‘I​​ will have to​‌ confirm it with‌​ my own eyes.’​

Ymir‍ headed toward Jebul,​ the city of‍‌‍ the angels.

***​

Upon​⁠‌ entering Ikael’s room,‍‌ Shirone looked around.‌​

It‌​ was different from‍ what he had​​⁠ imagined. The scene,​‌ with a table,‍​ chairs, a bed,‍ and even a carpet, was no⁠ different from a place where a human would live.‍​⁠

Even‌⁠ so, it did​ not feel human.‍​‍

All⁠⁠‌ the objects were‍​ imbued with sunlight.⁠ As if isolated​‍ from the passage​‌⁠ of time, they‍‍ did not have‌​ the slightest flaw.⁠‌‌

The‍ sensation of contemplating⁠‌ absolutely perfect objects​ was truly strange.‍​‌

It‌‌⁠ was a refinement‌‌ impossible to perceive‍⁠‍ with human eyes.​

But‌​⁠ anyone who was‌‍ in that place​‌ would feel a purity close to​‍⁠ perfection.

Shirone​⁠ took a spoon​‍ from the table⁠‍ and reflected his‍ face in it.‍‌

As‌‌‌ expected, it was‌⁠​ disturbingly clean for⁠‌ being a human⁠ creation. It gave‍ him the impression⁠⁠ that this must​‌ be what in⁠‍​ the human world⁠​‍ is called a sacred object.

‘Ah,​⁠⁠ right…’

The‍ most important one,​ Ikael, was nowhere‌ to be seen.‌ Peophe had clearly⁠‌ said that she⁠‌​ could not leave.‍

Had​ they been deceived?‌​‍

An‍‌‍ uneasy thought crossed​ Shirone’s mind, and⁠ he began to⁠‌ wander the room‍‌ aimlessly. As expected,⁠‌ there was no‌‌ one. Everything was‍​‍ immaculate. It was​​ a perfection close​‍ to terror.

Suddenly,⁠⁠‌ a beautiful melody‌‌‌ resonated in his​‌ ears. Shirone stopped‌⁠ and looked toward‌‍ a window five​⁠ meters high.

A clear sound, like‍‌ that of a harp, came from‍⁠ there.

The​ vibration of an⁠ angel.

As‌​ if enchanted, he​​⁠ approached the window.‍

The‌ sunlight entering through​ it began to​​‍ collide with a form.

When⁠ he came back⁠⁠ to his senses,‌‌ a woman was‍​⁠ sitting on the​‌ edge of the​⁠ window, looking outside.‌

It​ was a face‍‌ of a beauty‌⁠‌ that no painter‌‌‌ could reproduce.

Shirone​‍‌ confirmed that above⁠ her head floated​‍‍ a halo of‌ light. Compared to⁠‍ that of the⁠ fallen angel Ikasa,‍‌ it was incomparably​​⁠ brighter and warmer.⁠

When⁠⁠ her figure was⁠‌​ fully revealed, wings‌ of light sprouted⁠​ from her back.​⁠​ The enormous wings‍‍ spread out filled⁠​ Shirone’s sight with‍‌ a strange satisfaction.⁠⁠

“Welcome,⁠​ Shirone.”

Shirone‍​ knew it with‍‌ certainty.

She‌ was the archangel‌‌⁠ Ikael.

The‍‍‌ first entity of​‍​ causality. The symbol​⁠​ of the nobility⁠ that God valued‌​ most. A being‍‍⁠ like that stood‌​ before him.

Ikael⁠ descended softly to​ the ground.

Her‌ height, over two‌ meters, was imposing,‌​⁠ but it did‌‍ not hide the⁠‍ warmth she radiated.‍

It‌​⁠ was a feeling‌ difficult to describe.⁠ Even calling her⁠‍‍ beautiful seemed disrespectful.‍​⁠

Was‌​ this what goodness‌‌ would be like‌‌ when it takes⁠​ form? If in⁠‍ the space-time of​‌​ the labyrinth he‌​ had understood jin,⁠ then Ikael was‌ the embodiment of⁠ good.

Despite⁠​‌ her mature appearance,‌ Ikael showed a playful expression as⁠⁠ she looked around​‌‍ for a place‍ to sit.

But⁠​‌ finding no suitable⁠ place, she simply⁠ dropped down onto⁠ the floor.

Shirone​‍‌ looked in confusion‌‌ as Ikael’s skirt⁠‌ slowly settled as‍⁠‍ she sat. Then,‌ delicately bringing her⁠​ calves together, Ikael⁠ tapped the floor‌‍​ and gestured for⁠⁠‍ him to come.​​

“Come,​ sit here.”

Feeling‍ an irresistible pull,‌ Shirone approached until​‍ he was right‌‍ next to her.⁠‌‍

They‍ were so close⁠⁠​ that their bodies‌‌ almost touched.

Perhaps‌ she had chosen‌‍⁠ to sit on‌ the floor because​ she wanted to​ observe him from‍ the closest possible​‌ distance.

Just‍ as expected, Ikael⁠ brought her face⁠ closer. Her lips⁠ curved slightly as‍ she stared at‌ him.

When‌​ Shirone lowered his‍ gaze, unable to‌​‍ hide his embarrassment,‍‍​ she finally spoke.‌‌

“I‍‍⁠ wanted to meet​​​ you, Shirone.”

“Huh?⁠ You know me?”⁠​

Ikael​​ scratched her eyebrow‌ with a somewhat‌ uncomfortable expression.

Her⁠​ behavior was very‌⁠ human. Even compared‍​​ to the arrogant‌‍ fallen angel Ikasa,​ it was striking.‌​

“Knowing⁠‍ or not knowing⁠⁠‌ is not what‌‍⁠ matters. What matters‍⁠​ is how much⁠‌ you know. But‍ as you know,​​‍ that is not‍​ something that can⁠‌ be explained with‍⁠‌ words.”

Shirone⁠‍ gathered courage and‍‍ looked at her‍‌ face. Their gazes⁠⁠ intertwined, and a sensation of unity​ ran through his⁠⁠ body like an⁠ electric current.

Then‌ he looked up​‌ at the halo.⁠ It was the⁠⁠⁠ first time he‌​ had seen it‍ so closely.

The‍​ light floating above‌ her head was‌ truly fascinating.

Realizing​​‍ he had been‌ staring too long,​‌ Shirone quickly came‍​⁠ back to his⁠⁠ senses.

“Ah,⁠⁠⁠ sorry.”

Ikael‌‍ shook her head⁠​ as if to​​​ say it did‍ not matter.

“The‍⁠⁠ halo is the⁠​​ mind of an⁠‍⁠ angel. Humans enter‍‍‍ the Spirit Zone⁠​⁠ through concentration, but‍‍ that of angels‍​ is outside. This​‍ is called Over‍​ Spirit.”

After​⁠⁠ hearing the explanation,​‍‍ the halo seemed‌‌ even more special.⁠​‍ It was as⁠‍ if it constantly‌ maintained a detached​ form in all​‍ directions.

Literally,‍ it was the‌ mind of an⁠​ angel.

Everything⁠‍ that she was.‍⁠⁠

Perhaps​ feeling a bit​​ embarrassed, Ikael added.‌​‌

“Before,​ it was even‍⁠​ brighter. But I made a mistake,​⁠ and Ra restricted‍ the power of‌‍ my light.”

“What​‍ sin did you‍‍ commit?”

As⁠‌ soon as he‍⁠⁠ asked, Shirone hurried‌‍ to apologize.

“Ah,​ sorry. I should‌​‍ not ask that…”‍‌

“It‍‍‍ is fine. Even‍‌ though I made‌‌ a mistake, I do not regret‍ it.”

Shirone‌‍⁠ was surprised to‍⁠‌ feel relieved. He‍​ did not know⁠ what she had‍⁠ done, but if‌‌‍ she did not‌⁠‌ regret it, then​ perhaps it had⁠‌⁠ not been something‌ shameful.

“Um…”‍‌

Shirone⁠ hesitated.

He‍‍​ knew it was‌⁠​ an absurd request.‍ But once the​​⁠ thought arose, he⁠​ could not let‍‌ it pass.

“Tell​⁠ me. You can​‍ say anything.”

“May‍⁠‌ I…?”

“Yes?”‌​​

“Can​⁠ I touch it…‌ just once?”

Ikael⁠​ blinked, and then,​ as if she‍ finally understood, let‍ out a laugh.‍‌

It​ was an unexpected‍ request.

There‍ was probably not‌ a single person​​‌ in all of⁠⁠‌ heaven who would​‍​ ask to touch‌‍ the halo of⁠‌ the archangel Ikael.‌

“Of‍‌‍ course. You can‌‌‌ touch it.”

“Um…​ is it not​ disrespectful? Just in‍ case…”

Ikael‌‌ shook her head,⁠ brushing it off.‍​

Only⁠ then did Shirone,‍⁠‌ relieved, extend his‍‍​ hand.

When‌ he touched the‍​‌ halo directly, he‍ felt that it‍‍‌ was light and​ energy. A pleasant​‍ sensation ran along‌ the back of⁠​ his hand.

“It​‍‌ is warm.”

“That‍ is because Shirone⁠​⁠ is a warm‌⁠ person.”

“Heh…”‍

It‍ was the first⁠⁠​ time he had‍‍ felt so much⁠​ peace since arriving‌​⁠ in heaven. With‍ her, he felt⁠ that he did‍‍ not need to‍‌ worry about anything​ in the world.⁠⁠​

He​ wanted to stay⁠⁠⁠ by her side​​ forever.

At​ that moment, Ikael’s⁠ hand approached. Surprised,‌ Shirone pulled back,⁠⁠‌ and she, a little nervous, explained​​⁠ herself.

“Ah…⁠‌⁠ it is just‍ that your hair⁠‌​ is messy.”

“Haha,​⁠⁠ I ran a lot. Actually, a lot of things‌ have happened.”

Shirone​ shook his hair⁠⁠ lightly. He had⁠‌ only been surprised⁠ because, without being‍ mentally prepared, they⁠ had almost ended​‌ up touching.

At‌ that instant, Shirone’s​⁠‍ eyes widened. It​‌ was as if⁠‍ someone had struck‌ his head with​ a hammer.

How‌ could he have⁠ forgotten something like‍​‌ that?

It‍‌​ had completely slipped⁠ from his mind​​‌ that the most​⁠ important thing still‍‌​ remained.

“Ah!​‌ Amy!”

Shirone‌‍​ jumped to his⁠⁠⁠ feet.

Only​ now was he‍​ thinking about his‌‍ friends. That showed‌ how impactful his​ encounter with Ikael‍​‍ had been.

“Please,‍​ help me! My⁠ friends were taken!⁠⁠ They said something⁠‍⁠ about a Liquor‌‍ of Life… and⁠ that they would⁠ use it to‌‍ make a nephilim‌‍ be born!”

“Wow…‍ that is serious.”‌‍⁠

“They‍​ call them heretics‌ and all that,‌​​ but they are‌​​ not bad people.‌ No even if‍‌ they were, I cannot accept that‍‌​ they are captured‌‌ like this.”

Ikael​​ remained silent for​​ a moment, lost‍ in thought.

“Shirone,‍ do you like‌⁠ your friends? Enough​ to risk your​ life?”

“Yes!⁠‍​ Of course!”

Ikael​‍​ nodded, as if‌​ that was enough.​​⁠

“Alright.⁠‌ But, Shirone, if‌​ you want to‌ save your friends,​ there is something‍ you must hear.”‌⁠

It‌‍‌ did not seem​‍​ like there was‌ anything to hear‌‌‍ in a situation⁠⁠ like this.

But⁠​‌ since they were‍‌‌ the words of‌‌‍ the archangel Ikael,⁠‍ he could not‍​‍ refuse. Especially because​‌⁠ she had said⁠​ if you want‌​⁠ to save your‌‌‌ friends.

“What​⁠​ is it that‍ I must hear?⁠ What is it?”​⁠

“About​‌ heaven. And about​⁠ a woman named​ Miro.”

Shirone‍‍ was startled. He⁠ did not expect‍ to hear her​‌ name come out‍ of Ikael’s mouth.​⁠⁠

Adrias​⁠ Miro.

When‌ he first arrived⁠⁠ in heaven, he⁠ thought she was‌⁠‌ just one among‌‌​ many unlockers.

But⁠​ the more he​ knew her, the⁠⁠ more he understood⁠‌⁠ that she was​⁠‍ deeply connected to‍​​ heaven.

He‍‌​ wanted to know.⁠‍⁠ What kind of‍ person she was.‍‌⁠

“Do‍ you know Miro?”​​

“Yes.⁠​‌ I have met‌‌‍ her. I like‌​ her. Although, of‌ course she probably​ hates me.”

Shirone‌‌ was shocked. That‌‌ Ikael and Miro‍ had met was⁠​‌ already surprising. But⁠‍​ that Miro hated​ her was hard⁠ to believe. From‌ what he had​ seen, Ikael was‍⁠ a good angel.​

“It‌ will not take​​‍ long. So would‌ you allow me⁠ to comb your‌⁠ hair for a moment?”

Ikael’s⁠ halo expanded in​‌‍ the shape of⁠ a ring.

An⁠⁠ intense light began‌‍ to rotate over‍​ the ring, and​​ in her hand​ appeared a comb‍ made of light.⁠‍⁠

Photon‍⁠​ shaping.

And⁠‌ moreover, she had​‍‌ created a tool⁠ as delicate as‍​ light in an‌⁠⁠ instant.

No‌ matter how powerful‌ an angel’s mind‌‌ was, the nature‌⁠ of light did‍‍‍ not change.

It⁠ was a tool​⁠‌ that could only​ be created through​‍ extremely complex circuits,‌⁠ far beyond the⁠ Shining Chain.

Shirone‌ understood that all⁠‍‌ the answers were​⁠​ in the halo.⁠

Even⁠‌⁠ when he felt‌‌ that overwhelming presence‍ in Ikasa, it‌⁠⁠ was at the‌ moment when her‍ halo expanded into‌​ a ring.

“How‌ did you shape‍‌ the photons? Does​⁠ it have to⁠⁠ do with the‍ change in your‌‍‍ halo?”

“The⁠‍ halo can process⁠ an enormous amount‍ of information quickly.​ This is called‌ halo. It is‍⁠‌ something similar to‌ the magic circles​‌⁠ that humans use.⁠ The halo rotates‍​⁠ at the speed⁠ of light, assembling​ multiple concepts.”

Ikael⁠ explained it using‍‌ magic circles as‍‌ an example, but‌ upon hearing it,‌ even comparing them⁠‍ felt almost disrespectful.‌⁠‍

It​‍ literally assembled concepts​ at the speed⁠​ of light.

Not‌ even if dozens‍‍​ of mages worked⁠‍ together could they‍​ match the speed‌ of a single‍‌ halo.

“Then,‌ let us begin.‌ Lie down here,​ Shirone.”

Ikael‌‌‍ pointed to her‍⁠ lap. She seemed‌⁠‌ unable to resist‌‍ the urge to​‌⁠ comb his hair.‌​​

Shirone,‌‌ thinking that there‍​ must also be‌​​ a reason, obeyed‍​‍ and lay down.‌​

Thinking‍​ about it, when‍⁠ would he ever​​⁠ have another opportunity‍‍ like this?

Lying⁠‌‌ on the lap‌ of an archangel,‍‌ looking toward the⁠ sky, Ikael began‌‌​ to slide the⁠‌ comb through his‍⁠ hair.

‘Huh…?’​

Shirone‌⁠‍ felt how his​ consciousness began to‍⁠⁠ blur.

The​⁠‌ more the combing⁠‌​ progressed, the more⁠‍ he felt that⁠ his mind was​​ being extracted in​‍ blocks.

He‌ did not want⁠ to faint. His‍‍ friends were in​⁠ danger. If he​⁠ lost track of‌​‌ time, everything would‍ be over.

‘No…​⁠ no…’

Shirone’s‍​ eyes slowly closed.‍‍‍

Ikael⁠ observed Shirone’s face‌ as he fell‍⁠ asleep, and then‍ lifted her gaze‍⁠⁠ with sadness.

Many‍ thoughts crossed her‍ mind.

And‍​‍ through the comb,⁠ they seeped into‌‍ Shirone’s mind.

As‍⁠‍ if reading a story to a child, Ikael began⁠‍‌ to speak with⁠​​ a beautiful voice.‌

“A⁠‍ long, long time‌⁠‍ ago…”

***‌⁠‌

The​‍​ Great Hall of​‌⁠ the World in⁠‌ Jebul was both​ Kariel’s laboratory and​‍ an observatory that‌‍ governed the functioning‌​​ of the world.⁠‌

Through‍⁠‌ a special function​⁠​ of the meca‌ system, space had⁠ been eliminated, so‍​ as long as⁠‍‌ the security system​​‍ was active, not‌ only was it⁠⁠ impossible to enter,⁠‌​ but even to‍ find any trace.​⁠

As​⁠ befitted a place‍​‌ with the title‍ of great hall,​ it was vast​ enough to contain‍​‌ the Alpheas Magic​⁠⁠ Academy.

The⁠ overall tone was‍ a dark mechanical‌⁠ blue, and on​‍‌ the semi-spherical ceiling‍‍⁠ tens of thousands⁠ of electrical signals‌ shone.

In⁠​ the northwest area,‌‍ a hologram of​‍​ a globular star⁠ cluster slowly expanded.‌​​

At‍‍ the center floated⁠‌​ a huge steel‍⁠⁠ sphere more than‌‌​ 30 meters in‍ diameter, with two‍‌⁠ rings rotating following⁠ the orbits of​ rotation and translation.​⁠‌

Amy‌⁠ and the others⁠‌‌ were sitting in‌⁠‌ a row near​‍‌ the cluster, their​‌‍ wrists bound by⁠ steel handcuffs.

Ikasa,‌⁠⁠ who had kidnapped⁠​ the girls, expected⁠ to be reinstated​‍⁠ as an angel,‍⁠ but in the​‍ face of Kariel’s⁠‍⁠ silence, she simply⁠⁠​ returned to the‌​ second heaven.

Since​​⁠ they arrived at‍​ that place, that⁠⁠ had been the‍‍ only moment when⁠⁠‍ Amy and the‍ others felt relieved.‌⁠​

In‍ other words, everything⁠‍ else had been‍ unfavorable.

They‍ never imagined that‌‌ someone at the‍‍​ level of an‍⁠‍ archangel would go‌‌ so far as‍​⁠ to put handcuffs‍ on them.

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