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Infinite Mage Chapter 209: The truth of heaven (3)

Chapter 209: The truth of heaven (3)

“It‌‍‍ seems there’s no​‌ one here.”

“That’s⁠ better. Whether it’s‌ a mara or⁠⁠⁠ an angel, to​⁠ be honest, I’m⁠⁠ not confident I can fight them.”‌‍

Canis⁠ tilted his head.‌‌ He hadn’t expected​​ to hear something‍‍ so weak from⁠‍ Harvest, who had‌​ inherited Arcane’s memories.‍‌‍

“You’re‍⁠ different from my⁠⁠ master.”

“Personality⁠ isn’t defined by⁠ memories alone. I was designed to‍‍‌ protect you. To​‍​ put it bluntly,‍ without Ikael’s help,‍​ we won’t be‌​‌ able to complete‌⁠⁠ the mission.”

In⁠ the end, that⁠ was the reality.‍⁠‌

The‌ key to returning⁠ to their world⁠ was in Shirone’s⁠​‌ hands.

It‌‍​ hurt Canis’s pride‌ not to be​ the protagonist, but​​​ he wasn’t foolish⁠‍ enough to ruin‌‍ teamwork over it.‍​

“Even‍‍ so, if we‌ don’t deactivate the‌ meca system, there⁠ won’t be any‍⁠​ chance at all.​​ Let’s check the⁠ place first.”

Canis⁠‌ began to move⁠‍​ while observing his​​ surroundings. Suddenly, he⁠‌ felt something strange⁠​ and approached the‍⁠ wall.

The‍ panels, aligned at‌‌‌ regular intervals, resembled‌ books placed in‍‌‍ a library.

When​‌‌ he ran his‌ hand over one,‍⁠ he felt a faint vibration.

When​​ he pressed it‍ slightly, a click‌​⁠ was heard.

Fearing​⁠​ he had triggered⁠‍​ an alarm, he​‍​ quickly stepped back.‌‌‌ With a hum,‌⁠ the panel projected⁠⁠ outward.

Canis‍‌ grabbed it and⁠ pulled it out⁠‌​ completely. It was⁠ connected to a rectangular electronic plate,⁠‍​ transparent like glass.​

He‍‌​ held it vertically,⁠‌ then horizontally.

When‌​⁠ he touched the⁠⁠‌ panel with his​ thumb, letters made‍‌⁠ of light appeared⁠‌ on the surface.⁠‍‍

‘I​​‍ see the library⁠​‌ of the angels.’‌

Recalling​ the enormous number⁠‍ of panels embedded‍‍ in Ingris, Canis​​ understood.

Ingris‌ was a space⁠⁠‌ filled with knowledge.‍‍​

When‍​​ he touched a blinking arrow, the​​‌ page changed. Fascinated,‌‌ he kept advancing,‌ and the text‍‍ continued endlessly.

It‌ was an information‍​ system of density​ incomparable to any⁠ book.

Since​ he couldn’t read​‌ the characters, his‍ gaze naturally shifted‍ to the numbers​‌⁠ written below the⁠⁠ panel.

The⁠⁠​ first thing that‌⁠⁠ came to mind‍‌‌ was the note⁠‍ his master had‌‍ left.

Ingris​​

113-325-4739-49359-234‍‍

That‍ was the only⁠ record Arcane had​​‌ left. It was​‌ probably a serial⁠ number to identify⁠‍​ the panel’s location.‌‌‌

Canis​⁠ was certain his​‌ master had been‌⁠⁠ in Ingris. And‌ that he had‍​‍ discovered something there,‍ likely the method‌‌‌ to enhance dark⁠⁠‍ magic.

Canis⁠ looked at the​‍ characters on the⁠‌ panel. He had​‍ no idea how​‍‍ to pronounce them.‍⁠

“Harvest,⁠​ do you know⁠‌​ what language this‌ is?”

“No.‌​⁠ It’s my first​‌‍ time seeing it.​⁠​ I think we‍ would need Arin.”‍‌

At⁠⁠⁠ that moment, the‌ characters began to‍ break apart, and⁠⁠‌ the language they​ used appeared on‌⁠ the panel.

“Automatic⁠⁠ translation? That can’t‌ be…”

Ingris⁠​ was not a place made for‍‌ Canis.

Therefore,‍‍⁠ it was logical​‍‍ to assume that‍​‍ the panels contained‍⁠‌ all the languages‍⁠​ that existed in​​‍ the world.

It​ was a terrifying⁠⁠‍ concentration of information.‌

Canis⁠‍ looked again at‌‌ the translated text.​

The⁠⁠⁠ content was about​​‌ dreams.

As​​​ he flipped through⁠‍ it, he began​‌⁠ to read aloud.‌​

“…Drimo‍ is a world⁠ that can be​‌‌ accessed through dreams.⁠⁠ The method consists‍‍​ of finding the⁠‌‌ dreamer, Rober, within⁠ the dream. Since‌ he is located‌​ far from the⁠‌‌ main events, concentration⁠ is needed to​​ find him. He​ is usually cooking​‍‌ in a house​ or taking care⁠ of his children.‌ Only Rober has​ color, so he​‍‍ is not difficult‍ to distinguish.”

He‌‍‌ moved to the‍⁠ next page.

“When‌‍⁠ you find him,‍ give him money‍ and tell him‌ you have come‍⁠⁠ to look for​​ work. Then he‍​‌ will offer you⁠ various jobs that​ can be performed⁠ within the dream.‌⁠ If you refuse⁠‍ three times, he‌ will send you⁠‍‍ to Drimo. If​‌ you find a job you like,​​‌ you can enjoy​‌⁠ the dream as​​‌ long as you​ want, but upon​ waking, no memory​ will remain.”

Canis⁠ pursed his lips‌⁠ and looked at​⁠ Harvest.

When⁠ he shrugged, Canis​‍ focused back on​⁠ the panel.

“The​​​ world of Drimo‌ has no time,‌​​ so there are‍ many objects that‌‌​ ignore the law​ of causality. To‌ bring an object⁠ into the real⁠​ world, five conditions‍‌​ must be met.​​ First, help the‍‌⁠ owner of the⁠​‍ object and receive​ it as a reward. Second, go​⁠ to the office‍‌⁠ and report the‌ theft of the‌ object…”

“You​‍⁠ shouldn’t do that.​‌‌ It is forbidden‌⁠‌ by the laws.”‌⁠

Canis’s​​​ voice stopped abruptly.​⁠

As‌⁠ he slowly turned⁠‍​ his head, he​‍ saw a small⁠​ woman with a peculiar appearance standing​​‍ at the first⁠⁠⁠ corner of Ingris.‌‌‌

Her‌⁠‍ skin was a light violet tone,​‌ her eyes were‍ sharp and elongated,⁠ her curly hair​​ was a light⁠ green and abundant,‍‌ and above her​‍ head floated a reddish triangle.

She‌⁠ was a one-horned‌⁠‌ mara.

The‌ tension skyrocketed in⁠ Canis and Harvest,‍​‌ who stared at‌​⁠ her without moving‌ an inch.

“I‌‌⁠ ask you, please​⁠⁠ place that back​ carefully. Even for‍‍⁠ an archangel, consulting‌⁠ Ingris without the⁠ administrator’s permission is‌ forbidden.”

Without‍‌​ taking his eyes‍⁠​ off her, Canis​​ returned the panel‌‌‍ to its place.‌‍

The​ panel was absorbed‍ as if pulled‍​‌ in, becoming indistinguishable​ from the others.⁠

“Sorry.‌ It’s my first‍‌ time here.”

Deciding‍ to buy time,‍ Canis began by⁠ apologizing.

“I‍​ figured as much.‌‍ A believer would‌ not violate the⁠ laws. In any​ case, it’s been‍ a while since⁠‌‌ heretics entered.”

Canis⁠⁠‍ noticed that her⁠⁠⁠ lip movements matched‌‍ her pronunciation.

They​‍ were not speaking​‍ through telepathy.

“How⁠​​ do you know‍‌⁠ our language?”

“Hehe,⁠ I’m a collector‌‌ of languages. Besides,‍‍ as the administrator⁠ of Ingris, how‌⁠​ could I not​⁠‍ be able to​ communicate? In fact,‍ if we count,‌ quite a few‍​ have already come.‌ People who use‌ the same language‍‍‌ as you.”

The​‍ first person that​⁠‌ came to his‍​⁠ mind was Akein.⁠ Then he remembered‌⁠ the group of‌‌ unlockers that, according‍⁠‌ to what was⁠​‌ said, had been​ sent by Chief⁠ Kergo.

“Do‌ you know someone‌ named Kadum?”

The‍​‌ administrator showed a look of recognition‍ and exclaimed.

“Ah!‌‌⁠ That was you?‍ Of course I know. About 200​​ years ago, according⁠⁠ to your time,‍‌ some heretics came.​‌ They wanted me‍⁠ to increase the‍ lifespan of someone‍‍‌ named Kadum by⁠‍⁠ 300 years.”

Hearing​‌​ that, Canis confirmed‌ it.

Ingris⁠​‍ was, without a doubt, a place‌​ where the lifespan‌‌ of humans was​‌ controlled.

But⁠ how?

It​‌ was not something‍​ that could be⁠​ explained simply by‌⁠‍ an accumulation of‍ information beyond imagination.‍

“Is⁠‍ that possible? How⁠‌ can you change‌ a person’s life?”‍⁠‍

“Ah,‌ this question is​ asked of me‌⁠ very often. I don’t know how⁠​‌ you get here⁠ without knowing that.”‍⁠

The‍‌⁠ administrator walked with​‌ her hands behind‍ her back, like​ a teacher.

Her⁠‌ eyes, as she​ looked at the‍⁠ panels, were full‌‌ of affection.

“How‌​‍ can lifespan be⁠‌ changed? Well, because‍‌ this place is‌​‍ connected to the‍⁠ Akashic Records.”

Canis​ also knew about​‍‍ the Akashic Records.​‌ It was a term he had⁠ seen many times‌ while studying mythology.‌

A supernatural information entity‍ that contained all⁠ the records of⁠‌ the universe.

The‍ fact that the‌ same term was‌​⁠ used in heaven​‌ meant that myths​ were real.

Even​⁠⁠ so, it was⁠ not an easy⁠‌‍ theory to accept.​⁠

“It’s‍​‍ impossible. What you’re‌‍⁠ saying is a lie.”

“Oh?​ Why?”

“Because​‌⁠ a record that⁠ contains the entire‍ world cannot exist‌‌ from the beginning.‌‍ How would you‍ verify that it⁠ truly contains everything?‍​ In the end,⁠‌ that means it’s‌ exaggerated to some⁠‌ extent.”

“Hmm,⁠‌​ you really are⁠ human. Well, with‌ your level of​⁠ thinking, that also​⁠‍ makes sense.”

Canis‌‍‍ felt slightly irritated.‍‌‍

“So,‌‌ are you saying​​‌ that’s not the‍ case?”

“The​​ Akashic Records are‌‌‌ not something so‌​⁠ grand or pompous.‍​‍ This world itself⁠‌‍ is simply the‍‌⁠ Akashic Records.”

“Explain​‍ yourself better.”

The⁠‌ administrator, as if‌⁠‌ she had just‌‍ had a good‌ idea, made her‍‍ eyes shine.

“You’re⁠‌‌ human too, so⁠ I’ll use an‌ example in the​‌‍ style of the‍ mechanics. Multiply 2 by 3 and‌‍‍ then add 1.⁠‍​ What do you‍‌⁠ get?”

“Obviously⁠⁠ 7.”

“Exactly.‍⁠ That’s the way​‍⁠ humans think. Humans‍ need to find‍​ the problem in⁠‌​ order to obtain‌​⁠ the answer. They‌⁠ are beings who‌‌ need to know‌ the formula to⁠ reach the result.”‍‌‍

“And​​‍ what about it?‌ Are you saying‌ you’re different?”

“Of‍‍ course we are‌ different. Then I’ll​ give you a problem in the‍​‌ style of heaven.‌​‍ I just obtained​‌​ the answer 7.‌ Now try to‍ guess what formula⁠‍​ I used to​ reach that 7.”‌

Canis‌ fell silent. It‍ was impossible to‌ know. There were‌⁠ infinite ways to‍​‍ arrive at 7.‍‍

“Do‌ you understand now?⁠​ The Akashic Records​ are simply the​​‍ answer. This time⁠​​ I’ll use an‌​‌ expression from the‍ norin. You can‍​⁠ use any way⁠‌ to describe it,⁠⁠ but would you​⁠ be able to⁠⁠​ perfectly explain what​​ Ingris is?”

Language⁠‍​ cannot fully convey‍ its original meaning.‍⁠​ But now Canis⁠ understood what the​‌ Akashic Records were.⁠‍‍

“Ingris.”‍

The‌ administrator nodded, satisfied.⁠

“Exactly.‌⁠⁠ Ingris is Ingris.⁠​⁠ Before you arrived,‌ Ingris already existed.⁠⁠ But for you,​​ this place did‌ not exist anywhere.⁠ Why do you‌ think that is?”‍⁠

“Because​ I didn’t know⁠‌‌ its name.”

It‍‌⁠ was a serious‌‍ situation. Canis understood‌‌ why Ra needed‍ names to manipulate​ lifespan.

The⁠‌​ name. That was​‌‌ everything.

“Now‍⁠ we understand each‌‍ other. For a stone or the‍​‍ wind, the world‍‌ does not exist.⁠‌ It is an⁠‌ absolute void. Even⁠​ if it actually‌ exists that way.‍⁠ It’s because they​​ don’t have the⁠​⁠ ability to give​ it meaning. When​‌ the name ‘universe’‌‍‌ is given to⁠​​ the universe, that‌‍‌ is when the​​‍ universe begins to⁠‍‌ exist.”

Heaven⁠ does not seek⁠‌‍ answers.

Because​ answers either do‍ not exist or‌‌ are everything. Instead,​⁠​ they distorted truth‌‍ by altering the‍​⁠ formula that led‍‍ to the answer.‌

It⁠‌‌ didn’t matter if​ the answer 7 became 8 or⁠​ 9.

Any‌‍ result would be‌‍ the entirety of‍‌ the world, and‌‌ for that very​ reason, it would​​ be perfect.

“Humans‌​ always search for⁠‌‌ a single truth,⁠ like idiots. What‌‍‌ single truth? It‌​ doesn’t exist. No‍ matter how the‍⁠ world changes, that⁠ is all there‍‌‍ is.”

The​‌ administrator pointed at‍⁠ the panels.

“Ingris⁠‍ is connected to‍⁠⁠ the Akashic Records‍⁠​ through the meca​ system. We distort​ the formulas and‍​‌ change the truth.‌‌‍ This is what‌⁠‍ we call hacking.⁠​ Changing a human’s‌ lifespan is something⁠‍ that can be‍ done in an‍ instant.”

Canis‍​‍ felt a chill.‍​‍ The technology capable⁠‌‍ of destroying truth⁠‍ through the power‍ of the meca​‌‍ was at a level humanity could‍ never reach without​​​ a complete paradigm​ shift.

The​​ administrator snapped her⁠ fingers to get​ his attention.

“Let’s‌ stop the explanations.⁠‍ If you came​​‍ to make a deal, let’s go‌⁠ over there. You‌‍⁠ can change lifespan​⁠ at the central⁠‍ control device.”

The‌⁠ administrator, with a suggestive look, pointed⁠ at the mechanical⁠​​ apparatus in the‍ center of the‍‍ crossing.

Canis​ remembered the black⁠ market dealers he‍​ had seen in⁠​​ Radum. Suddenly, the‍ situation felt unreal.‍

The‍‌⁠ mara belonged to‌​⁠ heaven, and he‌​ was a heretic.‌ So why wasn’t​⁠‌ she trying to⁠‌ harm him?

“A‍‍ deal? You know‍‍ what’s happening outside,‌‌⁠ don’t you?”

“Huh?‌⁠‍ What’s happening outside?⁠ Did something happen⁠​ in heaven?”

“You⁠​ don’t know?”

“Of‌ course not. I’m‌‌ the administrator of‍⁠ Ingris. Just processing‌⁠⁠ the information here‍​​ is enough. I haven’t gone outside⁠​ in tens of⁠‌⁠ thousands of years.”⁠⁠

Canis‌ sensed she was⁠​‌ telling the truth.​ Except for the‌ part about simply‍⁠ being too busy​⁠‌ to care.

She‍‌ was isolated in‌‌⁠ that place.

And⁠​ thinking about it,⁠⁠​ it had to⁠​ be that way.⁠‍⁠

If⁠‌ an administrator with‌​ access to the‌⁠ Akashic Records had⁠‍ contact with information‌​ from the outside⁠ world, there was‍ no telling what​⁠ kind of disaster​ could occur.

‘No​⁠ wonder it seemed⁠‍‍ strange that only‍‍ a first-level mara‌​‍ was in charge.‌ Well, for me,‍‌​ that’s better.’

In‍​⁠ any case, confrontation‍ with the administrator‍ was inevitable. Unless⁠‍ he simply made​‌​ the deal and‍‌ left, there was‌​ no way she‍‍⁠ would allow him⁠‍ to deactivate Zebul’s⁠‌⁠ security system.

“What‌‌‍ kind of deal?”​‌‌

“Ah,‍ come on. You⁠‌‍ already know. Lifespan.‍‍⁠ I can increase​⁠ anyone’s.”

“And​ what do I have to pay?”​

The​ administrator slightly separated‍‌‍ her thumb and​ index finger and‌‍ winked.

“Very‍ cheap. Just one‌​ word.”

“One⁠ word? You want‍​ me to pay​⁠⁠ with a word?”‌

“As​ I said before,‌‌⁠ I’m a mara⁠‍ who collects languages.​‍​ Thanks to that,⁠‌​ I’m intelligent. That’s​ why I’m the​‌⁠ administrator of Ingris.​‍ It doesn’t matter‌‍ what word it​ is. You just‌⁠‌ have to sell​‍ me a word‍​⁠ you know.”

“If‍ I sell a word then I’ll⁠ stop knowing it,‌‍ right?”

“Exactly.‌‌ You will never‍‍ be able to⁠ know it again‍ in your entire‌ life. It will​‌⁠ be erased from‍‌‌ the Akashic Records.‌ But it doesn’t⁠​‌ matter, right? Missing‌ one word doesn’t⁠‍​ change anything.”

Just⁠⁠⁠ as the administrator‌ said, the world‍⁠⁠ was full of‍‍ words one knows⁠⁠⁠ but never uses.‍‌

If​⁠ even insults worked,‌⁠ what would change⁠​‍ by losing one?​⁠​

But‍​‍ precisely because the⁠ price was so‍ cheap, Canis began​ to feel uneasy.‌‌⁠

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