Chapter 210: The truth of heaven (4)
VRuz6l“I don’t understand. Why do you make these kinds of contracts? I understand that, as the administrator of Ingris, you cannot intervene in the affairs of heaven. But you also follow the laws. Selling lifespan to a heretic doesn’t seem like a normal task.”QdSKG9G
Of5KThe administrator blinked, puzzled.O8i
9zL2z“You’re very direct. Normally people know these things and still pretend not to. But that’s fine. I have the ability to acquire concepts, that’s why I’m the librarian of Ingris. For tens of thousands of years. Do you know what that means? That I can’t do anything here. That’s why I need words. So I can escape from this place.”NSl2s
sIrYVx9It sounded absurd. But in theory, it was not impossible.jRI
SgMkA mara’s lifespan must be close to immortality. No one knew how much she had left, but if she kept accumulating words, one day she would achieve it.PNkBw0x
EQWCg2c“So you want to become the Akashic Records.”DClVY
CBWQV4“Hahaha! Exactly! By controlling the information here, I understood it. I can also become a god. But I’m missing one thing. I erased the information on how to leave this place. I have to complete it! That’s why heretics are my main clients. If I manage to get out of here, I will be greater even than Ra.”UWAPinS
digHarvest spoke through the mental channel.J9sz
zN8o1V‘Canis, this woman is dangerous.’3ldN
1pfOETo Canis, she also seemed somewhat deranged.FzQ3
91vKSomeday she would gather the words and complete the Akashic Records, but no one knew when.dyg
M8IkEven so, he could understand her situation.5GDqo
S1GIf he himself had been locked in a library for tens of thousands of years, he would have gone mad too.ow0E
EeYTJ8Little by little, madness began to seep into the administrator’s eyes.hkbX
usuwE“Are you going to do it or not? You’ve been hesitating for a while. Don’t tell me you have other intentions?”rUw4hy
xttA bluish energy began to envelop the mara’s body. Her hostility was overwhelming.Z6lqL
7SqaxIf he didn’t accept the deal, it would immediately turn into combat. But could he win? If he died here, all his companions’ efforts would be in vain.EpYSK5N
c8PmW‘Canis, it’s dangerous. You must be careful.’eVISFj
zRyw9gnCanis had already calculated the risk.nHQW2
mvJXcCThe offer to increase lifespan in exchange for a single word was tempting for anyone.sXsQvPq
RJMDQDTo be honest, the first thing he thought about was himself and Arin.1PXVb
IVMpyIf his lifespan increased to 300 years, what more could he want?CgVB
VJsBut they didn’t do it.3XrmG
m4OQLBqThe unlockers who came 200 years ago fulfilled the contract, increased Kadum’s life, and returned to their world.N8Pxo4H
fi15Y8HThe reason was simple.PlT1Km
3S6They had to reveal their names.fHXg3Gx
xXIRrR5That’s why Canis also did not gamble with his own life.eK9bx6Y
ZGzrBhRWas it really safe to reveal his name to a mara capable of controlling all information?iRWHZQ
XG8vIf she came to know the word “Canis,” he couldn’t imagine what demands that half-mad mara might make.UOJXMWL
OxYV‘I know. But we can’t keep stalling forever. We also have to deactivate the meca system.’B6ymI
k6l2Seeing that Canis remained silent, the administrator’s face twisted like that of a monster.r3shrHp
JqvShe was about to lose control.oBDlt
kD8‘Even if she’s only a first-level mara, facing her head-on is disadvantageous. The only option is to accept the deal and buy time.’1G6vDjD
twFIyIt didn’t seem like giving away a word would cause anything serious.ePxXBD5
zUapBut those who came 200 years ago clearly said it was not a good deal.DZ56
wtVConsidering that history is always influenced by those who record it, that meant they had suffered a huge loss.cONW
Q7E‘Even so, they made the deal. That’s certain. What the hell really happens when you sell a word?’Kovz
foNmKCanis tried to imagine the situation from 200 years ago. He couldn’t think of anything.c51W24
m5bYAt that moment, an idea crossed his mind.y8OJZEc
xCZ5z7DIf his master had also been in Ingris, what decision would he have made?IFR
zYj7XW9‘I got it! That was it!’RdUKzX
kyT2fCanis gave instructions.RnU48UY
p1MwR‘I’ll buy time. You look for the panel with the serial number from the note. There must be something written there.’mfZN
zrdqVi‘What are you planning? Even if it’s the method to enhance dark magic, you can’t use it right now.’pPUV
Uev2‘No. My master knew there was an administrator in Ingris. And even so, he left only the serial number. That means it might not have been what we were looking for.’iZB
ExM‘I understand. Alright. But the number is complicated, it will take me time to find it.’Dl0
oCADHarvest, hidden in Canis’s shadow, dissolved into darkness and moved to another place.mVb
2BBs“Alright, let’s make the deal.”l6NvMGd
hL13When Canis spoke as if he had given in, the administrator’s face immediately lit up.We5
Fc4p“Good decision! So, who? Shall we increase your lifespan?”KqNEpd
EtZv“No. This time it will also be Kadum.”hur
7zX“Oh? Is that so? I don’t know who he is, but he’s quite lucky.”KBXHfZ3
JAWU89“But this time don’t increase it. Return it to its original state. Ingris can do that, right?”wXn
HUf4z2The administrator blinked, confused.6nM0
8uKsShe had seen countless people ask to increase their lifespan, but it was the first time someone asked to reverse it.iBrFS
cAo767LA malicious smile spread across her lips.o7Tqh
wluSP“How interesting. It seems there’s a story behind this.”AIYbkA
o7JCanis responded with the same smile.fYmajPx
JWk4gKadum, chief of the Kergo tribe, was letting his people starve to maintain his immortality. Canis, who knew well the suffering of hunger, despised him.g46E
xZredIn any case, he was someone who had lived 300 extra years thanks to money taken from his own people.kaJEP
QnVdDNot killing him outright and simply returning him to his original lifespan was already merciful enough.QXHbA
j3DB“Alright, alright. I like this.”pTBI
SEuKBiThe administrator began to frantically manipulate the central control device.Snzz85
RhWCanis feigned interest while observing what she was doing. He didn’t understand machines, but seeing them in action might help him later.U46LG
6sg1“Done. I’ve restored his lifespan to normal. Of course, there are variations depending on the person. Each one perceives time differently. But this subject probably won’t live much longer. By removing 300 years, he is practically at the biological limit.”ElOzJ1
uRYaJ“It doesn’t matter. He’s lived long enough.”WgP
n5g9a“Hahaha! For a human, he lived quite a lot. And now…”vQrk
FCDGCanis stepped back in shock. The administrator’s gaze had changed.zAK
x47iAHe had expected it, but seeing how abruptly her mental state shifted sent chills down his spine. He could only hope Harvest would act faster.PWTkM9B
pY1jkB“Contract completed! So, shall I take your word?”wWZ5tK9
POvo“Ghk!”JTq
jPsrW3Canis grimaced as a sharp headache struck him. He didn’t know what kind of ability it was, but it was beyond the rules.raKOzdW
NtT1wThe problem wasn’t the price, but the contract.no4
nDsE9RIf it was a transaction established as a mutual contract outside the rules, it couldn’t be broken without violating the principle of equivalence.OdT
s6qGhcq“Damn it! Wasn’t I the one who chose the word?”g2m8B0
3FMx“Hahaha! Of course you are! I’m just testing things a little. Hmm? Alright, let’s see what words you have… Ah, this one is good. This one too! I like them all, I’m going crazy!”pt3HQ
0k98HrSeeing the administrator shout with an ecstatic expression, Canis corrected himself.vgmA8C
ELlMsgShe wasn’t just a little unstable. It was an obsession comparable to that of a nerd driven mad by numbers.CwMoHJ
S5wEpVV‘Harvest, how much longer?’ofXe7
bq7xB‘Wait! I’ve already found up to the second item.’liJeA7
69MIf he was only at the second serial number, there was still a long way to go.jcyG
jMiJFiZCanis thought about buying time with magic.pEut
yPnBut magic wouldn’t activate. Every time he tried to form a concept, she erased it immediately.3llu
SH5c‘Damn it so this is her ability.’yoEkU
TFmNJThe administrator’s out-of-rules ability, mental editor, allowed her to freely edit the thoughts of the contract target.jGJa6p
IzdThe ability she was using on Canis was called recommendation, and it consisted of editing his thoughts to induce suggestions.jTNV
fdPHe could recover his original thoughts if he exercised his right of rejection, but for a brief moment he would lose his ability to reason, which was fatal in combat.GdfH
5Z5BOS“How is it? You’re dizzy, right? Eyes. Anger. Companions. Concentration. What else should I edit?”443ZW65
bDmr“Damn it!”SNeiz
XkH5QgRCanis clenched his teeth to keep his train of thought. Each time a word disappeared, the associated linguistic structure collapsed, as if a part of his mind became completely empty.XOeS
hujLcl8“Hahaha! Now you understand, right? How important a single word is? Two hundred years ago, that human sold me the word mosquito. He said he hated it or something! And do you know what happened?”Xp0
yqN7e‘Harvest!’yWa9Afh
D4cRySb‘Almost! It’s the last item!’bu8l
TqWNJDCanis couldn’t focus.7G4j
IxrbzEven if he activated rejection, she scrambled his mind so violently that he was on the verge of losing consciousness.5S2z
90TISatisfied, the administrator lifted him by the neck.oi4fEbf
hnqWihdShe looked fragile, but the strength of a first-level mara exceeded all limits.NHCHW
A8ivPLh“That human went insane after having nightmares about mosquitoes for days. Can you imagine it? They appeared in his dreams, but he didn’t know what they were. Any human would go mad like that. Hahaha!”4T1KE2n
wUWvjCanis understood how much history could be distorted.is6Tio
Z7MThat it wasn’t a bad deal? They had lost a companion. The value of a single word was, in the end, a life.MrBxbr
HDP“You’re a fraud.”LCfcB7
jqGE0mv“Oh yes? You had your own plans too.”Eyg7rcZ
ZP9fTThe administrator, still holding him by the neck, turned her head.pdmjEmr
ZIQqzcThe panels from the area Harvest had passed through had all been removed.LCZfyCa
XrECVtMHe was probably trying to find unknown words to sell.uXqORt
15vg“Hehe, not a bad idea. But that’s impossible. You can only sell words to which you’ve already given meaning. I already explained that. Don’t you have the capacity to learn?”sONwo17
KpFqbNCanis’s face turned blue. Blood was no longer reaching his brain.4UE
VXA8K“Come on, hand it over and rest. Otherwise… you’ll die here.”R7Hph
2VdjJ‘Ha… Harvest…’sCIdn
AZw‘I found it, Canis!’QYZValC
ImCByqlHarvest ran his hand over the record engraved on the glass panel.2qNU
i5XSince he perceived the world through vibrations, the content was transmitted directly through the mental channel.MtN
1X9RCanis’s eyes, nearly blank, regained focus.E39uM
EW4Jv“Alright. I’ll give you the word.”JRXuVZ
ajvRN“Hehe, good choice. Let’s see… what word will it be?”wtM8
gz5UrGNRecommendation was a powerful ability. But the true terror lay in coercion.d6a3mi
hg9q1sZIt activated through contract and permanently took the word offered by the target. Its consequences were directly tied to life.Arbjciv
qjnHe6The administrator, eyes filled with madness, awaited Canis’s answer.wk5XA2K
uquywShe knew he would go insane, and yet he still had to offer a word.5uNSQ
xwvKnEFor her, this was the most exciting moment.qaQ
nF1ad3“Yu…”EDdKUV
JWvesQEThe administrator frowned slightly. She didn’t like words that started with “yu.”JaUIf0
sxK“Yu. Re. Ka.”b91wA92
dMgdxCanis collapsed to the ground immediately. Gasping as he clutched his neck, he looked up.cl68pqo
fd7EiThe administrator was trembling, her face pale.1imt
nuZM7Yh“You… how… do you know my name…?”jEUio8k
PMHRThe panel with the serial number left by Akein contained nothing related to dark magic.6OmZ
INDJ1aRIt was a record about maras.FUOhs
KVZcMore specifically, about the administrator of Ingris, Eureka.wzlBSf
x8xXMaEureka had not been insane from the beginning.MOnR5OS
cGS8UOn the contrary, she had been a mara who helped intellectuals by editing their thoughts to facilitate new ideas.Ozwvd
7HiHMost likely, tens of thousands of years of solitude had driven her into that state.pV4aDvE
7dz6JR“N-no! It can’t end like this!”Ap6eP
g4ZHw6Canis knew Eureka, and now he had forgotten her.y841
KUaThat meant that, at that moment, a Eureka who could not exist did exist, and therefore she had to disappear according to the law of causality.Ug4i
7mE“No! I was so close! I was going to become a god! Say it! Say who I am!”vPZ8El
DyUe“I’m sorry, but…”54Wy8WI
pvTwBjCanis smiled faintly.7RSvm
pE6a1uH“I don’t know who you are.”9dWriN
SsKgEShock filled Eureka’s eyes. Her pupils rolled back, and a piercing scream echoed through the walls of Ingris.lvO00aF
fXUWhen Eureka disappeared, the out-of-rules ability was released, and Canis regained his concepts.bDWm
XUom5“Ugh… I really don’t want to go through that again.”hri
sdnMNPCanis collapsed to the ground. If Harvest had taken a little longer, he would already be dead.AP5
6VEVLe5Or perhaps he was already in the afterlife?DxqO51r
WKvu“Canis, are you alright?”F8TU71
RAdG3In“Yeah… more or less. If I rest a bit, I’ll recover my mental energy.”oOM7EiI
dXfIngris, without its administrator, felt empty.eWlL8Ta
klEcNCanis looked at the place where Eureka had disappeared. Loneliness was also a painful word for him.0U5M8r
TlE5PtAs if reflecting that feeling, Harvest spoke.F9fcIT
CmO“She must have been very lonely. Tens of thousands of years in a place like this…”JAPs
clBY4lx“They said maras only reset. In her next life… she’ll probably have a better one.”Mlk
M6PoXu9After a silence that felt almost like mourning, Harvest spoke again.zYS
QJqV1Aq“But Canis, there’s something you should know. The moment you touched the word Eureka, part of Akein’s memories were restored. It seems it was some kind of keyword.”v3k
ZDHCanis, as if he had understood something, suddenly stood up.Il239h
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