The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years

Book 2: Chapter 528

‘Persuade him? How?’

Would persuasion even work on the ‘Thunderous Lightning God’ in the first place?

On that arrogant being? Lukas couldn’t begin to imagine such a scene.

[It is sufficiently possible.]

The Lightning God spoke in a gloomy voice.

The Lightning God said it was possible. That probably wasn’t a lie. This meant that he at least had the minimum means to persuade the guy from the present.

‘Then what benefit will you get from that?’

[…]

‘It wouldn’t be easy to persuade him. Considering the risks of things going wrong, I’m not convinced that you would be so cooperative for no reason.’

The Lightning God was silent.

Did he plan to play dumb?

‘Lightning God.’

Lukas didn’t press.

He spoke in his usual voice, or perhaps a little calmer than usual.

‘Just like you have figured me out, I have also figured you out. I know very well that you are not a being to act out of goodwill or sympathy.’

Whether it was out of pity for Lukas,

Or for Lee Jong-hak.

That would never be a reason for the being called the Lightning God.

Therefore, this guy probably had another purpose or reason.

[…I will return to the Lightning God of this timeline.]

Lukas paused after this answer came out.

This was because he was unable to understand the meaning of those words at first.

‘…return?’

[That’s right.]

‘Wait a minute. I’m not sure if I understand what you’re saying, you, don’t you understand what state you are in right now?’

[…]

The current Lightning God’s consciousness was not separate. It was a copy. That was to say, although the power of the Lightning God in Lukas’ mind was weak, there was no difference between his consciousness world and that of the ‘Thunderous Lightning God’.

To give such weight to a mere remnant thought and copied consciousness.

Perhaps there were very few beings in the Three Thousand Worlds capable of such a skill.

In other words, what was happening now could be described as a tragedy born from the omnipotence of the Rulers.

[Of course I understand.]

‘And yet you want to return? You and the Lightning God have already become separate beings?’

[…]

‘It’s not like you will be welcomed when you reunite with the ‘Thunderous Lightning God’. That… would just be absorption.’

Nevertheless, he didn’t receive an answer. Lukas’ composure was gradually breaking. Unfamiliar with the impatience he was beginning to feel, Lukas continued.

‘There wouldn’t be any change in the [Thunderous Lightning God]. But [You], the being [You] that is currently talking to me, will definitely disappear. Don’t you understand me?’

What happened when a single raindrop fell into a great sea? The answer was ‘nothing happened’. Or at least that is the case for the sea.

However, for the falling raindrop, it was different. The raindrop would lose its identity. It would completely lose the independence and individuality that it once had, becoming a small part of a huge being.

The current Lightning God was trying to commit suicide.

[─what’s wrong with that?]

For a moment, Lukas was unsure what to say at this sharp voice.

‘…what?’

[You don’t know. In the current situation, it can be said that you are the one that doesn’t understand.]

He had a feeling of incompatibility.

Was he the one who was thinking something wrong? Did he really not fully understand what kind of situation it was like the Lightning God said?

Thinking this, he continued as calmly as he could.

‘The situation you are facing is regretful. However, it has already happened.’

[…]

‘Is that what you really want? To go to the ‘Lightning God of this timeline’ to die?’

When he didn’t receive an answer, the impatience grew to anger.

‘What the hell are you doing’

What are you saying? You, now…

He couldn’t accept it.

That… wasn’t it just giving up?

Like a sick person waiting to die or a criminal heading towards the death penalty, believing that it was meaningless to struggle.

The sight of him trying to helplessly accept fate.

‘Why are you showing me something like this?’

An inexplicably stuffy feeling made his chest feel heavy. It became hard for him to see the bewildered expression of Yang In-hyun in front of him.

Just as he was on the verge of saying some more words of persuasion.

[What do you know about my condition?]

He heard an incredibly mangled voice.

With a seething aura, the Lightning God continued.

[My existence would disappear? That’s what I would rather happen right now. To be absorbed by ‘myself’ and have my consciousness disappear without a trace, that is the end I long for.]

‘…you.’

[Right now I… I am so disgusted by my own existence, I cannot bear the shame.]

The voice, which seemed as if it would cut off at any moment, continued.

[…I just want to disappear. To do that, I can do anything.]

‘…’

[Help me, Lukas Trowman.]

…Shit.

The anger intensified. A feeling of indescribable repulsion caused him to clench his fists.

He now knew the reason.

Lukas was also a petty Absolute in the past.

So even if he didn’t like it, he had no choice but to know what kind of being a Ruler was and just how much weight that title contained.

…He didn’t want to see it.

Such a pathetic appearance of an Absolute who reigned at the top of the Three Thousand Worlds.

He didn’t want to see it.

* * *

He left the Cloud Pavilion with Yang In-hyun.

The house was built near the peak of the mountain, which made it the best place to capture the most beautiful scenery of the Flower Mountain in one glance. But instead of taking in the magnificent scenery, Lukas was busy looking for someone.

There was no sign of Pale.

“I thought she’d be over here…”

“Mm.”

Yang In-hyun’s expression became uncomfortable.

This was only natural considering that a being like the Blue Knight was wandering around his territory as she pleased. Instead, it was more surprising that he managed to maintain his composure.

Lukas carefully asked.

“What do you think would happen if the disciples of Flower Mountain discovered Pale?”

“…the procedures of the sect does not allow intruders. Unless she reveals her identity as the Blue Knight, they will draw their swords first and act. This was a mistake.”

Yang In-hyun let out a soft sigh.

“I think we should find her quickly before things get worse.”

Nodding, Lukas agreed.

As the two quickly went down while searching, Lukas blamed his own negligence.

While it was certainly nice that his relationship with Pale had deepened, her fundamental personality hadn’t changed. It wouldn’t be strange for her to carry out a massacre against the disciples of Flower Mountain.

That’s why Lukas should have paid more attention, or kept Pale by his side.

‘Does that mean that I was also too relaxed?’

Or was it because of the Lightning God?

It was no use thinking about it now.

“Ah.”

Yang In-hyun, who was quickly descending the mountain, suddenly let out an exclamation. His gaze was directed towards the middle of the mountain.

There, a large flat area extended above a long series of stone stairs, upon which several huge buildings were erected.

A place that appeared to be a base for the Flower Mountain Sect.

Pale was in that place.

Exchanging glances, Lukas and Yang In-hyun headed there.

“Huaah.”

Spread out on the ground and looking up at the sky, Pale let out a breath.

It wouldn’t be a problem if that was all, but there were six heads beside her.

They were surprised at first. At first glance, they seemed to be the decapitated heads of Flower Mountain Sect disciples. But they quickly realised that it was an illusion.

“Kuk.”

“So shameful.”

“Where the hell did this monster come from…”

After all, even if this was the World of Void, no one could speak after their heads had been cut off.

The disciples of the Flower Mountain had simply been buried in the ground.

‘Mm.’

Looking closely, he realised that they were not just disciples, but Elders of the Flower Mountain Sect that Lukas was familiar with.

Pale and the Elders’ gazes turned towards them, and their expressions changed immediately.

“Se-, Sect Leader!”

“Lukas!”

The Elders looked at Yang In-hyun, and Pale looked at Lukas.

The difference was that while the Elders were unable to move, Pale got up and came up to Lukas.

“What’s going on here?”

“Huh? Ah. These guys?”

Smiling, Pale said.

“I was looking around the mountain, but they were really noisy so I buried them. But seeing that they are still noisy, maybe I should have buried them the other way around.”

Then usually, they would die.

…Or to put it differently, they were still alive.

Lukas knew from experience what kind of rude and arrogant beings the Elders of the Flower Mountain were. They didn’t seem like the subordinates of Yang In-hyun, who was simple and rational.

The moment these people discovered the intruder called Pale, there was no way they would show a never before seen level of etiquette and politeness. He was certain that they would have threatened her like bullies.

This meant that from the perspective of the Blue Knight, there was enough justification to kill and eat them.(TL: So if I break in, and you threaten me, I can kill you… got it)

‘In other words, Pale overlooked their rudeness.’

Perhaps Lukas’ thinking had been wrong. There might have been changes inside Pale.

Meanwhile, Yang In-hyun swung his sword, splitting the ground. The Elders then haphazardly crawled out. Upon closer inspection, it could be seen that at least two of their limbs were fractured and they had significant internal injuries. Well, if they weren’t injured, they would have just escaped on their own.

“Se-, Sect Leader.”

“Sorry. Even now, the intruder…”

“That’s enough. These are guests.”

“…huh?”

Turning a blind eye to the Elder’s confusion, Yang In-hyun said.

“Go back to your dwellings and take care of your internal injuries first.”

“But…”

When the Elders made unconvinced expressions, Yang In-hyun’s voice deepened.

“Within Flower Mountain, those holding the position of Elder were defeated.”

“…!”

“Do I need to explain what that means?”

“…”

“Go back to your dwelling. I won’t say it again.”

“Sorry.”

“We have brought you shame. Sect Leader…”

Getting up with downtrodden faces, the Elders left. Yang In-hyun looked at their backs and sighed once more.

“This story has been drawn out. Let’s go to where Lee Jong-hak is.”

After saying that, Yang In-hyun started walking first. Pale walked up to Lukas, who was following behind him, and whispered.

“Did you have a good talk?”

“For now.”

“Hmm. I see. By the way, where are we going now?”

Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t given Pale an explanation. Nevertheless, while he was thankful that she followed him without asking anything… he thought it would be better to at least explain the minimum situation.

Keeping a short distance from Yang In-hyun, Lukas summarised the situation as briefly as possible.

“Hmmhmm. So it’s something like that.”

After thinking for a moment, Pale said.

“But if your goal is just to get rid of the residual thoughts, there are more reliable means.”

“Even though it’s just a residual thought, most things won’t work because a Ruler put it there himself.”

“That doesn’t matter. It’s a person who specialises in dealing with things like that.”

Specialises in doing things like that?

Now that he thought about it, Pale had said something like this when he told her about the Lightning God’s residual thoughts.

-Then that’s a different story. I know someone who can get rid of remnant thoughts in a professional manner! It might be a little hard to convince him, but if it’s for Lukas…

“There is someone who can do that?”

“Yes.”

“Who is that?”

“El.”

“…El?”

“Mm. Maybe I should say a name that’s easy for Lukas to know.”

Pale smiled brightly.

“The Red Knight.”

This name popped up once again.

Although it certainly wouldn’t be strange for the Red Knight to have the means to get rid of the remnant thought of a Ruler… it was too uncertain for him to ask for help right now.

In the end, Lukas decided to accept the Lightning God’s proposal.

‘…calling out the Red Knight will be the last resort.’

He decided to put that off until things got worse and leave it to the Lightning God for now.

But those thoughts became useless as soon as they arrived at their destination.

“…”

Inside the prison, behind the bars.

The place where Lee Jong-hak was supposed to be was empty.