#500

Interim Summary (4)

Both individuals were undeniably powerful in terms of strength and intelligence, but their reactions upon recognizing Lennok's presence were vastly different. Soryu, recognizing the obsidian mask, glanced in this direction, while Maya ignored it as if she had no interest at all.

Lennok was currently disguised as Victor, and since Maya Renslit had encountered him under Evan's name in the labyrinth, she knew nothing of Victor. Even if she had heard rumors, it would only be about a certain sorcerer participating in the jungle operation. Soryu, too, after recognizing Lennok, quickly averted his gaze as if he had no interest.

Instead, it was the other two among the four who turned to look. 

“I thought the old killer was back, but it was you?”

The first to speak was a sharp-looking woman, sitting atop someone's knee, looking down at him. Despite her tightly tied hair and practical, active attire, Lennok realized she wasn’t a physical combatant. The very fact that she came dressed like that meant she was highly conscious of her movements.

Judging by her proximity to the man, she was likely related to him in some way. The woman glanced at Vernon and then at Lennok, smirking.

“And you’ve brought along some strange guest. Is that masked person one of ours?”

“Sabrina, do you really think I’d bring someone I don’t even know?” Vernon, tilting back his bottle, gestured at Lennok. The sharp gazes naturally gathered towards him.

“You heard about what happened in the jungle, right? He was the last member to join at the well.”

Vernon downed the last of his drink and flung the bottle aside. As soon as he said that, the atmosphere around them instantly turned cold.

“So, you're that person…”

“I heard you’re a very powerful sorcerer of the specialty type.”

A muscular man sitting with his legs wide open behind Sabrina yawned and quickly turned his gaze. 

“Interesting. You seem like a good opponent.”

His upper body was fully exposed, covered in intricate tattoos, leaving a strong impression. His long black hair was unkempt, and he wasn’t even wearing shoes, giving him a wild, untamed look as if he had no regard for the conveniences of civilization.

Vernon snorted in response to his remark. 

“I think surviving an encounter with Clown qualifies him enough. If you have any complaints, why don’t you ask him yourself?”

“That lunatic is holed up in Torkoppers and won’t come out. Who’s going to ask him? He’s probably throwing a fit, managing the side effects.”

“Sabrina, his method of hierarchy management is an extremely delicate and intricate process of causal adjustment.”

With those words, a puppet-like figure, standing over two meters tall, emerged from the darkness. The humanoid figure's unsettling face moved as the parts shifted, its jaw clattering as it muttered.

"It's not something to be taken lightly with just a few words... After all, didn't he succeed in the jungle operation in the end...?"

"Chevien, you've never even worked with that guy before, so what are you babbling about?"  

The woman called Sabrina frowned deeply as she retorted.  

"A few years ago, we were on the same operation, and because he acted recklessly, six of my 'Pillars of the Spoken Command' were destroyed."

"..."

"If you're thinking of working with him, you'd better be cautious. He's utterly reckless and unpredictable."  

Sabrina issued the warning as if to intimidate, but few in the room seemed to pay much heed.  

Neither Soryu, Maya, nor the muscular man cared, and even Vernon seemed more interested in cleaning his ears.  

Only the puppet-like figure nodded slowly, seemingly unwilling.

"In some ways, he's much more dangerous than that old man over there."  

Without even turning around to look behind the theater, Sabrina gestured with her hand.

Squelch...!!

With that, an unpleasant, blood-soaked sound echoed from the far end of the corridor.  

An old man in shabby attire, drenched in blood, named Hyulno, appeared, and the theater instantly fell into silence.  

It was only then that Maya, who had been sitting among the lights over ten meters above, looked down at the gathered people and spoke.

"It’s time. Bring in Doctor."  

As Maya spoke, a drop of blood, the origin of which was unclear, fell from her wrist.  

The drop fell right in front of the statue and formed a small blood magic array on the theater floor.

Fwoosh!!

"..."

Unlike Hyulno, who let blood flow uncontrollably, Maya used a single drop of blood to intricately form a detailed blood magic array.  

How skilled would one have to be to drop blood from such a distance and complete a magic array?  

Even Lennok, well-versed in magic formations, was astonished by the refinement of her blood magic.  

At the end of the Ganges Sand Labyrinth, wasn't it Maya who used blood magic to open the gate and summon the commander?  

Apart from her exceptional physical prowess, the fact that she had such mastery over blood magic made Maya Renslit a dangerous figure.  

The idea that such a person still remained in Pandemonium, contributing her strength, was chilling.  

Lennok wasn’t the only one who felt this way; the others likely shared similar thoughts.

As the blood magic array reached full bloom, it rapidly contracted, rising like a 3D printer, forming something.  

Screech...!!

With a strange noise, the blood began to form flesh, transforming into a living creature.  

A ball of white fur, the size of a human head, began to move, flexing its bones and muscles.  

As it surveyed the surroundings, it spoke in a deep voice that seemed entirely mismatched with its appearance.

"Good evening. Or wait, is it daytime near Vulcan now?"

"It's night, Doctor," Sabrina responded.  

The ball of fur jumped up and crawled onto someone’s lap.

"I see. I haven't been outside for a month, so my biorhythm is all off... But I still remember the planet's orbit cycle, so I didn’t really think I’d be confused."  

Doctor chuckled quietly and asked, "It seems like there are some new faces this time. Looks like everyone's been busy."

"Kangara and Fransel are dead, and Aglon is missing. Probably dead too," Soryu replied in a cold voice.  

Doctor muttered, seemingly surprised by this.

"I expected Fransel, but Kangara and Aglon..."

"They didn't return from an operation with the Sorcerers' Union and the Warlords. Considering how those organizations work, they're probably being dissected as test subjects by now."

Doctor slowly nodded in response to Soryu’s cold reply.  

"It’s unfortunate. Considering their rare abilities, it would’ve been better to recover their bodies, at least."

"..."  

Was he more concerned about their abilities than their well-being?  

Well, such indifference was probably the most typical and unremarkable reaction within this organization.  

A criminal organization where unity, teamwork, and harmony didn’t exist.  

Given the nature of their work, it was no surprise that not everyone returned alive.  

The jungle operation, too, had been a fierce battle where it wouldn’t have been surprising if everyone present had died.

"Well, there’s someone here today who’s even more surprising."  

The ball of fur’s gaze fell precisely on Lennok, who had been lost in thought.  

Those transparent eyes were fixed squarely on Lennok's mask.

"I've heard a lot about you, Victor. Agneta, Clown, Freya—they all spoke of you."

"..."

"You joined on the recommendation of Fame, right? I was personally quite surprised."

"What was surprising?"

"To be honest, I... didn't think Fame would find anyone who met his standards."  

As Doctor’s cryptic voice filled the air, the others’ attention naturally shifted toward Lennok.  

Perhaps because Fame’s name had been mentioned, even Maya, who hadn’t reacted to anything since Doctor’s summoning, was now watching closely.

Doctor, unconcerned with the peculiar atmosphere he had created, continued speaking to Lennok.  

"He’s a man who holds himself and others to the same strict standards. With ordinary talent or ability, it’s hard to even stand before him. Yet, he recommended you for membership without even seeking the commander’s approval. Do you know what that means?"

"..."  

As Lennok remained silent, the ball of fur quivered with a low chuckle.

"I thought it was just idle fun, but it turns out life can be unpredictable... Who would’ve thought you’d bring a space-manipulating sorcerer, a rarity we’ve been searching for endlessly?"  

Doctor continued to speak while scurrying up to the top of someone’s head.

"Perhaps there are limits to what can be achieved through mere probability, statistics, calculation, and research. Though I understand the logic, I've never truly agreed with it. But for a great Wizard born of an esteemed lineage, it’s understandable to think that way."  

Doctor chuckled again and added, "And it's true that you possess both the qualifications and the ability to make those thoughts a reality."

"Are you done with your pointless musings?"  

Lennok crossed his arms and looked up at Doctor with a smirk.  

"I don’t really care what you or Fame think of me."

"..."

"If there’s any preparatory work to be done, hurry and finish it. I don't want to waste time talking to worthless sacrifices."  

Lennok's words, sharp and cutting, carried a chilling air.  

Though they were in line with the notoriously arrogant personality of Victor, no one here seemed bothered or offended by his statement.  

The muscular man watched with amusement, while the puppet-like figure, Chevien, tilted its head to the side.  

Even Doctor, who had been the target of Lennok's words, simply burst into cheerful laughter.

"You're not wrong. Let’s get started before we hear any more complaints."

Voom...!!

As Doctor tapped the top of the statue's head, the massive figure began to glow with an intense magical light.  

The two-headed, eight-armed statue slowly moved, shifting from its rigid posture.  

Rumble...!!

With its two faces slightly open in expression, the statue looked down at the ground, while its eight arms neatly touched the floor, palms spread wide as if it were preparing for those gathered.  

The palms, inscribed with ancient characters that glowed brightly, caught Lennok's attention.  

Lennok glanced around at the others: Soryu, Maya, Vernon, Chevien, and Sabrina.  

Even Hyulno and the muscular man had entered the theater without notice.  

That made eight. Including Doctor, it made nine.  

Vernon, perhaps realizing this as well, gulped down his drink and shouted.

"Doctor, is this right? Seems like the numbers don’t quite add up!!"

"Don’t worry, drunkard. I’m willing to go over the details again for the sake of the newcomers."  

Doctor said this as he rolled around on top of the statue’s head.

"We’ve been collecting relics of the old world for quite some time, but the settlement process is not as simple as it sounds."

"What do you mean?"

"The relics that flowed in from beyond the end of the First and Second Worlds operate in a way that’s different from the basic laws of this world."

The statue's glow intensified.

"It’s not that the principles of magic, the balance of causality, or the duality of miracles have fundamentally changed. Those core elements are tied directly to the Sea of Darkness."

"Then what?"

"For example, the magic we call sorcery in this world—did it exist under the same name and system in the First and Second Worlds?"  

Doctor’s tone was mystical, as if he were touching upon some hidden truth, albeit indirectly.

"If you understand that, you’ll know what I mean."

Doctor suddenly snapped his gaze toward Lennok, who had been quietly observing.  

"Victor, what do you think? I’d like to hear your opinion."

"..."

“Those who master specialty-type sorcery are either innately gifted or develop into suitable vessels by growing up in unique environments,” Doctor said, watching Lennok, who remained silent.  

“For sorcerers like you, the filter through which you receive the world’s information must be completely different. Otherwise, it’s impossible to manipulate space while retaining sanity.”

“You speak as if you’ve done it yourself,” Lennok replied.  

“There’s no need to explain how many researchers who dabble in magical engineering have coveted that feat,” Doctor laughed softly, unbothered by Lennok’s mocking tone.

“With conventional methods or systems, the mana consumption would be ridiculous. If you’re directly handling spatial manipulation, which has one of the worst mana efficiencies, there are only two possible answers.”  

Either you possess the ability to withstand enormous mana consumption, or you've acquired a completely different approach to spatial manipulation than the conventional one.

Doctor was subtly suggesting that Lennok’s specialty-type sorcery might fall into the latter category. The way Doctor smoothly shifted the conversation from discussing the mid-term review to Lennok’s sorcery showed just how intrigued he was by it.  

However, Lennok had no intention of debating that topic with Doctor here, so he simply gave the necessary answer.

“It’s likely due to compatibility between rules.”  

Lennok quietly spoke, adjusting his mask.  

“The laws of the old world don’t align with those of this world and operate independently. Isn’t that why you’re gathering relics from the old world to verify and compare their compatibility?”

“...Hmm.”

“If you think about it that way, it’s not hard to guess the role of this statue.” Lennok glanced up at the statue.  

“If it’s meant to analyze and extract information from the relics and preserve it, that’s enough reason to bring something like that to Byrutz.”  

And it’s also easy to see why they’ve been carrying out such a cumbersome process in Pandemonium and why someone like Doctor is managing it.

If they could discover patterns and consistency in the laws or systems held by the old-world relics and theorize them, they wouldn’t just be able to find relics from the old world—they might be able to create them.

This wouldn't just mean producing relics from the old world; it would mean something more.

“Reproducing the laws of the old world, which have already passed through one conclusion, directly in this world.”  

Lennok looked up at Doctor with a smirk.  

“Are you trying to create a model garden of the old world within this one?”

“...”  

Doctor did not reply. He merely stared at Lennok as if he were gazing at a prey he couldn’t afford to let slip away.

If their goal was to collect the laws of the First and Second Worlds and implement a model garden built on those laws, reproducing a part of the old world within this one, it would make sense why this mid-term review was so systematic and meticulously structured.

However, after staring at Lennok with fascination for a long time, the words that finally came out of Doctor’s mouth were not a confirmation.

“An extremely intriguing idea, but it’s not the correct answer,” Doctor replied, looking somewhat amused.  

“In a sense, your thought touches on the core, but it’s far too inefficient and reckless.”

“Is it dangerous?”

“But I’m not saying you’re entirely wrong. In a way, that’s also one of the many objectives of this grand plan.”

Lennok’s glowing eyes met Doctor’s gaze from behind his mask.

"What if sometimes, the only opportunity we have is to prevent the opponent's victory?"

"..."

"The commander has been preparing for that possibility for a long time. Sometimes, I wonder just how far ahead he can see."  

Doctor chuckled quietly as Lennok remained silent.

"Perhaps it’s the desire to understand that which has led me to lend my hand all this time."

"Doctor, what kind of cryptic riddles have you been spouting since earlier?"  

Sabrina, who had been listening to Lennok and Doctor’s conversation, furrowed her brow.  

The others who had been observing the exchange also began adding their thoughts one by one.

"If you’re going to explain the settlement to Victor, let’s just start already. Why are you suddenly giving us a quiz?"

"I agree. Weren’t we told from the start that the final purpose of the settlement can neither be explained nor made comprehensible?"

In response to the complaints from the other members, Doctor nodded.  

"Fair enough. I didn’t expect such deep questions. There’s no need to drag this out any further. Let’s get to the point."

Voom!

The glowing ancient characters engraved between the eight open palms facing the sky gradually dimmed and settled quietly.

"As Victor mentioned, today’s meeting is both a settlement of recent accomplishments and a test to verify the compatibility of the old-world laws," Doctor explained.  

"This statue was created to extract the laws from the relics of the old world and organize the causality related to them."

"..."

"To be more precise, it’s designed to observe the phenomenon of causality adjustments from the old world and narrow the margin of error to increase the accuracy of implementation. But if you’re not familiar with this field, no amount of explanation will help you understand it."

"Let’s keep it simple. Like last time, we just need to place the old-world relics on the statue, right?"

"Strictly speaking, it doesn’t have to be relics. Any information related to the old-world laws will suffice," Doctor nodded at Vernon’s words.

"Once the relevant data is input into the statue, it will determine the fluctuations in causality and identify which world’s laws the data is associated with."  

So even information or clues, not just relics, would suffice.

"What do you mean by fluctuations in causality?"

"It refers to how much the data you’ve collected deviates from the compatibility of the accumulated laws in previous settlements. Essentially, it’s about assessing how unique and powerful the causality from the old world was."  

As Doctor said this, the ball of fur wriggled, and he spat out a surge of mana into the air.

A long, thin line of mana floated in the dark theater, undulating like a heartbeat graph.

"In simple terms, it measures how much this information altered the outcome of the world. By comparing the deviation from the average data, we measure the absolute value of the fluctuation."

"That’s not simple at all. Are we even speaking the same language?"  

Even the tattoo-covered man muttered in confusion at Doctor’s complicated explanation.  

Lennok, too, wasn’t entirely clear on the concept of causality, but he could only guess at Doctor’s intention.

Doctor seemed accustomed to such reactions and didn’t bother to explain further.  

"No matter how much I talk, it’s better to show you. Watch closely."

Tapping the top of the statue’s head, Doctor suddenly uttered a command infused with mana.

[There were three other ways for life to meet its end, aside from death.]

"…!!!"

Lennok paused and lifted his gaze, startled by the unexpected words.  

The statue’s closed eyes began to slowly open.

Kiiiiing...!!

The tightly shut eyelids opened, revealing azure eyes beneath.  

A total of four half-open eyes scanned the vast audience in the theater.

Unfazed by the statue’s appearance, Doctor continued speaking.  

"The number of eyes that open corresponds to the magnitude of the causality fluctuation measured."

"..."

"In this case, the fluctuation wasn’t that large relative to the significance of the event, which is why only a few eyes opened. Generally, the larger the fluctuation, the more important the information."

The statue had two faces, each with five eyes, making for a total of ten.  

So, the number of eyes that opened indicated how significant the relic or information was.

"Naturally, the greater the fluctuation in causality your results show, the greater the compensation you will receive in return."  

As Doctor spoke, the statue’s eyes slowly closed again, and its eight hands, neatly arranged on the ground, gently twitched.

"Now, let’s begin the settlement."