Book Eater

Chapter 283: Followers of the End (2)

It took a thousand years to prepare for a simple experiment, but a grimoire had the patience to wait a thousand years. What was Gluttony referring to when he said the past? The origin of black magic might be more profound than what modern magicians imagined.

Theo walked through the gloomy darkness as he listened to the voice inside him.

- Let’s start with the essence of orthodox magic. It is a magic that changes the laws of the material world, manipulating natural phenomena according to the caster’s wishes. It can create fire at the desired spot or change the direction of the wind. It might seem strange, but it is a phenomenon based on the physical laws that exist in this world.

Its voice grew lower.

- On the other hand, black magic is contrary to orthodox magic. It opposes the causal law of the material world, reviving the dead, forcibly capturing souls, and repressing the will of others. It spreads diseases that don’t exist and draws out the evil laws. They are people with depraved hearts that can’t help being enemies of the whole world.

“... Gluttony, I don’t quite understand one part,” Theo had to interject.

He was forced to do so because, from his point of view, magic that deviated from natural phenomena was quite orthodox. There were two of the most representative examples.

“Black magic borrows the power of the world to bring back the dead... Isn’t that summoning magic? And magic like space movement seems like it bends natural phenomena.”

Gluttony didn’t hesitate to explain.

- Those are two questions. I will explain it in the order mentioned. As User says, summoning magic and death magic can look quite similar. In times when the division wasn’t clear, paladins often misunderstood summoners as warlocks and killed them. In the end, it was revealed that there was a big difference between summoning and black magic.

“A big difference?”

- That’s right. Summoning magic is a technique that invites guests from beyond this world, allowing them to exert their abilities. It is like the moon’s shadow on the water. Even with mighty powers, they can’t go beyond that boundary.

Theo was reminded of Fafnir. The dragon of Muspelheim could only stay for a few seconds after Theo sacrificed Charlotte's Necklace. Perhaps that ghastly body hadn’t even been its true one.

It was a transcendent being that had once burned down the world tree alone. Satomer’s summoning magic had been perfect, and he had prepared the correct sacrifice, but Fafnir hadn’t been able to sustain itself for more than a few seconds.

The stronger the being, the more caught it was by the binding power of this world. The peak of Muspelheim, Fafnir, was no different than a god of the material world. Fafnir was a being who was born strong, who used that power without hesitation. Even the demons were much stronger, but they couldn’t freely cross the walls of the dimension.

The Fafnir that Theo had called had been just a shadow of its body. It had been impossible for Muspelheim to free itself from the bindings.

- The second is very simple, but it was hard to explain.?

Gluttony spoke in a delicate tone as Theo used space magic as an example. Gluttony knew the answer but didn’t know how to convince Theo.

Theo failed to repress his attitude and demanded, “Why can’t you give a simple explanation? Tell me anything.”

- Sigh. User said that space magic doesn’t seem to correlate with natural phenomena?

“Then?”

It was common sense. How was it possible to jump through space in this world without magical intervention? At least, that was the case for Theo. Of course, it wasn’t the same for Gluttony.

- Withdrawal. A phenomenon that can frequently be seen when looking at the surface of the planet.

“... What?”

- It is a field of science that this world hasn’t touched yet. The concepts of wormholes, black holes, and other four-dimensional space haven’t been revealed yet. User won’t know about them, but space magic is certainly based on the laws of physics.

Theo realized that he couldn’t object to this. Was it possible to argue against science that he didn’t know? A grimoire lived on for infinity in the world and accumulated invaluable knowledge over the years. So, to a grimoire, Theo’s knowledge would be no different from a caveman. It was wiser to just accept what he heard.

Gluttony added more information about black magic.

- If space magic went against the laws of physics of this world, the only magicians who could use Teleport would be those who reached the?9th?Circle. It would be like going against a huge river. It is because magic that doesn’t borrow power from the natural laws of the world comes with a price that is several times that of orthodox magic.

“Uh, then black magic?”

- I’m getting there. Warlocks use taboo practices such as sacrificing humans and draining in order to make up for the lacking price. They sacrifice another creature and convert it into their own magic power.

The taboo of human sacrifices and draining!

Theo’s footsteps slowed, and stopped. Warlocks had never been public enemies from the beginning. They had been considered insidious and users of spells of an unknown system. They had only been branded as enemies of the world due to the active abuse of these two taboos.

Theo started moving again and spat out, “It is a bloody history.”

- I also agree. But the problem wasn’t that simple in the Age of Mythology. It was rare that they would act in the domain of the gods, and demonic work was far more heinous and dangerous.

“Hah, I can understand that.”

- The problem was that the warlocks came into contact with the demons.

“... What?”

Gluttony recalled the memories of the distant past from within the astonished Theo.

- As invaders of this world, the actions of the demons were limited. However, warlocks gave them sacrifices to loosen these constraints, and the demons taught them black magic in return. It consolidated their knowledge of the reverse pentagram, the five-phase system of black magic.

Gluttony’s analysis revealed that the demons had broken away from the constraints of life. They didn’t die in the flow of time, and they were also difficult to kill using outside means. They freely invaded other dimensions and raised their power by enhancing other beings. Indeed, they were predators with the power of immortality! It wasn’t unreasonable that the warlocks were fascinated by the power of the demons and wanted to be a part of them.

Then the twilight of a new world, Ragnarok, broke out with the demons that invaded this world and the warlock forces that tried to end it...

After the Dracomachia, the dragons had almost been driven to extinction. This was the second half of the Age of Mythology. The gods had lost their strength and called for help from the free transcendents. The gods and transcendents had united to confront the demon army.

The end of the Age of Mythology... To think that I would discover the truth in a place like this!

The end of the Age of Mythology, Ragnorok, had come with the warlocks who had become fascinated by the demons and conspired with them!

Theo was one of the few people in the modern age who would know the truth. Only dragons and grimoires like Gluttony would also know. It wasn’t knowledge that humans, who could only live for a hundred years at most, would have.

Theo shivered in excitement as Gluttony whispered.

- Once they were defeated during Ragnarok, the demons were expelled from this world and the warlocks lost most of their power... It is hard to forget the sense of omnipotence I once felt. I saw all types of works break down the boundary of this material world.

“To destroy humanity and civilization?”

- One of the methods is to weaken the walls of the dimension. By the way, the four riders of the end have quite a bit of ability.

Theo immediately responded, “What, you know about the four riders of the end?”

- Of course. Do you want to hear about them?

“Of course! Please.”

- I want two books of at least a rare rating in return.

“... Hey,” Theo grumbled but pulled out the books. “Ah, you can’t read the atmosphere.”

It seemed like his turmoil in the tunnel would continue a little longer.

***

A few days later...

The fact that Theo had managed to raid Dofrun Castle and gotten results was spread through all of Meltor. In a position where a single act of deception affected the morale of thousands, Theo was a fantastic propaganda tool.

The soldiers were happy, but their leaders were troubled.

“Warlocks... They actually appeared right now.”

Orta nodded, as the Magic Society chairman, Benedict, spoke.

“I missed the tail of the Orcus Company once, but I never realized that they would appear again here. It’s quite a bold move.”

Benedict mused, “It’s true that we can’t afford to go against them. Fortunately, there is no possibility that they will ally with Andras.”

Orta replied, “There would be big resistance from Lairon. To Andras, knights and priests are more important than hard-to-deal-with warlocks."

Warlocks weren’t people that nations would consider allying with. If they accepted the power of the public enemy of the world, everyone on the continent would take up arms against Andras.

In particular, they already had an alliance with Lairon! That fanatical kingdom despised magicians who tried to break God’s will, and they also hated warlocks that messed with the world. It was impossible for the church to embrace the power of warlocks.

Benedict’s eyes narrowed. “According to Theo, they came to obtain sacrifices for this war. They are like hyenas eating corpses.”

Orta nodded. “They are extremely vulgar.”

Theo had reported that Hipatia’s organization had come to obtain sacrifices, since he couldn’t expose Death’s Worship. The battlefield, which was overflowing with many deaths, grudges, and emotions, was a good altar for the warlocks. It was difficult to understand their recklessness in coming to the master rich North, but they were psychopaths.

Benedict snorted. “Well, this isn’t the problem right now.”

Orta agreed, “It is as you said, Commander.”

The two magicians conversed as they left the barrack.

“Theo raised morale, so I will have egg on my face if I don’t keep this going.”

“You have suffered a lot. I am also burdened, but not as much as you.”

Orta chuckled. “It is nothing. I know that you stayed up all night yesterday.”

Benedict coughed and blushed, before looking at the horizon. Andras’ army was facing newly emboldened soldiers. With no talking and no distractions, their discipline made Meltor’s army shrink back. Besides, there was no doubt that he had arrived.

“... Excuse me, can you do it?” As Benedict spoke, there was a heavy pressure on Orta’s back. “You already lost once to him. If you can’t win, it’s good to try other tactics. You should use every method possible, even if it dirties your honor.”

“I won’t deny it,” White Tower’s Orta agreed as a strategist and magician. But his lips curved in a mysterious manner under his mask. “But he made a mistake.”

“A mistake?”

“Please believe in me. I won’t lose to the same opponent twice, especially to one who deals with the same type of abilities,” Orta said as he adjusted his mask, “I will repay him with interest.”