Chapter 160: The Second Truth

「Pathfinder – ‘Hio Pavlenko’s’ entry has been confirmed.」

「Entering the second dungeon.」

The sight that greeted me as soon as I entered the second Gate was Len Hank standing before a crowd of refugees.

– Maintain order and wait!

Len Hank stood there, leaning on a large staff, his beard and hair turned snowy white. He raised his voice toward the refugees, using magic to amplify his speech.

– I am currently in discussions with Tetradia, so it won’t be long before everyone can be admitted!

It was an obvious lie. I had just seen him arguing with Abellar Pavlenko due to their conflicting opinions.

***

The Master of the Wizard’s Tower was clearly Abellar Pavlenko. Even if Len Hank was his master, as long as Abellar held firm to his ideals, there would be no way for the refugees to enter Tetradia.

– So please, endure just a little longer!

Yet Len Hank shouted the lie without a hint of hesitation. He told them that Tetradia would accept them if they waited just a bit more. He urged them not to give up hope, to maintain order, and to wait.

At his words, the refugees raised their voices in a frenzy. No, listening closely, it wasn’t enthusiasm. It was rage.

– Are you joking! How much longer are we supposed to live like this!

– Do Magicians truly have no blood or tears!

– At least the children! Please let at least the children in!

Len Hank endured all that resentment entirely on his own.

– …I am sorry. Please wait just a little longer.

Even though he had no reason to, he willingly absorbed all the dregs of emotion poured out upon him.

– How much longer do you want us to wait! With this amount of food, my whole family will starve to death!

– Magician! Please, let us into Tetradia!

– What was Tetradia doing until our homeland! Until our kingdom was destroyed! You cowards! If only you people had stepped up in time, it wouldn’t have come to this!

– Are you planning to kill us all! Open the gates now!

The destruction of the kingdoms was not the fault of the Magicians belonging to Tetradia. Nonetheless, the refugees’ lost anger was directed at Tetradia, and Len Hank bore it alone.

‘Why would he go this far?’ They were likely people he had never met, and as Abellar said, accepting all the refugees would only hasten their self-destruction.

– I am sorry… I am sorry.

‘What was so lamentable that he bowed his head so deeply in apology?’

– Just a little… if you wait just a little longer, surely…

It was then.

Kwahaaaang—!

A thunderous roar, as if dozens of Explosions had detonated simultaneously, echoed from the center of Tetradia. It wasn’t an explosion. Nothing shot upward, either. However, there was something that felt so massive it took one’s breath away.

It was Magic Power. A release of an inexpressible amount of Magic Power. Not just Len Hank, but even the ordinary refugees felt the aura from the release of Magic Power and trembled.

– Abellar… you finally did it!

I didn’t know what kind of phenomenon it was, but Len Hank closed his eyes tightly with an expression that suggested the inevitable had arrived.

It was only for a moment. When he opened his eyes again, his face was filled with the same confidence as before, as if there was nothing to worry about.

– Do not worry!

A confidence painted with lies.

– I am here, so it is fine. Trust me and let us wait together!

***

– The preparations are complete.

The place where Abellar Pavlenko and a dozen or so Magicians gathered was the interior of the Tower of Mages, though I didn’t know which floor.

– Once you make the decision, the transition can be completed within a day.

Every one of them was either the head of a school or an elder of the Tower of Mages. The greatest Magicians of the Continent during the war had gathered in one place.

The massive Magic Power released alongside the roar meant that the Spatial Magic they had been preparing for a long time was finally ready.

– …Please wait a moment.

Despite this, Abellar Pavlenko hesitated.

– Is it because of the Druid Len Hank?

– This is unlike you, Lord of the Magic Tower. We know he is a special person to you, but he is old, and his magic level is merely that of a 5th Circle Mage at best. He is of no help to the greater cause.

– I know, so stop.

Len Hank’s magic was only at the level of a 5th Circle Mage.

While that alone was impressive enough, when looking at Tetradia as a whole, neither his age nor his level of attainment was helpful.

– Yes. Please make a rational decision. This is something that has been in preparation since long before you ascended to that position.

The dozen Magicians accompanying Abellar Pavlenko—the old elders of the Tower of Mages and the heads of each school—remained chillingly expressionless. I thought Abellar Pavlenko also had few facial changes, but standing among them, he actually looked quite expressive by comparison.

They looked like humans whose emotions had vanished, people without blood or tears as someone once said. Do all Magicians who reach such a level end up like that? Is it an inevitable consequence of reaching those heights?

– After everything is over, Tetradia will return here.

– It is the most ideal scenario and the most probable one. Though there was the sacrifice of a few kingdoms, the Continent would have been destroyed anyway if not for this.

– Just like over there.

– So, Lord of the Magic Tower, please understand the way Len Hank is acting. Is it not behavior born of ignorance?

– No matter how much of a benefactor Len Hank is for saving and teaching the young Lord of the Magic Tower, he is going too far this time.

Abellar Pavlenko agonized amidst the Magicians who spoke up one by one. Among the stiff and cold words, his was the only face that felt alive.

‘Was that due to Len Hank’s teachings? Or was it his natural disposition? I couldn’t know, but one thing was certain.’

– I will go and have one last conversation with him.

– There is not much time.

– Don’t worry. I only intend to make the offer once.

– If he still doesn’t listen, you must return immediately.

– I intend to.

Abellar Pavlenko was a Magician. And he was a Master Magician who had reached the highest level of the current era. That meant he was the most rational and cold-headed of people.

– I can no longer waste any more time.

With those final words, Abellar’s body was enveloped in a white light.

***

– Master.

Despite the familiar voice suddenly coming from behind him, Len Hank’s gaze remained fixed forward.

– Come into Tetradia now.

Instead of Len Hank, the refugees crowded around were surprised to see Abellar, pointing at him or rejoicing.

– It’s the Lord of the Magic Tower!

– Lord Pavlenko himself…!

– We’re saved! We’re saved!

– Please let us in! Lord of the Magic Tower!

Abellar Pavlenko waved his staff, not even glancing at the refugees swarming toward him. At that, a barrier of Magic Power was erected, blocking the refugees’ approach. The refugees clamored, but Abellar didn’t even turn his eyes toward them.

– The transition will begin soon.

– I still have work to do.

– We will cross over to the other side and complete the magic.

– Look at those countless people. They are people who have fled the darkness and come all the way here chasing hope.

– Once the magic is complete, we can end this tedious war.

– But if even this place they barely reached offers nothing but despair, how miserable would they be?

– It’s because you don’t know the details, Master. The probability is not low. This is something that has been foreseen and prepared for much longer than you think.

– Therefore, I intend to become their hope.

Their conversation did not meet each other. They only delivered their own stories in a single direction, refusing to bend flexibly.

– To end the war, there is no other way. This is a sacrifice to save at least those who remain. Master.

Only after those words did Len Hank’s gaze move slowly. His eyes were covered in wrinkles, eyes etched with the depth of the years as he looked at Abellar.

– When did you grow this much, Abellar?

His slowly moving hand gripped Abellar’s shoulder and gave it a light pat.

– …Master. Now is not the time for this. The Abyssal Depths are rushing in.

– The child who used to cling to my leg and wail has grown this much before I knew it.

– Let us go to the other side together. I am saying we should move together to the end of the world, beyond that.

– The days were so indifferent that I didn’t even notice you were growing. That is my regret.

– We will cross over, complete the magic, end the war, and return. So please, let us go together quickly.

Even though they were looking at each other, it was no different from not facing one another. For Abellar was looking at the future, while Len Hank was looking at the past.

– Abellar Pavlenko.

The one who ended the conversation was Len Hank, his expression suddenly turning firm. He spoke with a similarly resolute tone.

– You must never forget. No matter how high your level of attainment, no matter if you sit in the highest position in the world, you are human.

With those final words, he turned around again. He no longer looked at Abellar.

– Do not lose your heart. You are a human, not a god.

Abellar also looked at Len Hank for a moment before turning his back. It was because he had read his extremely firm will.

– I understand.

That was the end of the conversation between the two. Abellar Pavlenko soon vanished along with a cluster of bright light.

– Things went well with the Lord of the Magic Tower, so rest easy! You only need to wait a little longer!

Len Hank once again breathed in false hope. Even though he clearly knew their future, he kept shouting, wishing for them to feel relieved for just this moment. Wishing for them to be happy.

Wishing for them to be drenched in hope. Whether that was truly the right thing… well, I’m not sure.

However, even when a pillar of light rose brilliantly from the center of Tetradia less than an hour later. Even after the city itself, which had been perfectly fine, vanished in an instant.

– It is fine! Am I not remaining here! Do not worry!

Len Hank stood alone, shouting like that. And what was reflected in Len Hank’s vision was—

– …It is fine. Just trust me.

The darkness approaching from the far distance. The Abyssal Depths were charging toward them.

***

「You have successfully cleared the second dungeon.」

The keywords obtained from the second dungeon were many. The “other side” space Abellar kept talking about. He had said they should go together to the end of the world, beyond that.

‘If so, is the current Tetradia in that place Abellar mentioned? Where is that place, and why did they have to use Spatial Magic to head there? If they said they would return, for what reason did they fail, and why did the outside of the Tower of Mages become crawling with Abyss Monsters?’

There were many questions, but it wouldn’t be a problem. I would find out soon enough.

“……I’ll know once I go in.”

I had only finished the second dungeon. There would be many dungeons remaining, and I would be able to obtain just as much information. Of course, there would be things I could never truly know.

Abellar, who turned away from the deaths of hundreds of millions to end the war. Len Hank, who told him not to turn away from hundreds of millions of lives, not to be swayed by a numbers game, and to stand and fight.

Abellar, who gave up the present for the future. Len Hank, who believed the future could only continue because there was a present.

Whose words were closer to the right answer? What decision would I have made if I were in that situation?

“……Let’s go in immediately.”

That was something I could never truly know, even after clearing every dungeon.