Volume 4 Chapter 20 Beast
I have encountered events that completely overturn the world view, such as being transferred to another world, the God-Demon War, and hell, many times.
So I thought I had developed resistance to most things.
"But this is unexpected."
Before I knew it, I was sitting on a chair in a stone room of unknown origin.
Where is this? At first glance, it looks like a reception room in a castle, but there is almost no interior decoration, only inorganic stone walls surrounding me.
Strange. I should have been sleeping on Yunea's lap just a moment ago, but now I only feel a cold and hard sensation.
I stood up from the chair and looked around. The place where I was sitting earlier seemed to be the position of a throne, but there is no decoration or anything, so there is no grandeur at all.
Hmm, I feel like I've seen this place somewhere before.
I reluctantly left the room and started walking.
Indeed, this seems to be a castle. And a quite large one.
However, there doesn't seem to be any interior decoration, and no one is around. It was an unnatural structure that seemed to have only captured the form of a castle.
And after walking for a while, I realized the identity of the déjà vu.
"Is this... Centrise Castle?"
Yes, it's natural that I remember. I didn't notice it because there was no decoration, but this is the very castle of the Centraris Kingdom where I was summoned.
Why am I here?
I briefly thought that I was summoned to Asteris again, but this is a replica that is completely different from the Centrise Castle I know.
What's more, it was immediately apparent that this is not Asteris.
"That is..."
It was when I went out to the terrace. The piercing blue sky and the sunlight pouring down were dazzling to my eyes accustomed to the night.
The sun in Asteris has a circle of light rotating around it, but the sun floating in the sky was the same as the one on Earth.
So is this Earth?
No, that's not it.
Because there were scenes in front of my eyes that were impossible on Earth. A gigantic tree that reached the heavens spread its branches as if supporting the sky.
It was an unreal size. I can see the whole picture from a distance, but if I get closer, it will just look like a wall.
The existence, which can be called the World Tree, is so fantastical that it does not exist in either Earth or Asteris.
However, the moment I saw that tree, I understood where this is.
Because I have seen this tree only once before. It was when I reexamined my own magic during the battle with the Demon Lord.
This is probably the realm of the psyche where Shinrei (Spiritual Penetration) resides. The place closest to the essence of magic.
But I have never had such a clear image of this place before.
Certainly, I thought about reevaluating myself, but I didn't expect it to be so easy.
No, it's probably not easy.
"'Just one more thing, let me help you.'"
I heard that voice just before losing consciousness. The voice itself belonged to Yunea, but there was an atmosphere as if someone else was speaking.
Did someone bring me to this world?
If so, who... or maybe Yunea has some special ability.
Hmm, I can't figure it out even if I think about it.
For now, the certain thing is that I have come to the place I wished for. The reason is unknown, but the result is excellent.
However, just coming here is meaningless. There is something I must face sincerely here.
Now, I should head there after all.
I started walking again to leave the castle.
Outside the castle, there was a deep forest. Basically, it seems to reproduce the vegetation of Asteris, but occasionally I can see plants that I would see on Earth. A world that could never exist in reality.
Because it is created based on my memories, such inconsistent scenery is born.
However, strangely, there are no animal figures here. I think the plants are alive, but why don't animals exist? I don't understand the difference there. It seems that magic cannot be used in this world - or rather, there is no magic power at all, and even physical enhancement is impossible.
Well, my true body is still sleeping on Yunea's lap, so it's natural that it can't be done.
But lately, it feels like I've been walking in the forest all the time. One of them was a dream, but even now, it's not much different.
I think my mind should be a little more civilized, but how much do I love nature? Am I a wild child?
While cursing my difficult-to-walk heart, I wonder how much I've walked.
I feel like I've been walking for a whole day, but in this world without clocks or even a moving sun, there is no way to measure time. Or maybe I've been walking for even longer.
And so, I continued walking until my heart was about to break, and suddenly my field of vision opened up.
Beyond the forest was a vast plain.
No, I should call this a plain.
In front of me was a vast land and a world tree so big that it could be mistaken for a wall.
Finally, I arrived here. The place that is the core of my mental landscape.
Looking at it again, it's huge... When I look up from below, it's too high to see the whole picture.
Although the branches should be so dense as to cover the sky, the sunlight was shining brightly here.
Well, it's wrong to seek logical explanations in a mysterious world.
Anyway, I have come a long way to get here, but unfortunately, the world tree is not my goal.
I followed a feeling that told me it would be here. And it seems that judgment was correct.
"────"
I heard a sound that could be a cry or a scream.
Even though I don't understand the meaning at all, it is a heartbreaking scream that tightens my chest just by listening.
It came from the direction of the world tree.
"────────"
The one making the sound was a beast.
A four-legged giant beast clinging to the world tree, thrusting its claws and fangs into the bark.
Is it really appropriate to call it a beast? Its body structure is like that of a wolf, but no human can describe that just by looking at it.
Because its skin is covered with numerous swords instead of fur, and it has no eyes or nose.
It looks as if it could harm everything in the world.
Its voice seems to curse everything in the world.
I had never seen this creature before, but its existence and appearance made perfect sense to me. I knew it would be here.
The only moving being in this world. But it is not my Shinrei, that much is certain.
When I took a step forward, the beast stopped scraping the world tree and turned its head towards me. In an instant, a chill ran through my whole body.
The beast made a creaking sound and jumped.
With just that leap, it landed in front of me.
The ground rippled, and the air burst. The swords all over its body cut through the air with a sound that pierced my ears.
And it's big.
It was hard to grasp when it was clinging to the world tree, but now that it's in front of me, I can clearly see its size. Its jaw is higher than me, and its total length is probably more than ten meters.
But being big is not surprising.
"────────"
The beast cried out. Its scream could easily blow me away.
"Ugh!"
I managed to bend my knees and withstand it. I've come this far, I can't back down now.
That's right, I've always wanted to meet it. The many hands that tried to drag me into darkness. And it was the one behind it all.
This beast is the accumulated hatred within me. The resentment of those who died for me and were killed by my own hands.
It was hidden behind the absolute goal of defeating the Demon Lord, so I hadn't noticed it until now.
But returning to the battlefield and reuniting with Larkan, I became aware of it again. The thorn that had been stuck deep in my heart.
"What's important is not whether it's right or wrong, but the heart that strives to be right, huh..."
Those are good words.
If that's the case, then my righteousness lies ahead.
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting for so long. It's all my fault that I didn't notice, that I didn't try to see."
The beast didn't answer, but its blades rang out.
"So tell me. What are you angry about? What do you desire?"
I don't know what I can do. But I can still hear.
The beast stands on its hind legs and roars loudly towards the sky, as if eagerly awaiting this moment.
And in the next moment, its pitch-black mouth swallowed me whole.
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