Volume 5 Chapter 32 Difference In Self-Awareness
Horace fell to the ground, while Laris remained completely unharmed.
The overwhelming pressure and clash of forces declared Laris the winner.
"...As expected. When you first arrived, you couldn't have been my opponent in battle. Still, I'm surprised you managed to fight this far."
"There's... this much... of a gap?"
"Yes. The history you know—no, the history you're *aware* of—is shallow."
"'Awareness'... huh."
Horace sighed.
The 'magic power' in this world is a 'universal substance seeking stability.' It recognizes its current state, is grasped, and changes to match that state.
If nothing unusual happens nearby, magic power remains like a gas.
However, in large-scale phenomena like a 'typhoon,' it transforms into substances like wind and rain.
Though weather studies were introduced from other worlds during the 'Great Summoning Era' 1800 years ago, they sometimes fail in regions with immense magic power due to structural reasons.
In nature, unless there's a massive event like a typhoon, magic power behaves consistently.
So, how do humans control magic power? Does human thought influence it? Many believe so, but simply put, there's a 'special nerve' that turns mental images into a basis for magic power to judge stability.
With a stronger image, magic power transforms.
Many scholars claim 'humans directly control magic power,' but in reality, it moves on its own.
Because of this, 'rigidified images' are crucial when handling magic power.
As these images become closer to 'certainty,' magic power creates phenomena that match them.
'Awareness' is a fundamental basis for this certainty.
Gai Gigant once said in the heart of 'Wrath of the Heavens' that 'magic power is presentism.'
Based on that, the past doesn't matter to magic power.
However, 'self-awareness' directly connects to what one should do *now* and how one should choose *in the present*, based on that past.
"Studying history isn't enough. In a magic-dominated world, you must consider how you should be, based on it, huh?"
"Yes. That difference in self-awareness decided our battle. That's all."
Laris put his hand in his pocket and took out a fan-shaped fragment and a key.
The key had a design of a dragon's head bound by chains.
Throwing both items, Horace caught them.
"...I couldn't even make a dent, yet I conquered the dungeon?"
"As I said, I'm making the condition for handing over the fragment not 'if you defeat me' but 'if I acknowledge you.' You're good enough. Take it."
"...What about this key?"
"It's the key to a storage room of the Order of the Sealed Dragon. Among the items stored there is the 'true scabbard' of that magic sword."
"The magic sword's..."
"And... how much do you know about Ivan?"
"He's said to be a descendant of Apollyon, right?"
"Then it's straightforward. If Ivan inherited what he should have from Clim, and if you had that scabbard..."
Laris paused. For a moment, he seemed hesitant about whether to speak...
"In that case, if only the two of you had come here, the outcome might have been different."
"...I can't even imagine."
"That's how much history there is. That's the kind of story it is."
"...I see."
"Still, there are many things it's too early to tell you about."
"...Understood. Then... I'll get stronger. For my sake."
"That's good."
Laris turned his back to Horace.
"Oh, right, one last thing that doesn't matter."
"Hmm?"
"That descendant of the Dragonstone Kingdom over there playing Othello with Zethar──"
"Wait, what are those guys doing?"
What are they doing while others are in a serious battle?
The conclusion has already been reached, and neither intends to draw their swords, so it doesn't matter what the spectators are doing.
There's no problem, but to say you can get away without a comment—that's not the case.
"...An heir, but when she came to this dungeon, she probably said she'd obtain the legendary gem 'Too Insane, LOL Orb,' or something like that."
"She said that, huh?"
"My 'Sacred Sword Noiltonetopes' is made from it. That gem has incredible power, and it won't appear for another 100 years."
"...That's quite a relieving story."
"Yeah. I think so too. But... unfortunately, that's how the world is."
"I'll remember that well."
"That's good. Well, I should take my leave."
Laris took out another key. A door appeared, and when he inserted the key and turned it, he set his hand on the doorknob.
"Ah, yes, one last thing..."
"?"
"No doubt about it. Ten centuries ago, leaving the Order of the Sealed Dragon was not a mistake."
Smiling kindly, Laris disappeared behind the door.
"..."
Horace lay back, looking at the key and fragment in his hand.
"...Now there are 3 fragments. I can go to Shildress. But... judging from the fragments, there's still plenty of time remaining."
He let out a deep sigh.
"Order of the Sealed Dragon... huh."
The last small murmur... disappeared into the air.
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