Chapter 204
“How are you in my dream—no, are you just a figure moulded from my subconscious? Yeah, I’m sure that’s it,” Seong-Hwi mumbled.
He was only momentarily shocked by Curiositas; he reminded himself that this was a dream, where anything was possible.
As if he could tell exactly what Seong-Hwi was thinking about, Curiositas said, “This is indeed not my main body, but that does not mean I am fake.” He pointed at Seong-Hwi and continued, “I played a little trick when I planted my blood and genes inside you. You can do such fascinating things if you imitate the vampires’ Blood Domination.”
“What do you... Does that mean you’re... the real Curiositas?”
“If you define real as the state of consciousness and literal existence, then yes. I am the real Curiositas.”
The beautiful man smiled brightly, but it only sent chills down Seong-Hwi’s back. His subconscious could never imitate that manner of speech, presence, and information.
He infiltrated my consciousness? Is it a manipulation skill? No, since he mentioned that he planted his blood and genes inside me, could he take control of—
“You need not worry about that. Not only was it a minuscule amount, but it is impossible to take control of your body in the first place,” Curiositas mumbled, having seen through Seong-Hwi’s thoughts.
However, Seong-Hwi couldn’t understand what he was talking about.
Curiositas licked his lips and continued, “I am more than satisfied with just watching. Ahhh, I have not been this satisfied in a long time! You are a lens with just the right amount of refraction, and an interesting subject to observe. You are also a talented actor. You know how to use a stage. I was so immersed in your performance that I ended up talking to you from the audience seats.”
“You talked to me?”
“You don’t remember? I talked to you twice. Once, back when you were fighting against the Shell of Tellus to acquire the Earthquake Stone Fragment. I couldn’t help but intervene because you weren’t using a method despite having it at your disposal.”
Seong-Hwi remembered something.
“A brilliant performance, splendid teamwork, and a marvelous battle. Since it has been a while since I have been this entertained, I will tell you something as payment. Superior Chaos Mana can nullify Chaos Mana inferior to it.”
“Could it be...” he mumbled.
The advice to use Ajingya’s Chaos Mana was Curiositas’s voice?
Seong-Hwi had not thought deeply about the voice at the time; he simply believed superficially that he had instinctively found the answer from his subconscious. It was only natural for one to become insensitive to such phenomena when it was the norm for various figures of destiny to talk to him inside his head. Even if he had realized it was someone else’s voice. He could never have thought it belonged to Curiositas.
“The other time was after you almost died from your battle against the goblin named Jazathura in Ferrum. You desired power as you were drowning in powerlessness, desperately enough to move me,” Curiositas said.
“You who abhors his powerless self, what are you willing to do to gain power?”
He recalled the voice that had echoed inside his head back then, as well as his answer: anything. He also remembered how the voice responded.
“Very well. I shall reserve a stage for you soon.”
Curiositas said affectionately, “I have kept my promise. The stage is reserved.” He grabbed the Fruit of the World Tree on the table and continued, “Now, it is the actor’s turn.”
Just then, Keter’s words replayed inside Seong-Hwi’s head.
“His name is Curiositas. He confused the World Tree by telling her: You lack nutrients. At this rate, you will dry up and die.”
A thought flashed inside his head, rapidly generating a hypothesis.
Seong-Hwi, unable to hide his shock, asked, “You were the one who started the World Tree War, and it was all... for me?”
“To be more exact, it was for the joy I would gain through you.” Curiositas nodded in satisfaction. “You were magnificent. I didn’t have to bother breaking through Keter’s barrier and bringing you the Fruit personally. I have reserved the stage, and you earned the lead role with your own efforts. You are worthy of this.”
***
Curiositas examined the Fruit of the World Tree with great interest as he basked in the sunset shining on the corner table through the window. Seong-Hwi kept forcing his mind to stay focused instead of going into a daze.
Curiositas started the World Tree War to acquire the Fruit, Seong-Hwi said inwardly.
No matter how much he thought about it, it did not change the fact that it was insane—beyond reason. Countless lives had been lost due to the World Tree’s rampage. On top of that, two world quests were generated, and the war had lasted over two years in his past life.
“It’s as beautiful as I had expected,” Curiositas said.
But it was all part of his experiment?
Seong-Hwi felt like he had witnessed the true character of Curiositas, the Second Fiend, the Supreme Demon God, who was willing to do anything to satisfy his curiosity and pursuit of research. He was an absolute being who had countless races and lives in the palm of his hand, and they were merely toys for his enjoyment.
Is that... my goal? Will I change to someone like that once I grasp my destiny, the destiny of humanity, and the world?
Seong-Hwi shook his head. It was a meaningless assumption.
I can only find out once I get there, using any means necessary!
He grabbed a chair and sat across from Curiositas, asking, “Why did you choose me?”
His voice had become much calmer and respectful, as one would expect from someone who wanted something.
Curiositas also noticed the change in Seong-Hwi. He was delighted to see that Seong-Hwi was as quick to adapt as he expected and answered, “Because no other subject was as interesting as you. I was simply curious if it was possible. I once researched the conversion of a high-density energy source, like the Fruit of the World Tree, into stats.”
After gathering data through countless experiments and failures, he had finally succeeded. All his successful productions rose to high rankings. For example, Curiositas had infused Taizet with the flame, allowing him to rise to the eighteenth in the demon ranking and be known as the Demon of Hellfire.
“However, it had its limits. The subjects’ bodies had to be innately durable, and the energy sources needed to be weakened, with their characteristics erased.” Curiositas stared at the Fruit of the World Tree and remarked, “Words cannot describe the sorrow I felt to be forced to weaken such beautiful things.”
“Am I... able to absorb that fully?” Seong-Hwi asked as he stared blazingly at the Fruit.
Curiositas shook his head. “The conditions couldn’t be worse. The body of a human, an inferior race, with the Fruit of the World Tree, an energy source that not even I can weaken. You are dying. No, you are practically dead.”
Seong-Hwi remained silent.
Curiositas examined the Fruit and continued, “The second Fruit would have been much weaker. Yes, the Second or Third Lord could have absorbed that one. However, this is the first Fruit.”
The second Fruit?
The cogs in Seong-Hwi’s head turned, deciphering the information hidden behind Curiositas’s words. The Fruit of the World Tree could be regrown. Thinking about it now, the Fruit was created using the excess nutrients that the World Tree absorbed. It was only natural that another Fruit would be grown after the one before was harvested.
Yeah, Keter remained inside Cherec for an entire year in my past life to protect the Fruit from Curiositas. However, Keter couldn’t stop him from taking the first Fruit.
Another year passed, and a second Fruit had likely grown, which Keter likely used to negotiate with the Second Lord, Creo, the God of Heaven. Creo managed to absorb the second Fruit, using its power to reclaim the ninth zone nescius.
Does that mean no one was able to absorb the first Fruit?
Considering Creo was the only one to have absorbed the Fruit, the second one, no less, Seong-Hwi’s certainty about being able to absorb the Fruit wavered intensely.
Curiositas continued, “There wasn’t anyone suitable to absorb the first Fruit. Of course, I had my eyes on someone. Lee Kang-San.”
“Lee Kang-San?” Seong-Hwi asked, his eyes widening, confused about how Kang-San played in this.
“His unique caliber is special. I thought his Communication would make it possible. Hence, I had been waiting for the right time, but... someone more suitable than him appeared.” Curiositas’s eyes shone as he said, “And that is you, Cheon Seong-Hwi.”
Unique caliber? Communication? What is he talking about?
There were so many things Seong-Hwi wanted to ask Curiositas about, but he asked the most important question.
“But... You just told me that I’m dying. What did you see in me, exactly?”
The corners of Curiositas’s mouth rose, and he shook his head. “I will not tell you that.”
Seong-Hwi remained silent.
“I do not want to implant a preconception on you. I adore the unexpected. Struggle as hard, and as creatively as possible to survive,” Curiositas remarked as chains made of black letters wrapped the Fruit of the World Tree. “This is the fruit of my research, Grace Period. You must find a method within the time I have given you. If you don’t, you will die.”
An Akasha Message appeared before Seong-Hwi.
[Indigestion (Black Quest)
Rank: —
Description: The Fruit of the World Tree is being slowly absorbed into Cheon Seong-Hwi’s body over 100 days through Curiositas’s Grace Period. Digest the Fruit of the World Tree in full.
Penalty: Death.]
Seong-Hwi stared at the Akasha Message. A black quest had been forced on him, and he would die if he failed. However, he became even calmer after seeing it.
He stared at Curiositas in silence, then asked with a voice filled with aspiration and desire. “If I succeed... How much will the distance between us shorten?”
Curiositas raised his right hand, which carried the trace of a black curse, and stretched his thumb and pinky away from each other. “About a hand’s length, I would guess.”
Seong-Hwi stood up from the chair and answered, “That’s good enough.”
All that mattered was that the distance would shorten.
As Seong-Hwi turned around and was about to leave the library, Curiositas remarked as if having forgotten, “Oh, that reminds me. I was entrusted with this.”
Seong-Hwi turned around and saw Curiositas holding a letter, smiling with anticipation. He had not forgotten, but most likely had been waiting for this moment.
“What is it?” Seong-Hwi asked.
“A letter that someone asked me to give you once I mentioned that I knew you.”
“Who?”
Seong-Hwi did not know anyone who was acquainted with Curiositas and knew him.
“Well, take it. I assure you, it will be interesting,” Curiositas remarked.
Seong-Hwi approached him, grabbed the letter, and opened it. The more he read, the more his eyes filled with rage.
Christmas Eve has likely passed by the time you receive this letter, meaning your birthday has as well. Happy early twenty-eighth birthday, Cheon... Oh, you’re Seong-Hwi now, right? I have been hearing about you. Mommy is always cheering for you.
P.S. Have you met your older sister yet?
K.I.Y.
Once Seong-Hwi finished the letter, he couldn’t suppress his boiling emotions and grabbed Curiositas by his collar. The sound of a falling chair broke the silence filling the library.
“W-wha... What bullshit are you trying to pull here?!”
“You should treat the mailman kindly, Cheon Seong-Hwi. I might not give you a letter next time.”
“Cut the shit! I won’t tolerate your goddamn tricks!”
“Ahaha! Are you sure it is a trick?” Curiositas smiled and said, “From what I have observed until now, you will use any means necessary to extract my genes and blood. You are likely thinking of getting help from that clever human girl, Lina Ahn.”
Curiositas was right. Regardless of whether Curiositas could help him, he was far too dangerous. Seong-Hwi had been planning on extracting Curiositas’s genes and blood somehow to escape his control.
“Hahaha! I will not have that. Observing you is my greatest source of joy! If you will take that joy from me, you will suffer the most merciless punishment imaginable.”
Curiositas began to turn faint like fog.
“Stop!” Seong-Hwi shouted.
“The name of the punishment is curiosity. If you are curious about the next letter, you had better leave my genes and blood intact,” Curiositas said as he vanished.
“Dammit!” Seong-Hwi panted heavily as he looked around. “Motherfucker... You won’t fool me with a sloppy lie like that!”
Seong-Hwi’s eyes became bloodshot after having his trauma stimulated. He picked up the letter he had dropped and ripped it into pieces. His confused voice filled the silent library.
“Huff! Huff... I’m an orphan. There’s no way I have a mother and sister...”
***
A tree branch shining with an emerald light swept the ground, grabbed the Earthquake Stone Fragment, and brought it to Keter
“As per the deal, I will be taking the Earthquake Stone Fragment. It should end this idiotic war once and for all,” they said as they placed it on the golden branch sprouting from the ceiling, which the Fruit had grown on.
It was no exaggeration to say that the golden branch was the World Tree’s true form. Once the World Tree absorbed the fragment, a powerful vibration reverberated throughout Elvenheim.
“Now, calm down. You have plenty of nutrients. Fall back into my control,” Keter said as they stared at the World Tree with Veritas Oculus.
They saw the World Tree, which had been impatient because of Curiositas’s confusion spell, hugging the Earthquake Stone Fragment tightly. The World Tree, savoring the immense earth aura, realized that it did not lack nutrients—rather, it was overflowing with them.
[Sefirot has absorbed the Earthquake Stone Fragment.]
[Dispelling Absolute Confusion.]
[Canceling Debuff: Rampage.]
[Canceling World Quest: Lumber the World Tree, following the termination of Sefirot’s rampage.]
...
“Ahaha! Hahahahaha!” Keter burst into laughter once they confirmed that the World Tree had returned to normal. “With this, all problems are solved! I should send word to Grandis. From this point forward, all those who invade Sefirot are enemies of the Sēmen.”
Their justification was gone. The various forces that had invaded Elvenheim, carried by the silence from the Sēmen, would be forced to retreat immediately.
“I shall declare the end of the war myself. Before that...” they trailed off as they turned to Kang-San, shaking the moronic human on the ground.
“Seong-Hwi! Cheon Seong-Hwi! Get a hold of yourself!” Kang-San shouted.
“It’s pointless, Tortoise Emperor. He has swallowed the Fruit. It was an instant death. As promised, I will take it out of his corpse.”
Kang-San got in the way of the branches beginning to move toward Seong-Hwi and shouted, “Stop!”
“Step aside. I will keep all of the promises I have made. You could have earned more if it hadn’t been for the Fruit... Blame your comrade who couldn’t distinguish between courage and bravado.”
Keter, who couldn’t attack Kang-San because of the quest, smiled mockingly at the moronic human on the ground and thought, Thanks to him, I obtained the Earthquake Stone Fragment at a steal. Now, all that remains is finding a way to ingest the Fruit!
They were sure that the ranking among the Ten Lords and Fiends, which had been unchanged for a long time, would change dramatically.
Of course, it won’t be easy. I can’t think of a way at all. I wonder if Curiositas would know? If he is aiming for a negotiation with me, then—
“AAAAAHHHHH!”
Keter, considering cooperating with Curiositas if necessary, was interrupted by a scream that shook Cherec. They quickly turned around and saw the human with black hair and eyes, panting heavily as he clenched his chest. He was Cheon Seong-Hwi, whom Keter believed had died instantly after swallowing the Fruit.
“How...” Keter mumbled.
“Huff! Huff!”
Seong-Hwi’s eyes remained hazy, filled with unanswered questions.
***
Curiosity has its own reason for existing.
Albert Einstein