The Return of the 8th Class Mage, Season 2, Chapter 31
“How can this be…?”
“It’s said you’re the Master of Prophecy, but it seems you can only see glimpses of the future, not the whole thing.”
Whether Prometheus was taken aback or not, Ian simply changed the chains with a composed voice and expression.
“True, being tied up here would cause even your abilities to decay.”
However, the truth was that Ian had a tough time too. It would have been a difficult fight if the observer was not of undead attribute.
‘Maybe I should have turned back time.’
Regressing with all sorts of side effects just for this situation was not the best option.
I’m really lucky.
“So you’re not going to answer?”
“Answer…?”
“What did that observer say while dying? It seemed like he was cursing.”
“…Ah, it wasn’t a curse.”
It wasn’t a curse?
Then what could it be?
“He said, ‘Wait a moment.'”
“Huh? Wait?”
“The observer you faced earlier, the Oldguard, won’t die. If you wait a bit, he’ll come back to life. He received an immortality curse from Zeus.”
Immortality curse.
That name sounds familiar.
It did look like that, judging by the situation.
“So, interpreting his last shout, it would mean he has something to do after he revives, so wait?”
“That seems to be the case.”
As expected, an impassive attitude.
The chains have been replaced without a hitch.
This completes the third task.
“Did he also tell the Practitioners who defeated the observer before me to wait?”
“Hmm, come to think of it, I don’t think that has ever happened… This seems to be the first time.”
The first time?
This is intriguing.
Being different from others.
It must mean something.
“How long exactly will it take?”
“From my experience, about ten minutes?”
“That’s longer than I expected.”
Ten minutes.
That’s not too long to wait.
Having replaced the chains, Ian sat down in a corner at the top of the rock mountain.
‘Did my spell power increase several folds because I ascended in rank in a world originally rich in mana?’
The Turn Undead spell doesn’t work on all undead monsters.
The stronger the target and the higher their resistance to magic, the less likely the spell will work, right?
Yet the Turn Undead spell worked on the observer, the strongest undead monster Ian had ever faced.
That means I must have gotten stronger.
‘Not bad.’
If I manage to complete all the tasks as they are and attain the rank of a ruler, my options will greatly expand, whether I realize it or not.
Gulp!
Feeling hungry, Ian took out a round pill from a small pouch and swallowed it.
It was a unique meal of the Superion, or rather, it was more like an energy charge than a meal, where one could ingest nutrition close to perfection with just one pill.
“Let’s continue our conversation.”
“…What?”
“I’ve revealed my identity as you wanted. From my perspective, isn’t that akin to staking my life on a gamble?”
“Well… Isn’t it?”
It was undeniable.
Honestly, he didn’t expect to reveal everything.
If he had kept dodging the topic, he would have left when the time felt right.
After all, isn’t the being from the Middle Earth currently performing a task?
‘The future I saw, the fall of the Superior, is still valid evidence.’
This being in front of me from the Middle Earth,
Ian Page is the evidence.
So, he was going to leave it at that.
But without delay, the being revealed his identity.
‘There must be an ulterior motive.’
With that in mind, how could he argue when told it was a life-risking gamble?
For now, let’s accept and find out.
Find out what he wants.
“So, now it’s your turn, Prometheus, to give an answer.”
“What answer do you seek?”
“What is your purpose?”
“Purpose?”
“It’s hard to believe you simply took care of the exiled and the Middle Earth out of mere compassion. Especially since you became a sinner.”
“So?”
“Please tell me your real purpose.”
“Real purpose?”
“Just as my true goal is to sweep away all the rulers, don’t you, Prometheus, have a hidden objective as well?”
Tell me your true goal.
To Ian’s request, Prometheus shrugged and responded.
“What if I don’t?”
“It’s unlikely.”
“What if it is likely?”
“I’d rather not assume that.”
“Why?”
“In total, I’ve met five rulers since I came to this world.”
“Five of them?”
“Heracles, Aphrodite, Ares, Hephaestus, and you.”
Suddenly listing the rulers.
What does he want to convey?
“To be honest, even before coming to this world, I had some expectations. Since they exist higher than us, wouldn’t they have an equivalent level of intelligence?”
“And?”
“It wasn’t the case. Heracles was a stubborn fool. Aphrodite? Well, even though she had incredible powers, she was just an ordinary woman.”
“…No need to ask about Ares, then.”
“You know it well.”
It’s more surprising if you don’t know what kind of person Ares is, given his reputation among the rulers.
“In our Middle Earth, we also had a very famous fool. However, he is now referred to as a warlord. He has been growing consistently for over ten years.”
“That’s rather unusual.”
“The key is time. In just over ten years, a fool from the Middle Earth became a warlord. But look at Ares. Despite living for an eternity with those great powers, he remains the same.”
“Well… I suppose so?”
I have to agree again.
Because Ares is just that stupid.
“Returning to the main point, I’ve been disappointed by the previous three rulers I’ve met. Hephaestus didn’t make a great impression either.”
“Well, he’s not the smartest one either. He only knows how to handle metal.”
“So, who’s left?”
“…Me?”
Prometheus asked.
Ian also nodded lightly.
“If you’re just messing around with the Middle Earth like the other rulers, and have crossed a line to be bound here… That would be a great disappointment.”
“Huh…?”
“For reference, even Ares hasn’t crossed that line. He was having fun in the fifth Middle Earth.”
“…”
“So, I’m asking. It looks like you have another purpose.”
“…”
“If not, you’d be dumber than Ares… and being that dumb isn’t easy.”
…This guy.
Is he good at provoking?
“So, let me ask again.”
“…”
“What is your real purpose? The reason you excessively supported the exiled and the Middle Earths to the point of becoming a sinner.”
When Ian asked again, Prometheus carefully chose his answer.
‘I can’t be certain that this audacious Middle Earth being will realize the future I’ve seen. However, at the very least, he seems like he would be a useful accessory to that future.’
A high-performance accessory.
That should be enough. With a firm resolve, Prometheus slowly spoke.
“…The observer will soon resurrect. Everything that being sees and hears is directly relayed to Zeus, so be cautious with your words when he comes back to life.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“We don’t have much time, so let’s get to the point. I’ve seen the end of this world.”
“By ‘end,’ do you mean the future?”
“Everything I have done has been to realize that foresight.”
Actions to fulfill the prophecy.
Upon hearing that, Ian realized Prometheus’ real purpose.
‘We want the same thing.’
What Ian wants.
What Prometheus wants.
Surprisingly, the two align.
‘The destruction of the Superior dimension.’
But why?
No matter how much he’s considered a sinner, isn’t he still a bona fide Superior and a top-class ruler?
“Why would someone like you…”
“Up to that point, if you want a more detailed explanation, go to the land of the Titans.”
The land of the Titans.
A place he’s been to once before.
Conveniently, it wasn’t too far from this Caucasus mountain range.
“Go find Eos, the former ruler of dawn. She is my hidden ally, so if you say that I sent you…”
“You said Eos just now?”
“…Hm? Is there a problem?”
A problem?
Of course, there is.
How should he put it?
“Well… that Eos you’re talking about… might have passed away.”
“…What? What do you mean?”
“My first task was to kill a Titan named Eos.”
“That can’t be, you’re not strong enough to beat her.”
“Technically, I was bait, and Aphrodite finished her off outside the land of the Titans.”
“Tha…That’s…”
Eos is dead.
Even though she had been divided between the Titans and the Gigantes, she was still an ally. And now she’s dead, thanks to the schemes of this tiny Middle Earth being, Ian Page.
“…”
This is problematic.
Without her, there’s no one to explain or help this Middle Earth being. Especially since he’s bound as a sinner.
“Should we kill the observer again to buy some time for the explanation?”
Ian suggested, awkwardly because he was the one who killed Eos.
“That’s not possible. Zeus would become suspicious.”
“Then I’ll read your memories, Prometheus. It’s not perfect, but it’s somewhat possible.”
“That’s also difficult. If any changes happen to my physical body, Zeus will notice immediately.”
“Um…”
It’s a real dilemma.
“…Fine, let’s just leave it at that.”
Finally, after much thought, Prometheus sighed and presented an alternative.
“From now on, don’t doubt whatever I do and focus on your goal.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Whatever situation you encounter, act according to your purpose. Got it?”
What is he talking about all of a sudden?
That question was soon completely and refreshingly cleared up.
Woosh!
The body of Prometheus, which had been pathetically hunched over while bound by chains, suddenly began to be covered with muscles.
Not only that, but he also easily snapped the chains Hephaestus had put on him…
“What are you doing…?”
[Zeus -! You wretched creature!]
Suddenly back to his original form.
Prometheus, who was ten times larger than Ian, covered in robust muscles, and the ruler of prophecy, shouted towards the sky like thunder.
[Did you imprison me here for tens of thousands of years, using my dalliances with the Middle Earth bugs as an excuse?!]
This is clearly in the Superior language.
And it was a shout filled with the high status of a top-class ruler.
[Wait for me in that lofty clock tower! I’ve just regained all my strength, and I’ll rush over to tear you to shreds!]
Bluntly threatening murder, Prometheus grabbed Ian with his enlarged hand.
Then, as he leaped off the mountainside, he whispered softly.
“You can read memories, you said?”
“Yes, but…”
“Get out of the Caucasus mountain range like this. Then all the spells connected to Zeus will be broken. Before I get caught, read all of my memories, as much as you can. Repeat it hundreds of times if needed!”
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