Chapter 42

“Did you even properly ask for her consent?”

“Of course not. How many people in this world would willingly accept such a role?”

“Utterly selfish. You’re no different from a demon that bewitches people.”

Despite his words, Taewoon only tightened his tension, not daring to approach Reje, who had seized Charlotte’s body.

It was because the unprecedented magical power emanating from her physical form gave him a glimpse of that colossal strength.

“Didn’t you feel it roughly? That you are no match for me. I, too, cannot exist in this state for very long, but bringing things to a conclusion will be several times faster for me.”

“…….”

“If you leave now, I will not stop you. This is the final chance I’ll grant you, in consideration of the time you spent with the girl.”

After a brief hesitation, Taewoon let out a small sigh and posed another question to Reje.

“Let me ask one thing. Is there no way to destroy the calamity of the ruins?”

“It might be possible for some. However, there is no one here capable of doing so.”

That was enough.

For Taewoon, a viewer of the Theater, one certain premise remained regardless of what anyone said.

‘…I think I have the answer.’

As long as this place was a Theater, a ‘correct answer’ for resolving the situation definitely existed.

And by stopping the calamity of the ruins, Taewoon’s party would surely be able to reach the Conclusion of the Theater for this cycle.

“…Hmm?”

In an instant, noticing some sort of anomaly, Reje looked at Taewoon’s face with a stiff expression, as if she found it absurd.

In response, Taewoon simply replied with a low smile.

“Young man… I hope I’m wrong, but did you bring someone else into this?”

“They were going to come anyway. I just moved the date up a bit.”

It wasn’t that Taewoon had made no preparations.

First, he leaked information that there were those trying to cut in line ahead of the Ruins Hunter group Yerin belonged to, causing them to move up their date of execution out of impatience.

‘…If someone hadn’t operated on the Ruins Hunter side, they wouldn’t have known that the Shoman Merchant Guild and the Grand Magician of the Plains were on their side.’

Among the many who coveted the ruins, there were four standout factions.

Since two of them were unilaterally helping the hunters, an absurd operation to infiltrate the ruins secretly, bypassing the Exploration Team, had been possible.

“Things have become complicated… Can you truly handle this?”

“Well, it’s not something you need to worry about.”

With a deep sigh, Reje held her Magic Tome and vanished from before Taewoon in an instant.

By now, she was likely moving hurriedly to intercept the hunter forces attempting to enter the ruins in secret.

‘In the end, this is where it gets important.’

Since he had caused friction between Reje and the Ruins Hunter group, the Exploration Team’s attention would inevitably be drawn there.

In such a situation, what Taewoon’s party could do would be the most core issue in reaching the Conclusion of the Theater.

“Mr. Taewoon, this way. Are you unharmed?”

“Yeah. Somehow. What happened with Ms. Yerin?”

“I was told that she will stay with the hunter forces until the end, so we shouldn’t worry about her.”

If that was the case, they had to leave that side to Yerin and focus on the immediate task at hand.

“So, what do you think? A way to stop the calamity of the ruins.”

“Honestly, nothing comes to mind with certainty right now. But do you remember what happened in the 1st Cycle?”

“I do.”

Even though Taewoon hadn’t interfered, Reje eventually failed, which meant that wasn’t the correct answer.

It was clear that some other model answer existed. However, he couldn’t quite get a feel for what it was.

“…This is merely my personal opinion, but I believe utilizing Miss Charlotte’s talent is indeed one of the conditions for seeing the conclusion.”

“I think so too. And considering the failure of the 1st Cycle, perhaps…”

“Yes. It won’t work in that manner. I believe that unless Miss Charlotte regains her senses and acts of her own will, the same result will simply repeat.”

Ultimately, Taewoon had to choose. Either bring back Charlotte’s consciousness or give up on her and find a completely different method.

However, there was no longer the luxury of time to ponder the choice leisurely.

“What will you do? In the end, the decision must be made by you, Mr. Taewoon.”

“…Let’s head further into the ruins, identify the nature of the calamity, and then aim to restore Charlotte’s consciousness.”

He had a feeling. Reje would somehow defeat her competitors and reach the interior of the ruins regardless.

If so, the most plausible option was to sneak into the ruins in the meantime and wait for them to exhaust their strength.

“Very well. Let us move immediately then.”

With that, Taewoon and Jain hurried toward the excavation site.

As expected, a great commotion was already breaking out there, but the security was still so tight that entering openly would be very difficult.

“Would it be possible for you to break through stealthily if you were alone, Mr. Taewoon?”

“Honestly, it wouldn’t be easy. There are too many people who handle bizarre Magic Tomes…”

If they fought openly, Taewoon could handle most of them, but if a high-ranking magician like Melissa was present, he couldn’t guarantee victory.

Furthermore, sneaking in without being detected was even more absurd.

“It can’t be helped. Let’s just go in openly.”

“…Is that really okay?”

“Since things have already come to this, it’s better to act without hesitation in this cycle. If an opponent appears who is too difficult to handle, I will hold them back and buy time.”

Since that wasn’t wrong, Taewoon nodded and headed with Jain toward the southern entrance, where security was the lightest.

In the case of Jain, since he had worked hard to build connections in Tilman during this cycle as well, a few people who recognized him waved and greeted him warmly.

“Hey! What’s going on? It’s total chaos outside right now.”

“Has anyone entered the ruins yet?”

“No? Of course not. If you did that, you’d become the enemy of everyone in the Exploration Team. What kind of lunatic would do that?”

Most unfortunately, Taewoon and Jain were now in a position where they had to do exactly that.

Sensing that the atmosphere was somehow strange, the man pointed at Jain and asked with a suspicious expression.

“Surely, you’re not…”

“I’m sorry, but we are. Given the situation, we must enter the ruins, even if we have to use force.”

“Hey, Jain. Are you crazy? You’ll actually die! Do you know how many mid-level magicians or higher are here?!”

Even if he said that, there was no other way. Eventually, Jain let out a sigh and drew the Sacred Bird’s Claw, and seeing this, Taewoon summoned Barata and began clearing a path, trying to minimize damage to the opponents.

“Pierce through, Barata.”

As tree vines suddenly began to cover the surroundings, the magicians on guard began to flee in panic, and Taewoon and Jain took the opportunity to enter the entrance of the ruins.

“You bastards! How dare you…”

“…Strike down, Thunder.”

The magicians, startled by the sudden intrusion, belatedly poured out all sorts of attacks, but when Taewoon summoned the Subterranean Tree to block the rear, all of it came to naught.

“We’re through! We must keep moving without stopping!”

“But do you know what’s inside? Is this really okay?”

“I don’t know! Either way, there’s no way to withstand the onslaught of the enraged magicians now!”

Indeed, it was the same whether they died this way or that. Ultimately, Taewoon and Jain continued to move along the complex passages, gradually approaching the heart of the ruins.

Fortunately, Reje’s words that it was an Altar rather than ruins were correct; there were no traps or mazes commonly thought of in the interior space.

Only, as they descended, an eerie sensation flowing over their skin triggered an instinctive repulsion.

‘Just what on earth is down here…’

After passing through for a long time, what the two people finally saw upon reaching the heart of the ruins was a single Magic Tome entwined in red chains.

“It seems this is…”

“Yes. It appears to be the identity of the calamity.”

Indeed, since reaching the heart, their bodies felt heavy and their heads began to throb.

If it was this intense even before the seal was broken, it was hard to even imagine how dangerous it would be.

“…Mr. Taewoon, could you set up a protective zone with the Final Rampart skill?”

In Jain’s case, it was even worse; he was already bleeding from his eyes and nose, unable to even steady his body.

【Condition 1: There must be a target to protect with a sincere heart】

【Condition 2: There must be a threat or crisis facing the target of protection】

【Condition 3: Assume a suitable casting posture using a body part or tool】

【Condition Fulfilled】

▶【Cinema Skill: Final Rampart】

【Creating a Level 3 Equivalent Semi-Automatic Protective Zone targeting a 7-meter radius area!】

“Whew, I feel like I can breathe now. I never imagined the protection of the Sacred Bird’s Token would be breached just by approaching the vicinity.”

It was truly a power beyond imagination. Although they had found it, he had no intention of trying to handle it on his own.

‘It’s not that I have no other means, but…’

Something was still missing. Certainly, resolving the situation without borrowing the power of Charlotte and Reje seemed virtually impossible.

“Mr. Taewoon, I think she’s here.”

Soon, small footsteps echoed in the silent passage, and Charlotte appeared with a hazy gaze.

“…The instructor is truly persistent.”

“Regardless, I’m not in a position where I can just sit back and give up.”

Reje was once again preserving her consciousness within the Magic Tome, and the one currently controlling the body was Charlotte.

Whether she was out of strength or not was unknown, but if there was an opportunity, it was right now.

“Charlotte, don’t you feel something strange? Are the actions you’re taking right now truly your own will?”

“Of course. Reje’s will and mine are always the same. What must be done must eventually be accomplished.”

“…It seems she’s no longer in a state where this can be resolved through conversation.”

Amidst the heavy atmosphere, Taewoon locked eyes with Charlotte.

And then, he slowly began to walk toward the sealed Magic Tome.