The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years (Web Novel KR)

“When the population overflows, it’s usually hard to know what is lacking. Did you know? There are usually very few beings in a universe that would question their own death. And it’s only intellectual life forms who learn to fear death that chase after and desire eternity. Those beings harm providence and upset the balance. Our role as Absolutes is to teach those poor and ignorant beings the true order.”

Sedi thought that his spiel could be wrapped up in the simple word ‘genocide’, but she knew better than to say that out loud.

She’d never seen Nodiesop talk so much. He wasn’t just talking either, instead, he was preaching about his goals and beliefs. Even though it was a sensitive topic among Absolutes.

Of course, most of it was just bullshit, but it wasn’t bad to pretend to listen.

The longer he took, the more people who were washed away by the rapids would be able to come back.

“So, is there anything else you’d like to ask?”

Nodiesop spoke in a kind voice. But at this point, the Priestess couldn’t help but look at him with a strange expression.

He let out a soft laugh.

“Weren’t you trying to buy yourself some time? Although I don’t know the reason.”

“…are you saying you went along with it even when you knew that?”

“The moment I set foot on this island, I made a decision. No one in this place is a threat to me.”

The Priestess was silent for a moment before her aura suddenly changed.

“-is that so.”

Her voice became cold. At the same time, Nodiesop’s eyebrows furrowed.

Paht!

A rainbow colored figure burst from the Priestess’ body and shot towards Nodiesop in the blink of an eye.

Nodiesop tried to avoid it, but at that moment, he felt something hold his limbs in place.

‘…what is this?’

At some point without him noticing, chains of light had wrapped around his wrists and ankles.

“…when did you do this?”

“When you broke through the barrier and entered the island.”

Along with the Priestess’ words, the rainbow light struck Nodiesop’s body.

But that wasn’t the end.

Paht!

Four more lights flew over from the corners of the island.

Light from the east, west, north, and south respectively combined with the Priestess’ rainbow light and increased the force of its aura several times.

Rumble!

The roof collapsed.

Sedi balanced herself on a broken roof tile.

As quickly as it appeared, the soaring light faded away.

“…”

Nodiesop looked down at his body with an unreadable expression. Smoke rose strangely from his body.

“…I see, the restrictions placed upon me have become much stronger. Was this what you were aiming for?”

“It’s as you said. We’ve restricted most of your power, Nodiesop.”

The Priestess took a deep breath before continuing.

“From the looks of it, you can only use about 20% of your power.”

She didn’t appear to be lying. Nevertheless, Sedi couldn’t help but click her tongue inwardly.

20%.

Their operation had already failed. Originally, they intended to include the power of the Black and White Sorcerers and suppress 90% of Nodiesop’s power. But now, they had only managed to suppress 80%. In other words, Nodiesop could still use 20% of his power.

…And she wasn’t sure if they could defeat an Absolute with 20% of their power.

“Originally, I was going to kill Lukas first, but it seems like I’ll have to delay that for a while. Instead, I’ll collect you first.”

The Priestess’ breath fluttered for a moment at those words. Sedi suddenly realised that she was nervous.

“…collect me first? Didn’t you mean to say kill?”

“You can quit your clumsy acting. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?”

At that moment, Nodiesop’s figure appeared in front of the Priestess. Even though her concentration had been raised to the max, Sedi couldn’t even see him move.

Crack!

Nodiesop grabbed the Priestess by her neck and lifted her into the air. The Priestess groaned and struggled, but Nodiesop didn’t decrease the strength of his grip, instead, he roughly tore the veil that always covered the Priestess’ face.

Crackle!

As he looked at the Priestess’ bare face, his golden eyes began to shine brightly.

“Found you. Most special statue.”

* * *

He’d fainted again.

However, this time was different.

This time, Lukas found himself alone in the dark.

His consciousness was drifting in this small world, but he could neither leave nor move as he pleased.

The fact that he could enter such a place could only mean that he had met a very special condition.

He was about to die.

It was a simple condition, but it was usually difficult to accomplish. Since becoming an Absolute, Lukas had met this condition less than five times.

In fact, even when he’d been pushed to the brink of death after defeating Kaz, his consciousness hadn’t met the requirement to enter this place.

-This isn’t like you.

He heard a voice directly in his mind.

It was a voice that he was familiar with. Although he couldn’t see its owner, Lukas knew their identity.

-Are you going to let yourself stay unconscious like this? Without even trying to do anything?

“This isn’t my fight.”

-Is it your disciples’ fight? Do you really believe that those immature beings would be able to defeat an Absolute?

“Those are the disciples that I personally gathered. As their Master, it’s natural for me to put my faith in them.”

-You still haven’t learned from your past. Think about your first disciple. In the end, how did she end up?

Those words made him speechless.

As if mocking Lukas, the cold voice continued.

-Is it because her opponent is too strong? Or is it because she was too weak? Well, both are true. But the most fundamental reason that woman died was because you were one step too late.

A corner of his chest went cold as if he had been stabbed in the heart.

-It’s the same now. What was her name again? Min Ha-rin? You left her alone for a moment and her mind was shattered. You know it, too. You always talk about believing in humans, but after saving them for so many years your thoughts have completely changed.

[Humans, can’t do anything without my help.]

The voice muttered softly.

-You trust your disciples? That’s a nice delusion. But they will just fail again. Then everyone you trusted will get hurt or even die, and you will finish everything one step too late. Has there ever been a time when that didn’t happen? I’m asking if there has ever been a single problem that was solved without your help.

“…”

-You already have the means to do it too. All it’ll cost is your life. But that isn’t too bad either, after all…

The voice whispered.

-You’ve always wanted to die.