The Book Eating Magician Chapter 368:

Chapter 368 - Choice and Responsibility (1)

After checking Wichung’s body, the two people searched the castle in case there were any survivors . However, there was none . Only death remained inside and outside the walls .

Lust hadn’t spared anyone except for Wichung, who had been used as a messenger . Brothers held the spears they used to stab each other, and parents held the blanket that strangled their child . . . This was an artificially created **** . After opening the doors to a few private houses, Theodore accepted the futile reality of Hyungkang Castle .

“Veronica, please . ”

“Yes . ”

She didn’t need to be told . Veronica let out a deep sigh and produced fire from her fingertips .

Incinerate .

Veronica burned down a mansion, and the fire spread to nearby buildings . If left alone, it would set the whole castle on fire . With the corpses and buildings as firewood, an unprecedented cremation began .

‘Cremation . . . It isn’t a sentimental thing . ’

Theodore looked around the burning castle with dry eyes . Hyungkang Castle wasn’t very big, but neither was it small . Looking at the total population of the castle, it might be at least 10,000 .  Just the number of variant corpses alone exceeded that number . If this **** were left alone, it would become the dining place for the variants who would soon come .

“ . . . What are you going to do?” Veronica asked after she finished spreading the flames .

“Well, I guess I have to go to that village and see . ”

“It might be a trap for you . ”

“I don’t think so . ”

The present Lust didn’t have the combat forces to take Theodore’s life . If she had such power, she wouldn’t have fled Hyungkang Castle before he arrived . Instead, she would’ve tried a surprise attack . It would be hard to kill Theodore with the defense system of Geongun Castle which had killed Seimei, let alone a trap in a remote village .

“Perhaps it is true that she has something to say to me . ”

The problem was that Lust would need to be prepared for danger when talking to Theodore . It involved the reason why Lust had left Geongun Castle in order to kidnap Sylvia . Unless he knew this reason, Theodore couldn’t speak at the same level as Lust .

“Won’t it be a hostage situation?”

“Considering all the uncertain assumptions, it is likely . Still, it is hard to understand why . ”

If Lust offered Sylvia’s life, it would be enough to keep Theodore’s feet **** until the heavenly demon was born .  However, there was no guarantee that the offer would be accepted . It was illogical for a Seven Sins grimoire to take action for such an uncertain possibility .

“Well, I can’t think of an answer to the problem . ”

It was good to think, but this was a time to move . Theodore didn’t worry about it anymore and held Veronica in his arms .  Her wide eyes which held no resistance were pretty cute . Theodore briefly chuckled before saying, 「 Transition . 」

Then a light appeared around their bodies .

Flash!

The two magicians disappeared from Hyungkang Castle and appeared again 50 kilometers north, near the village that Lust was about to visit . For Theodore who once moved across continents, a distance of 50 kilometers was just like a stone’s throw . The two people looked around with a similar expression .

“This village . . . ?”

“ . . . Nothing?”

There was only a wasteland to the north, south, east, and west .

“No, wait a minute . ” Theodore wanted to check if Lust had left the wrong coordinates, only to realize a faint discomfort .  Mana flowed in a calm but strange direction .  There was a distortion of light that couldn’t be detected with ordinary vision .  Around 30 meters from where the two people were standing, there was a ‘boundary’ that couldn’t be seen through . A ward that even Veronica couldn’t detect…?

‘Amazing . An illusion like this . . . the person who did it must be at least at the 8th circle . ’ Not long after, Theodore realized that his evaluation was wrong .

‘No, they wouldn’t have gotten away from Hyungkang Castle if they were that strong . Tae Rang is on a similar level to a grand master, and he would find it impossible to make this ward . ’

Nevertheless, seeing as this barrier was established, the person who did it was likely to be in possession of an artifact .  If broken by force, the barrier would undoubtedly break down .  Theodore didn’t feel the need to cause hostility . So, instead of attacking the ward, he opened his mouth, “Great monk, if you are inside the ward then please listen . ”

It might be funny to talk to air, but he knew his words would be heard by the great monk maintaining the barrier .  Theodore’s voice continued, “I have been asked by Tae Rang who is in the Baekun Mountains . He asked me for help with Hyungkang Castle, but it has long been captured . My identity will be proven with my companion Veronica, who has been fighting with you for the past few days . ”

Despite his persuasion, the ward didn’t open .   Instead, he heard a voice in the air, -Impossible .  I know the identity of your companion, but how can I trust her mental state?

“W-What? Hey! Open it immediately! Otherwise, I will blow it away!”

Unlike the furious Veronica, Theodore just laughed . It seemed he wouldn’t be able to persuade the monk with words .

“It looks like you saw Lust’s power . You have no choice but to feel doubt . ”

It was a power that made a sword master into a slave at once . Theodore didn’t know how the monk overcame the fascination, but if he had seen the scene, then it was natural that he wouldn’t believe Veronica .

‘The Heavenly Sword or attack magic is too dangerous… It is appropriate to shake the flow a little bit . ’

This was a ward that focused on secrecy, so its defense was relatively inferior . If attacked with ultimate magic or the god-sword, it would not only be destroyed but the survivors in it would suffer major damage .  Theodore thought so and carefully raised both his hands . No intense destructive power or sharp breaking force was necessary . He just gathered his concentration and took away the flow of one point .

‘Break . ’

At a point where nine lines overlapped, a large crack appeared on one side .

Jjejejeok . . . !

There was a line in the foundation of the ward that shouldn’t be broken . The same was true no matter how good the ward .  If one hole was made with a needle, it would collapse from there . Just like how a dam that failed to overcome the internal water pressure would collapse, the ward that isolated the space would collapse at that point of connection .

-W-Wait a minute! I understand! I will face you directly, so don’t break this ward!

“I accept . ”

-Sigh . . .

With one stage left until the collapse, Theodore let go of the power . The monk made a sound, and the crack in the ward started to be filled again . This was because the monk knew it was useless when Theodore could effectively neutralize the ward .

“Sigh, I am the monk, Taeryun . Who are you?”

“Theodore Miller, the chief tower master of Meltor . ”

“ . . . I didn’t believe it when the crimson goddess said it, but you are a real person . ”

“Crimson goddess?” It was Theodore’s first time hearing this title . Taeryun looked in Veronica’s direction . “The crimson flames always fought at the forefront, so the castle’s people called her that . The other one is called the blue goddess . Both of them were shy about it . ”

“Ack! I told you not to say that!” Veronica cried out indignantly .

However, the middle-aged man continued without a smirk, “Didn’t you say that he is your military superior? Missing information is a felony on the same level as false reporting . ”

“Y-You!” Veronica couldn’t kill the monk, so she formed tight fists and gritted her teeth . To think that this shameful nickname was actually uttered in front of Theodore! If there was a mouse hole around, Veronica wanted to enter it immediately .  

Of course, Theodore thought that her struggles were cute .  “Thank you for complimenting my lover . I heard that the monks are reluctant to engage in worldly affairs, but they are good at speaking . ”

“It is useless for someone born as a person to imitate a cloud . I also have to get rid of the prejudice that all zen answers are boring . ”

Taeryun’s behavior was flexible compared to Tae Rang’s . If Tae Rang were here, the ward would’ve ended up completely broken . Theodore considered Taeryun’s eloquent way of speaking while the situation was still unclear . The monk’s skills were unknown, but Taeryun was superior to Tae Rang when it came to adaptability .

“Here, this is something Tae Rang gave me as a token . ” Before starting the story, Theodore pulled out the token he got from Tae Rang .

It was a wooden plaque with the word ‘Kunlun’ carved on it .  At first glance, it was a poor piece of craftsmanship . However, perhaps it could only be understood by a monk?  It seemed to be the case as the hardness in Taeryun’s eyes softened . “I have been very rude . Please forgive me . ”

“The situation was understandable to don’t worry about it . ”

“I am grateful for your generosity . ”

The misunderstanding was cleared up with a few words . Then Theodore opened his mouth, “I have more to talk about . We should be as quick as possible . ”

Taeryun must’ve felt the weight in Theodore’s words because he replied with a cautious attitude, “Please tell me . I won’t neglect a single word . ”

 

*     *     *

 

The long night passed, and the sun came up . Light poured from the horizon on the east, while the flower buds opening announced that day had come .  As always, white clouds floated in the blue sky . Sometimes the wind would scatter the clouds in strange shapes . The green leaves and chirping birds were signs of life . It was a cliche morning from a storybook .

“ . . . ” He sat in the middle of the village where everyone had disappeared and waited for the guest who said they would come .

Meanwhile, he refilled the energy that had been consumed by several battles .  The usage of the three artifacts were still mysteries, but their abilities were intact . If he had a few hands-on experiences, he might be able to demonstrate equal or an even better performance than their previous owner .

He was the master of Gluttony and the unique transcendent of this material world .  Theodore was in a perfect state for battle .

‘―She’s coming . ’

His senses, sharp enough to catch a dandelion, perceived a presence a few kilometers away .  It was coming at a pace that was neither fast nor slow . The presence didn’t have much fighting power . Was it a master? If Theodore moved to kill, he would be able to annihilate the presence before they could even recognize the attack . He could also make them talk after getting rid of all their limbs .  

Currently, Theodore was very powerful and very angry .

Step .

However, he didn’t attack the person who appeared in this place . He gritted his teeth instead .  As Gluttony had said last night, there was some leeway for this . He just hoped it wasn’t as he thought .   Theodore took a deep breath to control his vision that was distorted by red, trying to suppress the overflowing anger .

“Hello! Gluttony’s owner, hasn’t it been a long time?” In a voice that couldn’t help being familiar, ‘she’ had come to talk . “Huh? What is it? Ah, yes . This is the first time you are facing me in this body . ”

With a sly manner, the beautiful woman standing there with silver hair made a strange expression .  If it hadn’t been for the voice, Theodore wouldn’t have known it was a smile . A sinister light appeared the eyes of Lust, who had taken possession of Sylvia Adruncus’ body .

Theodore barely endured his anger and asked in a heavy voice, “ . . . Didn’t you say you would send an incarnation?” 

“Ah, there was such a promise,” Lust spoke like she had forgotten . “That is why I came in this body that I am not used to . ”

“ . . . You!”

“Why are you suddenly acting like a brat? Think about it from my perspective . Is there a better protection for my own neck? Can I trust you? It is impossible . We are the worst grimoires ever, the Seven Sins . ”

Sylvia’s blue eyes were reddish . Being Lust’s terminal was eroding at her body, and she was also robbed of control of it .

The only comfort was that no apparent change was seen . In a same-sex body where Lust planted her terminal, the erosion would first accelerate by making a placenta . After that, there was no turning back from being one of Lust’s people . If Sylvia were in that state, Theodore would’ve killed her without any conversation .

“ . . . . What do you want?” He cut to the chase .

Standing before him with a dreadful momentum, Lust wore Sylvia’s body and licked her lips sexily .  “Okay, shall we weigh the pros and cons?”