<h4>Chapter 212</h4>


    “...”


    Se-Hoon immediately narrowed his eyes upon hearing what the voice whispered in his ear.


    The Seeker? What kind of nonsense was that? Unable to make sense of the situation, Se-Hoon instinctively checked his mental state.


    <i>I don’t think it’s schizophrenia... or anything like that.</i>


    His temporary mana circuits, which had been corroded, were cleanly separated from him by the power of Boundaries. There was no sign of a mental breakdown either, and even if there were, he would have noticed earlier. So then what was it?


    Unable to figure it out, Se-Hoon wrestled with how to interpret the situation. At that moment, the voice whispered to him again, “Uh... do you not recognize me? Even though I haven''t been activetely, I''m still pretty famous.”


    <i>“...Yes, I do know who you are.”</i>


    Natalia Kanayeva, the Seeker, was a genius mage who had developed countless theories on magic,ying the groundwork for all modern magic. She hadn''t been very active during her hero days, but she had still made significant contributions during the war against the Demon Force, such as uncovering crucial information about the Abyss of Demons and demonic aura.


    <i>“But I''m not sure if you’re really her.”</i>


    Although the Seeker''s whereabouts had been unknown for some time, it was still difficult to immediately believe that the voice belonged to the Seeker.


    “Is that so? Well, I wouldn’t believe it either if I were you. How should I exin this then... ah!”


    The voice seemed to have thought of something.


    “Look at that guy up ahead. Do you see his right arm?”


    <i>“I see it.”</i>


    “Hold on.”


    The voice went silent, and then, a few secondster, Allen''s right arm twitched slightly and his fingers began to move, allpletely unknown to Allen. Looking between Allen and his thumb that was pointing upward, it all seemed like a joke.


    <i>“What the...”</i>


    “<i>Phew...</i> that was close. Now, you believe in what I’m saying, right?”


    Most people wouldn''t know what to make of it, but Se-Hoon, who knew plenty about Dawn due to covert investigations in hisst life, could quickly grasp the situation.


    <i>“So, you''re who they were referring to as ‘Him.’”</i>


    Regions, themanding officers of Dawn, had gained immense power by transnting the body of the one they called Him. Before now, Se-Hoon had assumed that the body was either that of Dawn''s founder or something artificially created. it was the body of the missing Seeker.


    “It seems that''s the case. Being called ‘Him’ feels a bit awkward, though.”


    <i>“Awkward? You''re talking as if it doesn''t concern you.”</i>


    “Well... oops, let''s just focus on what''s in front of us for now.”


    At the Seeker’s words, Se-Hoon naturally turned his gaze forward.


    “...”


    Allen was staring at him with a strange look. So, without avoiding Allen''s gaze, Se-Hoon calmly asked, “Is there something you''d like to say?”


    Allen continued to stare at Se-Hoon. Noticing that Se-Hoon’s eyes were hazy, likely due to the whispers he had just heard, Allen ended up waving his hand dismissively.


    “...No. It''s nothing.”


    For a brief moment, Allen had felt a strange sensation, almost as if he had received a revtion, but it seemed impossible since Se-Hoon wasn''t a Region. Convincing himself that it was just his imagination, Allen checked the time.


    “That''s enough for today. You should head home. If anyone asks about what happened here, just be vague. Do you understand?”


    “Understood.”


    The two of them then exited the warehouse, and a taxi, which Allen had called earlier, arrived to take Se-Hoon home.


    It was only after putting some distance between himself and Allen''s workshop that Se-Hoon once again spoke in his mind. <i>“Are you still out there, somewhere?”</i>


    “<i>Hmm?</i> What do you mean? I''m dead, you know,”<i> </i>whispered the Seeker casually.


    Se-Hoon had wondered if the whispers would only ur within that workshop, and now it was clear that the Seeker was residing within his body. Pondering how such a thing had happened, Se-Hoon quickly deduced the answer.


    <i>The power of Boundaries.</i>


    The power Dawn controlled was derived entirely from the Seeker, which meant the mana that corroded his body also originated from the Seeker. And because that mana was now intertwined with the boundary between life and death, reviving the mind of the dead Seeker wasn’t totally impossible.


    <i>But still...</i>


    Could the mind of the Seeker really have been resurrected with just a portion of his mana circuit that was tainted by some corrosion? It seemed very unlikely that someone like him, who was merely mimicking Wurgen''s abilities, could have done this subconsciously.


    Lost, Se-Hoon eventually asked the Seeker to gain more information.


    <i>“You said you were already dead; then how did you revive within my body?”</i>


    “Revive? I didn’t revive.”


    The Seeker sounded as if it were obvious that she hadn’t revived, leaving Se-Hoon more puzzled than ever.


    <i>“Then how are we having this conversation right now?”</i>


    “<i>Hmm.</i> How should I exin this... ah! Do you know what my power is?”


    <i>“No, I’ve never heard of it.”</i>


    The Seeker had been inactive for so long that all Se-Hoon knew was that she could cast magic on massive scales.


    “My power is Omniscience. While it may sound grand, it''s essentially like artificial intelligence.”


    <i>“Artificial intelligence...?”</i>


    “You can think of it as an AI that knows all the knowledge in the world and provides answers to me. Something like that.”


    Se-Hoon was speechless. Even just that brief description revealed how overwhelming her power was.


    <i>“Oh. So, the whispers I heard... were also from this Omniscience?”</i>


    “Exactly. The person you’re talking to is part of it too.”


    The quiet, whisperer-like voice he was hearing right now wasn''t the Seeker herself, but her power? At the exnation, Se-Hoon finally figured out what he had actually revived with the power of Boundaries.


    <i>So it’s the Seeker''s consciousness...</i>


    The power of Omniscience contained all of the knowledge in the world, including the Seeker’s own knowledge and memories. However, that didn’t mean that it was the Seeker herself. The missing piece that made it all possible was the Seeker’s soul that Se-Hoon had drawn in through the power of Boundaries.


    <i>So the mana circuit corrupted by the Seeker’s power absorbed the darkness of the Netherworld, bringing her consciousness back.... In that case, the voice I''m talking to right now is basically an undead.</i>


    The perfect fusion of two powers had resulted in a revived consciousness.


    Realizing the voice he was hearing right now was a product of such a thing coincidentally urring, Se-Hoon couldn’t control theplicated expression on his face.


    He had his lucky moments during forging days, but he had never expected his luck to end up reviving the dead Seeker.


    <i>I can''t fully trust her story yet, but... I can''tpletely ignore it, either.</i>


    For now, he needed to y along to deceive Allen. It wouldn’t be too much of a problem anyway as long as he kept a close watch over the voice.


    <i>“So, what in the world were you doing when you died? And why do those guys have your body?”</i>


    “<i>Hmm...</i>”


    The Seeker fell silent, pondering Se-Hoon’s question. A whileter, she decided to just give a simple answer.


    “I don''t know.”


    <i>“...Didn''t you say you knew everything?”</i>


    “It just feels like I know everything. If I really did, would I have ended up in pieces, scattered all over the ce?”


    <i>“...”</i>


    The Seeker’s brazen response left Se-Hoon at a loss for words.


    “Thest thing I remember is that I was preparing to infiltrate the Abyss of Demons. Judging by the situation, I probably died there. As for my body, those bastard Ten Evils must have taken it.”


    <i>The Abyss of Demons...</i>


    The Abyss of Demons was the source of the demonic aura that corrupted the world and the origin of all disasters. The thought that the Seeker might have died there made Se-Hoon furrow his brow, because considering the cooperation between Watchers and the Demon Force, it wasn''t an impossible scenario.


    <i>“So, you’re just being used right now, then?”</i>


    “Used? Well, even after I died, my power remains in my body, so those bastards picked it up and started using it. You could call it... recycling, maybe.”


    Though the Seeker had died a long time ago, her power still lingered. And now Dawn was using that power in an attempt to resurrect the Seeker, Him.


    <i>Watchers are trying to resurrect a Perfect One.... If I told the Three Dogs about this, they’d ask if I’d lost my mind.</i>


    Though it all still seemed a little sketchy, everything he knew did match up with what the Seeker had told him. Organizing his thoughts, Se-Hoon asked another question.


    <i>“Could that guy who had your right armmunicate with you like this?”</i>


    “<i>Hmm...</i> Maybe asionally, but having a long conversation like this? No, that wouldn’t be possible.”


    <i>“Why not?”</i>


    “The only reason you can talk to me right now is because I simplified the answers for you. He would have to go through the entireputation process himself. And the information overload would make his brain melt.”


    <i>“...That sounds brutal.”</i>


    Reminded that a single misstep could spell disaster, Se-Hoon was once again awed by the overwhelming power of the Perfect Ones.


    <i>So I’m the only one who canmunicate properly with the Seeker... and I have the ability to control those who have had the Seeker''s body parts transnted.</i>


    ording to what the covert operations revealed, Dawn''s only true goal was the Seeker''s resurrection. They were lunatics who were willing to suffer any losses as long as they could contribute to that resurrection.


    “...”


    As Se-Hoon gazed out the car window at the nighttime cityscape flying by, his thoughts, which had been swirling up to this point, finally began to settle to form a single conclusion. But to confirm the feasibility of that conclusion, he had to ask the Seeker, who had been whispering useless things in his ear.


    And after hearing everything, the Seeker, with a hint of amusement in her voice, replied, <i>“</i>...You’re not entirely sane, are you?”


    ***


    The next day, in a workshop at the Marite Factory, Allen was leading the student group to the automaton production line, exining as they walked.


    “The most important thing for an automaton is how urately they can assess the situation to respond appropriately. To ensure that, the production process involves...”


    Though Allen was carefully exining the production line beyond the ss to all of the students, his attention was focused on the two people at the back of the group.


    “Why do you look so spaced out?” Luize asked.


    “Ah, I couldn’t sleepst night because I was thinking about something,” replied Se-Hoon with a tired expression to Luize’s annoyed question.


    On the surface, nothing seemed wrong, but Allen could sense there was something off through his right arm.


    <i>Was he listening to the whispers all night?</i>


    If he had, then it was only natural for Se-Hoon to react like that. He had received the knowledge of someone who knew everything after all. It worried Allen slightly, because Se-Hoon may have absorbed too much information, but he could find no serious problems with Se-Hoon for now, likely due to Se-Hoon’s suitability to be a Region.


    <i>The only remaining issue now is Luize Valente...</i>


    Allen nced at Luize, who was walking beside Se-Hoon with a sullen expression. Originally, the n was to forcefully assimte them both today, but due to Se-Hoon''s easy recruitment, a new option had emerged.


    <i>Maybe it’s better to take my time and bring her in gradually through Lee Se-Hoon rather than forcing her.</i>


    Though Se-Hoon had shown no rejection reaction, he had willingly epted the power, so Luize''s forced assimtion could potentially provoke strong resistance. Regardless, Luize would eventuallyprehend and ept the Seeker''s will; it was just a matter of preventing her body from sustaining injuries during the process.


    <i>It’s not easy to find peoplepatible with the Voice.... Should I just let it go for now?</i>


    Risk it all and secure both at once? Or should he proceed cautiously, with the long term in mind? Allen couldn’t decide for now.


    “Assimte her.”


    But then, from out of the blue, a whisper resonated clearly in his ear. The voice made Allen, who had been moving to the next section, freeze in ce, causing those following to look at him curiously.


    “Mr. Allen?”


    “...”


    “Is something wrong...?”


    As everyone stared at him in confusion, Allen slowly recovered. He turned his head and awkwardly smiled at them.


    “Ah, sorry. I got distracted by a radio call from the security team.”


    He resumed walking as if nothing had happened, but his left hand, which was rubbing his right wrist, trembled uncontrobly.


    <i>A revtion... I’ve received a revtion...</i>


    Unlike the random whispers that shared vast amounts of knowledge, he had just heard a revtion that directly answered the doubts he held in his heart. It was a phenomenon Allen had only experienced four times since bing a Region, and like every time, it filled him with overwhelming emotions.


    <i>Right... The One must also want to be resurrected as soon as possible.</i>


    He thought about all of the false mages who turned their backs on the truth, spreading ignorance like a gue even at this moment. With a newly renewed resolve to bring back the One as soon as possible, Allen cast aside his hesitation and stepped into the workshop deeper inside the factory.


    “Now let us experience the process of automaton creation firsthand. We’re going to pair up in groups of two, and a staff member will assist each group,” Allen instructed.


    The students quickly paired off, Se-Hoon and Luize naturally forming a team. But instead of a staff member, Allen approached the two of them.


    “I heard that you two are honor students, so I''ll personally assist you. Will that be alright?”


    “...”


    Frowning at the suggestion, Luize nced at Se-Hoon, who nodded without much reaction.


    “That would be fine.”


    “Then... me too.”


    “Good. Let''s get started then.”


    Under Allen''s supervision, Se-Hoon and Luize began crafting their own automaton, skillfullypleting each task as Allen instructed. And for a while, everything proceeded smoothly. But then—


    <i>BOOM!</i>


    A massive explosion suddenly shook the entire workshop. rms red, and red lights shed throughout the facility.


    Taking advantage of the sudden chaos, Allen patted his pants pocket with his right hand.


    <i>Woong-</i>


    Preparing for the next event, he secretly transferred the Synesthetic Mindscape Storage Device to Se-Hoon. And once he had confirmed that all of the preparations for his n had been made, Allen shouted urgently to everyone else.


    “An unidentified explosion has urred in Section Three! It’s suspected to be a terrorist attack from the Demon Force! We’ll evacuate through the workshop''s shelter. Follow me!”


    Under Allen’s lead, the group swiftly moved, with Se-Hoon and Luize trailing at the rear. The sight of Se-Hoon urately grasping what he should be doing made Allen smile inwardly.


    Continuing with the n, Allen opened the door leading to the shelter.


    “Once inside, the security team will guide you. Move quickly!”


    The students rushed in one by one, and soon, only Se-Hoon and Luize remained.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    <i>BOOM!</i>


    Before they could even attempt to evacuate, a massive sword shattered the ceiling, blocking the entrance to the shelter.


    Then, the shelter door mmed down, sealing the facility shut to secure it from further intrusion.


    <i>ng!</i>


    While the three stood there frozen by the situation, demons entered through the broken ceiling.


    “Finally found them.”


    “It''s those guys, right?”


    The demons all had bodies mutated by demonic aura. However, their prosthetic limbs, each as rough and crude as their altered bodies, set them apart from normal demons.


    “Damn it...”


    Recognizing the unusual appearance of the demons, Luize swiftly gathered her mana, preparing to cast a spell. But she couldn’t unleash it.


    <i>Thud-</i>


    Wrapping his arms around her from behind, Se-Hoon suddenly pressed the Synesthetic Mindscape Storage Device against the choker on her neck.


    <i>Woong-</i>


    A crimson light, mixed with dark blue hues, filled the room. Surprised, the demons, ready to attack at any moment, halted. Likewise, Allen also stood silently, watching the scene unfold.


    Then, when the light finally faded, Se-Hoon removed the device from Luize’s neck.


    “It''s done.”


    Luize, now limp in Se-Hoon''s arms, showed no resistance. It was a sight that made Allen’s heart pound in his chest.


    <i>Just like that...</i>


    Perhaps he had been too concerned, thinking some problems would ur. In fact, Allen even felt foolish for worrying, and a deep sense of reverence for the One surged within him.


    <i>So, this is the reason the One gave me a revtion.</i>


    Whether it was the Ten Evils or the Perfect Ones, Allen believed they were just ignorant vermin before the One’s knowledge and wisdom. The scene in front of him was proof.


    Overjoyed, Allen approached the two of them.


    “Let me take a look.”


    Though he assumed there were no problems, it was better to check carefully given the circumstances. Filled with anticipation, Allen reached out his right hand to examine Luize.


    “Abgrund.”


    <i>Thunk!</i>


    And a jet-ck sword tore through the air, piercing through Allen’s body.