[Vol. 7] Chapter 296: The Evil That Must Be Done
Time and space seemed to freeze at that very moment. Faced with a power far beyond human understanding, everything around stopped, as if someone had pressed the pause button, even the terrifying [Western Calamity] was frozen in place by the arrival of the [Revelation].
At the moment he broke through his limits, Young suddenly reached a deep understanding. He could finally see and feel the miracle that came from beyond this world.
Everything was revealed before his eyes. He saw countless destroyed futures. The giant [Wheel of Fate] roared across cause and effect, showing that the fall of the Human United Kingdom was actually the will of fate. No matter how hard they fought, it would all be useless in the end.
This terrible truth, like a deadly poison, almost drove Young insane. He couldn’t understand why [Fate] had to be so cruel. He also didn’t know where the [Revelation] had come from. But in the next moment, he suddenly heard a [Voice], neither male nor female, as beautiful as heavenly music.
[Do you want to change fate?]
Shocked and close to losing his mind from everything happening so quickly, Young didn’t even stop to question where the voice came from or what its purpose was. Without hesitation, he shouted back.
"Of course! I want to change this ridiculous fate! I want to rewrite the doomed future, the fate of humanity! Please, tell me what I must do! If it means protecting my people, I, Young Melchior, am willing to pay any price!"
In the empty space where time and space had stopped turning, the voice calmly gave its reply.
[You cannot shake the “Wheel of Fate”. No living being can. But... far in the future, someone will appear who can do it. Borrow cause and effect from the future using the power of [Time]. Only in this way can you change the direction of fate and make your dream come true.]
[But remember, everything has a cost. Even gifts from the gods are never free. When that day comes, all paths of fate will meet again. When it does... you must become the final force that moves it all forward.]
After that day, Young Melchior, the first king of the Human United Kingdom, and the [Western Calamity] both suddenly vanished without a trace. There was no warning, no logic behind their disappearance. The friends who survived searched the wildlands thoroughly, but Young had vanished from the world, as if he had never existed.
In the end, the people of the Human United Kingdom believed that perhaps their first king had used some special method to either destroy [Western Calamity] together with himself, or to drive it away in order to protect his people. Though filled with deep sorrow, they could only raise a tomb using the clothes Young left behind, hold a grand funeral, and appoint his child to take the throne.
No matter how hard things became, life had to go on. Even if only to honor the late king’s final wishes, and to follow the brave spirit that watched over them from the sky, the kingdom could not stop moving forward.
But what people didn’t know was this, Young didn’t die. He had made a contract with an unknown being that locked his life in a moment beyond normal understanding. Because of this contract, he was destined to give up his old name and could never return to public life again. That was the price he paid to change [Fate].
“Frozen in a single moment, huh... Sounds like something related to the power of [Time] laws,” Violet muttered thoughtfully as she looked at the man who had just shared this hidden part of the past, Young Melchior, the first king and founder of the Human United Kingdom. She calmly shook her head.
“Whatever. Whether you're called Timos Young or Young Melchior, I don’t care about your name. I care about what you’ve done. So, the next question I ask will directly decide how we deal with you.”
“As I said before, I hope you think carefully before answering. Of course, it’s okay if you want to lie... but I suggest you understand the consequences of doing so.”
The [Immortal Magician] lowered his head respectfully, as if he had already expected the priestess to ask such a question.
“Yes, please go ahead, Your Divineness.”
“‘Your Divineness’ and all that… Just call me by name. Now, the first question. Why did you create the [Eternal Throne]? And why did you let them do those horrible, inhuman things? Was it driven by your own desires?”
“…The [Eternal Throne], huh. No, Miss Violet… you got one thing wrong. I wasn’t the one who founded this organization. It was created by His Divineness Exmont, the God of Subversion and Paradox. While I do now serve as the leader of the [Eternal Throne], acting as the walking voice and council member for that god in the world of humans, that doesn’t mean I’m the only one who could take this position.”
The [Immortal Magician] explained calmly.
“Even without me, as long as the God of Subversion and Paradox wishes, He can still choose another representative in this world. The [Eternal Throne] would still appear, and might even turn out worse than it is now. There might not be people like Prakaka and Cromancia, who are at least willing to side with you. That’s my point, since the root of the chaos can’t be cut off, then it’s better to choose a suitable person to control it. That way, at least we can try to reduce the harm it causes.”
“Oh...? Are you sure that’s not just an excuse to cover up your actions?”
As if he didn’t notice the threat and killing intent in the girl’s tone, Timos Young smiled and shook his head.
“Miss Violet, haven’t you already noticed? Why is it that even though you knew the missing Second Throne was in Courage City, the only person who could stop her by force, me, never went to find Rebecca? It was like I completely ignored her, right? And why is it that even though Her Highness Lucine and I are sworn enemies, we’ve fought for so many years without ever truly trying to kill each other?”
“And what about that kidnapping case in the southeast part of the Austre Empire that affected so many people? Aside from the cultists of the Church of Truth, how many normal citizens actually died? Why was that person from Team [Tree] willing to act as my insider, yet refused to explain his reasons for helping me?”
One by one, the mastermind laid out the strange pieces of the puzzle, slowly revealing the truth behind them all.
“When [Desecration] attacked all those people in the [Morst Underground Labyrinth], not a single one truly died. Why? Because I asked it to hold back from killing. That way, it would help [Nightmare] spread its influence more easily.”
“And remember that spider-like monster, the one that was corrupted by [Desecration] and snuck into the [Fantasy Sky Courtyard]? What was its real goal, gathering information? Causing alarm? Or… delivering a warning?”
“Your Divineness the Goddess, you already saw through all of this. Otherwise, there’s no way you would’ve allowed someone to kill that imperial princess earlier. I couldn’t sense it myself, but I can guess, you were probably hiding nearby at that time, right?”
“I don’t have the incredible divine power that you and the Goddess of Life possess. When facing other Twilight Council members, who are also gods, there’s not much I can do. Like I said before, even if I weren’t here, the God of Subversion and Paradox would still choose someone else to take this position. Just think about it now, it could’ve been that girl named Orluk, who is full of obsession… or Prince Xiluo, who uses any means necessary because he can’t compete with his sister.”
“Tell me, do you think things would’ve gone better if it were them instead of me?”