Chapter 302: Who is the Returner

Sung-Woon sat quietly for a moment inside the Baustan Sanctuary. The overlap of reality and unreality still felt unfamiliar to Sung-Woon, and perhaps, if Mazdari's words were true, this moment would always remain strange. That was what magic was.

Sung-Woon asked,

-What about the door?

The white Crow, Mazdari, replied,

-The backdoor should already be at the intended place.

Sung-Woon stood up and turned around.

There was a sarcophagus of an unnamed warrior. The bottom of the sarcophagus, where Sung-Woon had first woken up in, had been covered in weeds and moss. But now, it was a door made of cut logs. On the door, two sentences in the ancient Avartin language were written, which Sung-Woon could read fluently.

[Secrets are not discovered.]

[If discovered, they are no longer secrets.]

This was likely insight into what magic was, written by some Wizard who had entered the Demon World in the past.

The things created by magic often involved interference from previous Wizards or beings from other worlds.

'Maybe it's the future. Inner space has a time axis, but it's somewhat distorted.'

Understanding magic from an external space’s perspective was quite difficult. Even the physical laws thought to be unbreakable become malleable, absolute rules become relative, and concepts and senses that were once imperceptible emerged.

Embracing such powers without hesitation could drive a Wizard mad. Therefore, the first rule for Wizards was to maintain their sanity and identity.

The black lizard, Kyle Lak Orazen, said,

-The backdoor is already open.

Sung-Woon nodded and turned back.

There, Sung-Woon was still sitting cross-legged. It was Sung-Woon that remained in external space. Now, Sung-Woon entered the Demon World, the deepest part of Avartin in the internal universe, inner space.

Sung-Woon opened the backdoor. A grayish-white staircase led underground where it shouldn't exist. Without hesitation, Sung-Woon went down and closed the door overhead.

Sung-Woon didn’t encounter the black fortress walls, the white door, or the watcher with hundreds of eyes, as he had seen on the previous visit to the Demon World.

Sung-Woon remembered Wisdom's words.

"Nebula, once you've succeeded, the second time is easier."

"Why is that?"

"If you successfully hack it, just leave a backdoor that ignores all security."

Thus, when Sung-Woon created the golden key to open the first door, he also made a backdoor. Immediately after expanding the system's range during the moon-facing plan, Sung-Woon installed the backdoor and exited. Knowing he would return someday, Sung-Woon had no regrets about his hasty departure.

The backdoor installed then led directly to the depths of the Demon World rather than its borders, and the depths were dark. Sung-Woon went down the stairs in the darkness and reached the bottom.

Then Mazdari said,

-Returner, the demonic magic here is so deep and intense that it seems even the ancient spells cannot shake it.

Sung-Woon looked around in the darkness.

-But if not here, we would have been easily discovered.

Kyle said,

-Night Sky, there's no need to worry. I am here for times when your magic doesn't work.

The white Crow, Mazdari, slightly fluffed its feathers.

-Your way is too slow.

-...But it's certain. How about we move toward the outskirts where the demonic magic's density decreases and then come up with another solution?

-Agreed.

-We are currently in the eighth hemisphere of the virtual cuboid that makes up the physical Demon World. Turn 40 degrees to the left and walk with slow but wide steps. We need to head to the twelfth hemisphere.

Sung-Woon did so. Following Kyle's instructions, Sung-Woon thought about magic, the system, and the Demon World.

Magic was a set of linguistic rules, and the old gods called the unified system they created through these rules the ‘system’. The system existed in the Demon World. The Demon World was a place where the system could reside, being both a storage device and an information processor. Thus, if the system was software, the Demon World was the hardware computer that ran it.

'However...'

This computer was too old and broken. Such errors were called software rot by the old gods. Software rot caused unexpected errors in the computer, occurring in all places of Avartin touched by the system's range.

'As Aldin said, it must be due to a fundamental problem with magic.'

The foundation of the world lay in the external space, rooted in unshakable, solid physical properties. However, magic shook the rules of external space, creating connections with other worlds that would otherwise be unreachable.

'This is why Wizards had to have more than one consciousness.'

One had to target the external space, and another the inner space. Only then could the mystery of magic be manifested from inner space to external space.

'The puzzling thing is why such systems of consciousness existed under the name of spirits.'

In Sung-Woon's inner monologue, someone replied,

-Are you curious about that?!

Sung-Woon lifted his head. Sung-Woon also felt a slight tension from the two apostles on his shoulders, watching the front. If identified as an enemy, these two apostles would act before Sung-Woon's command, ensuring there was no longer an enemy. But fortunately, there was no need for that.

Sung-Woon recognized the presence that appeared before him,

-Pzzt.

A blue electric stingray flickered in the darkness, and it continued its slow, leisurely flight, seemingly pleased to be called.

-Yes! O Returner! Your spirit has come to meet you here!

Sung-Woon pointed out,

-That’s not meant to be answered.

-...Is that so? Us, spirits of Demonic Magic, are so deep in the Demon World that my electric sensors work too well. I couldn't distinguish between your external response and internal thoughts. Sorry.

-No need to apologize. And if you know the answer, you may respond to the question.

Pzzt slowly circled above Sung-Woon's head and said,

-It's all because of the old gods!

-That too?

-That too.

Pzzt continued,

-For a long time, people thought ancient evil referred only to evil gods, but the old gods have been more malevolent since much earlier.

Sung-Woon had known this fact from a certain point. Perhaps during the time when the evil gods and old gods fought, there wasn't much distinction between the two.

-Originally, magic had the potential to manifest in all people.

That was not the case in the current Avartin. Genetically, or through ancient relics found in the Demon World, one had to have a spirit of Demonic Magic dwell within them, and thus gain another consciousness. Of course, as magic developed, ancient magics were discovered, and other methods emerged. Tuning was known as a product of more ancient magic.

-That's why in ancient times, Wizards were not as precious as they are now. Some were just tricksters, but others moved the heavens with powers beyond their own comprehension. Of course, being primitive Wizards who neglected the accumulation of mysteries, they were slow in advancing magic.

Sung-Woon thought it interesting that magic, too, required a minimum level of civilization.

-But as time passed, Wizards who achieved Tuning appeared. They were different from the primitive Wizards. They properly processed knowledge, researched, and passed it down. And they succeeded in gaining absolute influence. That was the problem.

-Why is that?

-Those Wizards wanted to monopolize magic because a new Wizard emerging from somewhere always posed a challenge to their power.

-I see.

Pzzt rapidly fluttered its tail fins.

-That is why. Those Wizards harvested the origin of the magic in Avartin with their own power. In other words, they imprisoned dreams. That was the first form of the Demon World, Rasdasil. The Wizards divided the imprisoned dreams and monopolized them as their power.

Pzzt turned and flew into Sung-Woon's view. Matching the pace of Sung-Woon's walk, Pzzt hovered in place.

-That power is us, the spirits of Demonic Magic.

Sung-Woon added the next logical conclusion.

-And those Wizards are the old gods.

-Yes.

Pzzt soared again, and behind Pzzt, other spirits of Demonic Magic emerged. They each resembled burning Wolves, grayish-white Snakes, translucent Eagles, or Bears made of soil. These spirits of Demonic Magic gradually approached Sung-Woon, running around, flying through the air, or circling around his feet.

The spirits of the Demonic Magic sang,

-We were slaves, subjugated to the old gods for a long time.

-Until you freed us.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

-We were the minions of the old gods for a long time.

-Until you, the Returner, returned.

-We didn't even know who we were.

-Until you, the Returner, and those good-natured Wizards broke our curse.

Mazdari slightly raised his head. Sung-Woon was aware of the great achievements accomplished not just by Mazdari, but by other fellow Wizards. It was a long-kept secret, incomprehensible to those who weren’t Wizards.

To the Empire’s citizens, it might just be remembered as a few cases where Wizards overcame their handicaps through surgical procedures. However, it was a deed that gave freedom to the spirits of Demonic Magic. Broken out from the constraints imposed by the old gods through bloodline or contracts, the spirits regained their freedom.

In this process, the Wizards achieved Tuning. Mazdari said it was a good deal since both parties benefited, but the spirits did not think of it that way.

The spirits of Demonic Magic said in one voice,

-Thus, we decide to repay our debt, your will shall be our will.

Sung-Woon said,

-Then may I ask for a favor?

-Of course. For your request, we would even oppose the old gods right away.

Sung-Woon shook his head.

-Finding the way is enough.

The spirits of Demonic Magic looked somewhat disappointed, but the request was immediately granted. As the spirits of Demonic Magic created a path, a narrow trail appeared in the darkness. The ground was firm yet soft with soil, and the plants on either side were thriving. Gentle sunlight tickled Sung-Woon lightly.

The spirits were moving back and forth, jumping around while Sung-Woon walked. Sung-Woon knew that this was a hospitality of the imaginary world created by the spirits. Sung-Woon fully enjoyed it and followed the path.

Kyle said,

-It must have been a practice.

-Practice?

Mazdari said,

-Or maybe the order was reversed. It could have been something like the first idea.

Sung-Woon knew what the two Apostles were talking about.

-You’re talking about the system.

Sung-Woon felt it too. The powers held by the spirits of Demonic Magic also symbolized a Domain. The reason they weren’t completely dissolved into the system was probably because they were created before the system was made.

At the end of the path, a clearing with a giant black rock appeared. It looked natural, but its surface was densely written with ancient texts, some so old that even Sung-Woon couldn't read them. Sung-Woon guessed that this was the first Rasdasil.

Mazdari said,

-Returner, put your hand on it.

Sung-Woon placed his hand on the rock.

Kyle said,

-Night Sky, unfold the imaginary world. You can realign the depths of the Demon World in all possible forms.

Sung-Woon did so. Sung-Woon pictured several images in his mind. The depths of the Demon World could be a library.

'Jerome would have preferred it.'

It could also be a supercomputer with computer monitors filling the view.

'That would be familiar to Wisdom.'

It could be a kind of theater with fake people performing plays to convey necessary information.

'Would Eldar like that?'

Sung-Woon thought those were good ideas, but he already had something in mind.

People couldn’t escape from their long-held memories. That was the landscape of their imagination.

Sung-Woon’s world was a museum. White marble floors, a dazzlingly lit high ceiling, a silent and empty space with no one around. Sung-Woon stepped into the museum.

'Is this the depths of the Demon World?'

Many questions had been resolved, but there was still something puzzling Sung-Woon. The journey to the depths of the Demon World was not just about opposing the old gods, but also to solve this mystery.

'Am I really the Returner?’

The spirits once again confused thoughts and words, responding to Sung-Woon's question,

-There was a Wizard.

The spirits sang,

-The Wizard liked to play.