Turning Chapter 1059

Chapter 1059

No matter how many times Yuder blinked, the characters that appeared in his mind remained the same, and there were no further sentences following them. Feeling an indescribable emotion, he lifted his fingers from the paper.

"Enon."

"What?"

"There's a message left for you at the very front. I think it's best if you read this before leaving."

Without even turning his head, Enon replied in his usual voice.

"I told you it seemed to be left for me to see. That's why I asked you to look first, in case there was something. The content... Given you've found this, it's clear there's another purpose, so either check it thoroughly or don't—something like that."

Yuder alternately gazed at Luma's journal and Enon's back before asking.

"You're not pretending you didn't see it when you already have, right?"

"How could I?! I'm just guessing because it's obvious."

"But there's something else. That's why I thought you should read it."

Only then did Enon turn his head.

"Ha... What is it? You tell me."

Yuder fell silent for a moment before opening his mouth.

"- I hope you are happy at the moment you find this."

For a moment, Enon's hand slipped as he was rummaging through the wooden pieces. The wooden pieces he had been sorting by type were knocked over by his fingers, collapsing and mixing into a mess. Even in the situation where his hard work had been ruined, Enon remained still and slowly blinked, asking back.

"What did you say?"

"It says it hopes you are happy. That's what's written."

"..."

Enon couldn't easily open his mouth. Between his deeply sunken eyes, unknown emotions seemed to pass by like the wind. Yuder's unknown years were probably in there.

What should he say at times like this? There was no need to say anything, but it felt frustrating that he couldn't say something nice to Enon, who had such an expression, even if he wanted to.

'...If it were Kishiar.'

Just as he thought that.

Three knocks were heard, breaking the silence.

"I felt a sudden change in magic power and came down, but the door is closed. Can you tell me if it's okay for me to open it and come in?"

The soft voice that followed belonged to the very man Yuder had just thought of. Only then did Enon blink and frown. Yuder immediately opened his mouth to answer Kishiar's question.

"There were some unexpected events. It's alright, you can come in."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door opened, and Kishiar strode in. Unlike his voice, which seemed to be leisurely checking the situation, he was holding a sword in one hand. The man quickly moved his eyes, scanning the interior once, and finally stopped his gaze on Yuder, lifting the corners of his lips into a smile.

"I'm glad. Even though I know the two people here aren't worrisome, I couldn't help but be concerned."

"No. You came at the right time. As you can see, we have finally found Luma's hidden research materials here."

"So it seems. It's truly amazing. How did you find them?"

Yuder explained the process of finding them, omitting some of the conversation with Enon. Kishiar showed deep interest in the story of how Enon used his blood from a torn hand to dispel the magic that had hidden the research materials.

"I see. A magic that can only be opened with blood and lineage... It's definitely in the style of the First Duke Tain, Blake Van Tain."

Blake Van Tain was a figure whose fact of being a mage was hardly known to later generations because he focused more on research than practical magic. Nevertheless, the magic he used to hide something showed tremendous power, lasting nearly a thousand years with almost no issues. If what Enon said was true, it meant that at least in that type of magic, he was definitely at the level of a Great Mage.

"Or, from the beginning, the Great Mage Luma helped Blake develop his 'hiding magic' to this level in order to find a way to conceal this place. I think the latter possibility is more likely. They were in a master-disciple relationship, after all."

"That could be the case."

"It means that the things hidden here are dangerous and important. Judging from the research topics and content of the materials, it naturally seems to be the case, but besides that..."

Kishiar smiled coldly as he looked at the materials stuck in the bookshelf.

"Given that it's a well-known fact that people in the early days of the nation deliberately erased the history of the pre-Great Destruction era as much as possible, if it was revealed that he had kept records from that time, even a Great Mage would have had a hard time guaranteeing his future."

"..."

"Anyway, I'm glad both of you seem to be fine... What's wrong with the pharmacist? Did something happen?"

"Ask the kid for the answer. I'm too lazy to open my mouth."

"...It's because we found this. It's presumed to be Luma's journal, and there was a short message left for Enon at the front."

Following Enon's answer, Yuder showed the journal he was holding and spoke. Kishiar seemed to quickly grasp the situation with just those brief words, slightly widening his eyes.

"Hmm... I see. The Great Mage must have left both the letter and the journal, assuming two possible scenarios in which the pharmacist would come looking."

"How do you know that so well without even looking?"

"If he had faith in the person who would come here, he would have done that."

That was an answer Yuder hadn't thought of.

"Faith... you say."

"According to what I heard earlier, the Great Mage originally wanted to create a guardian to protect the 7 Walls, but hesitated when the moment actually approached. In his contract terms, there's not a single part that tries to force the pharmacist's actions or impose disadvantages if he doesn't perform his duties as a guardian. It clearly shows that he thought it was okay even if he didn't fulfill them."

Yuder blinked slowly a couple of times and asked.

"Then what did he believe in?"

"I can't say for sure that this is the correct answer since I'm not the Great Mage... But if I try to think from his perspective."

Kishiar's red eyes scanned the old book cover in Yuder's hand. After a moment of silence, he slowly began to speak as if organizing his thoughts.

"It's presumed that the reason the Great Mage created the 7 Walls was to avoid the signs of another Great Destruction that might come again in the future, according to the will of His Majesty the First Emperor. However, it seems he wasn't completely convinced that such a moment would really come, even while carrying out that task. Nevertheless, if that moment truly arrived. And if the guardian kept his promise with Luma and tried to fulfill his role until then..."

"..."

"Two paths would be waiting before him. One is a path where he doesn't know the purpose of Luma and the First Emperor at all, or has no interest and just wants to hastily perform the role of a guardian. The other is a path where perhaps people like Luma and the First Emperor are by the guardian's side, and the guardian obtains Luma's information here with them and continues based on that."

The former was clearly the path Enon had taken in his previous life. And the latter...

Kishiar slightly nodded his head, looking straight into Yuder's eyes.

"Both are paths where the guardian can fulfill his role. However, the meaning is similar yet different."

The path of physically moving the 7 Walls of the capital right away to prevent monsters or disasters from striking is quick, easy, and has a definite effect.

On the other hand, the path of obtaining the information left by Luma and moving together with others to protect not only the capital but the world is difficult and arduous. It's even more so because one cannot believe that all the information left by Luma is true and correct. However... Enon was now trying to choose the second path.

"The uncertain belief that someone like them might appear again in later generations to walk the same path. The hard-to-estimate probability that his guardian would be by their side then. Nevertheless, the Great Mage believed that the guardian would definitely choose something, whichever side he took, and seemed to have left his own methods to provide the necessary help on that path. If he had thought there was a high possibility of not choosing anything at all, he wouldn't have done such a bothersome thing."

"..."

"..."

Yuder recalled the sentence that had said, 'I hope you are happy.'

I hope you are happy at the moment you find this.

The journal could be nothing more than a collection of useless records full of failures and uncertain processes left by Luma. Leaving all of this was never going to be beneficial for that Great Mage. Leaving records that shouldn't be left and not disposing of failed research was closer to a choice that would endanger his own life, as Kishiar said.

Yet, he ended up leaving this behind.

If he had thought of the possibility that Enon might not be alone when he discovered them.

If there was such a meaning to the 'happiness at the moment of discovery' that he had wished for.

"..."

The moment Yuder tightened his grip on the journal, Enon abruptly stood up from his seat.

"...I'll read that now, so give it to me for a moment."