Chapter 1155 – #276_Prologue (3)
#1149
One.
While on the move, Siu asked his goddaughter, Frau, who was currently staying inside Hexennacht, the whole story.
[Yes, godfather. I will check it immediately]
The United States is a representative Gehenna-friendly country, but this surprise announcement was confirmed to see if it was triggered from within Hexennacht.
Frau accepted Siu as his godfather and swore loyalty to him.
She also returned to Hexennacht and secretly appeased the other Werpana who were united around Finn.
But it was all done in secret.
Frau was still a highly influential figure within Hexennacht and she would report her quality information to Siu accordingly.
[This incident is not related to Hexennacht. At least externally. Considering the seriousness of the matter, if there had been any inkling in advance, the other goddaughters would have reported it to the godfather. However, I will contact other sisters]
“All right. “It’s a lot of hard work.”
[Just being able to serve my godfather is the greatest blessing for me]
As soon as I cut off the business-oriented contact, I sighed.
It seemed like things had been a bit quiet recently, but then this unexpected situation suddenly occurred.
My head was pounding from fatigue.
“I expected it to some extent, but it doesn’t seem like it happened under the leadership of the entire city of Hexennacht like the last flooding incident.”
“I understand.”
The Seoul branch of Witch Point, which was entrusted with valet parking, is reminiscent of a stock market that has already been hit by an emergency and a big short.
Even as all the employees were shouting with their handsets pressed to their cheeks, the phones were ringing non-stop and unorganized documents were flying around like trash.
When we arrived at the branch manager’s office, which had been remodeled to resemble a hanok, Branch Manager Sua was putting down the receiver with a pensive look on his face.
“Teacher Su-ah. How did this happen? “There must have been restrictions on magic research at the time of the agreement.”
In fact, even before the flood, magic research was being carried out secretly under the leadership of various countries.
At the time, there was a need to respond to homunculi and exploits without the help of witches, and the ‘spirit body’ of a witch who promised immortality would have been an attractive research subject for those in power who were destined for mortality.
However, as Eloa knew, the various attempts were in vain.
Witches were too powerful beings for humans to catch and use for experiments, and more than anything, Duke Kether killed the witch who called herself Prometheus most decisively and made the countries involved pay their due.
In a way, it was an unwritten rule that was more strictly observed than ‘Witches must remain a mystery.’
Even after Kether disappeared and even after the flood, this rule was firmly observed.
In a secret meeting where the leaders of each country gathered, Gehenna demanded that all magical research not be made public in exchange for ending the ‘flood.’
Although the other witches did not know the contents of the ‘Ark’ or the history of the world line from which the Witch of Creation escaped, the reason for making this request was because Duke Erelim’s opinion was actively reflected.
‘Humans are extremely dangerous beings.’
‘Now that the homunculi that suppressed humans have disappeared, we don’t know when and how the magic wisdom that has fallen into their hands will threaten us.’
‘As I said before, I am not suggesting that we persecute them through drastic and aggressive measures.’
‘However, minimal restrictions will be required.’
The remarks of Duke Erelim, who is also revered as a great sage, easily drew the consent of the orthodox witches.
It cannot be denied that behind such an easy agreement, there is a witch’s unique arrogance and desire for exclusivity, saying, ‘I can’t let humans study magic,’ but Si-woo, who had seen ‘The Ark’ in person, also implicitly agreed.
The historical truth embodied in Neo Daejeon was not just fiction.
The malevolence of mankind seen in Neo Daejeon was not unfamiliar at all.
Rather, I felt a sense of déjà vu.
However, in the end, what Siwoo, Eloa, and Rinne chose was to withhold their choice.
He chooses to keep quiet about the truth he learned inside the ark.
If the witches found out the truth about this world, it was clear that uncontrollable chaos would occur, and that chaos would most likely take a radical direction.
Therefore, the stance was that it would be good if we could buy time while preparing for the possibility without forgetting.
“The White House spokesperson’s position is that they had no knowledge of this fact. It is said that an entrepreneur known for his eccentricity performed on his own due to lack of interest…”
“That can’t be possible. “I guess you’re thinking of playing it off.”
“The girl’s opinion is the same.”
The United States is such a country that the aerospace development capabilities of one company have long surpassed the discretion of other countries.
However, even taking that into consideration, the technology revealed live today was so advanced that even Siwoo thought, ‘Isn’t this a bit dangerous?’
It is not a technique that can be demystified and completed in a day or two.
If the technique demonstrated was simply ‘telekinesis’, there would have been no need to be so nervous.
That’s a level that can be achieved as long as you have the magic power and a little talent.
“That magic particle accelerator isn’t that simple.”
“You pulled in the rare magical energy around you, ‘magnetized’ it, and created your own magic, right?”
“At least, if you say that there was no manipulation of the data shown, then that is true.”
Although the result is inferior, humans created another form of ‘stigma’ on their own without relying at all on the mystery of witches.
An early brand made of steel and electricity.
Much faster than predicted.
In some ways, it may be worth it.
The reason humanity had a hard time dealing with magic in the Neo War world line was because science lagged behind.
The current world line is an era in which footprints were left on the surface of the moon half a century ago.
The base technology you already have is different.
“… Gehenna will be in turmoil again.”
Many witches probably won’t take it kindly.
In particular, the Duke of Erelim, who had been quiet in the fortress, will react angrily.
I already feel like my head is pounding and I want to look for headache medicine.
“What should I do?”
As a result of magic falling into the hands of humans, it is unclear whether the same tragedy will be repeated again in this world line.
However, this does not mean that it will not be repeated.
The choice was even more difficult because the possibilities were everywhere.
That is the path of agony that Eloa and Siu decided to walk.
However, there was no time to embrace my frustration and ponder my worries.
“Chief Sua!”
Because the witch who urgently rushed into her branch manager’s office showed her terminal with her face as white as if she were screaming.
A video is playing on the channel that previously broadcast the US 7th Fleet submersion ceremony live in Hexennacht.
Judging by the curvature of the surrounding area and the unique waves spreading to the edges of the screen, it was taken using a magic crystal ball.
After checking the video, Eloa and Siwoo held their breath.
The inside of the building can’t be described as anything other than a state-of-the-art museum.
On the glass window, a colorful neon sign shot from a tall building leaves a remnant like a crushed insect.
In the center of the screen, a drone is floating around, doing its job diligently with lively mechanical sounds.
[Interaction between humans and witches first began around the 15th century. Witches passed on magical knowledge to humans, and humans spread her science to witches]
[Witches naturally settled in the upper class of human society and exploited humans by colluding with a few powerful people]
[As she was a witch with virtually no lifespan, this hierarchy was very solid. A deformed pattern arises in which a relatively small number of witches monopolize wealth and power]
[At this time, humanity was no different from witches’ slaves]
The video contained a record of the interior of the ‘Ark’.
2.
In the past, magic crystal balls were innovative items.
It was a transcendent ‘artifact’ capable of long-distance real-time video communication, recording of video and photos, and various other functions.
However, as the convenience of civilization called smartphones becomes widespread, the story changes.
The magic crystal ball was more expensive, inconvenient to carry, and difficult to maintain than the latest smartphone.
Nevertheless, the reason many witches continue to use crystal balls as communication devices is not simply due to stubborn inertia.
This is because it has several unique advantages.
One of them is that ‘it is very difficult to manipulate recorded records.’
Although the operation itself is easy, it becomes noticeable quickly.
If you study carefully, there are no idle witches who put effort into manipulating the video without being noticed, so it is sometimes used as meaningful evidence in court battles within Gehenna.
The object Finn found in Lydia’s safe was an image contained in such a crystal ball.
And it was a brand that had been completely magically sealed, but had almost completely crumbled, leaving only its shape barely visible.
A strange angel brand that is half meat and half machine.
[Let’s see… Done. Vlog exploring the future city of Daejeon. I think this might be useful, so I, Lydia Magnus, am recording it]
‘Ark’, an abandoned human city that has prospered unrealistically.
The secret story of this world, told through the mouth of a drone in a museum, and the identity of the Witch of Creation.
A witch who was conquered by cruel humans and became a sexual plaything.
‘Angel’ is the decisive weapon that overwhelms Ursheera and Priscilla.
All of those scenes are contained in the crystal ball.
Finn’s political sense was excellent, so he was able to predict the butterfly effect that would occur if this video was made public.
Gehenna, which inherited Kether from generation to generation, has a pro-human aspect.
Hexennacht, which was opposed to it, can be seen as extreme witchism.
However, the Witches of Gehenna and the Witches of Hexennacht have one thing in common.
The point is that everyone’s pride and self-esteem are sky-high.
What would happen if this video was made public in Gehenna and Hexennacht?
How will the witches act when they learn that the world where their great pride has fallen into the gutter at the hands of humans exists and is currently in progress?
Confusion.
Confusion.
There is no more confusion.
Unpredictable chaos and destruction are there.
“Mother…”
Finn could understand why her mother had kept the video in the safe where she kept her personal belongings.
My mother was a cold businesswoman.
If it’s beneficial, act, and if it’s not beneficial, don’t act.
Unlike other exploits, it was a feat that preferred to seek profit in a tense order.
Therefore, she must have decided that there was no meaning in keeping the video of her alive.
This video is an extreme move that completely turns the game upside down.
Even you probably think that unpredictable chaos is unnecessary at the gaming table.
But it’s different for Finn.
Being able to shake the board without any reason now that everything is inferior is no different from arbitrarily rearranging the pieces on the chessboard just before checkmate.
As such, Lydia Magnus’s true legacy, the game changer, was neither the Gnosis Egg with powerful magnetic magic nor the strongest artifact capable of defeating any enemy.
It was a very clear truth.
