Wizard of the Deep Sea

TL/ED – Miso

“I’ve lived quite a long time, and the world is truly a beautiful place.”

“…”

Void’s tone had no inflection.

With a flat voice that sounded almost machine-generated, he surveyed his surroundings as though gazing at something precious.

“But there are things in this world that shouldn’t exist.”

“You mean the Empire?”

“No, you know what I’m talking about. Us.”

Void tapped his chest as if stating the obvious.

“We are things that shouldn’t exist. Our very existence distorts and warps the world.”

“…What?”

He was right.

So undeniably right that the words escaped my mouth before I could stop them, despite knowing it was dangerous to engage.

“If you know that, why are you still alive?”

“You seem to have misunderstood. Nothing changes even if we die. When I say we shouldn’t exist, I mean because our power twists this beautiful world.”

Void tossed a small stone into the air. It spun and floated for a moment before falling back to the ground.

He watched the sight with an uneasy expression before speaking again.

“Undercurrent, do you know what those called wizards truly are?”

“Of course. People who use magic.”

“Then can you explain what this magic actually is?”

“If you’re trying to play word games, I’m not interested.”

“This is simply to explain. You wouldn’t understand, but magic originally didn’t exist in this world. The world is most perfect when there is no magic.”

“…”

“…Oh?”

Seeing my speechless expression, Void raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“How fascinating. You understood what I meant.”

“…I didn’t.”

“No, the mere fact that you paused to consider my words proves otherwise. No one else has ever understood this…”

I clenched my fist.

In the end, it was because I was born on Earth that I knew what a world without magic looked like.

To me, a world without magic felt more natural and familiar.

Void looked at me with satisfaction and continued with a smile.

“Magic makes rain flow from the ground to the sky and turns one step into two. It is strange and wicked, distorting reality by its very manifestation. It was something that should never have existed to begin with—but the Prophet created it.”

“The Prophet?”

“The one who created magic. The first wizard.”

“You mean that thing your people worship as a god.”

“You seem to be misunderstanding something. We absolutely do not worship it.”

Void frowned and shook his head.

“That thing spread magic and created us. In return, we were condemned to live in this hell. How could we possibly worship it?”

“You should speak honestly. Aren’t you the ones dragging other people into hell? You’re far more monstrous.”

“No, it is salvation.”

“Bullshit.”

“Let me ask you one question.”

Void smiled again as he looked at me.

“Can you explain why those who have Fallen cannot use the magic of the physical world?”

“That’s because magic operates on a different principle than things of the Abyss Realm.”

“Yes, and that’s what’s strange. If magic were truly something natural, why couldn’t the Fallen use it? Have you ever been unable to breathe or drink water just because you Fell? If it were truly a natural law, you should be able to use magic too.”

I actually could use it.

But I wasn’t stupid enough to correct an enemy’s misconception, so I stayed silent. Void continued passionately.

“The answer is simple. Magic is also an ability of the Abyss Realm.”

“…What did you say?”

“I know what orders you received from the Priestess. She told you to investigate the phenomenon of shadows moving on their own.”

That was correct.

“Yes, we accomplished that. What the Prophet did thousands of years ago, we have only now managed to replicate. But as I just said, the same thing happened thousands of years ago.”

“That was… magic?”

“More precisely, he spread the environment that allows people to use magic. Gathering mana and using it to warp reality.”

Void let out a deep sigh.

“There is no difference between the inner world and the Abyss Real. All wizards live within the Prophet’s World, merely under the illusion that it is their own.”

I wasn’t stupid enough to take the Crimson Circle Leader’s words at face value.

Treating it simply as a claim, I listened as he continued with self-deprecation.

“The reason the Fallen cannot use magic is simple. Because they escaped that World and built one entirely their own. Because they became true wizards.”

“So that’s why you’re making everyone Fall? Out of some petty sense of justice that you need to liberate them?”

“I have no intention of being a hypocrite.”

Void shook his head and answered.

“All wizards must either die or escape. Only then can the Prophet be killed.”

“…You said this person lived thousands of years ago?”

“Heh heh heh…”

Suddenly, he burst into laughter.

“He melted.”

Bewildered by those words, I asked back with a dawning suspicion.

“…Assimilation?”

“Yes. At this very moment, the Prophet remains dissolved into the world. Unless he is completely killed, he will continue to produce wizards.”

“Hmm…”

So in other words.

This being called the Prophet had spread throughout the Empire long before the Shadow Calamity.

In the form of mana. Wizards were created from it, living under the illusion that the Prophet’s power was their own…

“I don’t really see what the problem is.”

When I responded with a frown, Void answered with the same smile.

“What do you mean?”

“What’s wrong with more wizards? What exactly bothers you about producing them?”

“Of course, a great problem arises.”

“I’d need to know what it is before I can be convinced.”

Void smiled instead of answering.

The meaning was clear: he wouldn’t tell me. So I returned to the main topic.

“Fine, I wasn’t expecting much anyway. It’s enough to know that you’re making the Empire’s wizards Fall for some bizarre reason and have no intention of stopping.”

“And we wish for you to join us.”

Void extended his hand.

“We need you, Undercurrent. Of course, we won’t spread your World.”

“Do you really think I’d believe that?”

“I mean it. The fact that we’re even having this conversation is a miracle. I respect you for surviving despite experiencing the Burden that should have killed you at birth. Above all, if you were to unleash your Burden, even Crimson Circle wouldn’t be able to withstand it.”

Void shrugged.

“Even the Prophet couldn’t endure the Three Evils. You would be a great asset to us.”

“What about you people?”

“Don’t you want to kill us?”

Void answered, still smiling.

“If you agree to stay with Crimson Circle, I’ll indirectly help you kill the members of the Upper Tier.”

“…Are you insane?”

“I’m serious. Losing them would be painful, but if we can gain one of the Three Evils, it’s a fair trade.”

Even I couldn’t hide my bewilderment at this offer. I hadn’t expected him to propose selling out his comrades so readily.

“Each time you kill one of us, the Empire will become a little more peaceful. Of course, you’ll need to help us in return…”

“Don’t you have any sense of camaraderie?”

“They aren’t human. You know that, don’t you?”

“…”

Dark Night had said that Void made her human.

There was no way the one who made them didn’t know their true nature—that they were merely Worlds imitating humans.

“So, what do you say?”

Void didn’t withdraw his hand, instead resting it on the table.

“I promise. You won’t have to kill or hurt anyone. You just need to fulfill small, simple requests and freely kill those who are sickening the Empire.”

“…”

Looking at his refreshingly calm face, well.

It wasn’t anything profound, but I sensed it.

This was a trap. Not even well-hidden. It was the equivalent of being asked to stick my head under a guillotine with a blood-soaked blade hanging above.

But there was one thing Void didn’t know.

“If the help turns out to be nothing special, I’m leaving immediately.”

“I will assist you with everything I have.”

I smiled back at his grinning face.

After finishing my handshake with Void, I wiped my hand and asked.

“So, what is this request?”

“Nothing major. Just kill me.”

“…Kill you?”

“Yes. I would very much like you to crush me with your Deep Sea.”

“…”

Bewildered by the absurd request, I tilted my head, but seeing Void’s serious expression, I slowly nodded.

“…Alright, fine.”

“You don’t need to worry. I absolutely won’t try to fight back.”

This was a good opportunity for me.

Nothing could be better than being able to kill Crimson Circle’s Leader.

“Step back over there.”

I pushed Damyu, who wore an anxious expression, behind me, then looked at Void and drew in a breath.

“One question. What happens if you die here? Will you come back to life like Lump?”

“No, Crimson Circle would lose its head. That’s all.”

Void answered as if it were nothing.

Looking at the smile spread across his face, I found myself wanting to wipe it off.

“I see.”

I blinked—

And the worlds overlapped.

The sunlight lost its strength, and murky seawater filled the surroundings.

No, it didn’t fill anything.

It was closer to simply noticing what had always been there, more seriously.

“…Oh, ohhh…”

It didn’t take long for the smile to disappear from Void’s face.

Instead, with shock mixed with joy, happiness, and fervor—eyes swirling with countless emotions—he surveyed his surroundings and let out an exclamation.

“So this is one of the Three Evils… one of the only three Worlds that can cover the real world…!”

“…”

However, he didn’t seem to be in pain.

Frowning, I grabbed him by the throat.

-Crack…

“Gkh—”

In the end, he had a human body. His complexion reddened as he clutched his throat in apparent agony.

…It truly seemed like he had made no preparations whatsoever.

This was incomprehensible. He had asked to be killed himself.

Could it be… if I just killed him like this, would it all be over?

Tilting my head, I squeezed harder.

Because nothing could be better than that.

“I see…”

As his throat was gradually crushed and his complexion turned pale.

He nodded with satisfaction.

“So that’s why the Prophecy chose Ocean instead of you.”

“…What?”

“This is far too dangerous.”

And then.

I blinked—and the Deep Sea vanished.

“…?”

I was suddenly sitting back at the table.

Void sipped his tea with a serene expression and answered.

“Thank you. I had a rare experience thanks to you.”

“…What did you just do?”

My World had suddenly disappeared.

This was my first time experiencing such a thing. Frowning, I asked, and he replied lightly.

“Nothing special. I simply called forth my own World as well.”

“I don’t sense anything. Isn’t this just the real world we live in?”

“Of course it is.”

Void shrugged and answered.

“Because the real world is my World.”