Book Eater

Chapter 165: Heaven, Earth and Human Test (3)

The fourth one was Aquilo. The ruler of the ocean emotionlessly created a coin-sized hole in the middle of Theo’s forehead. The fifth was Randolph Clovis. Theo vividly felt the two falchions slicing through his neck. The sixth death was at Pride’s claws, and the seventh death was due to the storm arrow of Elvenheim’s guardian, Edwin.

He stopped counting after that.

Now, how many times... have I been killed?

Ten times, twenty times... At the very least, he had lost count. The face of the opponent changed every turn, but he always died a meaningless death. At least, he kept dying in unique ways. Some people were close to him, while others were enemies. But none of them even greeted him, and simply attacked him expressionlessly.

He had died over a hundred times. His opponents were the toughest people he had ever met, and his abilities were sealed away.

Theo stared at the new enemy before him with dark eyes.

“Randolph.”

The sword master was holding his double swords in a familiar stance. This was the third time he had seen Randolph. This space didn’t seem to only embody enemies from Theo’s memories, nor did it invite anyone stronger. No, even if he’d met them, this space seemed to exclude people whose abilities he didn’t understand. He hadn’t seen the members of the empire’s Seven Swords, Pan Helliones and Lloyd Pollan.

The order of appearance is random or irregular, but the number of people is eleven. They are all people who can beat me.

Despite experiencing death more than a hundred times, Theo was still trying to find an answer to the test. His eyes betrayed his fatigue, but his spirit was too strong to stop him from thinking.

Randolph hadn’t moved. Theo’s eyes narrowed as he thought of something, and twitched a finger. An instant later, Randolph’s double swords headed toward him.

Chwaack!

This time, it was Theo’s neck. Theo glared at Randolph as his head separated from his body. It was Randolph’s super-fast Aura Ability which Theo couldn’t avoid, even if he used Umbra. As Theo realized what had happened, he grumbled bitterly at the pain he wasn’t used to.

If I move even a little bit, will it start?

At the next moment, Theo stood in the white space again.

“......” He barely suppressed a scream.

His eyes had grown bloodshot from the battles. But it was the merciless beauty, Veronica. Theo hadn’t moved yet, so she just watched him. Of course, his life would fly away once he moved even a finger. It was valuable time for Theo to take a break from dying.

Theo needed to think. He needed to think of a way to achieve victory. However, Theo trampled on that hope.

This is impossible.

Regardless of whether he challenged them a hundred times or a thousand times, it was impossible. If he continued to challenge with a 0% chance of winning, he would lose everything. Additionally, Gluttony and some of Theo’s bigger abilities were sealed, leaving Theo as just a 6th Circle magician with excellent abilities. There was no chance for him to beat a master.

I am still helpless against brute force.

Theo thought he had become much stronger in the past year, but he still couldn’t escape the days when he had been stuck in the academy’s library. This seemed to be his fate. The shackles of talent and violence that he couldn’t escape with hard work and effort. He had died more than a hundred times as he searched for a way through, but there was only one solution left.

He could just give up on the Heaven Test. Even the great shaman, Seimei, wouldn’t be able to stop Gluttony. Theo’s power had been sealed before the system accepted this test. However, if he gave up on this test, he would be able to escape from the cycle of death that Seimei created. Theo could avoid pointless deaths.

Instead, he would fight in a situation where he could win. He didn’t need to fight when he couldn’t win.

… But what a poor way of living.

Theo exhaled and said cheekily to Veronica, “Let’s do it once more, Tower Master.”

She might be a fake created from his memories, but the strength which Theo perceived didn’t differ from reality. Perhaps his taunt had worked, but a red comet flashed, crossing the gap of several hundred meters in seconds!

It’s the same timing.

It was a straight fist filled with confidence in her strength. Eastern magic taught that softness suppressed strength. However, what softness could stand up to such overwhelming violence. If Theo tried to dodge, the shockwave would ruin his stance and the next attack would be the last. He had already died three times like that.

So this time, he didn’t try to dodge.

Kwaang!

The room echoed as their fists met. But Veronica’s fist didn’t even budge. Instead, the shockwave rippled through Theo’s arm. He had blocked perfectly. He may not have his perception, but he could still learn from his previous deaths.

However, this was Veronica, whose body had reached the level of steel without any strengthening magic. Once 8th Circle magic was added to the human body, he would be smashed into dust. Indeed, the left arm which Theo had used to meet her fist had already disintegrated up to the elbow.

“Che, only one attac...” Theo said as his head was smashed again.

Puhak!

It might have been his imagination, but he thought he saw a slight smile on Veronica’s red lips before he died.

***

He didn’t think anymore. He didn’t worry anymore. He would just fight and no longer back down. After Theo decided, he started to die even faster. Each battle didn’t last long, but he kept struggling anyway.

Peeok!

In the end, he managed to land a punch on Randolph’s annoyingly blank face.

Chwaaaak!

He tore a scale from Aquilo’s tail.

Hwaruruk!

He singed Blundell’s beard and smudged the White Tower Master’s robe with dirt.

Theo quit running away from the power he couldn’t match and just fought back. Even if he couldn’t win and died, he didn’t stop. He didn’t fight to win. He just fought. Theo wished he could win, but it didn’t matter if he couldn’t. Life was always filled with unreasonable force and trials. He wouldn’t be able to escape them if he didn’t fight.

One more time.

It might be a meaningless struggle, but Theo fought on.

Once again.

He would’ve quit the academy a long time ago if he were the type to give into despair. Unfair talent, unfair fate... Human’s lives were never fair. Theo’s steps would only slow down if he despaired. The heavens ignored any complaints, and talking to someone... even that effort might be meaningless.

Not… yet!

He still had to try. Only those who didn’t keep moving forward until they died were entitled to flip off the heavens. Fatalism was the role of the priest, while a magician sought to explore the world, no matter how fruitless it seemed. The greatest magicians were the ones who resisted until the end.

However, Theo was soon forced to stop. He had died over two hundred times, and a new monster had shown up.

“Isn’t this a little too much?” Theo didn’t want to sound weak, but anyone watching this situation wouldn’t be able to blame him.

Its white scales glowed even in the white room, as the apostle of destruction appeared.

Fafnir.

The being who had erased the 5th stage Pride in a single blow was floating before Theo. Since this was a spiritual world, there was nothing to be burned by its heat. However, it was obvious that Fafnir would use its laser.

Meltor’s magicians—no, all the magicians in the world wouldn’t be able to defend against it even if they pooled all their magic together. This was a death which couldn’t be resisted.

In that case, I might as well fight.

He was going to die anyway. When else would he get a chance to attack an ancient dragon? Theo rotated the six circles to the maximum that his heart could endure. He knew the difference in strength better than anyone else.

Even so, he prepared to fight.

――――――――――――!

As the light of destruction was about to strike its target...

「That’s more than enough.」

The world froze.

Jjak jjak jjak!

Applause rang out in the white room. He let the almost completed defense spell dissipate and looked up. There was only one person who could intervene in this situation. It was Abe no Seimei, the one who had created this space which had killed him endlessly.

That damn person was clapping. “Brilliant.”

“... Do you not want to see my unsightly corpse anymore?” Theo asked coldly.

Seimei seemed genuinely admiring as he said, “It wasn’t unsightly.” He continued, “The Heaven Test is a trial that reveals how a person copes with a fate that can’t be fought. ... To succumb, compromise, give up… or decide not to stop resisting until the end.”

That’s right. As Abe no Seimei said, the Heaven Test presented opponents and situations where there was no way to win. He’d competed with monsters with his bare body, and he’d constantly experienced the trauma of death, wearing down his spirit. The essence of a person would be revealed in circumstances where they were pushed to the edge of a cliff. When faced with true despair, it turned out that he had the proper qualifications to be a hero.

.

In that sense, Theo was graded with 1,000 points out of 100.

“You pass, Theodore Miller. I will give you some gifts, as well as the knowledge you want.”

“... What?”

The system messages popped up before Theo could get a reply.

[You have passed the Heaven, Earth, and Human: Heaven chapter.]

[You have completed all stages perfectly.]

[The proficiency of the skill, Art of Onmyōdō, has been adjusted to the highest level. In order to avoid conflicts with your existing circles, a gradual absorption is recommended.]

[Ring of Muspelheim and Aquilo’s Blood Mark have been integrated. Artificial Yin and Yang has been formed. The power of the two imprints are stronger than before, and they will respond more obediently to the user’s will.]

[The user’s capacity has expanded through an unknown intervention. Confirming mental power… Confirming amount of magic power… The conditions for Transcendence have been met, and as such, will be fulfilled.]

[In twenty seconds, you will sleep for one hundred and sixty eight hours.]

“What does this mean?” Theo was perplexed by the bewildering message windows.

Seimei waved his fan and replied happily, “Well, I just helped balance it. You showed me something nice after a long time, so I should do something good.”

“Please explain properly!”

“Can I explain it all in twenty seconds? Just think about it while sleeping.” Seimei’s words weren't wrong.

There was only so much he could say in twenty seconds, and Seimei’s knowledge would be more metaphorical descriptions. Additionally, Theo’s mind was exhausted from dying hundreds of times. His hand stretched out to try and grab Seimei, but his knees collapsed.

D-Dammit...

As Theo’s consciousness faded, Seimei’s voice sounded like a faraway echo, “I hope someday you will be able to grant my request. But maybe you’ll need ten more years, huhahaha!”

“......”

“I will give you one more piece of advice.” Seimei’s playful tone disappeared, and the last piece of advice he gave engraved itself deeply into Theo’s mind. “If you go to the eastern continent, never approach the capital in the center. If you have to go, only try it after you have reached full transcendence.”

Before Theo could respond, the heartless voice of the system broke the communication between Seimei and Theo.

[From this point, you will sleep for one hundred and sixty eight hours.]