HBWnovel Book 2: Chapter 551
Book 2: Chapter 551
“The [Hope Herb] is a miraculous flower that can strengthen the earth's veins and explosively increase the vital energy of the forest just by planting it.”With a dry voice that Lucas still wasn't accustomed to, Min Ha-rin continued her explanation.
“Even in dead lands where plants can no longer grow, it’s the same. Even on planets below freezing temperatures, if they can properly root, they could form a vast forest in a short period, provided there is a good climate, fertile soil, and proper care.”
This was the answer she gave when asked about her purpose in
Lukas paused his thoughts there.
These are facts grasped around the time he had ascended to about the 10th floor, but he still doesn’t know the most important thing.
Why did The Beginning Wizard build the Magic Tower?
To train wizards above a certain level? No. Such a reason is too trivial to justify the existence of the tower.
There must be some other reason…
“……”
Realizing Min Ha-rin was staring at him, Lukas spoke again.
“…After connecting them, he relocated the position of the universes and also managed to unite space as a material concept.”
The concepts of up, down, left, right, and front, back do not exist between universes. As mentioned earlier, based on complex coordinates that ordinary people could not understand even if explained over a hundred days, it moves.
To put it as simply as possible, imagine the sea oscillating every moment, and each droplet within it is a universe.
But the Magic Tower is different.
It arranged 77 universes like a tower and then forcibly threaded them together,
That is, he succeeded in fixing the universes in a linear form. This is a feat even the current Lukas cannot achieve, and the amount of effort and trial and error The Beginning Wizard must have repeated to accomplish this is unimaginable.
By now, Min Ha-rin would have understood what Lukas meant by ‘above'.
“…Then that ominous waterfall is flowing from the ‘universe above'.”
“Yes.”
Lukas nodded as he continued,
“The true nature of the waterfall is… Apocalypse.”
“Apocalypse, you say?”
“It might soon envelop the entire universe, the end of everything.”
“…I see.”
Min Ha-rin nodded.
“So, Master is fighting against this Apocalypse.”
“……”
Lukas momentarily closed his half-open mouth.
Since parting with Min Ha-rin, many things had happened, and Lukas's purpose had continuously evolved. But currently, he indeed was struggling to prevent the Apocalypse.
That’s as much as Lukas could tell.
The reason for climbing the tower, his relationship with The Beginning Wizard, and even the remnants of the Lightning God residing within him… He felt no need or reason to reveal these core aspects.
He looked at his disciple.
The current Min Ha-rin, now a wholly rational being, might set aside her responsibilities after hearing this story.
That would be enough.
‘I will find Harin’s emotions, somehow.'
Even if it means overturning whatever lies at the Bottom Universe.
So until then, hopefully, she stays safe and causes no disturbances.
“…Indeed.”
Min Ha-rin murmured after a while,
“Then regarding that matter, there seems to be nothing I can do.”
The expected response came.
However, Lukas felt, somehow, that Min Ha-rin, who maintained her expression and tone, seemed a bit deflated.
…It must be an illusion.
“I will help you find the Hope Herb. If you need anything else, I’ll help with that too. But afterward, go back to Earth and stay still for a while.”
“……”
Lukas looked at the unresponsive Min Ha-rin and suddenly felt like sighing.
Hope Herb.
A terribly ironic name for a being who has forgotten what hope is.
* * *
After a brief silence, Min Ha-rin spoke,
“After that, you will go up, towards the source of the Apocalypse, won’t you?”
“Yes.”
“That’s regrettable.”
Lukas hesitated.
“Everyone would be delighted to see the master’s face.”
“……”
“I have something I’d like to ask.”
“What is it?”
“How did you become so strong?”
A strange fervor flickered in Min Ha-rin’s eyes.
“Even in the past, Master you were undoubtedly strong. To me back then, you were like a cloud beyond a mountain whose peak was not visible.”
“……”
“You might think this a presumptuous statement, but since then, I have managed to reach the peak of the mountain. Only then could I truly measure how powerful ‘the master of that time' was. But now…”
Her voice carried a hint of distress.
“The master today is incomparably stronger than before. It seems you have surpassed the final stages of wizardry I had glimpsed, and I cannot even imagine where you stand now.”
Saying she saw the end means she saw a limit.
Lukas did not consider Min Ha-rin’s words arrogance, but he thought them a misconception.
A recent thought had occurred to him.
Does an end truly exist in any field of study?
To see an end, must one not see the end of everything?
And can the scenery one sees truly be considered the end?
Perfection, completeness, omnipotence—are these real?
Lukas shook his head.
In front of Min Ha-rin, Lukas still wanted to be a teacher. That's why he thought deeply before even uttering a single statement.
“If I tell you, will you follow my way of life?”
“If necessary.”
Her answer came without weight, yet it was undoubtedly sincere.
How harsh and tough Lukas's life has been doesn't matter to the current Min Ha-rin. To her, the only important thing is the ‘reward of strength' that comes afterward.
“…It’s a life you cannot follow. There's no guarantee that experiencing the same things would make you strong.”
“You mean you don’t want to tell me.”
“That’s right.”
Min Ha-rin spoke after a moment of silence.
“Still, I need to know.”
She persisted stubbornly, yet her demeanor remained matter-of-fact.
“If I knew the reason why the master could become stronger, then I could save more people. I have one thing to ask, though—there isn’t some condition for going ‘up' there, is there?”
“There shouldn’t be… But you, surely not.”
“Yes.”
Min Ha-rin nodded as if she had already made up her mind.
“I would like to accompany the master for the time being.”
*****