43 The Truth
Was there a named item?
Based on the trembling of my mana, it was clear that it was an item related to dark magic.
Did Father leave this behind?
As I descended alone, dust-like particles floated in the air, emitting light from all directions.
'Glowing powder emitted by the Fairy's Blossom. Was the Fairy's Blossom also blooming nearby?'
It was one of the valuable ingredients used in alchemy.
But for now, my priority was to go down and investigate, so I didn't have time to collect the powder.
As I continued down the stairs, the floor began to come into view.
Suddenly, I doubted my own eyes.
Hastily descending, I was greeted by Fairy's Blossoms blooming in every direction.
"This is unbelievable."
How was this possible?
The Fairy's Blossom was not a plant commonly seen.
It wouldn't grow unless the ambient mana was abundant.
In addition to various other conditions, the most important factor was mana.
"Places with abundant mana can be counted on one hand."
Such places were mostly restricted to magic realms like the Magical Frontier.
And this place was not only home to Fairy's Blossoms.
In the midst of the vast flower garden, something stood.
"A tree?"
From a distance, it seemed like an ordinary tree, but as I approached, I noticed something different.
And as I came closer, my field of vision was filled, and the system window appeared.
[Codex Apocalypse: Chapter 0, Pure Original Sin]
[Waiting for the fruit to bear.]
Seeing the Korean characters obstructing my view, I unconsciously took a step back.
"What the... hell?"
Despite trying to conceal my astonishment, I couldn't control my emotions due to the training.
As absurd as it seemed, the reality in front of my eyes did not disappear.
Could it be... this tree...
"The Codex's main body?"
Although the game boasted high freedom, it still required playing within the game's framework.
Playing as an academy student would revolve around academy life, while playing as a mercenary would focus on completing mercenary missions. There were more constraints than initially thought.
Twelve clearances.
However, due to the limited range of actions, the Codex I had encountered so far was nothing more than anger, lust, gluttony, and sloth, which I had in my possession until recently.
I had seen all the Codexes gathered and faced the final boss they created, but I had never individually examined them.
So I didn't know what the main body looked like, and I couldn't have imagined it would be like this.
The tree was small.
The tree, at most slightly larger than me, didn't have a particularly unique appearance.
But despite its appearance, I could sense an enormous amount of sticky and dense mana.
Even though it couldn't be that concentrated, it felt like the scent of mana was emanating from it.
"How should I handle this?"
As some time passed, I was able to regain my composure.
Setting aside the question of why it was here, how should I deal with it?
I thought it might be as simple as getting rid of it, but it wasn't that straightforward.
While contemplating, I noticed something on one of the branches.
"A note?"
It looked like a note that someone had hung there.
I immediately opened the note.
Then, the magic embedded within the note activated, enveloping my vision in white.
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One day, I was suddenly summoned to the palace.
The one who summoned me was none other than His Majesty the Emperor himself.
"Cain Cromwell."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You are a loyal servant of the kingdom."
"A loyal servant, Cain Cromwell. I am Your Majesty's loyal servant."
"I shall bestow upon you a special order that is only for you."
I couldn't understand the reason behind it.
However, from that day on, I forgot my duties as a mage and delved into dark magic under the notorious necromancer, Morne Dwalsky, learning the ways of a necromancer, one of the darkest practitioners of black magic.
Fortunately, my dealings with His Majesty were satisfactory, and he had no complaints about my performance.
After three years of studying black magic under His Majesty's command, I returned to the Empire.
"It seems like a heavy burden has been placed upon you, and it weighs on your mind."
"Not at all, Your Majesty."
His Majesty then handed me a small seed, instructing me to take care of it.
I didn't know the reason behind it, nor did I know the true nature of the seed.
But as a loyal servant, I took the seed and cared for it.
The seed was peculiar.
It exhibited a sensitive reaction to mana, unlike ordinary plants, particularly responding to my mana, which had been altered by black magic.
Day after day, I researched and nurtured the seed, until one day, I succeeded in sprouting it.
When I informed His Majesty of this achievement, Lord Bart Alben, the Imperial Court Mage, personally came to inspect it.
"I wish I could reward your efforts fittingly, but as this is a secret matter, I regret that I cannot provide you with the proper treatment."
"Not at all, Your Majesty. It is an honor."
In this way, I was able to grow the seed into a small sapling.
Perhaps it was due to gaining recognition from Emperor His Majesty.
I was so engrossed in my research that I didn't know the situation of my territory, how my family was doing, or what was happening in the surrounding areas.
Then, the situation changed to a point where I couldn't intervene.
Intruders arrived and seized my territory.
Until then, I had believed that His Majesty would protect me.
I was an important figure carrying out his secret orders.
But it didn't take long for me to realize that it was a delusion.
"Catherine..."
Suddenly, my wife died.
It was an inexplicable death.
And following that, I suspected that there was something more, and when I discovered it, I realized that an unimaginable darkness was looming.
"How could this happen to me..."
That darkness was the Emperor whom I had considered as the light.
The intrusion, the seizure of the territory, and my wife's death, all of it was connected to the shadow of the Empire.
I couldn't understand the reason behind it.
The only thing I could speculate about was the fact that I was taking care of the sapling.
I was filled with fear.
I became desperate when I thought that I could reach out to my children without knowing when I would die.
Since then, I studied plants while refraining from eating.
I believed that the only way I could survive was here.
After searching through various ancient documents, I finally discovered the true identity of the plant.
'The key that opens the era of gods.'
It was a tree called 'Original Sin,' one of those keys.
When the seven pages consisting of sins and the core that I manage, the Original Sin, come together, the world will open up and a new era will begin.
Of course, I couldn't know if it was true without seeing it with my own eyes.
Through this, I realized that the emperor was involved in something dangerous.
'So, that's why I'm being pressured.'
Considering how dangerous it was, it would be better for the emperor to have fewer people who knew about it.
Moreover, since the Original Sin had already grown into a tree, I was no longer needed as long as the remaining seven pages came together.
'It can't go as you wish.'
Having already lost most of what I had, except for my children, this was the best revenge I could take.
I moved the location of the Original Sin and created a barrier centered around it.
Even if all the powerful beings in the world were to come, they wouldn't be able to break it.
'A barrier created using the Original Sin.'
Only my descendants connected by blood could enter here.
In the process of using the Original Sin to create the barrier, I learned various ways and effects of utilizing it.
Honestly, thanks to this, I was able to move the location and create the barrier.
Its functions include:
The ability for the Original Sin to establish a blood pact with a dark magician.
The ability to inhabit the body of the contracted master.
And various other abilities.
Perhaps even the imperial people are unaware of these facts.
Maybe only I, the one who researched, knew about it.
However, despite discovering so much, I had no way to utilize it.
Unbeknownst to me, I had become addicted to the poison.
'Hehe. It won't go as you wish.'
Even if I die, you guys won't be able to take the Original Sin.
The only regret is leaving my children behind in this world.
I hope for a peaceful life without getting tangled up here, yet paradoxically, I left this note containing memories, hoping that someone would find it.
Please, let it be in exchange for my grievances and Cromwell's revenge...
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My vision gradually returned.
Was what I just saw my father's legacy?
Naturally, a method of handling the Original Sin came to mind.
'So, this is how it turned out.'
The reason why my father was an unknown disciple.
The reason why Cromwell's influence grew.
The reason why my mother passed away and my father as well.
Everything was related to the Empire.
'The Empire was also gathering Sins.'
Behind the gathering of black magicians, which I thought was the mastermind, there was an even greater mastermind.
Information that had never been revealed in the game.
I just watched the note burning in my hand.
I needed to organize my thoughts.
'It's certain that the Empire and the gathering are not on the same team. Rather, they are competitors in gathering Sins.'
Superficially, the Empire hunts down black magicians, but they also help each other when necessary.
Just like politics works.
And because of this, some of the doubts about me were resolved.
'Of course, there was a reason Adrias became playable.'
I, too, was one of the seeds to prevent the world's destruction.
That's why I ended up entering Adrias, who was nothing more than a negligible villain.
I drew my sword and lightly grazed my palm.
Blood formed droplets and trickled down my hand.
"Drink."
I brought my bloodstained hand to the 'Original Sin.'
Then, the Original Sin began to absorb the blood flowing from my palm.
['Codex Apocalypse: Chapter 0 - Pure Original Sin' recognizes the user as its owner.]
[It will no longer emit any energy.]
Fortunately, unlike other named items that choose their owners themselves, this aspect was fortunate.
As the owner of the Original Sin, I absorbed it.
['Codex Apocalypse: Chapter 0 - Pure Original Sin' lurks within the user's body.]
[Mana regeneration increased by 144%.]
[The quality of mana increases over time.]
[The nature of mana becomes darker over time.]
[Performance improves as 'Sins' accumulate.]
[Additional functions and abilities are unlocked as 'Sins' accumulate.]
Countless messages appeared after a long time.
I felt an inexplicable surge of power in my body.
'A decent item, I guess.'
It wasn't something to be particularly happy about.
It was more like increasing my stats at the cost of carrying a time bomb.
In the end, I always carried the essence of the Codex Apocalypse within me.
"Father."
Amidst the blooming flowers, I looked at the empty land where the Original Sin had disappeared.
Although it tilted the balance and caused my mother's death.
I couldn't blame anyone.
Now, I will shoulder that burden.
Rest in peace, Father.
