Chapter 669: The Darkest Moment

The world was shrinking.

Not physically, but the world was getting smaller.

This was due to the advancements in magic, science, and the industrial revolution.

With the development of railways, airships, and teleportation magic, transportation progressed rapidly, and industrial production spread these advancements worldwide.

As a result, while the world’s actual size remained the same, it felt smaller.

And the effects were clear.

People’s living spaces expanded far beyond the past, making it easy to travel between cities in a single day, and travel, once a luxury for the few, became accessible to more people.

Every Sunday, people would go on picnics and swimming trips to the countryside or lakeside.

Moreover, unlike old times when it took a week to hear news from the neighboring village, now one could get global news in less than a day.

Because of this, the news that Woodsman Dave went overseas to hunt down the Pied Piper reached Randa almost immediately.

Naturally, this was a huge piece of news.

Very, very huge news.

And why wouldn’t it be?

Dave, Randa’s top problem-solver and known as a wizard of the Tower of Magic, was also the hero who saved Randa. Now, he was fighting against the Pied Piper, who had even nations trembling with fear.

And this was happening not long after the Pied Piper invaded Randa.

The news was enough to disrupt the recently stabilized Randa once again.

Because Problem Solver Dave, or Xenon of the Tower of Magic, had that level of influence now.

Though they did make some preparations, the fact remains that he saved a prince and the city of Randa alone.

Randa was in an uproar again.

Not just the ruling City Councilors, capitalists, wizards, and businessmen, but even the workers, problem solvers, dark sorcerers, and lower-class citizens.

It wasn’t surprising.

Even the poor who took pride in Randa felt an odd sense of superiority just from living in the same city as Dave (or Xenon).

That’s why they could talk about Dave endlessly for no reason.

However, unlike the lower classes, the ruling class took this issue much more seriously.

Because for those who had much to protect, the clash between Dave and the Pied Piper felt like a car accident.

An accident big enough to call for an emergency meeting.

The most prominent organizations involved were the City Council and the Tower of Magic.

They were directly connected to Dave in different respects.

The City and the Tower of Magic actively supported the creation of the Bright School, specializing in Dark Magic, as proof.

However, Dave followed the archpriest across the sea only to suddenly declare that he would defeat the Pied Piper himself.

Once again, this was massive news.

If Dave were to die at the hands of the Pied Piper, what would happen to the city’s security and the Tower’s prestige, both of which had been stabilized using his name?

Even the opposite scenario was a problem.

Though unlikely, if Xenon managed to defeat the Pied Piper, it would be catastrophic.

Because Randa would then have to deal with a monster capable of defeating a monster like the Pied Piper.

As they considered this scenario, the rulers of Randa began to wonder.

Could they handle someone who managed to defeat the Pied Piper?

The answer came more quickly than expected.

‘Impossible. If handling means simply letting him live here, then yes, but if it requires using force to subdue him, that’s out of the question.’

‘It’s already been proven that Randa’s military power can’t deal with the Pied Piper. If Woodsman Dave defeats the Piper, then it’s naturally concluded that we can’t handle him either.’

‘No, it’s even worse. The Pied Piper was alone because of his evil actions, but Woodsman Dave already has his forces and is expanding his influence in Gallos. If he defeats the legendary Dark Sorcerer, the Pied Piper, what do you think will happen?’

‘Are you saying the dark sorcerers, as widespread as cockroaches, will gather around him?’

‘Exactly.’

‘Surely not… Would they really?’

‘That’s how overwhelming strength works! Don’t overthink it. It’s like how Randa’s wealth attracts rich people and businesses. Overwhelming strength pulls in more power.’

‘Hmm… At least Dave doesn’t seem to have such ambitions, right?’

‘Nonsense! Even if he doesn’t have such intentions, do you think those around him will stay quiet? When a branch sways, it’s not the branch’s fault, but the wind’s. Besides… is it sane to entrust the city’s fate to one individual’s goodwill?’

‘Then, what do you suggest we do?’

‘There is one. The only being who can stand against someone like him in this city.’

‘You’re not seriously suggesting…?’

‘Yes. The Archive. Let’s summon him.’

‘But isn’t he busy trying to close the rift forming in the city? He said not to call him unless it was absolutely necessary.’

‘Now is that time. Besides, isn’t Dave his disciple? He may have anticipated this situation.’

The councilors all silenced in agreement. Though reluctant to bring it up, they were aware.

Aware that Dave was the Archive’s disciple.

Still, they hadn’t mentioned it earlier, because—

‘—More importantly, he also bears responsibility for this situation. After all, it was Archive who built Randa atop a great calamity; he’s the true master of Randa. He is also a party to this problem.’

***

Indeed.

Randa was built atop a great calamity decades ago, supposedly by daring capitalists and wizards joining forces, but as with all things in the world, reality was different.

While it’s true they combined their efforts, Archive was at the center of it all.

The previous Archive’s predecessor, to be exact.

It’s almost expected.

Wiping out the remnants of the calamity and building a city required Archive’s power.

The majority don’t know this because Archive kept his presence hidden at the time.

Only the councilors, higher-ups in the Tower of Magic, and some financial giants knew about it.

However, they didn’t care.

Even though Archive played a crucial role in founding Randa and continued to contribute to the city’s growth, he rarely exercised his rights.

Thus, the councilors, financial giants, and a few wizards could consider Randa their own city, and likewise, felt justified in calling on Archive to ask about the situation and what to do.

Of course, the City Council’s plans were doomed to fail.

Because right after the news of Xenon Bright battling the Pied Piper spread, a massive army invaded Randa from beneath the city.

An army of corpses.

The Black Hand had struck. It was Puppet’s invasion.

***

‘Damn! We need backup! Backup!’

On an unusually sunny day in Randa, known for its gloomy weather, a soldier at a major defense facility urgently called for backup.

He needed help because zombies armed with the latest military weapons were pouring out of the sewers and attacking key defense facilities.

However, the Randa Defense Force and Security Bureau didn’t respond effectively.

Because zombies were pouring out from the sewers in such numbers that even their scale couldn’t be grasped.

As a result, each defense unit was isolated, barely managing to fight off the oncoming zombie hordes without being able to assist each other.

And it wasn’t just the Defense Force; the same was true for the Tower of Magic, mercenary companies, and the Crime Firm—any organization with military strength.

The zombie army and the Zombie Puppets launched simultaneous, precision attacks on the key facilities of each organization, as if they were well aware of their internal workings.

Merlin, who was closing the rift with hell, witnessed this invasion and was shocked.

To clarify, he wasn’t shocked by the scale of the invasion.

As the Archive, Merlin already knew that Puppet had this much military power.

Enough power to fight not just a city but even a nation.

Though it might sound outlandish, on closer inspection, it made sense.

Puppet had survived for centuries—more precisely, since the birth of dark magic.

That means Puppet’s personal history goes beyond just cities or even a nation.

It wouldn’t be nonsense to think that a being with clear goals and long-term persistence could overthrow a nation.

Knowing this, Merlin was shocked that Puppet wielded that power.

No matter how strong power is, using it triggers consequences; that’s the rule of the world.

Naturally, Puppet knew this as well—better than anyone. That’s why he had hidden his strength for centuries.

But suddenly, he revealed that power.

An extreme act that reduced his own options.

Merlin speculated about the ulterior motives behind this.

At first, he thought Puppet was trying to exploit the rift in Randa.

After all, the Zombie Puppet had been spotted approaching the rift.

‘Heh… How did you end up here?’

From W-District, on top of a broken welfare center, Puppet questioned.

Injured and dead bodies were scattered everywhere due to the zombie army’s and Puppet’s attack.

Merlin, who had just arrived, answered.

‘It was too obvious… If you were really after the rift, you’d have approached it differently. And you wouldn’t have carried out such a reckless invasion.’

Boom!

As Merlin spoke, a massive lightning bolt struck down from far above the sunny sky.

It was lightning from Thomas Nielsen, Merlin’s peer and the Grandmaster of the Mjolnir School of Magic.

With that single bolt of lightning, the Zombie Puppets in the sky and the zombie army on the ground turned to ash, only for another bolt to strike immediately after.

It was Puppet’s Zombie Puppets appearing from different spaces and unleashing lightning bolts.

Merlin sensed through his mana detection ability that Thomas had been injured.

‘Hmm… I don’t think it was reckless. It’s just a simple discipline for the children who think they’re the best.’

‘…..’

‘I’ve already taken down five Grandmasters and three Archmages. Perhaps the Archive should go save the Tower of Magic?’

‘I’d gladly accept if you let me take this one.’

Merlin pointed to the elderly man slumped behind him.

The old man was the director of the Brotherhood of the Poor’s welfare center, Kent, who despite Puppet’s attack, stayed focused and paid attention to the conversation between Merlin and Puppet.

Puppet declined Merlin’s offer.

‘Sorry, but I can’t do that. I have business here.’

‘Did you unchain the Pied Piper just for this?’

‘Surely not. I’m not that reckless.’

‘Then why did you pull this crazy stunt? Do you truly not understand what you’re doing?’

Merlin spoke with an intensity he hadn’t shown since becoming the Archive.

A sign of how furious he was at Puppet’s actions.

He targeted Kent, of all people.

One could perhaps forgive ignorance, but Puppet knew very well. Merlin couldn’t help but feel enraged.

‘Let’s just say it was a desperate move. Since he broke his promise to the Pied Piper, he could break his promise to me. I needed a new safety measure.’

‘A new safety measure? Or a noose around your neck.’

‘What does it matter when the inevitable end will come? I’m only making the choice that seems best to me.’

As Puppet spoke, the air around Merlin and Kent distorted, and from that space, several Zombie Puppets emerged.

There were Zombie Puppets dressed in rags like beggars, some in flashy suits, others in military uniforms, and some clad in exotic attire.

Each Zombie Puppet had its unique appearance, but they shared one common feature—they all held a book in their hand.

‘Archive…’

Cant quietly expressed his shock as he saw the Zombie Puppets emerge from thin air.

Cant’s experience, built from leading the Brotherhood of the Poor, told him that all the Zombie Puppets present were the Archive.

‘Alone…’

‘Every single one…’

‘To handle…’

‘Do you think…’

‘You can manage…?’

Puppet, borrowing the mouths of the Archive Zombie Puppets, formed a sentence, speaking each word one by one.

It was unsettling, as though facing something only half-human.

Sensing the foreboding atmosphere, Merlin spoke.

‘Do you know, Puppet?’

‘….?’

‘I once thought I was a genius. A genius who would be remembered in history forever.’

‘I won’t deny it. I’ve met you. As a boy, you already surpassed adult wizards, and as a young man, you single-handedly unified the five Elemental Factions with your magical prowess and knowledge. You’re one of the few people I’ve met in hundreds of years who I’d call a true genius.’

‘Yes, and because of that, I thought I could do anything. That I had the right to do anything and that it would benefit the world. With that belief alone, I did something a human should never do.’

Merlin recalled the sins of his past.

‘Hah… You sound like you’re saying something different now.’

‘I am. Ironically, after becoming the Archive, I realized how wrong I was.’

‘Why did you want to become the Archive?’

‘To know everything. To become the most superior being… But all I learned was my foolishness and sins.’

‘I don’t quite understand, but…’

‘That’s probably the difference between you and us.’

‘…..’

‘Anyway, becoming the Archive only made me realize that I’m just a foolish being. But one thing hasn’t changed.’

‘What is it?’

‘That I’m still the strongest Archive in history.’

When Merlin finished speaking, his aging body unleashed vast mana, so strong that it distorted the air by its mere presence.

The power shook the surrounding broken buildings, yet, incredibly, this violent force naturally shielded Kent as if it were a living being.

Once Kent’s safety was secured, Merlin was about to move.

But then—

At that moment, an ominous signal was felt from across the sea.

A danger only the Archive could sense.

Puppet seemed aware of it too, as he smiled.

‘It seems…’

‘The end is…’

‘Coming sooner…’

‘Than we thought…’

‘I guess…’

‘We’ll have to go…’

‘There first…’

The Archive Zombie Puppet targeting Kent spoke one word at a time.

Keen forces closed in from all sides, aiming at Kent. Merlin remained silent.

It was then that Kent, who had been quietly observing the conversation between Merlin and Puppet, calmly asked.

‘Is this about… Oliver?’

Merlin went quiet again.

‘Go.’

Cant interpreted the silence as an affirmation and made a request to Merlin.

‘Don’t worry about me. Go to that child.’

‘This isn’t such a simple problem. If something happens to you, the consequences could be unimaginable.’

‘If you don’t go now, what happens next could be unimaginable.’

Puppet interjected in the conversation between Merlin and Kent.

He wasn’t wrong, but Merlin still hesitated.

If he made a mistake, they might lose the means to stop the end. That was something Merlin couldn’t afford.

Merlin thought about taking Kent with him, but the Archive Zombie Puppets around were a concern.

Each was a great wizard and a criminal who had represented their era.

Merlin was confident he could defeat them, but in an urgent situation, where he had something to protect, he couldn’t be certain.

As he struggled with this quick yet eternal dilemma, a familiar voice rang out.

‘You’ve worked hard. Now, go away.’