Chapter 678: Confession

“Open the door.”

A nun who had taken a vow of silence pulled the lever with her frail arm.

Her arm trembled, possibly because it was stiff, but only when the nun put her entire weight into it did the lever finally give way.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of a rusty old machine echoed as massive cogs began to move between gaps in the wall.

After a moment, a giant circular metal door, reminiscent of a vault, split open sideways.

Beyond the open vault-like door lay an endless darkness.

The nun who had taken a vow of silence signed to Merlin using gestures.

In summary, she meant that she could guide him no further.

Merlin nodded, aware of this already. He had no intention of bringing anyone along to meet that one.

With the quick exchange of gestures done, the nun handed the lantern she held to Merlin.

Although Merlin, being capable of using magic, didn’t need the lantern, he accepted it without question.

This was the Holy Emperor’s Palace, the root and heart of the Pater Church.

Casting magic here, except in dire circumstances, was against the rules.

“Thank you. But, are you sure about this?”

He meant, are you okay giving away your only lantern?

The nun replied with a sign that she was fine. She knew the area like the back of her hand.

Indeed, having spent her entire life here, underground, never seeing daylight, it was as if she could navigate this place blindfolded.

This was evident from the lack of any dust even in the deepest parts of this underground complex.

It meant she must clean it daily.

However, inside the cells, things weren’t as well maintained. As soon as the lantern’s light shined inside, numerous particles of dust became visible.

After all, this was a place where the most atrocious sinners were imprisoned… no, sealed.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Merlin, who had been surveying his surroundings near the entrance, now held the lantern forward as he walked deeper into the depths.

The interior was larger than one might expect from a prison, with countless chains hanging from the ceiling, and untouched dust lay undisturbed on the walls and floor.

The only sounds were those of Merlin’s footsteps and the occasional clinking of chains that matched his pace.

Using the slight echo of chains as background noise, Merlin moved farther inside and soon saw him.

Oliver, crouched down right at the deepest, innermost part of the underground prison.

He looked just like a corpse bound in chains.

Even in Merlin’s presence, there was no reaction, making him seem even more like a dead body.

However, Merlin wasn’t surprised by this.

Ever since Rosburn’s death, Oliver had only opened his mouth to reveal his identity to Armand.

And it wasn’t just that he didn’t speak.

From observations using the countless chains hanging from the ceiling, Oliver neither slept, ate, nor even relieved himself.

He just sat there, clutching his Quarterstaff, showing none of the behaviors essential to humans.

Merlin stared quietly at this version of Oliver.

Unlike in the past, he no longer hid his face behind a leather mask, and his hair, which had turned snowy white, was left undyed.

He merely gazed silently at the floor with empty eyes.

He was no different from the living dead.

Yet, this living corpse imparted an unbearable pressure and fear that no one could understand.

Like standing at the edge of an endless cliff or staring into the night sea with no land in sight, it triggered an instinctual terror.

It was no wonder the Dark Priests above were all clamoring to have him killed.

Whether they were religious, noble, or merchants, humans have always sought to eliminate what they couldn’t understand.

And as a mere human himself, Merlin understood their sentiments.

Even so, Merlin opened his mouth to speak.

Because it was his duty.

“It’s been a while…”

Oliver remained silent.

“Well, you might not realize just how long, since you’ve been in here the entire time. Is it uncomfortable?”

Oliver remained silent.

“Quite a bit of time has passed outside. It’s already been seven days since the sun last set and rose. A lot has happened during that time. The world is getting busier.”

Oliver remained silent.

“The first thing to share is news about Randa. After all, it’s our home city. Coincidentally, Randa has been invaded.”

Oliver remained silent.

“What’s more surprising is that the city was attacked by just one entity. The largest and wealthiest city in the world. Can you guess who it was?”

Oliver remained silent.

“…It was Puppet. He used the sewers to lead an army of the unknown dead and launched simultaneous attacks across Randa. Not just in the slums but also major administrative offices, enterprises, and even underground organizations like the Crime Firm suffered significant damage. The Tower of Magic was hit hardest. It was nearly wiped out. Thanks to this, the proud nose of Randa has been severely bent.”

Oliver remained silent.

“However, I don’t blame Randa personally. The city isn’t weak or foolish; it’s just that the opponent was too strong and relentless.”

Oliver remained silent.

“As you know, Puppet is a monster who has survived for centuries. Given his history, the history of Randa is but a fleeting moment. If Puppet is serious, it’s only natural that Randa wouldn’t stand a chance. The forces Puppet has amassed over centuries are beyond even my comprehension as an Archive, and he’s obsessed with gathering information. He probably knows all of Randa’s weaknesses. I’d bet Puppet has eyes and ears within both Randa City and the Tower of Magic.”

Oliver remained silent.

“But don’t worry too much. The city hasn’t been annihilated. Instead, it’s grappling with autonomy issues as Kingdom troops have arrived for support… Aren’t you curious?”

Just as before, Oliver remained silent.

He didn’t ask whether friends or acquaintances in Randa were safe.

The chains hanging from the ceiling, not Oliver, were the only ones reacting to Merlin’s words.

Oliver exhibited even less response than those chains.

This fact caused Merlin to taste a quiet, calm despair.

Had Oliver expressed anger or even sarcasm, it would have been preferable.

As things stood, even if someone appeared with a sword to stab Oliver in the heart, he would likely remain still.

This must be why the Dark Priests are calling for Oliver’s death.

Since they can’t do anything about him, they want to finish him off now while he’s calm and docile.

They know they won’t get another opportunity.

Perhaps Oliver himself wishes for the same.

A profound spiritual shock may not directly take away life, but it can strip away the will to live.

Merlin knew this because he had experienced it firsthand.

A consequence of knowing too much.

But just as he had before, Merlin decided not to give up, even in his current state of despair.

He didn’t have the right to give up.

And so, Merlin spoke again.

Hoping that the being in front of him would listen.

“The Dark Sorcerers you saved… they’ve all fled. The refugees from Central Continent, I mean.”

Oliver remained silent.

“Using the chaos as cover, they made their escape. The Central Continent’s allied army was so mentally shattered, from the leadership down to the lowest soldiers, that they could hardly take care of themselves. So… zip, they were gone.”

Merlin waved one hand dismissively, as if scattering a piece of paper.

“Apparently, they’ve been spreading stories about what they witnessed in the underworld. The Pater Church is trying to suppress those stories, and right now, listeners are reacting with a mix of doubt and belief. But I bet it won’t be long. The truth always comes out in the end. It’s only a matter of time.”

Oliver remained silent.

“By the way, Joanna is currently detained.”

Merlin recalled that time.

When Oliver revealed his identity and told them to arrest him.

The Holy Knights and servants at the scene had been quietly horrified, and Armand had simply stared at Oliver before binding him with the Chains of Repentance doused in Holy Water.

That’s when Joanna let out a beastly scream and roared.

A Holy Knight screaming at the Pater Church.

Had Kevin not intervened, she might have actually swung her weapon.

“She’s being held on charges of hostility and contempt against the Dark Priests, but she’ll be fine. She’s earned some merit, and the Pater Church isn’t looking to make a big deal out of this. They’ll probably just let it cool down and then send her on a mission somewhere distant, like to the New Continent or some colony. After all, Holy Knights are needed there too. Do you know why?”

Merlin asked.

Oliver remained silent.

“…It’s because demon worshippers have begun to emerge in the New Continent as well. Isn’t that funny?”

Oliver remained silent.

“I could have sworn we came to spread civilization along with the Pater Church… Love, tolerance, forgiveness. But what the colonists are learning is hatred, exclusion, and vengeance. Do you know why they worship demons? It’s for revenge.”

Oliver remained silent.

“They seek revenge on those invaders who brought them unsolicited ‘help’… Honestly, it was always going to end up this way. How could the ones invading with guns and swords ever properly propagate civilization? And how could those acting as its vanguard possibly spread love, tolerance, and forgiveness? Even if the invaders themselves feel that way, the recipients of their help certainly do not.”

Oliver remained silent.

“What the colonists feel is humiliation. Loss, anger, hatred, and a longing for power. Naturally, the only place left for them to go is clearly defined. Isn’t it ironic?”

Oliver remained silent.

“We are living in the most prosperous and abundant age in human history, by the numbers and graphs. Yet, it is simultaneously the most rotting and dangerous time. But if I told you that someone had already predicted this chaos long ago, would you believe me?”

Oliver remained silent.

“That someone was the Archive. The Archive knew that this was how the world would turn out after a certain amount of time. Because the Archive exists specifically to prevent that from happening… But I didn’t know that. I merely thought of the Archive as the pinnacle of mages, a grand archmage, a wise man who mastered all knowledge.”

Oliver remained silent.

“In my younger days, I wanted to become the Archive. I thought of myself as a genius, and I liked proving that fact. Naturally, I believed I should be the one to become the Archive. I assured myself that it was the right thing. After all, if I became the Archive, the world would be better for it.”

“…Is that why you did those things?”

For the first time, Oliver spoke.

His voice was so feeble and dismal that it sounded as if a corpse were speaking, but even so, Merlin smiled joyfully.

After all, his prayer had been answered, hadn’t it?

“…Yes. To prove that I was worthy of being the Archive, I accumulated knowledge. Knowledge that even the Archive would admire. And in hopes of being chosen as the next Archive, I amassed that knowledge by any means necessary.”

Merlin paused for a moment.

Not to gauge Oliver’s reaction, but because the words naturally got caught in his throat.

The slight tremor in his usually calm face was evidence of that.

“I struggled for an answer: what is the greatest knowledge in the world? It didn’t take long for me to find it… Humans.”

Merlin, who had maintained a certain distance from Oliver, took a step closer.

“Humans are the greatest creation of God. Studying this creation’s weakness could free mages from the curse of aging and the chains of death, allowing them to amass infinite knowledge and power.”

Merlin took another step closer.

“With this goal in mind, I immediately began my research. I had access to wealth and influence. So, I decided to perform thorough dissections on men, women, young, and old alike to fully understand human structure—while they were still alive. I dissected their veins, muscles, even bone fragments.”

Merlin took another step closer.

“To understand human bodily responses, I injected them with all kinds of diseases, poisons, and foreign substances. I believed such measures were necessary to become the perfect being.”

Merlin took another step closer.

“As I gained more knowledge, my arrogance grew. Eventually, I wanted to create humans. It seemed more economical to create a new and perfect body than to maintain an old one. And more importantly, creating a human would be an achievement comparable to that of God. So, I began using pregnant women, their unborn fetuses, and even newborn babies as test subjects.”

Merlin took another step closer.

“But soon, I realized that even this wasn’t enough. While the body is just a vessel, the content—namely, the soul—is far more important. So, I experimented on souls as well. I studied how much stimuli it would take for a soul to react, change, grow stronger, or be destroyed. And if it were destroyed, I researched whether it could be manipulated.”

Merlin took another step closer.

“To carry out these experiments, I gathered new test subjects. Innocent people with ordinary families, friends, and lovers. I figured that since their lives were nothing but ordinary, it was meaningful for them to become fodder for the advancement of humanity. Indeed, I achieved many breakthroughs.”

Merlin took another step closer.

“Then one day, the Archive discovered my research. To my astonishment, the Archive acknowledged my work. Because, on that day, He granted me the position of Archive, which I had longed for.”

Merlin took another step closer.

He finally stopped. Oliver was right in front of him.

“Do you know how the Archive is passed on?”

Oliver remained silent.

Merlin, unconcerned, explained.

“All that’s required is a touch, and then the Archive’s will takes root in the individual. Whether they want it or not, all the knowledge of the Archive is instantly transferred.”

Merlin knelt on one knee to meet Oliver’s gaze.

“It was an extraordinarily mystifying experience. Knowledge flooding directly into your mind. Yet, it was also a torturous process. The vast ocean of knowledge was being crammed in with no filtering. If one isn’t careful, their brain could get overloaded from the sheer volume. Perhaps only the most exceptional mages survive becoming the Archive because they’re the only ones capable of enduring such an ordeal. Isn’t that fascinating?”

Merlin cracked a joke, but Oliver didn’t react.

He just listened.

“Of course, I was still ecstatic. That level of pain was nothing compared to what I would gain in return. In fact, it was sweet. The Archive who transferred all his knowledge to me even told me so. That the real pain I would face would come later. And it turned out to be true.”

Merlin reached out and grabbed Oliver by both sleeves.

“Once the euphoria of becoming the Archive and the awe of receiving all that knowledge subsided, I realized something: the people I had sacrificed for knowledge were just like me. That was something the countless new pieces of information had taught me.”

Merlin’s hands began to shake. A faint tremor was felt.

“It wasn’t because I was exceptional that I didn’t see them as people; it was because I was foolish. That’s also when I understood why the Archive’s lineage has never been recorded by number and why many past Archives ended their lives by suicide. They didn’t want to be remembered. Because they saw themselves as criminals.”

Merlin’s trembling hands grew worse, and his voice began to quiver as well.

For the first time, the voice that had always been calm and strong now sounded like that of an old man.

A voice weakened by age and filled with regret.

Merlin wasn’t requesting anymore; he was begging.

“Do you know why the Archives are criminals? …Please, ask me.”

“…Why?”

“Because it’s the only way to bear this burden. We have to carry the guilt, so we can cope with the impending doom— the doom that is destined to come because of humanity’s inherent nature.”

Merlin revealed.

The true mission of the Archive.

That they are the watchers of a promised apocalypse. And to bear the burden of that duty, they need more than just responsibility; they need overwhelming guilt.

To bear that burden and cleanse their sins. Only then can they endure.

“Doesn’t it seem absurd? That the most crucial task requires not responsibility or duty, but guilt… Perhaps the first Archive knew. To survive the looming end while remaining sane, not responsibility, but guilt would be more effective. Given the flawed nature of human will, that is.”

Merlin retracted his visibly trembling hands and wiped his face dry. A sound was first heard.

The sound of something being cleaned and breathing being controlled.

Though his face was lowered, making it hard to see clearly.

Merlin remained in that position for a long time, taking deep, steady breaths before speaking again.

“I ran away… After becoming the Archive, I fled the Tower of Magic, hoping that the end wouldn’t come in my time. Because I knew the apocalypse would not only judge a sinner like me but also all of humanity. I ran away. Because there’s nothing I can do…”

Merlin raised his head.

His bloodshot eyes and flushed face came into view.

He spoke.

“And then I met you.”