ATAPOW Chapter 233
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Chapter 233: Prelude
In a void beyond the grasp of lower-tiered races, there existed endless oblivion and a faint and profound presence.
No one had the will or capability to develop anything in this expansive landscape, which was so barren that even air itself was a rare luxury in and of itself; It was a land of nothingness, which represented ‘zero’ in its purest form.
‘Zero’. This number stood at the crossroads between despair and hope, embodying both the ends it left behind and the beginnings it faced. For a creator who had mastered the secrets of the arcane arts, all they needed to do was to change this number to the next.
As for the task of turning emptiness into hope, fashioning something from nothing, and re-sculpting nature to establish a world within this empty realm, even multiple masters of spatial magic would need to invest countless years. Such an arduous undertaking could prematurely age those with long lifespans and gray their temples.
At an unspecified juncture in space and time, situated in a remote corner of the endless void within the boundary of [Brandt’s] main plane…
A colossal tree stood within an artificially created realm. Its branches reaching towards the heavens, it was rooted in a well brimming with inexhaustible life-force. If one were to gaze upon the tree in all its glory and record it down on paper, it could easily be perceived as a whimsical fable reminiscent of Arabian Nights or something out of the pages of a fantasy novel.
Abundant, luxuriant leaves covered its branches in large, lush swathes, filling the area with essence of life and strength while fresh, moist air poured in. In the presence of such vibrancy, darkness and despair were nowhere to be found.
The most astonishing fact was that this fertile land had once belonged to the void, in other words, ‘zero’.
The architectural design of each building was fantastical as if crafted by fairies in a fairy tale. Fences made out of intricate wood engravings encircled every small village in sight.
Along the quiet streets, pedestrians strolled in groups of two or three.
Despite appearing similar to humans, every one of them was a remarkably good-looking man or woman.
Their serene, simple, and elegant character were inadvertently reflected in their environment — a wonderland so tranquil it remained free of any noises.
That place, far removed from the mortal world and unsullied by its influence, seemed as if it was lifted from a beautiful fairytale. Yet, there it was — tucked away in a distant corner of empty space.
High in the clouds, inside a treehouse built between the branches of the colossal tree.
‘Are we really going to do that?’ A slip of paper, bearing a series of abstruse characters elegantly inscribed in beautiful handwriting, was handed to a person behind a table.
“Does Miss Lleya think this is inappropriate?” A gentleman’s voice, soothing to the ear as gentle water running over jade, sounded from behind the table. “Since the previous Knight King had been confirmed deceased, isn’t it only logical to follow the procedures – conduct a mourning ceremony as tradition dictates and elect a new Knight King?”
The handsome and carefree man spoke in a non-interrogative tone while wearing an amiable smile, giving off a wholly benign impression.
However, the knight clad in precious metal armor truly could not see this handsome and carefree man before her as a kind old grandpa.
‘Your Excellency. The fifth knight king of the Human Alliance, the Radiant Knight, is still among the living.’ She quietly picked up the pen and filled out a paper slip, making rustling noises in the process before handing it to him.
“Miss Lleya, I would advise against playing dumb.” The man’s eyes sharply narrowed.
“The mess left behind by Radiant, this knight king of supposed lowly birth, is rather problematic.”
“And that’s not to mention the dangerous position his acting vice head, Enzo, is taking. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that his stance is in direct conflict with ours.”
“Now, I’m even more certain that eel has mingled its way into the upper echelon of the Temple Association…” The man’s lips curved into a seemingly gentle smile, yet it lacked any trace of warmth.
“This entity has really done a wonderful job in covering its tracks, while harboring aspirations of revitalizing the country. Enzo has likely received its ‘compulsion’ and is making his move now.”
“So, Miss Lleya. Are you under the idealistic view that politics is a beautiful fairy tale, or is there something more personal at stake for you here?” His voice carried a subtle undertone.
“There have been rumors going around that you and the ‘late’ Knight King— The Radiant Knight— shared an exceptionally close bond in private…
“While I can’t speak to the truth of those rumors, I urge Miss Lleya to stay level-headed and not let it cloud your judgment.”
‘Lleya had never once lost sight of her mission.’
“Excellent! Just as I anticipated, Miss Lleya remains as composed and level-headed as ever.” The man toyed with the paper slip in his hand, a trace of contemplation in his smile.
“Regarding the candidate for the position of knight king, I’ve had someone in mind for some time… I’ve noticed that there are individuals capable of taking on that large responsibility among the few believers of His Late Excellency, right?”
“We need to find a knight capable of holding his own against His Excellency Enzo. As the saying goes, competition is the catalyst for improvement, am I right? This is also the wish of our superiors. Do you understand that, Miss Lleya… or should I say, Your Excellency Immortal Knight?”
‘Your wish is my command.’ The knight, clad in precious armor, inclined her body slightly in a bow before promptly departing from the treehouse.
一一一一一一一一一一
The journey back in the carriage was as rough and unstable as ever, while the gloomy sky seemed poised with hopeful anticipation for a sudden thunderstorm that never arrived.
Under that sky, souls drifted aimlessly, with nowhere to return.
They were all without home or destination in this vast realm; That included himself.
“Hey, young man, wake up! We’ve arrived at Border Town!” After a series of jolts, the figure wearing a metallic helmet, who had been lying motionless on the bench, rose.
Upon hearing the coachman’s shouts, he slowly shook his head. After paying the fare for a single passenger, he organized his meager luggages and exited from the coach.
Although the familiar battle flag fluttered atop the highest point of the city, its colors felt dulled to him.
Despite being all alone, his heart had nowhere to seek refuge. Still, there remained a place he could almost consider a home.
With that logic, perhaps he was not completely homeless.
After all, he still had a place where his wary bones could return to and rest.
His stride instinctively brought him to the place in his heart.
The building he arrived at continued to be as dilapidated as ever. While its upper-half portion was destroyed in the calamity, that did not impact the stability of the spatial entrance.
After spending some effort rummaging through his belongings, he took out a porcelain identification token from his pocket.
“Identity deciphered and verified. Welcome home, student.” The emotionless voice engraved in the formation resounded. Following which, the scene before him blurred and the transmission countdown began.
It was now evening. The small world, mirroring the passage of time on the main plane, had concluded its day as well.
There were only a few pedestrians coming in and out of the mission hall. Other than the on-duty staff, it was extremely rare to find students willing to remain inside its chilly, desolate confines.
The glass door of the hall opened, accompanied by a mechanical sound that was devoid of emotion.
A person, donning a cross-shaped molybdenum helmet and low-quality brigandine armor, slowly made their way inside with several small cloth bags on his back.
That figure seemed extremely eye-catching, despite appearing wretched in every conceivable way.
“Hello, student. Are you in need of any assistance?” The lady receptionist at the counter always wore a professional smile, regardless of the time.
“I’m back to report.” The armored man nodded slightly.
“So, you’ve come back to school to make a report, correct? Alright, give me one moment…”
Unless granted special permission, it was strictly forbidden for one to be away from the school grounds for an extended amount of time.
So rare were these exceptions that a preliminary check could usually be conducted without the need for their full name.
“Hmm… Your name is Ji Bai, right?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, please wait a bit..” The receptionist skillfully carried out her tasks with practiced ease, steadily completing a series of paperwork in no time.
“Okay, your return paperwork has been processed. Welcome back.”
“Mhm.” With no intention of lingering in this place any further, Ji Bai nodded in response before proceeding on his way.
“That reminds me. There’s a student named Lil’ Sha who hasn’t returned to campus. The records indicate that she left with you, and she’s in your class. Did she not return?”
…She won’t be coming back anymore.” Ji Bai replied without turning back and left the mission hall, leaving the receptionist with a face filled with bewilderment.
一一一一一一一一一
After earnestly cleaning the last set of table and chair, Ke’er slightly wiped away the sweat on her forehead and adjusted her drooping pink hair.
“Huff~ Nyaa~” Her tail swayed gently, as she lazily stretched her body. This lifted up her maid uniform slightly, revealing her clean glistening skin and her slender waist, which was free of any excess fat.
Just like every other day, her hectic work was coming to an end. She was also nearing the end of the cleanup.
With nearly two months of working in the maid cafe under her belt, she had progressed from being inexperienced to becoming a seasoned professional through practice. Now, she was capable of effortlessly completing all tasks and the daily routine of working there had become completely second nature to her.
“You’ve done great, Ke’er. This internship period must have been tiring for you. You should go home and get some rest. Leave the rest to me.” Feeling sorry for her, Green emerged from the kitchen and tenderly stroked Ke’er’s head.
During that time, she could not help but wonder if young Ke’er had fallen victim to some supernatural curse. She had taken on most of the manual labor and odd jobs in the cafe without asking for extra pay. Even the store manager, who usually did not inquire about internal matters, felt compelled to offer her a raise. However, this was turned down by Ke’er.
“Nn-hnn~” Ke’er shook her head, her fluffy ears drooping slightly. “I’m not tired. It’s no trouble at all. Ah, it seems like the tables aren’t properly cleaned yet, there’s still some dust on them. Let me wash the rag and give them another wipe.”
“Sigh… What’s going on with this girl?” Green revealed a worried expression as she watched Ke’er dismiss any more discussions and swiftly retreat into the kitchen. What could have transpired in the past month to bring about such a somber shift in her disposition?
‘…Get some rest, they say… Do they want me to return to my ‘home’?’
Ke’er had already finished tidying up and cleaning the apartment. If possible, the idea of returning to that cold and gloomy place was something she wanted to avoid.
The familiar subdued greetings no longer filled the air whenever she opened the door, and the sight of the dull individual in the metal helmet pacing around the living room was no more.
Despite its small size, the apartment seemed unusually cold and bleak to her.
Under such conditions, what reason did she have to go back to this utterly unwelcoming place?
After squeezing out all the water from the dripping wet towel, Ke’er let out a slow sigh.
一一一一一一一一一
The skies slowly darkened, until the last sliver of sunlight was completely covered up by the thick curtain of the night.
“Crack.” The sound of a key being inserted and turning in a keyhole rang out, followed by the opening of an iron door.
Light flooded into the room from the corridor.
“I’m back.” Even if her words only reached the empty air, Ke’er uttered them out of habit. She knew full well that it was a meaningless endeavor, for they would all go unanswered.
‘As I thought…’
Ke’er bitterly shook her head, seeing the barren expanse of darkness before her.
“You must be happy to have the opportunity to go with Mr. Ji Bai, right?” She mumbled, lowering her head as a thought crossed her mind.
Her ears drooped at the thought. Distractedly, she extended her finger to the lightbulb’s button, her feet covered in nothing but white lace.
“Ka-thud.”
“Welcome back.” As soon as the light flickered on, a familiar voice rang out from within the house.