Gozine

The Philosopher’s Stone.
A unique mystery on the continent, said to grant the user’s wishes without being bound by the laws of nature.
This had been sufficiently explored even in the worldview of Inner Lunatic.
At the time, I had also read the story with great interest.

‘In Inner Lunatic, a work where one can use swords and magic through mana, the concept of alchemy and the Philosopher’s Stone appearing was quite interesting.’

But I never expected to hear about its secrets from Theo in this way.
What I remember is only that an object called the ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ exists, and that it was the main cause of the fragmentation of the ancient human unified kingdom, Catalyu.

Humans, demons, angels…

Everything is connected to this?

What does it mean that they were the same beings from the beginning?

Theo clearly said it.

‘In the beginning, only humans existed.’
There must be a reason for this.

Slowly, I look up at Theo’s face. I straightened my posture, which had been performing a sword ceremony.
With a cold, hardened expression, I part my lips clearly.

“What exactly do you know, and how much do you know, Patriarch?”

“I can say that I know more than the head of other families.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I want you to become the Patriarch.”

Why is that?

The moment Theo’s voice reaches me, I feel a sensation as if my heart is being torn apart.
Just like when I first possessed Inner Lunatic, which I thought was a game, this sudden, intense pain. The sensation, still unfamiliar, is vividly embedded deep within my chest.

Is it because of the ticking clock of a time bomb engraved deep in my heart, still not erased?

Honestly, I’m not sure.

One thing is certain. I have no reason to take that poisoned holy gray position.
Placing my left hand on my chest, I bow my head respectfully and answer.

“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of becoming the Patriarch. As I’ve said many times, my thoughts remain the same. The position is too much for me. So…”

“It would be wise to make a decision after knowing the truth.”

Theo’s eyes gleam. I look at him for a moment, then nod.

“Understood.”

Theo taps the seat he’s sitting on and begins his story. Instantly, the doubts that keep rising begin to prick my chest like thorns.

Theo von Reinhaver, who once asked me to kill him, and the current Theo, who seems weak and is asking me to become the Patriarch.
What kind of gap exists between the two that causes such turmoil in me?

Could it be that even I, who have lost my memories, still have some attachment to my father?
I briefly recall it, then erase it.
And then I think.

Surely, that can’t be.

“Follow me.”

Theo immediately gets up and begins to take me somewhere.

Drrrrrrrrk——!

‘…A magical device is activating somewhere.’

The center of the Patriarch chamber. A small noise came from near where I was standing.
The rotating mana stops momentarily, casting light in various places.

The Patriarch’s chamber brightens, and a staircase is revealed below with a constant noise.

“This is a place where only those destined to become Patriarch have ever set foot. Garen, Grain, Allen, and Hats have never entered here.”

Naturally, I also don’t know this place.

But Theo must have a reason for dragging me here.
I’m also curious.

Why is Theo von Reinhaver the villain, and why must I kill him? After all, he is my only father.

“Let’s go.”

With Theo’s calm voice, a small echo spreads through the tidy underground.

***********

The two Reinhavers arrive at a large room located below the patriarch’s chamber.
Very old books and scribbled parchments.

Above all, a magical device with an overwhelming presence is placed in the center, clearly the remnants of a high-level spell.

A device that even Nox, who studied magic with Lars, cannot easily comprehend.
Nox unconsciously gulps.

‘To think that the Reinhaver family, known as the sword nobility, would have such a high-level magical device… This is clearly beyond Apollo.’

Apollo.
Why would a device boasting absurd technology, surpassing the siege weapons of the ancient kingdoms, be located in the nobility’s estate that boast of its swordsmanship?

Nox’s thoughts are brief. Theo begins to approach the high-level magical device. A circular band stacked in layers, rotating while concealing a small golden cube in the center.

Theo places his hand on it and begins to explain indifferently.

“This is a remnant of the ancient kingdom Catalyu, a tool that records only the truths of the past, called ‘Cosmic Memoria.’ Nox, it is the origin of you and the Reinhaver family. And… the beginning of the world. A device that allows you to learn about demons and angels.”

“Quite a grandiose name.”

‘It’s certainly a fascinating device. The ancient kingdom of Catalyu… When I dealt with Jagan, I felt it, but I need to investigate more properly about that kingdom and the Philosopher’s Stone.’

Nox thinks this, then looks at Theo and asks.

“How does Cosmic Memoria operate?”

“Do you see the golden cube in the center?”

“Yes.”

“Reach out to the cube. Then, say softly.”

Theo pauses for a moment, observing Nox’s expression, then continues.

“’A humble servant of god has arrived here in search of fragments of the past.’”

Theo’s voice was a kind of trigger.
A device to activate that massive Cosmic Memoria.

Now it begins.

Nox, with a strong sense of tension, begins to reach out towards the slowly rotating Cosmic Memoria.
Theo watches with bated breath, unable to hide his inner amazement.

‘Cosmic Memoria is an object created by the god to record the history of the continent and the world. No matter how skilled a magician is, it is difficult to activate easily. Knights often collapse just by being near it. But… this child…’

Nox von Reinhaver.
His son, looking at this astonishing device, shows no signs of panic or agitation, simply doing as instructed. A level of mental fortitude and talent that is impossible without sufficient ability. Yet Nox accomplishes it with ease.

While marveling at his son’s talent, Theo despairs at not being able to see the end of this child.

‘What a pity.’

At the same time, Cosmic Memoria faithfully begins to operate, resonating with Nox.

Then.

Click——!

The first ring stops, making a sound. The method to access this cube, protected by high-level spells, is precisely this—solving the puzzle.

Click——! Click——! Click——!

Nox continues to solve the puzzle without stopping.
After a short while, the bands guarding the circle all face forward and stop. Nox now approaches the remaining layer, the cube.
Then, he whispers softly.

‘A humble servant of god has arrived here in search of fragments of the past.’

The cube emits light. A golden light bursts forth, enveloping the surroundings.
It shifts from a warm orange to a deep black, then back to pure white, repeating the cycle. As if it could become anything.
Playfully, it changes colors at will.

At that moment, Theo’s voice is heard one last time.

“Nox.”

“Yes”

“Promise me one thing.”

“What…?”

“No matter what you see inside, you…”

Theo’s voice, cutting off meaninglessly. Before hearing it to the end, Nox feels his consciousness fading. But the last words flowing from his lips, he clearly understands what they mean.

No matter what you see inside, you must kill me.
That is the condition for reaching the truth.

Theo clearly said so.

As Nox processes this, he is thrown into an unfamiliar place.
A gentle and warm voice is heard.

Neither female nor male…

Unknown, but Nox can intuitively sense it.

This is the beginning of everything.

***********

[Chapter 1: In the beginning, there was the Creator God Arden.]

In the beginning, there was the Creator God Arden——.

She, called the Creator of the World, wielded the power of creation according to her will.
Additionally, Arden’s artifact, the so-called ‘Chalice of Creation’, could not only give birth to new life but also create artifacts that ignored the laws of physics and magic.

Arden created and sent forth countless lives across the continent.
On the continent, Arden was truly the mother and father of all living beings.

However, she could not directly intervene in the world she had created.

Arden lived with the joy of observing her creations living together. The unpredictable variables in her mundane life brought her great joy.
Although they are nothing more than an insignificant existence, she herself could not even enter the tiny model she had created.

Then one day, Arden made a mistake.
She accidentally dropped her hair into the ‘Chalice of Creation.’

As a result, a lifeform imbued with the power of the Creator God was conceived on the continent.
A lifeform resembling Arden. A little later, we would call this ‘human’ because it resembled Arden.

Although humans were born by mistake, they became the greatest source of happiness for Arden.
Before long, she was deeply captivated by the charm of humans helping, understanding, and caring for each other.

[I must give my children a gift]

Arden decided to willingly use the Chalice of Creation for the creatures that brought her joy.
Arden gathered dozens of irreplaceable materials and mana from the world and ultimately created the ‘Philosopher’s Stone.’ An object with infinite potential and power, unaffected by any physical or magical laws of the world, but she didn’t mind.
She believed that humans with good hearts would use it wisely.

Thus, she decided to willingly bestow divine grace upon humans.

And so.
The Philosopher’s Stone bestowed by Arden became a great power for humans.
Ancient humans, weak in agriculture, starved to death, and thousands were swept away by harsh storms, while others lost their lives to magical beasts for hunting.

All they had was the ability to communicate with each other.
Developing a system of language, sharing hearts, and believing they could improve.
And the ability to leave records for future generations, though it was of little immediate help.

Arden accelerated this.

Through the Philosopher’s Stone, called a miracle.

—— Finally, the Creator God Arden has bestowed blessings upon humans!

The oracle that came with the stone called a miracle.
It was meant to propel humans to greater heights.

Arden told humans.

[Build a better civilization and live. Protect yourselves, help each other, and if you live like that, you will be my greatest joy.]

The Philosopher’s Stone granted stronger power and wealth without any conditions. This was akin to Arden gambling the hegemony of the world and the continent on the human race.

Because she believed.
That humans, resembling herself, could truly govern this place well.

And so time passed.

As Arden said, humans entered an agricultural society based on the miraculous power of the Philosopher’s Stone, and an exponentially growing population enjoyed unprecedented prosperity.
Whenever something was needed, they could borrow the power of the stone, and naturally, a union formed around it.

The first union state established at this time was the Catalyu Kingdom. Now a bygone glory, we call it the fallen Catalyu Kingdom.

Anyway.
The fallen Catalyu Kingdom grew rapidly.

They built a golden temple to worship Arden, laid countless treasures beneath it, and offered various parchments and harvests to the altar to worship the god.

Arden was delighted and did not regret using her Chalice of Creation for humans.
Humans would complete her world.
She firmly believed that.

But such thoughts did not last long. Sadly, the prelude to tragedy began there. But no one knew it.

Not even the Creator God Arden could have imagined that humans would fall.