Chapter 255


    At the debriefing session held in the audience room, the goal of Rafflesia was surmisedwhich is Chancellor Zephanels great magic and her secret of immortality that allows her to not age at all despite having lived beyond the average lifespan of elves.


    I previously thought that it was just Kiliks nonsense, so I didnt think that he was really aiming for immortality. Why would, even having the lifespan of the elves, he still seek after greater immortality?


    most likely something that only those with a long lifespan like the elves could do. Their goal, very little that we know of, must be something that cannot be achieved overnight. Only with a very long lifespan can the leader continue to hold the reins and see the goal to a fruition.


    The nonsense that the current King muttered about was probably the conversation between him and Kilik that I overheard back in the underground temple. Kilik despised women as an inferior species and dered that they are unnecessary in the new world of supremacy. However, Chancellor Zephanel seemingly holds the key to his goal.


    As Prince Khan said, both Kilik and Felix have elf blood and therefore they have their race long lifespan. Elves are a race that can live for 2,300 years without worrying about dying of old age. Because of his long life, he can wait for the time to reduce Chancellor Zephanels Promised Blessing to amon skill. And if he were to be ageless on top of that, it might even be possible to wait for eternityhowever


    But, Im pretty sure that Chancellor Zephanels agelessness has nothing to do with skill


    My conjecture was met with Chancellor Zephanels nod. I continued after confirming that everyones eyes were on me.


    This power of agelessness is neither a Pedigree Skill nor great magic. If I have to make a guess, its actually a curse.


    Curse?


    Indeed it is, Ark. This one couldnt even die alongside that person even if we wish to, and we will continue to live to see hundreds, thousands, ten thousand lives die, devoting themselves for this country


    The Kingdom of Kurtmerga has been established for over 500 years. It was before that that Chancellor Zephanel devoted herself to subjugating thebyrinth with the Founding King. I dont know how long it took to establish the country, but it shouldnt have been easy.


    Kilik foolishly made this mistake. It might be possible to eventually reduce the Promised Blessing into a normal skillbut not with this agelessness.


    Yuki, you said that the power of agelessness is a curse Then, who put that curse on you?


    The current Kings question is at the heart of this story. Whether it was to prevent the Rafflesia from achieving their goal or to protect Chancellor Zephanel, it was impossible to take measures unless it was clear.


    But, that power


    Chancellor Zephanels jade eyes were looking at me as if they were piercing through me.


    A God.


    Right. When I first met Chancellor Zephanel, she gave me some sort of a warning. Ivee into contact with two beings, one each after conquering thebyrinth. Now, I know that one of them is the God of this world called the God of Creation, and the other is a mad Goddess who was isted by the God of Creation. But, I had no idea which one of them gave Chancellor Zephanel her agelessness.


    God?! Where on earth did you meet such a being!


    In the deepest part of thebyrinth, the throne room. That was where I made a wish I wanted to be able to heal not only the wounds on that persons bodybut also the wounds of his heart. Even though I, who had no will, no ego, and was only a mere doll, I wished to be hisrade, to be hisrade, and to be his family.


    Ah, as expected


    The current King and chancellor Bergman couldnt seem to make sense of Chancellor Zephanels monologue, given that they only knew about this world. However, I immediately understood the meaning of her monologue. Even though I know in the truest sense that the founding king is also a Magicless just like I who came here when I was ying VMB, I know that he also came here while he was ying some kind of a game.


    Chancellor Zephanel once mentioned about ES   ~The story with you that will be spun for eternity~, which I recall existed during the early days of VR games. In that game, yers should have been able to create a partner NPC that will act as a guide andpanion while traveling through the game world.


    NPCsIn other words, AI-controlled characters. But this type of character creation has a high degree of freedom, and can be created in a wide variety of forms ording to the yers tastes, such as appearance, age, race, special skills, and personality.


    The little elfwas a character temte that remained popr since.


    When I saw Chancellor Zephanel having a good time in the bathroom of the ContinentalI felt that <em>Its somewhat artificial</em>, and that intuition was not wrong.


    Yuki Zephanel, who never ages and always pine for the Founding King no matter how much time had passed, was the Founding Kings former partner NPC. She, too, was an existence that surpassed the world and defied reasona trespasser so to speak.


    The debriefing session in the audience room ended with Chancellor Zephanels monologue. The current King and Chancellor Bergman had ns to dine with the Knight Order executives and magic nobles, which couldnt be dyed any longer. But, the most important thing was that in thetter half of the discussion, the existence beyond human knowledge such as God came out.


    At the end of the debriefing session, Chancellor Zephanel answered Prince Arks casual question and kept his mouth shut.


    Will the Gods grant the wishes of those who conquered thebyrinth?


    It is up to their whimthat is all there is to it.


    Theyve most likely tried


    The Founding King conquered a lot ofbyrinths in his lifetime. After chancellor Zephanel gained sentience and life of her own, he mustve gone to the deepest part of thebyrinth many times to confront those beings. Because he wished for something. Return to his original world? Enormous wealth? Or maybe absolute power?


    But, his wish was never fulfilled.


    An encounter with God, and a miracle of wish fulfillmentPrince Ark asked Chancellor Zephanel for affirmation with his eyes shining, but the Chancellor denied it so as to gently persuade him.


    Schwartz.


    After the debriefing session, we went shopping at the shooting range. But before that, in order to join Ashley and the others, Chancellor Zephanel and I headed through the courtyard of the Royal Pce to the Chancellors residence.


    Prince Khan and Prince Ark were heading to the garden to call Queen Anastasia and Queen ire, who are supposed to be having a tea party with Lapitilika-sama.


    Chancellor Zephanel walked in front of me and called my name without looking back.


    What is it?


    You didnt seem to be surprised after hearing about me.


    Really? .Well, I had a hunch.


    It mustve been aughable story, yes? A foolish puppet that wished to be human for the sake of a certain man, only to gain it from the same hand that tormented the same man.


    Not at allto love and pine for someone, is a proof of your existence as a human being.


    is that so?


    it is so.


    The Chancellor continued her pace without looking back. Perhaps reminiscing about her past, which is pretty much the entire history of the Kurtmerga Kingdom. I thought so as I followed her, noticing that her shoulders were slightly trembling.