The Book Eating Magician - Chapter 397

A quiet voice announced the end of the fight. 

Theodore stepped back and saw Gluttony stuck to the ground. Gluttony was caught in the sword that sealed time. It had lost its Absorption Star Method and couldnt lift a finger. Though Theodores body, which had lost its left arm, was wary of the possibility of resistance, Gluttonys artificial body had already scattered into the air.

It was literally world-shaking. The fight between the two transcendent beings had caused the earth to shake wildly, triggering a localized earthquake. In a sense, it was fortunate that this was finished now. If Theodore hadnt stopped the offensive and actually competed with the power of the management authority, the northern part of the continent wouldve been blown away. 

Theodore closed his eyes for a brief moment and sighed deeply.

Almost half of the restored atmosphere has been blown away again. The glacier melted from the heat, causing the sea level to rise by a few meters. It wont be fixed for a while.

In the end, he had no room to complain. Theodore delayed thinking about reality and turned to Gluttony. The sky was crying out, and the earth was shaking. The end was approaching. Both of them knew this and didnt speak. Time passed without a word. Eventually, the shaky ground and sky calmed down.

-Hmm. Finally, Gluttony opened its mouth and spoke calmly, -You are strong, User. You have surpassed my expectations.

…Really?

-Thats right. You easily suppressed me without using my strength… 

There was no big difference between Theodore and the heroes of the Age of Mythology. Most of them wouldnt be Gluttonys opponents unless they were like Simon Magus or Solomon.

It wasnt an exaggeration. Theodores clone, created by Gluttony, was stronger than it was originally. From the magic power and computing power through to the overwhelming amount of knowledge and magic linkage that fired spells in seconds, Theodores clone had been a near-universal magician.

Among the heroes of the Age of Mythology, approximately only 10 of them would be a match.

-Now you might be able to knock down Ndhggur if he appears in the material world. Some preparations are needed but you can be born as a new god on this planet.

I dont want to be a god.

-I know. You dont even want to overthrow Akashas throne of omnipotence. You are such a person, Theodore Miller.

Theodore couldnt say anything. It was a strange relationship from beginning to end, but Gluttony was the one who best understood him in this world, even more than the family members who were connected to him by blood or his lovers.

The grimoire was a part of him that was so close he couldnt speak about love. Gluttony knew everything. It was Theodores second soul and companion, the one who had reached out a hand of salvation to Theodore when he had fallen into inferiority.

Shit! 

Thus, Theodore had to hesitate. He had already wasted a few minutes on the opponent whom he could finish off with one chant. No matter how powerful the sword that binds time was, he couldnt keep Gluttony in this state forever. It meant there wasnt much time left to talk.

At that moment…

-Dont hesitate, Gluttony opened its mouth before the hesitating Theodore. -Why are you so agitated? Why are you hesitating? Do you think that Ive regained reason? No. This chance doesnt exist. Once the binding power is lost, I will attack again.

I know even if you dont say this.

-You have made your choice. You didnt look at the end of all truths and decided to stay in this world. Continue to the end of this path without looking back. This is the responsibility of the winner.

Hah, Theodore laughed bitterly at the words. Advising me to finish it off.

It was really annoying that Gluttony was always right. Theodore didnt hide his heart as he spoke in a sarcastic tone, Why dont you speak words of surrender instead of death? Why dont you ask me to seal you or something like that?

-Will you do it if I ask?

No.

-The result is obvious, so there is no point. You wouldnt want to see me like that either.

The penetrating words caused Theodore to bite his lips. Otherwise, a bad sound would emerge.

…I still cant get the final word in, dammit.

-I won the argument. With this, it is 1:1?

How funny. Theodore couldnt help laughing and realized that his heart had become lighter. The lingering attachment between the two of them was settled. It was clear that the shape of the sword holding onto Gluttony had become increasingly blurred.

Yes, lets finish it.

The two who met must now part. Theodore realized the inevitability of this and raised his palms. He couldnt buy any more time. As his nine circles revolved and the magic power in his body boiled, a complicated magic circle rose from his palms as he spread them out. This was a magic that he had previously cast once by borrowing the power of others.

-Dimensional Banish? It is a decent way.

A Seven Sins grimoire wouldnt disappear from this material world unless the host was destroyed. What if it had a defenseless structure like Lust? As such, in order to combat the grimoire, Theodore needed to pour out firepower like he had done with Pride or to banish it from the dimension like what had happened with Sloth.

Wuuuong The space started vibrating. It was the sign that the circle around Gluttony was punching a hole in the dimension. Theodore was surprised since the speed was faster than he had expected. However, he soon realized why.

I see. Thanks to the experience with the Akashic Records, it seems I have learned how to deal with dimensional boundaries…?

Theodores speed was two times faster than that of Simon Magus, who had spent 10 minutes to launch it. However, this didnt mean that Theodore was a magician beyond Simon Magus level. The Akashic Records was the center of the most profound dimension in space. After blending with it, Theodore had reached another level of dimensional magic.

-Umm At this time, the silent Gluttony spoke up. -I have something to say… but I cant really remember. No, I dont know how to say it.

…

-This is the first time Ive had a contractor like this… Im sorry that Ive missed a good chance. I thought I understood human emotions, but I should analyze it again from the beginning…

It wasnt a normal voice but a powerful one, and it sounded like a farewell rather than a complaint. Theodore bit his lips until blood flowed and focused on the magic circle. He didnt want to show an ugly appearance while saying farewell. Subsequently, the banishment magic circle was completed without any mistakes.

Goal, designated.

The space around Gluttony distorted. No, it wasnt the space but the dimension. The passage leading to the outer dimension opened its mouth, and everything inside it would disappear without a trace. The specified action of a finger snap was the key to start it. Theodore didnt hesitate to snap two fingers. He didnt look back as his friend had advised.

Activate!

Before his mind could hesitate, his fingers moved.

Kuuong!

Dimensional Banishits magic circle started to vibrate at super speed. This was the preliminary work to tear apart the walls of the dimension.

Gluttonys voice was almost inaudible due to the noise. -Ah, thats right… Is this the feeling of regret…? It hasnt been a long time. No, maybe that is why it is more…

Theodore didnt answer.

-Meeting a lot of people up to today… talking to them… fighting… going to sleep… The ones who left the deepest impression… most of them occupied one corner of the storage space…

Again, Theodore didnt answer.

-No… this isnt what I wanted to say. Theodore Miller… you are the most mysterious of all the magicians I have contracted with… the greatest magician to the end. The journey with you… It was a special experience for me…

…

Gluttonys voice was now muffled. Theodore wouldnt be able to hear it unless he focused. So, he listened quietly. His heart was whispering. Theodore couldnt miss this moment, the end of a friend he wouldnt meet again.

Jijijik!

The final step of being expelled from the dimension was completed, cutting away the coordinates designated by the magic circle and blowing it outward. Now Gluttonys voice was distorted like it was on a low frequency. -…The time that we have spent together… It, has, been, fun… Use..r.

Simultaneously, the banishment was carried out perfectly.

Syuok!

The space, that had been torn off, disappeared somewhere before returning to its original state. There was a pit on the ground, like something had been dug up. Nobody would know what had happened here just a moment ago. Theodore was the only exception.

…Yes, the words that he couldnt suppress emerged after everything was over, I also enjoyed it.

It was all thanks to Gluttony that he could come here. He had gained strength, fame, and people who loved him, and he had saved the world. Theodore stood before the pit and looked at the sky. Due to the fight between the two beings, strange colors swayed over the northern hemisphere like an aurora.

Long… It wasnt long… Theodore looked back on his journey. Gluttony advised Theodore not to look back, but it had meant for Theodore to not feel regretful.

Theodore didnt feel regretful. So, he looked back without hesitation on everything that had allowed him to reach this day.

Hed met a grimoire in a library.

Hed met a good teacher who had seen a talent he hadnt had.

Hed overcome his inferiority complex and saved his home from danger.

Hed met the elves from fairytales and survived a monster.

Hed saved the world tree, made friends, and also met an evil dragon.

Hed killed a monster, jumped over a wall, and inherited a power.

Hed made bonds in distant lands and become the hero of a kingdom.

Hed thrown down the monster behind the empire.

Hed repelled an invader from another world and become protector of the world tree.

Hed defeated a disaster on the distant continent and a threat to the world.

Hed smashed a falling meteorite and rejected all truths.

And hed sent away a friend.

…Go.

How was his life? Theodore asked himself. He remembered the day it had started and how hed met many people. There were both good and bad people, along with bargaining, fighting, talking, pointing his sword, and talking again. Theodore had developed relationships with many of them.

One day, all of them will leave me. But not now.

By denying omnipotence, he would enjoy the happiness he held on to. As a friend of his had said, this was the right and responsibility of the winner. Theodore would follow these words.

Lets live the right way… Just like how he was always told. He inadvertently looked up and saw a shooting star streaking across the sky. Tomorrow would come as always.