Chapter 363

"Then I’ll just touch it."

There really wasn’t any better option anyway. In a Prevision state, once the time limit expired—or if he chose to end it manually—he should be able to leave.

But what Kanzaki Rei wanted wasn’t simply to end the Prevision.

He wanted to distinguish "reality" from "illusion"—to obtain information that actually mattered.

He stepped forward.

By sight and perception, the stone appeared completely ordinary. Before making contact, he first probed it using his "Core."

「Truthstone」「An anchor used to distinguish reality from illusion.」「Creator: Elia Yumi, Keeper of Secrets. Legendary Level 9 Illusionist.」

...That name.

It had appeared somewhere in his memories.

But those memories themselves felt like fragments of a dream—illusory.

From what he "remembered," this entity was a hoarder of hidden knowledge, someone who delighted in burying secrets.

A Level 9 illusionist...

Among all the beings Kanzaki Rei knew, there were plenty of gods.

But Level 9 classes?

Very few.

The only ones he could name were Ansu... and Emperor Fu.

Emperor Fu—a Level 9 Architect—was even rumored to have stepped into the supreme Level 10 realm.

As for others... he didn’t know.

Elia Yumi.

...Noted.

After assessing the risk, Kanzaki Rei placed his hand on the Truthstone.

Ding—

A faint sensation spread through him—like a droplet falling into his Sea of Consciousness.

In that instant, clarity surged through his mind.

...Ah.

Now he understood why touching the Truthstone revealed whether one was in illusion or reality.

His consciousness seemed to peel away from his body.

At the same time, his Sea of Consciousness, once clear, began to churn violently—

Like a soul leaving the body.

From above, Kanzaki Rei looked down upon the world.

The world remained stable.

Meanwhile, his Sea of Consciousness erupted into chaos. Countless fragmented thoughts and incomprehensible pieces of information flooded into him.

He watched his physical body begin to swell and distort.

Things beyond this world’s dimension—beyond its comprehension—poured into him.

If this world were false...

Then as his cognition changed, the illusion should distort and shift along with it.

But—

Nothing changed.

The world remained perfectly still.

Haa—

After a period of transformation, his body gradually returned to normal.

The chaotic knowledge receded from him.

This place... was not an illusion.

A firm conclusion settled in his mind, bringing with it a deep sense of calm.

"Finished?" Shinkagen asked.

"Yeah. Finished. Thank you."

"Oh..." she responded.

"This only helps you distinguish reality from illusion. But like I said before, everything you experienced earlier was also real—not an illusion."

"...Still, I suppose this works as reassurance."

As she spoke, a white door appeared beside her.

"I’ve guided you this far."

"The rest... is your path."

Kanzaki Rei paused briefly, then asked,

"If I pass the trial... can I take someone out of the Deep Ground with me?"

"Who do you want to take?"

"There should be a girl named Luluwi... from the Holy Spirit race."

She wasn’t a pure human.

"Oh."

"If you successfully obtain the inheritance of the Deep Ground, you will have the authority to take away certain... unimportant individuals."

"Unimportant?"

"There are also... important ones."

"For example?"

"There are beings that are absolutely not allowed to leave. Like Elia Yumi."

...That name again.

So that person was here too?

A Level 9 illusionist... Kanzaki Rei had no intention of provoking such an existence.

Too dangerous.

"Got it," he said.

"Anything else I should know?"

"...No."

"Thank you."

Kanzaki Rei extended his hand.

Shinkagen hesitated for a moment... then shook it.

「Shinkagen」「Fantasy Entity」「A lifeform that does not exist in reality, born from someone’s imagination within the Deep Ground and sustained by absolute belief in its existence.」

A fantasy entity...

That was something new.

If such a power existed in the real world, it would be terrifying.

You imagine something—and it exists.

Compared to that, what was magic worth?

Magic required logic, theory, structure.

But this...

As long as you believed, it became real.

They released hands.

Kanzaki Rei stepped through the door she had created.

Thud—

The door shut behind him.

He stood in an empty darkness.

"So—you’ve decided to accept the trial, correct?" a playful voice spoke.

"I thought walking through that door already made the choice for me."

"If I don’t take the trial, do I have any other options?"

"...Doesn’t seem like it."

"It’s been a long time since anyone new arrived here."

"Allow me to formally introduce myself."

"I am the master of this region—the space between illusion and reality."

"The creator of the Deep Ground. The one who enlightened fantasy. The former ruler of the realm of mind and consciousness."

"I am the deity of mind and illusion... Lottie."

Tap—

Three spotlights pierced the darkness.

A twin-tailed girl in a black lolita dress stood beneath them, holding her skirt delicately.

"I just customized this outfit. I can’t quite remember why."

"There’s a peculiar law around you that interferes with my perception."

"But I suppose I saw something interesting in your memories... and recreated it on the spot."

"Oh, and one more thing—this outfit exists only in my imagination. In reality, I’m not wearing anything at all."

"So please don’t look at me with indecent thoughts."

...

...If you didn’t want that, maybe don’t say it out loud?

Kanzaki Rei’s lips twitched slightly.

But what truly mattered wasn’t that statement—

It was her introduction.

"The deity of mind and illusion... Lottie?"

"In my understanding, only certain Moon Lords or gods bear such titles."

He paused, choosing respectful wording.

"...Are you a god?"

Lottie clasped her hands together with a bright smile.

"Yes~"

"I’m so happy—you guessed my identity right away."

"Actually... you came at the perfect time."

"Perfect time?"

"Well, tomorrow marks the start of the Pure Moon. And the position of the May Moon Lord has been vacant."

"This year is also a leap year... so I thought I’d compete for the seat."

"But I lack an agent in the real world."

"And you—arriving now—is simply perfect."

"If you can perform a few small rituals for me in the real world..."

"Then once I become the May Moon Lord, I’ll reward you generously."

...Huh?

Competing for a Moon Lord position?

And you’re... asking me about it?

"Don’t you have your own followers?"

Kanzaki Rei asked.

Lottie’s smile stiffened slightly.

"The Deep Ground is cut off from the outside world. I have no means of contacting it, so it’s... inconvenient to develop followers."

She spoke easily, without the aloofness typical of gods.

"No wonder I’ve never heard your name before."

...

Her smile froze again.

This human...

Is he picking a fight?

Do I not want fame?

Do I not want followers?

I can’t leave, that’s the problem!

If I could get out, who in this world wouldn’t know my name?!

Long ago, she had clashed with a certain Moon Lord and had her name erased from the world.

Then later, she extended her divine domain into the Deep Ground—

And lost all connection to reality.

But if she could claim the Moon Lord seat...

She could regain some influence—at least during the month of May each year.

"...So this is part of the trial?" Kanzaki Rei asked.

Lottie coughed lightly.

"Not exactly."

"You still have to pass the trial before I can use you."

"If you can’t pass it, you won’t be of any help anyway."

"Though... given the special circumstances, I could lower the difficulty a bit."

...She really was easy to talk to.

Still—

Was this normal?

He was... standing face-to-face with a god.

And yet, she seemed harmless.

Curiosity filled him.

So did caution.

Her authority involved the mind and illusion.

A being like that could trap him in illusions effortlessly.

"You’re wondering why you can look directly at me despite the difference in our power, aren’t you?" Lottie suddenly said.

Before he could answer, she continued:

"That’s because I’m wearing clothes—suppressing my divinity."

"If you saw my true, naked form, you wouldn’t be able to withstand it."

Kanzaki Rei’s expression remained unchanged.

...Do you even hear yourself?

How many times are you going to emphasize that you’re not wearing anything?

Are you actually trying to get me to imagine it?

No...

Bad idea.

She could read minds.

And she already had.

So... did that mean Unsolvable Riddle wasn’t working?

Or did it fail against true gods?

He had always wondered at what level his talents would fail.

This was the perfect test.

Lottie stared at him.

Despite his poker face, she read him effortlessly.

"You’re curious how I can see through your thoughts."

"To be honest, you’re full of secrets—I can’t see through you completely."

"Especially your mind itself."

"But your expressions, movements, eyes... they tell me everything."

...So it still worked.

Good.

That meant Unsolvable Riddle could affect even gods—at least partially.

"I don’t sense any tension from you," Lottie continued.

"You must have a way to escape the Deep Ground without being controlled by me."

"Good~ I need someone capable."

"I don’t think I’ve agreed to help you yet," Kanzaki Rei said.

"Doesn’t matter~ You will."

"I knew it the moment I saw you."

He sighed.

"What exactly do you want me to do?"

"I want a temple in the real world. A statue."

"And I’d like you to spread my existence."

"That’s it?"

"And... a summoning ritual. If you can meet the conditions for my descent, even better."

...Another summoning ritual.

That made two.

What would happen if two different rituals were activated at once?

Would those gods fight?

"You’re thinking something very rude."

He cut off the thought.

...Wait.

Was that ruder than thinking about her being naked?

"That was also rude."

...Even fleeting thoughts?

Gods of the mind really were troublesome.

"Thinking poorly of others in your mind is also rude, you know?"

...He suddenly felt a bit impressed with Ansu.

Living with your thoughts constantly exposed—

and still being shameless about it?

Then again...

That guy once willingly played the role of an M.

Suddenly, it made sense.

"As long as the request is this simple, I can help," Kanzaki Rei said.

"But I’ve heard Moon Lords reward their followers..."

"Of course."

"My rewards will be... generous."

"But first—you must pass the trial."

"And only then can I send you back to the real world."

"Even I cannot bypass the rules."

"...Understood."

"The first trial—you’ve already passed."

"Awakening in the Deep Ground."

"The second trial—your combat ability."

"Combat?"

"You’re a Level 5 class, correct?"

"...Yes. How did you know?"

"You look like one."

...

That’s a thing now?

"My strength far exceeds Level 5... and she still read it..."

"I’ll set the trial at Level 5 difficulty."

"...Alright."

The darkness faded.

A massive creature appeared.

A Seventh-Tier, Second-Mutation Falling Star Scorpion.

"Please be careful—it’s dangerous."

Dangerous?

Kanzaki Rei formed a spear.

The scorpion raised its three tails—each tipped with planet-like stingers.

Its body was enormous—dozens of times larger than anything on Earth.

But—

Size didn’t equal strength.

「Skyflow Style — Third Form: Phantom Strike · Convergent Dragon Annihilation」

Boom!

His arm trembled—

Too fast to see.

A barrage compressed into a single point—

A straight line pierced through.

The scorpion’s body was obliterated.

Instant kill.

Silence.

Lottie reappeared, stunned.

"...You’re really Level 5?"

She had lowered the difficulty.

Killing a 7th-tier monster at Level 5 was already elite-level difficulty.

And yet—

He had one-shot it.

"...Your combat ability is excellent!"

Of course it is.

At the same level... does anyone even beat me?

"Second trial—passed."

"Third trial."

...

This "trial" really felt casual.

Like some basic physical test.

Still—

It gave him a chance to learn more.

"Is this trial mandatory?" he asked.

"If I recruit followers without it, will something happen?"

"For followers—no."

"But for disciples—yes."

"Disciples?"

"A way for gods to grant power."

"The trial strengthens the connection."

"It’s also a ritual."

"...And allows descent through them."

"That doesn’t sound like a good thing."

"It’s mutual benefit."

"Most gods don’t care for mortal bodies anyway."

"...I see."

"Third trial—your choice."

"I can erase your awakening... and return you to a perfect dream."

"...No."

"I won’t escape reality."

"My parents... my master... my promises..."

"...I won’t abandon them."

(...Also, this is still Prevision anyway.)

"Understood."

"Third trial—passed."

...That was it?

Seriously?

"Now—the fourth trial."

"...There’s a fourth?"

"Of course."

The world shifted.

A vast sea appeared.

"Two million kilometers ahead—Aelthymis’ summoning altar."

"They’re preparing the Ten-Thousand Skin Sacrifice."

"Stop them."

...Aelthymis.

An old acquaintance.

Boom—

Kanzaki Rei shot forward as a streak of light.

Lottie watched from above.

"...So fast."

He crossed two million kilometers in moments.

At the destination—

A continent made entirely of flayed human skin.

A grotesque landscape.

Even Kanzaki Rei felt anger.

...Monsters.

Absolute monsters.

But the emotion faded quickly.

He calmed himself.

Then—

He descended.

Past over twenty layered barrier formations.

Without triggering a single one.

Lottie froze.

"...What?"

He didn’t break them.

He took control of them.

Inside—

He scanned.

Infiltrated.

Killed.

Looted.

Stole magic.

Identified targets.

Four Level 8 leaders.

No Level 9s.

Mission objective: destroy the ritual.

Not fight.

Perfect.

He switched weapons—

To a pale soul-staff.

「Soulburst Iron Staff (+3)」Tier: 2Effect: Soul Refinement — 64x efficiencyEnchantment: Soulburst — 10x power

Even Lottie blinked.

"...What kind of equipment is that?"

Then—

Six blazing Cores formed at the tip.

Kanzaki Rei thought calmly:

"...Let’s start small."

"Sacrifice one hundred billion souls."

"...And see what happens."