章 10: Sovereign II
"Abandoned? Me?"
Noir's ears twitched. He looked around to locate the voice owner, but he found nothing. An endless white was the only thing he could see.
[Yes. You.]
Frowning, Noir raised an eyebrow as he spun around, still trying to locate the voice owner.
"Your voice sounds familiar. Have I met you before?"
The voice didn't answer at first, as though it was contemplating. Then, it said:
[It was 12 years ago.]
"Twelve years ago?" Noir tried to recall what happened that year.
He struggled to remember at first. But after a few minutes, he finally recalled that event. The one that changed his life forever.
"Fvck. Don't tell me you're that man surrounded by the light that could make someone blind?!"
The stranger who told him about the world's end that he thought was about a zombie apocalypse. But turned out it was something out of his world's logic.
[I am.]
Across from him, something materialized from empty air. Slowly, it changed to the shape of a human, or at least it was a human, based on how it had two hands and two legs.
As the human-shaped light revealed its white hair and a gradient of blue began spreading around its hair's root, Noir's eyes widened.
[And it's my fault that you misinterpret the 'end of the world' as a mere zombie apocalypse-]
Zap! Zap!
Noir tried to ambush the man surrounded by the light but failed. His lightning spear reduced to an atom even before it could reach them.
The man ignored Noir's attempt to attack him and kept talking.
[I should have done it once my power returned.]
Stopping his lightning barrage, Noir took a breath and said:
"Just who are you? What do you want from me?"
The man's eyes shone blue, and sparks were coming from them, creating an effect of electricity.
[I have long abandoned my mortal name. Now, you may refer to me as Sovereign.]
"Really, you? The one that gives supernatural power to people, including me?"
The Sovereign nodded.
[That's right. You could say I'm the one who bestows the mortal with power. However, the gifts are coming from the other Sovereign's energies.]
"There are other Sovereign than you?" Noir frowned. "Then, is the one responsible for the ruin of my world and the awakening of the seven people one of you's works?"
[No, and yes. We are responsible for the awakening of you and your friends in Earthium. But the one who ruined your world and made people disappear was not us.]
Noir could feel his anger surge into his head. He tried to suppress it by tightening his fists until they went pale.
"Who is it?"
[That, we can't tell you that yet.]
The Sovereign could be seen as if they were smiling.
[Unless you agree to become my proxy.]
Noir's eyes widened. He quickly suppressed the shock and smirked.
"So that's your aim from the start, huh?"
[You are a very unique individual who exists simultaneously in two worlds. That fact alone is enough for us to notice your existence and potential.]
Noir raised an eyebrow. Did they say he was an existence that exists in two worlds? Simultaneously at that? What did they even mean by that?
"What do you mean I exist in two worlds? Are Earthium and Earth in the same universe?"
[We only have one universe. But within it, countless worlds exist. Each of them may or may not have 'livings.' We call it an 'abandoned world.' As for your simultaneous existence, it seems like your soul is divided. Thus, it created a variable like one person becoming two.]
The Sovereign paused for a while.
[Each of your versions in two worlds only has a half soul, and as expected, you are different from each other. It was like Noir in Earthium is the good side, while Noir in Earth is the dark one.
[Thankfully, you are now merged together. I can't imagine what disaster would the dark Noir bring to this world if we didn't notice your existence.]
"I see. So, what will I get if I become your proxy?"
[You will get many benefits and support from us. The amount that even the other Resonants on Earth can't imagine.]
Staring at the Sovereign intensely, Noir asked:
"And what are you expecting from me?"
[You will become the world's guardian. To prevent this world from ending up like Earthium. And fight against our nemesis that has devoured countless worlds.]
Noir's ears twitched, and his frown deepened as he heard the Sovereign's explanation.
[What will be your answer, Noir Teundre? Will you become my proxy?]
Noir looked up and faced the Sovereign eye-to-eye.
"Is this nemesis of yours the one that wreaks havoc in my world?"
[As I said earlier, I can't tell you more than what I have been telling you unless you are willing to become my proxy.]
Sighing, Noir shook his head.
"Then, allow me to refuse your offer."
The Sovereign maintained a straight face even though his inner side was surprised.
[I see. Is there a reason why you rejected my offer?]
Noir sneered.
"There are. First, you lied to me about the end of my world."
Although Noir knew it was not their intention to give him incomplete information that led him to misunderstanding, he couldn't help but blame them for his mistake to make himself feel good about it.
"Second, you all are crazy for asking an ordinary human like me who has only lived a peaceful life for my entire life except for the last eleven months before I got transported into this world. There are many people here who have a taste of bitterness in their lives and are more experienced with dealing with monsters than me, so why don't you choose them instead?"
[As I said, it's because of your unique existence and potential that we consider you as our proxy candidate.]
Ignoring the Sovereign's words, Noir continued.
"Third, after listening to your explanation, it seems like this world is not as safe as I thought as long as that nemesis of yours still hangs around, right? But I don't care anymore. I don't want to burden a world-size problem anymore. I just want to live however I want this time."
The Sovereign nodded solemnly.
[Alright. If that's your choice, then we can't do anything about it-]
They stopped abruptly, causing Noir to raise his eyebrow as he watched them looking upward as though they were communicating with another Sovereign.
After a moment, the Sovereign stared at Noir and nodded.
[I have one more thing to offer to you. Do you want to hear it?]
"What is it?"
[If you don't want to be our proxy and help us fight against our nemesis. Then, are you interested in supporting a certain individual?]
Noir shook his head without uttering any words.
The Sovereign smiled behind their made-in-light veil.
[If you ever change your mind, just come back here anytime. This offer will last until the individual I mentioned passes away. Now, let me take you back to where you belong, Noir Teundre.]
...
Ring! Ring!
Noir woke up as the automatic alarm in his FT Phone rang.
Despite the otherwordly experience he had last night, he was feeling fresh instead of tired.
Rubbing his eyes and stretching his body, Noir grabbed his FT Phone out of habit.
"Huh?"
On its screen, he saw a shocking message with the title:
"We welcome you to the academy?"
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