Minchen shook his head without hesitation.
“How could it be possible? Not everyone desires adventures filled with novelty and danger, especially when some of our companions had ties back in the original world that needed careful consideration.”
“Our small group originally consisted of eight people. In the end, only five accepted the invitation from the 【Will of the World】. The three who refused quickly disappeared without a trace under a blanket of white light. I’m not sure where they went, but if the 【Will of the World】 didn’t deceive us, they should have returned to the original world.”
“Wait a moment.”
As if suddenly realizing something, Violet furrowed her brow and spoke up.
“Even if only five people disappeared suddenly together, shouldn’t that cause quite a stir? And since those three who returned to the original world have no memory of the 【Will of the World】 and saw five friends disappear simultaneously, wouldn’t it lead to confusion?”
Upon hearing this, Minchen couldn’t help but show appreciation.
“Miss Violet, you’re thinking very carefully about this. Indeed, in any world where interpersonal relationships exist around us, this would be a troublesome situation. Regarding this matter, the 【Will of the World】 replied that upon arriving in this world, our ‘existence’ would also be transferred together. Unless returning to our old homeland, all traces of our existence would disappear together... including the memories of those three friends.”
“It’s as if we never existed in the world.”
Then, he smiled somewhat awkwardly.
“And to be honest, the fact that the five of us could make that choice indicates that we didn’t have much attachment or relationships back in the original world. Of course, there are cases like mine, where I didn’t trust the others too much and didn’t want to forget them, so I chose to come here together. But it’s undeniable that the former reason accounts for a considerable proportion.”
“I see... Being able to completely transfer and erase the very existence of living beings, the power of the 【Will of the World】 is indeed extraordinary. How intriguing...”
However, Violet still couldn’t understand.
Why didn’t she encounter anything similar when she crossed over, just suddenly appearing here?
This incomprehensible difference was the reason why Miss Priestess never clearly disclosed her own status as a traveler. It wasn’t that she was guarding against anyone, it’s just that while Minchen might be trustworthy, there were uncertainties about certain things related to him.
The 【Will of the World】... What exactly is it?
However, it seemed that Minchen’s relationship with it wasn’t as Violet initially assumed. Plus, Mr. Gatekeeper was so frank, so perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to reveal more information and probe further.
Anyway, let’s continue the conversation.
“So, after that, with the help of the 【Will of the World】, you came over here?”
Minchen nodded slightly.
“That’s right. As chosen individuals by the world, we were endowed with powers equivalent to those in the Illusory World. Upon arriving here, we possessed capabilities that far surpassed most beings in this realm.”
“Although the 【Will of the World】 has not appeared since then, it opened up what we called a panel for us. This panel allows us to exchange special currency obtained by defeating designated enemies for armaments, potions, and even items, books, and other supplies from another world, namely the Illusory World.”
“With this help, we easily grew and quickly became stronger.”
Noticing a crucial detail in the conversation that had been overlooked, Violet couldn’t help but interject.
“Wait, when you mentioned designated enemies, are you referring to those individuals described by the 【Will of the World】 who are trying to overturn the world? Who are they exactly?”
At this mention, Minchen’s lips curled into a slight smile.
“Miss Violet, I wonder if you’ve heard that this world once harbored powerful beings known as Mythical Species, but three hundred years ago, they mysteriously vanished at an astonishing speed, and have since disappeared without a trace?”
The dark-haired girl felt a slight shock.
“Are you saying...!?”
“That’s right, that’s one of the reasons why the 【Will of the World】 called upon us.”
Turning his head to look out the window at the azure sky above the Gatekeeper’s Domain, a mixture of weariness and clarity flashed in the young man’s eyes, as he began to speak of a past that few knew about.
“Three hundred years ago, an ancient ruin buried deep underground in the eastern part of the continent reappeared by chance, causing a huge uproar. It was quickly sealed off by the Mythical Species, a powerful race at the pinnacle of existence. Do you know what was buried beneath that ruin?”
Violet, who had never heard such news before, could only shake her head in disbelief. Minchen, however, didn’t keep her in suspense and went straight to the point.
“A corpse. It’s a fragment of the remains left behind by the 【World-Eater Serpent】, Jörmungandr. That place was once a battlefield between it and the deities.”
“The 【World-Eater Serpent】? Are you sure? But according to the myths...”
Minchen smiled faintly.
“The 【World-Eater Serpent】 is the eternal devourer, immortal and everlasting. Even the deities couldn’t kill it, they could only seal it away, right? Heh, I didn’t expect Miss Violet to have moments of not knowing the whole story.”
“Uh, well, that’s what the books... the books say, and Sethlin also mentioned something similar...”
Feeling a bit embarrassed, the priestess scratched her head and quickly asked with curiosity.
“So, it’s not actually like that?”
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“That’s right.”
Minchen nodded affirmatively, then continued promptly.
“But in reality, the 【World-Eater Serpent】 can be killed. It’s just that as a manifestation and embodiment of the concept of ‘devouring,’ even if it dies, it will reappear with the passage of time and the cycling of energy. Killing it is futile. Thus, sealing it away is the correct solution.”
“That’s a colossal beast capable of devouring entire worlds. In a sense, it stands on the same level as deities, and even the 【Will of the World】 I mentioned earlier. Therefore, within the remains it left behind, there’s an unimaginable essence and power that ordinary beings cannot fathom. Miss Violet, do you know what this represents?”
As if posing a question, the young man immediately answered himself.
“Ascension. It’s the possibility for the mythic races, who have already reached the limits beneath the realm of gods, to gain the power to ascend. And it’s not just one or two individuals—it’s the entire population undergoing a major evolution, possibly giving birth to new gods who could become the rulers of the entire world... It’s not mere fantasy.”
“......”
By this point, even without Minchen saying it, Violet could already deduce what happened next.
“So, the mythic races fought over this thing...?”
Minchen nodded silently.
“Yes, at that time, the mythic races split into two factions. One faction, led by dragons and several deities, believed this power was too dangerous. They advocated for resealing the relic, fearing it might lead to the resurgence of the true 【World-Eater Serpent】.”
“The other faction was much larger, comprising powerful ancient races at their peak, including some rogue dragons and vampires—various beings with dubious intentions and deep backgrounds. They sought to seize and study this relic of the gods, absorbing its power to become stronger, ultimately achieving the breakthrough they dreamed of.”
“Unable to reconcile their differences, the two sides engaged in fierce battles around the relic. The conflict was devastating, drawing in even demons from other worlds and alien races. As the fighting escalated, its chaotic influence spread beyond the higher species and began to affect more numerous but more vulnerable beings, seen as mere ants by the mythic races.”
“And to prevent this war, we, the ‘Conquerors,’ were summoned to this world.”