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n“That’s a ridiculous misunderstanding. If you judge the excellence of a male by the number of matings, then I am the most outstanding among the males you know.”

nThe Death Worm neither seemed surprised nor interested in those words, simply motioning with his chin as if to continue.

nExperiencing this kind of insult for the first time, his mind went blank.

nAt the same time, he felt self-deprecating.

nWhy am I making excuses to this kind of creature?

n“…Tell me what type of female you want. I can give you advice on how to make her your mate. But first, let me ask you one thing. You’re not a virgin, are you?”

n“What is a virgin?”

n“It means an idiot who has never had sexual intercourse.”

n“I see. Then yes, I am a virgin.”

nGood grief.

n“But I cannot agree with your viewpoint.”

n“Why?”

n“The males of our species die immediately after mating. Therefore, many preparations and careful considerations are required before mating.”

nSuch unfortunate circumstances. In that case, it’s much better than some fool Residue knows.

nAnyway, it’s clear that the species this Death Worm belongs to has a very unique ecology and habits.

nIt might be a species that is not even recorded in the Void Record and exists only in the Void world. Considering even the extensive knowledge of the Lightning God, there is no species that comes to mind.

n“…Anyway, I don’t mind helping you, but there are a few conditions first.”

nThe Death Worm nodded, seemingly thinking it was a reasonable suggestion.

n“Speak.”

n“First, attend the meeting.”

n“…”

nHe frowned openly at this suggestion.

n“Did you not understand my words properly? I said I couldn’t control myself if I attended the meeting.”

n“Then send a representative, or move with just one worm. Even if you lose control and go berserk, you’ll be subdued quickly, so it won’t escalate into a big issue.”

n“…”

n“I just encountered you. Even I could come up with such solutions after some quick thinking. There must be far more practical solutions. Why don't you be honest? Right now, you're simply avoiding her because you don't want to face her.”

nThe Death Worm's face hardened.

nIndeed, it was easier to read his emotions now compared to when facing worms.

n“I’ll stop you if you are about to go berserk. How about that?”

n“…If my berserk state worsens the relationship with her.”

n“That won't happen, but in the extremely unlikely event it does, I'll grant one wish of yours. Anything.”

n“…”

nThe Death Worm seemed to be deep in thought.

nResidue expected his deliberation wouldn't last long, and that was true.

n“…Alright.”

nA heavy voice was heard.

n“With the cooperation of the Beginning Wizard, it might be possible to restore a deteriorated relationship.”

n“Then shall I consider the contract concluded?”

n“Yes.”

nSsss…

nThe Death Worm's human form began to collapse, turning back into its insect form.

nA cool fellow.

nSince his business was concluded, he seemed to leave without hesitation.

nIf he was heading to the meeting right now, it wouldn't matter to accompany him, but Residue decided against the suggestion. His two subordinates on the ground might not be able to accept the sudden presence of a companion. It was also a hassle to explain everything.

n“Hey, there's one thing I want to ask.”

n“Speak.”

n“Who is the female you mentioned? As far as I know, there are very few females among the Twelve Void Lords.”

nHe asked, recalling the entities from the Beginning Wizard's documents.

nAmong the Void Lords, there might be more entities without gender or without a specific gender.

nThe Death Worm's human form had almost disintegrated, but only his mouth remained. The rest of him was swarming with insects, creating a horrific scene where it looked like a human was buried in worms, with only his mouth moving, but Residue's expression remained indifferent.

nUntil he heard the voice.

n“You seem to be mistaken about something. The one I am targeting is not among the Twelve Void Lords.”

n“What?”

nWhat on earth is he talking about?

nAs Residue was taken aback, the disintegration of the Death Worm continued. Now, even his mouth had disappeared.

nIn the meantime, the worms formed letters again.

n─The Blue Knight of Famine, Pale.

nShe is the most perfect female fit to be my mate.

nResidue's face hardened.

n*

nHe had judged the ‘Apple' could no longer be used… but that wasn't the case.

nSurprisingly, Hyke nodded as he looked at the completely shattered Apple and said,

n“Fortunately, the core is intact. With this, we can repair it.”

n“Repair… Is that even possible?”

n“Yes.”

nHyke nodded and placed his hand on the large seed-like object he called the ‘core’. The seed was about the size of an adult man's head, densely engraved with magical patterns. It was of a kind that Residue's knowledge couldn't decipher.

nWoooong—

nAs he infused it with mana, something began to resonate, and the fragments of the Apple started to float.

nThen, the restoration began automatically. Altata helped by moving the scattered fragments to more manageable positions.

nResidue watched them silently, curious about the fact that they didn’t say a word about what had just happened.

nDid they vaguely understand the situation? That couldn't be. It was a battle of the Void Lord level. Even though neither had fought with full strength, it wasn't something they could comprehend.

nResidue saw the pride within them.

n‘They do not recognize me as the new Beginning Wizard, yet they hold expectations.’

nThey resist but secretly hope that Residue possesses the charisma to win their hearts. Their behavior was highly contradictory… and thus felt human.

nResidue silently laughed. Though their puzzled gazes turned his way, he didn't stop laughing.

nThere was no need to earn the loyalty of Altata and Hyke. So he wanted to tell them to drop their futile expectations and simply obey orders, but their ridiculous pride amused him, so he decided to let it be for now.

nWatching their quiet accumulation of dissatisfaction would also be an amusing pastime. Eventually, it would explode.

nResidue wondered what form that explosion would take.

n“It was the Death Worm.”

nAfter the Apple’s restoration was complete, boarding was finished, and the flight towards the King’s Castle resumed.

nResidue murmured as if in passing.

nThe two Seven Magicians blinked at each other. Judging by the unmistakable surprise and agitation on their faces, they seemed to know about the relationship between the Death Worm and the Magic Planet.

n“…Why did he?”

n“He said he came to see the new Beginning Wizard’s face.”

n“And?”

n“He congratulated me. Also said to look forward to working together.”

nA casual lie,

nNaturally, distrust appeared on their faces.

n“We exchanged greetings and I sent him off. He’s a very communicative friend.”

n“……”

nA lie. Their expressions now clearly showed they were thinking exactly that.

nIndeed, the aftermath of the clash with the Death Worm must have been observable even from the ground.

nBut Residue decided to stop explaining further.

nThey had just reached their destination.

n“Is that it? The King’s Castle.”

nThe place where the Void King, once the god of this world, resided,

nAnd the powerful presences felt from within.

n“……”

nHis heartbeat quickened a little.

nResidue smiled faintly as he thought.

nThis is where the real beginning starts.

n─These were the events that occurred before the meeting began.

n*

nAnd now,

nInside the meeting room prepared within the King’s Castle.

nResidue, having taken his seat, looked around once again.

nThe twelve seats were all filled, but not everyone present was a Void Lord.

nSome had sent representatives, others had only sent their spiritual bodies without showing up in person…

nStill, this could be considered a full attendance in a formal sense.

nResidue suddenly felt the gazes directed at him and the emotions contained within them.

n‘Hmm…'

nNot favorable. Most of them, at that.

nHow strange.

n“‘Let us begin the meeting'… he says.”

nThe being who opened his mouth in response was a familiar face.

nThe head of Mount Hua,

nYang In-hyun, the Everlasting Plum Sword.

nHis characteristic contemplative gaze was directed at Residue.

n“You are quite bold. Considering you are the last to arrive.”

nIt was said that Yang In-hyun had a good relationship with the Beginning Wizard.

nHis voice was oddly sharp.

nResidue hid his suspicion and said,

n“There was an incident.”

n“What kind of incident?”

n“I’m not obligated to explain. It’s a personal matter unrelated to the issues to be discussed from now on.”

nResponding thus, he turned his gaze to a man with a grim appearance.

nThe Death Worm had arrived here before him and was quietly occupying a seat at the meeting.

nSince he didn’t exude immense power, it seemed he had taken Residue’s advice.

nDo you… think that can be.… an excuse…?

nA voice, unpleasant and dragging, was heard.

nThis speaker was also known to him.

nThe master of the Occultic Hand,

nExile of the entire universe.

nLike Yang In-hyun, he was one of the Void Lords who had some acquaintance with ‘Lukas.'

nAnd among the Void Lords, he was one of the few whose true identity Residue clearly knew.

n“Then make it clear.”

nWhat…?

n“Do you want to hear my lame excuse, or a proper apology? I’ll settle it with whichever you prefer.”

n…….

nResidue knew that being late was his fault. He was aware that this attitude was inappropriate. But there was no time to explain everything now.

n…Everyone here should know that the situation was dire.

nAs beings at the Void Lord level, some of them might even consider the situation more serious than he did.

nThat’s what he thought.

n‘What are you thinking, you fools?’

nThere were numerous issues to address, and they wanted to argue over lateness? Were the Void Lords really a group of idiots?

nResidue didn’t hide his irritation as he glared at Yang In-hyun and the Exile. They remained silent and didn’t speak further.

nMaybe they weren’t complete fools after all? That would be nice.

n“First, let’s verify the participants. It seems quite a few haven’t attended in person. Do the representatives have a way to identify themselves?”

n“……”

nThe reaction was worth seeing as he spoke as if he were a superior. It felt as if silence and discontent had been materialized and were pricking his skin.

nBut it couldn’t be helped.

nResidue still hadn’t figured out the appropriate demeanor to adopt with these people. So at least he had to maintain an air of confidence.

nHe suddenly wondered how Mark Trowman managed to coordinate and lead these individuals.

nDiablo Kairak.

nDiablo, Elder Lich.

nHe spoke.

nParticipating as the representative of the Corpse Ghost and the master of the Black Knight.

nUnlike the horrific voice that sounded like the damned souls of Hell screaming, the tone was exceedingly polite. Several of the Void Lords glanced at him briefly.

nIt was likely that the identity they were interested in was the latter rather than the former.

nResidue nodded as well.

n“I'll acknowledge it.”

nDiablo didn’t need to prove himself.

nBecause he was accompanied by the Black Knight.

n“But where is the Black Knight?”

nHe said he had business at the King's Throne.

n…The Throne?

nDid he mean the physical throne that the Void King once sat upon, or something more abstract…?

n…The Beginning Wizard might know exactly.

nSo, without delving further, he shifted his gaze elsewhere.

n“I am Optic Nerve.”

nThe strange introduction came from a man who, despite his odd self-identification, looked rather normal. Except for the eyepatch he wore.

nWhen the Beginning Wizard looked at him with an indifferent expression, Optic Nerve, perhaps feeling the gaze despite the mask, flinched and quickly added,

n“I’m not joking. Please call me that.”

n“And you are?”

n“I am the representative of Golden Eye. He cannot leave the Golden Room, so I came in his place.”

n“……”

nThe Beginning Wizard’s documents had noted that Golden Eye had no allies.

nWell. Had it been noted as a presumption?

n“Your proof.”

n“What?”

n“The proof that you are Golden Eye’s representative.”

n“Oh, yes.”

nOptic Nerve nodded and removed one of his eyepatches. A brilliantly glowing golden eye was revealed.

n‘Indeed….’

nA supreme power that didn’t match his feeble physique.

nGolden Eye must have lent part of his power to his representative.

nResidue nodded.

n“I'll acknowledge it. Then next is…”

n“Hello, Void Lords. I am Tamer.”

nResidue turned his gaze. If his assumption was correct, this would be the last representative.

nThe owner of the voice wore a mask like Residue, but it didn’t cover the entire face as his did.

nIt covered the area around the eyes, forehead, and partially the cheeks.

nThe exposed lower face and the voice indicated that Tamer was a woman.

nBut Residue was more concerned with something else.

nThis voice,

nHe had heard it somewhere before.

n*****

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