How to Survive as a Mage Inside a Game

[Translation]

“Is the last fragment of the dimension embedded in Elon’s heart?”

The moment Karl fully understood the message, his expression contorted violently.

Now, the system was telling him. If he wanted to return to Earth, he had to kill Elon. To retrieve the last fragment of the dimension in her heart.

[Time limit: 300 seconds]

“This fucking bastard, really.”

The time limit appeared on one side of his vision. Karl couldn’t help but curse.

Murder was familiar to him. Karl had killed countless people up to now.

But he swore he had never crossed the line.

Those he had killed so far were all, at least by Karl’s standards, deserving of death. Thieves, criminals, black magicians, scum who devalued human life. This standard was ultimately subjective to Karl, but anyway, he had never committed a murder he couldn’t justify to himself.

But now, the system was forcing him.

To return to the longed-for Earth, he had to kill an innocent girl.

“……”

Feeling anew the system’s malice, Karl looked down at Elon. Her face was still pale, unconscious.

To definitely end the life of this girl who looked like she could die at any moment, and return to the longed-for Earth.

Or to let go of the chance to return and save her.

It was a choice that needed no contemplation.

“Hey, system. Are you listening?”

Karl stood up. He looked at the void and scoffed as if to show it.

“I just won’t go.”

Did you think I’d dance to your tune forever?

“I won’t go to Earth because it’s disgusting, fuck.”

Now everything else didn’t matter.

Karl lifted Elon with the Force and rose into the air. The professors seemed to be sorting out the situation, as if things were roughly settled.

[Translation]
It was utterly nonsensical from the start that mere thugs could attack the heart of the empire. Right next to Rubellion, where the incident occurred, lies the Imperial Palace, the dwelling of the Emperor.

The professors and knights within Rubellion, as well as the rapid support from the Imperial Palace, swiftly obliterated the thugs.

The only problem remaining was the Black Tower Master.

After placing Elon, who had been injured, in a place where the students were being treated, Karl moved to where the Black Tower Master and Romaine Page were.

Groooan.

A massive black sphere, emitting an ominous aura like the heart of the demon world, was rotating. Was this the Black Tower Master’s barrier?

Around it, professors and magicians from the imperial court watched the scene with tense expressions. It seemed that inside, the Black Tower Master and Romaine were engaged in a fierce battle.

“Damn it.”

Karl swore again and without hesitation, flew towards the place.

“Wait, wait…!!”

Shouts of dismay and attempts to stop him came from behind, but he ignored them.

Right now, Karl didn’t care about anything.

A showdown between two great magicians? So what. He was almost at the sphere. Karl gathered his magical power.

Arzak-style circle magic, Overload, a red thunderbolt targeting a point on the sphere, struck down with a tearing roar.

Boom!!

A hole appeared in the sphere. Karl squeezed his body through the gap. Then, he saw the Black Tower Master floating in the center and Romaine, spitting blood and struggling to stand on the ground. Romaine’s eyes widened in shock upon seeing Karl who had penetrated the barrier.

“Ah, you’re losing, huh.”

Honestly, Karl had roughly guessed this since he felt the sphere’s magic growing stronger from the outside.

“Why, why are you here!”

Romaine asked in urgency, to which Karl calmly replied.

“Everything outside is over, now we just need to deal with the Black Tower Master.”

Korean

English

“Outside entire all It’s over, now Only the Black Tower owner If you process it That’s it.”

“just, now It’s a return What is it all It was wrong Because I want to.”

Karl confronts the system about its use of Earthlings in a revenge game against the empire. The system offers him a choice: death or revival, and to stay or return to Earth. Ultimately, the system decides to transfer its divine powers to Karl and disintegrates. Karl, now possessing god-like powers, sees Earth through a rift and realizes he can finally return home. The story concludes with Karl stepping towards the rift to return to his homeland.

“process?”

Moment terrible pressure sword’s whole body It’s been crushed. The knife is This closely biting barely look up lifted. blacktop stock price In no way flashing with your eyes This way looking down there was. really same human Am I right want to to the extent electrifying It was a presence.. if commonly I wish it was a person this In presence exposed Just by itself I’ll die instantly was.

“bantling This guy cheeky tongue well You’re kidding me. to romaine die After Here who me stop it Suna Is there one??”

in broad daylight imperial center invaded terrorist Because endlessly superior word.

however that say one People If you are a great wizard that more more Omani It wasn’t. The knife is really here Black top liquor Stop it If you can’t The ecliptic It might be destroyed She says she doesn’t know Thought. rather than that This guy how why suddenly So far come this Damn it shaking there is Is it.

coooo!!

Moment giant Heukchang sword’s to the top of the head fell. I can’t bear it Responsiveness properly summer solstice can’t as much as wondrous casting speed.

that instead stopped me The thing is It was romaine. romaine pure white horsepower black tower caution Black spear and clash each other disappeared. The knife is that the sight Looking at small elasticity exploded. lightly exchanged one number of times Workshop The knife power I’ll do my best extended magic and boiling It was powerful. indeed The great wizard He was a great wizard. 6circle and this much Distant formality What a difference..

“again barrier Get out! people Here Most far Evacuate!”

The knife is that romaine say ignore In inventory something I took it out. taken out of What is it? one sack of It was a sword.

“by the way romaine ball.”

just now Even the corpse Leave it behind I can’t dying bald As for people trustworthy number There won’t be to the extent nonchalant with attitude, The knife is To Romain asked.

“Before Granddaughter

[Translation]
“Just thought it was all over for me, as far as returning goes.”

This sword was painstakingly crafted by the ancient dwarf artisan, Tumgbar, at someone’s request.

It’s a divine sword brought into existence using ‘Adamantium’ by a master craftsman who reached the transcendent realm. Its soul’s remnants distort the flow of time and linger faintly within the sword.

It has a one-time use of the 7th Circle’s grand magic, ‘Summon Meteor’.

The moment Karl drew the sword, a look of caution spread across the face of the Black Tower’s master. It was because he sensed the immense magical power within the sword. Such a vast magical power was a threat even to the life of a master of the Black Tower.

“Let’s all just die together then.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Karl activated the magic stored in Rascallia.

[Activating ‘7th Circle Grand Magic: Summon Meteor.’]

At the same time, everyone felt a tremendous magical power descending from beyond the barrier.

The Black Tower’s master quickly unfolded a defensive spell in desperation, but it was probably in vain. Feeling the immense scale of the approaching magical power, Karl thought, so this is my final moment, huh?

….BOOOOOM!!

His vision turned white, and his consciousness cut off.

* * *

It felt like sinking deep into the ocean.

Experiencing this suffocating yet tranquil sensation, Karl opened his eyes. It was dark all around. There was no sense of direction, no up or down, and nothing existed.

“What the…?”

Where am I? Am I not dead? Am I still inside the Black Tower master’s barrier? No, it felt completely different.

Karl looked around the bizarre space and checked his physical condition. Strangely, he couldn’t feel any magical power. Rather, it felt like he had lost all physical sensations, as if he had become a soul without a body…

Then, a voice came from somewhere.

[Your adventure ends here, it seems.]

[Translation]

And then, suddenly, a bright light burst forth, and like a universe where all the stars had vanished, the dark space instantly turned into a brilliant white.

For the first time, Karl was able to see himself. Astonishingly, his body was semi-transparent. Stunned, Karl momentarily lost his ability to speak.

“What the hell is this? I wondered why I couldn’t feel my body… Have I really become a soul?”

[You are dead. And now, you are a soul.]

“……”

The voice reaffirmed the reality of the situation.

After a moment of silence, Karl spoke up.

“Are you the system?”

The voice seemed familiar. It was definitely the same voice he had heard in the ruins where the evil deity was hiding.

And even if it wasn’t, in this situation, it was hard to think of any being other than the system who would be speaking to him. A small chuckle followed, affirming his guess.

[Yes.]

“You goddamn bastard.”

[……]

“First, explain the current situation. I’m dead and turned into a soul? Then where is this place? Is it the afterlife?”

[It’s not the afterlife, but rather my mental space.]

Mental space? Karl furrowed his brow. Soon, a human shape began to form in front of him, revealing the figure of a man.

Black hair and eyes. Overwhelmed with emotion, Karl tried to punch the man, but his fist just passed through. The system, the man, clicked his tongue in response.

[What are you doing?]

“Damn it, what am I doing? That’s what I should be asking you, you son of a bitch. I’ve been slaving away in your game for years because of you.”

[That’s true.]

“Hey, let’s hear the real reason. Why did you suddenly throw a perfectly fine person into a game? Huh?”

It was a question Karl had asked himself hundreds of times since he was dropped into the game.

Now, the one who would answer him was right before his eyes. The man stared at Karl for a moment, then began to speak.

Korean

English

now that answer Do it The opponent In front of you appear. The man a knife Stare I was looking at it mouth opened.

like that talking man’s The expression With words differently To be empty It was incredible.

[I as soon as of the system Creator.]

“that know, You bastard. I told you.”

[also As you In another world unfairly dragged in I am also an earthling did. of another world The residents me He’s the devil I called.]

“……?!”

The knife is Eyes In a circle floated.

“…you Was it the devil?? To the empire Betrayed that?”

[okay.]

“for a moment, however you as undead rebels After getting up at last To the empire Because of defeat dead crab Wasn’t it??”

The knife used to live in the era The empire with the devil in war win and Just fine continental As a loser remained. and With the devil Related To the people of Earth About Information is in history even alittle recorded Yes wasn’t. however now this The situation is how What is it What do you mean??

the man look up Shaking my head stirred.

[actually I am in war defeated crab It wasn’t. rather overwhelmingly win and the empire completely By destroying it dead.]

“…What That’s bullshit? I used to live in the era The empire Just fine It remained?”

[that I of the world Time reverted Because.]

getting more and more more understand number Do not have There were only sounds. Time I said I put it back? The knife is impression frown stick asked.

“yes The goal is the empire Destroy it revenge finished crab Wasn’t it?? at the outside the empire Destroyed time is why that it was returned It’s going to be?”

[To those guys there is too comfy Because it was the last time. At best Just with that my The desire for revenge It sinks Because I didn’t.]

“…what?”

“come out my Colleagues long time jeon imperial To wizards due to this to the world I was summoned. and of the demon world the devils dealing with for Combat weapons Likewise I was raised. we hoped for case which Even wealth and fame It wasn’t. only to earth going back thing Even though there was only one crippled

Korean

English

“So I reversed time. Again and again, I reversed time, wanting to inflict endless pain on them.”

“Causality literally means that every effect must have a cause. And it’s an absolute law that constitutes all the worlds of the universe. But as a god, existing outside of causality, the results that appear in the world due to divine power don’t have a cause.”

The man’s expression, as he spoke, was paradoxically void of emotion.

“As I said, I didn’t lose the war against the empire. Instead, I destroyed it and, in the process, even attained enlightenment, reaching a divinity beyond the 7th circle. All the powers of the system I shared with you originated from such divinity.”

“Wait, hold on. So, divinity and all that.”

Karl interrupted the man.

“So, to summarize your story, you succeeded in your revenge against the empire, but that wasn’t enough, so you went as far as reversing the world’s time to continuously destroy the empire?”

“Exactly, you understand correctly.”

“But why the hell am I involved in your revenge? Huh? Why did I, who have nothing to do with it, fall into this game? Is this even a game world? Or did you turn a real world into a game?”

“Obviously, it’s the latter. And to explain that, one must understand causality.”

“Causality?”

“You must have experienced it in the ruins where the evil god hid. A being that attains divinity cannot exert influence on this world at will.”

“Why not?”

“Because, upon attaining divinity, a being becomes separate from the world, existing outside its causality. Simply put, divinity is a force antithetical to the causality of this world. Hence, if a god tries to exert too much influence, either the god disintegrates, or the world does, or the stronger force survives while the other necessarily disintegrates.”

“……”

“So, as a god, I had no choice but to seek other means. I needed a way to take revenge on the empire without crossing the limits of this world’s causality.”

“So, the method you found was me?”

“To add, before you, many Earthlings like you fell here, becoming game characters.”

“Damn it. So what does this causality have to do with stranding me in another world?”

[Translation]

“Causality, simply put, is the law that for every effect there must be a cause. It’s an absolute law that constructs all worlds in the universe. But, since a god is an entity beyond causality, the results manifested by a god’s power in the world become causeless.

It’s a defiance of the world’s causality. That’s why, as I said before, a god cannot directly exert influence on the world.”

“……”

“The usual ways to minimize such violations of causality are to issue oracles or to temporarily borrow a mortal body as an avatar. However, what I intended to do was too difficult to achieve by such indirect means. So, I pondered and finally

found a way.”

The man pointed his finger at Karl.

“A being from another dimension is subject to weaker causality laws compared to the original inhabitants of this world. In other words, Earthlings are less influenced by the causality of this world than the native residents.”

“…So you mean to say.”

“Yes, exactly that. Being less affected by causality means that Earthlings can be a medium through which my influence can be exerted more significantly.”

“……”

“That’s why I summoned Earthlings here, using them hundreds and thousands of times to bring down the empire. This is the truth you so desperately wanted.”

Karl, momentarily lost for words, stared at the man. The man remained expressionless, his eyes filled with nothingness.

Karl let out a hollow laugh.

“You really are a bastard.”

When something is too absurd, even anger fails to arise.

Karl’s hatred for the system had built up to its limits during his years stranded in this other world, yet a part of him had held a slight hope. Maybe the system had some noble purpose behind its actions. If that were the case, it could perhaps be understandable.

But…

The revealed truth was nothing more than being used for this selfish fool’s revenge.

Korean

English

exposed The truth is at last this selfish asshole revenge for used to It was just.

like that I was curious things every solved The knife is last ask a question did.

Mind It became empty. now what What are they I guess it was good. The knife is half way liberated With my heart curious things To the man Even To ask did.

“me including until now some Myeong-ina yes plural to play damage copy Are you going?? they entire how Okay?”

“thousands That’s it.. to the end survive purpose Irun These are Each want bar achieved.”

“…Why? It’s a game in a way this to the world attracted The reason is What. in reality To your heart’s content roll before beforehand a little Even if it’s just adaptation Do it?”

[that Benefits too Although there is radical The reason is that also causality Violation Minimize It was for the sake of it.. I am power By exercising you this to the world dropped it. that simple than causality, in the middle several the process When mixed causality Violation is minimized. at last The country is as a cause cause you this

to the world fell In fact changing crab There is no, Although meaningless Even if it’s useless in the middle mixed The processes causality Violation to minimize That’s right. eye Cover up Oh my Same thing substantial The effect is outstanding.]

“Stories If you listen to it Time turning That’s right this of the world causality the law most violating mischief Looks like, how of the world Time hundreds thousands once that it was returned Are you going??”

[of the world Time turning case like mad slight causality It’s a violation. anyway returned the future remember self If not world of residents From the standpoint changed The thing is nothing Because there is no. of the world This time It went backwards ‘result’cast aware self Because there is no, In causality by reaction insignificant will be.]

“…At the end why Like that fucked same place an order one Are you going?? Elon kill it dimension piece Take it back.”

[simple It was curiosity. you until now, At least yes she herself affection

[Translation]

Karl, having resolved all his burning questions, asked his final question.

“So, what’s the real reason you dragged my dead self into your mental space?”

[……]

“Only those who survive to the end and achieve their goals get what they want. I died along the way, so am I out? Or, are you telling me the truth on my way to the final death?”

The man shook his head.

[That’s up to you. Whether to die as you are now, or to be revived again. Whether to stay in this world, or to return to Earth. From now on, do as you wish.]

“What are you talking about? Are you saying you’ll grant me a wish?”

[No, I plan to transfer all my divinity to you. I will cease to exist.]

“…What?”

[I’ve turned back time and played with the empire in various ways, bringing it down. But now, even that tires me. I’ve had my fill of revenge, and all that’s left for me is emptiness.]

Saying this, the man closed his eyes. There was no hint of regret on his face. Soon, his body scattered and vanished in an instant.

“……!!”

At the same time, Karl felt an unprecedented mighty power coursing through his entire body.

The power of a god, to turn imagination into reality, divinity.

Feeling a transcendent sensation incomparable to mere magic, Karl realized. The man had truly transferred all his divinity to him and ceased to exist. And now, he himself had become a god.

Karl chuckled and waved his hand through the air.

Beyond the split space, he saw tall skyscrapers. Cars. People walking through the streets.

The landscape of Earth he had longed for.

“…I can really go back now.”

All the countless adventures he had experienced flashed through his mind.

Karl stepped towards the split rift.

It was time to return to his homeland.

The End

How to Survive as a Mage Inside a Game - Chapter 132

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