novelraw Chapter 349
Chapter 349
Ansu really did love stirring the pot.
That said... he wasn’t wrong.
Luluwi was dangerous.
If she had been a complete stranger, Kanzaki Rei would’ve killed her on the spot—ripped out her soul and erased her existence forever without a second thought.
But unfortunately...
He still had a conscience.
Kanzaki Rei looked at Luluwi, hesitation flickering in his eyes.
In reality, Luluwi didn’t look anything like the grotesque, twisted figure in her Sea of Consciousness.
She appeared exactly as she always had—a normal, beautiful young woman.
"Luluwi... that book called Black Secrets—do you still have it?"
"Mm... I do."
With a slight lift of her hand, a pitch-black book materialized in front of Kanzaki Rei.
He opened it and began flipping through the pages.
With [God-Tier · Perfect Method], he was immune to knowledge-based corruption.
At first glance, it looked like nothing more than a storybook.
But hidden within it... was something else.
A secret.
What it concealed was the Gate of Thought—something that even required the Observer class to unlock.
[Creator: Qi — Hidden Knowledge: A fundamental aspect of the world. All things constantly seek to open something, as though they were inherently sealed.]
Kanzaki Rei’s gaze seemed to pierce through countless doors in an instant.
Clang—clang—clang—clang—
In a single moment, he passed through an immeasurable number of gates, until he saw it—
A distorted mass of light, tendrils extending outward in every direction, each one connected to a door.
So this... was Qi.
[Creator: Filth Source Nest — Hidden Knowledge: Another fundamental aspect of the world, capable of allowing mortals to touch divinity.]
There was a second Creator.
Kanzaki Rei saw the Filth Source Nest again—but this time, it looked different.
What he saw was a humanoid figure whose head had been completely replaced by a tumor-like mass.
[Hidden Origin] revealed the final form witnessed by the object that had come into contact with its Creator.
The Filth Source Nest... could take human form?
Or perhaps... that humanoid had once been a class-holder corrupted by it?
[Creator: Keeper of Secrets — Ilya Yumi — Hidden Knowledge: Unlike ordinary decipherers, it prefers to conceal secrets. Anything hidden by it will be buried forever.]
Three Creators?
Kanzaki Rei saw a shadow—completely black.
Even with Hidden Origin, it remained nothing but a pure silhouette.
Like the faceless black figures used to represent unknown suspects.
He continued turning the pages.
It really was a storybook—not a manual for strengthening oneself.
Yet what it described...
Was a mundane class-holder pursuing immortality.
The Deep Ground was mentioned repeatedly.
So was purity.
So was divinity.
Some sections had even been deliberately scratched out.
Only through [Information Traceback] could they be read.
And upon closer inspection—
Those erased lines had been struck out by the Keeper of Secrets itself.
"The Deep Ground is a place that does not exist.""It exists only because people refuse to believe in it.""If you firmly believe in its existence, it will manifest within your mind.""This place leads to happiness.""This place leaves no regrets behind.""Do you seek unyielding strength?""Then pray to It.""Though the world calls it corruption, it is in truth the gift of a noble, pure heart."
A storybook.
But what it truly recorded...
Was a real method of prayer.
A ritual to the Filth Source Nest.
A plea to be granted purity.
"Luluwi... did you perform this ritual?"
Kanzaki Rei pointed to the passage and asked.
Luluwi shook her head.
"No."
She was telling the truth.
Regardless of intent, Kanzaki Rei—thanks to his Memory Palace—had already committed the ritual to memory.
He had read the entire book.
If he had to trace the source—
This book was most likely it.
The origin of Luluwi’s corruption.
And the thing hidden within her mind...
According to the story, it was called the Gate of Thought—a type of "Gate."
Once opened, it allowed one to ignore certain aspects of reality.
To distort rules through belief itself.
A power comparable to grasping a Root Principle—
Or even a God-Tier Talent.
A force capable of warping the laws of the world.
Normally, gaining such power required either extraordinary comprehension...
Or absurd luck—like awakening a God-Tier Talent.
Yet Luluwi had obtained it simply by reading a book.
However...
The price was devastating.
If she had only gained the Gate of Thought, there would have been no downside.
But instead—
She had used it to open the Deep Ground.
"You’re still hesitating?"
"Did you see that venomous look in her eyes?"
"She already knows she’s beyond saving."
"She knows you might kill her... or seal her away."
"Do you think someone whose spirit is corrupted would just sit back and accept that?"
"She’s a viper coiled at your side, waiting for the moment to strike."
"Kanzaki Rei... you’re a smart man."
"You know what needs to be done."
Ansu’s voice sank low and cold.
Kanzaki Rei exhaled faintly.
"Ansu... I have to say, you’re really annoying."
"I’m not as cold-blooded as you think."
"However..."
Thud—
Even as he spoke—
His hand pierced straight through Luluwi’s chest.
Blood sprayed outward.
Her pupils trembled, filled with disbelief.
"W-why...?"
Her voice trembled, full of confusion.
Why?
From everything she knew about Kanzaki Rei—
He shouldn’t have done this.
He wasn’t that kind of person.
Even if he knew she was corrupted... he should have tried to save her.
If I had known...
If I had known, I should have struck first—
No.
Even if she had attacked him, she wouldn’t have won.
Damn it... is this how I die?
—Shhk!
A dagger suddenly pressed against Kanzaki Rei’s waist.
He didn’t even turn his head.
Didn’t even look.
"She was already corrupted. There was no saving her."
His voice was calm.
Kiyomi Leng grit her teeth.
"So you just killed her?"
"Kanzaki Rei... I never thought you were this kind of person!"
"If Kumironi were the one corrupted, would you kill her too?!"
"Kiyomi Leng... you know the gap between us."
His tone remained flat.
"And what if I do?!"
"This—this was wrong!"
Clang!
Her dagger struck like a streak of silver—
—and shattered instantly upon impact.
Bang bang bang bang bang—!
Her attacks exploded around him like flashes of silver light.
Kanzaki Rei didn’t move an inch.
He simply watched Luluwi as her life faded.
Inside his Sea of Consciousness, Ansu let out a quiet sigh.
Whoosh—!
Suddenly—
Luluwi’s corpse jerked upward.
From her seven orifices, thick black smoke and viscous fluid erupted violently!
It blasted through the ceiling—
and shot straight into the sky!
Shhh—!
Kanzaki Rei’s perception expanded outward instantly—
—and what he saw—
The Moon Sea had transformed into a vast expanse of black, stagnant water.
Just like the Sea of Consciousness he had witnessed within Luluwi.
And in that same moment—
He felt it.
His own Sea of Consciousness...
...was beginning to darken.
Whatever had been lurking inside Luluwi’s mind—
Had just been released.