Chapter 297 Emptiness is Form (3)

‘..Devil? Trapped?’

Yoon-seok was only dazed for a moment when faced by the Heavenly Buddha before he realized they must be in the same situation.

“Why are you looking at me like that, Devil?”

“..It’s because I was happy to see you.”

“Huahaha! You said we shouldn’t see each other again when we parted in Moorim.”

It was definitely like that then. To be honest, he never dreamed that the day would come when he would be happy to see this crazy Lowly Monk’s face.

“I understand. So, how long have you been trapped?”

The Heavenly Buddha’s voice sounded sweet. Yoon-seok responded carefully.

“It’s been about ten days. What about you, sir?”

“Hahaha! Sir? Has your way of speaking become polite?”

Hey, in a situation where you need help, you can’t say that he’s crazy, right? Come on, can’t he just pretend he doesn’t know?

“So, won’t you answer my question?”

“It’s also around that time for me!”

Anyway, Heavenly Buddha quietly answered, seeming to like the ‘sir’ thing. Wasn’t it common for enemies to hold hands in the face of a greater threat? It was time to let go of his personal feelings.

“Seeing you’re still here, it seems like you haven’t found a way out.. is that correct?”

“You aren’t wrong!”

Couldn’t he just answer yes or no? Yoon-seok wanted to argue, but today was the time to endure a little to maintain a friendly relationship.

“Then why did you break the wall?”

“It was to leave this place!”

“But earlier, you said you couldn’t find a way?”

“Neither is wrong!”

It wasn’t like they were doing something like twenty questions again. Was it even possible to have a conversation? As expected, Cheon-ma was better as a conversation partner. At least she didn’t talk round and round. Well, being too straightforward could also sometimes be a problem.

“Can you stop pretending to be a popular monk and answer my questions? You’re not even good at it anyway.”

“What do you mean, a popular monk? I have no such vanity!”

Once the dam was broken, it was hard for Yoon-seok to go back normal.

“Then let’s just say it out loud, shall we?”

The Heavenly Buddha began to look unhappy. But at least he didn’t get angry and leave.

“K-Koff! I was looking for a way out.”

To put it simply, he thought there might be a way out if he broke down the walls, and in the meantime, he happened to find Yoon-seok.

“Isn’t this also the virtue of Buddha to meet like this? Well, did you find something?”

Was this his purpose? Somehow, it seemed like he was kinder than usual too. Just as Yoon-seok felt like he found salvation when he saw the Heavenly Buddha, the same was true for him.

‘..Still, it would be better to move together.’

“Not yet. I’m still at the test phase.”

“A test, huh..? But, it looks like you have a plan?”

There was no such thing as a plan. Yoon-seok was just thinking of taking the initiative.

“We need as much information as possible. Can you help me?”

“Of course.”

Yoon-seok relaxed a bit.

“Why do you want to kill that kid?”

“..Is that the question you needed to ask to get out of here?”

The Heavenly Buddha looked reluctant to answer. However, Yoon-seok nodded firmly.

“Yes. Didn’t you end up trapped here because of his tricks?”

“..”

“It could be a very important key to get out of here, so please answer me truthfully.”

“Hmm.”

The Heavenly Buddha held his chin and thought for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“Because that little guy is the Tower’s pawn.”

“..Pawn?”

“Yeah, you’ve been through there too, so do you know how bizarre this place is?”

He didn’t know what the monk was trying to say, but for now, Yoon-seok nodded. It was a weird place. Snowfield, desert, sea, and so on. Different environments were laid out like tiles, but he didn’t know why.

“Do you know who made this place and why?”

“To some extent.”

Shaking his head, the Heavenly Buddha continued.

“It is said that everything that exists in the Tower begins here. And that kid is the Tower’s pawn that manages this place.”

“What do you mean it starts here?”

“..I’m not sure, but some kind of laboratory? That’s what I heard.”

A laboratory.. if it was a game, was it a test server for the game managers?

“Anyway, it seems that if this place disappeared, it would be quite difficult even for the Tower.”

The Heavenly Buddha didn’t find it out himself but heard this story from someone else, from someone hostile to the Tower like Yoon-seok.

“Who told you about that? Is he the one who suggested the same offer as me?”

“That’s right.”

Surprisingly, the Heavenly Buddha gently affirmed when asked. However, that was all. Even if Yoon-seok tried to ask more details about who they were, he drew a line and wouldn’t answer further.

So, Yoon-seok neatly gave up digging into their identity here. Right now, getting out was more important.

“Do you get it now?”

“No. I don’t understand anything.”

“..Then why did you ask?”

“I’m curious.”

He put on a puzzled look at Yoon-seok’s honest answer, but then the Heavenly Buddha smirked and laughed.

“Can I ask one more question?” historical

“..Go ahead.”

“During the fight, you suddenly said something about a fake, and then you teleported. How did you do that?”

For a warrior, this kind of question was like asking for a great secret..

The Heavenly Buddha laughed eagerly, and he shouted.

“Why am I stingy in teaching to those who want to study even though they are the incarnation of the Devil? It must be proof that I lack discipline!”

The introduction was long, but he thought the monk would tell him. Yoon-seok patiently waited with open ears.

“The proof that things and phenomena are futile, that is, that all the restrictions surrounding me are also futile. Naturally, knowledge and deeds are one, so there was no problem in doing it the moment I learned the truth.”

Fitting the Lowly Monk, there was a lot of rhetoric. However, there was no big problem since Yoon-seok now practiced conversing with the Heavenly Buddha.

“As expected, my prediction was right.”

Knowledge and deeds. Since the Heavenly Buddha truly believed it, he could ignore physical constraints. However..

“Then why are you still here?”

If that were possible because he believed it was fake, it would make sense if he could escape from here as well.

“..I don’t know about that either.”

It worked in that world, but not in this world. Why? The more Yoon-seok thought about it, the more confused he felt, but one thing was clear.

‘Anyway, there’s no way to escape..’

The Heavenly Buddha couldn’t help him escape. In the end, he had no choice but to get through it alone.

“What’s with that insolent look? Could it be that you will try to find out again, Devil?”

Yoon-seok changed his perspective. It didn’t matter if it was fake or real; the Heavenly Buddha proved faith alone couldn’t escape this place. In other words, the only thing left to do now was to follow the standard method. What were the goals that needed to be met to escape?

‘It would be best to meet that kid in person.’

This place was like another perfectly embodied world. So, Henigus must also exist here, and if so, he might be able to give some clues. However..

‘The problem is that there is no way to get to Taklan right now..’

Earth, Seheranbad, Moorim, and Kilian. To go to a dimension other than these four, the Tower ranking system must be activated. Only then could the Dimensional Store be integrated, and Taklan could be registered as a visitable dimension.

‘Then I have no choice but to wait until then..’

Oh, there was that thing. Yoon-seok suddenly came up with a way and opened the drawer at the bottom of the statue. Maybe he didn’t have to wait.

* * *

A string of Contract (Rank EX). This item allowed one to meet an administrator without reaching a specific floor. The way to acquire it was to finish the duel on the 12th Floor brawl in fifteen minutes, and he was able to obtain it this time while climbing the Tower.

“Would you mind waiting a moment?”

Yoon-seok, who asked the Heavenly Buddha for his understanding, used the item.

[The bond with the Lady of Liberation becomes stronger.]

[The Lady of Liberation is calling you.]

[Will you accept?]

Yoon-seok was moved to the hut. The hut’s interior was the same as before, but there were some differences from the one he knew. For example, the bookshelf in the corner was later removed, and a small pink refrigerator would be put in its place.

“Hey..”

Unlike usual, Elle talked to him as if she were on guard.

“W-what were you talking about with that bald man? You’re being trapped..?”

Oh, was it because of that? Of course, even Elle would have been reluctant. He knew her name initially, but he skipped all the administrator’s areas that he went through every five floors.

“Are you an old man..? Do you remember? So that’s why you quickly..”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m here to buy power. Can you show me?”

Yoon-seok immediately went straight to the point without answering Elle’s questions. This time, he had no choice but to visit her first, but it wasn’t good to have a long conversation. She would disappear anyway.

“..”

Did she want to have a cup of tea and chat? The table was beautifully set with refreshments, but Elle couldn’t talk back when faced with Yoon-seok’s cold attitude, and she obediently opened the power window. Yoon-seok felt guilty, but..

“No, this is right.”

Yoon-seok settled his heart down and quickly looked at the list of powers.

*Unregistered – The dimension you belong to disappears. Tickets related to dimensional movement can be created.

Price: 750,000 WP

After the Auction of Desire, he had enough WP left because he only purchased Lady’s Commandment and Skill Synthesis. However, the only question was whether this power could make what he was thinking about possible.

“Can you explain this power? It’s enough if I can go to Taklan right now with this.”

“I-it’s possible. But why..”

“I will buy it.”

Yoon-seok, who cut down Elle’s question with a flat refusal, purchased the power just like that. Then he asked her to send him to the waiting room immediately.

“We haven’t been able to have a proper talk yet. Maybe you can stay for..”

“No. I have urgent business.”

“Okay..”

“..I will stop by next time.”

“Yes!”

Yoon-seok, who made a promise he couldn’t keep putting his mind at ease, returned to the waiting room.

“You’re back already?”

“Yes.”

Yoon-seok nodded and manifested his power. Then, his mana gathered together and turned into a Return Ticket.

“What is it?”

“Ticket to Taklan.”

“Oho! I’m sure if we ask the kid, we might get some clues!”

“Yes. You are smart.”

Yoon-seok ripped the Ticket as he answered.

“Hahaha! Isn’t this what you call experi..?”

Embarrassed by the compliment, the Heavenly Buddha laughed. However, did he finally understand?

“W-wait, D-Devil! Then what about me?”

The Heavenly Buddha reached out to Yoon-seok with a bewildered look.

But it was already too late.

[You will return to Taklan.]

The moment Yoon-seok clicked on the translucent window-

“I’ll teach you a lesson..!”

The Heavenly Buddha’s angry voice was cut off, and his eyes flashed.

Yoon-seok laughed, though it didn’t make any sound because he started in space again this time.

‘This is killing two birds with one stone.’

Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form. Wasn’t that monk the one who believed that everything was fake anyway? It wouldn’t be bad if he could rest there for the rest of his life.

‘Huh?’

Yoon-seok, pleased thinking about the Heavenly Buddha being stuck in the waiting room, paused.

“..”

Real and fake. He felt like he knew the answer to the topic he had been wondering about for a long time.