Magic Academy Bans Harem

Chapter 360 The Chains of Fate

"First, we need to make a judgment. Compared to the various 'causes and consequences' they bear, which factor has a greater influence on their behavior? For example, a middle-aged man who has started a family, has three children, is burdened with debt, and has an elderly family member suffering from an illness. On non-holiday days, almost all his actions will be to go to work."

After obtaining enough information from Sofia to fill the "gap," Ritas was initially excited, but quickly calmed down.

"I think he might also find a tree and hang himself."

Sofia laughed and joked.
"I think that even with all the simplification, Professor Ominas's experiments, those strange labyrinths she created, can still be calculated as a kind of 'world.' The reason is that she is a 'thoroughbred.' Of course, I also know that this reason cannot be taken as an explanation. After all, no matter how you look at it, it seems that I have lost my ability to make fair judgments because of my connection with her and the title of sage."

At this point, Sofia paused for a moment to think.

"So let's skip this part. Let's not discuss whether the 'fickle Prado' experiment can be considered a prelude to the world's transformation. Let's just assume that 'yes' or 'no' is the worst-case scenario. And then, if we face the worst-case scenario, how should we deal with it?"

"Assuming the worst-case scenario."

Ritas repeated these words, nodding in agreement to Sofia.
"So, I think the worst-case scenario would be if that experiment revealed something about the nature of the world."

Because, by extending Ominas's experiment, we can conclude that if reincarnation exists, then the world will cycle through countless cycles, resulting in countless drastically different "historical events," each unfolding with significant differences. Even if no external force intervenes in these recurring scenes.

However, the existence of the Bathing Goddess and the information she provided, to some extent, proves that without external interference, the years following this year at Erles Academy would remain essentially unchanged, no matter how many times it was visited.

Although, compared to the plot of the "Star Pattern" game, Ritas's survival has already disrupted many things beyond recognition, this event itself demonstrates that if the words of the Bathing Goddess hadn't influenced Ritas, Ritas would have died on that day according to a fixed path, and the subsequent events surrounding Erles Academy would not have changed.

Moreover, even though Ritas altered many of the original trajectories, many things in the world still align with the information provided by the Goddess of Bath. In other words, it's not just his side of "history" that repeats itself unchanged; the entire world seems to be progressing steadily on a pre-set track without any alterations.

Although the essence of the world discovered by the "Penetrating One" Ominas differed greatly from that of Ritas, their conclusions were even completely opposite.

However, Ritas did not question these doubts.

The fact that this situation has arisen is the best proof of it.

This fairytale world also exhibits a phenomenon similar to reincarnation. Furthermore, after each reincarnation, without external interference, everything that happens within the region remains essentially unchanged.

The reason for this situation is not so much that this world was created by primordial forces, but rather that this world itself possesses rules and constraints, and can only operate according to pre-set parameters.

So, the world that Ritas lives in also unfolds according to a fixed "script".

Perhaps it's because their world is also bound by rules and chains. And even if they aren't created, fictitious beings, they are at least subtly controlled by something without their knowledge.

"destiny."

Ritas murmured the word that suddenly came to mind.

He felt that at this moment, he understood the elusive concept of "fate" more clearly than ever before.

The "fate" that binds him, everyone, and even the entire world, compels them to repeat the same unchanging "history" time and time again in a world that should be unpredictable and full of infinite possibilities.

“Fate? Professor Ominas mentioned that word before.”

"She mentioned it too?"

Ritas was somewhat surprised, but quickly came to understand.

Even without "hints" from gods from another world, and without the experience of being drawn into primordial forces, the "Perceiver" might still have their own way of acquiring the information they currently possess and then connecting these things together.

Ritas gently squeezed the hand that he usually held the white disc.

From today's perspective, the significance of that white disc may be to point directly to the essence of the world. Even setting aside the disc itself, which houses the goddess of bathing, the long white disc held by the Black Sister, as an accessory, actually provides many hints.

By acting according to the contents of the cards drawn from the long white plate, one can make the person recorded on the card a companion or follower. This should be the power involved in the realm of "fate".

"However, although this is just my personal feeling, ever since Teacher Ominas started talking about 'fate,' she has seemed somewhat 'desperate.'"

"."

Listening to Sophia's words, Ritas, who had fallen into silence, seemed to instantly understand the thoughts in the "Thorough One's" mind.

Ominas touched upon the essence of the world and became aware of the existence of "fate." However, it was all in vain.

She discovered that these things were already part of "history." No matter how many times the world reincarnates, she will always discover all of this according to fate's arrangement. And then, nothing can be changed.

Ritas paused for a moment.

Could it be that during his student days, Ominas, who seemed to be the most rational and sane among the four sages, would have taken such a huge risk, approached him for unknown reasons, done something to him, or taken something from him, and then altered his memories to erase everything?
Is it because she, after realizing everything, rebelled against "fate" in her own way?
Since the academy exchange meeting, some long-standing questions in Ritas's mind have been answered. During his student days, Ritas had encountered two strange events.

One incident involved an unknown entity using his dreams as a conduit to attempt to "attack" him. This incident wasn't truly resolved; it ended with Livis forming a soul contract with him to protect him.

Another thing is that, near the end of his graduation, Ritas suddenly discovered that there was a subtle discrepancy between his memories and the time he actually experienced.

It was during this period that Ritas developed a strong distrust of clocks.

Having learned of the power possessed by the "Primordial," Ritas could now vaguely guess what had happened regarding the latter matter.

Therefore, he concluded that both events were committed by the same person. Furthermore, the last force that followed him after he left Earls Academy was also appointed by this person.

This person, without a doubt, is Ominas.

At that time, the only person who had the opportunity to come into contact with him and could potentially lay a hand on her disciple right under the Tree Witch's nose was Ominas.

Previously, Ritas hadn't considered the purpose behind Ominas's seemingly erratic behavior. But now, he understood the reason behind Ominas's actions, which, while not madness, were even more so.

But why was he chosen as the target? Could it be related to Sofia?
Ritas gazed at his senior sister, who had passed away before he even began studying magic. One of his questions was resolved, but another arose.

"So, why did Professor Ominas's experiment confirm that the nature of the world is indeed 'changeable'? And why is our current situation getting worse?"

Sofia's question pulled Ritas back from his somewhat erratic thoughts.

Unlike Ritas, who was curious about many things, Sofia always seemed willing to unilaterally provide Ritas with all the knowledge she possessed.

Even when asking a question, it's more like a reminder.

"Well, it might be a bit complicated to explain. First, there's the 'Primordial,' and the power of the Primordial beings. These are things that are not allowed to appear in the world. And if the power of the Primordial appears, or if the existence of the Primordial itself is detected, I don't know exactly what will happen, but I imagine it will probably be directly annihilated."

Sofia nodded upon hearing this.

Having previously followed Livis and had some contact with the Primal, she knew roughly what these things were about.

"The problem is, why are the Primordial Ones not allowed to exist? Of course, their power is exceptionally strong. The fact that they could create such a world without any warning is enough to show that. But that alone doesn't seem to be enough to justify their existence, and they are all considered secrets of the world."

Ritas paused briefly.
"So at first I thought that perhaps their existence would lead to the exposure of some secrets, which is why they were blocked at the world level. For example, the fact that our world is constantly going through cycles of reincarnation."

At this point, Ritas's expression became somewhat solemn.

"It is called reincarnation, but it is different from the ordinary meaning of reincarnation."

Ritas frowned slightly. Although he was the one who spoke, he didn't know what "ordinary reincarnation" should look like.

"In some ways, it's similar to your recording magic, Sophia. First, you 'record' the entire world, and then when the world reaches a certain point in time, you suddenly erase the entire world, turning it into a blank. Then, you retrieve that record and let the world start over from that point in time. If we could observe this world in a very objective way. Suppose that when the observer began observing, before the cycle of reincarnation began, both sides were 1000 years. But now, the time recorded by the observer may have reached 1600 years, or even 2600 years. But the people inside our world may only have a perception of 1050 years."

"Therefore, when the world is erased and reset, the world itself will retain some 'memories'. The original ability will dig out those remaining 'memories'. This causes the world, which should be composed of the memories and cognition of the generator, to be mixed with some content that the generator has not been exposed to."

After listening to Ritas's words, Sophia also gave a brief summary herself.
"In other words, the fact that those memories that shouldn't exist have actually appeared also proves that the world is indeed constantly cycling in a special way?"

Ritas nodded.

"So before, you thought that the 'Origin' had the potential to expose these things that touched the essence of the world, which is why it was destroyed? And now, how has your thinking changed? No matter what the blockade of the Origin is concealing, this fairy tale world will eventually be exposed when the 'goal' is achieved, and will be destroyed."

"The outcome of the destruction will indeed remain unchanged. Only the intensity may differ."

Ritas composed himself slightly and continued,
“If the ‘original’ was destroyed because it might involve the essence of the world, then it is just a rule, or even a passive mechanism, and it doesn’t involve much will. And as long as it’s a mechanism, there will be loopholes, and you might be able to find some way to cover it up or get through it.”

"However, if what the primordial extinction truly sought to conceal was not merely the fact that 'the world is in a cycle,' but rather that a will was manipulating the world through 'fate,' actively causing it to be constantly destroyed and rebuilt."

"That will will absolutely not allow the 'Primordial' to exist in any way. The destruction that will descend will certainly not be something that can be accomplished with mere tricks."

"Furthermore, if the destruction of the primordial is merely an act of cleansing, then only the primordial itself may be destroyed, without affecting the innocent. But if it is an act with a clear objective, aimed at concealing the truth and secrets of the world, then besides the primordial, we who are 'informed' within the scope—those of us who may know a lot and will spread it—will also be within the scope of elimination."

"Anyway, no matter what is destroyed, it can reappear in the next cycle in a 'spotless' way. Therefore, it is not impossible that the destruction that comes at that time will also wipe out everything that was originally infected, including the fortress city outside and even the western border."

Seemingly realizing that his words might have been somewhat alarmist, Ritas added at the end,

"This is the worst-case scenario, the worst outcome we will face. And it is also the outcome that is very likely to become a reality in the near future."

(End of this chapter)