My dear witch, please turn evil according to the script!

Chapter 468 The Non-Existent Trial
Roland had not expected that the test the god of death had spoken of would be like this.

But in Roland's eyes at this moment, this was more like a question-and-answer session for the transmigrator now known as Roland Lancelot than a test.

The moment that ancient poem began to play, Roland recalled that memory shrouded in mist.

That wasn't a particularly important memory.

It's not even a memory that needs to be remembered.

That was just some knowledge about Earth mythology that I had looked up out of curiosity—such as the origin of the runes and the patterns of the 24 runes.

He doesn't remember those details.

But he had indeed read the relevant records.

That's often how memory works. You may not be able to recall the knowledge yourself, but that information is actually always stored in your brain.

Roland looked up at the other version of himself in front of him.

This unknown entity is currently using its appearance to imitate the god-king of ancient mythology in the world called Earth.

Seeing that Roland didn't seem to respond or even ask any questions, he sighed as if disappointed.

Don't you want to ask any more questions?

Roland replied calmly, "Assuming you really know that everything is the result of my memories."

"You should understand that I can get the general answer from what you just said."

Roland helplessly spread his hands and laughed. "Oh, that's true."

But really, you don't have any questions you want to ask?

“If I ask, will you answer me?” Roland countered.

"Of course." Roland maintained his smile. "Don't misunderstand, there's never any real test here."

The key is to reclaim what is rightfully yours.

Since you haven't asked, I'll just have to tell you myself.

For this world, the underworld was not a place that existed from the beginning.

Strictly speaking, the creation of the underworld also stems from your 'idea'. You believe that life should exist in a cyclical manner.

This stems from your subconscious beliefs and the influence of your long-term living environment.

The realm of the dead, the cycle of life, the balance of the soul... all these originate from your thoughts and memories.

And so—the underworld appeared.

But back then, it was still just a space detached from the real world.

It exists merely by virtue of its existence, yet it has no relation to the world itself.

Just like you are in this world.

Let me give you an example.

Everything that happens in this world is like a story in a storybook to you.

You are not the one who writes the story, but you are the one who reads it.

Until one day, you connect with the characters in the story.

But everything comes at a price.

Just as the weak cannot enter the world of the strong, the strong who try to force their way into the world of the weak are also not permitted by the rules.

And so, you were born.

[You've interpreted your own experience as a more acceptable form of time travel. You see what you witnessed—what should have been the story's development and ending—and the return of your power, as information and power granted by what you call an appendage of the system.]

There aren't any complicated factors involved. It's just that you prefer to think that way. Even if I told you the truth now, you wouldn't believe it entirely.

People are more likely to believe what they want to believe.

Of course, the same applies even to beings that are not human.

In short, that's the general situation.

You are far more than just a simple time traveler.

The person turning the pages enters the story, but cannot completely become a character within it.

To resolve the true dangers of this world, you must reclaim what is rightfully yours.

After listening, Roland looked at his other self and asked, "So, how do I get it back? And what... are you?"

Roland smiled without saying a word. He simply shook his head with a helpless smile: "Oh dear, what trouble is there in retrieving one's own things?"

"You just need to... find what's missing."

"And, accept your true self."

"That's all."

"As for who I am, that's an even less important question."

"Well... that's all said. Now it's up to you."

"Friendly reminder...you have already recovered two of the powers."

As soon as he finished speaking, "Roland" disappeared.

The scene before Roland had also undergone a tremendous change.

The lake and the giant tree vanished in an instant, plunging Roland into darkness once more. Yet, a light appeared from nowhere, allowing Roland to see a glimmer of light in the darkness.

Roland knew that the "self" from before had already tried his best not to be a riddle-maker.

Although he still sounds like a riddle-maker, Roland, combining the information he had previously gathered, learned the truth about himself.

To put it simply... he might be a person, but it's highly unlikely.

In short, the human content is definitely not high.

Although strictly speaking, I am definitely a human being, the way I am in this world now may not be considered a human being in the strictest sense.

Moreover... having retrieved two powers, could it be...?

With a thought, Roland produced two primordial runes in his hand.

A burning golden tree, and golden apples.

He had already witnessed the power of the golden apple.

If this was also the power that originally belonged to him...

But then Roland remembered the words Death had said to him when they first met.

Of course, considering you've already started collecting those keys, perhaps you'll know what to do when you open that stone slab.

I look forward to the day we officially meet.

At that time, I will return the key I kept here, along with the truly important items, to you.

Keys, stone slabs... Roland recalled his attempts when he was stranded in Enwa.

With that thought in mind, he placed the mysterious stone slab that had been piled up in the corner of his storage ring.

According to the Demon King, this was the original stone tablet containing the nineteen primordial runes, which was discovered by the demons at the same time as the Golden Horn.

But Roland knew that although there seemed to be only nineteen holes, there were actually twenty-four positions.

It felt strange at first, but now...

If what the other self said is true, then it means that the existence of the other self influenced the changes in five of the original runes.

Roland took out the stone slab and placed two rune stones inside.

The first time I placed the Golden Tree Runestone, I triggered the enormous Golden Tree phenomenon.

what about now?

What happens when you put two special runes in at the same time?
Roland quickly got the answer. A tender sprout broke through the darkness, and then a small fruit tree appeared.

A golden apple soon drooped from the branch.

Roland reached out and caught the golden apple, which then merged into his body.

Having witnessed everything before him, Roland finally understood what the so-called "Power of the World Tree" he had unleashed really was.

……

……

Underworld.

Death and Elena, who were waiting outside the nameless ancient temple, still stood on the sea of ​​flowers outside the temple, waiting for Roland to come out.

Compared to Death, Elena felt somewhat uneasy.

She turned to look at Death: "My lord... how long has Lord Roland been inside?"

The God of Death pondered for a moment, then said calmly, "It's almost a thousand days."

"Aren't you worried?" Elena asked, looking at Death.

"Why worry?" Death chuckled faintly. "Ah~~~ You think that person really went to undergo some so-called test to become the master of the underworld, right?"

"That kind of thing doesn't exist."

"Elena, for countless years, have you never thought about what the underworld was like before the appearance of Death?"

"Or have you ever thought about what would happen if the underworld didn't exist?"

Death used her divine power to conjure a tea table, then set out some snacks and a cup of hot tea, inviting Elena to sit down in front of her.

After Elena obediently took her seat, and the Goddess of Death poured herself a cup of warm black tea, she began to slowly recount her story.

“A long, long time ago, at least in the distant past when I was still defined as a mortal, the underworld did not exist, nor did reincarnation.”

"What you are familiar with came about along with the Star Ring Law ritual required to become a god."

"Or rather...it appeared along with that person."

"He is the true master of the underworld, so why would he need to go through some so-called test to become the master of the underworld?"

"All he has to do is come back. That's all. Only then can I gain access to unlock the lock and return what I'm holding to him."

Elena vaguely understood Death's warning.

She's not one to dig deep; she only extracts the truly crucial information.

"Lord Roland is the true master of the Underworld? Really?!"

Death looked at Elena with a somewhat speechless expression: "You seem quite happy?"

"Can you tell me why?"

Faced with her boss's clearly ill-intentioned question, Elena decisively suppressed her rare moment of excitement and shook her head: "No, I'm just surprised."

"Just surprised?" Death asked rhetorically.

"Ah."

After receiving Elena's answer, Death sighed in frustration, "Sigh... So many years have passed, and even you have started to lie."

Irena: "..."

Just as the two were talking, some kind of noise seemed to come from inside the temple.

Then came a faint tremor that spread throughout the entire underworld. Immediately afterward, under the watchful eyes of Death and Elena, a verdant tree several meters tall broke through the top floor of the temple, displaying its branches in this underworld.

In this land of the dead, the existence of life is naturally rejected.

At least that's how it should be.

If those white flowers had been planted one by one by the god of death, this beautiful, boundless sea of ​​white flowers would not exist in the underworld.

But at this moment, the rules are yielding and changing for this fruit tree, which is not particularly large.

Afterwards, Roland, who was clearly much more exhausted, walked out of the temple.

He glanced at the two people having a tea party and quietly asked, "How much time has passed? What's the situation outside?"

Death put down his teacup and smiled: "No need to rush."

"Your partners and subordinates, as well as the forces on the continent, are not incompetent."

"Please also give me more trust."

"In addition, in terms of external time, only a little over a day, less than two days, has passed."

"But if it's time in the underworld..."

Roland raised his hand to interrupt Death: "Thank you. This part is unnecessary. Anyway, I don't feel like much time has passed."

"But clearly, the feeling doesn't match the reality..."

Roland did not dwell on these anomalies in timing.

After all, that's not important.

Having left that area, he didn't notice any major changes. Apart from being able to control that enormous life force and the so-called life authority that appeared on the system panel, he didn't feel much else.

"So, have I passed this 'test'?" Roland asked. "If I have, can you take me to the so-called safekeeping of the truly important things?"

Death smiled upon hearing this: "Ah, you actually remember what I said?"

"It's truly an honor... Besides, there's really no test involved. You should understand what I mean, right?"

“Once you understand, I can take you to that place.”

Roland nodded: "Take me there."

Death smiled as he stood up, looked at Elena, and said, "Let's go together, Elena."

Elena nodded, and then the three of them walked along the path that branched out from the flower field, heading deeper into the underworld.

This time, the journey didn't take very long.

The three of them soon spotted a small, square stone.

"Please, Lord Roland, place your hand on the stone, and you will be able to reclaim what is rightfully yours."

Death seemed to be in high spirits at this moment, as if he was about to complete some important mission.

Roland walked toward the stone and then placed his hand on it.

The moment Roland placed his hand on it, the entire stone instantly transformed into a wandering shadow.

No... that wasn't a shadow.

If I had to use a metaphor, it would be more like fragments of images—people, events, things, scenery… as if everything belonging to the world exists within these ever-changing, grayish-white remnants.

At this opportune moment, Death also gave Roland a partial introduction to the props.

"This is a product of the timeline reset."

"It is a fragment of history that actually happened."

"It is the embers of the miracle accomplished by the World Tree, the Dragon God, the Human King, and you."

"Only a special place like the underworld can store such special items."

"Just as only the space outside the world can hold the dregs discharged by the world itself."

Roland looked at the item in front of him, and the system panel also displayed the item's description.

[Special Item: Timeline Fragment, partially overlapping with Dawn of Destruction.]

Upon seeing this message, Roland sighed, then took out the greatsword called Dawn of Destruction and leaned it against the ground.

Immediately afterwards, the remaining fragment of timeline flew directly into the blade of the Destroying Dawn, emitting a special twilight-like light until the moonlight in the sky was replaced by twilight.

(End of this chapter)