The Author Is Speechless
Chapter 289: PART 7

Chapter 289: <ERASE> PART 7

Viktor’s Perspective:

Viktor watched Raphael chasing a fluffy-looking creature and thought to himself, ’It was wise not to bring her here with all of her powers intact. Even though I have placed many restrictions on her core, she’s still a demigod. Allowing a demigod to roam in a mortal world would lead to people dying and disrupt the natural order of life.’

At that moment, Radium, the fat cat, sent him a telepathic message.

*MASTER, the system existing on Erok is finally ready to be erased.*

Viktor glanced at the small translucent screen on his left. ’Continue preparing other links and stack them up. We will erase them once we leave this place.’

*Yes, MASTER.*

Viktor jumped from the tree and landed beside her. "Hey, It’s been 10 years since I came to this place. Do you want to split up and explore?"

"I was actually about to suggest that, dad. Just like before, let’s split up."

"You remember the rules, right?"

"Yes. Never discuss gods, demigods, or heaven. Keep our identities hidden and never use more than 1% of our power."

"Good. Here are some gold coins and 2 platinum coins. It’ll be enough for you to enjoy for 2-3 months."

Raphael’s eyes glittered as she saw the shiny gold and platinum coins.

"Money!"

But before giving it to her, he took it away and said, "The money rules?"

Raphael sighed and replied, "Yes yes... I shouldn’t meddle in any type of business. And I should not steal money and manipulate people to get more. If I need money, I should ask you straight away."

Viktor chuckled and patted her head; giving her a pouch of money, Viktor said, "Here. You’re pocket money.."

"Yesss!"

....

Akira’s POV:::

Akira and Liz walked into the town they lived in beside the sea and took a seat to clear their mind. Their mind was filled with thoughts of the man they had seen an hour ago; restlessly walking here and there.

Liz broke the silence after a long restless phase of their worries. "Let’s meet that man."

Akira’s eyes widened as he heard Liz’s suggestion. He yelled by kicking a small boulder. "Are you crazy? You got a death wish or something? You clearly saw how that man came out of a portal during a ritual held by some suspicious people. We clearly saw that man had a red ’!’ mark on his head. It’s clear that he is the boss!"

"But our system said nothing when we saw that. The system showed no information about him being the demon lord. We can’t simply jump to a conclusion. Maybe he is a 3rd party in this whole event, entirely unrelated to the quest we are currently on? Maybe he is the lead to the demon Lord?"

Akira shook his head. "Then how do you explain his professor-like features?"

Liz became silent as he failed to connect the dots. He refused to believe that Professor Viktor was the demon lord but he couldn’t help but doubt his own beliefs. Professor Viktor died in front of them. So, he couldn’t just trust his eyes. He knew there was more to it. The man they are seeing might not be the professor they were searching for but a different person who’s also not a demon lord.

Liz said, "I am going to meet Scarlet Valentine."

Akira . "Scarlet," as the name of the elf girl came out of his mouth, he couldn’t help but clench his fist in anger. It was the elf girl they rescued 10 years ago who fought the great war between elves and humans. But soon after the human race won the war, she disappeared. The rumours said she joined the hands of the demon king. In the beginning, he assumed the rumours were just mere rumours so he paid no attention to them. But when he talked with Scarlet face to face, he swore on his life that he would kill her if he saw her next time in front of him. After that, she disappeared and hasn’t been found anywhere.

Liz knew the whole story but since he stopped following the path of the hero, the system became null because he wished to live a normal life. He had the intention of killing the demon king or so on.

He patted his shoulder, "I know you feel frustrated because of her sudden change of decision but it was also us who fled the country and refused to work as heroes. Both parties are equally guilty."

Akira hung between his belief and reality. He refused to look for Scarlet but the situation was leading him to do the opposite.

Liz said, "Don’t forget, we are still tied to the system. If we don’t take any steps, something bad might happen.

.....

.....

Scarlet’s POV:

The ray of sunlight pierced through the grey cloud after 6 days of rain. It was the peak season of rain; the massive field was once filled with corpses of her kind, and now it had turned into a shallow lake.

She looked at the horizon and saw the mother tree; on the verge of drying. It was the symbol of her home, now it had met its end.

She stood there, submerging her feet into the cold water; taking a deep breath, she hushed under her breath, ’This is what... I asked for it. Yet, I feel so empty inside my chest.’

Viktor walked near her from behind and put his hands into his pocket. "Long time no see, kiddo."

She showed no reaction. After a few seconds of silence, she turned her head and a drop of tears came out of her eyes, "Master..."

"How do you feel after achieving your dream?" Viktor approached her and stood right next to her. "The battlefield once was painted in red, now has turned into a lake of Lily. It almost feels like each Lily in this vast lake symbolises the one who died during the war. A lake full of red Lily."

Scarlet stood there, and spoke in her shaky voice, "Is that..truly what I wished for?"

Viktor smiled softly, "Sometimes victory doesn’t bring happiness."

There was a small boat nearby that Viktor noticed and walked on it. "Let’s have a chat, come on." he gave his hands.

Seeing him smiling, she took his hands and walked onto the boat. Using water magic, Viktor pushed the boat into the centre of the lake slowly. The water was crystal clear as if there was nothing below the boat. Some skulls were visible under the grass and moss, small fishes made their peaceful home within it. The reflection of the sky made the surface of the water almost look like silver glass.

Viktor looked at the rays of sunlight that peaked into the grey clouds, thinking of something which Scarlet couldn’t understand. He moved his gaze to hers,

"You’ve become a fine lady."

Scarlet looked at him for the 1st time clearly after he left. She was only a small child so he didn’t quite find him attractive back then since she was distracted by so many events. Now that she has finally looked at him, she realises Viktor hasn’t aged. He looked a little different than before but that doesn’t change the fact that he was Viktor himself.

His white hair, silvery eyes with a hint of gold, his charming appearance and the way he stood on the corner of the boat without moving an inch, he almost looked inhuman. Almost like an angel from heaven.

Viktor smiled, "I see.. you’ve grown old enough to appreciate the beauty within people."

She moved her gaze.

Viktor took a small breath, "Have you thought about the wish I told you to make before I leave?"

She again looked at him. "Wish?"

"Yes, I promised you to grant you a wish for winning the war. Don’t tell me you have forgotten about it."

"N..no I haven’t. I just, I .."

Viktor tilted his head, "Hum?"

"I thought you were merely joking."

"Child, I don’t make empty promises. Say. What do you wish for, world domination? All the riches of the world? Do you wish to be the queen of Erok?"

"I.. I want to form a peaceful world where all can live together peacefully."

Viktor rubbed his chin. "Hum.. world domination you say." Viktor smiled. "That’s quite the way to ask if you wish to dominate the world, how fascinating. Without world domination, you can’t procreate a peaceful society where every race lives in peace and harmony."

"I.. I’m sorry.. I didn’t mean it.."

"No.. as my follower, it’s completely normal to wish for world domination. Also, I would be very disappointed if you asked for something small. You’ve lived up to my expectations. Well done."

A soft smile formed on her face but inside her heart, it was still empty. "Thank you, master."

Viktor looked away again into the distant lake filled with red Lily floating above crystal clear water. The mother tree’s leaf was shedding slowly, spreading its last hope of survival everywhere with the help of the wind. A small leaf landed on Viktor’s hair.

"A green leaf with a hint of rainbow aura. It’s spreading its last hope of life in the form of mana all over the place. The goal is to create a safe place protected from mortals, and it will prepare them to give birth to the next mother tree. The way nature works sure makes me wonder how fascinating it is. Right, Scarlet?"

"In a month, this place will undergo a transformation, the whole lake will be protected by thick forest so nobody can enter. And this will be the beginning of the new tree which will take thousands of years to sprout a new seed."

"A thousand years, pretty quick if I want to look at it from perspective. In a blink, the world tree will grow, and a new era of Erok will come."

"A new era..."

"Yes.. A new era of peace."