After hearing the reason for our visit, the Mountain Old Man spoke to Fujimaru.
"One who fights the Lion King—is this true? You desire the head of the Lion King, who has fallen to godhood. Is there no falsehood in those words?"
"That..."
"These guys don't want the Lion King's head; they're just moving to fix this broken human order.... And to do that, they must defeat the Lion King, who can be called an anomaly of this era."
"..."
The Mountain Old Man glared at Fujimaru and spoke.
"Did I say one fang was missing? Truly, will one suffice?"
"...Honestly, with just the mountain people, it's still insufficient."
As Juwon was flustered by those words, the Mountain Old Man spoke to Fujimaru.
"O follower of magecraft. Know this: the Lion King's true purpose, the Sun King's lies, the collapse of human order. And—when all beginnings are accomplished without the savior who treads beneath the night sky, my blade shall lead the charge in battle. The solar knight, Gawain, you say? My sword shall become a raptor and pluck out his eyes. My sword's cloak shall turn to night and devour the holy city."
"...In short, you won't lend your power until I investigate 'that' without your help?... Seriously, Old Man, you're being stingy."
"Yuseong-nim! What is that!?"
"Even if it's Yuseong-nim, speaking like that to the First Generation..."
"Old Man, huh.... If you want to call me that, go ahead. From the beginning, I have no name. No attachments, no contracts..."
"I understand."
Despite my answer, the Old Man just stared at me, and then Sanzang asked the Old Man curiously.
"By the way, what should we investigate? There must be some clue, right?"
"—There is an otherworld in the midst of the desert. Everything you desire is within it. A region in the desert where the Sun King's hand does not reach. A treasury of knowledge buried in sand—it is called Atlas Institute."
"Ah...!"
As Mash was flustered at the mention of Atlas Institute, the Old Man spoke to Fujimaru.
"O follower of magecraft. It is time to know the causality of human order incineration. When it is achieved, I shall appear on the battlefield. —With a sword that declares destiny."
Having said that, the Old Man's eyes glowed red, and he looked at Juwon.
"Then, old man of Juwon. Offer your neck."
"...Yes. As Juwon's mountain person, I will accept my flaw."
Suddenly, as the Old Man tried to behead Juwon, a flustered Bedivere asked why he was trying to behead him, and in response, the Old Man explained about the Mountain Old Man, and everyone except me learned the truth Juwon had hidden and was astonished.
"Juwon. Even as a former comrade, have you not revealed your own fate?"
Then, the Old Man, with eyes emitting red light, declared to Juwon.
"As expected, you haven't changed at all. Giving up is too early... Raise your head, Juwon. For you who have already revealed your shortcomings once, no second chance is granted. Fulfill your duty with these people. When it is accomplished, I will strike your neck."
"...Thank you for your words. I swear by the name of the Mountain Old Man, I will certainly do so."
Then, averting his gaze from Juwon, the Old Man looked at us and spoke.
"Hurry and go to Atlas Institute. There is not much time left. Before the Lion King's spear returns to its true form, reclaim the holy land—the sacred thing. And, savior who walks under the night sky... take this. Someday, a day will come when you need it."
Then, a blue flame that bloomed from the Old Man's hand flew to me and settled.
[You have been transferred a myth-grade story from a powerful existence.]
[The myth-grade story 'Sword of Death' settles within you.]
[Due to the story's effect, the skill: Direct Death Mystic Eyes is greatly enhanced.]
[Due to the story's effect, the attribute: Death has been awakened.]
[A new characteristic has been awakened.]
[You have acquired the myth-grade characteristic ■■■ ■■■(■■).]
"This is...!? Why to me...."
I was flustered by the sudden transfer of the myth-grade story and the acquisition of the filtered new characteristic, and tried to ask the Old Man, but he had already disappeared.
"...Shall I say thank you for now? Old Man, may you live ten thousand years without illness."
Then, I thanked the already gone Old Man and began to descend from the shrine with the party.
Meanwhile, in Azrael's shrine where everyone had left, a being appeared from the darkness.
The being wearing a black coat quietly looked into the void and asked.
"So why did our strict old man do such a thing?"
"...What brings you here, Walker of Boundaries?"
The First Generation, who had suddenly appeared beside the being, looked at him and asked.
"Huh? Ah~ it's nothing special, just came to watch."
"...You shouldn't have the causality to come here."
"...Well, as the old man said, I don't have the probability to come here...."
At the same time, sparks began to fiercely surge from all over the being's body.
"Tsk... damn fucking probability.... It's starting to get annoying, am I not allowed to exist or something?"
Tick!
Then, as the being flicked his finger, the sparks quickly began to weaken, but weak sparks still jumped from his body.
"So, why did you hand over those things?"
"What do you mean?"
"What else? Of course, the story and the ■■'s ■■(■■) that the old man handed over. Ah, this is still filtered, it seems..."
Having said that, the being coldly looked at the First Generation and asked.
"Why on earth? Why did you give that to him?"
"...Well.... Let's just say I liked his answer..."
"That's an ambiguous answer, unlike you, old man."
"Yes... perhaps so."
They had already gone far and were now faintly visible, and they looked at them.
"...I'll be going now. It's getting hard to stay here anyway..... "
Then, the being beside the First Generation instantly turned into particles, scattered into the void, and disappeared, and seeing this, the First Generation also similarly disappeared, and no one remained in Azrael's shrine.