The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years (Web Novel KR) Vol 1 Chapter 229

It was a beautiful sunset.

As he woke up, Lukas Trowman looked up with a blank gaze. He didn't know why, but he felt like he'd been unconscious for a long time.

Then he shook his head and turned to the side. There he saw a black-haired woman looking at him with a smile.

“Why?”

“Just because.”

Iris laughed as she said this.

When Lukas only tilted his head, Schweiser sighed.

“You're so slow that I'm going crazy.”

“What do you mean?”

“You don't need to know, you stonehead. Anyway, what are you going to do now? We've already explored every ruin in this country.”

“…well.”

Lukas felt strange. His thoughts were hazy.

It was strange because this was a feeling that he hadn't felt since reaching 7 stars.

“…we… what were we doing?”

“Where did you leave your mind?”

Schweiser asked this in a disbelieving voice.

Then Kasajin, who was also beside them, answered.

“We decided to head east. You were interested in the culture there.”

Was that it?

Lukas was confused. He felt like he had been doing something incredibly important.

But no matter how hard he tried to think about it, nothing came to mind.

Trying to shake off the strange feeling, Lukas nodded.

“…right. Then let's go there.”

“I heard the eastern swords are unique. I'm already looking forward to it.”

Lucid said these words in a pleased stone.

It was a pleasant journey.

They weren't in a hurry. After all, there was no urgency.

Therefore, they purposely rented a carriage despite the fact that they had the power to go to the other side of the continent in an instant. Yet, they traveled slowly on the road.

When they found a place with a particularly good view, they would set up a camp there even if the sun was still high.

If there was a village or city nearby, they would definitely visit it even if they had to make a slight detour.

The East was an exotic land. Not only the countries, the characteristics of each city were different, so it was interesting no matter where they went.

…He should have been enjoying it.

“This is a really good blade.”

Lucid looked at the sword in his hand with ecstasy.

It had a deformed and bent blade, so Lukas, who had no knowledge of weapons, was unable to determine if it was really good or bad.

“What's wrong, Lukas?”

Schweiser walked up to him and hit him on the shoulder.

“You look like you just ate a bug. Why? Are these artifacts below your expectations?”

“…no.”

The ruins in the land were all amazing. Lukas couldn't help but once again admire their ancestors and praise their achievements.

But apart from that, the strange feeling he had only got stronger. The thing that frustrated him the most was the fact that he didn't even know what was causing the strange feeling.

But traveling around the eastern nations did nothing to make him feel better. Instead, his heart only grew heavier.

Eventually, it got to the point where Lukas no longer smiled.

Schweiser kept glancing at him like he was acting strange, but he did not say anything.

That night, Lukas couldn't sleep, so he went out.

They were currently on an island in the far east. He walked along the shore for a while before sitting on a large rock.

Shhh-

He looked at the dark sea, feeling like he was being sucked in.

He just sat there without thinking about anything. The rock was a pretty good location. He was able to see the horizon drawn between the beautiful dark sea and the night sky at a glance.

The scenery was quite superb, but it did nothing to alleviate his heavy heart.

“You don't look so good.”

It was Iris.

She spoke in a soft voice. Her ebony hair blended perfectly with the dark sandy beach.

She hesitated for a moment before taking a seat not too far from Lukas.

“You must have been worried. Sorry.”

“…no.”

Lukas looked at her before saying.

“So do you.”

“Huh?”

“You don't look so good either.”

There was a subtle change in Iris' face when she heard those words.

Lukas turned away from her. Then, while looking at the dark sea, he spoke again.

“…I think I'm forgetting something important.”

“Can't stop thinking about it?”

“Right.”

“…if it doesn't come to mind, maybe it wasn't that important.”

“That might be true, but this is different.”

Lukas grabbed his chest, his auburn robes crumpling.

“I'm happy now. Touring the continent with my best friends, exploring and examining the ruins and artifacts left behind by our ancestors…. This is something I have wanted to do for a long time. It's what I call my dream come true.”

“That's good. So what's the problem?”

“…I feel like it's not the right time.”

Lukas' voice became heavy.

“I feel like everything has been derailed. I felt like this for a while too. It's like we stepped off the beaten path and began walking in the wrong direction. I know I have to go back… but it seems that part of me is reluctant to do that.”

He felt that the path he used to walk on had become difficult. On the other hand, this smooth path and beautiful scenery were amazing.

Every time he walked, he felt cheered up, like he was having a lazy afternoon outing.

“Sometimes, I hear people screaming, and I feel like I'm running away with my eyes covered and my ears blocked.”

“That's not so bad.”

Iris was indignant. Her voice was filled with stubbornness.

“Lukas deserves to rest. Why don't you ignore them? Is it so wrong to run away? You don't have to deal with all of their problems. Sometimes, you need to take a break. You… you are human too.”

Her voice became sad.

Lukas lowered his head, silent.

He looked at the sandy beach that was stained by the darkness.

“…sometimes. I want to live like that. Like you said…. Do you think I hate taking breaks? Sometimes, I want to be lazy. That's natural. But I can't.”

Lukas seemed to space out for a moment before continuing.

“I know that I'm special. I know just how many people I could save. And I'm not confident that I can face the disaster that would come from ignoring their screams.”

“You are bound by responsibility. That can't be called a life.”

“It's nothing so grand. I'm just a bit more tired than everyone else.”

Lukas let out a soft laugh.

“Thank you, Iris. I feel comforted by your words.”

“…what do you mean?”

“The word human. You called me human. Haha. I don't know why… but that made me happy.”

“Why are you making that face?”

Iris was shaking her head with teary eyes. She flinched for a moment before speaking half impulsively.

“I… like you, Lukas.”

Lukas' expression stiffened.

This was a confession. A confession between a man and a woman, not showing favor to a friend.

He would have never imagined.

But… he felt like he'd known this. Like someone had told him about her feelings before.

That couldn't be.

Iris wiped the tears from her eyes as she hurriedly said.

“That… I shouldn't have… told you that. I just…”

Iris hesitated for a moment before burying her face in her knees and muttering.

“…I love you. Lukas, I love you more than anyone else in the world.”

“Iris.”

“So I was a bit greedy, but I can't do it. I can't change the nature of my beloved Lukas Trowman with my own hands. It would feel like I'm killing you with my own hands.”

“I just…”

Iris' voice faded.

Then his surroundings were enveloped by a bright light.

'This…'

Lukas' mind sank into this light.

[3917 years, 11 Months, 7 days…]

He heard a voice. A familiar voice.

Lukas regained his consciousness while hearing this voice. He felt like he was waking up from a long dream.

'That was just…'

Was it an illusion?

He'd never seen something like it before. It was so vivid and long that it could not be compared to reliving a memory.

He clearly remembered traveling with his friends for a few months.

'No. But…'

The conversation he'd had with Iris…

Lukas could not remember ever seeing Iris' tears. Even if it was only once, he would not have forgotten it even if 4,000 years passed.

It wasn't just that.

There was a lot of incompatibility in the memories he just witnessed.

'I was about 30.'

He wasn't too sure, but he felt that it was probably around that age.

At that age, Lukas was already engaged in an all-out war against the Demigods. He would not have been able to afford such a leisure trip with his friends.

But the thing that puzzled him the most was the fact that he was still able to think. He had gained a transcendent body and died after being defeated by Lord.

He should have already disappeared without even a soul left. Naturally, it was impossible for him to consciously think like this.

[3111 years, 9 months, 4 days…]

'Who's there?'

Lukas wanted to ask this, but he didn't have a mouth. He didn't even have a tongue.

So there was no way for him to talk. He could only cry out in his mind.

Naturally, he didn't receive an answer.

'Where am I?'

It was a place that was filled with just darkness.

It felt very similar to Lord's prison, the Abyss. But he felt that there was a fundamental difference.

Shuk…

Suddenly, something changed.

His senses began to return. This was the first time Lukas had ever felt this sensation.

It was as though ice covered him and was slowly melting, allowing him to feel his 'body'.

Then he felt warmth. Warmth that was milder than a spring breeze.

Lukas tried to suppress the fatigue that suddenly hit him in waves.

[2937 years, 4 months, 20 days…]

The voice continued.

It calmed Lukas' heart like warm sunlight.

He then realised that he had a tongue. But he still couldn't speak.

His senses hadn't fully returned yet.

'Something is still missing.'

A piece was still missing. But that piece was vital.

It was like a Golem who didn't have a core. Just like a Golem wouldn't be able to move even a finger without its power source even when complete, Frey couldn't move.

[2300 years, 1 month, 9 days…]

[1721 years, 8 months, 18 days…]

[1001 years, 7 months, 17 days…]

[661 years, 3 months, 1 day…]

He continued hearing the voice.

It was gradually going back in time.

Frey finally realised whose voice it was. (TL: This time it wasn't me putting the wrong name)

'Iris.'

She continued reciting the date in a calm voice. One by one, detailing such a long time that humans would not begin to imagine.

[121 years, 11 months, 11 days…]

Dak-

Then something pierced Lukas' chest.

It was at that moment.

Babump!

It seemed he had regained his heart. Blood raced through his body, and his weak heartbeat gradually gained strength.

His senses came back. He also became able to move again.

Lukas opened his eyes.

Paht.

The first thing he saw was a bright light. It was so bright that he was blinded for a moment.

After blinking several times, he realised that it was light from a small candle.

Scribble-

Someone was bent over, relying on the light to write something.

The elegant curves that could be seen despite looking at them from the back told him immediately that this person was a woman. He could also see her ebony hair.

Iris Phisfounder.

He was looking back at her.

Chapter end