Extra in a Romance Fantasy

188 – The Gate (2)

“The monsters… came from another realm…?”

The unexpected statement that the monsters had come from another realm stirred the crowd.

However, not everyone reacted in the same way.

“Indeed… hearing that makes sense.”

One among them, Chris, nodded calmly.

“If you think of the characteristics of the monsters as those of creatures from the monster realm, it all becomes clear. Rather… it’s surprising that I hadn’t thought of this before.”

There was certainty in his eyes.

Chris did not doubt Beluid’s words in the slightest.

It wasn’t because he trusted Beluid.

It was because Chris possessed a particularly wizardly way of thinking.

“Yes. The monsters came from another realm. And… the place where the monsters first set foot in this world is right here.”

““……!””

The tremor in everyone’s gaze intensified.

“Are you saying this is… the place?”

“That is correct.”

Beluid nodded calmly.

“A long time ago, a ‘gate’ suddenly appeared here. And, at the same time, the monsters first revealed themselves in this land.”

“Such….”

Those who heard the origin of the monsters, something they had never even imagined—no, something they couldn’t even conceive—showed various reactions.

Some widened their eyes in surprise.

“…There’s more to it.”

Conversely, some narrowed their eyes.

“There are still many unanswered questions. It’s strange that no one here has ever wondered about the origin of the monsters, and that the only one who knows about it is the principal. Logically… it shouldn’t be possible.”

Chris stared intently at Beluid, his eyes difficult to read for emotions.

Those eyes were demanding.

An answer to the questions.

And then.

“It’s a simple reason. It’s due to the ‘constraints.’”

Beluid simply resolved his doubts.

“‘Constraints’…?”

Chris murmured with a puzzled expression, prompting Beluid to continue his explanation.

“It’s because there were ‘constraints’ and ‘prohibitions’ placed upon you, upon humanity, and upon this world.”

““……!!””

At those words, the expressions of Chris and several others, especially the wizards, shook significantly.

Perhaps it was a more certain and intense tremor than the unease they had shown until now.

“…What does that mean…?”

Even Rachel looked at Beluid with trembling eyes, as if she couldn’t believe it.

The wizards understood.

They knew how absurd that statement was.

“…Is that even possible?”

Chris asked Beluid once more.

Despite his usual lack of emotional expression, his gaze was clearly shaken.

It was because what Beluid had said was so outrageous.

‘Constraints,’ or ‘prohibitions.’

Most who possessed a certain level of magical knowledge would know what that entailed.

—

The way it operates, its principles, and the fact that a considerable cost is required to impose restrictions, which varies greatly depending on the level of the caster and the target.

For example, if one were to impose restrictions on a child who possesses no power, the cost would be negligible.

With just a bit of magical energy, one could impose restrictions on the child without needing any special materials.

But what if the opponent is a skilled warrior or a powerful mage?

If the opponent does not willingly accept the restrictions, it becomes nearly impossible to impose them unless there is not a significant gap in strength between the caster and the target.

In other words, the stronger the target and the more restrictions one wishes to impose, the more difficult it becomes.

However.

What if such restrictions were placed on every person living in this continent, and across the world?

That was an absurd notion.

It was something that could not possibly exist in common sense.

Knowing this, Chris had no choice but to ask.

But.

“You have experienced it firsthand, haven’t you?”

“……”

At Beluid’s response, Chris could only close his mouth immediately.

Because that statement was true.

He himself was the blatant evidence of that absurd claim.

After a brief silence, Chris opened his mouth again and spoke.

“…That is a realm that can only be possible if one were to become a god.”

It transcended the realm of humanity.

People refer to those who have reached the level of the Ten Blades’ warriors and the Grand Mages as superhumans.

However, that is merely an expression; they are still human.

Swinging a sword to cleave mountains and part seas, or effortlessly casting spells to reshape the terrain, are indeed remarkable feats, but they are ultimately within the reach of humanity.

Yet, what Beluid spoke of was not a realm that humanity could aspire to.

As Chris expressed, it was a realm that could not even be approached unless one were a god.

“What on earth… happened when the principal mentioned that time, when the monsters first invaded this world? What exactly took place?”

Chris was certain.

It could not have simply ended with the monsters invading this world.

Something significant must have occurred.

—

So I asked.

To resolve my doubts.

But.

“Do you know? The fact that the otherworld is not just one.”

Instead of providing an answer, Belluid threw a seemingly unrelated question back at them.

“…Of course we know.”

Chris felt a slight frustration but didn’t show it, immediately responding to Belluid’s question.

“It’s practically treated as a well-established hypothesis.”

There are quite a few wizards studying the phenomenon of rifts.

Considering the nature of wizards, it would be strange if they weren’t intrigued by the phenomenon of rifts.

Many wizards embarked on research to explore the rifts, to uncover the truth.

And after many years of study, they proposed one hypothesis.

Perhaps, the world beyond the rift is not just one.

The basis for that claim was the fact that the monsters coming through the rifts varied greatly in appearance, and that the magical energy emitted by the rifts had different wavelengths.

That hypothesis was accepted as quite persuasive, and now, after a considerable amount of time, it was treated as a de facto theory, only lacking proof.

The reason such a well-known hypothesis had yet to be proven was simple.

No one had ever confirmed what lay beyond the rift.

It wasn’t that no one had tried.

Many had thrown themselves into the rifts, claiming they would uncover the truth, that they would unravel everything about the rifts.

However, none among them returned alive.

Not a single one throughout the history of the continent.

Thus, no one knew what lay beyond the rift.

They could only speculate that another world existed.

“That hypothesis is true. The otherworld is not one. There are many different worlds.”

Belluid was stating that the hypothesis was indeed a fact.

In his eyes, in his expression, there was certainty.

As if he had confirmed that fact with his own two eyes.

“And in each of those worlds, there exists a ‘king.’”

“A ‘king’…?”

“Yes. A ‘king.’ However… it is different from a human king. The king of the otherworld is, quite literally, the ‘king’ of that world itself, not a king of a nation like a human.”

—

To the party, who showed puzzled reactions, Belluid continued without giving them a glance.

“It is merely called ‘king,’ but it is a transcendent being. Within that world, it can perform all that it intends and can destroy everything. Therefore, it is more fitting to call it….”

After a brief pause, he opened his mouth again.

“A ‘god.’”

“……!”

At those words, Chris’s eyes widened significantly.

Eventually.

“…No way.”

With trembling eyes, Chris opened his mouth to ask.

“…Has that ‘king’ intruded here?”

Though it was in the form of a question, there was no doubt in those eyes.

Chris was certain.

That her suspicion was correct.

And that suspicion was.

“Yes.”

Belluid calmly nodded in affirmation.

“Long ago, on the day the ‘gate’ opened here, the ‘king’ set foot in this world along with countless monstrous beings.”

““……!””

The crowd stirred once more.

It was then.

“…If that is true, it’s strange.”

Chris, appearing to suppress her astonishment, spoke again.

“If what the headmaster said is true, and that ‘king’ truly possesses god-like power, and has indeed invaded this world… how is it that this world remains intact?”

A being called a ‘king,’ who could manipulate and destroy the world at will, would not be out of place to be called a god.

If Belluid’s description of it was not an exaggeration, Chris thought it strange that the world was still intact.

If such a powerful being had invaded this world with countless monstrous entities, humanity would have been unable to stop it.

If that statement were true, humanity should have already perished.

Yet, humanity exists, intact and unharmed.

Chris could not comprehend the reason for this.

“That is….”

—

—

Beluid was just about to give that answer.

Creeeak!

The unpleasant noise coming from the ‘door’ suddenly grew louder.

“Ugh….”

It was so loud that it made one want to instinctively cover their ears, and the sound was enough to squint one’s eyes, as a strange phenomenon began to unfold before them.

“……! The monsters…?!”

A considerable number had diminished, yet there remained enough to be described as swarming, as the monsters all lowered their bodies in unison.

A number of monsters, too many to count, all assumed a lowered stance together.

It was an incredibly bizarre sight.

The students, including Rachel, and even Ethan, who had faced countless monsters, were witnessing something they had never seen before.

Someone among them thought as they observed the scene.

The sight of the monsters lowering themselves seemed akin to subjects bowing before an emperor.

At that moment, when everyone was staring at the strange spectacle in a daze.

“…They’ve come.”

Beluid suddenly spoke.

His voice sounded calm as usual, but in reality, it was anything but.

An undeniable fear, a sense of despair, clung heavily to his voice and eyes.

And then.

Thud─

Footsteps could be heard.

““……?!””

In that instant, most of those standing there lost their balance and fell to the ground.

For some reason, their bodies suddenly felt devoid of strength.

No, beyond that, they couldn’t move their bodies as they wished.

However, there was no time to ponder this strange phenomenon.

Instinct began to scream suddenly.

Their instincts were thrashing about more violently than ever before.

And they were shouting.

To flee from this place immediately.

To escape if they didn’t want to die.

—

And that cry, that scream.

Thud—

With each sound of footsteps, it grew louder.

As they sat there, listening to the rhythmically echoing footsteps, they soon realized one thing.

The footsteps were getting louder.

Something was approaching this place.

The gazes of everyone present converged in one direction.

Towards the ‘door’ from which the footsteps were coming.

And not long after their gazes had gathered.

Creeeak—

With a noise reminiscent of rusty hinges, the ‘door’ finally swung open completely.

Thud—

‘Something’ stepped out from beyond the ‘door.’