Chapter 620 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

Lankart, who had been exiled from the floating city by the Green Tower Lord, defied everyone's expectations by neither dying nor falling. Even as he fell, Lankart flawlessly executed reverse gravity, calmly returning to the floating city. "As expected, right-handers are so conventional. Predictable and boring." Lankart is a genius. This was acknowledged even within the floating city, known for its concentration of remarkable talents. While many prodigies experience disillusionment when confronted with reality, Lankart, since arriving at the floating city, had not faced any such setbacks. "You can't blame right-handers, though. They go with the grand flow that guides the world. They're wise and rational, hence wield their power as right-handers... Still, it's equally tedious." It's not because Lankart is an extraordinary genius, but rather because he had already endured a massive disappointment once before. "For a 'leap,' you need a left-hander. Only then can you gaze upon a higher dimension." Muttering as he returned to his workshop, Lankart suddenly sensed a presence. A presence that wasn’t supposed to be there, and Lankart shook his head at the thought. Magicians are granted a 'Babel' workshop. Lankart's residence was particularly secluded within Babel, nearly impossible to find without Rene's guidance. And yet, during the very moment he was absent. If someone had snuck into his residence... “Hughie? Is that you?” There were many possibilities. However, Lankart instinctively believed it was him. And as per Lankart's intuition, it was indeed 'him' who appeared before him. Hughes calmly fiddled with cards inside his workshop. At a glance, it seemed he had used some of Lankart's gems and alchemical substances without permission. One of the things a magician despises most is having their workshop disarrayed. However, Lankart's first thought was ‘how?’ “How did you do it? The Green Tower Lord wouldn’t just let you go.” “I got caught. I was imprisoned, and I escaped.” “Through the gravity barrier?” “Manageable.” With a flourish, Hughes shuffled the clover-etched magic cards and walked over to plop down on the sofa, as if he owned the place. Watching Hughes from behind, Lankart couldn’t help but smile, half-filled with exhilaration. “You're amazing. You’re different from those right-handers. Your magic is weak and your physical strength is insignificant. Yet, you always manage to accomplish whatever you set your mind to.” “Indeed. I'm weak.” “But it’s fine to be weak. Because you’re a left-hander. A left-hander who’s made this world view look like the domain of right-handers is valuable in itself...!” “So why do you keep making things difficult?” Hughes looked at him coolly. “You always test me. Because I, the weak one, overcome challenges in ways you, the strong one, can’t even imagine. You keep pushing me into harm's way to see how I’ll navigate it…. Should I remain friends with you knowing that?” The cold tone from an old comrade made Lankart suddenly lift his head, scrambling to explain. “Oh, no. This time, it wasn't a test. I intended to free you as soon as I returned!” “‘As soon as you returned’ isn’t quite accurate. You could have been more careful. Now that I’ve learned formal magic, I'm an outcast or a dark wizard here—those looked down upon by the floating city. You're the only one I can rely on.” With narrow, chilling eyes, Hughes seemed to see right through Lankart’s heart. Lankart is intelligent. People often say geniuses don’t understand people’s hearts, but that’s only because they aren’t interested. He completely understands humans as a 'phenomenon.' Almost predictably, the Green Tower Lord reacted, and Lankart had made no effort to overcome it. Restricting and controlling Shei and Hughes’ movements was advantageous to Lankart. “You say ‘cooperation’? But in the end, you’re just a right-hander. Predictable and bland, yet you go along with it because it benefits you. The ‘politics’ you found so troublesome when it happened to you now becomes a useful tool when you wield it, right?” Magicians are rational. Though they operate under different rules, their principles are grounded in cold logic and rational judgment. Even exploiting politics is a result of such rational judgment. Lankart was just the same. It may not have been what he desired to become. “Should we end this ‘cooperation’ here?” “I’m sorry!” Suddenly lifting his head, Lankart immediately bowed deeply. It was a shocking sight. Lankart Spendry, spoken of as the unparalleled genius who could upgrade a six-star army into a seven-star army. Even after he defected to the Magic Federation, though he was envied, he was never disregarded. Arrogant, overbearing, and infuriatingly talented, Lankart… was now groveling before a mere outcast from outside the floating city. “I made a mistake. I succumbed to the right-handers' world, forgetting my place. Hughie, perhaps I forgot this after being away from you too long!” “What's there to forget? There hasn’t been much you've genuinely forgotten since birth.” “Or perhaps my judgment has dulled. After all, I'm not a genius like you.” It wasn’t flattery. Lankart genuinely believed so. As Hughes showed a hint of relenting, Lankart lifted his head again and subtly asked. “Want something to drink? Water, tea, coffee, milk. I’ve got it all.” “Milk? Do they raise cows in the floating city?” “It’s brought from the lower realms and stored here using the preservation magic of the Decisionist faction. Here you go.” Lankart retrieved a milk crystal from the pantry, placed it in a cup, and snapped his fingers. As the crystal shattered, milk turned back into a fresh white liquid, filling the cup. Lankart placed it in front of Hughes, cautiously watching until he picked up the glass. After a brief silence, Hughes lifted the glass, taking a small sip of the milk. Once Hughes swallowed the milk, Lankart inquired. “How did you escape the gravity field?” “A swing.” Hughes replied succinctly. Lankart, instantly grasping the implications of those two words, was filled with admiration. "So there was a way! The gravity barrier keeps you anchored to a coordinate but doesn't trap energy. If you swing back and forth like a pendulum, eventually, you'll reach escape velocity! To think you came up with that method right after arriving at the floating city. Indeed, you're remarkable!" "Remarkable? I barely escaped after trying all sorts of tricks." "That's what's remarkable! You can use everything within your grasp!" In his excitement, Lankart clenched his right hand tightly. "Magic, qi, alchemy and craftsmanship, tools, body, systems and structures, and even others' misconceptions and emotions. You aren't bound by anything nor rely on anything. You just accomplish it." "I do what I must." "That's what matters, Hughie. The ability not to conform, not to go with the grand flow, but to read the countercurrent and weigh both sides." The world of right-handers. In Lankart's singular magic, all the forces are limited to a rightward spin. Everyone focuses on the absolute defense of that unique magic, analyzing and trying to break it. But the essence of the ‘right-hander’s world’ isn’t on the right side. Lankart stared at his right hand, but he was also conscious of the hand opposite it. "The perspective of left-handers." To define positive numbers, there must be negative ones. Without negative numbers, positive numbers would arrogantly reign as natural numbers. In the same way, only with left-handers can this right-hand world be truly confronted. The world rotates to the right. From the movement of constellations to the smallest elements of magic power, everything spins to the right. Sometimes, chaos produces left-handers, but they merely get buried in the vast right-hand world. One day, Lankart, while thriving in a minor emerging nation called Gun'guk, learned this truth after his defeat to Hughie. He also realized that a left-hander is essential for a higher 'leap.' As the magician started to explain his singular magic, Hughie yawned, clearly bored, while sipping his milk. "Like a demon?" "Yes, demons are left-handers too. They all got swept away in the world of right-handers and perished." "The demons of the floating city?" "I've already identified them. I can reach out to them if you desire." "Maybe later. I should explore the floating city first. There might be other clues." For the time being, the status quo was to be maintained. As it was an expected response, Lankart didn’t bother to say much more. Instead, he asked about something else. "Hughie. What about that woman you were with? Are you going to leave her now?" Hughes replied as he brought the remaining milk to his lips. "Of course not. She’s still useful." "You haven’t managed to seduce that woman yet?" Surprised by this unexpected question, Hughie half-spat out the milk he was drinking. Wiping his mouth, he retorted. "Cough. What are you talking about?" "The fact that you came here alone means there must be a reason to disentangle from her for now. If she's still useful, you're not planning to leave her. So, you’re in the midst of courting her, right?" Lankart overestimates Hughie. He believes that if Hughie truly plans something, he will inevitably accomplish it. There's an aspect where Hughie subtly encourages this overestimation, but because of it, Lankart focuses on interpreting Hughie’s actions rather than guessing his intentions. "The woman called Shei? She was a dangerous element locked in Tantalos after I broke out. We've been together since, but even now, you haven't won her over?" "Win her over! What do you think I am, someone who goes around casting hypnosis? How could that even be possible?!" "You did, didn’t you? There were plenty of opportunities at Hamelin Military Academy. If Historia hadn't been fending off those around you, Gun'guk could have been filled with several of your children." "Children, you rascal! No way! I don’t shirk responsibility by creating children I can’t take care of like a human being!" Surprisingly, such an approach was quite close to the truth. One can hide one's feelings but not one's actions. Hughie closed his eyes tightly. "Lankart. There's something I need to correct. You have the liberty to believe whatever you want, but hear me out." "I'll listen. Go ahead." Hughie carefully chose his words for quite some time before finally speaking. "It's not something that goes according to my will. It's full of variables." "The whims of a woman, indeed. That’s partly why I respect you. You manage to steer even their capricious hearts to your liking." "What are you talking about? Even I find women’s hearts baffling. I eke out a living by pandering to them. And Shei, she's extraordinary, even among them." Thinking of Shei, Hughie added seriously. "Moreover, I shouldn’t gain too much favor with Shei. I need to maintain a suitable emotional distance for... future plans." Though what had transpired or what he aimed for remained unknown, Lankart still hadn't fully grasped the enigma that was Hughie. Yet, Lankart bore no resentment for it. Would you curse the storm for sweeping away your house? Instead, you'll spend the time rebuilding your home. Nature is to be observed, not expected upon. Expectations are the domain of religion. To Lankart, Hughes was such a presence. Lankart decided to align with Hughie's plans. That way, he could analyze him more thoroughly.