Chapter 147. The Path of Struggle (5)
“You’re saying you’ll reveal the true nature of meditation?”
I was skeptical of Sevika’s words. For the first time, someone had emerged who knew about meditation.
“If you live as long as I have, you can’t help but learn a lot.”
Even though Sevika’s response seemed evasive, I didn’t pry.
After all, if someone was willing to explain what I couldn’t figure out on my own, there was no need to question.
“I’ll explain it slowly. Let me start with a simple analogy.”
A box containing videotapes appeared before me. Sevika picked out a tape.
“Here, when you take out a videotape, what do you see?”
“The title and some text…?”
“Yes, think of that in terms of a miracle.”
If the videotape represented a miracle, then the title would be the name of that miracle, and the other texts would be akin to prayers.
Looking at it that way…
“So the content of the tape is akin to the memories I view through meditation?”
“It’s something like that. But one crucial element is missing. What could it be?”
Sevika shook the tape playfully, as if posing a quiz.
“… I don’t know.”
“A video player. Without it, you can only see what’s written on the outside of the tape. And the video player is precisely…”
Sevika pointed at me.
“You mean my mind? I understand, but what’s the significance of that…?”
“When you play a movie, actual actors don’t appear; the information read by the player does.”
Sevika’s words gave me a clue.
“The Carlos I saw, in the end, wasn’t real, was he?”
“He’s a projection through your mind. To put it differently, merely a fragment of yourself.”
Sevika leaned on the table with her chin in hand.
“To go into further detail, the belief that he recognized you during meditation was a kind of illusion. Your mind, dividualizing itself, became able to perceive itself anew.”
Sevika likened it to how a broken video player might produce a distorted video display.
I felt a cold sweat trickle down. This situation was far more dangerous than having Carlos’ thought form dwell within meditation.
“Do you understand now? Carlos’ information could have completely overwritten your entire mind.”
Sevika wasn’t here to pull me away when I attempted meditation recklessly. But then again, something bothered me.
“How did you perceive that I was in such a crisis? And how are you aware of all this?”
With a smile, Sevika replied.
“That’s a secret. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you.”
“… I’m so used to hearing that, I’m not even surprised anymore.”
Sevika and others seemed to have countless secrets they couldn’t share.
“Allow me to unveil what you call the power of meditation.”
The true nature? So it wasn’t merely about reading information and replaying it?
“Come to think of it, although I’ve heard about the principle, I haven’t heard how it’s possible.”
“Yes, that’s a part you haven’t consciously realized.”
Sevika placed something new on the table.
Remarkably, it was a character sheet, not mine, but from another well-known TRPG game, merely as an example.
“You probably used something like this in games with friends, right? Though I’m not too familiar.”
“Yes, indeed.”
“Do you see what’s written here?”
Sevika pointed out the backstory. This section detailed the character’s past, revealing who they were and how they lived.
“Haven’t you seen these in your games too? Not only for characters but the various elements that form the world.”
I searched my memory. Though I mostly glossed over them, items like relics or artifacts seemed to have backstories.
“Your meditation, in truth, is closer to reading such information. Alongside the dice on your hand, it’s a power that treats the world like a game.”
Certainly, it felt as if a game system had been introduced to this world.
“It’s a power that causes chaos.”
“Chaos, you say?”
Sevika wore a serious expression.
“It’s a power that uncovers things not typically known in abnormal ways, even deciding the outcomes of matters through dice.”
Reflecting on Sevika’s words, I realized this was no ordinary power.
“Then, might meditation not only extract information on miracles but also other things?”
After a pause, Sevika nodded affirmatively.
“Whether it’s a relic or whatever… The stronger your power grows, the more you can uncover. Of course, it’ll take a toll on your mind.”
“… I see.”
In essence, it was akin to psychometry—a useful skill.
‘I’ll replenish my mind with the Golden Blood Elixir…’
“You’re being warned of danger, yet you’re only thinking of ways to use it.”
Sevika sighed as I awkwardly scratched my head.
“Considering the Being of the White Night crafted all this, I want to strengthen myself as much as possible.”
“I understand. But you can always choose to run away into dreams instead of fighting.”
“I appreciate the advice, but my answer remains the same.”
Despite appearing slightly miffed, Sevika nodded.
“You’re planning to meet Carlos again through meditation, aren’t you?”
“Yes, indeed.”
“Well… the truth is, you were bound to meet Carlos once more.”
“Why so?”
“Because your mind is already dividing. Though it poses no major issue now, it could develop into a significant problem.”
It seemed some intervention was necessary. I certainly didn’t want my mind suddenly taken over by Carlos, so I listened closely.
“Then, what’s the solution? Should I abstain from meditation?”
“No, that would be futile. Instead, there’s something you must do… It might be simple, yet challenging.”
After a pause, Sevika continued.
“You must consume him entirely. Absorb every fragment of that Carlos that split off from you and reclaim him as your own.”
“Everything…”
“Yes, especially if you can accomplish it with that strange cloak of yours,”
Sevika added, even bringing up Gluttony.
“You can potentially transform into Carlos.”
* * *
I awoke, feeling a weight on my body. Talia had nestled down on me, asleep.
“Are you awake?”
“Oh, Eldritch. Why is she here?”
“A lot happened while you were asleep.”
Eldritch explained everything step by step. Hearing about the ferocious resident known as the princess made me scowl.
“There was such a powerful entity?”
“I’d heard rumors but didn’t expect its existence,”
Eldritch stated. Apparently, due to its excessively violent actions, its existence was often dismissed as nonsense.
At ten, it committed kin slaughter and at fifteen, raided temples to steal relics.
“Targeting Talia as prey… This is troublesome.”
I glanced at Talia peacefully asleep. I tried to leave carefully without waking her, but she stirred upon sensing my presence.
“Mm… Are you up, uncle?”
“Yes. I heard you were wounded, are you okay?”
Talia pulled at ripped cloth, revealing her side with a grin.
“I’m fine! I have the potion Lyla gave me.”
She looked clean, with no visible scars. But, the hints were there that she was putting on a brave face deliberately.
“Talia, could you tell me how it was to face this so-called ‘princess’?”
“Well, she was like a rampaging beast…”
I gathered information while listening to Talia’s account, which led me to a natural question.
“So, did she ever use any miracles?”
“Huh? Now that you mention it, I don’t think so.”
She applied pressure using various divine relics but never directly performed miracles.
Given Eldritch’s explanation, it wasn’t due to inability.
‘Is she saving it as a last resort? Or is her combat style simply unaligned with using miracles?’
Thanks to Talia’s combat experience, I gained these insights—something unknowable otherwise.
“From now on, be on guard against surprise attacks.”
Overall, she had an assassin’s style, making it tricky to anticipate when she’d strike.
“Eldritch, Talia. We need to prepare a few things.”
“What are they?”
“Gather enchantment items, Ancient Gods’ relics here, and as many scriptures as possible. Don’t worry, I’ll return them all.”
Despite looking doubtful, they fetched the items.
Various objects, including enchanted items brought in Lyla’s subspace pocket and the scriptures of Zeus that Talia brought, cluttered the desk.
“What do you intend to do?”
“I intend to read these in my own way.”
If successful, it could be a very significant attempt.
Just in case, I emptied a Golden Blood Elixir and picked up an enchantment item resembling a hand mirror.
‘When meditating on scripture, I visualized phrases, but for items, how should I proceed?’
Closing my eyes, I tried various approaches and then focused on the item itself.
“… Ugh?!”
Suddenly, a flood of information poured in. The unrefined surge caused a headache.
‘This is through direct reading by me. Therefore, I should be able to selectively read only the information I wish for.’
I concentrated solely on the item’s effects. Like lowering the volume on loud audio, other information receded, becoming calm.
“… Zooming in on the intended part, showing a reflection even in the dark.”
I comprehended the function of this item. Switching focus revealed the item’s name, history, and more. I even saw the moment Lyla created it.
‘But this is just a cosmetic mirror. Did she create such a pointless thing with my money?’
I tried the same on other items. By around the tenth item, I could view the information perfectly without any problems.
“The practice suffices.”
I nodded with satisfaction.
“Talia. We have quite a few enemies. What do you think we should do?”
“Um… Do we have to kill them all?”
“… No. Where is that coming from suddenly?”
Had hunting residents made her odd?
Talia looked at me with a slightly unjust expression. While not entirely wrong, my point was different.
“You need to quickly accumulate knowledge, grow stronger, and above all…”
I lifted the scripture of Zeus that Talia brought.
“To collaborate well with allies.”
I contemplated contacting Zeus through meditation.