Multiverse Adventure – My Journey Begins in Danmachi 85

Multiverse Adventure – My Journey Begins in Danmachi 85

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Edited by: Tiny Fan Fiction

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Chapter 85 Root and [Ryougi Shiki]

On the long slope of Overlooking City, there was no night breeze blowing, only the slowly falling white snow and the cold spreading, as if the noise of the entire world had been frozen and absorbed, becoming vast and silent.

Not far away, shadows of people could still be seen among the High-Rise Buildings, and the streets were bustling with crowds.

But for Noah, the distance that could be crossed in an instant with the Breathing Technique now felt as if it were far away in the sky.

Though it was within sight, it seemed as if it could never be reached.

Yet in this vast and lonely snowy night, under the streetlight in front of Noah, stood an individual.

With black short hair cascading over her shoulders, dressed in a fitted elegant moon-white kimono, her dignified and beautiful profile was enveloped in the light, appearing serene and tranquil.

The slender and petite figure was shrouded in swirling snowflakes and dim light, making her seem hazy and distant, easily overlooked…

Yet she also seemed to be the center of the world; once seen, it was impossible to look away!

Judging by her appearance and figure, this girl should be around the same age as Asagami Fujino, but her development was far less than hers, more akin to Ais.

However, the moment Noah saw her from afar, his heart suddenly raced, losing its rhythm.

This feeling was something Noah had never experienced before, leaving him somewhat flustered in his heart.

Graceful, delicate, enchanting, and elegant… the girl in the white kimono seemed to be a fusion of all the beautiful aspects of an Elf female in the world.

The soft, untainted beauty of the Elf female radiated from her, making every part of her shine, yet not appearing gaudy or self-satisfied.

Yes, Elf female, this was the first time Noah sincerely used this term from the bottom of his heart.

In the not-so-long span of his past, but in a life filled with rich experiences, Noah had seen various women, yet none left any ripples in his heart.

This was unavoidable; before Noah had developed a sense of gender and appreciated the beauty of the Elf female body and appearance, he had grown accustomed to the image of flesh beneath the skin, with organs, bones, fat, and overflowing brain matter.

Before he began to get used to the brutality of battle, the only beautiful memory left in Noah’s mind was probably that sweet honey under the sunset.

But at this moment, he thought the seed in his heart that had long been cooked was beginning to sprout, caressing and touching the confinement of his chest…

No!

In the next moment, Noah’s eyes widened, his muscles tensed all over, even his teeth clenched tightly.

There was no one around to attack him, and Noah didn’t sense any threat, yet he reacted based on his deepest instincts.

It was an instinct that didn’t require any preparation or buildup, one that allowed him to kill anyone without hesitation, a killer instinct that wouldn’t waver in the face of life and death, not even for an instant.

This instinct was like a string, almost like his heartbeat, constantly present as long as Noah was alive.

For him, this instinct was more important than anything, including his Falna, weapons, or bloodline, and it had never wavered since it formed.

But just now, Noah discovered that this instinct of his had loosened for a moment.

He had actually let his guard down around someone he had just met…

“Kill her!” Mana surged wildly through his body, forming an invisible fierce wind around him, outlining the shape of armor, and a silver sword materialized in his hand.

Snowflakes were swept away by the fierce wind, blowing towards the sky, and the grass and bushes by the road rustled wildly, even the thin ice on the ground shattered and flew in all directions.

In the midst of the snowstorm that almost obscured his vision, the figure in the distance remained calm and serene.

It was as if she was in a different world, where the raging storm around her couldn’t affect her in the slightest, no matter how violently it raged.

“…Haa~”

Just as his intent to kill was about to reach its peak, Noah suddenly dispersed the mana around him, and his eyes returned to their calm state.

It was rare to encounter such an interesting existence, and if they were to fight as soon as they met, wouldn’t that be too boring?

Having made up his mind, Noah took a step forward, walking towards the girl in the kimono.

After passing through the area affected by the mana storm, the girl in the kimono was now less than ten meters away, and the ice beneath his feet crackled as he walked.

“Good evening… miss?” Noah tilted his head, thinking for a moment before deciding on a title to use.

The girl in the kimono slowly turned her head, revealing a gentle smile.

This smile once again confirmed Noah’s imagination, the girl in front of him was indeed beautiful, like a white orchid blooming in the snow, elegant and refined.

Noah had seen people more beautiful than her before, but none of them had eyes that drew him in like hers did.

Her black eyes exuded warmth and gentleness, yet also seemed to hold a deep emptiness and satisfaction.

“Good evening, Noah-kun.” Her voice was clear and youthful, with a hint of childishness, yet also carried a subtle sense of depth, like a sigh of loneliness.

The sound of her voice seemed to echo through the air, leaving a lasting impression on Noah.

He felt an inexplicable sense of connection to this mysterious girl, as if their encounter was not a coincidence.

The atmosphere around them seemed to thicken, filled with an air of anticipation, as if the fate of their meeting was about to unfold.

When it came to introducing oneself for the first time, Noah wasn’t surprised or bothered by the fact that the girl had blurted out her own name.

“How should I address you?”

With an air of contemplation, the kimono-clad girl slightly lowered her eyelids, her slender eyelashes fluttering as if they could support a tree branch.

Noah felt that those eyelashes not only stirred the air but also gently plucked at his heartstrings, much like the gentle hum of a magical girl’s transformation.

A faint warmth and palpitation lingered in his chest, radiating a soothing heat, reminiscent of the comforting warmth of a hot spring on a cold winter’s day, like the ones found in the hidden hot springs of Orario.

It was as if his entire body had been wrapped in a warm blanket, with every muscle relaxed, making him feel drowsy, much like the effects of a gentle, soothing melody played by a skilled musician, like the ones often heard in the city of Fuyuki.

“Yes, what should I call myself? If you don’t mind, Noah-san, you can call me by the name of this body… Ryougi Shiki, that’s her name.”

Noah wasn’t sure whether to be surprised by the girl’s words, which sounded like something the Old Worm from the 18th Floor of the Dungeon would say, or to focus on the name itself, which seemed to hold a certain significance, much like the names of the prestigious families in the world of magic.

Unlike Fuyuki City, which had a large, sprawling spiritual landscape, Mifune City didn’t have a vast, designated leyline managed by the Mage’s Association, nor did it have a prominent family like the Tohsaka Household.

However, the city was once home to the 4 great onmyodo families.

The Azakuras, Ryougis, Asagamis, and Nanayas – these 4 families had a history that stretched far back, even before the city’s administrative name was established, much like the long history of the hero Emiya Kiritsugu.

In the past, these 4 onmyodo families used their magecraft abilities, which they had acquired through their bloodlines or inheritance, to help people ward off supernatural threats, earning them the respect and awe of the people, much like the respect given to the heroes of the Fate series.

As the Great Source gradually waned and technology advanced in the modern era, natural distortions decreased, and the onmyodo families naturally began to decline, much like the decline of the Age of Gods in the world of DanMachi.

The Nanaya and Asagami families, whose abilities primarily relied on bloodline inheritance, weakened the most and were almost eradicated, a fate similar to that of the Old Worms in the depths of the Dungeon.

On the other hand, the Azakuras and Ryougis, who relied mainly on acquired abilities through training, managed to survive, albeit in a diminished state, much like the survival of the last remnants of the hero’s party in a post-apocalyptic world.

The Azakura family developed in a more covert manner, and Noah couldn’t find any information about them, much like the secrecy surrounding the Church’s activities in the world of magic.

The Ryougi family, however, still existed, and their name was known to Noah, a name that carried a certain weight, much like the names of the great heroes in the world of anime.

The Ryougi family, having transformed into a prominent local aristocratic family in Mifune City, was quite renowned even among ordinary people.

Could it be that, just like the Old Worm, there’s another old monster lurking around, using various means to cling to the young people of the family?

Noah narrowed his eyes, locking gazes with a girl named Ryougi Shiki.

She smiled faintly, exuding an air of serenity and depth, warmth that felt empty, as if she had merged with the endless snowy night behind her.

Ah, a girl as cute as her couldn’t possibly be one of those old monsters, right?

For the first time, Noah truly understood that the world was indeed superficial, and even he couldn’t escape this fact.

“So, may I ask, what brings you to see me?”

However, Ryougi Shiki shook her head slightly once more.

“Our meeting wasn’t something I had planned, but rather a predetermined event in history, set in motion the moment you appeared in this world.”

As Noah watched Ryougi Shiki speak, her pink lips quietly exhaling white mist, he suddenly felt a bad premonition.

It was as if he was about to experience the same fear he felt during Riveria’s hellish training, the feeling of “who am I? where am I? I’m just a clueless novice!”

Fortunately, Ryougi Shiki seemed to notice Noah’s confusion and smiled faintly, choosing not to continue speaking in riddles.

“Noah-kun, do you know about the Root?”

The Root.

If one wanted to understand the history of Magecraft development in this world, it was impossible not to know about the Root.

In Noah’s understanding, the Root was what Magi believed to be the record of the world’s birth and destruction, the starting point and endpoint of all things.

Most Magi believed that reaching the Root would grant them omniscience and omnipotence, which was why the Old Worm had pinned its hopes of eradicating all evil in the world on the Root.

However, for Noah, this concept was all too familiar.

The world he previously inhabited was a decaying world on the brink of destruction.

As disasters spread, people’s pursuit of the ultimate truth, the eternal source, and the final law became increasingly fervent.

In Noah’s eyes, the Root was nothing more than a spiritual crutch for Magi in the Modern era, who were struggling to cope with the Great Source’s decline, or perhaps even a scam concocted by those with ulterior motives.

This was unavoidable, as people tend to simplify problems, hoping to achieve everything at once, especially when faced with the fear of their own impending demise.

What can be done if one doesn’t seek the Root?

Understanding and preventing the decline of the Great Source, perhaps?

It’s like expecting a terminally ill patient to learn about the cause of their own Body’s disease and then treating themselves with extremely high risk, similar to a Hero’s reckless bravery in DanMachi.

The more one understands reality, the more they’ll feel their own insignificance, the more they’ll suffer, and the more they’ll want to end their own life, a feeling akin to the desperation of a Masterless Servant in the Nasuverse.

In that case, it’s better to just deceive oneself to gain some mental comfort, much like the false sense of security provided by the concept of “Plus Ultra” in some anime.

This is probably why the initial form of almost every civilization is rooted in religion, a notion that echoes the backstory of the world in the Type-Moon universe.

“Almost every Magecraft Family, including the Ryougi family, has reaching the Root as their ultimate goal; their method involves installing multiple personalities within an individual using secret arts, making them an all-powerful being capable of reaching the Root.”

As Noah watched Ryougi Shiki gently stroke the roadblock with her pale hand while speaking in a soft tone, he felt a premonition and his eyelid twitched, a reaction reminiscent of a hero sensing an impending battle in anime like Sword Art Online.

“Did they succeed?”

For an instant, a hint of a smile seemed to flash across Ryougi Shiki’s eyes, a fleeting expression that vanished as quickly as the slash of a skilled swordsman in a fight.

But before Noah could even register it, her expression returned to its gentle and soft state, and she continued speaking in her uniquely childish yet mature voice, a tone that belied her true nature, much like the complex characters found in the Fate series.

“I suppose you could say they succeeded; at the moment they implanted the two personalities, and before the consciousness born from the flesh appeared, between the extremes of [Fabric] and [Style], [Yin] and [Yang], a pure [Void] was born… and that’s me, because the Root is [All] and [Nothing], and only within this can I manifest,” she explained, her words echoing the philosophical themes found in anime like Psycho-Pass.

As Noah gazed at Ryougi Shiki’s delicate and beautiful face, he suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine, a feeling akin to encountering a powerful enemy in a dark fantasy world like Berserk.

“You… you’re not saying you’re the Root, are you?”

If someone were to proudly declare themselves to be the absolute, supreme being, Noah would respond with a lightning-fast sword strike, a reaction typical of heroes in anime like One Piece.

Even knowing he’d lose the fight, Noah wouldn’t back down, a determination shared by many anime protagonists.

But the girl in front of him made him feel a sense of plain, unadulterated truth, a feeling that resonated with the themes of existentialism found in anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion.

It was precisely because of its simplicity that it was unshakeable, a concept that echoes the idea of “being true to oneself” found in many anime philosophies.

Ryougi Shiki nodded and then shook her head, her crystalline hair swaying gently with the motion, a subtle yet meaningful gesture reminiscent of the nuanced character interactions in the Monogatari series.

“I’m a manifestation of the Root, I suppose, a part of the infinite, and also infinite; discussing the difference between me and the Root is meaningless,” she said, her words reflecting the complex, metaphysical themes found in anime like Serial Experiments Lain.

Rarely, Noah found himself at a loss for words, a reaction that underscores the depth of Ryougi Shiki’s enigmatic character, much like the mysterious figures found in the.hack series.

His first thought was that the Ryougi family was quite pitiful, a sentiment that echoes the tragic backstories of many characters in the Fate

The inheritance of generations upon generations had unknowingly realized their long-cherished wish, but they probably won’t have the chance to know in this lifetime… Well, Noah knew his focus had strayed rather too far.

If the girl before him was not lying, and she was indeed a part of Root, the very essence of Root itself, then eliminating himself should be as easy as a passing thought.

It was like the computers of this era, no matter how complex the internal programs, they could be easily wiped away by the computer itself.

Not just himself as an outsider, but even this world itself should be easily creatable and destructible.

However, the shock merely skated across, then vanished from Noah’s heart.

Because he found that whether he believed it or not didn’t matter.

If it was false, he had no need to worry.

If it was true, then he had even less need to concern himself, for death would be but an Instant affair.

“So, you, an incarnation of Root, have come to find me, are you planning to eliminate this outsider?”

It seemed she was observing Noah’s reaction, as Root gave him an extra moment of her gaze before shaking her head, the neck beneath her hair appearing delicate and graceful.

“To me, no matter how this world Changes and evolves, it is but the ‘one’ path leading to the predetermined end.”

Noah could understand her words.

It was like playing a game of chess; it was the Changes that made it interesting.

If the entire game followed a fixed pattern, then no matter how many times one won, it would eventually become tiresome.

For [Ryougi Shiki], this world was a stage play that had been performed countless times.

No matter how long the span of time and space, or how vast the Changes, they held no meaning.

But this understanding was shattered in the next moment.

“……But with your arrival, the future has Changed. Although I can see the countless possibilities, I do not know which is the inevitable one.”

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