Chapter 7 – However, there seems to be no one with the same abilities as Esera.

In the pitch-black darkness, the prayers approaching him were few, but Charles realized that with the power of the Tablet of Revelation, he could almost mimic the power of a god. It was as if a seed of divinity had been planted within him. If he could grow this power and become stronger, he might even be able to exert some influence, not just listen to stories as he did now.

For example, he could increase the number of followers, gain something in the mental world, or create a spell by attaching the name of a non-existent being, as he did today.

If that were to happen, what effects would it have? Charles couldn't even imagine.

‘This has never happened before!’

He had used divine power a few times while watching the 129 endings, but this was the first time he had become a special transcendent being in this way. Is this the power of the Tablet of Revelation?

‘If I continue to collect pieces of the Tablet of Revelation, what will happen?’

He couldn't possibly know. Charles left the mental world with a pounding heart and saw the same scene he had before entering it.

"Hmm. Registration complete. I'll set it as the non-existent being's lantern."

In front of him, Paginarecor nodded and said. Charles remembered being in the mental world for quite a while, but it felt like only a moment had passed in reality.

‘To be able to control time as well?’

The power of the mental world was terrifyingly strong. If Charles entered the mental world, he would gain a different time from others in an instant. This alone was enough for Charles to understand the advantages of the mental world. It was like a room of time and spirit.

"Why are you like that? Is there a problem?"

"No, no."

"Sniff, sniff. You seem a bit different."

Paginarecor grabbed Charles's sleeve and sniffed it. Charles was startled and shook his hand.

"Pervert!!"

"Don't talk nonsense, you!"

However, Charles noticed that Paginarecor had grown a bit. Last time, she was about the size of a thumb, but now she was about the size of an index finger.

"Have you grown?"

"I grew by eating Talents. I didn't know this avatar form would grow."

"If you keep eating, will you become a giant...?"

"It's possible."

Paginarecor said calmly, showing no particular emotion at the prospect of becoming a giant. After all, Paginarecor was not human; she was the self of a grimoire, even though she had a female form.

"I'll have to feed you in moderation."

"What?! Where have you heard such a thing!?"

Ignoring Paginarecor, Charles closed the book. He might not have the luxury to keep feeding her Talents anyway.

Feeding Paginarecor Talents allows her to spit out spells, but the amount of Talents required increases with each subsequent feeding. It's like a money-eating hippo.

First, he needed to find the Oracle Auction House and become a member. Most secret world economic activities started there.

'I need to pay attention to the Oracle Auction House, but I should visit the university first.'

It was time to go out.

* * *

Charles was riding in a carriage.

The Metropolis was divided by a massive river called the Wines River, which ran through the city center and became the hub of logistics.

Continuing downstream along the Wines River, you would see the docks, a bustling place for port workers and the headquarters of the Fishermen's Brotherhood, where countless steamships came and went.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, the carriage continued to move, and he saw middle-class workers heading to work. They were probably people who worked at nearby factories.

The western part of Metropolis was the industrial zone, with steel mills, rubber factories, and match factories. Occasionally, female workers could be seen, but not in large numbers.

This world was almost like early 20th-century Western Earth, with some more advanced and some more backward areas, but generally, it showed a similar level of development.

"Master Charles, we will arrive at the university soon."

"Got it, Boni."

When the servant Boni, who was driving the carriage, spoke, Charles replied. He was riding in a two-horse carriage, and the person leading the horses was a middle-aged black man in his 40s.

His original name was Merboni Givenpikman. The unusual name was due to his father being a slave from the South Seas.

He had been a servant in the Hexen household for a very long time after being freed from slavery. He was still a servant even though his hair was turning gray, partly because the butler of the mansion was still alive and partly because of the stigma of his father being a slave.

He had been the servant who cared for Charles's mother before she died, so he naturally served Charles along with Jake.

While Plona was loyal to him in the shadows, Boni was a servant who had been loyal to him in the light.

"Boni, you only need to come back at 2 PM today."

"Understood, Master."

Mistweaver University.

The university where Charles worked and one of the prestigious universities in the country.

Founded 100 years ago, this university had been involved in many mysterious and occult-related incidents.

So, players of the game speculated that Mistweaver University was a homage to the fictional Miskatonic University. But that didn't really matter.

After Boni dropped him off at the front of Mistweaver University and left, Charles took out his pocket watch to check the time.

8:30. It was almost time for his meeting with the dean. He walked leisurely, looking around. He observed the people walking around. The uniform of the prestigious Mistweaver University was a jacket and cardigan with a checkered pattern.

To people from the modern world, it might seem strange to wear a uniform at a university, but in Metropolis, it was normal, and there were no uniforms in the previous educational stages.

Therefore, it was common for freshmen to be thrilled and proud to wear the Mistweaver University uniform, as it was a symbol of being an elite.

He visited the central administration building to see the dean, but was told that both the president and the dean were absent. Thinking he might have to come back another time, he headed to the Exploration Hall upon the staff's suggestion.

Charles was an expert in ancient Hermes, but he was assigned to the Exploration Hall rather than the Humanities Hall because the archaeology department was under the Exploration Hall.

Ancient Hermes, in the game, was treated almost like modern Latin. Without it, one couldn't even identify ancient artifacts.

Knock, knock.

"Professor Carlton."

"Ah! You're finally better, I see."

A white-haired professor in his 60s with a Kaiser beard. The monocle perched on his eye complemented his intellectual appearance. Don't be fooled by his ordinary look.

He was one of the high-ranking members of the five major secret societies in Metropolis, the Dark Cathedral. The Dark Cathedral was the most prominent sect from the beginning, and although other sects grew rapidly, none had surpassed the Dark Cathedral.

Professor Carlton was also famous for being the one who opened the first dimensional gate.

No matter which character or route you started with, the event of Professor Carlton opening the dimensional gate to another world was always a part of the story. This would lead to chaos in the university and the secret societies taking advantage of the situation.

'Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.'

Recalling the words of a mafia boss, Charles decided to maintain a close relationship with Carlton.

After a simple handshake, they talked.

"Both the president and the dean are absent, so the responsibilities have been handed over to me. You've been away for a long time. I plan to assign you lectures without overburdening you. Is that okay?"

"Sure."

"Good thinking."

Glancing down, the lecture schedule wasn't too tight. Charles was a part-time lecturer. Professor Carlton smiled.

"Hehe. The female students will be happy."

"Excuse me, what do you mean?"

"Many female students cried and stayed up all night after your classes were canceled due to your hospitalization. Now we can meet their demands. It's just a return to the regular schedule."

"..."

Right. Thinking about it, Charles Hexen, unlike Kim Yeonsu, was a super popular figure.

* * *

The Exploration Department where Charles would teach was located in the west wing of Mistweaver University. At lunchtime, he bought a sandwich from the school cafeteria and sat on a park bench.

He set a few people he needed to keep an eye on within the university: Professor Armitage, Librarian Horace, Professor Carlton, and Dr. Drake. He hadn't met many of them yet, but that would change over time.

What Charles had learned from playing the Cult Leader Simulator for a long time was that the repercussions of an event could spread like a butterfly's wings, leading to chaos.

When the player took action, it would trigger a series of other events.

For example, Charles knew about the grimoire in the restricted section of the Mistweaver University library, its incredible power, and who would take it.

If Charles preemptively took the grimoire, the story would change. The person who was supposed to get the grimoire would return empty-handed because the player had stolen it the previous day and would look for a substitute.

That substitute was something another person was supposed to get, and because of this event, another person would die... Such events would chain together.

Like multiple cars colliding on a highway or space debris destroying satellites in orbit, these chains of events would lead the player into a chaotic world they couldn't predict.

Charles had repeated this process hundreds of times and concluded that he shouldn't interfere with things that shouldn't be interfered with.

When he altered a historical branch, the repercussions would continuously change the ending. Therefore, Charles planned to do nothing or avoid actions that could harm others for now.

Feeling someone's gaze, he turned his head and saw a few female students looking at him.

"Ah!"

"Did you see this way?"

"Wait, just a moment."

- Wow, you're popular.

Ignoring Paginarecor's admiration, Charles found her still a mysterious creature. They occasionally talked, but Paginarecor still had many secrets that Charles didn't know.

The group of female students came over and greeted him. A girl who seemed to have been pushed forward bowed and greeted him.

She had blonde hair and simple blue eyes.

"Hello, Professor."

"Do I know you?"

"We're in your ancient Hermes class."

"I'm sorry. I don't remember people well. What's your name?"

"R-Rica Webs."

‘Webs?’

Charles tilted his head. It was a name he had heard many times before. Regardless, the female students introduced themselves, but the only name that stuck in Charles's mind was Rica Webs.

"I'll be taking over the ancient Hermes class from now on. The lectures will be automatically transferred."

"Really? Awesome!"

He chatted with a few female students. Charles had excellent observational and reasoning skills from his Kim Yeonsu days, but he didn't need to use them to examine these young women.

The obvious affection for a professor not much older than them. Kim Yeonsu, who had never had a romantic experience in reality, was confident that he could easily handle these girls.

‘Hmm. How long ago did I wish to be born with a handsome face in my next life?’

It seemed his wish had been granted in this world. If the world didn't end, it would be perfect.