Chapter 503

Death is corruption, and corruption is destruction. How can any part of something incorruptible decay? How can any part of God be destroyed?

Dee's concept of 'death' is not death in the conventional sense. For this Alchemy, death in the conventional sense is 'dissolution'. Dissolution is not for destruction, but for the renewal of life energy. In other words, he believed that everything belongs to God, and human death is merely the renewal of divine power.

There are no inanimate objects in the Universe, neither now nor in the Future.

Therefore, Dee also had some guesses about Novia --

If that's the case, then it must be some kind of Outer God being from beyond the Universe...

But why did he choose this name? Was it by chance or was it premeditated?

A subtle sense of unease arose in my thoughts, though I didn't know why. My Alchemy's instinct to explore the essence of things was searching for the Answer.

But before he could instinctively get Answer, Novia spoke:

"Are they all beyond redemption? Perhaps, but for humanity that survived the apocalyptic crisis that never materialized, these Nameless individuals lived lives of great integrity. Regardless of their reasons or the consequences, they ultimately saved the 'world'."

What's going on?

Looking at Novia before him, Dee felt as if he had overlooked something.

Isn't this kind of thinking completely un- Magecraft...?

However, Rushana's words quickly brought Dee back to her senses.

I have a request.

"What is it?"

John answered quite politely.

He naturally understood that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Rushana would specifically request Erice to help her find the Buddhahood and the Buddha-Mind, which was also what he had anticipated and planned.

After all, this was a necessary step for this woman from the Yomi to become the glory of the Lord, making the 'Universe' her Sacrifice.

However.

"Could you please help me find the Buddhahood and the Buddha-Mind? I'm open to discussing payment, how about that?"

Unexpectedly, Rushana said this to Novia, and for some reason his tone became respectful.

"Let me ask again."

Novia looked directly at Rushana. "You possess Gautama's memories, don't you?"

"Oh? You care about this kind of thing?"

Rushana tilted his head in surprise.

"Let me think... I'm actually a bit of an oddball. I always admit defeat even when I can win, I always let go even when I can kill, I always abandon what I could have had a good life, and I always try to organize intelligence piece by piece in those situations, but my brain just can't process it. It's so frustrating! I'm actually really good at this kind of thing, you could say I'm self-taught, or maybe it's just my nature."

Novia paused for a few seconds, then slowly spoke:

"I see, then I agree."

"I am extremely grateful."

Of course, Novia also understood that the girl Rushana before her had no Buddhahood or Buddha-Mind whatsoever.

Because she is not a Buddha in essence, but an unknown Vairocana Buddha itself, in other words, a 'person' created through Alchemy.

Moreover, she had no memory of this Teacher.

A few seconds later, Rushana frowned, a hint of confusion in his expression.

"... Teacher?"

Chapter 518 is about Teacher, that's all.

... Teacher?

Rushana frowned as he muttered to himself.

Why did this name suddenly come to mind? In my memory, Gautama had many Teacher, in the shadows of houses, on the sunlit riverbank, beside the small boats moored on the shore, in the thick shadows of Willow Tree and Fig Tree. But those were more like friends than Teacher. Whether it was Arada, Uddaka Ramaputta, or Uddaka, they were all just guides on the path.

The faint light emanating from the sea surrounding Underworld Tokyo, the capital of the underworld, seemed to flow into the dark eyes of Rushana.

She recalled a Brahmin prayer she had learned as a child.

Because someone started crying, someone held the crying child on their lap and let them cry, gently stroking their hair and responding to the crying with a smile.

Then, in the distant past, from Gautama's childhood, that person recited that prayer in a singing tone, and so the crying child gradually quieted down and then sobbed into sleep.

That man loved all things and made all people happy, yet he had no happiness in himself.

But who exactly is that person?

Rushana began to feel a sense of loss, which she felt was due to the loss of her Buddhahood and Buddha-Mind, resulting in incomplete memories. So, she just needed to find them... She hoped that Novia would have a smooth journey.

"Then where can we find your Buddhahood and Buddha-Mind, Rushana? There's not even a process; it's just simple abandonment..."

Erice touched the Temple floor, her fingers picking up bits of dust.

"This is Tokyo, even if it's only part of it, it's still incredibly vast. And John just said he couldn't find it either, so I don't think we, who aren't very familiar with Tokyo, can find it quickly."

The Underworld Tokyo " does not refer to the original " Tokyo," but rather to Marseille Mosaic City Ward, one of its twenty-three administrative districts.

This is normal. Since the advent of the New Era, not many old-era cities have remained due to rising sea levels and various other factors. Places like Shinjuku, Tama, and even Akihabara, which used to belong to Tokyo, have become their own cities. Therefore, it is normal for Minato Ward, with Tokyo Tower, to become synonymous with 'Tokyo'.

"Don't worry, I've searched all of Tokyo, but there's nowhere to be found. It can only have been stolen."

A bright smile spread across Dee's face. "In the past six months, no trains have come to or left Tokyo. Manazuru, you are the only ones to have come during this period."

"I see. If there's no output and no input, then it can only be in a certain person, right?"

Chitose sighed, "But you also said that Rushana appeared suddenly. What if it had been lost before it came here?"

"Wrong."

Rushana made an X gesture, waving it cheerfully in front of Chitose. "No, I vaguely remember that before coming to this death-filled Tokyo, my Buddha-Mind and Buddhahood were still intact, but of course, this is only within the scope of my own memories."

"... This explanation is limited to my own memory and knowledge."

Erice repeated it like Parrot, then rubbed her forehead with a hint of helplessness.

"Regarding information about Tokyo, since it was transformed into the Underworld, communication and contact with the City AI have been severed, making reporting quite troublesome. But please don't worry, I have already sent everything I know to your communication devices."

Dee chuckled softly, "But I'm a little curious, with so many people Rushana, why did you specifically seek out Novia?"

Upon hearing this, all the women present except Cleopatra turned their gazes toward her. Of course, Erice looked on with amusement, while Chitose and Tiamat were also curious, since this development was, well, too ambiguous.

"Alas, so you've finally asked me that question?"

Rushana smiled and opened his arms, and in his black gem-like eyes, a gentle light shone as always.

"If I had to give a reason, it would be quite simple--"

"His Excellency Novia may resemble my Teacher in some ways, that's all."

What's going on?

Upon hearing this, Dee frowned instantly.

"I don't know, but that's what I think."

The statement was somewhat vague, more like a perfunctory remark, but Novia knew it was the truth.

But John Dee felt he should understand what Rushana meant; Novia was indeed her Teacher.

After all, this guy was something he created by Alchemy the Rushana Great Buddha. If we go along with that, then the Teacher she mentioned must be Dipankara Buddha from Buddhism, also known as Kavia from India.

However, Dee didn't sense any India or China aura in Novia at all. After all, the Magecraft used in the Eastern and Western worlds is completely different. Even if it can be mixed, the aura is still difficult to change. Moreover, as a member of the Atlas Institute, Novia's familiarity with the Quran suggests that she is a believer.

It's worth mentioning here that Thought Magecraft is a type of Magecraft from the East, but the East doesn't just refer to China. It refers to the Magecraft accumulated and practiced in the Middle East and beyond, which is different from Thought Magecraft Western Magecraft. Volume 9 of The Second Great Adventure mentioned that India is also the origin of Thought Magecraft. In other words, Magecraft from both sides participated in the construction of the Thought Disk during the Age of Age of Gods.

However, Rushana, who possessed most of Gautama's memories, said he resembled Gautama's Teacher?

Therefore, there is only one Answer.

Dee was so certain that Novia was either Saint Barlaam or possessed by him.

In simple terms, the story of Saint Barlaam is Christianity version of the Gautama story, adapting Gautama into the Christianity Saint Josaphat, with Belram being Josaphat's Teacher. This story is based on the Lalitavistara Sutra, and is believed to have been written by Christ in Central Asia or Iran in the 6th or 7th century AD.

After thinking it over, Dee breathed a sigh of relief. After all, if he really was a Saint, he wouldn't need to take him seriously.

As for why Rushana was like this, he felt it was due to some unimportant accident during the Alchemy process; in any case, everything was fine.

"I just checked the message John sent."

As if to distract himself slightly, Novia spoke up, "The current Underworld Tokyo can basically be divided into four sections."

Shiba Park, starting with the most tragically depicted Tokyo Tower, is a forbidden zone in the Underworld Tokyo.

Next is the commercial district that used to house many foreign embassies and was known for its strong international atmosphere.

Then there's the area around the TV Tokyo headquarters.

Finally, there's this area beneath our feet, belonging to the Night Watch. It's also the smallest in size. Thinking about it, it makes sense, since the entire Tokyo has long been reduced to ruins, and the Servant here are mostly Evil-type Servant. Plus, John is the only Night Watch in Tokyo, so it's quite reasonable... right?

Novia understood that the Rushana was probably a forgery created by John using Buddha Statue, but what was its significance? What role would the Rushana, as a Buddha Erice? Even in the Japan tradition of combining Shinto and Buddhism, there was no such case.

Shinto-Buddhist integration is a system of beliefs that combines and integrates Japan Japanese Faith with Buddhism to form a unified Faith system, also known as the "Shūji".

The trace of Dainichi Nyorai is Amaterasu, the trace of the Thousand-Armed Kannon is Izanami, and the trace of Shakyamuni Tathagata is Izanachi.

Erice, being Izanami's daughter born in this Present World, is essentially estranged from gods and Buddhas. Rushana, as the embodiment of the Savior, is actually Dainichi Nyorai form of the name of the Savior, the Dharmakaya Mahavairocana. This is because when the Savior named himself, he placed the Sambhogakaya and the Dharmakaya in the same name, meaning that the Dharma and Sambhogakaya are not two.

In other words, could this be some kind of sophistry? But even if the Rushana before us, who appears to have no power, is actually Dainichi Nyorai Buddha, then the trace he manifests is Amaterasu.

In the Tokyo Underworld, which has been transformed into Underworld, there's an Alchemy who has been plotting for years to save the world; the Alchemy Buddha, who serves as bait; the suspected Creator God Amenominaka Tokyo, Izanami -no-Mikoto, whom Tiamat learned about; the unknown fate of Izanami, the God of the Underworld; and Sherlock Holmes's pre-disappearance remarks about Chitose's unusual behavior in the Holy Grail War...

On the way here, Novia asked Chitose about his situation in the Holy Grail War and found that it was pretty much the same as what was said on the City's Information Network. In short, he and Lucius worked together to defeat their final opponent, the Cyclic Serpent Ouroboros, and then New Era began.

Ouroboros? An incredibly important symbol in Alchemy, and revered by Alchemy as the King of Magecraft...

This John may have participated in the Holy Grail War, and might even be the final Master that Chitose faced. Even if Chitose didn't treat him as an acquaintance, it's not impossible, because as a highly skilled Alchemy, it wouldn't be strange for him to use a fake body to participate in the Holy Grail War.

As for Cleopatra, the Servant beside him, Novia could tell immediately that she was not Assassin, but Disguise User like Favia.

But this Cleopatra looked almost exactly like the Cleopatra he had in mind...

Suddenly, Rushana scratched his head and said:

"Okay, it's decided! Now that we've entrusted this task to you, as a small reward, I'll treat you to some fruit and snacks. I saw a shop there before."

"... Tokyo is in ruins and submerged by the sea, yet there are still Fruit Parlor?!"

Erice was quite surprised, and hesitated before speaking, "Isn't this a bit...?"

"You're exaggerating. Although Tokyo is practically deserted, it does have Servant."

"Aren't Servant supposed to be free from the need to eat?"

"That's my hobby, anyway. But actually, I'd never been there before; I just glanced at it."

The straightforward Rushana seemed to have no concept of politeness, and immediately took Novia's hand in a familiar manner, "But Novia, you'll probably like it very much. It's a rare opportunity to go, so I hope everyone can come into the shop with me."

John and Cleopatra declined, saying they had some things to attend to. Even Chitose felt that dealing with matters in Tokyo should prevent anything from happening in other City, so she also declined. In the end, only Tiamat and Erice went along, and Tiamat also took Novia's other hand.

So the group returned to Tokyo Station, turned a few steps, and entered a Fruit Parlor hidden among a pile of ruins.

As soon as you enter the store, you are greeted by a delightful aroma of fruit.

"Fruit Parlor? They have that here too? That's unbelievable..."

But as Erice had predicted, there was practically no one there.

"Erice, Mom hasn't heard of her. What does this mean? Hmm, could this be Japanese-English?"

Tiamat, holding Novia's hand, turned to Erice, and said, "It's not good to eat so many snacks without a proper meal, and it's the same for you, Rushana."

"That being said, Tiamat's mom, you seem quite excited too. Could it be that I've misunderstood...? Sorry."

For some reason, Rushana naturally called Tiamat" Mom," and Tiamat clearly had no resistance to well-behaved children, so she looked flustered as soon as she saw Rushana lower her gaze.

"I made a mistake, I made a mistake, so don't look at Mother like that. No, I'm sorry!"

"Sorry?"

Erice felt a snicker coming from Rushana's voice.

If he hadn't lowered his head and hadn't been behind those three people, he would definitely have seen their smug smiles as they reveled in having caught their prey.

The Buddha, who exudes a gentle aura, actually has this side? But let's put that aside for now. This guy named Novia, although I had expected it, I still can't help but wonder if he has some kind of Blessing or protagonist's halo? How come even the Buddha girl is sticking to him... It's really incomprehensible.

I'm not particularly fond of those southern-style fruits, but the feeling of discovering a peaceful and tranquil place amidst the ruins of Tokyo isn't so bad.