Judge started to read the dairy from where it was torn, He was about to be dumbfounded after seeing the dairy being written in English. But his brain took a while to register the error.
I have torn off the part when I was still in the capital, after all, my work cannot be wasted if I were to die after going to the forest, so I just hinted that I would head to Devfronds. The place should be perfect for research. We are packing up, Mina still won't show me what she was researching on, but I am sure she would once she completes it.
We have started our travels. Mina seems enthusiastic that she could go out after a long time. Her laugh just makes my day. I think Derebeth is getting too close to her. I would be happy if they loved each other, after all, I am confident that Derebeth would protect her. I would be proud as her father.
But she seems a bit gloomy these days, I wonder why.
The whole party entered Tross, the town just outside of Devfronds. The guards have warned us not to go too deep into the forest, as it won't be easy to come out. I agree with them since I can't put the whole party in danger. But Lyra says it would be fine even if we went inside, why is she so enthusiastic? Rey said something had come up with the dragons, so he left to check on them.
Judge blinked. Then blinked again. The diary was written in two languages, one he did not know. The other one—
"Wait... hold up. Is this... English?!" His brain went into an overclock. "How... why...
I'm in another world, reading a journal, and it's in English? The same language I spoke in my past life? The very same one I used to order pizza at 3 AM and write angry emails to customer service?"
His eyes scanned the page like a detective in a crime show trying to piece together a clue. "Okay, let's not freak out here. Maybe I'm overthinking this... but seriously, why is this thing in English?"
He leaned back, holding the journal at arm's length, squinting at it. "Did the deity of stories just hand me this and say, 'Here you go, Judge, a little familiar language for your convenience. Have fun!'" He chuckled with an unhappy face, shaking his head. "Yeah, 'fun' is the word here, right? How many stories have you read with this exact plotline?"
He shook his head, his thoughts racing. "Wait, does that mean English existed in this world before? Or maybe the person who wrote this was from my world, too! Or... maybe it's just magic. Yeah, magic.
Classic magic answer. Just chalk it up to ether and call it a day."
Still, a part of him couldn't help but laugh. "Of course. I die, get sent to a new world, and instead of struggling to learn a new language, I stumble upon a journal written in perfect English. This world has jokes. Good one, but the plot is too overused."
But still, he decided to read the rest—
Mina's disease is acting up, and Lyra is missing, she isn't picking up any signals. Rey was the only person who could treat her but Lyra was the only person who could call him. Derbeth had called in a priest, but things are looking bleak. She got the disease after starting that research of hers, she still wouldn't tell me what it is, I hope she opens up to me soon.
Mina is crying and thrashing in pain, I can't watch it anymore, this pain in my heart, it hurts so much. I can't watch her die. I should focus on my research to distract myself from this aching feeling. I heard the dragons have begun to destroy many parts of the continent, was this why Rey and Lyra left?
Mina is dead, I don't want to live anymore. But I have to complete my research, but how do I do it with a heart that aches so much? There is still no news from Rey and Lyra, and Derebeth have not been seen after her death. Maybe I should have talked to her before she passed, I regret not speaking to her, but that was my choice, so I can't regret.
I succeeded in erasing the pain, I have no more emotions, and my heart aches no more, why did they ban an ethercraft that was this good? It makes me wonder why I cried so much while Mina was dying. Now I can solely focus on my research.
I have made it deep into the forest, the artifact with dimensional storage was said to eat slowly at your life. But I don't need that much lifespan to complete my research, I can die after I complete it. I should start by creating a bunker. The monsters were not such a threat after the dragon's rage.
The bunker took more than a week to build, ether was convenient in many ways. Now I don't have much time to spare, my years-long research should come to an end at least this time. I can feel the answer getting closer and closer.
Judge's eyes narrowed, the rest of the contents were written only in English, and the neat handwriting was gone. It was giving him a horror movie vibe.
I have made a huge discovery, the ethercraft of nothing should have made something disappear. But ether sure is a wonder, it comes to replace the place of nothing with 'something', most probably air.
Judge sighed, "What was this guy rambling on about, nothing and something, Haa! he has truly gone mad."
I knew it, I created an artificial ether well, although it is small I think I may crack the code for using unlimited ether. I am so close, I need to finish my research as soon as possible.
I coughed up some blood and I think I am nearing my time, I need to finish this fast.
Yes! This is it, If I create a space of nothing, ether should go inside the space to recreate it, and I can continuously absorb it if I use this principle, since the ether I exude when I use ethercraft is returned to the world, and there is no shortage of ether whatsoever.
I decided to experiment some more, And I finally found a perfect name for the ethercraft—'Nihility', which means the art of nothingness.
This pain in my heart, why is it returning... Mina, my dear, I am sorry. I should've taken more care of you, why did you have to leave before me? You were the most talented researcher I've ever seen. Why did you have to go? I wish I could've heard your last words.
I can feel it deep in my bones—the end, it's closing in on me like a storm I can't outrun. My body aches with each passing time, and my heart… it's heavy with all the things I should've done, the words I never spoke, the paths I was too scared to take. Regret? Yes, I've carried it with me, like a shadow that never left my side.
But even now, as I face this final chapter, there is one thing I know: I do not regret the choices I made. Each mistake, each stumble, every wrong turn—they were mine. They were the moments that shaped me, that carved out my story in this vast, unforgiving world.
And to you, whoever you are, reading these last words of mine—please, I beg you, don't let regret consume you. Don't let it gnaw at your soul, don't let it steal the life still ahead of you. Every choice you make, no matter how heavy, no matter how wrong it might seem in hindsight—learn to hold it close, to let it breathe inside of you.
Because these choices, these scars, they are what make you whole. They are your past that make you who you are. Embrace them, even if they burn. Live, even when it hurts.
Think of the past as a valuable teacher. Learn from it, but don't dwell on it. Use its lessons to guide you forward instead of letting it take up time and energy that could be better spent in the present.
And for reading this far, I give you the principle of "Nihility, the art of nothing."
-by Researcher Victor
Judge closed the diary, feeling a heaviness settle over him. He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a long sigh. "Man... what a sad life. I mean, on one hand, this guy was brilliant. On the other hand, he lost everything and tried to cope by turning off his emotions.
But in the end, he still felt the pain." He looked up with a sad face, "And that pain is also what makes us human... Victor."
He shook his head. "If there's one lesson here, it's that ethercraft doesn't fix everything. But hey, at least he cracked the code on 'nothingness' before he went out." He was back to his normal, sarcastic self.