Episode 157
“Unlike magic arts, which has been in its infancy for the past hundreds of years, the refreshment industry has made remarkable progress. Look at this coexistence of crunchiness and moisture. This is as difficult a task as combining conflicting elements, and it is a brilliant achievement. This fun texture that feels like it’s floating… Right. Is it a peanut? A hint of savory goodness is hidden within the sweetness. “It is clear that the baker who created these cookies has great inspiration and ability.”
“… … .”
Rise ate the cookie as if she was hiding her eyes and looked at me with a satisfied face.
I let out a sigh, unable to overcome the pressure.
“… “I’ll bring it again next time.”
“Sweetheart is a wizard’s best friend, and a lifelong companion.”
“… … .”
I changed the subject without mentioning the leftover cookies.
“Then can I ask you a question now?”
“Before that, please explain the situation clearly. “Where did you see this demon fish and magic circle?”
“This is Cartel Academy.”
Lise’s head was tilted.
“Cartel Academy? “It must be an educational institution in the system.”
“that’s right. So what happened… … .”
I summarized as best as I could the series of events taking place at Cartel Academy.
After hearing the whole story, Rise looked interested.
“It is clear that the empire’s prestige has faded greatly over the years. The devil has descended in the middle of the islands. Well, it’s not the advent in its complete form, but it’s possible because it’s Haden-Eihar, the ruler of the underworld… … .”
“… … .”
“It would be fun for the entire academy to become a den of evil. Ahaha. “It’s quite a pleasant thing.”
Looking at the way he speaks, it doesn’t seem like he can ask for help from his family through RiSe.
“… “Now that I think about it, I used the magic tool you gave me earlier to meet Lise, but I’m worried that the dean’s doll might notice.”
Rise laughed at my words.
“Even if it’s a doll, perfect imitation is impossible. The higher the level of the original, the more difficult it is to reproduce, and partial memory loss will also occur. “If it’s an archmage’s doll, it probably won’t be able to produce even half of its original power.”
“aha… … .”
I thought it was an all-rounder, but it has a lot more loopholes than I thought.
Actually, isn’t this a natural thing?
There is no way that a doll of that size could be pulled out without any significant penalty.
“Of course, even a perfect archmage would not be able to pierce Lyserradigos’ magic tool, so you don’t have to worry too much.”
It feels a bit reassuring to be able to guarantee something like this.
If his personality had been a little more rounded, he would have been the best helper.
Well, not everyone can be successful.
“anyway… Things seem to be going interesting. “Then your goal is to enter the underworld directly and then defeat the Demon King.”
“For now, yes.”
“Well, it’s good. “Then I think I can tell you a few things.”
Rise laughed and continued speaking.
“What the magic circle you showed me was the formation and maintenance of the other side of the world and the enforcement of new laws. Therefore, if you step into Haden-Eihar’s territory, you must follow the rules.”
“What happens if I break it?”
“You will be trapped forever. The body will be bound in the world of the blood-red moon, and the soul will be tormented for eternity in the hands of the devil. Even death cannot be liberation.”
The moment I heard those words, Alec came to mind.
This is the voice that wished for the death of the expedition team that left for Yeongsan.
‘Even death cannot be liberation.’
Tangtata, the demon lord of the green tongue.
The image of him playing with Juan’s head like a ball flashes through my mind.
At the time, even though I only had bad feelings toward Juan, I felt pity rather than joy… … .
Suddenly this thought occurred to me.
Perhaps dying at that time would have been a blessing for Juan.
Reese looked at the note and continued.
“It seems like the things written in demonic language are the rules of the underworld. “I will tell you this only once, so memorize it carefully.”
Did eating sweets make you feel better?
Rise explained in a humming tone.
“first. If you get caught by the doll, it’s over. second. Do not leave the restricted area. The victory conditions are finding the person in charge of the ritual and defeating the demon lord. The time limit is until the full moon. Hmm. “The rules are simpler than you think.”
I thought about it carefully and then asked.
“If defeating the master of ceremonies is a condition for victory, then there is no reason to enter the secret world, is there?”
“Killing the organizer from the outside doesn’t mean much. The power of the Demon King will not increase further, but the Demon King who has descended will not disappear. Rather, there is a possibility that it may explode for unknown reasons.”
“… … .”
It’s the same as what Evan said.
At least it means that he didn’t lie about subduing the demon lord.
‘First of all, we don’t have to worry about that guy’s betrayal at the Academy.’
Still, I think it would be difficult to completely trust her, Rise said.
“Let me give you some advice.”
“What is it?”
“Run away.”
Rise laughed and continued speaking.
“Everyone who understands the rules is hopeful at first. I might be able to win, I might be able to survive. I repeat it like brainwashing. Not knowing that it was just a device for the devil’s entertainment. The deeper you dig, the more you will realize it. “In the first place, Haden Eihar’s game has an extremely unreasonable structure that can never be won.”
Rise said, extending her hand to me.
“Of course, even if it were a doll, you wouldn’t be able to easily fool the Archmage’s alter ego and escape… … . “It is not difficult for me, Lyserradigos.”
I remembered receiving a similar offer.
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I’m sure it was during the first retreat, when I met Assad.
I laughed out loud.
Now that I think about it, the situation is a bit similar to back then.
The difference is that he is not the Demon King of the Black Swamp, but the Demon King of the Blood Moon.
Isn’t it the extent to which the person making the proposal has changed from Assad to Rise?
‘but… … .’
Just refusing blindly like I did then may not be the best solution.
Once you leave the academy, you can ask for help from outside.
‘For example, what if I could call even Sanghyeolgong?’
Of course, Sanghyeolgong is the busiest man on the continent… It’s nothing else, it’s about the devil.
If possible, I guess I’ll come back in a month.
“How can I run away?”
“It’s not difficult. “Hide here for the next six days until the Demon King truly descends.”
The unexpected answer made me feel a little dizzy.
“… “What is that?”
“The moment the Demon King descends, all those caught in the underworld will be sacrificed. At least half of the people in the Academy will be like that. “The seeds of evil will be planted in those who are lucky enough to survive.”
“What is the seed of evil?”
“It’s a dark instinct that always sprouts… … . When it blooms, it will strangle those it loves, destroy cherished treasures for no reason, and harbor an undying hatred for parents and children.”
“… … .”
“If you stay here, you can escape its influence. After that, you can leave the academy and leave the matter to the Imperial Knights, another archmage, or Delak to take care of it. “If it’s something to do with the Demon King, he’ll come running from the other side of the continent.”
The last words were similar to my thoughts, but I closed my mouth.
Rise looked at me quizzically as I didn’t respond.
“More than two hundred people at the academy have already been replaced by puppets.”
“I told you so.”
“I thought they had already been sacrificed as sacrifices to the devil, but hearing you say that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
Reese laughed.
“Those who have been replaced by dolls will still be trapped in the other side of the world. Clinging to fleeting hopes, trembling with fear and terror, longing for the sun that will never rise under the blood-red moon.”
“Then isn’t it still available?”
“Do you want to save them?”
“If you can get it, it’s better to get it.”
Rise let out a snoring sound.
“how? By stepping into the devil’s game that you have no chance of winning? “Are you a fool who entered hell on your own feet?”
“… … .”
“They are as good as dead already. Jumping into the sea to save those who have already been swept away by the storm is not called good will. “It’s a question of intelligence, not rescue, just companion suicide.”
Lise’s eyes turned to me.
But strangely, at this moment, the usual evilness was not felt in the strange purple eyes.
Rather, it was filled with a spirit of exploration that seemed like scattered starlight.
“Hana Luan Badniker, I want to ask you before all this criticism.”
Rise looked at me and asked as if I was dealing with something unknown I had never experienced before.
“Are you good?”
* * *
I left the underground library, leaving Lise behind.
It wasn’t that I refused the offer.
Somehow, as we talked, I became emotionally depressed… … . Whenever I was in this state, I organized my thoughts by myself.
In a quiet place, facing your inner self.
Fortunately, the food warehouse was quiet, and the moonlight shining through the window created a quiet atmosphere.
I sat on the box and was lost in thought.
Cartel Academy.
For me, this place was not a place to learn knowledge, but a place filled with fog everywhere.
The sense of discomfort I felt from the moment I first stepped in, Seren Goodspring, the two royal family members, Professor Alec, the ghost story, the spirit mountain, the demon king, the small sect leader Evan, the huge conspiracy I learned along the way, and Dean Alderson, who was a puppet -.
I thought I was observing from a distance, but when I came to, I was already caught up in the flow.
I wandered around without even knowing the direction. Days when I felt more confused than helpless.
And finally the fog cleared… I laughed when I saw the monster that revealed its shape.
There’s a saying that ignorance is medicine, and that’s exactly what it is.
It would be better if I didn’t know.
If you didn’t know that two hundred innocent cadets were still alive and suffering in the underworld.
‘Dirty thoughts.’
I burst out laughing.
– Are you good?
So the answer to that question is “no.”
Lycerradigos did not understand the essence of me at all.
How many good and deep people are there in the world? For example, Seren Goodspring, who jumped into Badniker’s retreat to save strangers.
I am different from Seren. It can’t be like that.
But that doesn’t mean I think I’m a bad person.
‘A relatively conscientious guy.’
That is my self-evaluation.
Sereung-.
I pulled out the Seven Deadly Sins Sword.
The unique rough black face couldn’t even accept the moonlight, let alone shine on me… … .
For some reason, at this moment, I felt like I was making eye contact with a warrior I had never seen before.
“I’m sure you heard everything.”
[That’s right.]
“Am I making a reckless choice?”
[It’s hard to deny it.]
Musin’s lonely voice continued.
[No matter how many lives you have, it won’t be enough. No one will criticize you for running away, and in fact, at Yeonja’s age, it’s right to promise for the future.]
“… … .”
[But you don’t want to do that.]
I burst out laughing at Musin’s words.
[You shouldn’t do anything you don’t want to do.]
Perhaps this is neither comfort nor encouragement.
I really liked Musin’s words.
“Would you like to join us?”
Musin said with a smile.
[A world where the moon never sets, or in other words, a world where the sun never rises. How terrified those poor, weak children must have been. How many nights have I stayed up in fear?]
“… … .”
[Maybe no one looks forward to the sunrise anymore. You may also have forgotten the feeling of sunlight hitting your skin. But I think that in a world like that, the dawn must come even more. You must prove that the sun rises.]
“… … .”
[Gasena, Yeonja.]
At Musin’s words, I stood up.
[Even if you walk down the road to hell, I will be with you.]
It was just before leaving the warehouse.
At that moment, a faint beam of light poured in from the window.
Just before leaving the room, I blinked my eyes to adjust to the particularly bright light today.
It was sunrise.
fantasy,
