Episode 81
Hector, the dwarf spirit, and Charon returned to the hut, but they could not immediately hear the circumstances from these guys.
All three must have reached their limit of fatigue because they fainted as soon as they arrived at the cabin.
“… “I don’t think it’s because of fatigue, Charon.”
“Albaim?”
Compared to these three, our condition was fine, but we still didn’t know when or what situation would arise, so we decided to keep an eye on it.
The four of us took turns on watch duty.
The first night of the special exam – maybe we should call it that now – passed like that.
The next morning.
I came out to get some fresh air, looked up at the sky, and tilted my head.
“… Is it morning? “I’m not sure because the forest is so dark.”
Mir spoke for me.
It was already a dark place due to the dense tree branches, but… … .
It somehow feels much darker than usual right now.
And I, who was much more sensitive to the presence of the sun, realized it without even having to peek beyond the tree branches.
‘The sun hasn’t risen?’
I took out an hourglass from my pocket.
The hourglass was now one-third worn out, meaning that just one day had passed since the exam started.
And since the test started in the morning, the sun should still be up… … .
‘I hope it’s just my mood.’
Wouldn’t it be an escape from reality to run such a hope circuit when even the devil has already appeared?
First of all, it is cross-validation.
I returned to the cabin with Mir.
And I saw aspiring heroes sitting together in a narrow hut.
“… “It’s incredibly frustrating.”
Is it because there are no windows?
For some reason, it’s hard to breathe, and if it were summer, I might have steamed to death.
I first looked at Hector and asked.
“Are you okay?”
“It has improved a lot. “What about you?”
“me?”
“Didn’t your palm get pierced yesterday? There were also burn marks… … .”
You have a better sense of humor than I thought.
He looked like he was on the verge of collapsing, but judging by the way he was talking, I guess he saw the sparring with Charon as well.
“I’m fine. “Maybe everything will be better tomorrow.”
“is it… … .”
“Are you okay, Dwarf?”
“Oh, yes. “I’m fine.”
I asked while looking at the dwarf Youngdo.
“Your name is…” … .”
“It’s called Basil Jules.”
“It did.”
Evan told me, but I forgot.
Basil muttered with a downcast face.
“I heard the general situation from Evan and Charles here. Who would have thought that Pam was dead… … . “Then I guess I shouldn’t have any expectations about Tenma either.”
At times like this, words of comfort were meaningless, so I kept my mouth shut.
And finally, we see Charon.
Just yesterday, my facial features were so swollen that I couldn’t see them properly, but now the swelling has gone down a lot.
‘This guy’s recovery is amazing, isn’t it?’
He probably ate as much good food as Hector.
“But what happened to you and your group members and you were alone?”
“… “Our group decided to act separately.”
“aha.”
Although it would be crazy to take individual action in such a dangerous place.
If it was Charon who did that, I understand.
“We each tried to go around and earn points. Did you sell potions under the protection of that guy named Zeros?”
“… … .”
Charon silently agreed.
When I saw that shabby face, my desire to want more rose like a cloud… … .
Previously.
“Hmm.”
I cleared my throat to attract attention and then spoke.
“Before we talk, is there anyone who knows much about the Dark Church?”
Then, out of the seven, Hector raised his hand.
“Then let’s ask your brother something.”
“what?”
“Are there any of the church’s rituals that are related to the solar eclipse?”
Hector’s expression hardened at my words.
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“… “Has a solar eclipse occurred now?”
“maybe.”
“It is not an easy issue to talk about. “Answer clearly.”
I nodded.
“that’s right. “The sun has been eaten by shadows.”
“… … .”
Then everyone looked at Hector’s expression.
The stiff expression on his face was now completely bloodless, like a corpse.
“Hector?”
“Do you know what’s going on?”
“From what I learned from the literature… A solar eclipse that occurs without any warning in a certain area refers to only one case.”
And Hector’s next words made my guess a reality.
“The Demon King’s Descent Ceremony.”
Dark Church.
It looks like these crazy guys are planning to descend the Demon King to the land of Badniker.
* * *
The expressions on the faces of the leaders were naturally dumbfounded at first.
I almost broke down when I saw the little devil, but when the name devil came up, I felt like I lost all sense of reality.
“No, you’re kidding, right? The devil is coming… … .”
“There’s no way something like that could happen in Badniker’s territory, not anywhere else…” … ?”
“Of course, it won’t be a complete advent. “For that, there won’t be enough preparation time and offerings.”
“Offer, sacrifice… … .”
Basil’s face turned pale after hearing Hector’s words, as he was uncharacteristically timid for a dwarf.
“What appears on this earth must be a part of the Demon King’s body.”
“Well, I’m glad that’s the case.”
“Thank goodness?”
Hector said with a weak smile.
“Do you remember the incident 20 years ago when the large city of Philpia was reduced to ruins in 27 minutes? Even now, the land is so viciously eroded by musical instruments that even high-ranking priests have given up on purifying it. “What the church summoned at that time was at most one finger of the devil.”
“… “I also heard about the tragedy in Pilpiasi.”
Charles said.
“But I heard that the number of people sacrificed at that time was in the hundreds… … .”
“We have no way of knowing the circumstances behind the church. What we need to pay attention to now is that the solar eclipse has already occurred and the ritual has also begun.”
I asked.
“So what happens from now on?”
“First of all, organisms mutate. “All creatures that are not immune will be affected by the instrument and their bodies will be distorted.”
“effect?”
“Originally, there were no wolf-type monsters in this forest. “It must have been like that because the animals that lived in the forest were affected.”
“hmm… … .”
“Secondly, the appearance of the devil. “Although most of them are low-level demons with the intelligence of animals, they open the gates of hell and appear in droves.”
Hector looked at me and said.
“Next is the solar eclipse you saw.”
“How many levels of consciousness are there in total?”
“As far as I know, there are four levels. They say that in the final stage, the ground itself rots away and emits a terrible musical instrument. “It’s an instrument so strong that even active-duty heroes can’t withstand it.”
If we get there, we’ll all die.
Well, there was no time to fight.
“… … .”
“… … .”
Anyway, the atmosphere instantly became heavier after hearing Hector’s explanation.
Same goes for me.
I knew the situation was serious, but seeing it in person was beyond my imagination.
‘If it was a disaster of this magnitude, I would have deserved to die… … .’
Master, have you seen this far?
But I don’t think it’s a matter of whether you receive advice or not.
In just one month, could I have grown to a level where I can respond to this situation?
At that time, Evan, who had a relatively calm face, asked.
“There is no way Badniker wouldn’t know about an incident like this. “Wouldn’t he receive support from the family soon?”
“Support will come, but… “I don’t know when that will happen.”
“yes?”
“A barrier has been formed in a 20km radius around the training camp. “It is a barrier created by Archmage Asad himself, and it was created to completely block the inside and the outside.”
“Why such a barrier… … .”
“If it weren’t for that, we wouldn’t have been able to create a camp in this dangerous place. The barrier not only eliminates the invasion of monsters, but also eliminates the unique effects of the forest. “Something like loss of direction.”
“ah… … .”
“Maybe the mastermind knows that fact.”
Although he didn’t say it out loud, Hector probably knew that the mastermind was an insider of the family.
“… “It would be nice if there was a way to spread the news to the outside world.”
“Isn’t there someone who has that kind of protection? “Why, there was also a person who brought in foreign goods without permission.”
Then our eyes turned to Charon.
This guy seemed completely unfazed as to whether he knew what was going on or not, and responded in a blunt tone.
“… If you’re talking about zeros, it’s impossible. Its protection does not form a passage to the outside world. He just has a huge warehouse.”
It’s amazing that even after getting beaten up like that, he still speaks in a nonchalant manner.
I admired Charon for a moment, and then a thought suddenly occurred to me.
“wait for a sec. “You said the barrier was created by Archmage Assad, right?”
“It’s Assad.”
“okay. Mr. Assad.”
Hector looked at me with a dissatisfied expression and nodded.
“Yes. That’s why it’s useless for him to use powers lower than his.”
“I have a magic tool that the matriarch gave me. Wouldn’t this be able to pierce the power of that great wizard?”
“Magic tools?”
I raised my middle finger and showed it.
Of course, it was not because I wanted to suddenly insult Hector, but I showed him the ring on my middle finger.
“that… … ?”
“They said that if you infuse mana here, you can go to the 5th floor.”
“ah!”
Hector carefully checked the ring, and his expression brightened.
“A flat ring without even a detailed pattern, let alone a jewel… … . “Assad must have made it.”
“oh.”
“That magic tool will be able to break through the barrier.”
“ah… … !”
Then, sighs of relief erupted simultaneously from all directions.
It felt like a ray of sunlight was shining on my dark, dead face.
“okay. wait a minute.”
I immediately injected mana into the black ring.
… Ugh-.
I wondered what would happen if it didn’t work, but fortunately the ring resonated with my mana without any problems.
Mana flowed out of the ring and enveloped my entire body.
and… … .
Fit!
In an instant, my peripheral vision changed.
“… hmm?”
Before I knew it, I was standing in the middle of a shabby room.
The large room, which had no doors or even windows, was filled with bookshelves, most of which were old books written in an unknown language.
Now that I think about it, did you say that the scenery on the 5th floor changes every time?
So that means there is a Sanghyeolgong somewhere here… … .
“What?”
I was surprised because I had no sense of presence at all.
When I looked behind me, I saw another person sitting at the table instead of Iron Blood Ball.
A man reading a book wearing reading glasses without even looking at me.
This is Archmage Assad.
“Luan Badnicker, why are you here?”
“… “What about Mr. Assad?”
“Is it strange that I’m in my room?”
“It’s strange. “They said that if I use this ring, I will go to the 5th floor of the main house.”
“ring?”
Only then did Assad look up from his book and look at me.
My tired eyes touched my ring.
“Where did you get that ring?”
“I received it from the head of the family.”
“Delac gave it to you? hmm.”
Assad looked at me with suspicious eyes, but then said he was not interested.
“If that’s you, then that’s probably it.”
“… So where is the matriarch?”
“I don’t know. “I’m disturbing you, so leave now.”
Assad said that and tried to expel me, so I spoke hurriedly.
“Now, wait a minute!”
“What?”
“It’s a very dangerous situation right now. “Because of Assad’s barrier.”
“My barrier?”
I explained everything to Assad.
Special tests at the retreat, casualties that have already occurred, and even a precursor to the summoning of the Demon Lord.
“… … .”
Assad closed the book he was reading.
He rested his chin and seemed to be thinking about something, but his reaction was calmer than I expected.
‘I thought there would be more of a fuss if I said I was summoning the Demon Lord… … .’
Now that I think about it, it is said that wizards who live for a long time become dull to human emotions and become more and more detached?
I thought that life would be very boring if I lived like that.
And Assad said:
“Right.”
“… hmm. “Excuse me, but is that what appreciation is all about?”
“Then why don’t we make a fuss?”
“I thought you would be surprised without making a fuss.”
“Why should I be surprised when I hear again what I already know?”
“… yes?”
What did this man just say?
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