EP.188 Each person’s stage (2)
It has been hundreds of years since humanity was abandoned.
The ancient lich, who was once human but now a being beyond human, has had one question for hundreds of years.
‘Why?’
I saw people who were called superhumans.
I saw people who went beyond human limitations and achieved feats that humans could not do. Every time he saw them, Skebal felt suspicious.
‘Don’t they choose the path of transcendence?’
A way out of humanity.
‘Apostasy, betrayal, apostasy, corruption.’
Means that allow you to easily tear down walls and move on. A way to escape the constraints of lifespan, abandon the weak body, and reach transcendence.
Countless, countless humans.
Weak people choose the path of corruption.
But, why?
These people are called superhumans. Although they are human, they are beyond human and never choose the path of corruption of their own will.
‘why.’
Even though they can achieve more than ordinary people, and even though they can acquire stronger powers through corruption… they insist on remaining human.
‘Why do you make that choice?’
Even though they are dirty, broken, and thus driven crazy, they choose to live as humans and die as humans.
Inefficient choice.
An incredibly foolish decision.
so that.
“···can not understand.”
The ancient lich does not understand them.
Skebal looks at the place where the madman disappeared a little while ago. At the last moment, the madman swallowed the shadow and imprisoned himself in another world.
『What a foolish choice.』
Skebal sees through the madman’s plan.
The flow of time in this world is different from this world.
The flow of time accelerates, sometimes becoming twisted and twisted. Am I going to wear out his pieces along with my own in that flow?
‘···A mere human being?’
It endures for nearly eternity in this world.
Swallowing his fragments, in the midst of madness.
Did you believe that it was possible with the human body?
『It’s impossible.』
Skebal checks his body as it slowly returns. Bones are connected to each other. Black mana is weaving the bones together little by little but surely.
Gradually, suddenly.
Raise your right hand that has been completed.
‘His part wants to exist in this world.’
Even if a mere human were to hold on to this world, there was no way they could hold on to it forever. Eventually you will be released. Even now, there are efforts to be released.
Geek.
A twist that appeared in the air.
Skebal stretched out his hand towards the twist.
‘That person’s level of perfection as a vessel is not high.’
You have to find another container to put it in.
Open the twisting space with your right hand. With your left hand, you breathe mana into the altar and perform the ritual again. This is the moment when Skebal tries to raise mana.
『······.』
Skebal’s fingers stop.
His eyes narrowed.
“···where?”
An offering that would have been placed on the altar.
The vessel used to contain the gods was nowhere to be seen.
2.
Aplia, where dark magical energy oscillates.
Kalt walks while relying on the purification device. Carrying out operations covertly is something Kalt is used to. There are no obstacles in performing familiar tasks.
The gap between buildings.
Between the shadows cast on the floor.
Hiding his energy and suppressing his breathing to a minimum, Kalt was moving to avoid the ancient lich’s gaze.
‘lucky.’
Kalt thinks so. sincerely.
When he entered Aplia, what Kalt saw was a madman confronting Skebal.
‘The madman, Kelhalm.’
Skebal’s entire attention was focused on him.
Thanks to the madman attracting Skebal’s attention and spreading a huge amount of mana everywhere, Kalt was able to sneak in without his identity being discovered.
‘Where was that?’
Also, Kalt saw.
An image of a madman swallowing an unknown shadow rising from the air and entering a hole. Even if Kaltra was ignorant of the magical field, he wasn’t so clueless that he didn’t know what it meant.
‘Kelhalm became a vessel.’
I sacrificed myself and sacrificed myself.
It was a method that Kalt had never heard of.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
“One thing must be sacrificed.”
The method of destruction that I heard from the elf just before coming here.
“It cannot be stopped. Since it cannot be stopped, a scapegoat is needed. There will be three bowls there.”
three students.
Children blessed by the stars.
“Throw away one. “There is no other way.”
Sacrifice one of them.
The elf said so, and Kalt was ready to make a choice. He has repeatedly encountered situations on the battlefield where he had to sacrifice something.
A harsh choice.
Deciding someone’s death with your own hands.
It’s a terrible thing, and there have been times when I have had to do something I didn’t want to do. It will be the same this time too. Kalt made his determination like that.
But there is no need for that anymore.
A madman sacrificed himself.
Instead of choosing anyone else, he chose to become a sacrifice himself. The elf told him to abandon one, but the madman abandoned no one.
‘Giving one’s life for others.’
It is a noble sacrifice.
Kalt mentally changes his assessment of the madman.
‘···He is a person worthy of respect.’
Respect, gratitude, and determination.
Kalt had no intention of letting the madman’s sacrifice be in vain.
“Sacrifice one of the dishes. “It means leaving only one at the altar.”
Three conditions that were instructed by the elf earlier.
One of them was handled by Kelhalm. If so, he only moves to fulfill the remaining conditions.
“Secure children related to the blessing of the stars.”
Stella, Ayla.
The next hero, Chloe.
Watcher, Resty.
The identities of the three people are already in my head. Kalt took advantage of the commotion and succeeded in hiding the three children far away from the altar.
‘Achievement of two conditions.’
What are the remaining conditions?
Kalt hides behind the building and catches his breath. Amid the fluctuating magical energy, I can barely control my breathing by relying on the purification device.
Last condition.
This is the moment when Kalt is trying to remember that.
『A rat has sneaked in.』
A voice rang in my ears.
“···!”
Kalt reflexively threw himself away.
A bone stake flew through the wall of the building and landed in the spot where Kalt had been standing just moments ago.
Bababababaak!
Kalt raised his head as he distanced himself from the raised bone stake. There is a being floating in the sky there. Robes made of human facial skin fluttered in the darkness.
『Where is the sacrifice?』
Shiny black eyes.
Blood dripping from the corners of the eyes.
Magi shaking from all directions.
‘Ancient lich, Skeval.’
One of the Four Plagues.
An ancient magician who lived for hundreds of years in what was called a battlefield nightmare until the appearance of the Gray Wizard.
“As for the last condition… I don’t know if it’s possible for you.”
With that presence in front of him, Kalt once again reflects on the last conditions he heard from the elf.
“Take your time against Skebal.”
Deal with disaster.
“Until the time given to him is over.”
Against disaster, take your time.
A time that I don’t know whether it will be a few seconds or a few minutes.
That was the mission given to Kalt.
“···Phew.”
Kalt lets out a short breath and steps back.
Pull out the sword from your waist. What was drawn was not the dagger that was the Hound’s equipment. It is a well-honed long sword.
The weapon he used during the battlefield.
Kalt narrows his eyes while holding it.
The place where the tip of the sword is pointed is the ancient lich Skebal floating in the air. Kalt strengthens his resolve.
『It’s almost laughable.』
Soon, orders started pouring in.
In front of the flooding waves of spells, Kalt clucks and holds the hilt of his sword tightly.
3.
“Explain. entire.”
Blue eyes shining in front of my nose.
In front of those eyes that didn’t look like they would close again, Cardi let out a short breath.
“Let go. “I have to let it go so I can explain.”
Raniel lets go of his hand.
Cardi took a few steps back, leaned his back on the table where the medicines were placed, and opened his mouth.
“You finally came to your senses.”
“I want to rest, but it’s not a good situation to rest.”
Cardi handed me a wet towel.
Raniel takes the wet towel with trembling hands. She forced herself to steady her unsteady breathing and began wiping herself with her wet towel.
“…I don’t think it’s in a good state to stay up.”
“I know my body best. “I got up because it was worth getting up, and I moved because it was worth moving.”
It was a lie.
Cardi’s eyes see Raniel’s messed up insides. The flow of mana is distorted, and the passage through which mana flows is in the process of being restored.
‘Let alone waking up…’
Even coming to your senses would be a struggle.
However, Cardi did not necessarily point out that Raniel’s words were false. Instead, I asked a question.
“Do you need painkillers?”
“it’s okay. “My senses have become numb.”
“They say it’s okay if you become dull.”
“Are you asking because you don’t know?”
She pointed out the window.
“You should go.”
“······.”
“So, explain quickly.”
Cardi sighed and opened her mouth.
“Do you know the laws of stars and shade?”
“Where there is light, there is a shadow?”
“Not that. You, my hometown. Do you know the name of the kingdom that was reduced to ashes?”
“I don’t know. “Because it’s not listed anywhere.”
“Then a detailed explanation is impossible.”
That again? At Raniel’s questioning look, Cardi frowned.
“I’m frustrated too. I feel like I want to explain everything, including that altar. Stars and shade. The curse of losing the right to be king has become a mere phenomenon…?”
Cardi’s eyes widened.
There was no mana in the pronunciation. There was no feeling of restrictions binding the root of the tongue.
“Raniel.”
“what.”
“What did I just say?”
“The curse of losing the right to be king is a simple phenomenon…”
“Can you hear that?”
“I must have said it because I could hear it.”
Cardi touched my neck.
The restrictions of numerous maxims that would normally have been imposed were now relaxed.
“···under.”
A sneer escaped from Cardi’s lips.
‘Given the circumstances, are you saying you’ll allow it this time?’
If not…
“······.”
Cardi wordlessly glanced at the girl in front of her.
‘Does this mean we’re already close to there?’
Did you understand that law unconsciously?
I couldn’t tell which one it was. I didn’t know, but that wasn’t important right now. Cardi recognized the extent to which constraints had been loosened.
“■■ of ■■. ■■■■. ■■.”
After several confirmations, he opened his mouth again.
“The devil has lost his right to be king. That would have explained it, right?”
Raniel nodded.
Cardi continued speaking.
“A perfect being, a being who has become a god in a perfect vessel. We cut a vessel there to contain the gods. So it became an imperfect being.”
There wasn’t much that could be explained.
Time and time again, restrictions try to tie the root of the tongue. Cardi continued to explain as much as the stars allowed.
“As you said, it has become a phenomenon. It was demoted from a perfect being to an imperfect being. Just as it was when the shadow was born in the beginning.”
so that.
“The shade seeks a new vessel. Where the starlight gathered, it began to live like a shadow. “I’m not ■■■ ■■, I’m Pyeonlin.”
“···Convenient?”
“Yes, it’s convenient. In order to become whole, you need to find a vessel to contain yourself. Just like it did in the past.”
“That vessel.”
Raniel opened his mouth.
“Are these children with star-related talents?”
Cardi nodded.
“Stars and shadows are fundamentally similar entities. Therefore, a bowl containing stars can contain shade.”
“Well, that one.”
Raniel pointed to the black barrier outside the window.
“Are you saying you’re doing this damn thing to bring shade to those kids?”
“Accurate.”
“Is it possible for that phenomenon to occur without any warning? If you think about it that way, it was already on the battlefield…”
“There are conditions. “I can’t tell you this.”
Cardi looked up at the sky.
The location of stars hidden beyond the blue sky.
Cardi continued, thinking about it.
“If a certain period of time, certain conditions, and some unknown condition are met… this phenomenon can occur.”
“How to stop it?”
“does not exist.”
Cardi declared.
“Once this phenomenon occurs, there is no way to stop it from the moment the shadow appears. Someone has to sacrifice. Otherwise, everything will just fly away.”
“······.”
“It has already been communicated that way.”
A hunting dog that is not here right now.
Cardi explained to Raniel the conditions conveyed to him. After hearing the explanation, Raniel grabbed the side of the bed and lifted himself up.
“Where are you going with that body?”
“I have to go.”
“Even if I go now, it would be too late. I heard that the Black Magic Tower lord has finished explaining the situation to the royal family. If you are going to go there, it would be better to join the knights who will be heading there soon…”
“What’s late?”
Even though he stumbles, Raniel stands with both feet on the ground. She spoke under her breath.
“You think it’s too much for that Kalt guy, right now?”
“······.”
Cardi was silent.
Silence meant yes.
In fact, it is natural. The hunting dog he saw was not a superhuman. He is not a person blessed by stars. He was just a criminal, and from Cardi’s perspective, he was not good enough to deal with disaster.
‘Conditions close to suicidal behavior.’
Even though I explained it understandably, the hound ran towards the barrier. It would have been resolved by now.
“Probably not.”
However, Raniel denies that speculation.
“You wouldn’t know.”
Raniel laughed, twisting the corner of his mouth.
“That guy, Kalt, is the guy who even withstood Ganikalt once.”
* * *
Orders are flooding in. The waves crash in.
In front of the waves, Kalt swung his sword. He kicked the ground and leapt after leap at his feet. Cut what can be cut. I don’t care about things I can’t cut.
Fit!
Blood splattered from the forearm and calf that were grazed by the spell. There are many minor wounds, but none of them are fatal. Kalt constantly makes choices.
What to gain and what to throw away.
Put it on the scale and repeat the calculation.
Kalt is not a superman. It is especially not a being chosen by the stars. As a mere human being, he had to give up something in order to achieve something.
‘It’s something I’ve done a lot of times.’
On the battlefield, Kalt stood by Raniel’s side.
He stood by the warrior’s side and assisted them in their fight.
A place where superhumans and disasters collide with all their might. A stage for those who have escaped humanity. On such a stage, Kalt has been struggling to achieve something.
‘What lies ahead is disaster.’
Kalt looks at his opponent.
An ancient lich whose body was damaged in a fight with a madman, but it still remains a disaster. Even if you are a weakened being, it is too much for you.
Dealing with disaster with the human body.
It is an impossible task.
To achieve that, what is needed?
Kalt rolls on the floor while cutting down a spell. He escapes from the spell by rolling awkwardly on the floor. He is not a swordsman who accomplishes everything with a single sword. Kalt is aware of that deficiency.
‘Not enough, not enough.’
Because I know it, I long for a means to make up for it.
Kalt took out a magic tool from his chest and threw it away. Disposable magic tools produce large and small explosions. It blocks the spell and buys Kalt time.
‘so.’
What I held in my hand was a test tube with red liquid flowing.
‘Use everything you can.’
A potion that strengthens the body of a superhuman.
A doping agent designed to be tolerated only by superhumans.
Kalt is picking it up, which is still under development. The needle attached to the end of the test tube was pointed at the nape of my neck.
Sigh!
Without hesitation, Kalt plunged it into the back of his neck. The doping agent begins to flow through the blood vessels.
Boom, boom!
My heart is beating violently. The pupils become red and bloodshot, and the body no longer feels pain. I can feel the heat in my exhaled breath.
“Whoa…”
Kalt exhales and raises his head.
『It’s almost the same.』
It’s a trivial act in the eyes of disaster.
However, as a human, it is a resistance that risks one’s life.
‘Buy time.’
What you want is not victory.
A soldier does not forget his purpose.
* * *
“I will hold on. clearly.”
What is in those eyes is not trust in colleagues.
It’s close to certainty.
“···So, you want to go there?”
“That’s right.”
“With that body?”
Raniel answers.
“Because I have to go.”
She answers like that, as if it were completely obvious.
“Because I have to do it.”
A firm voice.
Cardi senses that there is no room for persuasion.
chin.
The first step is shaky.
However, from the second step, she does not stumble. Enduring her pain, she begins to cast strengthening spells on her broken body.
“···Raniel.”
Cardi gives her advice.
“I will tell you in advance, the moment you contain the shadow, you die. “If you are thinking of using yourself as a vessel…”
“I’m not going to commit suicide, so don’t worry.”
Tick, tidik.
Sparks fly over her body. It is a reaction to a strengthening spell being placed on a broken body. However, she also perseveres. She perseveres and overlays spell upon spell.
“That said, I have no intention of using anyone as a vessel. “All three of them are the ones I had my eye on, so why should I give them to them?”
“Then, what are you going to do…”
“Hey, Cardi.”
She looked back at Cardi.
“You said it. “It has become incomplete.”
“···yes.”
“It’s incomplete, and what’s there is just a piece of it, that’s what you said, right?”
“I said so.”
“That’s it then.”
Raniel spread out his palms.
What is engraved on the palm is a collection of tangled lines. A strange schematic that can hardly be called a circuit. Raniel smiled while showing that.
“It is said that hundreds of years ago, a great sage captured and defeated a complete demon lord.”
What blooms above the messy schematic is gray mana.
She pointed at it and smiled mischievously.
“Wouldn’t you like to live up to the name of a wise man if you make up for the imperfection of the Demon King?”
Mana with the nature of a curse.
Cardi’s eyes shook when she saw that.
“you···?”
“It’s been four years since we were defeated by the Demon King, Cardi.”
She ties up her messy hair neatly. Instead of the blood-covered cape, she takes out one of the magic tower coats hanging on the wall and puts it on.
“A wizard always needs to find the answer.”
She moves forward.
“This is the answer I found.”
As always.
A word from the author (author review)
I tried to do the training, but I couldn’t do it…
Instead, I brought it with me in a quantity that was close to my annual allowance…!
The illustration was done by Fnas.k 😀
