Chapter 221 ·Rio (3)
Rio (3)
Over the course of nearly a month, Ferus was finally able to create the artifact. For any other magitech scholar, the task would have taken even longer, but since Ferus was the best magitech scholar on the West Continent, one could say the time taken was relatively short.
From the start, it wasn't just Ferus and his assistants involved in the creation. Frederick and Mirianne, who possessed deep knowledge of the artifact, and Pram—who was none other than the World Tree itself and the original source of the artifact—all participated.
Just considering the gathered team, the successful creation of the artifact was all but guaranteed.
Thanks to them, the completed artifact was now visible before their eyes.
[How long has it been since I've seen a weapon like this?]
[It's really nostalgic. I remember learning how to use this artifact in order to take down the Chaos Dragon.]
Frederick and Mirianne reminisced as they gazed at the sword before them, recalling fond memories. Facing the Chaos Dragon, wielding that blade, and nearly dying in the process—they regarded those memories as medals and smiled.
[Back then, if we hadn't had this, the continent would have been destroyed by the Chaos Dragon.]
[And it wasn't as if we had the leisure of time to create it back then.]
At that time, a monster capable of causing disasters simply by moving roamed wildly across the continent. The continent was on the brink of destruction as they rushed to forge a weapon to stand against the beast.
[But it was you who gave us that time.]
Mirianne pointed quietly at Rio, who had been listening silently by her side.
"But I..."
Rio was startled, denying it as if it weren't true. She still couldn't bring herself to confirm that she was the same being as in her previous life.
[Even so, we are sincerely grateful. If not for you, this continent wouldn't have survived.]
"...."
Rio lowered her head, embarrassed, and the others continued.
[You managed to temporarily put the Chaos Dragon to sleep. It's unfortunate that this feat isn't even recorded.]
[The real hero here is you. So, we wish you could live a happier life.]
"Thank you."
After a brief moment spent comforting the downcast Rio, Ferus adopted a more serious expression and spoke.
"Although the artifact has been successfully completed, surely you are aware of the problem, aren't you?"
The artifact had been perfectly completed—so what was the problem? But from the perspective of those involved, an issue remained for consideration.
"There is only one artifact completed. We tried to produce more, but it was simply impossible."
Originally, there had been five artifacts used by the five heroes. Now, however, only one had been completed.
"Even though the Imperial Court provided both failed prototypes and broken artifacts that had lost their power, this is all we could get. The reason must be... because we don't have the original World Tree."
All eyes naturally turned to Pram.
"... I am sorry."
Believing it was due to her own insufficient ability, Pram bowed her head apologetically.
"There was nothing you could do. Pram hasn't had centuries like the original World Tree to accumulate wisdom. I think everyone expected this possible outcome."
Silia explained the fairness of Pram's shortcomings, and all nodded in agreement. In truth, it was an achievement to produce even this much when she hadn't even been the World Tree for very long.
"That's right. Pram here doesn't have a speck of wisdom to her name."
"Hey, Victor. Was that supposed to be a compliment for me?"
Victor's defense—though not quite a defense—made Pram clench her fist with a smile.
"To get even one artifact from someone lacking wisdom is pretty impressive, isn't it?"
"It's like a pearl from muddy water. Truly remarkable, Pram!"
"You little punks!!"
As Simon and Rozen joined in with their own non-defenses, Pram put on a murderous expression. She wanted to clobber the three of them right then and there, but she couldn't move from where she sat.
"Pram, what am I supposed to do if you fall?"
Louis, right beside her, spoke up. As Louis said, Pram couldn't leave this spot.
"If you go... you know what happens, right?"
"....
If she left, a great calamity could occur at any moment. In the end, Pram had to hold back with supreme patience.
"I'll get you all later."
"Yeah, yeah~"
"Hang in there!"
"We can only tease you at times like this."
So Pram postponed her revenge. She resolved to pulverize them someday, but the three guys just kept on grinning.
"Oh, right! Now that I remember, Rio—you once assigned me to babysit Young Master's butt, didn't you!"
"...."
At that, Rio turned her head and looked away.
"You'd better be ready. One of these days, I'll smash your face with my butt."
"Sure."
"You're ignoring me? I mean it."
"Okay."
Rio, still looking nonchalant, backed away from Pram step by step.
"If you can."
"You little...!"
Rio teasingly raised Pram's blood pressure.
"Opportunities like this don't come often."
If not now, there wouldn't be another chance to tease Pram. Of course, once Louis returned to normal, this opportunity would end. For Rio, there was no next time.
"I should make the most of it while I can, don't you think?"
"If you can't handle the consequences, I'm not taking responsibility."
"I don't mind."
As Rio continued to smile, Pram glared at her as if vowing she would kill her one day.
[....]
[....]
Meanwhile, the two heroes looked at Rio with deep regret. About a week before the completion of the artifact, they had secretly approached Rio at midnight for a conversation.
Frederick and Mirianne's task was to decode the Blood Sword Technique's manual, and thanks to this, they had found out what kind of risks the 'ritual' posed.
However, they didn't disclose this to anyone else. Clearly, Rio herself didn't want anyone to know, which was why they initiated the private conversation.
They wanted to advise her not to go through with it, but Rio's resolve was already set. They had no right to break someone else's determination by force. But those trembling hands—what of them? Could it really be right for a girl more heroic than themselves to come to such a futile end?
"Ahem. Though we only managed to finish one, it's still enough to complete the ritual successfully. So, everyone can rest easy."
Ferus cleared his throat to focus everyone's attention. Since the ritual required only a single weapon to begin with, there was no problem with proceeding. Still, having more weapons would have increased their chances of success.
"Now that the weapon is ready, I'll explain how the ritual will be conducted. Basically, Rio, you'll mix some of your blood and draw the magic formation; Louis, you'll stand in the center of the formation; and little Pram, you'll stand just slightly to the side of the center."
Why does he only call me 'little girl'? Pram grumbled internally, but the explanation continued.
"Then, Rio, you step in front of Louis, drive the blade firmly into the ground, and start the ritual while holding the sword."
Ferus handed the artifact they'd made to Rio. Holding that legendary masterwork sword for the first time, Rio felt as if her heart had been purified.
"Thanks to these two decryption efforts, we were able to figure out the process for the ritual. Normally, forcing a ritual causes disasters, but with thorough preparation like this, you can achieve what you desire."
Their purpose right now was to restore Louis—more precisely, to transfer all the World Tree's power from Pram into Louis.
"But there's still something missing,"
Silia pointed out, addressing perhaps the most important requirement.
"The Blood Sword Technique's ritual is supposed to be performed on a land drenched in blood."
It needed to be a land ravaged by war or civil conflict to work properly. Centuries ago, the East Continent had been a proper fit due to ongoing turmoil, but even then, by the time the ritual was attempted, much of the blood had already dried, leading to disaster. Remembering that, they realized this attempt might also be risky.
[Don't worry—it's already prepared.]
"Already prepared?"
[Kid, do you really not know, even though you were an officer of the 7th Legion? Do you know how many people on this continent are dying in real time?]
7th Legion? Dying in real time?
"No way—"
At that moment, Silia exclaimed as realization hit her. Even if they were criminals, the death toll continued to rise. In the demon realm, where the 7th Legion was.
[Unlike back then, now the blood of the land hasn't dried up.]
[So there's no need to worry about disaster as a side effect.]
"But I heard there's another problem."
[Yes....]
Preparation was perfect now. Catastrophe would not occur, but another issue remained.
[The more perfect the preparation, the more likely the ritual achieves its original purpose.]
"Its original purpose?"
[The ritual was originally designed to awaken the great devils.]
[If the ritual is completely successful, then those guys will also inevitably awaken.]
Louis would indeed regain his original form—but the great devils would also be resurrected, in their prime.
"As soon as the ritual succeeds, Louis, you will become the god of this continent—no, this star. At the same time, those monsters will also be brought back to full power."
[As soon as you return to your true form, what you must do will be obvious.]
[That's what gods exist for.]
At Ferus and the heroes' words, Louis recalled a dream he had once had—the stars being shattered, cosmic-scale battles unfolding, a literal universal disaster.
It was a tremendous threat, but that didn't mean he could refuse to return to his original form. Keeping Pram by his side as the World Tree would also reach its limits. In that case, facing the great devils himself was the only way to prevent total annihilation.
"All right—no need to hold anything back against those guys, then."
And if he became a god, Louis himself would gain corresponding power. If he fought those beings, it was obvious what would happen to the star.
The selection of the location was extremely important. But they had already considered this, so the recommendation was to begin the ritual immediately.
"Let's start right away."
"... Okay."
At this, Rio steeled herself and strapped the artifact to her waist. Then, just as Ferus directed, she drew a magic circle on the wide clearing, mixing it with her own blood.
As she traced the circle on the ground, her body moved almost of its own accord. As if she had done it once before, everything was ready in an instant.
Louis took his place at the center of the circle, Pram as the World Tree stood to the left, and Rio stood facing Louis. The arrangement was complete.
"Let's begin."
Pram lifted the artifact and drove it deep into the center of the magic circle with all her strength.
Kuuuuung!―
At the moment the artifact's blade struck the ground, a massive roar echoed, and a pillar of red light shot up into the sky.
As the ritual began in earnest, Rio felt overwhelming tension.
She didn't fear the possibility of failing the ritual. The real problem was a different risk the ritual entailed.
It was a risk she had absolutely kept secret from everyone else. The danger that, by performing this ritual, she would die—she hadn't even told Young Master.
Chwaaaaa!―
Suddenly, the once-red pillar reacted to the artifact's blade and began turning a bright color. The feeling was completely different from the ritual attempted centuries before.
There were no signs of disaster. At the same time, Rio could see Louis and Pram before her being bathed in the light, indicating that the ritual was working.
"Guh!"
At the same moment, blood began pouring out from all over Rio's body.
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