Chapter 31
Chapter 31: Reappearance (4)
"Troublesome work has finally ended."
For a Paladin who dealt with divinity, obtaining the intact corpse of a Black Mage was quite a troublesome task.
The reason Possessors became such a nuisance was largely due to Black Mages and Monsters.
Those things would burn up when touched by Divine Power.
'Now I won't need to hold back on my strength.'
Killing a Black Mage with Divine Power while keeping the body intact was quite troublesome work.
After all, Erik's Divine Power was the kind of strength that could be described as ferocious.
Still, the reason Erik endured such trouble was simple.
"Four lines are 100 million, three lines are 10 million."
Because the Imperial Magic Tower was buying them for money.
Four lines and three lines.
A total of 110 million won—it would become quite a substantial supplementary income.
'The rest must be two lines then?'
The Imperial Magic Tower did not purchase Black Mage corpses with fewer than three lines.
Compared to the Black Magic Power that filled the Goblin Forest, the level of Black Mages that appeared was terribly poor.
Certainly, the quality of Black Mages had declined compared to about ten years ago.
'Offering sacrifices in units of tens of thousands is overflowing everywhere….'
Though that was a problem in its own way.
When Erik was young, wars were frequent.
The Empire and three kingdoms.
On top of that, kingdoms clashed swords with each other as well.
Compared to those times, the situation was better, but Erik did not feel at ease.
Rather, he had become sharper.
'The Great Cataclysm Patch is coming soon.'
The appearance of Black Mages at this time might be some kind of omen.
As sharp as Erik's prayers had become from confronting Black Mages, so too had his thoughts grown more keen.
[Achievement—Black Mage Hunter]
A title obtained after eliminating a thousand Black Mages.
Unlike the floating form that bounced above one's head like in a game, it was text visible only on Erik's tattered Status Window.
It provided special passive effects.
"The feeling of becoming sharper isn't particularly pleasant, though."
Erik's five senses had become more vivid.
There was no description of the title, but according to Erik's experience:
'When near a Black Mage or Black Magic Power, sensory stats increase by +100%.'
And furthermore:
'Divine Power becomes more refined.'
[Defense Penetration +100%]
This would be roughly the level of options.
Of course, the current Erik, unlike other Possessors, did not have stats.
Yet bonuses from achievements were still applied…
'Like a hybrid, I suppose.'
Hybrid or not, it was certain that Erik was a powerful being.
'I survived because I'm a hybrid.'
Because he was a hybrid, he learned techniques and honed his strength.
And so, he wielded great divinity that made Black Mages tremble in fear.
"There are quite a few survivors."
Erik moved following the nearby Black Magic Power.
It was a situation where he encountered a Black Mage offering low-rank Adventurers to a demon.
"Erk!"
The Black Mage was terrified.
Brilliant Divine Power that covered all things in the world filled the Black Mage's vision completely.
Siiiiiii.
Divinity rippled through the wind.
Over the blackened earth, verdant life force swirled, and drooping trees raised their heads.
Over the earth where death had descended, life force was now surging.
At the center of it all stood the massive Paladin Erik, standing alone.
He spoke to the Black Mage:
"—Disappear."
Erik brought his palm down.
There was no holding back of power, not a moment's hesitation either.
This two-lined Black Mage wouldn't bring in any money anyway, so there was no need to preserve the body.
Zzzt. Boom!
Erik wielded his ferocious Divine Power.
Thud. The ground was carved out in the shape of a massive palm, and above it, a tremendous golden aura surged forth.
Divinity burned the Black Mage completely and purified it.
Guurgh.
The form of the demon floating in the air crumbled.
"May you find peace."
The rough voice followed as the Black Mage was crushed, burned away by Divine Power, and the demon was purified and the soul saved.
In all procedures accomplished in one stroke, Erik's moment of silence took up the longest duration.
Siiii.
Souls transforming into particles and disappearing.
Before long, the surroundings had regained the forest's original appearance.
Thick brushwood and towering blue trees.
A place where green Goblins should have been hiding, but the remaining Monsters had also dissipated in Divine Power.
'Only Adventurers remain then?'
Clap!
As Erik clapped his hands together:
Whoooong. With a resonant sound, a golden circular ring spread outward in all directions.
[Purification]
A holy spell was used. The Adventurers who touched the ring regained consciousness.
"Huff. Y-You're a Paladin, sir."
"Damn it… Will… Sob."
Some looked at Erik and felt relief.
Others, remembering companions who had already disappeared as sacrifices, shed tears.
After confirming the survivors who remained alive, Erik turned his gaze.
A massive golden pillar rose in the distance.
This was a 'Marker' that Erik had established.
'Du-sik must be handling things well.'
Three Possessors were a bit concerning, but for now, survivors took priority.
The ring of [Purification] passed through the surviving Adventurers.
As it passed through the final row, Erik opened his mouth:
"Everyone"
Walk toward that pillar.
That was clearly what Erik had been about to say…
"Aaaaah!!! It's hot!"
One Adventurer swept by purification let out a shriek?
Huh?
Erik's head tilted to a 45-degree angle.
***
"Possessor Number One!"
"Yes, Brother Du-sik!"
While rallying survivors, Park Chang-ho had earned recognition for his competence.
"Well, you're quite useful. Specifically, you may call me Brother."
As a result, he came to address Jang Du-sik as Brother.
Kang Pung-ho was still used as a means to prove the Divine Pillar, and Nishida Ryo did nothing but stand around uselessly.
That was how things had been, but now the situation had changed.
"Those ones hiding over there—don't they seem like Possessors?"
Park Chang-ho, called upon by Jang Du-sik, racked his brain diligently.
Just then, a group of survivors approached.
"Well, more Imperial Army soldiers."
Unlike Adventurers, the Imperial Army was annoying to deal with.
Jang Du-sik left to conduct the conversation.
Left behind, Park Chang-ho recalled Jang Du-sik's question.
There were two people hiding in that brush area.
'Are they ones who didn't end up in the detention camp?'
The number of Possessors had become far too many.
Excluding the captured and dead ones, the rest would have to be considered as living in hiding.
As Park Chang-ho fell into contemplation:
Poke.
"Brother Chang-ho, what do we do?"
Kang Pung-ho asked while crossing her arms.
Pretty eyes sparkled, but they seemed slightly moist.
Somehow they looked sad…
Betraying one's own kind?
That feeling was thick in the air.
Among Possessors themselves, reporting each other wasn't unusual at all.
'What should I do…'
Thanks to meeting the Imperial Army survivors, he bought time to think.
Judging from how Jang Du-sik was swinging his club, the person in charge over there must also be a stubborn noble.
That was when it happened.
"Let's report all those bastards."
It was a suggestion from Nishida Ryo.
"They're pathetically hiding, and they mock us every day who got caught. Chang-ho, doesn't that make you angry?"
Rarely, correct words came from Nishida Ryo's mouth.
[Are you guys idiots? Stuck in the detention camp, waiting to die?]
[Photo]
[Have a drink. Ah, Adventurers are hilarious.]
A Possessor community.
Before the numbers increased, it was a community for information exchange and mutual survival, but now it was different.
The number of posts had grown insanely.
[513,412]
The number of users had become unreasonably inflated.
No matter how you looked at it…
Over 500,000 people?
"Chang-ho, those two bastards definitely posted mocking comments about us on the community."
As Park Chang-ho stared confusedly at the community, Nishida Ryo called out to him.
Possessors were divided into roughly three categories.
'Either captured like us…'
Or those who had settled in places like the Garcian Kingdom and formed groups.
The last were those who lived hidden among locals without mixing with Possessors.
Ding.
A new post had been uploaded.
[Wow, that Erik is freaking crazy.]
[Photo]
[I sent four-line and three-line Black Mages, and now there's a Sword Master stationed in front of the church]
"Uh…?"
"Hiss."
"I-Isn't this about our director Erik?"
The three Possessors were shocked.
They were already captured anyway.
Weren't they in a state where a holy spell magic circle had even been embedded in their bodies?
Thus, Park Chang-ho made his decision.
"We're joining this side."
Kang Pung-ho and Nishida Ryo both nodded.
Just then, Jang Du-sik approached, going tap tap with his club.
"So, are those two definitely Possessors?"
He brought up the question he had asked before without forgetting.
To which Park Chang-ho answered:
"They are presumed to be Possessors! And sir, there is something we should report…"
Jang Du-sik gestured with his club.
Park Chang-ho calmly recited the community content:
"But the time ratio between the Labyrinth and the outside is different—how is communication possible?"
Jang Du-sik found it difficult to believe what the Possessors were saying.
Lower floors were somewhat different, but still, the time in the Labyrinth and outside definitely flowed differently.
So he had asked, but…
"Posts are made accounting for the time difference."
Nishida Ryo provided a clear answer.
"So when you comment inside the Labyrinth, it looks like thousands of comments were written in 1 second on the outside."
The confidence Nishida Ryo displayed…
Wasn't it inevitable to believe?
With that, Jang Du-sik's head became very complicated.
"Those damn things have really lost their minds."
Jang Du-sik rubbed his half-shaved head frantically.
It felt like he might go crazy.
"I'll tell brother."
Or perhaps he was scared.
"What on earth"
"When brother Erik was six years old, his nickname was Judgment."
Judgment Erik.
A skinny little kid who beat Black Mages to death and went around.
A kid who dragged a sword larger than his own body and wandered conflict zones.
Whenever he saw a Black Mage, he massacred them all.
Even without learning Black Magic, he killed all collaborators too.
He even killed nobles who had received their money, showing no discrimination.
"Back then, brother was…"
More demonic than demons themselves.
Jang Du-sik didn't finish his sentence, but the three Possessors understood his meaning.
'We're doomed, aren't we?'
They exchanged glances with each other.
The fact that Jang Du-sik was frightened and cowering showed that Erik's anger was no ordinary matter.
Therefore:
"We will capture those two bastards, sir!"
Park Chang-ho tried to prove his usefulness. The three Possessors headed toward the forest.
Jang Du-sik looked at their backs and thought:
'Well, I was starting to feel some affection for them…'
It was the look one gives to the deceased.
***
"Erik, among the Possessors, stronger Black Mages will appear again."
Before departing, his teacher had said.
"Then you will have to face them alone."
He had prepared himself sufficiently.
The conversation he had shared with his teacher was being recreated in reality.
Black Mages had already reappeared.
And with the backing of Possessors too.
"Ooh! Brother, you've arrived?"
Erik had established his Marker, and Jang Du-sik stood before it. The massive Erik appeared between the narrow passage.
He had eliminated all Black Mages on the second floor of the Labyrinth and returned.
Behind Erik, two corpses floated.
"The Imperial Magic Tower will pay generously for this, brother. You're amazing!"
In front of the massive Divine Pillar Erik had established, nearly a thousand people had gathered.
"Listen, because of brother, so many people have been saved! Don't you see everyone wailing and crying out for the name Astia, sir?"
At that junction, Jang Du-sik praised and spoke of Erik.
'What did this bastard do wrong?'
Erik felt a sense of incongruity seeing Jang Du-sik's excessive hospitality.
Behind Jang Du-sik, ten people stood in a line maintaining an at-ease position.
'Park Chang-ho, Kang Pung-ho, Nishida Ryo.'
He knew those three faces well, but the rest were unfamiliar.
"Listen, brother. These bastards are Possessors who were hiding. The Adventurer's Guild must be blind too. They should be able to tell at a glance like brother can."
Toward the questionable Erik, Jang Du-sik recited the report.
"Managing low-rank Adventurers must be difficult. Du-sik, aren't there countless Adventurers?"
"As expected! Brother knows everything!"
Low-rank Adventurers were numerous.
Since most entered the Labyrinth for their livelihood, it would have been suitable for hiding.
Erik nodded.
And asked:
"But what did you do wrong?"
"That, that couldn't be…? I was just trying to make brother happy—"
Jang Du-sik blinked his enormous eyes, feigning ignorance, but…
Flinch.
Nishida Ryo's body trembled.
The [Instant Death Sense] skill kept ringing its alarm.
'If this continues, I'll die.'
He was terrified.
And Nishida Ryo's instinct was definitely never wrong.
As Erik stared at the flinching Nishida:
"Listen, brother. Actually, the thing is—"
Jang Du-sik began speaking as if making a confession.
The Possessor community.
The main topic was the state of Ruelle's Church that had appeared there…
"Those damn bastards?"
Ruelle was a Named NPC, an existence who had experienced the Black Mage crisis together.
Her danger was something Erik had already anticipated.
"B-Black Mages gathered in the Viscount of the Garcian Kingdom, brother. And then—"
Crack.
He had prepared countermeasures in advance.
Thanks to that, Ruelle was safe, they say.
Yet anger was inevitable.
Thus, Erik took a great stride forward.
"Du-sik, let's go out for now."
As Jang Du-sik ran after Erik, he gestured with his club.
Following them, the Possessors who had been standing around walked along like ducklings.
"Listen, brother, what are you trying to do?"
Running after the striding Erik, Jang Du-sik asked.
'It's not like brother can go to the battlefield…'
Given Erik's nature, he wouldn't leave the Orphanage empty.
'But he doesn't seem to be doing this without thought either…'
The face of angry Erik had a bitter smile on his lips.
That smile was definitely:
'The meaning of beating someone to a pulp.'
How many things had withered in that smile?
At that moment, Erik said:
"Du-sik, originally, taking down the main base isn't done by hand."