Chapter 56
Chapter 56: Operation to Rescue Jang Du-sik (1)
Chomp! Chomp! Slurp!
"Well now, the lunch box Ruelle made is truly excellent."
Jang Du-sik, who had plopped down on the Labyrinth floor stained with monster corpses, began wolfing down his lunch box.
"……Chomp."
The three Possessors smacked their lips at the sight.
'Why does it smell so good?'
The scent of meat rich with juices tickling their noses.
Beneath that was freshly cooked rice mixed with sweet and savory sauce—a steak rice bowl was Jang Du-sik's meal. Stored in a high-grade Subspace Pouch that maintained temperature, steam was even rising from it.
'Rice......'
It was natural for the eyes of the Possessors—two Koreans and one Japanese—to turn.
At this moment, the three Possessors united as one to drool while watching Jang Du-sik.
They'd heard that the benevolent priest had prepared lunch boxes for all three Possessors too.
'Son of a bitch.'
Jang Du-sik handed the three Possessors tasteless magic-frozen military rations. Rations that the Imperial Army ate when going on expeditions, thoroughly excluding taste and focusing only on nutrition.
"C-could we not eat the lunch boxes too!"
Nishida Ryo lost his patience—the taste was that terrible.
'Does that bastard have guts or......'
Watching Nishida Ryo show such courage even after getting a beating with the club, Park Chang-ho felt an indescribable emotion. That he could act like that even after taking such a beating.
How should he put it? It was starting to feel less like stupidity and more like impressiveness.
Whack!
"I'd like to do that too, but brother ordered me not to let you bastards touch the lunch boxes."
They say even the emperor gets criticized behind his back.
Jang Du-sik thoroughly maintained his loyalty to Erik. Even conveying messages, he never forgot to use honorifics—blind faith.
Kang Pung-ho, who had been quietly watching that fanatical Jang Du-sik, raised a slender arm.
"Chomp chomp, what's your problem now?"
The beautiful short-haired beauty Kang Pung-ho's face was swollen and bloated even more than Nishida Ryo's.
'What bullshit is he trying to say again......'
It had been just an hour ago that Kang Pung-ho, who had made excuses about being a woman and needing to relieve himself at a distance for appearances' sake, nearly got eaten alive by a monster.
Park Chang-ho, the only one who maintained his appearance, squeezed his eyes shut in preparation for the beating to follow. Even if the essence was male, he didn't want to see a slender woman getting hit.
"I get that it's nice being a woman, but if you touch a Monster Room one more time saying you need to relieve yourself, know that you'll die."
Goodness, even adventurers solved everything within visual range regardless of gender to maintain safety. And these greenhorn Possessor punks this and that.
Jang Du-sik's nagging echoed like a hallucination. That thug bastard wasn't just good at beatings—his nagging skills were also excellent.
'Pung-ho, Nishida. Please just shut your mouths-.'
As Park Chang-ho prayed in his heart.
"All the adventurers ran away, wouldn't it be better for Du-sik oppa to abandon us and survive alone?"
A completely unexpected question came.
'He's asking such a serious question?'
It was a first.
It had already been over ten days since the Labyrinth closed and they'd been chased by monsters. Wasn't this the start of constructive dialogue from Kang Pung-ho's mouth to break through this situation?
"What?"
Jang Du-sik was so startled by that abnormal phenomenon that he almost dropped his lunch box.
But somehow he looked even angrier than when spouting nonsense.
'Why, why is he angrier? Jang Du-sik picked up the club leaning against the wall and approached Kang Pung-ho. Below Jang Du-sik's gleaming buzz cut, his scalp was completely contorted. 'Damn, we're getting group punishment.'
Jang Du-sik looked as furious as when Nishida Ryo ran away. Park Chang-ho trembled in fear.
'It's not really something to get angry about......'
Yet even so, this time was hard to understand. Though Kang Pung-ho had said many things deserving a beating, wasn't this one a bit different? Honestly, looking at the current Labyrinth situation, it was true.
'All the high-ranking adventurers escaped upward......'
A hellish scene unfolded a day after the Labyrinth closed. All monsters wandered around searching for signs of life, and Floor Masters sleeping in Boss Rooms came out on their own and began hunting humans in the lead.
"The Imperial Army will face the Floor Masters. We have no capacity to take care of other survivors!"
The Imperial Army dispatched to the Labyrinth left to pin down the most dangerous enemies for their duty to protect the nation.
'Low-ranking adventurers are probably all dead already. The Imperial Army has no time to spare hunting Floor Masters.'
In a situation where they couldn't form groups, it would be more advantageous for Jang Du-sik, a 7th Circle Mage, to attempt survival alone.
No, for a mage of Jang Du-sik's caliber, joining the Imperial Army to face Floor Masters would be entirely possible.
'So why is he taking care of us?'
From the Possessors' perspective, such thoughts were understandable. They were grateful, truly, but honestly, at this rate it seemed obvious all four would die like dogs.
'Even though he's a Consecrated 7th Circle Mage, isn't this too reckless?'
Monster Waves kept coming. As survivors decreased, the enemies Jang Du-sik's party faced only increased.
Originally a Labyrinth where monsters reset once a day, but after the Great Cataclysm Patch, resets were happening hourly.
"Brother Erik doesn't abandon his brothers. And brother told me to keep you bastards alive and bring you all out."
For such words to come from Jang Du-sik's mouth in this situation.......
'He's just rough.'
It was clear that Jang Du-sik was a man of great loyalty. Park Chang-ho felt deeply moved for no particular reason.
'Even those bound by the Adventurer's Guild are abandoning all their subordinates-.'
Lower-floor adventurers unable to move between floors were abandoned. Jang Du-sik had no experience conquering Floor Masters so escaping above the 5th floor was impossible, but he had enough power to attempt survival on his own. Yet he would take responsibility for them to the very end.
"......I'll follow whatever you order."
A feeling similar to loyalty bloomed in Park Chang-ho's heart. To that moved statement, Jang Du-sik answered.
"Anyway, we'll hold out as long as we can until brought Erik comes. And, well. Still can't have the lunch boxes, so know that."
***
The Duke and Erik exchanged information about the Empire's situation. That no one had returned from the Labyrinth yet, that an undead incident broke out in the north. They discussed stories like Floor Masters bursting out in the capital.
"That...... aren't you worried that Priestess Ruelle's church was attacked?"
"I've stationed an excellent watchdog, so it's fine."
The conversation proceeded with Erik listening to the Duke's information. Erik reciprocated by informing him of things he'd experienced.
"......So you're saying you became the master of the World Tree and thus the elves came to follow Saint Erik?"
The Duke's small narrow eyes widened to normal size in surprise.
"Well, summarized, that's how it is."
Even though he'd experienced it himself, once spoken aloud, he'd gained so much it didn't make sense.
"Plus I acquired a Magic Tower."
Half of it, anyway. Even half, acquiring this automated production factory was a tremendous achievement.
'The Empire's largest magical tool production site.'
Under the name Magic Alliance, the reality of Raffin Magic Tower was monopolistically supplying all kinds of magical tools to the entire Empire. Having acquired something so great, it was natural for a satisfied smile to form on Erik's lips.
Plus considering positional superiority, it wouldn't be wrong to consider himself the actual owner.
"Duke, a continental war will break out soon. We must immediately halt production of household magical tools and invest everything in war magical tools."
Erik exercised sovereignty over the Magic Tower. It was a natural right since half was his. But from the Duke's perspective, having just transferred shares, it was nothing less than insane talk.
'A mere fifteen-year-old is discussing continental war?'
That tone too. To begin with, his build for fifteen is a bit.......
"Ahem."
Duke Raffin's head spun at the current situation. He fully understood Erik was an extraordinary person. But behavior unbecoming of his age, or bringing up continental war-level talk as soon as seeing world anomalies.......
"Why no answer?"
Moreover, naturally looking down on him, an Imperial Duke?
'It's like he was born this way.'
He'd heard Saints and Saintesses were called monsters, but facing one directly made it even more real. Not just discussing possessed power. Things like thought processes or behavioral principles felt far beyond ordinary humans.
Having finished thinking this far, the Duke conveyed his intent as indirectly as possible to prevent Erik's urging from continuing.
"The common people's lives will collapse. The household magical tools produced at Raffin Magic Tower are used by 80% of all Imperial citizens-"
Erik raised his hand, cutting off the Duke's words. And said.
"If continental war breaks out, would household magical tools matter?"
"The moderates and Magic Alliance are intact, so His Majesty can't unilaterally wage war...... Ah."
The Duke suddenly recalled Erik's past actions.
'War will definitely break out.'
So he realized the continental unification war would resume.
'Since Marquis Aaron was cut off.'
The Magic Alliance's third-in-command fell away. Plus, Erik backed by elves—whose side was he on? Though he made enemies with the Astia Religious Order, Erik was strictly the Emperor's man who received His Majesty's orders.
'They say marriage talks are happening between his subordinate Jang Du-sik and Her Highness the Princess.'
Someone who took half his Magic Tower shares yet couldn't be considered his ally.
'All of this was predetermined.'
Haa!
Duke Raffin felt fear toward the monster called Saint seeing this series of flows.
In the Duke's view, Erik seemed to have foreseen all these flows.
'It's as if he knows the future.'
Because that was so. His actions were such. He took charge of the Possessor Management Bureau, then the number of Possessors swelled to hundreds of thousands.
He became Saint right after the Emperor's banquet, and marriage talks between his subordinate and the Princess happened that same evening.
'Plus, right after he visited the Magic Tower, a Calamity-grade Black Mage descended.'
All of this, under thorough calculation....... Seeing Erik's golden eyes, chills ran down the Duke's spine.
'Marquis Aaron definitely fell into a trap.'
Thinking this far. Duke Raffin's gaze toward Erik changed.
'Ignoring age doesn't just mean power.'
This young fellow's schemes are no ordinary thing. As if to prove the Duke's thoughts.
"I'll cast a vote in favor of war."
Erik declared calmly. He even expressed an opinion completely opposite to the Duke's wishes.
To this, the Duke cast off his lingering attachment without hesitation.
"I'll stop production of all household magical tools."
If there's someone who creates the great trend, it's natural to entrust yourself to that flow. That's how seasoned nobles handle things.
***
'Satisfactory.'
A fresh arc formed on Erik's lips. Seeing Duke Raffin thoroughly lower himself, it seemed he'd thoroughly misunderstood.
Everything the Duke thought happened coincidentally at the right time, but Erik didn't bother denying it. Thanks to that, Erik achieved what he planned without much noise.
'The Duke's misconception helped greatly.'
Erik thoroughly made even such a misunderstanding his own. Because that was so, things only possible because he was a Possessor were all being attributed as the
'Saint's' achievements. I should be careful in advance.'
Among the 500,000 Possessors, there would definitely be those who remembered Erik. As current situations intertwined, even if someone picked a fight claiming Erik was a Possessor, it would become easier to erase those suspicions.
This would soon become a wall making his position more solid.
'Secured 1 billion Gold, war materiel production at the Magic Tower, recruited Elven army.'
Along with such safeguards, Erik achieved all his goals. Didn't the reward for solo-defeating the descended Calamity-grade demon yield profits beyond triple?
'Time to go.'
Erik tried to leave Raffin Magic Tower immediately upon achieving his purpose.
"You're leaving already?"
The Duke blocked Erik's large stride, urgently calling him to stop.
"Many places to go."
At Erik's firm tone, the Duke realized it was difficult to hold him.
'In chaotic times, follow the great trend.'
Erik was truly frightening, but simultaneously he wanted to become his ally.
'Priestess Ruelle's church was attacked, and his subordinate is trapped in the Labyrinth, was it?'
He'd heard the church's crisis ended, but the Labyrinth situation was currently unknown even to the Imperial Intelligence Bureau.
The Labyrinth closed. This fact meant all those who entered the Labyrinth couldn't come out.
'Simply put, indefinite confinement.'
The Labyrinth's exit wouldn't open until the top floor was conquered. Past Labyrinth anomalies had extremely few survivors. The Duke thought such things, but.
'It will be conquered.'
Erik had certainty.
"Duke, I'll return soon, so don't entertain useless thoughts."
Therefore, opening wide Raffin Magic Tower's doors, he bid farewell to the Duke. Thud!
Erik, who left heavy footsteps before the door, turned his gaze to the Elven army surrounding the Magic Tower.
"Duke-King, lead the Elven army and arrest the Almanism Church personnel in the west."
He stated his true purpose for bringing out the Elven army.
Swooosh!
Immediately, from far away the World Tree sent blue wind to see Erik off, and that wind soon guided the path the elves should take.
'Must thoroughly search the route the Calamity-grade entered.'
He gained much, but also lost much in the process. He lost [Ring of Conviction] fighting the Calamity-grade, and had to spend several days in solitary battle. And experienced enduring terrible pain in the process.
'Revenge a hundredfold.'
Erik organized all flows according to his behavioral principles.
"Erica, escort all those Black Mage Possessors to the Imperial Capital."
Then Erik looked at the greatest sinner, Marquis Aaron.
'Marquis Aaron taking all responsibility would be sufficient.'
His eyes sparkled golden. Recalling the clothes he gave Ruelle, he wanted to personally punish that bastard right now, but.......
'In such calamities, someone needs to take responsibility.'
Erik endured for the greater cause.
Even if a natural disaster, a situation where numerous citizens suffered damage. Surely the Emperor would create those to take responsibility.
"Transport Marquis Aaron together with the Black Mages."
"God's supreme mission risking life-"
As fanatic Erica's answer began, Erik cast [Miracle of Teleportation] before her words ended.
Ding!
A golden cross rising through the air. Erik threw his body into it without hesitation. What to check first was clear.
'Priestess Ruelle should be fine, right?'