Chapter 113
For a moment, I felt as if I were being sucked into something, and the next instant, I was standing in the middle of a deep forest.
The land opened up slightly, but all around it was a dense, overgrown forest.
And there…faintly surrounded by vines and weeds, was something painfully nostalgic…
“Microbus… I see, this is the site of the mansion…” (Shizuma)
The vehicle we took on our school trip. The place where it all began for us. I have returned here.
It was deeply moving. This was the place where I was abandoned, where I decided on my own to sever ties, and where I resolved to walk a new life.
“…Let’s go.” (Shizuma)
When I brought up the map, the shortest path leading outside was displayed clearly.
They most likely took a similar route to make their way out too.
I thought about that as I walked through the forest. “…So monsters do appear even in dormant dungeons.” (Shizuma)
Along the way, I encountered what seemed to be a purebred species of Owlbear.
The very monster that had given them trouble that day, the one I felled with a single casual sweep of my arm.
The result was the same this time, and I continued on as if nothing happened.
This forest was where Melt had been imprisoned.
For over ten years, she was trapped here while her kin were sacrificed, in the place where she watched over the passing of her only family.
The ones who subjected her to such torment…I will crush them, capture them, and end this war.
Shilent, who found joy in war, and I, who carried the selfish desire to exact revenge in Melt’s stead… Our feelings overlapped.
“…My face is smiling on its own.” (Shizuma)
I was itching to destroy.
The dungeon’s exit came into view… A checkpoint-like building.
And at the same time, I saw Golda’s soldiers deployed beyond it, keeping watch.
So, they anticipated I would come here and laid in wait. Not bad, Golda King, you can think a little after all.
“I won’t let you send any messengers back.” (Shizuma)
I drew the sword I had been carrying on my back in an instant, lowered it to my hip, and swung with all my strength.
I unleashed [Gale Break]. The blade of wind tore through the checkpoint and swept away the soldiers deployed beyond it.
“Uwaaaaaaaah!!!”
“Someone! Hurry! We have to get away from—”
I dashed at full speed, killing without letting a single one escape.
I easily caught up to even soldiers who fled on horseback and, sorry, but I cut them down with horse and all.
Not a single one escapes. Golda’s soldiers who had taken part in this war… I won’t let a single one live.
I slaughtered every soldier like mowing down the forest around us, including those who were hiding.
In just a few minutes, an overwhelming number of corpses lay strewn across the ground.
“…Might as well cover up the traces.” (Shizuma)
It seemed the soldiers’ tents were set up here, so I dragged all the bodies inside.
As for the blood, I only covered it lightly with sand. The corpses would be found soon enough If someone properly investigated anyway.
Half-measures would do. As long as it couldn’t be seen from afar, that was enough.
“…Do I attack at night, or go straight in… What to do.” (Shizuma)
I mulled over how to proceed with the assault.
The bell’s power of teleportation… The number remaining isn’t high, so I should refrain from overusing it. What should I do?
But I don’t want a battle inside the city. Which meant, inevitably…a night raid.
“With Shilent’s abilities, sneaking into the city would be easy… Then blending into the darkness of night is best.” (Shizuma)
Resolving to attack under cover of night, I set out from the blood-scented forest’s edge, aiming for the capital.
I now sprinted down at full speed on the very road we once traveled by carriage.
Looking back now…this country truly was rich in nature.
Even this far from the capital, the forest was filled with lush green leaves, unnaturally verdant for the season.
And there were many farmlands as well. Even though the capital was still a ways off, vast fields stretched on.
No doubt, all of this was thanks to the immense power of the dungeon.
Now, with its Dungeon Master gone and its Core stolen… this country may only have decline ahead of it.
…And so what. Just because I have power doesn’t mean I bear any responsibility.
I kill and destroy simply because I don’t like them. If the country falls into ruin because of it, that’s the country’s responsibility.
‘The country was unlucky not to be liked by me’…that’s all there is to it.
“…Guess I’m being pulled along a bit too much.” (Shizuma)
This excessive aggression, this arrogance, this excitement; I knew it was Shilent’s influence.
…There’s still time before the night raid. Once I reach a suitable spot, I should rest until nightfall.
From here on, I can’t afford to lose my cool. It wasn’t just about fighting…how I acted would matter for what came after as well.
I kept moving, and when I reached a mountainside from which I could see the castle in the distance, I paused to take a breather.
As expected, the kingdom only guarded the dungeon. I didn’t see a single soldier along the way here.
No doubt, they had sent all of them to the frontlines, to the battlefield.
“…Didn’t even get much proper sleep myself.” (Shizuma)
I felt my brain still in a heightened state of alertness. Even so, I tried to regain some calm, to soothe my exhaustion.
Alone in the mountains, I closed my eyes, held my breath, and took deep, slow breaths.
I doubted I could sleep…but still, I tried to settle my heart with deep breaths…
—————-
…Was this my consciousness drifting into a dream?
I found myself standing in darkness while in a haze.
I recognized the place. Yes, this resembled the place where I had once spoken with Shire.
‘Shizuma… I’m sorry.’
“Shire?” (Shizuma)
From beyond the darkness came Shire’s voice…fainter, weaker than usual, almost too hard to hear.
‘He wants to speak with you, no matter what, so I pulled your consciousness here somehow.’ (Shire)
“He?” (Shizuma)
‘I’m already at my limit… Please, make the wise choice, Shizuma…’ (Shire)
What is this? Is this not the mental world where I had spoken with Shire before?
No round table, nothing at all. Just endless darkness.
An eerie, strange world.
“What’s going on…?” (Shizuma)
At that moment, footsteps echoed behind me.
“My, my, my… What an overwhelming feeling. Yes, overwhelming! So this is what they call being moved to tears! A pleasure to meet you at last, My Lord!”
When I turned, there stood a young man with white hair, smiling with a madness-tinged grin.
A genuine smile, even seemingly gentle and approachable.
Tall and slender, with a face that could ensnare and corrupt others, like Hash’s.
He wore black robes with gold and white trim, reminiscent of a clergyman from some religion.
“You… You’re the one who called me, aren’t you! Still…!” (Shizuma)
He was one of the three characters I most feared.
The one I had deemed a fanatic, dangerous if I ever transformed into him. One of the strongest three among my own characters… Still.
His jobs were Cleric and Fist Fanatic.
At first glance, putting a rear-line healer as the main job and a bare-handed, high-offense sub-job seemed like a build error.
Build error? Nonsense. Even after being nerfed, this combination was still considered one of the strongest.
Clerics had two main skill routes: support through healing and light magic, and monk-like combat through unarmed strikes, self-buffs, and self-healing.
Adding the Fist Fanatic sub-job, with its unarmed attack growth and status ailment specialization, created a build that was unquestionably the strongest for single-target damage.
And the backstory…was brutal.
[The tale of a deranged clergyman who enforces justice through his own twisted beliefs, slaughtering all who oppose him…men, women, young, and old alike…until he deceives the world and ascends to the peak of religion.]
From his perspective, a happy ending. From a player’s perspective, nothing but the worst bad end.
That was the character named Still.
“Why did you call me? Answer.” (Shizuma)
“Haha, it’s only natural you’re wary! I possess convictions far stronger than your fragile will after all. But now, with my creator standing before me, you are my faith, Shizuma!” (Still)
What… He…worships me…?
“But of course, without Shire’s help, I could never have brought you here. She told you too, didn’t she? That if the time came, you should rely on me. She is wise. She foresaw the crisis you would face ahead. And…so did I.” (Still)
“A crisis coming for me…?” (Shizuma)
“Yes, exactly! You, Seimu, Shilent…none of you understand a thing! You don’t know what truly must be feared in this war! Because you’re half-baked, only knowing a shallow world, only recognizing surface dangers! Oh, I don’t mean to insult anyone, you’re all splendid! But…you lack knowledge. You lack imagination. You lack urgency!!!” (Still)
Still shouted frantically in the darkness, yet his smile remained fixed in place without a single change.
“You don’t understand the essence of this war! This isn’t a clash of national interests! It’s faith! Behind it all lies unwavering faith! Lendia, Golda…they don’t matter! The ones working in the shadows surely carry absolute conviction, and they’re dragging nations into it to fulfill their cause! To speak of destroying nations or one side winning…that’s missing the point! You don’t comprehend the terror of those who abandon everything for their faith!!!” (Still)
“…What are you talking about…? What do you claim to know?” (Shizuma)
“Don’t you see? Golda is only being used. Entire nations are being toyed with, made to wage war, made to summon otherworld heroes as convenient test subjects! Crossing borders, making them betray their own leaders, collapsing the dungeon that sustained their economy… Do you think that foolish nation could accomplish this alone?” (Still)
“I already suspect there’s someone behind it all. But so what.” (Shizuma)
“It reeks of fanatic faith. People who will stop at nothing, sacrifice anything for their goal. You know this, Shizuma…you know it because I know it best. You exposed yourself for private, poetic feelings, and showed your power. Yes, you’ve shown that the otherworld hero, who should have been a mere tool, has instead become a perfected masterpiece of strength! And now, you intend to settle things not as Shilent, but as Shizuma! Too foolish, My Lord! Showing the enemy their greatest prize is the peak of foolishness! Imagine it…what would a fanatic do? Think, think! Imagine the very worst scenario you don’t want to think about! Now, think!” (Still)
I was scared. This man terrified me. But even more terrifying was grasping what he meant.
Yes… I have grown so strong, one could call me the finest product among the otherworld heroes.
And if Golda’s summoning was prompted by someone else’s manipulation… What they wanted was strong otherworlders. People who surpass the limits of humanity.
When I became their target… What then? What should I be wary of?
“The existence of a group beyond human limits, the ‘Brigade,’ has already been hinted at. Not only you, but Seimu, Shire, Shilent…all are valid targets. Then what? How do they take you? The answer is simple: seize your weak points, disrupt your peace, break your heart, create openings. You already have one, don’t you? You already have a precious reason to live. A reason to stay in this world. You already do!” (Still)
“…Melt.” (Shizuma)
“Exactly. Those around you will be increasingly endangered. You’re about to turn an unknown, shadowy organization into your enemy. You’re one step from becoming a target. Your peace, your happy life…it will constantly be threatened! Do you want that? Do you believe it won’t happen? Do you really think you can protect those around you from all harm? Do you think you won’t face someone like me…a fanatic? I can feel it! I smell it! The same stench as myself lies beyond this war!” (Still)
…I couldn’t dismiss his words as nonsense.
“…You, Still…can you resolve this?” (Shizuma)
“Yes, yes! I can bring it to a perfect conclusion! I have a way to protect your peace and end this war! Now, listen to my proposal…whether you accept is up to you! Let us share in my cunning stratagem! Come…let us deceive them all together!” (Still)
I listened to the words…of this vile, dangerous, cunning, and sly man…
And then…
“…Are you serious? Even temporarily, you’d have me do such a thing…?” (Shizuma)
“Weaklings unable to overcome despair will be culled anyway! That’s the kind of world this is, is it not? Come, isn’t it a good plan? The bloated illusion must be destroyed once! Choose, then. Walk the path of carnage, where your peace is broken and your heart wears away…or sacrifice one, to protect your precious life!” (Still)
His plan seemed perfect at first glance.
Except for one thing…forcing all the sacrifice onto just one person.
“…I’ll do it.” (Shizuma)
“You’ll take my plan?” (Still)
“Yes. But only the bare minimum! No excessive theatrics, no needless words!” (Shizuma)
“Well, that depends on the moment. But I promise you this… I will deliver the best outcome.” (Still)
I chose to go along with his plan.
I reached out my hand as if striking a contract with the devil.
“Shake hands! Will you accept me, My Lord?” (Still)
“For now. I’ll see if you really act for my sake. But if you so much as behave like you did in the game, I’ll reclaim control at any cost.” (Shizuma)
“But of course! I’ll only kill those who deserve to die! I promise you!” (Still)
To protect peace, her safety, and our life ahead… I’ll trust you, just this once.
—————-
(´・ω・｀) I made it in time…
(´・ω:;.:…
(´:;….::;.:. :::;.. …..
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