Chapter 88
Chapter 88
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Chapter 2-1. Calypso's Nightmare
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'Ah, this is driving me crazy.'
I muttered to myself as I wandered around the second underground floor. My mind felt hazy, like I was in a daze. Somehow, I'd felt from the moment I arrived that something was off, but realizing it only now...
'I wonder if I'll still get the proper reward.'
The whole reason I'd come all this way to complete this quest was to stop Count Jinmu and claim some stats as a reward. In this world, stats were more valuable than any other prize, so it was only natural.
'It was around here.'
With no monsters to interrupt, I moved freely. Scratching my head, I pushed against the brick wall.
My groping hand slid smoothly inward. At the same time, I heard a mechanism grinding to life, and the surroundings shook like an earthquake. Not far off, a deep rumbling echoed from the earth. The path to the third underground floor had opened.
"Impressive. Did you learn this from Gentia as well?"
Jeanne, who had been watching from behind, asked with genuine admiration.
"No. I saw it in novels—stuff like this shows up a lot."
"And yet you found it on the first try...?"
She was sharper than expected. I wondered how to explain, but rattling off scientific reasoning would just tire me out with no real persuasion, so I let it drop.
"Pure luck. You know how sometimes it just jumps out at you?"
"For example?"
"Like when you're fighting an enemy, and you can see their attack path?"
Even as I said it, it sounded off to me, and I tilted my head. But surprisingly, she seemed to get it, slowly nodding.
"I see. I understand."
What did she understand by that? I wanted to ask seriously, but instead, I gave an awkward smile and stepped out of the room. Even outside, all I saw were brick corridors, rooms, and ceilings—claustrophobic. It felt like everything was sealed shut. Did I have claustrophobia or something? Sighing, I headed toward the source of the rumbling. A staircase descending underground came into view.
"I smell blood."
"I can hear the screams of spirits too."
The moment we started down, I strongly sensed we'd run into enemies. Naturally, Jeanne took the lead, descending two steps ahead. Her back looked incredibly reliable. Thud, clank—the two sets of footsteps echoed alternately or together. The stairs were longer than from the first to second floor. By the time we reached the bottom, I understood why.
A vast, towering cavern appeared, blowing away the stuffiness I'd felt on the second floor.
The first thing I noticed coming down the stairs was a massive red magic circle etched neatly into the flat, asphalt-like floor.
Inside a large circle was a triangle, and within that triangle, three more magic circles. At the center of each, about a meter off the ground, floated orbs absorbing the red aura leaking from the circles. Just looking at it screamed danger.
At the very center, where the three circles overlapped, stood an altar with Count Jinmu seated atop it. He waited silently as I scanned the magic circle before turning my gaze to him. When our eyes met, he waved like he was greeting an old friend.
"Hello."
"Your voice is as horrific as ever. Though I suppose it wouldn't change in just a few hours."
Hearing hundreds speak at once was torture. Mostly deep male voices, no pleasant harmony in sight.
"Kyahaha! What a bold little kid. If we'd met when we were alive, we would've treated you well. Such a shame. You don't like our voices that much?"
"Of course."
"How about this, then?"
Suddenly, a beautiful soprano emerged from his mouth. I grimaced.
Hearing a voice like a stunning beauty's from a hairy man's face... it sent chills down my spine.
"The previous one was better."
"See? I told them you'd complain."
Who was he talking to? One of the other souls inside him? He rose from the altar, cracking his neck side to side like he was loosening up.
"Now that you're here, was the journey difficult?"
"No signs or anything—took a lot of effort. Your hospitality leaves much to be desired."
Jinmu chuckled at my words and slowly descended the altar.
"For someone complaining, you got here fast. You had plenty of chances to turn back, but didn't. Means you're here to stop us, and no regrets even if you die, right?"
He snapped his fingers. Spirits rose from the floor—where had they been hiding?—spraying an unpleasant aura like cheap perfume. My head throbbed.
"The summoning ritual's underway, so how about we play a bit while it finishes? Conveniently, one of us is a Blue Lancer Knight."
Violet mana swirled around Jinmu, forming armor more ornate than Jeanne's, a lance, and a shield.
'Possession...'
High-level players were different, even with massive level and stat losses. Traits and skills didn't vanish, so it wasn't surprising. But Jeanne froze, genuinely shocked.
"Let's see what our junior's got. Survive, and it'll be a great lesson."
-Lesson my ass. We need to kill him.
"Quiet. It's 'my' turn now, isn't it? Don't interfere no matter what I say."
-Fine, fine. You've followed our lead silently so far, so I'll shut up this once.
"Good."
Unlike the hundreds speaking before, now it was just one voice. As he approached, Jeanne assumed a defensive stance, and soon Jinmu mirrored her—shield forward, lance pulled back. Helmets hid expressions equally.
"Here we go. And you, kid—better not do anything stupid. Join the attack instead."
I'd started edging toward the magic circle guarded by spirits when my body twitched. Jinmu charged, shield raised. As Jeanne braced to meet him, I sidestepped and hurled Altemia.
Thrown using my left wrist, the dagger aimed for the gap in his helmet visor but bounced off his shield.
'Bounced off?'
It was a special weapon that shredded spirits and punched holes in Jinmu's body—they had reason to guard against it. But how much mana did he pour into that conjured gear for such defense? Too flustered for a follow-up throw. Then Jeanne and Jinmu clashed. Boom! She was hurled back.
"Haha, your strength's lacking, junior!"
"Urk!"
The possessing spirit laughed, thrusting his lance. Jeanne staggered back a few steps, raising her lance to block. But Jinmu's twisted like a serpent, shoving hers aside and diving for her heart.
I couldn't just watch. Charging in, I activated [Shadow Heresy Arts] and [Shadow Sword Arts] simultaneously. Mana drained sharply as black power coiled around my bastard sword, forming a thick conical lance. He spun, blocking my Shadow Sword Arts—Single Point—with his shield.
Some shield mana dispersed and reformed; my lance melted into the air like shed skin. As I lunged into his guard to slash upward with Altemia, his lance swung down like a club from the side.
Block or dodge?
Dodge. As I shifted left, his lance smashed the ground. He spun, his left heel whipping toward me. One hit to the jaw might knock me out cold—I stomped hard, arching back. His heavy foot sailed past. I rolled away as Jeanne struck from behind.
'What the hell?'
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
With Demon Eye, Shadow Deployment, and Potential Release active, I still couldn't handle their combo. Even with fragments, I'd lose if I underestimated him. Hoping against hope, I dove at him mid-clash with Jeanne—same result. He deftly parried our pincer attack and counterattacked effortlessly.
The experience gap was immense.
His Blue Lancer Knight shield and spear techniques were insanely threatening.
One slip, and death.
-Wow, not bad? And he lost to Jinmu with this skill?
"Jinmu had skill too. He's just weak enough now for us to devour."
Casually chatting with spirits mid-fight. He leisurely struck Jeanne and me, pushing us back.
"You both have more talent than expected. Explains how you got this far. But if that's all, you'll end here—unfortunately."
"Not planning on it."
I threw Altemia at Jinmu and activated <Liberation>. As the dagger hit his shield, the technique that ground spirits and ghouls like a blender activated. No time for words. The shield's mana shredded under Altemia.
"Jeanne, hold him a moment."
"Don't worry."
She didn't ask why. Didn't think I'd run. Just blocked Jinmu. Meanwhile, I bolted for the magic circle. In the game, beating Jinmu was simple: destroy the summoning circle for Bell-Terza. Three Altemias appeared between my left fingers.
-Stop him!
Spirits clinging to Jinmu shouted from behind. The ones spectating atop the circle finally moved. Their dense swarm was horrifying, but I grinned and hurled my daggers.
Altemia's blade flashed unnaturally red as it cut the air.
* * *
──────────────────────
#Setting 6. "Bell-Terza"
The sixth lord, <Bell-Terza>, is the embodiment of death itself.
King of Ghosts, Eternal Sovereign, Chewer of Solitude—he's known by many titles, and any living being can't help but fear him.
Of course, the other lords don't fear him.
To them, death was unfamiliar and a power to overcome.
Unless, like Perlnern, they carved out their own hearts.
But for those below the immense rank of lords or holy kings, his authority is absurdly powerful and terrifying.
Even demons and monsters who barely feel fear or dread avoid entering his domain, and none dare covet the sixth lord's throne.
He lives in an unchanging skeletal body, and no matter how much he suppresses his power, he siphons surrounding life force bit by bit. The demon realm land where he first settled overflowed with vitality, but now it's barren.
To seal his own power, he stopped absorbing others' life force, but the already-desolate land became unlivable for creatures. Craving life teeming in his domain, he began experiments: crafting fake flowers and trees to plant, and dolls infused with souls.
His dolls are exquisitely detailed—indistinguishable from life unless peered at closely. Thanks to solid basics from Perlnern and decades invested, he's reached master craftsman level. Humans, elves, monsters... nothing he can't make.
Rumor has it Perlnern saw his heart-carved artifacts, coveted one, but was firmly refused.
========== Author's Note ==========
Boo-hoo.
Everyone.
Good night.
-From a Lost Ark operator's message-
//
Made some edits.
Chapter 86 - Revised for better flow: "Attacking Jinmu felt too abrupt and illogical from Jeanne's perspective. She's wary of a suspicious guy, then suddenly Judah picks a fight and combat starts."
Chapter 87 - Removed the line at the end: 'Can't meet Bell-Terza?' Added it thinking ahead to future plot, but better to delete.