Chapter 132
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Aerial City - 2
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Aerial City Asgard.
Having entered the place, I wandered around busily, just like a student on a field trip.
"How does this thing fly through the sky?"
"I'm sorry. I'm not a mage, so I don't know the details. I only know it uses applied mana."
"That seems like it's skipping over a lot, but it's mana-powered, right?"
Which meant something on a higher level like divinity could create things like this too.
'I've been too stuck in my ways. I need to think more fantastically, like in a fantasy world.'
I had to seize this chance to pilfer some tech from the Tower of Wisdom.
And while I was at it, get a hefty penalty fee from that guy Ellie.
"You've arrived, Hero?"
"Camilla? Good to see you're doing well.... Have you changed somehow?"
"Hehe, you noticed?"
Camilla had come out to greet me.
I instinctively jolted at the change in her.
What was it? No visible differences, but something fundamental...
"Don't tell me you've advanced in realm?"
"Correct. It's not fully crossed yet, but the second hierarchy is right before me."
"Whoa, how?"
"Hero, asking a knight about their enlightenment is a grave breach of etiquette."
"Just tell me. Between us, come on."
"And what are we, exactly?"
"We're comrades who rely on each other."
"Hehehe, you always know what to say."
"Fine. Whatever you want later, I'll make it happen."
"Very well. Let's head to the temple first. I'll give you a brief rundown on how we found Taranis's relic along the way."
"Sure."
And so, under Camilla's guidance, I headed toward the temple in Asgard.
Along the way, I saw nymphs living in the Holy Kingdom, children, and knights guarding it.
'The capital was impressive, but the Holy Kingdom has this cozy atmosphere overall.'
Despite the high altitude where I'd expected cold, warm air enveloped the entire city.
"Maintaining heat like this must cost a fortune."
"Not at all. The mana consumption is less than you'd think."
"Really?"
"The Fourth Apostle, Lady Ellie, applied ambient mana to minimize the power usage."
"That guy was such a big deal?"
"A great mage for the history books. You're the only one who'd call her 'that guy,' Hero."
"She's got this con artist image burned into my brain. Try landing naked in the imperial palace yourself. You'd start calling her 'that bitch' like I do."
"I heard about that."
"Already? Information travels fast."
"Rumors ride the wind. And you're probably the only man to stand naked before the Emperor in public."
"Don't tease. Thinking about it still gives me chills."
Come to think of it, that Emperor bitch complimented my goods back then.
Guess that's when she decided to breed me.
I'm going insane. Why is my life like this?
"Hero, you look pale."
"It's nothing. Anyway, how'd you catch Taranis?"
"The painting you gave the Fourth Knight was a big help."
"So the flower was the key after all?"
"No. The flower itself meant nothing."
"???"
Then why say it helped?
"Taranis was a cunning god. To prolong his dying life, he stole the lives of virgins."
"Helen's deduction was spot on."
"And those flowers were all the virgins sacrificed to Taranis."
"What?"
The shocking truth left me speechless.
"S-So those flowers were all human women?"
"Yes. Taranis roamed there in the form of lightning, draining their lives."
"Disgusting... What about the transformed virgins?"
"No matter how hard we tried, we couldn't save those turned to flowers. All we could do was free them from the cycle of torment without pain."
"Whew... You did great."
"No. That was all Her Majesty's doing, not mine."
"Still, you worked hard guarding her side."
"...You're a pro, Hero."
"What?"
"You know. Anyway, to draw Taranis out, we evacuated everyone from villages near Storm Plains."
"Lured him out with a drive hunt, huh."
"Yes. As expected, Taranis couldn't leave Storm Plains and came to us, clinging to his wretched life."
"No casualties, right?"
"Thankfully none. Sir Peredil pierced Taranis's lightning with his holy spear."
"I see... The second hierarchy really is a towering wall."
"That's frustrating. You took one down and say that?"
"Luck that time. And my senses tell me Sir Peredil is beyond me, unlike Sir Andrew."
"Your instincts are right. Sir Peredil ranks at the top among second hierarchy powerhouses."
"Even among the second hierarchy, there's levels."
"I want to reach the second hierarchy someday too."
"You seem close."
"Titan talk. It's not something you reach just because you want to."
Camilla's tone rose slightly, sounding a bit annoyed.
"Weren't you at the threshold earlier?"
"Countless famed warriors falter at that threshold. Only the chosen few break through."
"Yeah? I think you'll make it."
"What makes you say that?"
"Basis? I believe in you."
She stopped abruptly, looking up at me in disbelief.
Her expression was blank as usual, but I could feel her irritation.
"Hero, you think that makes sense?"
"Well? I learned from someone that without self-belief, you achieve nothing."
"...That's different from this."
"Same thing. Holy power or aura—it's all about fortifying yourself."
I took Camilla's hand as I spoke.
"If you're anxious, I'll believe in you for you. Certified by a Titan deity, no less."
"...So you do hate being Titan."
"Denying it changes nothing. And when a friend needs it, you use what you've got."
"You're a pro."
"I am pretty good with words."
Amused, Camilla smiled for the first time in a while.
"I can't win against you, Hero."
"That's how I felt when you first got me."
"Was it? Should've bullied you more then. Who knew you'd grow so sly."
"Someone might think you're my mom."
"Not mom, but teacher maybe?"
"True, since I learned from you. Should I call you Teacher from now on?"
"Save that until I reach second hierarchy."
"Okay, don't take too long. I might forget."
"Dementia already? You're still young."
"Dunno, lately I forget anything not urgent. Was it Black Wolf? Robera's former owner."
"Black Wolf—you mean Wolf?"
"Yeah, name just came back."
His corpse was grave-robbed, needed to hunt it down, but I'd forgotten amid the chaos.
"Isn't that fine to forget? He's already dead."
"True, but things are unsettled lately, so it nags at me."
Whatever, a powerhouse like Wolf was no match for me now.
Even if his connected folks raided my village for revenge, I'd dispatch them easily—and that crazy bitch drinking at home would hold the fort solidly.
No need to worry, like Camilla said.
'Yeah, let it go.'
Chatting with Camilla, we arrived at the Holy Kingdom's temple. It was the first relic I'd touched since Ornach.
Underground cavern—countless corpses huddled together, all clearly victims of live burial.
And on the altar at the black cavern's center, a woman rose.
"Ah, fuck, my head hurts."
[Wolf, finally awake?]
"Oh, Nix revived me again? Thanks."
[Yes. Quite an anticlimactic death this time.]
"Hahaha, yeah, anticlimactic. Some monster in a backwater village."
[Not the time to laugh. I can't reincarnate you anymore.]
"Really? Even more fun then."
The woman sprang from the altar, checked her body, then confronted the black, flickering presence like soot.
"Nix, why a woman's body this time?"
[No complaints. Think good bodies are easy to find?]
"Ha, shit... Fighting in a woman's body sucks."
[You've had a woman's body before. Skip the nonsense.]
"Sigh... Wonder what Nike will say seeing this."
[Enough whining. Prepare to march.]
"Already? I just revived."
[For your sake. Tensions rise between Empire and Holy Kingdom.]
"That means?"
[Yes. Time for hidden organizations to rise again.]
The black mist rippled before her, emitting a tearing sound as it uttered a divine decree.
"My hero, become my sword and smite the arrogant proxies of the gods and the descendants of sinners."
⟨ Divine Command ⟩
"War again? This'll be fun!"
In the underground city reeking only of rotting flesh, a black wolf caught the scent of blood and revived once more.