Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Prelude to War
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A sudden curiosity struck me.
The Demon Legion's Supreme Commander, the Absolute Sovereign of the Demon Realm, the Evil of the Abyss, or the deepest darkness.
And... the final boss of [Devil Fantasy] that I could never catch until the very end.
What if that being appeared here right now?
There might be various paths to get there, but the conclusion would be the same no matter what.
‘This world... is done for.’
That bastard had never once crossed into the human realm.
He knew it himself. The moment he set foot in the human world, all his toys would meet a miserable end.
That was why Baal had never come to the human realm.
He simply observed the chaos through his minions and filled the void in his heart.
Even knowing that, the only countermeasures the humans could take were...
‘Hold back the Demon Legion and maintain the status quo.’
And occasionally, when a human beyond common sense appeared, sending them to the demon realm as a challenger.
That was the existence known as a ‘player.’
All of them had failed, of course.
Anyway.
“Keheheheheh!”
I looked at the old man pouring out mana while steeped in madness.
A psycho through and through, but still one of the top powerhouses in a world where he held the position of tower master.
Dershion Figma.
There was only one reason he was pulling off something like this.
‘...For a higher realm of ‘light.’’
It wasn’t a completely wrong idea. Light magic did indeed grow stronger the more it confronted demons.
Whether catching thousands or tens of thousands of demons, or taking down a demon legion commander.
In Baal’s case, there were even tales that merely facing him elevated one’s realm of light.
Whooooosh-!
That was probably what Dershion was aiming for.
Using the [Essence of Light] to draw out my full potential, then having me confront Baal to reach the pinnacle of light.
That must be the ‘true light’ they spoke of.
“Whew...”
If these people here could actually take down Baal, it would be a feasible plan.
If it worked, it would be perfect.
My own realm elevated, Baal exorcised, Dershion achieving his wish... a true three birds with one stone.
However.
‘You think that’ll work?’
If you could catch Baal just by setting up some artifacts and gathering elders, humans would have conquered the demon realm long ago.
Honestly, it was a bit ridiculous.
I’d never felt such a generational gap before.
‘...Man, how did Baal end up in this kind of position?’
In my time, just mentioning his name could get you executed.
But now... some crazy old geezer obsessed with delusions was babbling about summoning and banishing Baal?
“1... Number One!”
What the hell was the Asteron royal family doing, not catching bastards like this?
“Yoo Haness, what is that power...?”
You guys slacking off like this just makes things harder for me.
No time to answer.
Wooooong-!
I shook off stray thoughts and focused all my mind.
Solely on injecting mana.
Rattle rattle rattle!
The artifact I’d siphoned away when the elders weren’t looking vibrated fiercely.
A sign that it was fully charged with mana.
Something only I could pull off.
-Mana regeneration increases by 300%.
Thanks to [Prodigy of Magic], my mana regenerated faster than it was consumed.
Hmm, normally you’d need to be at least 9th circle for that, right?
Anyway. Preparations complete.
“Die.”
I aimed the top-grade artifact I held, [Yata’s Mirror], at Dershion.
[Yata’s Mirror], filled with my mana, spat out a black beam in return.
Kwaaaa-!
A jet-black ray that seemed to swallow everything.
It made the light beam I’d fired with the [Holy Staff] look like a laser toy for playing with cats.
The problem was...
“B-block it!”
The Aldeon elders reinforcing the hexagram noticed what I was up to.
The [Veil of Light] they’d conjured together barely blocked the jet-black ray.
As expected of elder-level, their reaction speed and casting were lightning-fast.
Clang clang clang!
Jet-black clashing against light.
Even with a top-grade artifact, a one-versus-many fight was never easy.
The veil advanced bit by bit, pushing back the blackness.
But if it was one versus many, I just needed to make it many versus many.
“Roan!”
“...I don’t know what’s going on, but.”
Shiiiing-!
The quick-witted Roan immediately cast a spell.
Ice spears hurtling toward the [Veil of Light].
Only now did I realize—he was an ice magic specialist.
The spears, the same color as his eyes, were tougher than any magic I’d seen from him before.
“This side’s the righteous one, right?”
“You got it.”
Crack crack!
Roan’s ice spears hammered the veil. The [Veil of Light] yielded little by little under the impact.
Was it because of his legendary trait? He was impressive, pressuring elders like this.
‘Well, not purely on skill.’
Shing! Shing! Pop! Poom!
Every time Roan launched a spear, artifacts around him flashed mercilessly.
A waist ornament: [Chronos’s Pocket Watch], accelerating attack spells.
On his finger: [Ashtar’s Ring], boosting spell accuracy.
Around his neck: [Recovery Pendant], probabilistically reflecting damage back as secondary harm when spells were broken.
At this point, was he a mage or an artifact hoarder?
All I had worth using was the [Holy Staff]...
‘...Once I get out, I seriously need to make some money first.’
I comforted myself that my peak potential was way higher thanks to traits, then turned back.
Clack clack-!
Just when it seemed we had the edge, the elders gritted their teeth, and we were being pushed back again.
That’s when a booming middle-aged man’s voice rang out from behind.
“Blond noble! Now—!”
“...Tch.”
Roan fired another ice spear. But this one looked different.
The shaft’s tip was flat, like... hmm, no idea. Why that shape?
“Hrah!”
...Ah, like that?
As Roan’s spear flew toward the veil, a massive boulder hurled by Uncle Thompson followed right behind.
Kwa-boom!
A combo attack like using the ice spear as a nail and smashing it with a rock hammer.
A deafening roar shook my eardrums as the sharp spearhead pierced the veil.
At that perfect timing, Roan’s [Recovery Pendant] activated.
Boom-!
The ice spear transferred all the damage from the boulder back as intangible force.
...Crack, craaack.
A combo even games could only describe verbally. The [Veil of Light] couldn’t hold.
Shatter!
The cracking veil finally broke, opening a path for the beam.
Now my turn.
The jet-black ray poured through the breached gate toward Dershion.
Poooof!
“...Kuhk!”
Even as tower master, with all his power poured into the hexagram, Dershion could do nothing.
Just get flung far away.
Boom!
“T-Tower Master!”
“You crazy bastards...!”
Some elders rushed to him in panic.
The rest glared at us, eyes bulging.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
“How dare you...! Do you even realize what you’ve interrupted!”
“...What?”
Hah, the one who farted gets mad?
They’d shown faint guilt when people died in the evaluation, but now even that was gone.
“The elders are really united now.”
“...You fool! Don’t you know this is all for your benefit too! This ritual opens the light for you—”
“The fool’s you. Who asked for that crap?”
“...W-what?”
Second Elder’s eyes widened.
Veins bulging on his forehead, he lunged and grabbed my collar.
My heart raced.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
“...You ill-mannered brat. Do you really want to die here!”
Second Elder was the second most powerful in the tower after Dershion. At least 8th circle.
Even with my mythic traits, I couldn’t handle an old monster like this.
But I pushed back hard.
“...Try killing me then.”
“...What?”
“I said, go ahead and kill me.”
‘If you can,’ I added silently.
Second Elder couldn’t kill me anyway.
The ritual’s focus was entirely on me—not an exaggeration.
How would he kill me now—
“Y-You...!”
Swoooosh!
‘Fuck.’
My mistake forgetting how emotional humans can be.
I hadn’t meant to provoke him.
As Second Elder’s eyes gleamed murderously, the surrounding mana churned wildly.
Rumble rumble!
Mana particles trembled as if ready to snap my neck any second.
My body grew heavy like under intensified gravity, breathing labored.
...To exert this much pressure with presence alone.
‘...This is 8th circle.’
I hadn’t underestimated him, but it was still shocking.
But.
More than fear, rivalry burned. More than despair, ambition rose.
I knew why.
That was the realm I had to reach.
The one I had to surpass someday.
I was the one to catch Baal and end this world.
So I couldn’t die in a place like this.
Swoooosh...
“...!!”
All emotions cooled, thoughts accelerated.
-Magic calculation ability is maximized.
I quietly sensed the surrounding mana.
Each particle entered my perception, my skin awakening.
-Mana sensitivity increases by 300%.
“You... how...?”
Unfortunately, the mana I could control was limited. But not zero.
This much should suffice.
Pop! Pop! Pop...!
“Huh...”
When I opened my eyes from focus, the area was blindingly bright.
30% of the mana under Second Elder’s control had returned to me.
I’d just eaten a legendary trait with the [Essence of Light].
That’s why the mana I manipulated glowed pure white.
“...Light?”
“More precisely, the light you gave me.”
“The trials are truly all cleared...?”
“What do you think?”
Whirl whirl-.
Pure white mana swirled around Second Elder and me at my will.
Just simple mana manipulation with no power, yet an utterly beautiful sight.
Mesmerizing enough that a first-time viewer couldn’t look away.
“Aah...”
Second Elder stared entranced, slowly admiring the orbiting light.
Seizing the moment, I made the mana dance more vibrantly.
‘...Feels like I’m putting on some circus show.’
Not the best feeling, but the result wasn’t bad.
The intent to kill was gone from his eyes.
He’d released my collar ages ago.
Thinking maybe I could persuade him, I spoke.
“Second Elder.”
In the most solemn tone.
“This might be the last time you see that light.”
“...What do you mean?”
“Not just the light. Everyone here, everyone in this world stands at a fateful crossroads today. By Aldeon’s choice. You know that well, don’t you?”
“...”
“No need for shortcuts. No need to risk ruin. I can surely show you... the true light Aldeon craves.”
“...Aldeon hasn’t grasped even the edge of that light in the past century. How could you—”
“Aren’t you seeing it now? The possibility unseen for a century.”
Whirl whirl.
The crystalline white mana spun like a dance. Second Elder couldn’t help but be captivated again.
Light from a legendary trait. A once-in-a-millennium sight already.
Naturally, they hadn’t come close in a century.
“...”
A face in torment. I drove the wedge deeper.
“For the sake of preserving this light, please stop the tower master.”
“But he...”
“Many lives have already been lost. If we don’t stop him now—”
That’s when it happened.
The voice sprinkling ashes on a done deal.
[...Futile meddling.]
The owner: Dershion. He rose, slumped against the wall, with other elders’ help.
His gaze fixed on one spot.
[Too late to realize... Kehuk, kehahaha!]
A roar-like laugh.
The tinnitus started again.
Reeeee-!
‘...No way?’
Anxious, I turned.
Toward Dershion’s gaze.
And there.
Tss, tsss.
What you’d only see in the game’s late stages.
[The Day of Judgment has already begun—!]
Tsss tsss!
A passage to the demon realm was slowly opening its maw.
It was the prelude to war.