Chapter 156
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: March on the Fortress of Vice
“But Brother, what should we do from here on out? It feels like we ought to head back to the 12th floor soon.”
Even the evil gods of the Great Labyrinth had eyes and ears everywhere. The absence of the God of Cavalry and the God of Spearmen, who were supposed to defend the 12th and 13th floors, would soon spread throughout the labyrinth.
Nothing would happen right away, but they couldn’t leave those floors vacant for days on end.
And it was right then.
“I have one suggestion.”
The God of Purification strode forward boldly from the center of the basin, where he had been neutralizing the God of Curses’ maledictions. His face seemed to shine with light.
“Oh, the peak of nascent divinity.”
“Such confidence.”
As the God of Music and the God of Painting clapped in applause, the God of Purification moved right up in front of the God of Armies and pointed north.
“With the leader of the evil gods residing on the 15th floor—the God of Curses—now eliminated, our forces here are overwhelming. Why not use this opportunity to destroy the Fortress of Vice?”
There were two pillars on the 15th floor that led deeper into the labyrinth.
One was at the Fortress of Justice, the other at the Fortress of Vice. Destroying the Fortress of Vice now would mean the benevolent gods controlled both pillars leading to the depths from the 15th floor.
“Not a bad idea.”
As the God of Purification said, their current forces were indeed formidable.
The God of Cavalry and God of Spearmen, who should have been on the 12th and 13th floors, along with the God of Shieldbearers, had joined the fray. And the Hero had grown significantly stronger as well.
A Fortress of Vice deprived of its leader, the God of Curses, could surely be conquered.
“Brother, what about the Fortress of Justice?”
When the God of Spearmen glanced south and asked, the God of Armies nodded.
“If it’s just holding the line, there shouldn’t be any issues. As the God of Purification says, this seems like the perfect chance to take down the Fortress of Vice.”
“If that’s what you think, Brother…… Very well.”
With the God of Spearmen’s agreement, the God of Cavalry and God of Shieldbearers voiced their assent as well.
With their course of action more or less decided, the God of Music and God of Painting approached Lucille.
“Lucille, Lucille. You okay?”
“You’ve pushed yourself too hard, so you should rest now. You’ve absorbed some of the divine relic’s power, right? It’ll take time to process it.”
“Yeah, yeah. And that Healing Goddess sister worked you pretty rough. Not just sometimes—it’s always like that. She’s way too much.”
“Ah, we should tell on her later.”
“You think?!”
Their banter kicked off before anyone knew it. Lucille chuckled softly, then flashed an angelic smile.
“Thank you for worrying about me.”
Radiant, beautiful, and warm.
“She really is an angel.”
“The epitome of one.”
Amazed anew, the God of Music and God of Painting took Lucille by the hand and led her toward the furniture.
“Come on. We’re resting here for the day anyway, so sleep next to the Hero. If you lie down, we’ll bring him over.”
“Yeah, yeah, there’s even a bed. Is this what they use in the otherworld? Nice cushioning.”
The two goddesses, ever bubbly no matter the time or place, got Lucille settled in bed before turning toward where Cheon-ho was.
Lucille watched their retreating figures for a moment, smiled in fond exasperation, and surrendered to the bed.
Whether it was the faint, familiar scent of Cheon-ho or simply the otherworld bed’s comfort, she felt sleep coming on fast.
“Nothing bad will happen.”
They had won a great victory.
They had secured the divine relic of the Goddess of War, Evnail.
Lucille closed her eyes.
And at the same time.
Deep in the depths.
The Plague God smiled.
He burst into triumphant laughter.
A day passed.
After sufficient rest in the basin, the God of Armies issued the order to march early that morning.
Their path led northeast.
The plan was to advance diagonally, link up with the main force marching straight north, and assault the Fortress of Vice.
[Hmph.]
It wasn’t the Demon Sword Mitra, but the Holy Sword Mitra.
Cheon-ho, flying ahead on the wings of the God of Flight for scouting, gave an awkward smile.
“Still sulking?”
[I’m not sulking.]
Mitra replied curtly.
The night before.
More precisely, ever since the Demon Sword Mitra had fallen asleep and the Holy Sword Mitra had awakened, it had been like this.
She’d been left aside while he’d given a lap pillow only to the Demon Sword.
True to her nature, Mitra couldn’t voice her displeasure outright, but her indirect jabs made it impossible to miss.
“Mitra, the Demon Sword is still you, isn’t it? You said it wasn’t split personalities.”
[It’s not. Well, not exactly. But still……]
After waking, she had merged back with the Demon Sword, memories and all.
Yet something felt lacking, regretful.
It seemed like he was closer(?) to the Demon Sword than to her.
[Anyway, I’m not sulking.]
“Fine, let’s go with that.”
[Hmph.]
Cheon-ho stroked the golden gem on Mitra as he looked into the distance.
Comforting Mitra was all well and good, but scouting took priority.
As the God of Purification had predicted, the 15th floor seemed thrown into chaos without the God of Curses.
Monsters approached now and then, but only sporadically. And none showed active hostility.
“Time to head back.”
[Yeah, good idea.]
Even while sulking, her prompt replies were so very Mitra. Cheon-ho patted the golden gem again and returned to base.
For all the back-and-forth, they were still the God of Armies’ siblings’ elite troops all assembled—over a few hundred strong. The main force was easy to spot from afar.
[The God of Healing should be fine.]
As they neared base, Mitra said.
Cheon-ho nodded in agreement.
“She’s strong.”
[Indeed. And she’s not the only one down in the depths.]
It was true the God of Healing led the depth assault team, dubbed the Strike Force. But she wasn’t the only benevolent god there.
Several had reached the realm of Grand Ministers, including key figures who commanded forces alongside her.
The labyrinth world’s greatest swordsman, the God of Swords.
The God of Martial Arts, master to the God of Healing.
The God of Order, overseeing the depth assault’s main operations. And more.
“Hero.”
“Lucille.”
Cheon-ho waved back at Lucille’s cheerful greeting as he landed.
After reporting no anomalies to the God of Armies, he boarded the chariot with her.
“Things progressed a bit on our end while you were out.”
Her bright expression suggested good news.
While Cheon-ho scouted, the God of Armies had sought ways to contact the depths.
Communication with the depths wasn’t something they could do often to begin with.
The barrier between the shallows and mid-layers was thick, but the one between mid and depths was far thicker.
Plus, unlike the shallows or mid-layers, once you descended to the depths, ascending was exceedingly difficult. Thus, all contact relied entirely on the Grand Ministers.
The only shrine they could set up right now was the God of Healing’s, making links to the others impossible.
But the Fortress of Justice housed shrines to every god who had descended.
The God of Armies had ordered contact attempts from there, and it seemed there had been some modest success.
“The God of Order replied. Nothing unusual on depth level 20 yet. They haven’t heard anything specific from level 23 either, but they’re looking into it.”
It wasn’t direct word from the God of Healing, but it was reassuring enough.
If something had truly gone wrong with her, at least the God of Order in the same depths would have gotten word.
“That’s a relief.”
“Yes, Hero.”
Lucille smiled warmly. For all her cheer, the past day’s worries had left her a touch worn.
[Still as beautiful as ever. No, even more so.]
At Mitra’s praise, Lucille blushed with an “ehehe.”
But it was true. While absorbing the divine relic had restored Mitra to her original form, it had elevated Lucille’s rank with its power—now she was truly near-goddess status.
A 3rd Rank Angel.
From 2nd Rank on, calling them lesser deities wasn’t an exaggeration. She was one step from full goddess.
“It’s thanks to you and Lady Mitra, Hero.”
Just months ago, she’d been a 9th Rank Angel.
[No, it’s your own quality shining through. Yes, yes. Truly splendid.]
Mitra had always been kind and affectionate, but she had an extra soft spot for Lucille.
From Cheon-ho’s perspective, their good rapport was nothing but heartwarming.
“But Hero, still no reply from your mother?”
At Lucille’s question, Cheon-ho nodded and pulled out the silver card.
It had come in the first carrier.
“The output’s much stronger than before…… But maybe because we’ve gone deeper, or some other reason, no connection.”
He’d tested it as the Incarnation of the Sun God too, so it seemed it just wouldn’t work.
There might be issues beyond the output problem Raguel had first suspected.
“Mm…… That’s disappointing.”
“No helping it.”
Direct aid from his parents would be ideal, but it was perhaps too much to hope for.
His mother was Phaien’s Dragon God Queen, his father Phaien’s Hero.
The labyrinth world’s Hero was Cheon-ho himself.
‘Of course, I’ll still try to find a way.’
Saving the labyrinth world came before any territorial squabbles(?).
Every possible resource had to be used to save it.
‘Mother might have some plan in motion too.’
Two carriers had already arrived.
One had even flown into the wardrobe, so she might have found a way already—or even be en route to the labyrinth world.
‘Can’t wait.’
It felt a bit guilty thinking this amid discussions of the labyrinth world’s fate, but he looked forward to Mitra meeting his mother flustered, or Lucille fumbling before his father, and more.
[You’re thinking something naughty. Your Torment Force is ticking up a bit.]
“Torment Force?”
Mitra clucked her tongue, prompting Lucille to widen her eyes in askance.
At her pure, blank expression, Cheon-ho rolled his eyes with effort, while Mitra pondered whether to explain his Torment Force to Lucille.
Half a day more passed like that.
The group linked with the main force and pressed north, reaching the Fortress of Vice by noon the next day.
“Indeed, that must be the Fortress of Vice.”
The God of Purification murmured from afar, but no one really responded.
Well, someone did.
“Ah, back to normal, huh.”
“The nascent peak’s over.”
As the God of Music and God of Painting chatted away, the God of Armies gazed at the Fortress of Vice alongside the God of Cavalry.
Beyond the demon qi-shrouded wasteland loomed the pillar, and beneath it, the black fortress.
Like the Fortress of Justice, it looked impregnable at a glance.
Yet the God of Armies smiled—not in despair or resignation.
“Certainly…… Sloppy now.”
The God of Armies murmured, and the God of Cavalry nodded.
Whether from the God of Curses’ demise, gaps showed in the demon qi enveloping the Fortress of Vice.
Especially the red barrier blanketing the entire fortress—clearly the God of Curses’ handiwork—had unnatural seams in its power links.
“But it’s still a mighty barrier. Even my lance charge might pierce it, but shattering the whole thing? Tough.”
The God of Cavalry boasted top attack power among the siblings.
The God of Armies agreed. The barrier’s links were sloppy, but its raw output was tremendous, compensating like a Grand Minister’s work.
That was the nature of curses: they grew stronger after the caster’s death.
Still, the God of Armies wasn’t overly worried. They had the trump card to break the God of Curses’ maledictions.
“Ahem.”
The God of Purification cleared his throat lightly, but all eyes turned to Cheon-ho, not him.
One of the five goddesses: the Goddess of War, Evnail.
Her divine relic.
“Prepare the magic circle. Unleash the relic’s power from the center.”
Shattering it with Dawnblade as usual wouldn’t work—the Fortress of Vice and its curse barrier were too vast.
A wide-area attack spell infused with the relic’s power was the best approach.
“Mitra, you can do it, right?”
[Yes, if you and Lucille work together.]
Mitra clenched her fist in the mental world, and Lucille nodded.
“Let’s begin.”
The God of Armies’ siblings took positions at each cardinal direction.
Raguel and Camuel drew the magic circle around the four gods, placing Cheon-ho at the center of the massive formation—over ten meters across.
The Fortress of Vice showed no reaction.
They hadn’t faced real attacks en route, so it seemed the enemy planned to hunker down and defend.
‘No interference? All the better for us.’
Cheon-ho exhaled deeply, gripped Mitra in one hand, and glanced at Lucille. She swallowed once, then joined him in grasping Mitra’s hilt.
[Here we go.]
Mitra declared. Golden light enveloped her blade, transforming her. A second golden gem appeared atop the pure white blade, radiating the prismatic power of the five goddesses.
Cheon-ho became the Incarnation of the Sun God.
Lucille spread her wings wide; her halo spun. A golden magic circle formed behind her.
Uniting the power of Hero, angel, and holy sword.
Thus activating the divine relic of the five goddesses.
[Ah, aahhh!]
Mitra cried out in rapture.
Intense golden light overwhelmed the prism, engulfing Cheon-ho and Lucille.
And right after.
As Mitra’s power peaked.
“Huh?”
[Ah?]
Lucille blinked. Mitra’s mouth fell open unwittingly.