Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Healing God's Countermeasure
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“The aura of the Plague God is strong... Wouldn’t it be possible to offset its power by spreading the aura of the God of Healing?”
It was the God of Healing who showed up every time they destroyed a Plague God altar. Hadn’t it even blocked a strike from the Plague God on the second floor?
“But the statue and altar...”
“We can make them.”
The Plague God’s statue wasn’t anything special either. The one on the first floor hadn’t been that big.
If it doesn’t exist, make it.
Saschiell stared blankly for a moment at Cheon-ho’s very Cheon-ho-like response, but soon nodded. There didn’t seem to be any reason why they couldn’t.
Moreover, in truth, there was no need to make a new one.
“No, it already exists.”
It was Queen Lukana. She turned her gaze back to Princess Letisha and continued.
“You probably already know, but the blood of the God of Healing flows in the Floren royal family.”
It was the first time hearing it, but it made immediate sense.
To save the fourth floor, royal blood is needed.
That was the phrase in the hidden quest.
“Our mountain clan and the Floren royal family, along with the Mage Tower, have maintained a secret relationship for a long time.”
The open relationship was only between the Floren royal family and the Mage Tower, but the mountain clan had also shared blood with the Floren royal family multiple times, maintaining a close bond.
“The God of Healing left its power in our mountain clan, the Floren royal family, and the Mage Tower respectively.”
Blood that can awaken power in the Floren royal family.
A divine relic in the mountain clan.
A statue and ritual spells in the Mage Tower.
“The blood of the Floren royal family is right here. The divine relic is held by our mountain clan. And the Mage Tower’s statue and ritual spells... are hidden in the deepest part of the Mage Tower. Even though the Mage Tower has fallen, there’s a high chance they haven’t been found yet. That’s what I believe.”
It was quite plausible. Saschiell asked.
“Is there a possibility that the Plague God’s minions know this?”
“They probably don’t. It’s something even we didn’t know.”
Raguel said while cradling Prince Yug. It wasn’t even known to the angels, so the hostile Plague God’s minions could be considered completely unaware.
“Hope is in sight.”
They still hadn’t figured out how to deal with the Plague God’s army, but at least one breakthrough had emerged.
“Hero.”
Lucille beamed and took Cheon-ho’s hand. Her eyes said, as expected of our hero.
Cheon-ho cleared his throat once before speaking to everyone again.
“Then the problem is the Mage Tower. Queen Lukana, do you know the location of the hidden statue in the Mage Tower?”
“I know roughly. But infiltrating the Mage Tower will be the issue first. As you’ve already seen, the Plague God’s minions have occupied it.”
The enemies hadn’t stopped at burning the Mage Tower. They had installed Plague God statues and altars there too. They clearly planned to sacrifice the captured mages.
“It’s undoubtedly urgent. But we need time. You’re all exhausted, so rest well today. Mountain warriors will scout the Mage Tower’s situation under cover of night and dawn.”
They needed rest and information.
Cheon-ho, who knew the importance of rest better than anyone, nodded, and Saschiell and the combat angels agreed. Eizel slumped her shoulders in relief at being able to rest.
“A great crisis has come. But we have the holy sword and the hero, so we will overcome it.”
Queen Lukana smiled brightly at Cheon-ho. It was a smile beautiful enough to turn night into day.
Cheon-ho smiled back, and Lucille nodded several times.
“Let’s eat first.”
Queen Lukana snapped her fingers with a grin, and mountain warriors laden with food gathered around the round table.
* * *
Cheon-ho’s party ate their fill, washed up, and went to bed.
As always, Cheon-ho was the last to finish bathing. He retrieved Residual Flame from the bathhouse, then strapped Mitra to his waist.
His wristwatch showed just past 10 PM.
On Earth, it wouldn’t be that late, but in this labyrinth world, it was plenty late for everyone to be asleep.
‘I need to hurry.’
Before Cheon-ho arrived, Lucille had somehow stayed awake through sheer willpower.
But right then.
[O Chosen One.]
Mitra suddenly spoke. Its tone was a bit different from usual.
It was truly like a holy sword—low, serious, and thoughtful.
Cheon-ho stopped in place and drew Mitra, gazing at the golden gem connecting the hilt and blade, as if meeting its eyes.
[O Chosen One.]
[Since your rank rose on the third floor, I’ve been thinking about this. And watching today’s meeting, I’ve finally decided.]
“Mitra?”
What was it talking about?
[On the second floor, you truly became a hero. On the third floor, your rank rose, allowing you to slightly transcend human limits. Like Leon.]
The first hero, Leonhardt.
The great hero of the labyrinth world who protected humanity against the demon king from another world.
[It’s still too early. You and I both need to grow more. But the fourth floor’s situation isn’t easy. Even this mountain range, empowered by the God of Healing’s relic to neutralize demonic energy, is being infiltrated by the Plague God’s miasma.]
[So, I’ve decided to hurry a little.]
What Mitra wanted to say.
Cheon-ho now vaguely guessed. He had heard about situations like this several times in his father’s stories.
[I will pass on some of the true hero’s power to you.]
[You, who has begun to shed human limits, needs power to match.]
Cheon-ho swallowed dryly. He had guessed, but hearing it for real felt different.
“How... do we do it?”
[I can’t teach it with words. First, put Lucille to sleep, then lie down alone in a quiet place.]
At Mitra’s unprecedentedly serious words, Cheon-ho nodded immediately. As expected, he told the drowsily nodding Lucille that he had important business with Mitra and to sleep first, then left the party’s lodging.
Instead of wandering an unfamiliar place, he lay down on the drained bathhouse floor.
[Hmm.]
Mitra made a strange noise, as if displeased with the location, but there was no choice.
[Anyway, let’s begin. Close your eyes and clear your mind. I will guide you to the vast world of the spirit.]
‘Wait, no way?’
It clicked again.
Training in the spirit world.
Something that often appeared in his father’s stories.
But Cheon-ho’s excitement wasn’t just from anticipation of training.
Mitra in the spirit world.
What would it look like?
Would it just be the sword as is? Or like in his father’s stories, in human form?
[O Chosen One, clear your mind.]
Though right beside him, Mitra’s voice felt strangely distant.
Cheon-ho cleared his mind with Sage’s Time and focused his consciousness.
How much time passed?
Minutes? Hours? An unknowable span.
Suddenly, Cheon-ho felt a floating sensation and naturally opened his eyes.
It was clear and beautiful.
A blue sky and vast grassland. A cool breeze blowing.
And in the center, the one standing there.
“Mitra?!”
[O Chosen One.]
At the soft call, Cheon-ho’s eyes widened. For a moment, he couldn’t speak.
* * *
[Lewd Lv5 experience has increased.]
[Lewd Lv5 experience has increased.]
[Sage’s Time Lv2]
Cheon-ho activated Sage’s Time first. He was that startled.
“M-Mitra?”
[Huhu, O Chosen One. So surprised?]
The response was leisurely, even joyful.
Even with Sage’s Time active, Cheon-ho swallowed dryly and asked again.
“Is that... your true form, Mitra?”
[Huh, something like that. O Chosen One, do you remember asking if I was an angel when you first saw me?]
“Yes? Ah... yes. I remember. I did ask that.”
He had definitely asked when it offered to take night watch.
[I said no then, but it’s similar. This is the form of my soul. My true form.]
At the proud response, Cheon-ho swallowed again. He took a breath, then said seriously.
“Mitra, really? That’s your true, true form?”
[W-well?]
“Really? Truly real?”
[W-wait. O Chosen One. What’s... Kyaa?!]
Startled by the repeated questions, Mitra looked at itself and screamed before finishing.
[Wh-what is this! What is this?!]
The shocked Mitra flailed around in panic.
And Cheon-ho understood.
He didn’t know yet what its true form was supposed to be, but what stood before him was something like a child’s scribble.
‘Zolaman, right?’
A circle head with stick figure body and limbs.
A character popular in his father’s school days.
Of course, not just any Zolaman. There were a few extra lines drawn behind the head. Apparently, Mitra’s real form had long hair.
[The background is perfectly rendered, so why only me!]
The background was indeed real. Sky, ground, the wind between them.
“Calm down, Mitra. As long as we can communicate, isn’t that fine?”
[Eee! No! It’s not! And it’s all your fault!]
An expression appeared on Mitra’s circle face.
[>_
It seemed to be trying to look angry, but it was so cute that Cheon-ho couldn’t hold back laughter.
“Pfft!”
[D-don’t laugh! Don’t laugh, I said!]
[ㅠㅁㅠ]
Already cute, now it was foul-play level cute. As Cheon-ho kept laughing, clutching his stomach, Mitra sniffled and said.
[It’s because your power is lacking. If you had more power, I could show my real form!]
[ㅠ_ㅠ]
That’s why it hadn’t rushed.
It planned to do it after powering up more!
Of course, not solely for this reason, but it was one of them.
“It’s fine, Mitra. You’re cute enough like this... Pfft.”
[Waaah!]
[ㅠㅁㅠ]
Zolaman Mitra hopped around with a tearful face.
Thinking it always made that face when crying out made it too cute; the laughter wouldn’t stop.
“Haha, ha. Whew. M-Mitra. Stop. Let me catch my breath first.”
[Use Sage’s Time! Sage’s Time!]
[?ㅁ?!]
Good point. Using Sage’s Time to stop laughing, Cheon-ho analyzed as usual.
“But Mitra, you’re short. Is that because of my lack of power too?”
Zolaman Mitra’s head barely reached Cheon-ho’s waist. Looking at itself, Mitra replied.
“That too, but... probably because I’m in a growth phase. I haven’t absorbed that many demon swords yet.”
[ㅇㅅㅇ]
Its eyes were sparkling. Meeting those sparkling eyes, Cheon-ho thought.
‘So it could’ve been a child form instead of Zolaman?’
That would’ve been pretty cute too.
[O Chosen One, I can tell what you’re thinking, but anyway, let’s get to the main topic.]
“Huh? Wasn’t showing your true form the main topic?”
[No! It’s not, you ras—I mean, hero!]
[=ㅁ=!]
Zolaman Mitra poked Cheon-ho’s thigh with its stick arms. The thin lines didn’t hurt at all.
“Alright, this is to learn the true hero’s power from you. I’m ready.”
[Sigh, then let’s begin the real talk.]
Drooping its arms, Mitra stared into space—showing its back line.
[Watch closely, hero.]
As Mitra waved its hand, a large light diagram appeared in the air. An octagon, divided into sections from the center point.
[This visualizes the power you possess.]
“Oh.”
Up close, each section had labels.
Long weapons, short weapons, thrown weapons, crafting, etc.
Inside each section were square boxes and lines, familiar to Cheon-ho.
‘Skill tech tree.’
For example, thrown weapons:
Bow equip → Rapid fire → Quick shot → Dual shot → Triple shot.
[Hmm, you have so many sections.]
Mitra nodded repeatedly, seemingly impressed.
And rightly so—even the first hero Leon had only five sections.