Chapter 74: Sanctuary of Restful Purification — Resolve (2)
Chapter 74: Sanctuary of Restful Purification — Resolve (2)
“…Golems?”
Seraphina, who had been lightly nudging the armor on the floor with her foot, flinched.
“I’ve heard that sometimes golems created by mages and then abandoned can become monsters that violently lash out with uncontrolled aggression.”
Not sometimes.
It happened constantly.
That was one of the many reasons why mages were such an unscrupulous class.
“But even so, more than one hundred thousand of them gathering together is impossible.”
“That’s right. It’s an absurd story.”
An absurd possibility.
And that was precisely the cause of the catastrophe that destroyed the Sanctuary of Restful Purification.
“A labyrinth from the future.”
I leaned lightly against the wooden partition that served as a wall.
“If you travel northeast from the Sanctuary, near the mountain range there exists an unexplored dungeon where a catastrophic future possibility has manifested.”
Its name was Golemophia.
Its rank was A-class.
“The setting of that dungeon is a world where golems revolted and turned intelligent lifeforms into mere biological fuel.”
A dystopia where combat golems, giant artificial monsters, and various automated constructs ruled the world under the leadership of an ego staff created by a certain archmage for research.
Though from the enemy’s perspective, it could also be called a utopia—freedom from the irrational rule of intelligent beings.
“Some dungeons will erupt if they are not cleared within a certain time. The monsters inside burst out and rampage. In the original history, the Sanctuary of Restful Purification happened to lie directly along the advancing route of the golem legion.”
The Great Monster leading them was that same staff.
Of course, it had already obtained a powerful new non-biological body through future magic.
If things proceeded normally, we would never have to face it.
“…That’s a far more troubling enemy than I expected.”
Apparently feeling hot, Seraphina finally removed her helmet and stroked her chin.
“How was such a powerful monster army handled in real history? Even I couldn’t stop them.”
“Stronger forces from the Kingdom of Rumes mobilized to stop them.”
By the era of the Great Holy War, the Kingdom of Rumes, once the hegemon of the western continent in ancient times, had declined somewhat.
But its military power remained terrifying.
If a level-9 Saint could not stop them, then level-10 monsters among humans could.
“The pride of Rumes—the commander of the Dragon Cavalry and his elite drake riders. The commander of the Sky-Piercing Knights, said to pierce the heavens with a single spear, and his knights, each stronger than level 7. And the Rumes Elite Infantry, where even ordinary soldiers were equipped with magical artifacts…”
From the enemy’s perspective, it was an overwhelming force.
“To oppose great strength, one must bring even greater strength, Saint.”
Even including the Hidden Piece method, the Sanctuary of Restful Purification was still only a C-class labyrinth.
Even at my current level, it was not impossible to clear.
“…Now I understand how you intend to change history.”
The Saint of Arteine, a detective capable of grasping the entire truth from a small clue, immediately saw through my plan.
“If we request aid from the Kingdom of Rumes, we can protect the temple and the patients. We only need to hold them off until reinforcements arrive.”
“That’s exactly right.”
We didn’t need to defeat the enemy ourselves.
If we focused purely on defense, a small force could hold out for several days.
Seraphina’s expression brightened slightly.
“If we send an item containing my divine power and mystics, the kingdom will likely dispatch troops—if only to test the possibility. I am, after all, a very famous Saint.”
She understood her own advantages and used them boldly.
No wonder she became a historical figure.
“Saint, even if we send a messenger today, reinforcements won’t arrive immediately. The king’s approval will take time.”
Especially level-10 individuals—walking strategic weapons.
They could not simply be dispatched at will.
Just like nuclear missiles could not be launched by a single decision.
Endless procedures were required.
“Only when the monster army’s activity becomes certain will the mobilization proceed quickly. So we must fight alone for at least three days.”
“Three days…”
Seraphina tossed her helmet into the air and caught it repeatedly before speaking quietly.
“But doesn’t this labyrinth reset after one week? How can we hold out three days beyond that?”
“It won’t reset.”
I looked directly into her eyes.
“As long as you are alive.”
The Hidden Piece condition of the Sanctuary of Restful Purification.
The survival of Saint Seraphina.
“You may think of Saint Seraphina’s death as the end of this world.”
“My insignificant life carries quite a heavy burden.”
“Would you like to run away now? If you do, we can safely return to the future—and you can live.”
“I refuse. Didn’t I say I was a foolish idiot?”
“That’s why I never bothered preparing an escape plan.”
I didn’t waste time on pointless tasks.
Unless it was something important, like trimming both eyebrows into perfect symmetry.
“I understand the entire strategy now.”
Seraphina approached and patted my shoulder.
“I will prepare the Holy Knights and send a messenger. Sir Kar, please take care of the other explorers.”
“Yes. I’ll take my leave.”
As I turned to go, stretching my stiff body, Seraphina spoke again.
“Thank you—for lending your strength to a foolish fool like me.”
“If you’re grateful, repay me generously later.”
“I will ask Arteine and prepare what I can.”
“I will remember those words.”
Leaving the temple, I returned to the parasol where our group was gathered.
Everyone had collapsed asleep from exhaustion.
Only Pendrick remained awake, talking quietly with Astrimia.
“Captain, are you finished speaking with the Saint?”
“Jealous?”
“Of course—”
“Hm~?”
“…Not jealous.”
The super-genius swordsman answered with lightning reflexes.
“Ugh…”
Bartimir groaned in his sleep.
“Wake up.”
I gently shook the demon curled up pitifully with his arms wrapped around himself.
“…Uuugh.”
Bartimir woke with a miserable expression and immediately slung an arm around my shoulders.
“I want to erase this mystic…!”
“That’s why you should only accept the premium disasters I recommend from now on.”
“I will!”
“Let’s move. I picked two delicious disasters.”
I brought Bartimir, who leaned on me as we walked, back to the intensive care healing ward where we had struggled for the past five days.
“Brother Kar?”
Priest Elion, who seemed to be distributing bread, looked surprised.
Only four volunteers remained among those who had replaced us.
Apparently several had already died.
“Priest, I have a request.”
“I heard from the Saint. Please ask anything. If it is within my ability, I will help sincerely.”
“Thank you. Then…”
I mentioned the two disasters I had been observing and pushed Bartimir forward.
“This child would like to contain those two mental-physical disasters.”
“……”
The middle-aged priest stared at the demon whose face was hidden by the ceremonial veil Preparation for Reception.
“…Has a sickness of the heart perhaps spread into a sickness of the mind?”
It was a very plausible guess.
Bartimir received a curse.
He also contracted a disease.
“Ehehe.”
Despite accepting two disasters that bound mind and body, he kept grinning.
Apparently he liked them very much.
“Arteine…”
Priest Elion clasped his hands over his chest and prayed.
“Please comfort this pitiful child of the Demon Realm with your divine touch…”
Apparently the story about him being abused by a wicked mage worked extremely well.
Well, once you mentioned the evil axis of cruel mages, emotional sympathy was inevitable.
“Thank you for your cooperation, Priest. We’ll be going.”
“May Arteine protect you. Until we meet again.”
I grabbed Bartimir’s wrist, since he was too busy examining his body.
Only after we reached a place some distance away from the temple did the demon start pounding my back.
“You’re amazing, Mom! My body doesn’t feel uncomfortable at all!”
“That hurts.”
“This is the best!”
“Your life force is decreasing.”
Only after I covered his mouth did he calm down.
“You do understand what symptoms will occur, right? Don’t start crying later like you did during Sudden Nightmare.”
“What do you take me for, an idiot?”
“……”
“Why aren’t you answering!?”
Well.
I couldn’t exactly deny it.
Bartimir was knowledgeable about exploration, dark magic, and disasters.
But in other fields, he was about as knowledgeable as Marlin.
Considering he had been sold as an experimental subject to the Black Mage Guild as a child, that was hardly surprising.
“First, about this curse.”
Bartimir suddenly raised his hand.
At the tips of his fingers, ugly eyeballs had grown densely like cockroach eggs.
The curse Evil Eyes—created by a cultist of a now-extinct Evil God.
Each finger developed its own will and resisted its owner’s intentions.
“So my fingers now have the consciousness of a five-year-old child?”
“That’s correct.”
Clack!
Bartimir’s fingers suddenly began thrashing.
Their movement was extremely slow.
That was because the disease Petrifying Body, which gradually turned the body into stone, restricted motion.
“This is annoying. Stay still!”
Bang! Bang!
He smashed his fists together, causing several stone fingers to shatter and fall.
The curse Treacherous Companion, which interpreted this as an attempt to treat Petrifying Body, immediately restored the hand.
“Oh, they’re calmer now.”
“As petrification progresses, they’ll move even slower.”
“Really?”
Bartimir smiled happily and ignited a murky green aura in his hand.
Demonic Energy.
A corrupted form of mana found only in the Demon Realm.
Normally a mage’s resource was mana.
But a dark mage who learned the mystic Demon Realm Rampage possessed demonic energy instead.
“…Ugh.”
The energy should have flowed like waves.
Instead it hardened like a solid and fell to the ground.
“How does it feel? The Flow Condensation Syndrome you wanted so badly.”
Flow Condensation Syndrome.
A disease that solidified every kind of energy emitted from the body.
For ordinary mages it was practically a retirement sentence.
But Bartimir seemed unimpressed.
He rarely used activation-type dark magic anyway.
“It hurts less than I expected.”
“That’s because the disease hasn’t fully taken hold yet. Don’t move too recklessly.”
“Okay.”
“How does your body feel?”
“A little lighter?”
Demons gained +1 strength, stamina, and agility each time they consumed a certain amount of negative concepts.
In terms of status conditions, it occurred every three types absorbed.
Stats increased easily.
Though they would decrease again if the conditions disappeared.
But with careful management, the increase could become semi-permanent.
“I bought you new disasters. So fight hard.”
“Okay!”
Bartimir had grown stronger.
Preparation was complete.
“Pendrick?”
“Yes, Captain?”
Pendrick, who had been staring curiously at Bartimir bouncing around, answered energetically.
“For the next week, please spar with Bartimir. Both of you need combat experience. I will watch and point out mistakes and bad habits.”
There was no need to worry about injuries.
“Fight as if it were real combat. Injure each other. Bleed if necessary. There are plenty of priests and Holy Knights here to heal you.”
—…Even if healing is fast, isn’t that a bit careless?
“Oh, you’re right.”
“In that case, the winner will receive the right to do whatever they want with my body for one day.”
—Eek! Forget it!!
I gave Astrimia a thumbs-up and said:
“Let’s calmly train and wait.”
“For the monster army to arrive.”
A hardship far greater than nursing patients was approaching.