Chapter 141
Chapter 141
Chapter 141
Hall of Heroes (7)
"What? Didn't the master properly distribute them?"
Rebecca's assigned master was 'Bloody Lady' Sarah Bloodrain, her distant ancestor and also a Demon Eater.
Someone who had perfectly controlled blood for hundreds of years would surely be able to guide the current era's Demon Eater down the right path.
"Did the system malfunction? That can't be right..."
Kirchrus flipped through the manual, trying to understand the situation and see if he had missed something.
But then...
Beeep, beep, beep, beep!
"...!"
It was truly one misfortune after another.
A warning magic that reaches all dragon-kind when an 'external intruder' appears on the southern continent began resonating with Kirchrus's dragon heart.
"...What is this now?"
Kirchrus moved his finger to confirm the existence of the suddenly appeared intruder.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Then he muttered to himself in a daze.
"Necromancer...?"
Disheveled hair, eyes filled with hatred.
Though he was merely observing through functions installed in the Hall of Heroes, just a rough glance was enough to convey the opponent's danger.
'Resentment is carved into his bones. What caused this?'
It was extremely rare for ordinary humans to break through the ocean's barrier and come all the way to the southern continent because of grudges.
'Hmm, there's probably only one cause and effect that would lead to this...'
It was certain that Rudian and his party had come to the southern continent without properly settling their grudge relationships.
'He's an incredibly powerful individual. Most of my kin wouldn't even be able to face him...'
He had just landed on the coast, but it was obvious without deep thought that tremendous damage would occur once that thing began rampaging in earnest.
"No, wait."
Kirchrus, who was about to prepare countermeasures, felt something unsettling.
"I'm not just sensing necromantic energy. That... It's as if someone has been possessed by a god..."
Kirchrus took some risk and brought his observation range close to the necromancer's vicinity.
And as soon as he did, a voice mixed with resentment and killing intent flowed into Kirchrus's ears.
"Rudian Belstad... I will definitely kill you..."
-Giovanni! How dare a mere magician to this body!
SHIVER!
Even setting aside two voices coming from one mouth, what Kirchrus was feeling from 'that thing' was the aura of an absolute natural enemy embedded at the genetic level for dragon-kind.
"Ah... Apophis?"
Though now reduced to the rank of a serpent god, hundreds of millions of years ago he was one of the strongest gods who reigned at the apex of dragon-kind as the evil Dragon God.
Naturally, the dragons who inherited that bloodline in ancient times were nothing more than mice before a cat to Apophis.
'Th-this is terrible! That's practically an apostle of Apophis!'
The original god's power was already formidable, but with Apophis's power backing him as well, it was truly the birth of the ultimate dragon slayer.
'At least it's fortunate that the direction of his hostility is clear.'
Kirchrus urgently opened space and headed toward Rudian, who was surely one of those responsible for bringing about this situation.
Just as Kirchrus hurriedly left his position.
Through the observation magic still in operation, a gloomy sound presumed to be from Apophis flowed into the administrator's empty space.
-Hehehe, thank you, Baal. I gratefully accept your favor.
***
"...Apophis? You're saying that guy came to the southern continent together with Layla?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Rudian, who had been getting beaten up by Yev, was stunned by the news Kirchrus brought when he suddenly appeared in the arena.
'Instead of returning to Seven Arks' headquarters...he crawled to the southern continent alone? No, before that, how could Layla have formed a connection with Apophis?'
Apophis and Layla.
At first glance, they might seem to handle similar types of power, but fundamentally they were completely different.
If Layla had become an apostle of the King of the Underworld, he could understand that...
"Apophis... Apophis, huh..."
When defeated by Celestial, he thought the guy wouldn't just exit quietly, but to think he'd reappear in this manner...
"There's no choice. Training will have to resume after we resolve this matter."
If he came together with Layla rather than some other host, Rudian couldn't just walk away from this.
No matter how much Apophis's rank had fallen, he was certainly a formidable enemy with power equivalent to the Seven Seats or a high-ranking god.
If Layla caused damage to the dragon-kind here, the second condition of persuading the dragons would go right down the drain.
'No, wait. Apophis, high-ranking god...?'
At that moment, something flashed through Rudian's mind.
"Apophis's rank is certainly... Though he's an evil god, he's top-tier."
"That's...right?"
Despite Kirchrus's gaze wondering why he was stating such an obvious fact, Rudian's muttering continued.
"Though his nature is evil, what he handles isn't demonic energy but divine power. In that case..."
Should this be called turning misfortune into fortune?
Rudian looked directly at Kirchrus and spoke.
"Kirchrus, would you be able to lure him near Red Dragon Lord Calesta's seal?"
"It wouldn't be particularly difficult, but... Rudian, surely not!"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm thinking."
He could summon Giovanni, but if that guy left his post for even a day, Gray would be forced to have a gap period for a full month.
'You owe me one, Giovanni, you damn bastard.'
Since they took on the aggro that Celestial had drawn, if that guy had any minimal conscience, he'd spit out something.
The dragons, who are natural enemies of Apophis, couldn't be mobilized here.
Kirchrus, who could handle the Blue World, might be capable, but he couldn't force combat on him when he was clearly the victim.
He wanted to call Maria, but she had already begun inheriting the Green World with her assigned master.
In other words, right now Rudian had to eliminate Apophis with his power alone.
"It's too dangerous. To hand over an Ancient-grade dragon's body to that Apophis of all gods! If something goes wrong, not just the southern continent but the entire world could be destroyed!"
Naturally, Kirchrus opposed.
The compatibility between dragon-kind and Apophis was exceptionally good.
Since dragon-kind's bloodline originated from Apophis.
Probably in terms of danger level alone, there was a possibility it could rival or exceed Marbas from that time.
But Rudian was confident.
"Kirchrus, please do me just one favor."
"What is it?"
Rudian pointed to the book Kirchrus was holding.
"Could you lend me the Blue World temporarily? Then I'll cleanly drive Apophis completely out of this world."
"The Blue World...you mean?"
"Originally it wouldn't particularly matter if I didn't have it, but having it would make things more certain."
"......"
Kirchrus looked at Rudian with suspicious eyes.
If he made the wrong judgment in the current situation, the dragons of the southern continent would be wiped out.
If that happened, the dragon elders' opinion to flee to another dimension would gain even more strength.
Could he really trust the human before his eyes?
After long deliberation, Kirchrus spoke with difficulty.
"Can you... Can you eliminate him for certain?"
Rudian nodded with a confident tone.
"Yes, Kirchrus just needs to make sure the dragons don't rush at him. If you do just that, I'll take responsibility for Apophis."
"......"
He considered it a bit more, but no better answer came.
Kirchrus ultimately had no choice but to make a decision.
"Very well. Complete transfer is impossible, but... I'll temporarily hand over ownership."
"That's sufficient."
Rudian accepted the Blue World that Kirchrus offered.
***
While Rudian and Kirchrus were preparing countermeasures for Layla and Apophis who had suddenly appeared on the southern continent.
"I'm so bored..."
In a field where no one appeared, Rebecca, who had been sitting alone in a daze for almost half a day, stretched out spread-eagle and let out a long sigh.
"Why isn't anyone showing up?"
She had definitely requested someone named 'Sarah,' her distant ancestor that Rudian had designated for her.
But for some reason, until now after half a day had passed, not a single person's nose had been visible.
Rebecca had no idea that the resolution was delayed due to incidents happening outside, and moreover, she hadn't noticed at all that her perceived time had stretched even longer due to the applied time dilation.
"Hahaha, you look bored, Miss Rebecca."
"...Huh?"
Step, step!
Along with the sound of footsteps on grass, a familiar male voice she had heard before reached Rebecca's ears.
Rebecca jumped up from her position and spoke the name of that voice's owner.
"Alba?"
"It's been a while, have you been well?"
Alba appeared with his red hair still fluttering, smiling broadly as he offered Rebecca a handshake.
"How are you here, Alba..."
"The power of affection. Didn't I say we'd meet again someday?"
Instead of accepting the handshake, Rebecca turned her eyes toward Alba's back.
"...Who is the person behind you?"
Behind Alba, a beauty with darker crimson blood-colored hair than Alba's was following with a blank expression.
"Ah, you don't need to worry about her. She's someone who helped me come to this place."
"......"
Rebecca didn't grasp Alba's extended hand until the end.
She had at least minimal intuition.
The fact that this current situation was by no means normal.
Rebecca stepped back and glared at Alba.
"Alba, what exactly are you?"
"What am I?"
"I may be a country girl who doesn't know much... But I do know that you're certainly not an ordinary person."
"Hoho... Is that so?"
"Surely the person behind you is 'Sarah,' presumed to be my ancestor. Am I wrong?"
She was well aware of Alba's abilities.
Rebecca, who couldn't unleash the power of a Demon Eater, was just an ordinary village girl, so if Alba steeled his heart, she certainly wouldn't be able to properly resist.
Surprisingly, Alba readily nodded and affirmed Rebecca's words.
"Yes, that's correct. This person is currently suppressed by my ability in reverse and has temporarily lost her reason."
"I knew it...!"
"But I only temporarily suppressed her to meet Miss Rebecca, so there's no harm to her life at all."
SNAP!
When Alba snapped his fingers, Sarah's body collapsed as if fainting.
"Ah!"
Rebecca hurriedly ran over to support Sarah's body, and Alba watched her with a broad smile.
"Miss Rebecca."
"...What?"
Rebecca shot Alba an unfriendly look.
But even with Rebecca's gaze, Alba calmly received those eyes.
"You came here to train in controlling your blood, didn't you?"
"That's right."
"And by doing so, you wanted to be helpful to Rudian."
"That's also...correct."
The thought 'How does Alba know about Rudian?' flashed through Rebecca's mind, but before she could properly consider it, Alba's words continued.
"But would that alone be sufficient?"
"What...do you mean by that?"
Rebecca's tone immediately became sharp as a blade, but Alba continued speaking without hesitation.
"Demon Eater is certainly a powerful force, but it's a half-complete power that only shines when demons or demonic energy exist. However, the enemies of Rudian, whom you admire, aren't only demons."
"......"
"He will face various enemies in the future, and his companions will gradually grow and stand shoulder to shoulder with Rudian confidently by his side. What will Miss Rebecca, who can't use her power except against demons, be able to do when that time comes?"
"Th-that's..."
The truth Rebecca had been avoiding until now.
Maria, who had far superior power than herself despite awakening Demon Eater blood.
And Luciella, who had superior status and was praised by Rudian as having the greatest talent.
There was no way the perceptive Rebecca hadn't noticed that they all had feelings for Rudian.
In fact, Luciella had run away following Rudian, leaving behind all her status, and Maria too, though she had looked after her, had followed Rudian of her own will.
"Why...are you telling me this?"
Her gaze toward Alba, who had ruthlessly prodded her wounds, now contained even hostility.
"Naturally, because I can make Miss Rebecca complete."
"What...?"
Alba extended his hand to Rebecca again with a warm smile.
"I can make Miss Rebecca become the greatest strength to Rudian. It's possible if you learn my authority, Vlemya, that is, Gluttony."
'Become the greatest strength.'
Those few words greatly shook Rebecca's heart.