Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Crossing the Burning Mountains
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"Man, oh man. You'd think being up in the sky would feel a bit safe, but why does it feel so brutal down there?"
I hadn't realized it before, but the apprentice was surprisingly talkative.
From the moment the Artabus set off, he hadn't stopped talking once. I was starting to worry if he ever got thirsty.
"Being in the sky is what makes it safe at all. Take a look down there. Imagine walking through that."
"Even wrapped in Mana Aura head to toe, it'd roast you whole just right."
His Holiness the Pope and the cardinal gazed down at the burning mountains, each adding their own comment. Everyone shrugged and shook their heads.
Even the vast clouds of ash couldn't fully block the light from the burning ground below, letting bits of it seep through. Beyond the red, silent glow, everything was aflame.
"Already feels like we've dunked ourselves in hot water down there."
"Sweat it all out and chase it with a cold beer—no need for snacks."
That was exactly it. Everyone staring at this barren scene couldn't help but toss out a comment or two.
All thoughts were overwhelmed by the wondrous sight before them, words spilling out without passing through the mind first. It was that devastating, that immense.
'So this is the power of nature.'
Even as the Monster King, no one could pull off something like this alone. This massive force had been there from the start. The phoenix had merely stirred it up and let it loose.
'I need to prepare.'
As the Artabus drew closer to the Calderan Mountains, the vibrations rumbling from the ground grew louder. Lava occasionally erupted toward the sky before sinking back, and the sulfur stench grew stronger. We had stepped into hell.
"A fine spot for demons to live."
"Even demons couldn't survive there. Hell is a place even they fear, after all."
It wasn't horrifying so much as awe-inspiring. This was a sight that shouldn't unfold in the world, yet it felt distant from cruelty. It was simply wondrous, simply majestic, leaving a profound impression on everyone. But the intensifying roars shattered their reverie.
"This doesn't sound normal at all."
Thunder-like booms echoed repeatedly from the surface. From the mountains now turned into a sea of lava, an ominous noise began to rise.
Anxiety hit hard—maybe we were already too late. It wasn't just me. Looking around, sweat beaded on everyone's hands from the tension and unease.
"Not sure if this will help."
I summoned the Bell of Commandments, gripped it in my hand, and peered through the thick smoke below.
Miracles weren't something I created; they were bestowed by the Lord. I had to grow familiar with them through use to grasp their true potential.
The Bell of Commandments had been used only once so far, and not even by me. Viscount Leighton had held and rung it, so I hadn't even seen it in action.
One ring opens the light. Two rings enlighten the dead.
Three rings bring freedom. This miracle wasn't meant for a time like this, really.
Still, I pinned a sliver of hope on the miracle the bell would call forth. The moment I lightly shook it, the ship, which had been cruising smoothly, halted dead in midair.
"A song? Music?"
"What is this... sound?"
It was no music we knew—something closer to melody.
Everything around resonated with the bell, joining in chorus. Each adding its own note, building into an even grander song. The melody rang in our ears, pushing out the relentless roars—and banishing them forever. When the brief performance ended, the explosions fell silent.
"Huh?"
Roca, beside me, instinctively raised a hand to shield her eyes. A beam of clear sunlight—something we hadn't seen in ages—poured down on us all. The instant it touched us, it was as if the sun itself propelled the ship forward; the stationary airship resumed its smooth flight. Looking up, the smoke was clearing rapidly, revealing a blue sky.
"It was noon. That's how late in the day it is."
White clouds returned, the sun at their center.
So dark we'd lost all sense of time, people now realized it was midday. With sunlight returning to the gloomy world, it felt like we could live again just from that. It wasn't just my thought—Roca's expression softened, her body shivering.
Sunlight is usually just a hot nuisance, but when you can't have it, you realize its worth. This reclaimed sunlight was a precious treasure, reminding us we were alive.
As everyone rushed to the deck to bask in it, someone shouted.
"A rainbow! Look, a rainbow!"
"No rain, and a rainb—it's real! Oh my god!"
All eyes turned to the same spot, mine included.
High in the sky, a vivid rainbow stood firm against the intense sunlight, proudly displaying its colors. As if the Lord had hung it there Himself.
"A miracle. This is a true miracle. Lad, we didn't even need to come all this way!"
Haha. The apprentice burst into laughter. He hurried to my side, but this time looked down at the ground. The smoke had cleared, offering a clear view.
"Ah, if you'd had something like this, you should've said so sooner. I'm getting old, you know. Pranks like this aren't good for my heart. I was all tensed up for nothing—feels like it shaved years off my life."
The ground no longer burned; only remnants of fire and heaps of ash remained. The earthquakes stopped, magma seeping back underground. At a glance, it looked like the age of disaster had ended, happy days returning.
"Well, I'll be. So this is a miracle. Lady Aldehir? Can you see this? Grant me something like it too. Haven't I served a heavenly messenger my whole life? Shouldn't something come of that?"
His Holiness the Pope chuckled too, and Roca's eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
Everyone relaxed with sighs of relief—then startled. Something was churning up the earth, rising toward us. No killing intent, but embers sprayed wildly into the sky.
With a mighty roar, a section of the crust sank. As it did, molten rock poured out. From some deep place, a massive something began to approach.
"Nothing's over yet."
Stopping one disaster doesn't change a thing if you don't eliminate the root cause.
We did need to come here. Otherwise, it would've come for us.
No joy yet. This was just the beginning.
The crimson nightmare rose. It burst through the ash piles and took to the air. Everyone fell silent at the sight of the enormous fireball in the sky. Even I, who'd seen it once before, still couldn't get used to facing it.
Had it grown furious because its work was interrupted by the miracle?
Its scarlet eyes blazed as it glared at us. Then it roared once, menacing the airship. The apprentice sighed.
"We haven't even taken the Sunstone out of the vault yet, but it came running without any bait."
"Looks pretty pissed. Though honestly, we're the ones who should be furious."
Robert crossed his arms and snorted. He was right.
Truth be told, our rage burned hotter than its own.
"That's Grimudo's Crown. The Monster King."
His Holiness the Pope sighed too.
"Indeed, its reputation precedes it."
"But the volcanic heat has stopped. It's not at full strength."
"We can take it. Compared to those three masters who faced it first, we're in a better spot."
Everyone nodded. Running away now wouldn't help—even if it let us go, the same thing would happen again. Besides, it clearly wanted to incinerate us.
"Ah. This is insane. But we can't not do it."
"Let's do it. At least with sunlight, it feels like a picnic."
"Remember this: picnics like this are bad for your health."
The unnamed mage sighed and picked up his staff. Thomas beside him nodded and stood.
In an instant, the sky near where it hovered turned red. Feather-like things detached from its body. Watching it shed them like feathers, Cardinal Omen absentmindedly smoothed his hair.
"Don't tell me it's got alopecia too?"
"No."
We learned that wasn't it moments later. The shimmering feather-shapes flew straight at us.
"Those are all fireballs!"
Roca shouted. Even without that, anyone with eyes could see the blazing flames hurtling our way. His Holiness the Pope, always so gentle and soft-spoken, bellowed.
"Evasive maneuvers! Ready to fire!"
No. Now it was my turn.
With it up in the sky, this was the moment for the Milky Way Bleeding Night...
"No."
Huh? My vision spun. Something fluffy wrapped around my arm and yanked hard. I nearly fell, my heart pounding in shock.
...Roca's tail?
Why...?
"Don't sacrifice yourself. You were about to do something dangerous just now."
"Roca..."
"I can tell just from your face... what you're planning. Don't. I rely on you as much as you rely on me."
Roca suddenly pulled me into a tight hug. So tight it hurt my back. I'd thought of her as just a kid, but no way. Roca had grown far faster than I realized.
Doing stuff like this, even.
My whole body tingled, refusing to move. Had she paralyzed me with mana? When and how did she learn a trick like this?
'Moon mana...'
Did that gourd she carried teach her? The kid had met more connections than I'd thought—and grown up in a flash. Roca, still holding me, whispered in my ear.
"So leave this to me, and you rest easy. Got it?"
But even grown up, this was too much! Roca forced my paralyzed body down, stepped off into empty air, and leaped away. Straight at the phoenix—alone.
"Reckless. Way too reckless."
Divine power coursed through me, and the paralysis began to fade. I barely stood, legs wobbling, but now wasn't the time to care. I could be just as hopeless sometimes, but that girl... really...
"Roca! Come back!"
This was bad.
Really bad.
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