Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Chapter 29 - Sky Island #3
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There were multiple entrances to the temple on Sky Island.
The boy—Sword Emperor—standing in front of one of them, the western door, absentmindedly turned his gaze to the side.
Sword Angel.
She was always bright and chatty, but for some reason, ever since they had climbed onto Sky Island, she had been unusually quiet.
Her profile, standing still and gazing at the temple murals, felt both familiar and strange to Sword Emperor.
Sword Angel wondered why her master was making such an expression.
Was she perhaps missing the heavenly realm?
He wanted to ask, but Sword Emperor couldn't bring himself to open his mouth rashly.
He himself didn't know the exact reason.
Was it because he wanted to keep looking at his master's melancholic expression, or because her aura seemed like it would vanish like a water droplet if he so much as touched it?
But fortunately or unfortunately, it wasn't just Sword Emperor and Sword Angel present here.
"Sister?"
Clarice blinked and asked what was wrong, and Sword Angel very slowly turned her head to look at Clarice.
And Sword Emperor could observe how Sword Angel's expression and gaze changed.
Her gaze, directed toward the distant past, returned to the present.
A bright smile, just like always, spread across her face once more.
"No, just... Some fond memories came to mind for a moment."
As if it were truly nothing, as if it were no big deal, Sword Angel smiled radiantly again.
But Sword Emperor sensed something off about that smile, and Luther felt the same.
[Master!]
The scene before his eyes scattered.
Not from a hundred-plus years ago in the past, but the present.
In the spot where Sword Emperor and Clarice had stood were now Queen Reina and High Priest Matriel.
"Are you alright? Was pushing yourself too hard earlier too much after all...?"
Sandalphon, the last to enter the temple, asked with a worried face, but instead of answering immediately, Luther looked around again.
Queen Reina, who had regained some composure, and High Priest Matriel, still eyeing him suspiciously.
And the six priests who were High Priest Matriel's subordinates.
"I'm fine now."
Luther gave Sandalphon a small smile and shook his head lightly before straightening his posture.
The emergence of Sword Emperor's log wasn't a bad thing, but the timing felt awkward.
[Master, like on the previous island, there's a possibility that Sword Emperor's logs will automatically play in various places on Sky Island.]
[If they play during combat, it could severely disrupt your focus, so I'll block Sword Emperor's logs until this incident is resolved.]
Luther nodded at Integra's words and was about to ask about something that had come to mind from the vision.
But High Priest Matriel's words, which began first, drew Luther and Integra's attention.
"Your Highness the Queen, do you know anything about what's happening now?"
High Priest Matriel's question was closer to genuine curiosity than interrogation.
Queen Reina glanced around to ensure no enemies were nearby, then faced High Priest Matriel directly and asked.
"High Priest Matriel, that's what I want to ask you. Why were you on Sky Island?"
The Hecatoncheires had made Sky Island float.
So, from Queen Reina's perspective, she couldn't help but have questions about the high priest being there.
High Priest Matriel furrowed his brow at the sharp question but responded in a calm, measured tone instead of getting annoyed or defiant.
"The ritual is less than a month away. As the high priest of the Sea Goddess Adonai Melech, I was inspecting the state of Sky Island and the temple."
"At this hour of the night?"
The skeptical question came from Sandalphon.
Just moments ago, the situation had been so urgent that he was simply glad to see the high priest, but now that things had calmed a bit and he thought about it, the high priest's presence here itself was suspicious.
But Queen Reina, who had actually posed the question, stopped Sandalphon from pressing further instead of pursuing it.
"The high priest's words are true. There may be a bit more to it, but it's not something to question right now."
At Queen Reina's words, High Priest Matriel looked somewhat embarrassed for some reason, and Sandalphon furrowed his brow but respected Queen Reina enough not to say more.
Queen Reina asked again.
"High Priest Matriel, do you know nothing about Sky Island floating?"
"Well... I don't know either. Though Sky Island is under the temple's management, the authority to make it float belongs to the royal family, doesn't it? I was inspecting the temple when I suddenly felt a vibration and came out in surprise to find Sky Island floating... The sky was full of wyverns, and I was wondering what in the world was going on when Your Highness appeared."
Queen Reina furrowed her brow at High Priest Matriel's words.
Because they were all true.
[High Priest doesn't seem to know much after all.]
[He's a petty man who chases money, power, and women, but he's definitely not a spy.]
Luther gave a wry smile at Integra's pointed remark and looked back at Queen Reina.
Queen Reina explained the situation to High Priest Matriel in a quick tone, as if they couldn't afford to waste more time.
High Priest Matriel listened silently at first, but his expression grew stranger, and when he heard that the Hecatoncheires were preparing a tsunami to sweep the capital using Sky Island's ritual device, he could no longer hold back and raised his voice.
"Th-that's absurd. Besides, the whole story about the Hecatoncheires and preparing a tsunami is just claims from that cultist!"
High Priest Matriel's retort had some validity.
But Queen Reina immediately shook her head.
"No, that's not the case. First of all, Sir Luther—no, Lord Luther—is no cultist. Lord Luther is a holy angel who descended from the heavenly realm to protect the Kingdom of Malkuth."
[Pfft!]
Integra burst out laughing as if struck in a vital spot at Queen Reina's words, delivered with the utmost seriousness, but the others were just as earnest as Queen Reina.
Because the one who spoke was none other than Queen Reina, who possessed the power to discern truth.
"Th-that can't be..."
High Priest Matriel looked at Luther with a bewildered face, and the priests swallowed dryly in the chaotic silence.
[Master, since you've been introduced as an angel, why not act holy and saintly?]
[Or better yet—]
'Integra.'
At Luther's low warning, Integra quickly shut her mouth and pursed her lips.
She realized she had been too frivolous without realizing it, as a reaction to the consistently serious atmosphere.
But Integra's restraint couldn't last long.
"He is indeed an angel. The Archangel of Go, no less. This has been confirmed not only by the nuns of the Holy Knight Order but also by Her Highness Princess Peliaru."
Integra couldn't hold back at Sandalphon's proud declaration and turned away, snickering.
Luther covered his face with both hands.
'Aru!'
He had heard that Sandalphon would tell him alone that Luther was an 'angel who lost his memories,' but what was this about the Archangel of Go?
He might as well have said Archangel of Healing!
And at Sandalphon's declaration, Queen Reina and High Priest Matriel were just as baffled, their gazes toward Luther wavering.
[That's a 'Go?'-look.]
He didn't need the interpretation; he could tell.
So instead of focusing on Integra's words or making unnecessary excuses, Luther brought up another topic.
"We must rescue Princess Peliaru as soon as possible. Assuming they're creating a tsunami big enough to sweep the capital, can you tell how much time we have left?"
He had already asked Queen Reina once, but the high priest might know a more precise time.
At Luther's question, High Priest Matriel hesitated for a moment, counted on his fingers, and replied.
"If the ritual device has already started activating, then... we have at most about 40 minutes left."
Perhaps acknowledging him as an angel, High Priest Matriel's tone had become quite polite.
But what mattered now was the content.
'About 40 minutes left.'
It wasn't extremely short, but it wasn't a leisurely long time either.
"Your Highness, let's hurry. We don't have time."
The very reason Queen Reina had pushed herself to come to the front lines was that time limit.
At Sandalphon's urging, Queen Reina nodded.
They didn't yet know how the Hecatoncheires had fortified the temple interior, but knowing their goal and their current position, hesitation was a luxury they couldn't afford.
"High Priest, the enemies are at the ritual device in the center of Sky Island. If we don't rescue Aru, the capital itself will be destroyed. Lend us your strength."
Among those present, the one who knew Sky Island's temple best was the high priest.
At Queen Reina's low command, High Priest Matriel flinched and swallowed dryly for a moment but didn't back down or flee; he nodded.
"Understood. I'll guide you to the ritual device by the shortest route."
Integra's assessment wasn't wrong.
High Priest Matriel was indeed one who lusted after liquor, women, money, and power, but he was also the high priest of the Kingdom of Malkuth.
As High Priest Matriel steeled his resolve with a determined face, Queen Reina smiled, and Sandalphon let out a hearty laugh as if he had believed in him all along.
But instead of joining them, Luther thought differently.
The ritual device located in the center of Sky Island.
Queen Reina had spoken of a direct breakthrough to it, and High Priest Matriel and Sandalphon had agreed.
Because there was no other way to resolve the current situation besides rescuing Aru.
But was that really true?
Luther looked up. And consciously took a step back to survey.
Ragros, a mid-tier dragonkin of the Hecatoncheires.
True to his role as a behind-the-scenes figure even in the southern front, where power inflation occurred compared to the western front, his combat prowess was on an entirely different level from the enemies so far.
Of course, combining the power of everyone here, they could not only match him but even defeat him—if Ragros were alone.
'He's not alone. He can't be.'
Queen Reina had framed the direct breakthrough to the ritual device as almost the only option.
Which meant Ragros was in a situation where he could clearly predict how they would respond.
There would surely be countermeasures.
The Hecatoncheires, who had planned even for immediately moving to the ritual device after kidnapping Aru, likely had thorough defenses prepared as well.
So what to do?
With time running out, did they have to choose the only option even knowing it was a trap?
"Lord Luther?"
Queen Reina called out to Luther.
But instead of answering her, Luther turned to Integra.
Because the boy's log that had played upon entering the temple came to mind.
'Integra, any new info from unlocking Sword Emperor's log earlier?'
Sword Emperor's sealed log had been unsealed.
Integra immediately replied to Luther's question.
[Sky Island's cross-sectional blueprint attached to Boy's Log #87 has been unlocked.]
[Projecting via hologram.]
A hologram was instantly projected from the drone hovering near Luther's shoulder.
All eyes turned back to the hologram.
"Th-this is?"
"Sky Island's cross-section?"
While Sandalphon and High Priest Matriel were surprised by the drone and hologram itself, Queen Reina said with wide eyes.
Instead of reacting to the three, Luther glared at Sky Island's cross-section.
Sky Island, a small conical isle.
And atop it, a temple of low height.
Most major facilities, including the ritual device, were located not in the surface temple but underground.
[Master, marking current position and detectable life signs.]
Surface temple outskirts.
One of the multiple western entrances.
Destination: ritual device in Sky Island's center.
And, as expected, powerful life signs clustered near the path leading to the ritual device.
Time until the tsunami hits the capital: not much left.
Ragros was formidable.
Aru's life could be in danger during combat.
So what to do?
Was a frontal assault truly the only answer?
'No, it's not.'
Luther realized.
There was more than one option.
[Master?]
[Have you come up with a good idea?]
Luther nodded at Integra's question and spoke aloud so not just Integra but everyone could hear.
"We crash Sky Island."
[What?!]
"Lord Luther?!"
As everyone panicked, Luther pointed to a specific point on the cross-section and continued.
"The enemies know our goal is the ritual device. That's why they've concentrated defensive forces there. So we strike at their blind spot."
In general thinking, to stop the tsunami, they had to halt the ritual device.
And from that perspective, there were plenty of ways to stop the ritual device without even reaching it.
"We destroy the control room and crash Sky Island. The ritual device ultimately operates by borrowing Sky Island's power, so if Sky Island crashes, the ritual device can't activate either."
At Luther's words, Sandalphon and High Priest Matriel looked dazed.
It made sense, but for those who had lived their lives in the Kingdom of Malkuth and seen Sky Island, it was an utterly absurd idea.
"W-wait! What about Aru?"
At Queen Reina's question, Luther pointed to the control room again and said.
"We need to make the enemies aware of our plan to crash Sky Island. Then, from their position, where they still need Sky Island—specifically the ritual device—they'll have no choice but to come stop us."
Moreover, they wouldn't have a second chance.
They had to stop it, so Ragros himself was likely to move.
"And if that happens, the defenses around the ritual device will weaken."
They strike that gap.
"I, Sir Sandalphon, and High Priest head to the control room to crash Sky Island. Your Highness Queen Reina, please hide and use this passage to rescue Princess Aru."
Queen Reina bit her lip at Luther pointing to one of the cross-section's passages but soon nodded.
Both Luther's plan and the frontal assault were equally dangerous, but purely in terms of odds, Luther's plan seemed to have a slight edge.
"Then let's move now. We don't have time."
Luther handed Queen Reina a small communicator for contact and immediately started running down the corridor.
Sandalphon, High Priest Matriel, and the priests were momentarily flustered but soon followed Luther, and Integra appeared beside Luther and said.
[But Master, how do you plan to inform them of our intent?]
'Simple. Most problems are solved by blowing them up.'
[Oh, right... W-wait! What did you say?!]
'Explosion.'
After curtly answering Integra's shocked question, Luther fired a missile at the ventilation duct.