Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Chapter 34
As instructed by Oz, Lucia, leading Eleanor and Baekyang, was anxiously biting her nails.
‘What in the world is going on?’
Over 20 members of Tenebris had already infiltrated Scientia. They were spread out, each operating in their own area. Therefore, it was normal for the information they sent to vary. But now it was different.
-[Dragon Emperor] sighted in the auditorium. All Tenebris members in the vicinity, maintain distance and observe.
-[Dragon Emperor] sighted in the common building. All Tenebris members in the vicinity, maintain distance and observe.
-[Dragon Emperor] sighted in the student cafeteria. All Tenebris members in the vicinity, maintain distance and observe.
The information being sent was all the same, except for the location. It covered almost every location.
However, one place was different.
-All Tenebris members in the first-year examination hall, escape.
There was no [Dragon Emperor] in the examination hall where she currently was.
She could somewhat deduce what was happening. With the dead surrounding them, it was impossible not to know. The places where the [Dragon Emperor] had appeared were probably in similar situations.
She now understood what Oz had said. The [Death King] had invaded.
“Hmph!”
Eleanor swung her greatsword, cutting down the approaching undead.
Baekyang was busy restraining the undead’s movements or blocking them with her shield, and Lucia was also busy sniping them.
‘So, to Marie Sistus…? But why?’
Even in this urgent situation where she had to shoot mana bullets between the undead’s eyes, Lucia couldn't stop questioning.
Marie Sistus was definitely behind this. Even if it wasn't her, it was predictable. She was the only one from the Underworld in Scientia.
She could also understand why Tia hadn't appeared in the examination hall. All the students in the practical training area had her magic tools, so even if they were attacked by the undead, they would naturally be transported out of the examination hall. It wasn't strange that this area would be a lower priority.
But there was something she couldn't understand.
‘Why would he want us to go to Marie?’
The Empire's policy towards Eleanor was basically non-interference. But their mission was to protect her from the shadows. At least until her mind stabilized, it was best to avoid any national-level intervention.
‘What is Prince Oz thinking?’
So, what was Oz’s purpose? Lucia didn't know for sure, but she thought it was similar to theirs. Judging by how he had gotten angry at her before, it was only natural.
“Huh…?”
While she was thinking, Eleanor, who had been at the front lines cutting down the undead, let out a dumbfounded sound.
“Marie?”
“N-Noah…? Why? H-How…?”
The moment Lucia heard that short exchange, she pulled the trigger.
Clink!
But the mana bullet she fired was naturally deflected. An absurd barrier blocked the bullet’s approach.
There was no doubt. Marie Sistus was behind this.
“Noah! Get back!”
“Huh…? Wha?”
“What are you doing?!”
Crack!
Baekyang grabbed the still-confused Eleanor by the scruff of her neck and pulled her back. At the same time, the spot where Eleanor had been standing caved in.
Looking closely, something translucent was surrounding Marie. It was probably an attack using that.
“N-No. Father… Please. I beg you. Not them.”
“Marie?”
Marie pleaded, her already pale face becoming even paler. But despite her pleas, the translucent object surrounding her become clearer.
『Daughter, why do you hesitate?』
A gigantic, skeletal avatar. A chilling skeleton was enveloping Marie.
“Friends… Yes, they’re my friends. So please…”
『I see. Friends.』
It spoke in an understanding tone, but everyone could sense it, even without Marie saying it. This being was the ruler of the Underworld…
『But why do you hesitate? You will all meet again after death, will you not?』
“No. Please…”
It had no intention of letting them live.
『There’s no need to worry. My barrier can drag even a Saint destined for Heaven down to the Underworld.』
KABOOM!
Thanatos, the [Death King], clad in the form of a skeleton, swung his fist at Baekyang, who was holding up her shield, as if to show off.
“Baekyang!”
It was a single blow. Even Baekyang, an SR-rank guardian, couldn't withstand the blow and was sent flying.
“Ugh?!”
Eleanor caught Baekyang, who was falling in a parabolic arc, and rolled on the ground from the impact. She tried to protect Baekyang with her own body, but Baekyang was already covered in blood.
Fortunately, before Baekyang could die, the cloak Tia had given her glowed, teleporting her out of the examination hall.
‘This is dangerous…’
Lucia thought, feeling her tail stand on end. With her heightened senses, she could tell. Even in its unstable form, the opponent was dangerous.
She wasn't sure they could escape even if they ran with all their might.
“Noah, we need to run…”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Noah…?”
Lucia was surprised by Eleanor’s hostile expression. How could she…?
The presence of Thanatos, the [Death King], instilled fear in itself. Even without Lucia's heightened senses as a beastkin, anyone could sense it after witnessing his power. Death was right before their eyes.
And yet…
‘How can she be so fearless?’
Eleanor wasn't afraid. As if she knew something even more terrifying, she didn't flinch.
“Why are you doing this? Marie is suffering, Baekyang is hurt.”
Eleanor gripped her greatsword. Seeing this, Lucia broke out in a cold sweat. It was a moment of choice.
‘Damn it.’
Logically, she should abandon Eleanor and run. But she was a soldier. It was her duty to follow even unreasonable orders; to obey commands.
‘Even though Prince Oz isn’t my direct superior…’
Lucia thought the captain of Tenebris would have given the same order if they were here.
Lucia aimed her two revolvers, examining Thanatos.
“Haa…”
From now on, she had no choice but to trust Eleanor and support her.
“Ugh…! Please, Father…!”
『Move.』
Thanatos seemed to have a penalty besides his unstable form. He was connected to Marie, so he couldn't move more than necessary.
As Lucia felt a slight sense of relief, Eleanor frowned, looking at Marie.
“You said you’re Marie’s father. Are you going to just watch your daughter suffer?”
『Suffering always accompanies death. It's only natural.』
“I’m not asking about the principle of death, but about the relationship between a daughter and a father.”
『Is it necessary to think too deeply about the relationship with something as easily replaceable as a daughter?』
“I see. I knew it.”
Eleanor adjusted her grip on her greatsword. Her sapphire-blue eyes shone like jewels.
“Then I’ll take your daughter. I’ll treat her well.”
It was a strange thing to say, but her meaning was clear.
“So get away from Marie! You damn bastard!!!”
She was declaring war on the [Death King].
Eleanor immediately charged towards the [Death King].
Watching her, Lucia groaned.
‘This is insane.’
There was no way Eleanor, a warrior, could withstand an attack that even Baekyang, a guardian, couldn't endure. And even if she dodged, it wouldn't matter. Even her high-powered attacks as a sharpshooter couldn't penetrate the [Death King]’s terrifying barrier. There was no way Eleanor’s attacks would connect.
Despite these thoughts, Lucia pulled the trigger. She had decided to cover Eleanor. So, she would do her best to create an opening for her. If Oz’s judgment wasn't wrong, there had to be a reason.
Bang!
Lucia’s revolver fired towards the [Death King], leaving a blue mana afterglow. The mana bullets disintegrated against the [Death King]’s barrier, dealing no damage, but Lucia didn't stop pulling the trigger.
Bang! Bang!
She didn't stay still, moving nimbly like a cat as she fired more shots.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two revolvers in her hands continued to paint mana afterglows in the air. The blue lines remained in the air, etching their traces into space.
“Hah!”
After firing for a while, Lucia extended her hand towards the [Death King], and the densely packed mana afterglows took form and flew towards him.
It was the second active skill of Lucia, an attack with a rare binding effect for a sharpshooter character.
[Entangling Thorns]
Lucia was a rare sharpshooter character with a binding skill, which was unusual for a class focused on offensive abilities. She could greatly increase the party’s survivability, but…
“As expected, this doesn’t work either…”
Her attack power was somewhat lower compared to other sharpshooters. Lucia frowned, seeing that the [Thorns] she had fired couldn't even reach the [Death King]. Even with her rapid-fire specialty, she couldn't penetrate his barrier.
The [Death King], seemingly aware of this, ignored Lucia and attacked Eleanor, who was hopping around.
‘Dangerous…’
Eleanor was more agile than Baekyang. She could barely dodge the [Death King]’s attacks, but she seemed to have no way of defeating him. To make matters worse, Eleanor wasn’t wearing her cloak. She had taken it off to avoid being teleported out due to the depleted defensive magic.
It seemed she had no intention of retreating.
Lucia anxiously pulled the trigger. Neither of them had a way to attack. It would have been good if Lucia’s bullets could at least weaken the [Death King]’s barrier, but she lacked the power for a decisive blow.
Her specialty, rapid-fire, couldn't stop the [Death King], who was drawing near-infinite power from his connection to the Underworld.
“Ugh!”
Meanwhile, Eleanor groaned in pain as she barely managed to deflect the [Death King]’s arm.
『Are you tired? Out of breath? Is your meager body screaming in protest? There’s no need to worry. You will soon be freed from all that discomfort.』
“Shut up!”
Eleanor, closer to the [Death King] than Lucia, could also sense the extreme danger of the situation. Her friend, Lucia, was doing her best, but there seemed to be no way to defeat the [Death King].
‘If this continues…’
Her arms felt like they were about to fall off from the repeated attacks. Her head was throbbing from concentrating on dodging the [Death King]’s attacks. She was getting short of breath.
Moreover, the extreme tension made Eleanor feel isolated. If this continued, defeat was certain.
‘It’s okay.’
As if to calm her trembling body, she started to step forward. Lucia was by her side. She wasn’t alone yet.
Eleanor composed herself and swung her sword at the [Death King].
Clang!
With a dull metallic sound, Eleanor was pushed back. The distance she had bravely closed was lost.
Despair momentarily washed over her, but Eleanor faced forward again.
“It’s okay…”
She was afraid. Not of death. Every time she felt the ‘something’ within her, she felt a fear of loss.
“It’s okay.”
Bang!
Eleanor forcefully stepped towards the [Death King] once more. She remembered. The promise they had made on that noisy night still echoed in her ears.
-“…Even if there are a lot of people, and I’m isolated and alone, will you find me?”
-“Yes.”
-“…Even if I’m confined in a dark, narrow space, blindfolded and gagged, unable to speak, will you find me?”
-“Yes, even if it’s in the middle of a battlefield, I’ll find you and talk to you.”
The proof of trust she felt on her pinky finger that day eased her anxiety. Yes, just one person was enough. As long as that one person remembered her, it was enough. Even if everyone else forgot her, she wouldn't disappear.
As long as she had someone to rely on, even if her existence was forgotten, she could rebuild her connections again and again. That was enough.
“So, it’s okay!”
『Do you think anything will change by reassuring yourself like that?』
“Yes, it changes!”
Eleanor replied energetically to the [Death King]’s mockery, raising her greatsword. The greatsword, beginning to glow with a golden light, pointed at the [Death King].
She no longer hid or dodged. Eleanor faced the incoming attack head-on, taking her stance.
“My resolve changes greatly!”
Clang!
With those words, the greatsword Eleanor swung dyed even the [Death King]’s barrier with her color, leaving a scar on his bone.
The power the greatsword held wasn’t mana. It wasn’t magic, barrier, demonic energy, or even holy power. It was the power of harmony, dyeing everything with her color.
[Key of Understanding]
Eleanor’s key opened the door, even if just a little.