False God (2)
The lord's study.
It wasn't nearly as grand as the inner quarters of a noble one might see in a drama, but it was spacious and spotless. No matter how large the city-state, the powerful were the powerful...
That thought lingered only briefly.
I blinked, staring at the girl before me.
"I can guess why Sorap used that kind of expression."
She spoke nonsense, then introduced herself as Lacitea Crase. Behind her stood the Sorap I had seen before, standing at attention.
She was the lady of the Crase family, the one I had come looking for.
Contrary to my expectations, she was a woman. And young.
Only then did I realize I had made a mistake.
Uristia had two ruling families, not one. And the only lord I knew of was fat and skinny, so I had never considered there might be two.
With a sigh, the tension in my body finally ebbed away. I pulled myself back up at once.
Still, something felt off. If it wasn't them, there was no reason for them to have come after me at all.
She looked at me expectantly, and I saw the faintest smile touch her lips.
"I brought you here without permission, and you seem inconvenienced. Please accept my apologies. Still, since you've come this far, I suppose you are willing to listen?"
She noticed my expression and looked a little wary, as if she had misunderstood something.
I hadn't come for conversation. I had been dragged here against my will because I didn't want to die.
Yet her treatment wasn't as bad as I feared. It might be hollow politeness, but I would play along for now.
"Get to the point."
I regretted my reply the moment it left my mouth.
I should have stayed silent. The lord herself, right here in the family seat, had come looking for trouble.
A cold sweat broke out on my skin. None actually flowed, but it still felt real.
Her eyes twitched at the icy tone, then she smiled again.
"...Straightforward, aren't you? Well, since the preamble was long, let's move straight to the main topic. Is this creature's master you?"
She was far better at controlling her emotions than her age suggested.
Her slender fingers pointed at the music box on the desk. A gentle melody drifted through the air.
The Celestial Music Box I had traded for with Morris.
I had been so focused on situation assessment that I hadn't even noticed why it was here.
It should have been in Morris's hands.
"I never gave this to you."
The sharp remark slipped out before I could stop it.
A young girl like her should have been flustered. But Lacitea didn't so much as flinch. She spoke with the dignity of a ruler.
"I'm sorry, but this is not something a mere merchant should possess. It was necessary for the city and to prevent further chaos."
Her gaze remained utterly calm, as if stating the obvious.
I almost believed her. This little thing was brazen.
Even if the music box was extraordinary, it was still just merchandise I had legitimately traded for. She called it "necessary" after stealing it.
Morris's despair rang in my ears.
My kind impression wavered, but the settings were clear: no lies. If the two families had been corrupted, that was the truth.
Even if I didn't covet beauty, her greed might exceed imagination.
"You are the one."
My words were indirect acknowledgment.
Her eyes sparkled as she fired off question after question.
"What is the principle of the music box? Who created it? Where did it come from? How many are there?"
From calm to excited in an instant.
The melody of the music box, themed on sun and moon, rang out.
"Too many questions."
"Ah... I'm sorry."
The girl quieted again.
I thought hard.
There was simply nothing I could tell her.
The Celestial Music Box was an event item. Only one per player.
When asked where I got it, I would lie and say from the game. Asking about its principles? Did anyone actually care about how game items worked?
Probably not. The girl seemed satisfied with its performance. The tune was good, and auto-replay was convenient.
She wanted more. I told her the truth.
"I can't get any more."
"What?"
"No one can."
I cut it off coldly. No point in hoping.
Lacitea was silent for a moment, then looked up at me with narrowed eyes.
Her demeanor shifted to something far calmer.
"...It seems to be the truth."
Disappointment and regret colored her voice.
I accepted it immediately, which only confused me further. If she wanted it, she should have asked again.
But it was fine. I didn't press.
"Then where did you get it?"
"I received it a long time ago."
"Received it?"
"A long time ago. No one left to take it now."
There was no developer company in this world that hosted events.
Lacitea stared at me in blank surprise.
"You are... what exactly...?"
Her face was stunned.
I tilted my head.
I hadn't said anything startling.
Maybe children were sensitive.
Lacitea and the silent Sorap sat in awkward silence.
The chamber was suddenly filled with the clear notes of music.
The true Lacitea changed the subject.
"...Do you know about the Snake God that has seized the city?"
There was no way I didn't.
"Vaguely."
"They say it is called the False God."
Her tone was deadly serious.
She brushed her black hair back and continued.
"According to the research of the theologian Agnaz, it originated from a normal snake that came into contact with divine power leaking from a neglected obelisk. I heard it directly from his disciple, so there can be no mistake."
Again Agnaz.
He was more famous than I had thought.
Calling a lesser god the False God suggested he was quite capable.
"So what?"
"You say you slaughtered the Snake God's attendants?"
From Sigilla's report, no doubt.
I accepted it, and she nodded.
The girl chewed her lip for a moment, as if choosing words, then spilled her true feelings.
"I don't know who you are. I'm even unsure how you gained such power. But my situation is dire."
She had been trying to say something since a moment ago.
That's why I tilted my head again.
Corrupt lords hadn't all been using the Snake God, had they?
Had factions formed among them, or had they all fallen into the same misunderstanding?
Whichever, my answer was the same.
"If you mean assistance in exterminating the Snake God...
"No."
I cut her off sharply. No matter how powerful a lesser god might be, it was still an abnormal monster.
Ruins existed, but it was dangerous.
Lacitea gave a faint smile.
"...I see."
Silence returned.
The music shifted to something darker, like the sun setting and the moon rising.
She asked softly, "Quillere, what does 'eager' mean?"
It was an oddly out-of-place question.
"Is it only thinking about that day and night that makes you eager?"
A fragile smile flickered like mist.
I didn't know her circumstances, but she had surely suffered much under the Snake God.
Since it was sudden, I answered on pure instinct.
"Persecution, obsession, and desperation are different things."
"...What a difficult thing to say."
I looked around the room.
This was the lord's study. It was luxurious. A young girl was the head of a family.
I didn't know what had happened. But why was I here?
I had only passed through the city on my way. I had no connection to anyone. I had come purely on the lord's orders.
It felt like the situation had pushed me here as if trying to catch the wind.
"My childhood was all darkness."
"Darkness?"
"Yes. ...So the tiny hope that suddenly appeared was terrifying. If even that fails, it will truly be the end."
Now the girl's voice held real desperation.
The moment her tone changed, her gaze fixed on me like a straight blade.
"That's why... I'm asking you, even though everything about you is a mystery. To increase even the slightest chance of possibility."
A strange feeling rose in my chest.
Even the slightest chance?
This sounded exactly like...
Knock, knock.
A knock sounded at the door.
The lord's permission granted, the family servant entered and bowed. He reported.
"Lady Anasha and Duke Gryphon have sent their elite knights to sortie."
I startled despite myself.
Lacitea nodded calmly, and I quickly understood the situation.
Anasha had successfully received reinforcements. And she had already returned, so the preparations for exterminating the Snake God were complete.
It wasn't a bad development.
If she handled it herself, I would be relieved, and the city would finally be at peace.
But what was this ominous feeling?
"Gryphon?"
I had heard the name but didn't know the details.
Still, a duke's house was powerful. The knights of the duke were no ordinary matter.
From simple squires to full-fledged knights of the duke's house.
Where they had obtained such reinforcements was a mystery, but it wasn't the important part.
Lacitea answered quickly when I asked for more details.
"Led by Sir Salun, the leader of the knights, the extermination will proceed. Six elite knights in total: Lady Anasha, the mage skilled in numbers, and Sir Salun."
Six elite knights.
The words echoed in my ears.
Decision was fast. It wasn't enough.
Even elite knights of the duke's house would be strong, but to defeat someone with divine power in a fair fight, a hero was needed.
I hadn't come here for nothing.
Even with my overwhelming advantage, this was still a losing matchup.
...Extermination will fail.
If that was all, it didn't matter. Casualties would occur, but I had decided to protect ten people, not sacrifice them.
Ten people would have been fine.
"...No."
"What?"
A chill crawled up my spine.
Even if the six elite knights couldn't kill the Snake God, they could certainly threaten it. That was the problem.
If they couldn't kill it...
I couldn't allow it to feel fear.
"Quillere?"
I stood up abruptly. Lacitea looked at me in confusion. There was no time to spare.
I really didn't want to go, but I had to.
Maybe it was just curiosity. Nothing would happen. Situation check was necessary.
With the Catalyst, there would be no big problem.
The blue light of the Catalyst I gripped tightly radiated outward.
I turned my back immediately.
"...Snake God. The world really is full of strange things."
This was Anasha's last hope. With complicated eyes, Bugilze looked up at her.
Her soft black hair flowed gently.
"You need my help?"
I didn't remember what I had said.
I had only asked her to help as much as possible while being pushed around by the duke's soldiers.
The words that had slipped out so strangely still lingered, but her face was clear in my memory.
She was smiling.
A faint smile.
"...I understand. I will help you. Only with my authority and discretion. In one go, I will settle the debt of kindness."
Anasha thought the girl had suddenly matured. Maybe because of her.
No explanations were needed. Bugilze simply nodded without a long word.
Soon, the six elite knights stood before us.
It felt excessive and strange.
Each one was more impressive than the adventurers I had once known.
Still, I didn't refuse. I had already said I wouldn't care about face anymore.
"Thank you, Anasha."
Bugilze's eyes were emotionless, as if she had cut something away.
Anasha bowed deeply and turned to leave.
After arriving in Uristia, she had gone to the Crase lord.
She knew both families were corrupt.
"I will station soldiers at the edge of the outer district. Good luck."
The young lord, who somehow resembled Bugilze, accepted it cheerfully. There was no reason to oppose the Snake God; it was just a nuisance.
The extermination itself was entrusted to seven people, but to prepare for any chaos, more would be sent.
"It feels uneasy."
"I agree, Leon."
After some time for preparation.
They had entered the outer district where the Snake God coiled.
Salun stared at the forest on the other side, where magic surged.
"It is more than fifteen meters in diameter, and it commands attendants?"
"Even the weapons of ordinary soldiers can't scratch it. That's all we've found so far."
Concern laced Anasha's voice. The knights exchanged glances. Salun stroked his chin.
"Leave the attendants to me. As long as they are mages, they are skilled at dealing with numbers. Once the mages are gone, the attendants will disappear... Hold on until we can finish it."
"Understood."
"Its immense size is already a powerful weapon on its own... But we've cut down many of those monsters. No need to worry. The real problem is that its scales don't let swords through."
Salun snorted and raised his magic.
Radiant light blazed along the blade.
"The city's soldiers probably can't use sword energy. Even if scales are hard, they are still scales. No problem."
"I see...
It was clearly different from the warriors I had known.
Anasha drew hope.
Step by step. Leaves and weeds rustled with their footsteps.
Crickets chirped nervously as if warning of intruders. When thick magic wrapped around them, its form was revealed.
The Snake God.
Ssssss-!
With a disgusting hiss, one of its arms swept down toward the group.
It was terrifyingly powerful, but the knights responded coldly.
"It's here!"
At the signal, sword energy ignited on every blade. They faced the charging head without dodging.
Swords infused with magic targeted its neck. One knight was sent flying into the air.
"Leon!"
At that moment, the knights sensed something was wrong.
It wasn't Leon's injury. The speed had been faster than expected, but casualties were within range.
The Snake God, however, remained unharmed.
The sword had only left a scratch.
Those kinds of bugs...
The pressure weighing on their bodies was immense.
The knights realized it was the voice of a god. Disgust and irritation dripped from the sound.
They had barely reacted even after having their skin sliced by sword energy.
In truth, that was only natural.
Weak divine power had turned an ordinary snake into a god. The body had undergone massive reinforcement.
Charging with sword and spear was like smashing a rock with an egg.
Yet the knights, unaware of this, looked troubled.
"Everyone, fall back!"
The wind howled.
The Snake God's skin had not been pierced by the sword, but the dozens of snakes charging in were sliced cleanly.
The knights took a step back.
"Sir Salun. What now...
"Maximize sword output. It doesn't mean the attack won't land. Stab into that opening."
The light of the sword grew even more intense.
Magic spread through the blade and into their bodies, coloring their eyes sharp.
The knights charged toward the wave of snakes. Anasha supported them with magic.
...Maybe the Snake God was even more monstrous than expected.
I had confidence, but this overconfidence was too fast.
Anxiety rose, but it could not be reversed.
A sudden melee. The knights slashed wildly.
The Snake God's skin was easier to cut than before.
At that moment, the Snake God roared and lunged at Salun.
"Sir Salun!"
Crunch.
A bone snapped. With an ominous sound, Salun was shaken violently by the bite.
But he was a true knight.
Despite the broken bone, his superhuman will kept swinging the sword.
Kiiieeek-!
The Snake God twisted its body, its tongue bitten off.
As the massive form rolled, an earthquake shook the forest.
The knight who had finally freed Salun helped him up. He coughed up blood.
"...Retreat."
"What?"
Anasha was startled.
"Retreat? What do you mean-"
"The moment I felt the bite, I knew. This fight isn't suitable for a knight. Someone misselected the party."
"But...
Anasha's eyes twitched.
Her opinion meant nothing. The knights immediately struck the ground and fled. The front line pulled back rapidly.
When the city walls came into view, screams rang out.
"Kyaaah!"
A citizen's scream.
People on the street were blurry, but the Snake God's body stood out.
Salun muttered lowly.
"If we're not careful, the city will be damaged. Here...
His words were cut off.
The Snake God was charging straight for the city.
"......!"
Anasha's mouth fell open in shock, but the Snake God didn't even look at her. It roared.
Red light that had never existed before flared in its eyes. Frustration, the manifestation that appeared when a lesser god felt crisis.
Reason was devoured by rage.
Only merciless slaughter could calm the god. A judgment upon foolish creatures.
The true nature of a False God that had not obtained divinity.
"Damn it, it's coming this way!"
"Crazy...
The soldiers waiting at the entrance trembled as they nocked arrows. They resented the lord.
There had been no orders to risk their lives.
An endless wave of snakes.
The Snake God, faster than them, slid down and crashed into the outer sentry post.
Soldiers fell. The city became a hell in an instant.
"How, how could this happen...
Anasha bit her lip until it bled.
It was because of her. Whatever her intentions, she had created this disaster.
The Snake God, driven mad, would only be satisfied by turning the city into a wasteland.
It was a mistake to get involved.
By coming to exterminate a god with a human body, the heavens had sent down punishment.
She regretted the sky itself.
Was protecting the city she loved really that wrong? All the efforts made while begging like a child had been for nothing?
Why had the sky sent a demon to the city? Wasn't the god itself the master of all evil?
...No salvation existed.
Despairing Anasha lowered her head.
She wanted to cover her eyes and ears and disappear somewhere. That way, she could escape this terrible roar.
Terrible roar...
"...Huh?"
It was quiet.
The Snake God's roar, the hissing of black snakes, the citizens' screams and wails, they were all gone.
Her ears were numb. The moment she raised her head...
"Ah."
Coldness touched her cheek, and she touched it.
It was snow.
Extremely cold.
Her eyes widened as she looked at the sky.
A blizzard. The sun that had been shining until a moment ago had vanished.
It was a scene she remembered, but more majestic and vast than before.
Anasha stared blankly downward. She didn't need to wonder.
Following everyone's gaze would be enough.
"......"
Passing through the frozen baby snakes, she saw the vicious eyes of the Snake God. Then the confused eyes of the citizens, and finally her.
She walked alone in the fierce wind that accompanied the snow.
Just like everyone else, Anasha simply watched.
The noble, glamorous woman, Quillere, approached the Snake God calmly.
The blue crystal in her hand radiated dazzling light.