Episode 27
Episode 27
I continued walking down the corridor illuminated by lights.
There were no enemies inside, aside from traps. To be precise, the machines that should have attacked us showed no aggression in front of Anti.
It seemed Anti, who wasn't malfunctioning, had the authority to control other devices.
'If only it had been this convenient in the game.'
After walking ahead for quite some time, Anti stopped.
She looked at me in front of a massive door.
"I don't know how to open this door. Female human. I think it would be better if you came and opened it."
"Can't we just break it?"
"I could try, but that might damage the ruins."
"Then that won't do. Let me take a look first."
I slowly walked to the door.
It was a door I hadn't seen in the game. Maybe it did appear. Perhaps it's just been too long and I don't remember.
"Nothing particular comes to mind. Can't we just authenticate or something?"
I waved my hand in front of the door. Of course, it didn't open.
This time, I slowly checked around the door.
*Beep*
While checking around the door, a familiar sound came from my fingertips. It was the sound that digital door locks make when touched, so I looked there.
"It really looks like a digital door lock. But... it would be troublesome if I have to type in English too."
Usually, they only have numbers, but this one looked like a computer password despite being a door lock.
After thinking for a moment, I slowly moved my fingers.
"First, qwer1234."
*Bleep!*
"Then 123456789."
*Bleep!*
"Do I need to include special characters too?"
When I tried adding an ! at the end, the door opened with a cheerful sound.
I hadn't expected the standard Korean password I tried on a whim, thinking it might work since it's a domestic game, to actually function.
Aron approached from behind and complimented me.
"As expected, you know everything. When you told me to break it, was it just because you were lazy?"
"Uh, uhh... shall we just go with that?"
"Yeah, then let's keep going."
After walking through the repetitive corridor for quite a while, we finally reached a space I had seen in the game.
It was a room that looked like a laboratory, filled with books.
Most of the books were diaries and research logs written in Korean. When I opened one, Aron watched for a moment before grumbling.
"What language is this? I've never seen it before in my life."
Anti, who was examining the books one by one, agreed with his statement.
"It's a language not included in the languages I possess. I presume it's a language that doesn't exist on the continent."
While they didn't know, it was familiar to me.
I had been worried that too much time had passed and I might have forgotten everything, but fortunately, that wasn't the case.
"So it says the diary's owner is the inventor of the items here. There are blueprints here too, and it says we can take and use them if needed."
"Then if we take these and give them to the dwarves, will that work?"
"I think it should? But before that..."
I carefully put down the diary I was reading and continued checking the diaries in front of me.
There was something unusual in the diary's contents.
Divine Power exists, but it doesn't come from faith.
Following that sentence was writing stating that they had created a Divine Power Generator because of this. Then what exactly is the current Church?
Holding this question, I continued reading the diary.
The Goddess exists.
The Hero's existence is proof of that.
However, the Goddess is capricious and biased.
She only gives power and cares for those she loves.
That's why we created that power artificially.
They created Divine Power artificially? Then what about the priests and the Saintess? Are they all operating using manufactured Divine Power?
Thinking about it, it's not impossible.
No, rather, that might be why the Church's operation is easier.
'Then, did Ivy become the Saintess because of those Church bastards?'
Though too much has changed to be certain, the fact that the Church bastards are suspicious remains unchanged.
While I was reading the logs for a while and sorting out what was needed, Aron released his power.
A heavy, oppressive energy filled the space.
Annoyed by the unpleasant sensation, I snapped at Aron.
"Why are you suddenly using your power like that? You startled me."
"Did it bother you? Sorry. I'm sure a suspicious guy came by. Maybe I misread it?"
In response to Aron's muttering, Anti shook her head.
"No. I felt it too. It was faint, but I definitely felt something."
"Right? If they got this far... did that guy send them?"
"That individual again?"
"Who else could it be but him?"
Listening to their conversation that only they understood, I closed the log for a moment and asked.
"Who is it? Is it someone dangerous to us?"
"If I had to say, they're probably dangerous to you. For me, they're just a bit annoying."
"Can't we kill them?"
"We're too close for that. So we're just getting along moderately for now... Let's just take what we need from here and head home."
Nodding at Aron's somewhat hurried actions, I roughly put the logs into the bag and handed it to him.
Aron took the bag with one hand and held me in his arms.
It was a pity to leave behind so many research logs, but Anti diligently stored them in her memory for me.
Since the ruins wouldn't move anyway, we could always come back later to check.
As I braced myself to run, Anti blocked the way.
"Aron. Are you planning to break your promise and leave?"
"Ah, sex? I'm in a bit of a hurry, but do you want to follow me home?"
I glared at Aron, who didn't refuse.
Unfortunately, his gaze was directed at Anti, so he didn't notice my look.
"It's a tempting offer, but I sense 99% hostility and 1% annoyance from the female human in your arms right now. I'll pass for today."
Startled by Anti's words, I relaxed my expression.
It didn't bother me much since he's a man anyway. It's just annoying when trying to sleep.
I thought that but didn't say it.
"More importantly, let's go quickly. You said there's a problem at home, right?"
I unnecessarily urged Aron.
"Yeah, okay. See you later, Anti. I'll really do a lot with you next time."
"Yes, then I'll see you next time."
*Crunch! Whoosh!*
When he put strength into his feet, the floor shattered. Then, with an explosive sound, Aron started running.
*
"Hey."
At my voice, Aron flinched and looked at me.
"What? Are you uncomfortable?"
"No, I'm just really curious—how many women do you have? Seoryeong unni, Eri, Anti... and the person from earlier was a woman too, right?"
"Uh, uhh? Probably? Maybe?"
"You're not going to tell me it's some cliché development like a childhood friend who's the Saintess, are you?"
Aron laughed awkwardly and ran even faster.
Staring at the scenery stretching out due to the extreme speed, I muttered.
"Forget it. It's not like I'm interested in you anyway."
Aron didn't reply, but while being held in his arms, I muttered quietly.
Mostly, it was complaints about Aron's actions.
Following behind him as we arrived home, I grumbled.
"But really, that's not acceptable. A man with women he likes. If it were me, I would have chosen just one. Really."
"...They're gone?"
"What is?"
"The Hero's party. All the ones I froze have disappeared."
Startled by those words, I rushed forward.
As Aron said, the ice that had trapped Ivy was gone.
"Won't she die if it melts?"
"I cast a time spell on it, so it shouldn't melt or decay... Could someone have taken her because they were annoyed?"
"Who? Is there even anyone who can freely enter and leave the Forest of Temptation?"
"Of course there is."
"Who?"
Aron thought for a moment before answering.
"My party members? And probably someone as strong as the Dragon King."
"The Dragon King wouldn't be interested in a human corpse, so it must be one of your party members? Do you have anyone in mind?"
"I do. A woman called the Saintess... but she feels like the opposite of the Saintess."
"Then is she a Witch?"
"Witch... is a bit lacking. What should I call her? The essence of obsession, perhaps."
Mia crossed her arms and glared at Aron.
Her voice was full of dissatisfaction, but she herself didn't realize it. Only Aron, watching from the front, noticed.
'She's getting sensitive again. I shouldn't have brought the wolf.'
Although Mia said no, Aron, who had already suffered being at the center of three women, already knew.
Following her wolf instincts, Mia was already driving away the females approaching Aron.
Moreover, her instincts had just awakened, so she couldn't control them yet.
She was literally in a bulldozer-like state.
She just got jealous, got annoyed if she thought someone would take him away, acted spoiled, and was wary. It didn't matter how strong the opponent was.
"So that woman, why? Does she want to have sex with you too? Looking at you now, I guess you don't need me anymore?"
"With her... I did do it, but not a lot."
"Ah, really? So you're not going to do it anymore from now on?"
"...That's probably not it?"
At Aron's ambiguous answer, a bluish smoke began to rise faintly from Mia's body.
Because her emotions were heightened, the aura she had been suppressing lately emerged.
Aron felt an inexplicable fear towards this opponent who was clearly weaker than him. An instinctive warning told him he shouldn't resist.
"Is that so? Then go have fun with that bitch and bring back Ivy. I just need my friends."
"What are you going to do?"
I opened the bag with a thud and dropped it on the floor. The books that had filled it spilled out.
"I'm going to read. I need to organize the necessary information separately."
"Okay, then I'll be back?"
"..."
Leaving behind Mia, who was reading without answering, Aron left the house.
Only after getting a little distance from the house did he let out a deep sigh and mutter.
"Is this why married men lived trapped lives? How on earth does the Saintess plan to make a harem with someone like that? I'm really going crazy."
Aron just scratched his head vigorously and grumbled.