Episode 91
As Kyla stepped forward, the situation was resolved in an instant.
I'm not sure if I should say it's befitting of a Saintess, but as her divine power spread out, the beastkin's brainwashing was instantly lifted, and they began to regain their senses one by one.
As soon as the beastkin came to their senses, they assessed the situation and apologized to the humans.
I was relieved that they were somewhat reasonable creatures.
'It's fortunate that the people's anger subsided quicker than expected too. Maybe it's because no one died. That's probably why it was resolved so quickly.'
We arrived just in time, so it ended with just some damage to the walls and some injuries.
If we had been any later, who knows what would have happened.
The beastkin immediately helped the humans.
They repaired the walls and skillfully handled any necessary internal repairs using their strength.
Seeing them go that far, everyone was convinced.
"The Saintess said they were forcibly controlled."
"Right. And they're helping like this. It's not like anyone died either. Once the repairs are done, it'll be like we didn't suffer any losses."
"Then let's finish the repairs first and get something to eat."
In that harmonious atmosphere, we had to wrap up the situation.
Returning to our lodgings, we sat in a circle.
"So they're attacking the capital?"
"From what I remember, yes. There's a high probability the elves will join them too."
"What about the Cult of the End? They're the biggest problem."
"Hmm..."
Seoryeong Unni pondered for a moment before answering.
"From my memory, there were a few. But I don't know how many there are, or how deeply they've infiltrated. I only know they exist."
"Should we go to the capital then?"
"Wouldn't that be good? We can't let the capital be captured."
While the three exchanged opinions, I quietly thought to myself.
Could we really stop all the enemies coming to the capital with our current forces?
The Beast King, the Cult Leader, the elves.
And if it follows the original story, Rex would be under control too.
Assuming all the knights in the imperial palace help, and even the mercenaries there join in?
'No matter how I think about it, it seems impossible.'
If the Hero's party were here, we might stand a chance, but with our current forces, it seems difficult.
Even if we call all the holy knights from the Holy Kingdom.
Would the dwarves come to help?
Who else could we call as allies?
"Ah!"
I clapped my hands and channeled mana into the back of my hand.
'Tiamat-nim, are you listening by any chance?'
—I'm listening very well. So what's the matter? Is it time for me to step in?
'Yes, can you help the dwarves right now? And bring those dwarves to the imperial capital. You can do that much, right?'
—I can do that. But why are you asking me to save the dwarves instead of calling me directly to the capital?
'You know those dwarves. And if we bring them, they'll definitely help. Then I'll ask you to do it quickly.'
—Alright, see you at the capital.
With a yawn, Tiamat cut the mana connection.
...Will she bring them properly?
"Mia, what was that on the back of your hand just now? I saw a light."
"It's a magic circle I've never seen before. Did Aron make it for you? Or did someone else make it?"
"Aron made it for you?"
Unlike the two who were purely curious, Kyla was staring terrifyingly at the back of my hand.
Perhaps because she hadn't gotten her Aron fix, she seemed to have gone somewhat crazy in various ways.
If I don't explain properly, she looks ready to tear the back of my hand off.
Not joking, but seriously.
"Ah, Aron power... need to fill... right now... that hand..."
I quickly hid the back of my hand and answered.
"It has nothing to do with Aron. I got it from the Dragon Emperor. As a reward for helping her, we agreed that I could get help whenever I want. So the Dragon Emperor will help."
I thought they would be happy at the mention of the Dragon Emperor, but all three had ambiguous reactions.
They had expressions like "Will a mere Dragon Emperor really be helpful?"
"That lizard helping us would be..."
"No, but since we've weakened now, wouldn't it be helpful? She probably isn't as weak as before."
"Is that so? Then is the Dragon Emperor coming directly to the capital too?"
I shook my head.
"First she'll save the dwarves and come with those dwarves."
"Dwarves? If it's dwarves, then Todin will come too."
"Wow... It'll be really nice to see him after so long. I wonder if he's still with that dwarf? I can't remember her name."
"Are you talking about Pania?"
"Ah, right! It was Pania."
The three started chatting and laughing as they exchanged stories about the past.
Naturally, I couldn't join in that conversation.
'...Seeing it like this, it seems like they'd be fine without me too. Thinking about it, they were doing fine without me originally anyway.'
Once this matter is resolved, what I can do is essentially finished.
Even if there's anything after this, it would be Black Nightmare 2 content, so naturally things I don't know will come up.
Then even my information becomes useless.
"That's fortunate."
I muttered quietly to myself, but no one heard it.
My heart felt slightly lighter.
*
After persuading the people, we moved to the capital.
Simultaneously, using the communication methods of the Adventurer's Guild, Merchant Association, and mercenaries in each territory, we alerted the entire continent about the dangerous situation.
Thanks to that, all military forces on the continent instantly concentrated on the capital.
'With this much, it should definitely be enough. It's an army I've never seen in the game. It might even end too easily.'
The probability that the Cult Leader has successfully summoned an Outer God by this time is close to zero.
Their desperate attack on the Empire is proof of that.
Because they're planning to gather resources through this process.
"Hmm... By the way, I can't sense anything. I've tried all detection magic but I can't find Aron's location."
"Maybe he went to a completely different world using the World Tree?"
"Isn't there any way?"
"Even if you say that..."
Seoryeong Unni has been continuously trying to find Aron since she regained her senses.
Magic, spells, barriers.
She tried everything she vaguely knew about, but nothing succeeded.
His whereabouts still remain unknown.
"The World Tree is definitely dead, right?"
"Yes, definitely. Since the World Tree was broken, I haven't felt any life force from there at all."
"Then he shouldn't be inside the World Tree... Did the Elf Queen really absorb the World Tree, attain divinity, and imprison Aron? That seems even more difficult."
"Right. Divinity isn't something you can use immediately after feeling it."
It seems these three can use divinity too.
Unable to hold back any longer, I asked.
"What exactly is divinity? Previously..."
I was about to say Tiamat told me, but came up with an appropriate excuse instead.
"I think Kyla mentioned something similar. Or not? Was that just about divine power back then?"
As I vaguely brushed it off, Eri immediately began explaining.
"Divinity is like a power that dwells in the bodies of lifeforms who have qualified to become gods. If it reaches a certain level of qualification, you can become a god... or so they say, but no one knows the truth. We've never seen any being reach that level of qualification."
"Didn't Aron reach that level either?"
"No, Aron has the highest qualification among us, but he's still below the World Tree. Ah! I heard Aron's teacher attained qualification and became a god... but I don't remember the details."
If it's Aron's teacher, that would be Haim.
But Haim became a god?
It was an unbelievable story, but I accepted it for now.
"Thinking about it that way, the World Tree is amazing too. As is Aron's teacher."
But didn't they say the World Tree was also an artificially created god?
Doesn't that mean divinity can be artificially attained?
"That's why the elves didn't fall despite the massive Empire's attacks with just one World Tree. No matter how strong humans become, they can't defeat a god."
So according to Tiamat's words, that means I possess such divinity.
Is that possible?
I've never felt such tremendous power in my life.
'...Did I just get this damn sturdy body?'
No matter what wounds I suffer, without any maintenance, my skin is always white and clean.
It's skin that even Kyla, who maintains hers with divine power, envies.
Plus my physical abilities are somewhat well-rounded too.
"I'm not sure."
"It's okay. We don't know either. We just use it diligently since we could use it at some point. Though we can't use it now because of the curse."
"But if we kill the Demon King, shouldn't the curse be lifted? Why isn't it lifting?"
"That's because the First Demon King who cast the curse was that powerful. He barely won even after attaining divinity. Essentially, the Demon King was close to being a Demon God."
Hearing it like this, there's definitely a reason why the First Hero is written about in history books and praised by everyone.
He defeated a god trying to destroy the world, so it makes sense.
As we continued our conversation, we arrived.
We moved ahead with our full power, leaving the others behind, so we could arrive quickly.
"...Are they already under attack?"
Seoryeong Unni, who has the best eyesight, frowned as she looked at the capital's walls.
The highest and strongest walls on the continent.
It seemed like black smoke was rising from there.
"No matter how I look at it, that seems to be the case? We need to get there as quickly as possi... Ugh?!"
Eri, who was trying to increase the spirit's movement speed, grabbed her head and staggered.
Simultaneously, the spirit carrying us faded and disappeared.
Since we're all capable enough, we landed safely and checked on Eri's condition.
"Eri? What's wrong suddenly?"
"My head... it's throbbing. It feels like something is forcibly commanding inside my head."
"If it's commanding an elf... it must be the World Tree."
The World Tree was destroyed.
We definitely saw it being destroyed.
"Huh? That thing... isn't that the World Tree rising up right now?"
Though the distance is far and only a faint vibration can be felt, from the direction where that vibration comes from, a black tree taller than the walls was rising.
That tree instantly grew and covered the sky.
"What is that. Something like that..."
"Eri, get a hold of yourself. Just send all the spirits away and temporarily cut off your connection with nature."
As the staggering Eri nodded, the spirits finally all disappeared.
"Haa, haa... Why is the World Tree here? No, was it a corrupted World Tree from the beginning? I've never seen something like that before..."
The problem didn't end there.
"Huh?! Over there!"
"What is that, is the sky cracking...?"
The sky cracked with a screeching sound and a rift appeared.
It's the initial phenomenon when summoning an Outer God.
'...What exactly is happening? I don't know anything about this. Did my intervention change things this much?'
I couldn't help but be bewildered.
In the game, at most the Cult of the End members attacked by exploiting the Empire's internal divisions.
But why is my heart pounding while looking at that rift?
It feels somewhat familiar.