Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Storming In (2)
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One common trait I'd learned from battling Hell's demons for so long was that their mere presence warped the surrounding environment closer to Pandemonium.
A kind of terraforming. Thanks to that, anywhere they lingered for long turned into literal Hell.
From that perspective.
The scene unfolding inside the spire starkly showed just how long these things had been holing up here.
-!
-!!
In a place where sticky, fleshy chunks clung everywhere—disgusting just to look at—bug-like magical beasts were hatching.
With the gruesome sound of eggs bursting, small bugs swarmed from all directions. The yellow pus dripping from their fangs and their ear-splitting screeches were enough to drive anyone mad just watching.
‘⋯⋯These are pretty tough to begin with, but this.’
They weren't even naturally occurring in the Material Realm; they were influenced by Hell's energy.
Even the same magical beasts would normally take considerable effort to exterminate.
The unfortunate part was that the ones facing them were the humans who would later safeguard the entire Material Realm.
“Sip, haaa—”
Sword strikes infused with Eastern breathing techniques.
“Kyaaak, b-bugs—!”
Over-the-top hysterics, but packed with astonishing power, unleashing a barrage of spells in every direction.
And as the finishing touch.
“Die—!”
⋯⋯There was the Hero, simply roaring and pulverizing all the magical beasts in front of her.
“⋯⋯.”
No, how does the last one even work?
Such questions arose, but at least the path was clearing nicely.
Though Carlyle felt a bit awkward just standing there sucking his thumb, doing nothing.
“Everyone, I should do something too—”
“No.”
“No way!”
“Stay back when I tell you nicely.”
“⋯⋯.”
But before he could step up, the fierce opposition pouring from all around forced him to shut his mouth.
Shouts erupted from everywhere in an instant, as if they were horrified.
‘⋯⋯Hero.’
[Yeah?]
‘This is a first for me.’
[⋯⋯.]
‘Until now, I was always scrambling to clean up after you charged ahead alone⋯⋯’
He could feel the Hero inside the holy sword pretending not to hear.
Carlyle chuckled wryly and shook his head.
Of course, back when the world was truly on the brink of destruction, things poured in from all sides with no room for such leisure, so it was a natural difference.
And there was one more person making a huge contribution to that leisure.
“Over there!”
As Rachel pointed in that direction, magical beasts came swarming out.
True to her title as Child of Prophecy, she was 'foreseeing' where threats would emerge and alerting the group ahead of time.
Not only that—she was continuously guiding them on the shortest path to their goal amid the chaotic battle.
‘⋯⋯Hmm.’
Carlyle let out a quiet breath through his nose as he watched her.
Honestly, she was helpful.
More helpful than he'd ever imagined.
‘Should I adjust my view a bit.’
He hadn't fully dispelled his suspicions yet.
But if she were truly under some demonic control, it made no sense for her to help them this much.
Who would freely give away an ability that aided in thwarting a plan capable of wiping out the capital in one blow? It defied common sense.
In fact, her value was being objectively proven.
“⋯⋯We have 20 minutes left.”
It had taken only 10 minutes to break through the spire's interior and reach the deepest part.
With launch time now just 20 minutes away, this was far faster than Carlyle's calculations.
The group's combat prowess was one thing, but without Rachel's guidance, it would have been impossible.
“It's in here.”
Carlyle scanned the massive door before them and spoke.
The spire's deepest chamber, a vast cavern.
This was where the rocket containing Hell's atmosphere was said to be dormant.
Alistair was probably waiting inside.
‘⋯⋯How considerate of them.’
Demons had this oddly honorable streak in strange ways, especially the noble ranks.
It matched the image of the Duke of Flies he remembered to some extent.
A total bastard when scheming dirty tricks, but when facing someone he acknowledged, he insisted on pure, untainted duels.
That quality seemed to show in his subordinates too.
As he recalled this knowledge, he noticed Rachel fidgeting beside him.
“⋯⋯Um, Carlyle.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Could I talk with the others for just a moment? A very brief moment?”
“⋯⋯?”
What reason could there be for that, now of all times?
“Just a moment, really. Please, I beg you.”
But Rachel pleaded earnestly with a desperate expression.
⋯⋯Whatever plotting they were up to, these people weren't the type to harm him.
They'd made it here so smoothly thanks to her, so a short break should be fine.
“Make it quick.”
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A few minutes of talking without Carlyle.
“So.”
Rachel concluded in a heavy voice.
“In the low-probability scenario, Carlyle would—”
To be precise, she had tried to.
Rachel clamped her mouth shut, her face drained of color.
Gray's menacing expression was enough to silence anyone before they finished speaking.
“⋯⋯So.”
Not just Gray—Vespa's face was equally grim.
“If things go wrong, we all survive, but Carlyle⋯⋯ dies.”
“⋯⋯.”
Before coming here, she'd vaguely mentioned some low-probability event.
But the topic turned out even more horrific than expected.
Panhima's expression, hearing Gray's translation, grew equally serious.
“⋯⋯That's a problem.”
With content like that, her actions suddenly made perfect sense.
“Yes. That's why I gathered you all⋯⋯”
Rachel rubbed her hands together and glanced at the massive door where the rocket slumbered.
“I was thinking, maybe we should try to finish this without Carlyle, as much as possible⋯⋯”
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
Everyone's faces grew heavy.
Honestly, the reason they'd handled everything so easily so far was largely thanks to Carlyle—a fact they all acknowledged.
Gray had nearly beaten a baron-class demon to death barehanded last time, but no one knew exactly what awaited inside.
“⋯⋯Hmm.”
Having listened to it all, Gray glanced toward the cavern entrance.
“Because of that thing inside, he might die?”
“⋯⋯Y-yeah, at least in the vision I saw, that had the highest probability—”
“Then we're good.”
Gray nodded and turned away.
“No need to hesitate, then.”
“⋯⋯Pardon?”
“Let's go.”
With that, Gray started walking forward.
‘⋯⋯Go with what?’
As that question arose in everyone's minds.
Seeing Gray approach the door, Carlyle nodded and said.
“Ah, done already?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. Then let me quickly brief you on a few things.”
From his memories of battling demons, there were key points to watch out for.
They needed at least that much to end the fight smoothly—and considering what came after, it was essential—
“No need.”
“⋯⋯.”
⋯⋯No need.
Carlyle blinked in confusion.
“⋯⋯Pardon?”
“Seems like what we have to do is set because of you.”
With those words.
Gray kicked the door in front of her.
Naturally, it shattered with a crunch.
“⋯⋯?”
Wait.
What about the plan?
The intel crucial for battling a powerful demon⋯⋯?
Where did they sell that⋯⋯?
As Carlyle and everyone else's faces went blank.
Beyond the wrecked door, a pitch-black cavern fully revealed itself.
In a backdrop eroded by black demonic energy, reeking of decay just to behold.
The spider-like demon boldly opened its mouth.
“You've arrived well at my arena—”
“Dieeee—!”
Before it could finish.
Gray's full-force sword strike, wrapped in mana generated from her entire body, shot straight out.
Alistair's body shattered to pieces on impact.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle alternated stares between the pulverized Alistair and the huffing Hero.
No.
Hero.
⋯⋯Since when do people unleash their ultimate move before the greeting's even done?
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