Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Hero, Demon King, and Player (4)
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Those who possess holy power can lose it in only three major ways.
-First, massacring innocent children.
However, this only applies to direct killings. Borrowing the hands of a third party makes it entirely possible.
Of course, if they feel no guilt at all...
If they accept it as a necessary sacrifice, it doesn't count.
-Second, losing one's purity.
This applies only to women. It's said that saints or nuns lose their holy power when they lose their purity—that is, their chastity—shaking something tied to their faith.
Thus, acts like intercourse are forbidden for them, but similar acts without losing purity are possible.
-Third, being tainted by evil.
If evil seeps into a saint's soul, their holy power naturally dissipates. That's why someone bearing demonic energy can never wield holy power.
The closest case might be a demon king who crossed from the demon realm's battlefields to the human world simply by summoning celestial beings.
Even indirect use let that demon king rampage across warzones. Direct use?
That would create a monster beyond anyone's control.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 1.
The next morning.
The Mires airship, sailing the skies, docked at an island.
This island was a regular stop for the Mires: the Floating Island known as the Dragon's Haven.
It was called Luone, and the entire island was under a spell.
Or more accurately, a curse?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 《 ~Neutral Stage~ Floating Island Luone 》 -Shuuu...
As the airship approached, people gathered at the dock.
They all had rough looks. Living on such an island made it inevitable—fierce winds blew, and wyverns along with various flying monsters appeared often.
"What's this island for?"
Lewis, stepping off the Mires, asked Cyan.
Cyan looked around familiarly, sat at the base of a nearby tree, and spoke.
"This is a Floating Island. Long ago, dragons who sinned against Transcendent Cresia were punished to never touch the ground."
"Punished to never touch the ground... Doesn't that mean their wings fall off?"
"Who knows. I'm not a dragon, so I wouldn't know."
Cyan shook her head.
Having encountered Floating Islands often in Novel Online, Cyan glanced around before suddenly staring blankly at the sky.
"...?"
Lewis watched from the side, wondering what was up with her now, but Cyan just closed her eyes quietly, lost in thought.
-Shwaaaa!
A wind blew from afar.
Clean wind and pure, unpolluted air.
Cyan quietly took it all in.
"...Lewis, we're staying here overnight, right?"
Cyan opened her eyes and spoke softly.
The Mires was docking for a day.
Those who wanted could stay aboard; others could use Luone's inns.
But they were warned not to miss departure.
"Yeah, the captain said so."
"I see. Then follow me. There's somewhere we need to go."
Cyan smiled faintly and led Lewis off.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Luone Island had a decent population.
Floating Islands usually couldn't survive without outside supplies, but Luone was large enough for rivers, fields, and self-sufficiency.
Of course, it was still just a small frontier village.
Its big advantage? Turk Merchant Guild airships always stopped here.
Using the island as a lighthouse for repairs and crew comfort, the guild sold daily goods cheaply and bought locals' crops and wares at good prices.
A win-win.
-Rustle.
"Whoa..."
Lewis emerged from the brush, unable to hide his awe.
The place Cyan led him to held a small temple.
"Floating Islands are named after the dragon who bore the sin, and ancients worshipped them like guardian gods. This is a remnant of that."
A somewhat crumbled but intact temple.
Whatever Cyan's reason, Lewis eyed it sparklingly.
"...Huh?"
Then he stopped abruptly.
-Drip.
"Why is this happening all of a sudden...?"
Lewis felt tears on his face and sensed something off.
He didn't know why, but staying here stirred an inexplicable longing.
"You're too young to understand, but dragons once served Transcendents. Your race's innate strength stems from that past."
"...Transcendent? Dragons?"
Cyan approached and said to Lewis.
"Ah."
She gently stroked his head, and the tears stopped.
A thin layer of mana enveloped him.
"This temple also honors a Transcendent. You're too young to resist, so you synced with the dragon's emotions. Don't stray too far."
"Yeah..."
Confirming Lewis had calmed, Cyan entered the temple.
Made of white, hard unknown material.
Inside stood a statue of a woman in the same stuff.
[Statue of Transcendent, Cresia.] Locals made it to appease her wrath; they held rites here during storms.
Though now forgotten and untended.
"This temple and statue... made from something I've never seen."
"Of course. It's carved from dragon bone."
"I see, made from our bones... Huh?"
Lewis paled realizing the truth.
A temple from kin's bones? Horrifying for a dragon.
"I-I wanna go out!"
"Where to? You followed fine; no need to panic."
-Clank!
Lewis tried fleeing but was stopped instantly.
A golden chain formed like a collar.
"Still hate it! A bone temple?! Humans are cruel!"
"Run, and I'll chain you and toss you off the island. No transforming either."
No choice but to follow.
Cyan gripped the leash firmly; Lewis teared up but trailed to the passage behind the statue.
-Step step.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 《 ~Neutral Stage~ Luone Temple Depths 》 "Ugh. How long do we have to go?"
"Have patience; it's only been five minutes."
The interior was far larger than outside—likely expanded into the mountain's caves.
And it split into maze-like paths.
Paths forked constantly, but Cyan advanced like she knew the way.
"My life's biggest mistake was following Cyan..."
"You're probably the only dragon dumb enough to get caught by humans. Maybe one or two others, but still."
"That was on purpose! Without you, I'd have killed them all and snapped those restraints!"
"Hm, about time."
Ignoring Lewis's outburst, Cyan stopped and scanned around.
Man-made temple had become natural cave.
Illuminated by blue magic stones like in prior labyrinths.
This area was huge—passages wide for hundreds, not just 4-5.
And paths dead-ended.
"Found it."
"...Found what?"
"This."
Not a treasure chest, but something far from it.
"...A red stone?"
"Yes. Specifically, a Dragon Bloodstone."
⚔ ITEM ⚔ ▶ Item – Other [Dragon Bloodstone] ※Dragon blood crystallized over ages. Used in various potions. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
The 'Great Sage' I'm heading to is Novel Online's top psycho.
She's the elves' first High Elf, one of humanity's strongest, able to use all magic in existence.
Arke, land of elves.
The sage in Crasion Kingdom there.
Revered by all elves; mages of any race sell their souls for her teachings.
【 Great Sage - ??? 】 ▶"What do you wish to ask me?" She answers any question to those who reach her.
From life's birth to its end, even cosmic truths—nothing's off-limits.
But first, you must meet her.
'And this is the key to meeting her.'
Dragon blood stored cool and sunless for a millennium crystallizes. Impossible to buy; I worried how to find it.
'Good thing we passed a Floating Island.'
Anyway, later issue.
-Step.
"Lewis?"
"Yeah? What, Cyan?"
-Crackle!
"Go back to the airship first."
"Wha—"
Before talking to our visitor, I sent Lewis back.
I can't teleport others without me, but Lewis, contracted, could go freely.
No need to watch for eyes now.
"...So come out already. I know you've been watching since earlier."
"Ah, didn't expect you to strike first."
I said toward the passage.
She'd watched openly.
Lewis gone, no hiding—demonic aura wafting.
"Think I wouldn't notice scum like you stalking? Demon King."
-Boom!
I tossed a pebble at the passage.
Cave wall shattered, revealing her.
⚔ ENEMY STATUS ⚔ 【 Demon King 'Silmarion' – Lv.500(★) 】 "High Elves really are the best. Sharp, knowledgeable. The more I see, the more I want her..."
She doesn't know I'm a demon yet. So, first.
"Worthless demon scum like you doesn't deserve her. Or do you want to die by my hand?"
High Elves hate demons, per lore.
Act furious to draw out why she's following.
Truthfully, I was a bit pissed anyway.
If not a demon king, I'd have killed her already. But she is, so no. Risky to kill now.
Hold back until I get magic from the Great Sage.
"Aw, mad? Even a High Elf gets angry seeing her lover stolen?"
The demon king chuckled.
Of course it'd piss anyone off... Wait, what?
"Yeah, stealing right in front was too much, even for me. But that guy was too good to pass."
"Hey, what are you—"
"Decent sword skills, great in bed. He really grew on me."
The demon king stroked her crotch.
A faint pattern glowed...?
'Lover? Who?'
Her words baffled me.
Steal my lover in front of me? She's female, so lover's male, but I don't like men.
'What the hell?'
No lover anyway; closest guy... Ah.
"But I need that bloodstone. To find the hero, I must meet that brat—"
"Kneel."
Now I got it.
-Thud!
"Gah?! Sneaky preemptive...!"
Demon king slammed face-first.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ [Giga Graviton – Area Magic] ※Attribute: Physical / Range: 100m / Max Targets: 1~1000
▶Manipulates gravity in a set range. Inflicts chaos, stun, restraint, etc., on targets within.
She had a magic barrier, but Graviton alters ambient gravity—no countering that.
"Hey, one question. Who’s this 'lover' you mean... name?"
"His name? Unique. 'Kang Si-woo' or—"
-Bam!
I kicked her face hearing it.
"Argh! Kicking the face is too much!"
"...Plan changed."
"Huh? What plan...?"
Her bullshit about us dating vaporized my reason.
Fuck, better date Lewis.
At least he's a pet.
But that guy? What delusion.
"Someone with delusions like that has no right to live."
"Did I... mistake something...?"
So...
"Die here."
"Huh?"