Chapter 411
Chapter 411
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 411
Chapter Title: Task Force (3)
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Flying toward Galliant Island, the monstrous bird Kaidora spotted a cargo ship crossing the vast, open sea and lowered its altitude.
When Zulu dismissed Kaidora, the four, including Shina and Kuan, began to plummet toward the sea at high speed.
Zulu and Shina used Fly magic, while Shirone unfurled his Light Wings to control their descent.
Altitude might not be a familiar environment for a swordsman like Kuan, but he didn't even blink as he confirmed the ship's position.
His ability to generate an external force through near-vibrations to counteract gravitational acceleration was in no way inferior to a mage's technique.
Shina marveled at the skills of the Magician of Death, whom she had only heard about in rumors.
A man who, just ten years ago, was considered a talent unparalleled in the movements of swordsmanship.
And yet, such a man had lost the use of his Achilles tendon. Just like that person who had lost his eyes for her sake.
‘Come to think of it, they are similar.’
The four threw themselves toward the vessel, landing on the deserted aft deck.
Simultaneously, Zulu summoned an Autoprism, turning them all invisible.
‘Things get solved so easily when you have skilled people together.’
How many people in the world could infiltrate a ship on the open sea and travel to Galliant without being detected?
If Sein had been here, he could have even blocked out sound with Equilibrium.
It occurred to her that no matter how dangerous Heaven was, a team of this caliber wouldn't be taken down easily.
The warehouse was packed with goods from the mainland.
The four made their way to a corner where sacks of rice were piled up and sat with their backs against them, facing each other in pairs.
“We can’t summon the Autoprism once we reach the port, yo. There’s a risk of being detected by a Zoner. Plu will be waiting at an intermediary rendezvous point, so we need to get out without being caught if possible, yo.”
Shina handed Kuan a robe.
Zulu's current clothes were enough to cover his face, and Shirone could solve the problem cleanly by using his Diamond Armor.
An hour later, the ship docked at the port. A commotion started outside the warehouse, and the door was hastily thrown open.
The four, who had been hiding against the wall, slipped out the door as soon as the sailors came in.
The deck was bustling with workers from the island loading cargo, so no one paid any attention to the four of them.
Once on the pier, it was swarming with ship mechanics, cargo haulers, warehouse managers, and traders.
Jis, with whom Shirone had a deep connection, was also running busily between the docks, soliciting travelers.
“Step right up, step right up! I’ll carry your bags! I can also guide you to Galliant's famous attraction, the Kergo Ruins! Translations are also available!”
Shirone pulled the hood of his Diamond Armor down deep and gently turned his head to look at Jis.
‘You haven't changed, Jis. Is Yuna doing well?’
Just because the Parrot Thieves had left didn't mean their spot would be empty, but he seemed to be making an honest living for himself.
“Huh? Who was that?”
When Jis turned to look, Shirone subtly lowered his head and followed his group off the dock.
He wanted to at least say hello, but there was nothing to say when he had bid the world farewell and was heading to a place of certain death.
‘Be happy, Jis.’
As Jis stared blankly after Shirone, his friends approached him with long faces.
“Man, why aren't we getting any customers today? Huh? Jis, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost. Did someone you know come by?”
“No, I just have a strange feeling. About those people.”
His friend looked at the hooded figures and grimaced. It seemed Jis’s bad habit was acting up again.
“Hey, hey, stay away from people like that. They look deadly just by looking at them. Get on their bad side, and you won't even have bones left to bury.”
Another friend agreed.
“My ten-year hawker’s intuition says the same. Those people, they reek of extreme danger.”
Despite his friends' warnings, Jis couldn't tear his eyes away until they disappeared from sight.
He didn't know why, but a wave of nostalgia washed over him.
‘Come to think of it… I wonder if he’s doing well?’
“Hey! Bags here! Any porters?”
A large man who had disembarked from a passenger ship waddled over, carrying luggage in both hands.
Jis hastily snapped back to reality. He raised his hand faster than anyone and ran over.
“Yes, sir! Coming!”
* * *
The Kergo Ruins.
Gaold, Kangnan, Sein, Zulu, Plu, Etella, Shina, Kuan, and Shirone.
The nine members participating in this project gathered in one place for the first time.
Word had gotten around, so there was no need for a separate briefing.
There were a few agents within the ruins, but Sein, who had been on standby for a day, had taken care of them all.
Of course, they couldn't let their guard down, so it was best to keep their faces covered.
But Gaold, the primary target, threw back his hood and even took off his robe, tossing it to the ground.
Kangnan said, gritting his teeth.
“You should put that on while I'm asking nicely.”
“I’m suffocating. It’s all over once we go in anyway. From now on, we’re heading to the Kergo Autonomous Zone.”
Sein added.
“If there's anyone waiting at the Gate of Guffin, we'll pick them based on their skills. We might add one more person to this lineup.”
The group headed for the stepped altar on the east side of the central temple.
It was the place where Shirone had once opened the Immortal Function and passed Miro's test.
A Kergo native was guarding the entrance, but he was different from the one Shirone had seen before.
With Chief Kadum having lost his lifespan, the political situation of the Kergo tribe must have changed considerably.
A year ago, when he had visited with his friends, the natives exuded a fearsome prayer, but now, upon seeing Gaold's group, they seemed tense and swallowed hard.
If the gatekeeper was also a Kergo warrior, he couldn't have failed to sense the blade-like, refined aura emanating from the nine individuals simultaneously.
Gaold strode forward and spoke.
“Kertia, lo hoima. Akrasia, widmia venzen.”
Knock upon my door, and it shall be opened.
It was a nostalgic password that remained in Shirone's memory.
But the native's reaction was different from before. Shaking his head with a serious face, he spoke in Kergoan.
“Not now. There are too many people waiting to go to Heaven. Come back in three days.”
Gaold’s brow furrowed slightly. He swung the back of his hand, and with a thud, the native was sent flying.
Shirone, staring dumbfounded at the unmoving native on the ground, asked Sein.
“What did the native say to make him so angry?”
“Gaold doesn't know Kergoan.”
“...”
When Gaold operated the device, a section of the altar wall sank inward, creating a door.
Kangnan added a remark.
“But he hates the Kergo.”
Upon entering the altar, a square spiral staircase descended endlessly.
After about twenty minutes of descent, a corridor appeared. As before, two natives were guarding the iron door.
From this point on, it was the world of the Kergo, with no connection to the outside civilization.
The natives had no qualms about revealing the tattoos on their bodies and were far more belligerent than the one guarding above.
“Wait. How did you get in? Starting today, entry to Heaven is…”
Gaold backhanded him across the jaw, and the native collapsed with a thud.
His companion, his eyes blazing with fury, was about to shout a reprimand, but Gaold’s other hand backhanded his jaw in turn.
Shirone stared blankly at the two unconscious natives, their noses bleeding, and thought that this wasn't the right way to do things.
If they opened the Immortal Function in the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice, they could proceed to the Gate of Guffin with everyone's blessing. There was no need to cause trouble with the Kergo.
“Um, can’t we just do this by the book? I know some of the natives here, and if we light all eight eyes of the angel…”
“Angel?”
Gaold stopped in his tracks and turned his head.
“Shirone, this is just a toy my old classmate made.”
Shirone fell silent.
He could feel a terrifying rage from Gaold, but that wasn't the only reason. He thought he understood why Gaold hated the Kergo.
Beyond the iron door, an octagonal room appeared.
Three men were guarding the iron door on the opposite side, and in the center stood a man with the white tattoos symbolizing a Kergo priest.
Even to Shirone's eyes, their level of power was different from those who had blocked their path so far.
But Gaold didn't even glance at him, instead walking toward the altar where the eight spheres created by Miro floated.
The Kergo priest scowled menacingly and took a step forward.
“Who are you? How dare outsiders like you trespass in the sacred room of the angel…”
Before he could finish, Gaold grabbed a sphere at random and cast a spell.
It was barely a spell, just a simple Air Press, and the altar rumbled with a thud.
The priest looked around the shaking room with a shocked expression, then quickly turned his gaze to the sphere.
A brilliant white light, which Shirone had been unable to see a year ago no matter what he tried, was now brightly lit.
Shirone stared intently at the sphere.
It was amazing enough that the white light had actually turned on, but more than anything, it was the first time he had seen the number come out so small.
1,008,000.
“One million, eight thousand points…”
Gaold approached the dazed priest, looked him straight in the eyes, and replied curtly.
“Move.”
Though he didn't understand the words, the priest's legs had already moved to clear a path for Gaold.
It was a score that far surpassed what was needed to pass in the language of the gods.
By the time they reached the Kergo Autonomous Zone, warriors who had already heard the news were guarding the entrance.
Their eyes, with weapons held high, glinted with wariness toward the outsiders.
“This is the sacred land of the Kergo! Trespassers will be executed without question!”
Gaold walked toward the wall of spears pointing out like a hedgehog's quills, compressing a sphere of air in his palm.
Compared to the denizens of Heaven, the Kergo here were rather cute.
Warriors who would sacrifice their lives for Anke La. Moreover, their individual martial prowess was on a different level from these people.
But to Gaold, they were all just Kergo.
“All of you, lower your weapons!”
Just as Gaold's Press magic was about to explode, a well-built man walked out through the warriors.
His black tattoos had turned gold, but Shirone recognized his face at a glance.
It was Mahatu, a member of the Anti-Angel Faction who had opposed Chief Kadum.
The golden tattoos meant he had become the chief.
As expected, the warriors lowered their weapons and knelt.
“Chief! These men are heretics who assaulted a Kergo priest! Why do you extinguish our fighting spirit!”
After a brief exchange of glances with Gaold, Mahatu walked over to the eight members of the group standing behind.
“It has been a long time, Sir Shirone.”
Mahatu had learned the continental language.
As someone who believed in separating religion and society to improve the lives of his tribesmen, it was a necessary skill for negotiating with the Galliant government.
“Mahatu, you've become the chief.”
“I don't know if I'm qualified, but it happened.”
The warriors couldn't contain their anger.
To them, assaulting a priest was the worst of all crimes, for which nothing could atone.
“Chief! Please explain! Who are these people!”
Mahatu asked Shirone with a troubled expression.
“Why did you not prove your angelic power?”
“Ah, well… there were some circumstances.”
Mahatu seemed to understand.
Lately, countless people had been flocking to the Kergo Ruins.
What on earth was happening in Heaven?
He could tell the situation was serious just by looking at the caliber of the people Shirone had brought with him.
‘What in the world are these monsters?’
Mahatu, the greatest warrior of the Kergo, could feel it.
Each one of them was a master who had honed a different discipline to its extreme. Gaold, in particular, didn't seem human.
He, who had thought his fighting spirit was second to none, had his will broken just by a brief exchange of glances. If so, there was nothing Shirone could have done.
Because negotiations were underway, an extreme clash was avoided, but the war of nerves between the warriors and Gaold was still fierce.
“Punish the heretics who assaulted the priest! We are ready to fight! We’re not afraid of someone like you!”
“Yeah, bring it on! Just try me!”
Kangnan looked at Gaold, who was arguing with warriors he couldn't even communicate with, and massaged his temples.
‘I knew we shouldn't have made that man the commander.’
Nevertheless, he let it be because, sometimes, Gaold's way was necessary.
Besides, wasn't this the beginning of the day he had waited twenty years for?
No matter how much of a black sheep he was, Kangnan couldn't bring himself to nag him, at least not today.
“Everyone, silence! Do you dare defy my command!”
“Chief! We are prepared to die for your command. But is not compromising with heretics an act that denies the very existence of the Kergo!”
“Fools. Do you know who has come here today?”
The warriors' gazes turned to Shirone.
But having been oppressed by Kadum's iron-fisted rule and locked in prison just a year ago, there was no way they would know the boy's face.
Mahatu raised his hand and introduced Shirone.
“This is the divine messenger who punished Kadum's faction and saved our Anti-Angel Faction, Sir Shirone.”