Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Cause of the Change (1)
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Splash!
In an instant, the entire passageway filled with green liquid, melting everything around it.
The Corrosion Disaster, which I had assumed was defeated by the demons.
The thing hadn't died and had stubbornly survived, hiding here all this time.
"Wh-what the hell is...!"
"Are you alright?!"
I heard the dwarves shouting from outside the passageway.
I swung Genova once more and slipped out beyond the boundary.
"Gasp!"
Their eyes widened like saucers when I suddenly appeared before them.
"Run, quick!"
As I shouted, thick liquid began spilling out, corroding the passageway.
The dwarves screamed and fled upon seeing it.
'If it weren't for the Boundary Sword's power, I'd be dead.'
It was only because I'd reflexively used the Boundary Sword's ability that I survived. A moment later, and I'd have been reduced to a puddle of blood, without even a trace left behind.
[But this guy doesn't seem that strong?]
'He got smashed by the demons.'
I had been caught off guard by the sudden ambush, but its movements were far too slow.
That ability to melt everything in an instant was impressive, but if you were careful, it didn't seem like much of a threat.
It must not have fully recovered from the damage the demons inflicted.
==
[Acid Slime]
Age: 2 years
Gender: Asexual
Role in Story: Third Disaster (Villain)
Abilities: Division, Super Regeneration, Disaster Transformation [Corrosion]
Notes: The third disaster born in the Kezman Mountains.
It hunts those who enter its territory, growing bit by bit.
When the Talua Kingdom lost the war against the Kainzel Kingdom and began its decline, it saw the opportunity and led its forces toward Shioten, encountering Jerbisia and announcing its existence to the world.
==
I checked its settings and narrowed my eyes.
'...No mention of the demons.'
The current situation differed vastly from the original story. First off, there was no mention at all of the Corrosion Disaster clashing with demons.
This confirmed one fact for me.
'There's a demon acting differently from the original story.'
Otherwise, it was impossible to explain the current situation.
'And the purpose of that action is clearly...'
Demons who rarely showed themselves in the world.
Yet in just over a year, I'd tangled with them in three places.
Artuha Mountains.
Aintban.
Lavanteira.
And these three places had one thing in common.
'The disasters—no, more precisely, they're after the Seven Heavenly Swords.'
I knew from experience that where there was a disaster, the probability of a Heavenly Sword being present was high.
And those enigmatic demons clearly knew it too.
[No, but is that even possible?]
'If they have an ability like Lutia's precognitive dreams, it's not impossible.'
Lutia had judged that following the fixed fate was right, so she acted according to the original story.
But not everyone would think that way.
If they had such an ability, there would be far more who, like me, sought to seize their own gains.
'Anyway, think about it later. Deal with the one in front of me first.'
Sluuuurp!
The Corrosion Disaster, the Acid Slime, slithered out of the passageway and balled itself up into a sphere.
But then it just sat there motionless, staring at me.
'Unlike a regular slime, it has intelligence.'
It must have judged that it couldn't beat me unless it ambushed me.
And that judgment was correct.
Among the disasters I'd faced so far...
This one was the easiest.
"I'll finish it off while it's weak."
I gripped Genova and slowly approached.
Then its body writhed and rippled violently.
[Be careful!]
As Gransesia's cry echoed, the Acid Slime literally exploded.
The fluids making up its body sprayed in all directions, melting trees and gouging holes in the ground.
'This is...!'
I successfully deflected all the fluids flying at me using Insight Eye and Flow Form, but I couldn't celebrate.
'This isn't an attack!'
It was trying to escape.
The fluids scattered everywhere—they were all its true body.
As long as even one survived, it would eventually regenerate given time.
==
<Division>
Temporarily splits the body into pieces that scatter in all directions.
The power weakens the more pieces it splits into, but even if only one survives, it can reconstitute the 'main body.'
When split into multiple pieces, only one can become the main body, while the rest are naturally absorbed by the central piece or perish.
The power weakens proportional to the number of perished pieces.
==
A terribly tricky ability.
Naturally, I couldn't eliminate every scattered piece when its body burst.
'That's why they needed a sealing sword!'
The sealing sword Sealpin, which fell into demon hands.
It was practically impossible to destroy every single piece.
'If we'd had Sealpin, it would have been simple...'
I didn't know Sealpin's abilities, but according to the synopsis, Fabian used them to defeat the Corrosion Disaster.
The demon that took Sealpin probably couldn't unleash its power, so it failed to fully defeat the disaster.
Plop, plop!
The fluid droplets rained down like a storm and quickly scattered to flee.
I swiftly destroyed a few pieces with Genova, but in the end, most slipped away.
"Tch."
As I sheathed my sword with a click of my tongue, Gransesia asked in a worried tone.
[If the demons took the sword, doesn't that mean we can't defeat it?]
'It would be impossible alone, but now...'
I glanced at Riya.
She had restrained Edward, who was turning to smoke and scattering, so she could surely suppress this one's division the same way.
The problem was time—we were short on it.
'I wanted to grab the sword and get out, but...'
I needed to solve this issue first.
* * *
The Corrosion Disaster didn't have overwhelming power yet, but given time, it would become a real nuisance.
I needed to find and eliminate it before it grew stronger.
'It's impossible for just Riya and me to search the entire Kezman Mountains.'
To hunt it down quickly, I needed the aid of the Aint tribes.
When I explained my goal, the dwarf said if there was anything he could provide, he'd guide us to their village.
And upon arrival, the dwarf representative handed me the extreme sword Deltoid.
"So this is the extreme sword Deltoid..."
Deltoid felt heavier than other swords.
Its form was so blunt that calling it a sword felt off.
"You can really destroy that sword with this?"
"Yes. I can definitely destroy it."
"Hmm..."
The dwarves looked grim.
The Light Sword Hela was the worst legacy they'd ever created.
They'd been unable to destroy it and had sealed it in the altar, so their reaction was understandable.
"Let me show you the proof."
"Proof?"
I grinned at their puzzled looks, gripped Genova, and slammed it down on Deltoid.
"Gasp! Wh-what are you doing?!"
Deltoid clashed with Genova, cracked with a screech, and shattered into pieces.
The dwarves watching were stunned, but their eyes bulged when the fragments were absorbed into Genova.
"D-don't tell me that's the power of that sword?"
"Yes. Genova can absorb the power of any Seven Heavenly Sword it destroys."
After answering their dazed mutterings, I raised Genova and checked its settings.
==
[Human Sword Genova]
A sword that grows stronger in response to humanity's origins and wishes.
Also called the Wish Sword Genova.
....
....
[Ability Added]
It can sever all boundaries. However, it cannot defy the world's natural order.
It can draw out the body's abilities to their limit. Additionally, while holding this sword, one gains infinite stamina and never tires.
==
'Perfect!'
The extreme sword Deltoid's ability enhanced the wielder's physical body.
The vague description was confusing at first, but I'd figure it out gradually.
Confirming Deltoid's power had been properly absorbed, I thanked the dwarves.
"By the way, the Heavenly Swords usually have guardians who set trials to obtain them. Does this one not?"
"The sword in Lavanteira has been managed by the chiefs of each tribe for generations. In a way, we are its guardians."
So that's how it was.
In other words, the dwarves were guardians of the extreme sword Deltoid, and the elves of the sealing sword Sealpin.
'Hang on, Lavanteira has beastkin tribes too, right?'
A sudden question popped into my mind, and I asked the dwarves.
"Then, are the beastkin guarding a Heavenly Sword as well?"
"...That's."
The dwarves glanced at me nervously, lips twitching.
They seemed deeply conflicted about whether to speak.
"It was robbed."
The words that finally tumbled out were utterly absurd.
"Pardon?"
"There was definitely a ruin guarded by the beastkin. But it got looted overnight."
"Huh."
I was so flabbergasted I couldn't speak.
A Heavenly Sword—looted?
My mind went blank.
'...Another place I need to check later.'
There was sure to be a synopsis there too.
I needed to see if it followed the original story or if changes had occurred.
"Anyway, please handle the disaster search. I have requests elsewhere, so I need to head back soon."
"Hmm. Understood. And if you need any other help, just say the word. You're our benefactor—we'll do whatever we can."
"No, you don't have to go that far..."
I stopped mid-sentence.
Something I'd forgotten amid the disaster distraction came to mind.
"...Then, could you perhaps do some business with us?"
The Banheart mines were yielding massive amounts of mithril. Magic stones were pouring out too.
Selling them raw was fine, but using some to craft equipment...
'And dwarf-made equipment at that!'
It was idiotic that I'd forgotten about this until now.
The dwarves were sulking over inferiority to the Heavenly Swords, but that was only because their comparison was to 'divine swords.'
Dwarves were the finest blacksmiths in the world.
Their crafted gear was treated as priceless masterpieces, incredibly hard to obtain.
Building ties and establishing ongoing trade would yield unimaginable profits.
"Come to think of it, you said you're a human lord ruling over people."
Having been wronged by humans before, they hesitated slightly.
I quickly added,
"I'll do my utmost to ensure humans never encroach on Lavanteira, and I promise the best terms."
"Hmm, alright. We can't refuse our benefactor's request."
They hesitated a bit, but thanks to my prior help, I secured their agreement easily.
'Now I just need to tell Maria...'
Imagining the future gains already had me grinning ear to ear.