Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Holy Knight Never Gives Up
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Layer 3 field, Eclipse, was a peculiar place in many ways.
It was an area officially off-limits by the Imperial Family, who had always encouraged exploration of Blackout.
Without special permission, ordinary mercenaries or adventurers couldn't even set foot in Eclipse.
"Ah, I know the reason for that. It's because of the 'Dimension Reverse,' right?"
After a skirmish ended,
Jun, Aiden, and Maya took their break in the city center.
"Exactly. Dimension Reverse. It's also why the Imperial Family is trying to conquer Blackout."
Dimension Reverse.
In simple terms, it was a dimensional inversion phenomenon where Blackout's field monsters appeared on the surface under certain conditions.
And that was the reason the Empire had been obsessed with Blackout for centuries.
"That's what caused the fall of Merdaine Trade City."
About 50 years ago,
a Dimension Reverse in Eclipse wiped out an entire city in a single day.
A megacity teeming with 100 million people, no less.
The monsters that emerged were level 8.
Those level 8 monsters not only turned the 100 million population into undead but also expanded their territory.
Nearby lords banded together for a subjugation, but they were annihilated.
In the end, the Imperial Family intervened directly, resolving it—but the land, soaked in death, became uninhabitable.
Aiden asked,
"So, what triggers a Dimension Reverse in Eclipse?"
"The five named bosses sealed within the field. When they break free, they start devouring each other."
And when only one remains, the conditions for Dimension Reverse are met.
"It instantly becomes a level 8 monster and manifests on the surface."
50 years ago, various groups handled it jointly.
But after a series of incidents, they began distrusting each other, leading to an accident that unleashed the disaster.
"After that, the Imperial Family designated Eclipse as a no-entry zone and handed all related missions to the Ariclotos Church."
Normally, Jun and his companions couldn't enter either, but Eleanor, a high priestess of the Ariclotos Church, made it possible.
"Honestly, though, undead are such a pain."
"Yeah... They really seem tricky."
"Totally get it."
The two nodded wearily.
For them, it was instinctive revulsion, but for Jun, it was different.
"Some have infinite stamina, others like ghosts are immune to physical damage."
And above all, the rewards were abysmal.
Magic stones were the only upside, but those could be farmed anywhere else.
"Still, I took Eleanor's request because of the reputation points."
Like in most games, priests in <Blackout> were vital supports in any party.
But priests were NPC-exclusive, and recruiting one required building reputation through church quests.
'Just having a priest opens up way more field options.'
More activity areas meant more routes to hidden pieces, naturally expanding paths to power for him and his team.
'But the church isn't stupid—they don't assign quests to just anyone.'
You needed at least level 4 or 5, or lead a sizable group.
In the game, you couldn't recruit a priest until mid-game.
'Never thought I'd get this chance before even reaching layer 3 fields.'
He hadn't expected the connection with Eleanor from the Forest Guardian raid to pay off so soon.
Of course, Jun had no reason to refuse.
And the request was straightforward.
Escort a high priestess—protect Eleanor.
"Man, this place is a maze."
Jun frowned at Eclipse's signature gray sky.
Even the map was hard to read with all the collapsed buildings distorting the terrain.
"Oh, Senior. There's the clock tower."
"Nice."
With a clear landmark, the map lined up with their path.
"That way, we'll spot the point Eleanor mentioned easily."
Their goal was the Ariclotos Church's base camp on the city outskirts.
After another brief clash with undead en route,
Aiden climbed the clock tower.
While waiting below, Maya muttered,
"I wanna rest soon."
She wasn't the type for such complaints, so Jun was honestly surprised—and pleased.
Her usual stoicism made this human side refreshing.
"Ghosts that scary?"
"Not scary. Just... unpleasant."
"Unpleasant, huh..."
Realizing what she meant, Jun nodded thoughtfully.
Maya's Jo-kyung tribe worshipped ancestors, receiving guidance from their spirits.
A blessing for them, perhaps.
'But knowing more, it feels like a curse.'
Her pervasive killing intent probably stemmed from that.
He'd have to address it someday.
"Anyway, I wanna head back and rest too."
This mission was just escorting Eleanor, so focus on that.
No need to venture from base camp, and unlike before, no frontline action for him...
"S-Senior."
"Yeah?"
"It's on fire."
"What is?"
"The base camp where Priestess Eleanor is... it's burning."
"Huh...?"
A bad feeling was already creeping in.
Eclipse's sun was perpetually shrouded in dark clouds.
In a few days, Eclipse's red moon would eclipse it completely.
The impending total solar eclipse.
That was when the named bosses' seals would break.
The Ariclotos Church had come to prevent it.
But their base camp was now engulfed in flames.
"Hic—!"
Whoosh!
Eleanor collapsed instinctively as she ran.
A sword slash grazed where she'd stood moments ago.
As the blade swung down toward her prone form,
Clang! Boom!
A massive battle hammer suddenly blocked it from the side.
"Eleanor!"
Its wielder shouted.
The middle-aged holy knight from their prior meeting with Jun.
"Eleanor!"
He called again, scanning surroundings, but no reply.
"Damn it!"
No time to check her—new foes swung at him.
He spotted the familiar church emblem.
Ariclotos Church insignia.
Comrades until this morning, now turned hostile.
Fortunately, not holy knight-class this time.
Five holy warriors charged.
Whoosh—! Crash!
One swing scattered them.
The middle-aged holy knight turned back.
Eleanor lay motionless; he clicked his tongue.
She was breathing, but the failed sealing ritual's backlash had hit all at once.
"No choice..."
One hand gripped the battle hammer, the other hoisted Eleanor over his shoulder.
"Somehow..."
He had to get her to safety.
She was the only one who could alert the outside.
"Urgh..."
His head throbbed. The ritual's failure affected him too.
No, worse than Eleanor.
"A holy knight never gives up...!"
Sheer will dragged his faltering body away.
That uneasy hunch was never wrong.
Grahk! Kraaack!
Aaaargh!!
Jun's head pounded as he faced the enemies before his group.
Their identity was obvious at a glance.
"Holy warriors?"
But their appearance was grotesque.
Eyes dyed deep purple, no whites visible.
Drooling from the mouth—they seemed mind-controlled.
"Hah!"
Clang!
"How are they this good at fighting?"
Aiden parried and retreated.
Not overpowered, just bewildered.
Not undead, yet acting like it. Wielding swords like undead?
"What, you guys Death Knights now?"
Only near-level 8 freaks swung weapons among undead.
So what was with these?
Jun shook his head after pondering.
'A few possibilities come to mind.'
Did that event happen now?
Memory fuzzy.
Even with [Exceptional Memory], it wasn't omniscient.
If he'd skipped that storyline entirely, it made sense.
"Aiden, Maya. Buy me time. They probably won't go down easy to knockout spells."
Purple aura controlled them—needed another force to suppress it.
Three holy warriors lunged.
Aiden and Maya calmly kited them. Less than 5 seconds later, Jun's spell activated.
[Sleep]
Induces deep slumber on targets
He felt resistance from the spell.
Death aura clashing against his mana. Jun ignored it, channeling more.
[Sleep]
Induces deep slumber on targets
Once not enough—twice, thrice.
Repeated casts, and their eyes finally drooped.
"What the hell are these guys?"
Jun shook his head at the collapsed foes on the cold ground.
Something major had gone down at the church's base camp.
They'd been attacked just approaching to check.
'Deeper in, holy knights too?'
Things were getting messy.
They had to find client Eleanor first, but might end up fighting holy knights.
'Too tough for our lineup.'
Subduing without killing spiked the difficulty.
Holy knights would resist [Sleep] far better.
'This sucks.'
As he sighed,
"Leader."
"Hm?"
"Tracks over there."
He looked where Maya pointed. Long drag marks—like something heavy pulled.
"Person? Undead hunting? No bloodstains, though."
The trail led straight to a ruined house.
"Let's check it out. But these guys..."
Couldn't just leave them, so Jun summoned a golem to dump the holy warriors in a corner.
Even if they woke, death-tainted, they'd charge again anyway.