Chapter 448: Proof of Existence (36)
Chapter 448: Proof of Existence (36)
The stars representing the seven original sins created by Delphirem, and the strongest forces of the Dark Cult who inherited their power.
At my question, Yuren lowered his voice as if the timing was perfect.
“Listen carefully. The Seven Deadly Sins are monsters second only to Delphirem within the Dark Cult. You can’t even leave a scratch on them with ordinary skill! You’d need to be at least a ‘High Expert’ or an ‘Archmage’ just to stand a chance against them.”
“Then what about a Master?”
“Are you crazy? Even the Seven Deadly Sins are a step below a Master… for now.”
The words he added at the end were significant.
‘For now.’ In other words, it meant the Seven Deadly Sins could potentially grow to a level equal to a Master.
If that happened, it would be the end.
Seven powerhouses at the level of a Master? It would mean the Dark Cult would no longer have any reason to remain in hiding.
With the strength they already possessed, they would be able to sweep across the continent.
This made it even more impossible for me to simply escape quietly.
But more than anything, one point still weighed on me.
My eyes flickered toward the blood-red sun floating in the sky. And even toward the blood-red cocoon enveloping the girl.
Now that I had found the main body, I had to get the child back, but there was no opening. I had to save that child soon.
As if sensing my feelings, Yuren let out a faint sigh and spoke.
“That kid will be fine.”
“How do you know?”
“Because of the ‘Contract.’”
Yuren asserted this as if it were a very simple matter.
“A contract is equally binding for both parties. Since she said she would return the child alive and well, the child is likely not in any danger, just trapped in the cocoon. In other words, we just need to find a way for us to survive.”
“And that involves handing me over?”
At that, Yuren shrugged and played it off.
“Do we really have to hand you over? Try adjusting the terms a bit more. It’s obvious that woman is completely infatuated with you… She might be willing to accept difficult conditions rather than lose you.”
“Don’t you think she’d prefer just killing everyone except me?”
Only then did the rebuttals stop.
Yuren and Celine wore grim expressions, while Senior Elsie was lost in deep thought, her chin resting on her hand.
I also retraced the conversation I had with Yuren in silence.
It was then that Senior Elsie spoke up.
“These blood threads…”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward her. She was intently examining the blood threads lined up around them.
The blood threads spread throughout this secret room were under the girl’s control.
And this was also the reason we couldn’t recklessly attempt an escape.
Our entire range of movement had already been occupied by the blood threads. No matter how much we struggled, it would be a futile effort.
“They’re made of mana.”
“Well, obviously.”
Yuren let out a hollow laugh as he spoke.
But the moment I heard those words, a thought flashed through my mind.
‘Archmage.’
In other words, if I could reach the level of a ‘High Expert’ for even a brief moment.
“I think… there might be a way?”
At my small murmur, everyone’s eyes gathered on me once again. Yuren, in particular, had his face twisted in a look of sheer misery.
As if he were terrified of what nonsense I might spout next.
But I had already committed. I immediately continued my explanation.
“Escaping from here isn’t impossible. But if we enter combat, you’ll need to buy me some time…”
“Time?”
Celine tilted her head, and Yuren instinctively followed the direction of my gaze.
There stood the girl, still staring intently at me.
A hollow laugh escaped Yuren’s lips as he realized my meaning.
“Are you insane?”
Of course, his resistance was in vain.
Having his will broken by the strong agreement of the other two women, Yuren covered his face with both hands and spoke.
“Ian, can you really do this?”
My footsteps, fueled by firm resolve, faltered for a moment.
That one question was more frightening than a hundred arguments.
“She’s your younger sister… Can you really do this without hesitating?”
I couldn’t answer for a long time.
My gaze shifted to the side, then downward; my lips parted and closed several times.
Eventually, I let out a sigh and took another step forward.
A heavy voice followed in my wake.
“…This is your choice, Ian.”
There was no need to give a verbal answer.
I silently patted Yuren’s shoulder a few times. Then, stepping forward, I addressed the girl, whose heart was swelling with anticipation.
“I’d like to modify the contract terms.”
The girl’s face, which had been sparkling with eyes full of expectation for my response, instantly turned subtle.
Her attitude suggested she found it hard to understand what I was saying.
Soon, a clicking sound escaped her lips as she tutted.
A cold gaze turned toward me.
“Oppa, are you having strange thoughts again? That you can somehow break through this ordeal, that a path will appear if you don’t give up…”
Pfft, the girl couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
But even that was brief.
Boom! With a strike filled with her rage, she slammed her foot down, shattering the ground.
The sound of teeth grinding followed.
“Don’t make me laugh! No such thing exists!”
“Then prove it.”
Without a hint of hesitation, I stood my ground against her words.
“Let’s modify the terms. If we manage to inflict even a small wound on you before we are suppressed… don’t touch us anymore.”
Hehe, a small laugh leaked from the girl’s mouth.
A thick smile formed on her lips. As if it were laughable.
“Fine, go ahead and try… If you can inflict even a small wound on me, I won’t touch you for at least today. Will that do?”
“It’s a ‘Contract.’”
Hmph, the girl snorted as if it were a given.
Before long, blood coins were held in both my hand and the girl’s. With a clear tinging sound, the two coins flew toward the bloodscale balance that appeared between us.
Spin, spin.
The moment the blood coins finished spinning on each tray and settled.
Yuren whispered lowly.
“Ian, remember… you made this choice.”
Immediately after, the blood threads intersected to form a spiderweb, and faceless assailants kicked off the ground and charged in.
Furthermore, a blood whip was once again held in the girl’s hand.
All those offensives were directed at me. Right after my companions rushed out, I gripped my sword and closed my eyes.
I had to concentrate.
To recreate the scenery I had seen that day.
* * *
A layer of my consciousness sank into the depths.
The shouts, screams, and the noise of clashing blades echoing around me.
I had to forget them.
I desperately groped for a certain point in the past. Because I wanted to see once more beyond that boundary I had caught a glimpse of on the day I fought the Archmage.
Wouldn’t anyone feel the same?
It was the path I had to take. It was a place that felt like it was almost within reach.
Since that day, I had suffered from insomnia for days on end. Imagining the fragment of truth I hadn’t been able to see.
But no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't appear.
Only the silver flames burning my sword were the sole light illuminating my mental imagery.
I was confident.
I wasn't a fool. I wouldn't stake the lives of my precious comrades on a hopeless gamble. I had the conviction that if I kept searching, I would find the way.
If that was the only answer.
My hand fumbled through the darkness. Before I knew it, my space was submerged in silence and pitch-blackness. Somehow, I had to find it.
Cold sweat poured down. My face contorted and relaxed repeatedly from the sheer effort.
Then, the moment a drop of sweat trickled down my cheek and hit the floor with a tap.
“…It is impossible.”
I snapped back to my senses with a start.
My body was standing on a plain. Numerous tents formed a battle array in the distance, and rows of torches flickered under the dark veil of night.
Following the words my mouth had uttered of its own accord, a voice suppressed with heat followed.
“And why is that?”
“Because supplies are insufficient.”
A dry voice, devoid of even a grain of emotion.
On the other hand, the expression of the woman standing next to me was changing in real-time. At first, she couldn't hide her frustration, then she sent a resentful look my way, and finally, she kicked the ground a few times as if suppressing her anger.
She was an interesting woman.
I heard she used to live hiding her true nature, but now she expressed such honest emotions.
Glare, the woman’s sharp gaze turned toward me.
“Whew, fine… So you’re telling me to maintain the front line for over a month with infinitely insufficient supplies? Only then will new supplies arrive, and even then, the amount isn't guaranteed?”
“The situation is similar on every front.”
“Is that something to be proud of?!”
Unable to hold back her anger any longer, the woman pointed toward the rows of tents with a rough gesture.
There, soldiers with exhausted expressions were gathered without exception.
Water was boiling, but there wasn't enough food to make a meal. They were sipping warm water repeatedly with jerky in their mouths.
Hoping that at least the salty taste wouldn't disappear.
“We stood here to protect humanity. Everyone is risking their lives! At least let them die on the battlefield. They can't starve to death because of a lack of supplies…!”
“Should we not practice ‘Obedience’?”
It was something I blurted out in a moment of irritation.
Even to me, the words were so clearly provocative that I regretted them as soon as they left my mouth. There was no way the woman, already full of rage, would let this slide.
It was proof that I, too, had become far too exhausted.
The situation on every front was at its worst. It felt like a miracle that the lines hadn't collapsed yet.
All of them were demanding supplies from me.
But no matter how hard I tried, supplies that didn't exist wouldn't just appear. Having gone through hundreds of such arguments, my nerves had also become frayed.
It was a mistake.
They were words that should never be said to those risking their lives on the battlefield. So, I immediately bowed my head and apologized.
“I’m sorry. I misspoke…”
“Forget it.”
Her tone was strangely lonely.
The Saintess let out a deep sigh, then took the gourd she carried at her waist. And naturally, she tilted the bottle and began to gulp down the alcohol.
Even though she didn't have a high tolerance.
Following that, the Saintess slumped down on the grassy slope. Her face clearly reflected her hollow feelings.
My heart felt even more guilty.
“You were human too… Ha! Why didn't I realize? If you could provide supplies, you’re the one who would want to do it more than anyone.”
“……I’m sorry.”
Apologies continued to flow from my mouth.
Whether I did or not, the woman only wore a crooked, mocking smile.
“Also, I can see clearly that you are ignorant of doctrine. ‘Obedience’… Hehe, do you even know what that means?”
I didn't give any answer.
Because the woman’s point was true.
Then, the woman began to launch into a long lecture. Looking at her like this, she truly was a member of the clergy.
How did she end up becoming so twisted?
“‘Obedience’ doesn't mean quietly rolling over and collapsing just because the wind is strong. It certainly doesn't mean holding your head high while hoping for a stroke of luck.”
“Then what are you saying we should do?”
At my question, the woman gave a smug smile.
“Find the answer yourself. I’m a woman with a bad personality, so I don't just show the answer sheet easily.”
Of course, I shook my head with a long sigh.
I hadn't expected much. I had known this woman for several months now, one way or another.
I wasn't so naive as to not know that twisted personality of hers.
Rather, lately, I could catch glimpses of the wounds residing behind it.
On a night past midsummer, a chilly wind brushed against our thin clothing.
The attire of the woman gulping down alcohol was even thinner. It was the price of making clothes out of cheap fabric to save on supplies.
So, for a while, I couldn't take my eyes off her.
When alcohol enters the system, the body initially feels hot. But as one gets more intoxicated, the body temperature inevitably drops lower and lower.
It meant that, in the end, one becomes even more vulnerable to the cold.
After hesitating for a long time, I finally let out a sigh and took off my coat. And before the woman could say anything, I draped it over her shoulders.
The woman’s body stiffened at the sudden kindness.
This, too, was brief.
Instead of a common word of thanks, the woman narrowed her eyes and teased me.
“Aha, trying to make a move while you have the chance? Well, my beauty is as famous as my twisted personality. In the end, you’re just one of the many men drooling over me…”
“Are you afraid of kindness without an ulterior motive?”
At that short retort, the woman was left speechless.