Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: The Name of the End: Johan (3)
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The outskirts of the Alperatz Marquisate lay in a rugged mountain range.
Surrounding an altar where grotesquely twisted masses of flesh wandered, stood a single researcher wearing a monocle.
Doctor Begerton Antares.
The Empire's top-priority fugitive and technical advisor to the Extremist Magical Research Society.
In the hands of this criminal, derided by the world as a madman, the site for a bizarre experiment was being prepared.
"Hmm... It seems all preparations are complete."
Doctor Begerton's eyes scanned the surroundings of the altar.
Flesh preserved within the writhing masses.
The finest vessel, cultivated by feeding it the pulp of the World Tree, was ready there.
The vessel of the god that the doctor had poured his heart into creating.
A binding to hold a being that transcended humanity on the earth, if only for a moment.
"There's still five pieces of pulp left, so we'll have a few more chances... but it's always more satisfying to succeed on the first try."
A displeasing laugh escaped the lips of the doctor as he gazed at the scene he had created.
Kekekeke—.
It was the eerie laughter that symbolized Begerton Antares.
Having let out that bizarre laugh, the doctor's monocle checked the altar's condition once more.
"No issues with the altar engraved with the summoning gate, and the stabilization devices are in good shape. Since it's borrowing the form of a ritual, stability should be much higher than last time."
What the doctor had prepared for this experiment wasn't just the vessel cultivated from the World Tree's fruit.
To heighten the ritual's precision, he had even mimicked the form of black magic used to summon outerworldly beings.
Even the elves' 'Harvest Festival' in the Great Forest wouldn't involve this level of care.
It was the best he could do within the limits of his knowledge.
Perhaps to go beyond this, it would take not him, but Pilgrim Bartov—.
Such a thought crossed the doctor's mind.
"Well, this looks perfect. As long as there's no interference midway, the results should be far better than last time."
Click—.
Adjusting his monocle, the doctor turned his back to the altar.
No matter how precisely tuned the spell, standing right next to the altar would get him caught in it.
Step, step—.
As the doctor cautiously moved away from the altar, a man's voice, stuttering and disjointed, emanated from his pocket.
- "We'll enter the marquisate within the hour at latest."
A voice unnaturally pieced together, as if forcibly stitched by machinery.
It came from the crystal orb in the doctor's pocket, 'Polaris No. 1'.
Heptagon, Blasphemer Sirius.
The doctor, a smile playing on his lips, responded to the voice from the Secret Society member.
"Fortunately, we'll arrive right on time."
- "Are you really sure about pushing forward like this?"
A question laced with faint concern.
Hearing it, the doctor twisted his lips into a wide grin.
Heh—.
A light chuckle escaped the doctor's mouth.
"I have no intention of ignoring advice from a dear friend. Even so, nothing major should go wrong."
- "......"
"But if things feel off, I'd appreciate you focusing on blocking external interference rather than the altar."
Rub, rub—.
The doctor, rubbing his hands together with eager anticipation, continued.
- "What... exactly do you mean by that?"
Doubt spread from the unnatural voice.
"Sir Austin. Do you think handling the same task twice in a row will end without gains again?"
- "......"
"This Begerton Antares doesn't waste precious samples like that—."
Eyes filled with grand ambition.
A clear declaration flowed from the doctor's mouth, imbued with madness-like confidence.
"Without a doubt, we'll witness something amusing."
No further exchange passed through the crystal orb.
Hoo—.
A chill autumn wind blew along the mountain path.
From there, the doctor's heavy breath spread outward.
* * * * * *
Leader of the Eight Swords Society, Sword Ghost Raparia—.
She was a mercenary who had roamed battlefields for long ages.
She had seen dynasties rise and fall multiple times.
She had heard of countless emperors' deaths with her own ears.
Such was the life of a long-lived species far exceeding human lifespans.
A fate that allowed witnessing a human's birth, watching their growth, and even facing their death.
Through that journey, Raparia had relentlessly honed her sword without cease.
"......"
The swordmaster called Sword Ghost possessed no exceptional talent compared to humans.
She had simply been granted more time.
—Dullard.
She was a dullard who had tempered her sword over endless time.
Covering her lacking talent with time.
Relentlessly driving her foolish self through trials.
The being forged thus was the Sword Ghost, whom the continent's people called one of the Heptagon.
"Indeed, a space that seems to harbor a dangerous mage."
Western Empire, Alperatz Marquisate.
At the entrance to a foreboding wild mountain, Sword Ghost Raparia stood with her magic sword at her waist.
Her senses, honed over long years, allowed her eyes to detect farther than human vision.
Thud—. Thud—. Thud—. Thud—.
For example, watching the grotesque chimera walking with booming steps midway up the mountain.
"Magical Research Society... Abominations only fit for the villains of that vile group."
Tsk—.
A tongue-click echoed from Raparia's mouth as she eyed the chimera prowling the mountain.
A landscape of grotesque monsters that mocked life itself.
A truly lamentable sight.
"Isaac Leobrant— no different from the bandits he led."
Her hand moved to the hilt of the magic sword at her waist as she stared at the twisted mountain.
Shing—.
The blue-glowing blade slid smoothly from its refined sheath.
A sharply honed edge.
As the magic sword, emitting a clear sword cry, revealed itself.
Stroke—.
Raparia's left hand gently caressed the blue blade with her fingertips.
"......"
Memories of the Great Forest flashed through Raparia's mind.
The hellish scene that had descended in the heart of the vast forest.
The warrior's final, miserable end, forced to stab his kin.
Even the humans wandering that hell without distinguishing friend from foe.
As all those memories resurfaced, Raparia's eyes began to radiate sharp killing intent.
"I'll repay the debt from the Great Forest here."
Her eyes, blade raised, fixed on the mountain's entrance.
Kikikikik—.
A ferocious chimera roared at the entrance, prowling about.
Had it wandered down from the deep mountains?
Stroke—.
Its sharp eyes seemed to have spotted Raparia, gleaming with clear murderous intent as it moved.
"—[Magic Sword] activate."
Gazing at the chimera, Raparia activated the magic sword in her hand.
Woooong—.
As mana spread and swept the surroundings.
The Sword Ghost's eyes, shining with fierce light, stared at the mountain pass entrance.
Everything slowed.
All things reflected in her eyes lost color.
A split-second realm pushing her senses to the limit.
Boom—!
Within it, Raparia's legs kicked off the ground and moved.
- ……
First to confront her was a chimera with a lumpy head.
Kikikikik—!
A clear cry burst from the monster's maw.
But that grotesque scream did not last long.
Slash—.
Raparia's magic sword swiftly cleaved it.
"———."
A momentary sword flash.
Confirming the enemy's end, Raparia's legs swiftly dashed across the ground.
Tadadadak—.
The Sword Ghost's legs, kicking up thick dust, began tearing through the dense mountain path at high speed.
Leg strength transcending human limits.
Her legs crossed spaces like teleporting, piercing the forest at ferocious speed.
- Kieeeek……!
In an instant, deep into the mountain path, another screaming chimera appeared before Raparia.
A scene of it unleashing a roar while baring eight arms.
Her sword traced a clear trajectory once more at the sight.
Slash—.
A slashing strike scattering blue light.
After the azure gleam cut through the world's scenery, only the chimera's corpse remained.
- Keruk—?
Splashhhh—!
Red blood sprayed as the chimera collapsed.
Yet Raparia did not even check the felled foe, merely hastening her steps forward.
In slowed time, Raparia's legs accelerated.
Scattering fallen leaves.
Cold wind brushing her cheek.
Amid it, Raparia focused solely on the enemies.
"———."
Her advance continued in the time of silence.
A hideously twisted chimera appeared.
Slash—.
Raparia's sword mercilessly cleaved the foe.
- Kieeek……!
A massive-bodied chimera appeared.
Slash—.
Raparia's sword bisected the enemy.
Gigantic builds. Ferocious tools.
Or even vicious magic beyond that—.
Chimeras of various abilities alternately blocked Raparia.
Each time, her sword without exception cut through her foes.
"Haa, ha……!"
In the ongoing battle, the Sword Ghost's breathing grew ragged.
The intense movements made her crave oxygen.
Yet Raparia's charge did not stop.
Slash—.
Kudududuk—.
She cleaved, sliced, and thoroughly crushed every chimera blocking her path without exception.
Amid countless slashes as she cut down enemies.
"Ah—."
Thud—.
At some point, the Sword Ghost's steps abruptly halted.
The reason Raparia, who had torn foes without hesitation, stopped.
It was due to the chimera before her.
More precisely, the familiar swordsman's figure on its upper body.
- ……
Midway up the treacherous mountain.
There, Raparia's gaze glared at the enemy before her eyes.
Kikikikik—.
A chimera with eight legs had appeared before Raparia, blocking her path.
Thud—. Thud—. Thud—.
The monster's legs protruded in grotesque directions.
And atop them, the form of a swordsman who should have died in the Great Forest—.
Facing the enemy's face, a voice drenched in shock burst from Raparia's mouth.
"Isaac... Leobrant……!"
- ……
The identity of the chimera blocking Raparia's path.
It was none other than Isaac Leobrant.
* * * * * *
Austin LineNote.
A youth who had dreamed of becoming a holy knight since childhood, now a knight called Blasphemer and one of the Heptagon.
Currently clad in jet-black armor, he flew around the Alperatz Marquisate.
Kwaaaaang—!
As the rear thrusters spewed intense heat.
Sirius's view fixed on the territory's skies, far from him.
- "......"
Lifting his head, Austin's mind overloaded.
From childhood, he had possessed keen intuition.
He quickly foresaw minor misfortunes or major crises heading his way.
He had used his instincts to swiftly escape seats where trouble brewed.
The principle behind his intuition's aid was unknown even to him.
- "......A flying holy fortress."
And now, Austin LineNote's intuition delivered a clear warning.
Directly ahead as Sirius traversed the skies.
As he entered Alperatz Marquisate's airspace, a colossal fortress appeared in his sight.
Woooong—.
Explosive currents shaking the atmosphere.
Belching immense heat winds to announce its presence—it was none other than a massive fortress flying through the heavens.
—Mobile Citadel Raplasia.
The sky domain ruled by Archmage Coryos Barclayer, hailed by the continent's humans as one of the Heptagon.
The aerial castle from legends had appeared in Alperatz's skies.
- "That... is Mobile Citadel Raplasia……!"
Keeeen—.
A shrill sound rang out around Raplasia.
Austin's heart throbbed wildly at the sight.
Thump, thump, thump—.
It felt like a nonexistent heart was pounding.
A sensation from facing Heptagon member Isaac Leobrant in the Great Forest's heart.
Yet now, Austin felt that sensation once more.
- "Ha......"
With this sight before him, Austin finally understood.
What had made him so uneasy.
Zzt, zzzt—.
The comms linked through Polaris No. 1 were crushed and severed by 'Mobile Citadel Raplasia''s mana field.
Zing—!
The knight's gaze, glowing purple, glared at the citadel.
- "......"
Citadel lord, Coryos Barclayer.
The citadel's master was wary of Johan's descent ritual.