Chapter 334
Chapter 334
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 334
Chapter Title: S6. Oblivion Zone of the Ruined Castle ~■■ Asleep Beneath the Debris~ -3
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What the hell kind of monster is that thing?
Its body blasted apart in every direction, the scarab muttered in hollow despair as it recalled the five-second clash that had just unfolded.
The moment it detected the monster's descent.
Against the plummeting 150-meter behemoth, the scarab unleashed no fewer than five blasts of illusion magic. The first two were spells designed to trigger insanity, but they missed.
It wasn't a matter of poor aim. At 150 meters, missing would have been the strange part—and that impossible strangeness had actually happened. The spells' trajectories bent at nearly right angles.
At that point, the scarab realized the monster possessed an innate power to deflect targeting. So for the next spell, it cast a wide-area one that couldn't miss.
A bizarre wavelength that twists a portion of the target's mind into a living worm. That mind-worm devours the host's psyche, lays eggs, and multiplies.
In the end, when you crack open the idiot's skull, all that spills out is a shrunken brain suppressed from mental activity and a writhing mass of translucent worms—an eerie incantation.
But even that spell failed. Because there was no human vulnerability, no blind spot, no weak point in mental defense whatsoever. It was as smooth and unmarred as flawless metal.
The remaining two spells were pure desperation. It summoned a massive armored insect and a spiked venomous bug to absorb the impact while attacking.
Meticulously prepped for instant activation. Chant time? About one second.
Wooong—!
But the half-summoned bugs scattered into harmless butterflies, undone by clever spell disruption.
Like lighting the fuse on prepped dynamite, only for the powder inside to turn to sugar in that brief flicker as the wick burned down.
A colossal body and overwhelming illusion magic resistance. Thinking of a certain dragon's traits in the features of this "Great Monster," the scarab couldn't help trembling in terror.
The evil dragon that ruled half the world. No way something like that got smashed into this space by some Yurensuto lab rat... right?
This ominous feeling, though...
Right after that brief reverie, raw physical force slammed home.
────.
And now here it was. Pinned to the surface like a bug, the scarab pondered quietly. It wasn't dead yet. In this "Oblivion Zone," death as a phenomenon simply didn't occur.
Which meant there was still a chance. That white, slimy monster was chatting with the succubus it had brought along. Probably planning to head deeper into this space.
It clearly didn't expect the scarab to still be alive. Of course not. Who would? Slowly, it reshaped itself into a tiny cockroach. Then it scuttled along—scratch scratch.
There's a nice narrow crevice over there for hiding. Antennae probing, it slipped inside. Hide here, recover strength, wait for an opening.
Hunger gnawed.
The data loss from the impact manifested as gnawing hunger. Driven by insect instinct, the scarab hunted for prey. And it found another cockroach identical to itself.
Oddly, it didn't react. Clearly alive, yet utterly motionless.
Even better if it didn't move. The scarab crunched into it with its mandibles. Cannibalism.
Delicious. With every bite, it felt sharper. Was it the lost data refilling?
Having sated its hunger somewhat, the scarab pondered next steps. First, gather the scattered data and repair the body. Then...
Wait.
Something's off. Where did that cockroach it just ate come from? It had devoured every scrap of falling data on sight—no bugs should have been left.
So the bugs crawling around here... spawned naturally after its "death"? After the giant monster crushed it? That's weird.
A bad premonition gripped the scarab. It looked toward where its body had burst apart. And saw it—a new cockroach emerging from there.
Its body froze solid. Not even its antennae could twitch.
Realization dawned simultaneously. It wasn't whole. It was just a tiny fragment of the mage Scarab. The monster had shredded its consciousness into thousands of shreds!
And those shreds were awakening one by one, sequentially.
It had to reunite into the original whole. Not devour—fuse. Become one again, not consume.
But its body wouldn't move anymore...
Scratch scratch.
The newborn cockroach crawled into the crevice—a perfect hiding spot. Then it spotted the immobilized one. Hunger, no doubt. Mandibles clacking as it approached.
Crunch crunch. Its body was being eaten.
The scarab screamed a silent, sealed shriek.
No! This can't happen! You're devouring yourself! Fuse, don't eat! Realize it, quick!
I'm you! You idiot, think about why a random cockroach is here! No, not like this, can't die this pathetic way—
Thud.
And so the 334th Scarab died.
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Yuri asked,
"No need to finish it off? A former Violet Tower Master might have ways to revive even from a flattened state."
-Don't worry. That's why I looped it to kill itself off.
"The fight ended anticlimactically."
-An illusion mage blocking a 150-meter body slam? Should've joined the Golden Tower for that. Or been better at illusions than me.
It exploited his weakness perfectly. That summed up the battle.
Powerful resistance to illusion magic, immense physical power, and the robotic algorithms embedded in this giant mecha. Specs like that were an illusion mage's nightmare.
Right now, I was basically a 0.3 Cleaning Golem. Come at me, Dark Yuna or whoever. Armored Great Monster Mima's ready.
With the interloper gone, all that remained was exploration. Yuri perched on my head, we sank deeper. Light faded the lower we went into the Oblivion Zone, the air grew sticky like the deep sea's pressure.
And at some point, it was space-black.
"...Nothing material here. It's all void."
-Nah, I see it. Chilling, depressing memory data everywhere. Making it visible for you.
I waved a hand, and memory fragments twinkled like red stars. In this little universe, crimson galaxies flowed, accentuating the dark.
Slowly sinking, I scanned the Oblivion Zone's memories. Fragments of the past.
The Scarab I'd just shredded and the "Lamb's" voice echoed.
-To make people into "Gates" and "Mirrors," they must be pure. No self-awareness—an idiot state is ideal. A "Mirror" with a mind reflects what it wants to see.
-Then shine the evil god fragment on it to summon the Violet Tower's god. Brilliant idea.
-So, disciple in the "Goat," devise ways to break those children's hearts. They must live yet not truly live.
Thus, they inflicted trials on the test subjects repeatedly. Sowing mutual distrust, forcing them to taste every extreme of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure until they crumbled to emotional ash.
Until they reached a forced enlightenment unmoved by any agony.
And through all those trials.
-This week's rations: one bread slice. If hunger's unbearable, eat thigh meat from the others. Opening the bars now. Knives for everyone.
-Here, I'll share my bread, so don't hurt each other. We can't. Hurting each other is wrong.
The girl with violet eyes.
-If you hadn't used the "Golden Key," none of this would've happened! Dodging pain all alone, pretending to be good!
-I... didn't use it! Believe me. And even if I did, don't fall for the mages' tricks. Just hold on a bit longer. Just a little...!
Resisted all malice.
-Yurensuto, your will is impressive. But you're tiring, aren't you? The kids see you as a traitor, a nuisance. Must hurt, having that pure kindness trashed. So stop. Shut up, and I'll promise better treatment.
-Never. I'll stay human. We'll all stay human!
-...You're dragging out the experiment. The kids shouldn't hold out this long. Fine. If you're that stubborn, let's see if you can bear every child's pain at once.
-Pain won't break me. I—gh, aaaaaagh...!!
"...Mima. Better ease up. Your claws are digging into your forepaw. I get how you feel."
How could such a small body muster that much courage?
And... why am I different?
I knew Yuna well. She loved romance tales, took joy in others' happiness. But ask if she'd sacrifice for some absolute good? No.
I had guesses about the change.
Dark Yuna said love meant elimination. No gains, no losses to feel. She protected Yuna with that extreme aggression.
So to Dark Yuna—what did Yuna's goodness look like?
Self-destructive malice, maybe.
Why cling to good so hard? Why walk a path no one acknowledges? Utterly futile.
Especially in this past Violet Tower, brimming with agony. Resistance just amplified the pain.
So—maybe the first thing subtracted was that.
"...Mima, down there."
At the Oblivion Zone's deepest core, darkest bottom, a twinkling star shone. I felt pulsating goodness from it.
That's it. Yuna's original heart-star.
I reached carefully to cradle it, then hesitated. Yuri read it and voiced the devil's advocate.
"Should we return it to her?"
-It's hers originally.
"She already lost it. Ages ago. What meaning now?"
-Can't know if it will or won't.
"Returning her goodness could just bring pain. This world's harsh—evil thrives carefree, good suffers. Want to hurt her?"
-No.
I cradled the shining star gently. Wrapped it in layers, padded with buffers, every safeguard against breakage in transit.
Yuri helped sort my thoughts. I'd return it to Yuna. Simple reason.
-I want to give her even greater joy.
"Joy, huh."
-High-score issue. Stories have four combos: good deeds + happy end?
Evil deeds + unhappy end: worst.
Evil + happy: meaningless.
Good + unhappy: tragic.
Good deeds leading to everyone's happy end? Perfect.
-Yuna does good, I handle the happy end. Guaranteed top performance, right?
"Spot on. Do the same for me, Mima?"
-I'll make you happy doing whatever. Let's go up. Return the star from this tower's peak.
And tell her the prison struggles weren't meaningless.
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Kiiiiing—!!
The red orb primed for explosion. The "Blood Moon's End" spell was complete; only unleashing its vast power remained.
Mirror Yuna fiddled with her conical hat brim.
"Why not give up? Yuna belongs by Yuna's side. Pointless resistance is pointless. This spell's a hassle; don't even wanna cast it."
"...Shut up!"
"What're you fighting for? Evil dragon shard. Your master's dead. You're free. Just flee alone."
"You wouldn't get it, you crazy mage. He'll come back."
Aisha wiped her mouth with a ragged arm. Yeah, the crazy mage would return even after a "Subtract." And even if he truly died and vanished.
"...What I've gained doesn't vanish."
If remembered, not dead. She remembered their time. Still walking the new path he offered. A life that should've ended long ago—shard of an evil dragon.
Yet she got a new name, new life. Not half bad. With exaggeration, even fun.
So she'd fight worth the playtime given.
Mirror Yuna tilted her head.
"Gained? Just sexual harassment."
Aisha bared teeth in a giggling grin.
"Father-daughter playtime, that's what."
"...Fill the moon with lament and grief, let the night sky weep for me.
『Blood Moon's End: Descent』.
⟨ Blood Moon's End: Descent ⟩
"
Shoooo...
Red light rippled like waves. The area silent, mana boiled like a tsunami. An unavoidable fatal blow incoming. Aisha sensed death. And then.
Squirm.
The crazy mage's severed tentacle in her bosom twitched. Color returned to Aisha's face.
"Your timing's perfectly shitty...!!"
So what? Coming out here? Buy more time? Need some tool?
Squirm squirm.
"Throw it? Throw...? If it takes a Subtract here, Daddy dies flat—fuck it, not my problem!"
Thud.
Left leg slammed deep into the ground.
From limbs' ends through waist, shoulder, elbow, fingertips—tracing a massive curve, dragon scales exploding from the back of her hand—throw!
Whiiish—!
The Mima shard arced across the night sky, soaring high. And.
Splaaash—!!
A colossal hand erupted explosively from that point.
"......Huh."
Mirror Yuna blankly stared up at the sudden shadow. The Great Monster's right arm—erased by "Subtract"—had manifested midair.
Sensing the future, she curled up, clamped her hat down with both hands, and squeezed her eyes shut.
The Great Monster's arm backhanded Mirror Yuna flat.
Smaaaack—!!
"Guh."
Thud, rruuuumble—! KaboOOOM—!!
Mirror Yuna crash-landed, plowing forest and earth with a final yelp.
A voice echoed through the night sky.
-Aisha, my daughter, kept you waiting?
"Good girl, our daughter. This stepmom'll stick a gold star on ya."
Thud—!
Descending from the sky: a bizarre monster clad head to toe in armor, the "Armored Great Monster"... and its pilot, Yuri Lancaster.
"...You're late! Move faster next time!"
Aisha squelched her rising smirk into a whine.