Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Each One's Stage (2)
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It's been centuries since he shed his humanity.
Once human, but now transcended beyond, the ancient lich had harbored one question for hundreds of years.
'Why.'
He had seen those called superhumans.
He had witnessed beings who surpassed human limits, achieving feats no ordinary human could. Each time, Skeval felt doubt.
'Do they not choose the path of transcendence?'
The path beyond humanity.
'Apostasy, betrayal, defection, corruption.'
Means so easily shattering barriers and advancing forward. Ways to escape the limits of lifespan, discard frail flesh, and reach transcendence.
Countless humans.
Frail humans choose the path of corruption.
Yet why?
Those called superhumans. Humans who have surpassed humanity—they never choose the path of corruption of their own will.
'Why.'
Despite achieving more than mortals, despite being able to gain even greater power through corruption... they insist on remaining human.
'Why make such a choice?'
Even if defiled, broken, driven mad—they choose to live as humans and die merely as humans.
An inefficient choice.
A decision of utter folly.
Thus.
『...I cannot understand it.』
The ancient lich cannot comprehend them.
Skeval scans the spot where the madman vanished moments ago. In his final moment, the madman had swallowed the shadow and sealed himself away in another realm.
『A foolish choice.』
Skeval pierces the madman's plan.
Time flows differently in the other realm.
It accelerates, sometimes twisting and coiling repeatedly. Does he intend to wear down even a fragment of Him alongside himself in that flow?
'...A mere human?'
Enduring near-eternal ages in the other realm.
While harboring that fragment, in the throes of madness.
Did he believe it possible with a human body?
『Impossible.』
Skeval confirms his body slowly regenerating. Bones reconnect. Black mana weaves them back together, bit by bit, steadily.
Crunch, crrrunch.
He raises his newly reformed right hand.
'That fragment desires to exist in this world.'
No matter if a mere human holds it in the other realm, he cannot contain it forever. It will eventually break free. Even now, it shows signs of struggling to emerge.
Screeech.
A distortion appears in the empty air.
Skeval reaches toward it.
'That human lacks the vessel's perfection.'
He must find another vessel to contain it.
With his right hand, he pries open the twisting space. With his left, he infuses mana into the altar to recommence the ritual. Just as Skeval begins to draw up mana—
『......』
Skeval's fingers halt.
His gaze narrows.
『...Where is it?』
The offering placed atop the altar.
The vessel meant to hold the god—nowhere to be seen.
2.
Thick demonic energy churns in Aphria.
Kalt moves while relying on his purification device. Executing operations stealthily is familiar to him. There's no hesitation in doing what he knows well.
Gaps between buildings.
Shadows cast on the ground, between shadows.
Concealing his presence, suppressing his breath to the minimum, Kalt evades the ancient lich's gaze.
'Lucky.'
Kalt thinks so. Sincerely.
When he first entered Aphria, what Kalt saw was the madman confronting Skeval.
'The madman, Kellrhalhm.'
All of Skeval's attention was fixed on him.
Thanks to the madman drawing Skeval's gaze and scattering vast mana everywhere, Kalt infiltrated undetected.
'And that's not all.'
He saw more.
The madman swallowing an unknown shadow rising from thin air and entering a hole. Even Kalt, ignorant of magical domains, wasn't dull enough to miss its meaning.
'Kellrhalhm became the vessel.'
He sacrificed his own body.
A method Kalt had never heard of.
「One must be sacrificed.」
The countermeasure heard from the elf just before arriving.
「It cannot be stopped. Since it can't be stopped, a sacrifice is needed. There will be three vessels there.」
Three students.
Children blessed by the stars.
「Abandon one. There's no other way.」
Sacrifice one of them.
That's what the elf said, and Kalt had prepared to choose. Situations requiring sacrifice were encountered countless times on the battlefield.
A harsh choice.
Deciding someone's death with his own hands.
A horrific, unwelcome task—but sometimes necessary. This time would be the same. Kalt had steeled himself.
But now, no need.
The madman sacrificed himself.
Without choosing anyone else, he chose to become the offering himself. The elf said to abandon one, but the madman abandoned none.
'Giving one's life for others.'
A noble sacrifice.
Kalt revises his assessment of the madman inwardly.
'...A man worthy of respect.'
Respect, gratitude, resolve.
Kalt has no intention of wasting the madman's sacrifice.
「Sacrifice one of the vessels. Leave only one on the altar.」
Three conditions instructed by the elf earlier.
Kellrhalhm fulfilled one. So Kalt need only accomplish the rest.
「Secure the children related to the star's blessing.」
Stella—Aila.
Next hero, Chloe.
Watcher, Resti.
The identities of the three are already etched in his mind. Amid the chaos, Kalt succeeded in hiding the three children far from the altar.
'Two conditions fulfilled.'
What remains?
Hiding behind a building, Kalt steadies his breath. Amid the surging demonic energy, he barely breathes using the purification device.
The final condition.
Just as Kalt recalls it—
『A little rat has sneaked in.』
A voice echoes in his ear.
"...!"
Kalt reflexively launches himself away.
A bone stake shatters the building wall and embeds where he stood moments ago.
Bam-bam-bam-bam!
Distancing from the erupting bone stakes, Kalt looks up. There, floating in the sky, is a being. A robe made of human skin flutters in the darkness.
『Where is the offering?』
Gleaming black eyes.
Foul sludge dripping from the eye sockets.
Demonic energy churning everywhere.
'Ancient lich, Skeval.'
One of the Four Calamities.
An ancient scholar of magic who lived centuries, called the nightmare of the battlefield until the Ashen Mage appeared.
「The final condition... I'm not sure you can handle it.」
Facing that being, Kalt recalls the elf's final condition.
「Buy time against Skeval.」
Face the calamity.
「Until the time granted to him ends.」
Buy time against the calamity.
For seconds, minutes—unknown duration.
That was Kalt's mission.
"...Hoo."
Kalt exhales shortly and retreats.
He draws his sword from his waist. Not the dagger of the Hound's gear, but a well-honed longsword.
The weapon he used on the battlefield.
Gripping it, Kalt narrows his eyes.
The blade points at the ancient lich Skeval floating in the air. Kalt steels himself.
『Pathetic.』
Spells pour forth immediately.
Facing the flooding wave of spells, Kalt grips the hilt tightly.
3.
"Explain. Everything."
Blue eyes gleaming right before him.
Facing those eyes that show no sign of closing again, Cardi exhales shortly.
"Let go. How can I explain if you don't?"
Raniel releases her grip.
Stepping back a few paces, Cardi leans against the table with potions and opens his mouth.
"You came to surprisingly quickly."
"I want to rest, but it's not the time."
Cardi hands her a wet cloth.
Raniel takes it with trembling hands. Forcing her unstable breath steady, she begins wiping her body.
"...You're in no state to be up."
"I know my body best. I'm up because I can, moving because I can."
A lie.
Cardi sees Raniel's wrecked internals. Mana flow tangled, channels still under repair.
'Far from getting up...'
Even regaining consciousness must be agony.
But Cardi doesn't call out her lie. Instead, he asks.
"Painkiller?"
"No. Dulls the senses."
"And that's bad why?"
"You asking because you don't know?"
She points out the window.
"We have to go."
"......"
"So explain quickly."
Cardi sighs and speaks.
"Know the law of stars and shadows?"
"Where there's light, there's shadow?"
"Beyond that. You know my homeland? The name of the kingdom reduced to ashes?"
"No. Nowhere does it say."
"Then detailed explanation's impossible."
Her eyes say that again? Cardi rubs his brow.
"I'm frustrated too. I'd love to explain the altar and all. Stars and shadows. The curse of the king losing qualification turned into mere phenomenon...?"
Cardi's eyes widen.
Mana didn't ride his pronunciation. No tongue-binding restraint.
"Raniel."
"What."
"What did I just say?"
"The curse of the king losing qualification, mere phenomenon..."
"You hear that?"
"I'd not say it if I didn't."
Cardi touches his throat.
The usual myriad prohibitions now loosened.
"...Ha."
A sneer escapes Cardi's lips.
'Because of the situation, it's permitting this much.'
Otherwise...
"......"
Cardi glares silently at the girl before him.
'Has she already approached that far?'
Did she unconsciously grasp the law?
He couldn't tell which. It didn't matter now. Cardi gauges the loosened restraints.
"■■'s ■■. ■■■■. ■■."
After several tests, he speaks again.
"The Demon King lost the king's qualification. I explained that, right?"
Raniel nods.
Cardi continues.
"A perfect being, a god contained in a perfect vessel. We severed that vessel there. Thus, it became imperfect."
Not much he can explain.
Restraints bind his tongue repeatedly. Cardi continues within the star's allowance.
"As you said, it became a phenomenon. Demoted from perfect to imperfect. Just as when shadow was born in the beginning."
Thus.
"The shadow seeks new vessels. It begins parasitizing like a shadow where starlight gathers. Not ■■■ ■■, but fragments."
"...Fragments?"
"Yes, fragments. Seeking vessels to contain itself to become whole again. As in the past."
"Those vessels are..."
Raniel speaks.
"Children with talents related to the stars?"
Cardi nods.
"Stars and shadows are fundamentally similar. Thus, vessels holding stars can hold shadows."
"Then, that out there."
Raniel points to the black barrier outside.
"Is trying to put the shadow into those kids, causing all this mess?"
"Exactly."
"Can this phenomenon happen without any warning? By that logic, on the battlefield already..."
"Conditions exist. Can't say."
Cardi looks up at the sky.
The star's position hidden beyond the blue expanse.
Gauging it, he continues.
"At certain times, certain conditions, and some condition even I don't know... it can trigger this."
"Way to stop it?"
"None."
Cardi states firmly.
"Once the phenomenon starts and shadow appears there, no stopping it. Someone must sacrifice. Or all perish."
"......"
"Already conveyed that."
The hound not present.
Cardi explains to Raniel the conditions passed to him. Hearing it all, Raniel grips the bed edge and stands.
"With that body, where..."
"Gotta go."
"Too late now. Heard the Black Tower Lord finished briefing the royals. If going, better join the knights heading there soon..."
"Late? No way."
Staggering, yet Raniel plants her feet firmly. Breathing hard, she continues.
"You think Kalt can't handle it, right? That's what you're thinking now?"
"......"
Cardi is silent.
Silence means affirmation.
Truthfully, obvious. The hound Cardi saw isn't a superhuman. Not star-blessed. Merely mortal, insufficient against calamity in Cardi's eyes.
'A near-suicidal condition.'
Even explained understandably, the hound charged the barrier. By now, it's over.
"Doubt it."
But Raniel denies the guess.
"You wouldn't know."
Raniel twists her lips in a grin.
"That guy Kalt once held out against Ganikalt."
* * *
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Spells flood. Waves crash.
Facing the waves, Kalt swings his sword. Kicks off the ground, leaping repeatedly. Slashes what he can. Ignores what he can't.
Splat!
Blood sprays from his grazed forearm, calf. Many minor wounds, none fatal. Kalt chooses ceaselessly.
What to gain, what to discard.
Weighing and calculating repeatedly.
Kalt isn't a superhuman. Far from star-chosen. As mere human, to achieve anything, he must abandon something.
'Familiar task.'
On the battlefield, Kalt stood by Raniel.
Beside the hero, supporting their fights.
Where superhumans and calamities clash full force. Stages beyond humans. On such stages, Kalt struggled to achieve something.
'Before me is calamity.'
Kalt eyes his opponent.
The ancient lich whose body was wrecked fighting the madman—still calamity unchanged. Weakened, yet overwhelming for him.
Facing calamity with human body.
Impossible task.
What is needed to achieve it?
Kalt slashes spells while rolling on the ground. Ugly rolls to evade spells. He's no sword superhuman making all with one blade. He acknowledges his lacks.
'Deficiencies, shortfalls.'
Aware, thus craves means to compensate.
Kalt pulls a magic tool from his bosom and hurls it. Disposable tools cause large and small explosions. They block spells, buying Kalt time.
'Thus.'
In hand, a vial sloshing red liquid.
'Use everything available.'
Potion strengthening superhuman flesh.
Doping agent designed for superhumans only.
Still in development, yet Kalt wields it. Needle at vial's end toward his nape.
Poke!
Kalt injects it into his nape without hesitation. Doping agent flows through veins.
Thump, thump!
Heart pounds fiercely. Eyes bloodshot red, body feels no pain. Exhaled breath carries heat.
"Hoo..."
Kalt raises his head while exhaling.
『Utterly pathetic.』
Petty tricks in calamity's eyes.
Yet human's desperate resistance staking life.
'Buy time.'
Not seeking victory.
A soldier doesn't forget his purpose.
* * *
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"He's holding out. Definitely."
Not trust in a comrade in those eyes.
Close to certainty.
"...So, you're going there?"
"Have to."
"With that body?"
Raniel answers.
"Because I have to go."
As if obvious, she replies thus.
"Because I must."
Firm voice.
Cardi senses no room for persuasion.
Clack.
First step staggers.
But from the second, no wobble. Enduring pain, she casts reinforcement spells on her broken body.
"...Raniel."
Cardi advises her.
"Warning you now: you'll die the moment you take the shadow. If you're thinking of using yourself as vessel..."
"Not going to suicide, so don't worry."
Tic, tick.
Sparks fly over her body. Backlash from reinforcement on wrecked flesh. Yet she endures. Endures and layers more spells.
"Not planning to use anyone as vessel either. They're all kids I've marked, why give them up?"
"Then what will you..."
"Hey, Cardi."
She turns to Cardi.
"You said it's imperfect."
"...Yes."
"Imperfect, and what's there is a fragment, you said that."
"I did."
"Good enough."
Raniel spreads her palm wide.
Etched there: tangled mess of lines. Bizarre diagram no circuit. Showing it, Raniel smiles.
"Centuries ago, the great sage subdued even the perfect Demon King."
Ashen mana rises over the chaotic diagram.
Pointing, she grins playfully.
"Gotta subdue an imperfect Demon King fragment to live up to the sage's name, right?"
Lowly mana bearing ominous nature.
Cardi's eyes waver seeing it.
"You...?"
"Four years since I lost to the Demon King, Cardi."
She neatly ties her disheveled hair. Instead of bloodied cape, dons a Tower Lord's coat from the wall.
"A mage always finds the answer."
She advances.
"This is my answer."
As always.