Chapter 113
Chapter 113
Chapter 113
EP27 - Star Gazing Mountain Redevelopment (3)
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Lord Cheongru. Send the Kashan Knights to Professor Dante soon. You haven't met Kashan before, have you? I've already spoken to him, so have him sort out Star Gazing Mountain.
After replying, 'Yes,' Cheongru hung up the phone.
From inside the warehouse, the man opposite him spoke.
"Are you really going to start now?"
The man's identity was the master of the Kashan Knights.
He was 'Kashan,' the chief knight of the Royal Special Duty Department.
A dirty knight who did the royal family's dirty work.
"Yes. Let's start. This is our only chance."
"...Lord Cheongru. I'm just someone who does as he's told, but is it really okay?"
"Damn it. There's no other way. Think about it. What other way is there to safely eliminate Princess Rebecca at this point? Soul collection? There's no basis for that. Killing people is excused for royalty. But this is different."
"...Is it because of Dante Hiacapo?"
"Yes."
His title was merely senior professor.
A warrior with no rank or rating.
But,
"...He has immense, intangible value beyond that. The Black Path and White Path of the Academy, the royal family, the Hidden Dragon Society... if that guy disappears, there will be chaos."
"I've only heard rumors, but he must be truly outstanding."
"He is. Tsk!"
Cheongru clicked his tongue.
He hated to admit it, but it was the truth.
"What's more, that guy. He seemed to know something, strangely."
"Know what?"
"That I was trying to get rid of Rebecca."
"...How would he know that?"
"How would I know?"
"......"
Cheongru remembered.
Dante Hiacapo's enigmatic smile.
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Lord Cheongru, you care a great deal for the Princess, don't you.
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What do you mean by that? Of course, I must protect her with my life. That is the duty of a Guardian Knight.
-
...Reliable.
The head tilted at an angle, the pink eyes looking down. Cheongru did not dismiss the voice that flowed from the end of that gaze.
"Hmm."
At this moment, Kashan was thinking.
Lord Cheongru's actions were not driven by personal feelings. It was a conclusion reached after clear calculation.
'Kill Dante and frame Rebecca.'
Rebecca had sent Kashan to push out the Witch of the Graveyard, and this had been approved by the royal family.
However, what 'specific order' Rebecca gave to Kashan was not disclosed externally. This was why all matters related to the redevelopment of Star Gazing Mountain were to be kept secret.
'It's probably something to ruin the Academy. To close the door of imperial openness, there's no other way.'
Cheongru intended to exploit that point.
The old man said,
"Everyone who needs to know knows that the relationship between Professor Dante and the Princess is ambiguous."
It was because the Hidden Dragon Society, like a single sword, had two masters.
"Yes. Well, I understand."
Grandmaster Kashan stood up.
"But are you alright?"
"With what?"
"The Princess, whom you've been with since childhood. She may be awkward with words, but doesn't the Princess see you as a grandfather?"
"......"
Cheongru looked out the window with his wrinkled face.
Towards the Princess's car, which had already disappeared far from sight.
"It's hard."
"Ah, I see. I shouldn't have said that..."
"Humoring a childish brat, putting up with their ridiculous behavior for ten years, is truly difficult."
"......"
Kashan lowered his head.
Well, he wasn't particularly interested in the relationship between an old man and a child.
"Understood. I will handle it without issue."
As he stepped outside, he thought.
Dante Hiacapo.
A person whose name he, a knight unrelated to the Academy, had heard a couple of times.
'He seems like a promising professor...'
He felt a pang of guilt.
"Everyone, let's go."
"Yes."
It was a bit undignified for seven royal knights to be dispatched to kill a single assassin, but it couldn't be helped. Illusion Magic Assassins were difficult to kill.
Still, Kashan had no doubts. Because of the other nickname for the Kashan Knights.
The Assassin Extermination Unit.
I headed towards Star Gazing Mountain with Ran. On the way, we stopped by a peculiar mountain lodge.
"I was a boy who loved stargazing."
"When was that?"
"About 70 years ago, damn it!"
Some old geezer had desperately begged us to get rid of the Witch of the Graveyard.
"I'll tell you her weakness."
"Weakness?"
He then rattled off information about the Witch of the Graveyard. That she was strong, only appeared at night, had poor hearing, and extremely detested death, among other things.
"Thank you for the information. Stay healthy."
"If you're going to do it, get rid of that witch quickly! Otherwise, I'll attempt the final blow of my 88-year-old Allmount life!"
Then Ran, pausing at the exit, tilted his head and asked.
"How strong is that final blow?"
...Why would you ask that?
"If you're curious, I'll tell you! Do you know what I prepared to get rid of that witch!?"
At that, the old man's veins bulged, and we quickly dragged Ran outside.
As we climbed the mountain again, Ran said.
"She's unique. Hearing impairment. Pacifism."
"Indeed."
At first glance, these pieces of information seemed to have no overlap. Even by my standards as a veteran player. This meant the Witch of the Graveyard was likely a character newly added in the [DLC].
"You said she only appears at night, but it's still too early."
"If she's not here, we can come back at night."
And so, we ascended the mountain.
We found something sitting on a tomb larger than the others.
Contrary to what the mountain guide had said.
Even in broad daylight.
"...There she is."
Her form was clad in something like a hooded dress that seemed to be made of foliage.
Could that be the 'Witch of the Graveyard'...
"......"
Her name was Eve.
● Eve 『Curse of Oblivion』
It was an unfamiliar name.
This meant she was a character included in the new [DLC].
Next to her name, 'Curse' was written.
『Curse of Oblivion』... This was a curse that made one forgotten by the world and people's memories. It was an extremely high-level [Curse] that only High-ranking Demons could cast.
'Is that why the information was vaguely written?'
At this moment, we were hiding behind a tree.
Despite the rustling sounds we made,
The target did not notice us.
"What should we do? We came to scout, and we've found her."
"We should try to talk first. Since she's humanoid."
I had come to drive away the witch for the redevelopment of Star Gazing Mountain.
I would be grateful if she left willingly, but... well.
Still, since the witch doesn't kill, it's worth approaching her.
"If necessary, I will block her."
"There's no need for that, but..."
"I have two lives, after all."
"...Just don't take off that headband-like thing on your head."
After instructing Ran, I took a step forward.
Slowly.
I approached the witch.
However, this was merely an approach towards an unfamiliar target.
There were no other expectations. No other desires.
Then, I suddenly had a feeling.
For some reason...
This situation felt somewhat familiar...?
But how many déjà vu moments do we experience in life? There was no reason to assign any special meaning to it.
"Hey, Witch of the Graveyard."
I called out on the way, but there was no response.
Ran leaned in and whispered.
"She can't hear."
"...We have to check, don't we?"
"Witch! ...She can't hear."
"......"
Despite the critical situation, Ran's actions were strangely anticlimactic. I held up my index finger to tell him to shut up, but
That's when the anomaly occurred.
"......?"
The witch's head turned, and
Her blue eyes met mine.
Beneath the leafy hood was an unexpectedly young face.
At a moderate distance, I could see her bright blue eyes, her pupils moving.
"......??"
There were two people, but the witch looked only at me. Then, she froze in the posture she was in, sitting on the tomb. Since the target had recognized me, I also froze.
Something about her reaction was strange.
Why is she doing that?
"She's stopped."
"...Indeed."
I observed her a little longer. For someone called a witch, her expression was not witch-like at all. She looked like a startled squirrel. Her bent fingers, as she was turning towards me, indicated this.
The witch, who had been looking at me, tilted her head, and
Then, she slowly stood up.
"She's standing."
"...You don't need to narrate."
The witch, who had risen from the tomb, slowly walked down.
And then, very, very, very carefully, she began to approach me.
For now, I drew my sword from my [Inventory]. The national treasure.
"Are you going to fight?"
"Who knows."
About thirty paces away.
Perhaps it was because I had fought subordinates yesterday, my tension had risen slightly.
But even though I saw my weapon, the witch did not stop and continued to approach me slowly.
As she got closer, her expression became clearer. Many things were strange. Her drooping eyelids looked unusually kind for a witch, and her approach was exceedingly cautious.
"I will block her approach."
"......"
When they were about twenty paces apart, Ran stepped between me and the witch.
This meant the distance between the witch and Ran had become closer. For the first time, the witch's eyes met Ran's, and her brow furrowed slightly.
"Her expression has changed."
"...She seems to dislike him?"
"Yes."
I thought that the 'enemy' who attacked Ran and took one of his lives might be this witch.
"For now, you step back."
"Understood."
As Ran subtly retreated, the witch's complexion brightened again.
At this point, I felt a strange sensation, both now and before. The witch was looking only at me. As if she knew me, or even more, as if she were very close to me.
To use an analogy, it felt like an elephant whose eyes met mine, wanting to approach me by swaying its hips.
'...Why an elephant?'
As an incomprehensible analogy flashed through my mind, my heart felt strange for a moment, and the elephant-like witch suddenly smiled.
"......"
Her lips curved slightly. Her eyes, one side slightly more squinted, held a hint of sadness for some reason.
The witch smiled at me.
"......"
The witch took another step. Her hand was now slowly rising. As if she wanted to hug me or something.
And then, when we were finally about ten paces apart, the Stigmata status window suddenly appeared.
(ㅇω│Unknown Status Window│ㅂㅇ)♥
This was a Peeping Star spirit. In fact, there were two spirits, not one.
Why did these bastards show up here...?
For now, I pretended not to know. Peeping Stars run away the moment they realize they've been seen.
It was then. The witch, who had stopped ten paces away and hesitated, was suddenly pushed forward. I presumed the Peeping Star had nudged her slightly. To get closer to me. Peeping Stars are creatures that instigate interaction.
"......"
But perhaps because she was pushed so abruptly, the witch stumbled and took about three steps forward. Her hood then fell back.
Revealed was hair the color of the sky.
And...
'Oh.'
...She's a Demon.
"Ran. Get back."
Ran quickly retreated, and I reflexively drew the 「Colossus Soldier's Sword」. Then, I immediately recited the Activation Chant.
Vwooooom-
My mana, further strengthened since the Balmung and Nibelung Family incident, erupted into the surroundings.
The mana that spread in all directions began to press down on the ground, as if an invisible divine soldier was rising.
Ku gu gu gung...
The entire space of Star Gazing Mountain vibrated. The witch, who had seven steps left, began to step backward. The smile vanished from her eyes, which widened in surprise.
"......?"
But now, I took a step forward. There was no reason to stop. Because Demons must be killed.
As I approached, the Demon seemed unsure what to do and began to step backward. That was truly strange. She approached me herself, and now she's avoiding me?
"So that's your strategy."
"......?"
"You've survived and come this far by acting that way."
Anyone can pretend to be innocent. Demons too. The Hornless Demon who died by my hand yesterday was like that. The expression of the one who tried to fire an anti-tank rocket into the children's dormitory was gentle.
I feel grateful to the Peeping Star.
If I hadn't known she was a Demon, that monster would have approached me and drawn her sword, and I would have been deceived by her innocent expression and cautious movements and met my end.
"Witch of the Graveyard, you say. A fitting name indeed..."
But something was strange. Why were there two horns? If she's a 'Two-Horned Demon,' she should only appear in the mid-to-late stages of the main story.
If that's a real Two-Horned Demon, then avoiding her is meaningless. Unless I'm Constellation Class, I can't even contend with her.
"Ran!"
"Yes!"
"Is this Demon a real Two-Horned Demon?"
"Yes! But she's an individual with abnormal approach! She probably can't even exert 10% of her maximum output!"
Ran had previously said that 'those who had to die in order were alive here.' It seemed she was in a bugged state.
"......??"
Even now, she's pretending to be innocent, pretending to be surprised, trying to seize an opportunity, but it's laughable.
I must kill her now.
Before this Demon breaks free from the bug and destroys Hiaka.