Chapter 32

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 32

Chapter Title: Orbis Assault (1)

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"…."

Eh?

My senses flipped upside down.

Left became right, right became left, down became up, up became down.

I could sense sound with my eyes, and touch light with my hands.

All my senses were jumbled together.

The sky was the earth, and the earth was the sky.

Beneath the purple-dyed sky, there would be a single ray of light.

"This world's stage holds all, and the men and women upon it are mere actors in the end."

Tak!

"He who masters the past masters the future, and he who masters the present masters the past."

Tak!

"To be or not to be—that is the question of life."

Tak!

"Man wanders as long as he strives."

Tak!

"But not all who wander are lost…."

Hundreds of mechanical arms appeared, wrapping around my body.

At their center was a single lump of metal.

"Ah, why have you forsaken me! O Lord, I entrust my soul to your hands."

His back sprouted hundreds of arms, and his face shifted through a hundred expressions.

A true hundred-faced one.

At the same time, a single book materialized.

A book with faintly visible human faces on its cover.

"All truth resides within this."

Whoosh!!!!!

A massive blaze erupted, incinerating the Infinitude Holy Scripture.

Screeech-!

The archbishop began walking toward me.

Screeech-!

The archbishop's body split into hundreds.

All one, yet all different.

"□□□□□, O Lord."

Crackle-!

"What made you choose to become 'kindling'?"

A glowing gem emerged from the archbishop's bosom.

"Since you rejected the 'holy scripture,' this is the only way. Understand that."

One of the archbishop's arms thrust the gem into my body.

.

.

.

"…."

Whoosh!

Flames raged all around.

I felt nothing, but….

-It's hot!!!

Tirving was in agony.

My head spun.

Cthuga was mosaiced, but it didn't matter much.

Anyone could tell it was Cthuga.

Suddenly, a thought struck me.

I still couldn't remember getting Flame Sword the first time.

Memories fragmented into pieces.

That's why I'd panicked entering the [Prayer Space].

What if my memories vanished again this time?

I needed someone to remember for me.

Of course, it might not work.

And if something stronger than a top-tier demon like Tirving had shredded my memories….

Then I'd just have to forget.

I checked Flame Sword's level up.

From level 1 straight to 3.

The 'grace' ability granted upon joining the Light Priesthood.

Flames that gifted what one desperately desired.

In exchange for burning something important, of course.

The pink-haired lunatic's words suddenly came to mind.

She'd gained what she wanted but lost her senses in return.

"…."

Thoughts flooded in.

So what had I burned…?

Anger surged suddenly.

Flame Sword was a good skill, but if they were giving, why not something cheat like [Embers of the End] or [Pale Flame]?

I must have desperately wanted those too.

'Fucking hell.'

And the Sword Saint trait.

This was an excellent trait.

All sword-related skills strengthened, sword talent boosted.

No reason not to take it for a sword build.

And finally.

"…."

I had no idea what this meant.

What were these 'restrictions'?

A penalty?

"Hm."

Maybe think differently.

Nothing felt off right now.

-Argh!

Aside from Tirving screaming about the heat, I felt nothing.

Was this really a restriction?

Whoosh!

The flames intensified.

Now they licked right at my nose.

I knew instinctively.

"Hey, Tirving."

-What.

I told Tirving everything—my thoughts, what I'd gained, what just happened.

If he forgot or hid it like a typical demon bastard….

The former was unavoidable, but the latter meant parasite removal.

.

.

.

"?"

I opened my eyes to morning light.

Felt like I'd had one hell of a dream.

"…."

My whole body was drenched.

All sweat?

Reminded me of my first [Prayer Space] experience.

That time too….

It'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠finally come.

Mosaiced, but basically naming names.

The early boss, holder of a 1st Grade Relic.

I had to stop Sa Mu-yeong.

That's when Tirving spoke up.

-I've got something to say.

After mana appeared.

Grades emerged to classify it.

From 9th Grade to 1st.

But exceptions exist everywhere.

Beyond 1st Grade.

'Special Grade.'

People no longer quite human.

Their common trait? They'd all vanished somewhere.

'Heroes.'

The name for those protecting people from gates and monsters.

But why….

Did we have to become heroes?

"Hoo…."

Sa Mu-yeong exhaled deeply.

In his hand gleamed a relic.

"So that's the legendary 1st Grade Relic."

A figure in ornate robes approached slowly from behind Sa Mu-yeong.

Wearing a ridiculous jester mask, with bells jingling on the two-pronged hat.

"So that's the legendary 1st Grade Relic."

The jester gazed at Sa Mu-yeong and murmured lowly.

"…?"

Sa Mu-yeong turned to look at the jester who'd appeared behind him.

"It's a dramatic beat, so I say it twice for emphasis."

The jester shook his head, as if wondering what the problem was.

The JESTER, one of the members of the criminal organization The Knot.

The Knot consisted of individuals stronger than the group itself, bound together.

An elite few vibe.

'2nd or 3rd Grade, maybe.'

Sa Mu-yeong sized up the jester.

Relics and traits unknown, but raw combat power felt 2nd to 3rd Grade.

Still not enough.

"… I specifically wanted someone who could handle a 1st Grade Hero."

The jester flinched in surprise and shouted.

"You mean I'm not enough?!"

Then repeated it.

"You mean I'm not enough?!"

"…."

"Oh, that was me emphasizing my shock by saying it twice."

The jester chuckled and shook his head.

"No worries needed. Just stall for a few minutes, right?"

The higher the grade, the wider the gap.

Like stairs: easy at first, but they grow until you can't climb without wings.

A 1st ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Grade Hero barely reached a Special Grade Hero's toe.

Then footsteps echoed from the opposite side.

Thud, thud.

Jingle, jingle.

Footsteps accompanied by bell chimes with each step.

Sa Mu-yeong turned toward the sound.

There stood another identical jester.

And from the other side.

Thud, thud.

Jingle, jingle.

Then from above.

Jesters popped up from all directions.

Once gathered, the first jester bowed to Sa Mu-yeong.

"No need to worry."

Suddenly, the horde of jesters vanished with a pop!.

The remaining jester's power had multiplied several times over.

Like scattered pieces reassembled.

"I'm confident I grab 1st Grade Heroes' ankles better than anyone."

The jester murmured lowly.

"I'm confident I grab 1st Grade Heroes' ankles better than anyone."

"…."

"Emphasizing it twice because it's important."

The jester nodded.

"I cut it to twice so as not to annoy, but I can say it three times if you want."

Sa Mu-yeong sighed unwittingly.

He'd never planned to accept help from The Knot, but as a 3rd Grade Hero, handling Orbis alone—packed with 1st and 2nd Graders, even mages above 2nd—was impossible.

'If only I could fully wield this 1st Grade Relic….'

The Knot's goal was simple.

Help Sa Mu-yeong, steal valuables like the [2nd Grade Relic: Arus's Tear] managed by Orbis.

Normally near-impossible, but with insiders stirring trouble? Doable.

"Shall we head out?"

"Yeah."

"Shall we head out?"

"…."