Chapter 50
Chapter 50 - A Bland Yet Heavy Victory, And...
A spine-chilling voice scratches at my back.
It's characteristic of an undead, but the pronunciation is so precise it creates a sense of dissonance.
"Huh. Even Eldritch is slow to notice. And it's his own weakness."
The Demon King mutters beside me. Only then did I realize who the voice belonged to.
He's no gentleman, that bastard. Somehow knowing we were talking about him, he seems to have shown up himself.
―Why... Why is my bead suddenly...!
"Oh yeah. Are you Eldritch? How are your parents?"
I spoke to the red jewel as if making a phone call. The voice from the other side disappeared for a moment.
Was my comment too innovative?
Or maybe as an undead, he doesn't understand dad jokes.
―You! What are you! I sense the energy of a noble one... Black Sun... Are you there! My Sun! Please answer my call!!
Shortly after, the voice began to radiate so intensely that the red jewel shook. Both the Demon King and I briefly covered our ears at the thunderous roar.
With a deeply furrowed brow, I gestured to the Demon King with the jewel.
"I'm going to break this. Any objections?"
"None. Break it quickly. It's deafeningly loud."
"Good."
After saying I betrayed her before, her decision to cut ties is sharp as a knife.
Watching the Demon King wave her hand dismissively with an annoyed expression, I felt an inexplicable chill.
Anyway, I got the owner's(?) permission. Now all that's left is to actually break it.
"Heeyah."
I pushed away my distracting thoughts and threw Vessel to the floor. Then I stepped on it lightly.
Crack. It doesn't break. It's tougher than I thought.
―Kuaaah! Y-you... You bastard! I won't forgive you... I'll lead my entire army right now and chew on your bones...!
"Heeyah!"
I stepped on it harder.
Crack! Still won't break.
―Kuaaaak!! Th-this hurts to the bone!
The jewel and voice's radiation intensified.
That's a good sign. I increased the pressure further.
"Heeyaaah!"
This time I drew my sword. I struck down with all my might.
Kiing! A metallic sound rang out long.
―Kuaaak! Stop! Stooop!! You can't do this!!
But it still wouldn't break.
By this point I was angry enough to just unleash a skill.
"You son of a! Seven Sword Pierce!"
The 'Fierce Surprise' skill triggered as the initial attack landed.
My sword strike and seven magic swords all rushed in simultaneously and were absorbed into Eldrich's Vessel.
―Kuaaaak!
Crash!
After a brief ear-piercing scream, the Vessel finally emitted a dazzling red light and shattered.
Seems it had a structure where physical attacks wouldn't work and magic had to be used to break it. I quietly pondered this while looking at the floor that had somehow been reduced to pieces.
... I'll have to secretly repair the floor later. I don't want to get scolded by Leila.
With that thought, I immediately got up and dusted myself off.
"Well then. Let's depart right away."
Eldritch's words about bringing his entire army were definitely not empty threats.
Eldritch, who had one of his Vessels forcibly broken by a mysterious stranger he'd never met.
From his perspective, beyond anger, he'd want to capture me immediately just to find out my identity.
There's no time. Everything needs to be resolved quickly.
Until I break Eldricth's last hidden Vessel, my fight isn't over.
No. In some ways... you could say it's only just beginning.
"Let's go quickly and break the rest. Follow me, Lucy."
"Huh?"
I strode out of the room with a confused Lucy in tow.
* * *
I walked with long strides and went straight to find Seolbaek.
Bang. When I opened the door and entered, Seolbaek looked up at my face from under her blanket.
After making eye contact for a while, she suddenly turned her head away.
"... What is it. Why don't you go continue having fun with that woman over there."
"Sigh. Seolbaek. Let's talk for a moment first."
"What's there to talk about... Hmph."
Though she seemed quite angry about something since earlier, when I sincerely apologized, she soon blushed and forgave me.
I don't know why she was angry, but anyway, she's a good kid so that's fortunate.
"Sorry, but Seolbaek. Do you perhaps have a dagger or small knife?"
"What? A knife... W-well, I do have a self-defense dagger..."
"Could I borrow that for a moment?"
"Yes... sure...."
I immediately borrowed a dagger from the reconciled Seolbaek.
Though she seemed curious about its purpose, she lent me her self-defense dagger willingly without prying.
Good. With this the preparations are complete.
I thanked Seolbaek and strode towards the audience chamber.
"What is it, Hero? Do you already know where the remaining Vessel is?"
As soon as I left Seolbaek's room, the Demon King followed closely behind and asked.
I nodded.
"He said he hid it in what his archenemy holds most dear."
"Yes. That's definitely what he said."
"Then it's obvious."
"Is it obvious?"
"It is."
"Where is it?"
"The Margravine."
"...Ah."
The Demon King let out a gasp of realization. I nodded slowly while organizing my thoughts.
"Eldritch's archenemy is Margrave Halcenberg. And what the Margrave holds most dear is the Margravine. Isabella von Halcenberg. The remaining Vessel must be inside her corpse."
Eldrich probably implanted the Vessel when he agreed to deal with the previous Hero Alliance.
From seeing the Margrave's determination to recover the Margravine even at the cost of civil war, Eldrich must have sensed it.
This is it.
This is the safest place.
A place that Border Duke , the strongest opponent, guards with all his might and never harms. The optimal place to hide the Lifeforce Vessel.
To hide one's weakness in the opponent's weakness.
It's truly ingenious. And therefore, isn't it a wicked idea.
'And. If my prediction is correct....'
I too will likely find it difficult to avoid fighting the Border Duke .
Why? Because I'm now going to damage the corpse of the Margravine whom Border Duke holds dear.
Ironically, the final boss to kill the Eldritch might end up being Border Duke .
'From Border Duke's perspective... I'm just a lunatic.'
And a completely insane, mad super-lunatic at that.
Let's say I go in the middle of the night and say 'There's an Eldritch vessel in your wife's corpse. I'm going to have to tear apart the corpse to destroy it, okay?'
Naturally, Border Duke would want evidence. At the very least, he'd demand reasonable grounds for thinking so.
Then what answers can I give?
'One. Tell a lie.'
This is an error.
It's entirely my capability issue, but I can't think of an appropriate lie.
What kind of lie would justify rummaging through Border Duke's wife's peaceful corpse? I just can't think of anything with my brain.
If I had known this would happen, I should have invested in intelligence. Damn.
'Two. Tell the truth.'
This is also an error.
To tell the truth, I would inevitably have to reveal my time-space regression and Demon King Lucy. While Border Duke might be able to kill the Eldritch, I would likely die by his hand.
I'll pass.
'Three. Just vaguely say it's a hunch.'
This isn't even worth considering.
It's not like asking if you know the Way, a hunch is fucking useless. If it were me, I'd slap someone the moment such nonsense came out.
'Finally four. Just forcefully push through.'
So in reality, there's only one way.
To negotiate with Border Duke and forcibly destroy the vessel.
Although there's no way to prove the truth now, when the vessel is destroyed, all undead under the Eldritch will vanish, and sadly, the same will happen to the Margravine.
Then Border Duke will have no choice but to believe my words were true.
"If dialogue doesn't work... even if I have to use violence."
I muttered grimly while clenching my fist.
The Demon King, who had been walking quietly beside me, suddenly interjected.
"It seems you're anticipating trouble with this Border Duke fellow. Hero, you can't even remove his toenail dirt."
"......"
"I've seen enough so far."
"Stop using facts."
This bastard's sitting there dropping truth bombs while I'm trying to look cool.
I cleared my throat and stared intently at the Demon King.
"...?"
The Demon King, perhaps sensing something unsettling in my suddenly penetrating gaze, quickly moved away from me.
"W-what's with that look?"
"That's why I need you at this point. The immortal Demon King."
"What?"
I explained the plan to the blinking Demon King. Then I firmly handed her the small dagger I had borrowed from Seolbaek.
As she listened to my plan, her expression twisted strangely before becoming puzzled.
"Will that work?"
"If it doesn't. We'll have to keep trying until it does."
When I spoke casually, the Demon King sneered as if disgusted.
"Indeed. That's an answer worthy of the immortal Demon King's guardian."
"Is that a compliment?"
"It is not."
"Want to go to the Room of Truth?"
"Eck...."
We walked down the corridor of the ruined Halcenberg Castle, exchanging banter-like conversation.
Where our footsteps led was the middle of the audience chamber filled with corpses.
There, as always, was Border Duke, holding the Margravine's hand and neutralizing the curse.
"... Look. The moon is particularly bright today."
Border Duke noticed me in the dim moonlight and smiled faintly. Then he slightly waved his hand to greet the night visitor.
I received Border Duke's greeting with a complicated expression.
"What brings you here, Sir Jeong-yong. And who is the lady beside you?"
"... Just, well, an ill-fated connection somehow."
"Haha. Is that so? Like Miss Seolbaek, you seem to be quite lucky with women."
"Thanks for saying so. But more importantly...."
After brushing it off, I quietly knelt on one knee before Border Duke.
And unilaterally announced.
"Lord Margrave May I borrow your wife for a moment?"
...... Don't misunderstand.
This isn't an ntr declaration. [TL/N: Netorare which is basically cheating]