Chapter 277: Signal (5)
Chapter 277: Signal (5)
Translation: Godtl
The power of 'Sloth' was formidable.
Belphegor had instantly seen through the fact that Frondier wasn't the real one. Naturally, the power of Sloth he unleashed also seeped directly into Frondier.
Until now, most mental attacks had glanced off him, but this time was different. A considerable amount of Sloth was weighing down on Frondier's body.
However.
'......Not yet.'
Even as Sloth eroded his body, Frondier waited for a specific moment.
If Belphegor's Sloth had been an entirely new sensation, he wouldn't have been able to endure it.
But Frondier remembered the laziness that had seeped into his body when he was possessed. Belphegor's curse clearly still affected the current Frondier.
Yet, unlike the original Frondier who might have succumbed to laziness, he knew all too well how this world would end.
That's why he had sought every possible means to grow stronger, endured beatings while struggling, returned from death's doorstep, and willingly walked into peril.
'After all those experiences, after writhing so desperately to change the future of ruin—'
To collapse under Sloth now would be unthinkable. Frondier understood the price of Sloth far too well.
Frondier coolly analyzed the situation.
After Belphegor wielded the power of the Deadly Sin, he hadn't launched any further attacks against him—despite having more than enough leeway to do so.
He couldn't pinpoint the exact reason, but it worked in Frondier's favor. Perhaps it was due to some inherent limitation or condition unique to the Seven Deadly Sins demons. Belphegor seemed intent on defeating Frondier using only the power of Sloth.
'He probably sees my weapon creation as nothing more than a desperate struggle. He has no intention of making the first move himself.'
This much was now clear.
Belphegor was simply waiting for time to pass. The descent of the gods and the destruction of the Barrier—those alone would guarantee Manggot's victory.
So it would never occur to him.
That Frondier, too, was dragging things out.
Right now, the best way to shake off this Sloth would be to fight Belphegor with all his might.
No matter how effective or ineffective it might be, continued erosion would do him no good.
But Belphegor assumed Frondier was putting up a feeble resistance, robbed even of the strength to do more.
While facing Frondier's 'Imperial Armory,' he failed to grasp just how much willpower it took for Frondier to fight with it fully unleashed.
'They said they forbade "Fabrication" through a pact among the gods, but Belphegor himself doesn't even understand what this skill really is.'
Perhaps the gods were the same?
Had they banned Fabrication simply because it could replicate their own weapons?
Did Thanatos try to kill Frondier out of sheer spite?
Sss—
Huu...
Frondier didn't know how long this standoff would last. There were many variables. Belphegor might simply change his mind, or see through Frondier's act, or some external factor unrelated to either of them might intervene.
Whenever that moment came, Frondier would keep fighting until then.
'Belphegor, you said you'd humor me.'
Thank you, Sloth.
I thought it'd be much harder to get you to say that.
Just as you're waiting for something, so am I.
Let's play until then.
While the battle at the Barrier raged on—
May moved clockwise around the Barrier, using 'Restoration,' and before she knew it, she had reached the northern side.
This was the midpoint between Yeranhes and Tyburn—in one sense, the safest place, and in another, the site of the most ferocious bloodshed.
Safe because it was the intersection of two regions where the monsters from the Outside had been thoroughly repelled, and bloody because hordes of equally formidable monsters poured in like a tidal wave.
Only after arriving at this section of the Barrier did May fumble through her pockets and unfold a map.
"......So, east, west, south, north. This is the north. Yeah, that's right."
Using the directions she'd learned not long ago, she carefully checked each one, confirming once again how far she'd come.
"I must have come the right way following Frondier's directions. I probably didn't make a mistake."
The operation he had explained rose in May's mind.
—Clockwise?
—Yeah, ah, I should explain the clock first. Directions too. Anyway, you should start from the eastern Barrier and go like this.
At the time, Frondier had pointed to the eastern Barrier on the map and traced a full circle with his finger. Only later did she realize that meant 'clockwise.'
—You just need to reach the northern side.
—Northern? Not eastern?
If she started from the east and made a full circle, shouldn't she end up back at the east?
At that, Frondier had gaped in surprise before soon patting May's head.
'You're so clever, May.' As he said that, the way he ruffled her hair somehow reminded her of Elodie.
—But this time, it's the north. Once you reach the north, don't use Restoration right away. Wait for a while.
That was what Frondier had said.
Back then, May had simply accepted it without question since she didn't know the Empire's situation, but thinking back, it was strange.
Why had Frondier sent May to the east first? Even if Tyburn, where Frondier had already completed Restoration, was understandable, Yeranhes was the place that needed repairs most urgently.
Though Angper's title of 'Iron Wall' was unshakable, the Barrier at Yeranhes wasn't as impenetrable.
Because Yeranhes faced even fiercer monster waves than Tyburn. The damage had already piled up, worsened further by the 'Black Monsters' that invaded last winter.
Yet starting from the east and moving clockwise meant the northern Barrier would be the very last to be restored. An incomprehensible method—leaving the most critical section for last.
And now, being told to wait here for a while naturally made May tilt her head in confusion.
—And one thing you must absolutely remember.
Still unable to grasp Frondier's meaning, May could only tilt her head further.
—Move in my form.
Standing in the guise of 'Frondier de Roah,' she racked her brain to understand his words.
......And that sight.
"Found him."
The Shepherd of Manggot, 'Adela,' confirmed it.
Dispatched under Belphegor's orders to observe the Barrier's restoration process, Adela had finally spotted Frondier standing atop the Barrier.
'How precise his movements are.'
After confirming the clockwise restoration of the Barrier, she had rushed straight to the north, calculating the time of his arrival.
Whether it was as expected or too straightforward to be expected, Adela had found Frondier.
'Frondier really is here.'
Belphegor's command was to verify whether Frondier was truly restoring the Barrier.
If she returned and reported now, her mission would be complete.
Unlike Mariah or Frondier, Adela lacked the ability to perceive the entire battlefield. She didn't know Frondier was already fighting Belphegor.
But regardless, even if Adela turned back now, there was no reason to provoke Belphegor's displeasure—he would still grant her the promised reward.
No one could have predicted Frondier would charge into Manggot alone.
So if she turned back immediately and returned to Manggot, all would be well.
'......That Barrier.'
Adela's gaze shifted to the Barrier where monsters were pouring through.
This Barrier hadn't been restored yet. Considering restoration began from the east, the northern Barrier had been accumulating damage all this time—now the Empire's greatest weakness.
It had held out so far, but if this continued, it would be the first to collapse.
But if May used Restoration now, this Barrier would be repaired, boosting the Empire's morale and drastically lowering the monsters'. Monsters weren't fools. Especially those from the Outside.
"That won't do."
The Barrier hadn't been restored yet. She couldn't know the exact reason, but Frondier must have just arrived. So he would begin Restoration soon.
Adela drew two daggers from her waist. She held the heavily curved blades in a reverse grip, slipping the rings at the ends of the handles onto her fingers.
Among the Shepherds of Manggot, she was the closest to an assassin. Unlike the other Shepherds who led troops, her specialties were stealth, poison, and close combat—solitary operations were her forte.
From what she'd heard from Hagley, Frondier was fairly strong, but in the end, he was just a student from Constelle. He wasn't Aster or Elodie.
Moreover, most rumors were baseless exaggerations and distortions. At best, he was just a guy with a unique skill called 'Restoration.'
'Your time to shine ends here!'
Adela concealed herself perfectly as she approached the Barrier, then performed an astonishing feat—using her Aura, she stepped onto the Barrier's surface and walked vertically up it.
Of course, she could have crossed the Barrier using leaping or flight techniques, but that would have naturally alerted the soldiers atop it.
Using her familiar method—flawless stealth—she vaulted over the Barrier.
"Who are you?"
Faced with the innocent expression of Mei, who wore Frondier's appearance, Adela froze for an instant.
"Wh-what...?!"
Unfortunately for her,
Mei also possessed the Sixth Sense.
Swoosh!
Though momentarily flustered, Adela swung both daggers, aiming for Mei's throat. Getting caught was surprising, but it didn't matter—she was going to kill her either way.
Mei dodged Adela's attack and observed her briefly.
Despite being born not long ago, Mei's memory and learning ability were excessively sharp. To her, 'someone she'd never seen before' was an extremely clear signal.
"......Ah."
After a moment of focusing on evasion, Mei soon opened her mouth as if she'd realized something.
"So this is why Frondier asked me to stay in his form?"
"Wh-what?"
Adela's mind went blank for a second at Mei's words.
'Frondier asked,' 'stay in his form?'
It was a single sentence, yet not a single word made sense—something she'd never experienced in her entire life.
The person in front of her was Frondier, yet she was talking about Frondier. Meaning, this person wasn't Frondier?
And 'stay in his form'—so was she transformed into Frondier?
"Well then."
With light footwork, Mei put distance between herself and Adela.
By now, Mei had observed Frondier and Elodie extensively. Though she lacked absolute mana reserves and physical prowess, she was in no way lacking in 'technique.'
"Let's see."
As Mei took a stance, as if preparing to attempt something, Adela tensed—
But Mei remained frozen in that stance for several seconds.
"......What the hell are you—"
Adela, thinking she'd been tricked, flared up and prepared to attack again—
But then—
"......Eh?"
Adela witnessed a sight that would haunt her nightmares every night for the rest of her life.
Fwoosh—
The Frondier before her suddenly blurred, wriggling unnaturally—
And in an instant, stood before her in her exact likeness.
"Hmm, I'm not used to weapons like these."
Then, she picked up identical weapons—the same ones Adela was holding—and spun them effortlessly in the air.
......This was strange. Her weapons were custom-made. There couldn't possibly be another identical pair.
And those aerial tricks—she was performing them in the exact same sequence, with the exact same habits.
......Eh......?
"Ah."
After blinking a few times, Mei—
"Oh, I see. Now I understand everything. As expected of Frondier. That's something I can't replicate."
The fog in her mind, still trying to grasp the meaning of Frondier's words, cleared, and her expression brightened.
Mei looked at Adela, who stood frozen, unable to move a muscle.
"Sorry, whoever you are."
She offered what might have counted as an apology—
"I'll borrow this for a bit."
And vanished before Adela's eyes.
Shadow Step.
"......?"
The battle at the Barrier raged on, filled with desperate screams and shouts.
Monsters surged forward to break the Barrier, while the Empire's citizens fought to hold them back.
The forces of Manggot lurked, waiting for gaps in the Barrier—or had already leaped over it to charge in.
Amidst the noise and chaos—
As if in a void—
Adela stood there, dumbfounded.
"......Ah."
Without any attack, magic, spell, or curse—
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
She tasted terror.