Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: Unexpected Reunion (2)
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Ilenia, the priestess of the Forgotten God—who bore no name or countless names—glided through the forest like a shadow swimming in the darkness.
She recalled the conversation she'd had with the one who had entrusted her with this mission before arriving at the Great Forest.
'Nameless little shadow... this mission will be anything but easy. You'll have to persuade the "Warrior of Revelation" with murky motives like drifting shadows, make contact with brothers more alien than any other faction, and even risk being consumed by the "World-Burning Inferno." And yet... do you truly wish to undertake this mission?'
'My flesh and soul originated from the primordial darkness, so returning to its embrace holds no fear for me. Please, entrust me with the mission, High Archbishop.'
'...I'm sorry. It's my oversight that let the flames spread, and now I'm burdening you with extinguishing them.'
'...'
'Take these items. They'll help you face the "World-Burning Inferno." But if the "Warrior of Revelation" sees them, it'll cause a massive misunderstanding, so be absolutely careful not to get caught...'
Ilenia bit her lip hard, remembering the warning she hadn't heeded.
It was a dilemma with no easy way out. If she had kept the gifts from the High Archbishop hidden to the end, she never would have convinced Kadim. Even now, with her identity fully revealed, she'd failed to persuade him and sent him off alone to the grand sorceress... it was the same outcome.
'The mistake was opening the bag so rashly in front of Kadim when we first met. I should have hidden it more discreetly, without letting him sense even a hint of it...'
At least it wasn't the worst-case scenario. Her greatest fear had been Kadim flying into a rage and slaying her without giving her a chance to explain. Considering the nature of those gifts, it wouldn't have been all that surprising if it had happened.
'...No matter how I try to help, can it never measure up even a speck to the weight of his old ties?'
Thinking of the relationship she'd painstakingly built now shattered made her heart ache.
This wasn't the time to sit and lament. She'd survived with her life intact, so she had to press on with the mission alone.
"Hoo..."
Ilenia entered a cave at the edge of the forest.
Darkness brushed her skin like a predator's hot breath. She sensed presences lurking beyond the irregularly grown stalactites. As she took one more step, faint afterimages lunged at her. Ilenia twisted her upper body gracefully to evade.
Shh—thwick! Ting-ting-ting!
Jet-black darts clattered against the rock wall like a startled flock of crows. Ilenia gripped the "Silver Coin of the Fallen Kingdom" and activated her dark holy arts for a counterattack.
Rumble—!
"Hngh!"
"Hup!"
Grunts erupted from all around as shadows rising from the floor bound the limbs of the ambushers.
With it being the dead of night in this secluded darkness, she didn't have to worry about the "Watching Eyes" detecting her use of the dark holy arts. Ilenia swallowed a single blue-tongued leaf and opened her mouth.
"Even if you close your eyes and wander the abyss, may you never doubt that He has prepared a way out. Nameless brothers, sheath your hostility. I am no enemy of yours."
"... ..."
As the shadows receded, figures emerged cautiously from behind the stalactites. They wore patched leather in ancient styles, had pale faces and bleached hair, and eyes glowing with gloomy grayish-blue light.
They were Dark Elves, traitors to their race who had abandoned the World Tree for the darkness.
"Even if you endure endless nights without sleep to prepare for the coming dawn, may it be so. Are you... the one who received our message from outside the Great Forest?"
"Yes, that's right. More precisely, our leader received the contact and sent me."
"I see. Forgive our rudeness in attacking without recognizing you. But we were told you'd be coming with the 'Warrior of Revelation'... where is he?"
"... ..."
The Dark Elves had also received a revelation from the Forgotten God about twenty years ago regarding the "Blood-Soaked Warrior." Believing he would be the key to resolving the crisis in the Great Forest, they had come here and waited desperately for him to lend his strength.
So when Ilenia delivered her news, their faces twisted in unison.
"What? He left ahead to meet the grand sorceress first?"
"Merciful primordial darkness... we're done for if he's captured in her sealed lair..."
"No matter how mighty the 'Warrior of Revelation' may be, he can't face that wicked sorceress alone! Why didn't you stop him from going by himself?"
"... ..."
Part of the reason was that they hadn't provided clear information. If they'd known exactly why Hesilia had descended and what crisis the grand sorceress posed, she might have succeeded in persuading him somehow.
Rather than blame them, Ilenia focused on finding a solution.
"To him, the grand sorceress isn't just a threat to the world with her inferno—she's a comrade he shared hardships with. With only the information you gave, persuasion had its limits. But it's not too late yet."
"What do you mean?"
"He might uncover the truth and convince the grand sorceress to turn back. Wouldn't that solve everything without a drop of blood?"
"What? That's absurd!"
The Dark Elves erupted in fierce protests.
They insisted the grand sorceress was utterly mad and wouldn't listen to reason no matter who came. Instead, they predicted the "Warrior of Revelation" would confront her too late, get overwhelmed, and be captured. Staying calm, Ilenia added,
"Then we'll do this: we'll head straight to where the grand sorceress is now and lend our strength before he gets captured."
"... ..."
"Of course, the real key won't be our meager power, but the aid of the transcendent being—the dragon Rapustran. We need to inform him that the 'Warrior of Revelation' has arrived... where is the dragon now?"
But the Dark Elves' expressions didn't brighten. If anything, they grew even more gloomy.
"The dragon... we can't meet him right now..."
"Well, it's not that we can't meet him exactly..."
"It's as good as impossible..."
At that moment, intense vibrations shook the ground.
——Rumble—!
Ilenia flinched, her body trembling. The quaking rose from deep caverns below. Unless they were raising a giant worm in their home, there was only one possible cause.
"This vibration... isn't it the dragon stirring? He seems to be right below us—why do you say we can't meet him?"
"... ..."
"Brothers, will you tell me what's going on? You spoke of the 'transcendent being' helping against the grand sorceress—what are you hiding...?"
"I'll explain the reason."
The voice didn't come from the suddenly silent Dark Elves, but from a man who had abruptly intruded.
Clank, clank, clank—
Heavy metallic sounds echoed. From the shadows emerged a figure clad head to toe in armor. Even in the dim light, he was unmistakable. His armor wasn't ordinary plate—it was made of self-luminous golden plates.
An eerily inhuman presence.
He was neither a Dark Elf nor a follower of the Forgotten God. For the first time, Ilenia's composure wavered. In a faintly trembling voice, she asked,
"Who... are you...?"
In contrast, the response from behind the ornate visor was deep and steady.
"A friend of the dragon. Once nearly his prey."
"... ..."
"And the one who sent word to you all."
As the man removed his helmet, golden scales covering his cheeks and neck gleamed revealed.
*
Kadim drew in a deep breath.
"Hoooh..."
And exhaled slowly.
"Fuuuuh..."
It was an utterly ordinary breath, yet to him, it felt profoundly special.
Crisp air flowed into his nostrils, permeating every corner of his mind with clarity. His body and heart felt light, as if they might float away. How long had it been since he'd savored this refreshment, free of even a speck of worry?
His mind was sharper and clearer than ever. No bomb-like anxiety clenched his heart, no ravenous urge to guzzle blood plagued him. No need for self-harm to stay alert or to summon mana that crumbled his bones and muscles. Regaining this peaceful, everyday state felt so foreign after so long.
Melissa had spoken the truth.
The madness that had tormented him so viciously was gone, washed away clean.
"...How is this even possible?"
A dazzling field rippled with verdant waves of foliage. A gentle breeze swept back her red hair, revealing lips curved in a soft smile. Melissa replied in an excited tone, as if she'd just surprised her lover with a gift.
"This is a place where you can achieve anything you desire. Curing your madness, purifying body and soul, even turning you into a mage—it's all possible! Just say the word, Kadim. From now on, I'll make anything you want come true!"
"... ..."
Kadim's cheek twitched.
They had entered through the large, transparent orb at the center of the hall. He'd been skeptical until her words just now confirmed it. This was the afterlife the elves had mentioned—the "Dream of the World Tree."
The elation that had surged within him fizzled out like bursting bubbles. Meaning this state was just an illusion?
Melissa bristled, denying it vehemently.
"No, it's completely different from illusions or dreams! Those can be easily distorted or dispelled, but this is an unbreakable 'world'! It can't be destroyed even by anti-magic means, events and time flow continuously, and everything has a tangible reality. The only difference from the outside world is that the administrator can manipulate it at will..."
"...But you can't maintain this state outside, right? Calling it a 'perfect solution' to the madness seems like a stretch."
"... ..."
Melissa bit her lip. She seemed about to argue, then drooped her head in gloom. He'd suspected as much, and there it was. Kadim swept back his bangs and let out a bitter sigh.
Still, he pulled himself together quickly.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't disappointed, but it wasn't a bad experience. Being perfectly free of madness like this was a first since finishing the first playthrough and moving to the second. He'd avoided comforts that might dull his edge, fearing his mind would rust... but a rest this superb was worth indulging once in a while.
Thanks for thinking of me, he said; thanks to you, I got to relax properly after so long. Melissa perked up immediately. She chattered about how long she'd waited for this moment and how wonderful this place was, then suddenly gave him a wistful look and said,
"Kadim, remember? Back in the Demon Realm, whenever things got tough, we always said... 'Someday, in a field where the sun never sets, let's meet again smiling like the moon.'"
"...Yeah."
"I think this could be that place. I remembered those words and set it up like this on purpose. This beautiful field... the sun never sets here. No need to worry about madness or facing demons."
"... ..."
"And now... I've got you back, the one I promised to meet smiling like the moon."
Melissa flashed a crescent-moon smile.
Kadim wore a twisted, wry grin.
It was impossible. Cyril, Gordon, and Gale weren't here. If they lived, they'd be somewhere on a distant continent; if dead, in some other afterlife. Either way, turning this place into their dreamed reunion spot was unattainable.
But.
There was one more person here just like him.
"...Melissa? Who's that guy?"
"... ..."
Kadim stared blankly at the hulking figure identical to his first-playthrough self.
Like a mirror reflection, the giant stared blankly back.
The wind stilled, breaths halted in utter silence.
"... ..."
"... ..."
"...Ah."
As Melissa gaped and raised her fingertips in shock.
Crunch-crunch-crack—!!!
Invisible pressure manifested, mercilessly crushing the suddenly appeared giant.