Chapter 218
Chapter 218
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 218
Chapter Title: Star Crusher (7)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to the soldiers' mediation, the misunderstanding was cleared up in no time.
"Yes, this is indeed Duncan, the husband of Lady Wheeled. He was with us when we escorted Counselor Enrico, so there's no doubt about it."
"...I-is that true?"
The Atalan warriors realized they hadn't recognized their benefactor right in front of them, turning their already dirt-colored faces even more ashen. One after another, they pressed their axe blades to their foreheads, vowing to atone with their lives.
Duncan barely managed to stop the barbarians from smashing their own heads. Finally, he learned that his family had already evacuated to 'Untana' under the protection of the army and the counselors' guard.
"Hoo... Remillion, thank you, thank you, thank you..."
The merchant let out a sigh of relief, half in tears.
How fortunate that his family hadn't been caught up in this chaos. Still, his anxiety hadn't fully dissipated. If a metropolis the size of Delutana had been reduced to ruins, that meant the empire's claws could reach Untana at any moment.
I need to get to Untana as soon as possible...Kadim went to rescue Old Man Ironhammer...Who knows when he'll return... As he pondered this, the counselors' soldiers approached cautiously.
"Uh, Duncan... It's been so long. Who would've thought we'd meet here like this..."
"Yes, Counselor Enrico had ordered us to track down your whereabouts... How have you been?"
"Does this mean you're here, so Lord Kadim, the Demon Slayer—er, no, Lord Kadim—has also come to Delutana?"
Eager anticipation lit up the soldiers' faces. They had all witnessed Kadim's prowess in effortlessly slaying trolls and an Arch Paladin. Hope filled their eyes at the possibility of that superhuman mercenary joining their side.
But Duncan's response flipped their expressions instantly.
"Ah, w-well... He did come with me, but... we might have to leave right away. I need to head to Untana first and check on my family's safety..."
"..."
The soldiers' faces fell gloomily. But since it was a matter of family life and death, they nodded in understanding. Duncan scanned the blood- and sweat-stained faces battling monsters, feeling a heavy weight in his heart as he bowed his head.
In the course of explaining where Kadim was, Duncan unwittingly shared Old Man Ironhammer's plight. The soldiers were stunned. They had all assumed the old man had evacuated with his family to the safe zone.
A few soldiers pondered, then gripped their spear shafts and turned away.
"We should check on the old man's workshop too."
"What...? Lord Kadim already went to rescue him, so you don't need to..."
"No, more hands mean better odds of him being safe. This spear, this shield, this helmet, and even this armor... all made by the old man. We've owed him so much; this is the least we can do to repay him."
"..."
Come to think of it, the 'Inferno Dagger' he'd been using so effectively was also the old man's handiwork. Watching the soldiers leave without hesitation, Duncan felt his heart grow even heavier as he fiddled with the reddish scabbard.
The remaining soldiers then urged Duncan to meet Counselor Enrico. He hesitated, fearing they'd ask him to persuade Kadim. Of course, he wasn't without such hopes himself, but the soldiers' true intent was different.
"Duncan, right now, the only way out of Delutana is through the 'east gate' of the evacuation zone. But... with so many trying to flee the city..."
"Exactly. If you wait like everyone else, you won't even get near the gate today. To leave quickly and reach Untana, getting the counselor's help would be the most convenient."
"..."
The north gate Kadim had demolished was open too, but heading back there meant breaking through again—no way. Duncan accepted the suggestion and followed the soldiers.
Along the way, they spotted something strange in the sky.
"Huh...? E-everyone, that in the sky... what is that...?"
"Hm?"
"Wha—what...? Th-that's..."
Questioning exclamations followed by bewildered expressions.
A translucent bird's afterimage streaked across the sky like the wind. One soldier, staring blankly after it, narrowed his brow slightly.
"That looks like... an urgent dispatch from General Goltaran at the border."
*
In a Delutana office converted to a temporary headquarters. The chief aide to the council chairman burst into the office without knocking.
"Chairman Pellico! A letter just arrived from General Goltaran at the border!"
"Yes... I've seen it. Just leave it there."
"You need to look at it right away! For him to send it via 'Wind-Wing Messenger,' it must be extremely urgent..."
"No need to state the obvious. I'll handle it, so get out."
The aide stared suspiciously at his back for a moment before bowing and withdrawing. Only after confirming the aide's departure multiple times did the middle-aged man seated in the chair turn around.
"Hoo..."
The middle-aged man was not Council Chairman Pellico Turis. Though similar in appearance, he looked more haggard and younger—he was Pellico's younger brother, Counselor Enrico Turis.
Pellico had vanished from the city the moment this 'Gospel Flesh' incident erupted.
It was absurd that the council chairman, who should be directing everything to overcome the crisis, would disappear at such a time. Yet it was reality. Given that the councilors and guards with him were all dead or turned into Gospel Flesh, Pellico's fate was obvious... but Enrico decided to consider his brother 'missing' until a body was found.
Someone had to act as chairman. To prevent chaos, Enrico kept Pellico's disappearance top secret. He impersonated Pellico to assess the situation and issue all orders.
The cause was obviously the empire's Elga Church, but the exact trick they used remained unknown. He could only infer some connection since the roaming familiars resembled dogs kept by Councilor Ramulek.
Those glowing dogs weren't the real problem anyway. The true issue was the Gospel Flesh. Not content with slaughter, they spread the 'gospel,' turning ordinary people into more light's vanguard.
Enrico's countermeasure was to create evacuation zones and herd everyone there.
It proved the right choice. It halted further spread and allowed concentrating forces on the perimeter, turning a losing battle even. But the already converted couldn't be reversed, and thousands remained a problem.
He'd thought that if all Gospel Flesh launched a total assault, they'd have to abandon the city...
'Ch-Chairman! The monsters gathered in the central square have all collapsed! Something like a bizarre beast's head surged up and devoured the square...'
'...What?'
...Then came word of an inexplicable miracle wiping out the Gospel Flesh.
Had the wild priestesses Goltaran introduced miraculously awakened? Or did the Magic Tower help? But why now, and for what reason? It was utterly baffling.
The only certainty was the city's fate had returned from the brink. But the crisis wasn't fully quelled. He was about to mop up remnants, handle the aftermath, and search for Pellico when...
Goltaran's letter arrived suddenly.
"...Hoo."
Enrico's face hardened with unease.
The 'Wind-Wing Messenger' that delivered it was a magic tool obtained from the Magic Tower at great expense—only a few. They'd urged using it only in true emergencies... Goltaran wouldn't misuse it lightly. This letter surely held no good news.
Of course... With this chaos in Delutana, the border where the holy army invaded can't be quiet...
Enrico rubbed his dry face. Half-resigned, he picked up the letter. Bracing himself not to be shocked, he tore open the envelope.
But its contents made that resolve crumble.
"...What!?"
He shot up from his seat. Taking deep breaths to calm down, he read it again. The words remained the same.
'...One Glory Horse acted independently, broke through our lines in flight. Archers and javelin throwers mobilized but failed to down it. Presumed heading to Delutana—exercise caution...'
Cold sweat chilled his spine. A 'Glory Horse' that could fly? Its rider was obvious. Forgetting he was impersonating the chairman, Enrico rushed out of the office.
But before finding the aide, he encountered an unexpected figure. Someone he never dreamed of meeting now, yet impossible to mistake.
"Huh...? C-Counselor!"
"...!! Y-you're...!"
Duncan Wheeled, the merchant traveling with the 'Demon Slayer' Kadim.
At this crossroads deciding the city's fate, Enrico faced utter despair and his sole hope simultaneously.
*
It's never easy for someone with only a left arm and left leg to lead the way. Thus, Angelion, the 'Star Who Spreads the Gospel,' was dragged along like luggage gripped in one hand.
"Aaaah!! Kyaaaah!! Elga!! Elga!!!"
The frozen winter ground was no different from a bed of thorns. Rough dirt tore at his ragged flesh, jagged pebbles battered broken bones. As his severed limbs ground against the earth, Angelion writhed and screamed in agony worse than any nightmare.
But that pain was merely an appetizer. Compared to what came next.
"...You said you moved it somewhere around here."
"Kuhuh... Y-yes, yes, outside the west gate, over there... Huh?"
From the base of the walls and drawbridge to the barren plain beyond, nothing resembling Old Man Ironhammer's masterpiece was in sight. Kadim raised his axe without a second thought.
"Fine... You still have time to waste like this."
"N-no, wait... This can't be..."
"Then, as you wished, I'll slowly sever from the left leg."
"Wait!! Waaait!!! I-I swear, I put it right here earlier..."
Shh—crunch! Slash, slash, slash...
"...Aaaaah! Kyaaaah!!"
The axe blade mercilessly sawed through his thigh.
This time, not a single cleaving blow, but a slow, deliberate sawing. Naturally, Angelion savored longer, more vividly the sensations of muscles tearing in chunks, the femoral artery bursting with blood, bones grinding against metal...
He wished for death, but couldn't have it. The blessings from becoming a holy knight clung to his lifeline, refusing release. Helplessly soiling himself, he wailed and raged.
"Gospelflesh!! Gospelfleshhh!! I'll command the Gospel Flesh to search again!! While I blacked out!! One of them must've moved the 'divine weapon' somewhere else on its own!!"
"...Divine weapon?"
Kadim pulled out the axe and furrowed his brow. He asked why he called the old man's work a 'divine weapon.'
"Hnggh... Y-you didn't know? That old man... the moment he finished the weapon... the dwarves' god descended and blessed it himself..."
"..."
He doubted his ears. In this world—back when it was a game—strengthening weapons with a dwarf god's blessing or special effects was called this.
Enchant.
The system that churned out overpowered items loaded with effects. And if the dwarves' god personally descended to bless it, an exceptionally powerful 'enchant.' But how had Old Man Ironhammer, no dwarf, pulled that off? It made no sense.
The wretch didn't seem to be lying. To resolve the mystery, they needed to find the masterpiece first. Kadim was about to finish severing the leg and press for its location when...
No need. Its bearer appeared on his own.
Delivering a shockwave that rent the air.
―――――――― Kwang—Boom!!!
Kwagwagwagwa, kugugugu—!!
The frozen road exploded, followed by thunderous tremors. Dust rose like a giant's sigh from a burrow. Having sensed the killing intent a step ahead and dodged, Kadim took no damage. The spot hit dead-on sank several feet, cracks spiderwebbing out.
As if a meteor had struck from a clear sky.
"Kuhhh... Cough, cough, cough..."
"..."
Angelion lay half-dazed, choking on dust. Kadim swiftly grasped the truth. Someone hidden atop the walls had leaped the moat, slamming down a weapon.
The weapon in this absurd ambush was a 'hammer' with an enormous iron head weighing at least a thousand pounds.
And the one attempting this absurd ambush was a red-haired man shrouded in rising white mist.
"Hm... Impressive power, certainly. A bit heavy, but that's fixable with Elga's blessing later..."
He didn't look ordinary at a glance.
Bare-chested, yet firm muscles and Elga's divine aura made armor irrelevant. Smaller than Kadim, but the force behind that hammer swing rivaled a barbarian's brute strength. Above all, the decagonal star emblem—the 'stigmata'—on his chest clearly marked his identity.
Angelion's eyes bulged as he pitifully reached out his remaining hand.
"L-Lord Vitales..."
"Ha, are you alright, Sir Angelion? How did the mighty 'Star Who Spreads the Gospel' end up like this?"
"Kuh, w-well..."
"At least you kept that precious tongue safe for spreading the gospel..."
"..."
Ku-kung...
The man mockingly taunted his limbless rival, then lifted the embedded hammer with one hand. A blue rune engraved on the silver iron head gleamed.
Wooong—!
Clear proof that hammer was Old Man Ironhammer's enchanted masterpiece.
Veins bulged and twitched on Kadim's forehead. Taking the weapon without permission, the man showed no guilt—acting as if it were his own, resting it on his shoulder with an arrogant gaze.
"Ha, so you're the heretic who felled the 'Star Who Spreads the Gospel'? Fittingly vicious-looking for your atrocities."
"..."
"I'll acknowledge your effort in toppling one star. Consider it an honor. In return, I'll tell you the name of the one who'll lead you to ruin."
His demeanor and speech oozed leisure, as if he could crush the foe anytime. But seeing this, Kadim thought of something else. The most common mistake by inexperienced, arrogant, reckless, immature holy knights.
"I am Decagram's Seventh Seat, Vitales El Akrathia Directashion. The supremely dignified title adorning the seventh star—'Life Harves'..."
Not wearing the most crucial headgear: a helmet.
―――― Squeal, crack—!
"...Aak! Euk, guk..."
The thunderbolt-like axe blade ground through, splitting Vitales' head in half.