Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Gremia (2)
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A faction that delved into secrets and sought to pioneer the world.
At Beryl's words, Jamie recalled a human who no longer existed.
'Ganon.'
A black sorcerer who had explored secrets beyond human reach, whether to pioneer the world or not.
He had possessed one of Jamie's three divine artifacts, the Perfect Cell, and for some reason, knew of Diablo Volpir's existence.
Were there others in the world besides him who sought to uncover its secrets?
'I didn't rule it out, but I didn't expect to encounter one this soon.'
Jamie feigned ignorance as he replied.
"Wow. That sounds cool. So there are people like that."
"Isis is the leader there."
"Ah. So it was a person's name."
"Not a person."
At Beryl's words, Jamie looked at him with wide eyes.
Not a person—did that mean a non-human race?
He had no interactions with non-humans close to humans.
Long ago, elves and dwarves had lived close to humans, but after some incident, relations soured.
They weren't hostile, but now they ignored each other.
As if sensing Jamie's thoughts, Beryl added.
"There are always oddballs out there."
"I see."
"Has your curiosity been sated a bit?"
"......Yes. Thank you for telling me."
Beryl spoke to Jamie, who bowed his head.
"That's all I can say. Someday, you'll face a choice too."
At those words, Jamie looked at Beryl again, but he had already averted his gaze.
His lips were firmly shut, as if he would say no more.
'He said something similar earlier. If I listen, I'll have to choose...'
Though Jamie hadn't agreed, Beryl had started talking.
It was consideration for him.
Beryl had taken full responsibility to speak of Frontier.
Of course, only a tiny fraction.
'What choice?'
Beryl's words weren't something to tell a child.
Even with his immense talent, Jamie was still a kid. At least, that's how others saw him.
Or did he believe Jamie would one day step into that world?
He wanted to ask, but Beryl wouldn't say more. He had made that clear.
'Anyway, Isis... If it's a non-human oddball...'
Frontier seemed a coalition of various races.
'Come to think of it, Teberon allowed entry to Gremia the moment Isis was mentioned.'
Gremia was built 600 years ago.
Circumstantially, it was linked to this Isis. Meaning the person was at least 600 years old.
'An elf?'
Jamie thought of races with lifespans over 600 years.
'Dragons, elves, and lan.'
Not a dragon, so exclude that.
Elf or lan, but the last human contact with lan was centuries ago.
So, probably elves, with whom there had been the most interaction.
The leader of a secret group presumed to be elves.
With a Sword Master as a subordinate. He didn't know the scale, but it wasn't small.
'I don't know about the choice, but if there's a chance, I'd like to meet them.'
The key to the secrets they sought was none other than what Jamie held.
Even without Beryl's words, fate would bring him and Isis together someday.
What mattered was how useful this Frontier organization was.
'The connection is already made.'
Jamie clenched his small fist tightly.
He hadn't decided if he'd walk a different path from his previous life. So, he planned to gain much experience.
The new path might be right or wrong.
He was used to failure.
As long as he didn't despair.
'As long as I don't give up.'
Hadn't he even seized a secret that could shake the Zenith Church?
It was different in many ways from moving alone in his previous life.
And they arrived at their destination.
"Here it is."
"Isn't this where you were sleeping?"
"The most important things should be kept in the safest place."
Gremia's trials were all grueling but surmountable.
Those lacking strength couldn't pass the final trial, Teberon, so his words weren't wrong.
"Normally, you'd have to go through the trials too, but it was pointless, so I skipped them all."
Beryl nodded silently.
Teberon looked at Jamie.
"Fulfill your promise."
"......Got it."
Jamie had made one promise with Teberon.
If he came above ground and fought Leeta, he'd hand over the sub-master authority.
He didn't need it anyway. It couldn't be moved from the forest, and its useful abilities were ineffective against foes too strong.
It was just to screw over Teberon.
So he'd promised to hand it over.
"If you wanted it, why not ask earlier?"
"Opening the door takes power too."
Gremia's power operated on the administrator's will and thoughts.
Teberon was saying even thinking was exhausting.
What a bear.
As Jamie touched the floor, blue circuits spread across the ruins and converged on Teberon.
He grinned and said.
"Actually, without the master's authority, all permissions are revoked the moment you leave Mirinae Forest."
"What?"
"Did you think an outsider like you could fully steal such an important place?"
"Then why agree to help?"
"Idiot. I couldn't just watch the forest fall apart. I waited for you to bow and beg."
"Petty, sneaky bear bastard."
"High praise."
Gremia's creator had anticipated even the architecture being stolen.
Impressive guy.
Respect.
"Anyway, now I'll retrieve it."
As Teberon sat and focused, all of Gremia began to shake.
The 'sub-master' authority Jamie had seized merged with the authority granted only to Teberon.
The entire chamber bathed in blue light.
Jamie felt all power gathering at the floor's center.
The circuits tangled, slowly dismantling the seal within.
A pillar rose.
The pillar covered in ancient script was undoubtedly the one even Jamie's master authority couldn't access.
'What the hell is inside?'
Teberon nodded for Beryl to approach.
Beryl exhaled sharply, drew his greatsword, and stabbed it into the floor.
With his body lightened, he approached the pillar and nodded that he was ready.
"Opening it."
A line appeared, splitting the pillar in half.
By Teberon's will, the pillar split precisely in half along the line.
Pzzzt!!
Rumble!!
Sparks too intense to look at erupted, lightning scattering everywhere.
Jamie quickly deployed a shield, but the lightning didn't reach him.
A powerful wind blocked it.
"So that's why you're here."
Teberon said with a look of understanding.
Beryl thrust his hand into the wildly arcing lightning between the pillar halves.
The lightning, unstoppable even by wind, surged to destroy everything upon touching his hand.
The Sword Master's skin charred black.
Amid the horrific burning pain, Beryl gripped the contents without flinching.
And swiftly pulled it out.
"That is...!"
Jamie’s eyes filled with shock.
Beryl raised what he held high.
Teberon named the thing that generated intense lightning just by existing.
"Thunder Dragon Sword Gram. The Dragon Slayer has awakened."
The lightning sword with a blue blade roared from its long slumber.
Ras rode toward Mirinae Forest with the paladins.
But now, he had turned his horse back toward the church.
The others hadn't sensed it, but he had clearly felt the powerful Zenith divinity emanating from the church.
'I have to hurry!'
The horse slowed on the uphill.
Ras dismounted and used 'Sword of Judgment.'
A cloak of light fluttered, letting him crest the hill in an instant. The duration wasn't long, but now wasn't the time to care.
He dashed full speed toward the church at the summit.
Reaching the top in moments, he flung open the gates and entered.
No signs of life.
Entering the main hall, he saw someone leaning against a distant wall.
An elderly man in blood-soaked pure white priest robes, breathing intermittently.
"Archbishop!"
It was Archbishop Sephira.
Ras rushed to check his condition.
A large gash across his chest, abdomen pierced three times.
Countless minor wounds everywhere.
All fresh.
"......Sir Ras?"
Sephira opened his mouth laboriously.
"Wh-what happened? Why didn't you use healing?!"
Jamie carefully probed Sephira's wounds.
And realized a powerful divinity enveloped them.
"......Another divinity is interfering."
A stronger divinity was blocking Sephira's own.
He was one of Pyro Church's three archbishops. Excluding the Pope and saints, he had the strongest divinity.
Yet an even stronger Zenith divinity hindered recovery.
A Zenith Church figure with such divinity...
"One of the Seven Knights?"
Those who wielded swords and archbishop-level divinity could only be them.
"Qu-quickly... to the Apostle and the S-Saintess..."
"Archbishop!"
"Th-they went behind... Hurry and pursue... cough cough!"
Sephira's breathing grew ragged.
"Are you alright?!"
"I'll... be fine."
He smiled faintly, trying his best to reassure Ras.
The obvious intent only hurt more.
It had been five years since Ras was assigned to Uptown.
Among priests he'd met, Sephira was the kindest, a model for all.
From serving the goddess to treating people.
He had learned from him.
To Ras, Sephira was a life mentor. He always heeded advice, and Sephira gladly heard his worries.
"I still have so much I want to say."
"I want to hear more from you too. But... it seems impossible."
Ras gripped his hand tightly.
But Sephira couldn't reciprocate. Strength left his body.
"I-I will avenge you."
"......Not vengeance."
"What do you mean? The bastard who did this to you...!"
"Protect them. So, go."
"Archbishop!"
"I'm going to the goddess's side..."
Sephira couldn't finish.
Ras ground his teeth, looking at the archbishop who died with eyes open.
He didn't know which bastard did this, but he couldn't endure it.
Sephira said protect, but this boiling rage screamed for revenge.
An archbishop of a faith, not to be murdered so brutally.
He closed Sephira's eyes and gently laid him down.
"How could I forget you like this? I will repay it, no matter what."
This was a diversion.
Someone wielding Zenith divinity had released demons in Mirinae Forest for this.
Anger surged.
The goddess he served was one of mercy and punishment.
Qualified to give endless punishment to sinners.
"I won't forgive you."
Filled with rage, Ras launched himself in the direction Sephira had indicated before dying.