Chapter 150: The Curse of the Black Flame (4)
Chapter 150: The Curse of the Black Flame (4)
I decided to test the power of the Black Flame against the half-human, half-spider creature known as Noriens.
The primary characteristic of the Black Flame was its ability to burn through even mana itself.
But how did it perform as a 'buff'?
[There are no issues with the Living Armor’s movements.]
Even with the Black Flame wreathed around my hammer, I felt no ill effects.
I had planned to stop immediately if it negatively impacted the Living Armor, but fortunately, that wasn't the case. I was able to grip and swing the weapon without hindrance.
[The fact that it’s a flame also makes the opponent wary.]
"Grrr..."
Noriens of Sacrilege glared at me through her four pairs of sunglasses.
She was clearly on guard against the Black Flame coating my hammer, her eyes darting around the area.
She was looking for the weakest link.
Whoosh!
The moment I swung my hammer in a wide arc, something flew out from the shadows, targeting Laura.
"Th-thank you."
[It’s only natural for the vanguard to block attacks.]
Laura could have certainly dodged it, and Serica would have moved even if I hadn't, but I stepped forward first to intercept the enemy's strike.
Wait, do I actually have a knack for fighting?
Even without knowing the opponent's patterns, I found it surprisingly easy to read her ambush.
"H-how...!"
[Instinct.]
Sizzle.
The spiderwebs stuck to the surface of the hammer began to melt away.
It wasn't just the physical webs burning; the Black Flame consumed the mana infused within them, causing the mass of webbing to dissolve into sparks instantly.
[Ambushes like that are useless.]
"K-ugh...!"
[Serica. No need to hold back. Sever all her limbs.]
No sooner had I spoken than a white flash darted forward.
Slash!
As the blur of light sparkled, Serica appeared in mid-air behind the spider-beast, her sword gripped tight. A moment later, the creature's eight legs began to splay outward.
"Kuaaaaagh?!"
Two slashes.
She had leaped into the air and swung her blade only twice, yet those strikes had severed all eight legs in a single breath.
Thud.
Noriens’ body hit the floor. She shrieked in agony, her mouth agape, before sliding sideways across the ground.
[Captain.]
Pang—!
Laura immediately stepped forward, drawing her golden bow and loosing an arrow. It struck true, shattering Noriens’ sunglasses.
"Kuaaaaaaaaagh!!"
Having shards of glass driven into her eyes probably hurt more than losing her legs.
But I showed no mercy.
There was no need for forgiveness, and unlike the succubi, capturing her wouldn't be particularly useful.
[Arachne, you whose upper half is merely a mockery of humanity. You have committed sacrilege.]
I raised the hammer, wreathed in Black Flame, high into the air.
[An Arachne wearing a bra? Preposterous.]
A half-spider should naturally have her chest exposed. That was the law of nature.
[And who told you to wear four pairs of glasses like that?]
Crunch!
I brought the hammer down squarely on the Arachne’s face.
The four pairs of sunglasses were pulverized instantly, and the Arachne’s head was driven into the floor.
[Yoanna.]
Time for a simple finish.
[Burn her.]
"Yes."
Fwoosh.
"Be consumed by the Flame of Annihilation, fall into hell, and be buried in an eternity of suffering. Noir Blaze!"
Black flames instantly engulfed Noriens of Sacrilege.
* * *
After defeating the named monster with the obnoxious sunglasses.
[The influence of the Black Flame is certainly potent.]
"I apologize."
[There’s nothing to apologize for. It allowed us to defeat the enemy that much easier.]
The Black Flame was essentially a cheat code.
Setting aside the cringey "edgelord" aesthetic, its performance was undeniably captivating.
She’s a bit of an odd one, too.
Was she unaware because it was her own power? Or had the side effects of the curse already seeped deep into her brain?
She seemed to realize that she became more talkative and tried to act "cool" whenever she used the Black Flame, but she was completely oblivious to the fact that it made everyone else's skin crawl with secondhand embarrassment.
The worst kind of chuunibyou is the one who doesn't know they have it.
Yoanna was likely that type.
She probably kept using the Black Flame regardless of what others said—in fact, there were likely people who encouraged it.
Considering she mentioned passing the Black Flame to others, she must have already shared it. They were definitely birds of a feather.
A chuunibyou terrorist group.
The Revolutionary Army was likely full of them.
Since everyone around her was covered in Black Flame, she probably never realized that she was anything but ordinary.
"I will make up for the losses through other means."
[No. There’s no need. It’s not severely damaged; in fact, this is better.]
The magic stone obtained from the boss mob was hollow inside.
In terms of appearance, its unique shape made it a decent piece of craftsmanship, but its value would now depend on how it was 'processed.'
[Captain. It’s alright to tell everyone now, isn't it?]
"If Yoanna is okay with it, then I am too."
Everyone tilted their heads at the exchange between Laura and me.
Some didn't seem to know what we were talking about, while those who did had looks that said, 'You're going to talk about that now?'
[If this becomes public knowledge, it could be the end of us. More hands might reach out to seize Fermaton.]
"It is dangerous, but it's valuable enough to show you. Especially... you, Yoanna."
Laura stepped toward Yoanna and reached out.
"...I'm telling you this because the Young Lord has decided to trust you, but the moment you betray us, you're dead."
"...Coming from the Captain, that carries quite a bit of weight. Understood. I will not betray you. As long as we do not obstruct each other's paths."
"Are you saying you'll betray us the moment we get in your way?"
"No. I believe you are not the type to interfere intentionally. However, should our paths diverge, I will leave quietly. I swear it by the Goddess."
Yoanna clasped her hands and closed her eyes.
"I swear by the Golden Goddess who watches over this land."
Her prayer was so solemn and sincere that even Laura was momentarily taken aback.
"...Well, if you're willing to swear that much, fine. Shall we begin?"
[Go ahead.]
Laura took the Mythstone from her tail and pressed it against the empty magic stone craft.
"...Fill up."
The moment Laura touched the Mythstone to the 'empty stone,' the vast mana dwelling within the Mythstone began to pour into the void.
"That's...!"
[It’s a shame Yurdias isn't here. But she already knows. In fact, what Yurdias is doing right now is related to this.]
Having gained information regarding the Mythstones, Yurdias was currently away.
[We call this a 'Mythstone.' This thing Laura uses isn't just a special weapon crafted in the shape of a gem. It is a 'Relic of God' possessing immense mana.]
I felt a slight burden revealing this in front of Yoanna.
However, I could place absolute trust in those present here.
The reason?
Because Laura said it was okay.
It wasn't just my thought. Laura had agreed, so I was speaking. If Laura had shown even a hint of anxiety, I would have kept my mouth shut.
[Yoanna. I don't care if you burn every enemy to ash with your Black Flame. I don't care if you hollow out the magic stones. I don't even care if you burn the stones themselves into nonexistence. Because we have this.]
"...By any chance, was the prize money you gave me made with that as well?"
[Yes. Zenith knows as well. And currently, Amy is managing the office, so no one can overhear our conversation.]
In other words.
[This is a terrifying and dreadful secret that even Charlotte hasn't been told. Conversely, it means I can tell all of you. Because it won't leak out.]
As it had been from the start, this information was not to leave this circle.
[Therefore, I trust you.]
If it leaked from here, it meant there was a traitor among us.
[The Breast-Shaped Glass Cups we created. We melted magic stones into that same shape to create magic stone crafts. The shape can be breasts or anything else. What matters is the re-creation of value.]
Finally.
[Even if a magic stone is empty, we can use the Mythstone Laura possesses to turn it into a mana-filled stone. We buy empty stones in secret, re-process them in bulk, and sell them. At a high price.]
The time had come to speak the truth.
[The breast-shaped glasses are just a cover. A sort of slang. They'll be traded secretly like contraband, but in reality, 'mana' will be circulated through the market. In the form of those glasses.]
The name of the product.
[The 'Dark Glass.']
And the mana filling those Dark Glasses was the power of the Mythstone.
[We currently possess the power to literally print money.]
And so, Ruji Fermaton would become the god of a new order.
The God of Capitalism.
"...I have a question. Does that Mythstone possess infinite mana?"
[No. We refill it every day.]
"Refill it?"
[Yes.]
I stood behind Laura and patted her shoulder.
[Where do you think my essence, which Laura consumes every day, goes?]
"...No way."
[Yes. As I've said repeatedly, sex is power.]
The power that would carry the future of Fermaton.
[I will turn my sexual prowess into financial might.]