Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: The Nine Ascetics
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Lush red pines and a clear river flowing between them.
And beside that river, a small clearing where fresh green sprouts were just beginning to emerge.
There, nine beings were seated around a large, round table.
*Where am I?*
Do-jae was observing the world of this scene from a first-person perspective.
His body was nowhere to be found; only his consciousness remained, perceiving the world.
"This is already the sixth time we've gathered like this. Quite a lot has changed in the meantime."
One of the nine beings, a human woman, spoke.
Her gestures and speech were incredibly refined and cultured.
The slight curve of her lips exuded a sense of ease, and the small mole above them added a unique charm.
Her face was so beautiful that Do-jae thought he might have fallen in love at first sight.
That is, if she hadn't been wearing a hawk-shaped mask.
*Elatra?*
It was.
She was the great being, the human who had ascended to godhood, the goddess Elatra.
"Haha, that's because everyone has been ruling well, as befits their station."
He was certain she was Elatra because of the other human man sitting beside her.
The alchemist who created the titans. Altein spoke with a pleasant laugh.
"Five hundred years have passed since our first meeting. It's only natural that things would change."
"Peace is the best! War is out!"
"So, why was this meeting called?"
The other beings added their own comments.
As a consciousness that could move freely, Do-jae looked at each of them seated in a circle.
*Are these the nine Ascetics? Then is this some kind of past memory...?*
The round table symbolized their equal standing.
Seeing them seated at the same table as Elatra and Altein, he was sure they were the nine Ascetics Arcturia had spoken of.
However, aside from Elatra and Altein, the other seven Ascetics were shrouded in a hazy smoke, their identities hidden.
Still, based on their physical forms and sizes, some of them were clearly not human.
"I'm worried... if what we're doing now is right... I think we're interfering too deeply in the world."
A man of small stature spoke with hesitant movements and a timid voice.
He appeared to be human.
"What's wrong with that? We are simply doing what is natural for us as gods."
"But we are transcendent beings who have attained divinity... A single small gesture from us can have a huge impact. Are our actions truly righteous...?"
He couldn't keep his body still for a moment, as if overcome with anxiety.
"Isn't that what we decided at the first meeting? What are you trying to do now?"
"I just... wish all the races could live a little more freely..."
"Don't be ridiculous. What has happened to this land over the past 500 years? The countless monsters have vanished, and our races have prospered. I don't understand how you, who once led the charge in creating a sea of blood, can say such things."
"That's right! The damned demon gods can't even move a muscle now. Think about the old days. Before I attained divinity, I had to deal with your races, fight those damn monsters—every single day was tense! Isn't that right, Altein?"
"Hahaha, I wouldn't know. The station I've obtained is of a different nature than yours."
Altein evaded the question with a hearty laugh.
At that, the Ascetics began to clamor, each adding their own words.
"I have something to say as well. The last time the humans created..."
"I, too, have something to report. Near the southern coast, a horde of monsters..."
As equals, none of them would back down, each busy telling their own story.
Just then, Elatra silenced the other Ascetics and spoke.
"One moment. Who brought that human over there?"
At Elatra's words, the Ascetics' gazes all turned to one spot.
Directly to where Do-jae's consciousness was.
*What... can they see me?*
As a being of pure consciousness, Do-jae had assumed he was inside a fragment of memory.
He'd had similar experiences before and thought they wouldn't be able to perceive him.
But the Ascetics stared in his direction as if they could see him clearly.
"Right? You! Who are you?"
"I can feel several types of mana mixed together. Elatra, Altein... and is that Ruiden and Gellahan?"
The small-statured Ascetic and another with an unusually large upper body spoke.
And an Ascetic who had been silent until now stood up and began to approach Do-jae.
"I don't know how you possess my mana, but this is no place for a human without station. Be gone."
That Ascetic extended his palm toward Do-jae, about to do something.
But the small-statured Ascetic stopped him.
"Wait a moment, Ruiden..."
"What is it, Gellahan?"
"I think my station is connected to that human... May I take a look?"
The small-statured man rose from his seat and started walking toward Do-jae.
*That's the Apostate, Gellahan?*
Unfortunately, he couldn't see his features, but that wasn't why Do-jae was bewildered.
For some reason, he couldn't feel any of the Apostate's Aura from Gellahan.
"Child, I'm going to read your memories now... You don't need to be afraid..."
Before Do-jae could react, Gellahan's hand touched his consciousness.
Then, Gellahan nodded.
"I see... So that's how it is... In the end, I... Yes, I understand. I will share my mana with you."
Gellahan whispered to Do-jae in a voice so quiet it was barely audible.
And then he began to inject an immense amount of mana into Do-jae.
*Khk...! The Apostate's Aura!*
Suddenly, the Apostate's Aura surged into Do-jae.
He tried to block it, but the unstoppable Apostate's Aura inflicted immense pain upon him.
Through the hazy smoke, he could see Gellahan's faint smile, and as the Apostate's Aura crushed his consciousness, Do-jae's mind began to fade.
But just then.
*Shatter-!*
With the sound of something breaking, Do-jae's body was thrown back, and his surroundings turned pitch black.
***
"Do-jae, are you okay?"
"Sari? How did you get here...?"
The first thing Do-jae saw after regaining consciousness was Sari's face.
"Oson called me!"
"The black barrier... There should have been a barrier."
Do-jae looked up at the ceiling.
Through the holes in the ceiling, he could see the blue sky.
"What's going on... You said you got Lady Arcturia's leaf."
"Kuh... First things first..."
Do-jae pushed through the numbing pain that wracked his entire body and got up.
This was no time to be lying leisurely with his head on Sari's lap.
Oson and Tahul were fighting the skeletons, and they looked to be in considerable danger.
*Stagger-*
"Do-jae!"
"I'm fine, Sari..."
His whole body ached as if it would explode, but conversely, Do-jae's mana was boiling over.
It was the result of absorbing a massive amount of the Apostate's Aura while lost in the past memory.
"Go and help them...!"
Do-jae issued a command to the four golems standing by.
At the same time, he injected them with a vast amount of mana mixed with the Apostate's Aura.
*Krrk-*
*Krrrk-*
Black smoke began to rise ominously from the golems.
Like the skeletons, their eyes flashed with a black light.
"Ooh! It's the Master's golems!"
"Khehehe, working an old man to the bone. I'll have to get my due, young human."
Do-jae's golems began to rampage, weaving between Oson and Tahul without restraint.
They easily withstood the Skeleton Mages' magic and proceeded to crush their skulls.
Moreover, the golems absorbed the black energy from the skeletons they destroyed, growing even more formidable and smoldering with black smoke each time.
*Swoosh-*
*Fwoooosh-!*
Do-jae also held nothing back, pouring mana into his Black Scale.
Applying the basics of magic, he condensed mana onto the blade until it could be compressed no further, then swung it at the skeletons.
With each swing, a mass of mana shot out, and any skeleton struck by it vanished without a trace.
"How can a mere human possess Lord Gellahan's aura...!"
The skeleton sitting on the throne shot up from its seat.
Flustered, as was clear from its voice, it dropped its crown as it drew in its energy.
"Receive my wrath! Wind Storm!"
As it cast a powerful spell, a massive storm began to rage inside the building.
Seemingly unconcerned with the other skeletons, the mighty storm blew away everything, including them.
Fortunately, Sari snatched Oson and escaped the storm's reach with Tahul, but Do-jae stood tall within the tempest, his sword in hand.
"How dare you! Before me! Such insolence! A mere human!"
The enraged skeleton shrieked, but Do-jae slowly walked forward.
Attack spells rained down on him relentlessly, but they couldn't leave a single scratch on the Golem Armor covering his entire body.
Clad in the Golem Armor, which had turned a dark, dusky color from the Apostate's Aura flowing through it, Do-jae looked downright terrifying.
"You baaastard!"
*Clang-!*
Instead of attacking the screaming skeleton, Do-jae struck the crown it had dropped.
A cloud of black smoke, large enough to fill the entire chamber, erupted from it.
*Fwoosh-!*
Do-jae immediately raised his right hand and began absorbing the Apostate's Aura.
He had already passed his limit, but Do-jae kept pulling it in.
If this aura spread, Sari, Oson, and Tahul would be in danger.
Not only that, but if it settled somewhere, another being like Salreuta could be born.
"Huuup...!"
Every time he absorbed the Apostate's Aura, he felt a pain like razor blades coursing through his veins.
Still, Do-jae didn't stop.
He had to contain this aura, no matter what.
*Thud-*
Do-jae fell to his knees.
In contrast, the Apostate's Aura that had covered everything subsided, revealing the sky.
"Do-jae! Get a grip!"
"Master!"
"You two, don't touch him!"
As Sari and Oson rushed forward, Tahul stopped them.
In his fading consciousness, Do-jae took out Arcturia's leaf.
He had been pinning his hopes on this.
*Flash-!*
Arcturia's leaf began to emit a brilliant light.
Then, countless leaves started pouring down from the sky.
"Ah... Lady Arcturia?"
The pile of leaves soon took shape.
It was Arcturia in the form of a golem.
"Lady Arcturia! Please save Do-jae... save Do-jae!"
Sari cried out to Arcturia, her eyes welling with tears.
"Do not worry. I have been watching everything."
*Fsss-*
As Arcturia extended her hand, the leaves enveloped Do-jae.
Each and every leaf glowed, calming the black smoke flowing through Do-jae's body.
"Make it yours, along with my aura."
Do-jae felt Arcturia's warm, comforting mana.
And that mana didn't just absorb the Apostate's Aura, but slowly melted it away.
The combined mana slowly circulated through Do-jae's body, firmly taking hold.
Cold sweat poured down his body, accompanied by a headache and nausea, but the earlier pain, like blades churning inside him, gradually subsided.
"You have done well."
Do-jae slowly stood up.
His eyes swirled with abundant mana.
"The last leaf will no longer be able to help you absorb the Apostate's Aura. However, you have gained sufficient power. You will be able to handle it on your own."
Do-jae nodded at Arcturia.
*Fshhhhhh-*
With those final words, Arcturia turned back into a pile of leaves.
At the same time, Do-jae lost consciousness and collapsed.