Chapter 28
Chapter 28
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Variable (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Swimming Nightmare.
She was a black mage who served succubi, the race known as rulers of dreams, and at the request of her fellow black mage companion, she had been staying in the north.
Her mission was simple and straightforward.
Gather essence in the north, and trap the north's strongest—the Northern Duke—in a dream.
In the north, where the harsh environment already made one or two people vanishing a common occurrence, snatching a man and draining his essence was child's play.
The problem arose during the second task: trapping the Northern Duke in a dream.
To fulfill the request, she had been squeezing every ounce of strength from her body, clinging to life to maintain the dream world, when suddenly her companion came with yet another demand.
The content: assist Raising Death.
For some inexplicable reason, he had awakened Raising Death and forced him to use the dragon's corpse. In the process, he had casually slaughtered those who resisted with screams and pleas.
They were companions, but with a clear hierarchy among them. Even as she kept the Northern Duke locked in the dream, she dragged her heavy body to stand by Raising Death's side.
"Guh, heuk…!"
What in the world was this situation?
"How…?"
It would be a lie to say she hadn't let her guard down.
But she had been absolutely certain her powers had worked—after all, she'd seen the hero showing clear, rational affection toward her.
Moreover, her companion, Mocking Deception, had said his mental defenses were weak—
"I never fall for the same trick twice."
"What nonsense is—!"
"I loved you, you bitch."
"You son of a—"
-Crack!
Ruin twisted his sword, and Swimming Nightmare breathed her last.
Only Raising Death remained.
"Phew, yes! This is what a hero is! Those damn holy knights could never catch up!"
His mood vastly improved, Ruin bellowed toward the sky.
As if shouting for all to hear.
"Hahahahaha!"
Ruin laughed heartily, carried away by the moment.
But his laughter didn't last.
"…Tch."
The instant the holy knight crossed his mind, the image of that holy knight absorbing his holy power flashed before his eyes.
"No. I was chosen. The talent bestowed upon me by the Goddess herself couldn't possibly lose to mere effort, right?"
As if making excuses to someone, Ruin muttered to himself and tightened his grip on his sword.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'I have to do what I can.'
Right after sending Ruin up to the dragon's back, I spotted the reverse scale on its underside.
Given its massive size, it was easy to find just by looking closely from below.
'Is there no way to reach it?'
I'd sent the hero Ruin up, but that didn't mean I could sit idle.
As I pondered some way to climb, a voice called from behind.
"Sir Is."
"!! Sir Adel!"
There stood Adel, fully armored and poised with dignity.
Seeing her brought an involuntary smile to my face.
"Sir Adel! Perfect timing!"
"My apologies for being late. A massive wave of demonkin turned undead appeared beyond the barrier, slowing me down."
To verify her words, her once-pristine, gleaming armor was now caked in dirt and dark red blood.
"Sir Is, I don't see the Hero or His Grace the Duke. May I ask what happened?"
"The Hero is up on the dragon right now. As for His Grace… I'm not sure either."
"I see…"
Adel fell silent, deep in thought.
Perhaps due to the emergency, her deliberation didn't drag on.
"Sir Is. I'll send you up."
"Pardon?"
She pointed upward, offering to launch me there.
I blinked in confusion, and she readjusted her shield before continuing.
"In this situation, you're the most help to the Hero. You've gained unbelievably potent holy power in such a short time, and the foe is undead."
She had a point.
Indeed, against an undead dragon, I was the next best after the hero.
Ariana's holy power was no slouch either… but no.
Her body couldn't withstand prolonged fighting in the high skies.
Mid-story Ariana might manage, but right now, she was just a fragile girl unfit for aerial combat.
"…Understood. Sir Adel, if you would—"
"That won't do."
"!!"
My instincts screamed danger. I spun around and swung my shotel.
-Swoosh!
But it sliced through empty air.
The foe had bent backward at an impossible angle, dodging cleanly.
A man in a black suit, wearing a smiling mask split black and white.
His enigmatic, eerie figure startled me.
'Mocking Deception?'
His identity: Mocking Deception.
A character who existed only as an easter egg in the game.
He appeared at abysmal odds—no matter how much I dissected the code or pulled every dirty trick, I never uncovered his spawn conditions. A truly bizarre entity.
And now, that mystery stood before me.
"You…"
"You know me! I'd love to skip the intro! But for the lovely heroine who doesn't, allow me to introduce myself!"
Mocking Deception bowed with theatrical flair.
He turned to the still-bewildered Adel and presented himself.
"Pleased to meet you! I am Mocking Deception! I dare say all the black mages in this empire dance to my tune!"
"Mocking… Deception…?"
Questions swirled about his nature, but Adel judged swiftly regardless.
"…Black mage or not. I'll dispose of you now."
"Sounds right."
I raised my shotel and shield as well.
Mocking Deception faced us both.
Completely at ease, he lifted his hands.
"Sorry, but you'll both be coming with me."
-Snap.
He flicked his fingers.
"What—ugh…!"
Adel abruptly lost balance and crumpled.
I caught her hurriedly and glared at him.
He tilted his head quizzically.
"Hmm…? As expected of Sir Is! Not many can keep their wits when I snap."
"Damn it…"
'This is bad.'
The Northern Duke was MIA for some reason, and hero Ruin was atop the dragon.
Adel down in seconds, my holy power flickering precariously.
'Mocking Deception…'
I scoured my memories for anything on him.
I wasn't a game whale, but I'd encountered him at least 400 times.
"Hmm… Plotting away, are we? But I won't wait around."
"!!"
His breezy tone carried a threat that chilled me.
'That sounds just like…'
And regrettably, my hunch was spot on.
"Looks like I need the Saintess after all for a real fight?"
"Wait! Not the Saintess!!"
I yelled desperately, but he'd already vanished.
I whipped around toward Perantia—nothing but empty air beside him.
Perantia wore an apologetic look.
In that instant, something inside me snapped.
-Drop.
Or maybe it literally did.
I turned back. Mocking Deception stood there as if he'd never moved.
"The Saintess is having sweet dreams."
Ariana stood blankly at his side.
Her eyes dyed vivid purple.
At the sight, I dropped to my knees and clasped my hands.
"…I confess my sins to the Goddess."
I gazed skyward in atonement.
"Though granted great power by the Goddess, my lack of effort failed those I swore to protect."
"Hmm…?"
Ignoring Mocking Deception's intrigued stare, I pressed on.
"Thus, stay not the flames consuming this sinner's flesh. And even unto ash, grant me strength to punish the evil before me."
-Roar!
The holy power engulfing me blazed fiercer, as if fed fresh logs.
"Oh, ooh…? That's hero-tier holy power! Now we're talking!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Where…?'
Ariana awoke in a space awash in purple.
Moments ago, she'd been channeling holy power beside Perantia Temperance, the Holy Knight of Temperance. Now, in this alien place, an inexplicable dread gripped her.
'Ah! The dragon…!'
Recalling the chaos, she frantically sought escape.
-Hiss…
She squinted at a hazy scene, veiled like smoke.
'Is?'
A mere silhouette, yet she knew instantly: her direct holy knight, Is.
A golden aura blazed wildly around him, stretching skyward like a lifeline.
As if drawing power from above.