Chapter 39
Chapter 39
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: The City Without the Sun (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
About a month had passed since the emergence of the Rank 5 mukkis.
"Saintess, Sir Is. The lord is summoning you."
The lord, Abyss, who we'd only heard survival reports from, had finally sent a servant to fetch us.
We followed the servant without a word.
Suddenly, the servant halted in front of an alleyway.
Wondering what was wrong, we saw five mukkis guarding the path.
Three Rank 3s and two Rank 4s.
"I'll handle them quick—"
As I stepped forward, a familiar figure appeared atop the adjacent building.
"O darkness that defiles the sun! Perish in the light of the sun!!" -Splash!
Cloth armor emblazoned with a yellow sun motif over chain mail.
The familiar great helm.
It was Solrad.
He channeled holy power in his left hand, then swept it along the sword in his right. The blade gleamed with a golden coating.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Solar Sword Art, First Form: Light that Cleaves the Heavens! -Spurt!
"Grrraaak!"
Dropping from the rooftop, Solrad pierced a Rank 3 mukki's eye.
The mukki lost its balance in an instant, collapsing and melting away.
He's growing stronger too, huh?
His skills were far beyond the rumors.
Unlike the tales of barely managing kills through ambushes, he'd openly shouted, yet effortlessly skewered a Rank 3 mukki that had time to brace itself.
I had questions for him, but mukkis remained, so I stepped forward.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Shield of Faith! -Thud!
"Giek!"
I slammed into the nearest Rank 3 mukki with Shield of Faith active.
It was flung back, stunned briefly. In that moment, a golden blade pierced its eye.
"Gieeeek!"
The mukki melted away immediately.
Solrad, standing before the remains, shouted.
"It's been a while! Glad you're safe!"
"Same to you."
"Hahaha! I can't die until the sun returns!"
-Slash!
Another Rank 3 mukki was bisected and melted.
Only the two Rank 4s remained.
We turned back-to-back, facing them.
"Sir Solrad, I've got your back."
"Hahaha! 'Sir,' huh? Haven't heard that in ages. Leave it to me!"
I smiled at his levity, but only for a moment.
"Here I go!"
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Solar Sword Art, First Form: Light that Cleaves the Heavens! We charged at the mukkis.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hoo... hoo..."
We barely emerged victorious against the mukkis.
The one I'd taken on resembled a mantis with a scorpion-like tail. Every attempt to strike its central core was blocked by its blade arms or tail, making it a real headache.
But I survived.
Catching my breath, I glanced at Solrad.
-Thud!
A massive body crashed to the ground.
"Grroooo..."
Solrad thrust his sword into the ground before the melting mukki.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Rough breaths echoed from within his helm. I approached.
"You alright, Sir Solrad?"
I'd struggled too, but he looked on the brink of death.
The mukkis have gotten stronger overall.
As I regarded him with awe for battling such foes, he slowly lifted his head, meeting my eyes through the visor.
"You're... impressive."
"Pardon?"
Solrad gazed at me with genuine admiration, mirroring my own.
"You've got power, you serve the gods, and above all, an unbreakable spirit. Truly impressive."
No mockery—just pure praise.
Even as his arms trembled, he clapped my shoulder. I thought to myself.
Sorry, but this feels awfully familiar.
"Th-thank you both so much."
"No problem. Let's get moving again."
"Understood."
"I've healed Sir Solrad too!"
"Hahaha! My thanks to the Saintess's grace!"
With the mukkis cleared, we resumed our journey.
I'd planned to ask Solrad some questions, but the servant kept glancing nervously, so I decided to save it for later.
Something told me we'd meet again soon.
"Then, let's head out."
Thankfully, only stray lesser mukkis appeared after, letting us reach our destination unscathed.
"This is it?"
"The lord's temporary residence. As you know, times are tough, so we've prioritized defenses over appearances. Forgive us."
"No issue, but..."
The stark contrast from the grand lord's mansion was jarring.
Unlike the vibrant, sunlit mansion befitting the City of the Sun, this shelter was drab, built from colorless materials and patched wood—almost like a black mage's lair.
But beneath the crude exterior lay magical wards aplenty.
Ariana and I followed the servant inside. Then—
"Afrehhh!"
A guttural wail erupted from within.
"Oh no!"
The servant rushed in at the eerie cry. Soon, he returned, dragging a haggard man.
"My lord, they're here."
"L-Lord...?"
Ariana stammered in shock.
Her reaction was understandable.
The man before us was far too wretched to be Lord Abyss.
His once-radiant red hair hung limp like seaweed, his fiery red eyes dulled.
The handsome middle-aged man now looked twenty years older in mere weeks.
I knew, so no surprise for me.
Abyss's decline was scripted.
Not from the city's apocalypse, but Alfred's death.
"S-Sorry for my state. With things worsening, no time for grooming."
He forced a smile, but exhaustion and anxiety bled through.
"N-No! It's fine. With the situation, who has time to relax? And as lord, you bear the city's burden..."
"...Thank you for understanding."
Abyss led us inside.
"Is..."
"Yeah."
Ariana edged closer as we followed.
The interior unnerved her.
Even creepier in person.
Abyss's memory issues had worsened since losing his loyal advisor Alfred. Scrawled notes littered the walls to jog his recall.
[AbyssSolariaAbyssSolaria]
[Alfreh? Alfred]
[ImportantPlanImportantPlan]
[Underground]
[RestorationPlan]
[Don't forget the shadow]
[Remember the plan Remember the plan]
More notes appeared with every step.
"Plan...?"
Ariana murmured at the repeated 'plan'.
Abyss whirled on us.
"Plan! Pl-Plan...!"
He muttered frantically before regaining composure.
"Ahem, sorry. The plan's nothing special. Just... restoration efforts."
"Restoration? Ah, right, the city's in ruins everywhere..."
"Haha, something like that."
Ariana nodded sympathetically. Abyss shrugged it off, but I knew better.
We proceeded in silence until Abyss stopped at a door.
"Come in. Wards ensure mukkis won't detect anything inside."
"Ooh..."
Ariana marveled, stepping forward. Abyss smiled at her.
I grabbed her shoulder.
"Is?"
Both eyed me questioningly.
Under their gazes, I spoke.
"Saintess. Don't go in."
"What? Why?"
"Sir Is, what are—"
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Shield of Faith. -Thud!
"Guhk!"
In a blink, I slammed Shield of Faith into Abyss.
He flew limply into the wall.
Ariana stared in horror. I whispered.
"Look at him."
She did—and paled further.
"Grrk, A-Alfreh... g-give... m-my memories... b-back, find... them..."
Impaled in the wall, Abyss spewed black fluid from every facial orifice, his joints twisting grotesquely as he rose.