Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The City That Lost the Sun (6)
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Abyss Solaris.
The lord of the city of the sun, Solaris, and the mastermind who caused it to lose its sun.
The great lord Abyss, who had always protected the city, realized about five years ago that he was losing his memories.
He was 45 at the time, squarely in middle age for this world where average lifespans were extended by magic power and auras.
Yet at 45, he had fallen victim to what they called 'dementia.' He, a magitech engineer for whom memory was everything.
As the days passed and his memories slipped away, he grew increasingly anxious, tormented by the fear that he might lose himself entirely. He could barely sleep.
Fortunately, he had Alfred at his side—a capable butler and loyal retainer who had served him since his youth. With Alfred's help, he managed to recover some forgotten memories.
But this only slowed the dementia's progression slightly; it wasn't a fundamental solution.
Desperate not to lose any more of his memories, Abyss was approached one day by a figure cloaked in a black robe.
'The Offering Sacrifice...'
That black mage's name was The Offering Sacrifice.
True to his name, the black magic he wielded involved sacrificing offerings to gain what one desired.
He proposed to Abyss that by offering a massive number of souls, he could restore his memories and ensure they would never fade again. Abyss delayed his answer and consulted with Alfred.
Alfred pitied him but urged him against it, saying it was wrong to sacrifice people's souls. In the end, Abyss 'refused' The Offering Sacrifice's proposal.
In truth, even as he spoke with Alfred, Abyss had steeled his resolve amid his fading memories and ultimately took the black mage's hand.
"Give... me... back... my... memories!"
-Shing!
"Is!"
"I don't lose to doddering old men with dementia."
-Thud!
Abyss yanked a sword from the wall and charged, but Is kicked him flying.
Abyss sailed through the air limply.
The Solaris family was renowned for magitech, not martial prowess. And this uncle had no connection to weapons in the first place—now add memory loss, and his sword swings were worthless.
Anyway, his current state was the price of his choices.
The souls demanded by The Offering Sacrifice grew in number proportional to Abyss's memories. When sacrificing the city's back-alley poor was no longer enough, he collaborated with the black mage to erect a massive barrier over the entire city.
To neutralize a city powered by sunlight and slaughter its people in the darkness as offerings.
But The Offering Sacrifice had different plans.
-Clack. Clack. Clack.
The sound of heels echoing from behind Ariana and me.
"Oh my, I told you to stay in the room... Was that too difficult? Oo-hoo-hoo..."
I spun around, gripping my shotel tightly.
"Oh, I expected the saintess to be renowned for her beauty, but... you're not bad yourself, are you? You look valuable."
A golden-haired beauty licked her lips as she eyed my face, my visor raised during our talk.
She wore an exquisite black robe embroidered with gold thread, gazing at me with lascivious eyes. Her identity was...
"...The Offering Sacrifice."
"Oh? You know me?"
The culprit who had reduced Abyss to that state—The Offering Sacrifice.
She was the only black mage who dressed so flamboyantly, making her instantly recognizable.
Surprised that I knew her identity, she widened her eyes briefly before softening into a gentle smile and asking,
"My true nature isn't widely known... How did you figure it out?"
"No need for you to know that. Shield of Faith."
Ignoring her question, I activated Shield of Faith.
I pulled Ariana behind me and glared at The Offering Sacrifice.
"Hmm..."
She eyed me with a meaningful look for a moment.
Her face flushed red in an instant.
"Heh... heh-heh... ha-haa!"
"Is..."
Ariana softly called my name at the sight of her laughing like a madwoman.
I signaled her to stay calm, then turned back to The Offering Sacrifice.
"As expected, there's nothing I crave more than a knight brimming with defiance! The others didn't seem worth collecting... but those defiant eyes, your position as a direct holy knight, your unwavering loyalty to the saintess alone, and that handsome face—so rugged yet refined! You're definitely collection-worthy!"
She spewed madness with crazed eyes.
'She was like this in the game too.'
Back then, I was playing as the hero. Now I'm a direct holy knight, but she still seemed to rate me highly.
After all, as someone who offered sacrifices—humans—she always wanted more possessions.
"Come now, if you join my collection willingly, I won't hurt you. I might even treat you well? A fortune to live off forever, a cozy home, lavish meals. If there's anything you desire, I can obtain it for you. And if you feel like it..."
The Offering Sacrifice formed a heart shape with her hands over her lower abdomen.
"...pleasures 'like this' too—"
"Kyaa! What are you saying!"
Before she could finish, Ariana stepped forward from behind me and shouted at her.
"What do you intend to do to Is! He's a holy knight who lives in temperance, suppressing his desires!"
"Hmm? Even so, it wouldn't stop him from intimacy with a lover, would it?"
"No way! You're not his lover—you're a black mage!"
"The choice belongs to him, not you."
"Ugh...!"
Ariana made a frustrated face, then looked at me with desperate eyes.
The mood had lightened suddenly. I let out a small chuckle and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Worry not, Saintess. The only ones I serve for life are the Goddess and you. I won't negotiate with a vile black mage like her. That's how I repay the Goddess who grants me strength and the Saintess who ignites my will."
"Is...!"
I sent her, eyes sparkling with emotion, back behind me and addressed The Offering Sacrifice.
"No negotiations with black mages."
"Is that so... Well, I didn't expect you to come quietly anyway..."
-Snap.
"I offer the weapons of this world to thee."
The moment she snapped her fingers and chanted, the gold embroidery on her robe vanished in an instant.
And from within her shadow, something writhed into view.
"Greeek... Gruk?"
"Karr... Karuk!"
Fourth-stage murks: one snake-like with spider legs, the other emaciated humanoid.
"Murkiera? Mukirid? Capture the holy knight before you. Light wounds are fine, but no missing parts. The saintess... she's for sacrifice, so capture alive without a scratch."
"Greeirik!"
"Karr!"
At her command, the murks charged us.
Two fourth-stage murks would be tough but manageable, I thought.
"I offer the armor of this world to thee."
The shield in my hand melted away in a heartbeat.
"What the—"
-Boom!
Shield of Faith blocked it before my bare body took the hit, but I'd lost my main defense in a flash.
'No such pattern in the game?'
Disarming weapons like this out of nowhere—how?
As I wondered, The Offering Sacrifice explained.
"A hero or saintess might resist, but someone with holy power below that? I knew it'd work."
Ah, it didn't work in the game because I was the hero.
And that meant my holy power—far inferior to theirs—left me helpless.
"I offer the armor of this world to thee."
"...Damn it!"
My left arm's armor vanished, exposing the clothes beneath.
"You have quite a bit of holy power, huh? I tried to erase the whole suit."
Probably thanks to the hero's holy power I'd received.
"But it doesn't matter. If I can't do it at once, I'll do it bit by bit."
I could only grit my teeth at her words.
'Damn it, Ruin—what the hell are you doing right now!'
The situation's this bad, and the so-called hero still hasn't shown up?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Creak.
-What is this...
"Hm? What the fuck?"
Ruin, comfortably riding a carriage from the north, opened the door at the noise outside and asked the coachman,
"What's going on?"
"Ah, Hero, it's just..."
The coachman trailed off, looking ahead. Ruin followed his gaze.
There before them...
"What the fuck."
A massive black barrier enveloping the entire city.
"Where are we?"
"The city of the sun, Solaris..."
"...City of the sun? Then why's the sun black over there?"
"No, it's normally a magitech city powered by sunlight, but... what in the world..."
"Tch, wait here. I'll handle it."
Leaving the apologetic old coachman behind, Ruin strode forward.
He'd normally have punched him, but the man was elderly, so he held back.
"City of the sun, my ass."
He muttered as he neared the barrier, planning to smash it outright. But there was already someone there.
"This is troubling..."
A woman in an ornate purple robe embroidered with patterns, pressing a staff as long as she was tall against the barrier.
"Gyu-dok, are you sure we have to go this way?"
She turned her head, addressing the empty air.
Her golden hair cascaded like fine silk, her green eyes capturing the verdant depths of a forest.
Her straight nose and sparkling eyes gave her a beauty that seemed inhuman.
Seeing her troubled before the barrier, Ruin approached with fists clenched.
"Gyu-dok, I think this is... Oh?"
Spotting Ruin, she cried out as he advanced on the barrier with a resolute expression.
"Hey! No one can get through this barrier—"
"Smash."
"Pardon?"
"I'm smashing it."
Ruin pulled his fist back fully, then thrust it forward.
-Kwaaang!
A hole big enough for five people to pass through ripped open in the supposedly unbreakable barrier.
She jumped in shock at the spectacle.
As she approached Ruin, he dropped to one knee before her first.
"You're fucking gorgeous. Go out with me. That's how I roll."
"Eh? No thanks..."
"Fuck."