Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Lightning, Ice, and Life
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“Our ultimate goal is the destruction of Uren’s sanctuary.”
“My greatest disciple, Claude. One day, you must pierce the barrier blocking Uren’s sanctuary and raise high the banner of our Necromancer Army.”
Was that the third round?
That was the only time I took the ‘Necromancer Army friendly route,’ so yeah, that must’ve been it.
Anyway, I learned the location and features of the sanctuary from Necromancer Lord Crock. After that, I figured out a gentler way to open the entrance—not by destroying it—through my own trial and error.
“The book said the sanctuary’s entrance is blocked by massive tree roots. But you have the power to move those very roots, right?”
“That’s correct. Though, Contractor, you’ve never actually summoned me to use my abilities even once.”
Oh? Was that true?
Come to think of it, I only contracted with this one recently. If I’d known, I would’ve summoned her during the fight with those earthworms.
“The elves explained your abilities. You can extend roots or branches to attack enemies directly, and if there are trees nearby, you can use those too, right?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“You bound Dezhar’s limbs that way in the Lord’s chamber before. So I thought maybe you could open this. What do you think? Can you do it?”
“……”
The dryad fell silent for a moment. I started counting silently in my head.
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9….
Why count? Because on average, it took her 30 seconds so far. From the moment the dryad made up her mind until she cleared the tree roots.
“……I can do it.”
Having steeled her resolve, the dryad soon raised her branches like arms and activated her power.
Craaaaaack!
The tangled net of roots began unraveling with tremendous force. That only took 15 seconds this time? Why was her hesitation half as long?
Anyway.
Craaaaaack!
Crunch! Snap!
Zzzzzap!
This root barrier is as ridiculously thick as ever, past or present.
“I understand why you wish to enter here, Contractor. Because the world might end in a year.”
More precisely, 10 months and 6 days from now. Anyway, the dryad finished her work and gazed sadly at the now-wide-open cave entrance.
“By rights, I should never open this door. But your desperate situation has swayed my heart. I pray you achieve your desire….”
Having exhausted all her power, the dryad vanished. That showed just how immense the roots blocking this place had been.
“Ah, my mistake.”
From here to the actual sanctuary proper would take half a day on foot, right?
If I’d known, I would’ve asked the dryad for a few more fruits. Sigh, I’ve been so scatterbrained lately….
* * *
Let’s review all five gods here.
First, Lua, god of fate and time. The one who summoned me to this dimension.
Next, Rana, god of mystery and law. She’s tied to elemental magic.
Then Payo, god of power and strength. No idea what he does exactly.
Even without magic armor, people here are way stronger than Earth humans…. Probably related to that somehow?
Then Quincy, god of darkness and death. No need to explain—he handles necromancy.
Finally, Uren, god of earth and life.
He’s literally the source of all divine magic. And yet his priests blather about blessings from the five gods and pretend to worship them all? When in reality, they only serve Uren.
“You must not come here.”
A mass of light in human form extended a hand in warning from afar. Phew, good. Looks like I’ve finally arrived.
“Don’t be like that. Time’s already short as it is. I even walked here out of respect, without using flight magic.”
“You already belong to another god’s proxy. Gods cannot interfere with each other’s proxies. Thus, I can offer you no aid or information. Leave this place at once.”
This stiff guy is Uren, god of earth and life. I raised my hand with a smile and greeted him.
“Yeah. Nice to meet you too. First time and all—Gaaahk!”
Damn it.
One look with the Lord’s Eye, and my brain nearly exploded!
What the hell is that? Scary.
How is everything compressed millions—no, tens of millions—times over? Is that all life force? Or mana…?
Screw it, I don’t know.
Might as well lie down and rest while my head’s killing me.
“You, Lua’s proxy. What do you think you’re doing? Leave my sanctuary now.”
“Shut up. You’re all talk anyway.”
“What did you say?”
“I know you can’t force me out. Damn it. Can’t you be a little nicer?”
“Nicer? To a thug who forced his way through my sanctuary’s door?”
“How am I a thug? I summoned a dryad and opened it gentlemanly-like. Should I have called Ignis and burned my way in instead?”
“Hmph. That wouldn’t open the entrance. The root wall regenerates infinitely, no matter how much you burn it.”
“I know. Just testing you. No need to snap.”
“You filthy dog of Lua….”
“Hey, no harsh words, okay? Either way, without me, the world might end in a year. You know I’m essential, so can’t we make excuses and get along?”
He looks just like Lua, so old habits slip out. Of course, Uren stays dead serious.
“……I can offer you no aid. Leave. If you seek advice, go to your own god’s sanctuary.”
“I’m not here for advice. I’m here to take something.”
“I have nothing to give you.”
“Really? You’re not just one, are you?”
“Nonsense. I am naturally a single being.”
“No, you have two attributes. Life. And earth.”
That’s what gives a proxy of another god like me an opening.
“Earth. So you’re connected to earth spirits. Among the five gods, you’re the only one tied to a specific spirit lineage. Their owner, you could say?”
“How do you…?”
“I’m Lua’s proxy, remember? How many times do you think I’ve pulled this stunt?”
“……I see.”
Uren sat down right there, matching eyes with me sprawled on the ground.
“I told you myself.”
“Yeah. If I hold out here whining for a day, you’ll spill first.”
-This changes nothing. I understand your pain, but I cannot help you.
-But….
-I cannot help another god’s proxy. Only my kin’s contractors. And at least two of them.
Kin means spirits. What a tsundere.
“So I contracted ahead this time too. Rock spirit Lukkar and tree spirit dryad. Both your kin, right? So you can help now?”
“……This time too?”
“Yeah. This time—no, again.”
Uren fell silent for a while. Then he stood, raising his hand.
“Understood. Godly procedures mean nothing to you. I’ll skip them all. You know everything anyway. Straight to the point.”
“Can’t we chat more first? Chances to bring this up don’t come often.”
No point—they won’t believe me, and even if they do, it’s trouble.
But Uren shook his head coldly.
“No. We begin now.”
“Tch….”
“Spirit mage who contracted with my kin, the rock spirit, and overcame all trials to reach here—to you, Uren, god of earth and life, bestows divine power. Are you prepared to receive divinity?”
“Yes. Give me Life Link.”
“……!”
Even without a face, he’s shocked.
I cupped my palms and begged.
“It’s a choice between ‘Life Link’ and ‘Life Infusion,’ right? I need Life Link, so that one.”
“Explanation of the divine magic…? No, you already know it all.”
Of course I do.
Life Link connects life with a friendly target, distributing damage.
Life Infusion injects your life into a target. It can save even someone beyond recovery magic.
At the cost of you dying.
“Don’t need Life Infusion. What then? If I die, this world ends too.”
“Understood.”
Uren formed a spherical mass of light above his raised hand.
Whiiiiiir!
It dropped onto my body and began orbiting around me.
“This is my power. Life Link. Preserve others’ lives with your own.”
Sorry, but it’s the opposite. I plan to preserve my life with others’.
The large light mass seeped into my body and was absorbed.
“With this, our bond concludes. Leave now, human. The root barrier will close again before sunset. Otherwise, you’ll starve in here.”
“About two hours till sunset…? Got it.”
I finally got up from where I’d collapsed.
“Business done, so I’ll head out. Two hours is tight—mind if I fly with magic?”
“Do as you like.”
“No scolding me for rudeness next time I visit?”
“Get out! I’ll never see you again!”
Uren swung both arms and bellowed.
But will that really be the case?
So far, the only earth spirits I could contract were two: Lukkar and the dryad.
But this time, there’s a chance for the big boss above them?
I backed away, waving to the furious Uren.
“Bye then! I’ll contract with Terajik and come back soon!”
“……Terajik?”
“The Earth Spirit King. Even rock and tree spirits got me this far—imagine what a spirit king will give! Looking forward to it! See you soon—hang in there!”
* * *
The moment I exited the sanctuary, the tree roots wrapped around the cave entrance as if waiting.
Craaaaaaaaack!
What a guy.
Our Uren’s soft-hearted and kind for a god. He’s the only one I’ve successfully pried something from so far.
I haven’t even located the sanctuary of Payo, god of power and strength. Just estimated somewhere in western Naibia.
As for Rana, god of mystery and law, an Arch Wizard like me going there is pointless.
-Spirits are mystery, spirits are law, and all spirits are my kin.
-Thus, to you who contracted with five spirits, I grant the teaching of the highest elemental magic, ‘Tempest.’
But I already know Tempest.
Maybe contracting beyond five—seven or ten spirits—and visiting Rana would change things.
Not holding my breath, though. Her base reward isn’t teaching Tempest, just info on it.
Jeez.
Tempest info? Human mages already know it all. For a god, isn’t your intel way outdated? Better keep quiet.
Next, the sanctuary of Lua, the root of all evil who summoned me here, my sworn enemy….
It’s always closed.
More precisely, it has no entrance at all.
Instead, on the day of fate….
When the otherworld gates open and I fail, fleeing in defeat, a navigation pops up in my head.
Follow it while running, and you reach Lua’s sanctuary.
Somewhere behind the sand waterfalls in central Naibia, I think….
I came once in good shape, but couldn’t find entrance or even traces. Seems impossible unless Lua himself allows it.
Finally, Quincy’s sanctuary, god of darkness and death, sits alone in the land of death. That’s another dimension entirely, so off-limits.
Anyway, got Life Link, so this expedition’s done.
Time to head home for a check-in?
If I squeeze every drop of mana and fly, I’ll make it in three days…. Alright. Let’s push it.