Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 190
>Chapter Title: Angela's Wish
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Amid the brilliant halos of light, one red glow stood out particularly vividly.
It was something he had seen before.
‘……The necklace.’
The Shattered Necklace of Truth.
The necklace Angela had worn, and the fourth piece of fate. He had already seen it once when he first arrived here.
But the intensity of the light it emitted now was on another level compared to then.
Previously, only the necklace itself had glowed red, but now it was radiating a magnificent light around it.
[The fourth piece of fate, the Shattered Necklace of Truth, reacts to the 'Spark of Purification.']
[A piece reacts to the key's material.]
‘So it was because of the Spark of Purification.’
He had thought a hidden event might trigger right there on the spot.
But it seemed the piece of fate was reacting to the Spark of Purification.
Unlike the first time when only Do-hyun could see it, the light was now so bright that everyone could tell. Gilberun couldn’t close his mouth.
“……What is this?”
“The necklace…… seems to be reacting.”
“How can it react without Angela?”
It was an astonishing sight, but also a familiar one.
Whenever Angela wore it and performed the purification ritual, it always emitted a brilliant light.
It was the light of purification that only Angela, who could see the flow of mana, could produce.
In other words, it was a light that hadn’t been seen even once since Angela fell into eternal slumber.
“And a light this intense…… even Angela struggled to draw it out.”
“Your Majesty, look where the light is heading.”
“Hm……? That’s……!”
“As expected…… it’s reacting.”
Gilberun’s eyes widened as he looked where Knight Commander Hyde pointed.
Luriel was also muttering something. The sight before their eyes was just that mystical.
The brilliant light that had covered their vision weakened and gathered in one place, then stretched toward Do-hyun.
Do-hyun was the most flustered by this bizarre phenomenon.
‘Eek! What’s that? Why’s a beam shooting out of the wall all of a sudden? Run……! Huh? It doesn’t hurt?’
‘……Please maintain some dignity, sir.’
‘I saw you flinch in fear too, you know?’
‘Ahem. Must’ve been a mistake.’
……Actually, those guys seemed even more flustered, but there was a difference between their fluster and Do-hyun’s.
[Traces of excessive handling in its shattered state are detected. The necklace cannot bear the power of the piece.]
[Hurry and complete the key to restore its complete form.]
‘This is a first.’
The necklace’s intense reaction wasn’t just to show off its presence.
This was a message directed at Do-hyun.
A message saying it couldn’t hold out, so hurry and complete the piece of fate.
He was briefly startled by the unprecedented phenomenon, but thinking about it, he had some idea why.
The Destroyer Geymon’s Hourglass of Faith.
Sargis’s Bell of Harmony.
They had all gained power from pieces of fate, but it was power obtained simply by possessing them.
They hadn’t forcibly drawn out that power to perform a purification ritual like he had.
The shattered piece couldn’t handle the power.
‘Are there others drawing power from the other pieces?’
If so…… what would happen if they kept using the power of the shattered pieces?
Would they shatter completely?
Or would they fizzle out like a drained battery?
The latter would be fortunate, but if it was the former, how would he even find them?
‘……No way I have to find every single shattered piece and put them together, right?’
Do-hyun shook his head at the horrifying thought.
No matter how insane the main quest’s difficulty was, it couldn’t be that crazy.
……It couldn’t.
Anyway, that was something to think about later. For now, he needed to focus on the situation at hand.
[Hidden event 'Last Lantern Ritual' has opened.]
[You must carefully choose at this crossroads to perform the Last Lantern Ritual.]
[Sudden quest 'Angela's Wish' has occurred.]
[Angela's Wish]
-Rank: Sudden Quest
-Description: The woman who wielded the power of the fourth piece of fate.
The tragic woman, Angela, who broke the taboo and fell into eternal slumber, wishes for something.
Fulfill her wish.
-Fulfill the wish: The hidden event's second route will proceed, and the first route will be deleted.
-Do not fulfill: The hidden event's first route will proceed, and the second route will be deleted.
-Time Limit: 40 minutes
‘So it splits into two routes.’
A hidden event that opened after the special event was deleted.
It seemed to have two routes as well.
He wondered how the still-slumbering Angela could issue a quest, but it didn’t matter.
He’d find out soon enough.
“Hero, are you alright?”
“Nothing happened, I hope?”
“Ah, yes. It seems the necklace reacted to the Spark of Purification.”
“It’s the first time the necklace has reacted to anyone besides Angela, so it was startling. As expected of the Apostle of Prophecy…… It wasn’t for nothing that you asked for the necklace.”
Do-hyun appropriately responded to Gilberun and Hyde, who expressed their honest admiration, then changed the subject.
“Then…… shall we go?”
“Ah. Right…… You said you disposed of Luidra.”
“Your Majesty…….”
In the solemn atmosphere, Do-hyun turned first.
The tragic woman, Angela.
Now it was truly time to wake her.
* * *
Fortunately, the journey took only a few seconds.
[Using Teleport Scroll.]
[Moving to the designated location, 'Central Restricted Forest.']
[Location has moved, so Guardians are forcibly relocated.]
‘Is this the king’s privilege?’
Thanks to Gilberun pulling out a teleport scroll, he didn’t have to circle the forest like last time.
Of course, it made sense. A king heading to the restricted forest every time would draw too much attention.
Since Angela’s existence was a secret, it was only natural.
‘The quest time limit was short for a reason.’
He had braced for at least 30 minutes of travel time, but this was even better.
In any case, the forest they returned to was the same as before.
A pristine central area, maintained as if detached from the uninhabited forest around it.
And there, slumbering in a glass coffin, was Angela.
“Ahh…… Angela. I’ve come.”
The moment Gilberun saw her, he lumbered toward her.
His face was twisted, barely holding back tears that seemed ready to burst.
Step by step.
Step.
Finally reaching her side, Gilberun dropped to his knees with a thud.
The king was dirtying his knees, but no one stopped him.
“I’m sorry. This incompetent husband of yours left you, who hates being alone, by yourself for so long.”
“…….”
Grip—
“I’m growing old, but you remain unchanging. Even time hasn’t been allowed to touch you.”
“…….”
“That’s what I’ve always feared. That I’d grow old alone and die without waking you, leaving you forgotten forever.”
How could anyone stop him seeing that?
He held her delicate hand preciously in both of his, wailing with affection bordering on pathos.
Right now, in this place, there was no city lord or king.
There was only a man who had lived for years yearning for his wife and fearing her loss.
‘……Somehow touching, Master.’
‘Hm. Even the strongest man is weak before his woman.’
‘Riza…….’
‘……Yeah.’
Do-hyun nodded at Jihad’s words.
Whether because he had heard some of their story in detail, or simply from Gilberun’s earnest voice and the sight of him kneeling and clutching her hand so dearly.
Watching them made his chest feel tight.
“Here, you may not know her, but Luriel has been a great support. This is the Apostle Luriel prophesied about. The benefactor who made our reunion possible. And Guard Captain Betar’s wife just gave birth.”
“…….”
“I have so much to say. Please wake up so we can talk about everything.”
Gilberun, who had been gazing fondly at Angela while squeezing her hand, finally stood.
His knees ached from kneeling so long, but even that felt welcome.
“Thank you for waiting. Let’s begin now.”
“Understood.”
“Then this…….”
Do-hyun nodded, and Hyde carefully took something from his bosom and handed it over.
A worn necklace embedded with a ruby-like gem.
[Acquired the fourth piece of fate, 'Shattered Necklace of Truth.']
It was the Shattered Necklace of Truth.
After such a long ordeal, it was finally in Do-hyun’s hands.
‘Finally…….’
Was it the atmosphere?
He felt himself getting sentimental. Maybe because of the time invested.
The moment Do-hyun swallowed dryly and carefully took the necklace—
Flash!
“Ugh?”
“Huh?”
A blinding light burst forth.
The same phenomenon as before. But this time, it wasn’t the necklace.
“Angela……?”
It was coming from Angela, slumbering in the glass coffin.
At the same time, Do-hyun’s eyes saw it.
[Eye of Truth activates.]
A thin thread connecting her and the necklace.
-Ah…… Rune.
And at the end of that thread, a woman’s form floating above Angela’s body.
It was a soul.
A translucent silhouette tinged with blue—an apparition.
One that Do-hyun was familiar with.
[Luidra has been defeated, detecting a minute crack in the eternal slumber.]
[Encountering hidden event NPC, 'Angela's Soul.']
[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]
[The fourth piece of fate, 'Shattered Necklace of Truth,' reacts to the key.]
[The piece of fate desires the power of the piece melted into her flesh.]
‘……What?’
It was none other than Angela’s soul.
“Just now…… I clearly heard Angela’s voice. Hyde, did you hear it too?”
“……Yes. I definitely heard it. It was unmistakably Lady Angela’s voice.”
“Ahh, Angela. Finally…… finally awake.”
But it seemed invisible to them.
Of course, it was only natural common sense that humans couldn’t see souls.
Do-hyun was the unusual one with the Eye of Truth.
-A special mana flow…… I see. You can see me?
Do-hyun nodded, and she covered her mouth with her faint hands in surprise.
-I thought it a success just to make my voice heard by stimulating the mana flow…… but now there’s someone to see my final form.
Angela smiled softly, closing her eyes gently.
Seeing her smile, Do-hyun understood why Gilberun called her a rabbit-like woman.
She exuded an innocent aura that could never harm anyone.
Surprised yet smiling, she turned her head to the side. Her expression soured instantly, as if she’d never smiled.
“Angela, Angela. Why won’t you wake? Say it one more time. Please…….”
“…….”
In her eyes was Gilberun, frantically shaking her body.
It seemed he couldn’t hear her voice now.
-Since you can see me, I only touched the mana flow between you and me first.
……Was that possible?
Truly worthy of someone born with eyes that appear once every hundred years.
He couldn’t help but marvel at her wondrous ability.
At the same time, a question arose.
“Why me?”
Why speak to him specifically?
Common sense dictated that if she wanted to speak separately, she’d choose Gilberun first.
-My body has been asleep, but I’ve heard and seen everything through the mana flow. I was always curious about the owner of that brilliantly shining mana, and it was you. I wanted to thank you for trying to help me. Truly, thank you.
“Ah, that…… I had my own reasons too.”
Just in case, Do-hyun replied in a very quiet voice.
Worried Gilberun might hear.
Fortunately, Gilberun didn’t seem to, still clinging to Angela’s body. Confirming this, Angela cautiously spoke.
-And…… truth be told, I couldn’t bring myself to speak to him first. I thought he wouldn’t accept it easily.
“Accept what?”
To his question, she answered calmly.
-That I must die.
“Ah, I see…… What?
The words from her mouth were utterly shocking.