Chapter 191
Chapter 191
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 191
>Chapter Title: The Last Lantern Ritual
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Chapter 191
>191.
‘……What?’
What had he just heard?
That she had to die?
He was going through all this hell to save her, and now this was the ridiculous response.
Was his bewilderment showing on his face?
Angela gave a bitter smile as she continued.
-You’ve heard about the Lantern Ritual, Luidra, and the current state of the city, right?
“……Yes.”
-Then this will be quick. I can sense the flow of mana and received external stimulation, so I’ve maintained my reason. But the others can’t. They’re simply asleep.
A true slumber that permits no dreams whatsoever.
A state no different from a half-corpse, with only their bodies remaining amid utter lack of stimulation.
That was the condition of the cursed residents now.
“Then doesn’t that mean you need to wake up even more?”
That was why he couldn’t understand.
The only way to awaken them from eternal slumber was the ember of purification and the power of the necklace.
And no one could wield them better than Angela.
There was no reason for her to die in this situation.
But she shook her head.
-I can see it with my eyes: the unstable mana flow in the necklace, on the verge of complete shattering. In this state, I could awaken at most one person.
“Then……”
-If you take the power of the necklace fused into my flesh, it should return to its complete form.
By now, Do-hyun could grasp what she meant.
She wasn’t asking for death.
-If you save me, the necklace will shatter. But if you absorb the energy fused into my flesh…… you can save countless people.
It was simply the only way.
To absorb the energy from her flesh, her life force had to be taken entirely—and that meant death.
‘No, so this is what it meant that she would be the key?’
He had naturally assumed it was her power, using her eyes that could see mana flows. But Angela herself was the key.
In this absurd situation, he couldn’t even speak.
He didn’t know where to begin explaining, whether to dissuade her or encourage her.
-I broke a taboo. This is my chance to atone for that sin. If anything, I should be grateful for the opportunity.
“……Is that true?”
The response came not from Do-hyun, but from elsewhere.
A little distance from Do-hyun.
It was Gilverun, who should have been busy awakening Angela.
He stared at the empty space where Do-hyun was looking, with deeply sorrowful eyes.
“Are you truly saying that’s the truth, Angela?”
-Rune? How……
“The hero was staring into empty space, so I focused my mana on a hunch. To think you’d speak to an outsider before me—makes me jealous.”
-Hah, but I definitely controlled the mana flow……
“Have you forgotten? How vast my mana is. Even the complete you found it overwhelming. Aren’t you underestimating me too much?”
-Ah……
Gilverun couldn’t see Angela.
She could see him, but to his eyes, it was just empty space.
Yet for some reason.
To Do-hyun’s eyes, it felt as if the two were gazing into each other’s.
‘They resemble each other.’
Probably because their gazes were so alike.
The eyes of lovers sensing eternal parting.
Bitterness, sorrow, resentment, longing……
A whirlwind of countless emotions too vast for a single word, glimpsed in that brief moment.
“Angela……”
If there was one difference between them.
Unlike Angela, who had resolved herself during her slumber, Gilverun still couldn’t accept it.
Seeing his eyes brim with tears, Do-hyun quietly stepped back.
‘……Let’s give them space.’
‘Yes, Master…… That’s best.’
‘Lizariza.’
‘I agree, my lord.’
This was no longer Do-hyun’s time.
It was the final moment given to Gilverun before sending off the wife he had staked everything on.
Sharing the same thought, Luriel and Hyde carefully withdrew as well.
-……It’s nice seeing you like this, Rune. You seem to have a lot more wrinkles.
“……Who do you think caused all this heartache? That’s why you need to help me like before. Without your nagging, I’ve stopped skincare.”
Pfft—A laugh escaped Angela as she smiled, eyes crinkling.
Probably recalling one of the daily routines that had once been commonplace.
A memory happy enough to bring a smile just thinking of it, but Angela shook her head.
-Rune……
“……Don’t say it. I don’t want to hear it.”
-Rune……
“Please. Can’t you just stay with me? 2148 days—that’s how long you’ve been gone. Not a single day passed without thinking of you.”
-……
“The world calls me a sage king, but I’m no such grand figure.”
One step. Gilverun drew closer, his voice cracking.
“I’m just an ordinary man who treasures his wife and family most…… who wants to stroll the garden with you again and share warm meals.”
-……Rune.
“Curse me as selfish if you must. I’ll gladly take every stone thrown. So please, just close your eyes and take my hand?”
With that, Gilverun cautiously extended his hand.
Seeing it placed slightly off to the side from where Angela was, she squeezed her eyes shut.
She wanted to grasp that hand right then.
To eat warm meals together, stroll the garden admiring flowers, sip tea, nag about washing up and sleeping, and fall asleep in his embrace.
When she had fallen into eternal slumber, she vowed she’d do anything to reclaim that daily life.
Tight—
Just once.
If she closed her eyes just once and took that hand.
She could reclaim it all.
-……But that’s not right.
Yet she couldn’t.
-We broke a taboo. Innocent people suffered for it. Their cold, corpse-like bodies lying there, the faces of their loved ones weeping beside them—they’re vivid in my mind. I always wanted to make it right.
“……”
-This is our chance. And you want me to put an axe on the feet of those who trusted us? For my own selfish desire?
Her voice trembled with surging emotion, her eyes reddening.
Blue tears streamed down her cheeks.
About to turn away out of habit, not wanting to be seen, Angela paused—realizing Gilverun couldn’t see her anyway.
But in that instant.
Swish—
A shadow fell over her.
Something was embracing her.
“Angela.”
It was Gilverun, who had approached unnoticed.
He had come to where her voice emanated and carefully held her.
An embrace between soul and living being.
Nothing was felt, yet everything was.
The feel of his embrace. What he meant to say. Even each other’s thoughts.
“I know all of it. So please, stop tormenting yourself.”
-……Hic. Sob.
“I’m sorry for being selfish.”
-……Actually, I lied. I want to walk with you, eat meals together, lie side by side and sleep. I wanted to close my eyes, pretend not to know, and take that hand.
“……I know.”
-I missed you so much.
“I know. I…… missed you terribly too.”
The two squeezed their eyes shut and stood still.
Instinctively sensing it.
That this moment was their last. That the time to part forever had come.
Ding—
[The time limit for the sudden quest ‘Angela’s Wish’ is 20 minutes remaining.]
[The purification ritual must be completed within 20 minutes.]
[Hidden event ‘The Last Lantern Ritual’ will begin shortly.]
A single message shattered the moment they wished could last eternally.
‘Ah, ruins the mood.’
‘Master, don’t you know manners mode?’
‘……How do you know that?’
‘I overheard apostles talking while passing by? Isn’t it for times like this?’
Some NPCs quoted players, it seemed—and Jihad was one such case.
Even so, to hear “manners mode” of all things.
As a chuckle escaped at the amusing thought.
Swoosh—
Sunset faded, and night arrived.
Gazing at the dark night sky where even moonlight had vanished, Angela stepped back one pace.
-Time is short. We must begin now. Even this state I’m in is reaching its limit.
Her soul, steadily fading, proved time was truly scarce.
As the message indicated, it was time for the hidden event.
-Rune. This is our last chance. Let’s right our wrong now.
“……Angela, can I do this?”
But compared to Angela, who wiped her tears and spoke boldly, Gilverun seemed shrunken somehow.
“You know it too. I can’t control mana. If it runs wild during the ritual, it would be an even greater sin……”
Plop.
In that moment, a strange sensation at his lips made Gilverun’s eyes widen.
Nothing should have been felt, yet it was somehow familiar and warm.
-What are you saying, Rune? You’re not alone.
And the soft voice that followed.
-I’m right here.
“But you’re already…… We can’t feel each other anymore.”
-It’s what we’ve always done. Imagine what we’ve done before, listening to my voice, and slowly control the mana. You’ve always been able to control mana. The limits and fear you set on yourself were all that held you back……
“……”
-I’m by your side, Rune. Nothing changes.
With that, she extended her delicate hand and smiled brightly.
-So let’s do it together. Just like always.
“Ahh……”
As if entranced, he reached out—and their hands naturally overlapped like magnets.
She was right.
What did it matter if she wasn’t seen or felt?
They were together.
“Sorry for showing such a pathetic side.”
-Now you’re the Rune I know.
“Then…… shall we dance one last song? Like always.”
-Yes.
Holding hands, they slowly closed their eyes.
[The key is complete.]
[The fragment’s power dwelling in Angela’s flesh is being absorbed into the ‘Shattered Necklace of Truth’.]
[The life ember of Pratel’s queen consort, Angela, is extinguishing.]
‘Ah……’
The radiant energy leaking from Angela’s flesh seeped into the necklace, slowly restoring it.
At the same time, her skin rapidly lost its vitality.
Yet the two stood with eyes closed, unmoving in that pose.
-We always held hands and touched foreheads to begin.
“I remember. Then we’d turn our heads to look at each other.”
They assumed the pose from memory, turning to gaze sideways.
-Here, I step, one pace.
Then one step.
-Here, you lead, one pace.
And another step.
-We both remember. Even after so much time.
“……I recalled it every day, so forgetting would be stranger.”
-Sweet talk.
“Hoh…… Just talk? Shall I prove it?”
With those words, they began moving in earnest.
Holding hands like in a waltz, stepping in rhythm—light began leaking from their footsteps.
Like water droplets falling on a pond’s surface.
The naturally spreading mana waves dyed the forest brilliantly, like paint on canvas.
Whoosh—
Rustle—
With each dance step, vitality bloomed in the dreary forest.
Withered plants took on fresh green hues, and dry, crackling underbrush began whispering softly.
“……This is?”
“The purification ritual…… I never thought I’d see it again……”
“This is the purification ritual?”
At Hyde’s words, Do-hyun asked in surprise, and Luriel, who had approached, continued.
“Dancing a waltz according to mana’s flow. For a king unable to control mana, she guided him along the paths she saw, making it the perfect way to sense mana easily.”
“Ah.”
“Watch closely. For you apostles, it’s the first and last time you’ll see the purification ritual……”
Luriel trailed off, shaking her head in correction.
“No, it’s the true Lantern Festival.”
“Ah……”
And at that moment.
----!
“Ugh?”
-W-What is this? This immense mana……! An absurd amount!
-L-Liza!
A massive magic circle formed beneath Gilverun and Angela’s feet.
The forest shook violently from the mana surge.
He couldn’t wield magic due to lack of control, but in raw mana quantity, rivaling a grand sage—that rumor was true for Pratel’s sage king.
Fwaaah—!
‘……No, isn’t this more mana than even an archmage?’
Anyone would acknowledge it seeing that enormous magic circle.
Soon as it spread beyond the forest to envelop the city.
[Hidden event, ‘The Last Lantern Ritual’ begins.]
[Due to the hidden event, you are being moved to the city.]
[Location change: Guardians are being forcibly relocated.]
Messages rang as his vision flickered, and upon opening his eyes, the cityscape—vastly changed—greeted Do-hyun.
Dark night sky.
Lanterns rising from buildings, alleys, and shops chased away the darkness, gradually illuminating surroundings, while the city’s river, with boats drifting, held brilliant light like smeared sunset glow.
A different light from the Lantern Festival he had seen.
[Lanterns containing the ember of purification rise.]
Not mere light, but lanterns bearing the ember of purification.
“……Huh? Looks like the Lantern Festival’s starting.”
“Wow! So pretty! Huh? But isn’t the light a bit different?”
“Th…… Roger? Was it this beautiful? Feels even higher quality?”
“Lanterns with the ember of purification? What’s this?”
Players halted one by one, looking up at the lanterns.
Nor were they alone.
Creak—
“……Ahh.”
“This…… No way, the Lantern Ritual?”
“Good heavens, Lady Angela hadn’t passed?”
“What in the world……”
NPCs opening windows and walking the streets froze at the familiar yet unfamiliar brilliance.
As the thought “No, it can’t be” crossed their minds.
A resident’s urgent cry burst forth.
“E-Everyone, come out quick! This isn’t the time! David! David’s opened his eyes!”
“D-Daughter! Are you coming to?!”
“Waaaah! Everyone! Everyone come see! Father’s awake!”
The cries weren’t from one place.
Starting from one house, wails like screams erupted everywhere.
[The Last Lantern Ritual unfolds.]
[Witness the beauty of the lanterns.]
The true Lantern Festival had begun.