Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Downfall
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Arriving at Legion Square through the warp gate, I was so surprised that I clapped my hands.
"Berddin!"
Cynthia came running toward me, waving both hands with a bright smile.
Thwack!
She hugged me so tightly that my nose, buried in her chest, felt crushed.
"C-can't... breathe."
"Who cares if you can't breathe a little? We're alive and meeting again!"
It was an overly excessive reaction.
We'd only been apart for a few days at most. Was there really any reason to get this excited?
'Besides.'
In my previous life, she had always spat cold words with eyes sharper than a sword blade.
Yet this time, why was she giving me such warm gazes and tender words?
'To the point where it raises questions.'
She flashed a broad grin at me, then turned her head to Rox, suddenly straightening her face as she continued.
"You stuck that tracking bug on me, didn't you? You perverted little brat."
Rox waved his hands in the air with a flustered expression.
"N-no, Berddin told me to do it!"
"Berddin?"
"Yeah, he said to watch your every move. So, so... I had no choice but to attach it!"
Cynthia raised an eyebrow and looked at me.
"Is that true?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because it's dangerous."
"What's dangerous?"
"I wanted to keep an eye on you since I don't know what might happen if I send you alone. I have to stick with you from now on anyway."
There were at least two tough hurdles left that would be hard to pass without Cynthia.
The reason I was taking her to the tower wasn't just to fight the apostles—it was to utilize her high-level divine spells.
"Stick with you?"
"Yeah. Why? Don't you want to?"
"No! It's not that..."
"Then we're good."
"G-good how? You really—"
She started to say something but clamped her mouth shut. Alfredo covered his mouth with his fist and cleared his throat a few times before asking me.
"Anyway, how have you been these past few days we haven't seen each other?"
I turned my head to look at his face. It was covered in wounds, clearly the marks of a major battle.
'Hold on.'
I shifted my gaze back to Cynthia, and she too had scratches all over her face.
Not cuts from a blade, but like something had scraped her.
'Moreover.'
The abdomen of her orihalcon armor looked dented, as if pressed by something.
"Did you fight?"
Cynthia and Alfredo just averted their eyes guiltily, refusing to answer my question.
"I asked if you fought."
I asked again, but they still didn't respond.
Rox, frustrated by their evasiveness, irritably poked Alfredo's stomach.
Tap tap.
"What are you doing, old man? Did you fight or not?"
"I can't say."
"What?"
"I said I can't tell you."
"Can't tell what?"
"I can't say that either."
"...Are you kidding me?"
Alfredo slowly turned his neck to look at me.
"I'm sorry, but neither Cynthia nor I can answer your questions."
A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead. Sensing something from Alfredo's reaction, I changed the subject.
"Did you make an oath?"
Oath
This was an act of swearing with someone under special conditions. For example, sacrificing a body part to gain a secret technique, or killing one of your senses to acquire a new one.
There were various methods and forms, but those bound by an oath usually reacted similarly.
"...I can't answer that."
As expected, they had made an oath.
To be unable to answer even such a simple question.
Then, the one who proposed the oath to them—was it a demon? No human possessed such advanced skills.
Hmm—
I slowly scanned Alfredo from head to toe and continued questioning.
"So you're under restrictions. That's why you can't answer my questions."
"...I can't answer that either."
"Fine, then one last question. The one who imposed the restrictions on you two—is an ally or an enemy?"
Alfredo lowered his gaze and pondered for a long time. He seemed unsure if he could even answer that.
"Neither."
"You can't tell me who it is?"
"Yeah."
"Got it. Then I'll stop with the questions here."
I recalled what Rox had told me before coming to Legion.
I pictured in my mind the situation where they could have made such an oath.
'They were definitely ambushed by someone.'
The calculated answers in my head were two possibilities.
One: The two of them lost to the enemy and made an oath with them to survive.
The other: In a special situation, their minds broke, forcing them to oath with a demon.
'...Things have gotten complicated.'
After joining with Cynthia, I headed straight for the tower.
Whether they had made an oath or not, it wouldn't be an obstacle for us now.
'Right now, we need to deal with the tower first.'
As we approached the tower, Amon tore through space, appearing and twirling his golden staff.
Whirr, whirr, whirr!
"Greetings, Berddin. It feels like ages since we last met."
"I want to go to the 21st floor."
"21st floor...? Why go down the tower? You've already passed the 40th."
"Do I have to explain why?"
Amon shrugged one eyebrow.
"No."
"Then stop with the useless talk and open the way. I don't have time to play word games with you."
"Ha! Berddin, you're so heartless. How do you always pick the coldest words?"
I didn't reply and silently met his eyes. In the abyss-deep black of his pupils, I saw my own reflection.
"A-alright. Don't look at me like that; it's scary! Here, I'll open the door to the 21st floor..."
Amon slammed his staff into the ground.
Boom!
The tower entrance swirled, opening a door to the 21st floor.
Shooo—
As I took a step forward toward the door,
Step.
Amon suddenly reached out, blocking my path, smirking.
"But, sorry to say, those two can't enter."
His gaze turned to Cynthia and Alfredo.
"Why not?"
"Those two violated the tower's rules and colluded with heretics who defied a higher one's will."
"Heretics?"
"Yes, they secretly visited the tower's upper floors without going through me, the guide."
"?!"
"They took a path impossible through normal means, and now they want to enter this way? That doesn't make sense, does it?"
What the hell was this about?
I turned my head to look at Cynthia. Her face flushed as she hung her head.
Alfredo was the same.
Amon scratched his head with an annoying expression and continued.
"Sorry to Berddin, but those two can't pass through this door."
"...Is it true?"
"What?"
"What you just said."
"Of course! Would I lie to you, Berddin?"
I had no idea what happened since it was so sudden, but right now, I needed to enter the tower with them.
"What floor did they visit?"
"Can't tell you that."
"What did they do there?"
"That too."
"Then is there a way for these two to enter the tower with me?"
"No. Well... actually, there is one way—"
I wanted to just brush past this guy, but Amon was one of the stronger apostles.
Sigh—
"Tell me what it is."
"If Berddin grants me one favor, I'll turn a blind eye to those two."
"A favor?"
"Yes, nothing difficult. Just kill someone inside the tower when I tell you."
"Who?"
"Can't say yet."
"You're telling me to kill someone without knowing who?"
"No. I'll give you info on her—er, that person—when the time comes."
I pretended to ponder, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. It was suspicious, but I had to accept now.
'I don't know what Cynthia and Alfredo did.'
To keep their tower access from becoming a future obstacle.
'By the way.'
He said 'her,' so the target is probably a woman.
"Got it."
"Ooh! As expected, Berddin is straightforward. So you'll do it?"
"Yeah. But you keep your promise too. Let them in even when I'm not around."
"Of course! That's no big deal."
Amon bowed, clasped his hands politely, and prodded the tower entrance.
"Come on in."
Bloody Meteoric arrived at Pablos Luines Academy.
A barrier here perfectly blocked outsiders, so the unauthorized, red-eyed Meteoric bellowed menacingly.
"Open... the way! If I don't get in now, you're all dead!"
The guard captain tilted his head in bewilderment.
"Dead? Don't talk nonsense and leave."
"C-call Veratir. Tell him Meteoric is here."
"Meteoric?"
"Yes, your old comrade Meteoric. Being chased by enemies right now. Saintess Joanna Ark is in danger!"
The guards murmured.
At the mention of Saintess Joanna Ark, eyes focused on her. Dressed in a black nun's habit, she was clearly no ordinary person.
"Wait a moment."
The guard captain scratched his nape suspiciously and whispered into the owl's ear in the booth.
Soon, Veratir appeared, face flushed red from heavy drinking.
"What? You really came, you ghost bastard. Why don't you die and keep haunting me?"
Meteoric panted as he replied.
"No time. I'll make it short."
"You can ramble; go ahead."
"...Protect Saintess Joanna Ark."
"Joanna Ark? The saintess?"
"Yes."
Veratir glared at Meteoric and Joanna Ark in turn, eyes narrowed.
Snap.
"Did I drink too much? Sounds like bullshit. Moonmoon!"
"This is no joke! Stop yapping and take her inside."
"Proof she's Joanna Ark?"
"Check inside. This isn't the time."
"...What's the rush? Fill me in."
"No time to explain to you—"
Boom!
Something crashed down from above.
Meteoric barely dodged the explosion, drew his sword, and yelled at Veratir.
"Hurry!"
Veratir wiped the wound on his cheek with his palm, then looked up to identify the culprit.
"Cockatrice?"
Cockatrice.
A mythical monster with a chicken's head and dragon's body. Veratir laughed heartily upon spotting the enemy.
"Kuhahaha! You brought something fun, huh? Philip's doing?"
"Yeah, he revived mythical monsters. Get the saintess out before you die."
"Out? Hey, guard captain."
The guard captain replied, frozen stiff.
"Yes, sir!"
"Take that woman inside now. Everyone outside, in—no exceptions."
"Yes!"
"And from now on, don't open the gate for anyone. Got it?"
"Understood!"
The guard captain entered the academy with Saintess Joanna Ark.
Meteoric and Veratir exchanged glances, then smiled at the cockatrice.
"You helping me? Sun'll rise in the west tomorrow."
Meteoric quipped first.
"Yeah, when your head rolls off and sticks upside down in the ground. It'll look like it's rising in the west."
Veratir retorted, unleashing his full aura.
Shwaaaaa!