Chapter 118
Chapter 118
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Sun, Moon, and Stars - 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Ah... That's really reassuring. I had no idea how to fight you if you became my enemy. So? Do you know anything?"
I nodded at Cecil's relieved question.
The DLC Main Story begins after defeating the Demon King.
In other words, it starts in Adventure Mode.
The DLC doesn't apply immediately upon installation. Instead, after progressing a certain amount in Adventure Mode, anomalies start occurring one day.
"Anomalies? What kind...?"
"Those who should die don't, and no new children are born."
On top of that, flowers don't wither, and trees don't bear fruit.
Most natural phenomena either stop or slow down excessively.
One of the factions connected to the current player consults about this issue and sends investigators, and that's when the main story begins.
Of course, it's not like nothing happens to other characters the player doesn't control.
New monsters from the DLC, or items, lead them to tangle with the Outer God of Time, Chronos.
The atmosphere suddenly chilled at my explanation.
Wow. Thrilling.
I like this kind of vibe.
"Anyway, yeah. But it's solvable, so don't worry. By the way, so you saw my Moonlight back then and that's what you were talking about?"
Recalling how Cecil had acted like she had something to say after seeing my Moonlight before brushing it off, I turned to Karin with a frown.
"What."
"Did you tell her about Moonlight?"
"Yeah. While searching for info on the Dragon's Curse, I found records and told Her Highness about it back then."
"You're an Archmage, so why do you have such a big mouth? Spouting useless stuff like that?"
"I serve only my liege. Reporting anything potentially dangerous is only natural."
Karin Cloud was Cecil's closest aide, her mentor, an Archmage, and a possessor of vast knowledge.
She was also a seeker of the eight stars, making her a potential companion for the hero.
That's why some people mistakenly think recruiting her as a companion would make reaching the ending easier.
Far from it.
Karin had an incurable dependency on Cecil, blindly devoted only to her.
She had raised her like a sister and taken her as her sole disciple.
So even if Karin joined the Hero's Party, she wouldn't care much about helping the hero or defeating the Demon King.
In short, she was powerful but utterly unmotivated. If something happened in the Duchy or she found info on lifting the Dragon's Curse, she'd ditch the main story and leave the party, often leading to wipes.
How many players had eagerly recruited the Archmage only to meet ruin because of that?
Having her in the party was no different from just the two of them trying to take down the Demon King.
Of course, in Hardcore Mode, there was a trick: recruit her, squeeze out everything useful, make her leave on her own, then bring in the fourth companion. But that's irrelevant now, so moving on.
"Always preparing for my liege is the pride of a retainer."
"Sigh. No loyal subject like you."
"Thanks for the praise."
Cecil gave an awkward smile toward the curt Karin.
"Yeah. I heard it from Karin when I was young. That's why I was shocked seeing your Moonlight. She said it was gear that brings disaster."
"Not wrong. It's the easiest qualification to get for becoming Chronos's apostle. Soon enough, guys will come gunning for it once time passes."
"Really? Well, good thing you have it. Anyway, after seeing your Moonlight, Karin and I kept investigating and researching. We even checked ruins in the Duchy."
So that's how they ended up here?
What a pointless endeavor.
As I looked at her pityingly, Cecil puffed out her chest proudly, perhaps misunderstanding.
I glanced at her chest and thought.
Gotta get that Breast Enlargement Pill quick.
"...What the hell's that look?"
"Nothing. Anyway, info on Chronos? I can tell you, so why don't you head back?"
"That's a problem."
"Hey. Aren't you supposed to go against my opinion? I lifted Cecil's curse."
"Urk. True, but."
"Then strip naked here right now... Nah, not that far, but at least do 'Wise One~ I seek forgiveness for my rudeness~☆ I was wrong~♡ Please forgive me~☆' or something."
"Wise One~ I seek forgiveness for my rudeness~☆ I was wrong~♡ Please forgive me~☆"
Shouldn't have told her. Her deadpan attempt at cutesy talk was cringe-worthy.
Almost punched her.
"Anyway, no can do. There are things we need from here. The ruin's core. Her Highness the Archduke needs it to ascend to Archmage. If what you say is true, issues with the Outer God of Time will pop up soon, right? Chaos will ensue."
"Probably?"
"Then Her Highness needs the power to protect herself. Becoming an Archmage is the best way."
Fair point.
Karin smiled faintly, and I pointed to the stairs down to the third floor.
"Then we take the Diamond Golem?"
"Sure."
Cecil replied briskly and gestured behind her. Duchy Knight Order members moved at her command. Support, maybe?
"Master. What do we do?"
"Can't refuse support, but it ain't free."
"Sharp. Yeah. Can you help explore the ruin? Detection magic and scales alone are tough."
"You guys came all this way without hiring thieves?"
"We did. But he died earlier. Went nuts over a top-grade magic scroll inside a trap."
Greed's the scariest trap, as expected.
I turned to Lucille. She's the leader of this party anyway.
So she makes the call.
"Won't it burden Master?"
"Not really, but... Hey. Not knights—something else."
When the DLC Main Story starts, a few things are needed.
Might as well trade for Cecil, Karin, and the Duchy's power then.
Cecil shrugged. Whatever works?
They're just focused on clearing this ruin...
Gotta milk them for all they're worth.
"I have something to ask Archduke Cecil too, so no need for support."
"Oh? The Princess has business with me? For magic stuff, better ask Karin or the Wise One."
"Not that."
Lucille glanced at me sneakily, then scurried to Cecil and whispered in her ear.
Cecil burst out laughing after listening.
"Ahaha! Karin and I aren't like that. But... I can teach some techniques."
"Really? Then... Master. Let's do it!"
What deal did they make?
I looked back and forth between Cecil and Lucille, but she just stuck out her tongue and grinned mischievously.
We headed down to the third floor, disarmed traps, found the path, and progressed until we reached the final guardian, where Lucille and I quickly strategized the golem.
The Diamond Golem's defining trait was its immense defense.
In other words.
"Princess Lucille. Against such foes, condense your magic into a single point."
She hadn't become an Archmage because she'd been handling the Dragon's Curse alongside Archduke duties and Claudia family leadership. Without that, she'd have been one ages ago.
Cecil, with her exceptional talent, was a true veteran.
True to the adage 'Veteran Trait: Can't stand seeing noobs struggle,' she started coaching Lucille.
"Shut it? Lucille's my disciple."
"Am I wrong?"
"Not wrong, but. Lucille. Focus. Condensing mana into one point to shrink the area and boost power—any decent mage can do it."
"Can you do it too, Master?"
"Of course."
I aimed Moonlight at the Diamond Golem and fired.
The fire arrow pierced its shoulder.
"Adding penetration to bypass defense is basic."
"...Hmm... Like this...?"
As Lucille tilted her head, the Diamond Golem charged.
I switched Moonlight to a greatsword, slashed the golem aside, and used telekinesis toward where it rolled.
While the fallen golem flailed helplessly under telekinesis, Lucille nodded and raised her staff.
And.
-Kwaaaang!!
What shot from her staff was a pillar-sized beam.
The beam exploded outward, instantly 'erasing' the Diamond Golem's head.
"...P-Princess. What was that?"
"Eh. Condensed explosion magic, then used the rapid-fire you taught me..."
"...Impressive. With that sense, Archmage is within reach."
Karin sounded genuinely impressed. Lucille puffed up and glanced at me proudly; I patted her head.
"Good job."
"Hehe~."
"But not over yet."
Headless, the golem didn't stop.
It slowly rose, roared, and charged thumping again.
Lucille's eyes widened as she aimed her staff.
It held out long, but the Diamond Golem finally crumbled under accumulated damage.
Left behind was an egg-sized core.
A gem sparkling like diamond.
"Path open."
I used Mana Distribution on Lucille, who had collapsed exhausted after depleting her mana.
As she recovered, the ruin door to the next level opened.
The Mage Guild had surveyed down to basement 3.
No clue what lay below.
Gotta tank it with bodies.
Descending the stairs, I raised Moonlight to illuminate the darkness.
Slowly revealed was a vast space.
Seems this was the ruin's end.
Cecil, following me down, scanned the interior and checked surroundings with detection magic.
No major threats; she nodded, pulled out orbs from her pouch. They floated up, glowing, revealing everything clearly.
"...Hmm."
As Cecil approached the central core and pocketed it, Lucille, Karin, and I focused on the floor.
"...Master. That..."
"That's Chronos."
On the floor, centered where the core had been, stood a figure—impossible to tell man or woman—holding a sandglass in one hand and staff in the other, wearing a bizarre hat.
"Ugh..."
Just seeing the image soured moods; some knights started retching.
"M-Master. That image feels... awful. Are you okay...?"
"That's mild. Train your mental strength; it'll get better. Do mental training right after we leave."
I pointed to knights who had vomited and passed out.
"Weak minds react like that to Outer God stuff."
I was the same back when I visited Cosmo's temple to worship for Instant Teleport.
Better now, though.
Cecil and Karin seemed only mildly unsettled like Lucille, unaffected thanks to high mental strength from ultimate skills and Archmage status blocking mental corruption.
Lucille...
Yeah.
Grown a lot.
Proud as her master. Back then, she'd have fainted on entry.
"Wise One. Look at this."
Cecil ignored Chronos's image and focused on another wall painting.
Paintings covered eight walls and the ceiling, all gazing at the floor.
One wielding a shining sun sword.
Swordsman, knight, mage, shaman, archer, thief, alchemist.
Finally.
On the ceiling: one holding a staff of soft moonlight.
Karin examined them one by one, then crossed arms and groaned.
"Something's off."
"What?"
"Here... these people."
Sharply eyeing the paintings, she pointed to one.
"Every single one except the one on the ceiling holds their weapon upside down. As if..."
"Hostile to Chronos, maintaining neutrality instead?"
Yeah, obviously.
Ruins and dungeons tied to the DLC have paintings showing how qualified individuals view Chronos.
Nothing started yet, so aside from me, everyone's indifferent...
But once DLC Main Story kicks off, these will change.
Hostile like me, no matter what it does.
Or worship it to alter the past.