Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Pale Moon - 1
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The target had been spotted, so all that was left was to move in.
The ones entering the Moon Temple would be me, Wilkers, Lark, and Veronica.
These four would wait in the rear and slip inside while the Hero Party and the strike team attacked the temple guards from the church.
"Alright. Everyone, get ready."
That was when Claire, who had been watching from a distance, approached.
"Mr. Lark. Don't musicians prefer fighting outside dungeons rather than inside them?"
"Huh? Oh. Yeah, that's true."
"Then... if Hyunwoo allows it, could I go in instead?"
"Huh? Oh, that'd be fine with me. Hey, Sage. You okay with that?"
I was in charge of party composition, so Lark needed my approval to make any changes.
That's why Claire came up to me, pleading in a desperate tone.
"Um... Hyunwoo. If you don't want me to, then Leventia or... Evangeline would be fine too. They'd follow your orders even better than Lark. If that's what you want..."
"Even stake your life on it?"
She nodded.
Claire's face clouded over like a stormy sky as she gave a slight nod.
Leventia and Evangeline, standing off at a distance, looked just as desperate, staring longingly in our direction without a word.
"Hmm. Don't we need a musician in the party composition?"
While I was thinking it over, Veronica stepped forward. At the sound of her voice, Claire flinched, her shoulders trembling as she gazed at me with teary eyes.
"What'll it be? Sage. I'll respect your decision. Of course, you'd handle it just fine even if the lineup changed. But..."
"But?"
"The fact that you suggested this lineup first means it's the best one, right?"
Not really.
In the final battle of the Pale Moon event, Veronica was the key, and the rest just needed to support her.
If I hadn't taught the kingdom's forces how to handle the Pale Beasts, it might've been different, but since I had, party composition didn't matter much to me anymore.
"From the church's perspective, exterminating the heretics and eliminating the threat is the top priority."
At Veronica's firm words, Claire clenched her fists slightly. She stared calmly at Veronica for a moment, then licked her dry lips.
"...Cardinal Veronica."
"Yes, Hero. What is it?"
"Are you saying that purely for the church's sake?"
"Why would you think the Cardinal has ulterior motives?"
"Hyunwoo could come up with any number of other plans. And we've been coordinating with him for a long time now. So..."
"Oh. And that's how well you've coordinated... to pull off something like that?"
Veronica's lips twisted into a smirk, and Claire flinched, bowing her head.
The situation was turning awkward. Even Wilkers, who had been chattering away without reading the room, shut his mouth, and Lark was sweating bullets.
Time to wrap this up.
"Enough. No need for infighting with the enemy right in front of us."
"So?"
"We stick to the original plan."
Claire's shoulders slumped even further, while Veronica grinned triumphantly.
With that settled, Lark scratched the back of his head with his long tail.
"Man, did I leave too much room for this? I didn't think it'd get this tense. Tsk."
"It's fine. These things happen."
"You always say stuff like that. That's why..."
As Veronica started to offer me advice, Claire shook her head with a sad expression.
"No... I guess I was being unreasonable. Sorry, Mr. Lark. Sorry, Hyunwoo. Alright then..."
After apologizing, Claire trudged away heavily with her footsteps. As she returned to her position, General Leoden approached.
"Shall we get started?"
"Huh? Oh. Yeah, let's do it."
At my approval, General Leoden raised his flag.
The prepared strike team charged swiftly toward the Moon Temple.
"Alright. Let's get ready to move too."
I raised a lance favored by knights. Using the knight skill Lance Charge would make clearing a path easier.
As I mounted my warhorse, Lark and Wilkers did the same with their prepared mounts.
"Up we go."
Veronica hopped on behind me as naturally as could be.
She wrapped her long arms around my waist, hugging me boldly. I glanced back at her.
"What?"
"I don't know how to ride. And in case of emergency, I might need to cast a barrier, so isn't it better if we ride together? We did it before too."
We'd moved similarly back in Baek Eun Village. When she mentioned it, I shrugged.
"What have you been doing all this time instead of learning to ride?"
"The Cardinal position keeps you pretty busy."
"Won't people talk if the Cardinal's hugging some random guy like this?"
"Random guy."
She chuckled at my joke.
"What, it happens."
You're awfully chill about it.
Unlike those three over there staring daggers at us.
"Anyway, everyone ready?"
I gripped the reins in one hand and the lance tightly in the other.
The battlefield ahead was already in chaos, with the strike team clashing fiercely against the Pale Beasts and Pale Moon Cultists.
"Lance Chaaarge!!"
The warhorses trampled the corpse of a Pale Moon Cultist whose head I'd burst open with my lance.
"Shadows!!"
Wilkers' shaman spell then summoned shadows to carve out a path.
-Kiiiiiek! Ding ding ding! Ring ring ring!!
Lark's ear-splitting, horrific performance made the Pale Beasts hesitate.
"Light shall burn here!!"
Flames of light conjured by Veronica poured down on those Pale Beasts.
And then.
"Lance Chaaarge!!"
My follow-up Lance Charge.
Even though it was our first time syncing up, the four of us made it to the Moon Temple without a hitch.
"Whoa~! As expected of the Sage! Your timing's spot on! You were like that in the last dungeon too! Oh yeah, how's she doing? My friend!"
"...She?"
Veronica, riding behind me, asked as Wilkers shouted brightly. Lark chimed in, blowing a harsh discord on his flute instead of his lute to disrupt the enemies.
"I'm talking about the Sage's disciple! That... pretty talented and cute girl whose musical sense meshed so well with mine!"
Lucille would have a fit if she heard that. She'd had nightmares after listening to his music and singing.
"Hoo... I see. Impressive. Word is that princess never leaves her room and doesn't get along with people, but you managed to befriend her and drag her outside?"
"I'm the type who gets along with everyone."
"...So, you gonna introduce me or what?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Because she's your disciple."
I swung my lance, splitting the chest of a leaping Pale Moon Cultist who tried to attack me mid-air, then hurled a dagger. It embedded in the forehead of a black-robed foe, clearing the path. Wilkers widened it with shadows, and my Lance Charge activated, shoving back a Pale Beast.
"No, seriously. Why would you meet my discip—Gah?!"
Veronica pinched my side. I grimaced at her pouting lips, then whipped the reins and scanned our surroundings.
-Kwaaaaang!!
-Pshoooo!!
The strike team was holding up well. Thanks to the Pale Beast countermeasures I'd taught them, they weren't taking heavy losses.
The church reinforcements and adventurers were handling the Pale Moon Cultists effectively too.
-Kuoooo!!
Every now and then, a beast too strong for them would appear. But that wasn't an issue.
-Puuuuck!!
We had powerhouses on our side too.
Wilkers marveled as a building-sized beast's body exploded.
"Whoa. Is that Leventia's Tiger Blow? Amazing..."
"Evangeline's Guide Shot is even more impressive."
Tiger Blow, the knight-class ultimate that demolished large foes with a single massive strike. Guide Shot, the archer ultimate that freely maneuvered one arrow to hit only vital points.
Supporting them, Hero Claire swung her sword to fell enemies and buff her allies.
The three women's prowess was undeniably eye-catching here too.
"...They really are strong, seeing them like this."
"They didn't beat the Demon King at rock-paper-scissors."
"Hey! Sage! It's coming this way!!"
At that moment, a massive Pale Beast shoved aside the strike team and blocked our path to the Moon Temple.
"Th-that one's pretty tough-looking..."
"Sage! How do we—"
Just hit the weak points, no worries. I raised my lance, ignoring Wilkers' shaky voice.
Right then.
-Kwaaaaang!!
Leventia, who had been battling a Pale Beast, launched herself into the air. She rocketed toward it like a falling meteor, striking the beast before slowly rising and glancing my way.
What? Expecting praise?
But she seemed satisfied with just my approval and charged the Pale Beast head-on.
"...Let's hurry."
Veronica said curtly, watching the fierce fight. Yeah, no time to spectate.
We pushed through the battlefield and arrived at a white building. At the temple entrance, with stairs leading underground, Wilkers spoke hesitantly.
"Sage. This entrance says three people only."
"I know. That's why I have this..."
I raised the bracelet, and red light poured out, enveloping Veronica.
"Alright. Now..."
"...What are you doing?"
"Don't make a fuss over holding hands."
Just like in the game guide, I took her hand and beckoned Wilkers and Lark. They nodded and entered. I turned to the sulky Veronica.
"Timing it. One, two."
"Mmm... One. Two."
We stepped into the portal they created simultaneously. The world rippled, and we were somewhere else.
"What is this..."
It was a wide corridor. Wilkers, who had entered first and was scouting, touched the walls with a serious look.
"Never seen material like this. Sage. Any idea what it is?"
"No clue."
It wasn't in the game.
"Ooh. Sage. You don't know everything?"
"I only know what I know."
"Ugh. Then there must be traps?"
No traps.
Only one thing to fight in this dungeon.
The Pale Moon at the end of this corridor.
As I strode forward without a care, the three hurried after me. I explained how to handle the Pale Moon while walking.
"Good. That should do it."
By the time I finished briefing everyone, we'd reached the door at the corridor's end. They all clenched their jaws, tense from the ominous aura beyond.
"Ready?"
They nodded firmly, steeling themselves. I opened the door.
"My god..."
"Wh-what is that?"
"...Something like that... existed?"
Inside was a vast plaza, about the size of the battlefield.
At its center.
A pale sphere emitting a faint glow.
And.
"...Incoming."
Hundreds of tentacles lurking in the sphere's shadow.
The tentacles writhed.
The white sphere split open, yellow eyes flashing.
Alright.
The event's finale.
Stay sharp.
Fail this, and it's game over.
Author's Note
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Huge thanks to ArKnS for the support lol
See you tomorrow! Good night~