Chapter 167: Ruins(2)
Chapter 167: Ruins(2)
Inside the dark cavern.
A group of old mages in black robes were in an uproar.
Voices filled with shock escaped their raspy, aged throats.
It was only natural.
The dream they had poured their entire beings into was showing an abnormal reaction.
A woman with black hair and snow-white skin.
The Black Witch.
The glass tube containing her had risen to a standing position. It was literally standing upright.
“B-Black Witch?”
The Black Witch had not opened her eyes. She was still as motionless as a corpse.
The old men began to murmur amongst themselves as they watched.
A strange aurora pulsed around the glass tube, reacting to something.
It was then that the old man in charge of management ran over, shouting.
“What is all this commotion! Why is the Black Witch showing signs already!”
His voice was laced with fury. He was enraged at the thought that something might go wrong.
It wasn't hard to understand why.
But no one present knew the reason.
“We did nothing. We were merely discussing our future plans…”
“And you call that an explanation!”
“I-It’s true! We were just talking about the adventurer named Kerry, the only man in the hero’s party…”
At that very moment.
The upright glass tube began to hum.
“!”
“Don’t tell me it’s reacting to the name?”
“That name… Do not say that name. Do not say the name of that adventurer!”
Everyone saw it.
The moment the name Kerry was spoken, the Black Witch’s glass tube reacted.
The tube vibrated precariously, as if it would shatter at any second.
Vwoom— Vwooooom—
The vibrations from the tube struck the old men’s eardrums, causing them pain.
But they were not afraid. They simply bowed their heads in unison and spoke.
“Oh, Black Witch. It is not yet time for you to awaken. Please… please wait for the appointed time.”
They had not yet gathered enough power.
If she were to awaken now, the Black Witch’s revival would be incomplete.
As if refusing to listen, the glass tube continued to hum loudly.
“We will increase the speed of our work! Please, wait for us.”
“Please wait! Oh, great Black Witch!”
“For the sake of your ambition, and ours!”
Perhaps it was due to the old mages’ earnest pleas.
The vibrations from the tube gradually began to subside.
“It’s… stopped…”
“That was a close call. It truly felt as if she was willing to risk an incomplete revival…”
“Ke… No. Just what is that adventurer?”
Her reaction to that name alone had been so violent.
Judging by the Black Witch’s response, there was clearly some connection.
“Find out everything you can about that adventurer. Where he was born, where he grew up, who his parents and siblings are. Don’t miss a single detail!”
“There’s definitely something about that adventurer!”
“Find him! By any means necessary!”
The old men were now afraid to even speak Kerry’s name.
*
After their little history lesson, Lina’s party continued on their way.
Kerry turned his head to look back at the ruins.
Though covered in moss and weathered by the long years, its magnificence remained.
A civilization that could build a structure this massive could not have been less advanced than the current world.
And the traces of that civilization’s destruction were laid bare.
‘I guess it’s a lesson that we have to do well to avoid ending up like this.’
A cushy life is the best, but that’s only possible with a stable society to back it up, isn’t it?
Kerry was lost in thought as he gazed at the ruins.
Lina, who was walking ahead, finally spoke.
“According to the information I’ve obtained, the Black Monolith is below us.”
Lina pushed a large boulder aside with her hands. For someone with such a lovely face, she possessed incredible strength.
Beneath the boulder, a set of stairs leading down into a dark basement was revealed.
The stairs also appeared to be part of the ruins.
“…Down there? Hmph. A dark place like that is scary. Please protect me, Husband.”
Seriously. Why was she asking me to protect her when she was the stronger one?
Lina led the way down the basement stairs. Kerry had the Saintess conjure a sphere of light.
Only then could they see clearly.
“The ruins still contain traps that were set to resist the Black Witch during that era. Please be careful.”
“The Organization is probably waiting for us here, too.”
“Yes. That’s right, Kerry.”
The moment they finished speaking, Kerry heard the familiar sound of an arrow being fired.
He was used to it, having challenged an arrow trap in a dungeon before.
“Shield.”
As Kerry uttered the word, a transparent barrier materialized.
He thought it was just an ordinary arrow, but when it struck the barrier, it let out a piercing shriek and resisted violently before exploding.
Screeeech— Squeeeal— Boooom—
“A magic arrow?”
He’d heard of them before. Arrows enchanted with some kind of magical device.
But even a magic arrow couldn’t penetrate Kerry’s barrier.
“Wow! My husband protected me! Hehe.”
“…Even if I hadn’t, Natasha, you wouldn’t have been hit by an arrow like this.”
“No!”
He now understood why the traps in these ancient ruins were still functional.
They must have been magically treated.
At this rate, most grave robbers wouldn’t even dare to enter.
The party continued deeper into the dark ruins.
The ruins were impressive from the outside, but the inside was even more so.
A massive cavern had been carved out, supported by rows of pillars.
It was the first time he had seen architecture of this scale in this world. How did they build it without heavy machinery?
But this was no time to be marveling at a lost civilization.
Unfamiliar shadows flitted past the party.
There wasn’t just one or two.
“They’re coming out one after another.”
“Yes. No one should let their guard down.”
Lina said, tightening her grip on her sword.
Natasha, like a cat with its fur on end, guarded Kerry’s surroundings with a fierce expression.
“Kieeeek!”
With a cry, the true forms of the shadows began to appear.
They were being formed from the sand on the ground.
They resembled the human form, but the faceless figures scrambling on all fours were clearly not human.
He heard Lina, who stood at the front, mutter.
“They’ve raised the soldiers of the ancient civilization. How heartless…”
Did the people of the ancient civilization not have faces?
Please. If you’re going to make something, I wish you wouldn’t make it look so horrifying.
A bright circle of light illuminated the party in the darkness.
From the dark shadows outside the circle, dozens of monsters charged.
The sight of faceless monsters rushing in from the darkness on all sides made his heart pound.
But that was all.
‘They look scary, but… they’re not on a level that can beat the hero party.’
Kerry didn’t feel the need to do anything.
Every time a member of the party moved, the monsters were mercilessly cut down.
“Kieeeek!”
Slice—
The monsters were cut down before they could even let out a proper, unpleasant scream.
Natasha’s performance was particularly outstanding. She guarded Kerry’s side, swinging her dual swords.
She seemed to like the new weapons she had acquired, swinging them with great enthusiasm.
Destroying the monsters was easy, but the problem was that they were continuously being created from the sand on the ground.
It seemed to be a type of spell.
Kerry scanned the area with the Goddess’s Eye.
He could see it in the distance. The spell’s formation.
Kerry shouted to the party.
“There’s a spell carved into that pillar! We have to destroy it!”
“Leave it to me, Kerry!”
It was Arwen.
‘I want to do well and get praised by Kerry!’
Even in the middle of battle, that was all Arwen could think about. A golem was summoned beside her.
The golem lifted a nearby boulder. It was a rock that felt heavy and dense.
The boulder was launched like a cannonball, colliding with the pillar Kerry had pointed out.
Craaaash—
The moment the pillar shattered, the faceless monsters crumbled into sand.
It was an annoying trap. This was probably not a trap from the ruins, but one newly installed by them.
“It seems they’re guarding this place, too.”
Lina’s expression was dark, even though they had overcome the trap.
As far as Lina knew, there weren’t many enemies who could set up such a troublesome trap.
‘The Idol Worshipper… That bastard is here.’
Considering the location and the timing, it had to be the Idol Worshipper.
Lina bit her lip.
The Idol Worshipper was a tricky opponent. It wasn’t a matter of being strong or weak.
In her past life, the first companion she had lost was due to the Idol Worshipper’s tricky special ability.
Looking around, she saw her companions, to whom she had grown even more attached than in her past life.
‘I will never let that happen again in this life. I won’t let anyone die.’
Lina made a vow.
Truthfully, it might be too much for her to handle alone. But Lina had someone she could rely on.
She could rely on all her companions, but there was one person she relied on the most.
“Kerry.”
“Yes, Lina.”
“I believe in you, Kerry.”
“Huh?”
What was this all of a sudden? It was unexpected, but it wasn’t a bad feeling.
To use a dating analogy, it was like receiving flowers on a day that wasn’t an anniversary.
“…I believe in you too, Lina.”
Natasha became extremely wary at Kerry and Lina’s conversation.
Lina patted Natasha’s head as if to reassure her.
“If… if… something were to happen to me, I have no doubt that you would find a way to handle it, Kerry.”
What was Lina going on about? Just then, something clicked. Kerry knew that Lina was a regressor.
‘Could it be that there’s a danger ahead that even Lina can’t handle on her own?’
It might not have been what Lina intended, but Kerry sensed the danger.
If a danger that even Lina couldn’t handle was before them, Kerry had to be on high alert.
“You’ve changed a little from before, when you tried to do everything by yourself, Lina.”
“…Yes. That’s also thanks to you, Kerry.”
Lina sent him that burdensome gaze again. A gaze full of trust. It was still burdensome.
The party moved deeper into the ruins.
With every step, traps from the ruins and the Idol Worshipper threatened them.
But they couldn’t stop the party’s advance.
How much time had passed?
“We’re almost there. Is anyone hurt?”
“No, Lina.”
“I’m fine, too!”
“Hmm. The resistance isn’t as fierce as I thought.”
The party was completely unharmed. Lina smiled, looking dependable.
“Once we pass through that room, the Black Monolith is…”
“Stop.”
A strange voice was heard. Who was it?
“Damn. Are you guys monsters or what? How did you get through all those traps so quickly? I was about to enjoy my last meal, but I didn’t even get to eat properly.”
“……”
A man in a black mask appeared.
“This is the first time we’re seeing each other face-to-face, right?”
He was a talkative one. Natasha, who was next to Kerry, spoke.
“Should I kill him, Husband?”
“Hey! Hey! Wait a minute! What’s with that bloodthirsty talk from such a cute face? I should at least introduce myself, right? My name is…”
Lina cut him off.
“Idol Worshipper. An executive of The Organization. Our enemy. I don’t think any further explanation is necessary.”
The Idol Worshipper sighed and said.
“…That’s harsh. I came out here risking my life. You don’t even want to hear me out?”
Natasha, itching for a fight, shouted.
“Yeah. Shut up and let’s fight already!”
“Natasha, that would be too pitiful for him. He seems to know he wouldn’t last a second if he fought properly.”
“……”
The Idol Worshipper stared at Natasha in disbelief before speaking.
“Are you the troublesome man? Your name is… Kerry?”
“A troublesome man… It’s been a while since I’ve heard that.”
“Did you give Barikmeteo a good send-off?”
“I sent him off with a bang.”
“Kekek. I’ve wanted to meet you at least once. We’ve only exchanged a few words, but I think I know how Barikmeteo felt.”
The Idol Worshipper was blocking the path to the Black Monolith.
But strangely, he showed no will to fight.
“Get out of the way, Idol Worshipper.”
“Can’t do that, hero. There’s something very precious behind me.”
“……”
Natasha, frustrated with the situation, immediately drew her dual swords.
“Then it’s decided. Die here!”
Just as Natasha was about to charge, Kerry grabbed her hand.
“Husband?”
“……”
It wasn’t that he knew something.
It was just that the Idol Worshipper’s atmosphere was suspicious. His attitude of not showing any will to fight, yet not backing down.
Above all, there was something unsettling about the look in his eyes.
“Well done, Kerry.”
Seeing Lina’s praise, it seemed that stopping Natasha was the right answer.
“I must be the one to face him.”
Lina stood before the Idol Worshipper with a grim determination.
Honestly, the Idol Worshipper didn’t look strong.
So much so that Lina’s solemn attitude felt strange.
Lina had been wearing an anxious expression on the way here. Was he the cause?
‘Maybe there’s something more to this Idol Worshipper than meets the eye.’
Lina drew the Spirit Sword. The clear ring of the blade echoed through the ruins.
The Idol Worshipper just watched with a bitter expression. Did this guy really have no intention of fighting?
It was then.
Lina kicked off the ground and closed the distance in an instant.
A single strike.
With one slash, the Idol Worshipper’s head was sent flying. For someone he thought had something up his sleeve, it was an absurdly empty end.
As the Idol Worshipper’s head flew, his lips moved.
[The hero really is fucking strong. Keke.]
Looking at the shape of his mouth, it seemed that’s what he was saying. It felt disgusting.
A bastard who smiles even as his head is cut off. It’s rare to see a psycho like that even in this world.
Natasha, seeing that the situation was resolved, sheathed her dual swords.
“What. He was nothing special.”
While everyone else was relieved, only Lina wore an anxious expression.
‘It seems there is something going on…’
Just then, a change began to occur in the Idol Worshipper’s headless body.
Black smoke billowed violently from his body.
The black smoke looked around as if searching for prey. Then it spotted Lina and charged ferociously.
“Lina!”
Lina stood calmly, as if she had known this would happen.
Just before the black smoke hit, Lina smiled at Kerry and said.
“I believe in you, Kerry.”
The black smoke enveloped Lina. The suspicious smoke was sucked into her entire body.
The black smoke completely vanished. Lina, who had been standing as if nothing had happened, collapsed on the spot.
As everyone’s eyes widened in shock, Kerry shouted.
“Saintess!”
“Y-Yes!”
“Please!”
Startled by Kerry’s serious tone, the Saintess scrambled over.
The Saintess examined Lina. Meanwhile, the sound of monsters approaching could be heard.
‘These bastards just won’t give us a break.’
Was this what he was aiming for? And Lina, the regressor, knew it.
‘Damn it. What does she mean she believes in me? She should have just monopolized everything like a proper regressor. Why did she have to sacrifice herself…'
Perhaps this was the only way. No. This was no time for thinking.
“Saintess. How is she?”
“……”
“It’s fine, just explain quickly. The monsters are closing in. The rest of you, hold off the monsters until we’ve checked Lina’s condition.”
“Leave it to us, Kerry.”
“Don’t worry about us, Husband.”
The Saintess opened her heavy lips.
“It’s a powerful curse. So much so that even I will have a hard time dealing with it. A vile curse, only possible because a master caster sacrificed their very existence and soul. The hero is only able to endure it because she possesses divine power, just like me.”
“So, can you fix it? Just get to the point.”
“…I can. But we have to drive out the bastard’s evil spirit from within the hero.”
“Then drive out the spirit and fix her quickly.”
“I can’t do it alone. If you want to heal the hero… I need your help, Kerry.”
Seriously, we’re in a hurry. She talks so much. If you needed help from the start, you should have just said so.
Kerry quickly learned from the Saintess how he could help.
When Natasha had collapsed, he had entered her inner world to awaken her consciousness.
This time was similar.
He had to enter Lina’s inner world and drive out the Idol Worshipper’s soul.
That was the current objective.
Kerry lay down next to Lina. And at that moment, the Saintess’s divine power flared brightly.
“If you wish to help the hero, you must drive out the Idol Worshipper’s evil spirit hidden in her heart. You must remember this.”
His consciousness faded with a golden light.
When Kerry opened his eyes again, he saw a forest he had never seen before in his life.
‘Is this Lina’s inner world?’
Lina was in the middle of the forest. The sight of Lina with her blonde hair fluttering in the lush forest was like a painting.
At least he was spared the trouble of searching for her. Kerry approached Lina and spoke cheerfully.
“Lina. Are you alright?”
Lina turned around. Her eyes were full of hostility.
“I am only here because they said you would help. Do not call me so familiarly, Ruler of Mana.”
“……”
What was this situation now?