Chapter 112: Dea Ex Machina
“Nevertheless, this is impressive. Seeing this scene, I can believe you actually hunted Eldritch.”
Suddenly, Adrang approached me and said that. Hick, standing beside him, also expressed admiration as he cast his gaze afar.
They were looking at the shadow chains I had set up all around, much like Flick had.
“There were this many followers of the Resurrection Sect hiding in Kern…”
Hick muttered in surprise. It seemed there were far more than he had anticipated.
On the other hand, Adrang, while being surprised, eyed me suspiciously.
“How do we prove that all these are members of the Resurrection Sect, Eldritch Slayer?”
“… Proof?”
“At the very least, I can’t trust you unless you show me someone you can rely on.”
Well, that’s true.
The followers of the Resurrection Sect look no different from ordinary people on the outside. To Adrang, who just met me, it wouldn’t be strange to think I’m the villain. That’s how the citizens of Kern felt too. It’s quite reasonable to be suspicious.
However, I have an ace up my sleeve for this.
Smiling confidently, I rummaged through my pouch and handed a letter to Adrang.
“I may not be able to prove they’re from the Resurrection Sect, but I can offer some confidence in me.”
“Hmm?”
The letter I handed over meaningfully was none other than the Duke of Halsenberg’s correspondence.
Adrang took the letter with a puzzled look, but his eyes widened as soon as he saw the sender’s name.
“…Johan? Why would Johan…?”
His surprised gaze lingered on me for a moment before he quickly began reading the letter.
Once ADRANG finished reading the letter, curiosity was evident in his eyes.
“That stubborn bastard went this far to praise someone. It’s clear you’re no ordinary person.”
Ardang carefully folded the letter and put it in his breast pocket, then extended his gauntleted fist toward me.
The Duke does that too; he mentioned they’re close. Someone must have influenced the other. I reciprocated the gesture by pressing my fist against his gauntlet.
“To be honest, I have a lot of questions for you right now, but let’s deal with the immediate issue first.”
“Yes, alright.”
“Once this ordeal is over, have a proper conversation with me. If you promise this, I will fully trust and cooperate with you.”
“Yes, indeed. I promise on my junior status.”
“Ha ha, good.”
He laughed heartily and immediately transformed his gauntlet. Every time the metallic sounds rang out, a sharp stake repeatedly protruded and disappeared from the massive knuckles of his gauntlet.
I stared at the gauntlet with a dazed expression for a moment.
“Wow. That’s really cool!”
Wasn’t that called a Piercing Knuckle? They say it’s a man’s dream, and it indeed isn’t an exaggeration.
I secretly resolved to look into its production method or source in the future when Hick tapped my shoulder and asked,
“So, what should we do?”
“Ah. That, well…”
I snapped out of it at Hick’s words and informed them of the rough current situation:
The Resurrection Sect’s purpose and Cassas’s goal, the summoning of an Astarte fragment. To achieve this, Seop Baek was sacrificed. The spell tied to her ring, the subsequent slaughter of Kern’s residents, and my desperate efforts to stop it.
‘As close to the truth as possible… but I’ll omit the bad parts.’
…I omitted the unnecessary details about how their summoning purpose seems to be targeted at eliminating me and Ruci. There’s no sense in mentioning it as it doesn’t benefit us.
By the time I finished explaining, ADRANG and Hick suddenly murmured in unison.
“Astarte fragment? Are they dreaming of the reincarnation of the Demon King Astarte? The horrifying creature that so many Cavaliers of Maketreyse sacrificed their lives to eliminate…”
“I’ve noticed strange movements recently, but I never expected the Resurrection Sect would be scheming such absurd plans…”
ARdrang’s gaze immediately sharpened and naturally fell on me.
“Eldritch Slayer, if what you say is true… this could become an issue of national importance, no, a matter concerning all humanity. Can you take responsibility for your words?”
“Since I’ve already staked my junior status, shall I hand over my heart as well?”
“… Ha ha, that’s enough. How would I use your heart if I took it?”
That’s true. Why did you take something so useless last time?
Though I complained inwardly, ADRANG’s slight smile and nodding head indicated that he seemed to trust my words.
I glanced at the two of them in turn and lowered my tone slightly.
“From now on, I’ll inform you both of what you need to do.”
Firstly, all the Resurrection Sect members I’ve bound must be executed but not allowed to escape Kern city. Additionally, since this group uses necromancy to manipulate corpses, it’s essential not to let your guard down even after they’re dead.
In summary, that’s what I instructed them.
“Humans controlling corpses are practicing black magic. The summoning of the Astarte fragment should also be deemed a form of black magic.”
ARdrang, attentively listening to my explanation, stroked his chin. A ferocious gleam, resembling that of a beast’s, filled his eyes.
I couldn’t help but gasp upon hearing his muttered words.
“… You know quite a bit about magic, huh? You don’t seem like someone who’d delve into such matters.”
“Johan, who recommended you, is a magician, isn’t he? I have some connections with the Seven Sages of Mittelrand. I’m close with someone knowledgeable about black magic.”
“Aha.”
“In any case, a friend of mine is scheduled to visit Crossplayed soon as a celebration envoy. Since my group encountered the ritual of the divine possession you mentioned, I’ll connect with him and see if he can help resolve it.”
“Wow… thank you!”
That issue had been lingering on my mind.
Even if we eliminate all the Resurrection Sect members here, the leader of Cassas – this extreme lust maniac – continues to keep an eye on me. This means the ritual could activate again at any moment. Ultimately, as long as the spell on the ring isn’t destroyed, it remains problematic. ADRANG has now resolved this uncomfortable issue.
I bowed deeply to him as if performing the Buddhist prostration known as “three prostrations and one bow.”
ARdrang, seeing my overly exaggerated behavior, smiled wryly while waving his hand.
“Then let’s get started right away. However, to prevent any tricks with these corpses, it seems we’ll have to tear off their limbs or crush them completely. This may take some time.”
Calmly stating these unsettling words, ADRANG marched off.
And just as if to substantiate what he had said, he immediately began slaying the members of the Resurrection Sect, one after another.
Pujjjjggkk, udduggg! The cracking of human bones and the squashing of flesh echoed repeatedly. Then, there lies a blood-soaked lump of meat that was once a person, sprawled lifelessly on the floor.
“Umm… I don’t particularly enjoy unilateral slaughter.”
Despite ARdrang’s murmurs, we watching him didn’t feel that way at all.
His completely merciless, cruel technique devoid of any mercy and his indifferent expression as if he neither enjoyed nor disliked the act – it’s hard to tell who is the member of the Resurrection Sect from this perspective.
Seeing him behave with such calm assurance, I now understood why this guy was called “Adrang” instead of “Baklang.”
The fierce gleam in his eyes and his crimson back, drenched in the blood of his enemies, truly reminded me of wolves or other ferocious beasts.
Numbly, I, along with Hick, and the executioners, watched Adrang’s massacre for a while.
“That… then, we’ll follow your instructions.”
Hick immediately signaled the executioners with a nod. They swiftly moved towards the four directions of the city.
Just before leaving, Hick spoke to me.
“The guard of the gates is up to you. Compared to Master Adrang, our power might be insignificant, but since we have numbers, it’ll be hard to break through. I’ll immediately send a message if there’s an emergency.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Let’s meet again once we’re both alive.”
Hick gently nodded his head before turning away without hesitation. He quickly disappeared into the darkness of dawn.
Unconsciously, I raised my voice,
“Hey, over there!”
“…”
Hick turned around, his eyes filled with curiosity, and I couldn’t help but tremble my shoulders and began scratching the back of head, mumbling,
It’s just a special thing about me as a pushover. If we’ve done anything wrong, let’s apologize first, even if it’s something trivial.
I’m sorry for before. Please treat my assistants, even those who look like they have been kicked in the groin, a bit nicely.
“… Not at all. On the contrary, I’m sorry. For not trusting you back then.”
Hick grinned and then sped up his movements once again. He melted into the darkness as suddenly as he had appeared, disappearing with the executioners.
As I quietly stared at his retreating back…
“Cukh! Kukh! Kuph!”
I could no longer suppress the coughs and blood vomiting.
Beeep, Beeep. The same status window kept popping up before my dizzy eyes, warning me.
[Warning – Magic Power Depletion]
[Details: The body’s physical strength will rapidly decrease due to the depletion of magical power. If the body’s energy runs out, internal reflux will cause an explosion.]
‘It’s… final. I’ve reached this point.’
There was a specific reason why I handed over the extermination of the Resurrection Sect to Hick and trusted the gate guard to him.
I… was already on the verge of critical collapse. I no longer know when the chains will fall apart.
“Not… yet!”
Unggggg! Clenching my teeth, I somehow managed to pull myself up despite my wobbly limbs.
But my arms and legs trembled, and didn’t have any strength left. Eventually, I collapsed onto the spot.
Kwajik! Planting my fists into the ground barely prevented me from falling entirely.
“No… it can’t be like this… Not yet…!”
This can’t happen.
If I collapse here, it’ll be utterly meaningless. Watching ahead, I noticed ADRang was slaughtering at an incredible speed. At this rate, every Resurrection Sect member in Kern will be turned into minced meat incapable of manipulating corpses within 10 minutes.
The problem is… I have less than 3 minutes before I die due to magic power depletion.
Even if all members of Kern’s upper conference unite, it would take them more than three minutes to complete this.
‘Please… hold on… just a bit longer!’
If I fall now, the shadow chains will unravel, and Adrang will lose the means to identify Resurrection Sect members.
Then… another massacre by the Resurrection Sect will start. A brutal battle will ensue, resulting in countless deaths. Perhaps some of these members will even break through Hick’s blockade and escape Kern. Then another summoning ritual could begin.
No matter what happens afterward… I will still start my 89th try.
“I’m not… fking going down…!”
Persist! Just a little longer! What a frail and ungrateful body, damn it.
I’ve come this far. Crossing countless piles of my own corpses, I’ve managed to reach here. It’s so close now. I can’t die like this here.
No.
“I don’t… want to die…”
Even as I struggled against the intense pain of magic power depletion, I couldn’t tear my gaze away from ADRANg. My determination held me steady.
I’ve died 87 times to reach this point. How much my mind has fragmented and how much pain I’ve endured.
I don’t want to endure this pain anymore. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to turn into a monster anymore.
‘Damn it…!’
I’ve grown accustomed to death, but transforming into a monster has never felt natural.
Whenever I contemplate becoming accustomed to this transformation… No, I don’t want to die anymore.
This fear of death that I’m experiencing now is exactly that sentiment.
“Can… anyone help me…?”
Anyone is fine.
God, Buddha, Allah, Zoroaster, Minerva, the Three Fates… anyone but that notorious cultist IXXI, really, anyone is fine.
“… Help me…”
If you’ve made it this far… Damn it. Please, just for once, can someone be on my side?
Even though I’ve been an atheist up until now, if a deity helps me now, I’ll believe in them until my dying day. Please… just once! Let me live!
“Kukh.”
But contrary to my earnest plea, coughs accompanied by more blood erupted.
Every vein in my body burned. It feels like an explosion is imminent… it’s about to happen! A chilling intuition swept through my mind.
‘Just… one more of them…!’
But I didn’t release the shadow chains.
Even now, there’s no strength left to release them and run—damn it. If I’m going down, I want to take at least one more stupid Resurrection Sect member with me.
That’s the special skill unique to Park Jeong-yong—a life stubbornly unyielding even at its end.
And who said it?
Miracles come to those who don’t give up.
“Yes, I’ll help you.”
Perrrrbbbbbb!
A high-pitched but beautiful voice was drowned out by an enormous chain explosion.
Dozens of unknown objects suddenly poured down from the sky and exploded simultaneously. The colossal wind pressure rushing from all sides sent me flying like a leaf until I slammed into a temple wall, only then stopping my flight.
“Wha… what…?”
I grabbed my trembling head and slowly raised my eyes upward, widening them in shock.
“Wh…What the…?”
Everything in sight was devastated.
In an instant, the Resurrection Sect members in the city were reduced to shredded pieces of meat. The explosions skillfully targeted only them, scattering their remains everywhere. I was utterly astounded.
“Lord Chung Yong, I flew here as soon as I heard you were here. I apologize, but I was late reading the flyer because I was scolded by the boss!”
The voice came from somewhere above me.
It was the voice I faintly heard just before the explosion. Immediately recognizing it, my head snapped up.
“Huh.”
The unmistakable sound of astonishment escaped me.
It was the instantly recognizable face with its characteristic, sheepish grin. Only then did my thick-headed brain match the voice to its owner.
Still unable to believe it myself, I finally uttered her name.
“… Seseona.”
It was Seseona. She was floating above me.
I glimpsed her feet morphing into a mechanism that emitted brilliant blue plasma—she must have been using that to fly.
Moreover, somewhere, she must have acquired the outfit, because instead of a one-piece, she was now dressed in a genuine Gothic Lolita maid uniform.
“Hmm.”
I exhaled a breath that sounded like a mix between a sigh and a chuckle.
Considering the joke I just told, it probably was a laugh.
“You… are a maid robot, right? You can do anything, huh?”
“Ahh.”
Tchhlllack!
She awkwardly covered her tactically transformed missile launchers attached to her arms with strands of her azure hair. She hesitated slightly before speaking,
“Would you… perhaps dislike a woman whose body shoots missiles?”
That ridiculous and silly manner was exactly the same as I remembered during the test period. I couldn’t suppress a hollow chuckled despite my physical state.
Wow. It’s really Seseona.
“Actually… you’re fking amazing.”
I vowed there and then to become a fervent believer of the Church of Seseona.
Battle robots dressed as maids—she is indeed a deity.
