186th Episode
I shook off the grogginess and began to make sense of the situation.
First and foremost, this is the premise.
‘I’m already dead.’
Where?
‘I was going towards the old downtown area.’
Why?
‘Unclear.’
Here’s where I hit a wall.
This is the biggest problem.
I tried to activate Izanami’s Heart.
“Hmm…”
The lantern emitted a brief resonance, giving off a gloomy purple light. Judging by the intensity and direction of the light… I must’ve died somewhere around the old downtown area on the map.
Then, should I head back to the old town to reclaim the residual memories?
‘No, do I have to?’
But after careful thought, I arrived at that conclusion.
Although it’s a bit embarrassing for me to say this, I’m one of the strongest individuals in the Paradiso Continent.
“If I just avoid the old downtown, won’t it be fine?”
If my guess is correct, the problem blocking the road is the fleeing knights. And if they were the ones who killed me…
Unless they are at Altear-level, one of the legendary Three Heroes… no, even if they are, there’s no way I’d lose in a one-on-one fight.
‘They are all gathered in one road.’
If that’s the case, avoiding them should be enough.
I’ll just consider this as stepping in something unpleasant, and I’ll go around it. I would be angry if I could remember how I died, but since I don’t, the best course of action right now, given I can think rationally, is to avoid it.
“… I’ve accumulated quite a bit of negative energy though.”
I muttered while caressing my chest.
It feels like a heavy block of lead is pressing down on my chest. I’ve built up quite a lot of negative energy from this death.
After re-contracting the Immortality Contract, I can definitely feel the accumulation of this negative energy.
‘Did I feel a lot of anger, fear, confusion?’
This official statement comes from an authority on immortality, none other than Park Jeong-yong, with over 150 reincarnations.
Six months ago in Markeuteuriseu, I died 14 times while trying to save Adrang with a life-risking extraction of ether, but that didn’t accumulate too much negative energy.
‘Because I was prepared and chose to die on my own accord, my emotions didn’t fluctuate much.’
The negative energy I gathered back then was only enough to emit the Flame of Annihilation two or three more times.
Assuming my threshold for tolerable negative energy is 100, it was merely a trace amount of 2~3.
“But just now, with that one death, I’ve accumulated enough to use it ten times over?”
Something must have happened where I got absolutely thrashed.
I shivered. I didn’t even glance towards the old downtown area.
‘Then, it’s even more reason not to go back to the old downtown.’
I started contemplating the other two routes.
But I don’t have any information about the fleeing knights, and I don’t have detailed information about the Valley of the Dead either, so no clever move comes to mind by pondering.
‘… Should I just wait for information from Knightrea?’
No. When will it come? That’s too uncertain.
In the end, I have no choice but to pick randomly. So, I took out the Crest of the Maiden.
“Either-or, this is the rule.”
I tossed the crest high into the air.
The side with the Goddess goes to the central abandoned factory. The side with the moon goes to the amusement park on the left.
“Yo.”
It made a clear sound as it spun around, then I caught it and slowly opened it on the back of my hand.
It’s the Goddess’s picture, the front.
“Abandoned factory. Shall we go?”
I discarded the original slip of paper and prepared two new ones.
The first one copied the previous note, the second one was newly written.
[First attempt. Right, old downtown.]
[Second attempt. Central abandoned factory district.]
Please, let this try be successful. With that thought, I swapped the slips.
Wooh. The familiar low vibration sounded out, and I started walking towards the abandoned factory district of the Valley of the Dead.
Somewhere, a crow let out a low croak and flew away.
*
When I thought the crows were flying off somewhere, it seems they’re all gathering here in these abandoned factories.
Caw caw, caw!
When I looked up, a misty haze filled the area in all directions. Above it, crows covered every available space.
The factory roofs were all lined with crows. On the collapsed utility poles, crows. On tangled power lines, crows… and on the towering chimneys of the factories, a few crows even looked down at me.
“X Damn, this place gives me the creeps…”
― Well, this place hasn’t been particularly pleasant since 500 years ago. Not like it’s now though. Hahaha.
When I muttered while rubbing my arm, Older Brother Sooho finally responded, after a long absence.
Looks like he was bored lately because I haven’t been playing with him. I chuckled and gave him a conversation partner.
“What was here 500 years ago?”
― It was just a forested valley then. It wasn’t called Valley of the Dead back then… there was the Demon King’s Castle. The first Demon King Strato Helix lived there.
“The first Demon King…?”
Mentioning the first Demon King from the story of the first hero.
I’m not originally one to like old tales, but maybe because I’ve been dragged into old stories with prophecies and whatnot, it piqued my interest a bit.
Naturally, I pressed for more details, but surprisingly, Older Brother Sooho cut me off right away.
― I can’t really tell you all that. It’s complicated and long-winded… plus, the story of that Demon King wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Diana, so I can’t elaborate.
That part was truly like a sharp blade. I swallowed the sudden chilly atmosphere.
“… Not going to tell me a single thing about that witch story? Even with our relationship, elder brother?”
― Diana is much more important than some smelly guy. To be frank, even if a sword is at my neck in the future, I will never talk about her past. I’m sorry for that.
Even though he doesn’t have a neck, he’s saying that kind of thing.
In a tone very unlike the usual jokes about “Diana’s private life,” it wasn’t a joke anymore.
― Just focus on killing Diana. What good would the boring history of that other world do for you? Right?
It was a polite pressure not to ask or even be curious.
Right. No point in pushing it further. One should know when to push and when to back off.
“… Yes, fine.”
I reluctantly nodded.
While absentmindedly staring at the wide river to the right and the old cityscape visible beyond it through the fog, I continued walking down the street beside the factory.
“…!”
And at some point, I swiftly kicked off the ground and leapt backwards with great force.
BOOM! From where I had just been standing, a geyser of flames erupted. Just as I expected it to spread and cause a chain explosion…
PUHHOOO! A shockwave swept in all directions around the street.
“Ugh!”
A trap. It was a trap.
Though my Hero Sense triggered and I dodged, it was a little too late.
Kah! I planted my sword into the ground as I flew away like paper, stopping myself instantly. I glanced towards the burning ground.
I spotted a huge figure shimmering through the flames.
“… What are you?”
Completely clad in shiny tin armor, with some kind of mechanical apparatus mounted where the left eye should be – it was a laser sight.
The body was half-insectoid. Equipped with three insect legs. The patchwork iron armor was poorly assembled, and there was a gun-like weapon on the gauntlet connected to a massive iron backpack.
“… If anyone… asks… my name is Loneliness.”
The hulking man muttered.
The compound insect eyes inside the tin helmet moved around without any sense of hostility. However, the laser sight on his left eye was fixed straight on my forehead. I glared at him in reply.
Then, BEEP. A status window popped up.
[Monster Info]
[Name: Moskden of Solitude]
[HP: 3310/3310 MP: 1250/1250]
[Strength: 435 Agility: 459 Intelligence: 326]
[Detail: An unknown human who survived alone for three years in District 10 after the plague epidemic, wiping out all beastmen. Wields the death hammer given to the knight who defies the god’s will.]
Why?
Was my guess wrong? Why is Moskden of Solitude blocking my way here?
Could it be…
‘Were both paths blocked by one person each from the start?’
So, did my past self get defeated one-on-one by a human hunter called Dyrus?
Just how strong was that guy? With night-time combat techniques and full ether doping, I can nearly hit level 600. So is he some kind of monstrous creature surpassing even that?
‘And in the meantime, choosing two bad options out of the three paths. Really pathetic.’
I was once again amazed at my horrible gambling luck. I firmly pinched the bridge of my nose, making a sound.
As always, I’m the perfect kid to ruin myself in any kind of gambling.
“… I… will block you. You cannot pass. I… was entrusted by the Goddess.”
As I let out a deep sigh, Moskden kept muttering and came closer.
He slowly raised his gauntlet, then PWHOOOOSH! Something was fired from the launcher on the gauntlet.
I slightly narrowed my eyes.
‘Slow?’
CHING!
I swung my Vestark that was planted in the ground and easily deflected it without much difficulty.
In the air, it disintegrated, scattering many syringes and vials.
The attack lacked sharpness. My Hero Sense didn’t even twitch. It wasn’t much of a threat.
“What…?”
At the moment the yellow liquid from the syringes touched the tip of my pinky finger,
CHIHCHIHCHIH. The skin slowly began to dissolve.
“Holy… crap!!”
I twisted my body from the unimaginable pain and covered my splashed finger with my black wing.
BLUBBBLUBBLUB. The flesh bubbled and boiled as if it was boiling alive. The shape of the inside of my thumbnail was grotesquely distorted.
“You… cannot… pass…”
I heard a firm but stammering voice.
Moskden had his laser sight on me while flailing his insect legs. Then again, the syringes fired from the gauntlet aimed at me poured out.
“Ugh!”
Not daring to block with my sword, I immediately activated Fatal Chains.
PUWAPUWAPA! The thorns that split into tens of strands from the cloak struck all the syringes from afar. The black cloak soaked in yellow solution kept making a threatening “CHIHCHIHCHIH” sound.
And soon,
The Fatal Chains were lifted, and the cloak returned to its original appearance.
“What… is this?!”
Surprised, I carelessly touched the fringes of the cloak and suddenly recoiled.
The black cloak, which usually repairs itself instantly even if it’s torn, now resembled a rag. Moreover, it continues to dissolve, dropping black liquid drops onto the floor.
[Status Effect – Major Corruption]
[This prevents items and the body from functioning properly for a certain period. Based on the extent of the corrosion, items and body parts may not recover permanently.]
A status effect. I see.
If my cloak is in this state, I can’t expect any defense, and it also means that aerial combat with the black cloak is practically impossible.
While grinding my teeth, I understood and grasped my dual swords.
“You’re a debuffer, huh?”
An estimate came out. If I can close in, pierce into his attack range, victory would be almost certain.
I’ve never fought a type like this before, so I can’t say for sure. However, my stats are definitely far superior, so the possibility should be good enough.
‘Close combat. Sprint!’
The strategy for the battle was decided.
I stamped hard on the ground to charge towards him.
“Wha!?”
Gook! I felt something strange underfoot. Hero Sense triggered without fail.
Crack! The wall of the factory to the left swung open, revealing a large concealed turret inside. The turret locked onto the alley where I stood and continuously spewed fire.
“X Damn!”
Another trap. With a grinding sound, I immediately stepped back.
POPDPOP! Bullet-sized projectiles rained down like hail. The crossroads where I stood a moment ago instantly became a beehive of holes.
“… Cannot… pass.”
Further away, Moskden repeated the same phrase.
I glared at the monster while slowly swallowing saliva.
‘I see.’
This is his territory. Despite the foolish-sounding speech, it seems that his mind is functioning properly.
I’ve realized there are traps set up all over this abandoned factory zone. Understood.
‘…This might not be easy.’
Predicting the start of a tough battle, I gripped my weapon firmly and let out a low growl.
