Chapter 159

(2)

3.

Right after stepping into the Trial of the Hero.

Unlike Ulan, who fell into the maze right from the first gate, Noa steadily solved the problems.

“Correct, visitor.”

“I will permit you to proceed to the next gate.”

Now familiar with the script, the eighty-fifth gate swung wide open.

Noa moved forward silently.

There were two reasons why she could pass the trials so smoothly. One was thanks to a trait possessed by Noa Darshen.

‘Linguistic Mastery.’

The ability to understand and interpret all kinds of languages that exist in the world.

Thus, even ancient fairy script appeared as Hangul to Noa.

‘Next…’

Noa was well-versed in all of the Hero’s Trials, except the one Ulan had faced.

In other words, her current situation was akin to taking an exam with all the answers memorized.

Stepping forward without stopping even once, a booming sound suddenly resonated throughout the entire space.

KWAHNG! KUGUGUGUGU!

It was an abrupt vibration, but Noa didn’t panic. Instead, she calmly assessed the situation.

‘…Looks like a battle has begun.’

A fight with the Abyss Worshipper.

The reason she could definitively say Delia’s opponent was the Abyss Worshipper was simple.

‘If the opponent were an Arch Lich…’

All individuals other than Delia, the trial challenger, would be banished outside. Realizing the circumstances, Noa hastily quickened her pace.

‘I gotta hurry.’

At the same time, she continued creating new talismans without rest. It was to prepare in case she needed to jump into the battlefield at any moment.

“Hoo…”

Just as she exhaled a tense sigh.

Noa successfully broke through the ninety-ninth problem. Shortly after, the space surrounding her was shrouded in fog.

SIIIAAA!

The scene of moving to the Library of the Stars.

After a short while, as the fog cleared, a silver-haired girl was seen facing off against wizards in gray robes.

‘Delia.’

She looked cornered.

Without hesitation, Noa scattered her talismans.

The battle had begun.

4.

Noa’s sudden appearance.

Delia had an expression of shock.

She had never imagined she would meet this person in such a place.

“N-Noa?”

Delia echoed back with a surprised face.

On the other hand, Noa showed no change in color. Looking at her now that she was up close, Delia continued to ask in astonishment.

“Why are you here?”

It was a question she had already anticipated.

So, she had a reply prepared in advance.

“I had a bad dream.”

“A dream? A prophecy?”

“Yeah, so I came to help.”

Noa smiled brightly.

At the moment she faced that cheerful smile, Delia’s golden eyes flickered slightly. Then a thick wave of emotions surged into her heart.

Suddenly, her vision blurred.

Delia wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“You’ve even brought a solid backup.”

“Backup…?”

“It’s someone you know well.”

A confident smile bloomed at her lips.

With a victorious expression, Delia’s eyes widened. The only solid backup she could think of was just one person.

“No, could it be…?”

“That’s right. Ulan is here too.”

Ulan. The moment she heard that name, all the fatigue weighing her down vanished. Instead, a strong sense of relief washed over her.

‘Ulan is here.’

To rescue her, of all people.

Just that fact alone made Delia feel like she could burst with joy. As she wiped the tears forming in her eyes, a joyful smile appeared on her face.

PERRRRRRNG! KWA-BOOM!

A gigantic explosion swept through the room.

A devastating strike from the Abyss Worshippers.

However, the ambush didn’t work. The barrier Noa had made with determination was incredibly solid, far surpassing their expectations.

“Looks like we can’t afford to chat leisurely.”

This was the battlefield. Taking a deep breath, Noa retrieved a talisman glowing with blue light. Then she handed it to Delia and said,

“First, take this.”

It was a Magic Talisman.

Literally, a talisman that contained magic power, having the same effects as a magic potion.

“You know how to use it, right?”

“Yeah, I remember.”

Delia replied readily.

The usage was simple. Just holding the talisman between her lips and inhaling was all there was to it.

Just as she started to breathe in with the talisman held in her mouth, Noa positioned herself in front like a shield.

“I’ll buy you as much time as possible, so finish it in one big strike.”

Delia nodded quietly.

With their roles assigned, she immediately began preparing high-tier magic. It was a Stellar Magic of the seventh star level, like a meteor shower.

Meanwhile, at that moment.

Did the Abyss Worshippers instinctively realize Delia’s magic was dangerous? They began to scream in panic.

“Stop her immediately!”

“Don’t let the magic finish!”

“Kill the Star Witch!”

At that moment, Noa’s eyes shook.

The reason was purely one.

One of the Abyss Worshippers had called Delia the “Star Witch.”

‘How do they know…?’

It was only natural to be startled.

Because Delia gained the title of “Star Witch” only after she reached the level of High Mage.

‘But how do they already know?’

At that moment, a memory came to mind.

The question she realized before entering this place.

It was a supposition that the Abyss Worshippers’ ambush was carried out under the premise that they knew Delia would be facing the trial.

‘Putting all this together…’

There were two guesses she could come up with.

First, there might be a presence like Ulan in the Abyss faction that remembers their past life.

And the other was—

‘There may be players on their side too.’

Noa’s expression suddenly hardened.

Of course, it was still merely a supposition, but if either of the two were correct, things would get complicated.

However, the time for contemplation was not long.

“…!”

The barrier was on the verge of breaking.

Following the magic from the Abyss Worshippers, a masked swordsman shredded with his furious slashes.

Regaining her senses just in time, Noa hurriedly reinforced the barrier and shook off all distractions.

‘For now, let’s fight.’

With all her strength.

Resolute, Noa pulled out a talisman.

Specifically, it was a paper doll made by folding several talismans. A trump card she had diligently prepared while carried by Ulan.

‘Shiki (式神).’

It referenced a talisman that manipulated the thoughts of specific targets.

‘Originally, I wanted to create it with the sentiments of the Swamp Ruler or Frost Dragon.’

However, the power of those sentiments was too strong, leaving her no time for proper execution. So, in a pinch, she stored other sentiments in the doll.

Normally, one had to complete the summoning to make a Shiki, but this time, there was no need for that.

‘Because…’

The sentiments Noa had infused into the Shiki were those of the Arpen Rangers who were killed by the Abyss Worshippers.

Perhaps due to regret and resentment over their unfinished missions, the Rangers cooperated willingly.

WHOOOSH!

As the paper doll began to burn.

The shapeshifting Rangers gradually revealed themselves. They formed formation while preserving the appearance of their former lives.

【Protect the Princess!】

Voices of sentiments echoed back to Noa.

Even though their souls had long since disappeared, their loyalty to the royal family remained unchanged.

The battle resumed.

KWAARURR! KWA-BOOM!

A symphony of all kinds of magic and sorcery.

The Library of the Stars, caught in the fight, crumbled away, but no one paid it any mind. Both sides engaged solely for their respective purposes.

And then, at that moment.

The awaited voice was heard.

“…Now, it’s done.”

Delia’s noble eyes sparkled.

Soon countless magical symbols were inscribed in the air.

The seventh star-level Stellar Magic. Having observed the flow of magic and the formation of spells, Noa recognized the identity of the magic.

『Extreme New Star (極新星)』

A wide-area spell that strongly condensed the power of the stars and exploded it all at once, annihilating the battlefield. It was classified as a strategic magic, just like the meteor shower.

“W-we have to run everyone back…”

Some of the worshippers who realized the gravity of the situation attempted to flee, but it was futile.

The explosion had already started.

────!

In that moment, the world transformed brightly.

Pure white starlight engulfed the battlefield, and a soundless explosion consumed the library.

As goosebumps erupted all over her body, the starlight returned her sight that had been stolen.

And the result was horrific.

“Oh my…”

Dozens of Abyss Worshippers had vanished.

Their corpses transformed into black char without a trace left behind.

Only five worshippers remained.

The rest were mere remnants who had narrowly survived with forbidden magic.

The tide of battle had flipped in an instant.

But one could not afford to be careless.

The masked swordsman, who was more threatening than any other Abyss Worshipper, was still alive.

‘But I can still give it a shot.’

Noa still had over half of her magic power left.

And the Shiki numbers were quite substantial too. At this rate, she figured she could win without Ulan’s support.

Just as she thought that.

SHHRRING!

The suddenly summoned worshippers drew daggers.

What’s going on? Were they planning to engage in close combat?

As she wondered about this, the worshippers began muttering with ecstatic looks on their faces.

“Ah, my master.”

“I offer you my blood and flesh.”

“Bring forth the Abyss’s hatchling.”

Ending their incomprehensible murmurs.

The three worshippers simultaneously plunged their daggers into their own hearts.

“……!”

A sudden, unexpected action.

Noa and Delia widened their eyes.

Meanwhile, the worshippers whose hearts had been pierced wore disturbingly gleeful smiles as they spat out blood.

A little while later.

The last remaining worshipper began chanting an unidentified magic spell. After confirming the incantation, Noa’s complexion turned pale.

“We must stop it! T-that’s…!”

Before Noa’s warning could even finish.

Delia had already sprung into action. She felt a dangerous energy emitting from the incantation.

Soon stars fell like thunder toward the worshipper. However, at that instant, a chilling cutting sound struck her ears ahead.

SWISH!

A figure stood to protect the worshipper.

It was the masked swordsman. He swung his weapon wrapped in gray light to sever the magic, and seeing this, Delia’s eyebrows twitched.

“…An aura?”

The only things that could sever magic were weapons cloaked in aura. And saying that aura was being used meant that the target was undoubtedly a powerful master.

‘No way, that can’t be possible.’

However, Noa refuted this.

If that swordsman were truly a master, she and Delia would have lost their heads long ago.

No matter how much they were favored by mana, they couldn’t resist within the ‘domain’ of a master.

‘Then what is that aura?’

If he could use aura, why didn’t he just break the barrier?

Feeling a puzzling sensation, while frowning her brows.

The worshipper’s incantation was finally completed.

“For the hatching of the Abyss.”

After mumbling the short incantation, he, like his fellows, pulled out a dagger and stabbed his heart.

And at that moment.

Tremors shook the room.

KUGUGUGU!

A violent vibration filled the space, soon to have a darkness covering the floor.

It was a giant shadow.

At first squirming on the surface like a fish, it soon shot up.

Then it opened its gigantic mouth wide and gulped down the corpses of the worshippers.

Chomp! Crunch! CRUNCH!

As it continued its meal, the shadow took on a form. It was a bizarre creature with a pig’s head, an alligator’s body, and a fish’s fins.

All the while, Noa’s face stiffened.

Because she knew what it was.

‘Abyssal Monster, Arvick!’

A creature powerful enough to be compared to a minion.

Normally existing as an egg, it hatched and became active when certain conditions were met.

These conditions were similar to forbidden magic.

It required the flesh, blood, and souls of mages to be fed to hatch. Thus, the Arvick that was born from such a process was also known by another name.

‘…The Magic Devourer.’

A monster that ravenously devours magic.

It was the nemesis of mages, as ordinary mages or sorcerers couldn’t even scratch it.

【GRRRR—!】

At that moment.

Having finished its meal, it turned its head.

With a starved look as if searching for prey. Delia immediately spread a veil of stars.

She aimed to block the magical attack.

“Noa, get behind me.”

“No, Delia! Get away!”

“What? Why would I….”

She asked in confusion but couldn’t finish her words. Suddenly, Noa embraced her and rolled on the ground.

In that instant, Arvick pounded the ground.

KWA-GWA-GWA-GWA! KWA-BOOM!

The creature opened its mouth wide and swept through the place where Noa and Delia had been. A massive wave crashed against the land.

A little while later, after Arvick had passed, nothing remained.

“……!?”

Noa’s formation was completely devoured, as were the Shiki and the veil of stars.

Stuffed full of its prey, Arvick commenced its meal once more, and Delia stuttered with a surprised expression.

“W-what is, that?”

“As you can see, a monster that eats magic.”

“Eats magic?”

Noa nodded silently.

This was truly the worst-case scenario.

If things continued like this, there would be no chance of winning.

‘I need to come up with a countermeasure.’

Before Arvick finishes its meal.

But no matter how hard she wracked her mind, no solid plan came to her. As she frowned over the frustrating mood, a mocking voice suddenly rang out.

“How absurd.”

The masked swordsman had approached closer than ever.

He pointed his sword at Noa’s heart and spoke with incredulity.

“I was wary since you claimed to be the protagonist, but aren’t you a bit weak for a protagonist?”

Just as he mocked her.

Suddenly, vibrations accompanied a thunderous sound.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Initially, Noa thought it was the sound of Arvick charging again, but it wasn’t. The sound was coming from much farther away.

And the sound grew steadily closer.

Feeling the rapid vibrations, Noa burst into laughter.

As if she had realized its identity.

So, with a smiling face, she replied,

“You seem to have misunderstood something.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve never once claimed to be the protagonist, have I?”

“What are you saying?”

The swordsman tilted his head in confusion.

However, there was no response.

The Arvick that had finished its meal turned its head back towards them.

“Well, anyway, the mission is complete.”

Watching it prepare for a second charge, the swordsman retreated a step. It was to evade being caught up in Arvick’s charge.

“Then farewell, protagonist.”

A smirk curled beneath the mask.

An unmistakable sneer. He waved lightly, and soon enough, Arvick barreled forward.

Just then, as it shattered everything in its path.

KWAHNG! KWAARRRR!

Suddenly, one side of the wall crumbled.

Debris fell swiftly upon Arvick. At that moment, something slammed into it from beyond the wall.

【───!】

After a brief, pained wail.

Arvick’s massive body was propelled away and slammed into a corner. The swordsman’s expression hardened like stone in response to an unforeseen occurrence.

“What on earth…?”

While he couldn’t regain his composure.

Noa’s voice echoed out.

“How about it? Was I right?”

“……What?”

“I said it earlier. The protagonist appears last, without fail.”

With a triumphant gleam in her eyes.

Delia perked up her ears at the same time.

The moisture pooled in her eyes as she gazed beyond the collapsed wall. Conversely, a crimson glow blazed like fire through the hazy dust.

“Here comes the real protagonist.”

A man wielding an axe in both hands.

The red-haired barbarian, Ulan’s entrance made Noa grin widely.

She aimed to return the mockery she had received earlier.