Book 10 Chapter 12

Chapter 237

The four masters slowly regained consciousness.

As their consciousness flickered for a moment, the spaces they each belonged to had been swapped.

This was a space where consciousness formed reality. It was clear they had been summoned as spirits.

And what it meant for this to happen without any warning…

[I wondered why I suddenly smelled beast droppings, turns out I'm in the same space as you.]

Ulandis.

The leader of 'Pakripa,' one of the nine highest-ranking organizations of the Black Church.

[That's your philtrum you're smelling. Hmph, if the air going into your nostrils bothers you so much, shall I rip them off?]

Kashanu.

Also the leader of the highest-ranking organization 'Rarika.'

However, 'Rarika' is not active externally, so its recognition is significantly lower compared to the other three.

[Wanna try?]

[Yeah, this time I'm going to give you a good thrashing, you fat bastard! Where are you right now!]

[Stop it already. Why do you two always fight whenever you meet?]

But that was only the recognition of the Black Church organization 'Rarika,' Kashanu's own recognition was arguably the highest among those gathered here.

Kashanu.

A Diamond-grade adventurer, a title given only to those in the position of Supreme among current adventurers.

"Still so amicable, it's truly a sight to behold."

Just then, a presence appeared with a clap and a warm smile.

A shiver spread through every corner of his body, even though he was summoned as a spirit…

Everyone swallowed dryly and looked back to see a man with an eye patch grinning.

"A pillar has fallen, you see. Such a positive attitude isn't bad."

The eye drawn on the eye patch truly seemed alive, blinking, smiling, and even shedding tears.

It was a truly bizarre sight, but everyone here had seen that eye patch countless times before.

His name was Zernix.

An absolute being whom even the nine highest organizations of the Black Church had to bow their heads to, the second pillar of the Black Church.

[A pillar has fallen… You're not playing word games again, are you?]

"I wish I were, but oh dear, what can I do? They say Elamas, that fellow, got hit with a 'thump' and died with a 'thud'."

[Huh?]

Elamas died?

The third pillar, who possessed incomparable martial power?

"It's truly heartbreaking. Oh dear, boohoo, to die so tragically just to buy this brother time…"

[…Is it that Half-Dragon that defeated Turayna and Slayers?]

"Yes, and now you four are all that's left who can brag about being a top organization. The three fellows Elamas maintained with necromancy also died with him."

When the Dawn Brigade collapsed, the highest-ranking organizations stationed at Solon's strategic points also fell.

'One question remains here…'

Even if Elamas dies, the power of the immortal Lizard Lord doesn't vanish with him.

'That means the beings resurrected by necromancy, Elamas's subordinates, should remain, normally…'

But these guys all disappeared together.

Did Elamas himself withdraw his necromancy? The probability of that approaches 0%.

'I was planning to use those guys very productively.'

Then, has that greenhorn elevated Bell Quirius's power to a level I don't know about?

'Hmph, even so…'

Soon, all of it will be mine.

Zernix didn't even try to erase the smile blooming on his lips.

"Why, do my words sound like lies?"

[Naturally so, for you seem so happy.]

Boundlessly happy, of course. All the troublesome obstacles are removed, and he's coming.

Excellent.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's the best gift that old man Lyuken Rudwick gave me.

"Don't you know that when you're too sad, laughter comes out? This fellow, it seems he's never truly experienced sadness, boohoohoohoo."

[…]

"Heheheh, anyway, since that old hag has vacated her seat, the final decision-making power of the Black Church is now in my hands."

[…]

"As of now, 'Plan 606' begins. Those who haven't received individual instructions are all to gather at the Yellow City, <Raptas>."

[…606?!]

[…Are the preparations already complete?]

"Roughly speaking, yes. It's a supreme guest. Shouldn't we start preparing to greet them grandly now?"

* * *

"Lyuken, you… this is…"

Again.

Once again, Rain found himself in a memory that had been inherited, quietly holding his breath.

The main characters in the memory were two, Osarius and Lyuken, just like before.

"It's power to kill that child."

Osarius's mouth slowly opened as he looked at the piles of parchment stacked on Lyuken's desk.

If bound into a single book, its thickness would easily be a span.

The enumeration of mathematical formulas, like scribbles, brought a fresh shock to Rain, and rightly so, because this was…

"Bell Quirius, it raised Bell Sidius's abilities one step further, allowing manipulation of supernatural powers."

"This wisdom… is certainly not human. Lyuken, surely you haven't used the Treasure of Wisdom given by the Water Dragon here?"

"To surpass that child's magic, there was no other way."

A sorrowful smile bloomed on Osarius's lips as he placed the blueprint of Bell Quirius on the desk.

"You, who desired to reach the truth more than anyone… it seems that child is more precious than your lifelong wish."

This memory brings a familiar sadness.

Perhaps because the emotions the owner of the memory, Lyuken, felt at the time are directly conveyed…

"Giving that child peace, that is the only truth I must pursue and achieve now."

Lyuken barely managed to steady his swaying body.

On the coat rack on the outer wall hung a very familiar coat. The magical garment where red and black light resonated brilliantly, Ceresia…

Lyuken's eyes, gripping the hem of Ceresia's garment, trembled faintly.

"It's the clothes that child gave me as a gift when she reached the 5-star realm…"

As if the transmitted memory ended there, his consciousness suddenly awakened into an alert state.

His five senses returned distinctly, as if emerging from deep water.

'No, am I still in a dream?'

Rain opened his eyes and blinked blankly.

A familiar space, a clearing in the rainforest where they decided to spend the night while heading south from Bara.

There was no problem up to this point, but wasn't Rista looking down at him?

'No.'

Something was strange. If it were Rista, she would have clearly smiled sweetly at this very moment.

But this Rista, the moment their eyes met, suddenly walked into the darkness of the rainforest as if pretending not to notice?

And after a moment, she scurried back to the campsite and folded her arms, as if surprised.

"Looks like you weren't as tired as I thought. To be up already."

"Hmm…"

"Or are you a light sleeper? I tried to be as quiet as possible."

"Hmph…"

When he just stared, Miria cleared her throat awkwardly and subtly turned her head away.

"I apologize. I didn't mean to wake you."

"Hmm, so you mean that one word was so difficult that you tried such an elaborate act of feigned ignorance."

The gaze that had been turned sideways emitted a sharp, phosphorescent glint, as if glaring.

"What did you say?"

"No… but why? You're not the type to do that without reason."

Miria was different from Rista.

Is it because of Aki?

But if so, the angle of her gaze was off. Aki was sleeping next to him, holding Setsunen.

"That is."

Miria seemed to hesitate for a moment, then sighed, "Phew."

"Your head looked strange."

"Don't be too disheartened. They say the mind of every genius looks strange to the eyes of ordinary people."

"You're impossible, really… Not that. The top of your head is slightly white."

Hair color…?

Hmm, discoloration. It was a point to be surprised about, but strangely, he felt no embarrassment whatsoever.

Because the feeling of overload that surged through his heart and brain when using that power, when using Alakish's imagery, was still vivid.

- If your hair starts turning white, please be careful. It means you'll be using your lifespan as the price of power.

Milonne Alter Gaumlis had warned him of that, hadn't she?

"I'll have to dye it again."

"Dye it?"

"Don't tell the others."

He smiled wryly, looking at his comrades who were sleeping in their own unique postures.

Bat, sleeping with his dragon bone spear leaning against his shoulder, and Rem and Pipi, sleeping in a hammock made of vines by Serwebon up in a tree…

These two were something, but his gaze lingered longest on Aki and Setsunen.

'I knew we couldn't walk the same path of time. I knew it, but…'

I didn't know it would be shorter than I thought.

Still, anyway… having heard Elamas's story from Aki and realizing something, it was best to part ways with Aki as soon as possible.

So that she wouldn't stray from her path due to the pain of loss while living an immortal life.

"Really?"

Miria smiled sweetly, as if she had noticed something in Rain's gaze.

Rain's heart suddenly pounded loudly, because that smile was so exactly like Rista's past smile.

Before he could understand the reason for that strange tremor in his chest, a greater shock came: Miria sat down behind him with a cautious movement.

"Then don't use your power, <Flame Myriad>, as much as possible until we arrive at <Flame Myriad>."

Both found this situation awkward and strange, and his heartbeat, which usually remained steady even in battles against strong foes, greatly wavered.

"Because I'll try my best to fight until then."

"…"

"I'm not saying this because of the memories I've recovered. This is entirely something I decided on my own."

Was it because they didn't have to look into each other's eyes, didn't have to see each other's faces, that they could get one step closer?

Miria was not Rista.

He shouldn't think of reuniting with Rista when it came to Miria. Showing such a thing would be rude to Miria, who didn't possess Rista's memories.

He had thought that and kept his distance, he had resolved and pushed her away little by little, but if this girl approached him first with the same intimacy as Rista.

"---Aba, lovey-dovey?"

As a conclusion was about to form amidst his irregular heartbeat, Aki opened her drowsy eyes.

"What 'lovey-dovey'."

"Go to sleep. Come on, it's time for bed, Aki. We have to keep walking tomorrow."

"If not then so be it… daaat…"

As Miria, startled, soothed Aki, Aki flopped back down and began to snore softly within seconds.

Rain and Miria sighed a long breath, then met each other's gaze and smiled weakly.

Rem and Pipi, feigning sleep in the hammock and eavesdropping on that strange atmosphere, though one was human and the other a beast, simultaneously had the same thought.

'They're being ridiculous first thing in the morning… Are they going to get really married, not just on paper?'