Book 19 Chapter 24

Lambard Workshop,

Old Aristocrat Extermination Battle (4)

"Your Holiness, how did this… how could there be two Earls of Shadow?"

Friede said. The members of the hero's party were also invited to the golden space by the Radiant Dragon. It was a different place from Rista's, but the same type of place.

Rin was not invited.

The forces Rin was holding back were too powerful, leaving almost no time.

"The current chaos stems from misjudging the enemy's true identity."

"……?"

"It's not the Earl of Shadow. The opponent you were facing was Roten's Eternal Annihilation Squad (永滅隊)!"

Roten's Eternal Annihilation Squad.

An immortal directly under the Lizard Lord, the fourth-ranked being among the Four Annihilation Lords (四滅君).

Roten's Eternal Annihilation Squad always consisted of 100 members as the palace guard. If there was a vacancy, it was immediately filled.

"What you exterminated was one of the Eternal Annihilation Squad's formless existences. Before being banished by the power of the Psalms, it split its existence."

It is said that only sand was left where they passed, which is why they earned the infamous title of Eternal Annihilation (永滅).

Furthermore, the Eternal Annihilation Squad of 100 members shared the authority of the old nobles, and had its own command structure with one leader and 99 members.

In other words, the Eternal Annihilation Squad is 100 individuals that are one, and thus a collective. They could unify their power, and likewise, they could also divide it.

"Heh, I, Shimian, already knew! I just didn't say anything!"

Shimian, who was similarly invited to this space, said with folded arms, but Friede's expression seemed agonizing.

"Ah, no way… but its sealed location was <Shuriganaquyus>, it's all my fault! Because I misjudged!"

As Friede bit her lip in despair, the Radiant Dragon shook its head.

"The descent ritual of the Eternal Annihilation Squad suffered a major setback halfway through, and as a result, only 50 members of the squad were able to manifest. Even that was an incomplete descent, merely inscribing a soul's core into a troll's body. All of this is due to your swift actions."

Kiez placed a hand on Friede's shoulder. Friede took a long breath, casting out her despair, then composed herself.

"Then it will be a battle of whether we can exterminate the remaining 49 members of the Eternal Annihilation Squad before our strength runs out."

"No, it will be a battle of endurance until the Hero (勇士) returns."

"So, it means we win when Rista returns."

Friede smiled with a weary look.

"But I don't intend to let Rista bear all that burden. Before then, we must reduce their numbers as much as possible."

Shimian also clenched his fist and nodded.

"We are the first descendants! We will fulfill our mission, one that our ancestors would not be ashamed of, until death. We will not leave all the glory to the Samigles!"

When everyone else left the space, only Rin remained. His heart, his will, desired to stay there.

"Can I ask one thing?"

"Your question is permitted."

"What exactly is Truth (眞理)? How can one reach it?"

In the eyes of the boy who asked, there was not awe toward the Radiant Dragon, but rather a pure glow of boundless curiosity.

Like Karenden, the father of the Radiant Dragon.

The Radiant Dragon looked down at Rin, the boy who reminded it of Karenden's youth, for a moment, then smiled inwardly.

"Runes used in magic are letters. You merely think of these runes as 'letters of power' and revere them as sacred, but by doing so, you will not be able to reach the truth."

"……?"

"The hearts of those who enjoyed those letters reside within them. They are the letters of creation. Keep these letters close to you, always and everywhere. Do not merely learn existing letters and repeat them; combine them, divide them, and become familiar with them. This is akin to resembling creation."

* * *

"Go, learn from them!"

The moment the Radiant Dragon placed a finger on Rista's forehead, the all-golden space began to transform, becoming three-dimensional and vibrant.

It was a burning desert…!

It seemed as if there had just been a volcanic eruption, with lava bubbling up everywhere. Even more bizarre were the countless ships flying in the sky.

'The warships of the <Ones Who Came>… So they really came.'

To the world a thousand years ago, to the time when the light of the <Ones Who Came> descended upon this land, consumed by the abyss!

"Who are you?"

It was the moment Rista clenched their fist to firm up their resolve, or rather, the moment their brain thought it had issued such a command.

Truly, it was an instant.

In that single instant, Rista suddenly felt themselves at the crossroads of life and death. A speed beyond light that Rista's senses couldn't even perceive.

'Could this be…?'

Among Rista's senior Payquoriers, there was also a hero who was the proxy for the greatsword-type ultimate holy sword, Aradamantel. The greatsword-type holy swords are known to be the most beautiful among the six types of holy swords.

More beautiful than that…

More brilliantly than that…

Was not the dancing blade, like the excited red light of the sunset, pointed at their neck? Rista instinctively knew.

'…True Holy Sword, Galadiel!'

All ultimate holy swords were created by imitating the True Holy Sword.

And in Rista's era, the only beings who could wield the True Holy Sword were those called Eldia Heroes.

Rista had memorized the names of that holy sword and all its masters. Every Payquorier who yearned for the 'real thing' would do the same.

"Lord Alkaios…?"

A tremor born of emotion from witnessing the object of their admiration violently shook their voice.

Eldia Alma (01), Alkaios.

Famous as the captain of the Divine Elmene Knights and the first Eldia Hero, who had assisted the <Ones Who Came> for the longest time.

'His presence was truly this grand.'

The form of the armor, called Eldia Primoa, boasted a majesty that could not be captured by descriptions or illustrations dared to be recorded in fairy books.

"Captain, retract your sword. The aura of Haraderiman is detected from that world-dweller (世界人)."

Unlike Alkaios, whose expression couldn't be seen due to his helmet, the Eldia Hero who appeared this time wore only optical safety glasses, so their features could be seen.

Truly, it was an intelligent impression.

They looked more like a scholar than a hero, and Rista wondered if Rin would have such an impression if he grew up properly into a respectable adult.

"I know. But it's a bit different. More mature… a feeling of a higher caliber. That's why I asked."

"Our Master said that he intends to use those children as combat weapons, so it wouldn't be strange if their growth rate was adjusted to be fast. More than that, what I find strange is that weapon. Isn't it similar to Enuel's?"

"Indeed. Has our Master already become capable of creating Enuel's clones?"

While the two heroes conversed, Rista felt a thrilling reverberation in their chest.

'I want to talk, to share so many stories.'

How much I admired you, how much I wished to meet you like this, even in a dream…

'But…'

Rista grit their teeth.

Even if time flowed infinitely slower, a fierce battle would surely be raging on the other side of reality right now.

- Operations in the era you call the Age of Myths were conducted in seconds, so there won't be much time.

In fact, it seemed not long after the operation recorded in history as the Glutton Duke Extermination Battle had ended, yet the fleet was rushing its resupply.

According to history, the <Ones Who Came> exterminated the Glutton Duke, and exactly two days later, exterminated the Lizard Lord and established the Red Holy Land <Shuriganaquyus> upon it.

Rista set aside all emotions—admiration, awe, and emotion itself—deep within their soul, placed a hand on their chest, and began to speak.

"As you may know through the fragments of His Holiness Haraderiman, I have come from the distant future. To borrow the strength of you two heroes."