episode_0024

Finally the boss fell.

The hideous lump of flesh boss was no longer moving.

At the same time, a system message appeared notifying that the dungeon had been cleared.

[Dungeon clear?]

“···Question mark?”

The three people’s gazes crossed at Daehyeop Kim’s muttering.

“Ominously, why is this happening.”

“Is this a prank by the developer? Or···.”

Suzuka’s words did not continue there.

My vision was completely dark. My eyes weren’t closed.

What the heck is this all of a sudden?

Sweet felt an unknown fear in the darkness.

A feeling of discomfort and queasy feeling running through my skin.

I couldn’t see ahead, but there was something ahead.

How long should it stay like this?

At the moment when such a question arose, my vision was restored.

Wiggle-!

As soon as my vision returned, what I saw was the boss’s writhing corpse.

I turned my head to look around, but Suzuka and Sweet were nowhere to be seen.

“What the heck.”

Did the boss cast a tantrum pattern?

I think that’s a bit too much.

With such a silly thought in his mind, he aimed his cane.

So that I can burn that lump of flesh any time.

[ Main Story – Attack ]

[ Main Story – Border ]

In that situation, a system message appeared before Sweet’s eyes.

“Main story?”

The reason why Suzuka and Daehyeop Kim suddenly disappeared.

It was designed so that when you defeat the boss, the main story would automatically progress.

After quickly assessing the situation, Sweet chose an option.

[ Main Story – Moving to the Border ]

I didn’t know what would happen if I attacked blindly.

That’s why Sweet trusted the wizard’s mobility device, Blink, and chose Vigilance.

“It got bigger.”

The writhing became more intense, and the stomach seemed to have grown even larger.

My fear grew as I felt like if I left it like this, it would explode with a bang.

Should I attack now?

Or should we just wait a little longer?

“···.”

Sweet watched the situation unfold without making a choice.

Wiggle-! Wiggle-!

The corpse was transformed into a giant spherical shape.

Boom! Boom!

Something began to stir inside it.

The sight was like watching life gestating inside an egg.

“Burn it all, Fireball.”

Hwaruk-!

Unable to overcome his anxiety, Sweet took action right away.

Whatever it was, I couldn’t sit still any longer.

Because the thought that instinctively ran through my head that I shouldn’t let that egg hatch like that.

Kwaaang-!

A huge fireball hit the egg, causing it to explode.

The unidentified egg burst and turned into ashes.

“What, it’s nothing.”

It was then that a presence was felt from the entrance of the common area.

“Raven?”

The identity of the sound was Raven.

“You came at a good time. Look at this, I destroyed the last hideout of the heretic···”

“It’s a trap.”

“···Huh?”

A trap? What on earth does that mean?

Sweet’s thoughts didn’t continue from there.

Woof-!

When the boss died and the egg burst, a magic circle was drawn.

“The Raven Kingdom was suddenly destroyed by the Elder Lich that appeared in the royal capital.”

Her gaze turned to the magic circle.

At the same time, despair appeared in Raven’s eyes.

“Until now, I just thought it was a coincidence.”

The locations of the hideouts were all on the axis of a specific magic circle.

There was always a boss monster that ended with the name ‘Sacrificial Lamb’.

This whole process happened exactly the same way in the Raven Kingdom.

At first I took it as a coincidence, then I doubted it, and finally I became convinced.

“The activation condition of the magic circle is the sacrificial lamb’s last words.”

The scapegoat was created from the lives of imperial citizens kidnapped by the Salvation Church.

On the land of the empire, with the blood of the empire’s people, the magic that will destroy the empire.

The summoning of Elderlich.

“Destruction is coming.”

The quest was completed as soon as Raven’s dialogue ended.

―――

[ *Purification of Heresy (10/10) ]

– You have learned from Raven that there are hideouts of heresy throughout the Empire. Destroy all hideouts of heresy throughout the Empire and root out the evil.

– *When completing the quest, you can proceed with the ‘Immending Destruction’ quest.

―――

[Quest ‘Purification of Heresy’ completed.]

[ Accept the quest ‘The Coming Doom’ ]

―――

Destruction is coming.

***

After hearing Raven’s (Prince’s) explanation, Suzuka yearned for a method.

But because I was physically and mentally exhausted from the long try.

No matter how hard I thought about it, no suitable solution came to mind.

How on earth can we overcome this desperate situation?

“There is one way.”

“Really?”

Raven has a way!

That was truly a blessing in disguise.

Because I couldn’t just stand by and watch the empire fall apart like this.

“Would you trust me?”

Suzuka’s expression hardened at the voice that conveyed a sense of determined determination.

Should I say it’s a woman’s intuition?

Suzuka bit her lip as Raven continued his explanation.

“···You can prevent the summoning of Elderlich in this way.”

“Then what about Raven?”

Suzuka was a player, not a resident of the Akare world.

So I didn’t understand most of what Raven explained.

But even though I didn’t understand it, I was able to grasp the overall flow of the story.

sacrifice.

Raven chose to sacrifice again.

Ever since the moment the Black Phantom Rabbit bit his arm on his behalf.

After failing the County of Ritania quest several times and witnessing Raven’s death.

Suzuka didn’t want to see Raven suffer any longer.

So I tried.

I swung an unfamiliar hammer and practiced fighting techniques I had never tried before.

After joining Sweet and Daehyeop Kim’s party, I asked them questions individually and learned about fighting methods.

Because I didn’t want to rely on Raven anymore, because I didn’t want to see him suffer.

So I got stronger.

But, even though I became stronger, there was nothing I could do.

The flow of this story was already leading to ‘Raven’s Sacrifice’.

The already established tragedy could not be twisted with a slightly stronger level.

“Someone has to do it.”

“Why, why on earth, does it have to be Raven?”

Even Suzuka herself, who was speaking tearfully, knew.

The fact that the only person who can delay the impending destruction is Raven.

“There’s not much time left.”

The color of the magic circle was gradually turning black.

When completely blackened, the summoning spell will be cast.

“Ah.”

Suzuka turned her back and reached out her hand to Raven, who was advancing.

Even though he slowly stretched his weak arm forward, his hand did not reach Raven.

“···.”

Raven, standing on the magic circle, turned his head and looked at Suzuka.

And then he opened his mouth and said his last words to Suzuka.

***

“I’ll wait.”

Please, please save me.

Raven’s afterword was not fully continued.

Because Raven’s appearance disappeared at the same time as the magic circle was activated.

“···.”

Daehyeop Kim stared blankly at the spot where Raven had disappeared for a long time.

I understood in my head Raven’s sacrifice.

But I couldn’t understand it at all in my heart.

Reverse calculation of the summoning magic circle.

Changing the subject of the summoning target and reversing the direction of the summoning.

The solution Raven presented was the best option.

This choice allowed the Empire to delay its coming destruction.

But because of that, Raven was summoned alone to the Elderreach.

In exchange for reversing a higher level of magic circle, he lost all his mana.

“Why can’t this little shit do that? Fuck!”

Daehyeop Kim was a player. A stranger in this world.

The reverse of the summoning magic circle? What the heck is that? How do you do that?

I’ve never even experienced feeling mana.

Just because you know the method, just because you learn the principles.

Could it be put into practice as is? No, not at all.

“What do you mean there’s a chance that he won’t die because he’s a sacrifice?”

The Salvation Church called Raven a sacrifice and continued to pursue her.

You don’t even know what that damn sacrifice means, yet you risk your life.

What was even more unacceptable was that I had convinced myself of those words.

[ Play the record . ]

At that moment, a system message appeared.

Since then, the surrounding scenery has changed completely.

As if I had seen the records in the Hall of Heroes.

The place where Daehyeop Kim was was underground. A very, very deep underground.

There were several prison cells on the walls of the deep tunnel.

At the very bottom, at the end of the underground, Raven was trapped.

“Raven!”

Raven’s condition was critical.

His whole body was covered in blood and his complexion looked poor.

Left injured, he slowly died.

I reached out my hand, wanting to save him somehow.

Naturally, Daehyeop Kim’s hands were blocked by the iron bars and could not reach.

Jerk- Jerk-

An undead entered the prison where Raven was being held.

The first raid boss featured in the trailer’s highlights.

“The method to break a person’s will is very simple.”

Elderreach, he whispered to Raven.

“Daehyeop Kim··· Was that the name?”

Throb

Raven, who had never yielded to any torture or threats, responded to the name.

“I will bring that guy alive and torture him in front of you. Even if he dies during the brutal torture, his soul will be locked in my hell and will be sentenced to eternal torment. He will writhe in pain and blame you.”

Raven’s eyes were shaking. She was agitated. Her eyes were filled with despair and sadness.

“But all of this may not happen according to your will.”

Hard-

The skeleton let out a grotesque laugh, its teeth chattering.

“Hand over your body. Then, I won’t hurt the man you cherish so much.”

Raven bit her lip. Raven was in agony, tears streaming down her face.

No, don’t do that.

Contrary to Daehyeop Kim’s wishes, Raven’s mouth slowly began to open.

And so, at the moment when Raven was finally about to answer.

The surrounding scenery changed once again.

A woman reminiscent of the blue sky asked Daehyeop Kim a question with a bright smile.

“Did you enjoy the beta test?”