episode_0089

After the huge impact, this space was filled with silence except for the sound of the crisp, broken exterior walls falling off little by little and hitting the ground.

The sound of someone squirming convulsively continued intermittently, but the relaxed atmosphere that had been going on just before had already disappeared.

All I could hear was the faint, very cautious sound of someone swallowing their saliva from behind.

“Hu.”

I smiled bitterly as I looked at the nun in the strange outfit who had caused such a fuss just moments ago.

After being hit by my fist, the woman flew through the air 10 meters and was pinned down. She was convulsing up to her waist against the wall, like an exaggerated expression sometimes used in subculture. The sight was extremely comical.

Normally, I would clasp my hands together and say, “Professor, you’re amazing!” Even the dragon horned woman behind her, who must have made the same comment, forgot what she wanted to say and just stared blankly in this direction.

You could say that she and I have a deep relationship, but when I think about the days we spent together, there were fewer instances where I showed my sincerity.

I only showed her sword skills once in LA to educate her, but she had already avoided the fight with Conductor C.

That’s why I’m just staring at my heartfelt punch with my mouth open in a daze.

“… .”

Unable to overcome the heavy silence, I took the first step.

If it had been an ordinary person, the blow would have already shattered every bone and crushed the skin into pieces of meat, but the conductor of the body strengthened with dark mana was only able to throw his back against the wall and get stuck.

Tsk, he clicked his tongue and took a step forward.

With a whiff, the great sword cut through the air. It was an attack made to warm up one’s body in preparation for cutting Conductor B.

From what I’ve seen so far, it seemed like the conductors had some ability worthy of their name.

The black man who seemed to be frozen all over was a chimera, and the conductor who was contemplating a four-dimensional language to pray somewhere was called Frey.

This guy’s name is Bright. In that case, as its name suggests, there was a high possibility that it would attack with some kind of light.

I don’t think she’ll actually harm me, but it could be quite annoying if she joins me from behind in the upcoming battle with monsters.

And the moment when the great sword was about to strike her.

“Stop.”

An old man’s voice was heard.

“You don’t like the gift the child gave you. Lord Northmund.”

It was a gift, so I frowned and stared at the old man.

Even though he had just seen me breaking the speed of sound, I laughed at the composure of the old man who was able to laugh it off.

They must be high-ranking people from the circular bridge.

“The hermit is said to be the chairman of the circular bridge, The One. This is my first time meeting the rumored Lord Northmund in person.”

“… Should I say it is an honor that the head of the circular bridge personally comes by?”

Immediately the main object was caught. The head of the circular bridge is coming to see me in person.

Now that I think about it, this guy was one of the powerful magical powers I felt next to the monster that was presumed to be the Corruptor.

“But it’s foolish.”

“Ho?”

“The reason the circular bridge was able to survive as a circular bridge was because you guys were hiding in the gutter like rats. But you came out into the world and came face to face with me. Have you come to visit your own grave?”

“Hehe, that’s painful advice.”

The head of the circular bridge, called The One, closes his eyes slightly and then opens them. I just uttered a small word and closed my eyes and then opened them, but it felt like the sparkle in my eyes had increased significantly.

Now that I think about it, this old man was an old man dressed in ordinary clothes, not like a member of a circular religion.

They were made of leather, almost like sweatshirts, and were wrapped around something that looked like a symbol of the Middle Ages and modern times, making them look uncharacteristic of those who showed off their crazy fashion sense.

Of course, it was a religious-looking attire, as expected from a circular church, but he was an old man who looked like a kind old priest, wearing fairly simple and somewhat casual attire.

As he glanced at his clothes, he must have noticed that he was looking at his own clothes, and opened his mouth with a benevolent smile, saying, “Heh heh.”

“Hehe, actually, you don’t need to worry that much about your clothes. I often advised them not to get too involved in external factors, but these days they just don’t listen to me.”

“… ?”

“Our circular bridge has existed for a very long time. Therefore, it can be said that it has quite a long history. That’s why children walk around with religious relics hanging around, saying they respect history. It would be nice if it were a little more normal, but it’s such a mess, my body doesn’t like things like that either.”

When I saw the old man laughing, I frowned again. While the old man was complaining, he was gaining some information about the other person.

And what I realized after looking at the old man’s face was not my mistake. This ascetic-looking old man, wrapped in a religious-looking habit, is somehow different from when I first met him.

He was smiling benevolently, but the essence of it was constantly changing.

“You’re wasting time.”

“… Hehe, did you notice? As expected, North Moon─”

Whining, followed by a click! A voice rang out.

That somewhat awkward sound was the sound of me rushing in and swinging my great sword, splitting the old man’s body.

I definitely felt like something was being cut at the tip of the sword, but the only result was the sound of metal rubbing against something called a click.

It was a sound that could not possibly be attributed to the passage of a sword.

Click, click, click, click!

A hard, dull sound, like metal rubbing against metal, echoes throughout the old man’s body.

I swung the sword several times, but the strange sound that kept coming made me put the sword aside for a moment and prepare the magic missile.

“It’s no use, Lord Northmund. Hehehe.”

It was an unpleasant laugh. I don’t know if I felt that way because I didn’t like the old man’s voice in the first place, but this time’s laughter really had a strange power to make people feel bad.

Paaang!

A magic missile is fired and hits his body.

As the compressed magical power hit the old man’s sturdy body, a sound like a hammer hitting metal rang out.

I frowned and opened my mouth as the metallic sound continued to be heard.

“What is it? Is it even a robot?”

“No. This body is truly human. hmm… I don’t know if it can be called a human from an ordinary human perspective.”

I frowned at the incomprehensible situation and asked the old man, but the old man just kept smiling and saying, “Haha.”

“Hehe, it was true. The power granted by Alexstras is really effective. In fact, this body was also anxious. But even Northmund of the world can’t do anything about this body! Hahahahaha!”

The atmosphere around him becomes a little cold as he hears the old man shout out with such joy.

I was doing calculations in my head as I looked at the old man.

What are this old man’s abilities? Does physical force not work at all?

No, it seems that he is intentionally provoking me and trying to attack me, so his abilities may become stronger the more he is attacked.

This was because the strange appearance seen in the old man’s eyes was gradually becoming clearer as time went by.

‘Then let’s test whether it can withstand this too.’

Move magical power to align magic formulas.

The mana flowing through the blood of the dragon’s body gathers in my hand and gradually takes shape, forming a gigantic light.

The atmosphere is burning and the heat is burning. It is the magic swordsman’s high-ranking magic [Hell Pulser].

And just as I was about to throw the energy sphere at him.

“Professor.”

I heard a voice calling me quietly from behind me.

Since I was already in the posture of throwing magic, I just rolled my eyes and looked at her who called me without breaking my posture.

She quietly conveyed her opinion to me in a quiet voice.

“Professor. Wouldn’t it be better to leave that person to me and handle the priority goals?”

“… You mean the Corruptor.”

“Yes, professor. Looking at the current situation, it seems like the old man is intentionally trying to provoke the professor into an attack. Therefore, I don’t think it poses much of a threat at the moment. Judging from what you just said, it seems like you’re not used to using your abilities. It looks like this is probably the first battle.”

‘Hmm.”

After hearing Yoon Sia’s words, I looked again at the old man who was giving off a strange atmosphere for some reason.

It certainly seemed like there was something right about what she said. At first, I acted resolute when I swung the great sword, but I felt like I was a little scared somewhere.

It didn’t feel like a big threat, but there was a sense of strangeness somewhere.

“Wow, that kid has pretty good judgment. Was our information wrong? From what I’ve heard, they say I’m mentally retarded. Hehehe. Well, information is always wrong.”

I frowned when I saw that. Wasn’t this guy trying to protect the Corruptor?

Even though I listened to Yoon Sia’s words together, I couldn’t see any qualms about it or anything.

The One was pretending to be impressed by her story, but in reality, The One just laughed it off with a face that seemed to have no particular appreciation, emotion, or interest.

I curled up the corners of my mouth when I saw the old man’s smile, which looked refreshing but somewhat dry.

“It is unacceptable to talk too long. Then I… ”

“Ah, I also agree with what Lord Northmund said.”

“… What?”

The old man grins at my puzzled words and slowly begins to reveal his true intentions.

“There is no Corruptor you are looking for in this place. Now this body is no different from a spoiler.”

*

“… That’s what it is. I hope this is the answer.”

“So, to sum up what you said… .”

I frowned and interrupted the old man in front of me.

The words that came out of the old man’s mouth were quite surprising.

Well, I couldn’t understand everything the old man was saying because there were a lot of words mixed in with no meaning.

It seemed that this person called The One knew much more about this world than I did.

“So this world is fake and Alexstras is artificially manipulating this world to repair it?”

“That’s accurate. I’m not good at telling long stories, so it seems like I’m rambling a bit, but I’m glad you understand.”

A woman was standing next to the old man who was talking with a cautious look on his face. She was Conductor Bright.

As the old man continued his long story, he must have come to his senses, so he came hesitantly and awkwardly stood next to the old man. It seemed like my blow had caused quite a bit of trauma.

While listening to the story, when I raised my hand to change my posture, I got scared and flinched, which made The One frown.

“So, I would like to make you an offer, Lord Northmund.”

“It’s a suggestion. Let’s listen.”

“Join hands with us. I will make you the god of this world.”

“… What are you talking about?”

“Elderly!”

I frowned and responded to his answer in an unpleasant voice. The bridge of the dragon’s long snout wrinkled and the sound of scales flicking was heard.

The old man’s suggestion must have been shocking not only to me but also to B, as she screamed and then heard Yoon Sia’s “Shut up!” After hearing the answer, I sighed and calmed down.

“Alextras has no particular interest in this world. That’s why they signed a contract with us. After making the dream they call a great existence a reality, they will hand over the world that is left as reality to us.”

“… .”

“So, if you join hands with us, we will put you at the forefront and let you rule the world. I am giving this world to you, Lord Northmund. It doesn’t matter if this body is second-in-command. Ah, if I could become the kingmaker of a great person like you, wouldn’t that be enough?”

“… .”

Looking down at the white teacup in my hand, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

There was nothing inside the glass.

The old man snapped his fingers and ordered Bright to bring the tea, and I immediately poured it on the ground after receiving it.

So, because there is nothing inside the teacup, nothing can be seen, but if this teacup had been filled with contents, my face would now be reflected on the surface and come into my eyes like a mirror.

And that face must have been filled with great worry.

“The plan was made in advance. Lord Northmund, do you know that a religion that worships you has already emerged in this world? Although the number of believers is still small, it is truly a group united by trust and faith in you.”

“… ?”

The object of concern is not about the old man’s proposal.

Actually, after hearing the story just now, I was a little curious about the old man’s suggestion, but basically, I am not the kind of person who would fall for something like this.

The source of my concerns was about the truth of this world.

I continued to get the feeling that demons were behaving in an unnatural way and were trying to forcefully reproduce the contents of the romance novel “Kiss Siege Sense.”

I had some doubts as to whether the characters Han Si-woo and Jang Soo-ri had any meaning in acting like that, but I felt like those questions had been resolved to some extent.

“First, we will stitch up this broken world, unite the entire world, form a world government, and use that religion to place you as the actual head of the world. You are the master of this planet called Earth. It is you, Lord Northmund.”

Of course, there is a possibility that this old man lied. Of course, the possibility is not small.

‘But it’s somewhat consistent.’

The reason for the devils’ actions, the reason they tried to forcefully change this world and destroy it.

The reason why a guy named Alexstras opened the gate to this world and invaded it was to recreate the original.

Since the original work, 『Kiss Siege Sense』, was based on the Hunter Academy worldview, it was only for the purpose of reproducing it.

And when I, an uninvited guest, blocked it, the attack became even more vicious in order to somehow repel me and embody the content of the original work.

“… It’s a lie.”

A voice full of despair was heard from behind.

I didn’t turn my head. Because I could imagine what kind of expression she would be making right now.

“That can’t be possible… It’s a lie.”

I heard a voice that gradually became wet and I let out a small sigh.

It must be a shock to her too. She must conceive someone and, paradoxically enough, that person will be the one to prevent the destruction of the world.

The reason why her entire family, which was the cause of her mental illness, was massacred was because the laws of the world were set that way. How shocking would that be?

In the end, he is just one of the cogs in this world.

Because her own fate wasn’t important in the first place.

Hearing small sobs, I looked at the old man in front of me.

It may have been pretentious, but the old man called The One also looked up with a bitter expression, exhaled, and raised his head.

The gaze of the somewhat languid looking old man passed me for a moment and then looked beyond to the part of the city that had not yet been destroyed.

Just like that, I felt like I was getting drunk with a languor that somehow did not match the appearance of an old man.

The old man raised his head and asked me for an answer.

“So, I would like to hear the answer. Would you like to join us? Will you join us in saving this world and taking control of it? Lord Northmund?”

Without answering, I shifted my gaze from the old man to the conductor next to him.

Although stained with dust, her still eye-catching appearance looked somewhat intimidated and full of agony.

I guess so. How could his own leader suddenly offer such a proposal to someone he thought was an enemy?

“Professor… .”

I heard small footsteps, so I turned my gaze and raised my head in the direction of the words I heard.

There stood a pretty girl with long black hair and two horns.

The vertically slit red pupils were deeply moist, and the corners of the eyes were shaking precariously.

I sighed deeply.

It was a time of choice.