Eden of the Shrine #1

 

Survival.

crisis.

The mysterious deaths of adventurers.

And, a bigger crisis.

The series of unpredictable situations paralyzed Flora’s rational thinking.

Therefore, Flora’s use of the “Magic Shield” at this moment was probably just an instinctive reaction.

The only reaction you can have when your mind goes blank and you can’t think of anything.

Of course, the “magic shield” couldn’t stop the sword of the Spirit of Eden.

rustle—

Eden’s sword shattered the shield with almost no resistance, like splitting a rotten plank of wood.

However, the fact that the seemingly helpless girl had attempted to defend herself perplexed Eden, and for a brief moment, hesitation filled his sword.

“Wow-”

As a result, Flora’s life was saved.

The sword cut a hand’s length from her side.

“I thought you were just an idiot, but you’re still an adventurer in your own right? You don’t just sit there and die.”

Eden praised Flora in her heart.

At least, it was much better than the scarecrow-like adventurers I’d encountered so far.

‘Not bad.’

Of course, that didn’t mean I would change my mind and let him live.

It just adds to the hassle of having to cut it one more time.

Eden picked up Rosario again and aimed the tip of her blazing sword at Flora.

‘I won’t miss it this time.’

I already had in mind the new information that my opponent was a wizard.

The moment he was about to cut Flora’s body in two with that blade.

“Who are you, you punk!”

Bam—!

An elf suddenly appeared and kicked Eden’s wrist.

Eden silently looked at my wrist, which was twisted into a strange shape.

‘That guy is probably a colleague.’

Eden, of course, didn’t know Mitchell. However, judging by the atmosphere, she could only guess that he was a colleague of Flora.

‘There’s one more warrior there.’

A step late, Wagner ran over and stood next to Mitchell.

Now there are three people who need to be killed.

‘No, four.’

Finally, Maria, the test tube, arrived at her seat.

Eden looked up with cold eyes at the new faces.

That girl’s skills weren’t that great, but it seemed like luck was on her side.

Eden was determined to kill him, but failed twice.

‘Indeed, Richie’s colleague.’

Did he sell his soul to the devil to obtain evil fortune?

Eden smiled, brushing back her bangs.

The work that needs to be done remains unchanged.

Just sweep it all away.

Eden focused her divine power on her broken wrist.

With the white light, the swelling went down and my wrist began to regain its shape.

It was a technique that was almost like the priest’s exclusive patent, divine healing.

“Answer me.”

Maria asked in a voice as cold as a glacier.

“Where is Jack?”

Eden did not answer.

He didn’t know who Jack was.

I vaguely thought that it must be the name of one of the many adventurers Ben met today.

The man who ran away ugly like a cockroach and got stabbed in the back might have been Jack.

Or maybe it was an adventurer who begged for his life while shedding tears.

Eden felt truly sorry that he could not honestly answer the woman in front of him.

“Don’t worry too much. I don’t know who Jack is, but I’m sure we’ll meet in person soon.”

Eden held the Sword of the Holy Spirit in one hand and a sphere of divine power in the other.

“Holy Arrow”.

“Mr. Examiner, be careful!”

Mitchell shouted in a shrill voice.

A sphere of intense light, so intense it seemed to blind the eyes, spread out in all directions.

Push, push—

The ground where the sphere hit caved in, and holes were ripped through the trees.

Even without Mitchell’s warning, Maria was cautious enough.

Maria was not the type of person to turn a blind eye to an enemy right in front of her.

However, the problem was that it was not an attack that could be blocked just by being careful.

“Ugh-!”

A sphere of light passed by, scraping deeply into Maria’s side.

Blood and flesh splattered, and Maria’s eyes turned red.

‘Did Jack get hit by this guy too?’

It’s a monster.

Only then did Maria realize.

A monster with a human face and a double heart who commits murder without hesitation.

Maria mustered up her last bit of strength and managed to scream.

“Run away⋯!”

Even Maria, a veteran of the Adventurer’s Guild, was struck down without even realizing what had happened.

There was no way that the rookies Mitchell and Wagner could take on that monster.

“Fuck!”

Mitchell blocked Maria’s path with his fists clenched.

Next to him, Wagner, wearing a helmet, held a shield.

‘Idiots…they…don’t listen to a word I say…’

Maria clicked her tongue bitterly, her consciousness fading.

When you’re told to run away, you run away. How dare you act so recklessly.

This way, all three of them will die together.

Still, should we say that the heart is admirable?

‘I guess I’ll go to the afterlife with these idiots… At least it won’t be so lonely…’

Maria looked up at Eden as she approached them.

That face.

I felt like I had seen it somewhere.

“Bear!”

thud.

Wagner’s broken shield fell to the ground.

Wagner stared blankly at the Sword of Eden.

“That sword. It’s extremely dangerous. There’s no way to stop it.”

“I know because I saw it!”

“Mitchell, I’d rather you be alone….”

Wagner couldn’t continue speaking.

Just as they ignored Maria’s words and remained in their seats, Mitchell was not the type of person to run away alone if told to do so.

Again, a white light flashed over Eden’s hand.

Corn.

The sphere of light broke into hundreds of fragments and swept across the area.

Mitchell squeezed his eyes shut.

Even with her nimble legs, there was no way to avoid it.

‘Hey, shit. Is this it?’

The next moment, a shadow fell over her face.

When Mitchell opened his eyes, he saw Wagner’s broad chest.

“Hey, what are you-”

“Don’t move.”

Wagner opened his arms wide and hugged Mitchell.

Push—

Wagner’s armor shattered and a holy arrow pierced his body.

Mitchell wasn’t okay either.

Wagner blocked several arrows, but still couldn’t stop them all.

“Ugh⋯.”

A short groan escaped Wagner.

The two of them were in that position, embracing each other, when they were instantly cut down by a volley of arrows.

“The girl is like that too, and these adventurers have quite a bit of tenacity.”

After the shower of holy arrows stopped.

Eden nodded and quietly admired.

While most adventurers I’ve seen so far have been worthless trash, these guys were a little different.

It seemed like he had no more strength to move his body, but he was still alive.

Tenacious vitality like a weed.

Moreover, it was quite impressive that he tried to protect his comrades in some way rather than running away to live alone.

“It’s incredibly ironic. Such talented individuals are Richie’s colleagues.”

Eden straightened her posture.

Although I had decided to kill him, I decided to show some courtesy.

At least, I didn’t intend to waste time suffering unnecessarily.

“Don’t move.”

Eden aimed the sword of the spirit at the two people’s bodies.

If you leave with a colleague you cherish, at least you won’t be lonely.

At that very moment.

The trees swayed and clouds swirled across the night sky.

Eden stopped in her tracks.

The whole family is nervous.

There is only one person who can exude this level of presence.

Rich.

Eden slowly turned her head.

Mitchell, Wagner, and Maria were already out of his sight.

‘You finally showed up.’

Eden’s heart pounded.

Thud, thud.

A small girl walked through the bushes.

The sight was exactly as Eden remembered it.

A young, youthful face.

Although he is an immortal being who is over several hundred years old, he looks like a child in his teens.

Estelle Frostwind.

The immortal lich quietly stared at Eden.

“It’s been a while.”

Eden chuckled.

Estelle walked past Eden and straight towards her companions.

“Thank goodness. Looks like he’s still breathing.”

Estelle sighed in relief, took out a healing potion from the ring of storage, and poured it into the mouths of both of them.

“Just lie down and rest for a bit and you’ll feel better soon.”

While she was at it, Estelle also gave Maria a healing potion.

Although he didn’t look very pleased with the expression.

“That’s ridiculous. Richie saved a person’s life.”

Eden tilted her head.

The Richie he knew wasn’t like that.

A cruel and ruthless evil lord who has no regard for the lives of the living.

A demon that leads the dead. That was Lich.

That girl, who heals with her own hands to save a few human companions, might not be a lich at all.

For a moment, Eden even had such doubts.

“Have you been chasing me all this time?”

After Estelle moved the wounded to the tree, she finally turned her attention to Eden.

“Do you have time to spare? There’s nothing to do.”

“What are you talking about? An evil being like you escaped from his bonds, and I couldn’t just stand by and watch.”

“Who’s calling whom evil? Hey, isn’t that a bit much? How many people did you kill in that short period of time?”

Estelle smiled coldly.

“Anyway, it’s good. If I leave you here, things will be a lot easier for me from now on.”

What is the source of that confidence?

Clearly, Richie had become so weak that he could no longer be weak.

I was bound by an ancient restraint device, lost all my powers, and was reduced to a being less than an ordinary girl.

It wasn’t that long ago. Just a few months.

Did he regain his original strength after just a few months?

“It’s impossible. That kind of thing.”

Eden shook her head.

No matter how much of a monster Richie is, he can’t raise his strength that quickly.

A cheap bluff to hide a sense of crisis.

Eden doesn’t fall for such things.

“I will cut you down again and again, just like Michael did.”

Eden lifted the sword of the spirit.

And, as if responding to that, Estelle put her hand into the pocket inside her cloak.

Are you trying to memorize it?

Even so, it’s just smoke bombs, potions, and scrolls—

However, the object that appeared in the pocket the next moment was something that far exceeded Eden’s expectations.

“What is this-”

A giant, tall building-like structure.

The corpse of the giant worm appeared before Eden’s eyes.