484 Becoming the Hero’s Companion

484.

“What’s with that creepy smile? You wanna die?”

This bastard, was he always this squinty? He’s got a nasty face. Makes me wanna punch him.

“My apologies. I am well aware that the Hero-nim would not accept such a sacrifice. You just looked so serious that I…”

“So, what are you suggesting?”

“It is an undeniable fact that reversing the Descent Ritual is necessary to restore Utranag. It is also true that the links to Utranag existing within Selina-nim and Rea’s bodies must be used as holy relics. However, I promise that it will merely pass through their bodies, and there will be no danger to their well-being.”

“A promise… Is that Utranag’s promise?”

“Yes.”

“How can I trust that? Even if wanting to return is genuine, you might sacrifice them both and disappear into the earth, right?”

It’s a common scam. You send the seller money first, and they don’t send the goods and just disappear. I can’t even trust humans, so how can I trust the promise of a monster like this…

“If things continue as they are, this land and Utranag will perish together. I implore you to make the right decision.”

Redo had his arms crossed. This guy’s personality is clearly different from before. Perhaps it’s his original personality, now that he’s a dead body, free from the position of prince or king.

“Just a moment. Nagrak’s Tome, the Rod of Abundance, the Statue of Bertri, the Ruby of Passion… and you. Your body was in the center of Utranag. Does that no longer function as a holy relic?”

Since I’m already dead, can’t you use me again? It’s not a very Hero-like thought, but it’s much better than using Selina.

“Yes. Unlike objects, humans need to be alive for their function to be maintained. My body, having already lost its life, has become a part of Utranag. It cannot be used for the reversal.”

“Hmm… Selina made contact with Nagrak’s Tome, so she formed a link with Utranag, right? Then I’ll do it instead. I can use Nagrak’s Tome or the Rod of Abundance, right?”

“No. Becoming a holy relic through contact with a holy relic is a phenomenon that only occurs in those with extremely special talents. It is impossible, even for the Hero-nim.”

“Haa…”

If Utranag cannot be restored or defeated, the destruction of the Aioléa Continent is highly likely to be true. The sage Meloph also said so, and the land rotting away by Utranag is directly showing that it is true.

And I have now used up both Overdrive and Brave Sword. I don’t know how much damage the sword I stabbed into Redo’s body did, but the fact that we are having this conversation means that it didn’t reach the point of completely destroying him.

Unless Utranag is restored, unless the Descent Ritual is reversed, the Aioléa Continent will perish.

That being said, I didn’t want to put Selina at risk, even if Rea, who bears a great responsibility for this situation, had to cross that dangerous bridge.

But…

“…Okay. I’ll talk about it. It’s not something I can decide alone.”

Let’s talk to Selina and Meloph. They’ve read ancient texts like Nagrak’s Tome, so they’ll be able to judge whether Utranag’s words are true better than I can.

Redo nodded and said.

“Very well. Then I will send you out of this space of ritual.”

The dark space becomes even more blurred. In the dim darkness, Redo’s voice, now just a voice, was heard again.

“Hero-nim, this may be the last time that my personality can be maintained within Utranag. So, there is something I would like to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“Stella… Please take good care of my mother and Rea.”

With those words, the space of ritual began to collapse. Pitch-black darkness obscured my vision.

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“Uwaaaah!”

I’m falling. Passing through Utranag’s pitch-black torso, I was free-falling. The Jin Abyss Sword and Sacred Armor in my hands were telling me that I had returned to reality.

“Hero!”

The red dragon entered my trajectory and caught me. The feeling of touching the cold scales was pleasant.

“Did you fail? You couldn’t defeat it even with the Brave Sword… What are you going to do now?”

“First, please return to the ground. I heard something important from Utranag. We need to have a discussion.”

“From Utranag…? Alright.”

Selina Dragon flew me back to where my companions had landed. While Selina and I were fighting Utranag, there seemed to have been a battle on the ground as well. The corpses of spiders and bloodstains were noticeable.

“Hero-nim, what happened?”

Hmm, the fact that Riel is in a succubus state is probably because she fought.

I summarized the story I heard from Redo, no, Utranag, and told everyone. As soon as I finished the story, Selina said.

“Hero, I’ll do it.”

“Selina. This isn’t something to decide hastily.”

“I’m not being hasty. I have a basis. I’m speaking from the experience of being connected to it, Utranag is a complex yet simple being. It probably can’t do something as human-like as lying.”

“Even so…”

In fact, I was feeling something similar to Selina. When I faced Utranag possessing Redo’s body at the Shrine of Blessing, and when I heard Utranag’s cries of agony on the ground, I got the feeling that it might be a surprisingly simple creature.

But that doesn’t mean there’s no risk to take. This time, I asked Meloph.

“Meloph, what do you think? About the possibility of harm to Selina and Rea when reversing the Descent. Please tell me honestly.”

“I cannot say for certain that there is none. This case itself is extremely special, so… But if Utranag’s own will is to not harm the two…”

There’s no time to think for long. Even now, the earth is dying. Watching a part of the earth, cracked like a biscuit, sink into the sea, I was hesitating.

Selina took my hand. And brought it to her chest. I felt a soft touch and warm body temperature.

“Hero, something similar happened before, right? During Bonaparte’s time. Do you remember?”

Of course, I remember. To defeat the giant Bonaparte, Selina tried to sacrifice herself. I didn’t like the fact that she was bringing that up now, as it felt like a flag.

“Of course, I remember. But Selina, we solved it well with everyone’s strength back then, right? I don’t want you to carry everything on your shoulders. That’s my role as the Hero.”

“My heart is the same now. I also want to be your proud companion, Hero. I want to carry your burdens together. Not as an evil witch, but as a member of the Hero’s party.”

“Selina… But if something happens to Selina, if that happens, I…”

“No, I don’t intend to sacrifice myself either. Because I want to continue living with you. I’ll stop it if it seems dangerous.”

Selina’s eyes were sincere. I closed my eyes tightly. The 고민 [gomin – worries] didn’t last long.

“Meloph, please proceed. With the reversal of the Descent Ritual.”

“Understood. Genfu-nim, would you mind helping me a little?”

“Hmm, I will.”

Rea was still asleep. I had heard that Riel had annihilated Renfu, and those who had their bodies taken over by him would slowly wake up. Genfu moved Rea’s body and made her sit in a lotus position.

The sleeping Rea’s face didn’t look like someone who had committed various misdeeds. But a significant part of this situation is due to Rea. She wouldn’t be able to express dissatisfaction with her own body being used for the ritual reversal.

Meloph drew a hexagram on the floor, about the size of a small room. And around it, he began to carve all sorts of magical patterns and incantations in ancient languages. Following Meloph’s instructions, Genfu also helped.

The positions of the included six holy relics were at each vertex of the hexagram. Selina and Rea sat in a lotus position at the very top and bottom of the star, respectively.

“We will begin. Are you alright, Selina-nim?”

“Yeah. Whenever you’re ready.”

Selina answered as if it were nothing, but I could feel that she was very nervous. I was also watching with a heart that was no less nervous. Meloph recited a strangely sounding incantation.

“Lunabara Aste, Mabaria El Esstra…”

The hexagram on the floor began to emit light. It was a pale color like the starlight at dawn. At the same time, black wings of light, like Overdrive, were unfolding from Rea and Selina’s backs.