Ch.124124. Promises Must Be Kept

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< System Message >

[ The state of ‘·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞’ is released! ]

The black energy dissipates from my body. I collapse in place, gasping for breath.

In this state, I feel the body that was torn apart by Yuria.

My limbs are all intact, properly attached.

As expected, once the body goes through this “mutation,” it seems to return with its HP fully restored in system terms.

‘…Though I barely have any sensation left.’

I clench and unclench my fist, struggling to recall what just happened.

Only vague outlines of memories remain, like faint afterimages.

I’m certain I was thinking and planning my movements on my own.

But in those moments, even though I was moving my own body, everything felt… ‘hazy.’

I immediately understand why Elnore, whose personality was completely altered by the demon fragment in the game, could commit such terrible acts without batting an eye.

It’s like observing yourself from a third-person perspective.

A chilling sensation, as if I’m controlling myself like a game character.

Honestly, I never want to experience it again.

“…”

I give a bitter smile.

I’ll probably have to use it quite often from now on.

At least considering what I’ve been through so far, I can’t count how many times I’ve nearly died. And things will only get more dangerous, not less.

With that thought, I sigh and try to get up.

But my foot catches on Tatiana’s corpse in front of me.

A corpse I created.

“…”

Although I committed this act while my consciousness wasn’t fully intact during the mutation, the sensation remains distinctly in my hands.

I grab my trembling left hand and take a deep breath.

It’s a natural response when the body experiences extreme stress.

In the case of Marquis Riverback, it didn’t really feel like killing a person. I just detonated a holy power bomb and watched him turn to ashes.

This is the first time I’ve killed someone in a way that makes me truly feel like ‘I committed murder.’

Certainly.

At least as ‘Darwood Campbell.’

‘She had it coming.’

I sigh and calm my hand.

It’s ridiculous to have my mental state break down over this now.

After all, this was someone who deserved death anyway.

As I’m thinking this…

< System Log >

[ Due to acquiring the ‘·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞’ state, you have acquired ‘Skill: Soul Consumption’! ]

Such a window appears before my eyes.

I blink as I look at it.

What is this now?

< Skill Info >

[ Skill: Soul Consumption ] [ Rank: A ]

[ Collect the soul of an opponent whose life you’ve directly taken. It can be processed in various ways. ]

< System Message >

[ Using ‘Skill: Soul Consumption’! ]

[ Absorbed the soul of target ‘Tatiana Grachelle’! ]

[ You can check the target’s status through ‘Soul Linker’! ]

…What?

I stare at the amulet on my wrist with an incredulous expression.

In response, another small window appears above the amulet.

[ Current List of Collected Souls ]

[ ▲ Tatiana Grachelle ]

[ Specialty: Curse ]

[ Form: Specter ]

[ Processing Options ]

▶ Subordinate as a familiar

▶ Apply to an item as enhancement material

▶ Resummon in complete form (disappears after one use)

Not bad…

At least there are plenty of options. I’ll need to carefully consider how effective each option is, but fortunately none of them seem useless.

“…”

But more importantly,

What I need to check right now is…

‘Calivan.’

This person.

I honestly have no idea how he’ll react after seeing what I just became.

I’d rather not get on bad terms with someone who can see clearly into my mind.

[…]

Only thick silence returns from the Soul Linker.

I swallow dryly as I wait for a response.

[Wow, you survived again.]

A perfectly flat voice came back.

[How did you manage to survive? You’re really something else.]

“…”

How should I put this?

His reaction is more subdued than I expected.

[Well. That was the only option you had, right? I’m not going to criticize your methods.]

‘But still…’

A Guardian who died fighting demons wouldn’t likely have a positive reaction to a human who transformed into something demon-like.

That’s what I thought, but…

[You’re a bit… different from that, aren’t you?]

“Excuse me?”

[I kind of understand what you’re trying to explain. As someone who’s actually fought real demons, I understood immediately.]

Calivan replied with a slight chuckle.

[That’s not a ‘demon,’ is it?]

“…”

[It’s just similar in form, but it’s something ‘optimized’ to accept a demon’s ‘energy,’ right? It feels a bit different.]

I can only blink in confusion at this answer.

It’s an extremely accurate observation.

A demon is a being that cannot be artificially created no matter how much I twist my body.

And if I had truly transformed into one…

< System Log >

[ All demonic energy accumulated in the ‘Seal of Fallen Heaven’ has been consumed. ]

[ ‘Mutation’ will become available again after sufficient interaction with demons and accumulation of demonic energy! ]

[ The third evolution of the Seal of Fallen Heaven will occur when enough mutations have accumulated! ]

[ Mutation usage count: 1/4 ]

Something like this wouldn’t appear.

If I were a vessel with a demon fragment, I wouldn’t need another demon’s energy to transform into such a form.

[Right. So forget about explanations or whatever. I think I roughly understand what you’re trying to do with this.]

Calivan’s voice continued.

[You’re planning to do something for those girls possessed by demons, aren’t you?]

I silently scratch my head.

He’s right.

Demons are, after all, the final boss mechanics in the game.

So.

For humans harboring such things to reach a “happy ending”…

I need to prescribe some extreme measures.

“…”

Especially.

Because of that ominous masked guy.

Because of him, the entire scenario is heading in an unpredictable direction like a derailed train.

[…That’s what worries me.]

That kind of response came through.

Unlike before, his voice had become a bit more serious.

[Such a convenient story can’t exist without any sacrifice.]

“…”

[What ‘price’ are you paying? There must be one.]

There is one, of course.

But that’s something to think about later.

It’s not like there’s no solution at all.

More importantly…

“Elnore.”

I need to take care of this person first.

I carefully approach Elnore, who has collapsed on the floor after the cursed spear embedded in the wall disappeared.

The wounds on her body are rapidly regenerating, likely because the effects of the fragment are reappearing as the influence of the spirit command wears off.

“Elnore, are you alright?”

As I say this, Elnore slowly raises her head to look at me.

Unlike her usual emotionless demeanor, her expression was filled with a gloomy air.

< System Message >

[ Target ‘Elnore’ feels extreme helplessness. ]

[ Target ‘Elnore’ makes an important decision. ]

[ A special event occurs between target ‘Elnore’ and target ‘Gideon’! ]

Huh?

What?

Gideon?

“…?”

Wait, what’s with the sudden helplessness, what important decision, and what special event?

I’m stunned by these unexpected messages that I never imagined I’d see in this situation.

“…I’m fine.”

Elnore answered in a weak voice as she struggled to get up.

I reached out to support her.

Elnore gently pushed my hand away.

“…Elnore?”

When I questioned with confusion, Elnore bit her lip for a moment.

Then, in a low, subdued voice, she spoke.

“…I don’t deserve this.”

“What? What do you-“

“Please, let me be alone for a while.”

“…”

“Please, Darwood. Just for a moment.”

“…”

“I just need some time to gather my thoughts.”

As I watch in confusion as Elnore walks away down the corridor with slumped shoulders…

[Leave her be.]

That voice came through the Soul Linker.

‘…What?’

[She’ll probably respond the same way no matter what you say right now, so there’s no need to comfort her. I know what that feeling is like. What’s certain is that it won’t come back to hurt you.]

Calivan continued with a snicker.

[Darwood. I’m saying this sincerely.]

‘Yes?’

[Go die.]

‘…What’s that about all of a sudden?’

[Just. I’m jealous that you have such a devoted girl attached to you.]

‘…’

What are you talking about?

You’re the only one who understands what you’re saying.

“Hey! Are you alright!”

As I’m staring at the Soul Linker with an incredulous look, such a voice comes from behind me.

It’s Hatan, who rushed here alone after sensing the commotion.

“…What, is, all, this.”

And.

After quickly surveying the scene around him, he swallows hard at the devastation.

When he reaches Tatiana’s corpse, he’s so speechless he can only stare at me blankly.

“…Seems like there’s quite a lot to hear about.”

Hatan said with an expression suggesting his head was throbbing.

Of course I agree with that.

Though the point seems a bit off.

If you think about it.

I just saved the Crucible of Struggle at least two or three times.

“Excuse me, Chief Hatan.”

“What?”

“That’s not what’s important.”

So. Rather than simply ‘hearing my circumstances’…

“Prepare to empty your pockets.”

“…”

Give me my reward.

All the good stuff.

●

When Riru Garda regained consciousness, the sun was already setting.

“…!”

She bolted upright and looked around to find herself in the infirmary at the Crucible of Struggle.

Someone must have brought her here after she lost consciousness at sea.

Her last memory was being held in Darwood Campbell’s arms, her strength failing as her eyes closed.

Until then, he had been holding her tight.

Almost like lovers.

“…”

Riru’s face flushed red as she recalled that memory.

Soon realizing this wasn’t the time for such thoughts, she shook her head.

‘…I have a lot to find out.’

First, she needs to confirm what happened afterward.

As Riru tried to get out of bed with that thought, she groaned from the pain that engulfed her entire body.

Her head hurts.

Though her entire body tingles with pain, her head in particular is experiencing an almost splitting level of agony.

[Are you awake?]

The pain is so severe that even someone’s voice sounds strangely distorted.

It feels like the voice isn’t coming from beside her, but resonating from inside her ears.

[That’s not because of the headache.]

“…”

Riru blinked at the words that seemed to be reading her mind.

[We talked once before, Riru. Didn’t I say we’d meet again soon?]

With those words.

A translucent figure of ‘herself’ suddenly appeared before her eyes.

There was no other way to describe it.

This was undeniably Riru’s own appearance.

For some reason, she wasn’t wearing a single thread of clothing.

[Hmm… it actually works. This is quite shocking.]

“…”

[Even though I’m the weakest among my sisters, to be able to communicate with less than two fragments gathered.]

As she stared at the sight with her mouth agape, the transparent naked Riru floated around in the air, chuckling.

[Well, the reason I’ve revealed myself is because there’s something I need to… ‘receive’ from Darwood Campbell.]

“…”

And she continues speaking to the speechless Riru as she pleases.

In a seductive, bewitching voice.

[Riru. Shall we go do something nice together?]

Riru had no idea what this “nice” thing might be.

But one thing was certain.

It definitely wasn’t an invitation to do something wholesome and progressive.

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