Ch.194194. The Lion’s Fortress (2)

In the game, the Lion’s Fortress is one of the most intuitive “mini-dungeons.”

Its structure is straightforwardly simple.

Considering that most of Serath’s main dungeon conquests are divided into three phases—key item search, overcoming trap-filled gimmicks, and then boss battles—this place is different.

Here, they’ve just meticulously set up preventive measures to keep anyone from entering. That’s an appropriate assessment.

However, precisely because of this simple structure, the trap mechanisms are brutally effective.

You can tell just by looking at the beams pouring down in heaps from above.

Bright light fills the surroundings, pouring in from all directions without gaps. These are magical formulas that automatically track and attack any “intruders.”

What’s distinctive is that these aren’t random attacks, but paths laid out densely to ensure direct hits.

“This is a bit strange.”

“Pardon?”

“Why would they need to install all this on such a large scale? This place was used by people who are already dead anyway.”

“…”

“It doesn’t even seem properly maintained.”

That’s quite a cynical statement for someone evaluating their own death.

But the statement itself isn’t wrong at all.

After the Guardians deployed during the Red Night incident were wiped out, they belonged to no faction, so even their remains weren’t properly handled and were quickly forgotten.

Recalling my memories from when I played as Serath, the posthumous treatment of Guardians wasn’t particularly good.

The biggest reason was that these people didn’t belong to “any faction.”

This clearly reflects the current situation of the Empire which, while appearing to be the most powerful among the three hegemonic nations, only cares about its own forces.

“…But, you.”

“Hmm?”

“How can you be so relaxed in this situation…?”

That’s undoubtedly true.

After all, right now.

I’m standing in the middle of those traps I mentioned earlier, fending off attacks coming from all directions.

“This is manageable enough.”

“…”

“My training during active duty was much more intense than this.”

Saying that, Calivan Chrysanyx, who was “controlling” my body, answered.

As I had previously requested of Calivan, he’s now moving my body in my place.

Even amid multiple magical formulas deployed with malice and killing intent that would certainly kill their target, he finds needle-thin gaps and moves my body swiftly in various directions.

Of course, it’s an EX-level life-or-death situation since my life is threatened, but it’s at a level that has nothing to do with such concerns.

Taking a step. Slightly tilting the head. A bit of lateral movement.

It’s astonishing to watch him navigate through such deadly traps with minimal movements available in all directions.

It’s no exaggeration to say it’s like dodging gunfire by seeing the trigger being pulled, yet he’s doing it with such ease.

‘…Now I understand where that monstrous sense comes from.’

Elia, once she takes up the Holy Knight, experiences an explosion of potential that’s no exaggeration.

It’s not for nothing that she’s the “protagonist” of this world—from that point on, she rises to become an entity that can uniquely stand toe-to-toe with demons, the strongest beings in the worldview.

And what enables such power is precisely the “combat sense” that emerges almost instinctively in each moment.

Just like Calivan is showing now, displaying the most correct movements possible at every moment.

‘…I can’t understand how there are beings even stronger than this.’

Those who I’m certain would be above Calivan are only those with the title of saint like the masters of the Demonic Spire or the Sword Saint.

Of course, figures like Count Kendrid or Grand Duke Tristan might be able to match him to some extent, but even so.

It gives me the impression that the perspective of the strong is this different.

“Good. Passed this trap too.”

Saying that, he moves beyond the killing range of the light beams pouring from all around.

“By the way, your body is really good. At this rate, you might even survive?”

“…”

That would be useful, I suppose.

This is a body with EX-level life-or-death activated. A cheat skill that allows even someone with trash-level stats like me to compete with the top-tier powerhouses of the worldview.

I don’t know what he means by surviving, though.

“No, I mean the women lining up to pounce on you. Just recently, my sister—”

A choking sound is heard.

Calivan’s words cut off at the same time.

“…Excuse me, Calivan.”

“Hmm.”

“I didn’t mishear that, did I?”

“No. I heard it too.”

Somehow, Calivan, who’s been strangely desperate to beat up his sister, gets strong reactions whenever he talks about these things.

I look around with a serious expression. If it’s a possibility—

“…Could there be another spirit nearby?”

The spirits of other Guardians might still remain in this area.

Of course, judging by Calivan’s face looking at me with disdain, he doesn’t agree.

“No, sometimes you can be stupidly clueless to an unusual degree.”

Calivan sighed deeply and continued.

“Honestly, with reactions like that, it’s stranger that you don’t know—”

Calivan, who was about to say that, suddenly seemed to realize something and closed his mouth.

Then, he alternately looked at my face and the direction from which the voice came.

“—Hmm.”

And hearing such a voice, I suddenly feel an ominous sensation rising up my back.

“…What is it?”

I asked with a puzzled expression to Calivan’s muttered words, but instead of answering, Calivan just grinned.

“You know. Honestly, from my perspective, it’s quite irritating to see, but I’d like you and Elia to be closely intertwined.”

“…”

What’s he suddenly talking about?

“Isn’t it obvious? She’s my only flesh and blood. I want her future to be happy. And you… you don’t seem like such a bad spouse candidate.”

“…Thanks for the compliment…?”

It’s a bit confusing when someone who usually criticizes me as trash, a womanizer, and a playboy suddenly talks like this.

Did this person actually think so highly of me?

“Well, you are trash, a womanizer, and a playboy. But at least you’re not the bad-boy type who would make Elia cry.”

“…”

“You’re secretly quite the nerd. You can’t handle it when a woman makes the first move.”

I have no idea what he’s trying to say.

While speaking, Calivan’s gaze kept wandering to the back.

“In that sense, you know. You’re surprisingly easy to conquer. You’re not weak to aggressive approaches, but rather to those who confront you with ‘sincerity’.”

It feels like he’s deliberately saying this as a “hint” to someone over there.

“…What on earth have you been talking about?”

“Just that, thinking about it again, I think I’m right about the ghost.”

“…”

Since materializing this guy, I’ve noticed something.

This person, whenever he makes this expression, resembles me.

Did I catch it from him?

“Do you have any idea which spirit it might be?”

“I don’t know about that.”

Calivan curled up the corners of his mouth and continued.

“Since we’re on the topic, let me ask you something. What do you honestly think of Elia?”

“…”

My head throbs at the sight of him smiling lecherously while saying that.

“…Why so suddenly?”

“If you don’t answer, I won’t help you?”

“…”

That’s a truly savage thing to say while we’re in the middle of overcoming traps.

So I sigh and answer.

“…When I’m with her, I feel most at ease.”

“More specifically.”

“Anyway, she’s the only one who said she would ‘protect’ me. I actually rely on her to some extent. And I probably will continue to do so.”

She’s the protagonist of this world, isn’t she?

Besides her having feelings for me, the fact that she’s the most important character is significant, and in that sense, it’s undeniable that I need to rely on her.

“Does that mean you like her?”

I hear someone nearby gasping again.

“…No, seriously, why do you keep—”

“Because someone might need a little courage. Even making advances requires that kind of thing.”

“What are you talking about, old man?”

“If you don’t answer, I won’t help you?”

“…”

This person, really.

Feeling embarrassed, I finally answer.

“…If you put it that way, yes, I like her.”

“Good. One more time. Clearly, in a sentence.”

“No, you crazy person. What are you trying to—”

“I won’t help you?”

“…”

Again, I sigh and answer.

“Yes. I like Elia.”

Nearby, I hear someone coughing and then gasping for breath.

“Again. More romantically.”

“…Darwood Campbell likes Elia Krisanax.”

In one go, I give up and do everything he asks.

I don’t know why, but he keeps threatening not to help me, so what can I do?

As soon as I say that, I hear sounds of someone not knowing what to do, going “Ah, ahhh.”

“Ah, haaa, haaa…”

“…”

Later, I’ll go.

I hear breathing sounds with a vitality that no ghost could ever produce.

It sounds excited. It even feels like lust has risen throughout the body.

To put it a bit harshly.

This is just the voice of a woman in heat.

“…”

Is this really a spirit?

I’m starting to feel something’s off too.

‘…Ah, whatever.’

Although the feeling that something is strange is deeply conveyed, for now, we’ve successfully passed through the traps and reached our destination.

“…This is.”

And Calivan’s expression stiffened slightly upon seeing the place we arrived at.

The innermost part of the Lion’s Fortress.

The Hall of Honor where Guardians who died during missions are enshrined.

Originally, it should have been a solemn place of remembrance with urns and tombstones lined up.

“…”

“…”

Calivan and I both fell silent at the same time.

The scene spread around us is horrific.

Shattered tombstones. Guardians’ belongings “purified” by burning.

There’s no respect for the deceased or courtesy to honor their rest anywhere to be seen.

“…I thought it would be like this.”

Calivan opened his mouth bitterly.

All the Guardians died in the karmic fire created by the Red Demon. That means all their belongings and remains are covered in that sticky demonic energy.

Demonic energy itself is extremely poisonous, but especially the energy of the Red Demon, which harbors hostile emotions toward “living beings” of the material world.

“…After all that hardship and even losing their lives, it’s not pleasant to see this kind of treatment.”

“The achievements you all made are undoubtedly great, Calivan.”

“The Empire doesn’t seem to think so?”

That’s right.

Regardless of the reason, this kind of treatment is utterly unjust.

The Guardians are heroes. With human bodies, they charged at demons and even achieved the miracle of successfully sealing them.

And this.

This is not honoring those who sacrificed their lives to protect the Empire’s people while achieving such miracles, but rather an inhumane act akin to incinerating corpses infected with a plague.

“…”

Silently passing through such a scene.

I climb onto the altar to find the “targeted object.”

An altar engraved with the name Calivan Chrysanyx.

Climbing onto it, I retrieve one item.

It’s the full-body armor this person wore in life.

What I’m aiming for is the lion breastplate embedded in the center.

“…You came all the way here just to find that? That’s nothing.”

Calivan said, tilting his head.

Indeed, this itself has no effect.

It’s just an accessory that was embedded in the armor. It doesn’t have any special abilities.

But.

“…No.”

I answer calmly.

“This is the key.”

Thinking that, I call up a window.

< System Message >

[ ‘Main Quest’ is being updated! ]

< Quest Info >

[ Main Quest ] 〖 Chapter 4 – Red Night 〗

[ Stop the target ‘Faynol Leiphec’ from going berserk! ]

In Chapter 1, it was Main, in Chapter 2, the Boy King, in Chapter 3, the Ancient God.

And.

‘…In Chapter 4, it’s the berserk Demonic Vessel.’

A three-fragment one at that.

Probably during the final warrior selection trial held in the Holy Empire, Faynol will definitely go berserk. It’s the “boss battle” of Chapter 4 confirmed in all branches.

The only consolation is that he hasn’t met the “main body,” but considering what chaos unfolded at the Crucible of Struggle when Elnore with two fragments went berserk, even calling it a consolation seems laughable.

The fortunate point, if any, is.

Because it’s a “confirmed” future, countermeasures can be prepared for it.

Not only is Faynol himself extremely cautious about letting the demon go berserk, but the Red Demon has also been “subdued” once before.

By the Guardians wearing this lion breastplate.

If these two characteristics are combined, there might be a means to somehow calm even a berserk three-fragment vessel.

“Calivan. I’m sorry to say this while looking at such a scene.”

This is a very small dagger.

One that can function because Calivan and the Guardians succeeded in sealing the demon once by sacrificing their lives.

One that can cause a “phenomenon” that would never be possible without such a miracle.

Small, insignificant, seemingly meaningless.

“…This?”

“You can look forward to it.”

A dagger that will surely pierce the heart of the great evil known as the Red Demon.

“I’ll prove that what you all did wasn’t in vain.”

With those words, I tucked the breastplate into my chest.