Ch.329329. Kidnapping (3)

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The void zone where the three academies meet is, true to its infamous reputation, a place where the climate constantly changes.

Just 10 minutes ago it was raining, and now suddenly it’s starting to snow.

“…This is truly an unpleasant place.”

Elia said with a deeply furrowed brow as she looked around.

“…It feels like an ecosystem completely detached from nature.”

Indeed, it truly is.

Not only is the landscape entirely composed of achromatic gray like a washed-out watercolor, but in some areas, even the laws of physics and ecosystems are completely broken.

Rabbits hunt predators, plants speak, and objects fall upward instead of downward.

It’s as if the original laws of nature have been twisted, crushed, and pulverized, then reassembled according to someone’s whim.

“…In the Holy Empire, they call this a sacred realm.”

Lucien Greyhounter remarked as he looked at the massive barrier of the Lightbearer before them.

However, the sentiment in his voice was close to disgust.

“…A terrible place.”

It would be considered extremely blasphemous for a saint to speak this way about a holy place, but anyone facing such a sight would likely have a similar reaction.

What’s even more surprising is that there’s a group of madmen who have established their base near such a place.

“The Cultists of the Demon, they’re called.”

Elia said with a deeply furrowed face.

“They must really love demons to an obsessive degree. Living in a place like this, even building structures here.”

Every word she speaks seems to be laced with hostility that feels like it’s tearing at her skin.

After all, her family died during the Red Night Incident when Cultists of the Demon burned down and massacred the entire village where she lived. There’s no way she could harbor any positive feelings.

“For such people, this place seems poorly maintained though?”

Taking her words at face value, Riru Garda looked at the fortress before them.

Indeed, it shows clear signs of neglect. Everything from top to bottom looks old, rusted, and broken, giving the impression that no human hand has touched it for a long time.

“Don’t let your guard down. No one knows what might be prepared for us.”

Elnore said, slightly closing her eyes.

As soon as she spoke, everyone around her simultaneously wore subtle expressions on their faces.

Originally, they had all followed her here in one breath because she had rushed to this place, ignoring Talker’s instructions to prepare and come by tomorrow.

While no one would likely complain about the situation itself, the anger dripping from her voice was enough to make even them keep their mouths shut.

I’ll kill them.

Whoever they are, when I meet them, I’ll tear them to pieces and kill them.

Such determination was palpable even through her voice.

“Yes, as the Grand Duchess said, we should try not to let our guard down—”

And before Yuria Greyhaunter could finish the sentence she had somehow managed to squeeze out, what happened next proved those sentiments exactly.

While Yuria was carefully emphasizing the need to proceed with caution, Elnore had already strode up to the main gate of the building and silently raised her foot.

“—Wait, what are you—”

Before anyone could finish their question, Elnore’s kick struck the fortress’s main gate.

-!

-!!

-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And.

With just that, shockwaves spread in all directions as if a siege weapon had struck.

From a kick delivered casually by a single human, the fortress gate shattered into wooden pieces and scattered in all directions with an unbelievable level of physical force.

“…”

“…”

No.

Didn’t she just say to proceed carefully…

Everyone looked at Elnore with expressions conveying such thoughts, but Elnore glared back as if challenging anyone to complain.

“What.”

“…”

“Do you not understand that Darwood could be suffering at this very moment? Even now, in bed—”

“…Yes. Well. I agree.”

Seeing that she might draw her sword against those who wouldn’t follow her, someone reluctantly agreed.

Elnore snorted and turned around.

After striding into the fortress, she looked around and immediately frowned.

“—How disgusting.”

Though only Elnore voiced it aloud, everyone present likely shared similar sentiments.

The place itself was instinctively imbued with a sense that provoked their disgust.

It’s difficult to explain clearly in words, but it’s a structure designed in a paranoid fashion to evoke such emotions.

And.

What happened as soon as all the Vessels entered the fortress clearly demonstrated those sentiments.

-!

-!!!

“—What?”

“—Wait.”

“A binding formation?!”

Though not meant to kill, a formation designed to restrain the body activated immediately.

With enough intensity and effect to instantly weigh down even those with demonic energy.

There was a sense of malice.

It might seem strange for humans who harbor demons, the world’s greatest evil, to feel this way, but everyone present undoubtedly had such thoughts.

Wanting to harm. Wanting to kill. Wanting to destroy.

Ritual techniques condensed solely for the purpose of targeting them poured from all directions.

Without even a chance to draw out their demonic energy, everyone was forced to their knees.

“—Tch.”

And.

In such a situation, there was only one person who could break through this.

Elia clicked her tongue and drew her holy sword.

‘—I don’t like this.’

She had expected something like this from the moment they were invited, but it felt like everything had been prepared and waiting for them.

Starting with creating a situation that only she could break through.

“Go ahead.”

Using her holy sword to puncture a hole in the binding formation, she guided all the Demonic Vessels through the crack she created.

It would probably only buy them time. Given the maliciousness and power of the ritual technique, it would repair itself quickly.

Therefore, they needed to destroy the ‘source’ itself.

“—What?”

“I’ll make sure to come find you later!”

Elia said to the Demonic Vessels who responded with bewildered expressions, then raised her holy sword and struck the floor.

The holy sword has the property of nullifying all ritual techniques regardless of their level or power. This alone should be enough to suppress it.

However, when a ritual technique is erased, there is always a rebound. Especially with techniques powerful enough to challenge even demons.

As she struck with her holy sword and erased part of the ritual technique, cracks began to spread like spider webs from that point.

The thick ground beginning to collapse entirely was the immediate result.

Naturally, Elia, who was standing on it, fell into the underground with it.

“W-wait. You!”

“Teacher, please make sure to save him!”

With those words.

Elia plunged into the underground abyss with no visible bottom.

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“—Ah-ah-“

Elia frowned deeply as she looked up at the ceiling.

She wasn’t sure how deep she had fallen.

Judging by how much light was filtering down, it felt like she had been tumbling for almost 10 minutes.

‘…I won’t be able to climb back up.’

Thinking this, Elia let out a deep sigh.

Of course, she could try to climb up somehow if she really wanted to, but it would be dangerous to waste too much energy when she didn’t know what threats might be lurking around.

Her combat style basically involves using the holy sword to greatly reduce others’ base capabilities, and then overwhelming them with her decent specs. She wouldn’t be able to pull her weight properly if her basic stamina was completely depleted.

‘—So.’

Elia stroked her chin as she assessed the situation.

Anyway, since she had fallen into the trap instead of the others, they should all have been able to move forward.

It’s not an ideal situation, but at least it’s not the worst.

After all, they came all this way to save Darwood. As long as that’s achieved, nothing else matters.

“…Hmm.”

But, separate from that.

What to do and how to proceed from this place is another issue.

It’s too dark to see anything. She should wait until her eyes adjust to the darkness.

She was about to stand still for a moment.

“Hello.”

Until she heard someone calling her.

In an instant, the holy sword was drawn from its scabbard, and Elia assumed a combat stance.

“This is the first time we’re talking directly, isn’t it?”

But.

As soon as she heard that voice.

Elia’s body froze stiff.

“…-“

Upon hearing those words, something rising from an instinctual level made her body rigid.

The light from the holy sword began to fluctuate wildly around her. It would be a natural response following the mental disturbance of its owner, Elia, but beyond that, the Lightbearer within the holy sword also seemed to be detecting something.

What stood before her eyes now was an anomaly. A human who, by all rights, should not exist in this world.

Feeling such sensations throughout her body, a voice like a groan escaped her.

“…You.”

Elia spoke, feeling the front of her hair beginning to dampen without her realizing it.

“Who exactly are you?”

“I wanted to talk to you. I specifically wanted to have this conversation face to face.”

“…”

“Hello, my past self.”

Saying that.

“Do you still hate demons?”

The Luminary smiled.

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