Ch.66What? How can they be that weak?

1.

Nahan thought to himself.

‘Honestly, if I wanted to, I could probably subdue all four of them.’

Since he hadn’t fully tested his powers yet, he couldn’t be completely certain, but his current objective was to corner Asha and then naturally save her…

‘I’ll use Black Curtain, pretend to be part of Eclipse, help her lightly, and then escape naturally.’

Then, when Asha finds herself in trouble, I’ll reappear as Ian Red and save her like I’m making a sacrifice.

‘Bad ending cleared.’

At the same time, my relationship with <Ian Red> would skyrocket vertically, making him more useful in various ways in the future.

‘But using Black Curtain to restrict only Asha’s movements…’

Such delicate control would have been impossible before gaining the power of the Black Wolf, but now I am a complete Black Wolf except for having my ultimate skill locked.

‘That level of power control is a piece of cake.’

Luna had mentioned that the 7th Elder—the Calamity of Whispering Nightmares—had a skill that could restrict anyone’s movements as if they were paralyzed by sleep paralysis.

‘Let me adjust to just that level.’

As he secretly approached the three people and activated his skill—

【<Black Curtain(Ex)> activates.】

CRACK!

With a crisp bursting sound, the three elders and Asha simultaneously collapsed flat on the ground.

Or more precisely…

“Was there one more…!!”

“Kugh…!?”

“Cough!”

“…!!!”

They all fell to the ground with a thud, as if crushed by an invisible hand.

A piece of cake.

Failed miserably.

‘Why are they so weak?’

…No, that’s not it.

‘Why am I so strong?’

Even though he had only released a tiny fraction, just like when he used his life force before his body and aura were unlocked.

The Black Curtain activated with aura as its new fuel produced an output incomparably stronger than when it burned life force.

‘Let me get my bearings and reduce the output first.’

When he reduced the aura supply from about a liter per second to just a cupful, the three people on the ground finally began to stir and move.

“Kugh…!! Are you the leader…!!”

Asha managed to overcome the pressure and stood up, turning her gaze toward Nahan.

“What… is this…!! Cough, khaaa…!!”

“…Gurk……”

The Calamity of Blooming Flowers and the Calamity of Silent Stillness both coughed up dark red blood.

Amidst the confusion of those who had gained only a small measure of freedom,

“Could it be…”

Only the 2nd Elder, <The Calamity of December>, assessed the situation as calmly as possible before whispering to the other two calamities.

“…Elders, raise your heads. The 1st Elder Destruction has personally descended, borrowing the body of the 7th Elder—the Calamity of Whispering Nightmares.”

What?

“I, the 2nd Elder, the Calamity of December, greet the Calamity of Destruction who Eclipses the Sun.”

…What?

Wondering what nonsense this was, Nahan watched silently as the other two calamities who had been coughing blood hastily bowed their heads toward him.

“I, the 3rd Elder, the Calamity of Silent Stillness, greet the Calamity of Destruction who Eclipses the Sun.”

“I, the 4th Elder, the Calamity of Blooming Flowers, greet the Calamity of Destruction who Eclipses the Sun…!!”

Wait a minute.

‘…Don’t tell me they.’

Are they mistaking me for the leader of Eclipse?

Maintaining his silence while pondering this question, the man who had identified himself as the Calamity of December managed to raise his head to look up at Nahan.

“We are deeply ashamed. I understand you came because you found us unreliable. It was my fault for underestimating the hero’s strength.”

“Old man…!! Why alone…!!”

“Silence.”

Though I thought they were equal elders, the Calamity of December suppressed the Calamity of Blooming Flowers with just his gruff voice and gaze.

“The same goes for you.”

“……Yes.”

After similarly suppressing even the Calamity of Silent Stillness, he turned his head back toward Nahan and pleaded as respectfully as possible.

“But now that we’ve gauged the hero’s true capabilities thanks to the 1st Elder, if you give us one more chance, we will not disappoint you again and will accomplish the task perfectly.”

“How?”

“…I will use <that>.”

Only then did Nahan become certain.

‘They’re identifying me as the leader of Eclipse, <The Calamity of Destruction who Eclipses the Sun>.’

Just to be sure, he mentally reviewed the situation again.

-…Could it be.

As soon as he activated Black Curtain, their pupils trembled as if they thought he was the leader.

The leader of Eclipse is likely to be as powerful as he is now.

-…Elders, raise your heads. The 1st Elder Destruction has personally descended, borrowing the body of the 7th Elder—the Calamity of Whispering Nightmares.

They said he descended by borrowing a subordinate’s body.

Given how naturally they accepted this, it’s highly likely that he possesses such a skill.

-The Calamity of Silent Stillness greets the Calamity of Destruction who Eclipses the Sun.

-The Calamity of Blooming Flowers greets the Calamity of Destruction who Eclipses the Sun…!!

The other two elders also immediately moved as if agreeing with the 2nd Elder’s words, so these two hypotheses are likely true.

Based on what he’d learned, making further inferences, it’s unlikely that the real leader would suddenly possess someone without good reason.

‘He’s probably observing the current situation through some means.’

If that’s the case.

If someone as powerful as himself, who even has the means to intervene in this situation at any time, is watching…

‘Should I deceive them and pretend to be the 1st Elder, or should I find another way?’

Unfortunately, with little time to deliberate, Nahan immediately chose the former.

“This is your last chance.”

To be honest, it was a gamble.

If the real 1st Elder appeared, he would have had to face both Asha and Eclipse simultaneously.

“We will succeed by any means necessary.”

“…Thank you.”

“……”

However, the 1st Elder was watching this situation and had the skill to correct the misunderstanding, yet hadn’t stepped in even though the elders mistook Nahan for himself.

Therefore, he concluded:

Either possession is real but observation isn’t possible, or both are real but for some reason, he’s chosen to watch quietly for now.

Either way, the misunderstanding wouldn’t be cleared up immediately.

‘For now, I’ll threaten them while pretending to be the 1st Elder, then save them from that danger later.’

Having made his decision, Nahan slowly turned his head to look at the 2nd Elder.

“If you fail to purge them even after being given this chance, you will no longer touch the saint and the hero.”

“But as long as those two exist, our plans will surely face major setbacks!!”

So it was true that Eclipse was concerned about the hero and saint combination.

Nahan remembered this fact and naturally continued his act.

“…Setbacks?”

As he pressured the 2nd Elder, the 4th Elder hastily added from behind.

“Y-yes!! The coexistence of the hero and saint means that accursed goddess has recognized us! If she puts pressure on us with a revelation, the awakening of that one will surely…!!”

Though her frail body trembled uncontrollably, as if she had spoken despite her fear, Nahan was busy piecing together the information he had just gained.

‘The goddess’s pressure. The awakening of that one.’

Is Eclipse’s goal not simply world destruction but to ‘awaken some being’?

And the goddess’s intervention and the existence of the saint and hero interfere with that, so they want to remove them?

If that’s the case.

The most appropriate response for the 1st Elder to give to these elders, who feared the collapse of their cause even more than they feared the 1st Elder they had been so terrified of, would be:

“Then, I will step in personally.”

Yes, that’s it.

As Nahan spoke, he simultaneously infused Black Curtain with a large amount of aura.

【The power of <Black Curtain(Ex)> increases.】

What had been an invisible pressure before now erupted like black mist, oppressing them.

As they seemed about to lose what little composure they had maintained in the face of this overwhelming terror, Nahan asked the elders once more.

“Do you still think there will be setbacks?”

The elders’ lips trembled, but they remained closed, unable to utter a sound.

They shook their heads to show their trust in the 1st Elder, and only then did Nahan turn away with apparent satisfaction, adding briefly:

“I hope I won’t need to step in personally.”

With those words,

【<Black Curtain(Ex)> terminates.】

Nahan concealed himself once more.

Honestly, he was worried about how they would win when they were getting beaten three against one, but

-…I will use <that>.

The moment the 2nd Elder finished speaking, an alien window unlike anything he’d seen before appeared:

【Warning.】

【<The Calamity of December(SSS-)> attempts to germinate <Seed of Regret(???)>.】

【Upon success – The grudge of <???? ?? ??> will sprout in <The Calamity of December(SSS-)>.】

Whatever it was, it seemed that upon success, they would become as strong as Asha.

Even if all three elders, powered up by several ranks, rushed at Asha…

Nahan didn’t think he would lose now.

‘I’ll just watch quietly and jump in at the right moment to save her.’

With that comfortable thought, Nahan began to observe the battlefield where Asha stood alone.

2.

A moment later.

“…You two wait.”

The Calamity of December, restraining the other two elders, kicked Asha’s holy sword back to her from a distance and spoke.

“It’s shameful to say this after acting so cowardly earlier, but from now on, I will face you with proper respect and full power, young hero.”

.

.

.

【Warning.】

【<The Calamity of December(SSS-)> germinates <Seed of Regret(???)> in his heart.】

【Due to the grudge of <???? ?? ??>, this person’s rank temporarily increases.】

【<The Calamity of December(SSS-)>’s rank rises to <The Calamity of December(SSS+)>.】