Ch.80Chapter 80. Warp Gate (5)

# Chapter 80. Warp Gate (5)

[What is he…]

Beatrice’s face hardens with gravity as she looks at Charon.

– That’s the necromancer Charon.

She added that he had been sealed away but was recently released.

[Charon… I’ve heard of him. A villain who took many lives.]

So she knows. Charon is indeed this world’s Hitler-level villain.

“Ch-Charon. That heretic…!”

Paya turns pale.

In Earth terms, it would be like seeing Hitler resurrected as an evil spirit leading a Nazi zombie army.

Ah, that’s a horrifying thought.

I check the outside situation again.

The zombie army stretches endlessly. They fill the screen and then some.

A terrifying thought occurs to me.

What if Charon has devoured the entire north?

Can we defeat him with our current strength?

Honestly, I doubt even the entire tribal federation could handle this.

The zombies that were attacking the main gate suddenly retreat.

In their place appear… five paladins with red eyes.

“Th-those people… how could this happen…!”

Noah covers her mouth.

She’s not the only one holding back a scream.

Charon, you bastard…!

So he’s finally managed to control other possessed people too.

I really can’t live under the same sky as this monster.

I must kill him. Absolutely.

The five paladins’ swords emit light. With a slash! The main gate is cut down.

“…”

Charon, who had been watching from behind, moves toward the main gate.

He’s not walking on his own feet.

He flies using the terrifying forms wrapped around his body as wings—a disturbing sight even just watching through the projector.

…It’s not time to fight him yet. I need to become stronger.

For now, let’s escape through the warp gate.

[I am a being fixed to this location, I cannot escape. I’ll buy you some time.]

Beatrice summons a keyboard inscribed with magical characters and operates it.

It’s not a real keyboard, but a holographic tablet shaped like one.

[Trbo, activate the defense system in the warehouse. Intercept everything that approaches.]

The wooden golem Trbo nods and withdraws.

“Then what about the other treasures…”

Harry looks around at the treasures we didn’t choose earlier.

That’s right. We left them behind because they were heavy or not immediately necessary, not because they weren’t valuable.

It wouldn’t be good to let them fall into Charon’s hands.

– Is there a way?

[Don’t worry. He won’t be taking anything.]

She looks confident. She must have a method I don’t know about.

– Understood. Let’s go then.

I finish preparing to leave with my five party members.

[…This world isn’t always beautiful, but I believe it’s worth protecting.]

Beatrice smiles faintly.

– Great Mage Beatrice, I will surely end this apocalypse. Rest easy without worry.

That’s all I can say to her.

[I believe in you, Wind-Rain God.]

Though she had a girl’s face, I felt an inexplicable sense of gravity.

[Go back the way you came. Young friend, take this.]

The hologram girl passes something that looks like a small radio to Luna.

It was an object that Beatrice also had in her hand.

[It’s a sound transmitter used by the imperial family. You can communicate even when far apart.]

A fantasy telephone, I see.

[My magic book is encrypted to prevent it from falling into the hands of evil. I’ll tell you the decryption method completely before you cross the warp gate.]

“…Thank you.”

We left the great hall with Luna, who was holding the telephone.

[The place marked with an X is actually…]

As we were running toward the warp gate listening to Beatrice’s words—

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Not just once, but three explosion sounds were heard.

The entire corridor shakes violently.

[…This is the end.]

Just as we were about to move again after confirming the vibrations had subsided—

“Are you the master of this base?”

A rough, weighty voice comes through the telephone.

It’s Charon. He’s arrived at the great hall.

[My name is Beatrice, the Seven-Colored Mage.]

Her voice was resolute.

“A residual thought, I see.”

[Ghost of the past, get out of here now. Or you will face the wrath of the Great Mage.]

“How impudent of you to not know your place. Do you know who I am?”

[I know well the terrible things you’ve done.]

“Then you should know your skills are nowhere near enough.”

He’s Charon, the greatest sorcerer of all time. A Great Mage, especially just a residual thought, must seem beneath him.

“Do you know that the surface has been destroyed by beings called demons?”

[And?]

“I am fighting against them for the salvation of the surface. Hand over everything you have, contribute to the victory.”

This bastard always uses the same pattern.

I’ll kill all the demons so give me what you have… and while you’re at it, give me your life too… Is he some kind of automated response system?

Why is he even asking when he’s going to take it by force or control us anyway?

[Salvation of the surface? From someone wrapped in all sorts of ominous things? What an unfunny joke.]

“…There are traces of humans remaining. Who is it? The paladins?”

He noticed. We need to move faster.

I urged the party members who were hesitating to run because of the vibrations.

“What did those who came before say? That they would save the surface if you gave them the treasures?”

[…]

“Either they lied despite knowing everything, or they don’t understand the scale of the demons. Seven-Colored Mage, Beatrice…”

Charon laughed softly.

“Only I can save the surface.”

His words were full of conviction.

[Well. I don’t think so.]

As soon as Beatrice finished speaking, there was a whooshing sound.

“Futile resistance.”

A few seconds later, vibrations occurred again.

They must be engaged in some kind of magical battle.

Charon, who brought his subordinates, would have the upper hand.

– Lakye. Stop for a moment.

“Yes.”

I do have a means to give Charon a taste of his own medicine.

After completing my preparations for contingencies, I moved again.

Explosion sounds continued to echo as we went.

“Please wait a moment!”

Harry, who had reached the warp gate, was adjusting the magic circle.

[A monster like you will get! Nothing!]

An explosion bigger than any before occurred.

The ceiling collapses.

“Sacred barrier!”

The barrier Noah deployed protected our party members.

As for Muri, well, a few bricks wouldn’t bother him.

Beatrice… did she self-destruct?

I silently thanked her for her help until the very end.

– How long will it take?

“Five minutes, just five minutes!”

That’s quite long. Charon might come here.

I was preparing myself mentally when—

“Who… are you.”

It’s Charon. Charon is speaking through the telephone.

He survived the self-destruction? The phone must be sturdy since it was used by the imperial family.

“Huh…!”

Luna, who was holding the phone, gasped.

– I’ll answer.

Lakye picked up the phone and placed it near Totem #3.

– …Necromancer Charon.

I need to buy time.

“You’re… that rat Roa.”

He recognizes me just by my voice? He’s truly frightening.

“Now I understand. You were the one that mage believed in. Believing in gods… how foolish.”

– What do you want?

“Hmm?”

I can sense his slight confusion.

– I asked what you truly want.

I’m genuinely curious about this.

“…Are you saying you’ll listen to me? You, Roa? Hahaha!”

Charon burst into laughter.

“Very well. I have no reason not to tell you. What I want is the end of mythology.”

– The end of mythology?

What kind of chuunibyou talk is this?

“After losing my child, I spent countless days thinking. Why such tragedies must occur.”

– …

“How many times do you think this destruction has repeated? This time it was caused by these things called demons, but the fundamental cause lies elsewhere. I will eliminate that cause.”

– You’re saying it’s all because of the gods?

I can hear him moving.

He’s realized I’m buying time.

“That’s right. You are beings that bring tragedy, inevitable absurdities. The world must break free from the gods’ grasp.”

I sympathize to some extent.

After all, we possessed people are also being played by that goddess.

Still.

– Is that the reason you took so many lives?

You’re not one to talk, you monster.

“How human of you. To care about such trivial things. Great change always comes with great sacrifice.”

His way of thinking is completely different from ours.

I don’t believe someone like him will bring about the end of mythology.

It would just be the beginning of another tragedy.

– My name is Malak.

“Malak, is it. Quite the big shot.”

This bastard, he knows who I am but doesn’t fear me.

My attempt to intimidate him and buy time has failed.

– I swear on my honor.

Charon comes into view of Totem #4 (candidate) that I set up along our path.

– I will definitely kill you.

“That’s what I wanted to say, Malak! With my own hands, I’ll—”

When he approached Totem #4, I used the Totem of Confusion.

Charon, who had been flying, collapses.

“Gah! My, my eyes!”

So this works on him too. The once-per-day penalty is worth the performance.

“We’re departing!”

Harry finally opened the warp gate.

I watched comfortably as he rolled on the ground.

– There’s no need to hurry.

“Malak…!”

Charon, having spotted me, glares at Totem #4.

Totem #4 is breaking apart, unable to withstand my blessing.

It really was a one-time-use totem.

– I’ll come find you myself.

“Malaaaaak—!”

I watched my party members’ bodies being enveloped in light as Charon screamed.

This feels good.

Didn’t something similar happen before… déjà vu?