Ch.8686. What Was Left in the Past (1)

“I plan to tackle this calamity alone.”

At that moment, from the end of the warehouse, I spoke to the Pope, deliberately mixing in a bit of magical power so my companions couldn’t hear. Naturally, the Pope’s expression after hearing my words could not be described as pleased, even as a courtesy.

“Hero… what absurd nonsense are you speaking?”

“The fifth calamity, the Fog, uses people inside it as fuel to move and live, as I’ve mentioned before. Do you remember?”

The Pope frowned and nodded.

“Yes, but what does that have to do with you going on this mission alone?”

“The stronger the magical power of the person who enters, the stronger the Fog’s vitality becomes. That is, if that person cannot prevent the Fog from absorbing their magic. And that’s not something I can prevent for others. In essence, everyone who enters the Fog fights it one-on-one.”

As I spoke, I glanced toward my party members. They were busy examining the holy relics they had chosen. I hope those will help them grow.

“They are strong. But if you ask whether they could face a calamity one-on-one, anyone would have to tilt their head in doubt.”

In this world, the only people I could entrust with this task would be Aryen and Duke Quenore Strope. If I had to choose just one to send into the Fog, it would be Aryen.

“Rather than that, it would be much better if I walk into the Fog alone.”

“What exactly happens inside the Fog? Does it show nightmares?”

The Pope asked, crossing his arms.

“It’s worse. It doesn’t just show them—it makes them real. They take physical form.”

The Pope erased the frown from his face and looked at me. His expression was utterly cold. He seemed to be calculating something as he stared at me. After looking at me for a while, he exhaled briefly and spoke.

“So, what is your request? I think I have a general idea.”

I nodded. What other request could there be in this situation?

“After I enter the Fog tonight, please make sure no one else can enter, especially my companions. I would appreciate it if you could explain to them why they cannot join me in tackling this calamity and ask them to wait.”

Perhaps these were irresponsible words. After saying this, I turned to look at my companions. What I told the Pope might just be an excuse. I don’t want to lose them. I want to protect them. The burden of being unable to protect what I hold dear was too heavy. I wavered between that desire and my resolve.

==

“[You fool.]”

Around two in the morning, as I sat at my desk having completed all preparations, the Holy Sword’s voice echoed in my mind. Of course, I had shared this plan with the Holy Sword. After all, I wasn’t going to die—I was going to defeat the calamity.

“[While I understand why you’re doing this, I still have to scold you, Ilroy. If you leave them behind, how do you plan to handle their resentment?]”

“The Fog is different. It’s not a calamity I can face simply because I’m strong. With something like the Giant, we could fight back-to-back, but the Fog isn’t like that.”

The Holy Sword sighed, and I put down the letter I was writing. This was a letter for George, outlining various arrangements in case I didn’t return.

“[Don’t think about not returning. Shouldn’t you go with the absolute determination to come back?]”

“Of course. I will definitely return, no matter what.”

As I said this, I glanced down at the Holy Sword. If I were to get lost forever in the Fog, Aryen would probably retrieve and use the Holy Sword.

“[I have no intention of lending my power to someone like him. Don’t ever think about passing me to someone else, Ilroy. I am your sword.]”

The Holy Sword spoke emphatically. I gripped the hilt firmly and nodded.

“[If anything happens to you, this time I will protect you by any means necessary. Understand?]”

The Holy Sword’s voice was different from usual. It was too resolute, too determined.

“[So face the Fog with all your might. Don’t think unnecessary thoughts. Go with the same mindset as always—to defeat the calamity and save the people trapped inside.]”

“Yes. I understand.”

After responding to the Holy Sword, I extended my spiritual perception. The lodging provided by the Holy Kingdom was quiet. I checked for signs of my party members. George seemed to have fallen asleep early, and Daphne was absorbed in her newly acquired magic book. Only Marianne’s presence was restless. I would wait until Marianne fell asleep before leaving.

“Let’s go.”

Marianne had fallen asleep. I rose, placing my foot on the window I had opened earlier. The night air was cold. I gripped the window frame and leaped down from the lodging.

“[You’re just like a petty thief.]”

“What kind of petty thief would jump from there?”

Concealing my presence, I walked to the papal office. The presence of the calamity was more distinct than the winter chill. I met the Pope, who was waiting with holy knights at the back of the papal office.

“I’ve kept Your Holiness waiting.”

“It’s fine. We need to begin control from the moment you enter the Fog anyway.”

The Fog was even more terrifying at night. Behind the papal office, it had become a wall blocking the world. It felt like looking at the end of the world. A feeling that beyond it was an endless falling cliff. The Fog writhed in place, welcoming me.

“Of course, as I mentioned, we can’t keep people out indefinitely. Since we can’t know what’s happening inside from the outside, even if you’re winning, we’ll have to send in rescue personnel if people’s anxiety increases.”

“I understand. Still, I’d appreciate if you could wait at least a week.”

The worst case would be if someone entered just as I was about to defeat it, giving it additional power. I sighed at the thought.

“Well then, I’ll go in now.”

“May God’s blessing be with you, Hero.”

Ignoring the Pope’s words, I approached the Fog. It was cold and chilly. I reminded myself of my purpose again: defeat the Fog and rescue the people detained inside.

“[Once you enter the Fog, it will be difficult for me to speak to you. It’s a place where magical effects are strange. You’ll have to endure with your mental strength alone.]”

The Fog manifests nightmares. It could appear as the past you least want to face, or as the memory you miss the most. It could summon what you fear, or make you confront what you hate.

That’s how the Fog uses magic to manifest someone’s nightmare. When a person in the Fog succumbs to the nightmare, the Fog begins to drain their magical power.

“…The deeper the nightmare it shows, the more it has to use its core power. So,”

If I keep fighting the nightmares, eventually I should reach the Fog’s core. I looked at the rippling surface of the Fog and raised one corner of my mouth.

Aryen faced his past back then. I remember that’s when the story of Kala, the most important person to Aryen, came up. What Aryen saw was a hypothetical scenario—what if he had saved Kala then, what if he had stayed with Kala instead of going to report that something was wrong with the village.

And what Aryen saw was the future. A future where he completed his mission, earned enough money to quit being a mercenary, and lived with Kala.

It took Aryen a month in Fog time—a week in outside time—to deny the Fog. And in the end, Aryen was able to defeat the Fog by killing Kala.

“I don’t want to experience such a disgusting thing.”

I smiled bitterly.

“[Ilroy, remember.]”

Suddenly, I heard the Holy Sword’s voice.

“[No matter what happens, you are you. Don’t lose yourself.]”

I nodded and looked back one last time. I reached out toward the Fog. The Fog touched my palm, and my fingertips were enveloped in a cold sensation. I watched as the Fog slowly devoured me from my hand. I was being sucked in. Like a fabric made of water vapor, the Fog wrapped around my body, and I entered the Fog.

“…So this is what it feels like.”

I blinked and looked ahead. The whole world was in a hazy smoke. My senses weren’t dim—my magic was circulating well, and my bodily sensations were clear. It felt worse because it seemed to claim this was reality.

“If I face bad memories in this state, it’s bound to be irritating.”

Or I might surrender. I muttered that. There was no response from the Holy Sword. I drew my sword. The sensation of the Veil and the Holy Sword calmed my pounding heart. The crown’s halo naturally appeared above my head. I stepped forward in full readiness.

And then, the scenery began to change.

“…I didn’t expect this.”

I suddenly found myself in the forest on the outskirts of the royal capital. I looked around in confusion. The Veil I had been holding in my left hand had disappeared. The air was the humid summer forest air, not winter. I couldn’t feel the sensation of activating the crown either. I was standing alone in the forest, holding the Holy Sword in my right hand.

“I’m weak.”

My internal magic seemed to be reduced to about a third, and my physical strength seemed weakened too. It was quite thorough just to drain my magic once. I drew the Holy Sword and stepped forward.

“I wonder what memory it’s trying to show me.”

And soon, I realized what the Fog was trying to show.

“…Why start from here of all places?”

Blocking my path was an absurdly large ash-colored bear. Was it just my imagination that it looked bigger than the ones I usually encountered in the forest? The bear was drooling, its eyes showing only the whites as it faced me. I lightly twirled the Holy Sword as I confronted the bear.

Yes, that’s right.

The fear I felt when I first encountered a monster after falling into this world. The primal fear of being prey, wondering what I could do. My current body was the same as back then. No Holy Sword release, no crown. All I had were the habits ingrained in Ilroy’s body.

“…Well, it’s a bit different now.”

I wasn’t as afraid as I remembered being then. The bear was more ferocious and powerful than I remembered, but I was also stronger than I was back then.

The bear charged, extending its front paws. I let it come. My eyes tracked its front paws. My body told me I would die if I got hit, that I should dodge. But I didn’t dodge—I held the Holy Sword in a stance.

I won’t dodge.

As the Holy Sword said, I’ll face it head-on as my current self.

The sword tip sliced through the air. I spotted the bear’s wide-open shoulder and brought down the Holy Sword, and the path my sword created drew the cleanest crescent moon trajectory as it split the ash-colored bear in half. I smiled with satisfaction at experiencing the Holy Sword’s raw performance after so long.

A small pool of blood formed under the bear’s corpse. Unpleasantly, even the sensation of blood on my body was vivid.

“…If it continues like this, what exactly are you trying to show me?”

I grumbled as I sheathed my sword. The scene shown by the Fog wasn’t over yet. I sighed as I looked at the deep forest casting dim shadows. Probably even if I walked in the opposite direction, I wouldn’t reach the royal capital—just the same forest would continue.

Alright.

Deliberately ignoring the anxiety rising in a corner of my mind, I moved forward. At least the start wasn’t bad.