Chapter 134: The Great Deception (8)

[134] 20. The Great Deception (8)

Memory is truly like a book, requiring time to retrace through its pages. Especially when the memory is hastily scrawled due to rough emotions. The finger tracing the memory often loses its way and wanders.

This is when a bookmark comes in handy.

A good scent, a specific texture, they’re all good. But, among them, the best is undoubtedly an image. A vivid image that seems to fly into your pupils and embed itself.

A sword as white as first snow.

When you find the bookmark, the memory naturally follows.

“Amy, the Holy Sword is both a coffin and a key.”

It is the night before the hero party disbands. A faint magic lamp barely pushes back the darkness filled with the sound of rain.

Betty slid her finger along the pure white blade.

“The goddess who was defeated by Alain was split and sealed into soul and body. The body was sent to a space beyond where no one could reach, and the soul into this holy sword…”

The light of the magic lamp reflects off the Holy Sword. Shadows ripple like fine blood vessels.

“And to solidify the seal, an unnecessary curse was placed on this sword… but as you can see, that curse has been lifted by the previous Pope.”

“Your explanation is long.”

Patience is quite an expensive luxury. The desperate Amy cut her off and asked a premature question.

“So, how do you intend to resurrect the Goddess?”

“It is simple, if we release the body and soul of the Goddess, it will naturally occur. And, regarding the Goddess’s body, ‘she’ will take care of it. We only need to worry about the Goddess’s soul.”

“So, I am asking what that method is.”

Betty smiled faintly. A smile like a semicircle drawn on white flour dough.

“Suicide.”

The sound of rain subsides. Conversely, Betty’s singing-like voice becomes more prominent.

“This sword is forged from a soul, so when it breaks, it must also be broken by a soul. But not just any ordinary soul. A soul that has crossed numerous boundaries between life and death, that has overthrown powerful beings, a soul forged like a blade.”

Suddenly, like a mirage, images flow before Amy’s eyes. A blue dragon looking up at the moon longingly, a rock giant walking through a sea of clouds, an elven swordsman strolling through a snowy field…

“This is…”

“50 immortals. Amy, these are the ones you must defeat. They are the old hammers that will forge your soul. Kill them all, and when your soul reaches its peak, your soul will be able to shatter the Holy Sword.”

The white blade points towards Amy.

“By plunging the Holy Sword into your heart.”

Amy could easily imagine that scene. It was probably because her guilt-ridden heart had secretly wished for it. Sacrifice was the best way to atone.

However, there was something that needed to be clarified.

“Of course, for a sure break, not only you, but ‘she’ must also die…”

“There’s no need to explain further. In the end, if I kill them all, and then kill myself, my role is over, correct?”

“That is correct.”

“Then, there is only one thing I need to hear.”

The eyes can be the window to the soul because the gaze of reality can turn to the past. Amy looked back at the day the boy’s hand was severed. She thought of the wish she had repeated countless times, a wish whose earnestness had not faded.

“…Really, can everything be undone? My mistake, and the happiness he should have had?”

Betty merely smiled faintly.

“The Goddess will surely grant all our wishes. Surely…”

And thus, the book that was memory closes. It does not return to where it was being written. It closes with the heavy sound of paper. Because the writing is already finished, because the story has been concluded. Because the final period has been placed on the last sentence.

The Holy Sword pierced Amy’s heart.

When white threads burst forth instead of blood, everyone present instinctively knew that something was wrong.

The thread bundle that shot up like a fountain slowly halted in midair. It unfurled its threads in the air like thin tentacles.

“What in the fuck is that…”

The attack was as sudden as its appearance.

“You idiot, dodge!”

The thread pierces the spot where the mercenary’s head had been. That mercenary, kicked away by Feya, realized that he almost died while looking at it.

“Li, Little sis, th-thank…!”

“Shut up and get up!! It’s coming again!!”

It was as Feya said.

If a flower made of thread were to bloom, maybe it would look like this. Threads surge and flow out from Amy’s body as the center.

The mercenaries’ faces turn white at that grotesque sight. Some were even seen taking steps backward.

“Are you all out of your minds?!”

However, fear can be controlled by long-standing trust. When Captain Rose drew her sword and stepped forward, reason returned to everyone’s eyes.

“We’re going into anti-monster formation! Everyone grab your weapons and get into position!!”

What separates a novice from a veteran in battle is not skill, but self-awareness. And, in that regard, the members of our mercenary group were definitely veterans.

The mercenaries quickly form a formation and surround the threads.

It wasn’t just the mercenaries. Clara, Parsley, and the others also quickly regained their senses and surrounded the threads. It was a moment when the incomprehensible fear became an enemy that could be defeated.

However, our enemy was not just one.

“Did you really think I spent all that time with the hero party without setting up any safety measures?”

Because I had been constantly searching with my eyes, I was able to spot them immediately. Above the corridor, Irene, held by Betty, was pointing her finger at the hero party.

“Bang-!”

The first was Parsley.

Black cracks appeared on her hands as she was casting magic. Just as small fragments seemed to scatter, suddenly.

“Huh…?”

Her rotted finger falls off with a thud.

“Wait, why is this…”

“Parsley! I’ll heal you, so get a hold of yourself!!”

Light emitted from Clara’s hand reaches Parsley. It took less than seconds for her fingers to regain their original form.

Thud-

However, as soon as the light faded, the decay started again. No, it didn’t just start and end there.

“Why isn’t the healing…?”

The black crack spreads to Clara’s face as well. In an instant, her arm rots, and her fingers crumble.

However, maybe because of their experience as members of the hero party, the panic didn’t last long.

“Everyone, step back!”

In an instant, a transparent sphere surrounds Clara and Parsley. It was an isolation measure to prevent the disease from spreading further. Inside, the two were constantly repeating decay and regeneration.

However, that was merely maintaining the status quo. Moreover, with their absence, there was a gap in their force.

The threads did not miss that gap.

“Aaaagh!!”

The first victim was Miller. The father of two daughters failed to notice the suddenly intensified movement of the threads and had his chest pierced through.

His pierced body instantly melted into the threads. It was a clean death that didn’t even leave a corpse.

Grind-!

I forcibly swallowed the rising anger, self-loathing, and self-blame. What’s important on the battlefield is knowing one’s position and role.

My role now was simple.

To deal with Betty Ailleyde and Irene.

Only I am unaffected by Betty Ailleyde’s strange ability. Only I could find them, who had somehow hidden themselves in this battlefield.

So, swallow your emotions and work your eyes.

Find them who are hiding in this chaos.

…Found them!

“[nfeik!]”

An invisible slash cuts the chandelier they were hanging from. I threw myself towards them as they fell without hesitation.

“Irene!”

“Shut up!! [mashs!]”

“[blishifl!]”

Our magic collide, creating a bizarre color. However, without backing down, I grab Irene by the collar and slam her to the ground.

“Guh-!”

She fully absorbed the impact of the fall. However, without losing consciousness, she immediately punched me in the face.

The world seemed to spin, and the next moment, my body was slammed against the wall.

“I gave Oppa a chance!!”

In my blurred vision, I see Irene walking towards me. Magic tools crawl up her body, wrapping around her like armor.

“I was really considerate of you!! Just one, just one bitch had to die, it would have all been over if just one bitch died!!”

Snorting the blood in my nose, I surveyed the surroundings.

Betty had once again disappeared somewhere. She was probably hiding somewhere, waiting for another opportunity. If I don’t find and stop her quickly, who knows what she might do.

“You were being considerate of me, by killing them? Those poor people?”

“Ha! Those stupid bitches? Didn’t I tell you dozens of times? Those women are not oppa’s women. They’re just a few of the many women that exist in the countless worlds.”

I reflexively think of the communication device in my pocket. And the device that must be at the end of this communication line.

The device that covers the eyes of fate and postpones the price of fate that must come.

If I turn off this device, Irene and Betty will pay their postponed price of fate. Though I can’t know what kind it would be, but anything would be enough to neutralize Irene and Betty.

“Is that your only excuse? It doesn’t matter because they’re not from our world?”

“Plus, they were the kind of people who might cause some stupid accident if left alone. Even that, I did for the sake of this world.”

However, I ultimately did not take out the communication device. It was because of the suspicion raised by Clevens.

[This price of fate. Does it really exist?]

The Clevens I know may imitate dog sounds because of alcohol, but he’s not the kind of guy to spread baseless stories.

Let’s save uncertain means until the end.

That person won’t just sit still until the end either.

“No matter what you say, you’re a dirty murderer.”

“Then, Oppa must be a moron trying to destroy the world I’m trying to save by even killing people.”

I got up. Even though my heart had long since disappeared, a strange throbbing echoes in my chest.

I took out my magic tool and glared at Irene.

Irene now glares back at me with cold eyes.

“I’m going to tear you to pieces.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll bury oppa and oppa’s girlfriends nicely in the same grave.”

And we simultaneously rushed at each other.

***

***

“If things go seriously wrong?”

“Yes?”

Genius put away the empty teacup and continued speaking.

“Didn’t I just say, things in the world often don’t go your way. If the plan doesn’t go as intended, or if it leads to catastrophe for some reason, what will you do then?”

“That’s…”

For a moment, I considered whether I should talk about the machine that hides the eyes of fate. It was because I had no reason to trust him.

I trusted Sharik because he was Shafiq’s father. But Genius?

According to Sharik’s story, he was a man who had killed at least tens of thousands to save the world. Could I trust his words?

“Well, looking at your eyes, it seems you do have some backup plan hidden away. If you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to.”

I couldn’t help but flinch as he hit the nail on the head. When I carefully glanced over, Genius’s expression remained nonchalant.

“Anyway, it’s enough to know that you didn’t come here thoughtlessly. I’ll gladly help. I also like the idea of moving the Goddess’s body elsewhere. Instead.”

Genius’s thin finger points towards the sky.

“It’s not exactly a price, but there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

“…What is your request?”

Genius’s finger slowly tilts down to point at me. More precisely, where my heart is.

“I’d like you to give me what’s inside there.”

The Dragon King’s Essence, the thing that replaces my missing heart.

My expression inevitably stiffens.

“It’s an item that has already served its purpose to some extent. May I ask why you still want it?”

“Served its purpose…? Ah, right, it wouldn’t be of much use in that form. Well, if I had to say, let’s call it a sense of obligation. After all, it’s a fellow in the same boat.”

“The same boat…?”

I get the strange feeling that the conversation is somehow off track.

“I’m sorry, but are you sure it’s my heart you want?”

“Your heart? Why on earth would I want your heart. Cannibalism and human taxidermy are not my hobbies.”

“Then…?”

He must have also realized that something was off with the conversation. Suddenly, he waved his finger in the air.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

I feel my pocket, where I had stuffed various items, bulge. Then, a small vial flows out of my pocket.

“The strange creature?”

More precisely, it was a fragment of that creature.

The slime-like creature that suddenly crawled out of my mouth and guided us, but was shattered by Irene’s attack.

Genius grabbed the vial containing the creature and clicked his tongue.

“This stupid kid, the old man and I have told him time and time again that he’ll get hurt if he keeps doing that.”

“Do you know what that creature is?”

Ah, a silent exclamation escaped his lips. For a moment, he seemed to furrow his brow in thought before shaking his head.

“I do know, but it’s not something I should talk about. Besides, if you stop that Irene woman here, there’s no need for you to get involved in this matter any further, is there?”

“That is true, but…”

I trailed off, taken aback by his defensive response. It would be a lie to say I didn’t have doubts, but I was the one asking for a favor.

“Anyway, hurry up and prepare for that ‘transfer’ magic ritual. Didn’t you say the attack is tomorrow morning?”

“…Yes, I understand.”

***

It’s often said that things in life are like this. Seen up close, it’s a tragedy; seen from afar, it’s a comedy. The principle of distance tries to exert its wit regardless of the object.

However, the law of exceptions also applies to all things. There are things that are tragedies even when viewed from afar.

For example, a mess happening in your own house. Even if you were watching from Hawaii, it would probably break your heart.

Genius sighed as he looked at his castle, which was turning into a mess.

“That damn old man… He tells me to just let it be, but how can I just leave it like this…”

The tide of the battle was clearly turning towards Irene.

Clara and Parsley were busy just trying to preserve their decaying bodies, and the mercenary group was now being eaten by Amy, who had turned into a strange plant form instead of threads. Needless to say, Rem, who was having an untimely heart-to-heart with Irene, was also pushed back.

A clear disadvantage.

In the end, Alain was wrong and he was right.

To save a world on the verge of breaking, a little intervention was inevitable. It’s funny that that old man, who’s practically the embodiment of deterrence, would say such a thing in the first place.

Genius adjusted his clothes and stood up.

“My foolish friend will wake up soon too… Now, then, where could she be…”

However, before intervening, he had to find the rat.

Betty Ailleyde, a woman who, for unknown reasons, uses the power of the forgotten Goddess. She was probably still using that insidious ability, watching for an opportunity.

Genius used his ability to sweep through the mess once. Then, he soon noticed something strange and frowned.

‘She’s not here…?’

It’s not like before when she hid using that ability. Betty was literally not here. She had left altogether.

“Huh, is she running away, or does she have another plan in store…”

Either way, there was no reason to hesitate about intervening now. It would be best to subdue that Irene woman first.

Genius calmly hid his presence and approached Irene, who was in the middle of a battle. As it happened, she was straddling Rem and pummeling his face.

Grandiose entrances or dramatic reversals are excessive luxuries. A silent small blade is far more efficient therefore.

“Say it!! Say you want me to spare you!! Say you’ll just surrender now…!!”

Genius plunged a dagger into the nape of Irene’s neck.

The sensation of the blade breaking bone and severing the spine was transmitted through the handle. Blood splattered on his face, creating a disgusting pointillist painting.

Genius pushed away Irene’s collapsing body and sighed.

“Finally, it’s over. You, for all your grand entrance, were surprisingly ineffi…”

“Ah, finally.”

When does a hunter hunt a beast. Paradoxically, it’s when the beast has just finished hunting. In the inevitable gap of relief, the arrow is fired.

Irene looked up at Genius with eerie blue eyes. Her hand was now wrapped around his ankle.

“I knew you’d come crawling out if I shook things up this much. In the end, all this was just to catch…”

Crack-!

“And what do you plan to do now that you’ve caught me?”

However, Genius stomped on Irene’s face with an unperturbed expression.

Genius, the reason he was entrusted with guarding the seal was not only because he was the most level-headed, but also because he was the strongest.

Standing at Alain’s right hand, he was the man who handled both the clean and dirty work first.

The reason he chose assassination was simply because it was efficient.

“I’m sorry, miss, but playtime is over. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but give up before it’s too late. Then…”

“What, are you going to kill me painlessly or something?”

A deranged laugh came from under his foot.

“You know what? I was a fool, Genius. I shouldn’t have expected a clean ending after literally grinding people up. I shouldn’t have expected a fairy tale ending where everyone lives happily ever after.”

Suddenly, Genius felt a tingling sensation in his fingertips. It was a familiar yet sharp sensation.

“You and I, both.”

Faintly, a small sound reaches his ears. It gradually draws closer, letting him know that it’s not just a simple sound.

Thousands of cries.

Thousands of screams.

Thousands of resentments.

“They are the grudges of the people you killed in the name of saving the world. It wasn’t difficult to gather them. Even after 200 years have passed.”

Discarding the curse doll that had taken her place, Irene rises to her feet. Conversely, Genius, weighed down by the grudges, knelt on the floor.

“Yeah, this isn’t a bad ending.”

A blade protrudes from the back of Genius’s neck. With a clunk, blood poured out from the spot where the sword was pulled out.

“The gatekeeper of the door has finally fallen, and the Goddess’s soul is also half released. It’s a bit delayed because of some unnecessary actions, but…”

“Kuhek…!”

Irene grabbed the throat of Rem who had secretly rushed at her. She peered into his face with a sneer.

“This much won’t affect the resurrection ritual, Oppa.”

“You…!”

“So, I’ll ask you one last time.”

The sneer softens once more. A small hope twinkled in her eyes.

“Are you really not going to give up?”

Ptooey,

The hope was repaid with a blood-mixed spit. Irene wiped the spit off her face with a bitter expression.

“Fine, I’ll bury you in a sunny spot, Oppa.”

And, Irene raised the sword that had stabbed Genius again.

And at that moment, Rem finally found the communication device he had been desperately searching for and activated it.

“Sha… fi… que…!!”

It was an instant.

The communication device carried Rem’s voice to the World Tree. Shafiq, who had been guarding the machine all night, heard the sound and ‘activated’ the machine. Some kind of signal emitted from the machine was transmitted from the World Tree back to Irene here.

All of that happened in the blink of an eye and brought about an irreversible change.

Irene’s arm, which was holding Rem, crumbled.

“Cough…!! Kuhek… Kuluk…!!”

Rem gasps for breath between coughs after barely being freed. Yet he still manages to raise his head to look at Irene.

“Why…?”

Irene stares blankly at her rotting, decaying body. Strangely, the process of decay was similar to that of Clara and Parsley.

“Why, why, is this epidemic back…? The price of fate? But, that was blocked by Alain’s machine…”

Irene’s eyes, gradually turning white, suddenly turn to Rem.

“You found it…? That?”

Instead of answering with words, Rem took out the device. It was the moment Irene’s face was dyed with despair.

“Ha… Ha…! Oppa, you’re going to make me miserable to the end…?”

The decay was terrifyingly fast. Irene’s body crumbled like a sandcastle. Her eyes had already lost focus, as if they were blind.

“In the end, this is… this is… how it ends… This was the ending…”

However, that didn’t mean it was the end of her will.

“Yeah, Betty will take care of the rest.”

Irene opens her rotting mouth wide. Inside her rotting left molar, a magic bomb swirling with mana flashed.

My long experience as a mage allowed me to instantly calculate its power. A bomb strong enough to blow away this castle and then some.

“Wait, no…!”

“Heh, it’s no use to be persistent.”

A hand in a suit abruptly covers Irene’s mouth as it tries to close. It easily removes the bomb from the rotten teeth and turns its gaze to Rem.

“Ah, no… Then…”

“You’ve worked hard, steampunk-style cyborg. Thanks to you, I saved a lot of trouble.”

Rem couldn’t say anything and just stared at him blankly. It was because he was a truly unexpected person.

The man he met when he went to another world chasing Parsley, the man who opened the passage to the original world.

Also, when he was kidnapped to another world, the man who came to him first and told him how to return.

The man Irene called the ‘administrator’ dusted off his hands and made a disgusted expression.

“Ugh, maybe it’s because I still have memories of being a slime. My joints still feel all wobbly. Anyway, if you can still fight, help clean up that weird thread thing. It seems like there are still some aftereffects from being revived.”