Chapter 144: Prelude – 2

Chapter 144: Prelude – 2

“By the way, is there really any helpful information here? Doesn’t it just look like a collapsed ruin to anyone?”

*It is a ruin, isn’t it? I called you because there’s helpful information there.*

“So, that’s what’s strange about it. God, a being, left behind information that could be harmful to them?”

*Just because it’s God doesn’t mean they’re the absolute ruler of this world. They are merely the creator of the world and a core entity that sustains it.

They have some authority to interfere with the world because they play a crucial role in sustaining and maintaining it, but they can’t do everything.*

It seemed that the God I was imagining was quite different from an omnipotent one.

Indeed, if that were the case, no matter how much the system protected me, someone like me would have been dealt with long ago, and they wouldn’t have bothered to try to start a war through Elena.

No, but shouldn’t they at least be able to erase a single record in a seemingly ordinary temple like that?

*That depends on who the record keeper of that record is.*

“…You won’t answer even if I ask who it is.”

*I have nothing to say other than to tell you to see for yourself. You know me well now.*

“Always so unfriendly, I swear.”

While I was complaining a bit to Ria about the current situation, a familiar face started to appear in the distance.

…But, why isn’t it just one person?

“Long time no see, you.”

“Indeed. I didn’t expect to meet again in a place like this, though.”

“Me neither. I didn’t expect to meet you in these ruins. By the way, didn’t you have a bit of a bad history with the Holy Kingdom?”

“So, that’s why I’m here, to overturn it.”

Melini’s voice and words hadn’t changed much from before, and I responded in kind.

…The other adventurers behind her seemed curious about the situation and were focused on my and Melini’s conversation.

Some showed interest in my words about trying to overturn the Holy Kingdom, which suggested they also had some bad memories with the Holy Kingdom.

Well, the Holy Kingdom has done more than just one or two bad things.

Of course, what I’m planning is a bit… very radical.

“Hey, if you tell us something like that, we’ll blab it all out, you know?”

“Of course, maintaining secrecy is basic. Isn’t that true for all requests?”

“You’re strangely well-informed about things like this.”

There’s only one reason I’m telling them such radical things.

As long as Melini and those with her are within the framework of adventurers, what a client wants kept secret must be absolutely kept secret.

Of course, they can share and know it among themselves, but telling it to outsiders who aren’t involved in the request is tantamount to quitting their adventurer work.

In fact, if the reason is a breach of secrecy, no adventurer would be protected even if they were attacked.

“It seems there’s going to be a big civil war in the Holy Kingdom soon, you know? So I decided to get a piece of the action.”

“Civil war? In the Holy Kingdom?”

“Detailed information is a bit difficult, but wouldn’t you find out enough by searching these ruins?”

“…It seems like a very dangerous job.”

“It is. In many ways.”

And anyway, even if one of them abandons their adventurer life and tells this information, it’s useless.

They’d just be treated as doomsayers or troublemakers, dragged away for defamation, and that would be the end of it, as always.

The Holy Kingdom is not a nation that tolerates such unsettling rumors.

However… it’s right to drop a hint to Melini, whom we plan to bring to our side in the future, that there might be a civil war in the Holy Kingdom.

“Then, shall we go in?”

“I originally came to help you, but… this, it seems like things are going to get interesting. Our kids can come along too, right?”

“If it’s Melini’s mercenary group, yes. Outside personnel are refused.”

“Did you hear that? Our employer wants you to come along!”

Whether they were deliberately silent or observing the situation, the adventurers who hadn’t spoken until now nodded.

There were three of them, and since their faces didn’t particularly stand out in my memory, they seemed to be minor characters.

Among them, one in particular seemed interested in me.

……It would be easier to live life if he didn’t show interest, you know. Now, I’ve become someone who gets tired if I get involved as much as the main characters.

***

The interior of the ruins was ordinary and peaceful.

Perhaps because God had prevented external beings from setting foot here for a long time, it looked like a completely isolated space.

There were no traps or anything… It was, after all, a small prayer room or sanctuary, so there couldn’t be such ominous things.

Instead, there were golems for protection at regular intervals.

“Hup.”

Perhaps because it was too old, when I just brought my greatsword down, it shattered on its own.

While I was at it, I decided to test my newly changed abilities and only fought with the greatsword.

I only used potions to enchant the greatsword and fought… and it seemed my strength and greatsword skills had definitely improved.

In particular, seeing that giant golem, even with magic enchanted on it, couldn’t withstand 5 hits from the greatsword and was pulverized, it was clear that the system’s enhancement was significant.

It also helped that Melini and her squad members dealt with miscellaneous defensive facilities and blocked small golems that ambushed from the rear.

“…Leader, what kind of kid is she? Even if we provided rear support, is that even possible?”

“So. In the first place, how does such monstrous strength come from such a small body…?”

The squad members’ reactions were… exactly as expected.

If it were Christie, the Saintess, or the Hero, they would ask when I got stronger, but for those seeing me for the first time, it was quite a sight that caused cognitive dissonance.

Because it was a girl, not even that tall, smashing golems with a greatsword.

“Hey, I know you want to practice your swordsmanship, but this isn’t a place we can stay long. How about you take out your main weapon soon?”

“…Indeed, we need to leave quickly.”

Of course, Melini asked why I wasn’t using potions. Well, that was just like her.

And regarding the time limit… it was true that it was better to hurry a bit.

God still seemed to really dislike creatures coming here.

As evidence… right now, the path of the sanctuary is twisting and turning into a labyrinth right before my eyes.

“A maze? How annoying. And the guard forces are already so dense.”

“It would probably be better to go quickly soon. I’ll practice with the greatsword another time. You can find the way well, right? That’s why I called you.”

“What do you take us for? We may look like this, but we’re a renowned mercenary group, you know?”

True to their confidence, Melini and her squad members quickly found their way.

They also instantly crushed the traps that appeared as the space gradually twisted and became a labyrinth, even though they weren’t there at first.

If I had come alone… well, I probably would have struggled immensely with these changes.

That’s not to say I did nothing. In this space that was becoming a labyrinth, strangely altered golems also popped out.

And each time, with a clear *clang!* sound, the golems froze.

Unfortunately, and perhaps naturally, fire or electric-type potions didn’t work well, so I had no choice but to use ice-type potions.

With a clear sound, a mist of ice spread, and the golems froze.

Even if they broke through the mist and barrier to attack, throwing a potion at the stupidly attacking golem was enough.

Even a potion with the simple effect of rapidly freezing the surroundings… its power doubles when it explodes in a place filled with cold air.

“That’s amazing… I’ve never seen magic like this before.”

“Instead, it doesn’t distinguish between friend and foe, so be careful, okay? It’ll be troublesome if you get too close and freeze along with them.”

The adventurer who had been showing interest in me continued to observe my potions with curiosity.

Of course, they weren’t the originals, but copies made through the ‘Alchemist’s Treasury.’

Well, anyway, I handled the combat, while Melini and her squad members found the way, disarmed traps, and occasionally dealt with enemies I missed, and this process repeated.

After repeating that obvious process several times, we gradually escaped from the spatial distortion that was turning the sanctuary into a labyrinth.

“……That is.”

*She is the ‘Prophet’ of the previous generation. She was preserved here, neither dead nor alive.*

“Why…?”

*They couldn’t arbitrarily kill her completely because of her title as ‘Prophet,’ and it seems they were afraid of the truth she would reveal if left alone.*

And at the end of that distortion, there was someone who seemed neither dead nor alive.

She was as pale as a corpse to be called a person, preserved in the wall unable to properly hold her body, and yet a smile bloomed on her lips, so she couldn’t be called dead.

She stared at me and Melini’s group for a moment, then opened her mouth.

“…Finally, it seems God’s power has weakened enough for you to come here.”

With a tone and expression that clearly indicated she knew many things.

And her subsequent words fully explained why God had put her in such a state.

“No, perhaps… should I call that being both God and Demon God?”