episode_0006

There is no night in the heart of the empire.

The Emperor of the Empire drives away the darkness of the system with a brilliantly shining artificial sun, and keeps the citizens of the Empire warm at all times…

It must be because it was such a time that people believed such nonsense.

It has been 30 years since magic engineering blossomed in this land.

It was not the emperor sitting on the throne, but the magicians in the palace who brought about the empire’s unprecedented prosperity.

But then something strange happens.

The center of the empire, embroidered with a lamp that was too small to be called an artificial sun and too delicate to fit in one hand.

A far-off corner of the empire’s south, the forest of Runel. Called the Corpse Forest or the Abandoned Forest by locals.

It would certainly be strange to find something in common between these two places that have no connection at all.

A small cabin built in the center of this forest, which is called an abandoned forest because no one walks there.

Inside, a faint but definite glowing object was visible.

Although it is slender, it is a lamp that is called an artificial sun and contains the essence of magical engineering.

Although it’s not as bright as it used to be, it definitely costs money to maintain that shine.

Regardless of the geographical differences between the island and the forest, what if an artificial sun were to rise deep in this corpse forest where people rarely visit?

That would obviously mean one of two things.

Or a noble who has so much money that he can’t control it.

A person who does something that should not be discovered by others in a place where no one comes and goes, at a time when no one is around.

Of course, the odds are overwhelmingly higher for those who are ‘doing things that shouldn’t be done’.

‘Found it… …!’

Libra, the Witch of the Scales. She took out a sharp dagger from her bosom.

Her life as a fortune teller, which she started out doing to gather information, has become a familiar one, but her fundamentals have not changed.

assassin.

A murderer who lives for revenge, it is too late to turn back.

-Haaah…

Letting out a light sigh, Libra drew up her magical power.

Her unique trait [Libra] that made her worthy of being called the Witch of Libra

Specify two objects and compare them as if they were on a scale.

If the scales are tilted to one side, the side that is tilted has a comparative advantage.

There are many abilities derived from here, but they consume a lot of magic power, so they are not used often.

The designation of objects to be placed on the scales can be made not only of objects but also of specific concepts.

Just like now.

‘Stronger than me?’

To the right of the scales of libra reflected in Libra’s mind, the hut we had just seen rose.

The person on the other side of the scale is Libra herself.

Kick…kick…

The scales of the Libra move slowly.

The direction is to the left where Libra is rising.

It was a moderate slope, but it was enough.

At least that means there’s no one stronger than her.

‘It would have been better if I could have brought the scales, but… I can’t help it.’

Her unique trait [Libra] can now be activated by imagination alone, without any medium.

You have to imagine the concept precisely, but give up a little bit of accuracy.

Since the mana consumption is also greater, he usually carries a scale that has a physical form.

Unique characteristics, like magic, become more powerful when there is a medium.

Libra slowly opened her eyes.

The scales that had been visible before her eyes disappeared, and when she returned to reality, a cabin wrapped in a soft light was reflected.

There is a presence inside, but it is not strong.

There are three people guarding the area around the cabin.

You have to break through them to get in.

Since it was dawn, all three of them had faces that were worn out with fatigue.

One of them fell asleep while standing up.

Now is the time to move.

Ss …

Libra has moved.

“Ugh, ugh!”

“Kekekekeke!”

“Okay,,,sleep… ”

Libra, who had killed the three sentries in an instant, leaned against the wall of the hut.

The small voices echoing inside are transmitted through the walls.

It seemed like the story blossomed without knowing the situation outside.

Libra slowly headed towards the door and kicked it open in one breath.

Inside the cabin, a burst of light from a lamp dazzles the eyes, and then vision returns in an instant.

Bloodstains, dirty flesh, and unidentified reagents are scattered throughout the cabin.

The dwellings of the zealots who worship Belmagor are all like this.

Libra, who had become accustomed to it, quickly looked around the interior.

‘No one? But I can hear voices coming from the cabin… Could this be a trap?’

A brief thought crossed my mind, and I reacted immediately, but was a step too late.

Shhh-

I quickly ran into the cabin at the sound of someone behind me, but a sharp pain spread across my left leg.

Bright red blood drips from the leg where the sharp object hit him, soaking into his clothes.

The wound is not deep, so the amount of blood flowing is small.

But the problem is.

‘Paralysis poison…’

I was always careful until the end.

Was it wrong to judge too easily after only hearing small talk?

A cabin built in a deep forest where no one comes or goes, at dawn when darkness has fallen.

It was a striking situation no matter how you looked at it.

There’s no need to feel like you’ve had a good time. First, you have to get out alive.

“You finally got it. You little flesh child.”

Inside the cabin, Libra, equipped with a tactile response system, looked beyond the door, following the sound of voices.

A man whose bald head and seemingly benevolent expression seemed to show off his sincerity, but whose madness was engraved inside him and seeped out.

Archbishop Marquisares.

A fanatic who worships Belmagor, the evil god of blood and flesh.

Behind him, two escorts appeared.

The eight evils, the corpse-eating Beth and the poison-drinking Louis.

Powerful people who make a name for themselves behind the scenes in the empire.

Even in a perfect state, it is questionable whether they can be defeated, but unfortunately, all three of them are gathered in one place.

‘If only it weren’t for the paralyzing poison… … .’

Libra has the will to be weak.

When I die, I will bite off the back of their necks before I die.

How many years has it been since I spent the night making that resolution?

Death has been something we have been prepared for since ancient times.

“Do you like it? This is the cabin I prepared for you.”

The creepy voice of Marquisares, like a wheel crawling, was directed at Libra.

At his gesture, the sprawling flesh inside the cabin began to twitch and come back to life as flesh zombies.

The ability of Marquisares, who receives the twisted favor of the evil god Belmagor.

“Just accept it now. If I just killed you, it wouldn’t be this much of a hassle, but you’re a special kid.”

“Special? If the offering is special, will they revive you?”

“… Child. You will become the flesh of Lady Belmagor. Isn’t it glorious?”

For the time being, they are fanatics who cannot be communicated with.

Libra slowly figured out the situation.

The flesh zombies, reanimated from the blood and flesh splattered inside the cabin, are firmly guarding the inside of the cabin.

We can wipe out as many flesh zombies as we want, but they are not the type of people to just sit back and watch.

‘I thought there was a lack of escort on the way here…’

Surely, with those three, there’s no need for an escort.

Rather, the three outside were prepared as sacrificial lambs to dispel Libra’s suspicions.

‘My left leg… won’t move.’

I have no feeling in my left leg, which has been infected with the paralytic toxin.

A tingling sensation runs down my leg and into my body, along the scar on my face.

If even a small amount of poison applied to the tip of a sword can have this effect, then it must be Louis’ unique characteristic of drinking poison.

It seemed like it would be about an hour before my body completely became paralyzed.

There is a way to move.

However, you should observe the situation and use it accordingly.

If they notice that you can move your body, they will become more alert.

“If you move even one step, I will kill myself by piercing my neck with this dagger.”

“Kuhehehe… Please do so, child. Lord Belmagor enjoys the situation. If you take the pain into your own hands, you will surely have a good time. I, the bishop, would rather see you run away. If you return your body to flesh like this, it will be difficult to appease the souls of our believers who died by your hand.”

“… You’re seriously crazy.”

I don’t know the details of the sacrifice, but from what I heard from Archbishop Marquisares, it seems that it doesn’t matter if there are some injuries.

Libra felt that the situation had become increasingly unfavorable.

The silver lining was that there were still cards to be played, and that Marquisares was willing to wait until Libra’s body was completely paralyzed unless she moved first.

Is there any way to get out of this using these two?

After a brief thought, Libra closed her eyes.

“Oh… Are you ready to accept returning to flesh?”

Ignoring the sarcastic tone of the Marquisares, Libra thought of the scales.

‘Am I going to die here?’

Creak.. creak..

The silver lining in her image, created by her unique characteristics, slowly tilts to one side.

The direction of energy is to the left of where ‘die’ is placed.

It was also tilted quite deeply.

Libra, who let out a sentiment like “There really is no miracle”, began her next preparations.

If this is my last day, I’ll take at least one of them.

If that doesn’t work, I’ll tear off an arm.

That was the feeling.

at that time.

“… … It must be around here.”

A man’s voice echoed between the trees surrounding the cabin.

A voice that makes you wonder if it has just become an adult after being hit so many times.

Although the tone was light, it was a voice that had the characteristic aristocratic quality.

After waiting for a moment, a man appeared between the trees in the darkness.

As expected, he was a young man. His face looked like it would suit the Academy uniform.

That was the time.

Squeak.. creaky.. creaky.. creaky..

Suddenly, the scales reflected in Libra’s mind began to sway from side to side.

Like a ship left alone in a storm, Libra lost her bearings and raged without thinking.

The Libra, which had been going back and forth madly between ‘dying’ and ‘living’, soon lost its strength as if it was collapsing due to a magical load.

Can her life be at stake with a single gesture, like a child’s play?

Archbishop Marquisares, the corpse-eater Bess, and the poison-drinking Louis.

No matter how strong these three are, it is impossible even if Libra is poisoned.

‘What the heck is this… I’ve never seen anything like this before…?’

Libra, who had been thinking this far, looked at the man who had appeared from the forest.

Could it be that person?

It’s my first time seeing your face.

Libra slowly observed Marquisares’ reaction.

They seemed wary of the men outside, but didn’t seem to care much about it.

At least they’re not on the same side.

“Who are you?”

Marquisares opened his mouth to address the man who appeared in the forest.

There is no sign of caution or anything like that on his face.

Given that there were three villains who were difficult to defeat even if they moved alone, their actions were perhaps natural.

“Are you…Archbishop Marquisares?”

“Oh. Do you know me? I guess there aren’t many people who know me.”

Marquisares raised his arms with a leisurely laugh.

Then, flesh zombies began to rise from the floor around the cabin.

At first glance, there were more than a dozen of them, and they were still growing.

“You came to me even though you recognized me. Then do you know who these two people are?”

The Marquisares’s mocking rebuke was directed at the man.

He answered without caring.

“Louis drinking poison and Beth eating corpses. It’s not too late since her arms are still attached.”

“Eight? I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

At that moment, Marquisares’ gaze flew to the sky.

The world spins and spins, slowly falling due to gravity.

Without finding the answer even in the midst of infinitely expanded thinking.

Three heads fell to the floor.