episode_0122

The girl who resembled Noah.

And the black mage Kane.

A mansion full of monsters.

Lastly, Noah, who escaped from the black mages.

While all sorts of information were instantly combining.

The girl’s words, ‘I came to find my older sister.’

‘Noah had hardly ever talked about herself before.’

More precisely, she talked a lot about the time she was on Earth.

But she didn’t talk about exactly how she lived in this other world.

‘Noah herself didn’t particularly want to talk about it, either.’

That’s why I didn’t ask or pry, but.

Did she have a hidden younger sister?

…No, not Noah’s younger sister, but the younger sister of the body she possessed?

However, to say that, they looked so similar you could think they were almost the same person.

Rather than thinking she was a real younger sister, another possibility came to mind first.

Just then, the girl, who had already approached right in front, looked up at me and said.

“…So, will you grant my wish?”

The girl spoke bravely.

However, there were slight tears welling up around her eyes, so it seemed like she had mustered quite a bit of courage.

“You’ll probably have to come tomorrow. Everyone’s sleeping right now.”

“It’s impossible if it’s not right now. I… snuck out even now.”

Snuck out, like Noah is currently escaping from the black mages, is it that feeling?

Seeing this, it feels like she might be her younger sister after all.

However, does that mean someone is coming to look for her?

It would be good if we don’t get strangely involved.

Kane was quite strong.

To the extent that victory couldn’t be guaranteed even if all of us fought him.

In such a situation, there’s no need to stir up trouble, but.

“……”

The justification was too clear.

The unfolded senses had already read the presence of the awakened clan members.

Turning my head slightly, I could see everyone who had already entered alert posture.

Even though it was short, fitting for everyone who had already become adventurers. It was enough to sense presences even while sleeping.

Of course, Grace always wakes me up.

“…Can everyone come out?”

*

In the long, dark hallway stand six adventurers and one girl.

“””……”””

“What should we do…”

If you ask why they are standing awkwardly like this.

It’s naturally because of the girl who is crying heavily in front of them.

She looked at Noah, her eyes filled with tears, and

had been maintaining this state all along.

But isn’t she crying for too long?

Everyone gave Noah a look, telling her to do something, but.

She also kept her mouth tightly shut.

Moreover, unlike her usual playful self, her face was very, very serious.

Her appearance made it difficult to even talk to her.

Just then, Noah, who had been leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, stood up.

She passed by the crying girl and started walking down the hallway.

“…I have to go see Kane.”

“There is no need for that.”

From the darkness, Kane slowly walks out.

Behind him were not the other round monsters I saw in the mansion.

Dark and grotesque monsters were eerily revealing their presence.

“……”

It would be nice if he would say something. Kane is just slowly observing us.

Unlike when he exuded killing intent in the reception room, telling us not to reveal this place.

He was grasping the situation rationally and keeping his composure.

After a while, Kane let out a sigh and looked at the girl, saying.

“…Lirin, I was surprised when you suddenly disappeared.”

“Father…”

“It would have been a big problem if these people were black mages who concealed their identities and came after you. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like that.”

“…Hiccup.”

“Could you wait just a little? Around tomorrow morning, I will let you meet your older sister directly.”

“Yes.”

“…Take the child to her room.”

At that moment, next to Kane, not monsters but two humans emerged from a torn space.

It is clear how they appeared here.

Just like Noah did before, they were hiding within a hidden space inside the dungeon.

The two immediately held the girl, Lirin, and left.

As the sound of crying disappeared, only silence flowed in the hallway.

Filled with tension.

The first to act was Kane.

He slightly bowed his head towards Noah.

“…Frankly, I didn’t expect the Apostle-nim to come here. So, please forgive the delay in my judgment. As you know, ‘we’ have many enemies.”

“……”

“In fact, it’s an absurd coincidence. That among the few benefactors are adventurers, and two Apostles of the current era. That’s why we were also wary, thinking it might be a trap.”

Kane’s eyes narrowed momentarily.

“Perhaps the Main God guided this…”

The status window gave no answer.

“…Who exactly are you people? And that child who looks exactly like me…”

*Clap!!*

As Kane lightly clapped his hands, the monsters behind him completely vanished somewhere.

“More importantly, the night air is cool, would you like to take a walk?”

*

The large garden in front of the mansion where we first arrived.

However, the atmosphere was different from earlier.

It was the same in that it was late at night and dark, but a violet light was slightly swirling in every part of the garden.

Looking roughly, they were small insect-type monsters.

Thanks to the ethereal light created by monsters like fireflies.

The garden was incredibly beautiful.

“Normally, people might think of black mages as gloomy, strange, and cruel, but sometimes there are decent people among them.”

Kane slowly walked ahead through the garden.

We followed behind him, keeping a little distance.

Amidst the silence, Noah opened her mouth first.

“How did you find that child earlier? You people would never step forward.”

“Of course, that is correct. Our goal as those who escaped is to quietly do research and spend the rest of our lives.”

“Then…”

“It’s a whim… Just a light whim.”

Kane, who had been walking, suddenly stopped and turned back towards us.

Specifically, towards me.

“By the way, do you know how the [Apostle of the Evil God] was made?”

“I don’t know.”

“Unlike the Apostles until now, both of the current two Apostles summoned souls from different worlds. Do you know how difficult that is, how many conditions it depends on, how much luck is needed?”

Frankly, something is coming to mind.

Noah, who hides her past as much as possible, and.

The girl who looks exactly like her.

Isn’t it too obvious a story?

“Was the Apostle of the Evil God ‘created’?”

“That’s right. Of course, that’s not the end of it. Even more conditions were needed for the Evil God to personally possess that body. I remember. The time when the first ‘vessel’ was crafted. It was over 100 years ago.”

They created humans artificially?

Exactly the kind of thing black mages and evil gods would do.

“…I had somewhat guessed. When I was first possessed, it was full of kids who looked similar to me. Of course, they were all [discarded] immediately.”

Noah began to speak nonchalantly.

As expected, she was possessed by the body of an artificial human created by black mages.

However, she was scared of being pulled into an unfamiliar world, afraid of the black mages, and because she herself was too weak, she had been living as they wished.

“They forced me to take strange medicine and something similar to brainwashing. If I hadn’t escaped…”

Perhaps she would have literally become the [Apostle of the Evil God] and been hostile to me.

Then, whether she died by my hand, or became the vessel for the evil god.

Only a tragic outcome would have awaited her.

“But, one of the kids who was [discarded] is alive? How on earth did that happen?”

“As I said earlier, it was a simple whim.”

As if he would absolutely not reveal his true intentions, Kane abruptly cut off the conversation and began walking through the garden again.

We followed behind him.

“…There was something I wanted to ask. To you people who helped me escape.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you leave the mainstream black mages and form a new faction? Those of you… the moderate black mages.”

As Noah used the term “moderates,” Kane momentarily smiled.

“Moderates… perhaps it is a fitting term for nameless betrayers.”

“……”

“While crafting vessels, I happened to obtain the glorious opportunity to meet the Evil God-nim. And I also learned what kind of world the Evil God-nim desired.”

Kane said, stroking the grass in the garden.

“The answer simply did not please me.”

*

The night, which felt longer than expected, passed.

The awakened Lirin went to find Noah.

Although not connected by blood, there was no one to stop the meeting of the two sisters.

Of course, Erika’s party or the client wouldn’t know such things.

So, we just made excuses, saying Noah was tired and asleep.

We were served a lavish meal.

It was a bit strange to eat a meal that outside nobles would eat in a dungeon.

But since the dungeon is like home to black mages, perhaps this is naturally the case? I also had such a thought.

After finishing the meal and being served tea.

The client stood up from his seat.

“Well, since my business is done, I will be heading back now.”

“Are you returning already?”

“I’ve already heard the story from grandfather, too. Staying long would be impolite.”

However, upon hearing the client’s words, Erika burst out laughing and said.

“Well, you’re just tired from the long journey.”

“That’s… true. It seems I’m not cut out to be an adventurer like grandfather after all.”

He was an incredibly honest person.

“We’ve decided to leave with the client. You guys… something is going on, right?”

No matter how we tried to hide it, they already seemed to know everything.

We nodded our heads.

Then the client approached us and handed over a pouch.

“This is the commission fee we agreed upon. Thank you for everything. I hope we meet again someday.”

“You worked hard.”

Just then, Kane clapped his hands.

“Still, I can give a gift to guests who came to my mansion. Follow those children!”

“Wow, you’re generous?”

“To be precise, it’s a bribe. Meaning, to keep the existence of this space hidden.”

“We get it, our lips are sealed. Besides, Noah found it, so it’s not like we could find it again anyway.”

Just like that, the client and Erika’s party naturally left, taking plenty of spoils.

Soon after, Noah and Lirin returned.

However, unlike the tear-streaked Lirin, Noah hadn’t shed a single tear.

Perhaps Lirin had memories with Noah.

But perhaps Noah, into whom a soul from another world entered, didn’t have such memories.

“I’ve left food for the two of you. Please come in.”

Kane respectfully guided Noah and Lirin to the dining room.

He immediately returned to us.

Kane, who was a very polite adult in front of Noah.

However, standing before us, he turned into a slightly arrogant noble, just like when we first met him.

He looked us over and his expression suddenly hardened.

“By the way, you people, aren’t you too weak? How could you even protect our Apostle-nim like that? Just looking at it, it seems our Apostle-nim did everything on the 7th floor.”

At those words, the party members except for me flinched.

Of course, that’s natural. They were feeling somewhat powerless after entering the 7th floor.

“…Was your name Ivan?”

“Yes.”

“Are all Apostles of the Main God originally that foolish? Why do you rely on affection rather than strong allies?”

“That is…”

“Well, perhaps that’s why you are loved and recognized by everyone. Of course, I have no interest in such emotions, so it doesn’t matter.”

Everyone was flustered by the sudden change in attitude.

Roughly, it felt like a potential son-in-law brought by a daughter being tested because the father didn’t like him?

No, Noah and Lirin aren’t your adopted daughters either.

“Tsk, tsk. Just looking at you, you’ll only waste time on the 6th floor. That won’t do. You lack efficiency. Black mages, if nothing else, prioritize efficiency well. I will give you an opportunity.”

What on earth is he trying to say?

While waiting.

“No. Just get stronger, ready to die.”

“…Pardon?”

With Kane’s sudden declaration, the dungeon began to change.

When I came to my senses, we were already.

In an empty field with nothing in it.

“Where are we?”

“What happened?”

Fortunately, we are adventurers, so we always carry weapons.

We quickly armed ourselves and scanned our surroundings.

But nothing was visible.

But then, the space tore open, and someone appeared.

“…Twins?”

Two short girls appeared.

However, they couldn’t be underestimated because.

Most of their bodies were monsters.

Like Kane.

Meaning, those two were also black mages.

“Nice to meet you!!! Useless adventurers!!”

“Why do we have to make someone like this strong?!”

“It’s Kane-nim’s order!!”

Just by their speech, it was clear they were black mages.

However, it felt awkward to launch a preemptive strike, so we waited quietly, but.

“Then, stage 1. Begin!!”

The twin sisters opened a subspace and summoned something.

The summoned object was.

“…Diamond Gemstone Soldier?!”

Among Gemstone Soldiers, it was the Diamond, rumored to be strong.

“Then survive well!!!”

Saying that, they disappeared into the subspace.

Simultaneously, the Gemstone Soldiers discovered this place.

*Ding!!*

『Combat Start. Draw 4 cards.』

『Energy 5/5』

『Joker Card – Draw 1 designated card additionally on the first turn.』

Shuffle shuffle. The cards being drawn.

At least this situation doesn’t seem to be an illusion.

Grrrrooaarrr!!!!

The Gemstone Soldiers ran from afar, letting out grotesque voices.

The party members quickly began to take formation as they saw that sight.

“Prepare for combat!!!”

First, before figuring out what’s happening.

We have to deal with the Gemstone Soldiers in front.