episode_0176

I was able to roughly understand the situation through Ethan’s explanation, but to be honest, I was still dumbfounded.

However, in the midst of all this, one thing was certain.

The fact that Ethan and the others showed up at this very moment is a huge blessing for me.

“With your skills at this level, there’s no way you would make that dying expression… Are you trying to do something again?”

Ethan asked about the situation in a calm tone.

To him, I.

“… If this continues, Mary will no longer be human. So, I plan to use magic to enter Mary’s mind and wake her up.”

I briefly explained the situation.

“Hmm… It was something like that. Then again, it’s not that I don’t understand… … .”

Ethan’s gaze, trailing off as he spoke, moved towards Belude, who was standing next to me.

“But does that mean he has to go?”

Ethan asked Veluid in a gentle tone.

“It would be easier to talk if we could send someone other than that guy.”

The question was valid.

Until a little while ago, when it was just me and Veluid, there was no choice.

However, if the number of people has increased like this, the story may be different.

As Ethan said, if you can send someone other than yourself, the conversation becomes much easier.

Even a mountain of monsters or a religious leader are no match for me.

However, Veluid shook his head.

“Going into someone’s mind is a very dangerous and complicated thing. This is especially true if the mind of a person is running wild due to unknown energy. Anyone with decent mental strength may not even be able to enter and their spirit may collapse. Considering that, there is no better greeting than Wade. He has a stronger spirit than anyone else here, and he is probably closer to Miss Mary than anyone else here.”

At those words, I couldn’t help but nod my head.

Because there was nothing wrong with what Veluid said.

In general, the level of martial arts and magic and mental power are proportional.

In that respect, it is safe to say that I, who have stepped into the only realm on the current continent, have a stronger mental power than anyone else here.

The same goes for friendship.

Mary also spent quite a long time at the academy, so she must have developed some friendships with others.

Especially with guys like Alexis and Cedric over there, they followed Mary around all the time, so they must have become quite close.

However, when it comes to time spent together and intimacy, you probably can’t compare to me.

Me and Mary were like family for almost our entire lives.

“I don’t know if I have time, but right now, it’s urgent. We have no choice but to send the person with the highest potential.”

“… surely. If that’s the case, there’s no one more suitable than that guy.”

Ethan nodded as if he understood.

And then.

“Got it. Leave it to me.”

He said it indifferently.

“Here, me and these guys will do whatever we can, so you quickly save that girl.”

At those words, my eyes naturally turned to Ethan’s back.

Soon, I made eye contact with Rachel, who was looking this way.

“… Please leave it to me.”

She said that to me with eyes that were a little trembling, but yet showed a strong will.

My eyes stared at her in silence for a while, but soon they moved again.

The next person my eyes met was none other than Ira.

Ira looked into my eyes quietly for a while.

“… Please come back.”

Soon, he spoke in a calm voice.

Her voice and eyes were so strong that I couldn’t even remember the weak appearance of her that I once saw.

“You don’t have time, do you? Go quickly.”

As I felt various emotions in their eyes, I heard a familiar voice in my ear.

As I moved my gaze towards the direction from which the voice came, I made eye contact with a handsome man with a neat appearance.

“And, please make sure to save Miss Mary.”

Alexis spoke to me in a calm voice as always, but with eyes that showed concern for Mary that she could not hide.

“… Please.”

Next was Cedric.

With the same cold, hard face as usual.

Cedric gravely told me something I thought I would never hear from him.

“I don’t know much about you yet, but given the situation, I think I have no choice but to leave Miss Mary to you.”

“… Be sure to save Mary Bluenoa.”

Neither Chris nor Wilhelm.

Swallowing my anger and regret, I entrusted Mary to me.

“… … .”

Dangerous.

You could die.

Those words came up to my throat.

But in the end, I didn’t say those words out loud.

Because I needed their help to save Mary.

I look into their eyes and swallow my regret and gratitude toward them.

I made a promise.

He said he would definitely save Mary.

and.

“I’m ready.”

Finally, the time has come.

Paaaa─

A soft light emanated from Veluid’s hand, and the light soon gently enveloped me and Mary.

At the same time, I felt my mind drifting off somewhere.

“You can do it.”

Lastly, while listening to Veluid’s simple encouragement, I closed my eyes—

The next moment, I was standing in a space I had never seen before.

***

Wade’s movements stopped.

He was still standing on two legs, but his eyes were closed and he didn’t even move.

It was because he had lost his mind.

““… … .””

It was a time when the group felt various complex emotions as they watched the scene.

“This, an unexpected guest appears and creates a variable.”

The leader’s voice entered into the sentiment.

“If things had gone as they were, we would have seen Wade Heblon’s face filled with despair.”

As if regretful, the leader shook his head.

“Now that I think about it, the one who entrusted your opponent to me was Shadow. The fact that you arrived here safely… Does this mean that the child was harmed?”

“Oh, that guy?”

The person who answered that question was none other than Ethan.

“I kindly sent you to the other world.”

Saying that, Ethan grinned.

“As expected.”

The religious leader heard Ethan’s words.

“It’s unfortunate. He was a capable and loyal child.”

He muttered that with a calm face.

“… Is that the end?”

Ethan, who was watching the cult leader’s reaction, asked.

“Hmm?”

“No, I thought your reaction was quite calm when I heard that your subordinate died.”

“Ah, I was wondering what you were talking about.”

The leader nodded as if he understood.

Then, he opened his mouth again and spoke.

“The death of the shadow is sad and sad for me as well. Because Shadow was a capable and loyal child. The time I spent with that child was quite long.”

“You don’t seem like such a regretful person, do you?”

It wasn’t an unnecessary nitpick.

Although he expressed his regret in words, there was not the slightest hint of regret on the religious leader’s face.

The religious leader’s face was calm throughout, as if he had heard something insignificant.

The face did not look like that of a person who had just learned of the death of a close associate whom he cherished.

“It’s a misunderstanding. I am deeply regretful and regretful. but… … .”

The cult leader smiled.

“There’s no need to cry over a broken tool, right?”

“… Indeed, as the leader of an insane group, he is truly out of his mind.”

After hearing the leader’s answer, Ethan nodded as if he was satisfied.

“Hmm… By the way.”

The leader’s eyes scanned the crowd.

Ethan and the others, including Rachel, standing behind him.

“You look quite exhausted.”

It was as he said.

Ethan was the only one who was visibly injured, but the rest of the group didn’t look too good either.

Although he was trying to put on a resolute expression, his face revealed fatigue that could not be hidden.

In addition to dealing with multiple monsters for a long time, it was because he overexerted himself to defeat the shadow.

“I would like to praise your will to help your colleagues… Honestly, it seems hopeless in that state. It will just result in more people dying.”

The leader, who was shaking his head as he looked at the group in pity, then clapped his hands as if he remembered something.

“Ah, if the great cause is accomplished, all humans will die, so is it the same either way?”

Indeed, insignificantly, the religious leader discussed the destruction of mankind.

““… … .””

Seeing that sight, some of the group swallowed their saliva.

It was because I realized from his words and actions that the man in front of me, although speaking like a human, was closer to a monster than a human.

“Okay, let’s leave the small talk to this.”

The leader lazily raised one hand, as if he was not bothered at all by those gazes.

Then, he lightly snapped his fingers.

OK.

Crunch─

The monsters that were quietly watching the situation began to move, making unpleasant cries.

“It will fail anyway if you leave it alone… Still, it would be better not to let down your guard till the end.”

Amidst the turbulent monsters, the leader finally took a step forward.

Toward Wade, who is motionless with his eyes closed.

However, the steps soon stopped.

“Where are you going?”

Because Ethan blocked his path.

“Hmm… Are you my partner? Well, out of all the remaining people, you are the only one.”

The leader lowered his head as if he understood.

At this moment, when Wade is neutralized, the only people left who can deal with the cult leader are Belude and Ethan.

However, considering that there were a mountain of monsters filling the surrounding area, Veluid, who had strong firepower and destructive power, had to be in charge of the monsters.

Therefore, the cult leader’s natural opponent had no choice but to be Ethan.

“Ten Swords, Ethan Bertrand… … .”

The cult leader’s gaze glanced at Ethan again.

“The youngest man to become the Ten Swordsman. Did you say that in terms of talent, he surpasses even swordsmanship?”

The leader, who was looking at Ethan with interested eyes, quickly nodded his head.

“It wouldn’t be a bad way to kill time. At the same time, I am also taking revenge on the shadow. As the owner of the body, I can’t just ignore it.”

“You speak well without even thinking about it.”

“Oops, did you get caught?”

The cult leader laughed.

Ethan also smiled.

“I hope you don’t disappoint me. I hope it’s at least not boring. Veluid Demens was more boring than I thought.”

The words of a religious leader who clearly belittle him.

“I will return those words as they are.”

Ethan accepted without thinking.

““… … .””

Their gazes collided in the air.

Those eyes looked calm and unsuitable for the situation.

But in reality, that wasn’t the case.

It only looked like that on the outside, but behind it was a ferocity that seemed ready to explode at any moment.

Just like that, Ethan and the leader quietly looked at each other for a while.

Quang!

Finally, the battle began.