episode_0282

Floor 20.

Central Square of the Dwarven Hold.

People stared blankly at Scar.

To block the hole created by the Outer God Changeling?

It’s a valid point.

But hearing it from a Barbarian felt strange.

“You’re getting cocky with just one artifact. Typical of mortals. Die.”

The Changeling’s voice echoed through the city once again.

The stopped slimes began to move again.

Six slimes charged from all directions.

Yu-shin Jeong stuck his broken greatsword into the ground.

Thump!!!

Yu-shin Jeong aimed his crossbow at the slime charging from the front.

Thwack!!!

The bolt flew, piercing the slime’s body and hitting its core.

Crack!!!

Yu-shin Jeong twisted his body to avoid the scattering slime fluid and reloaded the crossbow.

Click.

This time, slimes charged from front, back, left, and right.

Yu-shin Jeong raised his crossbow again.

Point-blank range. Accurate aiming was unnecessary.

Thwack!!! Thwack!!! Thwack!!! Thwack!!!

Yu-shin Jeong rapidly fired bolts, knocking down the slimes charging from all directions.

But there was no time to rest.

Dozens of slimes charged again.

Yu-shin Jeong threw the crossbow into the air, drew his greatsword, and swung it.

Cross slash.

From left to right.

From top to bottom.

Unceasingly spinning and slashing horizontally.

Screeeeeech!!!

The black iron greatsword shattered the slime’s core and tore its body apart.

Thud thud thud!!!

The slime’s acidic fluid splattered.

Sizzle!!!

The acidic liquid burned clothes and flesh, emitting steam.

Despite the immense pain, Yu-shin Jeong’s expression did not change.

However.

[Avenger]

The vengeful flames settled in Yu-shin Jeong’s eyes and began to burn blue.

Yu-shin Jeong slung the greatsword over his shoulder and raised one hand.

[Sacred Weapon]

A giant warhammer was created in Yu-shin Jeong’s hand.

“Hup!!!”

He stepped forward and slammed it down.

Swaaaaaaang!!!

The golden hammer burst the slime and slammed into the floor.

Once again.

[Sacred Weapon]

[Multiple Casting]

Spinning like a top, he created and threw three golden daggers.

Stab stab stab!!!

The daggers accurately shattered the core and embedded themselves.

The slimes trembled and melted away.

Yu-shin Jeong did not stop, holding the greatsword in one hand and swinging it.

Diagonal slash.

Swaaaaaaang!!!

The heavy greatsword burst the slime and shattered the floor.

Cyan stared at Yu-shin Jeong with wide eyes.

The Barbarian swept away the slimes like a storm.

Golden weapons flashed in his hand.

With the other hand, he swung the broken black iron greatsword, crushing the slimes.

A chill ran down her spine.

Until now.

She thought he was a warrior who relied on brute strength.

She was wrong.

A warrior of the type who sweeps away enemies based on overwhelming skill and swordsmanship.

Cyan’s eyes widened further. She glimpsed her own stance in Scar’s swordsmanship.

“What…?”

Could it be.

‘He’s imitating my swordsmanship?’

It was an absolutely difficult swordsmanship. It was the teaching of a knight commander who once reigned over the empire.

She had to devote herself to training day and night since she was young to barely be able to use it comfortably.

To put it to practical use in actual combat after only learning it over the shoulder.

Cyan was creeped out by Scar’s talent, but at the same time, she was proud.

‘Stop it.’

Cyan shook her head to come to her senses.

Scar’s new appearance made her heart race, but now was a battlefield where life and death crossed. She must not be careless.

There were other surprised people as well.

Luther and Sebastian.

“Heh.”

Luther stopped chanting and looked at the mixed-blood Barbarian.

As expected.

His hunch was correct.

When a crisis came, he finally revealed his true self.

A wolf who had thrown away the mask of a simple warrior.

Sebastian gaped and watched Yu-shin Jeong fight.

Putting aside his skill in fending off slimes.

‘Crazy! He’s so handsome.’

“Sebastian-nim, we need to go over there!!!”

Luther shouted.

Sebastian turned his head to look at Luther.

“How do we get over there?”

“Somehow!!!”

Sebastian looked around for Gibson. It was a matter to discuss with the guide first.

“Huh? I can’t see Gibson?”

He was a little ways away just a moment ago, but he disappeared somewhere.

Succubus Jevela, who was standing next to Luther, shrugged.

“That guide just ran over there, didn’t he?”

Sebastian and Luther’s heads turned simultaneously.

The place Jevela pointed to was.

The transfer stone.

Sebastian’s face immediately twisted.

“Ah, damn it. Did he abandon us and run away?! That crazy gambling addict! I knew it.”

Seti, who was wielding an axe in front, shouted.

“Sebastian!!! What are you doing!!! Use magic quickly!!!”

“Ah, I understand!”

Sebastian hastily took a stance at Seti’s fierce cry and looked at Luther.

“Priest, let’s watch for now.”

“Sebastian-nim? W-what on earth are you…?”

When Luther made a dumbfounded face, Jevela quickly linked arms with Luther.

“Priest, the Barbarian and the Warrior are fighting well, so do you really need to join in? I’m a rear guard, so a reliable priest needs to protect me.”

“P-please let go!!! People are watching!!!”

Luther was shocked and shook off Jevela’s arm.

“Heehee?”

Jevela made a nasal sound and stared at Luther.

“…”

Luther frowned and agonized, then barely opened his mouth.

“F-for now, I’ll watch. But if the Warrior’s condition is strange, I will run out immediately.”

“Yes. In my opinion, since that Barbarian is with the Warrior, I’m not too worried. Look. He’s fighting so well.”

* * *

Yu-shin Jeong circled the golden crown, crushing the swarm of slimes charging at him.

‘He’s useful.’

He engraved Cyan’s swordsmanship in his eyes and refined it little by little whenever he had time.

Imitating someone else’s swordsmanship was difficult, but Cyan’s swordsmanship was similar to that of Sword Master Ashur, his teacher.

However.

Cyan’s swordsmanship was not everything.

The basics built by his Sword Master teacher.

Practical combat skills honed in multiple life-threatening situations.

And.

Yu-shin Jeong’s arduous efforts combined to bloom into brilliant skill.

Yu-shin Jeong swept away the slimes, wielding the greatsword.

A sword dance as if possessed by a god.

It was as if one was watching a black wolf dancing alone in a blue wave.

Meanwhile.

Torgel, who was guarding the front line in the north, widened his eyes.

“T-that’s…!”

It was broken in half, but it was familiar.

How could he forget?

The greatsword of the next clan leader who went missing in the labyrinth.

Hellblade.

The relic that burned the magic power of the abyss began to dance in the hands of the mixed-blood Barbarian.

Torgel’s heart pounded.

Where on earth did he get that greatsword?

He wanted to rush out of the front line and grab Scar and ask him, but he held back.

If he retreated from here, the front line would collapse and not only the explorers but also the labyrinth city would be in danger.

‘Scar, please live.’

Torgel muttered inwardly with earnest wishes.

“Cyan!!!”

Scar’s cry rang in his ears. Cyan, who was wielding her sword, turned to look at Yu-shin Jeong.

“Go!!!”

It was a nonsensical word, but Cyan immediately understood and nodded.

As expected of Scar.

‘He means he trusts me to take care of this place.’

She finished talking with Scar when she sat on the bench.

The method to restore Ezdrass’ seal was.

To add the divine power of Lux Aeterna.

Cyan parted the blue slimes and headed for Ezdrass’ seal.

A huge pit was visible.

Cyan immediately threw herself into the pit and landed on the bottom.

The blue slime hordes did not follow into the pit.

Cyan stared at the bonfire as if possessed.

The flames were weaker than a few hours ago.

It was a critical moment, so she shouldn’t delay, but a strange emotion rose in her heart.

‘Beautiful.’

It was not just a typical bonfire.

The Seal of Saint Ezdrass.

Long ago, to imprison the evil rampant in the world.

Evidence and covenant of a story built by people and spirit gods working together.

Is this feeling Lux Aeterna’s?

Or is it her own heart?

It doesn’t matter.

Just as lovers resemble each other.

A believer was bound to resemble the character of God.

Cyan reached out her hand into the bonfire.

She could instinctively know.

To put her hand into the bonfire and pour out divine power.

At that time.

The Changeling’s voice flowed from the air.

“Kuhahahaha. It’s all a futile effort.”

“…”

Cyan remained silent and reached out her hand.

“Child blessed by Lux Aeterna. I swear on my divinity, if you use that power sleeping inside you, you will die on the spot.”

Cyan’s hand stopped in the air.

Death.

The Outer God spoke with his honor on the line.

It would not be a lie.

However.

She had been prepared for death for a long time.

Her body had always lived with the sword.

And when she received the divinity of Lux Aeterna and the title of Warrior, she was somewhat certain.

The worried and admiring gazes of her comrades.

His Highness the Crown Prince’s cold eyes.

She even heard the Emperor’s calm message in the audience chamber.

‘Protect the labyrinth city with your body and soul.’

She didn’t tell anyone about the meeting with the Emperor.

She didn’t want to worry her party members.

Looking back, it was a life without regrets.

However.

The mixed-blood Barbarian flashed through her mind.

She had fallen for him while getting a massage and had given him her virginity.

Even when he made lewd jokes, she didn’t hate him that much, and when she heard his hearty laughter, she smiled involuntarily.

‘It’s a shame.’

She wanted to hold hands with this man and walk the streets normally.

In the fall, she wanted to admire the golden wheat fields together.

If possible, she wanted to introduce him to her mother and her fellow knights.

If she were to be more greedy, she wanted to have two children and live quietly in the countryside.

Everything was a dream and a futile fantasy.

It was nothing more than a delusion.

‘Stop it.’

Cyan reached out her hand.

If she retreated from here, it would affect not only the labyrinth city but also the empire.

She didn’t want to see her precious people get hurt.

‘Can I live in a world without you?’

Impossible.

Cyan felt ambivalent emotions toward Lux Aeterna for the first time.

It was a short time, but she was happy to have met Scar, and she was grateful to have gained the power to protect him.

Conversely.

She resented the reality that she had to leave him behind.

Cyan put her hand into the brightly burning bonfire.

The seal will be restored.

She closed her eyes and murmured inwardly.

‘Eternal light of mankind, Lux Aeterna.’

Please brightly illuminate his path.

Cyan bit her lip tightly.

The enormous divine power that had been dwelling deep within her body surged out like wildfire and flowed into the bonfire.

Whoosh!!!

The light of the bonfire shone brightly.

Cyan clearly felt it. That her life force was also being taken away.

Her head was spinning.

Her body was losing strength.

Cyan slumped down, but she did not take her hand away.

‘It…it ends here.’

A tear ran down Cyan’s cheek.

At that moment.

Someone fell to the bottom of the pit.

Thud!!!

Cyan’s eyes widened.

“S…Scar?”

The Barbarian, who had landed on the floor, burned blue mana and snatched Cyan’s hand.

“Cyan, leave it to me.”

“T-that’s…!”

The Barbarian smiled and opened his mouth.

“For today only, I will become the black-haired warrior.”