episode_0093

29. The Tower of Darkness and Archlich (2)

The hot air begins to warm up the cold palace.

The light purple ice that had been covering the ground until just now is melting away, wetting the soil but turning into steam due to the heat.

Durahan transformed into a black shape that would not be visible if it weren’t for the torch lighting up the surroundings.

The rippling mist around it and the steam rising from the ground create a strange atmosphere.

Taking off his armor and revealing his true form, Dullahan slowly stands up from his seat, oblivious to the suddenly changed surroundings, and creates a sword of black light from his hand.

The two eyes in the center of the black figure are watching us.

[ Indeed… was there… an apostle of the abominable god? ]

As the black light slowly extended from his hand and took the shape of a greatsword, black smoke spread out from around him, filling the surrounding area.

As he takes his stance and prepares to swing his greatsword, whirlwinds of holy fire swirl around him from all directions.

” Please try to block this too!!! ”

The whirlwind containing the Holy Spirit created by Hyunseok and the black fog created by Dullahan.

Their temperatures are polar opposites.

At the point where the two meet, the steam sparkling from the torch brightens the dark night.

When Dullahan saw the whirlwind approaching him, he swung his sword horizontally once.

A gust of black smoke, visible to the eye, clashes with the tornado.

A blade made of black smoke flew out with a ‘Sswaeaek!’ sound and stopped the movement of the whirlwind.

No, it only made them pause for a moment, but it was already a flame of divine power. The tornado that contained the ‘holy fire’ was absorbed without dealing any damage, and ended up growing in size.

[ Hoo… With this level of divine power… I’m not an apostle…!! ]

Before he could finish speaking, the whirlwinds that had been moving slowly in all directions began to move quickly due to Hyunseok’s clenched fist gesture.

[ Ugh!!! ]

A black figure that begins to burn like a holy fire while being cut by the rotating blades of wind.

I heard a ‘Keeeing! ‘ sound and looked over to see it trying to block part of it with its sword, but the black light sword soon began to crack and disappeared along with the Dullahan.

There was nothing left in that place.

Just the trajectories of the ground carved by the whirlwind and the marks made by the sword.

*****

” Phew, if it hadn’t been for Charlotte’s help… it definitely would’ve been hard. ”

Hyunseok speaks while holding my hand tightly, sweating profusely.

” It’s okay. Thanks to you, I was able to rest and watch you work hard? Good job! ”

” Haha… Well, it’s a little embarrassing to say that. ”

He scratched his head and looked at the place where Dullahan had been as if he felt regretful about something, and then he started to move slowly.

He looked around the place where the Dullahan had been for a moment, then took something out of the floor as if he had found it.

” That’s…? ”

” Hmm… Well? But since it’s something that Durahan had… Isn’t it something we need to conquer this tower? ”

What he had in his hand was a crystal made of black.

A crystal that exudes an ominous aura while also showing a hint of red.

I had no idea what on earth I could use it for.

” Let’s think about that later and quickly go to where Arkrich is. If you’re still angry… ”

Yeonseo, who was glaring at the place where the tower was with sharp eyes, moved first, and we also decided that there was nothing more to be gained from this place and followed her.

As we passed the palace and headed towards the tower, a ‘black’ tower erected on a hill was waiting for us.

I’ve only conquered the tower twice so far, but when I think about the towers I’ve seen along the way, this is the first time I’ve seen a tower that gives off such an ominous aura.

The existing tower at least… had a noble atmosphere and made me excited about exploring and conquering, but the tower right in front of me was different.

There was an aura of hatred emanating from something, and as I looked around, the degree of devastation in the tower varied.

Usually… it just shows the nature that is drying up like dry land, dried trees, or buildings that are rotted or cracked because they haven’t been maintained by humans…

There was ‘death’ around that tower.

There was no dry land, only burnt and rotted old trees with blackened mud. The buildings made by humans were crumbling here and there, turning to dust the moment you touched them.

” Originally… there was a tower like this…? ”

Overwhelmed by the sight, I couldn’t even look away and asked Hyunseok and Yeonseo.

Those two must have felt the same way as me, because they just stood there, staring at the tower.

How much time had passed? It had been about 5 minutes since I asked them both… before I heard back.

That voice… is not their voice…

[ This is… the true appearance of the tower. ]

We felt a bone-chilling chill behind us, beyond the chill that Durahan had been giving off.

I quickly pulled out my sword and swung it. With a ‘Ting! ‘ sound, the sword snapped out as if it was blocked by something.

” Huh! What the…!? ”

A robe with several gold patterns on a black background. However, it seemed as if a lot of time had passed and several parts were worn or had holes in them.

The bones visible through the hole tell us who he is.

Arch Rich. The guy who brainwashed Yeonseo and stole her away from us. The worst opponent for Yeonseo, who made her forget her feelings… her love…

He had been so quiet that the three of us didn’t even notice, so what on earth could he be thinking when he spoke to us from behind?

” The top’s… true form? ”

Yeonseo, who was shaking slightly, opened her mouth with difficulty and glared at him as she spoke.

[ Hoo, my bride. Are you so curious about that? ]

” Don’t make me laugh! Who’s the bride!!! ”

Just as he was about to quickly create a spear of ice and throw it, a skeletal hand snapped its fingers.

The ice spear disappeared as if there had been nothing there in the first place.

Yeonseo looked at him with a puzzled expression, and I quickly moved to block Yeonseo’s path, while Hyunseok created a blade of wind and threw it at Archrich.

Yes, the blade of wind that Hyunseok created clearly flew before our eyes.

The blade, which had a clear shape that was visible in the dark night, scattered and disappeared as soon as Archlich swung his hand again.

[ You have a short temper… Next time, your head will be blown off, so be careful. ]

Behind Arkrich, who was spouting those words, hundreds of magic circles made of black light were created.

Blocking our attacks while simultaneously creating numerous spells… It seems he is indeed a great magician from his past life.

I pushed Hyunseok and Yeonseo back and asked him.

” What does the true form of the tower have to do with you? ”

[ Apostle of the abominable god… No, now a vessel… ]

” Stop talking nonsense and answer me! ”

[There’s no particular relationship or anything. It was just Top who called me.]

” What does that mean? ”

[ This is the literal meaning. I am not someone who existed in this world in the first place… And you all probably already know that there are other worlds. ]

If I think about it, as he said, Hyunseok and I were already in a different world than this one… it was true.

That means… the tower is calling forth beings from another world.

Why on earth would he do such a thing? I couldn’t figure it out.

What I heard from Patruna and the other gods was that the tower was a device that reset the world. There is only one.

Still, does Archrich know information that I don’t?

” I know that. But I heard that the tower is just a device to reset the world… ”

[ If you want to hear information from me, I’ll tell you. ]

Yeonseo asked back, seeming shocked at his willingness to give her the information.

” Ha! You messed up a person’s head and now you’re going to tell them? Who would believe that! ”

[Believe it or not, that’s for you to decide. I just… want to rest.]

After saying those words, Archlich passed us by and headed towards the front of the tower. He then made a gesture to raise the floor, made a chair, and sat down. I was so shocked that I couldn’t say anything.

Why on earth is she suddenly acting like this? Just like Yeonseo said, she was the one who made her like that… When she says she wants to rest, it’s as if she’s lost her will to fight.

” Why are you suddenly talking like this? You, who tried to brainwash her into becoming a bride…”

When Hyunseok asked, swallowing his anger, to get more information through conversation, Arch Rich’s answer made us angry.

[ Haha. That’s just this body’s hobby. ]

” What…? Hobby…?!”

Kidnapping a girl who has a boyfriend and taking her as your bride… is your hobby…?

At those words I summoned Hauteclair, held him in both hands, and aimed the sword in my right hand at him, saying:

” Ark Richie… You… are a guy who shouldn’t exist…! ”

How dare he try to destroy and steal a couple who are filming a pure love story… He is a guy I can never forgive.

Hyunseok was also glaring with a distorted expression as if he was thinking about the time when I, not Yeonseo, became the target.

Yeonseo… I felt her body burning hot as she used cold air to the point where it didn’t need any explanation.