episode_0097

30. The Cursed Eldorando. (2)

A skeleton knight who called himself El Rey.

The hammer he was holding glowed golden and hit the floor, creating a crack that blinded our eyes. When we opened our eyes again, we saw,

It was a ‘city of gold’ made of dazzling gold.

Perhaps, considering that one of his self-described titles was ‘The Ruler of El Dorado’, this place must be ‘El Dorado, the City of Gold. ‘

” What the…? Charlotte, are you okay? ”

Hyunseok approached me while looking around, and since his legs were still not moving properly due to the effects of the battle that had just occurred, I was able to look around while being held by him.

We couldn’t tell where El Rey had disappeared to, but we couldn’t feel his presence nearby, so he must have been somewhere unknown to us.

” I’m fine. More than that, I’m sorry. Like you said, I may have overdone it a bit. Hehe… ”

” If you knew, don’t do it next time. ”

” Yeah. ”

As he hugged her and stroked her head, she felt like her tired body and mind were being healed, so she buried her head in his arms, and Yeonseo saw her.

” Oh, I shouldn’t be talking. Do you know where I am? ”

” Maybe… El Dorado, as El Rey said? Other than that, I have no idea. ”

” The golden city of El Dorado… you mean that legendary city? ”

” Yeah. But the atmosphere is a little strange. It feels like… death has swept over… ”

Hyunseok, who was listening to my conversation with Yeonseo, was impressed by my impressions of the city we are currently in.

” It felt like death had… swept over me… When I think about the way he introduced himself… ”

” Yeah. I don’t know why this golden city became a city of death… but I think it has something to do with El Rey’s power. ”

” The power to control the boundary between life and death… you know? ”

Yeonseo, who inherited some of the knowledge that Arkrich had, seemed to have recognized his power, but it seemed that she did not know the details.

” To be exact… rather than dealing with boundaries, should I say ‘the thoughts that flow out at the moment of death. ‘? ”

” The thoughts that flow out at the moment of death? Isn’t it the power that deals with the boundary between life and death? ”

” Yeah. The demons you two fought while you were resting were wearing the same golden chains as that person.

At first, he was beheaded right away, but as the black waves flowing from the tower spread out, the shackles began to glow and he was resurrected.

Of course, it would have been a simple solution to just break the chains, but now that I think about it… I wonder if the golden chains weren’t supposed to revive him and absorb his power even if he died. ”

Yeonseo thought about what I said for a moment, then seemed to realize something and asked me.

” Then, the black wavelength you mentioned… can we consider it as El Rey’s ability? ”

” That’s right. He causes that wave to revive the beings connected to his chains.

I think you can think of it as an infinite force that absorbs the thoughts that flow out when they die, while also resurrecting them. ”

” That guy is really tricky. I guess I’ll have to take him down to get out of here, right? ”

” I guess so. Or… ”

As I continued to talk and looked at myself, Yeonseo tilted her head

” Why? ”

” By any chance, how is that ‘Sealing Stone’ now? ”

” Sealing stone? Wait a minute… Huh? ”

The sealing stone that Yeonseo took out of her pocket was glowing red.

As if… the blood of many people had come together in a very bright red color.

” Charlotte? What is this? ”

” Yeah, Hyunseok, what you’re thinking is probably right. It’s probably an item used for a gimmick… to find or weaken El Rey. Maybe not. ”

” Well, I guess it’s time to get moving… Are you feeling okay? ”

Yeonseo looked at my legs and asked with a worried expression and tone of voice.

Thanks to the divine power flowing out to me while I was held by Hyunseok, the shaking in my legs had decreased significantly, so I gave him a signal and came down.

” Yeah, it’s okay now. I have to finish up quickly and go back. ”

Luckily, there was only one path ahead of us, and the moment I was about to walk towards it, Hyunseok’s hand grabbed my arm.

” Before that… why are you in such a hurry? That’s not like your usual self. ”

At his words, which seemed to be accompanied by a worried expression and a question as to why I was in such a hurry, I…

” I’ll tell you later. Sorry. ”

” Phew, okay. Be sure to tell me later. Okay? ”

Hyunseok exhaled as if he knew I would reject him.

” Yeonseo, I’ll tell you too. Anyway… It’s not a story I have to hide. ”

” Well, I don’t care, but I’m curious anyway. ”

Yeonseo seemed to understand to some extent and treated me as usual.

If I ever meet those two again… Yeonseo and Hyeonseok will be there too… I can’t hide it.

Now, all I had to do was find out where El Rey was.

*****

Unlike the buildings made of gold, the road we were running on was a uniquely styled road made of marble.

As I drove along the road that was made of one, I was able to arrive at a building with a large spire.

The building, like the city, had magnificent walls made of gold and was studded with expensive-looking jewels.

But when you open the door and go in, you feel a cold chill and hear an ominous crying sound.

There were dead but undead people walking around in golden chains.

” Get both ready. ”

According to what I said, Yeonseo and Hyunseok were waiting for the guys to move using their abilities.

However, all we could hear was an ominous howl, and instead of walking towards us, they didn’t even make eye contact and just stared off in one direction.

What they looked for was a huge cauldron made of metal.

Inside was a sticky, black, mud-like liquid that was foaming.

” Yeonseo, can I have the sealing stone? ”

” Huh? Okay. Here. ”

As we picked up the red glowing sealing stone she had given us, the guys who had been walking around looking at the cauldron started looking at us.

” What… What? Why all of a sudden? ”

” Yeonseo, calm down. I don’t think there’s any hostility towards us yet. Charlotte? ”

I just threw the sealing stone into the pot and the two who saw it

” Hey! What are you doing?! ”

” Charlotte?! Why? ”

” Shh! Keep quiet and watch. ”

I don’t know about the two, but when I picked up the sealing stone, it started to ring, ring, ring, and I could see a black thread extending from it and heading towards the cauldron.

It was an action I took because I was able to know through one of the abilities I gained through Hauteclair… [the eye that perceives causality. ‘Glorious’].

As I threw the sealing stone into the pot, the guys’ eyes turned back to the pot, and at the same time, they approached the pot and a sound like they were reciting something was heard.

A golden ray of light began to emanate from the pot, and the sight was… truly wondrous.

After that, the guys brought me a sealing stone, and the sealing stone that had been glowing red until then was glowing gold.

” Did it turn gold? ”

Yeonseo took the sealing stone from my hand and started checking it, and Hyunseok watched her like that and observed the movements of the guys who were looking at me.

” Don’t worry. They just wanted… peace. ”

I took out Durandal and channeled divine power into it, turning it into a [Gluon] state. I broke the chains on those guys, no, the residents of El Dorado. They took on a calm expression and disappeared, turning into pure white ash.

” Were they… waiting for us? ”

Hyunseok asked me as he let their ashes drift outside, collected by the wind.

” Perhaps… they were waiting for someone to free them. Someone to free them from El Rey’s hands. ”

As we watched the ashes disappearing along with it, the building we were in began to shake and a door opened on the opposite side, revealing a golden palace.

” You two! Come here! Quickly! ”

Yeonseo, who had already approached the door, called out to me and Hyunseok, and when we approached, she showed us the sealing stone she had in her hand.

The sealing stone, which had turned golden, was drawing a red arrow toward the golden palace visible outside the door.

” You see? Then that’s where we’re headed! ”

Yeonseo’s hand pointing to the golden palace, and the sealing stone shining and ringing.

We ran straight to the golden palace.

Towards El Rey, which is waiting for us there.

*****

The moment I tried to ride Yeonseo’s summons, thinking that it would be slow if I continued running, I felt a cold air…

A legion of undead was rushing towards us from the Golden Palace. Knights riding on bone beasts.

The overwhelming number blocked the only bridge leading to the Golden Palace.

” That’s a huge number. ”

Hyunseok looking at the guys while whistling

” If you have time to say something like that, get ready! ”

Yeonseo, who was now able to use magic simultaneously by opening the Grimoire and taking out her summons, began to create spears of ice that filled the sky.

” I’ll quickly break their chains, so you two just kill them. Got it? ”

” Okay. I’ll say it again… If you overdo it this time… You get it? ”

” Ah… I got it! ”

” When you destroy everything, send us a signal. ”

” Okay. Then I’ll go first. ”

Holding the twin swords Hauteclair in both hands, I flew towards the legion that was quickly approaching us with a “whoosh!” sound.

He quickly broke the chains attached to the skeleton knight at the front, creating a red trail, and then he proceeded to break the chains of the guys right behind him, one by one.

So let’s break the chains of the legion ahead and arrive in front of the golden palace and quickly shoot out flames before the black waves come out.

With the attack of Yeonseo’s summoned beast [Cow’s Series], numerous ice spears began to fall from the sky.

The attacks that seemed to shine and shoot out to different places were controlled by Hyunseok with the wind and started to gather them by creating a wall of wind to prevent them from escaping while stabbing them into their bodies.

Just like that, the guys disappeared, turning into hedgehogs covered in ice, with their front and back blocked by the two attacks.

” Phew, now with this…? ”

Suddenly, I felt a killing sensation. At that moment! I quickly kicked my feet and a huge hammer struck me with a bang!

El Rey. Ruler of the cursed El Dorado. King of the Immortals.

He went on a parade.

*****

[ You’ve come this far. God’s… vessel. ]

” Why on earth did you call us here? ”

In response to my question, he lifted the hammer from the floor and took off the golden mask he was wearing on his face, revealing his half-rotted face.

[ I just wanted to find peace, as my advisor and close friend, Arch Rich, said. ]

” Peace…? After all that, the welcoming greetings from the beginning are incredibly intense. ”

[Enough with the small talk. It’s time to wrap things up now.]

” Phew, I guess I have to finish it. ”

El Rey slowly raised the hammer to his shoulder and slightly stepped back with his right foot. His appearance suggested that he was about to rush towards me quickly, and as if to prove my suspicions, he moved.

With a “squeak!” sound, a hammer was already swinging towards my left. It wasn’t hard to dodge, but if I just dodge, I’d be giving the guy the upper hand.

That’s why I created [Flamberg] with Hauteclair while unfolding [Atlantes] to block the guy’s hammer.

With a “Kwaang!” sound, my body was pushed and started rolling, but with the speed I gained from Hauteclair, I was quickly shot towards El Rey like an arrow.

He had already put the hammer away and was about to swing it again, but as if my speed was faster than I expected, I blocked the sword swinging at him with the long handle of the hammer.

[ Indeed… God’s vessels are different. ]

” How on earth do you know that? ”

[ The one who called me here told me that it was the body he would descend into. But it seems that plan has already gone awry. ]

” Even that…! ”

[ But he seemed to have anticipated this, and disappeared, saying that he would descend in a body he had prepared long ago. Along with the pitiful order for us to guard this place. ]

‘A body that has been prepared… for a long time…? ‘

” What does that mean?! ”

[ There is nothing more to tell you. Just think about whether you will die here in vain or give me peace! ]

” Huh!! ”

In a situation where we were in a state of clashing and the distance between us widened again, El Rey started to put strength into his hammer and watched me.

As I looked at that sight… I began to pour as much divine power into my body as possible.

A black wave flowing out of his body and heading towards the hammer, along with a pure white wave flowing out of my body and heading towards the haute clair.

As the waves spread out and meet in empty space, they begin to create a lightning-like phenomenon with a crackling sound.

‘To take that guy down…! ‘

As I pour the divine power into my body, I feel a strange sensation… I feel it.

A feeling that makes me feel like I am not the same as before… ‘another me’.

To be exact… it felt like the energy flowing out from Patruna and the other gods, beyond the vessel of a god who was no longer human.

At the same time, a black aura began to appear flowing out of the golden chains that El Rey was wearing.

It’s like… a feeling connecting the sealing stone and the cauldron.

[ Let’s end it here…! Conquistador…! Death is in my hands! ]

For some reason, the fact that he was saying those words now felt… insignificant.

Clearly… until just a moment ago, it was a speed that was difficult to keep up with even with the speed obtained with Hauteclair, but now it was different.

{ Whether it’s life or death, it’s not you who decides.}

Two legs moving slowly. And a great sword wrapped in a huge flame is swinging in my hand.

[ What… is this…?! ]

By the time he noticed, it was already… too late.

I passed him and swung my greatsword straight at him, cutting and burning the black waves that flowed from his chains and the black threads connected to his body in the path of my swing.

As if… he had {judged} him, he had sealed his fate.

After that, El Rey was engulfed in pure white flames and burned, and my memories were cut off there.

But this one thing… I could tell.

What I just used was… {Divinity}.