“Let’s go through the wall.” “…What?” “There’s no time. Anyway, it’s a maze up ahead. Just like the path we’ve taken so far.”
I drew my sword again. I touched the cave wall with my palm. Fortunately, it’s soft here. Instead, did they create a barrier with magic like the rock?
“I’ll make the path.” “What..? Is that even possible? The magic formula is different at every turn? High-level defense magic…” “It’s possible.”
It’s a shame for the Hero Church bastards, but it doesn’t work on me.
If it were the same magic, it might be different. I can’t even coat my blade with mana. That’s why my sword is so chipped.
“Hold your breath.”
I immediately used Vacuum Slash in the direction ahead. With a booming sound, several layers of rock crumbled.
“…What is this, His Majesty the Emperor… No, it’s Vacuum Slash…?”
As if someone had detonated a bomb, with a ‘bang,’ the maze blocking the path turned to dust, and a long path opened up for us to move forward.
“…Chirp.”
Nex’s face turned white. Even the sparrow was trembling as it looked at me. Why are they acting like this? There’s no point in learning Drake Style if I can’t use this.
It wouldn’t even reach the Demon King at this level.
“You should have used this earlier if you had it, junior..”
“It lacks durability. I thought about carrying a spare sword to use this, but it gets worn down together by the wind pressure.”
I wish I had the sword I used in the game in the past, I wonder if it exists here.
“…How does Drake use it then?” “It’s a sword made from a dragon’s tooth, would it be the same as a mass-produced one?”
Honestly, at times like this, I felt a little envious of Master. Give me exclusive hidden pieces or cheat items too. Or even a holy sword… Oh right, my job isn’t Hero.
“You can go ahead.” “Okay.”
The wall crumbled with a rumbling sound, revealing a wide space. Wind blew in, ventilating the narrow passage.
“This seems to be the right path, junior.” “Let’s hurry.”
Unlike the darkness before, there was lighting, and we could even see the exit with light.
But something was strange. With every step forward, an intense sensation stung my nose.
“Ugh, what is this smell..” “Corpses rotting… Ha, these damn bastards.”
As we walked inside, a stench wafted over. The smell of rotting flesh. The lingering scent of blood. All of this meant one thing.
A place like an arena surrounded by iron bars appeared.
“…”
Nex and I were speechless at the sight before us.
Two piles of people in white clothes, split and piled on either side, formed a mountain.
Hands and feet protruded from the pile, intertwined and forming a single mass.
“Crazy..” “I expected it, but it’s so absurd.”
Blood was still flowing beneath them, gradually soaking the ground. Just by moving our feet, we stepped on and smeared bloodstains.
Looking at the arena-like place, we moved forward. Nex, looking flustered, spoke to me.
“…Corpses? But why are the Hero Church members dead among themselves? It’s not like a human sacrifice or something..?” “They stabbed each other to death.”
I knew this happened because it appeared in the sequel, but here, they aren’t skeletons.
My face contorted. I felt suffocated. My head spun.
“It’s a common punishment method.” “Then this.. wasn’t voluntary?” “This is what happens if you’re branded a heretic.”
I actually saw it a lot in the game. There was no need for long explanations when describing the villains.
“It’s a mistake, like calling the Hero a Demon King.”
Hero Church? But why does a Demon King appear? The moment you ask that, it shows you this scene as a flashback.
<Black Heart>.. I saw it properly there. They called it foreshadowing or something.
Anyway, he’s a guy who really likes cruel things. They just glossed over it in the original.
There were also many sad stories when you were involved with those guys and cleared quests. I let out a sigh at the complicated feeling.
“They’re driven into the arena… a dogfight where they kill each other.” “…And they’re happy to do that? Why on earth?”
They’re truly crazy. Instead of resurrecting the dead, bringing wealth and honor, telling the future, or granting immense power….
“They don’t let you join unless you do that.” A cult that forces thorough faith in return.
Nex, perhaps curious about my extensive knowledge of the Hero Church, started to ask me questions.
“…I heard rumors that they resurrect the dead. But is that true?” “It’s a different person who only looks the same on the outside.” “What about the future?” “I’d recommend it if you want to go crazy.” “…I’ll pass, junior.”
In reality, it’s all an illusion. It’s the power of the Demon King, not the Hero. There’s no way it would be applied correctly in the world.
“They’re just trash bastards..” “Now you understand why the Ten Swords don’t move.” “They really were vicious bastards. So if they were distracted by this even for a moment…” “They’re strong enough to attack the academy while the heroes are away.”
The purple-haired man nodded slightly.
He said he understood why the Ten Swords refused even though he ran around asking them to save Char.
“It was right for just the two of us to come.” “I feel like I’m going to throw up.. How are you okay, junior?” “I’ve also lived a rough life.”
Even Nex, a descendant of the Ten Greats, lost his composure and was retching.
My decision not to bring Kainel and Ariel was right. They would have had a hard time staying sane.
Looking at it this way, calling the Crown Prince as a companion was also a misjudgment.
‘Demon King, come to think of it, they’re all alive here.’
A happy ending in this kind of world, it seems my wish was a bit excessive.
“You’ve also suffered from the Hero Church.” “…Something similar.”
It’s not a lie. Like the experience of being surrounded by a wolf pack after possessing this body, I’ve been on the brink of death,
And I’ve seen countless bad endings where the Nameless Saintess dies even after catching the Demon King of Truth. My heart felt as heavy as lead.
“Let’s go quickly, senior Charitines will be ahead.” “She’s alive, right..?” “She probably is. That’s the kind of person she is.”
I bit my lower lip. She’s a person who clings to the number of lives. She doesn’t kill people without calculating.
Rather, she’s thorough in the opposite way. The status window still hasn’t reacted. If it had failed, a notification would have popped up immediately.
“Chirp.. Chirp..!”
Nex’s phoenix was flapping its wings anxiously. At this point, I wonder if it has information from its master. The spirit was showing an excessive reaction.
“…Is the Demon King ahead?” “No, if that were the case, we wouldn’t have even discovered this place.” “…What?” “At most, it would be an apostle.”
It’s an undeniable fact. He’s probably stationed his subordinates and is watching from afar.
I lifted my head and looked ahead. I saw a red-painted door.
That’s probably the boss room.
If my memory is correct, the traces of the boss remaining in the dungeon were of an apostle, not a Demon King.
He’s cautious, so he doesn’t usually step out in person.
“…”
Why do I think that when there could be other Demon Kings?
Among the Ten Greats, Laplace, the librarian who manages the library often called the Akashic Records.
The ability to disable both the Sage who sees the unconfirmed future,
‘The Demon King of Omniscience.’
The final boss of the original <Knight Heart>.
It could only be him.
“We can save her. This means it’s still outside the Head’s calculations.” “…I believe you, junior Licht.”