Translator: Marctempest
Editor/Proofreader: TempWane
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Chapter 78: To the Landfill (5)
There were many rulers who dreamed of conquering the landfill over the long years.
From wise kings who ushered in golden ages, to conquering monarchs who unified great nations, and even legendary heroes and high priests who slew dozens of grand magical beasts.
The honor of erasing humanity’s greatest taboo was enticing enough, and the challenges to achieve it spanned thousands of years.
However, there were no cases of success among them.
All challenges ended in failure, leaving only scars behind.
Humans, as advanced life forms, learned from these failures.
Mentions of the abyss and calamities gradually diminished, and for nearly 300 years, no one dared to challenge the landfill.
──But today.
A new gust swept through that fortress-like wasteland.
“Waahhhhh──!”
Under the fluttering banner of the Arundel Empire, a meticulously selected force of thousands advanced.
They were the first challengers in three hundred years, carrying grand aspirations as they marched forward.
At the forefront stood the Empire’s Crown Prince, his royal guard, and a renowned swordmaster of the Grypheon family.
“Finally, we’ve arrived,” Artan said.
He was clad in the resplendent armor of spirits.
The swordmaster shared a brief observation.
“Yes, it’s rather oppressively humid here.”
“It’s fortunate the climate matches the records in the ancient texts. If it were any different, we might have faced great misfortune.”
“Do not let your guard down. This is the landfill where common sense doesn’t apply. Anything could happen.”
Exchanging words with Harold, Artan reflected.
The resolution passed in the royal council. With determination driving their movement, the campaign had progressed smoothly so far.
As the proposer of the expedition and out of his own volition, Artan volunteered for the vanguard.
“Of course, I know.”
The expressions on their faces were intensely serious.
It wasn’t just the two of them—every soldier of the Imperial Army was the same. This place stirred something primal within humanity’s core.
“As expected of the abyss. A foul aura pervades every corner.”
“It’s only natural, given the countless lives buried here.”
The Burial Grounds’ land was barren, with patches of dark red miasma spreading throughout. Resentful spirits writhed, and in the distance, a purple toxin wafted upward.
Even Harold, who had crossed many perilous thresholds, furrowed his brow.
“I’ve never seen a place as dangerous as this in my life.”
Artan agreed with his sentiment.
Not even the abyss of the Far East, where his life had been on the line, compared to this.
Although the rampaging beasts they had encountered posed no threat to their army, the true trial lay ahead.
“…But the real ordeal starts now.”
Swallowing hard, Artan steeled himself.
It was then that Hiloze, the vice-commander, approached.
“Your Highness!”
As the leader of the royal guard, even in the heat of this wartime situation, his gaze was unwavering.
He reported.
“The reinforcements from the Holy Nation have arrived!”
“…!”
The Emperor’s personal letters had been sent to nations around the world.
The most vital ally had arrived without delay.
Artan and Harold brightened.
“Is that so…!”
“They’ve come at the perfect time. As expected of the Holy Nation.”
It was genuinely joyful news.
Nodding, Hiloze continued calmly.
“The representative of the Holy Nation’s Liberation Army is a man named Targal, leading the Radiant Knights.”
“Targal?”
“He is the captain of the Radiant Knights. The Holy Nation has also sent other purifying forces, including the Holy Knights.”
The purification of resentment.
In this stifling abyss, it was an essential task.
Artan nodded deeply and said.
“I will meet with them. After that, we formally enter the landfill.”
*
After finishing my conversation with Bulizé, we left the capital immediately.
It was an unexpected meeting, but thanks to it, we had quickly gained valuable information.
The situation was unfolding more urgently than anticipated.
“Artan and the Imperial Army have already departed.”
They couldn’t have arrived at the landfill yet.
Determined to speed up, I spoke.
“Mishra. Head west. Increase our speed.”
[Even faster…? L-Leave it to me!]
The flight accelerated as if a gear had shifted.
This speed was satisfactory.
As we soared beneath the blue sky, Chandrafail struck up a conversation.
“Hey, Quellière.”
“What is it?”
Perhaps I had grown used to it; his ominous voice no longer unnerved me.
His characteristically low tone continued.
“That woman you spoke with earlier. The one with green hair.”
“Yeah. Do you have an interest in her?”
“Don’t be absurd. I found something curious about what she said.”
I joked, but only a cold rebuttal came back.
Such a boring fellow.
“What’s the question?”
I spoke curtly.
The Black Knight’s tone and intonation remained flat.
“There’s mention of someone named Artan.”
“So what?”
“It was implied he’s connected to you. Is he that remarkable? The Crown Prince of the Empire?”
Remarkable, if one were to say so, yes.
What he’s doing now was significant, and if alive, he was destined to achieve even more.
But that was just in general terms; he wasn’t someone the Black Knight would respect.
“That depends on the person. Artan is just someone I knew as a child.”
“As a child? You mean your childhood?”
“No, his. I helped him once. That’s how he ended up crawling all the way to the Snowfield.”
Still, this was an unusual question from Chandrafail.
Thinking it wasn’t a bad sign, I gave a bit more of an explanation. The Black Knight tilted his head in curiosity.
“The Snowfield? Seems he’s quite a strong human.”
“His potential is high, but for now, he’s mediocre. He collapsed at the entrance.”
However, that glimmer of interest quickly vanished.
His voice turned cold, as though he had lost all interest.
“Humph. I see. A worthless fool who relies only on status despite his feeble strength.”
“······”
A sharp critique.
That wasn’t entirely true.
The rest of this group was simply exceptional. Even at present, Artan wasn’t particularly weak, and with his vast potential, he was bound to grow further.
“Why are you concerned about someone like that?”
“I’m not. Besides, his status is one of his weapons.”
With that authority, he had managed to push bold initiatives.
In a world full of corrupt politicians, someone like him was useful.
This was my genuine belief.
It wasn’t that I was defending him because he’d ever been helpful to me.
“······Anyway.”
I redirected my gaze forward.
Cutting through the wind, we were soaring across the wide open skies. At this pace, we should arrive soon.
Our next destination was finally that landfill.
······.
Magical Domains exist on the continent but do not share the same rules.
This was true for the Snowfield of the Far East and the landfill of the Far West. Just as the Snowfield remained persistently cold, the landfill was perpetually hot and stifling.
That’s how we knew we had arrived. Despite it being winter, an oppressive heat enveloped us.
“···It’s hot.”
The intense heat was evident even from hundreds of meters in the air.
I was the first to notice.
As the Snow Maiden, I was particularly sensitive to environments opposing my innate attribute.
“Are you okay? You’re not feeling unwell, are you?”
Nell and Dewade expressed their concern.
“Lady Quellière and scorching heat are incompatible······ Please issue your orders. This humble Dewade will do anything.”
“I’m fine. It’s nothing serious.”
Their concern was appreciated, but it wasn’t severe.
While uncomfortable, the Snow Maiden wasn’t particularly weak to heat.
Direct exposure, however, could be dangerous.
“I managed the cold by circulating blood, but······ how should you handle the heat?”
“It’s not that hot, so don’t worry.”
I responded to Nell’s concern.
Compared to the Snowfield, it was an environment humans could live in.
Of course, that was only in terms of climate. The additional factors here were much more problematic.
“It’s chaotic.”
Chandrafail sat cross-legged on Mishra’s back.
With his arms folded, he observed the area with an unnecessarily elegant posture.
Whooooom!
In the distance, a black tornado swept across the wasteland.
A magical domain where divine power and resentment intertwined.
A place where no anomaly was abnormal.
The Black Knight’s gaze darkened.
“This is the Burial Grounds······ the birthplace of the Black Calamity.”
Perhaps because he had already lost to it once.
Feeling a tingle, he seemed to be igniting his fighting spirit.
As expected, only extraordinary companions had gathered. Not one among them showed fear, even in this situation.
Except for one.
“Ugh··· ah······.”
Paile, her mouth covered.
She looked around at the malice and strange phenomena, horrified.
It wasn’t a sight suitable for a young girl.
“This feels strange······ And there are peculiar people wandering around······.”
“Those are the dead.”
“What?!”
She became even more alarmed.
I placed my hand on her small head.
And quietly, as if to reassure her, I stroked her hair.
“It’s okay.”
“S-Sister······?”
“There’s no problem at all.”
Whether it was due to my words of comfort or not, Paile soon calmed down.
I let out a soft sigh and turned my head.
“······.”
Suddenly, I felt stinging gazes.
From Chandrafail and Dewade, whose eyes were hidden under their helmets, to Nell.
Everyone was glancing back and forth between my hand and the girl’s head.
“Why. What.”
“···Oh? No, it’s nothing······.”
Nell stammered, and the others quickly turned their heads back.
I tilted my head and gestured.
Anyway, it was time to descend.
“Let’s go down now.”
[Hm? But isn’t it safer to stay airborne? The ground must be dangerous.]
Mishra raised a reasonable question.
She wasn’t wrong, but the creators of this place had anticipated such loopholes.
To prevent exploits, they had implemented their own measures.
“The landfill is a place where common sense doesn’t apply. Being in the air isn’t necessarily safe.”
[······I see. What a truly dreadful place.]
“Yes. It might even be more dangerous up here.”
[Understood.]
Quickly grasping the situation, Mishra complied.
The ground grew closer as we rapidly descended.
Through the stifling air, our feet soon touched the earth.
A barren land.
The very air entering my lungs felt tainted and unpleasant.
“I don’t want to stay here long. It’s truly a cradle of disaster.”
“I agree. To think I’d ever see the day we’d share an opinion.”
My companions voiced their complaints one by one.
Unrelenting strange weather swirled around us.
As I braced against the sandstorm, I scanned our surroundings.
“······The Imperial Army must have arrived by now.”
Though I didn’t know which direction they came from, we would eventually meet if we kept moving forward.
After all, both sides were heading to the same destination.
“Ah, the dust! Why is there so much sand flying around? It’s already unbearably hot.”
“Ughhh······ there’s a massive scorpion crawling over there······. Do you think it’s poisonous?”
The horrors of the abyss that I’d only seen through screens were far worse in person.
As if it were some kind of initiation, my companions chimed in with remarks.
For some reason, I found it amusing and chuckled softly.
─────!
A thunderous noise erupted.
Immediately after, countless footsteps followed.
The source of the cacophony was clear—it was aimed at us.
“······!”
Uwooooo──!
Groaaaaa──!
Had they sensed the presence of a living being, or was it the sight of the Dragon Lord?
It was an army of the dead.
A frenzied onslaught of rotting corpses.
“What the hell is this!”
“Defiled beings who couldn’t return to the soil······!”
My companions all took up combat stances.
Meanwhile, I remained composed, as I had anticipated this.
With a calm and seemingly carefree expression befitting the Snow Maiden, I spoke.
“It seems they want an initiation.”
At a glance, I didn’t spot any ghouls among them.
They were just weak, ordinary undead.
In that case, there was no problem.
“Deal with them.”
I murmured coldly, raising my hand.
A frigid power began to surge.
Could Noah, who built the ark after receiving divine revelation, have felt this way?
*
The Holy Nation moved as though resolute in their commitment to humanity’s cause.
Deploying both their Holy Knights and Radiant Knights, the pride of Astar, along with skilled priestly battalions spoke volumes.
It showed that their determination to erase humanity’s disgrace was stronger than any other nation’s.
“Scary, isn’t it~ Scary, isn’t it~”
The original sin that had shackled humanity throughout its long history.
To save themselves from it, they had named their force the “Liberation Army.”
The group was a mix of elites, such as priests, and adventurers from lower classes.
“So, this is the abyss···! Indeed, it feels like an abyss~”
“···I agree. I’ve never been to a place that feels so unsettling, even just breathing.”
For now, everyone seemed to transcend the usual limits of their status.
Among them were the chief priest Lucia and the gold-ranked adventurer Sigina, who had developed a certain camaraderie.
Sigina murmured to herself, and Lucia coolly agreed.
“It’s clear why this place has such a notorious reputation! I used to wonder if I should explore it for treasure, but I’m glad I didn’t!”
“Oh, I almost didn’t get to meet you then.”
“Exactly, exactly~ Still, I feel a little safer with the Imperial Army here!”
Sigina walked on, maintaining her lively smile.
The Liberation Army, now joined with the Imperial Army, advanced from their rear.
This separation of formations was meant to prevent confusion in the chain of command.
It was also meant to ensure the purification process could be maintained for as long as possible.
Just like the light Lucia was scattering now.
Whooosh─!
“······This isn’t easy. The corruption here is far stronger than during the Undead Uprising.”
In the landfill, filled with malice and resentment, even just standing still drained one’s stamina and vitality.
Thus, it was essential to counteract this with divine power that opposed the resentment.
Flash─!
The priests and clergy forces also worked hard to spread their sacred energy.
They rotated systematically to conserve their strength.
After all, this wasn’t a task that would end in a short time.
“Lucia is certainly talented······.”
As expected of the High Priestess, her performance stood out.
Sigina expressed pure admiration, though it didn’t reach Lucia, who was focused.
Soon, her thoughts and gaze shifted.
“I wonder if Quellière is here too~?”
A woman who had been on her mind more often recently.
It would’ve been wonderful if she were here.
“Just making eye contact with her feels cold~ It’s way too hot here······.”
She muttered half-jokingly, her words containing a hint of sincerity.
Then she pondered the Imperial Army, the Crown Prince leading them, and the current situation······.
“Still, it feels smoother than expected─”
She uttered a jinx-worthy remark.
As if waiting for her to say it, a whistle immediately echoed.
Bwooooo─!
The signal heralded the appearance of the enemy.
From all directions, monsters resembling wild beasts began to pour in.
“Wh-what··· what is this······?!”
It was inevitable; these creatures wouldn’t leave such a large group of humans alone.
The hardened warriors raised their swords, their faces grim.
“W-What are these things?!”
Even the somewhat unreliable Sigina awkwardly raised her rapier.