Chapter 46 : Chapter 46

Chapter 46: A Twisted Fate (4)

A Hellmorph suddenly burst out from behind the door.

Normally, I should have been hit squarely and sent flying into a wall.

Kagagak!

However, the massive fangs were blocked by Artier's sword, merely trembling.

‘The scene from the cutscene played out exactly as it was!’

“Artier!”

Only then did the party raise their weapons.

But Artier’s reaction was faster.

As he twisted his sword and swung it wide, the Hellmorph’s head was severed from its body.

Thud!

The creature's massive body collapsed, and no other sound was heard.

“W-what is this?”

Gerard seemed unable to get a grip on himself.

“Why is a Hellmorph here?”

“Where in the world did it come from?”

Bow looked around near the window.

Even he, who was always composed, seemed a bit shocked this time.

“Why is it so quiet outside when a creature like this has appeared inside the castle?”

“We can find out the answers starting now.”

Artier said as he flicked his sword clean.

At the same time, a familiar message appeared before his eyes.

[A quest has been generated.]

You have successfully completed the mission to escort the Holy Mage Ropin and brought him to the lord’s castle.

However, while you were waiting, a Hell Soldier attacked you.

It seems you have fallen into a trap.

To survive, fleeing could also be the right choice.

Although you did not receive a proper reward, it is not more precious than your life.

Upon escaping the lord’s castle: Experience Points, Survival

Upon rescuing Ropin: 2 Silver coins per person, a significant increase in affinity with Ropin, additional Experience Points

Artier skimmed the quest window and let out a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, this was a manageable quest.

“Is there anyone who can contact Ropin?”

“……It’s no use. The signal is going through, but he’s not picking up.”

“Let’s go find Ropin.”

Giving up on Ropin here was out of the question.

The quest window was earnestly trying to persuade him, but Artier already knew well that it was the whisper of a devil.

“But, will it be okay?”

Bow said, pulling an arrow from his quiver.

“Soldiers are already rushing in from all around.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of numerous footsteps began to reach Artier’s ears as well.

The soldiers, upon entering, turned pale at the sight of the Hellmorph’s corpse and then pointed their spears at Artier, shouting.

“How dare you summon a demonic beast inside the castle! Arrest those humans!”

“……Haa.”

It felt like things were getting twisted right from the start.

Instead of answering, Artier twirled his sword.

“For now, let’s break through and hide. They are not demonic beasts, so please be careful not to kill them.”

“Got it.”

“What a pain in the ass.”

Jeina let out a smirk and pulled out her axe.

Contrary to her words, her tone sounded quite expectant.

“Then shall I test out my new axe!”

With those words, she charged toward the soldiers.

***

“What is the meaning of this, Viscount Hol!”

Ropin tried to twist his whole body.

But the magic chains enveloping him wouldn't break.

“Calm yourself, Sir Ropin. I have no intention of harming you.”

The red-eared elf standing before him merely straightened the wrinkles on his clothes and smiled faintly.

“I certainly made a proposal, that I wished for you to use your holy magic. Did you not accept?”

“Holy magic is the act of rewriting the providence of the stars. Did I not say it cannot be used in a way that harms the stars!”

“What are you talking about? This wouldn’t be something that harms the stars, would it?”

“You say it’s not?”

Ropin scoffed, even while bound.

Then, with the most fearsome expression he had ever shown, he bellowed.

“How can asking me to revive a monster that hates all living things be beneficial to the stars!”

Before Ropin lay the corpse of a giant monster.

White scales, massive horns soaring toward the sky, and the form of a giant reptile suggested only one thing.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am clearly asking you to revive this ‘dragon.’ I cannot understand why a dragon that protects all creation would become a monster that hates all living things.”

“…….”

Ropin stared at it for a moment.

Its visible form and appearance were certainly similar to the dragons he knew of.

There were no visible wounds, to the point that anyone seeing it would think it was sleeping, not dead.

“Are you saying this is a real dragon?”

“Indeed. And it’s a Silver Dragon, known to command water.”

“To think that a dragon, which has hidden itself for 1,000 years, is here……. Not only is it hard to believe the Viscount’s words, but if it truly is a dragon, I cannot revive it.”

Ropin immediately drew the line.

“Holy magic is a technique that transfers my lifespan to another target.”

All living beings in this world shortened their own lifespans in the process of recovering from injuries.

Holy magic was a self-sacrificial technique where the caster bore that shortened lifespan instead.

“However, a human’s lifespan does not hold the same value for a large creature. Even if I were to consume all of my remaining life, it might not even be worth a few months.”

At Ropin’s words, the viscount chuckled and nodded.

“I see. So what’s the point?”

“……What did you say?”

“You will be contributing, even if it’s just for a few months, to reviving a great being. If you revive a spirit creature from the Age of Myths, that great achievement will be recorded for eternity.”

Hehehe.

The viscount’s crazed laughter enveloped the entire cavern.

“Then we will obtain the power of the great dragon and re-establish the glory of the past!”

“Foolish man, do you think this star will tolerate power gained through such a sacrifice?”

“What do I care about the nauseating doctrines of humans.”

The viscount signaled to the elves standing nearby.

“What is important to us is the preservation of the World Tree, and that alone.”

Thud!

As they began to chant in an unknown language, Ropin could feel an unusual energy boiling up from his chest.

“What!”

Ropin was startled as a golden energy began to rise around him and looked at the viscount.

This was the energy that appeared when he used his holy magic.

“If you are unwilling, then there’s no choice. We will have to forcibly transfer your lifespan from our side.”

“How can an elf use the holy magic of the Rata faith!”

“Why are you so surprised? Did you not say that the foundation of holy magic is the power bestowed by the stars?”

The viscount clicked his tongue and looked down at Ropin with a displeased gaze.

“This is the problem with humans. Such a foolish and ignorant belief that the stars belong to them.”

“…….”

“Do you understand now? We have been chosen by the stars. And now, humans, you will have to learn to let go of what you have.”

Woooong!

A golden magic circle began to form beneath Ropin’s feet.

The moment the slowly forming clockwise magic circle was complete, Ropin would be forced to use his holy magic against his will.

Clang!

However, when the magic circle was about halfway complete, the magic chains restraining Ropin shattered into pieces.

The viscount, looking slightly surprised, watched Ropin raise his staff with his arms crossed.

“Impressive, to break the magic chains made by elves so easily. A Holy Mage indeed.”

“There is something I must point out first.”

As Ropin struck the ground with his staff with a thwack!, the completing magic circle also dispersed.

“It is a great misunderstanding to think that a being granted holy magic acts as a proxy for the will of the stars.”

The reason Ropin was surprised was because the elves were using holy magic in the manner of the Rata faith, not because they possessed holy magic itself.

“I suppose so. Though I doubt humans were the same when they negotiated with other races.”

“…….”

“So, what will you do now? We know you well. A mage close to a Grand Magus and at the same time a priest of the Rata faith. But according to your doctrine, you have not learned any attack magic, have you?”

Rustle.

Ropin looked around at the sound he heard nearby.

At some point, more than twenty elf mages had surrounded him.

“This is the deepest part of the lord’s castle. Do you think you can break through this encirclement and escape?”

No sooner had the viscount finished speaking than a fierce wind began to blow around them.

It was a phenomenon that occurred when all the mages began to cast magic simultaneously.

‘This is bad. Artier’s party is in danger too.’

Even in this situation, Ropin was more worried about Artier’s party, who had been unfairly embroiled in this incident, than his own safety.

They were grateful people who had helped him and escorted him safely here.

Although they acted as if they had business here, he thought there was no reason for mere mercenaries to come to a city of another race.

‘I’ve incurred a great debt, so it’s only right to repay it.’

Having made his decision, Ropin raised his staff.

“I will show you. Why my title is Holy Mage. And how a half-baked mage has survived until now.”

Thump!

When he slammed his staff down, the ground began to shake as if a bomb had exploded.

More than half of the elves fell over in the phenomenon that seemed like an earthquake.

“Capture him. Bind him so he cannot resist.”

However, the viscount, who was standing perfectly fine, turned with an indifferent expression and began to exit the room.

“And transfer the life force, just like last time.”

“Viscount Hol!”

Thud!

Despite Ropin’s shout, the viscount did not stop and disappeared out the door.

Simultaneously, the magic chains cast by the mages shot toward Ropin.

“Haste.”

Boom!

Ropin cast an acceleration spell on himself and dodged the chains.

His expression hardened as he saw the ground where the chains had touched become completely parched.

‘Restrict Chain… isn’t the only unit in Gigas Hall where all mages have learned such an advanced skill?’

That magic was a spell that summoned chains to bind a target.

The moment the target was touched by the chains, their mana would be absorbed by the caster and their whole body would be restrained as if paralyzed.

In particular, due to its mana-absorbing property, it had the characteristic of piercing through defensive magic made of pure mana, like a Shield.

“Like last time… Just how long have you been doing this.”

But there was something else that sparked a greater fury in Ropin.

“How could elves, who claim to love life, become so corrupt!!”

“…….”

“For guardians who are supposed to protect the well-being of the World Tree to aid in a plan to harm others here, how are you any different from the fallen humans!”

“For centuries, we have had to deal with humans.”

An elf mage opened his mouth.

“To deal with the corrupt, we too had to give up many things.”

“Then what makes you any different from us?”

“We never wanted to be different. It was the humans who distinguished and separated us, who speak, breathe, and live just the same.”

‘……!’

“We have endured countless times, and now we will endure no more. Now, we will distinguish the humans.”

Fwoosh!

As soon as the elf’s words ended, the chains once again flew toward Ropin.

The attack, surrounding him from all sides, seemed impossible to dodge.

“If that is your answer.”

Ropin once again slammed his staff on the ground.

Fwoooosh!

Then, a golden protective barrier spread out in all directions, repelling all the chains.

“Then I will prove that it is wrong.”

“A Divine Shield… You won’t be able to do anything alone, what can you possibly do?”

“Why do you think I can do nothing?”

Thump.

As soon as Ropin finished speaking, one of the elf mages suddenly staggered and collapsed.

“What?!”

The mages, flustered, shot all sorts of magic at Ropin.

But the invincible protective barrier allowed no magic to harm Ropin.

“What in the world did you do!”

“You said you didn’t learn any attack magic!”

“Heok!”

Thud!

Ropin watched with a calm expression as the elves fell one by one.

“That’s right, that is not magic. It is merely a sleep poison.”

When he had shaken the ground earlier, Ropin had already scattered the paralysis poison he had in his possession everywhere.

As time passed and the poison evaporated, the area was filling up with sleeping gas.

As their desperate screams began to diminish, Ropin quietly closed his eyes and whispered softly.

“May the providence of the stars be with you, may you save yourselves with the mercy to forgive me.”

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