Chapter 138 : Chapter 138

Chapter 138 : World of Recurrence (4)

Bea looked at me, Keldric, and Everchen in turn.

After exchanging gazes for a not-so-short period, Bea let out a deep sigh.

“Sir Polarin, Sir Keldric, and Sir Everchen.”

I quietly nodded, and Keldric smiled.

And Everchen's eyes went wide. He seemed subtly surprised.

It was likely because Bea didn't seem puzzled at all, even though his appearance, no, his gender, had completely changed.

“I'm really Everchen.”

“I know. Your eyes are exactly as I remember them.”

Everchen looked completely moved.

If I knew he'd be this happy, I would have said it too.

‘No. Only Bea could say something like that.’

Even though Bea wasn't confident in mingling with humans, she followed me out into a world teeming with them.

When we first met, Bea couldn't even make eye contact with me, let alone speak.

But now, she remembered her companions' gazes better than anyone and was giving them her trust.

“After I entered the portal to receive the third trial, there were only Lizardfolk by my side.”

Bea began her story in a low voice.

“They treated me as a companion, but truthfully, I couldn't open my heart to them. I just wandered around looking for Sir Polarin, Sir Keldric, and Sir Everchen.”

“…….”

“But you were nowhere to be seen. Even when I caught and questioned the humans who were at war with the Lizardfolk, they didn't know your whereabouts.”

The rest of the companions listened to Bea's story, holding their breath.

“Still, for a day, two days, a week. I kept looking for you all. And eventually, I came to think that I wouldn't be able to find you here.”

Many things were omitted from Bea's story.

But I could fully imagine what a difficult time she must have had.

“So I changed my mind. I thought that although we came through the same portal, we were each undergoing our own trials. I thought that if I helped the Lizardfolk win the war, I would be able to meet you all again.”

“So…….”

“Yes, so I fought like crazy. I clearly remember when Sir Keldric appeared and revealed his identity. But I believed that too was a trial from Lady Hike.”

The reason why Bea had been screaming as if in a frenzy and fighting against the humans was revealed.

“I think I may have shot an arrow at Sir Keldric as well. I'm sorry.”

“No, it's okay. You really went through a lot.”

Keldric, who had been attacked by Bea, stepped forward to comfort her.

Everchen had had his eyes closed and Bea, despite having her eyes open, hadn't been able to grasp the situation.

The third Dragon's Trial was literally a ‘trial’. Everyone was suffering, so this suffering had to be ended quickly.

“As you know, this is the trial that Lord Adjak experienced. Lord Adjak lost a companion here, but we will be different.”

Keldric, who had already been briefed by me on the future plans, made an effort to lighten the somber mood.

“We all have to go into the forest together!”

“Yes, from now on, let's not get separated and move together.”

Bea also nodded.

I had raised my rank by two stages through the previous two trials.

I was also looking forward to what I could gain after finishing this trial.

But it seemed I had already gained one thing for certain.

How precious my companions were. I clearly realized how amazing they were.

I didn't want to let my companions suffer anymore.

“We won't try to stop the war anymore. We'll take the ancient artifact so that the very reason for the war disappears.”

As I was once again making my resolve, Bea, who didn't know the plan, asked a question.

“What do we have to do when we enter the forest?”

“There will be ghosts. A lot of them, too.”

“Ghosts, you say?”

“Don't worry too much. They probably won't be the kind of ghosts that don't die no matter how many times you cut them.”

“In that case…….”

“Yes, we just have to go into the forest, get rid of all the ghosts, and pass the final gateway.”

I said confidently.

There were four 8th-Rank beings.

In this age of war, there was nothing we had to fear.

“That, we're good at.”

Bea also showed confidence.

I smiled and replied to Bea.

“That's right. If you're all ready, let's go in now. Let's wipe them all out and get out of here.”

Bea gripped Elinger and took the lead, entering the forest.

***

“Knight on a phantom horse, up ahead!”

Keldric shouted.

He had abandoned the sword that didn't fit his hand well and was fighting enemies with his fists.

No matter how much Pieto had used a sword, it seemed Keldric was much more comfortable with his fists.

The knight on the phantom horse galloped vigorously even in the densely wooded forest.

It wasn't avoiding the trees, but passing right through them as it charged.

Just then, Bea drew her bowstring taut.

A light arrow was knocked on Elinger, and when Bea released her hand, the arrow shot out like lightning.

Swiiiiish!

Bea's arrow also split the trees blocking its path and pierced straight through the ghost knight's chest.

– Kuaaaaargh! You human bastards!

The knight let out a terrible, ghastly shriek and dissipated.

An unfamiliar sound stabbed at my ears, and the ghostly energy emanating from the ghosts, empowered by the shriek, covered the area.

But no matter how chilling the ghastly shriek was, it couldn't freeze us.

We annihilated the swarming ghosts as if to vent our anger.

No matter if they were ghosts, they couldn't overcome the intent imbued in my sword, Keldric's fists, and Bea's arrows.

Everchen, who would normally be holding a shield and reliably protecting us, stayed in the rear.

Instead, he protected us in a different way, using holy spells whenever needed.

Unlike me or Keldric, who were following our original bodies' fighting styles, Everchen was adapting flexibly.

“Shield of Light.”

As Everchen chanted, a large curtain of light descended and crushed a ghost.

It was more like attacking with a wall of light than a shield, so Keldric let out a chuckle.

But Keldric didn't have a moment to spare either.

He burst an incoming ghost with his fist.

Poof!

An explosion erupted every time Keldric threw a punch.

It was a slightly different sound from when he punched with his own body.

“The body is different, so the sound is different too. This is interesting.”

“Focus!”

Poof! Poof!

Keldric's fists landed a flurry of blows on the face of a woman trying to swallow him with her unimaginably large mouth.

“Of course I'm focused! Anyway, this body is also really amazing. Is this the power of Lord Adjak's companion?”

Keldric constantly spewed admiration for his newfound realization and Pieto's body.

He didn't stop talking while doing so, and in fact, there was a reason for it.

Constantly talking was Keldric's own way of easing his tension.

I could understand how Keldric felt.

I was also extremely tense.

There were just too many enemies to face.

Even a terrible Monster Wave probably wouldn't have as many ghosts as we were facing now.

“……There's really no end to them.”

Everchen, who had been constantly casting holy spells, also spoke as if he were fed up.

I knew there were many ghosts.

The ancient artifact sleeping in the forest had gathered the souls of those who had died nearby and turned them all into ghosts.

There would have been not a few who died through the war, but even those who died of old age nearby were all forcibly sealed in this forest.

Beings who couldn't die even if they wanted to.

They might not have been evil spirits from the beginning, but they had degenerated into evil spirits after passing through an immeasurable amount of time.

“Tower of Divinity.”

Everchen summoned a circular space made of holy power.

We decided to catch our breath inside it.

Everyone was breathing heavily.

We had entered the forest full of spirit, but as the battle dragged on for hours, our strength began to wane.

– Come out……. Play with us……. Let's play……. for a long, long time…….

– Kihihihihihik!

As the ghosts slammed their heads into the Tower of Divinity and threatened us, Nihel bared its teeth and growled.

But even at that sight, the ghosts were not afraid.

“Phew, those guys with weapons are too tenacious.”

Keldric clicked his tongue.

Among the numerous ghosts, there were some particularly vicious ones: the armed ghosts.

Unlike those who were semi-forcibly turned into ghosts, they were those who had come looking for the ancient artifact but failed to cross the mountain of ghosts and became ghosts themselves.

They pressed us fiercely, wanting us to share their fate.

“Polarin, how much time is left until the time the commander promised?”

“About half a day left. We should only need to push through for another two or three hours.”

The time we had originally promised was three days.

Of those, we spent one day resting at the village hall, so the schedule was to fight for a full two days.

So far, everyone had held on well without getting hurt, but there was no guarantee it would stay that way.

Clap clap clap clap!

I clapped my hands to encourage my companions.

“Let's break through. We can't stay like this forever.”

“……Yeah. We have to go! Everyone, cheer up!”

Keldric tried his best to act cheerful, but he too was clearly exhausted.

“For the remaining time, I will fight alone. Please save your strength until we go to the final gateway.”

“No. I can still shoot arrows.”

“I'm fine too!”

“I also have holy power left.”

I knew they wouldn't back down easily.

But I spoke firmly.

“That strength, please save it and use it in the final battle.”

I wasn't being reckless.

Fortunately, I had the Dragon Heart and my mana reserves were greater than all the others combined.

“Sir Everchen.”

“I trust you. Then… I will open the gate.”

Keldric, Bea, and Everchen stood back-to-back, forming a formation where they protected each other.

Nihel also stood before them, glaring at the ghosts.

Wooooong.

The Tower of Divinity disappeared, and the numerous ghosts that had swarmed the vicinity rushed in all at once.

Pzzzzzzzt──!

Bundles of lightning erupted from my body, searing the surroundings.

I used [Thunderbolt], a wide-area Tune that Adjak possessed.

[Thunderbolt] not only shot out lightning to attack in all directions but also temporarily increased the user's physical speed.

I weaved through the swarming ghosts, wreaking havoc, and wherever I passed, ghosts were annihilated.

– Thank…….

Some ghosts who had wished for true rest even expressed their gratitude to me.

In that way, I mobilized all my abilities and slowly moved forward.

After fighting alone for several more hours, we were able to reach the center of the forest.

We had come this far with great difficulty, but no one could cheer.

“…….”

In the middle of the forest, a red monument, glowing a blood-red color, was floating in the air.

And from that monument, a demonic aura, incomparably stronger than what had been emanating from the ghosts until now, was pouring out.

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