Chapter 99 : Chapter 99

Chapter 99: Attack (1)

“...You were right, Cornelius.”

Seeing the gate opening in the sky, Ansel spoke in a dumbfounded voice, and Cornelius also grabbed his head and nodded.

“The location and type of the gate, and even... the types of Demonic Beasts appearing are a match. Is that guy a prophet or something?”

“If you’re asking a question I want to ask myself, there’s no way I can give you an answer.”

He knew that the previously officially recognized ‘prophet’ had taken his own life, but perhaps he was still alive and well.

With that thought, Cornelius picked up a Demonic Beast that had spawned right next to him with his bare hands.

He wasn't just ‘strong’; he was a man with a body of iron that would be hard to find an equal for even if you searched the entire Climber world.

A leopard-like Demonic Beast, caught in his grasp, let out a ferocious roar.

Its struggling forepaws frantically clawed at his chest, but it only ended with his clerical robes being slightly torn. Instead, seeing some of its claws break upon hitting his body, the Demonic Beast’s eyes were tinged with bewilderment.

“Hmm.”

Cornelius, who had been seriously observing the Demonic Beast for a moment, exhaled through his nose and squeezed his hand.

The skull was crushed, and blood splattered everywhere. After confirming the black blood dripping down, Cornelius casually tossed the Demonic Beast's corpse aside.

“The form of the mana, the color of the blood... it’s all ‘contaminated’. It’s definitely the work of a demon.”

They, Mangrave, were the experts in determining whether a demon’s influence was involved in a gate or not.

And all the circumstances pointed to a demon having opened this gate.

Cornelius snorted and raised his hand.

Behind him, Mangrave's ‘Purifiers’, who had been prepared in advance, were on standby.

Perhaps Arklight’s Edgar had expected the gate’s Demonic Beasts to attack the entire city simultaneously, causing chaos and forcing Mangrave's forces to be dispersed.

But the city's evacuation was already complete. And all the humans who dedicated their entire day to hunting down demons were gathered in this vicinity.

All thanks to a certain man who had told them to prepare.

“...It seems you were also right that they're aiming for the Master of the Magic Tower. In that case...”

“We must accept everything he proposed. As promised beforehand.”

Cornelius sighed and looked up at the sky.

That audacious man hadn't just stopped at signing a partnership with Mangrave; he had pushed for various things to be approved if his words all turned out to be true.

And among those proposals was the mysterious request to ‘clear the sky’.

“...Hmm.”

It was a gate that had opened in the sky. Naturally, the most Demonic Beasts would pour out from there.

Yet, to say such a thing meant he must have had a plan.

What on earth had he arranged in advance this time?

“...A man with no openings. Truly.”

After this incident was over, there would be a mountain of things he absolutely had to hear.

Cornelius thought so and sighed.

***

“...I have something to confess.”

“This isn’t a good time to listen.”

“But could you please listen? It’s important.”

“Speak.”

“I have a fear of heights-!”

I see.

Evangeline nodded and looked down at Meirin, who was tucked under her arm.

“What does that have to do with the current situation?”

“Wouldn’t it be stranger if it didn’t?!”

Meirin shouted, with tears dangling from her eyes.

Considering they were at least 300 meters above the ground, it wasn't a very inappropriate situation to confess such a fact.

She had no idea how, but this woman was currently gliding through the air, using her own mana as propulsion.

“It’s not a particularly difficult task for a Knight of the Round Table. Isn’t controlling one’s body using mana propulsion a basic skill?”

“...I don't think so?”

As far as Meirin knew, there were no humans among even the top-tier Climbers who could fly freely in the sky.

It would only be possible if one possessed an absolute amount of mana to continuously emit enough to support their entire body, along with control that bordered on divine skill.

“But that man gave me instructions to stick with you. I am bound by contract, so I have no choice but to follow orders.”

“What on earth could Mr. Gyu-sik possibly want in this sky?!”

“Well, he said to ‘keep it clear’.”

“...Pardon?”

“He said he was going to use it, so keep it clear.”

“...”

He was talking about the sky where the gate had opened as if he were cleaning a street basketball court.

As Meirin was at a loss for words, Evangeline looked up at the sky and smirked.

“Well, I suppose I have to honor that request. Here they come.”

“What? Who’s coming?”

“What else would be coming in this situation? Demonic Beasts.”

Evangeline said, composing her breath.

Grotesquely twisted, giant bird-like Demonic Beasts. Having detected them, they were all flying this way at once.

‘The number is... about 30 individuals.’

Inside the Tower, it might be different, but in a state without the ‘System’s’ backup, this number was a bit overwhelming.

But, even so, she had no intention of turning her back and running. Even if it meant her own death.

The presence she felt in this vicinity was one she was familiar with.

Something that could never be forgotten by one who was taken in by the Guardian and had dedicated their all to the Round Table.

The scent of evil that exists beyond dimensions.

Her flame existed to burn it.

‘So, I must make use of Ms. Meirin.’

‘...What?’

Evangeline, who was about to ignite her flames, flinched for a moment at the voice that suddenly struck her mind.

‘Honestly, you’re nothing outside the Tower. You’d be lucky not to die, right?’

‘...Even if I were to die, I would never flee from battle. That is the resolve of a knight-’

‘-It's good that your resolve is firm. But what crime did Ms. Meirin commit to be with you? Stop talking nonsense and do as I say.’

A series of hateful voices replayed in her head.

Evangeline, sighing in displeasure, couldn't help but look down at Meirin. She was in the middle of panicking and flailing her arms and legs at the sight of the Demonic Beasts flying towards them.

Well, yes. Definitely.

It would be better to trust him once rather than fighting with her life on the line.

“Hey. Girl. Get a grip.”

“Y-yes, whaaat?!”

“Synchronize your mana with mine and... ‘refuel’ me. Can you do it?”

“...I don’t know what you mean, I don’t know! I don’t really know but Mr. Gyu-sik ordered this, right?!”

“That’s right.”

“Then I’ll try!”

Evangeline looked down at Meirin with a slightly surprised expression.

‘...Hmm.’

Just a moment ago, she was panicking and flailing as if she couldn’t even answer if asked her own name, but as soon as she heard Kim Gyu-sik's name, she regained some of her composure.

As if the situation improved as soon as that man's will was mixed in.

“...”

Come to think of it, it was always like that.

The people around that guy were all bickering with him, and some even seemed to have a bad relationship with him. But every single one of them held a firm trust in him.

That was the conclusion Evangeline had reached after observing the man and his surroundings until now.

‘A strange human. Truly.’

And as soon as she saw Meirin clumsily succeed in the ‘instruction’ given by Kim Gyu-sik, the surprise she felt moments ago couldn't help but amplify.

‘She did it?’

Her mana was of a nature placed under the administrative authority of the Tower’s ‘unique wavelength’… in other words, the [System].

Simply put, it meant that no one, except for the Guardian, could interfere with or interpret it.

Of course, she couldn't exercise authority like infiltrating her mana and reversing its flow or controlling it, but she had somehow managed to break through and replenish her absolute mana amount with ‘her own mana’.

That alone was a sensory ability that far surpassed human limits.

A nature of mana like water. Capable of seeping in anywhere.

‘...This girl.’

It seemed she possessed a tremendous potential beyond what was visible. If she were to be raised in the ‘right’ direction... she would likely grow to a level that even Evangeline would admire.

And that fact.

There was a human who had noticed it even before a Knight of the Round Table, who should be the most sensitive to mana in the world.

“...Honestly. A man with no end to him, no matter how much you dig.”

That must be why the Guardian was also interested in him.

Evangeline sighed and made up her mind.

Indeed, he was a human who needed to be observed a little more closely from the side.

To do that.

First, she had to be faithful to the task at hand.

“-How dare you filthy things raise your dirty paws at a knight sworn by the pledge. Scum.”

Towards the monstrous birds approaching with their crimson-dyed eyes glowing, the flames of purification burned pure white.

***

“Oh, it’s burning well.”

Looking up at the sky, it seemed the team of Evangeline and Ms. Meirin were cleaning up nicely according to the schedule I had set in advance.

Hmm. Hmm. A good phenomenon.

I'm going to borrow that whole area later, so I need to start clearing it out now.

-You vermiiiiin-!! How long are you going to keep running away-!

Thinking so, I looked at Edgar, who was chasing me from behind, screaming.

He had at least maintained a human form until a while ago, but now he had completely transformed into a monstrous appearance.

He was called the Star Gleam, the blond princeling, and all that. Wasn’t this too much?

-Die! Dieeeeee-!!

And next to me, who was running, something like a laser containing black mana flew and struck.

‘Whoops.’

Even a top-tier veteran has to be a little careful with things like that.

Those who get involved with demons in any way have all their energy ‘contaminated’ like that, and if you get hit by it, you transform into the same nature.

‘It's not a zombie virus, but still...’

Well, that's also why demons appear as the main enemies in the latter half of the game.

They monopolize all the dirtiest types of攻略法 (strategy/conquest methods) in the entire Conqueror.

And the harbinger of the demon forces you meet at this time is ‘Raven’.

A guy who sticks to a chuunibyou fashion of wearing a crow mask and a cloak.

-The sin of obstructing my great cause! Can only be atoned for by death-!

“...You’re so damn loud. It’s only been a minute. Can’t you believe me when I say I’ll kill you in 5 minutes?”

-Shut uuuuup-!

And that guy screaming his head off while chasing me from behind right now.

I was planning to send a message to that guy through this one.

Well.

It's the top-tier veteran's secret technique, showcase season 2.

I let out a dry laugh and quickened my pace.

Tip: Tap/click the left or right side of the screen to go to previous/next chapter.