Part 2, Episode 144.
[Conditions have been met.]
[The event that was scheduled to occur is deleted, and the hidden route event occurs.]
[A sudden event has occurred.]
A sudden event in a hidden route.
This was a phrase I had seen before.
The phrase that appeared before the True Lantern Festival began when completing Gilberun and Angela’s quest in Fratel.
And the phrase I saw when I found the tomb where the Empire’s first prince was, and at several other moments.
‘… … !’
That is why Dohyeon could be certain.
The events in the hidden route are of a higher importance compared to other hidden pieces.
The events of the hidden routes that Dohyeon experienced were all incredibly grandiose.
And hidden events inevitably had conditions for occurrence, and
[Lucia’s left arm]
It was obvious what the conditions were in the current situation.
Because the moment I took Lucia’s left arm out of the inventory and showed it to Rupalo, an event occurred like a ghost.
Sure enough, the prediction hit the mark perfectly.
“-Th-that is… …! Could it be Lucia’s arm?
Rupalo was so flustered he was shocked and stammered.
I wasn’t even this surprised when I watched Rag Behemoth’s massive eye swallow the sky in real time.
Seeing those trembling eyes as if in disbelief, I suddenly get the feeling.
This is a huge opportunity.
I have a feeling that it will be an even more massive event than expected.
That is why Dohyeon waited calmly.
He stood still and gave Rupalo time to calm down and speak.
Is it thanks to such consideration?
Rupalo, who had regained his composure faster than expected, asked in his characteristic mysterious voice.
… … Did you say it appeared after destroying the magic stone?
It seemed unavoidable to sense a slight tremor in Hana’s voice.
As Dohyeon nodded, he let out a deep sigh.
“Phew… So that’s how it turned out. I knew she lost an arm in the final battle with the leader of the invaders, but… I never imagined she was using that arm as a medium to store up her power.”
True to its nature as a spirit that has lived for a long time, it instantly deduces the context from just a brief explanation.
That prediction sounded quite credible even to Dohyeon.
No, there was no other answer.
There was no reason for that leader to do so, unless he was a pervert with a twisted artistic spirit who felt pleasure hiding a severed arm inside a magic stone.
So they exploited our desire to protect the seal. To think that the more we struggled to safeguard it, the more we ended up aiding their plan… We’ve been completely used.
“…….”
“You steadily weakened the barrier by scattering remnants as bait so that we wouldn’t suspect anything. To make us focus on protecting the barrier… … .”
And that is not all.
Seeing how Rag Behemoth is boldly trying to reveal itself even after the magic stone was shattered, the magic stone Dohyeon destroyed is likely not the end.
There must be something that will inherit the power absorbed from that magic stone.
What a meticulous and dangerous person he is.
I could feel more guilt than anger from Rupalo as he marveled.
Why I didn’t doubt it.
Why I never once tried a change of perspective. Why I believed I was handling the situation well.
It feels like everything is his own fault.
-Phew… … .
Hana Rupalo is a spirit creature that has lived for hundreds of years.
His noble soul quickly calmed his heart, preventing him from even blaming himself to his heart’s content.
At one time, I was saddened by this, but now it was a relief.
I’m sorry. To think I’m spending time blaming myself in a situation like this. I’m short on time, so I’ll keep the explanation brief.
Because in an emergency like this, quick situational judgment is more important than anything else.
At Rupalo’s serious tone, Dohyeon and the others stopped their fuss and listened intently.
The original reason we guarded the seal to prevent it from being broken was to stop them from retrieving Behemoth’s Heart. Because Behemoth’s Heart could never be destroyed.
But now that the heart no longer holds any meaning.
There was absolutely no reason to go out of your way to leave Lucia sealed away.
The problem is that she is fatally injured and cannot wake up…
Rupalo’s gaze, trailing off, turned toward Lucia’s left arm floating in the air.
He, who looked somewhat nervous, continued speaking cautiously.
-If I have that arm… … maybe I don’t know.
I can’t be sure. Nothing might change, or there might be a trap they’ve hidden in his arm. He’s a meticulous man, after all.
Rupalo was asking.
Whether one can take risks amidst such uncertainty.
And Dohyeon’s answer was decided from the start.
It’s fine. Please send it.
High risk, high return.
Because that was the very path Dohyeon had walked.
An answer without a shred of hesitation. Seeing the resolute gaze that matched it, Rupalo slowly nodded.
…Thank you, my friend.
That was the end of it.
As Rupalo chanted an incantation in an unknown language, a massive barrier began to form beneath Dohyeon.
-Eek! W-what is this? This incredible density of mana!
-Lizariza!
Magic power comparable to that of a great sorcerer… no, if you look at the purity alone, it feels even greater than that.
“Hoho, is this the magical power of a spirit beast? It is mysterious.”
“Oh, I know. Even the effect is different.”
A massive magical power was swirling, enough to make not only the Guardians but even their comrades gasp in awe the moment they saw it.
It feels as if a typhoon made of pure, clean wind has taken over the range of a giant magic circle.
However, Dohyeon could not actually feel it.
Saaa-
Just like a typhoon tearing everything apart, yet its center is infinitely calm.
It feels like just a gentle breeze tickling my face.
What Hana Dohyeon focused on was not that sense of strangeness.
There is something.
At some point, I began to feel a spine-chillingly ominous energy beneath my feet.
The feeling of going crazy down to the last hair.
That moment, when an unsettling sensation, as if standing before an abyss, enveloped my entire body like mucus.
—!
Through that, a streak of energy as hot as the sun pierced the ground and went through Dohyeon.
At the same time, a flash of light enveloped my vision.
But that was only for a moment.
Ding-
Just as I felt the darkness behind my eyelids as if nothing had happened, a cheerful notification stimulated my ears.
Dohyeon, who slowly opened his eyes, paused.
“Am I the only one who was transported here…?”
A pitch-black space where it is hard to believe it was a forest just moments ago.
It wasn’t just because of the squishy and unsettling space, which felt like being inside a giant creature.
On the contrary, that didn’t resonate with me at all.
The moment I opened my eyes, I saw it.
Clatter
A blonde woman with her eyes closed, tied to a pillar.
Firmly compressed muscles that cannot be concealed even by a slender figure, and a domineering aura emanating even when standing still.
The moment I stared blankly at her extraordinary appearance.
[Encountered the Sealed Lucia Grandel.]
[Lucia’s left arm reacts.]
Lucia’s arm rose higher and flew toward her at high speed like iron drawn to a magnet.
It happened in an instant before I could even say “uh-uh.”
The moment the arm that had flown off landed under her empty left shoulder blade.
She opened her eyes.
Her eyes, which were so blue they felt like silver, reflected Dohyeon, and soon after, a cheerful notification rang out.
[The strongest Nymph Great Warrior of all time, ‘Lucia Grandel’, has awakened from a long slumber.]
[The hidden route event ‘Lucia’s Recognition’ occurs.]
[Player has encountered ‘Lucia Grandel’ for the first time.]
[It will be recorded in the Book of Adventures.]
[Changes will occur in the Adventure Tome rankings.]
“… … Admit it? If they woke up, did they get released from the seal? But they’re still bound for that.”
However, I did not have time to properly understand the message that was confusing my eyes.
Her lips, which had been staring at Dohyeon with a blank expression, parted, and a low voice flowed out.
-… … I can feel Rupalo’s jewel. Did you wake me up?
Cynical tone.
It was a voice that seemed to ask as if it were no big deal, but it was a voice that carried a sense of pressure that made the hairs on my back stand on end.
I feel like I have to answer.
However, Dohyeon did not answer.
To be precise, that couldn’t be done.
“-I feel something in my left arm… … You found my arm. Did I meet the leader of the intruders? No, if I had, he wouldn’t be making such a stupid face.
Seeing how strongly I can sense Rupalo’s presence, he must have sent me himself. ‘She’ seems fine for now… If it woke me up, has the disaster awakened?
She couldn’t tell if it was a guess or if she could feel everything, but she was grasping the situation on her own.
Even surprisingly accurately.
I guess I was right. Tsk, wasn’t sealing the heart enough? Then again, that cunning bastard wouldn’t have just sat there doing nothing.
“……you’re right.”
She, who had been clicking her tongue and grumbling, put aside her dissatisfaction for a moment at Dohyeon’s answer and stared at him intently.
1 second, 2 seconds, and 5 seconds.
As the time I gazed at it lengthened, it became somewhat mysterious, and after more than five seconds, a sparkle appeared in its eyes as if it were intriguing.
-… … Hoho. There isn’t just one path to transcendence, is there? You even have something interesting? You’re the first guy to have ‘that’ since Dran.
Dohyeon flinched.
It was not because he was surprised that he had discerned that there were many transcendent traits. Nor was it because he reacted to the expression “the guy who possesses that.”
No, that was part of it, but more than that, the name that followed struck me hard.
Dran? If it’s Dran, surely not… …
Officially, there was only one NPC named Dran in God of Sekai.
One of the Seven Rivers, a man who rose to the pinnacle with a single fist.
King of Fists, Dran Gradit.
Right, come to think of it, when I was investigating her, there was an undercurrent suggesting she had some deep history with the King of Power.
Curiosity suddenly reared its head, but right now, I have to put out the urgent fire first.
That’s not important right now. Judging by the situation, it doesn’t look like there was a trap hidden in the arm, so let’s take care of this first.
It was the moment I was about to put my curiosity aside for a moment and start talking about Rag Behemoth.
[I met someone who knows about the traits you possess.]
[The characteristic responds.]
[This is a trait that has never manifested.]
“……hmm?”
An unexpected message came to mind.
Characteristics? What characteristics?
I’ve been using the characteristics just fine all this time, so what on earth is this all about?
One question was short-lived.
Soon, Dohyeon had no choice but to open his eyes wide.
As you can see, I’m not in a position to make an immediate move. Originally, I was planning to just teach you how to deal with Behemoth, toss you an artifact, and tell you to stall for time… but… this actually makes me a little hopeful.
She, who had been nearly expressionless until now, smiled for the first time and asked.
It certainly seemed like a pleasant smile, but for some reason, it was a smile that reminded me of a lion.
What’s your name?
“……I am Kaiser.”
Right, Kaiser. You’ve never been able to manifest that, have you? If you had, your momentum wouldn’t look that weak.
I’ve been wondering what on earth you’ve been talking about for a while now.
Wow, look at this. It looks like you had completely forgotten about it. Come to think of it, Dran, that guy also thought he had no talent and wasted his time until he met me.
“……?”
If that Behemoth were causing chaos right now, he wouldn’t have come to me… How much time is left until the Descent?
“……It is 48 hours.”
It’s a bit tight, but it can’t be helped.
“For some reason, since earlier…….”
The words “What are you talking about?” rose up in my throat, but I could not bring myself to spit them out.
Seeing Dohyeon still unable to understand, she chuckled and gave a brief answer.
It was a word consisting of only two letters.
However, the moment he heard that word, Dohyeon had no choice but to understand immediately.
-Overcome.
“……!”
– The most special talent that only humans can possess.
She, who is regarded as the nymph with the most brilliant talent, or the High Elves.
A characteristic that only the human race can possess, which even the five races that ascended to the throne cannot have.
Let’s see. Let’s see how your recovery compares to Dran’s. Time is running out, so you’ll need to concentrate.
That was the identity of the overcoming characteristic that had never been used before.
