Episode 972 Day 77 (3)
It was when Verden finished his conversation with Hiante and entered the rift between worlds.
* * *
… … A deep scar embedded between the left shoulder and neck.
It is a trace of the transcendental energy manifested by the Heavenly Sword.
While hovering between life and death, the severed muscles, lungs, and collarbone regenerated or reattached, but despite the transcendent being’s homeostasis, only the sword marks remained clearly visible.
It wouldn’t have been strange at all if it had died right there on the ferryboat; it is truly a tenacious life.
I do not know if it is because I am a transcendent being, or if it is simply due to luck.It does not matter.The only thing that mattered was that the duty pursued by existence had not ended.
Fate did not let him go.
[The Chosen One, Dantel.]
Dazzling lights illuminated Dantel from all directions. The faces of the beings surrounding Dantel from high places were obscured by shadows and could not be seen.
The ‘Upper’ that worships fate.
Dantel did not know what they looked like or what their status was. Most, perhaps all, of the Followers of Fate were likely the same.It was not even clear how many members the upper echelons consisted of. They didn’t even seem to have a distinct presence, so they were no different from ghosts.
[Failed assassination of Indren Piercia Reit in Artisan Magic Tower, failed assassination of Gareth Cirilliard in Delharun, the sealing of the Sixth Apostle, the destruction of the Island of Destiny. You failed to accomplish a single thing and retreated in a near-death state. There is no room for excuses.]
“…….”
[With the intervention of not only the Destroyer of Fate but also the Master of the Lefragium Magic Tower, the delay of the Sixth Apostle’s descent was inevitable… … The annihilation of the Island of Destiny could not have been foreseen, nor could it have been prevented. There is a way to deal with Gareth Cirilliard later.]
“…….”
[however.]
A heavy gaze flies in.
[Indren Pearcia Rate, who was highly likely to be connected to the resistors, had to be dealt with. We had to kill Indren Pearcia Rate to elicit a reaction from the seeds scattered by the resistors.]
I thought the resurrection of the old king was more important.
[The resistors did not try hard to prevent the Apostle’s return.]
Something approaches and looks down at Dantel.
[Because they have to kill the Apostles. They would want to reduce the number of Apostles before the Battle of Destiny resumes. That is why the Lord of the Lefragium Magic Tower chose a temporary seal.]
‘Your’ follower needs a sixth apostle to rebuild the shattered destiny, andthe resistor creates a situation favorable to themselves to kill such an apostle.
The two forces desired a sixth apostle for opposing purposes.
[If that is the case, if the resurrection of the Sixth Apostle had been thwarted by the ignorant Transcendents of that continent who lack the Master of the Lefragium Magic Tower, you would have begun to question the value of your existence.]
Is the Upper Being truly human?Since when has the Upper Being existed?
[The result originating from you is destiny. Destiny is the natural order.]
Dantel is a single cog in the massive machine called Fate. It is only natural for it to mesh with other cogs and turn them. Pride or a sense of accomplishment is unnecessary for such a natural principle.Prioritizing the resurrection of the Sixth Apostle cannot serve as an excuse to neglect other duties.
“……?!”
Suddenly, the excruciating pain that Dantel had been struggling to suppress surged up. Crackling. Dark red lightning flashed faintly around Dantel’s body.Finding it difficult even to stand, Dantel staggered and collapsed to his knees.
“Haa, haa…….”
[… … .]
The higher authorities kept a close watch on the remnants of the sorcery that intermittently attempted to kill Dantel. I mean the concept born from the feat of destroying fate.
Dantel caught his breath and said.
“I heard that the Followers of Fate… revealed by this incident are being eliminated one by one.”
[It is an inevitable price.]
If a part breaks, you simply replace it with the same one. And the broken part will be rewarded by fate in the distant future. Nomatter how many die, there is not the slightest reason to feel sorry for the death itself.
The upper echelons care about only two things.
An irreplaceable part breaking down.A temporary setback in destiny caused by a broken part.
“Right now, it must be the latter.”
It is the result of acting recklessly for the Second Coming of the Sixth Apostle. Although it was a decision made by the higher ups, they never reverse it and never even regret it.The belief that they are unconditionally right.The conviction that they are not wrong.Above all else, the higher ups never tried to hide their ‘arrogance’.
[Even the Lefragium Magic Tower does not know the locations of the Gates of Death where the Sixth Apostle’s forces will manifest; as such, the Sixth Apostle’s followers will have to handle it themselves.]
The superiors notified.
[Next is the collapse of the international community.]
As the pain subsided a little, Dantel stood up, leaving the cold sweat behind.
If we act unnaturally in the current situation, we will be exposed even more.
[so?]
“…….”
[Followers are expendable. Lambs who receive a good fate in exchange for being consumed for ‘you’. They have no other reason to exist.]
Dantel lowered his gaze.
[The foundation for an alliance was laid because the Destroyer of Fate took the lead in the World Conference. A moderate alliance is actually desirable, but it is a different story if the Destroyer of Fate is at the center. We must dismantle them to the extent that they do not become a hindrance, so that the Sixth Apostle can smoothly fulfill their mission.]
“If it’s that troublesome… wouldn’t it be better to get rid of the Fate Destroyer?”
[You’re being presumptuous.]
The superiors glare.
[He is the one who destroyed the Wheel of Fortune. Leaving behind hostility, he is worthy of a great end. ‘You’ will decide his fate.]
The descending silence.
[Return and recover your body and mind. Cross the steps of self-sacrifice and compose your spirit. Receive ‘Your’ power and prepare to become the Eighth Apostle.]
Along with the disciplinary action, the next apostle was decided.
You are special.
Dantel bowed his head emotionlessly and accepted the order from above. Unlike the typical followers of fate, he was not a disposable item.For he had not been made that way from the start.
Dantel stepped back.
Voices from above rang out one after another in the place where Dantel had disappeared.
[An Apostle’s vessel created using the concept of a transcendent being created by the Last Resistor. I can’t wait to see if it can truly become a complete Apostle.]
[Transcendent Apostle.]
[It won’t fail.]
[It is the only successful work completed after countless experiments. There is no longer the capacity or leeway to experiment further. Theoretically, success is certain.]
[Is the research on artificial apostles finally coming to an end?]
A plan to turn beings born with artificially constructed minds and bodies into apostles. The higher ups merely spoke of the possibility of failure, but firmly believed in success.
[Now I just have to wait for the reconstruction of the Sixth Apostle’s destiny.]
[How many of the nine gates will open? It is frustrating not knowing the future.]
[Everything will be opened.]
The conviction continued.
[Since one has already opened.]
[It’s going smoothly.]
The superiors offered a prayer.
[Everything is for ‘you’.]
and.
[Everything is for the fourth apostles.]
Upper—the followers of the Fourth Apostle let out a monstrous laugh.They displayed an attitude of subservience toward the statue.
Dragon
They worship an arrogant and powerful dragon.
* * *
Thump, thump.
Adrian arrived at the Gorge of Forbidden Books, located on the boundary between the Central Continent and the Demon Realm.
Keeper, Acetro Oldin’s territory.
It was a place he had visited in the past with his liege and Isabella after receiving an invitation.If it was a matter related to the Ark, he could contact them through the Ark, but Adrian’s objective belongs to the private realm of the Alliance of Transcendents.
Is it about the ark?Or is it about the secular world?
Distinguishing between these two things was a principle that the Ark had long upheld.
“……Phew.”
We crossed a fault zone inhabited by bizarre plants and insects. Since the destination was the residence of the Ark’s captain and a transcendent being of the magical world, Enette had already been sent back.
Adrian stopped near the waterfall and touched the wound.The sensation was more aching than painful.
It looks like it will be difficult to move at full power yet.
Still, the resilience gained momentum.
Adrian, marveling once again at the Transcendental One’s convenient body, moved again. He had the entrance to a valley nestled between snow-capped mountains right before his eyes.
Hmm.
The path leading to Acetro’s fortress was completely blocked by some kind of magic.Last time, Acetro himself had lifted the spells… After pondering how to send a signal inside, he soon knocked on the curtain.
Waves ripple.
Fortunately, perhaps because it was not considered an intrusion, the flow was calm.
───Who is it? I didn’t hear from Oldin that a guest is coming today.
Are you an uninvited guest?
The voices of the twin little ones, Jan and Yon, who live with Acetro, were heard.
I am Adrian Chambers. I have come from Eon to find Acetro Oldin.
───Adrian Chambers? Ah! You remembered!
───You are the closest aide to the Wonder Breaker! It’s great to meet you!
It seems like he has a good memory.
Is Acetor not inside?
Lord Oldin is away. That is why I cannot let anyone into Lord Oldin’s quarters, even if they are someone he knows.
───Yan and Yon cannot break the seal.
Did you leave your seat?
“Will they be back late? Where did they go?”
“He said he was just going to check. He’ll probably be back soon,” Yan thinks.
And you said you were going to the Demon Realm.
“Is this the usual observation?”
This time it’s different.
Jan and Jon answered at the same time.
An unusual phenomenon was observed in the Demon Realm.
* * *
Acetro Oldin walked through a nightmare surrounded by a deformed environment. Small insects with dozens of eyes approached and then scurried away.The tentacles of plants that had devoured animals trembled and slid right into the ground.
In the Demon Realm, the food chain between the strong and the weak is established more strongly than anywhere else.
If the weak set foot here, depending on luck, they can become prey the moment they cross the boundary of the Demonic Realm.Conversely, the lowly creatures of the Demonic Realm do not dare even approach the overwhelmingly strong.
Acetro, having made his presence known just enough, stopped and stared straight ahead.
The Demon Realm is, in fact, a swamp of life.
Even though they have completely different forms and habits from the outside world, they are undeniably living things. They are animals and plants that harbor life and are active.
Because the ecosystem’s cycle is busier here than in any other region of the continent, corpses rarely remain. Even in corpses left to decay due to the poison, maggots unique to the Demon Realm swarm and devour the bones and flesh.It is to the extent that it is difficult for ordinary creatures to leave behind even a skeleton after death due to their resistance.
A demonic realm that cannot be pioneered because it is overflowing with life.The forest of the demonic realm itself is alive.
Acetro Oldin had long studied this place, which was truly filled with the unknown and monsters. But… even he had never seen a sight like this before.
I don’t understand.
Acetro took off his monocle.
“How did the undead appear?”
[Kuuuuuu… … .]
A troll from the Demonic Realm, its entire body rotting away with most of its bones and nerves exposed, squirms and approaches.There are not just one or two.Even just the ones detected by
That is not all.
Among the undead, there were quite a few that originated from humans, who were not found in the Mirror World. This situation is incomprehensible, both physically and magically.Since humanoid undead cannot naturally appear without corpses,
An anomaly occurred in the Demon Realm.Something happened inside the Demon Realm.
We must let the continent know.
It would be a disaster if the already powerful creatures of the Demon Realm turned into undead and spread. We must prepare, as we do not know how numerous they are or what the cause is.
However, before that.
Shadows fall.
[Ugh… … Grrrr!]
Bang!
A life-hating troll zombie swung its decayed arms and exploded.A massive magical power overwhelmed the procession of the dead.
Let’s tidy up first.
Acetro Oldin walked toward the undead rampant in the Demon Realm.
* * *
A single question pierced through the capital council of the Iderat Confederation—Conselvar.
Which side are you?
The people around him immediately flared up at Cardinal Deello’s suspicious gaze. The angry voices of the High Consor members of the League brushed past his ears.
“Cardinal! That is going too far!”“I understand the Papal States’ sentiments, but branding us as traitors is an unreasonable act……!”“I think it is excessive to demand that everyone prove their innocence. At least not for now.”
Isabella spoke.
“Does it make sense to demand that those against whom there isn’t even a given charge prove their innocence?”“If you are truly suspicious, it is only logical that the party raising the doubts should present evidence. The fact that the Beastmen and Dwarves suffered heavy casualties is surely not the entirety of the grounds presented by the Theocracy of Luas.”“Your Majesty personally aided in the subjugation of the three Bone Dragons and the Undead forces that invaded the Theocracy. Yet to ask which side you were on—I am deeply displeased.”
Duke Lucent of the Empire and Zeren of the Magic Kingdom agreed with her views.Their forces not only directly aided the Holy Kingdom but also possess the second servant and the dwarf involved in this incident.Even the Luas religion cannot be dealt with harshly.
Antias asked.
“They say so, but what are you planning to do?”“Therefore, in our Holy Kingdom—”“Ah, of course. I agree with the thought that there might be a traitor among you.”
Without warning, Antias acquiesced to the Church’s aggressive stance. It was none other than the King of Water. His words carried the heaviest weight here.Not only others, but even Cardinal Deello could not hide his bewilderment.
What the hell are you pulling again…
Isabella held her breath as she recalled the strange behavior Antias had committed at the World Council.
So I also came up with my own way to distinguish them.
Cardinal Delo asked belatedly.
“……What is that?”“I’m just asking.”
Antias’s gaze turned to one side.
“If you don’t answer, I will kill you.”“……?”“Are you a traitor?”
Raselt Barha, the multi-racial deputy diplomat of the Iderat Confederacy, opened his eyes wide.He was the one who had guided Isabella and Antias at the dock.
“Three.”“W-wait a moment. What is that…?”“Two.”“Lord Beast?!”
one.
Crackle crackle!
The Water King’s tail extended and instantly crushed Raselt’s upper body.
You can’t answer even when I give you a chance.
