Chapter 39

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Chapter 39

Celine remembered the fourth stage.

In a generally somber atmosphere, the mines sparkled with gems everywhere. She had never seen anything similar to ‘Southern Tiara’ throughout the game, though if the name of the mine itself is ‘Southern Tiara,’ it made sense.

‘By the way, it wouldn’t be too difficult, would it…?’

The existence of the quest itself meant that the difficulty of the stage was considerable, so it shouldn’t be quite frightening. Nonetheless, seeing that it gave hints to the fourth stage, it seems that the quest for the ‘True Ending’ served as a milestone like other ordinary games.

“It takes three days to get to Sharp. In the meantime, you’d better get used to Ringzor.”

“I can.”

Celine replied confidently.

Even though she still got a lot of nausea whenever she tried to cast her own spells, she had no problems handling Ringzor with Leonhardt’s kind guidance.

“By the way, can I take Danny with me?”

She had never taken Danny to a monster hunt.

Although her skills as a handmaid and escort were outstanding, it was because she lacked a lot to deal with monsters. Still, she had already been separated from Danny once. Danny would be very upset if she went down to the South without a word.

“No.”

Leonhard shook his head.

“If you want to save her, it would be right to leave without a word.”

“….”

Celine remembered Danny’s smiling face wishing her a good time at the banquet and saying it was a pity that she couldn’t go with Celine.

But, the most important thing was Danny’s safety.

“I have to write a letter and go.”

“I see… And, those clothes, aren’t they uncomfortable to move around in?”

She understood the meaning of Leonhard’s words.

“Yeah. Though it’s Natasha’s clothes…”

“If you use one of those things on the way back, I won’t be angry. Now we have to leave as soon as possible.”

At his words, she nodded her head.

“I’ll have to ask them to send your luggage straight to the South. Order your escort maid to wait here.”

Celine picked up the paper and pen from the break room and started writing a letter to Danny.

“Oh, I’m alive!”

Baron Veron shook hands with Leonhard looking like he was about to fall flat on his face at any moment.

“The Lord came… I thought I was going to die now!”

“I will leave right away. Please prepare clothes and good horses for Lute Celine.”

Leonhard did not bring Black to the South because it would shorten its lifespan.

Meanwhile, Celine was guided by the maid and changed into comfortable clothes. In the middle, Lou stuck its head out of her sleeve.

“A dragon…?”

The maid groaned and muttered.

“It won’t bite.”

Saying so, she said in a light tone like saying ‘My dog ​​doesn’t bite,’ though the maid seemed more frightened.

“Well, does it breathe fire?”

“No. Because it’s a baby, it usually sleeps.”

In fact, since she was no longer able to use magic, Lou spent most of its time sleeping. Celine was worried that she would have affected Lou’s health with the fact that she had made herself incapable of using magic, but she feared that she couldn’t help it now.

After a while, they reached the entrance to Castle Sharp.

“….”

Celine’s body trembled in the eerie aura.

When she had just arrived in the South region, the cold had subsided and she even felt that it was early spring. Nonetheless, as she got closer to Castle Sharpe, a chill that was worse than the snow in the north pierced Celine.

The gates were wide open as if it was pushed from the inside out.

‘Was it the people who ran away?’

Celine was bitter and set her foot in Castle Sharp.

‘….’

The most gruesome scene she had ever seen unfolded before her eyes.

“This, this is…”

There were times when she fell into a trap in the mansion and died with her intestines pouring out. There had even been times when hundreds of monsters that emit a foul odor have been killed. She even watched the warlock transform before her and melt into filth.

But, Celine was seized by the urge to run out of the scene in front of her more than ever before.

Corpses, with every part of their body savagely bitten, were scattered wherever she looked… All with their faces contorted in pain.

“They are all dead.”

Feeling an indescribable relief from Leonhard’s voice, she shivered.

‘No… Let’s not get it wrong.’

He may have just been worried that there might be patients who could not be saved with the medical technology of this level. Only the sound of their footsteps resounded in the castle where all life had been drained.

Celine stared horribly into the hallways stained with dark bloodstains and the remnants of battle.

Suddenly, a monster pierced a hole in the ceiling and fell.

“….!”

Without panicking, Celine calmly took Ringzor out of her arms and swung it. At her fingertips, she felt the familiar flow of magical power. The next moment, a trident made of ice was created and accurately embedded in the body of the monster.

“You did well.”

“Because I practiced hard.”

When she first used Ringzor she was very bewildered by the flow of the magic, as if it was running wild on her own, like an unbridled horse.

If she used her magic directly, it flowed through her own body, so it could be easily manipulated. However, Ringzor felt like she had to control the rampaging beast with just her right hand, which held the hilt.

And, perhaps because of the nature of the sword, she could only use attack magic.

‘Though where is this?’

Soon after, other monsters fell from the ceiling. Leonhard did not lift a single hand but watched her slay the monsters one by one.

Flames circled Ringzor, and they flew toward the monsters as arrows. Even though it wasn’t as powerful as her original magic, it was enough to slow the movement of monsters.

Celine aimed at the monster’s head with Ringzor.

—Slash!

Dozens of ice blades were stuck in the heads of different monsters, and the monsters all fell to the floor and convulsed. The black blood flowed profusely and touched Celine’s feet.

“…Whoo.”

Ringzor was powerful. Nevertheless, the magic was not comparable to that of her but it was much more efficient for detailed killing.

‘If I practice more, it will be of great help to my magic.’

Celine turned to Leonhard.

“I improved a lot, right?”

“…Celine.”

She heard Rashir being pulled out of its scabbard and felt unpleasant moisture on her back. Closing her eyes tightly and opening them, she turned around.

The cost of her mistake would be unfolded before her eyes.

“Make sure they are dead.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

It was the first time she had dealt with monsters using Ringzor, so it was difficult to get a sense of whether they were definitely dead. Celine turned her body again. There, the monsters that Leonhard had completely cut in two were all around her.

He then glanced at the hole in the ceiling. The upper floor was visible through the hole.

“We had to go over there.”

She involuntarily raised her hand and tried to build an ice ladder up to the hole as her shoulders drooped helplessly.

“It’s all right.”

“But…”

“You can walk. Arriving a little slower doesn’t mean anyone is going to die.”

Leonhard’s words softened her hardened face a little.

‘Yes. Let’s not think too negatively.’

First of all, as long as she could use Ringzor somewhere. If Celine hadn’t had this, she would have been stuck as his burden.

‘You must come to your senses.’

With that thought, she tightened her right hand, which was holding Ringzor.

They quickly reached the upper floor. However, even here, they only meet a few small monsters, and there was no trace of the boss monster to be found.

“Maybe, it went out of the castle…?”

Leonhard shook his head.

“It can’t be.”

“Then, where…”

“At least, it’s definitely in here because they never give up the castle they have occupied.”

“Why?”

“They seem to feel a sense of security in the structure.”

A existence of destruction and slaughter that clings to man-made structures. It felt contradictory, but it was a reality that Celine had to solve right away. They went up and down the stairs and kept looking for the boss monster.

“Gasp…”

Celine sighed heavily as she leaned against the wall.

“Tiring?”

“A little bit.”

She realized how much the magic had played a role inside her while passing through her body. When it was cold, it warmed up her body, and she didn’t know she would miss so much taking shortcuts when traveling somewhere.

“You have to get used to it.”

“….”

Leonhard stopped beside her without a word. He couldn’t figure out how to comfort her. It would be a burden to say that soon she would be able to use magic again. Still, Celine said she would get used to it… Because it meant she would never use her magic back.

Just then, the wall on which she was leaning vibrated.

“What, what?”

“There must have been a secret passage.”

Leonhard mumbled as if he wasn’t too surprised, and he ripped right through the wall where he felt the vibrations with Rashir.

An empty passage appeared.

And, at the end of the passage…

‘…Sea urchin?’

The boss monster that looked like a giant sea urchin was trembling with thorns.

“Why is it there?”

“Perhaps, it’s grown so big that it’s trapped…”

It was then that Leonhardt thrust his head into the passage.

—Kuakuang!

The boss monster smashed the passage with a terrifying force and started moving towards them.

“You said it was trapped?”

“Looks like it was just resting.”

Leonhard casually fixed Rashir. In the next moment, countless horns of the boss monster were broken all at once, revealing the bald skin.

—Whiirr!

As Rashir’s blue flames filled the passage, he stood motionless, with his right arm outstretched and aiming at the entrance to the passage. After a few seconds, a huge mass engulfed in flames rushed at him.

—Stab.

Rashir pierced the fireball.

Black liquid ran down his arm and covered Leonhard’s whole body. When Rashir was removed, the heavy body of the boss monster fell to the floor.

After taking out the stiff core of the boss monster, he turned towards Celine.

“Let’s go.”

They didn’t want to stay in this harrowing castle for even a moment.

Everyone staying at Baron Veron’s residence rushed out as soon as they heard the heavy door open.

“Lord!”

“Lord…!”

The disturbance was only settled when Count Sharp ordered them to be quiet. Leonhard, whose black blood was still dripping from his upper body, opened his mouth.

“Count Sharp, the boss monster has been defeated. Now, you can take the rest of the knights in with you.”

“Thank you very much. The County will never forget the help of the Lord.”

The next moment, Leonhard pulled an object the size of a fist from his arms. The object that looked like a black, hard stone had an eerie red glow upon closer inspection.

“This… Isn’t that the core of the boss monster?”

“Originally, it belonged to the imperial family, but I came here regardless of the Imperial Family. Use it to rebuild.”

Count Sharp shook his head.

“Lord can take it.”

At the Count’s words, he smiled bitterly and replied, “What do I need this for? Instead, please give me a request.”

“Say anything.”

“I want you to give me a permit to enter all the mines in Sharp.”

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