Chapter 33: The Consequences of One’s Choices (8)

Chapter 33: The Consequences of One’s Choices (8)

“I clearly understand what their purpose was. They were planning on placing a curse on this place."

The wizard, whose attitude became entirely business-like after I drew the line between us again, explained these things to me.

“The ritual itself isn't used that much. Considering the effort one must put into it, the likelihood of getting discovered before its completion, and the possibility of death as the curse doesn't differentiate between friend or foe, it’s not all that attractive. It would be faster to release diseased rats into a populated area than prepare the ritual for a curse."

That seemed less dangerous than I expected. I was by no means belittling the dangers of the plague, but I had been imagining it as an instant mass death spell.

If they could also fall ill from it, they certainly wouldn't use diseases like the bubonic plague or smallpox.

“The reason for using plague rituals is because those who die from it meet the criteria of sacrifices."

Oh... That sounded a bit creepy. That was when I realized these actions probably were just an intermediate step in their plan.

When would I be able to rest?

“It's highly likely that the ritual’s true purpose can be found outside the city. Either way, what they did in the sewers was certainly just a distraction."

Well, I didn't think that it was just a distraction. Those chains; they said they’d prepared them for the Hero. They may have wanted to waste our time with it, but they might also have been aiming for the Hero herself.

“The problem is... the plague ritual doesn't just end by destroying the ritual's center axis. Its effects will only be stopped completely after removing all five of the ritual’s axes."

Urgh, I mean, if you could only stop a plague ritual like that after it was completed, we would have been pretty much screwed, right...?

My head was spinning, so I couldn't say for certain it would have been like that. As I shook my head, I wondered if this difficulty was really fitting for the early stages of the Main Quest.

The problem wasn't the level of the monsters but that the scale was far too big for an initial Quest. If that was just the beginning, what would happen later on?

“Still, just them completing the ritual isn't the only problem. They might use the remaining sacrifices for a large-scale summoning as well."

Anyway, what I gleaned from this was that we had to destroy the five axes. Right. The player was and always would be an errand boy, after all.

「❖ The Truth Behind the Curtain

∎ Thwart the Demon Worshipers’ plans

∎ Ritual axes found: 1 / 5」

As I saw the Quest updating, a thought passed through my head. My feet stopped.

“Let's go in the opposite direction."

“...?”

“If there's an axis on West Street, the guys who went there will take care of it."

While this would only work if the axes were arranged in a pentagon, all the magic circles used thus far had a circular setup, so I should be correct.

“...You're right. Will you be fine?" ”

“As long as you don't do anything stupid."

Ah, did that mean I would have to go all the way back? Uwargh. Please let the injury penalty end quickly.

* * *

“You were right."

After forcing the Demon Worshipers disguised as civilians to their knees, the Inquisitor slammed her mace against the ground.

As a scorching heat filled the area, a dazzling radiance quickly melted the remaining Demonic Energy corrupting the earth. The corpses, defiled by unclean energies, were Purified and laid to rest.

“If I didn't notice this, my eyes may as well be decorations."

It was truly disgusting how he showed off, but she had no choice but to praise him this time.

While she fell for the enemy's trick like a fool and cleared the sewers, that guy managed to disrupt the Demon Worshipers’ ritual held in the city.

He even placed a mark on those who came to check on the ritual and, after catching them, found yet another ritual site.

Considering the one clue he got was that they were performing a plague ritual—meaning five sites were serving as the ritual’s axes—this was an incredible feat.

“Or maybe you're just incompetent."

“...!”

However, she just couldn't accept these words.

He didn't even know this was a plague ritual before the Inquisitor joined. It was true that she couldn’t do anything while that guy uncovered the hidden truth with just his keen eyes...! But still!

“Anyway, let's quickly find the other axes, alright? I’m guessing they are somewhere around there."

Even at this site they had just discovered, only traces remained, and no person could be seen.

After searching the area, they fortunately managed to find three sites... They couldn't accurately predict their locations until after finding the third.

“...Yes."

However, now it was more than possible.

She swallowed her anger and estimated the location of the next site. The axes were positioned to form a pentagon, so once you found three of them, it wasn't difficult to estimate the others’ locations.

She just wanted to make a rough estimate, not calculate its exact position, so she could keep rushing ahead.

“Let's go."

She motivated the ones around her and quickly moved her feet. Her thoughts wandered to the Demon Knight. No, she had to hurry to keep up with that nimble thief.

Baaam!

“...?!”

However, as they reached the area, the Inquisitor felt a familiar energy. That explosion was just a bonus.

“That's..."

Was that the Demon Knight? His energy looked darker than usual... No, it couldn't be him. He should still be in the sewers.

Or did he actually come up here with his body in that state? Perhaps there was just someone among their enemies with a strength comparable to his.

Either way, it was nothing she would welcome. She braced herself as she moved her legs forward, an ominous feeling rising in her chest.The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñøv€l-B1n.

The perceptive thief definitely noticed the commotion and quickly changed course as he bounced up a nearby building.

“It's Mister Knight!"

“Demon Knight!"

That conclusion revealed neither of her premonitions was wrong.

The origin of that loud explosion was the Demon Knight. Since he was the only one she knew with that contrasting gray and black hair, it couldn't be anyone other than him.

“Inquisitor...?"

“What good timing."

Boom!!

It was also accurate that someone extremely strong, someone they couldn't ignore, was on the enemy's side.

“We have to Purify it."

Boooooom!!!

The Demon Knight was driven to such methods by a Demon that even she, who had memorized half of the Demon types in existence, couldn't identify.

* * *

Turning back the clock a bit before the Inquisitor arrived.

I was looking at the sequence of events unfolding before me and their outcome, eyes wide open.

“Hah, hahahaha! Even if our plan fails, I'll at least take you down with me!"

They managed to carry out the plague ritual but were discovered soon after, so their success’s meaning was immediately lost. One of the Contractors present shouted as though he had something planned but then just died. And with that Contractor's life as a sacrifice, something happened.

“You traitor, you will never..."

As if there had been a reason why the Contractors were standing inside a magic circle, the last one collapsed after saying those few words. The blood spewing from his every hole turned into sludge and engulfed him.

He appeared like the Stink God from a certain famous anime. Maybe with a bit of cosmic horror added in.

「??? │ ???」

I wondered if, like most monsters of this type, its weakness was fire. Even if not, it was still inflicting more damage than me.

Alright. So, my role was tokite it and continue pulling its aggro. It was a little weird to play the role of a Tank while being a Damage Dealer. However, it wasn’t anything I couldn’t do. I already had a lot of experience doing things like that as well!

Kuooh!

If everything went smoothly, that boss would turn into a total punching bag.

The burning lump of sludge extinguished the flame by welling up the wet sludge from its insides. In other words, it pulled out stuff from deep within itself and let it crash over the flames like waves.

“Uwaaargh!”

Because of that, it seemed to melt like ice cream dropped on hot asphalt, spreading its sludge over a wider area.

The people who were slower to flee—it seemed they wanted to take at least some of their belongings with them—became even more scared.

“Dodge...!”

“What—?”

It would be fine if the Tank were hit, but not the Dealer. I pushed the Archmage, who was in the middle of casting a spell, back once again.

Not only the Archmage but a few people who had been slow to escape would be affected by that attack, but saving them was beyond my ability. The moment I tried to run toward them, my body lost its strength. How could I save them all like this? I mean, even I was determined to lose my legs.

“Tsk.”

Fortunately, just touching that Stink God’s sludge didn’t shave off any HP.

“Uwaaah!”

“Kuhuk!”

Well, it didn’t harm me. That wasn’t the case for the others, though.

Body parts touched by that sludge turned pitch black. After falling into that state, the area would expand and quickly erode them.

“...! A plague, it’s a plague!”

The Archmage, who had managed to save his life at the expense of his back’s health, quickly shouted out.

“You can’t let your skin touch that liquid!”

“Uwargh!”

No matter how much advice one gave, there were still those who wouldn’t follow it.

Gritting my teeth, I swung out my sword. The [Slash] stretched out in a straight line, cleaving the ground and blocking the sludge. As it only spread quickly and shallowly, it was easily pushed away by the wind accompanying my attack.

“Urgh, aaargh!”

Fortunately, the man, who had almost been covered in the sludge, quickly ran away without falling. However, I couldn’t go on like this. As someone who primarily used swords, I couldn’t deal with this boss.

If I had any oil on me, I would have spread it around and set it on fire, but I didn’t have any. It was also extremely hard to move around.

“Kuargh!”

Unfortunately, I didn’t even have the time to think of something calmly. Those caught in the sludge earlier had their eyes roll into their heads before a lump of liquid swallowed them whole.

Having almost left the house, it measured 2m in height, although it had stained the area in a 6m radius around it with its bodily fluids.

“And God spoke, let the foulness be Purified and all evil destroyed!”

The Archmage, who hadn’t remained idle, attempted to attack it again. A yellow-white flame, much bigger than a {Fireball} and giving off a divine feeling, burned away all the sludge.

As its body started to burn, it temporarily gathered its fluids in one place.

“D...ie!"

Just because my attacks weren't as effective didn’t mean I could just stand by and watch. I attacked to keep its aggro on me. I knew if my sword touched the sludge, it would erode, so I just sent out ranged attacks with my blade.

Its body split open, and sewage poured out like a fountain. If it spread everywhere, we would have been ruined, but fortunately, it only covered my body.

Uwoooooh

No, that wasn't all. The surface of the sludge monster was bubbling as if boiling slightly. I had an ominous feeling as it turned toward the Archmage.

Pew!

One should always listen to their gut. The thing shot out its filth like a water gun.

“Where, are you looking...?!"

“Demon Knight!"

If the Wizard died, the Raid would fail! With that in mind, I let myself get hit by the unrelenting stream of gunk. I wanted to hit it with my blade somehow but couldn't because my legs felt weak.

Some of the sludge splattered on my coat, the clothing beneath it, and my cheek. The first thing that hit me was the penetrant smell and a tingling sensation running over my skin.

「Curse!」

My HP started to decline.

“Just do your job, you bastard!"

What was a Damage Dealer supposed to do? Deal more damage! Only by dealing more damage could he save me!

I barely managed to maintain my balance and launch another sword strike. That was the best way to attract its aggro.

Fortunately, I was its next target, as if it had gotten annoyed with this ant biting it. Parts of its bulging body were pouring down on me.

“Mister Knight!”

“Demon Knight!”

Ah, but just as I was about to dodge its attack, my legs gave out. I was screwed.

I wouldn’t be able to avoid that one, huh?

“Inquisitor...?”

“You did well.”

Kuoooh!!

I was lucky, or rather, their timing was just right. Half-submerged in that sludge, I shouted to the person running toward me.

“Purify it.”

Kuoooooh!!!

Uwargh, please save me!!

“What, do you—”

It seemed the Inquisitor’s mind was a bit overloaded, causing her to hesitate. I shouldn’t have said anything.

“It’s a plague curse!”

The Archmage informed her about the nature of that thing before I could, to which the Inquisitor’s expression changed as if realizing something.

“But the Demon Knight—”

No, she shouldn't care about me. Well, if she understood, she should just kill that thing already. While I didn’t have a shield or anything, I could negate death once! [Indomitable Spirit]’s cooldown was over!

Of course, I knew I would die immediately afterward because of the curse!

“What you have to do is...”

I somehow managed to move my sword while my HP was about to bottom out.

“to kill that Demon.”

[Ground Crash]. I half-forcibly activated the skill, thinking its name in my mind, which made the ground shake. The spherical force managed to shake off all the sludge that surrounded me.

“Do it now!”

Fortunately, the Inquisitor didn’t hesitate any longer. Her green eyes, which had been shaking, became firm as she came to a decision.

“Oh God, please be with me.”

A brilliant light fell over the kimchi dumpling.

“Burn all the evil beings wandering this earth.”

And then, white light rushed in like a tide wave, completely covering my view. My HP, which had struggled to stay afloat for a little while, finally hit rock bottom.