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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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[You’re going to contact the God of the Underworld? That’s unacceptable…!]
“I don’t care about that. Just tell me if it’s possible.”
[I’ve never heard of such a ritual, but… it might be… possible. I’m not sure yet.]
“Then we’ll proceed immediately.”
[W-Wait…!]
Guiho grabbed my arm, her eyes filled with fear. It was a rare sight, except for when she was captured by me. She was, after all, the Guardian of the Northern Continent, even in her weakened state.
[Do you even understand what you’re doing? The God of the Underworld! You’re trying to bring Him into our world!]
“I understand.”
[Then you don’t know what He’s like?]
“I know. He’s the just god who judges those who commit evil deeds.”
[Yes! He’s a god! Whether He’s just or not, do you think the world will be fine after bringing a god into it?!]
“I’m not bringing him here. I’m just contacting him.”
[Even that is dangerous… Just the transmission of His ‘will’ will cause massive ripples. How will you handle that?]
“I’ll handle it.”
It was my responsibility.
Draken was practically a god, too. I had survived accepting his will, a simple conversation with the God of the Underworld wouldn’t break me.
I was confident. I had the Mental Fortitude trait. And if I failed… would it be any worse than becoming a mindless drone?
[Is there really no other way? Can’t you just destroy the dungeon physically?]
“There is. And I’ll try that too. But that won’t eliminate the enemy. He exists as a spirit. He’ll just keep resurrecting unless we destroy his soul.”
[That’s… troublesome…]
Guiho calmed down, considering my explanation. She placed her hand on Sogong’s head.
[I’ve heard the rumors about the Necromancer.]
“I thought you were in secluded meditation. How do you know about the outside world?”
[Sogong was the one meditating, not me. Anyway, what you said is true. The Necromancer possesses corpses, and he keeps resurrecting, so it’s impossible to eliminate him without involving the God of the Underworld. I expected you, with your excessive meddling, to do something drastic.]
“You weren’t that surprised.”
[I didn’t expect you to burn down the entire village… But I don’t think your meddling is wrong. I owe you a debt, and I’ll support you as long as you’re not going astray… but promise me one thing. Promise me Sogong won’t get hurt.]
Guiho’s grip on Sogong’s head tightened.
They had been bickering when they first met, but they seemed to have developed a close bond between master and disciple. Despite her harsh words, Guiho’s expression was almost pleading.
She was worried about Sogong, knowing that there was a risk, but she wanted to hear it from me. She needed reassurance.
“I promise. Sogong won’t get hurt. I’ll protect her.”
[Thank you…]
“Um… Master? Yoo-jin? Why aren’t you asking for my opinion…?”
[Be quiet and gather demonic energy. We have to connect this world to the underworld.]
“Why me?”
[What did I tell you?]
“Thinking leads to complications…”
[Just do as you’re told.]
“Okay…”
Her disciple was well-trained. She was right, Sogong’s thoughts only led to complications. She was most effective as a tool.
I turned to Guiho.
“What do we need?”
[A way to pierce the dimensional wall. And a powerful force to attract the God of the Underworld. Piercing the dimensional wall isn’t a problem. Any Archmage or high-ranking curse user can do that. The problem is attracting the God of the Underworld. The underworld is a separate dimension, normally inaccessible. Even the God of the Underworld can’t cross over to our world. We need an immense attractive force, just to establish contact.]
“I’ll take care of that. I have a device that can create a direct pathway. We’ll use it to send a message to the God of the Underworld, informing Him that there are two evil spirits and an escaped convict in this world, and that should generate enough attractive force.”
[I won’t ask about the principle. It’s probably something bizarre.]
Guiho gave up on understanding when I showed her Longinus’s Spear. She was starting to understand me. Explaining it would be a long and complicated process.
Longinus’s Spear was currently incomplete, missing its navigator, but that didn’t matter. The Demonic Sword would serve as the navigator.
It was created from a fragment of Belphegor, who originated from the demon world, which was located in the underworld. I didn’t know how he had escaped (and I didn’t care), but the Demonic Sword’s demonic energy, infused with the aura of the underworld, would guide Longinus’s Spear towards it.
The basic plan was complete, inform the warden of the underworld, the God of the Underworld, about two murderers and an escaped convict and have him retrieve them.
The problem was execution. Contacting the God of the Underworld was theoretically possible, but not easy.
Since it had never been done before, we had to create a new ritual.
“Guiho, first-”
[Be quiet! I’m calculating! Assuming a minimum opening in the dimensional wall, the required magical power and formation are…]
Guiho snapped, then started muttering to herself, already planning the details. I would leave the design of the ritual to her. Sogong would handle the execution.
“Sh-Should I… fetch some water…?”
[Yes, fetch some water.]
“Yes, Guardian.”
Mia would run errands… The roles were assigned. But there was one more role to fill.
‘Someone to keep the dungeon occupied…’
I needed someone to lead the dungeon raid. The mercenaries had lost their motivation and practically given up.
They were now just waiting for someone else to take the lead. But I couldn’t dismiss them; I had to maintain the facade of an ongoing raid.
If I sent them away, it would be obvious that Elvenguard had given up, and Belphegor and Luna, who were preparing their defenses inside the dungeon, would emerge.
I had to keep them trapped, too busy to think about escaping. I couldn’t enter the dungeon, and the mercenaries were useless. I needed a raiding party.
It would be enough to just pressure the two Heavenly Kings, but I wouldn’t mind completely destroying the dungeon and thwarting their plans.
Luna would probably escape, but I could perform the ritual to summon the God of the Underworld later.
I had no idea what they were planning inside the dungeon, or how dangerous it was, so perhaps a quick and decisive destruction of the dungeon was the safer option.
And there was someone who could do it…
“Kyaaa?!”
Boom!
A scream and an explosion echoed from outside.
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|I can’t stand this boredom any longer…|
“Ugh!”
A sinister black aura seeped out of the slightly opened stone gate. The Archdemon emerged, his shadowy form materializing.
The mercenaries guarding the dungeon were injured and scattered, victims of a sudden explosion.
|This is suspicious. What are they planning? It’s too quiet…’
It was quiet. Too quiet.
This suspicious dungeon, located right next to Elvenguard, had only attracted a few hundred mercenaries, who quickly gave up after a few days.
This wasn’t normal. If a Heavenly King was involved, that annoying man with the punchable face should have appeared by now, disrupting everything. But he hadn’t entered the dungeon yet.
He must be planning something outside.
The Archdemon decided to investigate.
He would make a grand entrance, destroying everything in his path, assess the situation, and retreat.
|Is anyone there?!|
He shouted, standing before Elvenguard, challenging the man to reveal himself. Dark red flames flickered at his fingertips. If the man wouldn’t show himself, he would force him out.
He would burn Elvenguard and the World Tree to the ground if necessary.
|…?!|
A blade, moving faster than sound, grazed his cheek, and a greatsword embedded itself in a nearby tree.
“No dogs here. Just a wolf.”
“Well… long time no see. Things have changed, Belphegor.”
The Archdemon turned and saw the blue-haired Frost Duchess and the Murderer, looking tense.
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