Otherworld TRPG Game Master Chapter 67

EP.67

There was no proper furniture in the secret safe house. The only tool for a prosperous life is an old mattress to lie on. In the other spaces, items necessary for work and survival were neatly arranged.

A week’s worth of food, mostly canned food. Two pistols and five bullets. A large map of the city hung on the wall. A necklace with a strange pattern on it. And all kinds of subversive books and materials.

“It really feels like a base set up for investigation. I didn’t know there wouldn’t be a single chair.’

“It probably means that you paid that much attention to your mission.”

Tara looked around, found a pistol, and picked it up. There seemed to be a lot of interest in the lethal power of that small weapon.

‘Isn’t this the object that pierced Bennett’s shoulder a moment ago?’

“…….”

“Niore happens to have a whiteboard. It’s smaller than the one you were carrying, but….’

Bennett picked up the whiteboard that was sitting in the secret safe and handed it to Niore. As soon as Niore picked up the whiteboard with both hands, she started scribbling something down.

“There is no need for an apology. Don’t waste ink.”

[…yes.]

Bennett’s hand stopped.

Bennett lightly taps on the outer wall and makes a noise to attract attention. He sorted out the situation. Two pairs of eyes turned to him.

“First, let’s finish the investigation into the secret safe house. We may be able to discover additional information about the Silver Twilight Cult. After that, we will discuss future policies and move on.’

[Yes, I understand, Bennett. I’ll work hard. I’ll help you this time.]

“I don’t think there’s anything special… Can I have this gun?’

“The one that lacks lethality is Niore…”

Bennett was reminded of Niore’s previous self and tried to put her pistol on her. Her thoughts drifted to the sinister spells she had used in her battle with the cultists. A huge pillar with thousands of mouths.

He frowned and spoke to Niore.

“Niore. I think I need an explanation.”

[…….]

“It seemed like a cultist kind of spell. The costs of all the spells were extreme. I need to know how they found out and what they consumed through the spell.’

[Isaac gave me this.]

“…Abraham’s daughter?”

Niore took out the magic book from his arms. Just by looking at the outside, I could tell it wasn’t the real thing. She was ominous and repulsive.

[It is difficult to understand the content and it takes some time. It is a useful book from which you can gain a lot of wisdom.]

“It doesn’t seem useful at all. In my opinion, it is an artifact no different from a magic sword. It’s something that harms users. It’s better not to use it….”

Niore held her magic book in her arms and shook her head. Like a child who was told to give up his favorite toy. And she quickly made excuses.

[It will be helpful!]

“Like the magic sword, evil artifacts ultimately lead to the user’s destruction. Even if you don’t use it, it’s helpful enough. I will seal it, so hand it over obediently.’

“……Ugh.”

Niore shook her head, looked up at Bennett, and began to cry. Because I wanted to make up for my mistakes. If we had been able to deal with the fanatics right away, it might not have been too late.

When Bennett determines that her magic book contains her brainwashing powers, he attempts to take it from her by force. Tara, who was clicking and loading rounds into her pistol, intervened.

“Why don’t you just leave it alone? Bennett.”

“What?”

“It’s true that you need strength. The Silver Twilight Church is alive and well, and there are many people who need to be killed. We need magic capable of mass destruction.”

“Do you mean to leave it like this? Abnormally powerful power always comes at a price──.”

Crash. Bennett was cut off by the sound of machinery engaging and firing bullets. Tara, who had been talking while looking at the pistol, looked up and made eye contact with Bennett.

“It’s not the price you pay. Right?”

“…….”

[I made up my mind. It’s my decision, Bennett. I don’t want to regret it.]

Bennett himself was not in a position to point out Niore. As Tara said, it had nothing to do with him. It was actually beneficial for him to have a colleague who was desperate enough to take risks.

Still, there was a very bitter taste in his mouth.

Bennett retreated. The three examined the items in the secret safe house in silence. The Silver Twilight Order’s necklace seemed like it could be used to disguise one’s identity. Maybe I could hide in the church building.

Through all kinds of seditious books and materials, we were able to understand the scale of the Silver Twilight Church. The official number of believers is about 100. If unofficial personnel are included, the number will double or triple.

There was no chance of winning in an all-out war. Numbers are violence, and this is especially true for those who sacrifice their lives to cast strange spells. If you fight head on, you will die in a war of attrition.

We were also able to determine the purpose of the Silver Twilight Church. It’s a big harvest.

Among the materials that appeared to have been stolen by investigators infiltrating the religious order were confidential data from within the religious order. Although the material was layered with blasphemous names of God and twisted metaphors, Niore was able to interpret it.

She wrote down the text with a somewhat hazy expression.

[They are trying to summon God.]

“…God? Like a goddess?

[I don’t know. However, what is certain is that it is a very large… and powerful being. He is called the Vice King and is the second highest person in this universe and has the power to control time and space.]

“Are the fanatics’ spells borrowed from the power of that being?”

[He is coming here from a distant universe. Originally, he is a being that small creatures would not dare to summon, but since the distance is getting closer, the Silver Twilight Church believes that there is a possibility and is trying to summon at least a part of him.]

Summons.

Niore’s explanation seemed off-kilter and unintuitive, so Bennett quickly put it all together in her head. And I put it into words.

1. The evil spirit called Vice King has the power to control time and space. That is why the Silver Twilight Church, which borrows its power from the gods they serve, manipulates time and space.

2. For summoning magic, the closer the distance and the more detailed the location of the target is known, the lower the difficulty and magical power consumption. Coincidentally, the evil spirit is moving in a direction that is getting closer to this world. As time passes, the success rate of summoning evil spirits will increase.

When I heard that, what came to mind was Abraham’s research. He said that an enormous energy… unobservable to the human eye… is traveling through space. If the name of that mass of energy is Vice King. The story fits.

Abraham had already predicted what would happen if it were summoned. Death of everything. The entire planet will be scattered and disappear. This was the great suicide ritual of the Silver Twilight Order.

So why did the Silver Twilight Church interfere with Abraham’s research?

What role can an old man’s small research play in the grand scale of the evil spirit’s advent? Did they interfere with the research, kill the old man, and erase the entire mansion?

Bennett, who had studied magic briefly and extensively, also knew a little about summoning spells. If you turn a summoning spell upside down, it becomes a reverse summoning spell. Like two sides of a coin, summoning and counter-summoning were inseparable.

If you can summon it, you can also send it back.

α value.

Calculated acceleration of the approaching energy mass. And the data on the universe that Abraham piled up like a mountain. If you have these.

You will be able to determine which part of the universe your father is passing through—that is, his location. If so, I could have reverse summoned it. Since it is a magic that returns a divine being, it would require enormous power.

Depending on whether there is an α value or not, it will be divided into possible and impossible.

Maybe Abraham’s research could save humanity.

“…Abraham’s research was not in vain. It was a threat. To them.”

[In that case, we must quickly go to the Forbidden Library, find the value of α, and save the world…]

“Wait a minute. There are also risks. Summoning is also easier when you have coordinates.’

On the other hand, if the α value goes to the Silver Twilight Church, they will summon the evil spirit very easily. It was a double-edged sword.

Tara’s opinion was clear.

“If it means I can give a shit to the Silver Twilight Church, I like it. If this is the goal you were trying to achieve by killing Abraham, I will crush it with my hands along with their bones.’

Niore also did not hesitate.

[When he is summoned, the swallowed soul will suffer infinitely. In an infinitely stretched time. We must prevent putting the entire world into hell.]

But Bennett hesitated.

“…….”

Bennett had to think again. Is there a reason? The party’s purpose is not. His own goal was the acquisition of a luminous scalene polyhedron. It doesn’t matter if this world is swallowed up by evil spirits and reduced to dust.

Even if Abraham’s research disappears without leaving behind anything, there is no one left who remembers it. It doesn’t matter.

Since your only goal is to save your sister, it might be better to ignore it. Still, it felt like there was a thorn stuck in the back of my heart.

Bennett quickly racked his brain and came up with a reason.

“…I could use it as a bargaining chip.”

“Negotiation?”

“Okay. The possibility that the Silver Twilight Church possesses the glowing scalene polyhedron has increased. You may be able to receive the truncated polyhedron in exchange for the value of α….”

“Still the same, Bennett.”

Bennett turned to his horse, avoiding eye contact.

“Our thoughts were in agreement as far as obtaining research materials. The next destination is… the forbidden library at the Miskatonic University Library.”

The plan is set.

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Day 6. The clock tattoo on my wrist was approaching zero.

Everyone in the group agreed that there was ‘no time’. Even if I ran out of time and had to go back midway, I decided that I needed to obtain Abraham’s research as soon as possible.

However, the party was quite exhausted due to the continuous battles and tension.

[Even if we leave right now….]

“Let’s rest for an hour.”

“3 hours.”

Tara and Niore expressed their dissatisfaction and impatience at Bennett’s declaration.

“Aren’t you resting too much? 2 hours.”

[Shouldn’t we go quickly? I think just one hour of rest would be enough…]

“3 hours. I won’t accept any objections, so just keep quiet and close your eyes.’

Bennett crossed his arms, leaned back against the wall, and closed his eyes. Sufficient rest was not an option, but a necessity, and the group had stayed up all night. It was a tight 3 hour break.

Tara muttered and closed her eyes. And within a few minutes, I fell asleep. It seemed like she was dreaming of having a meal with her family as she occasionally nuzzled her hair in her mouth.

Niore noticed and couldn’t sleep, so she opened the grimoire. This book, which contains numerous magics that borrow the power of evil spirits, could also have reverse summoning magic. Find magic, save the world, and make Abraham’s death meaningful…

Reading grimoires made my brain itch. Obviously, there are no pain cells in the brain, but it feels like an ant has crawled into the deepest part of the head. Itches in places I can never scratch.

Hold on tight. If it’s too itchy, hit your forehead against the wall. While tearing out her hair. That’s how I read the grimoire. It should be helpful. Bennett was even shot because of him. You can make up for it. I have to make up for it….

And Bennett wasn’t dreaming.

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Bennett opened his eyes in a blank white space.

In front of him stood a girl with distinctive pinkish-purple eyes. Her blonde hair, tied in two pigtails, swayed quietly. The girl had a very nervous and urgent expression.

I felt hazy. Is this a dream?

“You know, Bennett. I have something to ask you. It’s important…!’

How important is it?

“Saving one person.”

That’s not important.

“That’s not true. Isn’t it important to think about your future? The lectures will become very difficult, and next time they may send you to a living hell worse than Cthulhu.’

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

“I’ll explain the details outside, so just remember this. If you depose the vice king, everything will work out. Okay?”

The girl disappeared after saying something strange. Bennett also looked around in a state of ambiguity between reality and fantasy. It disappeared like a candle going out.