EP.68
As you struggle to lift your heavy eyelids, the nightmare etched into your retina sticks between your eyelashes. A hazy state that can be felt halfway between a dream and reality. Is what you are seeing now a dream or reality? It’s hard to tell.
Each of the three escaped drowsiness in their own way.
For Tara, the reality was that this was a chilly place where she could not feel the warmth of her family.
For Niore, the screams of those he could not save and the reality of this place where his mistakes still remain.
For Bennett, this was a reality where there was a clear and unfinished goal.
The anguished warlock drew his sword. One side of the blade is grazed by the faces of the lives it has cut down. On the other side was a reflection of her sister, whom she had to rescue.
I’ve never really heard about Tara and Niore’s life stories, but if there is a difference between me and them, there must be a glimmer of hope. Even though the odds of success were slim, Bennett was able to move forward because he was able to have hope at every moment.
So what if you lose your goal?
In the end, when 『Fear-Eating Corpse Flower』 did not keep its promise, she could never be reunited with her younger sister. Should I twist after breaking down and losing hope?
How should I live after that?
In his secret safe house he had the tools to sharpen his armour, so Bennett cleaned his favorite sword with an oiled cloth. Bennet’s own face was reflected in his carefully cleaned blade.
At least it wasn’t a topic to think about and come to conclusions about right now. Because the clock tattoo on their wrist was urging them on. It was time to navigate this terrible world overshadowed by evil spirits.
“Wake up. It’s not long until we return. It’s time to end the day.”
Tara, who heard Bennett’s words, stood up and mumbled. There was deep fatigue around her eyes, and it seemed as if a part of her soul was still at the table of her past.
Until yesterday, she had asked Abraham about the breakfast menu.
“…what about breakfast?”
“Canned tomatoes.”
“Are you going to cook for me?”
“Just eat it. I don’t have the facilities or time to cook. Think of it as nourishing.”
“…If it were Abraham, I would have cooked it for you.”
Tara looked at a can full of tomatoes and thought of things like tomato spaghetti or pizza. Dinner time with such wonderful dishes.
Bennett clicked his tongue and spoke half-heartedly.
“The cooking… I’ll go out and do it for you.”
“…So you’re saying they’ll do it for you.”
Strange feeling.
Tara felt a strange emotion that she could not identify. She seemed good when asked if it was good or bad. Because her depressed mood improved. But she can’t tell exactly what she’s feeling, so she tries to say a few more words to Bennett.
“Niore, come to your senses. Don’t fall asleep.”
[What the heck]
“The writing goes to the mountains. Wake up and eat at least a little bit. Here.”
[I appreciate it]
Niore scooped up the spoon in a half-asleep state, but not even half of it reached her mouth. The rest were given over to the bottom of a secret safe house.
“…You’re spilling half of it. Give me the spoon. Open your mouth.”
“Ugh.”
Bennett put a spoonful of crushed tomatoes into Niore’s mouth. Niore’s face shriveled at the sour taste, but she ate whatever was given to her.
Tara was annoyed next to me.
“Niore isn’t a kid… can’t you just let her eat alone?”
Bennett pointed to the poor tomato on the floor.
“Do you see this? I’m half asleep, so I spill everything and eat it.”
“I’m also half-asleep.”
“Then what do you mean you want me to feed you too?”
“huh.”
Tara nodded her head and he thought for a moment and then she jumped when she realized she had said yes. Pointing a finger at Bennett, his face bright red from his embarrassment.
“…No no! Don’t say anything weird!”
“It’s clear that you’re half asleep too…”
Maybe it was because it had been a while since I woke up from a dream, so traces of it remained. The time spent preparing for the journey while in a half-asleep state was quite peaceful. In a form that smells like roses, slightly different from her family.
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“Get in first, don’t run out!”
“I told you not to worry for no reason, but at best you’re just a fanatic!”
Sigh.
Tara planted her fist, causing her cultist’s head to snap at an odd angle, knocking her to the ground. Bennett quickly followed and covered his rear.
“And if it’s an enemy whose attack is threatening but whose defense isn’t anything special. It’s right to deal with them quickly!”
“I agree, but there’s no need for you to do anything…!”
“there is!”
Tara smashed the wall next to her, picked up the broken brick, and threw it at the cultist in the corner. The brick missed its aim and grazed the fanatic’s ear, accidentally breaking a window.
Clink-! Wow!
Bennett followed up and threw a rock that hit the cultist between the eyes. Tara grumbled as she saw her brick flying in the wrong place.
“You could go astray once….”
“You… hehe. Let’s talk after.”
Bennett swallowed the words that rose to the top of his throat and looked around. It wasn’t until we passed through the main gates of Miskatonic University that the battle began. As if they had been waiting, the fanatics of the Silver Twilight Church attacked.
Bennett’s goal was to break through and reach the Forbidden Library, where he held a sit-in and obtain Abraham’s research materials before leaving. He was currently in a confrontation with cultists on the street a block from the library.
The ivy-covered wall containing the history of Miskatonic University was cracked and cracked here and there. As if to hint at the decline of universities.
Ordinary college students walking around the university screamed and ran away or hid in buildings and trembled at the sudden strange phenomenon. They called the police several times, but even after a long time, the police did not show up.
And fanatics capture ordinary people.
“Ughhh!!”
Crack, clap.
By sacrificing them, powerful magic was unleashed.
An ordinary person who was grabbed by the neck by a fanatic had his entire body inflated like a balloon and then burst. And from within the blood, a monster with bat wings crawls out. It had no facial features, a pair of horns, and was shaped somewhat like a human.
The monster flapped its wings and lunged at Bennett. It then attacks by swinging its spiked tail like a whip.
“…Hmph!”
Kagaak squeak!
Spilling it out and cutting off the middle of the tail. Bennett frowned. The firmness conveyed by his hands was unusual. So much so that he cannot cut it without infusing a certain amount of magic into the blade.
He was not an insurmountable foe, but he was a matter of attrition. The university is full of ordinary people. If we sacrifice all of them to weed out this monster, it will wither and die.
Sigh! Geek….
When you are blocking and opposing the claws of a flying monster by laying down your long sword like a shield.
“Sir’k… A’stra.”
Nyore chanted in a wheezing sound. The shadow beneath the monster’s feet bubbled, and a large tentacle rose out, wrapping around the monster and sucking it in. The monster struggles and falls into the water.
In the place where the monster was swallowed by its own shadow, only unidentifiable black slime remained.
“…Thank you, Niore.”
Niore smiled brightly, wiping his nose with the back of his hand at the sensation of something leaking out. She has blood on the backs of her hands and on her face.
Niore used her nosebleeds to complete her next spell, as if she was lucky. When I drew her magic circle and offered her blood, a bright red slime about a meter in radius was summoned and croaked.
[That will block the entrance!]
“…I understand. Get in! Don’t run out, come in quietly!”
“I could have killed one more guy!”
Whick!
Tara, who was losing her temper, grabbed a nearby candlestick and threw it like a javelin. The candlestick impaled one of the fanatics’ abdomen and hit the ground. Tara grinned at the sight of the fanatic convulsing in pain and entered the library.
After Niore and Bennett entered the library, the bright red slime stuck to the door and spread along the outer wall. It will protect the entire building and buy you time.
============================================================================================
There were people in the library too. When we found three people covered in blood and holding out swords, the inside became a panic. Someone tried to break the window and escape, but was blocked by bright red slime and couldn’t get out.
[I have no intention of harming you! Please hide somewhere!]
“…I’m not interested in you guys! Just hide quietly in the corner!”
Bennett looked at the whiteboard held up by Niore and shouted once. He led his group into the gold library.
Several booklets and Abraham’s treasury were visible. The vault was massive, sturdy, and bulky. It seemed difficult to move it unless you had a truck.
“…It would be difficult to move it. I think we should just take the contents. 『Fin Borei’s Key』.”
Bennett grabbed the safe’s lock and cast his magic. It was a time-honored lock-release magic that was said to have been developed by a thief.
But there was no snapping noise that should have been heard. Even when I tried to open the safe by holding the handle, the safe was unmovable.
“The magic doesn’t work…?”
[I think it’s because the structure is different. In this world, automobiles and other machines have developed a lot… so wouldn’t locks have become more complicated?]
“Is there anything you can guess from the password?”
“…Wouldn’t it be the birthday of that Isaac or Isaac child?”
“If you know anyone… of course there isn’t one.”
The group had no clue. If you don’t know the safe’s password and can’t move it. You will have to tear it off by force. Bennett imbued the longsword with magical power to its limit. It was filled with bluish energy and became a sharp blade.
Ka-ga-ga-ga-ga-!
As sparks flew, the safe began to tear apart little by little.
“how long does it take?”
“I’m cutting it carefully because the contents might get damaged. I think it’ll take 10 minutes.”
“I heard Niore blocked the entrance with some strange magic? Then it’s about 10 minutes…”
[……!]
I flinch. Niore’s body trembled violently and he turned towards the entrance to the library. Tara muttered with a puzzled look on her face.
“…isn’t it?”
[It just broke through. As if space had been cut out…]
“You said ten minutes? I’ll buy you some time, Bennett. I’m cutting!”
[Wait a minute, get on it!]
Tara opened the door to the forbidden library and came out, leaving Bennett and Niore behind.
The entrance to the library was bare, as if something had torn it open, and from there, a man with numerous necklaces around his neck walked leading a group of fanatics.
The fanatics looked ecstatic as if being with him was the honor of his life. Therefore, the presence of a man with an indifferent expression even amidst the joy was felt more clearly.
A man wearing a necklace. I had read about it in a report. He was the leader of the Silver Twilight Church.
The leader spoke leisurely.
“Who are you? Why are you making a scene at a university that boasts a long tradition?”
“…Are you the cult leader?”
“That’s right. Since I gave you a generous answer, can I look forward to your answer?”
“Why did you kill Abraham? Why on earth!”
“I asked, and I even gave you a kind answer, but what came back was a fleeting resentment… You have no intention of talking.”
The leader took out a strange-looking jewel from his arms. A bright red scalene polyhedron cut at random. The shining scalene polyhedron of the goal must mean that.
Tara raised his guard, ready to cast a protective spell. 『Three dogs guarding the goddess』. A holy shield that can resist magic of any attribute. By drawing an image and drawing on the magic power received from the goddess…
“…Uh huh?”
Magical power given by the goddess. The divine power was not raised well. I tried to force myself to move, but it wasn’t even half as much as usual.
It was creaky. The absence of the divine power that had always filled my body was felt eerily clearly. It feels like it’s emptying out. Cold and cold. A gap that cannot be ignored.
Tara’s face turned pale.
why. why….
Because I… had doubts?
The cult leader lightly stretched out his hand. Five of the nearby fanatics were shriveled in an instant. The surviving fanatics looked on in ecstasy, feeling blessed and glorious.
“I saw it in the future. You are interfering with our great plan. This is blasphemy, so accept death with ease.”
The space distorted and something flew out.
A shapeless fist. The unseen and unavoidable blow struck the defenseless Tara. A blue light flashed.
Bah!
Tara was blown away by the applied physical force, broke the door of the forbidden library, bounced once on the floor, and fell into a bookshelf. Tara, whose back was bent at an impossible angle, twitched for a moment. The light in her eyes suddenly went out.
Swirl over it. Books are pouring in.
“……!!”
Niore let out a silent scream.
At that time, Tara’s body, enveloped in blue light, disappeared as if erased. When Niore is panicking and doesn’t know what to do. Bennett stopped opening the safe and calmly assessed the situation.
“…The safety device has been activated. We have returned to the original blue world from before.”
“…….”
“There’s not much time left.”
Bennett looked at the clock tattoo on his wrist. It’s so close to 0 that it’s almost indistinguishable. Anyway, I will be returning soon.
“Stay here Niore. We’ll be back soon.”
Niore tugged on the hem of Bennett’s clothes as he was leaving the forbidden library. Her hands were shaking. Tara’s corpse just now was… horrible. Even if the safety device worked, I didn’t want to see something like that again.
Especially if it’s Bennett.
If she was going to return soon, all she had to do was take her time like this. With the intention of waiting, Niore grabbed Bennett’s clothes and stretched them out. But Bennett frees her Niore’s hand.
“…This is an opponent that must be defeated someday. The object the author is holding appears to be a glowing scalene polyhedron. So.”
I’m not attacking Tara because I’m angry about what happened to her. I’m attacking you because it’s necessary.
Bennett repeated this to himself and left the Forbidden Library. About the cult leader, I have read the report several times. He said he had a magical barrier. He’d better see if he can get through it.
The leader looked at Bennett walking towards him and asked again calmly.
“The woman’s soul must have been hers before, so this time I will ask you: Why did she come into the university and cause a scene?”
“Why are you trying to bring down a god? I heard it will only erase everything.”
“…This is a question that is on my mind, so I will be happy to answer it. The souls taken by Him will enjoy eternal life in His arms until the universe disappears. I want to extend that grace to everyone on Earth.”
Her hand holding the long sword gained strength.
“I’ll answer that too. The reason I came to college is to kill you.”
Bennett kicked the ground, channeling as much of his magic power as his leg muscles could handle. With a crash, the tiles on the floor broke into pieces and flew in all directions, and his body flew like an arrow.
Nothing in this world is perfect and there are gaps somewhere.
Even if the opponent’s attack is in full swing, you won’t be able to use it if you can’t see it.
“『The black smoke of the pearl ship』 『Eyes that pierce the darkness』!”
Fuuuh-!
Pitch-black smoke billowed out, blocking the view of the surroundings. However, thanks to the successive spells, Bennett could see through the smoke.
In the darkness created by the smoke, Bennett ran, making as little noise as possible. And he finally reached the front of the religious leader.
Close distance.
The religious leader’s eyes, which were looking in the wrong direction, suddenly blinked. Back to Bennett. No, it’s a little different. The place the cult leader is looking at is… the longsword that Bennett imbued with his magic. And Bennett’s legs.
The cult leader’s eyes were a dull gray color. He seemed to have almost no vision. Nevertheless, even in the pitch-black smoke, he was able to pinpoint Bennett’s location accurately.
He seemed to sense his magic and use it as a substitute for his eyesight.
Bennett hastily channeled all his horsepower, but it was too late. You can see a space that is slowly distorting. He curled his body into a defensive stance.
Wow!
Bennett’s body flew. Like Tara, Bennett’s body was blown all the way to the Forbidden Library. Niore, who was inside, saw Bennett’s body disappear in a blue light, his arms twisted in strange directions.
Then the time is up. Niore also disappeared as if erased from the world.
“…I can’t sense any more presence. I’m leaving now, so please clean up after me, brothers.”
The leader nodded his head once and slowly walked out of the library. Behind him, the screams of ordinary people dying to destroy evidence rang out….
Round 1 ended.
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“…Huh.”
Bennett opened his eyes. He tried to get up from the magic circle, but it was difficult to move because his body was strangely heavy. As he looked down, he saw Niore clinging to his body with a crying expression on his face.
“…….”
“…I’m fine. Look, I’m alive and well.”
Niore must have been very surprised, and there were teardrops hanging from the corners of his eyes. When had he ever been this worried about someone else? He felt strange.
Bennett stroked Niore’s hair and stood up. Turning his head, he saw Tara curled up and shaking.
Bennett asked in surprise.
“…Is there something wrong with Tara? Is it possible that the safety device didn’t work properly?”
“No, no. I’m fine too. I’m just a little surprised.”
Like a child who lost something important just because he was surprised. She was panicking. Bennett was thinking of offering something comforting. I closed her mouth. Because I wasn’t used to such words.
Instead, she walked next to Tara and placed her hand on the top of her head.
When her younger sister was anxious, she would cheer her up in this way. Bennett thought Tara would throw her tantrum and tell him to take her hand away immediately, but she didn’t react. Thinking that she must have needed comfort that much, Bennett stroked her head in silence.
Falling into an unfamiliar world and losing the person you were so attached to in a terrible way. He was driven to the brink of death in the end.
Taradoniore also looked like her mind was very spent. Cuts can be stitched, but open wounds are painful and not easy to treat.
If you think about it, it was full of failures.
The three did not achieve everything they each hoped for. Bennett wanted a clue to save her sister, but she didn’t get it, Tara wanted her family, but she lost it, and Niore wanted to save her people, but her heart’s debt only increased.
failure. but.
“…But isn’t there a next time? I mean.”
Bennett wanted to say it was okay. However, he was not proud of himself to say those words. He chose silence.
In the silence, they comforted each other in clumsy ways.
The crazy wizard who caused this situation entered the room. It was 30 minutes after the session ended.
A word from the author (author review)
I will run the custom checker later and fix it…!
+(2:14)
That’s right… it’s a good lunch today….
If I had eaten the pilaf sooner, it wouldn’t have been too late!
See next episode
![Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]](https://cpunovel.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/arcane-sniper.jpg "Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]")
