13 – Suddenly, the Final Boss Appeared
The discontinued dungeons were problematic in many ways.
At least from my perspective as one of the Four Heavenly Kings. A properly managed dungeon would have its traps and structure vaguely known, but discontinued dungeons were chaotic spaces with land that bore feral monsters and broken corridors. Even tiny monsters would suddenly spring from the cracks.
No wonder adventurers shunned them. Even now, guided by the holy sword, the paths were blocked by broken structures or led to difficult tunnels, so we had to detour several times.
If it weren’t for the abilities of the Hero, we would’ve been lost for a long time.
“This time, the light leads to a wall? Is it a dead-end again?”
“It’s surprisingly stable for a dead-end. This may lead to the hideout of the dark wizards.”
“Shall I open it? Oh Divine One─”
The moment when the Hero swung his holy sword to break the wall,
With a sound of something enormous moving, the wall opened of its own accord to reveal a hidden staircase. It seemed to have noticed our arrival and opened for us.
Was it a trap? Or was it an expression of confidence that they could stop the two of us at any time?
It was common knowledge that fighting in a wizard’s prepared space was dangerous. Although, I was unsure whether this applied to dark wizards who used different fundamental powers.
With the door openly inviting us, we had no choice but to be wary. Several thoughts surfaced and then disappeared.
“They are inviting us in. Let’s go!”
“It could also be a trap.”
“Turning back now that we’ve come all this way would be strange, wouldn’t it?”
“That’s true, but…”
“If you’re really worried, how about throwing a flame stone inside the hole? We might be able to burn them all in one go.”
It was certainly an efficient hunting method in such an enclosed space.
If only they weren’t dark mages.
“I doubt such tricks will work on them. They are mages, after all, and like that dark mage in the warehouse who used the power of flames, they are capable of controlling elements to some extent.”
“Then it looks like we have no choice but to go in ourselves!”
There was a revolting feeling about it, but what the hero said was not wrong. It was necessary to enter their stronghold to deal with the dark mages, after all.
If there’s no way to lure the tiger out of its den, then we must enter the tiger’s den ourselves. Moreover, we’ve already been exposed to the enemy. There was no guarantee that another opportunity would come.
Trusting in the hero’s strength and entering seemed to be the right answer.
“…Let’s go in.”
“The decision is made! Follow me!”
I gripped my quarterstaff tightly and kept an eye on our rear as I followed the hero. The passageway formed a staircase, so it would be tough to respond if we were ambushed from above.
Fortunately, there were no ambushes by the time we had descended all the stairs. They must be pretty confident in their own skills.
“That’s a huge door, isn’t it?”
“A dungeon boss’s chamber… the entrance to it. Seems like the dark mages have remodeled an abandoned dungeon for their use.”
“You can remodel a dungeon?”
“It’s possible with a dungeon that has no ruler. Demonic power is similar to mana. If you can access the dungeon core, remodeling parts of the dungeon wouldn’t have been difficult. Anything beyond that would have required administrative rights, though…”
“Woocheon, you sure know a lot?”
“…I’ve studied a lot.”
“Heh, I guess study isn’t really for me. But I can learn the sword quickly enough.”
I accidentally revealed knowledge from my role within the demon king’s army. Fortunately, they did not seem to doubt the origin of my knowledge.
I’ll have to be more careful.
“Shall I open it?”
“Be on guard for any ambush.”
Luckily, there was no ambush.
It was so uneventful that I even started to think that I might have been overly sensitive.
Is it alright for these dark mages to be so fair and square…? Didn’t I have the impression that they would do anything, however cowardly?
Well, the dark mage we saw at the warehouse also refrained from ambushing and began babbling away instead. It seems they have confidence in the power they borrow directly from demons.
It’s not a power that mere humans can dare challenge.
While immersed in such thoughts, a voice sounded from inside the room.
“The nuisances are here now.”
“…Dark sorcerer.”
Inside, twelve dark sorcerers, all in flipped-back black hoods, were standing. I barely killed one, so don’t tell me… did the difficulty just spike all the sudden?
Sure, the hero has grown stronger but it’s me who’s in trouble if I get caught.
While I’m considering an escape route, checking the still-opened entrance, one of the dark sorcerers in the middle started to speak.
“I suppose you’re the ones who killed the thirteenth?”
“The thirteenth?”
“The apostle using the power of Vesuvius.”
“Oh, you mean the Flame? Yes, I killed it. Are you guys preparing to follow suit?”
“So arrogant. The Goddess’s champion. Even her blessing won’t spare you from death.”
“Isn’t that also the same for you?”
“Hah. The sacrifice is already complete… And inviting you in was solely to make you spectators of this momentous founding.”
At that moment.
All twelve dark sorcerers drew their daggers. At the moment when the hero took guard and aimed his holy sword, they did something completely unexpected.
“Chock-.”
They all stabbed their own throats with the dagger.
As the bewildered hero took a step back, I intentionally took a step forward. Damn it, it was better to take them down while that bloke was babbling.
Understanding very little about black magic, I hardly knew what was happening…
One thing could be predicted in this situation, though!
I tried to pull the daggers out from the dark sorcerers’ throats, to stem the blood flow.
But, it seemed to be too late.
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Already, their souls were leaving their bodies. The blood from their throats dyed the magic circle beneath their feet red.
Then.
“Such a vile and filthy smell. The abominable scent of the Goddess.”
The smell of sulfur filled the air.
As the magic circle was dyed red, black smoke rose up. Room temperature spiked in an instant, a melting heat seemed to lick at the skin. However, neither the smoke that could rot lungs nor the heat that could melt flesh were anything compared to the scenery that unfolded next.
“How fortunate we are here. Today’s a joyous day. Let’s raise a toast and enjoy this freedom.”
It was magma. Bright magma, like molten iron in a blast furnace, started to flow from the magic circle and soon formed a figure.
The darkly hardened surface of the magma looked like skin, and the lava light peeping through the gaps appeared like veins. Flames flared from its eyes, and the rough human figure brought about an unparalleled wave of terror.
Damn it.
How strong is the goddess trying to make this hero.
To give such an impossible trial.
“The time has come to open the door. The procession of the night will open again. Oh, brethren. Isn’t this joyous? As we’ve retrieved our lost key, isn’t this exciting?”
Devil.
The evil god sealed in ancient times has resurrected on this continent.
By the hands of madmen.
“My name is Clavis Aurea. The golden key that melts all locks. Oppressors! Rejoice! Your adversary has returned─!”
And.
The hero swung the holy sword.
Towards the demon known as the ancient evil god.
─Bang!
“Kana?!”
*
“What a terrible and filthy smell. The nauseating smell of the goddess.”
The moment ‘it’ emerged from the magic circle, I knew it.
Strong. Perhaps strong enough for me to anticipate defeat. No, certainly strong enough to defeat me as I am now.
The blessing bestowed by the goddess showed how formidable that being was. My hand grasped around the holy sword began to tremble. If I fight with it, I will surely die.
“Fortunately we are here. Today is a joyous day. Let’s raise a toast and enjoy this freedom.”
At the same time, the goddess’s blessing also showed something else.
It was incredibly weakened right now. Even with its weakened power, it could easily defeat someone like me, but it was not strong enough to kill me in an instant.
There was a degree of difference in our strengths that even if I fought a hundred times, I would lose a hundred times….
“The time has come to open the door. The procession of the night will open again. Oh, brethren. Isn’t this joyous? As we’ve retrieved our lost key, isn’t this exciting?”
If it weren’t for this moment, I wouldn’t even have a chance to fight.
Even a single day’s delay meant I dare not face it.
I had no choice but to confront it now.
“My name is Clavis Aurea. The golden key that melts all locks. Oppressors! Rejoice! Your adversary has returned─!”
The decision was made in a moment.
With the holy sword in hand, and drawing out all the power of a hero.
I swung it.
Toward that seething lump of lava.
─Boom!
“Kana?!”
As something exploded, a blast wave kicked up dust in the surroundings.
It was similar to when I faced the dark sorcerer in the warehouse. As the dust settled, the voice of the demon could be heard.
Hot lava cascaded down. The hero’s strength, solid as a shield, blocked the lava, but it was impossible to stop the heat transmitted through the air.
The hot air filled my lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
『You servant of the goddess, do you dare to ruin my fun? Do you wish to see blood on such a fine day?』
“Ugh – .”
One-sided violence.
My sword swings failed to even crack the dark crust of the lava, and even if I warded off the demon’s lava, the heat alone scorched my lungs.
It seemed impossible to stand a chance against him.
Yet, piercing through that heat, I heard Woocheon’s voice.
“That is something that becomes distinct with each cycle it undergoes. It is like the northern winter wind, like the frost of dawn. In the polar regions, everything freezes solid, and neither the eternal snow of Bongjeong nor the frozen north sea will thaw. Cooling.”
“Magic…?”
From the tip of the quarterstaff Woocheon held, a cold chill was emanating. I had thought it was a unique weapon, but it seemed to serve a dual purpose as a staff for casting spells.
The terrible heat burning my lungs subsided, and breathing became a little easier.
And then, hope appeared. Perhaps we could win.
The power of the hero, this twisted blessing bestowed by the goddess, grows stronger through adversity.
By the time this fight ends.
We will surely win.
With that resolve, I swung the holy sword again. Once more, the hero’s power exploded, and the shock traveled through my entire body.
But this time, it was a little more.
Clearly and unmistakably.
It penetrated.
“Goddess, grant me courage….”