Episode 55. Kali (1)
As soon as she was born, she was abandoned in the forest and destined to die.
Whether you are bitten by a wild animal or you run out of strength after crying alone.
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The one who took care of me was the World Tree.
Strangely rising branches and warm leaves in the middle of the forest.
It is said that the High Elves found me as a newborn baby in a nest made by the World Tree.
That is how I was chosen from birth to be the priestess of the World Tree.
From the time my self was formed, I was treated as a priestess, and I never had any doubts about it.
If it weren’t for the World Tree in the first place, I wouldn’t have even started my life.
It was natural to dedicate ourselves to the world tree.
I existed for the world tree and lived to function as a priestess.
It’s been a long time since I forgot the name.
A long time ago, I had a name given to me by the World Tree, but I forgot it because no one called me.
The only people who look for me are those who are looking for the goddess of the World Tree.
The priestess was me, and I was the priestess.
There was no one named Mia there.
‘Mia…Is it…’
It was the first time someone called me by my name.
It was the first time he was interested in a person named Mia, rather than the priestess of the World Tree.
Until then, I thought I was just a light person.
Like all other humans, I thought they were barbaric and only had strange fantasies about elves.
‘Come under me. That way you have room to breathe.’
‘Then what about you?’
‘It’s not like one person has to live.’
‘······!’
But it wasn’t.
There is no way such a light human would risk his life to fight for someone he has never met, especially for another race.
This is a person who was willing to die for me.
I probably heard Ifrit’s whisper at that time.
If I hadn’t put the magic tool to his chest, he would have really died.
He would have died to save me.
‘I am nothing if not a priestess…’
Now that the World Tree’s eyes have collapsed, there is no way for me to communicate with the World Tree.
If she is not connected to the World Tree, there is no meaning to her existence.
I am no longer a priestess.
And I, who have lived my whole life as a priestess, have nothing left without the title of priestess.
For me like that.
The man fought not for the priestess, but for one person named Mia.
‘I don’t feel a headache. I can’t even hear the world tree’s voice…’
I don’t know what to do.
This is my first time like this.
This is my first time breaking free from the constraints and responsibilities of being a world tree priestess and living as a single person, so everything is confusing.
I feel like I’m lost.
I feel like I have become lost.
But I don’t just dislike it.
Because I see someone ahead who will lead me.
It seemed like Eugene would accept Nara even though she was no longer a priest.
In my heart, I want to follow Eugene.
I want to escape from Elvengarde, where I have been trapped all my life, and enjoy a trip with him.
Thinking of such happy thoughts brings a smile to my face.
“Mistress.”
“Ah, ah. Yes…”
The moment I stopped delusional and opened my eyes.
All of a sudden, the eyes of the elders are focused on me.
I harden my expression, which had loosened without realizing it.
“You said that an unknown enemy was even controlling the eyes of the World Tree, right?”
“Yes. It seems that the existing world tree’s eyes have collapsed and will no longer function properly.”
“In that case, after defeating the enemy, the World Tree’s eyes will be restored. It will be difficult to respond to the resurrected eyes of the World Tree from the beginning. He probably shows greater aptitude than the priestess. “An elf might appear.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“If you wish, you can step down from your position as a priestess now. I will let someone else take over the position. You have devoted yourself for the past 76 years. You will be a saint in just 30 years, so you can slowly start to take charge of your life. “I think it’s okay to live.”
“······.”
A choice was presented to me at an unexpected moment.
I thought it was just my delusion.
The elders really gave me a chance to quit being a priest.
“I couldn’t even imagine…”
Is there any reason to hesitate?
I couldn’t hide the smile that formed without me knowing, and I parted my lips.
The answer was decided from the beginning.
“Thank you for your consideration. Still, I have no intention of giving up my position as a priestess. I will continue until the World Tree kicks me out.”
“Mistress…”
You can’t quit.
The link that connected me and Eugene is the world trust.
You cannot abandon the World Tree.
I even made a promise to Eugene.
I will tell him prophecies throughout my life.
I have to take on that role.
I can’t imagine, and I don’t want to imagine, someone else telling Eugene the prophecy.
A chance to repay Eugene for her favor.
And this is a chance to see Eugene’s face for the rest of your life.
You can never quit.
“What are you doing now, Michael Jackson?”
I am the only one who knows his real name.
Being immersed in this small sense of superiority only lasts for a moment.
“You are conducting a final inspection in front of the dungeon entrance with your colleagues.”
“If you tell me that you have the supplies you need, please bring them all. I hope you will succeed. If you fail, the World Tree will fall into the hands of an unknown enemy…”
It takes my breath away to think that he is about to face a dangerous battle.
Because lifespan is short, I even thought that the life of one elf was more precious than the lives of 10 short-lived species.
However, Eugene is different.
If I could sacrifice my life to save Eugene, I would gladly do so.
Just like Eugene did for me.
‘World Tree. Please protect Eugene so he can come back alive…’
I offer a prayer that cannot be reached.
I pray endlessly to the disconnected world tree.
Please save Eugene.
Please return the man who first called me Mia safely to my arms.
“······Huh?”
Then at some point.
I notice something strange.
‘How do you know my name is Mia?’
I never told him his name.
***
‘They keep records really well, too.’
Perhaps thanks to the setting that Elvengarde is also crazy about records, I was able to receive a lot of information about the dungeon.
What kind of monsters appear?
What is the structure?
Which traps are installed where.
I carefully examined the map written in blood by the elves.
And the result.
‘Where have I seen this dungeon before?’
I was struck by a strange sense of déjà vu.
I carefully looked at all the records to see if it was my imagination.
Because you can get so excited that you end up chasing after it.
Take a quick look.
Seeing it again for the second time.
Finally, let’s check once more and become confident.
‘This. It’s Kali’s unique dungeon.’
I am confident that this is a dungeon I have entered only once before.
During the last 12 rounds, the goal was not to catch the final boss, so it was rare to encounter the Four Heavenly Kings.
But very occasionally, there were cases where I happened to encounter the Four Heavenly Kings.
It was some time ago.
Was it the 5th time?
I discovered a dungeon that had clearly appeared in a place where there shouldn’t be a dungeon.
I went in without fear and took each room step by step, and it was only when I reached the last room that I noticed it.
The fact that this is no ordinary dungeon.
The fact that it is a unique dungeon created by the Four Heavenly Kings, Kali.
‘Now that I think about it, I’m glad I didn’t die that time and came out alive.’
When I think about that time again, my perineum feels numb.
In the 5th episode, when he was quite weak, he ran away alive even after encountering Kali.
I think it was probably Carly who looked after me at that time.
Anyway.
All dungeons in the game always exist in the same location in every round.
But the unique dungeons created by the Four Heavenly Kings are different.
Unlike existing dungeons that were already completed when I returned, unique dungeons were built later.
So I had no idea when and where it would appear.
Luckily, this dungeon seems to have been Kali’s unique dungeon.
I thought it was an unknown dungeon that I knew nothing about.
“Queuuu!”
“Wow, surprise! What do you mean?”
“Oh, my back is killing me. Let’s straighten my back a bit.”
“Why, why are you so carefree? You might die, right? The enemy is strong enough to encroach on the world tree…!”
As I tease her stretching, making her moan, Alicia next to her makes a fuss.
Her hands and feet are shaking.
The tips of her eyes won’t stop twitching.
This guy.
I was so scared.
If you’re this depressed, you won’t even be able to show your true skills.
“Don’t worry too much.”
“Why? Ah! Have you prepared the perfect strategy this time? Just like how you easily defeated the Great Spirit!”
“No. It won’t be that easy this time.”
“Then why…”
“There’s nothing to gain from worrying. You can be as nervous as you want. But stop worrying. No matter what you imagine, even more bizarre things will pop up.”
I massage Alicia’s shoulders and relieve her tension.
You can’t prepare for something you don’t know.
In the end, all we need now is a state of extreme tension that allows us to respond immediately to anything.
Anything else is just counterproductive.
“That’s right. Rather than shrinking, I need to be alert. I don’t know what traps will come from the start…”
“Ah. You don’t have to worry about traps.”
“Yes?”
Although this is my first time properly confronting Kali.
This dungeon is quite familiar, so there are many advantages that can be gained.
“Hey! Please bring me some explosives!”
.
.
.
Dark dungeon.
A single point where spider webs from all directions gather.
The woman who sat on the throne.
Druid, Kali, maintains concentration by continuously drooling.
It has already been three months since it began to burrow into the roots of the World Tree and eat away at it.
At first, there seemed to be no progress, but Kali successfully took control of the entire root and part of the base.
If this trend continues, it will happen soon.
I think I can probably sprout the flower of death within 6 months.
I think we can finally purify this continent that is filled with nothing but trash.
With such hope in mind, we were once again accelerating our efforts to take control of the World Tree.
Her concentration breaks and her eyes widen.
-Intruder!-
Jump up.
Carly stood up quickly and shouted.
A faint vibration rang through the spider web just now from the entrance of the dungeon.
It meant that the door was opened and a new victim came in.
-That human race. You were alive-
Failed to kill.
It must have been a desperate attack that involved mobilizing the roots of the World Tree and eventually leading to the person being buried alive.
It seemed like he survived even there and knocked on the dungeon door.
-As expected. As expected!-
But Kali’s face was filled with joy instead of regret.
Of course, it was an attack that did its best, but part of me hoped that the human race would survive.
He is powerful enough to overwhelm and destroy Belphegor’s alter ego.
It would be meaningless if I died before I could even taste that skill.
Fortunately, he did not betray Kali’s expectations.
-Ah! Ah! Should I watch it? What are your skills!-
All the monsters inside were her eyes.
If you use it, you can get a glimpse of the opponent’s personnel, weapons, abilities, etc. All the way to here and prepare in advance.
The moment when Kali connected to all the ‘eyes’ with anticipation.
-Huh?-
Her expression becomes distorted.
I couldn’t find the other person in any of the ‘eyes’.
Have we not moved one step from the starting point yet?
But it doesn’t matter.
To get here, you’ll have to go through each room one by one.
The rooms where countless threats lurk…
Cookung!
At that time.
As the dungeon shook violently and there was a loud noise, Kali’s expression hardened.
A hole was blown in the ceiling of the dungeon with a continuous explosion sound.
A look of astonishment spread across Kali’s face as she looked up.
“The shortcut is opening, dude.”
-Uh huh?!!!-
The human race that Belphegor spoke of.
He was jumping down from above holding a long sword.
Haw i like it !!!