I Give Up on Conquering the Heroines chapter 88

88 – “Episode 88. Complete Barrier (1)”

“I can’t believe it!”

Before I knew it, Vasel was hidden behind a black curtain.

The bright sun was transformed into a black sun in a blink of an eye.

The gloomy darkness spreads everywhere, make it feels as if it has fallen into the underworld.

Since I was close to the edge of the curtain, I knocked on it.

Still, it didn’t budge an inch.

The moment I touched it, I had a hunch.

This is a wall that I can’t even scratch with my strength or telekinesis.

Even though I tried to touch my ectoplasm on the barrier wall, it was no use.

The magic has been completely blocked, making it impossible to absorb with ectoplasm.

This solid wall is definitely.

‘A complete barrier.’

A barrier.

Among others, there are various kinds, like a barrier that blocks sound, a barrier that blocks light, a barrier that blocks magic, etc.

The one called a complete barrier is the perfect barrier among the barriers.

It’s a barrier that makes it impossible for the inside and outside to affect each other no matter what trick is used.

So we are trapped in a reality completely cut off from the outside.

So how can we get out from here?

There are two ways.

Wait until the sorcerer can no longer maintain the barrier.

Or kill the sorcerer.

In other words, there is no need to panic even if you are trapped in a complete barrier.

Not me, it’s not urgent.

Because it’s the other side that has to kill me before the barrier disappears.

“Mumu, what have you done!!! Because of you! Thanks to you, the Grand Druid’s object was stolen and boldly moved around, weren’t we tracked?”

“Why are you making such a fuss. Calm down.”

“Do I look calm? We’re going to die! We are all going to die······!”

But something is strange about Transilvia.

Of course, much stronger than the Four Heavenly Kings.

He’s at a much higher level than me.

To put it bluntly, it’s a combat power that won’t be pushed back even if fighting two of the Four Heavenly Kings at the same time.

Transilvia is panicked like this?

What’s with this guy?

Wasn’t he a monster?

“Return that magic stone to the Grand Druid right now! Then, a bloody incident might not happen!”

“No. How can I return this to someone who is already dead.”

“What did you say?”

“This. It’s a magic stone created when the magic of the guy I killed, Kali, gathered.”

“What······.”

Tran Silvia’s expression twists and then instantly turns pale.

No, it was originally pale, so it did not turn pale.

Anyway, he makes a stunned expression and then slowly takes a step backward.

Seeing how surprised he is, it seems like he didn’t know anything about Kali’s soul.

I shouldn’t have said anything.

I ended up showing my hand.

“Impossible! I didn’t expect you to go as far as lying! You are completely mad!”

“If you don’t believe it, don’t.”

“I definitely warned you! Return the stolen object! Because that is the most peaceful way!”

“He didn’t come for the merch either. He can’t possibly avoid a fight. Could we possibly not fight side by side?”

“You’re out of your mind! Fight side by side? Don’t talk nonsense! I don’t fight on anyone’s side! I always maintain neutrality between monsters and humans! That’s my credo!”

I know well enough that Transilbia remains neutral, favoring neither monsters nor humans.

But would he maintain that stance even in a situation where he is being attacked unilaterally?

This doesn’t seem like the Transilbia I know.

The Transilbia I know is aggressive and never backs away from confrontations.

“Maintaining neutrality, are you? Is that so? If you’re a monster, then you must know that this world will be obliterated a thousand years from now. Given your theoretically immortal body, would you quietly die if the world ended a thousand years from now? Isn’t that contradictory?”

“Shut up! You short-sighted fool! It appears your human nature hinders you from seeing the bigger picture.”

“You’re not scare… are you?”

“What? Uh? Ha! Ridiculous! Me, scared? I, Transilbia, who can single-handedly tear apart an army, scared? From the hole you call a mouth, you’re spewing nonsense. Today, I’ll let it slide! I’m busy and must be on my way! I’m not running out of fear!”

With that, all his anger seemed to dissipate.

Transilbia mounted his horse and disappeared into the woods.

“He’s scared.”

“······Yeah, he’s scared.”

Anyone could obviously see that he was scared.

Maybe he suffers from a trauma caused by a severe bashing from the Four Heavenly Kings in the past.

But with him fleeing so frantically, there’s no point in trying to convince him again.

It seems that we can’t rely on Transilbia to help us out.

That leaves only Mijung and me to face the one who cast this barrier.

“Do you feel anything?”

“······Quiet.”

Even though I was holding my breath and focusing my senses using the magic control, nothing seemed to disturb the quiet.

Even when I used my sixth sense, I didn’t feel any magic or force.

“Is he planning staggered attacks? Let’s head to the village for now. We need to make sure Tei is safe.”

“······Okay.”

It seems we still have time before the attack.

We have to meet Tei as soon as possible.

He is the master artisan who will be handling my magic stone processing from now on.

If something happens to him, it would be troublesome.

“Oh my! What on earth is happening!”

“The end is here! The apocalypse has arrived!”

“Everyone run! We need to take refuge!”

“The road is blocked, you say? Some kind of wall is erected…!”

The city center of Basel is, to put it mildly, a disaster area.

It will be utter chaos in five minutes.

There are people coming out with crosses, shouting up at the sky.

There are those packing their belongings and escaping.

And there are those who have given up, quietly praying.

Their states may be different, but they share one thing in common.

None of them predicted this situation.

They were completely unaware of a being capable of unfolding a barrier of this magnitude.

‘Is this the work of Belphegor?’

A magic powerful enough to infuriate me.

I’m not good at discerning the scent of magic, but I can’t deny how familiar it feels.

Belphegor’s involvement in creating this barrier is almost certain.

But does Belphegor possess enough power to envelop the whole of Basel in a perfect barrier?

That’s a bit unclear.

Belphegor is still sucking power from its contractors.

Which means it’s not fully awakened yet.

Can it be this powerful already?

Something is off.

“Please evacuate! We are closing the building now!”

“Hurry up! Get out already!”

Finally, I arrive at Tei’s workshop.

As expected, it’s in a total mess just like everywhere else.

Well-trained staff had a handle on the control though.

“…Over there. A child on the ground.”

“Ah! Tei!”

Just then, I spotted him, thanks to Mijeong yanking on my sleeve.

Tei, surrounded by security personnel, getting off an elevator and heading somewhere.

As I pushed through the crowd, waving and shouting, Tei finally recognized me and stopped in his tracks.

“Tei! You mustn’t stop! Hurry to the air-raid shelter…!”

“Leave me be! I’m safest by that person’s side!”

Despite the bodyguards’ protests, Tei dashed toward me in a flurry.

He then bumped his head against my stomach.

Wrapping his arms tightly around my waist, he looked up at me with worried eyes.

“It’s really good to see you! Ah, I was so scared! But now that the investor is here, I feel relieved!”

“Are you alright? Not hurt anywhere? How’s the workshop?”

“Everyone is safe. The sky suddenly turned dark, and everyone was in a panic… But there’s been no direct damage yet.”

“Do you have a place to take shelter?”

“Yes, we built an air-raid shelter underground when we constructed the building. It’s spacious enough to accommodate all the employees and more.”

“Then take refuge there. Ah. Burn all the letters that came for me.”

“Why?”

“We have to erase all evidence of your connection with me. If things go wrong, you could face retribution.”

“!”

Tei’s eyes widened.

It seemed he hadn’t contemplated such an extreme situation.

“Please, I don’t like this! Assure me you’ll return alive, won’t you?”

“I will. But in case-“

“In case is…!”

“There are always ifs. You have to be prepared for the worst. If those letters are found, we’ll both be in trouble. That’s why you need to burn them all. Understand?”

“Yes…”

Despite quivering as if seized by a sudden convulsion, Tei began to relent.

As I held his shoulder and explained calmly, he quickly subdued his excitement and agreed.

“After that, go straight to the air-raid shelter. By the time you come out, the sky will be clear again.”

“Isn’t there anything I can do to help you?”

“No. Staying safe is the best help you can provide. That way, I can fight with peace of mind.”

“That’s… true… I’ll trust in you and wait!”

Then, clenching his fist tightly and with a resolute look in his eyes, he gazed up at me.

He’s a clever one.

“You won’t do anything reckless, right?”

He roughly runs a hand through his hair once and quickly pushes it away.

“Go fast! Don’t look back!”

“Yes.”

As Tei runs off, we leave the workshop building, making our way back to the chaotic townscape.

Only now do I see the workshop staff guiding civilians to air-raid shelters.

They had plenty of space, so they ushered in strangers as well.

That policy was typical of Tei.

“What’s the plan?”

In this chaos, Mijeong asks cautiously.

The thought of fighting in such a crowded place intimidates her.

“First, we need to draw out the enemy. To a place with few people.”

From Noble mtl dot com

“How?”

The worst scenario is being attacked in a crowded city center.

If Belphegor appears, releasing that intense dark magic, the thousands here will either die or become seriously injured.

That needs to be prevented by all means.

That’s why there’s a plan in place.

“They’re chasing after Cali’s spirit, right? We left it in a place where people are scarce.”

“Where?”

The moment Mijeong asks,

Bang!

“Agh!”

“Is it an explosion?”

“It’s a disaster! The disaster finally began!”

From afar, at the foot of the mountain, black smoke rises with a loud noise.

There.

“We surreptitiously put it in the bag attached to Transylvania’s horse.”

“Wow.”

Mi-Jeong’s mouth falls open in awe.

These bastards had lured all the way here by Cali’s phantom smell.

If I mask the smell, they won’t be able to track it, so I shoved it in a bag attached to the horse’s saddle while masked.

Should I unmask it here?

Transylvania might get attacked by enemies chasing Cali’s phantom.

I just figured out their location from the explosion.

Now I just need to have Transylvania fight in my stead and have the others unite to intercept. That’s all there is to it.

“Seriously. They’re horrible.”

“How could they…”

A common tactic in this game.

Lure the NPC with a bait item and then trace them back.

The really ruthless ones would give it to a weak NPC who couldn’t resist and would be slaughtered.

I, on the other hand, gave it to the strongest champion in the game world, which makes me more benevolent in comparison.

Besides, I couldn’t possibly bring that dangerous thing into the city.

There was no other way to prevent innocent civilians from being endangered.

Bloodthirsty monster wasn’t even a human anyhow.

What does it matter if I tricked it or stabbed it in the back?

“I will be, always. On your side, Eugene.”

“Alright. Thank you.”

“I will, never. Betray. You.”

“Uh huh.”

“Regardless, no matter. What happens. No matter.”

“Thank you. Why do you keep saying that?”

While I was running towards where the explosion had happened.

Mi-Jeong, gripping my hand tightly, kept repeating the same thing.

Suddenly, why did she start acting like this?