Showdown Eve – 1
When we arrived in the capital, we settled in an inn and gathered at once.
for an emergency meeting.
Neryl speaks somewhat cynically.
“Idria deserves this debt. No matter how much we need it.”
“If you don’t have to worry about it, you will be able to pay the interest on the debt as well. It’s not just a play about fighting Idria.”
Neril’s expression widened slightly as he remembered what I had said before.
“Well, if that’s the case, then Suzy is probably right.”
“Now let’s talk in earnest. What should I do?”
Everyone fell into silence as if they had made a promise.
They were party members who always came up with various ideas whenever there was a place like this, but this time around, they didn’t seem to know where to start.
That was then.
Lissel, who had been constantly talking with her eyes, opened her mouth.
“Hey, I wasn’t able to say anything recklessly because I thought I might be kicking my legs again.”
“yes? are you okay. Because you get to the point perfectly once in a hundred times. It was you who made me think of Action’s name in the first place.”
Serena shook her head and accepted my words.
“Right. one in a hundred times! In a savvy language, it is said that he is working white hair.”
“ah. Hehe. Thank you. Serene.”
“… … yes.”
Not noticing that we were all laughing awkwardly, Lissel continued to speak seriously.
“Can’t we exclude the Velocian from this operation?”
“What? why?”
“I thought he was asleep.”
For a moment I felt like an idiot.
It’s because Richell’s words are too sensible.
I remembered the brief conversation we had before fighting Caled at the starting line.
-Now that you’ve just listened, I think you know that I’ve been empowered by the Velocian.
-uh. And I know that thanks to that, he was tied up in a special room.
-huh. It’s not tied up, it’s sleeping.
-yes?
– You used too much power or something. I’m very lost. I slept comfortably in the world.
okay.
He said he was asleep.
The reason Velocian couldn’t get out of the special room was because he fell asleep and nothing else.
In an instant, a blush appeared on our faces.
“Isn’t Kayle actually on our side?”
“Now, I think I can trust that. In a sense, he is someone you can trust more than anyone else. Trust that he will surely ruin something.”
“I’m glad I’m not a real colleague.”
“Well. On the other hand, he was the enemy, so I let him go for an hour.”
“As a token of gratitude, how about killing them cleanly and painlessly?”
“no. Anyway, that’s too much.”
It’s the party members who gossip.
In any case, we had a heated meeting, with information like gold thanks to Kayle’s careless speech.
Neryl opened her mouth.
“It’s too early to be completely reassured. Even if you fall asleep, it will be enough when you wake up.”
“Is it some sort of alarm magic?”
“I don’t think that monster would use that kind of basic magic, but whatever it is, the effect will be the same.”
“Then we should proceed as sneakily as possible.”
“The question is, what is the operation? There is nothing stuck.”
That was then.
Ardwin, who had been thinking deeply about something, opened his mouth.
“How about connecting with Idria?”
“… … ?”
Question marks appear on everyone’s faces.
Ardwin continued.
“It is said that Idria and her limbs are also being held in the special room.”
“yes. right.”
“Then, wouldn’t it be easier if they cooperate too?”
“That’s true, but what channel are you going to connect?”
Neryl frowned and pulled out a communication orb.
“It’s a communication orb connected to Idria. As you can see, it’s completely cut off.”
“… … .”
“At first, you all know that the gate to the underworld is a different world. Conversation through communication marbles from within and out is impossible.”
Yes.
And even if it were possible, I don’t think he’ll be able to trick Action’s eyes and have a secret conversation with us.
… … .
for a moment. secret conversation?
I was startled and asked Ardwin.
“Are you talking about conversations through the soul?”
“yes.”
“… … Surely that might be able to avoid Action’s surveillance. But wasn’t that supposed to be able to see Idria’s soul?”
“Maybe there is another way.”
“I hope you are.”
“yes.”
He swallowed his saliva and continued.
“Please take me to the underworld too.”
A servant of the necromancer obtained in the Underworld of the Imperial Castle the other day.
The piece made by the 3rd Hero Leon Shiok makes it possible to visit the underworld ‘while still alive’.
The underworld I went to under the guidance of the Impelium was a world of infinite bubbles.
Impellium said that each and every bubble is the world of people.
I show the appearance of the underworld to my friends… … In particular, I once explained to Ardwin, who showed great interest, as if passing by.
Ardwin was inspired by that explanation and came up with an amazing strategy.
“Isn’t there a bubble in the underworld for Idriana and her family?”
“There may be.”
“Please take me in front of him. then… … Well, I’ll try something.”
Ardwin said so and scratched his head.
“Honestly, if it was me in the past, I wouldn’t even bring it up, but somehow I think it’s possible now.”
“Because you turned fame into power?”
“yes. It has an expiration date, but power is power. As I said last time, my understanding of the soul has deepened.”
With that ability, he had even erased Caled’s soul, which had received Velocian’s support.
If it was Ardwin, I might as well take him.
As I was deep in thought, Xenia said.
“It’s too dangerous. Above all else, in order to enter the underworld, you must first separate your body and soul. Can you separate your own soul?”
“yes. I think it was possible this time.”
“Ardwin.”
“Do not worry too much. I’m not going alone, I’m asking Maid for guidance.”
He turned his head to me.
“I’m going to tie my soul and my brother’s soul a little bit. Then, without any extra effort, I will naturally follow you.”
Then, the faces of the companions loosened considerably.
It’s like being with me can give you some peace of mind… … It was the same expression.
Considering that what we were about to do was a tour of the underworld, it was an unreasonably strong belief.
[Honestly, don’t you want to be able to do it too?]
‘right. It’s a road I’ve been on once. The problem is to find Adrian’s things in that infinite bubble.’
[Once you go, you’ll know. If not, you can go back later.]
Now, it was a trail that talked about the Myeonggye Haeng as if it were a walk in the neighborhood.
The problem is that there is nothing to refute that carefree statement.
I smiled and opened my mouth.
“I get it. Let’s go.”
“yes! Oh, who should I ask for the necromancer’s servant?”
Neryl said it was natural.
“I’ll do it. I did it last time too, and above all, I can’t leave this delicate work to Offense.”
“I never said I did, so why are you being insulted?”
Serena intervened with a sly smile.
“It’s a warm feeling that I wish Mr. Offense a long life.”
It’s a special consolation
The underworld tour proceeded immediately.
Ardwin first separated my soul.
When I woke up, the world of huge bubbles I had seen before was welcoming me.
slinky. slinky.
I hear the bells ringing for Neril.
And at the same time, Ardwin’s voice was heard.
“haha. Is this the place where this body will lie down in the future?”
“If it were you, you would definitely say something like that. Anyway, it’s my first trip to the underworld.”
“I can hear the cries of souls.”
“come back quickly. Reach Neryl?”
“Help me.”
“Anyway, as you can see, this is the underworld. What is the difference between hearing and seeing in person?”
Ardwin looked around.
And soon smiles a little vaguely.
“No necromancer handed down on the continent has described the underworld like this. Even Grade-sama, Lephia-sama, and Leon-sama’s expressions are different.”
“Impelium was like that. Even the warriors of the past could not destroy their world.”
“Then how can you see the world like this?”
“I don’t know.”
“Anyway, thanks to you, I had a wonderful experience. Thank you, bro.”
I don’t know if this is something to say thank you.
In the original continent, ‘I will not send you to the underworld’ would have the same meaning as ‘I will not kill you.’
I scratched my head and looked around.
“Last time, with the help of Impelium, I found the world of Serrain and Florence. But I have no idea where to look this time.”
It was impossible to characterize each bubble world in the first place.
From here on, it must be Ardwin’s realm rather than mine.
He wandered around, skimming the bubbles.
It is like a young child who went out to the market after a long time holding mom and dad’s hand.
“hey. Don’t go too far.”
“Ah yes! Go over there a little bit.”
“okay.”
So I wandered the underworld with Ardwin for a while.
slinky. slinky.
Come to think of it, in the real world, Neryl keeps shaking the bell right?
That guy’s arm hurts.
You may have to go back slowly so you don’t hear a word later.
As long as you have Ardwin and the necromancer’s servant, you can revisit at any time.
“Ardwin. slowly… … .”
“father.”
“yes?”
“Isn’t my father here?”
His voice was trembling.
I kept my back straight.
“When my brother found my father’s stone statue in my hometown, I certainly saw my father’s soul in the stone statue.”
“… … !”
“I didn’t tell my mother because she was worried, but my father’s soul was very weak. It’s like a seriously ill patient who is barely panting.”
If it’s natural, it’s natural.
Although he was not well versed in necromancy, the soul and body were mutually essential best friends.
It was impossible for such a body to have a positive effect on the soul if it was a stone statue.
“At the time, I felt… … It wasn’t very long.”
“What, what?”
“It’s a time that a father can hold on to.”
He said it was just a feeling, but if it was the words of a necromancer who was like Ardwin, it was nothing more than a confirmation.
When did you first meet Ardwin?
Without even thinking about it, he said.
“There are less than a few months left.”
“Why didn’t you tell me right away?”
“Well… … There are many more important things right now.”
“Ardwin. You are as important to me as anything else.”
Whoops. Whoops.
I carelessly stroked Ardwin’s head.
“Without going for several months, if you take out Idria this time, I will ask you to lift the curse immediately. Father will be fine.”
“brother… … wiggle.”
He swallowed his tears and rubbed his face.
Although he pretends to be an adult here and there, Ardwin is still a child.
No, this was not an adult-child problem.
No matter who you bring in the world, you will not be able to completely calm down about the problems your father is at stake.
I became infinitely curious about Ardwin, and felt infinitely saddened by it.
He spoke in an exaggerated bright tone to shake off his embarrassment.
“Hmmm. Anyway, the overall feeling is that there is no father in the underworld yet!”
“You asked me to take you to find out.”
“Oh, isn’t it? It was really humbling.”
“Fufu. Let’s say so.”
Ardwin turned his head around.
“Let’s go over there. It smells suspicious.”
To be honest, to me, they all looked just the same bubbles, but I decided to listen to what the rare genius necromancer had to say.
But as I followed Ardwin, I realized he was right.
‘Really.’
Something is different.
What’s different… … .
“Isn’t it strange here too?”
“okay. You are far away from the rest of the bubbles.”
This is it.
Of course, all the bubbles that exist in this underworld are separate worlds, so they are not attached to each other.
If it sticks, it’s more of a problem because it means that it’s like the souls of Serrain and Florence.
But they were too far apart.
From a distance, it looks like only there is a hole in it.
If you look closely, you will feel that this is not the only underworld.
“Why are you so far away from all the other bubbles?”
“It’s speculation, but maybe it’s because they aren’t human?”
At Ardwin’s words, I nodded my head.
Then it means that the Demon King and his beauties are alien beings even in the underworld.
I think I understand why Idria wants to escape to the fake world so much.
The world excludes ‘non-human things’ like this.
“It’s good that we found it, but what now?”
“Well… … .”
Ardwin carefully puts his hand on the foam.
I was terrified and tried to dry it, but he had already touched the foam wall.
“Hey, hey.”
“it’s okay. brother.”
“I almost fell off the liver.”
“I’m sorry. But if I don’t do this, I feel like I won’t be able to get a feel for it.”
“… … .”
“This bubble that I have touched now. This is the world of Idria.”
I found myself intrigued.
“Can we talk through that bubble?”
“yes. No, not that much… … .”
He stopped talking and gave a mischievous smile.
It is quite rare to see Ardwin’s expression like that.
“Would you like to experience it for yourself?”