758. [STAGE 45] Monster Front I’m in Love (5)
Why doesn’t the stage end?
Are there any monsters left that I haven’t found?
Could it be that there are still infected soldiers?
It was a time when we were wondering whether we should conduct a comprehensive survey of the entire city again. A report has come in.
“My lord! “This is a report from the observation team.”
“hmm?”
“We discovered an aircraft hiding in the southern skies from Crossroads. “It cannot be observed with the naked eye, but its location has been confirmed.”
Lucas, who reported, asked with a vaguely nervous look on his face.
“What should I do? Shall we shoot it down?”
I had a feeling.
I took Lucas and headed to the hangar together.
“Set out La Mancha. Go directly to that point.”
“Wouldn’t it be dangerous? After safely shooting it down, I will take a look…”
“Even if it means taking risks, I have to go and see it in person.” Escort Lucas.”
“My name.”
So, we boarded the aircraft carrier La Mancha and flew to that point and approached.
The opposing ship was hiding in the air wearing a magic camouflage, but as it approached, its shape was revealed so blurry that it could be distinguished even with the naked eye. To begin with, the condition of the stomach lining was not that good.
“Have you tried communicating?”
“yes. But there is no response.”
“Do you see any intent to attack?”
“I can’t see it. “It’s just floating there quietly.”
Even though La Mancha was approaching right in front of us, the unidentified aircraft just stayed still.
I called the name of the wizard I brought.
“Junior.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Is it possible to remove the camouflage shield?”
“Sure.”
Junior lightly waved his wand to remove the camouflage from the area… A
very old and strangely shaped red airship that appeared to be hundreds of years old was revealed.
“This secret…”
I fell silent.
“It’s because the demon species has moved to another dimension.”
“yes? In that case…”
“Okay. “It is Cromwell’s ship.”
A dimensional ship that flew to this world carrying legions from Cromwell’s hometown.
Despite its grandiose name, the ship’s condition was not good. Basically, it was a ship built hundreds of years ago, so it was worn out, and the outer armor, which looked like it had been burned, was falling apart.
“Put La Mancha on the side. “I will go in and check it myself.”
I tried communicating several times, but there was no response, so I decided to just go inside the ship myself.
Thorkell with his shield up was in the lead, followed by Lucas in the center and Junior Diarmudin behind me. Evangeline at the end. In this way, we boarded the enemy ship one after another.
“The hatch is open Your Majesty!”
The hatch leading to the inside of the ship was wide open.
“I will enter first.”
Thorkell, who carefully inspected the entrance, led the way, and we followed slowly.
The interior of the ship was more intact than the exterior, but overall there were extensive burn marks as if it had been engulfed in a large fire.
“It was said that Cromwell’s Legion fought against the Black Dragon Legion and was defeated.”
The flame of the Black Dragon Legion – I muttered as I discovered traces of black flame.
“It looks like this ship inside the Legion’s headquarters also escaped at that time. But the crew is all dead, and they followed the corps commander, who was their top priority, all the way here…”
We entered the deepest part of the bridge.
There were two main types of equipment, one of which was a complicated magic engine… something like that.
Junior and Diarmudin were immediately impressed and latched onto the engine.
“Oh my god, this is my first time seeing such magical power. “Not only does it produce output, but it also has powerful and complex magic engraved into it.”
“It’s not just magical power that makes the ship maneuver. This is an artifact imbued with higher-level magic. So, it’s like…”
I gently added.
“…Can it take you to another world?”
“What a bold imagination, Prince Ash! But there is enough possibility…!”
No, what I said is probably correct. That’s because demon species travel across dimensions. The ship itself has the ability to travel to other worlds. This engine seems to be the backbone of its function.
“It’s an unexpected harvest. Let’s take it and study it.”
I rested my chin and thought for a moment.
They say the entire ship can travel to another world…
‘I guess I’ll have to meet Coco.’
Coco of the Cut, a wizard residing at the dungeon base camp.
With her as a master of space movement magic, there may be a way to make good use of this equipment.
And besides this engine, there was one more device to pay attention to.
“….”
I quietly looked at it.
It was like a huge water tank. Inside, a huge caterpillar-like creature was hanging helplessly.
As we approached, the giant caterpillar struggled to raise itself and glanced in our direction.
Since I had guessed his identity, I opened my mouth first.
“It seems to be the mother of the zombified parasites.”
“…!”
“So this disgusting caterpillar… is the cause of the zombie outbreak, sir?”
“Strictly speaking, it’s a little different.”
Godeok’s book of settings and the real Ash’s experience were combined to create one interpretation.
The red-skinned demon race is a unique race among monsters, and although it has high overall specifications, it has no special abilities.
They are a race that is very similar to humans in many ways, including being able to use the same equipment as humans.
The only special ability they have is Sacrifice.
You can transfer abilities to someone by sacrificing them.
And this ability is manifested by arbitrarily planting this parasite.
In order to gain the ability to use someone’s life as power by eating the opponent or being eaten by the opponent, the demonic species implants this parasite from the fetus… “Why did you do such a scary
thing?”
I explained it to Evangeline, who was puzzled after hearing my explanation.
“It’s to continue. “Stronger.”
These are drifters from another dimension.
No matter where you go in the world, you have no choice but to be a stranger.
So that we can fully accept the knowledge and power passed down from our ancestors. An adult is eaten by a child and then inherits everything he owns… This is a special ability called ‘sacrifice’ that was forcibly developed.
In order to carry on the legacy of our predecessors to future generations.
“This parasite may have been a kind of flag for them.”
At first, it would have functioned as a flag that connected the will and dreams of ancestors.
However, it gradually lost its original intention and began to be misused in other ways. If you look at the other lower-level demon species they control…
And in the end, these parasites are contaminated and degenerated by ‘someone’. It caused a zombie outbreak that infected each other and revived the dead.
‘The flag of a person is also…’
If it is deteriorated and polluted, whether voluntarily or by someone else’s will. And if that changed standard continues.
The person who carries on the flag may also turn into a being no better than a zombie.
You may become a monster wielding distorted beliefs.
I gently grabbed my flagpole [Light and Shadow] that was on my waist.
What separates people from monsters?
Is it a parasite?
Is it a flag?
Does my flag fully represent the banner of those who have come to me?
“Lord Diarmudin.”
I asked Diarmuddin.
“Please burn this equipment. cleanly.”
“…I understand.”
Diarmudin stood in front of the equipment with a complicated face and looked at the parasite that looked like a huge caterpillar for a long time.
Then he slowly stretched out his hand and created fire magic.
《….》
The parasite mother slowly bowed down and lay down on the bottom of the tank.
As if he knew that his end had arrived.
It fell down helplessly, like a flag that had reached the end of its life.
The smoke from the last parasite burning stretched long into the winter sky.
We salvaged the enemy ship, which was emitting pale smoke, and returned to Crossroads.
***
[STAGE 45 – CLEAR!]
[STAGE MVP – Diarmudin (SSR)]
[Level Up Character]
– Ash (EX) and 70 others < Expand list >
[Dead Character]
– None
[Injured Character]
– Macmillan ( N) and 50 others < Expand list >
[Acquired Items]
– Demon Guard Leader Magic Core (SSR): 1 piece
– Flame Giant King Magic Core (SSR): 1 piece
– Groom Predator Magic Core (SSR): 1 piece
– Decagon Magic Core (SSR): 1 piece
– Wingless Cicada Lord Magic Core (SSR): 1 piece
– Whirlpool Magic Core (SSR): 1 piece
– Helldog Gatekeeper Magic Core (SR): 5 pieces
– Others: < Counting. >
[Special equipment acquired]
– Dimensional shift of demon species: 1
[Stage clear reward has been paid. Please check your inventory.]
– SSR grade reward boxes: 10
> > Get Ready For The Next STAGE
> > [Next STAGE: To the final stage]
***
January 1, 652, Imperial Calendar.
New Year’s morning dawned.
I woke up early in the morning and sat blankly on the bed, staring at the dawn.
‘I opened my eyes in this world…’
It was the last day of February 649.
The final battle in the tutorial took place the very next day, March 1st.
Before we knew it, 34 months had passed. And then it was the third New Year.
“….”
There are two months left.
The final five stages.
There really isn’t much left. The ending is really close.
‘I really….’
Without regrets and without regrets.
Can we move forward to a satisfactory ending?
Can we really get the ‘true ending’?
I was trying to get lost in such worries…
but then suddenly-!
The door swung open and
he said, “Happy New Year, Your Highness!”
“Yay! “It’s a New Year’s festival. It’s a New Year’s festival!”
Reproducing the now familiar scene of a New Year’s Day morning, the shield knight and wizard from the main party rushed inside.
I chuckled without realizing it. This New Year’s morning is already my third time here, and somehow these guys haven’t changed.
“Wake up quickly and give me the New Year’s money!”
“Hey, it’s New Year’s money! Bonus! “It’s an incentive!”
Evangeline, who was holding a ladle, and Junior, who was holding a pot lid, were excitedly tapping each other, and when they saw me standing up fine, their eyes widened.
“reel? “What are you doing, senior?”
“Oh, it’s true. “Isn’t it a tradition on New Year’s Day to see His Highness just waking up with swollen eyes and a magpie head?”
“When did this tradition start? That’s….”
He muttered and stood up. My New Year’s contemplation time was ruined by the kids’ shouts of ‘big money’.
“rest of it?”
“They’re all in the restaurant! “I’m just waiting for you!”
“I’m hungry for waking up early and coming all the way here, Your Majesty… hurry up and eat the meatball stew…”
Yes. New Year’s morning is of course hot rice cake soup… no, meatball stew.
“good! Should we go and have a refreshing bowl?!”
“What about New Year’s money, senior? New Year’s money-!”
What kind of New Year’s money are you talking about when you don’t even give a New Year’s greeting? I used to drop New Year’s money while giving a New Year’s bonus, and it seems to have become a proper noun.
“It will be paid even if you don’t fuss, so don’t fret too much.”
“Oh yeah~”
“I’m excited~”
Evangeline and Junior, who were walking in front of me, seemed to be really excited and kept hitting ladles and pot lids against each other and making a cancan sound. The tension in the morning is no joke. Is this the power of the new year?
As I entered the restaurant, Lucas and Damian, who were waiting, greeted me.
“Are you coughing, my lord? “Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year, Prince!”
“OK. You’ve had a hard time since morning. May you all be blessed.”
When the setting was over and I sat down, a person came out holding a large pot of stew on a tray…
“How did you sleep, Your Highness?”
It was a serenade.
Seeing her smile shining like the early morning sunlight, I smiled at her without realizing it. But at the same time, I felt a vague sense of emptiness.
This was because my aide and director… Ader, who always brought meatball stew with him on the previous two New Year’s Days, was no longer visible.
“….”
After clearing my mind of the thought of him disappearing to fulfill his final role.
I gestured to Serenade.
“Good morning serenade! Happy New Year. “Let’s sit here and eat together.”
***
After breakfast.
They were chatting while drinking warm tea, New Year’s wine, or a New Year’s drink mixed with pickled fruits and milk jam.
“Today is the New Year’s festival, right? “What is everyone’s schedule?”
It was a question I asked without much thought, but Lucas answered immediately.
“I have a date with Hecate.”
Pooh-ooh-!
The people sitting around all at once spit out what they were holding.
“….”
I had a premonition as I watched the feast of various drinks spraying everywhere like a New Year’s fountain.
In celebration of the New Year’s festival, ‘Monster Frontline: I’m in Love’ also… I have a feeling that each of them will now come to their own endings.
