Episode 538: In Depth (1)
Nirva, who had sent the troublesome guest into the quagmire, turned his gaze towards the remaining glass droppers.
Library keepers firing artillery fire with precision from afar.
Its power gradually becomes stronger as time passes.
Such is the immune system created by the Holy Library in the lower middle of Dreamland.
If the opponent is strong, increase output accordingly.
Right now, they’re just quietly defending themselves, so if they start counterattacking, they’ll make major changes based on that data.
More upgraded library keepers will appear and attack.
Library keepers are just a part of this landscape.
No matter how many of them are eliminated, production will continue to repeat endlessly somewhere.
To be stronger and faster.
“I hate such troublesome things.”
There’s nothing you can’t do if you’re dealing with it.
But Nirva did not come this far to fight this unreasonable system.
I showed my hand to negotiate, but Ludger flatly refused.
This is a future in which we have no choice but to fight for one reason or another.
I’d rather say it went well.
Nirva thought so and raised his head for a moment.
What he was seeing was not the ceiling of the library, but beyond.
Golden eyes flashed, and a rough map of the middle layer unfolded before my eyes.
Countless guests, no offerings, moving around in the middle floor.
Among them, we focused on those who were likely to cause significant disruption to this ceremony.
Anyway, to Nirva, even people like that are like bugs.
However, there is a clear difference between a fly that can’t do anything and an insect that has at least one sharp sting hidden inside.
Being bitten won’t kill you, but no one wants to go through something painful and frustrating.
And I couldn’t just ignore it as a bug.
All five members of the family he had sent suffered.
It was the worst situation that even Nirva could not have expected.
“Let’s see which one we need to be most wary of…”
Nirva’s golden eyes scanned the entire middle layer.
Dreamwalkers who freely travel to and from Dreamland. Teachers of Seorn who move with the Dreamwalkers.
In addition to swordsmen and beastmen with strangely strong vitality, there was even a small group of wizards.
There were quite a few who stood out, but among them, there was one who got on Nirva’s nerves the most.
Zero order.
A man who was once an apostle of God and is now called the devil.
And even now, a rare evil is forming a secret society and secretly creating chaos in the world behind the scenes.
If Nirva knew him, he would be secretly plotting an insidious plan somewhere at this very moment.
I’m sure he would have done the same.
“My personality has changed a lot. Surna.”
Surna, the great demon recorded in the old temple of the Holy Kingdom of Bretus.
He is said to have been subjugated and killed after the fight with Saint Archenis, and is now living as a member of the Zero Order.
When he was Surna, he was different from now.
He used the power of his authority more actively than anyone else and destroyed the Paladins and Priests of the Lumensis Church from the front.
The apostle who stood in the exact opposite position to Nirva, who was and is still insidious, was the Zero Order at that time.
“Should I regret this or welcome it? You were truly dazzling back then. “He will be the one who will fulfill the wishes of our apostles.”
That’s why the title given to him was the Great Devil.
At that time, there were only three apostles working under Surna.
Basara was one of them.
“But before you knew it, you ended up in a similar situation to me.”
But I didn’t feel any sadness or joy while looking at it.
Rather, Nirva realized that Surna, who had now changed, was the most threatening enemy.
The lion, who pushed everything through force alone, realized his cunning.
During the hundreds of years he was asleep, he worked secretly behind the scenes of the world and achieved a lot.
But is that really all?
The power of an apostle he possesses is of great help the more time he has.
At the very least, it was safe to say that Surna herself had become much stronger than before.
“Are you saying you’re going to bring down Lumensis at all costs?”
Although I applaud that will.
Unfortunately, that won’t happen.
Because it will be his role to ruin Lumensis’ plan.
This was a battle for dominance.
Although they have the same enemy, the two devils will never join hands.
This was because the means were different enough to draw parallel lines.
From now on, only fierce competition remains.
“I don’t know how you recruited the arrogant and arrogant dragon princess, but you should have been a little more careful.”
This is because they gave us an excuse to be cautious.
Nirva muttered that and soon a smile of conversion appeared.
found.
Traces of Zero Order Surna remained in the middle layer.
As expected, he didn’t leave Dreamland right away.
It was only a little bit, but it stayed in one place for a while.
I looked to see where it was and saw sacrifices gathered nearby.
“Hmm?”
The numbers aren’t that big.
About twenty people at most.
Even the younger ones seemed to be Seorn’s students.
what?
Nirva thought that Zero Order had come into contact with the blade that would stab her.
But those students didn’t look like those blades. They are young and immature, and most of them are scared right now.
I didn’t think I could do anything with those guys.
Simple coincidence? Or is this a ploy by Zero Order to disrupt this side?
Nirva frowned and raised his hand.
“You might need a little more concentration.”
At the same time, golden sand swirled like a storm from all directions, obliterating all the incoming artillery fire.
The library keepers who were sniping at Nirva with pinpoints from afar were blown to pieces by the sandstorm.
They would be replaced by new ones right away anyway, but we could buy some time, even if it was only temporary.
Meanwhile, Nirva concentrated his energy even more and looked closely at the students gathered around.
“…Hoo.”
And I was able to find one.
She was a female student with ash gray hair.
A very faint but impossible energy was flowing from her.
Although she wasn’t sure what it was, Nirva was certain that she was the reason Zero Order had stayed there.
At the same time, I also had that thought.
Zero Order would not have moved without knowing this. You made contact even though you knew they could read traces?
In some ways, it could have been a well-made bait or trap.
Nirva thought for a moment, but was quick to make a decision.
Even if it’s a trap anyway, this is Dreamland.
There was nothing he couldn’t do.
Moreover, when I looked closely, there was something a little more unusual about that girl.
Some of the memories are sealed. Unlike other people, my memories from several years ago had been completely cut out.
Is this really a normal person?
Nirva felt more curious than wary.
It’s strange.
I can’t believe I felt a strange attraction from that girl.
Nirva stretched out her hand.
Then he grabbed the girl and her surroundings made of golden sand in one go.
* * *
After completing her search of the surroundings, Liné returned to her original position.
“What happened?”
“no. There wasn’t. “It’s safe around here, sir.”
Freuden couldn’t shake off a feeling of doubt at Line’s words.
However, I couldn’t force myself to ask why when Line wasn’t talking, so I just nodded instead.
Rine sat down in her seat and recalled the story we had shared a moment ago.
This is a conversation I had with a man who introduced himself as Surna.
-I’m not curious at all.
Line immediately rejected Zero Order’s offer.
It’s true that you’re curious. It’s something that has nothing to do with anything else but yourself, so how can you ignore it?
But that was one thing, holding hands with that suspicious-looking man was another thing.
Because from the perspective of judgment, Zero Order was a person who seemed to have brought the darkness to the world.
There were no hostile feelings towards this person during the conversation, but he is harmful to the world just by existing.
It was a being that should not even be allowed to come close.
-okay. If you say so, then so be it.
Even though his proposal was rejected by Zero Order, he didn’t seem to have any regrets.
-Originally, I would have continued the story slowly over time, but since the situation is not favorable right now, I will end it here. But we will meet again.”
Now that I realized that the owner of the decision was real, there was no need to delay any longer.
The reason I stayed still right now was because this was Dreamland, Nirva’s territory.
I didn’t know what that insidious Nirva would do the moment he revealed his true colors even a little.
-no. I guess you already noticed.
-yes?
-no. Just talking to myself.
It’s something we’ve been waiting for for hundreds of years.
At best, we had to wait a few more months. It wasn’t even a problem.
-okay. I heard the rejection of the offer. But I want you to know that this offer is valid forever.
-…lie.
-I guess you can judge whether it’s a lie or the truth?
Those words took Rine’s breath away.
This man really knows his eyes.
-…But that won’t happen.
-Really?
Zero Order grinned.
Seeing that sly smile that convinced her of victory made Rine feel sick to her stomach for no reason.
-Whoa. Still, I feel a sense of betrayal. I sent it to you to find it, but instead, it was hidden like this. Ludger guy.
-Mr. Ludger? What do you mean, hiding it?
-Oops. Should I not have said this?
Zero Order brushed it off, pretending it was their own mistake, but it was all a thoroughly calculated move.
Line’s expression visibly stiffened.
When Ludger’s name came up, my head started to spin.
Although the words were short, Rine was not so dull that she could not read the hidden meaning behind them.
It was possible to infer that Zero Order knew Ludger Chelsea and had some kind of business relationship with him.
And even the fact that Ludger was hiding things related to him.
why?
Liné pursed her lips.
I wanted to ask what that meant right now.
But I suppressed it with desperate patience. I instinctively felt that I should not be swayed by that man’s words.
Zero Order grinned as he watched Rine struggle.
The intention behind that smile could not be read.
Does he enjoy seeing this person suffer, or is there something else?
-okay. I’m done talking, so I’ll leave now. I think this is enough to leave a trace.
Zero Order left those words and suddenly disappeared like a mirage.
That was the last conversation I had with Zero Order.
‘Does Dr. Ludger know about me?’
If you think about it, there were plenty of clues.
He was aware of the uniqueness of his magic power, and the same was true during the class on summoning magic beasts.
When I thought about the other small help I had provided, I was even wondering why I remembered it now.
no.
In fact, I vaguely knew it.
Every time I see Ludger, I suddenly wonder if it has something to do with my lost past.
Nevertheless, wasn’t it just because I was afraid that I maintained this superficial relationship, thinking that it wasn’t going to happen?
When the truth comes out.
The fear that it will completely destroy the current relationship in any form.
Line had a box in her heart.
The box is wrapped so tightly that you don’t know what’s inside.
All he knows is that his memories are gone.
And something else dangerous is lurking along with it.
When you open it, can you really handle what happens?
Wouldn’t it be better to just live as is, without opening this box?
I entered Seorn, which I had always wanted to attend.
I met a good friend and a good senior.
I also got to know Ludger Chelsea.
If you are happy in your current life, then you are happy.
Is it possible to get rid of it, even just out of curiosity?
“ha.”
Line couldn’t stop the sigh that came out without her knowledge.
The more I thought about it, the more I felt like I was falling into a swamp.
I never thought knowing something would be this painful.
It was good when I didn’t know, but now I know I can never go back to that time.
Even if this incident ends safely, Zero Order’s words will come to mind when you look at Ludger’s face.
“Rine.”
Freuden, who had been watching Linne anxiously, couldn’t help but call her name.
The moment when I was about to place my hand on Line’s shoulder, who was lowering her head.
A strange thing happened.
Hehehehe.
A vibration too small to be called an earthquake.
Although the stones and dust on the floor were shaking, Line instinctively sensed danger and raised her head.
“Rine?”
“You must avoid it!”
The sight reflected in her eyes.
The land around here was stained with pitch black darkness.
I warned you, but it was already too late.
Phew!
Golden sand rose up through the floor.
There are a total of 5 giant sand pillars.
It swallowed up all the students, including Liné, as if it were someone’s hand.
The scream was consumed by the dream sand and disappeared.
Eventually, the sand’s grip slowly disappeared as if it was sinking to the bottom.
There was nothing left in that place.
* * *
“They said there was a mountain beyond the mountain.”
Ludger closed his eyes for a moment as he looked at the scenery unfolding before him.
I hoped this was just an illusion, but what I saw was stark reality.
The reality of a dream.
“I didn’t know it would come this way.”
The sky is a jumble of all colors.
And even familiar scenes that I have seen twice.
Ludger fell into the depths of Dreamland.
