Episode 560: The sound of a bell ringing from the depths (2)
Ludger has only broken the seal three times in his past life.
Before that, I was often swayed by God’s voice, but that was before I learned sealing from Grander.
After creating the sealing technique, I almost never even thought about touching it.
However, Ludger had no choice but to temporarily lift the seal.
The first time was when I met Pantos while wandering the world with my teacher.
At that time, it was not long after the seal was created, so it was correct to say that due to the fierce fighting, the power of God only slightly flowed out.
However, since I had no intention of controlling it, it could not be said to be unintentional.
So it was the first one.
The second was in the Kingdom of Durman.
When he was working as Abraham Van Helsing, a rare incident occurred in which cryptids proliferated abnormally and the entire city of Gévaudan was covered in nightmares.
Ludger fought fiercely against the monster of Gévaudan at the time.
However, Gévaudan’s monster, which multiplied countless cryptids and possessed horribly excellent regenerative powers, did not die easily.
So Ludger had no choice but to unlock some of the power of God.
To wipe them out with a huge force so that they cannot even be regenerated.
That was the second time he opened the seal.
And the third time was when Lederbelk’s mafia was deactivated to sacrifice it to the goddess.
However, I can assure you that the sealing technique he created was never lifted until the end.
All they did was lift the most basic first seal.
Ludger’s idea was that even if the second seal was broken, the third seal should never be touched.
That is the case now and in the future.
‘I definitely thought so.’
Ludger stared straight ahead.
Even though it is a considerable distance away, a huge goddess can be seen whose size is difficult to guess.
The shape of a woman that looks like it was made out of black clay.
Where the face was, all that could be seen was a pure white glow that seemed to be eyes.
His heart was pierced by an obelisk and he is still unable to move from his seat.
Even though that was all, the appearance that Noksanna showed was transcendental, worthy of the name ‘God’.
Is it really possible to fight against that with only moderate strength?
‘If the seal needs to be released, all the third seals must be released immediately.’
But if that happens…
Ludger realized that he still had hesitation in this situation.
‘Once all the seals are released, there will be no turning back.’
Just because one could handle the power of a god, it could not be said that one was chosen.
The existence of God was too much poison for humans.
No matter how much they cared for and loved humans, even that love was difficult for humans to bear.
Even though Ludger has a different level of spirituality than ordinary humans, he can only withstand the excessive attention of God for a little longer.
The reason I used the power of the goddess that day was because I offered a human as a gift to her, so it passed safely.
Asking for strength to go into battle was another thing entirely.
From the moment he uses his power, Ludger’s fate begins to be bound more strongly by God.
‘okay. It would be better that way.’
Even more problematic was something else.
Lumensis, God of Radiance.
A cage usurper who created and controlled this world and tried to use himself as a puppet as a means of control.
‘The moment I open my power, Lumensis becomes aware of my presence. Everything about where I was and what I was doing.’
In that case, the means of escaping by changing identities become useless.
Once Lumensis begins to recognize it, it will persistently target it, and its followers will chase after it with their eyes lit up.
‘All the preparations I’ve done so far have been in vain.’
The final piece is now in the depths of Dreamland.
I came to find it, but the situation only got worse.
Just one step.
Once I crossed this border, I could use everything I had prepared from then on, but the last step was lacking.
‘damn.’
If you don’t break the seal, you won’t be able to stop Noxanna from overturning the world, and if you do, you’ll end up in the eyes of Lumensis.
No, can we really guarantee victory against the goddess in front of us just by breaking the seal?
Ludger’s gaze turned to the people who had fallen behind him.
Some of them were unfamiliar, but there were also many familiar faces.
The fellow teachers he became friends with, and even the students who taught his own classes.
What will happen to their future if they leave here?
‘must do it.’
It’s me standing here, fine, and no one else.
We have to fight that goddess.
In order to do that, opening up the power of God right here and now is….
“I don’t know what I’m trying to do, but I should quit.”
Ludger turned around in surprise at the dissuading voice behind him.
Clara Cowen, who had been thought to have fainted, was waking up unsteadily.
“Are you okay?”
“If this thing looks fine, then it will only look like something flying around.”
Clara smiled bitterly and slowly approached Ludger with her cane.
“Say it again. “Do you want to quit?”
“Are you telling me that you know what I’m going to do?”
“I don’t know. But one thing is certain: He will give everything he has to protect everyone. Right?”
Although the words hit the nail on the head, Ludger responded with ridicule.
“It seems like you think too highly of me.”
“I can’t help but look at it positively. “Isn’t it all thanks to you that we have been able to endure against the devil called Nirva until now?”
Clara looked at Ludger as if he were amazed.
“I don’t know how you have such power at such a young age, but I don’t think a young man like you should give up his life easily.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because it’s enough to do something like that once.”
“….”
“Because we shouldn’t have to be sad because someone else sacrificed for us anymore.”
At best.
Are you trying to convince me with just those words?
Everyone seems to be dead now, so how can we discuss who is sad and who is dying?
It’s meaningless.
But why?
Are the words that come out of your mouth completely different from your intentions?
“Is there a way?”
“That species must be destroyed.”
It was Franz who answered those words.
Franz was frowning as if he still had a headache, but other than that he was fine.
“You woke up too. “Do you know about that species?”
“The divine device [Nurse Lime] handled by Noksanna, the goddess of dreams. “In today’s era, we would call it Mother Goose.”
“That’s a nasty name. No, considering performance, I would say it is appropriate. So what difference will it make if we destroy it?”
“Goddess Noksanna has a total of three divine powers. Among them, [Nursery Rhyme] is very basic, but at the same time, it is also key. “The fact that it was implemented while it was still sealed means that a lot of power was put into that miracle.”
The story is that Noksanna endured considerable bleeding to create [Nurse Lime].
If it were possible to reversely destroy the sacred device containing the power of the goddess, it would not have been unreasonable to seal Noksanna again.
After hearing the explanation, Ludger expressed his doubts.
“You know about Noksanna well. “Information about the sealed gods of the ancient times would not have remained in ancient documents.”
No matter how much Franz wandered the world looking for information to kill Nirva, the same is true.
There was no way that anyone could find out about an ancient goddess whose existence no one knew about.
Does Franz know something that even Ludger’s teacher, Ludger, a living historian, doesn’t know?
Franz didn’t find out.
Someone else told him.
Zero order.
No, it’s the Great Devil Surna.
He gave Franz information about Noksanna.
‘Why? Wasn’t Franz’s goal to kill Nirva? Did the fact that you told me about Noksanna mean that you expected this to happen?’
It occurred to me that maybe Zero Order was hoping for this.
If so, this situation itself may have been what he intended or hoped for.
“Is that important now?”
At Franz’s words, Ludger stared at him for a moment and then looked away.
“The problem is how the three of us can destroy it.”
“Why are you limiting it to three people?”
Clara gently clicked her tongue and scolded Ludger.
“Is there anyone else who has come to their senses now besides the three of us?”
“No. So, more laws are needed. “Do you want to see the people over there?”
Clara pointed her wand at the fallen people.
“Everyone is asleep. That’s it. “Just wake up the sleeping person and that’s it.”
“This is a person who fell into sleep due to the divine power of the goddess. “It would be difficult to wake him up using normal methods.”
“I guess so. Even if Franz and I try to help, waking up one or two people at a time is the limit. “It will take a long time to wake up everyone who needs it, and in the meantime, the goddess will break the seal and escape.”
If you wake me up, all at once.
Ludger’s eyebrows twitched at those words.
“Do you think it is possible?”
“Are you considering the possibilities now?”
“….”
At those serious words, Ludger smiled and nodded.
but. Wasn’t it he who hung on to something that had no possibility more than anyone else?
“Let’s try. “I will continue the magic pass.”
“I will be the one to wake you up. “It is easy to guide those who are asleep.”
“Then I guess I can take on a supporting role between the two.”
Each person’s role was quickly determined.
Clara looked at Franz with warm eyes.
Franz went to work, trying to ignore Clara’s gaze.
Phew.
Ludger created a ball of magic thread in his palm.
The blue threads of magical energy spun furiously and eventually spread out in all directions like the thorns of a sea urchin.
Threads of magic were connected to the heads of the fainted people.
Franz, who confirmed the entire process, gave Ludger’s magic power his own dream.
“Dream synchronicity begins.”
The thread of magic fired by Ludger was dyed light green.
The one who decorated the finale was Clara.
She placed the tip of her staff at the center of the thread of magic created by Ludger.
“Would you like to get up? “You sleepyheads.”
Clara’s will was transmitted along with strange waves through magical threads connected to the heads of sleeping people.
* * *
-It’s the worst.
Alex looked at the woman shedding tears in front of him.
Even more than the burning pain on my cheek, seeing her shedding tears endlessly while looking at me made my heart ache.
“Enya.”
-stop. Don’t call my name with that mouth anymore.
There was no gaze that usually looked at him shyly and innocently.
Alex sweetened his lips as his eyes were stained with sadness, pain, and anger.
no. In fact, I like you more than anyone else…
even an excuse was good. I wanted to make an excuse right away and correct all these misunderstandings.
But I couldn’t.
As a commoner, he was not allowed to meet her.
So Alex spoke more harshly.
“Have you lost your temper? Is that enough?”
-what?
“If it’s not enough, give me a few more hits.”
– Say that now…!
Enya, whose lips were quivering, soon slumped her shoulders.
-That’s right. I was a fool. What on earth did you believe in?
I couldn’t catch Enya, who turned her back and left.
This was better. Because her sincerity is just a burden to her.
It was arrogant for a commoner from humble background to try to get close to a noblewoman.
So it was better to remain a bad guy.
“ha. “What is life like?”
Enya left and Alex barely resisted collapsing into his seat.
At that time, a group of several men approached Alex.
The expression on their lips was a sneer.
The gaze directed at Alex was full of disgust and joy.
-okay. It looks like your head is spinning. Would a commoner dare to be with a noble?
-That’s right. How great would it be if you kept your head down like this from the beginning?
-From now on, live with your head bowed in front of nobles for the rest of your life.
Alex burst out laughing at those words.
“Phew! Ha ha ha ha ha!”
The noble cadets frowned when they saw Alex laughing maniacally while covering his eyes.
-Is this kid crazy? Why are you laughing all of a sudden? Have you even been real?
“Realistic? okay. “It would be better if you were honest.”
It would be better if I just forgot everything.
Reason was cool-headed and clearer than ever.
To the point where it’s very annoying.
-Are you crazy?
“okay. “I’m going to go crazy over this.”
Alex’s expression was surprisingly cold as he ran his hand down his face from his forehead.
The cadets who met that gaze froze.
-You… right now… gasp!
The guy who was trying to argue with me got a fist stuck in his mouth.
“Let’s just end everything here. “You dirty bastards.”
-You bastard!
That was the battle of many against one.
Alex did not use any weapons. All I used was my fists. For these guys, holding a sword was a luxury.
The opponent swung a sword with enough lethal power, even if it was for training purposes, but he was no match for Alex.
The difference in skill was overwhelming.
At the end of such one-sided violence, Alex turned them into bloody, half-assholes.
I was dishonorably discharged.
The protest that the opponents were larger in number and that the opponents had taken up arms was meaningless.
Because they were nobles and he was a commoner.
Commoners assaulted nobles.
This fact alone made it irrelevant what the cause and process were.
It was that kind of world.
In this way, Alex had to let go of the woman he loved and give up his dream of becoming a knight.
“under.”
There the dream ended.
Alex opened his eyes and slowly stood up, holding his throbbing head.
Looking at Ludger and Clara Franz, Alex realized what had happened.
“iced coffee. “It was all just a dream.”
Alex’s usual frivolity disappeared and his horribly downcast eyes turned to Noksanna.
“Ha. Is your temperature really rising for the first time in a while?”
Intense feelings of anger surged like an active volcano.
It wasn’t just Alex.
People who had fainted began to wake up one by one.
Just as angry as Alex.
