◈ 403. [Side Story]
Shoot the oath!
The boat cuts through the current and turns.
Sewer pipes were connected to various parts of the Lake Kingdom, and the Sword Demon and the Spear skillfully drove the ship and turned the ship around to make a big detour.
“Every time there is a flood, there is a place where the water flows backward.”
“I will return to the heart of the Lake Kingdom through there.”
Well, actually, it’s all dark, and the direction changes so quickly that I can’t tell whether I’m going up or down, whether I’m on the right or left here… … .
Anyway, there was nothing else I could do on this boat, so I trusted the two bandits and stayed calm.
And at the end of running through the darkness for a long time –
Chew!
The water seemed to rise upward for a long time, and then the boat was suddenly thrown into the air.
Even in the midst of fright, I quickly looked around. What a familiar place.
“here is… .”
Soaring skyscrapers drenched in rain… … . And the darkness swaying like waves… … .
“… It’s the fountain plaza in the middle of District 10!”
It was really back to the deepest part of the Lake Kingdom.
“You got it right!”
“This is a place where stale water overflows like this every time the fountain overflows!”
Indeed, the fountain, which had been gushing out clear water just a few days ago, was full of black stale water and was flowing backwards.
no anyway. Although I thought the fountain was filthy big. I never thought it would be large enough for a ferry carrying five people to jump out this way… !
“This fountain was a place that boasted the level of magic in the Lake Kingdom. It was a place where sewage was pumped up and purified using purification magic.”
“But in a world where the whole world is submerged in muddy water! Even that boastful water purification magic can’t stand it, and the fountain in front of the capital has no choice but to smell like sewage!”
“When the world gets to this point, wouldn’t slaves and royalty like us all smell the same?”
“That’s why you are as beautiful as a queen!”
“Ayu, this inspiration is the main idea again!”
The two robbers landed the boat by the fountain while chatting casually.
As if the time of flooding had reached its peak, black rain was pouring down from the sky at almost the level of heavy rain. It’s very watery around the fountain.
“Two.”
After standing up in the pouring rain, I spit out the rainwater that got into my mouth.
Isn’t this acid rain? No, I don’t think it’s worse than acidity.
《… Your Highness the Prince.”
At that time, Mason called me with a slightly nervous voice. why?
Mason pointed to the other side of the street with bloody eyes, and I frowned.
White Smile Mask.
The masked corps – the Nightcrawler corps were approaching this way wearing raincoats.
It is very frightening to see white faces floating in the heavy rain.
The five of us nervously prepared for battle, but soon noticed that the opponent was not normal.
All of the Nightcrawler troops staggered as if injured and even fell or fell forward while walking. what is it and why?
Crown, who was leading them, came in front of me and sighed heavily. It was only then that I could figure out why they were like this.
His face reflected in the mask had a reddish rash, and his body, visible through his clothes, was discolored black.
it was suffered
To Raven’s Plague.
“Where are you going Ash… ?”
Crown asked with difficulty.
I don’t even need to say it back. I answered succinctly.
“To kill Raven.”
“… .”
Shoot ah ah –
only the sound of rain hitting the ground is loud in the blackened streets of the dead city.
Crown, who was glaring at me, coughed hard once and then slowly straightened himself up. and said
“I will cooperate.”
“… !”
“Now he is indiscriminately infecting the kingdom with a plague… Each legion of monsters hid themselves in their strongholds, and me and my men tried to stop them somehow, but they were already defeated.”
Crown grabbed his mask with his hand and trembled.
“The pain of rotting the body can be endured, but the melting of the mind… … It’s hard to bear… … .”
“Are you moving well for saying that?”
As soon as I caught it, I straightened up and fell into a hallucination and almost died. Although they stumble, they walk well.
Then Crown smiled bitterly behind the mask.
“Every day is hell anyway, so even if that plague melts your mind and shows you more hellish hallucinations… … It’s not like I can’t stand it. It just gets a little more terrifying.”
They’re bluffing, but even while they’re having a conversation like this, Crown’s men are falling down one by one.
“… I must hurry. Explain the operation.”
Crown winked at me. I opened my mouth.
“The key to attacking Raven is always one. You have to attack his body directly.”
“But I don’t know where his body is wandering now.”
“yes. therefore… You just have to make it so that he has no choice but to come.”
I explained my operation to everyone.
While listening to my strategy, the Crown and Nightcrawler troops, as well as my party members, looked ridiculous.
okay. It must be an embarrassing operation that makes you wonder if this will work just by hearing about it.
However, I am a human side player who has defeated four Nightmare Corps commanders.
Past achievements prove it.
There is no other commander in the world who is as good at killing nightmare corps commanders as I am, and no hunter as skilled at dealing with them as I am.
Eventually, after I finished explaining my strategy, Crown let out a long sigh.
“It is absurd. Really, that Raven… … .”
“Are you not going to follow me?”
At my question, Crown glanced toward the city.
“Is that it, Ash? The King of Kings does not intervene at all in the civil war between the monsters.”
“… .”
“And now, in front of Raven’s rampaging plague, a plague is spreading throughout the Lake Kingdom, but the other Nightmare Corps commanders have hidden themselves in their bases to avoid unnecessary damage.”
Crown looked at me again.
“So the only person who can actually kill Raven is… It will be you.”
Still, I’m glad this guy is quick to notice.
Before long, Crown nodded heavily.
“good. don’t follow the plan When do we start?”
I smiled.
“just now!”
***
Raven’s consciousness was hazy in the pouring rain.
If in the past he was a ‘person who casts the plague’, now he has become ‘the plague itself’.
Losing both body and soul, all that remains is the ego, which does not know where it is wandering.
Just raging anger.
A rush of hot air rushed over the chilled city, and following Raven’s will, the polluted air swirled around it, slowly rotting everything around it.
Kugu Palace! Kugoogu Palace… … !
Buildings with worn-out pillars collapsed side by side like dominoes.
“This isn’t… .]
Standing among the crumbling towers, Raven chewed and spit out with an indistinct pronunciation.
“It’s not like this… … .》
This Lake Kingdom was destroyed five hundred years ago. It’s been a long time since it’s already been hell.
No matter how much this place rots and melts, the plague cannot reap the effectiveness. It is no different from putting a few drops of ink on black drawing paper.
“I am… We must rot the world in which people live… … .”
So yes.
Let’s go outside.
Not to hell under the lake like this, but to the bright world.
Let’s pour hell on the daily lives of lively people who are happy in the sunlight.
Because the reason why he became a plague master… … .
《… Huh?”
Raven let out a stupid moan.
what was it
Why did he start studying decay?
He also had a time when he was an ordinary human being and an ordinary doctor. There was a time when I enjoyed a peaceful daily life no different from others.
But why… … ?
did it happen like this?
《It’s fine anyway.》
Raven moved himself like hideous seething smog and began to slowly head towards the ground – the main gate of the Lake Kingdom.
Yeah, what does the past have to do with it? Let’s trust our instincts for now.
If you head a little north, you will find the world of humans.
“Did you say crossroads… ?”
I heard that it is a small city, but there must be a lot of lives to kill and rot.
I didn’t get permission to go out from the King of Kings, but now I don’t mind being King of the Kings. It’s enough just to rot something alive.
because… .
because… The reason why he became a plague master… … .
《- Ugh?!》
It was then. Raven suddenly sensed something and stopped.
As he headed towards the ground, his dark form jerked backwards.
《… What is this?]
His consciousness was glaring at the heart of the Lake Kingdom – District 10, where his base was located.
“I hope this is… ?!]
***
District 10 of the Lake Kingdom. ‘Farm’.
On the ground here, which has melted, rotted, and collapsed, and which might better be called an explosion site than a farm.
Flutter-!
I planted the flag.
“This land… .”
declared at the same time
“I declare it as the territory of the Empire!”
Whoa!
As the magic drained from my body, a gray fortress formed around it.
It was a crude flag with random cloth attached to a crude iron rod, but there was no problem in using the [Imperial Declaration]. I grinned.
In [Imperial Declaration], along with the formation of this magic fortress, there is a function to declare ‘occupation war’.
If you win this ‘occupation war’, you can forcibly take control of the area.
If so, use [Imperial Proclamation] at Raven’s base. If you put it in the forced occupation state.
Raven, the owner of this farm, must know that an intruder has come here.
I also naturally realize that I am the only one capable of plotting such a thing. Then,
no
matter where he is outside the world right now-
«Ash-ee-ee-!»
to defend their territory.
and to kill me
Raven showed up without waiting long. It’s still in terrible shape, wriggling.
“You ran away like a rat and came back! On my farm too! Without fear !”
… .”
It’s not like it’s not, but behind the guy who flies like black fumes, rats, bugs and crows… … The things that used to be half-melted are following me like jelly. It’s very ugly to see.
“If you put your feet into my hands, I will be grateful…” … .]
Raven floated in the air, gathering strength, and then
《I’ll rot everything so that not a single speck remains, Ash-!》
Chow ah!
Scattering stench and hostility towards me… … flew into my gray fortress.
“According to the strategy, Crown!”
I winked at the crown standing on the fortress wall in front of me.
“Buy time!”
“Damn, is this a role after all… .”
“You made up your mind and joined, didn’t you? Come on!”
Crown leaned forward even as he spat out curse words, and bit the gray flute in his mouth.
Beep-!
The flute in Crown’s mouth spat out a high pitched sound.
When the sound of the flute sounded, the field mice, insects, and crows that had been following Raven suddenly started attacking Raven instead of following him.
It was a battle between the ‘Pied Piper’ Crown that I haven’t seen in a long time. The ability to forcibly manipulate monsters to one’s will.
however.
《You don’t even know the grace you gave to bugs!》
Pooh!
The monsters that rebelled against Raven melted into blood the next moment. Raven was merciless, even though they were beings that he once used as his limbs.
After cleaning up, Raven spewed a thick poisonous mist and headed straight toward us again.
In an instant, Raven’s black smog-like form crossed the fortress walls.
“Block it with your body!”
The shouted Crown threw herself first, followed by the Nightcrawler troops colliding with Raven with their bodies.
Pooh-!
No, I don’t know if you can call this a ‘conflict’.
The members of the Haan Laughing Mask were swept away by the plague, their skin rotting, their bones melting, and blood vomited out of the holes in their bodies.
But really the eternal ones.
They endured the pain that ordinary humans could not endure, and Raven was mad and carefully crushed them one by one.
“good night! stand up! Hold on even for one more second! Only then will my diligent cultivation of corruption be worthwhile!” As I
watched this horrific scene, I held my breath.
What I’m going to use from now on is a special gimmick that can only be used once against Raven.
If you use it when it’s not a clear kill chance, you’ll just waste your gimmick, and killing Raven will be far-fetched and difficult… … So I’ve been seeing opportunities.
There is no need to save now.
Raven’s black form grabbed Crown by the collar and blew poison into Crown’s lips—
I gathered all my strength—and said.
“-I solemnly swear to devote my life to serving humanity.”
Then
stand tall.
Raven’s movements stiffened like a lie.
The party members who were waiting around me nervously, the nightcrawler troops who were bloody and dying, and the crown who was caught by Raven all at
once clearly ‘stopped’ to the point where everyone in the place was embarrassed.
But the most embarrassing was Raven himself.
He stopped still as if he didn’t know why, then turned his smog-like body toward me and muttered stupidly.
“uh?”
