Chapter 106
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With added propulsion from gravity.
Nova.
And even the ‘Domain.’
The hero, with a dislocated and broken shoulder, observed the result of their collaboration while fitting the pieces together with polymorph.
The head of Vermoth, plunging vertically from the high sky to the ground, from dozens of meters in the air.
Kuuuuuuung-!
Ddddddrrrrrr-!
Dust rose so thick due to the vibration from the impact that it could eclipse the sun.
The hero, momentarily suspended in the air due to the rebound of the sword strike, lifted the dust cloud with a sword swing.
Beyond the clearing view.
With mouths agape, children looking up at him appeared.
The eyes, once clouded with despair, sparkled again, followed by bright laughter.
…Everyone is safe.
As the hero confirmed this fact, the corners of his mouth moved slightly in the same angle as his disciples.
Thud-!
The children rushed towards him, landing lightly in front of the magical train.
Cuculli, hanging on the railing, swung her arms vigorously.
“Aaaah! Take me! Ted Redymer!”
Of course, the hero did not react to the banter and only said.
“There should be instructors and classmates in Shelter 1. You should go there first.”
The line that had been blocked by Vermoth’s tail, released by the recent blow, was revealed.
They should be able to arrive soon.
“But why don’t you go with the professor? That thing seems dead too.”
In response to Leciel’s question, the hero’s gaze turned to Vermoth’s tail.
It was twitching ever so slightly.
It wasn’t a sign of life.
Probably just post-mortem rigidity.
‘…I have to finish it off.’
The head fell vertically for dozens of meters.
The brain must have been crushed inside the violently oscillating skull.
Even with good regenerative abilities, you can’t survive when the brain is crushed.
…But just defeating Vermoth didn’t end the situation.
Kyyyyyaa-!
The distant scream made the children’s eyes widen.
The massive demonic energy Vermoth had, mixed with the atmosphere as he died.
Thanks to that, all the magical creatures in the forest were going crazy and rushing towards them.
It was too much for the exhausted children to handle.
“Go.”
The hero swept away the remaining debris on the line with the sword wind.
It was a resolute voice that would not tolerate any dissent.
In the end, the children glanced back a few times, but the train departed.
Be careful, thank you. You’re amazing!
Such words quickly faded away.
“Sigh….”
Once they were out of sight around the corner, the hero exhaled the breath he had been holding.
“Well then.”
And slowly turned his head to look at the opposite track.
Vermoth’s corpse sprawled out in any way.
Debris of the train engulfed in flames.
Beyond them, creatures with creepy eyes were rushing.
▼
Access Subspace, ‘Key of Valber?’
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“Shall we finish it?”
It won’t take too long.
* * *
An old and shabby mansion, an old and wrinkled servant.
Cheap furniture and accessories not much different from what commoners use.
Being a poor noble is miserable.
Born to look up, but having to live like those below.
Not a single moment of happiness.
So, on that day, like any other day ten years ago, I was drunk and asleep.
The day when the entity invaded my dreams.
I didn’t hesitate and accepted the offer without any worries.
“A ruined family by the ancestors, a pile of debts approaching bankruptcy, you, whom no one cares about. Isn’t life tough?”
“……”
“Let me help you forget this burdensome reality, even if only for a moment.”
I knew he was a demon, but I wasn’t that scared.
I heard that in the border area with the demonic realm, the lawless land of Kanis, there are people deliberately tempted by demons for dream exploration.
‘It must feel like making high-quality medicine by chewing on some herbs.’
But the dream that started like that.
It was more provocative than I thought.
Beautiful women who mocked my worn-out coat and rough skin clung to me like leeches.
Trash that used to ignore me at social gatherings groveled at my feet.
A luxurious mansion.
Top-notch carriage.
Gleaming accessories.
The gaze of people had changed 180 degrees.
The dream continued long enough for me to fully enjoy all those benefits.
‘Ah, this is what living is.’
And above all, it was so vivid.
Perhaps tens of times more vivid than the hazy and threadbare reality.
…We’ve all experienced it at least once, haven’t we?
A dream so enchanting that you don’t want to wake up.
A dream filled with things that can’t happen in reality, making you feel a deep sense of emptiness the moment you wake up.
Standing by the bed, I was dumbfounded.
The demon, Enoch, spoke.
“Help me.”
“A vivid dream like reality.”
“A dream-like, dreamy reality.”
“The boundaries between the two will collapse.”
“You are to save your absurd life with your own hands.”
…A collaborator.
It was a path I had never considered.
Once I had already tasted the pinnacle of pleasure, there was no choice.
I did as Enoch instructed.
And then, reality began to change like a dream.
A jackpot hit in the family-owned mine.
A place where magical creatures appeared frequently suddenly vanished in an instant.
Naturally, the mining output soared.
The backward territory also developed.
Since the mines of rival families collapsed due to the sudden appearance of magical creatures, the development was even faster.
Wealth accumulating rapidly and the environment changing at a dizzying speed.
Helping hands reached out unknowingly from various places in the political and business circles.
In that process, I reached the pinnacle of honor that a young noble could achieve, even becoming a professor at Rosenstark University.
Jeremy Eitrobin.
My once unknown name had now become the object of envy.
So, I had never regretted the choice of shaking hands with Enoch, not even once.
…Until today.
* * *
Around the time the extreme test began in the Forest of Martial Arts, Eitrobin swallowed a sleeping pill.
‘Hurry….’
Perhaps due to tension, he hadn’t slept a wink last night.
With closed eyes, he bit his lips.
‘There’s no need to be anxious. This plan has to go well.’
How much effort had he put into it?
He had given his all for Sabotage, the central control of the project.
As a result, almost half of the employees in the control center had come into contact with the new medium.
‘…I’ve done everything I can.’
Now it was Enoch’s turn to act.
Slowly, as if the effects of the drug were working, his eyelids grew heavy, and his body gradually sank into the bed. Eitrobin reluctantly accepted the drowsiness.
“……”
When he opened his eyes again, it was a splendid room.
In the center, Enoch’s distorted silhouette flickered.
Whether he was concentrating on controlling the hosts or not, a sinister energy swirled around him.
“How is the situation…?”
“No problem.”
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Enoch answered with a spark in his eyes.
The ‘new medium’ had been properly accepted, and once the illusion was triggered, ordinary human employees would be overtaken without resistance.
Now all that was left was to wait for the extreme kids to venture deep into the forest.
“Sigh….”
Eitrobin bit his already dry lips again.
This time, it wasn’t tension but excitement.
Monma.
In the end, without understanding their true identity, the test had begun.
That alone was considered a success.
Raise the demonic energy level in the forest.
Release the monsters stored in the center.
Summon ‘Vermoth’ as well.
By the time Sabotage in the control center was over, the kids would already be scattered throughout the forest.
No matter how much of a hero he might be, it was impossible to deal with all-encompassing threats when there was only one body.
During his frantic efforts, the kids would likely die quite a bit.
‘If it happens like that, the situation will already be over.’
The dreadful massacre in the forest, the mental defenses of the kids who witnessed the deaths of their peers, would inevitably weaken significantly.
That’s when Enoch would shine.
After turning them into quality hosts, he would systematically extract mana and manifest his true form.
‘…The resurrection of the vanished legion commander. Has there ever been a collaborator who achieved such a great feat? Surely a tremendous price will be paid.’
It was a moment when Eitrobin was indulging in such sweet dreams.
“What…?”
Enoch’s face subtly twisted.
He seemed somewhat surprised, as if he had seen an expression he had never seen in the past years.
Eitrobin, startled by the unexpected expression, asked.
“W-What’s going on?”
Enoch’s cold gaze turned toward Eitrobin.
“…Yussi Glendor is here at the control center.”
“What? The director was supposed to have a different schedule today and leave the academy….”
The crisis for them had now begun.
As the situation progressed, Enoch’s expression hardened strangely.
Eitrobin, unsure of what to do, nervously tapped his foot.
“…The Dawn Knights. These abominable things!”
Enoch finally roared angrily.
His face twisted for a moment, and a red light exploded in all directions.
…Sabotage had failed.
Because of Yussi’s interference, the demonic energy from the artificial core was only half released as expected.
The summoning ritual barely worked.
It was fortunate that Vermoth’s summoning was completed, but ultimately, the plan to increase the demonic energy concentration in the forest and endanger the kids failed.
…But the real problem was elsewhere.
Enoch, who understood the situation with just one eye of the enchanted employee, spat out as if chewing.
“Why is Felson Dietrich here?”
“What? Are you sure about that?”
No doubt about it.
The decisive manner in which he completely annihilated the monsters in the control center.
The technique that completely eradicated all the monsters in the control center.
A sword of pouring light.
Though his appearance was not confirmed, it was Felson.
“Didn’t I tell you to thoroughly check the list of those entering Rosenstark?”
“I-I certainly double-checked and triple-checked! Not only the entry list but also the daily confirmation of all lodging guests and magic train passengers…!”
Thanks to Nyhill’s manipulation, they had no idea.
Enoch took a deep breath, trying to calm his anger.
‘…The situation has become quite messy.’
Felson Dietrich.
He was a bloodhound.
Once he caught a scent, he would never let it go.
Especially when it came to Monma, his persistence was almost fanatical.
‘It won’t be long before Felson arrives.’
Enoch slowly got up.
Eitrobin, who had been nervously watching for any signs, was startled and raised his head.
‘…It’s premature, but unavoidable.’
While causing a large-scale illusion, he had depleted some of the stored demonic energy.
But there was still a considerable amount left.
For a short while, he could use the power of his true form while it was still intact.
‘…Considering the targets may not be in perfect condition, it should be enough.’
Enoch made up his mind.
He would use the ‘power’ they had kept as a last resort.
If he missed this timing, vigilance against Monma might strengthen, and he might lose the opportunity forever.
Now was the time to throw the dice.
The senseless rampage was over.
Zzt zzt zzt zzt-!
Enoch drew in all the available demonic energy.
He even pulled in the demonic energy interfering with the control center.
Then, looking at Eitrobin with a puzzled expression, he said.
“Jeremy Eitrobin.”
“Yes.”
“You said you wouldn’t spare anything for my resurrection.”
“Of course. I am your loyal servant.”
“Good, I’ve been waiting for those words.”
“…What?”
“Consent is needed.”
Eitrobin stared blankly at his dream that was shattering into pieces.
* * *
Bang!
Swirling magic.
Monma and the hosts showed no intention of hiding their presence.
Felson climbed the stairs in a calm manner.
After confirming the nameplate that read ‘Jeremy Eitrobin.’
He kicked the locked door after a glance.
It was a sturdy steel door, but in front of his mana filled and enraged kick, it was as fragile as a piece of paper.
Thud!
Felson stepped on the fallen iron door and entered the room.
“Resistance is futile. Surrender.”
He had already sensed the room’s structure and the owner’s location from outside.
He immediately aimed his sword at the bed where he felt movement.
However, there was no swing or clash.
“… Jeremy Eitrobin?”
“Huff…”
Felson stood still and looked at Jeremy on the bed.
A bizarrely thin body with mushrooms scattered all over.
Thin, white hair.
The skin was covered with fine wrinkles.
He couldn’t believe what had happened to him, and if it weren’t for his wide-open eyes, Felson would have thought he was a corpse.
Anger and betrayal…
The meshes barely held him back from death’s door.
“What on earth…”
Felson, with a furrowed brow, slowly walked towards Eitrobin.
Ironically, there was a portrait hanging above the bed.
A confident face of a man in his 30s who seemed capable of anything.
An old man with the shadow of death.
Experiencing similarity and contrast at once was extremely unpleasant.
“What happened?”
Dry lips crackled.
Amidst the gasping breaths.
A belated confession echoed like a reverberation.
“…Enoch.”
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