novelraw Chapter 223
Chapter 223
Chapter 223. Eradicating Evil (2)
To achieve complete identification in the dark, two elements must be assembled.
One is excellent 'mana manipulation'.
The other is whether the target possesses 'mana'.
Naturally, every being possesses 'mana', and if equipped with the "method of manipulation," tracking targets in the dark is not too difficult.
"Where are you?"
Despite this, Hemmel was unable to "detect"
Yulian in the darkness.
"Where on earth are you!?"
A primal emotion began to boil from deep within Hemmel's chest.
Fear.
The fear stemmed from the thought that he could be struck down at any time, without knowing when or where.
"Ugh...!"
Then, a sharp blade cut through the wind and slashed across Hemmel's waist.
It was Yulian's sword that had swept by.
"How does this guy know exactly where I am!?"
Feigning calm, Hemmel tried to cast "Mercury Magic" toward where the wind had passed, but once again it hit thin air.
"Damn it!"
Hemmel cursed and reluctantly cast "Lantern" magic to illuminate the darkness.
― Krrrrrk..."
At the same time, the identity of the "eyes" began to reveal itself.
A creature covered in "eyes" took the form of a pitch-black shadow, radiating a sinister aura reminiscent of a 'demon'.
"H-h-h-h-horrible!"
Understandably, Hemmel was startled. Such a monster arriving with the "lantern" was a horrifying sight indeed.
Breathing heavily, Hemmel raised his staff high.
― Kekeke!
The eerie laughter of the demon echoed.
The "lantern" magic revealed more than just his vision—it allowed the monster to see him as well.
"Ugh, ughh!"
As Hemmel flailed his staff with a struggling hand, the gathered mercury flew toward the demon.
Crunch.
When the "mercury" touched the demon's body, its eyes began to twitch.
"Haha!"
Hemmel couldn't comprehend the emotions of the demon, but seeing that contorted expression, he realized one thing for sure.
That monster was feeling pain.
"So, it was just a lowly demon after all! Couldn't even see any horns... Ugh!"
Thinking he could easily win if he pressed on now, Hemmel suddenly felt an intense burning pain on his back, like a boiling volcano.
"Urgh, ugh... Y-Yulian!"
When he slightly turned to look behind, he saw Yulian, with a faint smile, who had stabbed his sword into Hemmel's back.
He quickly tried to retrieve the "mercury" for a counterattack, but,
"Ugh, ugh...!"
"You're lucky, indeed. For one of the "Three Colors" to be so frightened."
The magic wasn't activating.
It was because Yulian's sword had precisely pierced the 'mana vein'.
"Y-Yulian...!"
"Please refrain from calling my name so much."
In spite of attempting to suppress the pain for a counterattack, once a "knight"—especially Yulian—had his back, the possibility of retaliation was nonexistent.
"Anyone would think we're close, Sir Hemmel."
Hemmel knew this more clearly than anyone else.
***
Having successfully stabbed Hemmel in the back, I sighed in relief internally.
'Phew.'
Peering into this darkness without "mana" was difficult for me as well.
The reason it was possible was due to the "color" of emotions visible above the other one's head.
Thanks to the "Color of Negativity" above his head, I could easily ascertain Hemmel's location without 'mana detection'.
"I deliberately created a fearful atmosphere."
The "color of fear" visible above his head was discernibly vivid within the thick darkness.
Thanks to it, it wasn't difficult for me to determine his location without detecting 'mana'.
"M-my mana..."
Due to the pierced area, Hemmel was unable to properly manipulate his mana. His voice was tinged with bewilderment.
Even if he couldn't use "mana" at the moment, finding the location of the "mana vein" wasn't difficult.
"The number of mana veins is the same unless someone has a peculiar constitution."
Therefore, finding the position to pierce with my sword wasn't challenging.
"How does it feel? Does it seem you can't use mana at all?"
"You... fool, I have other methods...!"
Hemmel swung his staff in the air with a raised voice.
Maybe he had a trick up his sleeve, as mana began to flow through his body.
"Urgh!"
However, when I twisted the direction of the embedded sword, Hemmel groaned in severe pain. At the same time, his specialty, 'Mercury', sank to the ground.
"How, how?"
"Reallocate to the main meridian and exclude the damaged 'mana vein'. Who wouldn't know that?"
I'm pretty knowledgeable in this area as well.
"Y-Yulian."
He was at a complete dead end. Hemmel's voice turned quite desperate, as if realizing this.
"Spare me. Don't you need to know why I sought you out... shouldn't you?"
"I am aware."
"What?"
"You had a deal with Ornn, wasn't there? Or maybe there's someone else behind all this since Ornn couldn't move you this much alone."
"Ugh."
At the realization that I had hit the bullseye, Hemmel let out a slight groan.
"Is that the case?"
I had no real confirmation, but seeing his reaction, it seems it was true.
Gulp.
I could hear the sound of a tense Hemmel swallowing his spit.
Even pleading for life didn't work. When driven to such a corner, even a mouse will bite the cat.
"Aaaaagh!"
With a horrifying scream, Hemmel began to chant magic once more.
Even though his "mana vein" was sealed, he forcefully squeezed it out. From the recoil, blood spurted out from all his orifices.
Thud──!
Before it bore fruit, I drove the "Moonstone Sword" upward to end Hemmel's life.
"Phew."
I sighed once more.
As there was no mana available, the use of the "Moonlit Sword" was not possible.
In such a state, the "Moonstone Sword" was merely a fragile blade, but,
"Even while embedded, it seems it's possible to use someone else's mana."
It was a gamble, but at any rate, it was successful.
"Angelica."
After confirming Hemmel's demise, I called Angelica.
She wriggled and approached me, tears welling in her eyes.
"Did it hurt?"
She seemed to be in pain, having been struck by Hemmel's 'Mercury'.
Given the circumstances, I would usually command her to cling to me like a shadow, but the courtesy issue has yet to be resolved.
Upon opening the scabbard, Angelica entered in haste.
"Master."
Once the situation settled, number 2, who had accompanied Hemmel, approached.
He called Hemmel once again. Receiving no response, he trembled with rage.
Apart from that, realizing it was now his turn, he slowly lifted his head to look at me.
Above his head, the "color of fear" was visible.
"Return now."
I spoke to Number 2 with a dismissive tone.
Having even killed the "Sword Saint" with my hands, I no longer felt any strong emotions towards 'killing', but I still wished to avoid bothersome situations.
In addition, these ones never harmed me.
"Take your other companions with you."
As I said that, I shifted my gaze to where I'd come from, sensing the presence of his other disciples.
They seemed to have picked up on what happened in the darkness, as they stood by until Hemmel's passing.
"Thank you."
With words of gratitude, number 2 headed toward his companions.
"I'll repay this debt someday..."
He uttered with hope for an unfulfilled promise.
***
Holding the 'White Rabbit's Ring', I ventured toward the dungeon's depths, where the sorcery within the relic pointed the way.
Thanks to this, I wouldn't lose my path.
"... A dead end?"
Or so I thought, until a complete dead-end appeared before me.
Turning back would require retracing a long way.
Just thinking about it made me dizzy with dread, until a faint light began to seep from the 'White Rabbit's Ring'.
Rumble──!
And in response, a path revealed itself beyond the dead end.
"Hmm."
It seemed I wasn't mistaken. I began to proceed toward the newly opened gateway.
Continuing forward,
Soon, upon reaching the path's end, I bit my lip at the scene before me.
"What on earth...?"
The place to which the "White Rabbit's Ring" led was certainly an experimental lab where the "Northern Sorcerers" might have studied 'demons'.
The lab was filled with experimental equipment and apparatuses, much like Aiden's workshop.
The problem was they were all broken.
"What happened here...?"
Judging by the condition, it appeared someone had swept through quite some time ago, leaving the lab in ruins.
There was nothing of value left to find here.
In short, despite coming all the way here, there appeared to be no solution to my current situation with 'Angelica'.
"This has become a headache."
Though it was disheartening that the effort to reach here was in vain, this wasn't the first occurrence.
The problem was that I couldn't think of a way to return to the previous relationship with 'Angelica'.
"This was the only method..."
My headache seemed to worsen at that thought, so I gently pressed my temples with one hand.
Rattle.
At that moment, 'Angelica', twisting her body, began to emerge from the scabbard.
"Where are you going, Angelica?"
Despite my call, Angelica headed into the lab as if possessed.
What on earth has gotten into you?
Right after absorbing the 'Demon God's Chalice', Angelica used to heed my words, yet now...
To retrieve Angelica, I followed behind her.
"Is there something?"
Just as that thought surfaced, a location bathed in a beam of light within the dark dungeon revealed itself.
Was Angelica drawn to that light because of the surrounding darkness?
"No."
Angelica's interest didn't seem to lie in the light pouring from the ceiling.
Rather, in the place the light touched, something white and thick laid.
"A bone?"
It was a bone.
A colossal bone, far surpassing human size.
And slowly, I began to grasp what that bone was.
"A relic of Demon God Barbatos!?"
The relic of a Demon God that had scattered "remnants of residual thoughts" across the Rozenda continent, spawning formidable enemies known as demons.