"Thank you."
I responded with a slightly overwheld tone and smiled widely. Then, I extended my right hand toward Agnes.
Agnes did not refuse. It was the mont she firmly grasped my hand and rose to her feet.
A slight impulse stirred in my chest. I did not hold it back and acted on it imdiately. [‘The Eye that Watches the Chaos of All Things’ inhales deeply.]
It might have been rude for to act freely in this way. But if not now, then when?
I pulled Agnes toward and embraced her tightly.
I must rember this embrace.
I must carry it as a mory for a lifeti.
My friend, my ntor, Agnes.
"Could we have another sparring session?"
She gently patted my head with one hand.
The touch was light and affectionate. Sothing I must always rember.
How much ti passed, I couldn’t say.
"..."
I felt the once tight embrace loosen gradually. In front of my eyes, golden light scattered like a swarm of butterflies fluttering their wings.
Soon, I lowered my arms and stood upright. With a slightly dazed feeling, I gazed toward the distant sky. [‘The Word of Creation’ briefly passed through the Hall of the Adults.]
[‘The Eye that Watches the Chaos of All Things’ gleams with light, suggesting it would be nice if the priestess saint were lured in today.] Amidst the gods’ ssages, the system ssage intervened. [ Congratulations. You have qualified to pass the final trial of the 'Pilgrim's Path.' Would you like to receive your reward?] "Yes."
This ti, it wasn’t a map. It was a light paper box with a question mark drawn on it. [ The ‘Pilgrimage for Enlightennt (40-day course)’ quest has been successfully completed.] The dungeon exit was granted.
As proof, a large exit gate appeared before my eyes.
It was finally ti to return.
Before leaving the dungeon, I opened my inventory. I placed the paper box I had received as a reward inside and pulled out my notebook after a long ti.
I checked to see if there was any new contact from Tesilid.
"Ah?"
Unexpectedly, a ssage from Tesilid had appeared. It was his survival report after five days.
However, there was no ti to rejoice. The content of the ssage was unsettling.
Oh, this is bad. It seems like Walpurgis Night has already started.
"...!"
I almost dropped the notebook.
The news that the catastrophe had arrived earlier than scheduled in the original.
I trembled as I sought confirmation.
"Is... is this true?" [‘The Word of Creation’ hums quietly.]
It was a sufficient answer.
Walpurgis Night occurs when the three moons are in their zenith.
Therefore, I had assud it would happen according to the astronomical phenona, and I had excluded the timing of the event from the variables.
‘Lead...’
It was at the mont I chewed on my inner cheek.
The Archpreacher’s quest automatically updated, and a new mission was assigned to . [ ‘Archpreacher’s Mission Step 6 (Difficulty: SS)’]
Stop Walpurgis Night.
Success reward: ???
Failure penalty: World Destruction
"...Hoo."
Though there was no cross left to bear, my shoulders felt unbearably heavy.
With a deep breath to steady myself, I walked toward the entrance of the world. ✠
The reason the catastrophe occurred much earlier than expected was simple.
The opponent was in a situation where they had already passed 100 rounds. From here on, I had to make moves that my future self wouldn’t be able to read.
"..."
A handso man, like a corrupted religious sculpture, stood atop the highest tower of a castle.
He looked down at the capital city of Gehenid, facing the strong wind.
In the city covered with dark green poison mist, humans were struggling desperately.
The cries and wails produced by dying life forms reached the sky he was standing under.
In a country of atheists, a few of them still called out to God.
However, in a world where order and goodness had abandoned it, the one listening to those prayers was nothing but chaos itself.
"As expected, I must kill tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands."
A subtle warmth gathered in his red eyes like the scent of blood.
Compromise and persuasion were impossible. Evil had crossed an irreversible line.
Chapter 38. The Devil’s Grand Festival
Imdiately after the destruction of Wivril Island was reported, those close to Ayleth and Tesilid gathered at the Royal Palace.
A serious atmosphere filled the drawing room. At the center of the room, Duke Hispenril spoke solemnly.
"They’re both alive."
Bianca nodded briefly and added her thoughts.
"Of course, Your Grace. The cause of Wivril Island’s destruction is believed to be an SS-class dungeon burst. However, when Lord Valenstein investigated, the boss had already been defeated and the burst had concluded. Since the situation has been resolved, there should be no major concerns."
Bianca was widely recognized as Ayleth’s closest friend.
Her sharp assurance in the current situation comforted the others.
Duke Hispenril, along with Eltea, Leonard, Prinz, and Hilde, visibly relaxed.
The three n from the Silver Citadel Knights standing behind Bianca also supported her.
"Of course. They’re not alone, and they’re together, so it should be fine."
"I agree with Brother Iphail."
"Right. Ayleth and Tesilid must have entered the dungeon to check if there was anything worth taking."
anwhile, a mber of the royal knights who had co with Prinz was also present.
Raywin stepped forward with a serious expression and spoke.
Since Hispenril Duke and Ayleth’s parents were present, he used formal speech.
"Our vassals are still investigating the location of the dungeon gate. We will report as soon as we have news."
It was an attempt to gain points with his dignified speech and the power of his family.
However...
"Please, Lord Valenstein. You are the only one I trust for news about my granddaughter and grandson-in-law."
"..."
Raywin noticeably beca downcast at Hispenril Duke’s ntion of “grandson-in-law.”
Prinz silently patted Raywin’s shoulder.
The three n of the Silver Citadel Knights whispered among themselves.
"Tesilid managed to defeat the Lord."
"Who would’ve thought he was a prince? But does that an he’s lost his advantages as a son-in-law?"
"Phew, I’m glad I remained neutral back then."
The conversation seed to have reached its conclusion.
As Duke Hispenril tried to rise from the couch, the drawing room door suddenly burst open, and Advisor Edgar rushed in.
"Your Grace! There’s a huge problem!"
"Edgar? What’s ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) going on?"
He looked flustered, an unusual sight for the usually composed advisor.
Everyone anticipated a serious incident, and they were correct.
"A dungeon gate has appeared at Feronsa Square!"
"What?!"
Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.
But Edgar’s report wasn’t over yet.
"From the gate, smoke is rising, causing coughing fits. It’s a dungeon drain phenonon."
✠
A dungeon gate had appeared in the heart of the city.
This strange occurrence wasn’t only happening in Hispenril’s capital, Feronsa.
It was occurring in capitals across the continent of Serentra.
In the capital of the Magician Republic, Gehenid.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the central plaza, near the tower.
Five spiraling tornadoes spun vertically, emitting a strange energy.
Citizens of Gehenid, curious about what was happening, gathered to watch, inadvertently worsening the situation.
"Another dungeon gate!"
"Ugh! Sothing strange is coming out!"
"What’s this? This dark green smoke... Cough, cough! Ugh!"
The massive gate emitted dark green smoke, and people who inhaled it began coughing up blood from their mouths and noses.
They were all ordinary citizens who couldn’t awaken the three great powers.
The mages, however, quickly assessed the situation.
"It’s a dungeon drain! Poison is leaking out of the dungeon!"
"Everyone, cover your mouths and noses!"
"Wind! Use magic to blow the smoke away!"
Fortunately, the tower was nearby.
Aero-mancers, mages skilled in manipulating air, used magic to create gusts of wind.
However, due to the endless flow of poisonous smoke, their efforts were only temporary.
The well-planned city of Gehenid, with its perfectly laid out roads radiating from the central plaza, quickly beca a breeding ground for respiratory illnesses.
Within monts, the entire city was filled with people suffering from severe breathing issues.
"Treatnt? Is there no way to treat this?"
"It’s impossible!"
Even the highest level healing magic or antidote potions could only alleviate the symptoms. There was no way to cure the necrosis of the respiratory organs.
Many died from severe blood loss and suffocation, unable to receive any form of treatnt.
With its contagious nature, the situation worsened with the passage of ti.
On the continent of Serentra, the ratio of those who have awakened the three great powers is one in a hundred thousand.
Of course, since Gehenid was the heart of the Magician Republic, with the tower nearby, many mages had concentrated there.
However, even their numbers were only in the thousands. If the situation continued, it would be a miracle if 3% of the population of the city survived.
Yet, even now, the deadly dark green smoke continued to pour out.
There was only one solution.
"We must seal the hole."
Instead of the absent temporary tower master, Count Gastra Nausen, the 7th Circle mage Marquis Lakshadora Luell made the decision.
"The magical army must imdiately engage in dungeon suppression and evacuate the citizens."
Closing the dungeon. There was no more certain way to handle this.
Marquis Luell muttered, deepening the wrinkles on his old, bark-like face.
"It was a huge mistake to make an enemy of the Night Eagle’s master over the suspicion of the tower master’s murder... Ah, if only we had a chira researcher at tis like this..."
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