Chapter 285 - 285. The Second Seal and the Second Area Guardian Battle
「Who went inside from here?」
The shrine guided by Elne was similar to the stone monument in Fam’s village. It was a slender natural stone pillar, with one side flattened by hand and reflecting the morning sun. Surrounding it were clusters of red spider lilies. Their thin, curved petals tangled like red dumplings, and their stamen, reaching out like offerings, looked like spider legs and nests—unsettling.
"No one should have. They didn’t even know this was a dungeon entrance in the first place."
Elne replied. She touched the stone, stroking it, but Mash didn’t disappear. Maira pressed close to him.
"Mash, if the God of the End is trying to unseal this… shouldn’t we protect it instead?"
"If Maira says so, then let’s stop exploring."
As I tried to turn back, Maira opened her mouth in surprise.
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
The two of us stared at each other for a moment.
"Why are you turning back?"
"Because Maira warned me, isn’t that enough?"
"Well, yes, but…"
Maira pursed her lips, looking dissatisfied, as if she wanted to say something. Meanwhile, Fam peered at the stone monument.
"Master, can you read this script?"
Hearing her words, I exchanged glances with Mizuki.
"Daughter of the Virgin… Beside the Bed… I Entrusted… Swords of the Sword… Those Swords"
Mizuki read it in a clear voice.
"What does it mean?"
"Hmm, this is one interpretation of a story passed down in our world—a short poem recited by a hero who was entrusted by a god with a sword for the princess, after he was gravely wounded in battle against the mountain god."
"That hero would be Okita Souji, right?"
Fam asked. Mizuki shook her head.
"I don’t even know if he existed, a person from an even older era."
Hearing that, Fam put her finger to her chin.
"Okita Souji aside, why do people from Master’s world recite such poems right before they die…?"
Her words made Mizuki frown, and she looked to me for help. Both Mizuki and I wouldn’t recite final poems before dying, no matter the situation. I’d like to know what kind of mentality would lead someone to do so, though it’s unknown if they even recited it themselves.
"It was the same in my village. It was just a stone monument. Nothing happened even when we cleaned it and touched it. Perhaps the door only opens for someone who can read this script, like a transfer like Master."
"So, you're saying this stone is waiting for us, or rather, for transferables?"
Fam nodded. She quickly averted her gaze when she saw Maira.
"Why won’t you look at me?"
"Because if I offer an opinion, you’ll try to act according to my wishes, right?"
"What’s wrong with that? I think I’ve always listened to your opinions when it comes to myths…"
"Are you really sure about that?"
Maira frowned and tilted her head. Frankly, I wasn’t eager to examine something sealed either. It meant a fight with an Area Guardian. Okita Souji wasn’t an enemy ible like me or Fam, but he waited for Fam's growth. This time, even if there are six of us, there’s no guarantee such an enemy would appear. I let out a short sigh.
"There are four seals in this region. And one of them holds the God of the End. But, judging from what Mash and Fam experienced inside the dungeon, I believe Okita Souji intentionally released it, entrusting it to us."
Maira spoke as if offering a helping hand to my bewilderment.
"Entrusted…"
I dwelled on Maira’s words. That’s precisely what it feels like, but it's such a burden. I’d want to keep something sealeable sealed forever, but even that has limits.
"And the remaining three seals concern me. One of them is the tablet you’ve been searching for, said to have been contained within the Ark that came from Mash’s world. I believe it’s highly likely that something related to it is sealed here as well."
"If that’s the case, why is it sealed in this location…?"
The Ark was brought to this world during the gods' war. But the other items—Holy Oil Flask was destroyed, and the Staff was said to have been possessed by the Emperor of the Old Empire. It’s currently in the Demon Kingdom, and shouldn’t be here.
"But wasn’t the God of the End said to be just a fragment of the original?"
"I see. You mean to say there might be the original, or a substitute with the same power, right?"
"It’s worth looking into. It seems only those who can read the writing on the stone monument can enter the dungeon…"
Maira nodded silently. In the end, I still don’t know whether to proceed or turn back.
"Mash, you decide!"
She blurted out, unable to endure waiting for my conclusion. I reluctantly turned my gaze to Elne.
"You were brought by Fam. You protected the village. It’s fine for you to investigate this stone monument."
Looking around at the members of Levante, everyone nodded. I reluctantly reached out to touch the stone. Immediately, the surrounding space began to warp. Fam and the others grabbed onto me as if in a panic.
The air stagnated, and I couldn’t tell whether it was mold growing or something rotting, but that scent pierced my nose along with a refreshing dampness. The peaceful scenery from before vanished, replaced by a desolate stone corridor stretching straight ahead. Looking back, the members of Levante were following as well. They also curiously scanned our surroundings.
"First stratum, but if it's like Fam’s village’s shrine, the Area Guardian will be incredibly strong."
"You could have said that sooner!"
Mizuki immediately replied to my words.
"Maira was too passive, so I thought I’d jump on that chance. You think I could say, ‘They seem strong, let’s turn back’ in that situation?"
Hearing my words, Mizuki put her hand on her forehead and sighed deeply.
"It was Okita Souji, of course, since he's in the dungeon with his final poem…"
"Is the person who recited that poem strong?"
Fam interjected.
"‘Strong.’"
Mizuki and I said in unison. Nephie, who had been silently watching us, began to walk.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"Looks like we can’t turn back. Then we have no choice but to move forward, right?"
"Don’t rush ahead."
Hearing my words, she stopped and turned around.
"Are you perhaps worried about me?"
"Of course. Let’s proceed cautiously. We need to survive, all of us."
Everyone except Nephie nodded at my words.
"If you’re going to say lines like that, you shouldn't have pretended so confidently as you entered the dungeon."
Nephie shrugged and started walking. We followed after her.
"Even so, we might find something related to the Ark. If that’s the case, we must investigate no matter what."
Maira said. Nephie didn’t stop walking and only sent her gaze toward her.
"Is that worth dying for your curiosity?"
"No, that’s not what I mean. But the purpose of our journey is to defeat the Demon King."
She looked at me as if asking, "Isn’t that right?"
"To be honest, I want to drag you in. But I’ll die in ten years if this keeps up…"
And I wanted to keep touching Maira’s breasts forever. As I thought that, the color in her eyes faded.
"But a person with such low ambition wouldn’t defeat pirates or save the city of the Earth Dragon Clan, the city of Nieren, or the city of Migul. Mash is just hiding his embarrassment."
I gripped my club and muttered to myself. As I did, the space in the corridor widened, and a large door appeared ahead.
"Mash…"
Maira turned around. No, it wasn’t just her. Fam, Mizuki, Marmie, and Nephie were all looking at me.
"I have no choice but to move forward. Let’s go."
After muttering briefly, everyone nodded.
The Area Guardian’s room was a wide space like an arena surrounded by marble. From the highest point of the dome-shaped ceiling, a rain of light poured down, and from within it, the figure of a monster emerged. It was a figure dressed like a monk. Wide-sleeved vermillion robe, madder red, or dull reddish-brown cassock cloaked over it. Its head was covered with a high-ranking official’s head cloth, and a face devoid of expression peeked through the eye holes. However, there was only darkness there. Although dressed in traditional Japanese attire, the weapon the figure held was a long-handled battle-axe like that of a Western knight. The tip of the handle was sharply polished and emitted a white silver sheen, just like the axe blade.
"Bishop!"
Maira gripped her club.
"Do you know it?"
"The bishop I know isn't a monster, but that is one of the Eastern priests."
Maira answered my question.
"East…, the Demon Kingdom?"
"No, much further east than the Demon Kingdom. It’s said there’s a country far beyond the desert."
So, even in this world, if we head east, there’s a country similar to Japan. As we spoke while holding our weapons, the bishop held the battle-axe horizontally with both hands, pointing its tip toward us. A small spark ignited at its tip, then quickly transformed into a swirling ball of crimson fire.
"Fireball coming!"
Before my shouts, Marmie’s wand moved. A magical barrier unfolded at the tip she extended. The fireball launched by the bishop collided with the magical barrier, and they shattered together. The fireball scattered, burning the marble floor. Violent heat scorched our cheeks. I held my arm across it, shielding my eyes from the heat. Gripping my sword with one hand, I moved forward to attack. We had Mash, Fam, Mizuki, Maira, and Nephie, all of whom could deal physical damage. Leaving the defense against magic to Marmie, we should be able to overwhelm the monster with sheer numbers.
"Mash!"
Mizuki called my name as if a warning. As the fire which had scattered but was still burning intensely swelled up, it started to move as if it had life. It was a type of worm similar to a butterfly larva. Its green body had touch sensors that seemed to describe flames and was most spine-chilling in size. Its height was knee-length, and its length was about half of my body. Looking around, many were being born, wriggling and slithering and approaching.
"Mizuki and I will aim for the bishop! Master, take care of the worms!"
"Got it. Mash and Maira will handle the worms. Marmie, support Fam and the others. Nephie, protect Marmie!"
Fam and Mizuki were about to rush forward when the bishop had already prepared a second fireball.
"…How hot."
Marmie was also creating a water globe with water magic. She launched the water globe first, and the bishop launched a fireball to intercept it. A violent roar occurred, and the hot steam that turned into steam obscured the view. Fam and Mizuki jumped into the steam, chasing after the bishop's shadow.
"They’re not there!"
At the same time as Mizuki’s voice echoed, I felt a black shadow pass above my vision. Instinctively, I raised my sword, and the bishop’s battle-axe was swung down. A sharp pain ran through my left shoulder along with a violent metallic sound. I couldn't fully absorb the impact. The bishop did not pursue and remained horizontal with the battle-axe, trying to sink into the steam.
"I won’t let you escape."
As I tried to chase the bishop while enduring the pain, the bishop stopped retreating, raised the axe, and kicked off the ground. A fierce battle ensued, but with the pain in my shoulder, I wasn't an opponent I could stand toe to toe with. My body was cut into countless wounds as if being carved. I’m the lighter opponent. I should be able to overwhelm them with speed. I moved forward, trying not to lose in spirit. However, my movements were completely read. The tip of the battle-axe pierced through my thigh.
"Guh."
I failed to support my body’s weight on one leg and fell. The battle-axe was swung down above me. Frowning and trying to roll and stand up, I couldn’t twist my body due to the pain. Lying down, I raised my sword, ready for the attack. However, that blow never came. Maira stepped between me and the bishop and blocked the battle-axe.
"Mash, I will defeat this enemy."
She pushed the bishop back, thrusting her club forward.
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