Chapter 219 – Outer Gods and Reverse Heaven (3)

A dark, yet strangely deep passage where enough light entered to sufficiently see ahead.

Walking through there, Alon suddenly thought.

[……I have never once heard that such a passage existed.]

Of course, there was nothing strange about him not knowing.

Since the Psychedelia he played was a game that proceeded from Elivan’s perspective.

It wasn’t strange even if settings unknown to the player were hidden.

However, what Alon was puzzled about.

Was because this passage was revealing a strange error in the Psychedelia settings he knew.

[……I think there was a setting that the Horizon was a sanctuary of its own for the barbarians.]

Of course, he didn’t know in detail.

Because in Psychedelia, the barbarians of the North were nothing more and nothing less than ‘enemies.’

Detailed settings or stories had never been released.

But he clearly remembered that there were such settings vaguely.

[……If this place is truly connected to the Horizon, I don’t think the barbarians would have left it alone.]

A thought of ‘Could it be that this isn’t connected to the Horizon?’ briefly flashed through his head.

Alon recalled Utia, who introduced him to this path.

[Come to think of it, what was the order the Pope gave?]

He didn’t ask further because he didn’t want to make Utia troubled.

But Alon had been curious since the moment she introduced this passage to him.

What the Pope’s order that Utia received was.

[I should ask once I go out.]

Alon constantly moved forward with such thoughts and soon arrived at a giant hollow.

[……Is this an altar?]

The moment he saw the places built inside the hollow, such a word immediately came to mind.

It was very old, but at the same time, it gave off a sacred feeling.

[I should let Utia know separately when I leave.]

Alon let out a small exclamation and continued past the altar.

How long did he walk like that?

Alon confirmed the light signaling the end of the cave flowing in from afar and hurried his steps a bit more.

And finally, when he reached the end.

“……This is the Horizon.”

He spat out those words unconsciously.

He just stared blankly at the scenery before his eyes.

Even Alon, who was basically indifferent to everything.

Had his gaze captured enough to uncontrollably let out an exclamation.

It wasn’t because there was something flashy.

The scenery unfolding before his eyes was.

The same gray sky as always seen in the North and the snow covering the ground beneath it.

And a giant dome-shaped building situated in the middle of the vast land.

In other words, it was too plain to be described as beautiful.

Nonetheless, Alon felt the scenery was beautiful.

As if he himself were the sky.

The pure white snow covering the ground boasted an overwhelming horizon.

A feeling as if the earth and sky were reversed.

Alon, who was staring blankly at the scenery as if possessed, slowly took a step.

Pure white snow where no one had left a trace of walking.

He moved forward, leaving footprints for the first time on it.

[……Honestly, I thought it might not be.]

Even when passing through the passage.

He thought that what was at the end of the road might not be the Horizon.

Because it was such an easy shortcut that it was more believable to be a lie.

[I should give Utia a gift or something.]

He felt grateful to Utia anew.

At that moment.

[Kyu?]

Blackie, who had been hiding in his chest and not coming out until just a moment ago, suddenly stuck his head out.

Hop!

He jumped right onto the snowfield.

With a soft sound, Blackie’s entire body was buried in the snow.

The fellow was busy watching the snow surrounding him as if it were very amazing, seemingly not even feeling cold in his feet.

[Did Blackie like snow?]

Meanwhile, this time Basilliora popped out.

[This is a very strange place.]

“What do you mean by strange?”

[……Well. It is difficult to express directly. That is just the feeling.]

“Feeling?”

[Yes, as if the space is essentially disconnected…… That is why I also came out.]

“Ah. Is that why Blackie is showing unusual behavior?”

Alon muttered while watching Blackie, who started eating snow at some point.

[Kyu.]

He soon retrieved Blackie.

Not only had he already spent quite a bit of time walking, but he also didn’t want to make Utia wait, if possible.

Therefore, Alon, who moved after putting Blackie into his chest, stopped in front of a giant building.

A giant dome-shaped building.

A giant door was wide open as if inviting him in.

[It is much worse here.]

“Is that so?”

[Yes, it does not seem particularly dangerous…… but be on guard since the feeling is strange.]

At Basilliora’s advice, Alon nodded and cautiously pushed his body into the dark door.

As soon as he pushed his body inside the door, pitch-black darkness rushed at him.

However, the subtle light coming from outside the door was faintly illuminating the interior of the building.

Relying on that dim light, he walked into the building and arrived after a while in the middle of the building where the ceiling was open.

There was a door there.

A door so old that it seemed like it would make a rusty hinge sound if one grabbed the doorknob and opened it.

It stood tall in the middle of the pure white snow.

Alon felt a slight doubt and grabbed and turned the doorknob of the old door.

The moment he opened that door.

[You have come.]

A voice was heard.

####

Great Chief Ruraka.

He was very angry.

No, beyond being angry, he was furious.

The cause was precisely.

A girl who had violated the sanctuary of the barbarians.

A girl who, with a fluttering smile, indifferently disturbed the barbarians’ sanctuary that had been passed down for over a thousand years and cut off all the numerous spells.

Because of one girl.

Even when she revealed the reason she violated the sanctuary.

His rage boiled up enough to lose his mind.

A sanctuary that was like life to the barbarians.

A place where entry is allowed only once in a lifetime, exclusively for great warriors.

They can only enter when performing the great ritual to receive the seal.

Yet the girl before him had trampled upon this place, which all barbarians considered precious as life.

Just to use it as a ‘passage.’

After crushing all the numerous spells that had been maintained in this sanctuary for over a thousand years.

There was nothing more to endure.

The barbarians, one and all, rushed at her.

Ruraka was the same.

Originally, he had many things to ask the girl before him.

How she had noticed the sanctuary.

How she had easily destroyed spells that even great shamans could not dispel.

Furthermore, he should have been sufficiently on guard.

But the moment the girl spat out such words.

Ruraka, who surrendered his body to rage, lost even a shred of patience.

He rushed forward swinging his axe, forgetting even to lead the barbarians he was guiding.

And the result was.

“……”

It arrived before him in the worst form.

“Ah.”

Ruraka let out a low sigh.

It happened in an instant.

A land made of blood, not gray earth, filled his vision.

The accumulated snow absorbed blood and melted, making the land muddy like a wetland.

The bright red snow that had not yet melted froze in the cold chill of the snowy mountains, creating bizarre stems.

And in the middle of it.

There was a girl.

A girl who had turned the gray earth into a sea of blood with just a few flicks.

Who had crushed countless compatriots into blood in an instant.

In a world completely stained with blood, the girl with eyes shining redder than that.

Was just standing arrogantly.

“……”

Ruraka grit his teeth.

He could feel it on his skin.

The fear of death that had colored his compatriots who were pouring out rage until just a moment ago.

No one was an exception.

Even the chiefs leading the barbarians felt awe and fear at the power the girl displayed.

“Kugh.”

Ruraka was the same.

The hand holding the weapon was trembling.

He tried to calm it, but his body was already out of control.

All he could do.

Was to just carefully roll his eyes and look ahead again.

And then.

The girl was still standing there.

Comfortably, or leisurely.

But rather, that incomprehensible attitude dragged the barbarians even deeper into a swamp of fear.

“……Turtur.”

“Give your command, Great Chief.”

“Blow the Black Horn.”

Ruraka finally made a choice.

His adjutant Turtur, whose eyes widened for a moment at the command.

“I understand.”

Without hesitation, he took out the Black Horn from his bosom and blew it.

Wuuuuuuung!!!!

A sound loud enough to echo across the entire vast snowy mountain.

At that, the fear that had dominated the barbarians until just a moment ago faded.

Ruraka also shook off the fear weighing him down.

Toward Utia, who was still standing leisurely,

“I will make you regret not stopping us.”

The moment he opened his mouth.

It suddenly fell down.

Boom!!!!

Heaven and earth vibrated.

Snowflakes covering the ground blossomed, creating a blizzard.

The wetlands that were muddy with barbarian blood disappeared, hidden by the broken ground and rising snowflakes.

And what revealed itself was.

[Heh.]

A black-skinned Outer God who had already descended in the North months ago and was secretly hiding his existence.

[You have called me.]

The Immortal Neltar.

Horns rose from his head like a demon.

His four arms and four legs were each giant.

Ruraka bowed his head politely at that voice filled with thick laughter.

“It is so. Great Outer God. I wish to use the authority received in exchange for sacrifices right here.”

[Yes, what is your request?]

“Please kill that girl.”

There was no hesitation.

Neltar also immediately asked back as if intrigued.

[Using my authority for just such a thing, are you serious?]

“Yes.”

[Well, that is an authority bestowed upon you so I have no intention to question it, however…]

The corners of the black-skinned Outer God’s mouth curled up weirdly.

[If you want to borrow my power again next time, offer five thousand living sacrifices just like before.]

“I will do so.”

[Heh.]

Power.

Five thousand people.

Living sacrifices.

Terrible words were exchanged.

All conversation ended with the short sentence, “I look forward to it.”

Shortly after.

As Neltar’s eyes turned toward Utia, a very faint sense of regret passed over Ruraka’s face.

The authority gained while offering the captured soldiers and knights of Caliban as living sacrifices.

He didn’t know he would end up using it on the girl before him.

But Ruraka did not regret calling forth the Outer God at this moment.

Because he had seen it clearly.

The power of the Outer God that wiped out a Caliban forward base where thousands were stationed with just a single punch.

Power that was far beyond perception.

Therefore Ruraka just watched quietly.

As Neltar moved his expectation-filled steps leisurely on purpose, as if finding a new toy.

[Now, then, I have no great grudge against you…]

However.

[U- grudge…]

Neltar, having arrived in front of the girl.

Could not continue speaking.

At that moment when doubt entered Ruraka’s mind.

“……?”

He saw.

Tremble, tremble.

The incomprehensible being, whom he was certain would erase the girl before him from the world without even a trace,

[Why are y, you here……?]

Starting to tremble, soaked in fear.