Chapter 308 – Even if the World Abandoned Them (4)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Former Commander of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

“Hmm?”

Kitch brushed back his long black hair. It had been a long time since he set foot on the Arcana Continent. Furthermore, he was in a situation where he had walked out of the Shadow Mercenary Corps on his own. He had no intention of causing a scene.

Honestly……

He wanted to crawl into a suitable tavern, get dead drunk, and become a wreck. But the world did not help Kitch. On the Arcana Continent, no tavern remained anywhere.

“This is why you shouldn’t do things you don’t normally do……”

So he sought out a Demon King’s Castle.

To settle the Shadow Mercenary Corps’ mistakes intertwined with Claudi, and since a Demon King would naturally live with strong liquor, to steal some of that as well, he entered the Demon King’s Castle he discovered.

And it was just now.

“……No, that’s not right.”

Shake, shake──────

He shook off the unproud idle thoughts. Then he looked at the unfolding situation calmly. Slice. It was the moment he sent the head of a Demon Legion Commander, who claimed to be the Demon King’s right hand, flying.

Rumble!

The ground vibrated, and the Demon King’s Castle disappeared without a trace.

“……Ha.”

Even the wine he had swiped from the storehouse together……! At the point where he lost his purpose, Kitch’s dagger had no choice but to head toward the Omen that had swallowed the Demon King’s Castle.

It was a difficult enemy.

For it was rare for an enemy to exist that Kitch’s dagger could not penetrate.

On top of that, even a status effect that made his head throb.

“Phew.”

A temperament that he couldn’t give to others, like the commander’s seat, boiled over, but Kitch suppressed his emotions. After having acted cool and vanished, to die a sudden death while fighting an opponent whose identity he didn’t even know, after only a short time……

Such an end was not welcome at all.

However.

“No, really, what is that?”

C-C-C-C-Crack──────!

At the point where the Omen, which even he couldn’t cut, was split in half.

Kitch had no choice but to gape his mouth.

He stood still in a daze and witnessed that unbelievable sight.

“To cut that down with a sword like that……?!”

The sight of the Small Omen falling to a slender silver sword.

The forms pouring out between the cracks of the split fellow.

As was known, Kitch was proficient in Arcana Continent information.

“……Wait.”

The Shadow Mercenary Corps was the master of the Arcana underworld. Requests for information about things forgotten on the continent and to seek them out were common for them.

The eyes of the former commander of the Shadow Mercenary Corps, Kitch, flinched.

“Beastmen?”

An appearance like a perfect 50-50 mix of human and beast. Those were definitely the Beastmen he had seen in the request ledger. The Beastmen who were said to have disappeared from the Arcana Continent suddenly one day.

Not only Beastmen.

“I’ve seen that emblem somewhere too……?”

Money.

Especially memory that did not forget anything related to gold coins.

In Kitch’s memory.

“That’s right!”

The gold coins of an ancient kingdom that was said to have perished long ago flashed by.

Even retracing, it was certain.

The emblem on the armor some of those pouring out were wearing.

That was definitely from an unnamed ancient kingdom.

Kitch murmured with a trembling voice.

“What on earth is that thing swallowing and spitting out……?”

.

.

.

At the same time.

The same scenery was unfolding in other regions.

Hiel’s eyes flinched.

“!”

For her lord, Ho-yeol, had said so.

Hiel was not surprised even at the moment the Omen was split in half and fell. However, she never imagined that spirits would pour out from such an Omen.

Furthermore, those spirits.

“You all are……?”

She came to realize that they were the “Spirits of the Universe” who had vanished from the spirit world in the distant past. Hiel hurriedly stretched out stalks for those pouring down.

The situation on the other side, including Diend, was not much different.

The Iron Castle.

News was being delivered to Chainwalker one after another.

“They’re pouring out! It seems like things that fellow swallowed all this time are flowing back out from its split body! Humans, beasts, different races…… anyway, they’re countless!!”

Chainwalker asked calmly.

“Are they alive?”

“Damn it, I don’t know. Whether they’ve stopped breathing or just passed out…… But one thing is certain. At least Akshan, they are definitely alive!”

“Yes, of course they would be.”

Hadn’t he heard the news?

The silver sword (銀劍) that was like the symbol of Akshan.

That it had cut the monster’s body apart.

News continued to be delivered.

“I think we can breathe a sigh of relief, Lord Chainwalker. Demons, including Demon Kings, are not visible among those pouring out! No elements that would be a threat to those who fell are identified!”

Tension was released.

Only then did Chainwalker let out a hollow laugh.

“Really, were they planning everything?”

O Akshan.

Even after being swallowed by a monster called the Omen.

Are you saying you’ve been sharpening the blade of your silver sword just for this day?

“It is something I cannot even imagine.”

Before the lingering impression even faded.

Chainwalker raised his lowered head.

“Iron Castle, descend in altitude.”

He continued with a trembling voice.

“The time has come to welcome Akshan, our friends.”

It wasn’t just that he was taking care of Akshan.

Wasn’t it the Iron Castle, the moving sky castle?

It was unknown how many people poured out from the Omen across the Arcana Continent. But literally, unless it was a number that would fill the Arcana Continent……

‘At least half of Antonium’s population can be accommodated.’

Clank──────!

Hiss──────!

Clank──────!

As the dwarves moved, gears engaged busily.

Soon, the structure of the Iron Castle was transforming.

Space was expanding at a terrifying speed.

Of course, even so, the headcount would need to be identified accurately.

Chainwalker asked.

“Gunner, what is the number of those who poured out from that fellow? If you can’t count them all, even just those you are seeing is fine.”

Multiplying that number by the number of Demon King’s Castles would yield an approximate figure.

But Chainwalker was horrified by the answer that followed.

He asked again, unable to believe it.

“……Wh-What?”

“This, it looks like there will be tens of thousands at the minimum.”

“T-T-Tens of thousands?!”

Although the guy’s build was huge, it wasn’t to the extent of swallowing tens of thousands…… But there was no time to be surprised. Chainwalker regained his senses and said.

“Damn it. We can’t accommodate that many people even in the Iron Castle. And we can’t just throw those who lost consciousness onto the Arcana Continent in this state……!”

Even if they requested help from the Empire.

It would take dozens of days just for them to head to various places on the continent. Even if the Demon King’s Castles disappeared, demons not related to the Demon Kings were still coiling on the continent.

Wallsweil added words from beside him.

“It’s getting darker, Chainwalker.”

To make matters worse.

When the sun set, the Demon Eyes appeared in the sky.

It meant those who fell might become prey for the demons as they were.

‘Think of a way, a way……!’

Chainwalker clutched his head.

Just then, news arrived that turned concern into relief.

An urgent voice.

“W-Wait a minute!”

“What’s the matter again?”

“Gunner! Lord Chainwalker! Th-Those who had lost consciousness are beginning to wake up one by one! They’re alive! Not just one or two, but everyone is alive!”

Was that true?

If so, a burden was lifted.

Chainwalker thought with a much clearer head.

“If so, now the only thing we really need to care about is……”

Was it only that Omen remaining?

Although it looked as if it had long since lost its will to fight after being split in half.

Only then did Chainwalker notice a suspicious sign.

“……Gunner, I’ll ask one thing.”

“Anytime!”

“Among those who poured out from the guy’s body.”

“Among those?”

“……Are the hunters of Akshan, our brothers, there?”

In fact, the Demon Hunters who cut down the Omen did not show their faces.

It was Akshan who would have regained their senses first.

Therefore, their appearance, which should have been revealed long ago, was not seen.

……Wriggle!

And.

The Omen that was lying on the ground began to twist its body.

Urgent communications were heard in the Iron Castle.

“They haven’t come out yet……?”

“Th-The fellow is digging into the ground again, Lord Chainwalker!”

“Why are you staying still, O Akshan!”

But Chainwalker was not shaken.

For he felt like he could guess now.

What kind of beings Akshan were.

Chainwalker murmured hollowly.

“Is there still a burden left to be carried?”

Akshan.

Truly cruel beyond words, you all.

Aren’t you too harsh on yourselves?

“……Damn it.”

The fellow that swallowed those abandoned in Arcana.

Was now pouring out those who were abandoned and forgotten.

The abandoned and forgotten ones.

Onto the miserably trampled Arcana Continent.

Had reappeared as a ray of hope.

However.

Akshan was not there this time either.

“……I guess I don’t have the qualification to stop you all.”

Chainwalker tried hard to ignore the bitterness rising in his mouth.

“Because that is Akshan, you all.”

*

Click──────

With the Omen in front of me, I had no surplus of mana to search the entire Arcana Continent. Even if I drank elixir herb tea that increased mana regeneration, the effect that changed was minimal.

‘Compared to the Natural Enemy relationship, that is.’

In that sense, whether I liked it or not, I could really do nothing but trust and wait. Mary, who was holding the teacup opposite me, opened her mouth carefully.

“Thank you for the treatment, Lord Granfel.”

“If you had attended the banquet, I would have served you better tea.”

…Is that right, me?

To think I was feeling sorry for not being able to serve green tea in this situation.

Furthermore, mentioning the banquet that ended long ago made my lingering resentment look like no joke!

As expected, Mary made a sorry expression.

“I will certainly attend next time. If you invite me.”

Soon she asked even more carefully.

“It might be a presumptuous question but…… if it’s not a discourtesy, may I ask what you are waiting for? Clearly, you said it was part of the procedure. With my narrow insight, I cannot fathom that procedure.”

It was natural not to know.

I was shamelessly pretending to know, but I only just found out about the Akshan seniors’ diversionary operation through the class quest just now.

I said nonchalantly.

“You just have to wait.”

“Wait……”

“For the moment of reunion you will encounter again.”

“……A reunion?”

As expected, it was self-centered Granfel-style speech.

I could call it a reunion with the Akshan seniors.

But would it be a reunion for Mary to face the seniors?

Click──────

First of all, I tilted the teacup when I had nothing to say.

At the same time, I was racking my brain for how to handle the cleanup.

‘!’

My vision flickered.

And I realized after a long time.

Yes, that was right.

Cleanup was not needed for Granfel’s bluff.

“For it had eventually been made into reality.”

Messages rose line by line.

[Small coastal village, Narvik, is restored.]

[The sea breeze of Narvik blows onto the Arcana Continent.]

A restoration message was a first.

If I didn’t know, I would have wondered what it was.

But I could guess.

“I knew you all would pull it off.”

You’d finally succeeded, our seniors.

Restoration, the opposite of deletion.

Just like the quest goal, subduing the Small Omens that swallowed the Demon King’s Castles.

They had saved those swallowed by the Omen like Akshan.

And not just one or two.

Vision flashing incessantly.

Messages popped up in succession.

[Ancient Kingdom, Jishura, is restored.]

[The desert storm of Jishura rushes onto the Arcana Continent.]

[Manrashia, the Forest of Harmony, is restored.]

[The buds of peace sprout on the Arcana Continent.]

[Descendants of Twilight, the pure-blood magic clan, are restored.]

[Forgotten mana overflows on the Arcana Continent.]……

“……!”

Mary, who was making a dazed expression.

Her complexion changed rapidly.

She suddenly raised her mana as if confirming something.

“!!”

She manifested that peculiar purple magic. The effect of the tobacco should have long since worn off, but the momentum of that mana was fiercely incomparable to before. She would have noticed herself before me.

Mary muttered.

“Th-That shouldn’t be possible?”

Soon she suddenly looked at me.

“Lord Granfel, could the reunion be……?”

I just nodded for now.

The restoration messages that popped up were so many that I couldn’t be sure what it was.

But surely among the messages that appeared was one related to Mary.

‘Because of such a story, Mary was facing the Omen.’

Did she fail to suppress the surging emotion.

Mary spoke while on the verge of tears.

“This grace, how on earth can I……?”

No, the place the thanks should be directed to was not me.

I’d done nothing but tilt my teacup.

It was all the work our Akshan seniors had done.

The quest goal flickering along with the messages.

─Hunt the Omen. (In Progress)

● Subdue the Small Omens scattered across the continent. (Success)

But from now on, it was my part.

The Small Omens merged into the main body, becoming the Great Omen.

It certainly looked much larger than before.

Of course, it didn’t matter.

Since nothing changed.

In fact, I had been thinking of throwing away my life since long ago.

Why, I’d be sad if I forgot the [Last Adventurer] effect!

[Last Adventurer: Do not die on the Arcana Continent. Upon death, immediately return to reality and cannot access the Arcana Continent for a certain period of time. – Cooldown: 24 hours]

Therefore, it was the moment I raised Ghost Iron…… no, Illusion Breaker in earnest.

I was forced to stop.

The newly updated quest goal.

For it was not the quest goal I expected.

What appeared was Akshan’s praise, which I was hearing for the first time in my life.

● Well done. (Success)

……Could it be, this is Akshan-style speech?

By the way.

Seriously.

● And it is the last. (Success)

● Last Demon Hunter. (Success)

● So that no more people are swallowed again. (Success)

● So that no one is forgotten. (Success)

● Seal the Great Omen in the southern sea along with us. (In Progress)

This is a messed-up sentimentality, you all……?