“Are you nervous?”
“…A little.”
A place where a pillar of light rises.
In this location, where countless offerings have been made, there were two beings: one was the spellcaster, Priest Blen.
“I’m worried about Miho.”
The other was the Raccoon Beastman, sitting in the very center of the spell without resistance.
At the Raccoon Beastman’s words, Blen let out a hollow laugh.
Worrying about someone else in a situation where he might be obliterated himself.
If Miho had not tied a bond with this monster first, perhaps they would be paying an even greater sacrifice.
The pillar of light began to absorb the souls of the offerings little by little.
Although the complete offerings had not gathered, it had reached a level sufficient for ‘casting,’ so there was no problem.
Time had passed long ago.
If anyone were to be exempt from being sucked in, it would be the former Priest Miho and the current Priest Blen.
Every living being, except for these two, would be used as materials to permanently seal the Beastman containing that monster inside.
‘Beastmen are reborn.’
The seeds of Beastmen had already been secured, and after completely purifying the Bluering, they could simply thrive again.
Naturally, priests were to be the foolish ones leading them, so they could not be offerings.
‘The Bluering is closer to the “source” than mere creatures.’
Many Beastmen viewed Bluering as a godlike being with a self and one who cares for all of them, but in reality, it is just a crystallization of power.
A single will made from an unimaginable massive force gathered together.
That’s what Bluering is.
That’s why, even knowing the culprit, they did not stop it with their own strength.
The source trusts the priest, who communicates beyond thoughts.
Of course, Blen was always ready to repay that trust.
‘I will heal you.’
“Miho will return soon.”
“Really, if I disappear, will everyone be happy?”
“Yes. What is inside you is harming all the Beastmen, including Bluering. You cannot bear it.”
Blen had prepared to use attack spells and magic at any moment, but the Raccoon Beastman simply smiled brightly.
“That’s a relief! As long as I’m gone, everyone will be happy!”
“……That’s right.”
It’s not like he hadn’t tried.
He had researched countless spells and ways to seal normally somehow.
Killing is impossible.
He didn’t know how such a terrifying power could be contained in one body, but if it were to die, that power would burst forth into the world.
If that happened, not only Bluering but everything here would be swept away.
For the two priests pursuing survival and glory, such a future must never occur.
The future.
Bluering’s power and that black aura are opposites, so it’s hard to borrow Bluering’s abilities.
In the end, sacrifice is inevitable.
‘…I have to give up. The generation can be made prosperous again, just like always.’
“What a scary woman.”
She had only talked about the plan, yet she accepted the situation so easily and coldly.
It was funny that she acted like she had a conscience despite that.
So I’m living like a hermit while achieving many great things.
“A scary woman, huh?”
“…That’s one way to put it. But you know what you have to do, right?”
“Yes, I’ll try to stop it as much as I can.”
Once the sealing really starts, the black energy inside that thing might notice the anomaly and burst out.
At that time, it’s essential to keep that power from coming out as much as possible.
“Remember, if you can’t stop it, Bluering and the beastmen, as well as Miho, won’t be safe.”
“Miho…”
“Then, let’s begin.”
Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
With the tense expression of the raccoon beastman, the seal set by Miho begins to unravel.
The black something emits a distant aura, as if mocking those who dared to suppress it.
But the pillar of light stood in its way before the black energy could flow out wildly.
The black aura trying to escape into the world was once again swallowed by the light.
‘Got it!’
A smile forms on Blen’s lips.
Once the sacrifices spread throughout the forest are absorbed, everything will be over.
Things have gone awry, but finally, the long-standing plan is about to succeed…
“Hmm?”
Whoosh~
A wind blows.
It’s a wind that’s much too strong to be natural.
Something flies in with the wind.
Blen’s eyes widen.
“Bluering…?”
He can feel Bluering’s power up to this point.
This can’t be.
Even in the moment of being attacked, Bluering never acted, so there’s no way they would use their power now.
Moreover, that is a long…
“…No.”
That’s not Bluering.
‘The second one!’
Quazzzziiiiick!!!
The spear shot like an arrow embeds itself into the pillar of light.
Cracks appear in the barrier that was being sealed and absorbed. The magical ritual of the seal, built up sturdily for a long time, begins to crumble.
The pillar of light collapses.
“…!”
“This can’t be happening!”
Blen grits his teeth and strikes his staff to the ground.
Hands formed from Bluering’s flesh erupt around him, clutching the pillar of light as hard as they can.
Although they try to stop it, a once-fallen seal cannot be resealed again.
“Grrrgh…!”
“B-Blen! There’s something wrong with my body…”
“You crazy human!!”
A monster is unleashed.
The crazy human not only ruined the plan and killed the first one but is also trying to wreck the seal itself.
Blen, giving it his all, shouted into the void with malice.
“Do you understand how important this is!!”
“Blen-nim…”
“It’s a task that can never be undone! This seal is a necessary evil!!!”
“Necessary evil?”
Standing before the half-shattered pillar of light was the second one.
She looked back at Blen, gently caressing the pillar with her snowy white hand.
He gasped for breath.
“Exactly… this is a necessary evil… someone has to do it… we are the ones who have taken on that great task…”
There’s not enough power.
This seal is a failure.
Because of that human.
“You… do not understand the great task… the visible sacrifice is not the only sacrifice…”
“……”
“It may be hundreds now… but it saves thousands and tens of thousands to be born… that’s right. Ugh, so even now, if we seal it─”
“Why do you think it’s your responsibility?”
“…What?”
The second one’s hand enters the pillar of light.
A spear is slowly being pulled out.
A chilling energy emanates from the spear.
“You’ve hidden the truth from Bluering… or rather, you’ve hidden it well. The source of power trusts you children like it trusts a child.”
“Don’t speak recklessly! You can never understand the grand─”
“Enough. I’ve already heard your entire plan.”
The spear is pulled out.
The pillar of light, barely maintained, shatters completely, and behind the Raccoon Beastman, the ‘real’ boss of this place reveals itself.
The child looks up at me with confused eyes.
“Who are you…?”
Thud.
The spear, so blue it’s almost white, pierces the child’s heart without mercy.
The child vomits black blood.
The priest screamed in horror, unable to contain his cries.
He had thought it foolish to even try to save both the child and the sacrifice, but the situation turned out to be the exact opposite.
Before him, the worst future he could have never wanted was unfolding.
[?]
[?]
[Lily?]
[Yes?]
[????????]
[You’re killing it like this?]
[Wasn’t it a happy ending?]
[No, right?]
[Hahahahahaha]
[?????]
[If it was going to be like this, then why give Yena…]
[Lily’s switch is ON again?]
[What the heck, hahahaha]
Dark energy surged wildly.
I was swept away by the black wave and smiled faintly.
‘It’s been a while.’
■
My body sank.
All sensations sank, sank, and sank again.
If I close my eyes like this, forever… just… to sleep…
Splash.
Splash..
Splash…
Splash─
“How long do you intend to sleep?”
Snap!
I shot up.
The balance of the golden, calm waves was broken, and in front of me stood a very displeased golden statue.
The golden statue was standing.
Very, very small in size compared to the main body.
“…I thought maybe everyone had disappeared. So many friends have left home.”
“Lily Elbrite. You are as reckless as ever, now and then. First, I will correct your statement. This is neither a home nor are we friends.”
“Then a slave?”
“……”
“Just kidding.”
It’s been a while, and I can’t help myself.
I chuckled and got up from my seat.
I looked around.
Aside from the golden wave and the crimson sky, there was nothing but the space of despair.
“Looks like it’s just us two?”
“Yes. Everyone disappeared a long time ago.”
“How much time has passed since then?”
This place is a space where countless ancient beasts and dangers that I sealed are living.
The sealed weapons are all different, but you could say it’s a kind of plaza where the thoughts of the same entities gather.
I thought all of them had disappeared.
‘Until I meet Karabus.’
“I don’t know. But it must have been at least thousands of years.”
“……”
“You’ve weakened to an extraordinary degree. Aren’t celestial beings supposed to grow stronger over time?”
“Not necessarily.”
I gave a bitter smile.
The statue looked up at the sky.
It was originally a red sky.
However, as I entered, the red color turned into a dark crimson.
“What have you caught this time?”
“Demons. Or perhaps the spirit of darkness. By the way, I haven’t caught it yet. Just tying it up for now; education will come later.”
“Must not be a demon then.”
“That’s right. If it were a demon, it wouldn’t even be possible to tie it up in the current state.”
Hmm… what else should I say…
“Oh! I’ve caught Karabus too. He’ll probably join us here soon.”
“That crab guy? Left first and got caught first.”
“That’s why leaving home is such a pain.”
“That guy’s home, home…”
I sighed and tried to leave again, leaving the statue behind.
In the current state, there’s no other way to enter than sealing a high-level entity, but if I don’t get out quickly, misunderstandings will grow.
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“It seems there’s no holy thing, no monstrous spear, nothing.”
“That’s right.”
Is that so?
Kugugugugu…!
The statue’s body grows larger.
Still small compared to the main body, but it’s quite burdensome for me now.
“With your current state… it should be possible to suppress your unconsciousness and escape from here!”
“……”
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
