Chapter: 277
When Ruel entered the dungeon with Lucy, what he saw was a still mansion landscape.
It looked like a picture painted by a skilled artist.
What could be waiting in this dungeon? As those thoughts crossed Ruel’s mind, he felt the first sense of unease: Lucy was nowhere to be seen in the landscape painting.
What’s going on? There’s a girl here, so why can’t I see her?
As Ruel panicked, Lucy provided him with an answer.
While evading an attack from an unseen and unheard opponent, she explained what was lurking throughout the dungeon.
Ominous disturbance.
One of Tariki’s powers that robs all senses from the enemy.
The same power that had once driven the party of heroes to the brink of death.
Even now, after a long time, Ruel remembered the crisis of that day.
If the Lord Jushin hadn’t performed a miracle, Ruel, no, all the heroes would have lost their lives right there.
To the best of his knowledge, the ability to rob senses is among the highest-level powers Tariki possesses.
Was it possible that this guy, who hasn’t even resurrected yet, spread this power throughout the entire dungeon?
Especially in a state where he had lost considerable strength due to the miracle unleashed by a girl?
To pull such a stunt, even Tariki would have to pay a significant price.
It didn’t take long for Lucy’s words to be proven true.
Not long after Lucy had secured victory in battle, part of the landscape began to dissolve, returning Ruel’s senses.
The mansion landscape was in disarray due to the battle.
Lucy was forcing her body to move, even though it wouldn’t have been strange for her to collapse.
And.
There were two corpses sprawled on the ground.
The moment he saw them, Ruel was certain.
The dark Evil God considered Lucy a threat.
He would pour everything he had accumulated over hundreds of years since being sealed just to bring Lucy down.
The method the Evil God chose was the worst.
Driving the physical body to its limits while gnawing away at the mind to push the opponent into a corner, making them kneel.
This can’t be.
This is too much for the girl right now.
After all, she hasn’t yet been completed as an apostle.
How could a child who can’t bear the death of others endure this?
How could a weak child who can’t even stand a false death handle this?
After heaving up her insides while on the floor, Lucy eventually rose and pretended to be strong.
“Don’t worry.”
“This is nothing.”
She said with a smile, but Ruel saw the truth hidden behind her pretended confidence.
It was in her eyes, which couldn’t bear to look down.
Her condition worsened the deeper they went into the dungeon.
The hand gripping the mace trembled.
She was muttering to herself.
She feared moving forward.
Seeing Lucy, who had never lost her confidence before, beginning to crumble made Ruel feel like his heart was being torn apart.
What hurt him most was that Lucy didn’t stop moving forward.
She must have wanted to sit down. It must have been terrifying to move ahead.
She must have wanted to burst into tears.
Yet, she kept moving forward.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
In the overwhelming sense of powerlessness that weighed on his shoulders, the only thing Ruel could do was pray.
Please let the girl escape this dungeon safely.
Please bless this child who seeks to fulfill your will.
Please.
Please.
Please.
…
[Hey, girl?]
What is it? What’s wrong? Why can’t I hear your voice?
[Don’t joke around.]
Your defensive skills are renowned across the continent.
Surely you would not fail to block the opponent’s attack.
Someone as skilled as you would never drop their weapon.
[Please. Girl.]
It will be fine.
Even if you fail in defense. Even if you’re in crisis, it will undoubtedly be alright.
You are the Apostle of the great Lord Jushin, aren’t you?
He must always be watching over you, so surely he will perform a miracle.
Just like how we were cared for, you too will receive care!
[Lucy. Please respond.]
Surely.
Surely that will be the case.
No, it must be.
It has to be.
[Lucyyyyy!]
Ruel called Lucy’s name desperately, but no answer came.
Even so, he shouted.
Having lost his glory,
Having lost his body,
With only a pitiful soul remaining and dwelling in his weapon, that was all he could do.
…how powerless.
So very powerless.
How long has it been?
He felt a warm divinity from far away.
Even in the thickest of darkness, he could find that light.
That must be.
“Grandpa.”
The moment Ruel heard Lucy’s voice, he nearly burst into tears.
Thank goodness. I’m so relieved.
I’m really glad you’re alive.
Ruel suppressed the rising emotions and asked about the situation.
What Lucy revealed was the worst.
The only thing he could rely on, his sense of hearing, was rendered meaningless.
As soon as Ruel heard that, he frantically racked his brain.
To find a way out of this situation.
However, nothing came to mind.
Even Ruel, who had faced death countless times in the past, couldn’t think of a way to get through this crisis.
“It’s okay. Grandpa.”
Yet, strangely, Lucy’s voice, facing the crisis with her own body, was laced with confidence.
Different from when she had feigned confidence while strategizing in the dungeon.
A self-assured voice that radiated strength.
Ruel couldn’t understand where her confidence was coming from.
He simply kept his mouth shut, as she always showed something that defied common sense when she spoke like that, not wanting to distract Lucy’s focus.
Even when Lucy started battling again, all Ruel could see was the landscape painting.
In the stillness surrounding him, he couldn’t even grasp what was happening.
But because he could feel warm divinity beyond the hand that held him, he believed in Lucy and waited.
He endured, believing that the Lord would protect her.
At a certain moment, part of the landscape that had filled Ruel’s vision began to flow away.
What appeared beyond was Lucy’s footsteps.
Given that her steps never ceased even for a moment, it seemed Lucy had succeeded at something.
Oh? The scenery has vanished again.
Is this near Lucy’s legs?
As Ruel caught sight of a wider landscape than before, he felt astonishment.
Lucy was evading the opponent’s attacks.
Nothing was visible, nor could he hear anything. Yet, her feet moved energetically, nullifying all the enemy’s attacks.
Wha… how is this possible?
This doesn’t make sense.
To dodge attacks that aren’t visible or audible!
Even in his prime, not even that monstrous hero could have done this!
This isn’t just good instinct.
It’s prophecy.
Yes.
It’s prophecy.
It couldn’t happen unless she knew what was to unfold in the future.
While Ruel was lost in astonishment, the surrounding landscape flowed away again.
“What the hell are you?! What is it?!”
What appeared this time was the disfigured face of the enemy.
The nose was twisted,
The jaw was shattered,
And it struggled even to open one eye.
That ugly face, drenched in blood, was filled with fear.
Fear of what exists before him.
“Pwahaha♡”
Not long after Ruel faced him, the scenery flowed away once more.
“What do you mean♡”
Despite being covered in blood, those vividly red eyes shone through.
“Don’t you see?♡”
With a beast-like wicked grin on his lips.
“This cute and good girl is♡”
Haha, exactly as it should be.
“She’s an angel here to smash your dumb head and take you to the paradise with your lover!♡”
You, Lucy, this face suits you best.
Thud!
As the mace landed squarely on Nakrad’s face, the surrounding scenery completely collapsed.
“Oh♡ by the way♡ you’ll be stuck in hell, so you won’t meet your lover again♡ This might be better for your ugly lover♡ you wouldn’t want that trash stalking you all creepy-like, would you?♡”
As the refreshing breeze blew gently across the grassland, the green blades danced.
It felt nice to see such a scene again after only encountering grotesque things.
It would’ve been all the better if that trash kid scrambling on the ground wasn’t in front of me.
To survive, I followed behind the fleeing bastard and stomped on his head.
Upon doing so, a scream escaped Nakrad’s mouth, but I didn’t care.
How much would it hurt for a tiny girl like me to stomp?
It’s all just an act.
“I… I’ll kill you. I swear I’ll hunt you down…”
“Cough, wow~♡ I’m so scared~♡ If you weren’t trembling, I might’ve been a bit less cold~♡”
“I won’t let you die easily…”
Nakrad struggled beneath me, desperately trying to make his voice heard while moving his fingers.
At that, Tariki’s energy began to weave above his hands, trying to form something.
[Hey girl! That looks like the magic we saw before! He’s trying to escape!]
“I know.”
[So why aren’t you doing anything! Hurry up and stop him!…]
“I am stopping him.”
However, Tariki’s energy just scattered in the middle.
“Right?”
<...Huh. So you really had a plan.>
“Of course. Who do you think I am?”
Panicking, Nakrad attempted to try again several times, but the result remained the same.
Tariki’s magic only gathered without taking form.
Since Anquir was illuminating where Tariki’s magic was coalescing.
“What are you doing?♡ You’re trying to escape in a dirty, pathetic way like when you abandoned your lover?♡”
“…What are you…”
Since my divinity was revealing its essence, even with Anquir’s help, it was impossible to drive away the immense energy.
However, just like now,
I could easily scatter Nakrad’s magic, which had just gone wild and drained all its strength.
“Have you lost the ability to run away too?♡ How pathetic to lose even your only talent!♡”
Nakrad’s face, once filled with a desire for revenge, gradually turned pale with fear.
It’s fun to torture others, isn’t it?
But what happens now?
Now you’re the one being tormented?
“Y…You can’t! This little girl can’t kill anyone!”
Terrified and trembling, Nakrad suddenly raised his voice as if he had thought of something groundbreaking.
“Of course, you’re a pervert! How do you know me so well?♡ Disgusting♡ I feel like vomiting♡”
“Haha! Exactly! Weaklings like you can never!”
“That’s why I won’t kill you♡”
“…What?”
With the return of my lost senses, all the various abilities I possessed also returned to normal.
The ability to sense weaknesses I’d gained from the skeleton was fulfilling its role.
Hmm. So if I poke here or here, this trash will be very~ very~ happy, huh?
That sounds fun~♡
“Self♡”
“No. No. Stop.”
“This is playtime♡ You piece of trash♡”
I wonder how tough this toy is?
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