NOVEL WEB Chapter 23
After the party of dual-wielding swordsmen left, I found myself back in the guest room thanks to Eve.
“Zech, can we talk for a moment?”
“Huh? Sure, I guess?”
“Hero, you should join us too.”
“Uh… me?”
“Yes, it’s important.”
Once Belua, who had come to change my clothes, was sent away, Eve started the conversation, sitting across from Rate and me.
“Hero, you’ve experienced exactly what is written about Zech’s past, right?”
“Well… if it’s about ‘The Betrayed Hero Does Not Return,’ then yeah, there were slight differences here and there, but overall it was pretty similar. Betraying Luka was a decision by the Alliance, but my betrayal was just the Emperor and nobles’ choice—other races weren’t involved.”
“So the details differ… I see. Then, Zech, I have a question for you.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
I wasn’t particularly nervous, as I had a good guess about what the question would be.
“Are you really just writing ‘ordinary words’? I can overlook it once as a coincidence, but I have to be suspicious after the second time, you know?”
“Well, to be honest, I also think it’s absurd, but it’s really just a coincidence.”
Who would have thought that something written about a weird monster would turn out to be real?
At this point, it would make no sense unless the goddess of this world was in charge of weird monsters.
“The hero gets betrayed, and the dungeon that Mas’s party went into collapses—are you saying that’s pure coincidence?”
“No, I’m genuinely aggrieved! You know I don’t possess any power to make the world move just by writing!”
I’m definitely not a literary god.
“…Yeah, that makes sense. Sorry, Zech. I knew you were just someone who wanted to succeed through writing since your academy days.”
“Thanks for believing in me, Your Highness.”
This is why it pays to have good connections!
Because the other person knows me well, they understand what I really want.
“I was just asking casually. I didn’t mean to imply that the world changes according to what you write, but I wondered if you might have some divine insight for your writing?”
“That could be a possibility…”
Thinking it over isn’t entirely unreasonable.
“Anyway, it’s all just coincidence.”
“…I guess?”
“Of course~”
I said that, but honestly, given the novels I’ve read up until now, I’m a little on edge.
I hope things will be fine..?
***
After a bit of time passed, the day of Support Disbandment Volume 9 was here.
“Let’s go, Elia, Windy.”
“Got it.”
“Rain is definitely as strong as her looks, so she’s probably alive.”
Mas, Elia, and Windy stood ready at the entrance of the collapsed A-Rank Dungeon.
Of course, to prevent a repeat of the last disaster, they had help from others this time.
“We’re going to clear the dungeon from the entrance onward, so stick close behind us.”
“Yes, please take care of us.”
Dwarves are well-known for their digging skills, better than most races.
About ten or so dwarves were here to assist Mas from the few that remained in the Empire.
“From what we’ve checked, magic becomes unstable about ten meters from the entrance. Only the stronger mages can use it, and most can’t even trigger it. Plus, the routine collapses of the dungeon mean we couldn’t analyze much.”
One of the mages who was behind Mas approached and shared this info.
“If the scrolls don’t work…”
“I heard Windy used a spell, so it must have been unstable like now back then as well. Scrolls won’t work in there.”
“…I see.”
“But don’t worry. All our mages are elites who can use spells even inside the dungeon. Hahaha!”
“…Thank you for coming to help.”
Mas bowed to express his gratitude, but the mage waved him to stand up.
“We are honored. It’s a privilege to have a connection with the real Marcus, Mas!”
“Oh… I see.”
Mas looked at the ‘Support Disbandment Volume 9’ in his right hand.
‘What the author said…’
“Once again, I must say I can’t do much for you. If I have any advice, it’s to think again before regretting your choices.”
“Let’s think again before we regret it…”
Mas immediately opened the book and started skimming through the contents quickly.
“All we can do is clear a path, so leave the rest to the mages.”
“Don’t worry! As soon as the dwarves make a path, we’ll use magic to secure it right away.”
“Sounds reliable.”
While the dwarves and mages chit-chatted, finally.
-Thud.
“Alright, everyone, let’s go.”
Mas closed the book and stood up.
***
-Clang! Clang!
The sound of dwarves’ picks breaking the ground.
“There are still stone fragments above at 11 o’clock! Freeze them!”
“Froze!”
“More stone pieces are falling around the 3 o’clock area!”
“Earth mages! Get on it!”
“We need to blast the top more!”
“Hurry up and solidify! If it collapses, we’re done for!”
The mages shouted as they maintained the path created by the dwarves.
In this sea of noise, Mas continued reading Support Disbandment Volume 9.
“It should be about time…”
The moment Mas muttered that.
“Everyone, fall back!”
The dwarves who were digging ahead gasped and quickly retreated.
As if expecting this, Mas reached into his pocket, and then,
-Boom!
With an explosion, the debris blocking the way came crashing down.
And there appeared…
“How dare you interrupt my grand ritual! I must summon the great ancient demon at once!”
A Dark Mage riding a giant centipede emerged.
“That’s…!”
“The Dark Mage who controls centipedes has shown up.”
As the panicked dwarves fell back, Mas calmly stated.
“Elia! Windy! The armor of that giant centipede the Dark Mage is riding won’t be penetrated with average firepower! Go all out!”
“Got it!”
“Understood!”
Both leaped into combat stance at once.
“Rock Explosion!”
“Arrow of Silphia!”
With their special moves launched from the start, the giant centipede was immediately scorched black and collapsed.
-Thud.
“Kraah! My centipede!”
With the giant centipede lost, the Dark Mage extended both arms out.
“Seems one of you has read that book, but we still have the upper hand!”
The Dark Mage’s eyes turned pitch black, and a swarm of centipedes began crawling out of his mouth.
“!! Everyone, attack!”
The grotesque sight caused the mages to unleash all sorts of spells, but the sheer number of centipedes was overwhelming, and they just kept coming.
“Mas! Come here!”
In the dangerous situation, Elia quickly lifted Mas onto her shoulder, and Mas hurriedly rummaged through his bag.
“Windy! Hit that with a Fireball!”
“What?”
Before Windy could react, Mas hurled a mysterious bottle towards the Dark Mage, and Windy reflexively shot a Fireball, shattering the bottle instantly.
The contents splashed around the Dark Mage.
-Sizzle…
“Grah! Holy Water! You bastards!”
That was Holy Water.
“Ugh, that’s totally unfair! You damn adventurers!”
“There are no unfair rules in a fight!”
As the Dark Mage shouted “unfair!” and retreated, Elia pointed her finger.
“Silphia!”
As she called the name of her spirit, a translucent green arrow formed at the tip of her finger.
“Fire!”
-Thwack!
“Noo!”
The arrow pierced the Dark Mage, who was still dazed from the Holy Water, ending the battle surprisingly quickly.
“Phew… we made it through.”
“Fighting centipedes in a place like this was definitely not in our favor.”
“Is everyone alright?”
“Phew… that was a close call.”
“Once we’re done here, let’s grab a beer.”
As the mages and dwarves exchanged sighs of relief and light banter, Mas and his group remained on high alert until the end.
“Mas, what’s next…”
“Yes. It’s exactly as you think.”
“Hah… I can’t believe this is happening… but if so…”
Windy anxiously paced back and forth, questioning.
“Do you really think we’ll see Ricardo, who made a pact with a demon?”