NOVEL WEB Chapter 60
60. The ‘Core’ Of The Heart
“You sealed it… Impossible!?”
I stared coldly at Mystic, who groaned in shock.
“This is fundamentally different from magical defense…! The power to nullify the activation of magic—the embodiment of phenomena itself—humans shouldn’t be able to handle such a force… It’s almost like divine power—!?”
“Don’t let your guard down in the middle of a fight! You’re full of openings, demon!”
Ivy shouted vigorously, swinging her whip.
“D-damn it! If only I could use magic—”
The mystic seemed to hastily try to use a defensive spell, but my skill had sealed its activation.
Ivy’s whip struck the defenseless demon, and the blazing flames engulfed its body.
“Extermination complete.”
Luca sheathed her sword.
“It seems your defensive magic has improved since before. Moving the place where the effect activates and instantly switching between several types…”
Luca approached me, praising me.
“I’ve been completing various requests over the past month.”
“Ugh… To be helped by a man… Grrr.”
“Ivy?”
“Ah, um, that… Ugh.”
Ivy kept glancing at me, fidgeting.
Her face was bright red. What’s going on?
“…Thank you very much… Hmph, I’ll at least give my thanks.”
Ivy bowed her head to me.
“Your power, recognized by my sister— I, well, might not, not, not, not, not recognize it either… maybe.”
She groaned with a somewhat frustrated expression.
What a stubborn girl…
I found it endearing.
Anyway, it was good to exterminate the demon without harming the townspeople.
In the end, I ended up helping, but it was circumstantial, so it shouldn’t be a violation of the rules, probably.
…It’s fine, right?
Feeling a bit uneasy, I dispelled my defensive skills.
At that moment, my vision was enveloped in a blinding white light.
“What…!?”
The surroundings changed.
The town and the people vanished, replaced by an endless white mist.
This has happened before.
Is this the Inner Space?
“Huh? It’s different this time…”
A mirage-like shimmer appeared in front of me.
The shimmer gradually faded, forming a single silhouette.
A pure white temple.
Supported by about thirty thick pillars, it had a simple design.
“Isn’t this from when I fought Gregorio…?”
Yes, back then, I entered the temple and awakened a new power.
I felt drawn and entered the temple.
I walked straight down a corridor made of a marble-like material.
“Haruto, we meet again.”
Waiting at the center was a cute girl with blond hair and blue eyes.
She sat on a luxurious chair.
The goddess of protection, Ilfaria.
Technically, a fragment of the will of the goddess who granted me power.
“A quiet, peaceful, and comfortable place. It’s wonderful that you could manifest this again, following last time.”
“Um, what is this temple?”
I asked.
“It is the ‘core’ of Haruto’s heart.”
“The core…?”
“This is a world shaped by your consciousness. As your heart strengthens and grows, so will this world.”
“The heart grows…”
“Your battle with the one possessing divine skills seems to have elevated your spirit.”
Gregorio, huh?
“In response, Haruto, your skills should also be stronger. You must have already noticed.”
“…Indeed, I feel the duration and range of effects have increased.”
“The unstable fluctuation unique to humans. Even gods and demons don’t possess this— it’s the ‘heart’.”
The goddess solemnly declared.
“Because it’s unstable, it can lead to weakness— or conversely, transcend into strength. Those who possessed Melgias’ power were consumed by their desires and perished. I hope you won’t end up like that.”
I remembered Gregorio’s downfall.
The goddess descended from her chair and took my hand.
“Now, come this way.”
“Huh?”
“There is something I want to show you, Haruto.”
The goddess led the way.
I followed silently.
At the temple’s innermost part, there was a door.
“This is—”
“The final realm.”
“What?”
“The seven skills are not imitations of the powers of gods, demons, or dragons but the original divine power—when you reach the depths of this, this door will open.”
The goddess caressed the door’s surface with her palm.
“And at that time, you will gain immense power akin to that of a god. However—”
Her figure slowly faded.
“Ah, um…”
At that time, whether you remain human or not—
When I came to, I was back at the original place.
Nearby lay the corpses of two demons.
And beside me were Luca and Ivy.
“What’s wrong, Haruto?”
Luca asked curiously.
“Could it be you were entranced by my sister’s beauty… No way. I won’t let you have her!”
Ivy pouted, clinging to Luca’s arm.
It seemed no time had passed at all.
“Whew.”
I exhaled deeply.
I replayed the goddess’s words in my mind.
The immense power I might eventually obtain.
When that time comes—will I still be myself?