chapter 25
25 – back up
The mercenaries moved on the demonized land.
A bleak energy filled the cave, but it ran away whenever it touched the holy power flowing from the holy sword.
As of now, only low-level monsters are out, so there’s no big problem, but when intermediate-level monsters appear, you need to be nervous.
Members of the mercenaries walked, staring at the high ceiling and the darkness ahead, hard to believe it was a cave.
While walking for a while, two wizards belonging to the Twilight Mercenary Corps talked to each other using message magic.
[My client, a knight named Robert. I kept watching, but I think the rumors are correct.]
[There has to be one or two rumors. What kind of rumors?]
[Why is there a rumor that he was born between an angel and a human? Do you feel like you’re not human? I feel that way.]
[He’s good at swordsmanship for his age, he’s handsome, and he’s got a great personality, so he’s a bit different from us.]
The wizard who spoke first shook his head and sent a message.
[No, that’s true too. Even now, not even in a combat situation, he is expelling divine power with his holy sword and pushing back the demonic spirit. Didn’t you feel something strange while watching that?]
[Is that strange?]
The wizard wearing a black robe looked at his fellow wizard with pitiful eyes and sent a message.
[You really didn’t take any theology or history classes at the academy, did you?]
[Of course. It’s not fun except for magic classes.]
[Use common sense. Holy sword contractors do not use the power of the holy sword unless it is in a really dangerous situation.]
[Why?]
[They say the pain gets bigger and bigger every time they use the holy sword, and later they go crazy because they can’t handle the pain.]
[Ah.. That’s why our leader keeps glancing at his employer.]
[That’s right, I used the power of the holy sword during the battle earlier, and I’m still using it now.]
[Wow. I know why you said that No matter how you look at it, it looks peaceful, but wasn’t it really born between an angel and a human?]
[I didn’t believe the rumors at first. I don’t know now.]
The wizard looked at the back of his employer as he silently walked away.
After accepting Robert’s request, a letter came from the Magic Tower after a long time. When Robert uses the Holy Sword, it is said to make sure that he really does not feel pain and that he is truly a pure human being.
I checked the magic tool that was borrowed for confirmation at the Mage Tower.
A round, clock-shaped high-level magical tool tells the body condition of those within a certain radius in detail.
The magic tool had been displaying Robert’s condition as normal from before entering the cave until now.
—————–
As the monsters poured out with a short goblin cry, Sirgon gave instructions.
“The number is about 50! Archers fall back and keep the monsters in check! Warriors block the front with me! Wizards, prepare your magic!”
Warriors with large shields took up their positions with spears and shields in front, and archers fired arrows with energy to block the rush of demons.
I dug in between the monsters to break up the formation so that the monsters wouldn’t unite and target the mercenaries.
After dealing with the large wolves, I looked back and saw that the warriors were blocking the monsters well from the front.
It was reassuring to see the formation in an inverted triangle with Sirgon at the head from the front.
I moved backwards, taking care of only those who could break the formation.
The grotesque demons of the underworld fell one by one, leaving only relatively strong goblins.
“Everyone stay in line and step back little by little!”
The warriors blocking the front fell back.
Thinking that the goblins had a chance to win, they came forward and naturally began to gather in the middle.
“Back!”
With the wizard’s cry, the warriors moved their bodies backwards, and after a certain distance, a large fireball swept the goblins coolly.
Five goblins disappeared without a trace in one large fireball, and after that happened twice, the goblins fled.
I, who was holding the goblins behind, swung my holy sword at the fleeing goblins.
After taking care of the last one, we took a short break.
——————————————–
‘Great.’
Sirgong couldn’t help but admire. Although the power of the holy sword had a great influence, Robert showed strength that rivaled those who Sirgon had encountered so far.
More than the strength of the holy sword, Sirgon was more interested in Robert’s proficiency.
Robert’s sword was effective as if he had been catching monsters for a long time. When the power of the holy sword to destroy evil and Robert’s proficiency were combined, the speed at which he killed monsters far exceeded the level of Expert.
Whenever Robert was about to wield his sword, he created pure white waves with holy power in his holy sword.
It was a gentle wave that drove away the sticky, unpleasant demon.
The Holy Sword, the sacred object that demons hate the most, explosively tore monsters apart as it is notorious for.
However, this overwhelming power could not be unfolded by just anyone.
You must be able to handle the power of the Holy Sword and have excellent swordsmanship.
“Where is the best mercenary?”
Most people will think of the Golden Mercenary Corps or the Werfel Mercenary Corps when asked this question.
But which mercenary group is the most difficult to enter? To the question, the Twilight Mercenaries would come to mind.
That’s why it was difficult to join the Twilight Mercenary Corps.
Even the talented mercenaries who took pride in being part of the strict mercenary corps of the twilight were stunned and unable to breathe properly when Robert swung his sword.
Such divinity was in him.
I can’t believe he’s the same human being.
After half a day or so, we went forward while dealing with monsters intermittently, and before we knew it, we could see the end of the cave.
After stealing the fruit of the World Tree, the lich hiding at the end of the dungeon cursed in a trembling voice.
“The holy sword… Such a madman”
A lich stores his life force in a special marble called a Life Force Vessel.
That is why it is called a semi-immortal being, but if it is killed by a holy relic, it will die as it is.
“I will give you all the knowledge I have studied and commit suicide. And from now on, I will swear on mana that I will not harm a human being as long as you live, so go out.”
As I raised the holy sword without answering, the lich exploded in madness.
“hahahahaha! My research is coming to an end soon. I have to meet the contractor of the holy sword. Even if I give my all, I won’t die alone!”
I ran to Richie nervously.
As a high-ranking mage, the lich is a disaster to humans.
It usually doesn’t show itself and attacks with large-scale magic from a distance. And even if he is killed with great sacrifice, he is resurrected with the life force contained in the Life Force Vessel.
The curse magic used by the lich was also quite annoying, so it was difficult to deal with.
“Suck!”
A magic circle lit up around the lich, probably knowing that an intruder had come to the dungeon and preparing for it.
The huge magic circle that covered the ceiling and ground of the cave gave off a dim light, and a huge mass of magical energy with dense curses gathered.
“Take it!”
With the lich’s cry, a large, dense mass of curses flew.
Concentrating his mind, he swung the holy sword full of divine power to the limit, and the mass of magic split.
The curse, weakened by being split by the holy sword, enveloped me. I bit my teeth and prepared for the pain that was about to come, and nothing happened.
‘What is it?’
I blinked in bewilderment and looked at Richie.
Seeing the dark magic disappearing, the lich cried out in despair.
“What is this? How can such an unreasonable person exist in this world!”
It is true that the curse has weakened because of the holy sword. However, it wasn’t because of the holy sword that the remnants of the curse didn’t affect my body.
It was strange that the curse didn’t work.
Shirgong, who was wearing a flag, came to my aid and threw his sword, and other mercenaries also hit the lich’s barrier with arrows or magic.
“These motherf*ckers!!”
“I will make a gap.”
Sirgong, who had been driving the lich with me, gathered his energy, and soon strong energy spread from his sword.
Parbat
Kaaang!
“Ganggi? These guys.”
As Sirgong spewed strong energy and I kept him in check, Lich was constantly on the defensive.
Still, as a high-ranking wizard, he did his best to defend himself by raising his dark magic, but he avoided fatal wounds.
But soon after his barrier was broken and one of his arms was cut off by Sir Gong, my sword cut the lich’s throat.
Peruk
“Turn it off…Billion”
The wriggling lich’s bones slowly disappeared as the powder flew away.
The lich let out a shrill scream as his body was half gone.
“No!! Please look at me. My soul is aaagh!”
A black mage can transcend a human lifespan by contracting with a high-ranking demon.
But the price is that the soul is taken away by the demons the moment you die.
The lich screamed pathetically until it was all gone from his body.