Chapter 216 – Forward

000

After barely climbing the tall wall, Cleon carefully lowered the cuon and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Climbing the wall with one person on the back was harder than I thought, but I managed to climb all the way.

When Quondo set foot on the ground, his arms his were sore from supporting his weight his on his arms his, but he was just glad he didn’t fall.

“Cleon, are you okay?”

“Yeah. No problem. Rather, it’s a secret that I used these two for something like this.”

Saying that, Cleon looked at the two swords used for rock climbing.

Since it was a holy sword and a demonic sword, the blade was not damaged, but it was used quite roughly.

It was fortunate that the ego was not activated because it was under the influence of the reverse magic field, where mana stopped.

If I had been awake, I would have had nothing to say even if I had a little complaint or dissatisfaction.

Of course, if the magic was intact, I could have used the flying spell to get out.

“Ahaha… Yes, okay.”

At Cleon’s request, Quon smiled bitterly and nodded his head.

Turning the two back to their waists, Cleon inspected the huge aisle in front of him.

Scrap metal dumped downstairs – Considering the size and amount of waste from the automata, the aisle had to be just as huge.

Cleon was a little overwhelmed by its huge size, which she seemed to be able to pass dozens of people at the same time.

The scale was incomparable to the underground ruins seen in the basement of the academy before.

“The aisle seems to be quite long… Let’s be careful to walk while maintaining our stamina.”

“Yes…!”

At Cleon’s words, Quon nodded to him, fixed his clothes to him, and followed him.

There was not even a magic light in the aisle, so the only thing the two could rely on was a lantern with a candle inside.

After this was all over, I had to somehow advance through the twilight darkness, relying on my eyes.

In a large space, even if the wind is not blowing, voices and footsteps echo and reverberate.

As a clergyman, it’s a bit embarrassing, but when it comes to ghosts and darkness, Quon harbors feelings no different from those of ordinary girls.

Of course, fear of such things is something that all humans have.

Thinking that there might be something beyond the darkness, she involuntarily shrank and moved to Cleon’s side of her.

Cleon must have sensed Quon’s uneasiness of her, so she cautiously reached out to her, and Quon gently held her hand her.

A little, but if she felt the warmth of his touch her, this anxiety and fear also seemed to fade.

As Cleon carefully used his lantern to illuminate the path ahead of him, Quon quietly opened his mouth.

“…It’s been a long time since we acted alone like this.”

“Ah- is that so? Certainly, lately I’ve been doing a lot of solo activities or going out with people who aren’t in my group. It might be a long time since I’ve been on an adventure alone with Lyla and Quon.”

“Well… It wasn’t that much of a trip just the two of us.”

At Quon’s words, Cleon quietly nodded his head.

Before Lyla joined her party her, even when it was a party of three people, Albein, Cleon, and Quon, he rarely went alone with Quon or went out on a request.

It was the same even before the relationship between Alvein and Cleon broke out.

Quon basically stuck close to Alvein, and her role was to cover up if he made a mistake or overdid it.

At that time, the party was with three people… Rather, it was closer to a form in which Quon and Alvein combined to play one person’s share, and Cleon did one person’s share.

If a turning point had come to such a party, it would have been that Quon, who had also received a revelation about the holy sword, had informed him that Albain had been chosen as the hero.

She made ample preparations, took several days to arrive at the ruins, and explored the interior.

After going through countless trials, in the deepest part of the dungeon called the Ruins of the Lake.

She found ‘Caliburn’ left unattended with a sword lodged in it.

And, the boy became a hero.

“…If I… Hadn’t received the revelation from the Holy Sword. Wouldn’t Alvein have been twisted like that…? Cleon would have been hurt…”

“… Maybe so. After all, there was a feeling that he had become that way due to the bad influence of the holy sword … It can’t be denied that his original personality has a bit of a self -promoting side.”

Cleon put on a bitter expression as he remembered Alvein.

The revenge on him is over.

However, even if they fell apart and became a relationship made of resentment, it was impossible to completely erase the pleasant experiences and days of the past.

I don’t know what Alban himself thinks.

“…Until then, I was thinking and acting with Alvein as my first priority. The world was next, I guess. …Still, if Alvein received the revelation and became the hero of the holy sword… With that “If peace comes to the world. I thought it wouldn’t be bad as it is.”

About that Cleon also knew, because she saw her memories of her when she first got her of her.

…It wasn’t a pleasant memory to watch.

Protecting Albein and being by his side his is what Quon should do, something Kuon’s mother had instilled in her since childhood.

For Quon, it was natural.

Because Quon and her mother were the only two remaining in Albain’s family.

Of course, there was also the fact that Quon’s mother was overly devoted to her older sister her—in other words, Alvein’s mother her.

Having strong family love is not a bad thing, but… Hers was a bit over the top.

In the end, her mind seemed to work in a ‘bad direction’ for Albain.

To her albein her, Quon was subconsciously imprinted as a human being that it was natural for her to follow her own opinions her, and that she was a girl who existed only for herself.

How darkly it twisted his character his, he would have known even if he did n’t bother to say it all.

“…Actually… I’m a bit scared. The Holy Sword should definitely be used for peace. I’m afraid that a hero like Alban will appear again…”

As Quon said, he squeezed her own hand to suppress her trembling.

The search for the holy sword is a saintess’ duty, and the holy sword and the warriors chosen by it were indispensable for the arrival of peace according to the church’s doctrine.

… Moreover, considering that those who were hindering Cleon and his party were`demons of her, the power of the holy sword and the hero who might lend them strength later was important.

However, there is no law that what has happened once cannot happen again.

Esca said that she would hand over the holy sword she found this time to Berastol… But Berastol’s abnormal feelings were felt by Quon, who was not very close to him.

Even the cold eyes you sometimes look at yourself.

However, he trusted the words of Esca, who was an important person to Cleon, and accompanied him on this quest for the holy sword.

“…It’s okay to refuse. Quon.”

“Eh, that can’t be the case. …Esca-sama said it was for Cleon’s sake.”

Cleon heard her Quon’s words, thought about her for a moment, then turned to her.

Then, he held her hand her and talked to her while making eye contact with her.

Quon himself was a bit surprised by Cleon’s sudden touch her, but Cleon didn’t care and opened his mouth.

“That’s it. Quon. …You should think more about yourself. Like Lila.”

“…However-“

When Quon opened her mouth with a hesitant expression, Cleon shook her head.

“I know you feel guilty about me… Because we’ve checked each other’s hearts over and over again.”

In Ellesia, in the academy, and even in the royal capital.

Quon said that she would atone for her own mistakes again and again, and that she would use her life her for her her Cleon her.

“But it’s… Just like what you did with Albain. It’s just that the target has changed from him to me.”

“…That…”

At Cleon’s words to her, Quon shut her mouth as if he was a little shocked.

“…Sacrificing oneself for the sake of others and dedicating one’s everything. That in itself can certainly be a way of life. That doesn’t mean it’s bad… But Kuon, since childhood, you’ve only known how to live your life.”

Among the many paths, you did not choose the path that is right for you.

As for Quon, since she had lived her life knowing only that way from the beginning, she could only act that way.

Her age of 17, 17 years may not be that long when she considers a person’s lifespan.

But even so, it was long enough, long enough for her to fix one person’s thoughts.

“You can be more honest about your desires. If there’s something you want to do, I’ll help.”

“Cleon…”

Be honest with her own desires her.

I have been taught that the life of the clergy is to abandon self-interest, abstain from self-interest, seek public interest, and pursue public interest.

As a tool for the world and an apostle of God, to lead people on the right path.

Cleon’s words were the exact opposite of those teachings, but I didn’t think that what he was saying contradicted those teachings.

“…Yeah! I’ll try.”

Saying so, Quon gave her a big nod, then strengthened the power she put in her hand.

There was no trembling caused by anxiety and fear as before.

Inside my pounding heart, the expectation that something unprecedented might happen came up.

With that thought in mind, neither the cold air surrounding her, nor the space where she could feel no magic, nor this darkness covering her didn’t feel scary at all.

“What do you want to do? Quon. Just looking for the two and leaving the holy sword behind… I think it’s okay. If you want to do that.”

When Cleon said that, Quon shook his head.

“Yeah. As expected, I think the Holy Sword is necessary for the sake of the world. …If I really think about the world without being swallowed up by my own anxiety.”

“…I see. Okay. Then let’s quickly join the two of us. When the lanterns run out, we’ll be blind.”

“Yes!”

Nodding his head at Cleon’s words, Quon took a big step forward.

Her steps her were not as heavy as before.

001

The two of us walked like that for about 10 minutes.

There was something like a huge wall in front of the two, blocking their path.

“…Does the passage end here?”

When Cleon carefully inspected the lantern close to the wall, she could see that it was a structure made of ordinary metal, fortunately unlike the scrap metal in the dump.

“Maybe it’s the door?”

At Quon’s words, Cleon carefully climbed the wall and began to look for a device that could open the door.

Certainly, there was something like a very fine ‘gap’ in the middle of the aisle.

If the door were to open, it would open on both sides around the gap.

“…No, a plausible device.”

At Quon’s words, Cleon nodded her head.

Examination of both sides of the aisle, from one end to the other, was unsuccessful, but no devices or tools were found that could be used to open the door.

If it’s a dungeon, usually, there’s a hidden device in this place, so you have to open the door with it.

This was not a dungeon, but a tomb and a research facility, and it was certainly strange that the door leading to the dump could be opened from the dump.

“Is it a punishment that came in through a non-regular route…”

Saying that, Cleon once again stood right in the middle of the door, in front of the gap.

The gap was almost completely sealed, so tightly that not even an ant could pass.

“…Will ‘Mejed’ get angry if I break this?”

“Well, well…”

After Cleon’s words, Quondo murmurs as if he is not confident, and Cleon pulls out Galatea.

Then, he beckoned towards Quon as if to step back a little because it was dangerous.

When Quon quickly spreads his distance and moves away, he concentrates his whole body breathing and puts strength into his arm and his holding his sword.

A sword in a state where it is not enchanted will have much less cutting power than usual, but…

Sword Saint Talchek cut the mountain with his sword.

With a body unable to use magical power. By using that old red sword.

Whoa… And breath flowed from Cleon’s mouth her, followed by silence.

Talchek’s voice seemed to echo in my head.

When he cut the rock, what did he say?

[How do you cut a rock? Will… That’s it. Give strength to your arms, strength to your legs… At a whack… If you can’t cut that, you can think that your sword will break.]

‘That doesn’t help.’

After thinking so, a black flash of light rose diagonally and ran through the steel wall.

A straight line with no bends cut through thick structures with a single stroke, like butter being cut with a heated knife.

And one more time.

This time in the opposite direction as if crossing the straight line.

Keying-! With that sound, the ringing sound echoed and disappeared, and Galatea returned to Cleon’s waist, who had resumed breathing.

A giant X-shaped cutaway made on a door.

When Cleon slowly approaches and pushes the lower part of the cutting surface.

Kiki-kung!

With a sound, the cut part collapsed, creating a triangular space on the ground that a person could pass through.

“Okay. How did it go?”

“Hmm… I don’t think it’s at the level of ‘Somehow,’ but… Yes.”

As if she had done it, she looked back at Quon and saw Cleon talking, and she let out a dry smile.

She has a gravekeeper, she thought, and if she saw this she might scream.

“Anyway, let’s go inside. There must be more useful information than here.”

Cleon, who moved while saying that, and Quon, who followed him, passed through the thick door and saw a huge warehouse-like space.

No, it would be a bit absurd to call it a warehouse.

Standing on either side of the two like statues were ‘automata’ with bodies of black steel.

In human form, they were slightly taller than Cleon’s.

As a weapon, in one hand he held a scimitar-shaped sword made of the same material and a black-tinted shield.

All of them felt a different level of energy from the automata they faced at the academy.

`…Is it natural? They are much closer to Enkidu than those replicas.”

“…Does this have a soul inside it?”

When Quon said that, Cleon remembered what Verastol had said.

…With a taboo technique, he created a weapon containing the soul inside the armor. Did you say

“…Maybe.”

“But it doesn’t seem to be moving…”

As Quon said, if there is a soul with an ego inside them, it would be possible to react to the appearance of the two, but they just stood still, just like a product on display.

She closed her eyes and moved closer to the automata, seemingly concentrating on something.

“There are traces of the soul staying inside… But, really, there are only traces. It seems to have disappeared inside.”

“…Perhaps, there is a limit to the power of the soul, and it may have been exhausted.”

The soul wears out. The one who left the body and didn’t leave.

Whether the body was alive or not.

It is for this reason that the ‘Undead’, who have near-immortality life force, lose their humanity, and the black battle that summoned Humbaba was also the cause of the runaway because their worn-out souls were stained with despair and lost their reason.

“…Then- maybe… This place, these people’s graves. It might have been.”

At Quon’s words, Cleon looked at the automata for a moment and then nodded her head.

Even though they were made with forbidden technology, they sacrificed themselves to protect the kingdom and the continent.

Although it is a research facility, considering that the original purpose of this building was a tomb, it could be said that it was buried together with the king he served.

“…Let them rest. The other thing that stands out is…”

When Cleon said that and looked around, it was the center of the room.

I saw a huge mechanism and a ‘giant sphere’ on top of it.

“That one was in Mercury’s laboratory.”

The shape of the structure was a little different in detail, but it resembled the center of the research center managed by Mercury – the power generator where the Emerald Tablet was sealed.

As the two cautiously approached the mechanism, they found a keyboard with assorted buttons and a glass screen, just like Mercury had operated.

However, the characters written on the buttons were not used now, and neither Quon nor Cleon could read them.

“If there was Layla…”

“Yes…”

At Cleon’s words, Kuon nodded his head in regret and was about to turn around.

[…

“…Cleon, did you just say something?”

Quon turned her head, questioning the sudden voice that seemed to have passed her ear her.

“…No?”

However, Cleon did n’t say anything, so she just shook her head at her question her.

[…

“…There’s something… I think it’s trying to teach you how to operate this machine.”

Quon moved forward on her keyboard as if possessed by something in her, and she slowly tried to press her button.

Cleon noticed Quon’s movement in her and grabbed her by the shoulder.

“… Are you okay, Quon?”

“Yes. This voice… I don’t sense any hostility. It’s saying that it wants to help us.”

Since Quon’s ability to transmit spirits is higher than her Cleon’s her, she must be the only one who can hear her voice her.

Cleon decided to believe her, and the ‘something’she was whispering to her her, nodded her head and stepped back from her a bit.

Tap, tap… Tap.

It’s clumsy, but if you press the button correctly, the machine will slowly open its eyes.

The turbine of the power generator started to turn again, and the huge orb resting on it defied gravity and floated upwards a little.

A popping sound is heard, and one by one, the lights in the room light up.

It seemed to be moving with energy different from mana.

Then, the sphere that floated up unfolds slowly, similar to the sphere that sealed the emerald tablet, and reveals what is inside to the two of them.

“…This-“

Cleon looked at the object inside and held his breath.

What was there was ‘Automata’.

However, the shape was a little different from the ones that stopped around.

First of all, not holding a sword.

Also, the whole body paint is based on white instead of black.

And- the long ears that rise up on the top of the head.

A face with a slightly protruding muzzle.

Prominent retrojoints.

“…Wolf- no, jackal?”

[Yes. Warrior of the heathen And, a child blessed by God.]

In the red eyes of that automata, light dwelled.

However, it seemed that it was not possible to move the body, and it was to make a voice in a fixed form.

[My name is ‘Anubis’. The Mejai who protected the Sun King, and the Hero of New Flames.]