Chapter 217 – Anubis

000

The white-armored automata, which introduced itself as ‘Anubis’, spoke to Cleon and Quon in a sphere above the machine, ignoring gravity and shining only the part presumed to be its eyes.

The last Mejai to serve the Sun King.

And, the warrior of new flames-a warrior who fought against strange monsters as a person holding a gallatin in his hand.

However, perhaps because of my mood, the voice coming from the armor was closer to that of a ‘woman’, although it may have been altered.

The body of Anubis, the automata, also had a curved design, so it was characteristic that it was more feminine than masculine.

Even so, I didn’t think that the angularity of the chest and buttocks was designed with the intention of sexual attraction.

“Warriors of strangers. And priests. After you entered these ruins, I could feel the spirit of His Majesty – the ‘Sun King’ running rampant.”

At Anubis’ words, Quon and Cleon recalled the fog that had engulfed them at the entrance of the ruins.

Without Mejed’s wand, he would not be able to strike effectively and Verastol would be in danger.

“Then you didn’t claim to be a self-proclaimed person… That mist. Was it really the ‘Sun King’?”

“Yes. He must be the Sun King himself… When the kingdom perishes… Sealed in this tomb with me.”

Anubis’ words made Quon look sad, but Cleon felt a strange sense of incongruity when he heard Anubis’ words.

“Sealed…? Not buried?”

Anubis was silent for a moment at Cleon’s question, then slowly nodded.

“Yes. To be precise, he didn’t die from the Sun King. Like me, he moved himself into a machine.”

“… No wait, what we met earlier was the ghost itself. It was insubstantial, moving like fog and changing its shape at will. How can that be a machine?”

When Cleon shook his head and protested at Anubis’ words, Anubis spoke to Quon.

“Type in what I say. ‘Scarab’.”

“Ah yes…!”

At Anubis’ command, Quon moved his finger that had been placed on his keyboard.

After a while, when the input is finished, a translucent illusion is displayed in front of them.

This, too, was a kind of illusion technology that projected records that could be seen in Mercury’s laboratory.

But I had never heard of such a thing being possible in a place without magic.

In any case, what was seen in the illusion was a mechanical device in the form of a ‘scarab’ much smaller than a human fingernail.

Each one was so small, but when they moved in groups, they looked like sandstorms or fog.

“Scarab is a mechanical weapon developed at the same time as the armor that is now functioning as my body – ‘Shabti’. Shabti is powered by human souls as fuel… ‘Scarab’ controlled by the armor of the Sun King. Has the ability to decompose organic matter, so the main purpose was for the Scarab to dismantle and dispose of them while Mejai, who donned the warrior’s armor, fend off the anomalies of disaster.”

‘It was already, over a thousand years ago,’ added Anubis.

“Then…The Sun King transferred his mind-soul to this little machine? So many machines?”

“No. To be precise, it’s ‘Shabti’ who can control that scarab. Originally, he should have come into this sealing sphere where I am now and rest…”

Anubis said that in a tone mixed with remorse somewhere.

As Cleon and Quon met their eyes, he noticed that the owners of this tomb had many stories, but first of all it was to join the other two.

“There must be a purpose in asking us to wake you up. But, we also have a purpose. First, join the two who came in.”

“There’s no problem with that. We’re controlling the lights from this side and guiding them here.”

As Quon let out a sigh of relief, Cleon continued.

“And-“

“It must be the holy sword Galatine. Your purpose is.”

As expected from the beginning, Anubis spoke before Cleon.

Cleon nodded his head as if he had no intention of hiding it.

“If you know that, the talk is fast.”

“But… If the original user still exists… Then the holy sword…”

Unlike Cleon, who nodded to Anubis’ understanding, Quon was worried that the hero Anubis still existed.

The holy sword and the hero are connected by spirit, and unless the hero loses his qualifications as a holy sword user due to corruption, the connection is not easily severed.

Like the Arondite of Aruru, the contract is tied to the family lineage itself, so unless the current user designates the next user during his lifetime, a hero is a hero once and for all.

However, that was unique to Arondite, and if the Holy Prosecutors refused to replace the hero, he would not be recognized as a new hero.

If that happened, it would be impossible to draw out the power of the holy sword, or even hold the holy sword.

“I’ve talked to Galatin about that part, so don’t worry. If someone she can recognize as her master her appears, she will lend that power to bring light to the world.”

Anubis said so to Quon, reassuring her.

“More than that, what we have to worry about now is you. Priest of the Gentiles.”

“…Me, am I?”

Anubis’ gaze remained fixed on Quon.

“Yes. In your soul, I can feel a wave similar to that of the ‘Sun King.’

Quon’s ability to respond was a special ability possessed by shrine maidens in her hometown.

In terms of her lineage-related abilities of her, it could have been seen that way, but I felt that there was nothing to worry about for her.

But what Anubis said next was enough to make Cleon’s face grim.

“That talent and body… The Sun King might be aiming for your body.”

“What do you mean by that?”

When Cleon’s voice her became hoarse, Quon looked at Cleon and put on a worried expression.

“The sun king’s current body – the armor that controls the scarabs – can’t leave this tomb. However, if the body of a living human is taken away, the story will change. Lost and consumed by madness, claiming to be the rightful ruler of the land, consumed by the ambition to once again establish the kingdom of the sun on earth.”

Deterioration of the soul caused by living near immortality.

Anubis was saying that even the king who ruled an era could not avoid it.

“But why is it the body of a Quon? Anyone who just wants a living human body won’t mind.”

“That’s because you have to use a body that matches the wavelength of your soul. Although the Sun King didn’t have magical powers, he had a strong ability to communicate with the soul since he was born. It’s thanks to that ability that he can control the scarab that is close to infinite. It is. This child… The priest of the Gentiles has a potential similar to that of him.”

In other words, Quon’s body was the optimal vessel for the Sun King to use as a body to be resurrected in modern times.

“…That kind of thing is unacceptable. I’m sorry to you who served him.”

When Cleon stepped forward as if to protect Quon, Anubis shook his head slowly.

“I know. That such a plan is nothing more than ‘the king’s madness’… That is why I am revealing this to you.”

“What’s your purpose?”

“I want him… To free the soul of the ‘Sun King’. In order to protect Caliburn, from the machine body left in modern times… Forever.”

At Anubis’ words, the two opened their eyes wide.

Because what that meant was no different from asking that his king be killed.

“I see… That’s what you wished for.”

“Yes… The disloyalty of not being by the king’s side and the injustice of not being able to present it to him with one’s own hands… It is unforgivable, but at least I want to bring him peace.”

The voice was full of sorrow and remorse, despite the intermingling of mechanical notes.

Silence fell in the space for a moment, as if they were thinking about something.

Unexpectedly, it was Quon who broke it.

“…I understand. That wish. We will grant it. Anubis. Your loyalty will surely save the Sun King.”

She said, placing her hand on her chest with a look of determination as if she had made up her mind.

In fact, if he only wanted the holy sword, his mission here would have ended by retrieving it.

Even if the Sun King wanted Quon’s body, he could join Mejed and drive the fog – no, more precisely, the colony of scarabs – as before.

They had no reason to defeat the ‘Sun King’.

However, that was too harsh a treatment for those who remained.

The Sun King, who has become a being who has to live with a soul that rots forever.

And Anubis has no choice but to look at the corruption of such a master.

As long as the world doesn’t perish – no, even if it perishes, something that can put an end to that eternal hell that may not end.

It might not be there except for Cleon, Quon, and the other two gathered here.

If you think so, if you realize it. Inaction, Quon thought, was a sin.

“Ah, mi, sorry. Cleon. I didn’t know…”

However, in the process, when Quon recalled that he had not asked Cleon for his understanding his, Cleon shook his head with a wry smile.

“…It’s okay. I told you before. Do what you want to do and be more honest with yourself… If saving others normally is what Quon wants to do, then I’ll help you too.”

“…Yeah. Thanks, Cleon.”

Nodding his head towards Cleon, Quon looked back at Anubis once again.

“…Thank you. The sincerity of your heart might be able to rekindle the flames of Galatine…”

“Are the holy sword Galatine and the Sun King’s body in the same place?”

When Quon asked that question, Anubis once again showed the map of illusion in front of the two of them.

It was the same as the blueprint of the inside of the tomb ruins, and it was found that there was a ‘Galatine’ in the deepest part of the multi-layered tomb.

Great Temple of the Sun Throne.

A huge throne in a tomb and an altar in front of it.

The armor of the Sun King was sitting on the throne, and Galatine waited for the next master on the altar, embracing an unquenchable sun-like flame as if guarding such a throne.

“…It might be strange to say something about what you asked for yourself. Your Majesty is strong. You couldn’t use the power of the Holy Sword, but the countless ‘Scarabs’ are a disaster… He is the one who fights with a different ‘calamity’ as his limbs. Dealing with him in this one who cannot use magical power may cost his life.”

At Anubis’s words, Cleon also nodded his head.

It reminded me of shooting beams like thunderbolts from my eyes in the previous fight.

If that was n’t his strength his …

“Something, is there no way?”

Cleon asked Anubis to reduce the risk factor as much as possible.

It was to know the opponent’s hand in advance, which is most important in his philosophy as an adventurer.

“As expected, if it becomes a weakness, it must be the main body of the Sun King who is controlling the scarab … If I can somehow burrow into his square his and destroy his core his, the scarab will stop his movement His.”

“…But you won’t let it be like that, right? You’ll always have more than a certain number of scarabs around you.”

At Cleon’s words, Anubis nodded his head.

“Yes. Someone might need to use Galatine’s power for that.”

“Galatine … Why is it able to exert its power her even under the influence of the ‘reverse magic field’?”

“It’s because the reverse magic field itself spread throughout this graveyard is being created with the power of ‘Galatine.’

That is, if someone signs a contract to become a user of Galatine on behalf of Anubis.

By dispelling the reverse magic field with his will, the fight against the Sun King will become relatively easy.

“Then… First of all, we have to join Verastol and Mejed. Even when we try to retrieve Gallatin, the Sun King will interfere… We need Mejed’s strength.”

“Yeah… That’s right. Then, let’s wait here. It would be better to explain the situation to both of you.”

At Cleon’s words, Quon nodded and let out a sigh, ‘Whoa’, probably because his nervous mind was relieved a little.

The moment Cleon tried to move his body to encourage Quon, Anubis opened his mouth.

“…Wait. The movement of the two people in your party has stopped.”

“Is it a trap? Or, again, the Sun King?”

“…No, this is-“

Anubis blurted out his words and instructed Quon to manipulate the keyboard once again.

001

“Ha!”

As the spirit rang out, a sharp fist that tore through the air was swung.

It was the alien beings surrounding Mejed and Verastol that the fist wearing the steel plate gauntlet struck with a heavy sound.

It was like black mud with eyes all over its body, and while the two of them were walking along the lights that turned on one after another, it suddenly appeared from the ceiling and attacked them.

Contrary to its grotesque appearance his and dull-looking sticky body his, the guy has been attacking the two while changing his body his here and there.

What’s more, even if he was hit, smashed, or cut, his body his, which scattered and reunited, was regenerating infinitely.

“Is this like a native creature of this land?”

“Oh, how could that be! This is the ‘heterogeneous catastrophe’ that our ancestors dealt with in the past. Some of them escaped to ruins or tombs and survived until now. After all, they are trapped inside and cannot come out.”

“…Disgusting.”

Saying that, Verastol banged to completely remove those clinging to his gauntlet! And he hit the ground.

Then, the black monsters were scattered in all directions due to the impact and then sucked in as if they were absorbed into the largest mass, which is the main body.

“What about the relative law?”

“Uh, um… The best thing is to burn it.”

According to tradition, the one that burned the most disasters along with the holy sword of divine flame was the ultimate weapon possessed by the Sun King, a ray weapon called ‘Light of the Sun Spire’.

It is an object that boasts tremendous power to collect and fire the sun’s light to burn the opponent. If this was used to invade another country, it would have resulted in numerous casualties.

“…The lanterns are lit, so there’s no need for lanterns.”

Hearing that answer, Verastol sprayed the Holy Oil used by the Crusaders from his belt on his fist and shield…

He smashes the lantern straight away.

“Oh, wait!”

Before Medjed could stop her, her fists and shield her were ignited with holy flames.

“In his name… I purify you with holy fire.”

When Vera Stoll uttered a short prayer and brandished her flaming fist, the strange monster quickly crouched down to dodge the flames, as if fearing them.

However, the flaming shield swung at the same time as her fist her was unavoidable, as it was hit by her shield her, and it started to burn on the spot as it was crushed by the hot iron plate.

Countless sharp teeth appeared and disappeared repeatedly, but no voice came out.

Soon, her brood was completely consumed, and Vera Stoll retrieved her shield and extinguished the fire on her fists and equipment.

“Uh, I’m scared… I never thought I’d set fire to my own equipment… It’s hot, no matter how much I wear armor.”

“I’d be lying if I said there was no pain, but it’s not enough to bother me.”

For Verastol, the middle M, there was no problem with that level.

“That’s right. It’s amazing.”

Mejed broke out in a cold sweat at Verastol’s answer, but let out pure emotions.

“But… Even in the tomb of the Sun King, there are remnants of the strange type…”

“I heard that your ancestors drove them all away using the power of the holy sword and forbidden techniques.”

At Vera Stoll’s words, Medjed tilted his head while making a pained sound, saying, ‘Umm…’.

“Yes. To tell you the truth, I thought that way too until I started acting as Mejai. It’s written that way in the lore that has come down… But in reality, looking at it from time to time like this, in fact, the disaster may not have completely disappeared…”

After glancing at Mejed, Vera Stoll held his shield her in his hand her and looked over the aisle where the lights flickered.

“…Did I turn off the lights for no reason?”

And the sound of something eerie crawling from beyond.

Like cockroaches hiding in the house, hearing the sound gave goosebumps all over the body.

“Don’t worry, even Mejai has means to deal with that monster.”

As Medjed said, he turned his staff 180 degrees, held it upside down, and thumped it toward the ground.

Then, although weak at the tip of the staff, I saw that it caught fire.

“How on earth was that wand made so that it is possible without magic?”

“Well… I don’t know much about the structure. It’s inherited.”

At her words her, Vera Stoll frowns at her inside her helm, clenches her fists again, uses another bottle of her oil, and sets it on fire as before.

“Okay with this-“

“…Wait a minute, something is strange.”

As Verastol stepped forward and was about to strike down the alien monster once more, the alien beings approaching from beyond swelled greatly and soon took the form of two people.

On the one hand, an elderly man with dark skin.

The other was a boy with a delicate appearance that could be mistaken for a girl with pink hair.

“…!?”

“Grandpa!? Ah, no… Mimicry! Remnants with functions remaining enough to imitate them…! Be careful! Those guys read our waves and copy the appearances of people who are difficult to attack in our memories… Crusader ?”

As Medjed explained that, Mejed, who confirmed that her Vera Stoll’s hand her was shaking greatly, suddenly looked back at her.

“Calm down!”

“Kuh… It’s noisy… I know, that much…”

She bites hard on her lower lip and runs forward in her single breath.

The boy spread his arms at Verastol’s charge and seemed to accept the attack.

`Damn it…!`

Swearing inwardly, the swinging fist of flame pierced the boy’s belly.

“I wonder if the durability is low because the body is inflated… “

“Ha, Grandpa is me!”

When Vera Stoll muttered, Medjed pierced through the mimicry remnants of the aged figure that flashed the scythe of the chunk of her meat that twisted behind her.

Soon after seeing both of her dolls her burn to ashes and fall to the ground, Vera Stoll muttered as she looked at her own hands her.

“…A troublesome enemy.”

“Yeah… So it’s better to be careful not to act alone.”

Medjed says so, but Vera Stoll snorts at her with a “huh…” And walks toward the now invisible passageway.

Looking at her back her, Medjed could n’t help but let out a sigh.