Chapter 839 – Two Types of Masks

000

“Suddenly the sky became dark.”

As Lionel, the owner of the café, says so, he looks up at the sky.

The sky, which had been clear until just a moment ago, was covered by a large cloud covering the entire sky of Asteris, as if rain was about to pour down at any moment.

＂It can’t be helped.＂

He brought the signboard that had been erected outside, where it should not get wet in the rain, inside.

Today, the citizens of Asteris gathered around the temple to pray, so there were almost no customers in the morning.

If he didn’t have work, he might have gone there and prayed.

After safely getting the sign into the store, I thought for a moment that it might be a good idea to close business for today and tried to turn over the sign that said “Opening for Business” On the door.

＂Hey-ong.＂

And when I heard the familiar cat’s cry, I felt like I was blocking it.

“Hmm? Bahamut?”

Thinking like that, Lionel turned his head, and there he saw Herti and Calia slowly walking towards him.

＂Herti? Kalia? It’s rare that you come to our store during the festival.”

When Lionel shook her hand and smiled while welcoming her, Hertie’s expression was a little less bright.

And, when Lionel also hardens his face upon seeing that, Herty speaks.

“I’m sorry, father. Actually, there was something he wanted his father to help him with…”

＂My help? … I don’t think I’m asking you to bring tea snacks.”

When he made a joke like an experienced adventurer, Calia also shook her head.

“Yes. Unfortunately… The other person is a scoundrel who won’t accept snacks and tea.”

－Well. There must be guys like that. So? Could that have something to do with why the sky became so dark?”

When Lionel asked that question, Herti reacted as if she was a little surprised, then nodded.

“Yes. Actually… Soon, this Asteris may be bombed.”

“Bombing? Hey, hey… Are you saying there’s going to be a war?”

Lionel shook his head in disbelief at Herti’s sudden outburst, but he didn’t think Herti was joking.

＂Are you okay?＂

“… Yes. Tokoyo and Cleon are trying to stop the bombing. Surely it will be okay. However, it is clear that we must prepare for just such an emergency.”

When Herti said that, Lionel said, “Hmm,” And stroked his beard.

Regardless of the trust she gave to her two people, it seemed like she was also facing her realistic side.

“To prevent information from leaking, we kept it a secret until now. We built a shelter in the basement of the land, along with all the stores that the Dark Dragon Company owns.”

“What? Since when? “

“For quite a long time. Consult with Duke Miyeom in case friction with the kingdom reaches an extreme level. In preparation for war breaking out.”

“… Is this before when you brought him here?”

When Lionel asks, remembering that Cleon could be the spark, Herti nods his head.

“It’s really top secret… Me and Calia. And this is a fact that no one knows except for the fine salt engineers and trustworthy workers. We plan to evacuate the residents of Asteris there.”

When Herti spoke, Lionel said, “Huh, are all those people going underground?” That was what I thought.

“Indeed. I would like to lend a hand to a cat.”

“My father may have the hands of a lion.”

When Herti says that, Lionel sighs as if there is nothing he can do.

Even if people who were enjoying the festival are suddenly ordered to evacuate, it would be fortunate if they weren’t treated like crazy.

Even if the government and military cooperate, it will take time for citizens to understand and accept it.

＂You are treating the old man badly.＂

“I thought you would help me.”

Thinking that he couldn’t beat Herti’s answer, he went into his store and brought out something.

＂Pot and… Iron ladle?＂

＂Ah.＂

When Calia sees Lionel’s hand raised and expresses her doubts, Herti smiles knowingly.

“There is nothing better than this to attract people’s attention.”

With his new weapon in his hand, Lionel headed out into the street where there were people.

“Come on, us too.”

“Yes. Herti.”

And Calia and Herti also moved like that.

001

A place similar to a suspicious and gloomy warehouse in a dark space, only partially illuminated by machinery.

How much better it would have been if what was stored there were ordinary things like weapons or food.

─It was a long time ago that I gave up that same feeling.

The man in the owl mask thought like that and walked steadily without feeling any emotion.

And then, upon seeing the large cylinder standing in front of me and the light almost like emerald flowing from within it, I quietly opened my mouth.

“What is the final adjustment?”

“Now it’s almost done. It appears that the fact that the target’s will level was high, and the brainwashing penetration level was stopped at a fairly low level was the cause of the enemies returning to the previous infiltration incident.”

The monkey masked man, who has replaced half of his body with a machine, answers.

He is also a member of the Exile Church, and is a great servant of Adam who usually stays locked in his laboratory and does not come out.

Thanks to this, it was the first time in decades that we had worked together, but since the fortress was also flying in the air for the first time in several decades, it was necessary to inspect some of the internal facilities before doing so.

Who would have thought that she would lend her hand in readjusting her-her quartz.

Because the internal resistance of the quartz was stronger than expected, it took quite a bit of time.

If he in the monkey mask hadn’t helped, the period of the Five Elements Festival might have ended.

“Anyway, her physical potential is amazing. They say she got it back with medication, but isn’t her real age in three digits?”

＂A being who once stood against the devil with me. So to speak… She is a woman who was a member of the Hero party.”

“Ah, indeed. If that’s the case, I can understand it.”

Monkey Mask nods his head at Owl Mask’s answer.

Although he said it with his own mouth, he felt like his past self and his current self were truly separate people.

They discovered this fortress – the ultimate weapon that can be controlled through the holy sword – as a final means to defeat the devil who threatens humanity.

Having gone through countless trials and tribulations, countless monsters were already waiting inside this place buried underground to prevent the devil’s minions from activating the fortress.

I and Quartz… And the other two – the four of us take them all down together.

That time when even the executives guarding the power department were defeated and the fortress was successfully put into operation.

With this, humanity will be saved. Filled with fatigue and a sense of accomplishment, I wandered around the interior of the fortress looking for a place to rest and found this room.

When Owl Mask looked around, he saw several cylindrical structures that were broken and covered in dust.

It was done by oneself, not by someone else.

At that time, this room – these capsules were filled with chimeras of humans and monsters with strangely twisted bodies.

When I witnessed a scene that was close to the desecration of life, I remember feeling relieved without even realizing it.

And when you gradually regain your composure, what comes is also an unbearable fact.

The entrance to this room could not be opened unless power was applied.

That means that these creatures in this room were not created by the devil.

It meant that they were created by the ancient people who built this fortress.

Didn’t this fortress exist to defeat the Demon King of Duke Hyuk?

The moment I stepped into the room, enduring the chills that ran down my spine and the doubts that ate away at my head.

The voices of the beings in the room flowed through the Holy Sword of the Sky that was hanging on his waist.

[Stop… Give it…]

[Kill me, give me…]

All of these people still had their will and could not move within this capsule, and the union between monsters and humans continued.

While screaming, he grabbed the holy sword with trembling hands and cut them all down with the capsule.

After combining with monsters hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands of times, their very existence became unstable, and as soon as they came out of the culture medium, they turned into dust and disappeared on the spot.

As a guess… It’s not 100, but it’s a significant number.

For what purpose did they have to spend such a painful time sealed here?

Weren’t the ancient people who lent them the power to defeat the Demon King actually good beings?

A lot of agony and doubt dominated his mind.

Later, in order to find an answer to the agony that remained even after defeating the Demon King, he left his companion behind and disappeared, meeting Adam at the end of his wanderings.

Received a new name and new role.

That is who I am now.

At that time, she noticed that she was gone and was the only one who came after her, and she remembers who caught her.

“What did you say back then? Quartz.”

Place your hand on the surface of the capsule and ask while looking at the woman floating inside.

However, the subject’s personality has been completely buried in deep consciousness, and a new virtual personality working for the exiled church has been installed on top of it.

Even if he was conscious, he wouldn’t have answered his question.

And then, the monkey mask that was quietly going about its business in front of the capsule clicks and presses a certain button.

Then, as the culture fluid was discharged through the hose, the woman inside lost her buoyancy and slowly went down to the inside of the capsule.

＂The adjustment is now complete. You can eject at any time. Well, there may not be a chance for that.”

When Monkey Mask said so, he and Owl Mask crossed their eyes.

Even if you are wearing a mask, you know what the facial expression is like on the inside.

This man’s eyes must be shining like a child with anticipation and a little excitement.

It is the look in the eyes of a pure soul, the kind of human being that the Father of all creation likes.

‘Monkey: Seekers’ are all people who have entrusted themselves to the great knowledge given by their father in order to achieve their ideals.

‘Owls: Guides’ are those who unite such seekers and guide them in the direction that the Father wants to achieve.

He and himself have different thoughts about their father and even the roles assigned to them.

“Prepare to leave the dimensional gap. A call came from the armory a little while ago, saying that the magic cluster incinerator was ready to be fired.”

“Finally. I never thought the day would come when I could see that weapon in person while I was alive. Although he is less attractive than Leviathan, research related to him is forbidden by his father, so there is nothing we can do about it.”

＂Is it still Leviathan? Because of that, you speak well to a subject who once died.”

The owl mask says so, as if it is tired of the seekers’ curiosity.

“What. I think even my father would forgive me for making comments like this. Then. Let’s go to the control room.”

As he said that, he raised his finger and pressed the jewel on it, and their bodies were instantly engulfed in a torrent of magic power, and a moment later they were transported to the fortress’ control room.

“Waypoints are convenient, after all.”

Owl Mask nodded briefly at Monkey Mask’s words, then hurriedly placed his hand on the Holy Sword, which was the control and control device.

＂Open the hyperdimensional gate.＂

When he gave that command, the colorful space spread out before his eyes – the fortress of the sky that was quietly floating in the gap between two dimensions stopped in place, and magical power began to concentrate.

[Open the extradimensional gate. Be careful of the shock that may occur when leaving the dimensional gap. Until opening, 10 seconds. 9 seconds.]

An owl mask that shows no particular reaction to information messages coming from somewhere.

Meanwhile, Monkey Mask also walked somewhere and stood in front of a machine with a lot of buttons.

Then, several mechanical arms stretched out from underneath the robe, making a clanking sound.

[3 seconds. 2 seconds. 1 second. Gate opening]

The next moment, when you think you see a straight line of light created horizontally, as if tearing through space.

From there, the space opens up and down, like a mouth.

Beyond – The owl mask frowns as it admits that it is the expanse of the original world full of clouds.

“It seems like the color of the sky isn’t that bright. It’s not a fortress where anything can happen if you go into the clouds…”

Thinking like that, I immediately moved the control stick to pass through the gap.