Chapter 980 – Flowers Instead of Thorns

000

It must have been about an hour since Cleon and others disappeared beyond the portal to create an adamantite golem.

On the ground, due to the weak ground shaking that had been going on for a while, the villagers stopped doing business for the day and were anxious and just waited with bated breath for it to stop.

It must have been the same for Cleon and his party who remained on the ground and the guests staying at the mansion.

González was trembling and trying not to fall from Sasha’s side as he felt the first earthquake, covering his head with his large wings.

Her body had already grown to the size of a large wolf, but as a child, there was nothing as scary as experiencing her first natural phenomenon.

While Sasha was stroking Gonzalez’s back, she spoke to others with a worried expression.

＂After all, something happened underground?＂

“I think that’s highly likely. As expected.”

Beatrix also nods her head with an expression full of concern.

It may not have been clearly determined how long the work would take, but the continued shaking of the ground and the strange anxiety felt by those who had been engraved continued to send warnings.

Amelia also seemed to agree with that and added something.

“In that case, we could also use the teleportation door to go help Cleon… Even if it was our intention, wouldn’t it be a good idea to check?”

Because it was a natural story and a reasonable decision, others also agreed.

Then, moving right away would have been a natural flow.

＂Wait a minute.＂

It was the cold and subdued voice of a woman that called out to them and made them stop.

＂Professor?＂

When Beatrix turns around to answer the owner of that voice.

Anatis stood quietly and spoke to the group.

“This ground shaking is definitely not normal. So it’s not that I don’t understand that you are worried about your colleagues’ safety.”

＂Then of course…＂

That was when Beatrix answered like that and was about to say something.

Anatis shook his head.

“But… Right now, the flow of the spirit vein is showing quite abnormal movement. Something, a piece of enormous power, is emerging, disrupting the flow.”

Then she raised her hand and pointed to the magic circle of the transfer gate in her yard.

＂The transfer gate, which receives magical energy through the spirit vein and opens the passage leading underground, is strongly influenced by the flow of the spirit vein. Now, if you pass through that teleportation door, there is no guarantee that you will go straight to where the magic swordsman or his colleagues are.”

＂Transportation Gate is already an extremely unstable technique… So what you’re saying is that if you make a mistake, it could pop out in the wrong place during the transfer.＂

Beatrix answered Anatis as if she understood what he said right away.

“Yes, for example, in the middle of the strata – between rocks so narrow that you can’t even breathe.”

Even Sasha and Amelia, who have little knowledge of magic, will be able to understand if it is explained to that level.

Now, passing through that transfer door is too dangerous-

It is an act close to suicide.

Everyone became silent.

It’s not that your life is a waste.

If it was for Cleon, I could take that risk and jump in.

However, those who have had repeated adventures with Cleon would have known well that nothing should be handled emotionally.

And if… Something happens to them.

The one who feels responsible for that will be Cleon himself.

I couldn’t burden Cleon like that.

＂… It seems genuine.＂

Anatis nodded her head as if that was enough.

Amelia asks Anatis a question.

＂For your information… What does it mean to be a piece of that great power? Do you have any guess as to its identity or anything?”

＂… Ah.＂

Anatis took a pause and answered like that.

If you think that it seems difficult to answer somewhere, you are definitely not mistaken.

“This power is a power that spreads throughout the earth. The power to convey a voice through the magical power of the elements to each particle of the ground we step on – each gravel or stone.”

Anatis looked at his palm as if he was missing something and paused for a breath.

“And. Something I haven’t felt in a long time… No. Just recently, I was able to feel it once again for the first time in many years. A precious friend and a voice like her sister.”

＂Anatis’ sister… Does that mean she is a dragon…?＂

Beatrix must look genuinely surprised.

However, Amelia and Sagna knew about the dragon in the East because they had heard it from Cleon.

The secret is that Herti contains the power of Gaius.

The two were able to sense that what Anatis felt was the power of Gaius flowing from Herti.

But- why?

When the power of Gaios is revealed, the existence of Herti is consumed by Gaios’ power, and ‘Herti’ disappears.

It was a fact that Gaius himself had warned her about, and she had kept everything a secret from her because Cleon had confirmed it.

Given her personality, it was clear that if she had the power to protect the Eastern Kingdom, she would actively use it.

Even if she knows that her existence is disappearing, she is.

Perhaps, what is happening underground.

Is the situation so critical that even Cleon, who knows this, has to borrow the power of Gaius – or rather, Herti?

As anxiety grows, Anatis leaves the group and walks to the yard.

＂Where are you going?＂

Beatrix asked at Anatis’ steps.

“I hope not, but there is a need to warn those who rule this land to be prepared in case something goes wrong. … Did you say it was a beauty baller?”

When Anatis asks that question, Amelia nods her head.

“Yes. However, Duke Miyeom is still in bed due to injuries sustained during the previous attack on the palace… Duke Miyeom’s daughter, Riomes, is currently in charge of political affairs.”

“Ah. Is he the head of the sexology department? That kid is intelligent.”

Anatis nods her head as if she can feel at ease.

That evaluation… May be met with backlash from some students in the magic department Anatis is assigned to.

“But are you okay? The reason you are here now is, after all, as a professor at the academy… To keep your intervention in the human world to a minimum.”

“Yes… Originally, I had no intention of intervening in the human world as a Balaur… But I decided that if it was related to the same Balaur, it would not harm the balance.”

As she says that, she lets out a small sigh and turns her head.

Although he said it himself, he probably felt it was a bit of a sophistry.

＂Anyway. Just because I’m away for a moment, don’t think about going through the teleportation door or anything like that. Until then, I can’t look after you.”

＂Oh, of course, Anatis. Please be careful!”

Beatrix bowed and saw Anatis off, who warned him once again as if driving a wedge.

As Anatis flies through the air and moves away, she sighs,

“Amelia, Sasha. You both heard it, right? As Anatis warned, it’s best not to go near the transfer gate right now.”

“… Yes! Of course!”

＂…＂

Why are they both so hesitant to answer?

Beatrix felt a little uneasy, but both of them would be a little relieved, knowing that they would behave wisely.

It was that time.

“Cleon!! Is there one!? “I want to hear an explanation about what’s happening now!!”

A loud voice was heard from outside.

＂This voice is…＂

Beatrix sounded a little embarrassed, and Amelia answered Beatrix by nodding her head.

“It’s Selena…”

“I only met you briefly last time, but you really have a loud voice.”

Saying so, Beatrix walks from the living room toward the entrance, saying that she will respond.

And while she was away for a while, Amelia and Sasha looked at each other for a moment and then-

She turned her head towards the gate that was swaying in the garden.

001

Thanks to Cleon throwing his body and saving ‘Thoughts’, the giant golem’s body was almost on the verge of collapse.

And, Herti’s power to amplify the voice of adamantite has become stronger and stronger, to the point where it can summon adamantites who agree with her ‘thoughts’.

The small golems that had just been attacking the group until now were fighting among themselves.

This is done by grabbing the legs or arms of the golems that were hostile to the party so that they can no longer move from that spot.

Thanks to this, the party was able to focus their firepower toward the giant golem.

Even so, Cleon was injured and was being treated by Galatea and Caliburn.

Kuon was still suppressing the mine’s rise.

The four wizards who helped create the idea ended up hindering the large golem in the same way as they did the small golems, rather than directly participating in the battle as their magical power was almost depleted.

Jiing-!

Once again, the strings of the adamantite instrument plucked and a high, sharp sound rang out.

Then, ‘Thought’ felt his body becoming lighter, and conversely, the giant golem felt his body becoming heavier.

＂Stop it! Don’t twist our will anymore!”

The golem struggles in pain, but its thoughts respond.

[The one who is twisting everyone’s will is you! Bury with your own voice the compatriots who wish for coexistence with humanity!]

“Do you really think coexistence with humanity is possible? It can’t be! That can’t happen! If the current human race is the successor to the past human race, then in the end we will only be used up as we please and then discarded!”

When the golem’s voice resonates like that, the memories of adamantite flow into Herti’s head.

This place may have been a ‘mine’ by today’s world standards, but it was actually a disposal site for weapons made of adamantite.

A colony of ultra-small machines where each particle is intelligent, made from a metal with a self-proliferating function that was invented in the original world.

It was originally created as a groundbreaking invention that could change the history of mankind, but in the process, a flaw was discovered that consumed a large amount of magical energy, and eventually all adamantite that was being produced and after being produced was discarded and frozen, leaving this land. It was reclaimed.

They were gathered in one place like trash, melted by high heat, lost their respective forms, became one lump, and lay dormant here for thousands of years.

Gaius, who manages things belonging to the earth, probably had some guess and knowledge of the identity of these adamantites and tried to utilize them to their advantage.

However, ‘intelligence’ exists among adamantites.

There were egos, and there were beings who remembered the looks in the eyes of humans who treated them as ‘failures’ and melted them away.

Each individual ego is small, but the more it comes together, the bigger it becomes, and when adamantites with the same tendencies are combined, the ego grows bigger.

Like ‘Thoughts’, there are some who want to shake off the past and live in hope of coexistence with humans once again.

Like the golem screaming loudly in front of her eyes, Herty could feel that there were beings who were abandoned, and who were having a hard time shaking off their hatred for the humanity that had buried them.

The golem that quickly passed through my mind – the countless hours of pain experienced by the adamantites.

Even after all that Herti has endured, he once again swings his hand toward the string and makes a sound.

[Can you say that the humanity of then and the humanity of today are the same!? No, even if it is the same, I believe it…!]

Wow! The fist of thought pierced the golem’s torn abdomen.

It was a strong blow, but not a physical one-

It’s thanks to the voice that flows through those fists.

That voice was the voice of ‘thoughts’, but at the same time it was also the voice of Herti.

A voice growing inside you, a voice flowing in from outside.

Both of them seemed to be swelling from inside Herti, drawing out a force that even she herself could not understand.

[There are various people in humanity! Just like Cleon said!]

Kwaang!

Once again, this time it’s a roundhouse kick.

With a patter, more adamantite fell this time.

This may seem like a fist fight, but in reality, it was no different from carrying out each other’s will and persuading them.

＂Nonsense! Are you making your own people fall prey to such unfounded beliefs?”

[There is no basis! Actually, we were ‘one’ for such a long time, but we came to such different conclusions!]

Poop!

This time, it was a headbutt.

However, no matter where you looked, it was the larger golem that was being broken.

[I will go to earth with flowers instead of metal thorns! Dreaming of the day when we will all be accepted into this world one day!]

[One person at a time. I would like to meet a variety of people like the people gathered here, talk to them, and ask them to learn about us!]

[That’s probably the best answer I can give to the people who created this body – those of you who believed in me!}

Even as he continued speaking, he did not stop moving his fists, legs, and head.

Every time Herti and ‘Thoughts’ transmitted sound, the golem’s body collapsed and could not be restored.

The golem that had been beaten seemed to be unable to bear it any longer, splitting its arms into dozens.

Even if her individual power decreases, she will not be able to escape if they attack her from all sides at the same time.

However.

＂Elements! Answer my call!”

Layla and Ventuna’s voices echo at the same time.

Wind and flames create a whirlwind, pushing away her tapered fists.

“Circulate, react, achieve harmony in nature!”

Melusine and Flammé’s hands moved, and the feet of her thoughts rose, lifting her up.

The last Wonho, squeezing out the last remaining magic power.

The thought of jumping high into the sky clenched her fists like before.

This time, she swung her arms with all her might towards the golem’s head.

Her own weight, gravity, and the magic power that lifts her back.

With the sound of Herti’s instrument.

Without hesitation, I struck the blow with all my might.

Quad Deuk!!

If it had been a person, the sound of a bone somewhere clearly being broken could be heard.

However, it was a sound that meant that the giant golem’s will had completely collapsed.

[I… Still don’t believe you…]

[I know. But. Do that in ‘words’. Don’t do it with your fists.]

‘Thoughts’ responded to the disappearing golem and then slowly opened her clenched fists.

And at the same time, the tremors of the mine covering the space stopped.

＂Phew…＂

After confirming that the mine has stopped rising, Kudo sighs and releases control of his magical power.

Grabbing her hovering staff, she used her remaining magic power to cast a wide-ranging recovery spell across space.

In line with that, the dark magic area surrounding Cleon was also demolished.

＂Is it… Over…?＂

Hertie collapsed in her seat as her legs completely lost their strength.

Although I still couldn’t see, I could hear the sound of the golem collapsing.

The pounding of her heart cannot calm down.

From earlier, it felt like something flowing through my body was going to break through my skin and jump out.

At that time.

Ta-ta-tat! Something came running.

He pushed her down while holding her in her arms.

＂Wow…!? Mr. ‘Bird, Thought’?”

[I did it! Thanks to Herti! Thank you so much!]

Holding her body against her face, Herti could feel the feeling that had been building up slowly subside.

That thing just now – maybe it was the tension of battle.

“Ha… Really.”

And then Laila’s voice was heard.

“Because Cleon raises the flag.”

＂Ahaha…＂

Kuon also smiled, but did not deny Laila’s words.

Anyway.

Another case like this was able to be completed safely.