VIP Early Access
Eksklusif untuk member VIP
Password Protected
Chapter ini dikunci dengan kode khusus
Chapter 158
Chapter 158: Mediocrity (2)
"Is this truly acceptable as it stands?"
Riferoze Astia asked from within the temple.
The question was directed at Ruelle.
The white-haired girl and the golden-haired woman faced each other.
Е̄n um â
"W-what do you mean by that?"
However, their gazes showed clear intent to check and counter each other.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"I'm referring to this situation where we constantly check each other like this."
The two had been engaged in a subtle power struggle.
They had found some compromise and deepened their friendship to a degree, but an unknowable subtle wall remained between them.
"Ruelle, it's good that you're not afraid of me while relying on Erik's favoritism. However, do we need to compete over the fact that we both share Erik's childhood?"
W ebn о v̀ ӗ l Ë n̈ ǔmã
During her past training period.
Riferoze had traced Erik's past actions whenever she had the opportunity.
A span of approximately five years.
Yet those traces were strangely peculiar.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Moreover, the scale of what Erik had undertaken was far too vast.
"I've found far too many strange things."
Wеb̂ ñ_ov е.l̈ Ёń ú m а
Riferoze murmured while gazing at the temple's sky.
She harbored several suspicions.
'Certainly, Erik attempted to overthrow the nation.'
Seri and Mark, her fellow orphans.
[Imperial Daily News] was a newspaper company that dominated public opinion in the capital.
[Erewell] appeared to be a luxury shop, but in reality, it was a corporation that oversaw the empire's entire system of clothing.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Both are directly connected to the Imperial Family. And that with direct permission from the Imperial Family."
Riferoze presented this suspicion.
"T-that... Erik just earns money well, so I just left it alone..."
Ruelle had never thought of it in such a way.
Setting aside the money, wasn't there no danger in what he was doing?
"Erik had been close to the Prime Minister since childhood. Wouldn't that make such things possible?"
Е̂ǹu̇mа
Ruelle thought this way.
It was a natural thought.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
After all, the Prime Minister of the Great Empire had even sent his daughter to prayer meetings to deepen his friendship with Erik since childhood.
"That's what's strange."
"...Pardon?"
Ruelle tilted her head in confusion.
W̆e̊ bṅ ove l̀ En̄ ú m а
"What great powerhouse would give to a young boy for nothing? Yet the empire, the mightiest nation on the continent, is leading this very act."
"That's because our Erik is so talented!"
Ruelle declared confidently, straightening her waist.
Riferoze glanced at her curved form with a sharp look.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
"Tsk."
After clicking her tongue once, Riferoze continued.
W ẽb̀ ñ оv е̃l Е̃ n ũ m̊а́
"Ruelle, you and I remember Erik's childhood differently."
Riferoze had shared Erik's training.
She repeatedly saved Erik from the brink of death in brutal battlefields.
That process was fierce.
"Meanwhile, you shared his healing, did you not?"
Ruelle had embraced the tired and worn Erik.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The young Erik engaged in many conversations with her while receiving healing.
As a result, the knowledge about Possessors that the two possessed settled in different directions.
"I mainly heard stories about things like intercontinental ballistic missiles or nuclear bombs that didn't even exist—mere fantasies."
Whenever Erik fought black mages, he would mutter, 'If I could just drop a nuke on the Demon Realm once...'
Or, 'If there were a Rolls-Royce like the knights had, it would be a bit more convenient to traverse this barren land.'
It was that sort of talk.
Еǹũ m а̂. ǐ ď
"I, on the other hand, heard him talk about how on Earth he only used luxury goods, and that people he liked should do the same..."
Ruelle was different.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
She had heard many stories about the Earth that Erik yearned for.
"He spoke of such things from such an early age to you?"
Just as Riferoze didn't know about luxury goods that Ruelle knew well.
The two had things about Erik that they didn't know about each other.
Ėñu m̄а̃
That much was clear.
"I know information about the Labyrinth's hierarchical system, but you don't, Ruelle. Instead, you know other stories."
The point of the conversation was clear.
They should share the parts of Erik that they each didn't know.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
'Still... on Earth, monogamy was the standard, so...'
Ruelle had much to think about.
E.ǹ ü m̈ а̇.
Then Riferoze extended her hand first.
"When Erik was very young—around two years old, I asked him something."
"What?"
Riferoze's gaze was turned toward the distant past.
She shared a story from Erik's very early childhood.
"Child, isn't it hard to lose your parents?"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Those people are not my parents."
Erik was exceptional.
Despite witnessing his parents' death right before his eyes, he remained unmoved.
"Then who are your parents? Did you perhaps hear the voice of the sublime God Astia?"
"Yes, I do. A mother addicted to luxury and indulgence, and a father with three wives."
That little boy was peculiar.
Ė ň ům̈ а̀
The adorably precious two-year-old boy smiled with a cynical look while saying such things.
The appearance of a child with a smile as if he had lived through everything was quite charming.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Though I didn't believe Erik was a Possessor at that time... it was still exceptional regardless."
"S-so Erik's father had three wives?"
Only then did Ruelle realize.
The reason Riferoze extended her hand became clear.
W êb̈ n̄o v̆_e l En̄_u m̌ ӑ.
"Yes, wouldn't Erik be similar?"
"N-no way..."
"Ruelle, it's evident that we are two of them. However, the question is who the third person is."
A chill.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Ruelle gazed at the World Tree as if shivering.
Riferoze was also looking at the World Tree.
Е n û m̆a
A sapling growing in form.
"World Tree, don't even dream of growing any further."
Riferoze stepped on the World Tree's grave.
Shivering!
The tree trembled madly as if it was delighted to be trampled again.
"If that thing were to forge a body again..."
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Ruelle recalled the World Tree's physical form.
That impossible body.
Moreover, the actions were too stimulating to be called the pillar of the world, the World Tree.
"I'll cooperate!"
Thus, Ruelle made the decision to form an alliance with Riferoze.
Right after the two reached their cooperation, Riferoze asked Ruelle the part she was most curious about.
Е n̈ ū m̌а̇.
"Did Erik attempt to overthrow the nation?"
"Erik touched two out of three of the necessities of life—food, clothing, and shelter—in the heart of the capital. He achieved considerable results."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
It was truly mad talk, but,
'Clothing has Seri, and there's the orphanage grounds, magical tool shops...'
It was an understandable story.
Ruelle nodded her head.
Ё ñü mа
Then came the next words.
"Moreover, didn't he even establish a newspaper company that encompasses information?"
Upon hearing up to this point, Ruelle suddenly remembered something she had forgotten.
"Oh, come to think of it! Erik once ran a pojangmacha business quite extensively! It's a mobile food stall."
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
"So he even touched food."
All of this had happened during the five years when Riferoze was gone.
Е̊ǹu m̈ а́
She wondered how he managed to accomplish all this, and also why the empire allowed such things.
Most of all,
"Why did the Emperor continue to ignore such an Erik and support him so? Furthermore, didn't even the Prime Minister's daughter become Erik's believer?"
Erica Fernasia.
She was a believer of Erik and belonged to the temple.
"W-when I think about it, it does seem excessive, doesn't it?"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Ruelle, hide your presence and follow me."
"Yes?"
So what needed to be discovered was clear.
"We must meet the Emperor."
One simply asks if they don't know.
"Ignorance is not a sin, but failing to ask may become one—."
Еn ümа̂
This was also something Erik had taught her.
***
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Erik had his believers assault the 5th Floor Master.
Even if he met Kim Soo-ho, it was natural that he himself would have to climb the Labyrinth.
'People lived in the Labyrinth.'
While his believers assaulted the Floor Master, Erik examined the contents of the [Easter Egg] tablet in detail.
Е n um а̂
There was nothing greater than expected.
However, even if not great, it was certainly strange.
【Where is this place? We decided to call this place the Labyrinth. A strange underground space filled with giant monsters.】
【The monsters were very large. However, among us, those who survived underwent evolution. Now we've become similar in size to the green monsters.】
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
【We ran out of food and climbed the stairs. Here we saw even larger monsters. Still, we evolved even more and were able to survive.】
It was like a diary of sorts.
Е̄ ñ u m̈ а̄
'Evolution worthy of appearing in evolutionary theory, achieved while writing a diary...'
Furthermore, it appeared to be a diary of the giant race that lived in the ancient city of the 5th Floor.
【If we go higher, we die. But soon this place will run out of food too. Will we ever be able to escape this darkness?】
Perhaps it was a diary documenting the giant race that built a city and lived on the 5th Floor until they starved to death?
Regardless, it was quite an interesting story.
"It's like seeing the primordial contents of the Labyrinth Theory and Continental Theory that's passed down through the continent."
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Just as Earth has evolutionary theory and creation theory, this world has Labyrinth Theory and Continental Theory.
This tablet was likely based on 'Labyrinth Theory.'
"Humans might have originated from the Labyrinth."
After finishing his words, Erik looked at Kim Soo-ho.
And asked him.
"What do you think?"
Е̂n̄u̇m̆ а̄
At his words, Kim Soo-ho became flustered.
He lowered his head first.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
And bit his lip.
'Why, why of all people, me...'
Drip!
Blood flowed, and Kim Soo-ho shut his eyes tightly.
Е.ñ uma
He was a lifelong Christian believer.
'God created humans, so what nonsense is this...'
Moreover, he was quite devout.
However, he had no intention of rambling about God and such to a being presumed to be a saint of this world.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
'If I do that here, I become a heretic.'
Just as Kim Soo-ho was about to say he wasn't sure—.
Ēn̈ umӓ. і̊ d
"H-he's a lifelong believer in Christianity, so he believes in creation theory. The story that God created everything—."
Yoon Hye-ji opened her mouth.
She eloquently explained Kim Soo-ho's devoutness.
"He even recites the Lord's Prayer before raids! A-and..."
Yoon Hye-ji stopped speaking.
No, she had to stop.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Whoosh!
Because Erik ignited Sacred Fire from his fingertips.
Moreover, that flame began to burn the bodies of the Alliance soldiers that Jang Du-sik had knocked unconscious.
Whoosh!
The soldiers' bodies burned away rapidly, leaving nothing behind.
As if they had never existed.
Ѐ n̂u mӑ
"Brother, why are you burning them?"
"Du-sik, think about it. Aren't these guys enemies?"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Erik felt that it was meaningless to spare these minions of the Chief.
The reason was obvious.
"They're the ones who would have killed Kim Soo-ho and his group."
Just then, the believers who had finished the assault returned.
Е̊nu̇m а
Erik called over Kang Pung-ho, the smallest among them.
"Kang Pung-ho, wouldn't you like to have a match with them?"
"W-why are you suddenly calling me Pung-ho..."
Kang Pung-ho puffed out her cheeks.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Then Erik, speaking playfully, asked whether she still hadn't achieved the conditions for a name change.
"Sure. A match isn't a problem."
W е̄ ḃ n ӧv̊e̊l̄ Е̊ n̈û m̃ а̌.
Kang Pung-ho spoke in a flat tone while looking at Kim Soo-ho's group.
A situation of 15 versus 1.
However, from Kang Pung-ho's perspective, she didn't seem like she would lose at all.
"Gasp!"
Then Kim Soo-ho's eyes widened.
'S-she's a short-haired beauty I've never seen before?'
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
A slender, well-proportioned figure.
A beautiful woman with a sharp short haircut that suited her well.
However, she didn't seem to have any particular strength.
"Even one-on-one with me, you'd struggle, wouldn't you?"
As Kim Soo-ho tilted his head in confusion.
Whoosh!!!
Ė n üm̈ а̂.і d
"Kugh!"
An arrow embedded itself at his feet.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
It was arrow-fast speed.
When Kim Soo-ho looked up again.
"You talk a lot for a guy. You scared?"
There stood Kang Pung-ho, wiggling her fingers.
W̆ е̊ b́ n о̊v̀е l̄ E n̊ u m̈ а̀
***
"Stop!"
Erik commanded sharply.
At the same time, he twisted Kang Pung-ho's arm.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Then delivered a chop to her head.
Crash!!
Ẅé b nо v е ľ Еn̂ù m_ӑ
"Kyaah!"
Kang Pung-ho was driven into the ground.
After that, Erik unleashed a lecture.
"Pung-ho, I told you they can't be revived. Why can't you control your strength?"
"I-I'm sorry."
It was a situation where Erik had every right to be angry.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Yoon Hye-ji's lower body had been ruptured.
'If I had been even slightly late, her head and heart would have exploded.'
Erik stopped the match.
There had been a close call with a death issue, but...
Still, the purpose had been achieved.
"H-how is a Possessor so fast? Like, like a local knight..."
Ẃеb n̆о v ĕ l Е̄n ům̄ а
"M-my legs exploded from the arrow?"
Kim Soo-ho and Yoon Hye-ji looked dazed, having grasped the reality.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
"Kim Soo-ho, you must not expand your forces further within the Alliance."
Erik warned them.
Sister Gilma was definitely an ally.
Kim Soo-ho and Yoon Hye-ji were also allies, just with unusual personalities.
Е̇ñ u m̊ а
Their problem was that they viewed the 'Empire' as an enemy.
"You were trying to build a nest in the Alliance to bring in Jang Du-sik, right?"
"H-how did you...!!!"
At Erik's words, Kim Soo-ho was startled.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
'There's no way this is a bluff.'
A being blessed by God who judges truth with mere sight alone.
E ńû m а ._і̆d̆
That's what the rumors said Erik was.
Kim Soo-ho stared at Erik with astonished eyes.
Then came the next words.
"Furthermore, you've harbored the Almanism Church, so you must also have intentions to recruit me if the situation calls for it."
"D-are you truly reading people's minds?"
At Kim Soo-ho's question, Erik shrugged his shoulders.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
"The Alliance is the wrong answer. Earthtown in the Empire. That place is truly a utopia for Possessors. Don't build false castles in the sand in the Alliance."
Erik left the message that they must convey this to their Sister Gilma.
At least if it were Sister Gilma.
If it were the Gilma that Park Ji-hun knew, she wouldn't simply overlook it upon hearing 'utopia' and 'castles of sand.'
'I should hope that Sister seizes this opportunity and spreads poison in the Alliance on her own.'
Erik planned to use the insufficient Yoon Hye-ji and Kim Soo-ho to convey his intentions to Sister Gilma.
W̄ѐ b̄ n̂ õ v̈ е̃ l̆ _Е̂ńůmа̂
The Alliance was a poisoned chalice.
After completing his business, Erik left the 5th Floor with Kim Soo-ho's group.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
As he departed.
"D-are you really leaving, Du-sik?"
Yoon Hye-ji clung to Jang Du-sik's arm.
Then Jang Du-sik nudged her away with his staff while muttering.
Е n u m а̌
"Geez, seeing her like this even after breaking up... this woman isn't in her right mind either."
There was one more person not in their right mind.
"Kang Ji-na! Will we meet again?"
"Ji-na?"
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
"J-just now, I heard you say it like that..."
Kim Soo-ho stopped Kang Pung-ho.
Ẃ е b ñо̀ v̄ е l Ėnů.m̃ а̊
There was a peculiar obsession in his manner.
Then Yoon Hye-ji grabbed Kim Soo-ho's arm and pulled.
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
Erik pressed his temples firmly and left the 5th Floor with his group.
"Are those two a couple?"
Kang Pung-ho asked on the way.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
It seemed to refer to the relationship between Kim Soo-ho and Yoon Hye-ji.
'Yoon Hye-ji has traits of a queen bee, so that's how it is.'
Explaining that would be tedious and lengthy.
So Erik summarized it in one line.
"She's someone with an abnormal mind."
"Aah."
Ӗ n̂ûm̄ а . і d̃.
Anyway, exchanging such trivial banter, Erik's group headed toward the 6th Floor of the Labyrinth.
From here on, this was a place Erik was exploring for the first time.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
'Just the 6th Floor, but I'm a little nervous.'
The source of that emotion would be anticipation and curiosity.
Soon, the stairs leading to the 6th Floor came into Erik's view.
As he climbed the stairs, Janson posed a question.
Е̃ň u.m à. і̆ d
"Boss, those two children... Vel and Pe. Are you planning to take them along?"
"It seems affection has taken proper root, hasn't it?"
"Still, there's the time the old man and four of us spent together... Isn't that a natural thing to say?"
"I suppose so."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Erik gazed at the two children sleeping in Janson's embrace.
There was one issue.
W̆ еb̃n оv̊е l̂ Е̊ǹu m̆_ă
'Can they be protected?'
There was no need to think about it.
It was obvious.
"Janson, the Black Mage was a class that maintained 1st Tier throughout with just utilities in the Labyrinth."
"What do you mean."
"It means that's how great it is."
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Erik finished speaking and opened the door to the 6th Floor.
What was revealed beyond it was—.
Whoooosh!
A massive lake.
Islands floating here and there in an overwhelmingly vast lake.
Furthermore, it was the habitat of the Murlocs, called the fish-men race.
Ėǹŭ mӓ
Beneath the lake, one could even mine various rare minerals.
―Welcome the 36 members of the Adventurer's Guild Headquarters and 10 members of the Empire to the 6th Floor of the Labyrinth.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Erik faced a force he had forgotten.
Erik's eyes narrowed.
He felt an enormous presence approaching from across the lake.
'Why is an S-Rank Adventurer here?'
Е̃ n̊ ümã
Konten Bab Belum Tersedia
Bab ini belum memiliki konten teks atau sedang dalam proses penyuntingan.
