Chapter 145: Chapter 145 A Great Legacy (2)

A Great Legacy (2)

A Great Legacy (2)

Karui, the ancient evil god.

Unlike the three gods who remain in the world, he demands an infinite price from his followers.

He doesn't give everything away freely.

He just grants wishes.

Regardless of good or evil.

As long as the price is sufficient.

Nothing more, nothing less.

[I grant your wish.]

The moment he hears the long-awaited answer…

…a monstrous arm appears, tearing through space and taking Ludwig's arm.

However, when he regains consciousness, he's standing in the same spot where he was just watching.

It's truly a demonic power and authority.

Especially in the sense that there's always a price to pay.

“I’m, comi… ng!”

Even as he's making up his mind, the desperate battle is nearing its end.

Ludwig hurriedly reaches out.

And…

[I will take it.]

…that's enough.

There's no need to explain to the evil god what he's offering and what he desires.

“Ol, d man! What the hell are you do, ing!!”

The Dragonslayer's body is thrown back as if hit by an invisible force as he was about to stab the barbarian warrior with his sword.

But in return…

Rip!

…both of his ears are torn off.

A permanent injury that can't be healed by any divine power or potion, offered as a sacrifice to the evil god.

Pain that's incomparable to being burned alive erupts.

But Ludwig only thinks about one thing.

Right, they were fighting in this kind of pain.

“You, you… heal me!”

The Dragonslayer orders with black eyes.

His body moves involuntarily, regardless of his will.

It's not just because of his grandson, whose soul is completely under his control, but also because of one of his abilities, [Subjugation].

As long as he's bound by that cursed ability, he can't disobey his orders.

But…

[I’ll count to ten.]

…the moment a giant monstrous claw tears off his remaining arm, his body, which was moving involuntarily, stops.

But it's still not enough.

He still desires much…

…and he still has much to offer.

His legs, eyes, heart, lungs…

Anything is fine.

He’ll offer his entire, insignificant body.

If he can be of help to the young heroes’ path with his twilight body.

He’ll even give up his desire to end his weary life and rest in her embrace.

So…

“Give me the strength to kill him.”

Ludwig speaks, and the evil god answers.

[Impossible.]

Not rejection, but impossible.

Even though he values ‘voluntary’ sacrifice the most…

…it means that this much isn’t enough of a price.

However, Ludwig lets go of all his lingering thoughts.

It’s different from the resignation he’s been practicing every day.

He already decided to abandon the hope he can’t achieve and do what he can.

The freedom the evil god granted him is only 10 seconds.

There’s no time to waste on despair.

“Then let me protect them.”

Ludwig speaks again, and the evil god laughs.

And…

[I grant your wish.]

…a monstrous arm emerges from the darkness, tearing his body apart and devouring it.

_____________________

The moment of relief from narrowly escaping death is short-lived.

A question arises.

How did the priest of Karui break through the 4-hour distance and arrive here, and why is he doing something that would harm the Dragonslayer?

Does he have another plan?

“Ol, d man! What the hell are you do, ing! Get over here and he, heal me…!”

Judging by the Dragonslayer’s expression, that doesn’t seem to be the case. In short, it means that even he didn’t expect this situation.

But it’s hard to see it as a positive variable.

“You, you… heal me!”

Black light emanates from the bastard’s eyes as he collapses, having even dropped his sword.

It’s obvious what it is without even looking.

[Subjugation].

It’s the ability of his 3rd-grade essence.

If you use it on the dead, you absorb their soul and your stats increase. And although there are some conditions for using it, if you use it on the living, you can control them like a slave. It’s an OP skill.

Thud.

The priest takes a step forward as if possessed.

However, just as we think it’s all over…

Crack.

…the priest’s remaining arm is torn off.

As if offering a sacrifice to the evil god hidden in the darkness.

Thud.

The priest, who was moving forward as if possessed, stops.

His appearance is beyond grotesque.

Both of his ears and arms are torn off as if bitten by a beast.

But in that state, the priest speaks,

“Give me the strength to kill him.”

Only then do I fully understand the situation.

Who this nameless priest is talking to.

And what kind of deal he made.

If all my predictions are correct, there’s a way to survive—

[Impossible.]

The answer to the priest’s request is rejection.

A voice that echoes throughout the passage as if speaking to everyone here. The Dragonslayer’s eyes briefly flicker with mixed emotions at this.

That’s when…

“Then let me protect them.”

…the man makes another request without a moment’s hesitation.

And I hear laughter from somewhere.

And…

[I grant your wish.]

…the priest collapses to the ground.

It’s only natural.

Both of his legs, which were supporting his body, have been torn off.

However, the evil god is a contradictory being who gives both hope and despair.

Whoosh!

In return for that sacrifice, a portal opens.

A portal that appears in the center of the passage, swirling with black light.

Although the color is different, it’s a dimensional gate.

A high-level magic spell that can open a gate from the labyrinth to the city.

Whoosh!

The dimensional gate, which was emanating a powerful magical energy, reveals what’s beyond.

It’s not the familiar gray city of Lafdonia.

It’s a dark and gloomy underground fortress.

“Ol, d man! What the hell are you do, ing! Get over here and—!”

The Dragonslayer’s body is slowly pushed back as if by an invisible gust of wind.

Towards the portal.

“How dare you do this to my gr—”

“It’s something I should have done a long time ago.”

The priest answers firmly, even though the Dragonslayer is shouting in anger.

“Damn iiiit!!!”

The bastard, as if finally accepting that there’s no way to stop the priest’s resolve, roars and looks at me, then shifts his gaze and stares at one spot.

And he reaches out his hand.

Swoosh.

The Akro longsword, which was lying on the ground without an owner, scrapes against the floor. The silver sword moves towards him as if drawn by magnetism.

It’s obvious what he’s trying to do.

He’s going to take this with him even if he has to leave.

‘Damn sword-obsessed bastard.’

I force my trembling legs and throw myself forward.

Not towards the shameless Dragonslayer…

Thud.

…but towards the sword. My head spins from the impact of my battered body hitting the ground, but I reach out and grab the sword.

Crackle!

As soon as my hand touches it, the sword emits a scorching heat, as if it has an owner’s mark.

Thanks to Pain Resistance, the pain is manageable.

But I can feel my hand going numb in real time.

If I hold onto it for a few more minutes, I might not be able to use this arm anymore.

‘…Did he use the sword in this state all this time?’

I immediately dismiss the unnecessary question that crossed my mind.

That’s not what I should be thinking about right now.

“You bas—!!”

I endure.

Even if I have to dig my teeth into the ground and use my weight.

So that the blade that will eventually be aimed at me won’t be in his hand again.

So that he can’t harm my companions.

Clang!

The pulling force suddenly intensifies.

My body starts sliding as if it’s lost friction. At this rate, I might be sucked into the portal along with the sword.

Damn it, should I let go now?

Just as that thought is about to surface…

“Keu, keuheok!”

…he coughs up blood, and the resistance disappears.

Right, you’ve reached your limit too.

“Barba… rian.”

He calls out to me and mutters briefly,

“We’ll… meet again.”

He says we’ll meet again.

It’s a line that a third-rate villain would say as he’s running away, with his pronunciation so bad that even Misha would be embarrassed.

And he doesn’t even say what he’ll do next time.

But…

Thump!

…my heart pounds at that single sentence.

“…….”

The spear embedded in my shoulder.

My half-crushed jaw.

The killing intent that makes my skin tingle.

And his right arm, burning black and emitting smoke…

…they’re all telling me…

…that there won’t be any lucky breaks like today if that day comes.

They’re conveying it to me more clearly than hundreds of curses.

But so what?

Clench.

A member of Orculus?

A 9th-floor explorer with the title of Dragonslayer?

That there won’t be a ‘Guardian of Balance’ next time?

I know all that.

Right, I can’t defeat him now.

If he tries something, I’ll have to struggle desperately like today.

But…

Swaaaaaaaaa!

…I’ll survive.

Because that’s what I’m best at.

That’s what I’ve been doing.

That’s what I have to keep doing.

I’ll survive and become stronger.

And someday, when I no longer need lucky breaks…

“We’ll meet again, Dragonkin.”

…I’ll come find him.

You’re not the only one who lost something today.

___________________

Swaaaaaaaaa!

The greedily open portal swallows his body and disappears. And at the same time, a warm light starts to seep into my body.

And not just me, but all my companions.

‘…Divine power?’

I stare blankly at my hand.

The wounds are slowly but steadily regenerating.

Unlike with potions, there’s no pain, only a sense of comfort.

Swoosh.

I finally come to my senses and check behind me.

I see the priest’s mangled body.

No, can I even call that a body anymore?

He’s missing arms and legs.

Dark red blood flows from his empty eye sockets, and his nose is cut off like a corpse on a battlefield.

And inside his abdomen, which is sliced open vertically, the things that should be there are missing.

“Why…”

I mutter involuntarily.

Why did this old man sacrifice so much?

And for us, whom he doesn’t even know.

“Letter… in my pocket…”

That’s when I faintly hear a voice.

It’s the priest.

I don’t believe it, but I quickly approach him and search his robe.

A single, wrinkled, and stained letter is found.

“Leath… las…”

“Don’t worry and rest. I’ll make sure to deliver this letter to the Leathlas Church.”

“Thank… you…”

The priest then closes his eyes.

Although his entire body is covered in blood, his wrinkled face looks so clean and peaceful.

Looking at it, it’s like he’s dreaming.

How can he even speak in this state?

I can’t hold back and ask.

Because this might be my last chance.

“…Why did you save us?”

Because it was the right thing to do?

Well, if he were that kind of person, he would have had a chance to be freed a long time ago.

So why today?

It can’t be a coincidence, and I’m so curious about the reason.

“…….”

There’s no answer.

Don’t tell me, he’s already dead?

Just as I’m getting up with that thought, the priest’s lips part slightly.

“Ma, gic…”

The sentence is incomplete.

But that’s enough.

“I see, thank you for telling me.”

I get up without hesitation.

Although I have many more questions…

…I feel like the old man has already left this place.

“…….”

I stop for a moment and listen.

An awkward, unusual silence.

I mutter inwardly, as if enjoying the aftertaste of this silence.

‘We survived.’

We survived.

The dwarf, Misha, and Rotmiller too.

No one died.

But…

‘I can’t say I kept my promise.’

I smile bitterly, looking at my companion’s corpse beyond the passage.

[Can… we win?]

[Don’t worry, I’ll save everyone and get us back.]

I confidently said that…

But it was he who protected us.

The fact that we were all able to return alive…

…that miracle, which is beyond luck, like a blessing from God…

[Ma, gic…]

…was a legacy left behind by the mage who fought until the very end.

Liol Wobu Dwarkey.