—
Chapter 60
—
Before long, three of the four relics had been revealed.
A ring, a bracelet, and a necklace.
“Now, only one remains! Once that relic is discovered, the real war begins!”
Clona exclaimed as she watched the numerous screens floating in the centre.
“Here comes the hidden feature of this tournament! Ta-da!”
With a loud sound effect, Clona continued her explanation.
“When all four relics find their owners, the relics will resonate and guide their holders to each other!”
“In short, the relics act as a kind of compass~.”
A system designed to make the tournament even more dramatic.
The relics, like magnets, would pull toward each other and guide their holders to the locations of the others.
In other words,
“Hiding while holding onto a relic is basically impossible~.”
From the moment you possess a relic,
You are forced to fight fiercely.
Either steal or be stolen from.
“Now begins the highlight! Everyone, focus!”
This was the moment when the true nature of the tournament was revealed.
***
“…Sss!”
The Black Lotus, which had been dozing off, suddenly raised its head.
It flicked its tongue, focusing its gaze in one direction.
‘They’re all out now.’
It seemed all the relics had been discovered.
“Let’s start moving.”
“Finally?”
Elma’s eyes sparkled as she stopped flicking small rocks with her sword.
“Yes. All the relics have been found.”
“How do you know that?”
“I have my ways.”
I gently patted the Black Lotus’s head.
‘Relic resonance.’
This hidden feature of the tournament meant that when all four relics were found, they would start pulling each other.
Since it was a hidden feature, none of the other participants would know about it.
‘But I know.’
I’d been through this event multiple times.
I had already ordered the Black Lotus to respond when it sensed the “special magical waves.”
So now that the Black Lotus was awake,
‘It means all the relics are out and broadcasting their waves.’
It was time to move.
***
“I didn’t expect it to be hidden in a place like this.”
Behind the massive waterfall at the centre of the Gathering Demonic Forest,
A golden chest gleamed faintly in the concealed space.
Click!
When Angela opened the chest, a crown embedded with a red jewel appeared.
“This is… the last relic.”
Angela picked up the crown and murmured softly.
Now, their team possessed two relics.
They held a whopping half of all the relics.
“Hmm…”
Fernia surveyed the surroundings.
This place was out of range of the external broadcast screens.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
It was the perfect location to address her lingering doubts.
“Who… are you?”
Fernia asked seriously.
Her expression, almost emotionless, carried a hint of hostility.
“What are you talking about? It’s me, Angela.”
“Don’t joke.”
Her appearance and voice were unmistakably Angela’s.
But the swordsmanship and demeanour she had shown earlier—
Even if she had recently changed, it was too drastic to be reasonable.
“You’re not Angela.”
Such a transformation was beyond logic.
“Who’s inside you?”
“…Sister.”
Angela blinked slowly.
“You must be tired. You’re acting uncharacteristically emotional.”
“……”
“It’s best to finish this tournament quickly and rest—”
At that moment,
Whoosh!
Fernia’s whip lashed out fiercely.
And at the same time,
Clang!
Angela’s sword deflected the whip.
Sparks flew, and a sharp sound reverberated off the walls.
“…What are you doing right now?”
“I should be the one asking that.”
Fernia’s gaze grew colder as she stared at Angela—
No,
At the “someone inside Angela.”
“You expect me to believe that insect could block my attack after only a few months of training?”
Fernia knew about Angela’s “innate constitution.”
“I’ll ask again. Who are you?”
“…Does it matter?”
Angela opened her mouth.
“Who I am shouldn’t concern you, should it?”
“What?”
“You only care because I’m your blood relative and the Second Princess. It’s not because I’m ‘Angela.’”
A faint silver aura descended upon her golden hair.
Her eyes gleamed with intelligence and composure.
“Even if I’m not Angela, what you have to do won’t change. Isn’t that right?”
“…This damned bastard.”
“So, stop meddling.”
Shifting the atmosphere once again,
Angela smiled brightly and handed over the crown.
“It looks like it’s time to prepare.”
Buzzz—!
The strong vibration emanating from the crown in her hand.
She instinctively understood what it meant.
“They’re coming.”
As Angela spoke,
Crash!
The waterfall blocking the entrance split apart, and a woman stormed in.
“Oooh—! Found two relics!”
“Jane…!”
Fernia’s face twisted into a scowl upon seeing Jane Rune.
“Following the increasing resonance of the relics was the right move.”
The golden armour enveloping Jane’s body.
Enhanced by Lienna’s blessing, her defense and attack power had been elevated, leaving no time to rest as she launched an attack.
Clang!
Fernia barely reacted, swinging her whip to deflect.
But the numbing impact surged through her hand.
“Ugh!”
“It’s useless, President!”
Jane had noticed the ring on Fernia’s hand.
One side bestowed blessings. The other inflicted curses.
If the two combatants were of equal skill, the victor would naturally be the one blessed.
‘It’s hard to manage my Qi!’
The ring Fernia wore was engraved with the “Curse of Suppression.”
A curse that completely blocked the accumulation of Qi, which was fatal for a knight.
She was doing her best to utilize her remaining Qi to block the attacks.
Rip!
“Ugh…!”
Meanwhile, Jane was endlessly supplied with vitality.
The imbalance in their power was severe.
However—
“You can’t forget about me.”
The second member of the team came into play.
Shhh—!
A beam of moonlight sliced between Fernia and Jane, splitting them apart.
“…Oh? What’s this?”
Jane widened her eyes, slightly surprised.
“Are you hurt, sister?”
“Didn’t I tell you to help sooner?”
“I thought you didn’t need my help.”
Grit!
Fernia ground her teeth.
Unbothered by her irritation, Angela focused moonlight onto her sword.
「Moonlit Style」
The silvery blade slashed toward Jane.
“This might sting…!”
Jane opted to dodge rather than block, leaping backward.
“Hmph.”
Angela swiftly struck the ground with her blade, destroying the footing beneath Jane.
Boom!
“Ah.”
Jane fell, her surprised expression visible as she plummeted.
Though she would climb back up soon, it bought them a moment’s time.
“Let’s switch relics.”
Angela removed the crown she had been wearing.
“You wear the crown, sister. I’ll take the ring.”
It was better for them to each bear a single curse than for one person to shoulder them all.
Especially since—
“The Curse of Suppression doesn’t affect me.”
“…Then why did you give me the ring in the first place?”
“You know we don’t have time to debate this right now.”
“……”
Angela’s innate constitution, which allowed her to open her upper danjun, made her immune to such petty curses.
If curses had been effective, there would have been no need for her to leave the palace to purge her Qi.
“Tch.”
Fernia clicked her tongue and handed over the ring.
“The enemies have a relic as well. Judging by the lack of curses on their leader, it must be with the one hiding.”
Fernia took the crown and placed it on her head.
The curse engraved on the crown was the “Curse of Pain.”
A curse that doubled all pain felt.
But it was far less debilitating than the Curse of Suppression.
At least it didn’t hinder her in combat.
“You go find them. I’ll hold her off.”
Angela nodded silently.
With her task clear, there was no time to hesitate.
Dash!
Angela leapt out and extended her Qi senses.
Among the ominous magic scattered throughout the Gathering Demonic Forest, she focused on an unusual energy.
‘Divine power.’
A warm energy emanated not far away.
“…That’s the place.”
Behind the rock adjacent to the waterfall.
She spotted the Holy Maiden with pink hair, praying in silence.
Buzz!
Moonlight gathered onto Angela’s blade.
Slash!
The moonlit sword strike shot forth.
A rapid, piercing attack.
“…Oh dear.”
Lienna unclasped her hands, breaking her prayer.
“Another intruder, it seems.”
Her face, obscured by a black eyepatch, turned toward Angela.
Even though her line of sight was blocked—
‘…What’s this?’
Angela felt it.
The gaze from beyond the eyepatch.
Eyes that seemed to perceive everything.
Crash!
In an instant.
The moonlight strike shattered like glass.
“I’m… not in a good mood right now.”
Lienna’s pink hair swayed in the wind.
“I no longer know what God’s will is. Who follows it… or even who God is anymore.”
She murmured incomprehensible words.
Angela swallowed nervously.
“What…?”
“Ahh…! Humans are so fragile! Without something to rely on, they can’t survive! What am I supposed to believe in?!”
Lienna shook her head and shouted.
Angela genuinely thought at that moment—
‘Is she insane?’
It was a terribly rude thought about the Divine Oracle Holy Maiden.
But right now, she truly seemed unhinged.
“I still don’t know. That’s why I want you to give me the answer.”
“What?”
“Divine Oracle Princess. Tell me.”
Lienna clasped her hands together once more.
“Was God’s command to kill you truly His will?”
Then, with her voice imbued with divine power, she began chanting.
“Oh Holy Creator, send forth a protector to safeguard Your creations.”
“Eyes that record all things, gaze upon the world.”
“Wield the sword of judgment against foolish enemies.”
“Oh wise giant, trample ignorance beneath Your feet.”
The four blessings intertwined into one.
Comment