Thud!
As the boss room I had opened closed by itself, the figure standing in front of the red wall turned its body.
She lifted the gray robe she was wearing with both hands and spoke in a voice sharp enough to pierce.
“Have you come to interfere with me?”
Her blazing crimson eyes, long, thick scarlet hair, and skin caked with soot made it hard to discern her original color.
Her disheveled appearance gave her the impression of a homeless person, yet her presence exuded a massive sense of intimidation.
Fear was inscribed in my mind, like a ferocious beast baring its teeth right in front of me, but it soon dispersed.
The fear resistance had activated.
“You’re just a bunch of insolent pests.”
Finally able to think rationally, the first thought that struck me was this:
Why on earth is she still alive?!
She should be a mere skeleton, cursed by the Evil God, unable to move! Why does she still retain her flesh and warmth?!
What on earth had changed?
Could it be the petty tricks of the Evil God? No. While he could turn the dead into undead, he couldn't transform living people back into the living.
Could it be due to my influence? No, that’s not it either. She should have been dead before I even intervened. So why...?
Ah.
Benedict.
Benedict Alrn.
He was someone who shouldn’t exist in the original Soul Academy lore.
To establish the existence of Lucy Alrn, he must have taken something from another.
A knight of overwhelming power, feared and revered by anyone who knew his name.
“Alsetin...”
“Information Dealer. Has your master ever worked with the Foolish Father?”
“...Huh?”
“Answer me!”
“Y-Yes. Together in an S-rank dungeon...”
Upon hearing Alsetin's response, I realized where the root of this situation began.
Originally, Karia should have sustained a fatal injury while challenging the boss of an S-rank dungeon.
She would have gained a limited lifespan in exchange for defeating one of the minions of the Fire Evil God!
However, in this lore, there was no reason for her to be mortally wounded.
Because Benedict was right beside her!
The hero of a kingdom that originally didn’t exist was protecting her!
That’s why she’s still alive now, having been brought here under the curse she obtained by killing the boss.
Ha.
Hahaha.
Damn it. This is absurd.
How could I have predicted that?
How could I foresee an event that doesn’t exist in the game and couldn’t possibly exist?!
If I had known this, the least I could have gotten was a hint from that damned useless deity!
<Child, I understand you’re bewildered, but now is not the time for such thoughts.>
As I screamed internally, the old man’s words brought me back to my senses. He was right.
Before me stood a monster gazing down at me with eyes filled with hatred.
“Ah. So you’re not just a simple intruder. You’re someone who has received the hateful love of Armadi.”
I scanned the situation.
The countless items I had prepared, thinking of the Great Undead battle, had turned to garbage.
The various tricks I had in store to weaken Karia before hunting her down were rendered useless.
At least the items I had prepared to fight against the Evil God and the fire-type magic were still usable.
But would that be enough?
“Did Armadi send you to stop me?”
Even while I pondered, Karia, cursed and now a servant of the Fire Evil God, was taking steps closer to us.
Seeing her, I steadied my shield and took a deep breath.
The door to the boss room was closed.
If I couldn’t go back, I had no choice but to move forward.
This was an opponent I had defeated with my bare hands in the game.
If I wanted to, I could do it as many times as needed.
After all, I had means prepared for the worst-case scenario.
Let’s give it a try for now.
“You’re a heartless and foolish god. There’s no way you can defeat me at your current level.”
“That’s a thing of the past, you has-been lady!♡”
“...What did you say?”
“An old hag entering menopause acting all high and mighty? You look pathetic!♡”
“...”
“Your skin’s wrinkled!♡ There’s poison in your eyes!♡ Your hair’s thinning!♡ Haha!♡ You’re truly ugly, old lady!♡ Even an orc would throw up and run away!♡”
I forced myself to remain calm while meeting her eyes, which were swirling with anger and hatred.
This was no joke.
It felt like a burden was resting on my shoulders.
Is this what it means to be in danger?
“You’re quite audacious. Do you think just because you have the love of a god that you’re special?”
“You’re so noisy!♡ Seems like your lips are getting lighter with age, old lady?♡”
“You little brat.”
“Is calling you ‘old lady’ too much? It’s just your age, you know? Sorry?”
“No matter how you retract your words now, it won’t change anything...”
“Hey, grandma♡ If you’re that old, shouldn’t you act your age?♡ To be more childish than a teenager is pathetic!♡ That’s why you believe in that Evil God cult, isn’t it, grandma?♡”
Karia trembled in anger as she drew a dagger from her robe.
The surge of exhilaration in her body showed that my provocation had struck a chord.
So, this was the first button that had been pushed.
‘Get ready.’
“Get ready. Pathetic fools.”
“Yes.”
“...Yes.”
‘And Alsetin...’
“Information Dealer. That old hag isn’t your master. She’s a fool consumed by the Evil God. Don’t hesitate.”
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Even if I said this, I knew it wouldn’t help me compose myself.
If she had appeared as undead, I could have shouted that I should make my master comfortable! But Karia was alive.
How could I remain calm when the face of someone I had searched for so long was right in front of me?
If that were possible, I’d be insane.
It’s fine. It’s okay. I just need to consider that and move forward.
As Karia lifted her dagger from the ground, her new form disappeared from this world.
What?!
I was taken aback by her overwhelming speed that seemed like teleportation, but it wasn’t Karl.
He swung his sword toward a place where nothing should have been.
In an instant, the sound of swords clashing echoed as Karia revealed herself.
“Interference.”
“I won’t allow it!”
The swords of the two clashed toward each other.
At my current level, it was a battle I could not hope to follow, but just looking at their expressions, the situation became clear.
Karl’s expression was desperate, while Karia still had an air of leisure.
Ha. No matter how skilled Karl was, I thought there was no way he could win a 1:1 against Karia.
But I didn’t expect him to be pushed down like that.
Considering the power Karl possessed, it should have ended in a moderately unfavorable situation!
Damn it. Is she stronger than the game version of the boss?! This is ridiculous! It’s unbalanced!
Even if Alsetin fired a magic-imbued arrow to interfere, I was certain he wouldn’t be able to fully negate it, so I surrounded my shield with holy energy.
Ha! Seriously, when has that useless god ever done anything right?!
I’ll endure!
That’s what I’m best at!
As Karia raised her dagger, a giant figure made of flames emerged behind her.
Damn it. Has the Evil God’s magic been enhanced?! This is too much! It’s breaking the balance!
Even if Alsetin interfered with his magic-imbued arrows, I was sure he wouldn’t completely neutralize it, so I wrapped my shield in holy energy.
Ha! Seriously, when has that useless god ever done anything right?!
I’ll endure!
That’s what I’m best at!