◈ Episode 166. You Left Behind Something Precious (2)[Quirnberg Machine Tower].
When the rift was created, I had deeply 『explored』 the structure of the Machine Tower.
Because, back then, my level wasn’t as high as it was now.
To win against high-level players like Rox, I’d needed a trick up my sleeve.
“……
Are you truly all right?”
Hiel asked cautiously.
No, I’m telling you, I really am all right.
It seemed I would have to show it through action rather than words after all.
I drew up my mana.
The exploration process was carried out swiftly.
It was not Lee Hoyeol’s talent, nor anyone else’s, but Grandfell’s.
Meaning he was not someone whose mind would forget an object he had once explored simply because time had passed.
Moreover, there was the effect of [Pentagram of Pure Knowledge].
Since I possessed knowledge regarding every mineral.
I immediately entered the 『interference』 process.
I was not manifesting it in a new form.
I was merely returning it to its previous form.
So the only thing to add was 『reversal』.
Before long, mana seeped into the horrifically shattered mechanical device.‘Unexpected.’If there was one greatest advantage to reversal magic.
It would be that its mana efficiency was exceptionally outstanding.
But this was different from usual.
The amount of mana draining away was considerable.[Blessing of the First World Tree]
Considering that it was active.‘It’s enough to make me expect something…….’It was practically swallowing my mana, wasn’t it?
Even so, it was bearable.
I was no longer the same person who had once struggled with a mana pool smaller than a rat’s tail.
At last, reversal magic manifested.
The mechanical device at the heart began to return to the form it had before it was damaged.
Hiel spoke in a low voice.
“As expected. Please forgive me for worrying needlessly.”……
At any rate, you have not the slightest intention of stopping or fixing that manner of speech.
Saying anything would only tire my mouth.
More importantly, now was the moment to focus on the mechanical device rather than Hiel.
Clank—click—clank—A structure that made one’s head ache just by looking at it.
Soon, the interlocking gears began to rotate.
At the same time, mana shimmered at the center of the mechanical device.……
Was this why it had been all but swallowing my mana?
It seemed to have used my mana as a substitute fuel for mana stones.
The realization lasted only a moment.
Messages flickered before my eyes.[You acquire the experience accumulated in the ultimate weapon, Quirnberg Machine Tower.][You acquire the fame accumulated in the ultimate weapon, Quirnberg Machine Tower.]
The savings account had matured.
There was no time to be moved.
A force that could not be controlled immediately flowed out of the mechanical device!
Ssssss—Silver hair swayed in my vision, and even the neatly arranged set of my clothes was disheveled by the force. That extraordinary energy wrapped around my entire body.
Another message appeared.[Your level has increased.][Your level has increased.][Your level has increased.]…….
No, not just once?
But this was within expectations.
It was none other than Akshan.
Quirnberg Machine Tower, once called the ultimate weapon of the demon hunters.
If such an ultimate weapon had hunted demons until it was so horribly destroyed, then just how many demons had it slain?
One thing I could say for certain was that, at the very least, it must have hunted about as many as I had—in other words, at least several million.[Your level has increased.]…….
Even as I thought, messages flickered without rest.
The unusual energy showed no sign of subsiding.
At that point, I could intuit it.
This would reach the limit, 50 levels.A quantity of experience so overwhelming that it would easily smash through the wall that came every 100 levels, this was……! The moment I was certain, something shimmered in my vision.
A message, but it was not a level-up notification.[You acquire the memories accumulated in Quirnberg Machine Tower.]
Wait, accumulated memories?
At that moment, my vision changed.
As though someone had pressed play on a video. The scenery of the Arcana Continent, seen through the eyes of Quirnberg Machine Tower, began to flow before my eyes……....
Boom!
Thud!
Boom!
A culmination of technology made from minerals.
Therefore, emotions did not exist.
Its purpose was only one.
-“Legacy of Akshan, fulfill your pride as an ultimate weapon.”
Following the voice that awakened it.
It merely upheld its pride as an ultimate weapon.
It hunted demons until the very end, then ceased operation.
Thud!
Boom!
Thud!
Heaven and earth were covered in demons.
Thanks to that, there was no hesitation in its steps.
Until it reached a village shaking like a candle in the wind.
Beneath the demons’ assault.
What entered its sight was a man crying out in agony.
Between the fingers covering his face, what gleamed pitch-black was that of a demon.
“……
My name is Mate. I am!”
He was certainly a demon.
An existence that had to be hunted.
It was the moment Quirnberg Machine Tower was about to move according to its pride.
“Mate! Please, come to your senses!!”
A human approached the demon.
As if approaching was not enough, she embraced the demon from behind.
Why?……
Boom.
For a moment, the Machine Tower stopped operating.
“……
Get away from me!”
“I can’t do that.”
“I’ve reached my limit. Please, Ransha.”
Tremble, tremble.
The man handed over the sword he held in his shaking hand.
A sword made of silver.
The man’s palm burned where it touched the silver.
It proved once again that the man was a demon.
And yet.
“……
Stab me to death with this, or run away right now.”
That action was not a demon’s.
“How can you ask that of me?”
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t say you’re sorry!”
“Please, Ransha. Any morrrrre……!!”
Thwack!
The man shoved the woman away roughly.
“Mate!”
The woman, who had fallen to the ground, was about to approach the man again.
It was then.
The sun sank completely, and the Demonic Eye rose in the sky.
The demon’s eye gazed at the man and the burning village.
“Ruuuuuuun!!”
Crack!
Not only pitch-black pupils, but hideous wings sprouted from his shoulders.
The man transformed into a form that could no longer be called human.
According to its pride, it should have hunted the human who had fallen into a demon.
Yet the Machine Tower did not move.
The shared vision of the Demonic Eye.
Before the villagers could even evacuate, countless demons surged into the village.
At that speed, everyone would be caught by the demons.
But at that moment.
“Get lost! You damned bastards!”
A demon attacked demons.
To be precise, the man who had fallen into a demon attacked the demons.
Until he lost his life at the hands of the demons.
Until the woman who wept as she looked at him left.
The demon attacked demons.
He held them back.
And he was trampled to death in a wretched state.
Boom!
Quirnberg Machine Tower began operating again.
It hunted the demons that swarmed in without pause.
But even if it was Akshan’s ultimate weapon.
It could not prevent physical damage.
Click!
The demon blood that poured down made the gears stiff.
The aftermath began to appear one by one throughout the Machine Tower.
Slowly, the Machine Tower began to tilt.
The collapsing Machine Tower.
What filled its vision was the demon that had once been a man, and the villagers fleeing. At the very end. In that instant, the Machine Tower recalled the voice that had awakened it.
-“Fulfill your pride as an ultimate weapon.”
Indeed, had I fulfilled my pride as an ultimate weapon?
Quirnberg Machine Tower tried to engrave the question into its memory device, then stopped. Because there was something more important. As befitted Akshan’s ultimate weapon.
It left a final will in its memory device.[Quest: Request of the Awakened Ultimate Weapon]
Akshan’s ultimate weapon, Quirnberg Machine Tower.
What it chose instead of an answer to its question was pride.
The memory of the mechanical device wishes to protect the survivors left behind.─Save the survivors of Dredsen Village. (In Progress)...
As soon as my vision returned, I opened my mouth.
“Thank you.”
Until now, I had seen the state of the Arcana Continent through the Demon King’s spoils, and though only once, I had confirmed it by going there myself.
But this was the first time I had watched the appearance and voices of the people of Arcana in such detail.
I stared at the mechanical device.
“Thanks to you, I was able to confirm something more precious than anything.”
It was horrific.
A tragedy so terrible it was difficult to describe in words.
It was on another level from reality, which was merely threatened by rifts.
To the point that being alive felt like a miracle.
The Arcana Continent I witnessed through Quirnberg Machine Tower’s memory device was no different from the land of demons, the Demon World.‘Let’s think calmly.’At this point in time, what percent chance of victory did the Holy War have?
I knew without even needing to calculate it.
We could not win.
It was a simple calculation.
The Yusra Kingdom, Frost, Muon, the Magic Tower, and lastly, even the players.
Even if every force currently participating in the Holy War combined their strength, it would be impossible to fight against the demons that filled the Arcana Continent.
However, I—Grandfell—would not move according to my head before demons.
What was always prioritized was what lay within the heart.
Pride that would not break before any trial.
“Even if one’s body has been stolen by a demon.”
As the natural enemy, a demon hunter, I could tell at a glance.
The man had been possessed by a demon.
So it was a relief.
“Human pride does not break.”
Even on the horrific Arcana Continent, human pride did not break so easily. I had just confirmed that through the Machine Tower’s memory device.
Even with his body and mind stolen by a demon.
In order to protect what was precious to him.
The man had instead charged at the demons.
To resist possession—once again, I realized the power of pride.
I looked at the mechanical device.
Had it completed its duty by playing back its memories?
The rotating gears slowly came to a stop.
Since I had acquired experience and fame, there was no need to pour mana into it any further.
I spoke to the mechanical device.
“It was an end of the utmost honor as Akshan’s ultimate weapon.”……
To think I had gone so far as to speak to a mechanical device.
It would have been embarrassing.
Well, I had spoken to a dragon’s tooth before too.
At any rate, as if it understood my words.
Click—The mechanical device stopped moving completely.
Of course, even if the mechanical device stopped, I would not.
Because a new quest had appeared.[Quest: Request of the Awakened Ultimate Weapon]
Akshan’s tradition.
A request that an Akshan demon hunter could not resolve would be continued by another demon hunter. The ultimate weapon Quirnberg Machine Tower was also a member of Akshan.
Whether I liked it or not.
As the last demon hunter.
I had no choice but to accept the quest.─Save the survivors of Dredsen Village. (In Progress)
“Furthermore, I shall inherit your pride.”
Of course, there was no reason it would clash with Grandfell’s pride-based perspective.
I did not delay any longer.‘Dredsen, huh. I’ve never heard of it before.’Because of the unavoidable gap of ten years and several more.
I did not know where it was on the Arcana Continent.
And even if I did know, I had no way of getting there.
Well, it was not exactly a problem.
I had reinforcements more reliable than anything.
I stared into the air.‘……
Still, this is a name even harder to get used to than Hiel.’Truly, I recited it desperately.
“Respond to my call.”*The sun set, and night arrived.
In the forest.
To drive away wild beasts, they needed fire, and yet.
“Then I’ll put it out.”
Hiss—The survivors of Dredsen Village extinguished the torches they had struggled to keep lit.
When Ransha put out the torch, someone grabbed the hem of her skirt.
In the pitch-black darkness, small eyes brimmed with tears.
“Big sister Ransha, I’m scared.”
“It’s all right. Nothing will happen.”
“……
That’s not it. That star is scary.”
The place the short, chubby finger pointed to was the Demonic Eye.
As if it were rolling its eyeball around to find them.
Ransha took the child’s face in her hands and turned it toward her.
Then she spoke firmly.
“Don’t look at it.”
“……
Okay.”
“And there’s no star in the world that ugly and hideous.”
“That’s true. Hehe.”
By the time she had looked after the children and the elderly, the night had grown even deeper.
Ransha and the other villagers looked down the mountain.
As always, the continent was burning.
Ransha looked at the sword.
Whenever her heart weakened, she recalled Mate’s appearance.
She stroked the hilt of the sword he had given her.‘……
I’ll live. Because that’s what you told me.’It was the moment she made that vow.
“S-something’s not right!”
Gardner, the retired mercenary, rose from his seat.
The movements of the demons, who had been quiet lately, were strange.
Demon soldiers moving busily.
Even the small demons carrying weapons without rest.
It looked just like…….
“Those are the movements of people on the eve of ‘war’!”
War?
Ransha was so dumbfounded she almost felt wronged.
She grabbed Gardner and asked,
“Yesterday, and even now, we’ve been in the middle of a war, haven’t we, Mr. Gardner! They’ve already taken our village, Dreadsen, and him from us… What more are they trying to take from us when we have nothing left!”
“I understand how you feel, Ransha. But I don’t know either.”
It wasn’t just Dreadsen.
There wasn’t a single intact village or city in the vicinity.
And yet, preparations for war on such a massive scale.
It was something the experience of a mere mercenary could not comprehend…
Gardner flinched.
“No, this isn’t the time!”
“……?”
“Everyone, hurry. We must leave this mountain!”
Once a war began, supplies would be consumed at a rapid pace.
To make up for scarce resources.
From now on, the demons would surely scour every mountain.
Every mine.
“I’ll explain later. Wake the children first, Ransha!”
The moment Gardner cried out urgently.
“……!!!”
Demons could be seen below the mountain.
Gardner clenched his teeth.
“Damn it, of all places, they’re on the way down!”
“Everyone, prepare for battle!”
“Get the children and the elderly out first!”
They were only lower demons with strength similar to imps, but Dreadsen was a small village. Far from having soldiers, those who had the strength to stand against demons had already fallen in battle.
Shing—Ransha raised the silver sword.
She stood shoulder to shoulder beside Gardner.
“Ransha, what are you doing!”
“I’ll fight with you!”
“No, they’re not enemies you can handle!”
“No. I don’t want to run away anymore.”
Ransha thought of Mate.
You surely wouldn’t have wanted this, would you?
But Ransha smiled bitterly. ‘……
Then you shouldn’t have handed me this sword.’ Even if she lost her life to demons.
Ransha wanted to meet her end proudly.
Just like him.
Gardner spat out a curse.
“Damn it. I’ve never resented my own weakness as much as I do now, Ransha!”
They had to buy time until everyone escaped.
Those who shared that resolve took up their weapons and stood before the demons.
Creeeak!
Gardner released the bowstring he had drawn taut.
Thud!
It was a hit.
“Damn it.”
But the demon showed not the slightest sign of pain.
Even so, Gardner, Ransha, and the others did not back down.
The tiny weight that remained in the hem of her skirt.
Yes, in order to shoulder what each of them carried.
That was the very pride that even trials could not break.
Pride brought about change.
And such change was the kind that brought miracles.
Whoooo—An aura rippled in midair.
What revealed itself was a black form.
So black that one could not recognize it without looking closely.
“……
Mr. Gardner, what is that?”
“What are you suddenly talking about, Ransha?”
Buried in the deep night.
Even its shape could not be seen properly.
Yes.
It was a darkness so alien she had never seen anything like it before.
And yet a voice could be heard.
The darkness was speaking.
“I am Diend Crisiad Eternal Darkness.”
“……?!!”
“My lord, in accordance with the infinitely deep darkness, I shall save Dreadsen.”...『Senior Mage of Spiritology, Feiyan Lot.
A unique spirit is a being that transcends a contractual relationship.
Therefore, the moment Haiel was reborn as a unique spirit, the existing spirit contract would have been annulled! In other words, in theory, you can form a new contract with a new spirit independently of Haiel! Ah, if I have overstepped by interfering, then please accept my apologies…….』