Chapter 253: 252

Chapter 252: Sacrifice (3)

The pier of the island. Behind me, Rose Rio’s ship was waiting, and in front of me, the wind of the Voice was pushing me away. I bent one knee and put my hand on the ground.

“Are you doing it now?”

Arlos asked as I instilled mana through the ground. That triggered the second process of the Giant Magic.

Da-dum-!

A single vibration that sounded like a drumbeat. That was the end.

“It’s done.”

“…?”

Arlos tilted her head, puzzled, but I turned around without a further word. Rose Rio and Epherene approached the waiting ship.

“…”

Arlos soon followed. However, she walked only a bit before looking back to the Voice, the heart of the island. Mana was gathering, and, at the same time, dark energy was erupting. The scent of demons reached the tip of my nose and caused my blood vessels to bulge. The demon’s mist rushed in from all directions to darken the sky.

However, I forced myself to endure and contain myself. Dark desire was swarming through my body, but I blocked it with my mental power that those countless deaths had only sharpened.

“Arlos.”

I called to Arlos.

“Let’s go. Now, the rest is up to Sylvia.”

“…”

Arlos nodded and shuffled past me to board the ship.

* * *

A forest with thick trees and swaying grass. Sylvia stood at the center of the magic circle. She closed her eyes slowly in the world which she and the Voice created together.

Du-dum-!

Deculein’s mana ringing indicated the operation of his magic. That was the signal she’d been waiting for.

Sylvia poured her mana underground. Her three primary colors were added to Deculein’s mana spread all over the island. A geometric magic circle appeared above the island, their mana flowing through countless circuits to form the spell.

…And.

─.

She felt certain energy pulsing through her body. She was aware of the echoing Voice.

“Come out.”

Then, the stream of the mana that sprung out of the magic circle clung to Sylvia’s chest. It grabbed something stuck deep in her heart, and it pulled it out. This was the core of the Voice that Sylvia swallowed. The demon left her body, and the core scattered dark energy like ink. It covered the sky, the island, and the land in an instant.

Whooooosh…!

It caused a raging storm of dark energy, splashing red sparks across the skies. However, Sylvia had no intention of accepting his foolishness. She stared at the Voice’s dark energy with brilliant golden eyes.

Crack…

The tornado slowly died away. In that way, the core of the Voice took back its dark energy instead of assuming a different shape. A ripple of surprise shot through Sylvia.

—Sylvia.

The demon’s voice, its face, and body. Everything from those neat clothes to its eyes. The Voice imitated Deculein.

“…”

Sylvia took a deep breath. She was bewildered, but it wasn’t something she hadn’t expected. Demons always sought their own lives like this. They took the form of the person you loved the most and appealed to emotion.

—Sylvia.

The demon called her name as Deculein would. The same tone, the same expression. However.

“…It’s okay.”

It wouldn’t work. Sylvia brandished her silver dagger, the memento left by Sierra in the distant past.

“I can handle it.”

Then, the Voice slowly approached her. Sylvia’s heart beat wildly.

—Sylvia, you are crying.

The demon’s hand brushed away her tears. But Sylvia shook her head.

“This won’t work. I will get rid of you.”

-Okay. I know.

“…What?”

However, the Voice’s response was unexpected. He nodded with a smile.

—I lived in your body. I know as well as you that my current appearance and voice do not work on you now.

Sylvia tightened her grip around the dagger.

—It’s been almost ten years, Sylvia. The time we spent together.

This must also be part of the demon’s delusions. Another way to seduce people. But the fact remained that it didn’t elicit a single ounce of sympathy.

—The rivers and mountains changed. The island is thriving. Enough years for a demon to grow intellect or emotion.

The Voice looked at Sylvia with strange eyes.

—In the meantime, I tried to take the image of the Deculein you love to persuade you. Looking at the Deculein you drew and imitating the ingredients and properties of Deculein as he swam indefinitely, I tried to resemble him.

She removed the silver blade from its sheath. The silver glittered as it reflected the sunlight.

—…But.

Nevertheless, the Voice faced her dagger without any fear.

—I worked endlessly to become Deculein and eventually succeeded in resembling him.

Then, the demon laughed.

—It was Deculein that devoured me.

“…”

Sylvia stared blankly at him.

—I have become assimilated with Deculein. To be precise, Deculein’s mental power devoured me.

 

The demon murmured.

—The family called Yukline… surely, they must be the demon’s nemesis.

He spoke with remorse. However, the Voice resolutely faced his old friend Sylvia.

—But, ironically, thanks to my resemblance to Deculein.

The demon reached out to Sylvia. It was the hand of a noble, soft and beautiful like a pianist, resembling Deculein.

—I am very pleased with the death you present.

His hand brushed against Sylvia’s cheek.

—…Sylvia. You could stay here with me. With me, who has become Deculein.

Sylvia shook her head. Then, a deep smile appeared on his lips.

-Right.

Sylvia clenched her teeth again and, bracing herself, swung her dagger into the Voice’s heart.

—…

He gave no reaction. Spitting blood, staggering or wheezing. He didn’t show any of that. However, he slowly tilted his head and put his lips to her ear…

—Deculein would probably say something like this.

With a whisper.

—…I am proud of you

It fell, leaning on her shoulder.

─Whoooooooooooooong!

In an instant, the darkness and magic on the island imploded. The core of the Voice was destroyed, and all traces of the demon left on the island were pulled inside.

“…Bye. My mean friend.”

His farewell was fleeting, but Sylvia watched with calm eyes.

Splaaaaash…

The sound of the waves faded away and disappeared, and the island sank into an infinite silence. Sylvia was left alone in that silence. She slowly looked around her surroundings, and then turned into her mind.

Deculein’s crystal ball halted her meditation.

─It worked! Whoa!

A familiar and stupid voice she could recognize anywhere, of a familiar and stupid friend.

-Professor! Have you arrived? Have you met Sylvia?

“I am Sylvia.”

Sylvia spoke bluntly, but she tensed for a moment. Her mana was exhausted with just one word.

—…Eh? What? Why do you have Professor’s crystal ball?

Epherene asked. She had already used more than half of her mana to activate that spell, but she answered, nonetheless.

“Because I have it.”

—What’s that… no, Sylvia. What’s going on there?

That stupid voice spoke again. Was her mana okay? She must be much weaker than Sylvia was now.

“…”

‘Anyway, how should I respond?’

Sylvia smiled mischievously.

“I killed Deculein.”

─…What?

Indeed, she sounded alarmed. Maybe her eyes were wide open, her mouth wide open, and she had her typical dog-like stupid look. That wasn’t a lie, though.

‘I killed Deculein in my heart today. I killed the man I was obsessed with, the one I held myself to.’

—What does-

So, only when she was freed from him could Sylvia learn the meaning of true love.

-Uh… ugh…!

Epherene let out a scream, and the communication was cut off. Sylvia grinned.

“…Sylvia.”

But again, a voice called out from among the bushes.

“Congratulations.”

Idnik. Her master.

“You broke the egg.”

Now, theirs was not a relationship between a teacher or a disciple, nor an adult looking at a child, but an equal match between wizards. Sylvia shook her head.

“I just stood on my own. Now, it’s time to make it again.”

She would recover the power of the Voice spread across the continent. That was her remaining duty. Idnik shrugged.

“…Wouldn’t it be hard to do it alone?”

As the source of the Voice, she would have to remain here alone for quite some time.

“It will be. But it’s something only I can do.”

“…”

Idnik pouted.

“Then, now.”

Sylvia spoke her farewells first.

“Goodbye, Idnik.”

“…Yeah.”

“Oh, right. You took the present I prepared for you, right.”

 

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“Of course. You don’t even need to ask.”

Idnik smiled. And then, she disappeared with the wind.

“…”

Finally, Sylvia was left alone, and she gazed back over the landscape of the island.

“Alone.”

Being alone. To be left alone. Of course, it was sad. It would be hard to bear. But, it would be as happy as it was sad.

Now, she could see this world properly, even if it was late.

…Thanks to you.

“Yeah. That’s right.”

‘I am so grateful to you for helping me stand up on my own. I love you so much. I want to be like you too. Rather than being an Archmage who is always alone, I want to teach people. So, even if it takes a little while, I will try endlessly.’

She vowed to come back.

“…Only now.”

Like that, a life that starts again together. A life that would be real.

“I think I am the real me.”

* * *

Whooooosh…

The wind wrapped around the island. Into that tempest, now the power of the Voice would be slowly pulled in.

[Quest Complete: Voice]

◆ Reward: +10 store currency

◆ Reinforcement of bloodline: Yukline

◆ Three unique class equipment catalogs

The system notification announced good rewards, as expected since it was a tricky demon. However, I wasn’t very comfortable with it. Was it because the weight of the ego, which had been extremely focused on Deculein, had returned to Kim Woojin to some extent?

“Isn’t it a little harsh to be alone? It could take several decades.”

Arlos watched the island from over the railing of the ship. She muttered, and I replied with a small nod.

“…I don’t know if it will be compatible.”

As she said, being alone may be too harsh. So, I made a small correction to the magic circle. I died hundreds of times thanks to that, but considering that possibility, it was a price well worth paying.

“Compatible? What compatibility?”

I didn’t answer Arlos’s question, instead of looking back at her

“Arlos. Will you go with me?”

“…”

Arlos didn’t answer. She leaned against the railing and squinted at me. I met her eyes and quickly realized.

“…Did you make a puppet already?”

“Hmm. I’m leaving. I will run away from you who are obsessed with me as art.”

So, Arlos became a mannequin.

“…Hey. Deculein.”

Zukaken walked over. He held out his hand to me.

“As a former partner in crime. A handshake?”

He spoke while laughing. I thought for a moment and shook his hand with my gloves on, of course.

“Zukaken, what are you planning to do? Are you going to return to the underworld?”

“…I should. There are a lot of my subordinates waiting for me.”

Zukaken puffed out his cheeks. It was disgusting, so I quickly let go of his hand.

“But, it does feel a bit empty. Damn.”

He leaned back against the railing and looked up at the sky.

“I’m a little too old. Will my boyfriend even recognize me…?”

“…”

His face was as wrinkled as a dog’s.

“That’s what worries me. He’s not the kind that cheats.”

“Shut up and get out of here.”

“…Okay~.”

Zukaken chuckled as he headed below deck.

…

On the other side of the railing where Deculein stood, Arlos, who had her face wrapped in bandages, watched the long-haired man as he gazed into the waves.

“Hey. Don’t you have anything to say?”

Gerek. He looked back at Arlos and nodded, chuckling.

“No.”

“You said you would kill him.”

“Yeah. I wanted to kill him. But he said he remembers his death.”

Gerek tapped his chest.

“That’s what the people inside me said.”

“…You mean your family?”

“Yeah. My brother, my neighbors, my parents, the elderly, everyone in the village. All of them said, ‘you killed him too many times.’ So they said they would forgive him. I got to realize after killing him many times. Is this… revenge? Or was I just taking my anger out on him? Would anything change by killing him?”

Anger only bred anger. Hate only invited hate. Gerek’s countless personalities now decided to let Deculein go.

“Stay well then, Arlos.”

 

After speaking, Gerek stuck his legs out the railing.

“We want to live our lives now.”

Arlos grabbed his ankle as he was about to dive away.

“What the? Why?”

As Gerek was hanging by the railing bewildered, Arlos cleared her throat and said:

“…Let’s create an adventure team.”

“Adventure team?”

“Yes. This is a waste of your talent. And….at”

Arlos let out a small sigh. Then, she smiled.

“We must kill God.”

…

Ten minutes later.

“Professor!”

Epherene, who came out onto the deck a little later, yelled for Deculein. Leaning against the railing, he glanced at her and nodded. Epherene wore a wide smirk.

“Wow. Did you go swimming?”

“Wipe your mouth first.”

“Yes?”

“Were you eating?”

“…Oh.”

Epherene wiped the piece of meat off the corner of her mouth and cleared her throat.

“By the way, can you explain to me what happened inside-“

“Epherene.”

The voice calling for Epherene was not Deculein’s. She looked back.

“Oh, Idnik.”

Idnik. Epherene noticed her wrinkles were thicker as she approached and handed over a small box.

“Take this.”

“What’s this?”

“This is a gift from Sylvia. Oh, don’t worry about her. She’ll come back on her own. Everything’s worked out. But…”

She added in a whisper-

—…Don’t let this gift be discovered by Deculein. He might try to steal it.

“…”

Epherene sneakily squinted at Deculein, looked at Idnik again, then swallowed hard and nodded.

“That’s right. Hey, Deculein. You have a gift too! Sylvia sent…”

Next, Idnik approached Deculein. Taking advantage of that chance, Epherene opened the lid.

“…What’s this?”

It was an old mana stone. Oh, there was also a note.

[Stupid Epherene. It contains footage of when the Professor is in danger. But also when he is just still a fool. Give this to that stupid girl, Julie.]

Epherene murmured under her breath, feeling it unfair.

“…After all, it’s not my gift; it’s a gift to Knight Julie.”

…Anyway.

She didn’t know what it was, but Epherene glanced at Deculein. She kept glancing back and forth before she closed the box.

“Yes, Deculein. Work hard.”

Just then, Idnik and Deculein’s conversation concluded.

“Oh, right. Deculein’s disciple, you work hard too. But every time I see you, aren’t you too cute?”

“Yes? Oh, oh, stoop, ouch…”

Idnik left after ruffling Epherene’s hair, and Epherene marched over to Deculein’s side as she tidied up her hair.

“…Professor.”

Deculein’s eyes remained fixed on that distant island.

“When will we arrive?”

“I do not know.”

“Is it possible before Thursday?”

“…”

Deculein’s brow furrowed slightly. Epherene quickly explained.

“No, I mean. Because the Roahawk comes in on Thursday, if I miss it, I won’t be able to eat it until next week. It’s very popular these days; it’s on everyone’s lips. And when I eat it, my mood brightens…”

A small laugh left Deculein’s lips.

“…?”

Epherene looked up at Deculein with puzzled eyes. But, he had the same cold, expressionless face. It sounded like someone had laughed just now, however.

“What?”

Epherene began looking around like a chicken before Deculein caught her attention again.

“Now, we may be able to arrive by Thursday.”

“Whoa! That’s great!”

Epherene clenched her fists as she tucked Sylvia’s gift box inside her robe. She shouted toward that vast sea.

“Now, back to the islands—!”

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