Episode 150
43. No days pass quietly (3)
“Uh… … .”
Illyana opened her eyes in the dark. Where are you? Let’s move our arms to judge properly.
Chalkang!!
She realized that her body was tightly bound.
A constraint that forcibly seals the flow of mana. Both hands are tied to chains in the air.
That’s not all.
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My whole body was throbbing like a bruise.
What happened?
Illyana recalled her most recent memory.
Obviously, I had a fever in the morning, so I asked Marily to give her a sick leave.
His condition did not improve even after he slept, so he consumed a potion of energy recovery.
After that, I was enjoying the fresh air for a while on the terrace.
Suddenly, my right shoulder tingled, and a woman in a robe jumped out of the air.
‘That’s right, I was suppressed before I even tried to fight properly… … .’
Apparently Minerva flew in late.
The fact that he was bound here proved that Minerva had not been able to stop the enemy.
I hope he didn’t kill the child.
I can’t.
It was the moment when a devastating despair was about to engulf Iliana’s mind.
“Okay!?”
It felt like a needle being stabbed in my heart, which had only been pounding little by little.
“You woke up.”
In a space where all he could see was the faint moonlight, a woman appeared with her body wrapped in robes.
“Remove this… … !”
As Illyana swung her arm, the chain on her hand shook violently.
“Oh, calm down. Because I’m not going to do anything.”
As she took off her robe, hair she had seen before was revealed.
White as snow.
It was a fleeting moment, but it was a characteristic that was clearly etched in Iliana’s memory.
“You yesterday… … ?”
“Well, it’s strange not to notice. But thanks to you, I was able to find this?”
The unidentified woman laughed softly.
“I thought it would take at least a few months, but… … I’ll find it as soon as I get to Paradise Island. I didn’t even dream of it. Artels are working part-time! Who could believe this?”
“What are you going to do with me?”
“Isn’t this enough to explain?”
The woman took the pendant out of her arms and lifted it. An accessory with an ominous skull emblem.
After realizing the meaning, Illyana’s expression had a clear intent to kill.
“… … Death Church.”
“Whoa, it’s famous for Artels. Moreover, if you are the bloodline of ‘L’, even more so.”
It was a fanaticism that worshiped Thanatos, the god of death, known as the evil of the world.
Since it is a denomination that worships such a god, it maintains a very hostile relationship with Artel, who lives for nearly eons.
But why now?
Their ultimate goal is to make their Lord come to the world.
The problem was that this situation was so sudden.
Then, reading Illyana’s subtle expression, the white-haired woman said with an eerie smile.
“You’re a priest too, don’t you know? What a perfect time now.”
The pentant held in her hand sparkles in the moonlight.
“If the past demon lords were sealed here, the flow of magic will overflow. A very good environment for Thanatos-sama to come back… … .”
As he continued to speak, the monster’s expression became bizarrely distorted.
“It was said that a successor to Tristone appeared this year. What if you could absorb even the character of the hero who sealed the demon king in the past? I’m sure Thanatos-sama will be very pleased!!”
Only then did Illyana realize why they had brought her here.
She is a living sacrifice for the advent of Thanatos.
Chalkang!!
As Illyana swung her arms, the chains made a shrill sound again this time.
“you… … !!”
“In addition, we were able to quickly find quality offerings. We cannot miss this opportunity.”
The monster burst out laughing.
But although Illyana was afraid, she had no intention of giving in.
Her eyes flashed with anger in the dark.
“You misunderstood.”
“What?”
“You guys are too impatient.”
The reason they kidnapped Illyana was purely because of her blood.
Illyana is a priest of a race with the opposite nature of Thanatos.
Because he was a member of the ‘El’ clan.
Not only that. She was a harp mixed with human blood.
Although the purity of the harp as a sacrifice was generally low, it was the perfect condition for those who served Thanatos.
Thanatos was originally a god worshiped by humans, a race closer to mortality than any other intelligent beings.
In order to descend the consciousness of Thanatos as a living sacrifice, it needed to be mixed with human blood.
So it was Iliana.
As a sacrifice, Ishtar, the princess of Artel, may have a higher rank.
If we look at the ‘fitness’ rather than the rank, there is currently no offering superior to Illyana on Paradise Island.
However, this meant that Thanatos’ advent was more complicated than expected.
As much as there is a need to select the sacrifices, there is also a need for a place for elaborate and complex ceremonies.
Also, the priests who will conduct the ceremonies and those who will assist them are inevitably required.
The advent of the gods was not something that would go smoothly just because a few blind fanatics planned their work.
Coincidentally, Nakwon School is currently in the middle of a festival.
Iliana had an obligation to participate in the booth as a member of the flex club.
If she found out that she didn’t attend the booth again tomorrow, the club’s president, San-Woo Baek, must have sensed something unusual.
‘If it’s a mountain cow, you’ll definitely notice it.’
He also firmly believed that Ishtar and his colleagues would come to the rescue.
Honestly, it’s just a matter of time.
However.
“Be cocky.”
“Ouch!?!”
As the assailant stretched out his hand, excruciating pain began to flow through his nerves.
Illyana struggled with pain as if her whole body was on fire.
“Ugh… … Turn it off-!!”
“Aren’t you underestimating us? What do you believe? Professors at Paradise School? Or your poor friends?”
The white-haired man smiled as he looked at Illyana, who was in pain.
“What are you going to do with us who couldn’t do anything even during the Great War?”
When she removes her hand, the rushing pain disappears as if washed away.
It was only a few seconds.
Illyana fell to the floor, as if her whole body had lost her strength.
“Ugh… … Suck… … .”
“Did I say it was the best time? Illyana Noel, what do you think this means?”
At that moment, the worst answer flashed through Iliana’s mind.
“Could it be a festival on purpose?”
“answer. There are two main ways to bring God down. The first is to make perfect preparations and to descend the perfect god. It’s the most reliable, difficult and tricky way.”
The monster went round and round.
“And the second is to descend in an imperfect state. To be precise, even if only part of it is descending, if there are many high-quality sacrifices that can absorb the power, it is a different story~?”
A wide smile appeared over the robe.
“Well, one of our stupid cult members made a mistake and the Inquisition Commission started tracking them down… … Still, there is enough time.”
“Fire, impossible.”
Iliana’s voice trembled.
Even so, it didn’t make sense to have ‘some parts’ of the god Thanatos descend during the festival period.
But as if trampling on even a fleeting hope.
The assailant grabbed Iliana’s chin roughly and said.
“Ugh-!?”
“It is possible. because… … .”
The hood of the robe that covered the entire face was removed, revealing the figure shrouded in shadow.
Along with the short shaved white hair, his eyes were cloudy as if he had gone blind.
“Because I am the high priest and head of the Death Church, and I am Snow White.”
* * *
I strode into the southern forest. After all preparations were complete, they set off right away.
Originally, it was planned to go with the judges who had called for an emergency.
In a situation where every second was in a hurry, I couldn’t wait for reinforcements to sell well.
– Apostle, where are you going?
– Jelly, listen to me. When everyone is gathered, immediately follow the mark I left behind.
– What is that… … .
-I know where they are now.
When Elijah heard that, he was very embarrassed.
Of course.
It was only yesterday that I realized that the Church of Death had invaded Paradise Island.
Besides, the expected time when Illyana was kidnapped was none other than this afternoon.
I can’t even determine the total number of intruders, because I declared that I knew their hiding place.
But Elijah did not ask any further questions.
– Please be safe.
She just nodded and gave me a blessing.
They were eyes filled with a lot of confidence that they believed in them.
Yeliya, who had been reluctant to do so with a very bad disposition, could not be more reassuring than this this time.
– Thank you, Redeemer.
So I made my way through the forest.
There was an unknown cry in the middle, but I was not afraid of the person I was going to face in the future.
Thanatos, one of the three great evil gods.
It was the same existence as the ‘Eater of Time and Space, Azethos’ witnessed in the last incident of the fallen Lorna Aztel.
I’m going to face such a guy, but I wonder if a normal monster can catch my eye.
‘Lorna was unexpectedly helpful. It’s better to sell first.’
【But at that time, there was not a strong person who could forcefully cancel the advent! You will never be an opponent you can handle alone!!]
Lioner’s voice echoed in his head.
Even the guy who always had a militant personality seemed to feel quite burdened by the existence of Thanatos.
[Go back now and enter with the priests-!]
“And what if Illyana dies?”
【ね… … .]
“It is already far beyond what I could predict. That’s right, we should make full use of the advantages we have.”
Up until now, I have prepared everything based on my experience and knowledge as a player.
The back alleys, or the temple faction quests of Canaan.
The reason I didn’t focus on it was because I thought there was an optimal time for everything.
Apart from the fact that I’m a DLC character and I have my own main scenario.
All incidents are intensively interwoven with the main scenario that Aidan will experience.
Even right now, that was the case.
Harmony between Artel and Humans, the main theme of Chapters 4 and 5.
The festival booth was planned accordingly, and the friendship with Ishtar was further strengthened.
Because I thought that I would be able to respond to the scenario that started from the second year.
‘Even if it was simple, you thought it was too simple, damn it!’
The contrast was good, but I forgot once again that even that action would turn into a butterfly effect.
There is still quite a bit of time left for the main scenario to proceed.
Before that, I thought it was only necessary to prevent the scenario from being twisted.
The result was the kidnapping of Iliana.
Think about it.
It was from the summer vacation of the sophomore year that he could proceed with the quests related to the Church of Death.
By the way, since when did they infiltrate Paradise Island?
In everything there is cause and effect.
It was not that Thanatos came down accidentally during summer vacation and organized an expedition selected by the most elite personnel in a timely manner at the temple.
The Church of Death and the Temple of Canaan had already been preparing for and pursuing them.
From the player’s point of view, it’s just an event that occurred in a timely manner.
In reality it is not.
If the conditions change, the plan can be implemented as early as possible.
In the end, it was likely that I was also responsible for the kidnapping of Iliana.
“Then take responsibility.”
As soon as the forest was damaged, a ruin built in an open vacant lot appeared in front of me.
An ancient ruin that seems to have been neglected for hundreds of years.
【here is… … .]
“I may be late, but the intelligence is still there.”
This is it.
It was the arena of the decisive battle where Thanatos’ advent would take place.
