Chapter 338. The Stories of Characters (4) (1/2)
I walked to Baal’s barrier with Jain. The surrounding area could only be described as total chaos. The Transnational Peace Conference’s joyous atmosphere had been thoroughly destroyed, and key buildings like the residence of the Republic’s president had been swallowed up as well.
“It’s only been a day since this barrier formed. It swallowed almost half of the entire capital. Do you have any plans to deal with it?”
I shook my head at Jain’s question. I didn’t have a plan or even a bright idea. I knew nothing of its setting, so its weakness was anyone’s guess. I had not described Baal or his abilities anywhere in my novel.
“Then what are you going to do?”
“…I’m not sure.”
I checked the amount of SP and DP I had, which turned out to be 4030 SP and an overflowing amount of DP.
“Jain, do you know if this world has demon merchants?”
“Hm? Oh, yeah, I heard they’re living around the outskirts of the continent. But they might be on their way here considering what’s going on. Why? Do you have extra DP to spend?”
“I do, almost a million.”
With my sponsorship, Litrain was now a world-renowned knight known as the Knight of Brilliance. Thanks to her, I had close to a million DP.
“…How?”
Jain’s eyes widened.
“There’s something called a ‘luck bonus’. Every time I get 100 DP, I get another 20 DP… Anyways, that’s not what’s important right now.”
I looked up at the dome-shaped barrier piercing the sky and took out the [Mystic Key].
“First, let’s go inside.”
“Mm… Are you sure that key will work~? It’s Baal’s barrier, after all.”
Jain doubted the Mystic Key’s power. I couldn’t blame her considering how tiny and insignificant it looked.
“Once I strengthen its ability a few times, it should be able to break a part of the barrier.”
At that moment, several footsteps rang out from the right. Jain and I slowly turned our heads to that direction. To our surprise, Arunheim’s knights were rushing towards us.
“…Who are they?”
Jain shrugged. Hearing her, the leader of the knights stepped forward.
“Can you really break a part of the barrier?”
A woman’s voice rang out. The knight took off her helmet. I immediately recognized her face. She was Airun, the knight commander who gave me the order to escort Harin.
She looked like she was on the verge of crying. No, I could see traces of tears around her eyes. It must be because of the guilt of being unable to protect her lord as a knight.
“Yes, it should be possible.”
I took off my robe as I replied. When Airun saw my face, her eyebrows rose in shock.
“You are….”
“Let’s talk about that after we break open the barrier.”
I cut Airun off before she could finish her thought. I cloaked the Mystic Key with Aether. The key grew slightly bigger.
“…Can that really open the barrier?”
Airun’s voice trembled anxiously.
“Yes.”
“…Then please hurry. I’m dying from being unable to do anything. Our Prince is waiting for us inside the barrier.”
Airun pleaded earnestly. I could feel how sincere she was in wanting to protect Arunheim’s prince.
“Our Prince….”
Her trembling hands touched the surface of the barrier. However, the barrier instantly pushed her back.
“…Got it.”
I added [Random Consolidation System] and [Constraints and Amplifications] to the key. Then, I shoved the key inside the barrier.
Tzzzt—!
Powerful sparks crackled when the two magic powers clashed. I infused Stigma’s magic power into the Mystic Key, and it seeped into the barrier through the key.
Kwaaaaa….
Both the barrier and the ground around us rumbled. Then, a crack appeared in the barrier around the key.
The knights swallowed their saliva, and I poured in half of my remaining Stigma.
Clang—
In the next instant, a sharp sound rang out, and a side of the barrier began to crumble.
“I-It opened—!”
Airun shouted ecstatically. She burst into tears, as did the rest of the knights. They approached me and expressed their gratitude.
In all honesty, I was slightly taken aback by their overreaction.
**
[United States of America – Leraje’s Devil’s Castle]
On the other hand, Leraje was lounging around in her newfound home, waiting for her game to be completed. Thanks to her patience, the Americas were far more peaceful than Europe.
However, the employees of the gaming company Leol were feeling more pressured than ever. They frequently kept themselves going by taking drugs and potions, and seven of them even collapsed from stress. They worked without a single moment of rest.
It was all for the single customer awaiting their work.
“…Lord Leraje, the game is almost complete.”
In a dark room of the Devil’s Castle, Leol’s CEO, Varan, bowed in front of Leraje. Leraje looked down at him with bored eyes before skillfully typing on a keyboard.
—That’s good to hear. What type of game is it?
Varan glanced at the reply Leraje typed.
“It’s a combination of training, battling, strategy, adventure, and travel. This game will surely be the greatest game ever to be created….”
The countless hours his employees put in and the encouragement(?) from the demons finally allowed the game to enter its final stage of development.
Naturally, Varan had mixed feelings about it. He was worried that Leraje would not like it, yet he was excited about what he believed would be the greatest game of the century.
—I see. But would a human be able to defeat me in that game?
“How could a mere human accomplish such a thing.”
—I don’t like imbalanced games.
‘I don’t like.’
When these three words came out, the faces of the demons around the room turned sharp.
“I-It won’t be.”
Varan quickly slammed his head on the ground.
“The game will have a raid system.”
—Explain.
“No human is capable of defeating Lord Leraje in a one on one confrontation. I have personally seen Lord’s overwhelming control, which has surpassed human capabilities. In our game, a level 1 expert is capable of defeating a level 50 player depending on the level of control, so—”
—So humans will work together to defeat me. A true test of skill. That is something I like. I hate luck-dependent games.
“Y-Yes, of course.”
The demons’ expressions softened, and Varan heaved out a sigh of relief.
—But…
‘But’. Varan almost fainted when he heard that word.
—You are wrong.