#442
Helmut
Episode 442
“The temple will also be quite a headache. “We need to get people to cooperate, but the countries that need cooperation the most are in a state of complete crime.”
No matter how much the temple is, it is said openly that the devil will appear there. It would not have been possible to make a claim like, ‘Follow me.’ No, I didn’t know if I could do it.
If they had been shameless, they would not have committed evil deeds.
Xian received Area’s words.
“Yes, now that we have realized that the sacred barrier is on the verge of collapsing, our credibility has dropped significantly. “What on earth did the temple do?”
Aren’t they the ones who need to notice the fastest?
Of course, since it was happening in the center of the top layer of the barrier, it would have been difficult to notice without close observation.
In fact, despite the collapse, the flow of divine power was quite stable on the outskirts of the barrier.
It’s like water slowly rising and then suddenly overflowing.
Heike muttered.
“I guess they let their guard down too. “Because a thousand years have passed.”
During those thousand years, the members of the temple also changed one by one.
High priests live for a long time, up to 150 years, but that does not mean they live infinite lives.
No matter how sacred the body is, there is no way in the face of passing time.
They act as shepherds, but since no wolves appear, it is natural for them to become careless even if they exist to fight against the devil.
They only knew about the Demon King’s War through oral tradition and records, and lived without feeling a sense of crisis.
But nothing in this world is permanent.
A change that will happen someday. Even if it was a sudden upheaval, they had to deal with it.
Whether you are fully prepared or not.
“I’m glad I didn’t find out until after it collapsed.”
There was still some time.
Helmut narrowed his eyes.
“You’re all there.”
Before I knew it, I could see the hazy sacred barrier beyond.
Ygrel’s speed was extremely fast. Enough to see that the distance is narrowing.
Xian suddenly asked.
“Elaga, don’t you have any memories of the Demon King?”
[doesn’t exist. By the time I was able to remember something clearly, there was already a sacred barrier.]
[From what I remember, yes.]
Ygrel tilted his head slightly.
Even to the monsters of the Forest of Pahe, the Demon King was an unknown being.
It was somewhat annoying.
Even though they are not humans, they are the rulers of the realm and do not call themselves kings.
But doesn’t it seem like the devil is just on top of their heads?
A being that rules over all demons. That ‘all’ includes monsters.
[Unlucky.]
Elaga blurted out. Ygrel also internally agreed.
Finally, a sacred barrier unfolded beneath Ygrel’s ship.
The uncomfortably strong divine power felt there still remained.
It’s hard to believe that this barrier is collapsing.
but.
“The flow of power is not uniform. “The balance is off.”
Helmut frowned, recalling the memory of the last time he penetrated the sacred barrier.
Although the sacred barrier is powerful, the object it seals is also powerful.
If the disturbed balance does not return to its proper place and becomes more and more disturbed… … .
The result is obvious.
The collapse was accelerating.
Ygrel increased his speed.
Since I didn’t want to be near the barrier, I was planning to quickly take care of business and leave here.
“That is.”
Helmut saw it faster than any other human being.
Black dots spread across the white sacred barrier, like gnawing leaves black.
No, the dots that had been hollowed out had now coalesced into one, forming a hole.
black circle.
Although it was not in perfect shape, it was gradually taking shape and looked like a dark hole swallowing everything.
When the black ink starts to drip and spread, the white paper will soon turn pitch black.
A similar phenomenon was happening right before my eyes.
I could feel Ygrel’s body trembling.
[Ugh, it’s bigger than before. It’s gross.]
Ygrel suddenly increased altitude.
It was the same behavior as a human running away from a cockroach.
Everyone quickly grabbed Ygrel’s feather.
“Ygrel!”
Only after Heike shouted his name did Igrel stop climbing.
[Don’t panic, you idiot.]
Elaga said bluntly. But she also felt her strange mood.
[Is this demonic energy? what? It’s Magi, so why do I feel so bad?]
Elaga also shook her fur.
When it comes to monsters, Magi is a force that should be familiar and welcome. The moment I saw that black circle strangely gnawing at the barrier, I immediately felt a sense of repulsion.
It was completely different from the rejection of divine power. Rejection from instinct.
[This is enough, right? Can you see clearly? Anyway, humans have bad eyesight.]
Ygrel seemed reluctant, circling the center of the barrier from afar.
The feeling of rejection became stronger than when I saw it before.
So much so that I pushed it upward without even realizing it. A feeling of hesitation that is different from fear.
Ygrel is one of the rulers of the Forest of Pahe. He had never felt fear in almost his entire life.
Now everyone was seeing it clearly with their own eyes.
Area advised Ygrel.
“Let’s get a little closer.”
[I don’t like this feeling… … .]
Even as he said that, Ygrel obediently lowered his altitude.
When I think about it for a moment, I feel dizzy. Displeased with being restricted by my instincts, I decided to suppress my senses, even if it meant forcing it.
This time a little closer than last time.
[The sacred power in that part is definitely weak. I can get closer.]
At first glance, the forest of Pahe seemed to be reflected through the gap where the black circle and the sacred barrier met.
If you do well, you may be able to see through the forest of digging. It will help even for a moment.
“Then would you please come as close as possible? Just enough to not be dangerous.”
Igrel responded to Area’s words by slowly flapping his wings.
[Okay, give it a try.]
It was a tense moment.
However, the sacred barrier always created a sense of crisis in them. So that you have no choice but to be nervous.
Ygrel’s body slowly approached the top of the sacred barrier.
By human standards, the distance is only about 20 steps. Just as the sacred barrier became unstable, the magic that dyed the barrier black also became unstable.
The fierce power was clashing fiercely with the divine power.
It wasn’t a big conflict, but it was intense, as if there was a constant battle of strength.
The victory was won by the Black One, but resistance continued.
“Look inside.”
Through the gap where the two forces swirled, the forest of Pahe was peeking out moment by moment.
Down there, all the way to the bottom. You can’t see it with the naked eye, but if you use magic.
Heike and Area focused their attention without anyone else taking the lead.
It was then.
There was a glimpse of light in a black hole the size of Ygrel’s body. As if they had finally noticed their approaching presence.
A black shine, different from the bright light. It was a somewhat eerie glow.
That brilliance hit Ygrel directly in his eyes.
Ygrel’s body trembled. In an instant, his body leaned back.
The passengers, who were almost thrown away by the wind, nimbly clung to Ygrel’s feathers.
Xian shouted like a scream.
“Ygrel!”
However, what followed as if in response was the violent fluttering of wings.
The feeling of floating in the air was dizzying.
The demonic force attacked them in an instant.
The magic energy rising from Igrell’s body was similar to attack magic.
Each person protected themselves from demonic energy in their own way. Use whatever you can, whether it’s magic or vis.
Not only were the demonic energy coming from below, but a tremendous wind was hitting them from above and from the sides.
It seemed like attacks were coming from all directions. She was in a daze, as if caught in a whirlpool.
If it hadn’t been tied up with rope, it would have fallen off a long time ago.
Then you will fall onto the sacred barrier.
It was difficult for wizards to properly use flight magic with this mentality, so they had to hold on for now.
Igrel’s movements, which had been flapping his wings like crazy, slowed down at some point.
When I came to my senses, they were far away from the center of the sacred barrier.
We almost reached the outskirts. In a very short period of time.
It was a run that exploded the demonic energy of his entire body.
As soon as the barrier on the floor ended, Igrel suddenly lowered his altitude.
An angle that seems to be going down.
The moment it got close to the ground, it spread its wings wide to slow down, but it wasn’t enough.
Quagga-ga-ga-ga-gang!
A tremendous shock hit them. A cloud of dust rose. The ground was hollowed out as if a meteorite had fallen.
In the middle of it all, Ygrel, whose body was hanging limply, let out a breath.
[eww… … it hurts.]
Everyone quickly jumped off Ygrel’s body.
I had managed to stick together and endure and come this far.
The shock was such that even Igrel, who landed recklessly, felt pain.
Although Ygrel took it first with his body, the shock was lessened, but if they had been ordinary humans, the bones in their entire bodies would have been broken and they would have fainted.
[You crazy guy! Have you lost your mind?]
Elaga landed on the floor and ran wild.
It was so angry that it raised its tail and made a cackling sound that sounded like its own roar.
Elaga, who is afraid of the air like a wild animal, was literally scared away.
If I hadn’t emptied my stomach before getting on Ygrel’s back, I might have peed.
Elaga barely suppressed the urge to attack Ygrel right away.
“What on earth is this?”
Heike sighed.
It was a crisis that left her, even as an archmage, heartbroken.
In the meantime, he tried to protect the group by deploying a barrier.
[Oh, my head hurts. It was almost dangerous.]
Ygrel purred and shook his head on the floor.
Although the group almost suffered a disaster, Igrel could not be blamed.
It probably wasn’t done on purpose.
Area, whose face turned white, asked as if to confirm.
“What was the problem?”
