Ch-156
—
‘Giantification. That was fairly interesting.’
The Master’s giantification had indeed been quite fascinating.
If he could giantify using that potion—or if the alchemist who produced it could be identified—then it would certainly be worth far more than its cost.
‘Wish Orbs are one of the must-have items for high-rankers.’
Furthermore, Wish Orbs were tools that every ranker needed to possess at least one of.
All the more so when it was a Wish Orb named ‘Dragon God.’
It was worn down and depleted, but as long as it could be properly recharged, it would no doubt prove useful in many different ways.
‘The core of the Mad Claw Marks. A core that allows a Hydragon to undergo a special evolution.’
It was about time he upgraded Hydragon, his means of transportation.
Just as he grew stronger, Hydragon would also need to be strengthened in order to roam higher-level hunting grounds.
‘Eldritch’s Cursed Black Grimoire. In the end, this is what Andrew’s daughter, Andasar, needs.’
The reason Andrew had climbed the Tower.
Without him, clearing Lord Solbaren would have been categorically impossible.
Andrew had read the prophecy, and thanks to that, the raid had succeeded.
But the reason he had to climb the Tower, I believed, lay in this very ‘Eldritch’s Cursed Black Grimoire.’
Andasar, Andrew’s daughter who had been turned into an Eldritch by the Demon King, was currently in a highly unstable state.
To stabilize her once more, this black grimoire was ultimately necessary.
‘This time will be different. I won’t let it consume anyone again.’
As long as the infinitely duplicating indulgences existed—and I held the Blessing of the Stars—I wouldn’t allow the grimoire to devour someone and drive them into indiscriminate slaughter as before.
Anyway.
‘The Golden Scale Shop is taken care of. What’s left is spending SP and the achievement shop.’
The SP earned from clearing the first floor totaled around seventy thousand.
If he poured all of it into talents, he could max out at least one newly awakened talent.
And with the 3,000 achievement points, there were many ways they could be used—such as raising the level of ‘Guardian Wall.’
‘…Come to think of it, I also had an item listed in the Secret Auction House.’
Ah.
Things had been so hectic that he had momentarily forgotten.
He remembered that he had listed an ‘Immortal Warpstone’ in the Secret Auction House before climbing the Tower.
He had put it up to secure emergency funds for a stable city budget.
《Entering the Secret Auction House.》
《There is one item that has been sold.》
《‘Immortal Warpstone’ has been sold to ‘????’ for 500,000,000G.》
“……?”
Wait. Five hundred million gold?
He tilted his head at the sum, vastly exceeding his expectations.
He had thought it would go for a hundred million at best.
‘No matter how rare it is, each city can only install one.’
The Secret Auction House displayed the full description and options of items for sale.
Anyone who had read it would know it wasn’t worth five hundred million.
Who in the world bought it?
Just then, another message appeared.
《The ‘buyer’ has left a note.》
《I wish to purchase three more ‘Immortal Warpstones.’ For 2 billion gold. However, I want to trade in person. If you wish to sell, seek ‘Aslan’ at the ‘Aslan Merchants’ Guild.’》
…The Aslan Merchants’ Guild.
One of the continent’s three great merchant guilds.
A massive trading group that dominated the continent’s economy, possessing military power rivaling that of many kingdoms.
If it was Aslan of that place, then he was naturally the guildmaster.
‘He wants three, for two billion gold. And in person.’
He was offering more than five hundred million per stone.
Two billion gold was enough to purchase a prosperous city.
It was even more than I had spent in the Imperial Auction.
But the intention bothered me.
The reason he wanted to meet in person.
…Aslan. A named NPC.
He was certainly not a player.
However, only players could use the Secret Auction House.
Meaning, Aslan knew how to *use* players.
He dealt covertly with those branded as sinners—those considered taboo.
He was likely well-versed in siphoning off every advantage players had.
After a brief moment of thought, I clicked my tongue and shook my head.
‘It’s too early.’
The three great merchant guilds were dangerous to touch at this point.
Especially since one of Aslan’s epithets was ‘City Hunter.’
If he also knew how to handle players, then the danger was even greater.
Perhaps once the Labyrinth City grew more prosperous, but meeting now was risky in many ways.
Still… Aslan, hmm.
Depending on how it was used, this could become a very valuable card later.
I calmly proceeded with the remaining tasks.
《Talent ‘Pursuit of Truth’ has increased to Level 3.》
《You can approach ‘Truth’ more closely.》
《The hidden trait ‘Great Sage’ has gained additional functionality.》
《Talent ‘Dimensional Comprehension’ has increased to Level 3.》
《You have gained access to areas previously inaccessible.》
《Pet ‘Hel’ has gained 1 level.》
*
*
Demon Lord Issera of Hell.
He was deep in preparations for the second invasion alongside the demons.
The warp gate to invade the Otherworld was already complete.
Determined not to repeat the blunder of that fool Ahram, he inspected it again and again, countless times.
“…A curious human indeed. For someone of your caliber to bow to me.”
At that moment, a human approached him.
A strong one. A master so powerful that even Issera was impressed.
But were there ever humans like this?
Someone this strong should have been known by name.
And he wasn’t even an ordinary human—he was a man who had lived for at least several hundred years.
Yet someone he had never heard of came attempting to swear fealty to him.
“Let me cross over to the Otherworld as well. With that ‘Invasion Warp,’ it should be possible.”
“And once you cross? What do you intend to do?”
“Revenge.”
“Revenge?”
“I will wipe out the sinners.”
Issera bared his fangs in a grin.
“And what will you offer me in return for making that possible?”
“Everything!”
“Even your soul?”
“My soul—and more.”
“Then you should start by fixing your tone.”
The man dropped to his knees.
“Union, first Imperial Court Magician of the Arhon Empire and once called the ‘Magician of the Golden Rule,’ offers everything to Lord Issera of Hell. Please grant me my revenge.”
*
Priest?
“…I cannot accept this.”
Andrew recoiled in shock, frantically waving his hands.
He had immediately recognized the object I handed him.
Eldritch’s Black Grimoire.
The very item that had turned his daughter, Andasar, into an Eldritch in the past.
‘I personally carried out the purification with my Wilhelm character back then.’
Back when I knew Pangaenia only as a game.
Andrew had been an NPC who gave superb ‘Honor-work Quests.’
If you relentlessly completed Andrew’s quests and maxed out his favorability, he granted a hidden quest: ‘Eldritch Purification.’ And the Eldritch you purified was none other than his daughter Andasar.
The daughter of a regular priest of the Goddess Church—turned lich.
The moment this was discovered, it would be grounds for excommunication. A massive scandal.
Thus, Andrew needed a person of honor to protect his secret.
Someone who understood honor.
Someone who had completed all honor-related quests.
‘But after the purification, Andasar did not return to Andrew’s side.’
The purified Andasar had gone to Cramdel.
Though purified, she remained an undead.
Eventually Andasar was discovered by the Demon King and turned into a Dullahan.
Later, after much time had passed, in Cramdel—after I sealed the Dead King Ahram into Golden Band—I had succeeded in returning the Dullahan Andasar to Andrew’s arms.
“Andrew. You know your daughter’s condition is extremely unstable. You climbed the Tower to obtain this, didn’t you?”
“……”
The problem was Andasar’s state.
Perhaps because something had gone wrong with the Demon King?
Her energy had been rapidly weakening.
At this rate, she might lose what little sanity she had left and become nothing more than a mindless undead monster.
There was only one option left.
Andrew asked with a grave expression:
“Is this truly the right method, Heir?”
“She has endured it once. She’ll have some resistance now. The grimoire won’t consume her so easily.”
“Even if it succeeds… won’t she simply become an Eldritch again?”
“Andrew. … Eldritch would be better than a Dullahan.”
It was earnest advice.
A headless Dullahan.
With the body and head acting separately, its intelligence was low.
If she became an Eldritch instead, the heightened intellect would give her a far greater chance of recovering all the memories she had lost.
Even if that didn’t happen, at least she could engage in proper conversation again.
As long as she didn’t get devoured by the grimoire like before.
“More importantly, you and I are here, are we not? We can prepare for any sort of unforeseen event.”
“I–I don’t know. Whether this is truly something meant for my daughter.”
“…This is not something for your daughter. It is solely for you. Andrew.”
However, there were things that needed to be stated clearly.
I looked once more at Andrew’s trembling eyes and spoke.
“Your daughter has become an undead. She lost her life—she is dead. And yet you keep dragging this along because you cannot accept it. It is all your will. Your greed. Your reckless stubbornness.”
Andasar, who had once been human, was already dead.
Keeping her by his side without accepting that fact came only from Andrew’s desire.
So I wanted to ask.
“Andrew. Why is it that you cannot let go?”
“…Th–that…”
Andrew’s face showed a hint of fluster.
Well, this was probably the first time anyone had ever asked him such a question.
He had been desperately hiding the fact that his daughter had become an undead.
Even here, in the Knight’s Garden.
Those who knew of Andasar’s existence numbered only a few, myself included.
It was only natural for a father to cling to his dead daughter, but the true reason he couldn’t release his undead daughter—that, I was curious about.
After a moment of silence, Andrew bit down hard on his lip.
“There is something I must tell her… without fail. Something related to her mother. I could not send her off without telling her that, without her remembering properly.”
Ah.
So there truly was another reason.
However, Andasar currently had lost her memories.
Telling her now would be meaningless, so he had kept her by his side until she could recall them.
As I listened, Andrew slowly began to speak.
“Andasar’s birth mother is not human. …She is an elf.”
“You are not the biological father?”
“No, I am. I am her father.”
“Then… a half-elf?”
She looked unmistakably human.
Even I was briefly taken aback.
Elves who resided in the Primordial Forest—
They lived in extreme isolation from the outside world.
They considered the mixing of elven blood with other races a taboo. So where and how had he met an elf and had Andasar?
‘A priest who violated every taboo possible.’
…Andrew.
A proper priest of the Goddess Church, even a high-ranking priest.
A position attainable only by one who was clean, faithful, and disciplined—yet the number of taboos he broke was too many.
And now he could even replicate indulgences infinitely.
If the main temple ever learned of this, it would be pandemonium.
Andrew let out a small sigh.
“The child believed her mother was dead. Even though she was very much alive… I lied.”
“Do you regret it?”
“Yes. Andasar… she always wanted to know about her mother. But I could not tell her. Her mother returned to the Primordial Forest.”
But he had been unable to explain that.
Saying she was dead had been his only option.
For how could one ever meet again an elf who had returned to the Primordial Forest?
The Primordial Forest would never accept a half-elf with human blood.
“If she regained her memories, I wanted to tell her the truth. But the situation…”
“…The one who turned Andasar into a Dullahan—his situation became uncertain. Without a proper supply of mana, she became unstable.”
“You mean the Death King of Cramdel?”
I had already told him that when I brought Andasar back.
I nodded.
“He is either dead, or in a state little different from death.”
“A being as mighty as a Death King…”
“Which is exactly why only the Eldritch Grimoire can stabilize her now. There is no other choice.”
“…Even so, how could I possibly accept such a thing?”
“Andrew. Without you, we would not have been able to clear the Tower at all. And besides—”
I gave a faint smile.
Andrew. Binding him with shackles was not something I felt any reluctance about.
Not just him, even—
“Andasar will become an excellent guardian of the Labyrinth City.”
“…What?”
“You think hiding Eldritch here won’t be discovered?”
“No…”
“With the city now connected by warp gates, you can visit whenever you wish. Even I think this is the best possible option.”
“That… I… what?”
*
*
The preparations were complete.
All that remained was to brace for anything unexpected.
《‘Eldritch’s Grimoire’ begins devouring ‘Andasar’.》
Aaaaaaah!
When we placed the grimoire in the hands of the quietly fading Andasar, the same devouring phenomenon began as before.
The grimoire opened, and countless characters written within began being absorbed into Andasar.
Normally, she would have failed to endure and been completely overtaken by the grimoire.
However—
《‘Indulgence’ purifies ‘Andasar’s’ evil karma!》
《‘Indulgence’ purifies ‘Andasar’s’ evil karma!》
《‘Indulgence’ purifies ‘Andasar’s’ evil karma!》
《‘Indulgence’ purifies ‘Andasar’s’ evil karma!》
Indulgences erase evil karma.
The Eldritch Grimoire forcibly swells the evil karma of its target, pushing them into chaos and stripping their will.
Even that cannot withstand Andrew the priest’s infinite indulgence copies.
But indulgences alone are not enough.
《‘Andasar’s’ ‘Limit Curse’ is nullified by the ‘Blessing of Stars’.》
The Blessing of Stars!
