Chapter 95: Great Stone Mountain, Mogron (5)

I couldn’t tell just what in the world had happened.

Only, I could just see the result that had befallen us.

“Keok, keok…… Haak……!”

Eldran, with a large hole pierced through his chest, was spilling blood and gasping for breath.

The core of this mission, Baronet Eldran, who was called the Mage of Illusion, was now dying.

By none other than an unidentified uninvited guest.

“Captain!”

“I’m already going!”

Edric threw himself towards the uninvited guest who had pierced Eldran’s chest.

It was to stop the being that was the greatest threat first, in this urgent situation where everything was chaotic.

“Vell! Is there a way?”

“There isn’t.”

“Damn it! That thing you always use! You can’t use that?!”

He was probably talking about the Orb of Water, but the answer was already set.

“This level of a fatal wound is impossible.”

“Damn it! Hey, Baron! Snap out of it!”

As proof of that, the power of the Orb of Water was already active.

It was just that the injury Eldran had sustained was so severe that it wasn’t very noticeable.

No matter how great the Orb of Water was, it couldn’t heal a fatal wound of this degree.

To be precise, even if it were possible, Eldran couldn’t stay alive until the healing was complete.

Losing a heart was a severe fatal injury that couldn’t be treated as a simple physical loss.

‘Baronet Eldran must not die like this.’

The reason Great Stone Mountain, Mogron, had turned its steps was because Eldran’s magic had worked.

But if Eldran died at this point, when Great Stone Mountain, Mogron, hadn’t even fully turned back yet, there was a high possibility the magic’s effect would weaken or, in the worst case, be canceled entirely.

‘……For now, I have no choice but to try everything I can.’

I even took out the Fang of Blazing Fire and touched it to the Orb of Water.

It was to melt even a little of the chill dwelling in the Orb of Water.

Hwareureuk!

Chiiik……!

The Fang of Blazing Fire and the Orb of Water made direct contact, and steam rose due to their mutual repulsion.

[Intense warmth of blazing fire is transmitted to the ‘Orb of Water’.]

[The chill of the ‘Orb of Water’ is temporarily, greatly alleviated.]

[The ‘Orb of Water’ activates its power according to the wielder’s will.]

[The ‘Orb of Water’ deploys ‘Restorative Waters’.]

I made the best effort I could like that, but even that was insufficient to fill Baronet Eldran’s empty chest.

“Ve, Vell, B, Black, wood…….”

“Don’t speak. It slows the healing.”

Even after saying it, it was a bit ridiculous.

Could this really be called healing?

Wasn’t it, in truth, just life-prolonging care, forcibly holding onto a person who should have already died?

“Kahaak!”

A mouthful of blood spurted from Baronet Eldran’s mouth.

Despite having lost enough blood that it wouldn’t have been strange to die of shock long ago, Baronet Eldran was holding onto a thread-like lifeline.

As if he had something he wanted to convey.

“Win, Winter, Ca, Cas─”

That was his last word.

Baronet Eldran’s breathing stopped, and immediately after, the light vanished from his eyes.

Baronet Eldran was dead.

“Hey! Baron!”

“Baronet, big guy.”

“Damn it! What does that matter right now! Baron or Baronet, Eldran is dead!”

“I’m looking too. To think the Mage of Illusion would pass so vainly.”

I don’t know what Baronet Eldran was trying to say at the end.

It was probably some obvious line, like ‘please take care of Winter Castle’.

I had no intention of honoring that last will, but it was clear that the person named Baronet Eldran had left something with me.

“……This feels fucking awful.”

I don’t know if Baronet Eldran was a good person or not.

It hadn’t been that long since I had gotten to know him, after all.

But one thing was clear: Baronet Eldran was not a person who should have died so vainly.

‘This is the worst.’

Baronet Eldran’s death doesn’t just end with his own death.

As if to prove that fact, an anomaly occurred immediately.

-Geuuuuuuuuuu…….

The movement of Great Stone Mountain, Mogron, which had been returning to the Demonic Realm, stopped.

At that, Conlan, as well as Albino and Alicia, couldn’t hide their astonishment.

“Wh, what? Why is it doing that?”

“This can’t be…….”

“Not good.”

“Damn it, what the hell is that? Why did it suddenly stop?!”

With Conlan’s shout, everyone’s gaze naturally turned towards me.

Faces seeking an answer.

Regrettably, the answer I could give them was not very hopeful.

“The effect of the magic Eldran deployed is weakening.”

“What?”

“That, but the contract……!”

The answer to Albino’s question was simple.

“Did you really think a contract with a demon would be fair?”

“……The Golden Rule, isn’t fair?”

Albino’s expression stiffened.

Just as those words implied, demons are not such a kind species.

If the contractor who could provide the price disappeared, the demon who lent its power had no reason to maintain the magic.

Even if it was magic based on a perfectly just price.

The Contract of the Golden Rule seemed like a fair contract at a glance, but the absurdity arising from the difference in class between the existence of a human and a demon couldn’t be helped.

No need to look far; wasn’t the very stage where the contract was made also upon the palm of a demon’s hand?

“Damn it! Then is there a way?”

“Well.”

If asked if there was no way out of this situation, that wasn’t necessarily the case.

There definitely was a way.

However, the problem would be that whatever method was implemented, a fitting price had to be paid.

Because that was the single absolute truth that held sway in this damn world.

‘That aside, there’s a more pressing problem right now.’

I shifted my gaze.

Kwang──!

Kwaaaaang!!!

An explosive sound, impossible to believe was the sound of iron-made weapons clashing, rang out repeatedly.

The uninvited guest who killed Eldran was currently engaged in a fierce, close battle with Edric.

I knew they were no ordinary person from the moment they killed Eldran, the man called the Mage of Illusion, in a single blow, but the uninvited guest wasn’t being pushed back at all in the fight with Edric.

‘First, I’ll eliminate that.’

It was true that Great Stone Mountain, Mogron, was the biggest threat we faced right now, but fortunately, the effect of the magic Eldran had used still remained.

Meaning, we had a little time.

Therefore, the most threatening variable at this point in time was that very uninvited guest who killed Eldran.

Even if we executed another method, it would be meaningless if the uninvited guest interfered again.

‘Moving immediately.’

There was no need to hesitate.

Eliminating variables first when executing a plan was an extremely natural thing to do.

[Activating ‘Weapon Summon(??)’.]

[A ‘Lv.3’ weapon is summoned.]

[Summoning weapon, ‘AKR-74 Assault Rifle’.]

With a blue halo of light, I felt a heavy sensation in my right hand.

Cheolkeok─

With Edric and the uninvited guest chaotically entangled and moving about, aiming wasn’t easy.

If I made a mistake, Edric could get hit.

However, the solution for this was extremely simple.

“Captain!”

“I was waiting!”

With the reply, Edric quickly retreated from the uninvited guest.

The momentary gap created just like that.

I didn’t miss it.

Tatatang──!!!

With the pulled trigger, a barrage of 7.62x39mm rounds spewed from the muzzle, firing towards the uninvited guest.

But regretfully, the bullets never reached the uninvited guest.

Should I say, as expected of a strong person who can face Edric.

The bullets fired at the uninvited guest either powerlessly split the air, or even the bullets that barely reached were too easily deflected by the uninvited guest’s armor.

‘As expected, this level won’t work.’

This much was expected anyway.

The real part was next.

‘If there’s no damage even when hit, there’s no reason to dodge. I have to assume there’s at least some impact.’

No matter how strong the uninvited guest’s physical ability or how good their armor was, the destructive power a gun produced was not something that could be ignored.

Having finished my calculations quickly, I pulled the trigger once again.

Taang!

Tang! Tatang!

Once again, fire spewed from the muzzle and bullets were fired.

The uninvited guest dodged the five rounds I fired all too easily.

Just as expected.

‘Now.’

This very moment, when the uninvited guest’s movements were restricted from dodging the bullets.

Taang!

A bullet imbued with Demonic energy, a Demonic Bullet, was fired from the muzzle.

The uninvited guest, despite failing to react to the Demonic Bullet, took no particular defensive action, perhaps trusting their defensive power.

Thoroughly, just as I intended.

Kwaak!

“Keo-eok!”

The fired Demonic Bullet pierced the armor, and the uninvited guest’s body was thrown back significantly.

And the blood flowing from the uninvited guest’s abdomen told that the uninvited guest had now sustained a considerable fatal wound.

“Excellent!”

At that, Edric, who had briefly pulled back, rushed at the uninvited guest again, as if he wouldn’t miss the opportunity.

It was the uninvited guest who had been evenly matched with Edric just a moment ago, but not now that they were injured.

Furthermore, our numbers were also greatly superior.

‘I will kill them without fail.’

I didn’t know what the uninvited guest’s identity was, but that was something I’d naturally find out after catching them.

At the very least, I would make them pay the price for killing Eldran.

“Uooo!”

“Damn bastard.”

“Die.”

Conlan, Albino, and Alicia joined in, surrounding the uninvited guest.

They must have instinctively formed an encirclement, knowing that clumsily interfering in a fight between strong individuals would only be a hindrance.

It was a wise choice.

“Why don’t you take off your helmet and reveal your identity? Winter Castle treats its prisoners justly according to the code.”

“Eum, I can’t let this go on.”

With a static-filled voice, a single flute appeared from the uninvited guest’s bosom.

What would happen after that was as good as decided.

“Cover your ears!”

Biiiiiiik!!!───

The flute’s sound, which had transformed into an ear-splitting sound wave beyond mere noise, blasted out in all directions.

“Ugh!”

“Wh, what!”

The 4th Special Task Force members covered their ears and tried to resist the blasted sound waves, but the flute’s sound was too intense.

Biiiiiiiiii────

Amidst the ringing tinnitus, I felt a warm sensation from my ears.

It was blood.

The Orb of Water, which autonomously protects its wielder, was protecting my eardrums, but it was clear it wouldn’t last long at this rate.

The ear was an organ directly connected to the brain, and one of the most vulnerable sensory organs.

‘Dangerous.’

The other task force members, including Edric, were also covering their ears, being helplessly beaten.

‘First, I have to get rid of that flute.’

Judging by the power of the incoming sound waves, it had to be at least a quasi-legendary grade item.

An item of that level couldn’t be broken with simple bullets.

Unless it was a Demonic Bullet.

“……Hoo.”

I barely managed to steady my breathing and gripped the trigger with a trembling hand.

Sssss──

With that, my remaining Demonic energy began to seep into the magazine.

Only one chance.

If I failed this time, the uninvited guest would never show an opening again.

Seueup…….

I held my breath and pulled the trigger.

Taang──!

With the gunshot that rang out, the fired Demonic Bullet drew a straight line.

The muzzle velocity of the AKR-74 Assault Rifle is approximately 715m/s.

On top of that, the velocity of the Demonic Bullet, carrying Demonic energy, far surpassed even that.

Furthermore, the accuracy correction from the Demonic energy, even in a shaking situation, ultimately guided the Demonic Bullet to its target.

Pagak!

The flute, struck by the Demonic Bullet, shattered into pieces.

Finally, the flute sound that had been tormenting us so sickeningly also stopped.

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