Chapter 282
The long storm had finally ended.
The red sky that looked as if it could bring about the end of the world at any moment had cleared, and the black clouds parted, allowing sunlight to shine through.
“……Ah!”
“It’s, it’s over.
“We won!”
“WOOOOOOOOOO!”
Receiving the falling sunlight, a knight who had been standing there shouted as if he were about to cry.
At last, the soldiers of Raigle erupted into cheers that seemed loud enough to shake the world.
“Phew… It seems to be over.”
“How… did this happen?”
Cardinal Gracia let out a deep sigh and threw down the axe she had been using.
Palador Raigle looked at her with a bewildered expression.
“The monsters suddenly disappeared all at once…
“What kind of miracle is this?”
“Look over there.”
Following her gaze, Palador turned his head.
He soon spotted the floating island collapsing at the very edge of his vision.
“The floating island…”
“I told you, didn’t I?
“Trust him and hold out.”
Gracia gave the bewildered Palador a faint smile.
Her deep sea-colored eyes, shining faintly, were reminded of a promise made by a certain man.
“……Let’s go.
“We have a lot of work to do.”
The reason the party members who had been scattered throughout the continent appeared here was simple.
The gods of Minis’s faction, whom Glen had sent, had moved quickly and switched places with them.
“So while we were returning to Wordsworth, the floating island near the border started moving toward Istirenne.”
“Brother told us not to worry about it before, but I thought we needed at least some information, so I entered with Sister Lutheria…”
At that moment, they encountered Rowen and Penelope.
They moved together and met Romina at the entrance before entering the Symposion.
“Oh… Good timing.
“But should we get out first?”
Glen escaped the collapsing Symposion together with the assembled party members and returned to Denhelder Fortress, their base.
Normally, it would have taken more than a day to cover the distance.
However, Nox's power allowed them to fold space and move there instantly.
Tris sincerely rejoiced at the party's return and welcomed everyone.
Fortunately, the moment Glen separated Nox from the Heavenly Law, the black monsters had apparently disappeared without leaving a trace.
With that, they had succeeded in protecting the Holy Papal State from one great disaster.
“However, everything isn't over yet.”
“Nox is right.
“There is one last thing we need to deal with.”
Yuellos, the God of Fate.
He was the root cause of this entire incident.
And until they stopped him from escaping with the frozen Heavenly Law and plotting to destroy the world, everything would not truly be over.
Nox explained everything about Yuellos to Glen and the party members right there.
He explained what had happened in Heaven, what happened after Heaven fell, and how dangerous the plan Yuellos was preparing was.
Soon, a heavy silence settled over the room.
“……”
A floating island with enough destructive power to destroy the world in an instant.
And Yuellos, a High God who possessed overwhelming power capable of creating such a thing.
It was something far beyond what any of them could reach with their individual strength.
“E-Elder…
“Even so, since Lord Nox can also use his original power, shouldn't we be all right?”
Penelope said with an awkward smile.
But Nox shook his head.
“My follower.
“Unfortunately, the current Yuellos has surpassed the level of the High God I knew.”
When Nox confronted Yuellos, he had used his Divine Eyes to assess his full strength.
He said that he could immediately tell that Yuellos had become stronger than any other being existing in the world.
“Of course, I have also regained my original power, so a battle between us is possible.
“But to be honest, I cannot guarantee victory.”
“B-But isn't it true that Yuellos retreated because of Lord Nox, when he was trying to kill Elder?”
“That is false.
“He is extremely reluctant to come into contact with Glen Wordsworth.
“His target was the Heavenly Law from the beginning.
“If I had recklessly attacked him there, he would have defeated me.”
“Then even if we go after him, can we really win?”
A shadow fell over Penelope's face.
The other party members looked similarly worried.
At that moment, Romina knocked on the table.
“Why are you all like this?
“Have you forgotten that we have a trump card?”
“A trump card…?”
“Yes.
“It’s right here.”
Romina turned her amber eyes toward Glen.
“The being who possesses the Unknown that Yuellos fears so much.”
“……”
Glen had been quietly watching the conversation.
He smiled faintly and opened his mouth.
“Yeah.
“He's ridiculously afraid of coming into contact with me.
“So wouldn't it be polite to keep getting in his face until he freaks out?
“That's why I'm going to go catch that bastard with Nox.”
Yuellos had become even stronger than Nox.
At this point, the only thing with any possibility of defeating him was the power of the Unknown that Glen possessed.
“And you guys wait here.
“I have a feeling someone will try to help us, but honestly, I don't know how much help you'll be compared to the danger we're facing.”
Everyone here was a powerful individual between the 8-Star and 9-Star levels.
Judging by their individual abilities, each of them was strong enough to lead an entire faction.
But if their opponent was a monster beyond all standards, one who stood above even Nox and possessed the concept of the Ring itself, things were completely different.
Even Nox, who was standing right beside them, had required Glen to give everything he had just to grab him by the collar once.
“If you come along, you'll only get yourselves killed.”
It was something Glen did not want to say.
But without saying it, these people would never give up.
“……”
Amid the silence that filled the room, Glen calmly looked at Nox.
“How much time do we have?”
“Not much.
“As soon as your condition recovers, we must leave immediately.”
“Good.
“Then tomorrow at noon…”
BANG!
Suddenly, someone slammed the table.
It was Rowen.
Glen sighed.
“……Haa.”
He had hoped the matter would pass quietly.
Apparently, that was going to be difficult.
“Yes.
“You are right.
“Even if we follow you, we will not be of much help.”
Rowen bit his lip in frustration.
But he soon swallowed his anger and raised his red eyes to look at Glen.
“But.
“The person who saved my life is saying that he will go into a place where he may die.
“As someone who owes you his life, I cannot simply sit here and wait for your return.”
“That day, you told me to live.
“You told me not to die, but to live and repay my debt.”
“But you!
“You are once again heading toward a place from which you may not easily return.”
Rowen placed a hand over his chest.
“Every time I watched you cross the line between life and death alone, I was overwhelmed by helplessness.”
“Each time, I desperately comforted myself.
‘He'll come back, just like always.’
‘Someday, I'll catch up to him.’
‘Someday, I'll become stronger than him and repay the debt I owe.’
“But that time never comes.
“You only grow farther away from me as time passes.”
“So I made up my mind.
“I will never let you go alone again.”
Rowen desperately tried to clear his blurred vision and clutched his chest.
“The battle is at a distant realm that my hands cannot reach.
“But this second life was something I gained because of you, so I have no regrets.”
“I don't mind spending my life.
“If I can be used as your stepping stone even for a single moment, that is enough.
“So…”
Glen avoided his gaze.
Rowen continued.
