Chapter 46: Journey Beyond Light and Darkness

Tuesday. I woke up earlier than usual, so I took a shower. After having breakfast at the hotel, I prepared myself with plenty of time to spare.

“Good luck, Itsuki-nii.”
“Yeah.”

“Do your best, big bro.”
“Got it.”

Nina and Mitsuru bumped fists with me, and then Sena and Seika clung onto me energetically.

“Hug!”
“I can’t move.”

I was being held down by my arms from both sides, unable to even pat their heads. After a while, they smiled at me and let go.

Mutsuki stood straight, looking at me directly.

“Ikkun, do your best.”
“Yes. I’ll do my best.”

Matching his posture, I responded properly, and Mutsuki seemed satisfied and hid in Mitsuru’s shadow.

I made eye contact with Shiraishi-san.

“Take care.”
“I will.”

Seeing everyone off from the hotel, I headed out. Having slept just like usual, my head felt clear. Although I’m not used to crowded trains, I was on my way to Shinjuku again. The fact that I knew the route meant I wouldn’t be panicking like the day before.

Changing into my Undead King’s gear, I stepped into the dungeon.

Since it was the same interior as the one I’m used to, there weren’t any problems. I kept running and reached the camp in about two hours. It was still around noon, but it seemed most adventurers had already arrived.

For those participating in the strategy meeting, the luggage storage and accommodation fees were free. After completing the procedures and securing a bed, I headed to the cafeteria since I was hungry.

On my way there, I spotted a familiar face.

“Toda-san.”
“Ah, that distant way of addressing—it’s you, comrade.”

Toda-san, the pleasant young man turned towards me, waving.

“The two of them aren’t here, are they?”
“Those guys are hopeless. Genzo is carousing, and Mitsui is having nerdy discussions with online friends. Ever since we got here, I’ve been left hanging. I sometimes doubt if I’m really the leader.”

“That sounds tough.”
“Well, it’s like a festival.”

Breathing a sigh, Toda-san followed me to the cafeteria. He really seemed to have nowhere else to go. Being with someone was comforting for me since being alone would have felt uneasy.

In one corner of the cafeteria, there was a lively group having a drinking party. Genzo-san was probably among them.

I got my food and took a seat. Toda-san only brought a drink.

“Now, comrade. We have to have an important talk here.”
“…What is it?”

“Did you, last night… that, um… wait a second.”

With a hand on his forehead, Toda-san took a deep sigh.

Just maybe, he might actually be my estranged brother. Otherwise, I can’t explain that deeply thoughtful expression.

Exhaling slowly, Toda-san suddenly raised his face with vigor.

“Is it true that you stayed in the same room as a goddess!?”
“Where did that information come from!?”

“I heard that a goddess is accompanying your family.”
“That’s true, but she’s just accompanying as a guardian. We don’t share the same room.”

“I see… okay, that’s good then.”

Leaning back against his chair, completely exhausted, was Toda-san. Is he alright? No, he is definitely not alright.

“Sorry. It seems like it was just my misunderstanding.”
“No… it’s okay.”

I definitely didn’t go as far as staying in the same room, though I couldn’t mention casually sightseeing together. There was a possibility it could emotionally destabilize Toda-san, affecting tomorrow’s strategy meeting.

“What are you planning to do after this?”
“Move the body a bit, and I should probably be at the camp by evening, right? There might be team discussions and stuff.”

“There aren’t any.”
“Eh?”

“I asked the leader of the ‘Yggdrasil Order,’ and apparently there’s no prior briefing.”
“What…? Is that okay?”

“I think it’s fine. They’re seasoned adventurers, after all. They have a unique lineup of only mages, yet they’ve progressed to Area 7. Also, Mitsui’s online friends are part of them.”
“Mitsui-san’s social circle is peculiar too.”

The “Monthly” party remains mysterious.

“There’s nothing special to do. We proceed as usual.”
“Right.”

There may be oddities about him, but this senior is as reliable as ever.
After some light exercise, I decided to spend the remaining time leisurely.

◇

A part of me wished for it to come sooner, and a part hoped it wouldn’t.

Expectations and tension. Excitement and pressure. The conflicting forces made time pass quicker than usual. When I closed my eyes, it was already morning, and my heart raced at that fact.

But even such days come to an end.

Wednesday.

The adventurers were all on edge from the morning, signaling the arrival of this day. Slightly chilled air and silence. Grouped into assigned teams, we quietly awaited the time for transfer.

A short distance from the camp, in a plaza at the edge of the [The Fallen Holy City], stood five boxes. Each one was huge, and their contents hidden.

Just beside me stood Lila. In front of us were the three from “Monthly,” and leading us was “Yggdrasil Order.” In silence, everyone stared fixedly at the boxes.

How much time passed like this?
It felt like just a moment, yet also like an eternity. The time akin to waiting for the starter’s pistol in a marathon came to an end with hard footsteps.

A gaunt man approached, with hair wildly grown almost reaching the ground—a visibly unhealthy man. Standing in the plaza’s center, he brushed hair away from his face.

He’s the man who opens the gate to [Scorching Mines]. A genius—one of the few in the world who can wield that magic—known as Rokuro.

“Heh. Before the operation, let me explain what’s inside these boxes.”

Laughing with a sound like a hiccup, Rokuro-san tapped the nearest box with his hand.

“Inside these boxes, there are 50 Grid corpses each. Heh. To make sure they didn’t vanish, I meticulously preserved these bodies just for this day.”

Rokuro-san extracts magic from the monster corpses.
The magic engraved in the blood of the Grids to cross gates to other areas. By extracting it, he moves us to our destination.

“For the return trip, we’ll need the same amount, so—250 bodies, shouldn’t be an issue. Just make sure to kill plenty. Heh.”

Stumbling forward, Rokuro-san moved to the center.

“Now, brutal devil adventurers, it’s time for war. —Heh.”

His branch-like arms pointed skyward. The red-black mana leaking from the five boxes gathered around Rokuro-san.

The space warped, and the ground slowly changed in texture.

“[O’Donerva].”

The gate opened its mouth, and in the next instant, we were swallowed.
It was the same as with the Undead King. This gate also felt like warm mud.

Before us was a vast expanse of red.

Embers floated in the air, and the land was coursed with rivers of lava. At the center of our view stood a mountainous mine riddled with holes.

“………”

My uninterrupted consciousness tries to reject the rapidly altered view. I thought I was used to it, but the unfamiliar area always comes with a feeling of discomfort.

While I was confused, the adventurers started moving. As expected of veterans, every move they made had no waste.

“Well then, let us proceed.”

The “Yggdrasil Order” began chanting, following the mage in a dark green robe.

Lila was the first to run. The front-line adventurers split between the assault group and the magic users’ defense.

Nobody waits.
Those who don’t run are left behind.

I’m not the strongest.

—Ah. This is the best.

I’m filled with people stronger and more robust than me. That fact makes my heart leap.

A bit late, I also started to run. I aimed for a different direction from the assault group—the side of the mountain. No one stopped me. No voices of concern. Whether it was trust or indifference didn’t matter.

I simply had to do my job.

Grids emerged from the mountain. They fired crossbows while hiding in their pits. The assault group—sure, but the mages couldn’t advance under those conditions. Neutralizing the enemy’s ranged attacks was crucial. That’s what the assault group was running for. Lila was at the forefront, now beginning to run up the slope. Her afterimage drew lines. Grids diverted their focus towards the assault group.

In that moment—

“[Comet of Ruin].”

The rear mages began their attack. Manifesting giant rocks to storm the mines, they tore through the terrain, destroying even the Grids’ hiding places.

I reached the mines too. The upper half of the mountain was wiped out by the earlier attack. Perhaps seeing defense as futile, Grids poured out from the remaining pits.

10, 20… A countless number of Grids appeared before me, attacking. Surrounding me. Crossbows were aimed even towards the sky, leaving no escape.

And that’s fine.
This magic is cumbersome if anyone else is around.

“[Darkness at Light’s End].”

A black flame gathered in my hand.
I crushed it. The flame spread across the ground.

—One can recognize the depth of darkness because they harbor light within their heart.

That’s why this power is not despair.

“[Lebeglakio].”

Overcome everything standing in your way, and advance.