Chapter 48: Chapter 23.1

EP – 023.1 – Netherworld (2)

As we got closer to the portal, the light cluster started to vibrate menacingly.

It’s like warning us to stay back, otherwise there would be problems. And it’s true, if we just try to directly launch our way through, we would just bounce off.

So, at this time, I took out the black card that the President gave.

I threw it as soon as we were about to get in contact with it. The light cluster wriggled which tore a hole in the space itself.

At the same time, I set a timer for exactly 2 minutes.

‘…This is the limit of Atallante’s access pass.’

Originally, this was end-game content that was only given to players who had achieved ‘Eternal’ status.

The black card was something like an identification given to these high beings. Without this, I’d be ‘quarantined’ once I enter the other side of the portal.

It was being strictly managed.

“…”

In other words.

The Netherworld is a crazy place that even an Eternal like Atallante is only allowed entry for two minutes.

Occasionally, depending on the route you take, you might have to enter this place again during the main scenario and not just in the DLC.

‘…Absolutely not.’

Really.

Please no.

God forbid that happens.

I’ll also work my ass off to prevent that from happening.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Wow.”

A surprised exclamation came out of Elijah’s mouth as soon as she entered the portal.

“I thought it would be straight hell as soon as we enter, but this…”

“Yeah, I get what you mean.”

Well, it might look pretty right now but it couldn’t be more terrifying.

Various objects of all shapes and colors are scattered throughout the place, as if various filters were overlayed on top of the real world terrain.

Astral bodies. Forgotten ancient objects. Spirits.

All of them are powerful and dangerous.

“Try to not carelessly touch things. They are dangerous.”

Elijah was just about to touch a white haze that was floating nearby, and immediately snapped her hand back in a flurry after hearing my words.

If ever something bad does happen, there’s still the angel’s protection. However, it’s best not to come into contact with objects from the Netherworld as much as possible.

“…but how high did we go up? How much higher do we need to go?”

“Just a little more.”

In fact, if it were just simply entering and exiting the portal, there would have been a more suitable flying item from the Vision Warehouse and not this makeshift ‘catapult’.

But there’s a reason why I used such a primitive method, that is, to obtain the items that existed in the ‘Gregory Hall’s Highest Level’.

“…Coming to such a high place reminds me of the old days.”

Elijah, who was in free flight with me, suddenly muttered.

“You’re familiar with this experience?”

“My older brother is as crazy as Mr. He had thrown me from the top of the mountain without any equipment since I was little. Looking at it that way, aren’t you two the same?”

“…”

“He always saves me in the end, and say that this was to train my courage.”

“…”

No wonder she’s still strangely calm even in this situation.

“That idiot really loved heights.”

Elijah continued with a smile.

“…I wonder where and what is he doing now?”

The longing was clear in her tone.

“…”

But.

Twelve years ago, the Crimson Night Incident happened.

It was a terrorist incident caused by the ‘Revelation Descendants’, a group of devil worshipers who follow the ‘Red Devil’.

Elijah’s family was killed at that time.

“…”

If she was left alone, Elijah would have grown up in a peaceful farmhouse. Her “missing brother” probably played a significant role in her taking up the role of a hero candidate, even though she had no interest in it.

Elijah’s brother was the only one who survived the Crimson Night Incident, but he went completely missing nor was there any whereabouts of him.

Elijah couldn’t help but constantly cling to the hope that if she became famous enough, he might recognize her and come find her.

Originally a farmer’s daughter, she had never even held a sword. I can’t imagine how much she had to push herself to get to this point.

“Oh, there’s something there.”

I got pulled out of my thoughts when Elijah suddenly exclaimed and pointed in front.

It was a pure white ‘smoke’ that was the most noticeable even amidst the colorful surroundings.

It’s appearance closely resembles of what’s generally called a ‘spirit’.

The faraway smoke didn’t look ordinary.

‘The Spirit of the Gregory Hall.’

It originally appears as an Easter egg long after the main story.

It manifests itself into the material world once using the ‘inter-dimensional access route’ earlier.

“…”

And there’s one thing that only those who saw it at that time knows.

This is one of things that the earlier you get it, the more broken it is.

Players were even data-mining like crazy to find its original location and get it as soon as possible.

“Eucha.”

I unfolded the sack I prepared beforehand.

Of course, it’s not just some random sack.

[ Magic Sack! ]x3

[ Price: 500pt ]x3

[ Item: Junk ]

[ Can hold any item inside for one day! ]

[ Remaining Points: 1,000pt ]

A sack that can store anything that is treated as an item for a day.

First things first, the spirit is considered as an item. It’s normally impossible to capture it by normal means, but with the sack, it’s possible.

Although the 500pt price tag was steep, it was worth it.

As for the two remaining sacks, I gave one to Elijah.

“Here, hold this.”

“What am I supposed to do with this?”

“Grab something nearby when you run away. Anything is fine.”

“…Yes? Run away?”

I then silently pointed up.

To which Elijah frowned.

“What’s wrong, isn’t that just the sky?”

I continued and pointed to a huge dot moving around at the center of the ‘sky’.

“Do you see that?”

“Yes.”

“That’s the pupil.”

“…Yes?”

And with that, I left the confused Elijah and checked the watch instead.

1 minute remaining.

‘I’ll manage.’

Although I’m no scientist, I’ve already proven my actions to be correct, in this world built on top of the game system several times.

This should be safe enough.

“What do you mean those are the pupils-”

Just as Elijah was about to ask such a question, she immediately shut her mouth.

That’s because she saw the color of the sky change for a moment before immediately returning to its original state.

This phenomenon was caused by a being closing and opening its eyes.

To put it differently.

What looks like the sky right now was simply the ‘white’ part of the being’s eyes.

And the ‘pupil’ looked like a huge dot.

At this moment, Elijah finally realized that we were being watched.

“This is, this is crazy-!”

With a deafening roar, the ‘sky’ receded.

[ A moment of danger has been detected. ]

[ Determined the situation as life-threatening. ]

[ Skill: Desperation raised to EX Class. ]

Specifically, the ‘Netherworld beast’ that sensed us pulled its head back and was now approaching us with its jaws wide open.

‘…this is why the Netherworld is hell.’

Mind you, this is a ‘trash mob’ of this world.

A creature at the bottom of the food chain.

“M, Mr., this, damn it!”

Elijah drew her sword as she said so.

Her whole body was trembling and tears were welling up in her eyes.

“Ge, get behind me!”

“…Are you sure it’s safe to go that route?”

“You saved me before! This time, I’ll…!”

“…”

I see, I understand how you feel. And for that, thank you.

The courage and mental strength to put yourself in the face of danger without even knowing the opponent was amazing. Definitely deserving of a round of applause.

But fighting that thing with our current strength alone is suicidal.

“Calm down, we’re not here to fight that thing.”

Saying so, I reminded her of the sack I gave earlier.

At this moment, our soaring bodies were about to stop.

All that remains was a free-fall downwards.

“From now on, gather everything that comes pouring down.”

“Pour, pour down?!”

“That thing.”

I pointed to the white lumps pouring out of the beast’s open mouth.

“Take as many as you can. It can be used in a lot of places.”

“Y, you really have the time to think about that right now?!”

But despite my instructions, she was screaming in protest.

Elijah was more concerned about our lives being in danger, to which she was not wrong.

‘…Still, it’s absolutely necessary.’

To do so, I even bought two more sacks and spent 1,000 points.

If my calculations were correct, we wouldn’t be in a situation where we’d die.

‘Ah, that’s right.’

Can I use ‘it’ here?

[ Skill: Evil Ruler has been activated. ]

[ Triggering command right to target ‘Elijah’. ]