CH 88

Chapter 88 – Unwavering Will and the End of Malice

For the past few days… I have been reading about goblins in the south, on the BBS, so it seems like a defence battle is coming up.

Oh, for the best efficiency…perhaps I should complete the optimisation of the alchemy circle. The troublesome part is what to do about the large alchemy formation in the alchemy room. It’s too big to be copied onto paper.

Perhaps after finishing it, I should ask Dantel-san to make a cloth version of the alchemy formation? If it’s just for personal use, I could use [Magic Alchemy], but considering crafting time, it would be easier to use a cloth version…

No, if I want to have a cloth version made, I should take it to master first, and have her make the request. If I want word of it to spread, going through Master is best.

The optimisation for synthesis, refining, extraction and decomposition have been completed. These are the four in the alchemy kit.

Actually, the other arts, such as [Magic Stone Processing] and [Attribute Manipulation] that are learned in the second tier use the [Magic Alchemy] that was learned in the first. I may be able to alter this too.

[Magic Alchemy] creates an alchemy formation after specifying the deployment position, so the magic stones are then placed there. It’s even fine to place this formation in the air. Mysteriously, even the objects placed on it will float.

In other words, I shouldn’t place anything down after the deployment…. I’ll take a look at the formation instead. Hmm, yes, I can change this. The problem would be saving the changes. Change a part, then close it….oh, I can save the edited alchemy formation. So no magic paper is needed.

I have gotten used to it after making several changes. Blow away the characters that do not match with a flick, then add another character from the candidates with magic power.

There is a law behind it, so it is interesting, like a puzzle. Once the process is completed the formation will be more efficient, the magic power consumption will be reduced, and the quality of created items will be improved. And the difficulty of the magic power operation mini-game will also decrease. Very worth doing.

The hardest part is how difficult it is to acquire «Ancient Divine Linguistics». I wonder if there are other languages beside that of the Outer Ones. At least there should not be among humans.

Well, off to go see Master Megan. No, wait…. Hmm…. I’ll prepare four.

First, to the church.

“Good morning.”

“Good day, is Sophie-san here?”

“Would you like me to call her?”

“Yes, please. I’d like to bring her to Megan-san’s.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Sophie-san has come trotting over after a short wait.

I’ll hook her with promises of interesting things, then bring Sophie-san over to master’s shop.

“Master~”

“You, is it. And you even brought Sophie.”

“She said she’d give me something nice…”

“So you were lured in…”

Well, Sophie-san is something of a researcher….

“Anyway, Master. Take a look at this.”

“This is….an alchemy kit, isn’t it?”

“I think the four types of alchemy formation have been optimised. I’m working on the [Magic Alchemy] formation at the moment.”

“You’ve really improved it? I’ll use it for a while, and if it’s okay, I’ll spread it around.”

“If it becomes a cloth version, please give one to me.”

Sophie looks interested, but it’s of no use to witches, who are on the «Mixing» side.

With this, the cloth version will also get made, so my main task is done.

“So, here’s what I’ll give to you both.”

“”This is….””

“It’s mucus I can create, so it’s okay to study it, but be careful when handling it.”

I will give them each two bottles, containing the red-black substance.

I’m sure these two will not abuse it.

“This is also….outrageous….”

“Outer One of the Goddess Stellura faith… very interesting…”

Yeah, she seems as pleased as I expected. I’ve finished my errands, so we’ll disband.

Let’s have lunch.

Now, log in… But, what should I do? To the north is ore, magic plants to the northwest, to the west is…. tea, and to the south is Lana’s homeland.

North and northwest for alchemy. West for luxury items. South for curiosity.

Alright, I’m gonna aim for the Dinite Empire in the south. I can’t beat my curiosity.

First, take the portal to Inbamunt.

Then walk to the port.

There seems to be a quest on the ship, but I am not going to care about that….I will fly!

Head due south at about 3 metres above sea level. Ignore the enemies, of course. It is apparently a fair distance, so speed is best.

If you fly too slowly, the flying enemies will gather, and if you fly too fast you are likely to crash and die in FOX4, so it is apparently very difficult to break through with flight, but I guess we’ll see?

Flying over the sea…. is quite a pleasant feeling. You can’t experience this kind of flight in real life. It’s the small things like this which make being an inhuman worthwhile.

Hahahaha, you can’t catch up with that speed.

Why did you stop in front of me…. oh… gruesome fireworks…..

….I’ll do better next time.

Ah, I was sent back without even the chance to revive. Well, it was quite a splatter. Can’t be helped. Eat up. No… it will disappear as if melting. «Unknown Organisation» is effective anyway, so even if you do eat it, you’ll die.

Flesh is separated from the meat mass of the main body, to generate an incarnation.

Okay, let’s go again. A revenge match. I’ve found it’s impossible to avoid at that speed. But if I can’t avoid them, I’ll make them avoid me.

The macros have been tweaked a little and «Dismantling» is disabled….And I’m flying out of the port again. This time much higher up. I have to go far enough that I won’t be seen from the ground, otherwise it will be disastrous.

And after getting far enough, activate «Clad in Madness».

As for the result, it’s very amusing.

First, as soon as an enemy spots me they are afflicted with abnormal conditions. Silence has no effect, but it’s the others that are important. If stunned, they fall. Fear makes them run away. With madness they fight amongst themselves. Instant death turns them to polygons.

Then, using a macro, knock down anything within range with a tentacle. Any enemies that can be attacked are being smacked around by the tentacles…

So, if I can’t avoid them, they can avoid me. The sea is already no worse than places I’ve been on land. The effect of abnormal conditions is good.

According to the BBS, head south of the Starting Town to Inbamunt. If you head three areas south from there, across the sea, you’ll find Posmunt, the gateway to the southern continent. Further south from Posmunt, you will arrive at the Imperial City, after passing another three towns.

I can go sightseeing after unlocking the portals. According to the BBS, the levels of the enemies drop back down after crossing the sea.

While looking at the map, I head straight to the capital of the Dinite Empire.

But it occurs to me, I can’t see any floating continents anywhere?

How saddening….

Oh, I’ve arrived safely. Turn off «Clad in Madness» and head down to the ground. Just outside the north gate. I shouldn’t go down into the city. At least the first time, right? It will be teleporting from the second time, anyway.

“Mu? Hm!?”

“Good day. I’m an Outsider.”

“…..Certainly. Welcome to the Imperial City of the Dinite Empire.”

After showing my adventurer card I’m allowed inside.

The city is larger and has more Residents than the Starting Town, but there are still few players that have come here, so the population density is better.

The capital of the Dinite Empire has the coliseum after all. It’s not as new as the Nealence Kingdom, but the patrolling knights influence its atmosphere. The roads are quite large, and even if carriages pass each other, there is plenty of space.

Being an empire, it seems to be a military nation, but the town is neatly arranged. I get the impression that a large portion of the Residents are people who live in battle, such as adventurers. At least, there are many armed people in sight. However, judging by their equipment, there seem to be many newcomers, probably because the enemies nearby are weak, like those around the Starting Town.

Well, let’s open the portal first.

<The portal to the Imperial City of the Dinite Empire has been unlocked.>

<The portals of all major cities in the Dinite Empire are now unlocked.>

<Can be set as a resurrection point. Yes / No>

The resurrection point is of course a no, but wow….what’s with this number. Isn’t the Dinite Empire too big? No, but if you think of territories….this might be about the right size for a country. I think in most games….the northern continent would be equal to a single country.

Well, isn’t it good that it’s big? Where should I go and see. The enemies are the main concern. So probably a town on the edge.

“…You over there, do you have a minute?”

Ah, while thinking about my transfer destination, I seem to have made a patrolling group of three knights wary.

I quickly show them my adventurer card.

“I’m an Outsider adventurer.”

“….Hmm, looks like it. Sorry. It’s fine to take your time.”

They’ve gone back into patrol mode.

This is troublesome, considering all the knights on patrol will catch me. It’ll take some time for the info to spread among them.

By the way, I think there was a useful feature added in the update…..?

Automatic deactivation in safe areas.

Set a skill to be automatically disabled upon entering a safe area.

That’s it. Should I set it now?

I’ll add «Unknown Organisation» to it, but I wonder about «Sphere of Shaking Flesh». It’s a pain to get caught every time, but it’s also a landmark.

Oops, I got caught again. I can get free by flashing my adventurer card.

It might be easier to only turn it on when I go to the church… Let’s set it up. This will disable the effect.

The empire has enough manpower to patrol the capital, so it is probably quite safe. If it’s not, there’s no point in the patrolling knights.

For the time being…I’ll head to a town at the edge of the empire and go to the Adventurers’ Union.

The town…does not look to have any particular characteristics, as far as I can see.

Let’s see, the Union is…. over there. Let’s check out the requests.

<You have entered the event area.>

<Quest: “Unwavering Will and the End of Malice” has started.>

Ehh? Eh?

“By the way, where’s Liselotte-san?”

“Mm? …I haven’t seen her.”

I don’t know this Liselotte-san either.

There are other adventurers in the guild, but since the conversation between the two male adventurers is recorded in the log, this must be an important quest-related conversation.

The level of one of the adventurers is in the latter 50’s. He is armed with the orthodox one-handed sword and shield, and is tall and well-built. …His face is a bit scary.

“Well, she’s just short of S rank, so it’s probably okay.”

“You think?”

“Probably out there helping people, like usual.”

….This seems to be the end of the key conversation.

Liselotte, an adventurer just shy of S rank, who likes to help people? Hasn’t been seen recently.

That looks like all the information to be gotten from the conversation.

Anyway, why did it suddenly start? Was it a suddenly occurring quest, or did I pass the conditions without knowing it? Since this is the first time I’ve been here, it’s probably the former….

So what is the quest about…..Hm? It’s associated with [Coffin of Dreams]….so it’s the latter! And a magnificent spoiler!

Liselotte-san is already dead, huh? Because it’s a casket. A skill for taking in a corpse and equipment, right?

Until now, I’ve only stored equipment in the [Coffin of Dreams] for use with [Ephemeral Radiance], but once I get the corpse, I can use [Ephemeral Doll].

Where should I go next?

“There’s serious trouble!”

“What is it!”

Oh, is it proceeding?

“Ah, Azlet-san! It’s Liselotte-san… Liselotte-san is rampaging at the west gate! If we don’t do something, people are going to die!”

“….Huh? She’s not someone who would do that.”

“But she’s really on a rampage! Hurry to the west gate!”

“It would be best to go see….let’s go!”

The person in the latter 50’s seems to be a Resident named Azlet.

The adventurers in the Union have all run out in a flurry.

I was wondering if I was going to find a corpse, but….I didn’t expect them to be rampaging at the gate.

I don’t think I can beat someone who is nearly S rank, but I don’t have the option of not going to see. I follow the adventurers who have left. On foot, to see what’s going on.

I can hear the sound of a battle…

“…Kah….! What’s wrong with you!”

“…………”

Liselotte-san looks very different from what I was imagining.

A charming appearance, with a violet side tail, red eyes and a tear-like mole by her left eye. The only problem is her expressionless face.

And above all…. she appears to be about 10 years old. A child like that is spinning around a two-handed axe, about as long as I am tall, and fighting against the 180cm tall Azlet-san.

Liselotte’s weapon, the two-handed axe, is very beautiful, with the colour of an unknown material, but…. her armour is tattered and the white fabric stained with blood.

“Damn it….! She’s obviously gone crazy, so we need to do something….”

“Lise! You became an adventurer to help people!”

This is….a race or job title, or could be both, but it tells me something about Liselotte-san’s condition. She’s already in a situation where her sanity is gone….

So, what now. I need to think of a solution while the adventurers have her under control.

Azlet and the two knights who are probably the gatekeepers are up front dealing with her, while the other adventurers are trying to figure out what to do.

“…………”

“Damn! It’s a bigger swing than usual, but it’s so much stronger! Insanely strong!”

“Even when she’s not using her usual style. As expected of Liselotte..!”

“Everyone under C should stay away! What about the priests!?”

“I’m going to the church!”

Unfortunately, the body is already dead.

But the soul is not separating from the body. Or rather, cannot leave it?

“Liselotte…. is it already no good….?”

The cause is a curse…I think. Not the abnormal condition kind of curse, but one with a black magic meaning. It’s probably a very powerful curse. Did the curse take possession of the body? Well, after rescuing the soul, I can take my time hearing about it in the Nether.

The biggest issue is how to separate the soul from the curse. ….As it is a quest related to the casket, I don’t want to damage the body or equipment.

The problem is she is far superior to me. A difference of 26 levels is a bit much.

Liselotte?　Lv68

She was almost sacrificed in a ritual as a child, but was rescued by knights during the ceremony.

Yet, the ritual definitely took effect.

While the ritual consumes her, she lives like the knights who saved her…

However–

Attribute: ?　Weakness: ?　Resistance: ?

Condition: Unconscious, Undead, Cursed Soul

A black curse on a white but weakly shining soul.

Interference with the soul is forbidden, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. When the knights saved her, the culprits should have been taken care of. They should be seeing a literal hell in the Abyss.

The question is what to do with the Liselotte-san in front of me.

“Damn it! What the hell happened! She was a good person!”

“I brought them!”

“You said she was rampaging….but this is….”

The priestess has come, but it’s impossible. I’d rather you didn’t try purifying. In this situation, the body will disappear before the soul. In the first place, that curse…. Half-hearted purification won’t work on it.

If I just want to complete the quest, cleansing is an option, but in terms of the coffin quest, it’s a failure.

At any rate, it’s necessary to separate the soul from the curse. But you need to be able to interfere with the soul to do that. Normally this is impossible, but fortunately my race and my position allow me to do so. Rather, it’s my main job.

It’s finally time to use «Sword of Judgment», «Soul Hunter» and «Soul Chaser». It’s a bit of an intense use….but it should work.

The problem is that the target is too strong, but…. can’t they do something about that? With that decided, let’s give it a try while the adventurers are still helping out.

“Arts!? Damn it! [Shield Bash]”

“…………”

“You’re going to become someone who helps people like a knight!”

“Uhh….”

“Tch! Liselotte! Be careful!”

Oh, she has started to suffer, with her head in her hands. Is it an event due to elapsed time?

“Lise! What’s the matter, this isn’t like you!”

“Ugh… the village…. the people who destroyed it …I absolutely…..won’t do what you want….! I’ve lived my whole life to help people! I won’t let you rampage with my body….! Even if I lose my soul, I will….!”

Oh? This is definitely a showpiece!

It’s going to become a battle, so I will enable «Sphere of Shaking Flesh». I’ll leave «Unknown Organisation» off.

“No. After death, the soul must be saved. That’s why there’s an Afterworld and that’s why I am here. I’ll do everything in my power to get you there.”

“Wh-what?”

“I still don’t have the strength to fight her head on. Stop her movement. I will do the rest.”

“Black and white habit, blindfold and black hair….. Nemeseia-sama!”

The priestess seems to know about me. It seems to have spread even to the southern continent.

“By removing the soul from the body, we can detach the curse from the soul.”

“Remove the soul!? If you do that….!”

“Like this, even the soul will be eaten by the curse. The body is already dead and the soul is only barely shining.”

“Nemeseia….. Lise’s soul….can you save it?”

“As long as I can touch the body.”

“…..Understood. I’ll help. So please….”

“I’m sorry…..I’ll do my best to hold it back.”

Oh, is it an event where she is weakened by her rising consciousness? Or did you go down that route….. Well, it’s convenient either way.

“Priestess, can you call for help to cleanse the curse?”

“Ye-yes! Right away!”

The four of us, myself, Azlet-san and the two knights, charge at Liselotte-san, who is clearly slower than before.

Honestly, I feel like we don’t have much time, so let’s do this quickly.

They hold the axe against the ground with shields and weapons, and I restrain her body with tentacles. With «Sword of Judgment», which does not harm the body, I cut through from left to right.

Since the body is already dead, the soul is easily caught by the sword and pulled out. Once it is, I grab the black thing that clings to the soul with my left hand, and while pulling it away, slash the connected part with the blade.

The soul and the curse have left the body, so it has fallen to the ground. The body is safely secured.

I have confirmed the black thing has been separated from Liselotte-san’s soul, so for now, cut the black stuff into pieces…. Oops, I throw the black thing away from where there is anyone else.

The black thing has gathered at a distance, in the air, and started to materialise.

“What….? Looking at that makes me feel sick…”

“It’s the power of the curse itself. I’ve already separated it from Liselotte-san. There’s no need to hesitate any longer. Let’s hit it with everything we’ve got.”

“『Alright!』”

The adventurers who were frustrated at being unable to help also come to participate in the fight, to relieve their anger.

It seems to be classified as a spirit, and when attacked, it shrinks as if part of it is being cut away.

Then, once the church group arrived, it was erased with simultaneous blasts of purification.

Of course, I evacuated the body. That’s my reason for coming!

『Thank you very much. I really can’t thank you enough….』

“Don’t worry about that. May I take the body?”

『My body…..?』

“I was wondering if you would allow me to use it with casket and necromancy.”

『Casket… Oh, I’ve heard of that. A good magician can use the body in the coffin as a base, and embody a summon?』

“That’s the magic.”

『… I’ve always helped those I could. Can you promise you won’t use my body for bad things?』

“Yes, I swear to Stellura-sama.”

『Then please make good use of it. By the way…. I like that weapon.』

“Hmm…. I understand.”

Summon the [Coffin of Dreams], use [Washing] on the corpse, then lay it in the large coffin. The clothes have been changed to burial attire. I didn’t need to change the clothes. The tattered things she wore are stored in their relevant places.

By the way, there are no wounds on the body. Did the curse heal her? It’s good that it’s undamaged.

And when I place the two-handed axe used by Liselotte-san in the place for the weapon, it is recognised as a relic.

Both relics and burial items are, in short, items and equipment that strengthen the corpse. However, the relics are things that were loved during their life. The burial items are the equipment I prepared.

By the way, the big coffin is for [Ephemeral Doll]. The small coffin can be used for other summons with [Ephemeral Radiance]

The relics and bodies are like a set, so I expect some players to investigate it.

Liselotte-san seems to be a melee attacker, so she is just right for me. I have the floating fortress for a tank, and I’m a magic attacker.

“Now, Liselotte-san. I’ll see you in the Nether. Please explain this matter over there. I’m sure you wondering, but a pure soul is not visible to most people.”

『I understand.』

After seeing off the soul, the quest has registered as complete. Good, good.

“Now I will go and hear her story, so if you are interested, please wait in the Adventurers’ Union.”

“Alright. Appreciate it…..”

“The people of the church were also very helpful.”

“No, I’m glad we could be of use.”

Using the Silver Key, off to the Nether.

Liselotte-san is probably still lined up. As I’m an arbiter I should be able to let her in, but… Is it possible to hand her over to Lana? Her soul is white, so there is no problem with her becoming a resident of the Nether.

Oh, there she is.

“Liselotte-san, we have an army in the Nether, but would you be interested in it?”

“An army?”

“An army led by Svetlana, the great southern hero.”

“Ah, that Svetlana!?”

“That’s right. Well, her main job is to keep the peace.”

She seems to be interested in both the army and Lana, so I’ll take her to the castle. I’ll make sure that Enma, who is in charge today, knows that I’m taking Liselotte-san with me. I’ll meet him when we go through the gate anyway.

“Lana”.

“Oh, Sire. Who is this?”

“This is Liselotte-san. A strong warrior who made it to level 68.”

“I-It’s an honour to meet you!”

“She’s from the Dinite Empire.”

“Hoho, I see.”

It’s going to be a long relationship anyway, so I’ll have her set aside her admiration for now so I can hear the explanation.

“Yes. This is going to be a long story…”

The remote village where she lived was attacked and she was kidnapped, when her age matched her appearance, and used as a sacrifice in a ritual ceremony.

She was saved by the knights during the ceremony, but the ritual was still activated.

While gradually fading, as the curse eroded her, she continued to work as an adventurer for the sake of others.

For just one thing. Like the knights who helped her, she wanted to be someone who could help others, so put all her will towards suppressing the curse.

However, with her spirit worn down, a gap was created and she was slain by a monster.

Then the curse was completely activated. Her damaged body was repaired, and she became a rampaging puppet that simply attacked anything in sight.

That is pretty much the summary of what I heard.

Apparently, trying to remove the curse was attempted, but it failed. Well, it was related to the soul.

By the way, her actual age is fairly high, but because of the curse, her growth had stopped.

“Such a thing. You have wonderfully strong will. You’re welcome here.”

“Then I’ll leave you to it. I’ll go explain to the adventurers.”

“Thank you very much. You saved me from killing anyone.”

“It’s our job to save souls. And from now on, yours too.”

“Yes!”

“Oh, right. Then let me give you your first job. Lana. Go to the Abyss with Liselotte-san, and see if you can find the people responsible.”

“As you will. Then we will leave at once.”

“Please pass on your findings to the Chancellor or my maid.”

Now that she’s my subordinate, should I change the way I address her? I wonder if I should go with Lise or Lotte.

Well, Lana has gone to the Abyss with Liselotte-san, so I shall return to the surface. And to the Adventurers’ Union.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I’ll explain everything now.”

“Thank you.”

And I provide a summary of what I heard earlier.

“…. I see. I….see”

“From now on, she will be part of the Nether’s army, working to maintain the peace.”

“I hope she gets along well! We’ll see each other again.”

“As long as you don’t follow a bad path and end up in the Abyss, I’m sure you can meet again.”

Moving between the Nether and Abyss is basically impossible for most.

I’ve finished my business, so I’ll check the quest….or before that, I’ll take a look at the [Coffin of Dreams]

I take an empty seat and bring up the information.

Corpse level (Before death)

Fledgling (Hero)

Relic level (Before death)

Fledgling (Legendary)

Burial items level (Before death)

Damaged (Hero)

Are the corpse level, relic level and burial item level roughly the same as the item rating? Well, I will figure it out as they level up.

What I can do is strengthen the corpse, strengthen the relic and strengthen the burial items. Since there is a distinction between the relic and the burial items, is the relic more important. Corpse > Relic > Burial items seems a good strengthening priority.

Strengthening…seems to require magic power. It seems that the needed magic power is obtained through magic stones or slaying magical creatures.

It seems like the damaged armour can be repaired, so I will fix it.

By the way, Liselotte-san was wearing a one-piece dress and corset coat with the shoulders bared. The coat is the type that doesn’t cover the front, but has a belt that fastens under the chest. She specialised in a two-handed weapon, so it would have been a hindrance if it had fluttered about too much.

The skirt stops above the knees, and the coat is long. The material of the coat is thick, so it would be considered light armour.

The colours are white and dark blue.

Now let’s try to use an orb.

Well, bring out the coffin…. and break the magic stone on it. Sorry. The coffin is rather large. It takes up a lot of space.

When I use the orb, it cracks and the leaking magic power is sucked into the casket.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m checking the magic that can be used thanks to Liselotte-san. This is not very efficient….do I have to defeat magical creatures?”

I think it’s better to use raise the AI level with «Necromantic Secrets»

In terms of magic power… I’ll start with repairing the burial items. After that, raise everything one level…from fledgling to full-fledged.

She became a hero in her own lifetime, so I hope it was worth the effort. And her relic was legendary. Legendary might be better than hero. Without other information, it’s hard to tell which is better.

For the time being, I have repaired all the damaged equipment, and everything is now full-fledged.

Oh, a message from Rina….

『Onee-chan, the defence battle is about to begin!』

Seriously.

It’s a fairly low rank event, so it’s a good opportunity to test this out.