Repeat Vice - The Villainous Noble Doesn't Want to Die, So He Swore to Not Die As One of The Four Heavenly Kings - Chapter 24: The First Ancenstor’s Tomb
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- Repeat Vice - The Villainous Noble Doesn't Want to Die, So He Swore to Not Die As One of The Four Heavenly Kings
- Chapter 24: The First Ancenstor’s Tomb
Chapter 24: The First Ancenstor’s Tomb
While operating magic detection at full capacity, I run through the tomb.
Inside the tomb, it’s unclear if it’s the residual traces of the first generation’s magic, but it’s filled with a high concentration of magical elements.
Normally, magic detection wouldn’t function properly in such an environment, but that’s only for regular mages. With my level of magical power, I can brute force my way through surprisingly well.
Whether it’s walls or floors, I see through them without problem
Well, since I’m emitting high-powered magic waves over a wide range, my location inside the tomb is probably obvious even to the first generation’s familiars.
By the way, these magic waves are for detection purposes, not for intimidation, so they won’t cause others to faint.
However advanced the magic detection may be, it has the drawback that it can’t detect those without magic power.
But, this tomb is filled with high-density magical elements.
If I use magic detection, the entire tomb filled with magical elements will react faintly.
Conversely, if there are parts of the tomb that don’t react, it means there are humans without magic power there.
By the way, according to the information I obtained in the story, among the members of the “Crimson Wind,” only one of them, one of the heroines, has magical power.
With this much information, it’s easy to grasp how many people are in different parts of the tomb.
From the reaction of the magic detection, there are four people without magic power on the first floor, and one person with magical power on the fourth floor.
…Why is there only one person acting separately in this tomb?
Are they stupid? Do they want to commit suicide?
Or did they fall into a trap that divides the party?
Traps like teleportation consume the magic power of the person who triggers them.
If one person with magical power has been separated with the rest of the crew, it is likely that they were caught by such a trap.
However, on the fourth floor.
The “First Generation Tomb” is an underground tomb consisting of five floors in total.
As you descend to the lower levels, the concentration of magical elements increases, and the familiars become more powerful.
By the fourth floor, the strength of those familiars is at its highest level.
As far as I know, there are individuals with high intelligence on that floor as well.
From the reaction of the magic detection, it seems they are still alive, but it’s only a matter of time before they die.
“…Tch.”
I click my tongue and dash off.
They can die as they please, but I hope they die in a place unrelated to Laitress.
I don’t know what could lead to my demise.
Especially the death of one of the heroines of the story in Lightless’s territory is no joke.
There is a slim chance, but not zero, that someone else who has dreamed of the story might be among the forces of the protagonist, and if I abandon one of the heroines this time, they might come to kill me once they find out.
The chances of that are close to zero, but not zero.
It’s not realistic to eliminate all the factors that could lead to my future death, but I’ll do what I can.
Even if it means helping one of my most hated person from the protagonist’s faction.
I dash through the dark corridor, heading to the fourth floor.
I’ll temporarily leave behind the other members of the “Crimson Wind” without magical power.
Even though they are immortal familiars, they are still only on the first floor.
They probably won’t die right away if they are members of the “Crimson Wind.”
—————————————————————————————————-
I rush through the tomb relying on magic detection, and in an instant, I reach the fourth floor.
The first generation familiars wandering the tomb don’t lay a hand on me, as I am of Lightess’s lineage.
Therefore, without unnecessary combat, I reach my destination in the shortest possible time.
There, a girl with light brown hair is currently being dragged into the shadows by extending tendrils.
…This is cutting it close.
Tendrils lurking in the shadows.
Ancient creatures, probably of the man-eating variety.
Whether by luck or misfortune, it’s the weakest level of first generation familiars on the fourth floor.
I create the dark scythe, Dark Scythe, in my hand and cut through the tendrils.
Even though her body has regained freedom, the dazed girl’s neck is still grabbed, and she gets dragged out of the shadows.
Thin light brown hair tied behind, small stature.
There’s a hint of youthfulness, but it’s unmistakable.
“…So it’s you after all, Riruka Skyfield.”
In the battle of the Four Heavenly Kings in the story, Riruka Skyfield, like Faratiana, didn’t harbor any special malice towards me.
So I don’t have such a bad impression of her.
Well, she did attack me, so I don’t have a good impression about her either.
Riruka, slumped over, stares at me and tilts her head in confusion.
“Huh? Why my name?”
“…”
I narrow my eyes.
She seems surprisingly calm for someone who was on the brink of death just now.
Or maybe she’s just airheaded or stupid.
In any case, there’s no need for me to answer that question.
“This is a ruin of Lightless’s origin. What are you intruding here for?”
When I ask authoritatively, Riruka straightens up as if she’s regained her composure.
“Um… Ah, I’m sorry. Um, Lightless’s ruins?”
Riruka looks confused.
“Did you enter without knowing?”
“The information said it was the ruins of the Dark God…”
“Huh?”
The Dark God is one of the gods of the Hexagram religion worshipped in the kingdom.
The six gods, who are said to have been involved in the founding of the kingdom a thousand years ago, each rule over one of the six attributes of light, darkness, fire, water, wind, and earth.
The Dark God is one of these six gods.
But is this really the ruins of such a Dark God?
“I already told you, this is a ruin of Lightless’s origin. There’s no connection to the Dark God here. Where did you get such false information…”
“Ugh!? But, this was reliable information… Huh, that’s strange?”
Riruka tilts her head, puzzled.
“…Anyway, I can’t allow you to stay here. Leave immediately with your companions.”
“…Even if you say that, I don’t even know which floor this is, and there are dangerous monsters roaming around… Huh? By the way, who are you…?”
Is she only asking that question now?
Who did she think she was talking to all this time?
This girl is really clueless.
Did she notice my gaze? Riruka shrinks back as she notices my cold gaze.
“Ah! You probably thought I was stupid! You have the same look as my brother Sigil!”
Sigil… Wasn’t he the leader of the Crimson Wind?
Talking to an idiot like her is exhausting.
Thinking that, tendrils emerge from Riruka’s feet, and they all simultaneously attack me.
All of the approaching tendrils are easily blocked by my magic barrier, and in the meantime, I create a Dark Lance in my hand and deeply pierce the man-eating ancient creatures.
“I’ve defeated them, so hurry up and leave.”
I urge her to leave in a commanding tone.
“Ah… Umm… Thank you…”
Riruka nods hesitantly and disappears into the depths of the tomb.
Even though I saved her, I don’t feel any sense of accomplishment from it.
Saving someone I don’t even care about… what a waste of time.
I shrug off the tendrils still clinging to my arm and mutter to myself.
“…Now then, how will I deal with the intruders?”
Suddenly, when I look at Riruka, she’s still sitting there.
With her mouth wide open, she gazes up at me.
“You… you seem to be at a loss…”
I mutter in exasperation, and Riruka smiles awkwardly.
“Run away… just you… because, you know, you’d easily take care of those monsters… oh, how embarrassing…”
Riruka tries to stand up, but her legs give out, and she staggers, leaning on me for support.
Startled, Riruka moves away in a panic.
“Ah, sorry. Really, I didn’t mean to do that on purpose! My feet just got tangled up…”
With an awkward smile, Riruka struggles to put strength into her legs, causing her to wobble.
This isn’t a case of being at a loss.
Most likely, Riruka also got hit by the high-density magic waves I directed at the rag doll-like figure from up close.
Is it magic drunkenness? Then it’ll take some time for her to recover.
I click my tongue and lift Riruka up with my right hand, strengthened by magic, and carry her on my shoulder.
“Eh… W-what!?!”
Riruka protests as I pick her up.
“Don’t make any noise.”
“W-Wait, no, this is not okay! I mean, I’m heavy!”
“I told you not to make noise.”
Ignoring Riruka’s protests, I start running.
“Eh, w-what!?”
Riruka screams as I sprint through the corridor with the force of my magic-enhanced strength.
She’s too noisy.
If I don’t hurry, there’s a chance the other members of the Crimson Wind might all perish.
This is no time to dawdle.
After Riruka finishes her yelling, she catches her breath and speaks.
“Um, excuse me! It’s okay that you’re carrying me, but this position is a bit embarrassing, you know!?”
Blushing, Riruka shouts.
Embarrassing?
When I look, indeed, if I turn slightly to the side, Riruka’s butt is right there.
Given that I’m carrying her on my shoulder, this position is inevitable.
Or perhaps, is she embarrassed by the exposed thigh peeking out from her hot pants?
“Endure it. It’s your fault for being in this state.”
“N-No, it’s just easier to move like this!”
“I don’t care. Rest assured, I’m not interested in someone like you.”
“I-I’m not…!? Also, I’m probably the same age as you, right!? And, wouldn’t a princess carry be better, or something like that?”
Riruka makes a ridiculous request.
“That’s impossible.”
“Impossible, why…?”
Suddenly, Riruka notices my left arm peeking out from my fluttering coat.
My left arm, missing from the elbow down.
“You, your left hand… oh, sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing? There’s no need for you to apologize to me.”
“Uh, yeah. But, sorry.”
Riruka ignores my disdainful reaction and continues talking excitedly.
“H-hey, can you tell me your name?”
“I don’t have a name for a grave robber.”
“I’m not a grave robber! I’m an air pirate! A treasure hunter!”
“I don’t care. We’re both lawbreakers, so don’t talk to me.”
“But I haven’t heard your name yet!”
“A lawbreaker like me doesn’t need a name.”
“But earlier, you said you’d help me…”
“I intended to, but it wouldn’t be good for the Lightless family if information about this ruin leaked out.”
Riruka looks nervous.
“You said that this is a ruin of Lightless’s origin, so are you perhaps related to the Lightless family?”
“…”
I’m not particularly trying to hide my identity.
However, it seems this girl, despite being stupid, has a strangely good intuition.
Moreover, if the information about this place spreads outside, it would cause trouble for the Lightless family.
“Part of the deal is that you won’t tell anyone about this place, right?”
“It is your true intention, isn’t it? But, there’s no guarantee that it will be kept secret forever.”
Riruka looks terrified.
“I won’t tell anyone! I promise I won’t tell anyone!”
With a trembling voice, Riruka opens up.
“But… I’ll do anything. So… if that’s the case, I’m fine already, but I want you to at least help my friends… please…”
Riruka pleads for her friends’ lives, not her own.