●
“It worked!”
Elijah said that while clenching his fists.
This may be because it was a blow that appeared to anyone to be an outsider.
“…”
Instead of responding to it, we silently prepare for the ‘next’.
-!
The Jinsul of Geumsul are writhing nearby.
Balcasus’ body also remains standing without collapsing.
“…!”
And then.
Yuria, who saw the strange light coming from the camp that was not as strong as before, opened her eyes wide and stepped back.
Both Elijah and Lucien are looking in that direction with expressions of bewilderment.
“yet…”
A low voice echoed through the top floor of the ruined clock tower.
“…It’s far. “You can’t do this.”
To agree.
The bond that is placed on you is not something that can be removed just by sticking a sword in the heart.
The first limitation placed on that person was that he would die in battle in a 1:1 situation.
They say that if three people beat up one person, they won’t die.
And, maybe.
Even if I could die, I would refuse it.
If one’s life is extinguished before the constraints are satisfied, Geumsul will be bound to that body forever.
“I can’t go alone. My kingdom… not yet…!”
So, even with the fatal wound that pierced the heart.
I’m holding on desperately.
The jinn surrounding them emit light as if they are exploding. Yuria’s body bounces away with a short scream.
“…You won’t die even if you do this? “What on earth is that doing…!”
“hey.”
Elijah’s sentence, which he was about to say, was cut off with a sigh.
“Go down the clock tower. Take the saint with you. “If you don’t come down from now on, you will be swept away.”
“…yes?”
“From now on, I will do it alone.”
Not only Elijah but also Lucien’s eyes widen.
Even if you look at it, the situation in Balcasus is more serious than before. You could say it’s running wild.
If I heard that you would deal with it alone, I would react like this.
“Please stop talking crazy…! Teacher, what are you going to do by yourself…!”
“I’m not crazy.”
but.
You guys did everything you could.
By pushing that person to that point in the first place and inflicting a blow to his ‘heart’, I really did a lot for him.
This is something I could never have done on my own.
“…”
Nevertheless.
From here on, I have to do it alone.
[Activates ‘Skill: Domination of Evil’. ]
[Exercise command authority over targets ‘Elijah’ and ‘Lucien’! ]
[The subject absolutely obeys your words! ]
“go. It’s better for me to do it alone. Holy woman. Please take Yuria with you.”
“…”
“…”
Probably, if you don’t use something like this, neither of you will seem to listen to what you say.
Lucien must have heard that clearly, and after a bit of contemplation, he nods.
But, Elijah.
He is looking at me as if he had been hit in the back of the head with a hammer.
Those eyes are shaking. As if he was quite shocked.
[Subject ‘Elijah’ was very shocked by your remarks! ]
[Confidence plummets! ]
[ Negative impact is imprinted! ]
[ 3 stacks of irregular inscriptions! ]
[A significant change occurs in personality. ]
[ A change in behavior occurs! ]
[Your control over the target increases! ]
[There are rewards you can receive! ]
[Skill: Domination of Evil is activated. Gain 1 command that can be used on the target! ]
“…”
I don’t know why this thing always gets refilled every time I use the command right.
No, more than that.
The message that is floating around is a bit unusual.
Is your confidence dropping sharply?
Increased dominance?
“teacher.”
“go.”
I just say that to the guy who says that in a slightly watery voice.
Let’s worry about this later. Right now it’s Balcasus.
Only after Lucien, Yuria, and even Elijah, who continued to hesitate, disappeared down the stairs toward the bottom of the clock tower.
“…then.”
I look at Balcasus, where darkness is pouring out of my heart.
The essence of evil taken out from within is brought directly to the Soul Linker.
For Caliban, who is already inside and has served as Guardian, the highest level of Holy Knights, it must be a truly terrifying feeling.
[…hmm.]
All that could be heard from inside the amulet was a snoring sound.
[What else are you planning, are you?]
“Why are you talking like you’ve seen it before? “Normally, you just sleep all the time.”
[Even if it looks like you’re always sleeping, you’re seeing everything, dude. There is a reason for everything you do.]
okay. Then you saw it correctly.
[Would you like to combine ‘Essence of Evil’ with the item ‘Soul Linker’? ] [Y/N]
Touch Y immediately.
[ Soul Linker ] [ Exclusive Equipment ]
[ Enchantment: Epic ]
[ ‘Fragment of Hero’ fusion ] [ ‘Essence of Evil’ fusion ]
#One
[ Spirit: Caliban – Guardian, Knight of Dawn ]
[Currently charged magic power rate: 0%]
[Current synchronization rate: 12%]
[ ■ Skill: Image World ]
That message kept coming to mind, and so on.
< System Message >
[New features are added by combining ‘Essence of Evil’! ]
[Dedicated slot for evil spirits is open to Soul Linker! ]
[Only souls with evil tendencies can be added to the slot! ]
I look at that window and nod my head.
okay.
This is the only way to defeat Balcasus through ‘battle’.
“Prepare to receive a neighbor, Caliban.”
[…This guy is really crazy.]
Caliban said with a laugh.
[Are you planning to bind the soul of ‘that’?]
The sentence that even the Guardian uttered with the feeling that it was absolutely terrible was, of course, referring to Balcasus in front of him.
A hideous energy was pouring out of the hole in my chest.
There are millions of gold tassels embedded throughout the body, but it is ultimately the heart, the representative medium of gold jutsu, that controls them.
What Yuria did was open a path for me to reach there.
“…no.”
It’s not about binding you.
“I’m trying to save you.”
If it weren’t for that, things wouldn’t have gotten this far.
Check your watch.
2 minutes remaining.
“Caliban.”
[hmm?]
“Still, I’m asking because I think he might know something because he was one of the most high-quality human resources in your empire.”
[what?]
“How do you tolerate pain?”
The answer came back with a smile.
[Guts.]
“…I will never take advice from you again.”
At the same time as saying that.
[Activates ‘Skill: Proof of Faith’. ]
[All stat additions are converted to ‘Durability’ and ‘Holy Power’. ]
[Activates ‘Skill: Stigmata’. ]
Fly towards Balcasus.
-!
-!!!!
There are countless, vicious techniques being poured at me simultaneously.
Previously, the four of us were responsible for dividing the responsibility, but now I am handling it all by myself.
Even though the EX-level enhanced life of desperation is converted into durability and divine power through the skill, and even the shield is affected by it.
My whole body is rotten and crushed. The skin dies, blood vessels rupture, and muscle fibers melt and tear.
“…f*ck you…!”
Pain, like sparks flying in front of my vision, flows through my whole body. Nevertheless, ignore it and move forward. There are at most 2 minutes left. There is no time to delay.
Even in pain that felt like my whole body was being torn apart. Keep moving your body.
Pain overtakes my entire body, as if it were on fire. It feels like even the internal organs are burning.
Still, one step.
It is as if the breath is stopped in the middle of exhalation and the lungs are squeezed out. Her mouth is open, but her breathing is hollow. She can’t breathe air.
Still, one step.
I feel a terrible pressure in my chest. The muscles in my limbs don’t listen.
Still, one step.
“…”
Beyond the pain of losing consciousness again and again.
Finally.
My hand touches this person’s chest.
A soul linker that can ‘contain’ the soul.
It touches the heart, the most essential part of this person’s soul.
If Yuria hadn’t stabbed me in advance, I wouldn’t have been able to stick my hand in.
“…”
At this point, the boss battle is already over.
Just by forcibly ‘binding’ this person to the Soul Linker with the essence of evil is my victory.
It’s an epic item. No matter how bossy it is, this is possible once it touches the core of the soul. Forcibly destroying consciousness and trapping it in an item.
But, I don’t want to do that.
At least I don’t want to do that to someone I don’t think is cheap.
That’s why he said he was ‘saving’ Caliban.
“…”
so.
Prepare for the action that will follow.
온갖 제약이 덕지덕지 붙어있는 이 사람의 ‘죽음’ 조건만 봐도 알 수 있듯이, 발카서스는 애초에 전투해서 깨라고 만들어 놓은 보스가 아니다.
내가 지금까지 치룬 전투도 따지자면 이 사람의 ‘전력’에는 전혀 미치지 못 하니까.
그럼에도 최초로 이 사람과의 전투 루트를 뚫어낸 나만이 알고 있는 꼼수 하나.
이 사람에게 걸린 ‘저주’는, 내가 알고 있는 한 이 게임에서 최강의 ‘언령술사’가 내린 저주다.
하지만, 그럼에도 불구하고.
언령이란 능력의 특성 상 한계는 있다.
예를 들어.
‘구색’만 맞추면, 어떻게든 상황에 문장을 끼워맞출 수 있다는 거지.
공정한 상황에서, 전력을 다한 1:1 결투로만 죽을 수 있다는 저주라는 조건이면.
“공정한 상황에서 1:1 결투입니다, 소년왕.”
이런 식으로도 충족이 가능하단 거다.
내가 생각해낸, 게임에서는 절대 불가능했던, 유일한 이 사람의 ‘구원’ 방법.
“나도, 당신만큼 다쳤어. 당신이 느끼는 고통은 나도 그대로 느끼고 있어. 조건은 공평해.”
완전히 쉬어버린 목소리가 흘러나왔다.
이 사람과 나의 ‘부상’을 맞춤으로서, 조건을 대등하게 만들었다.
그것만으로도 언령의 첫 번째 금제를 돌파한다.
“지금 상황에서.”
그리고, 두 번째 금제.
“내가 당신의 혼을 나에게 ‘종속’시키면, 내 승리야. 패배는 그러지 못 하는 것. 대가로 내 목숨을 건다.”
전력을 다한 일대일 결투.
다만.
그 ‘방법’과 ‘장소’는, 내가 정한다.
발카서스의 심장이 검은 빛을 내뿜었다.
이 안에 깃든 언령술사의 금제가 내 말을 ‘타당하다’고 판단했다는 의미다.
결투란 거, 사실 개념적으로 별 거 아니다.
어떤 방식으로든 ‘승패’를 지정하기만 하면 그만이지.
발카서스의 윤곽조차 녹아서 흘러내리게 만들던 금술들이, 그 심장에 닿은 내 손을 거쳐서 일제히 내 몸 안쪽으로 파고들었다.
“그러니까, 결투다.”
시야가 암전되었다.
●
어둠 속의 공간을 걷는다.
익숙한 느낌이다. 이전에 덜렁이 역천사와 함께 어떤 공간에 진입했을 때 겪었던 감각이다.
여긴, 발카서스의 정신 안쪽이다.
내가 지금부터 보는 것도 나의 기억이 아니고.
“…”
첫 전투의 첫 살인이 가장 기억에 깊게 남아있는 모양이다. 가장 선명했으니까.
그 근방에서 가장 강하다고 소문이 퍼져있던 싸움꾼이었다. 눈에 마주치는 놈이라면 모두 없는 이유를 만들어 내서라도 두들겨 패던 인간 쓰레기이기도 했다.
그 소문을 듣고.
‘결투’에서 죽기 위해, 발카서스는 일부러 그에게 시비를 걸었다. 호기롭게 덤벼들던 그 남자는 금술 세 개를 체 버티지 못하고 죽었다.
다만, 소문에 포함되지 않은 건.
그가 세 살배기 딸과 젖먹이 아들을 홀몸으로 키우고 있던 사내라는 점이었다. 그들은 제 아비의 죽음을 제대로 이해조차 하지 못하는 것이 분명했다.
발카서스는 그 날, 태어나서 처음으로 구역질을 했다.
첫 살인을 통해, 자신이 앞으로 어떤 길을 걸어야 할지 직감했기 때문에.
“…”
기억들은 계속해서 이어졌다.
언령술사에 의해, 그가 불러일으킨 재앙으로 인해 금술로서 몸에 쑤셔박힌 백성들을 해방 시키기 위한 여정이 이어진다.
더 많은 강자를 찾아나선다. 더 많은 전장을 거치고, 더 많은 시체를 쌓아올린다.
수없이 많은 살인의 기억이 공간을 따라 끝도 없이 이어졌다.
마모된다. 인간성이 깎여나간다.
“…”
그럼에도, 소년은 걷는다.
많은 시간을 지나친다. 수도 없이 희망했지만 수도 없이 잃는다. 손 안에 들어오는 것은 바스러진 잿덩이뿐이라도 다시 한 번 일어선다.
무욕하고 무정한 시간 속에 전부 다 빛이 바래던 그 순간에도 포기하지 않는다.
스스로의 존재조차 잃어버릴 아득한 여정 속에서. 꺼져버린 불꽃에서 불씨를 찾는 것처럼, 시들어버릴 대로 시들어버린 스스로의 정신을 돌아보면, 자신이 존재하는 지에 대한 확신조차 희미해지는 법이라.
부서진 몸뚱이 사이에 싹피는 상실감은 어떠한 철의 의지라도 무너트릴 수 있음이라.
수 천 년을 통해 축적된 그 모든 감정을, 피부에 와닿는 모든 상념을, 전부 느끼며 전진한다.
끝도 없이 이어지는 기억들을 넘어.
마침내.
어두운 공간에 우두커니 앉아있는 소년과 마주한다.
“발카서스.”
“…”
“발카서스.”
“진짜로 제정신이 아니로군.”
그런 소리 많이 들어요.
쓴웃음을 짓고 있자니, 상대방이 머리를 쓸어넘기며 말을 이었다.
“…정신 공간은 이능으로 접촉 가능한 모든 공간 중에서도 가장 복잡하고 위험하다고 정평이 나 있는 곳이네. 그런 곳에 자발적으로 들어오다니. 차라리 물질계에서 생사결을 하는 편이 더 나았겠지.”
“그렇습니까.”
“잘못하면 내 기억 속에 휩쓸려 영원히 여길 표류하게 될 수도 있었어. 알고 들어온 건가?”
그런 설정이라는 건 알고 있었다.
그래도.
“…그냥, 얼마 전에 될 것 같아서 떠올려봤을 뿐입니다.”
이건 이전에 역천사님과 함께 정신 공간에 들어가면서, 대략적인 ‘느낌’을 파악한 이후 만들어낸 계획이다.
안쪽에서 별로 한 건 없다지만, 내 정신 공간을 한 번 들여다봄으로서 그게 어떤 방식으로 작동하는진 알 수 있었으니까.
그래서, 나는 이 안에 절대 휩쓸리지 않을거란 확신을 가지고 있었지.
“당신을 이해하고 있으니까요.”
시나리오에서 이 사람을 처음 봤을 때부터 떠올린 생각이다.
이 사람, 나랑 꽤 닮았다.
“…뭐?”
“아무리 중요한 사람들을 위해서라지만, 좆같은 일을 강제로 떠맡은 점이 그래요. 나도 그거 무슨 느낌인지 알거든?”
“…”
“물론 기간을 따지면 나보다는 당신이 훨씬 더 오래 했지만.”
발카서스가 멍한 표정으로 나를 쳐다보았지만, 나도 뭐라 설명하는 대신 쓴웃음만 흘린다.
그냥, 나도 꽤 험난한 시절이 있었다는 것만 알아줬으면 좋겠다.
“그리고.”
무엇보다도.
“외로웠잖아. 당신.”
혼자 남는다는거.
소중한 이가 모두 떠나버려, 고통만이 가득한 세상에 방치 된다는거.
무슨 느낌인지 안다. 적어도 나만큼은.
내가 눈물을 흘려줄 사람도, 날 위해 눈물을 흘려줄 사람조차 없어서.
멍하니, 텅 빈 집의 벽지조차 다 뜯어진 벽만 쳐다보아야 했던 저녁들을 기억한다.
현실에서 벗어나, 날아가고 싶은 목적지를 찾기 위해 몇 시간이고 하늘만 올려다보았던 날들을 기억한다.
이 사람이 고통에서 벗어나고 싶어 항상 석양을 구경하는 것처럼.
유일하게 소중한 이들에게 둘러 쌓여있던 마지막 시간을 추억하는 것처럼.
“So, there was something I wanted to do for you.”
It could be said to be vicarious satisfaction.
Since I couldn’t do that, there were things I wanted to give as gifts to this person.
“…I want to return my revenge.”
In the past, I gave up.
This person also put it off until a distant future in order to liberate the people of the kingdom who were bound to his body.
When I existed as a player outside of the game, I only thought about it.
Now this place is real to me. If it is a real person, it is not impossible.
“I will return my revenge.”
“You must have had something unfairly taken from you.”
mother. father. family. sibling. friend. Friend. the people.
The whole kingdom.
Everything precious that this person swore to protect.
“He’s still alive. “A sorcerer who stuffed your kingdom into your body.”
“…”
I know the pain of being taken away.
Then, at least, we can give this person back his legitimate rights.
A chance to punish those who arbitrarily took it from me.
The necromancer who cursed Balcasus appears as a boss in the latter half of the scenario.
at that time.
I, together with this man, will smash that bastard’s head.
“I give you the right to get revenge on that bastard. “I swear.”
“In return, will you make my soul subordinate to you?”
“Isn’t it a fair deal? “I promised to become your subordinate at first.”
Balcasus grinned.
“…It’s not a fair deal.”
Saying that, he stands up.
Place your hands where your heart is and kneel down.
Even as someone who is ignorant of etiquette, I understand.
“If I just accept this, the golden magic bound to my body will be immediately released and I will return to the cycle of reincarnation. “You have broken through all the prohibitions of speech.”
“…”
“Dowood Campbell. “I swear on Armada’s blood.”
This is the highest example that this boy king can express.
“My heart, my pride, my soul are all yours.”
“…”
I scratch my cheek in humility at the simple declaration.
“…I’m a terrible baron, so I don’t know what to do in times like this.”
“Is there even a need for that? “Now you are in a position where you can beckon me.”
“…”
Is this person also Caliban?
It is too easy to adapt to the fact that you have become someone else’s subordinate.
“…Rather than that, can I ask you one question?”
“What?”
Balcasus stroked his hair without saying a word.
He remained silent for a moment, but soon opened his mouth again.
“You really seem to know a lot. “I feel like there’s nothing I don’t know.”
“yes?”
“If that’s the case, I’ll ask. “Are you saying that you will bring me to that person, even though you know what hardships await you if you confront it?”
“…”
Since that necromancer is something you’re going to encounter anyway, all you have to do is take out insurance.
Balcasus will be a very useful companion.
If you subordinate that soul to the Soul Linker, all kinds of utilities will come out.
Again, this person is one of the strongest among all bosses in this game. Even if I just subordinate that soul to me, it will definitely be a huge help in clearing it.
“…Well, like an opportunist, a small citizen, and an egotist, this decision was made with the calculation that it would all benefit me.”
“no.”
Balcasus chuckled.
“The option of ignoring or passing by is always open.”
That voice continued in a meaningful way.
“If you knew so much, you could have chosen to ignore what everyone else was doing and survive on your own. It was your choice to give up on that and jump into the difficult path. “It’s true just looking at what he gave me.”
“…”
“Dowood Campbell. You just can’t see the person in front of you suffering. “I am not an opportunist, a petit bourgeois, or an egoist.”
It’s just that it’s so good that the average person’s mind can’t even understand it.
Those words echoed loudly in the dark space.
“…Even if I praise you, nothing will come out. “Now are you flattering me by saying that you and I are in a superior-subordinate relationship?”
“Uh, were you caught?”
“…”
But I feel it again.
This person is Caliban Overdose.
Even if adaptation is fast, it is too fast.
●
fantasy,
