Chapter 27: Purifier

"…Do! Dowd! Are you okay!"

I hear a voice calling me like that amidst my faint consciousness.

Then I could feel a hand pulling me out from the rubble of the collapsed building.

Dust and broken debris tumble from my body.

"…Elnore?"

As I was dragged out, I met eyes with Elnore, who was looking at me with a worried look.

"You…!"

Elnore's eyes shook as she fully confirmed my condition.

I'm probably pretty injured.

Well, I was helplessly crushed by a collapsed building.

"…"

This is what happens when the skill doesn't activate. 

As I confirmed before in the mock dungeon, the skill would only react to attacks that are 'hostile.'

If it was simply a building collapsing due to the aftermath of the impact, then Dowd Campbell's F stats will remain as is. 

'Fractures, concussion, dislocated joints…'

My vision was shaky as I feel warm liquid flowing down my face. I was dizzy and uncomfortable.

"…Huu."

Right. This is how it goes. 

An insect-like existence's life, whose stats are all F, is as fragile as a candle in the wind. There's simply no other way around it. 

〚…This is amazing.〛

With quivering eyes, I stared up at the sky where a mutated Marquis Riverback floated. 

The Devil's Essence that he swallowed earlier is now lodged in the middle of his chest, pulsating like a heart.

With demonic energy wrapping around his body like armor, he was already too far gone from being human.

An abomination.

There is no other way to put it.

〚When the Prophet gave me this, I wondered if there would even be a situation where I would use this.〛

He grinned as he looked down at me and Elnore.

〚I'll admit it. You were more troublesome than I thought. 〛

Then, he flew up to a higher altitude.

〚However, will you be able to handle this?〛

Yeah.

I wonder about that too, you btch.

'…Straight from the first chapter.'

I can't believe this worldly bullsht. 

Looking at Marquis River back swiftly flying away, I inwardly sighed. It's a speed that I didn't even try to think of catching up to.

Originally, the 'corrupted power' that Marquis Riverback would have used is generally like a devil by-product.

It's a power that humans have researched and crudely mimicked. 

On the other hand, the 'Devil's Essence'... 

They are items that contain the 'remnants' of the devil. Using it will turn one into a demon, able to wield a very small portion of their power. 

For example.

-!

-!!!

Elnore's expression hardened upon seeing 'things' suddenly rising from the fallen debris. 

Without a semblance of their human form, a 'thing' couldn't be more apt in describing their grotesque shapes. They're but amalgamations of melted flesh.

Their screeches, like metal scraping, clearly indicated their hostility to every living being nearby. 

"Hii, hiik!"

"What is that…!"

Curious about the sudden collapse of a building, people naturally started to gather to get a whiff of the large-scale incident. However, they immediately bolted away after seeing these freaks of nature. 

'…This is not good.'

The spread of demonic energy will spawn creatures similar to those in Pandemonium, the devil's home. 

And these? These are the same devil worshipers that Elnore had cut down earlier.

Under the influence of Marquis Riverback, who turned into a demon, they transformed into 'Man Eaters', the bottom dwellers of the Pandemonium.

Other than their threatening combat power, what's more troublesome was that any human they killed will also turn into a Man Eater.

It's a chain reaction, like a zombie apocalypse.

To make matters worse, they were in the middle of a busy shopping district, and the area was packed with people who had come for the Full Moon Festival. 

It was the worst place at the worst time.

[ Main Quest ]〖 Chapter 1 – Purifier 〗

[ Defeat the 'Purifier'! ]

[ It's game over if there's too many casualties!! ]

[ Reward: 1 Evil Essence ]

[ Reward: 1 Hero Fragment ]

[ Reward: 5,000pt ]

And once again, the system did not disappoint, as a damned quest appeared right in front of my eyes.

Reducing the number of casualties here is not a joke.

-!

-!!

Right after the Man Eaters mutated, a lightning-like blow suddenly shut their mouths.

It was a textbook strike using a spear. Several Man Eaters who tried to stand up were pierced and got sent flying.

"Hyeong-nim! What the hell is this…!"

Wiping the blood on my forehead, I saw Tallion running towards me from a distance. 

Did this guy make that strike?

"I heard a commotion and came to see what's going on! What are those monsters, and Marquis Riverback...!"

This is nice to see. 

Originally, at this point, this guy should have become corrupted and turned into something similar to that. 

"If you were still wearing the necklace, you would have turned into something like that."

"…Yes?"

Instead of answering, I simply pointed my finger at one of the Man Eaters.

The evil energy emanating from the House of Purification's necklace, that's still hanging around its neck, is clearly visible to anyone. 

Normally, it would just end with them losing a bit of their sanity. But now, they've completely crossed a river of no return as they've transformed into a Man Eater. 

Seeing this, Tallion's eyes widened.

"…This."

His expression rapidly changed by the second.

He's probably quickly organizing the current situation in his head.

"I just want to confirm one thing."

"What is it?"

"...Did Marquis Riverback lead this incident?"

He had dropped the honorifics. He may be asking a question, but he already seemed half-convinced. 

He was probably told to 'make sure to wear the necklace' several times on a regular basis.

I smiled at the anger in Tallion's eyes. 

Well, he ain't no npc. 

As someone designed to be Elijah's rival, his ability to judge and act in an emergency could not be compared to ordinary students.

"We can discuss responsibility and mistakes later. For now, if we don't deal with that, this place will become hell."

He somehow stabalized his shaky gaze and aptly conveyed.

I have gained his 'trust' by making him take off the necklace.

And now, it's time to reap this advantage.

"Listen to me carefully. If you make even one mistake, it's over."

I proceeded to give him instructions.

At first, he was listening to me with a serious expression, then it changed to absurdity, and in the end, he was looking at me like he was looking at a madman.

"…That, is that even possible?"

"Yes."

It has to. 

I didn't run around everywhere for nothing.

If you can't do that much, it's the end. 

"Then, what about Hyeong-nim…?"

"I'm going to take care of something else."

'I have two goals.'

The first is to prevent civilian casualties in the area.

The Man Eaters are still sluggish right now, but as time passes and the demonic energy grows thicker, they will become faster and stronger.

Most of the 'instructions' I just gave Tallion were just to block them.

And the second goal is... 

"We need to cut the root."

We need to eliminate Marquis Riverback, the source of the demonic energy.

That's what I'm going to do. 

"Do you know where he went?"

Elnore asked in a low voice.

She's probably asking how we could chase after someone flying that fast. 

"Yes, well. I have my guess."

Should I say that I have an idea?

Actually, there is only one.

I can't make mistakes.

Merchants are quick-witted.

If you ask why Marquis Galdier Riverback became a devil worshiper, that would be the most fundamental answer.

He had risen from a mere black market merchant to the position of a Viscount, enjoying wealth and honor that he could never have imagined before. And all that was just by joining the 'winning' side. 

'Their power reaches every corner of the continent.'

A devil 'follower's' power is formidable, without question. 

Among them, the power of the 'Chosen Ones', who are the closest to the Prophet, could literally boil the sea, crack the earth and split the heavens.

Compared to them, he was but an insect crawling under their soles. The reason he survived for so long was because he always reminded himself of that fact.

Thus, after confirming it himself, he decided to stand on their side without hesitation.

It's probably because of the quick thinking unique to merchants, but he can infer that no one on the continent could dare stand against them. 

At this very moment, Marquis River back could never be more confident that he picked right. 

〚Huuu…〛

An almighty sigh escaped his mouth.

An overwhelming amount of demonic energy coursed through his body.

So much so that he could crush weak beings just by pressure alone.

This was the power he gained just by accepting a little of the 'new god's' grace. 

〚At this level…〛

Carrying out the mission would be a breeze.

To resurrect the devil, he needed to bring despair and confusion everywhere. 

Kill a man, kill a couple, and then, simply continue piling up the corpses. 

He can start with that.

He happens to be just in the right place for that. 

〚Go.〛

He muttered as he reached his hand out to the 'barrier' in front of him.

It was the one near the Void Zone, said to have been set up by a seraphim.

Normally, this place would be heavily guarded. Let alone, breaking through it, he wouldn't even be able to damage it.

But since it's the Full Moon Festival, it was easy. Not to mention that he now possesses the devil's power.

Even if he still couldn't break it, he could put a dent on it. 

Considering the special nature of the Void Zone, this alone would lead to an unimaginable disasters. 

'…This is ultimately the key.'

The riots going on in the city right now are nothing more than a smoke screen distraction.

Probably all available armed forces are concentrated there.

Meanwhile, his real goal is here.

"Hey, stop moving."

Unfortunately.

Not everyone was stupid.

●

〚...How did you know?〛

Marquis Riverback, who was trying to damage the barrier, stiffly asked. 

"Like I said earlier. It's obvious."

Marquis Riverback, should I say...?

He's a single-celled organism who thinks he's smart.

The type who want to feel superiority above others, and worming his way with 'deceit'.

'…Is he an idiot?'

To be honest, I don't think there's anything more inefficient than this.

If he just controlled the Man Eaters to push through here, the barrier would've been damaged. 

"…"

However, thanks to his ego of going himself, an opportunity like this arose.

I will pierce through that vanity and conceit. 

So I started organising a plan.

If there were Man Eaters standing in my way, I wouldn't even dream of a situation like this, but now he's alone.

"So, Dear."

I've realized that one of Elnore's greatest strengths is her endless physical abilities.

She carried me and moved through the streets while still being so fast, especially since I'm so badly injured that even moving is difficult. 

"What's the plan?"

Elnore asked, after accepting my request of bringing me here without hesitation.

I could see unwavering trust reflected in her eyes. 

"There must be a reason why we decided to drop all support and come here with just us two."

"Well, yes?"

It's because we are hard pressed in time. 

There is no time to call for others. If that guy makes even a slight crack in the barrier, it's game over. 

People will die, Elnore will be kidnapped, and the Gray Devil will be unleashed. 

It's a one way ticket to a bad ending. 

Rather than that, it's better if we came here first to put a pause to everything, then we can come to a decision.

"Okay, so how do we beat him…"

"We can't."

Elnore's eyes narrowed.

"…What?"

"We can't win against him. Never."

This was the truth.

To confront a demon, Elijah needed a 'Holy Sword' to stand on equal grounds.

But that's something that will come, at least, only after Chapter 4. She's still in her growth stage. 

In other words, her counterpart in the novel would be no different.

Even as the final boss, a budding Elnore and me who's seriously injured, simply cannot match against the transformed Marquis Riverback. 

"…"

However.

It's not the end of the world just yet. 

–You've been bitten by something terrible. I can't see its full form yet, but I can tell it's bad. It seems to have stuck because of your abilities

I suddenly remember those words. The angel has warned me this before.

Yeah. I know.

I am aware of what's 'stuck to me' means to some extent.

[ The target '???' is interested in you. ]

I smirked as I read the system log.

And this too...

< Gift-related Character Notification >

♥ Elnore Elinalise La Tristan

[ Love Level 1]

[ 'Skill Copy Ticket' is available! ]

The last reason is this.

The 'Love Level 1' and Skill Copy Ticket.

With this, even against an enemy that we can never beat at our current level, we'd have a fighting chance. 

While I was in my thoughts, Marquis Riverback sighed and raised his demonic energy.

〚…Well, no matter. 〛

A reverberation of demonic energy began to brew like a storm around him. 

It was so potent and dense that if you let your mind slip for even a little, you'll faint.

What's absurd is that this isn't even the full release of demonic energy – it's but a 'prelude' to the attack.

〚 I just need to kill you and secure Princess Tristan. This is actually better. Since you've served yourselves up in your own accord, you've saved me the trouble of searching. 〛

From this point on, we will fight this guy. 

Taking a deep breath, I said to Elnore. 

"Elnore, promise me one thing."

"Yes?"

"It's going to be painful. It'll be excruciating. You might even hate me…"

"What are you talking about?"

At first glance, it might sound like an impatient request to get to the point, but...

If someone were to meet that straightforward gaze, they would give a slightly different response.

Whatever you say is fine.

I've already accepted it, so don't worry and tell me.

That's what it means.

"…"

I couldn't help but laugh at myself. 

It was always like this.

The level of trust this person places in me is unbelievable. 

That's why, I must live up to that trust.

"No matter what happens. Without fail."

I replied with direct eye contact.

"I will get us out of here alive, okay?"

"Hmm, okay."

"So."

I looked away from Elnore and turned to Marquis Riverback.

"Whatever happens, please trust me."

Uh. Really.

What I'm about to do is insane.

As I thought so, Marquis Riverback rushed towards us like a raging tsunami.