Chapter 805

Chapter 805: The Last Day (2)

[Agent of the Stars]. This was a power that Sven Parav gained during an ‘awakening’-like event, when he stayed behind in the burning temple ready to die while helping others escape. After various experiments, the conclusion was that the now-awakened Sven Parav had gained the ‘Perfection’ bonus that was exclusive to saints. Although, he was never able to figure out what skill [Agent of the Stars] actually does.

So, what could be the activation conditions?

It was a skill that I’d never seen during my many hours of playing the game, and moreover, it was a power bestowed directly by a god. Since it certainly should be an ability that will be of great help on our journey going forward, he had attempted all sorts of things in the city to figure out its activation condition, but to no avail. Thinking it might only be usable in the labyrinth, he tried to use it after entering, however that wasn’t the condition either.

But……

“It suddenly activated……?”

[Agent of the Stars] had activated. As proof, Sven Parav’s body was radiating a brilliant silver light……

“Fufufu.”

He even spoke. Just like this.

“It’s been a while, Bjorn Yandel.”

Though their voice was the same, their way of speaking felt completely different from Sven Parav.

“To think I would see you giving up. I unintentionally witnessed quite a surprising scene.”

The gesture of covering their mouth, their flirtatious posture, and their gentle expression.

“Well, even heroes have moments when they break down. You’ve been through a lot.”

All those subtle details combined to give an unconsciously feminine impression, and when combined with Sven Parav being a ‘paladin’, all these clues pointed to one possibility.

“Could it be… Reatlas?”

Instead of answering my question, Sven Parav covered his mouth and let out a laugh.

“Fufu……?”

That way of laughing was answer enough. Though I couldn’t understand how, Reatlas had possessed Sven Parav’s body.

Was it a Descent-type skill……?

But if that’s the case, something seems odd. Even in the game, when you converted a character to a saint and used ‘Descent’, you could only borrow divine powers to use, not have a god directly possess the body like this.

‘…Maybe that isn’t what’s important right now?’

While several questions arose, I decided first to address the one I was most curious about.

“Can you resolve this situation right now?”

Was there really a way for us to survive? Sven Parav… No, Reatlas answered that question with a bright smile.

“Who knows?”

…Huh?

“If I couldn’t, I wouldn’t have come, right?”

Ahh…… My heart can’t take this.

“I can’t do much. But still the situation isn’t too bad.”

The moment those words ended, the Sniktura having just finished its one-minute cooldown, rose with a terrible roar.

And……

“Ha!”

Reatlas immediately raised their palm and let out a somewhat childish shout.

Shwaaaaaaa-!

A thick translucent barrier of silver light formed between us and the Sniktura.

Baaaang-!

The Sniktura rammed its body into the barrier as if testing what it was, but the barrier held firm.

Reatlas (Sven Parav), who had casually performed the miracle of containing a rank 1 monster, shrugged their shoulders, turned around to look at us and winked.

“How long can you hold it?”

“Long enough to save your lives.”

[Kyaaaaaah—!!]

The Sniktura shrieked in frustration, but there was no longer any reason to continue paying attention to it. Because for some reason, something even greater than a rank 1 monster had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

“A-Are you really Goddess Reatlas…? I-Is this real?”

“Fufu……?”

“U-Unbelievable… May the Twilight Star guide us……”

The members were busy making the sign of the cross, not knowing how they should react to the miracle manifested before them. However, among them was one who showed hostility. It was none other than Beleg, who had awoken after receiving treatment.

“Are you really… Reatlas……?”

Reatlas gave no answer to his question. But perhaps everything shown until now had been answer enough. Regardless of whether an answer came or not, Beleg continued his questions.

“…Why? Why did that child have to die? Was that the fate you decided?”

Again, Reatlas didn’t answer. She just looked at him with somewhat pitiful eyes. But perhaps that emotion in her gaze only further provoked his anger.

“Tell me……! If you truly are the goddess who governs fate……! Tell me now!”

Beleg, growing more agitated, continued his tirade, but his words never reached their conclusion. Well, if his anger had just been verbal, then it might have been different.

Bang-!

He suddenly lunged forward with an outstretched arm as if he was about to pounce.

“Ugh……!”

The one who stopped Beleg and forced him to the ground wasn’t me but Kaislan.

“…Don’t be disrespectful. All our lives depend on that person’s will.”

“……”

“I understand you have many questions. I too have lost someone. But you know that she isn’t the one to blame for this, don’t you?”

“……”

“Then I’ll take your understanding as given and release you, so please don’t act rashly. Understood?”

“……”

Though Kaislan released his hold, Beleg didn’t try to get up from where he was pushed down. He just stared into space with vacant eyes.

It would be a lie to say his appearance didn’t me make feel sorry for him, but……

‘Whether it’s Descent or whatever, with this level of power, it probably won’t last long.’

The moment this situation is resolved, Reatlas will likely leave Sven Parav’s body. Before that happened, I needed answers.

Among the many things I wanted to ask, I asked this first.

“What is the activation condition for this power?”

“B-Bjorn!! H-H-How could you speak to G-Goddess Reatlas th-that way……!!”

What is he even talking about?

“Don’t mind him, just answer.”

“…Do you really want to know? Even if it might be better not to know?”

If it was someone else saying this it would be one thing… But when goddess, especially one related to ‘fate’, says something like that, it sounds ominously significant.

But……

“……Even so, I want to know.”

If ignorance is medicine, then it’s just a painkiller. It only postpones a moment of pain, it doesn’t solve anything.

“If that is your choice.”

Then, Reatlas spoke.

“This power allowing me to intervene in the real world only activates when Sven Parav is destined to die with absolute certainty.”

I was left speechless.

…To think that was the condition. No wonder it wouldn’t activate no matter what he tried in the city.

“But why would it have been better not to know?”

“Because the moment Sven Parav becomes aware of this condition, using this power will become dozens of times more difficult.”

“……What?”

“My time is limited so it’s difficult to explain properly…… Simply put, the moment he precisely understands the condition, he’ll come to rely on this power. When that happens, two fates will coexist, and I cannot intervene with a fate that is not yet certain.”

No, even with that explanation, I don’t understand at all. Perhaps my confusion was evident from my expression.

“Fufu, that’s why I told you. That it would be difficult to explain.”

“……”

“If it’s hard to understand, just memorize this. As I said earlier, the moment Sven Parav becomes aware of the condition, using this power becomes dozens of times more difficult. Understand?”

“I’ve memorized it.”

“Good, good……”

Reatlas smiled as though talking to a child. Seeing such a gesture coming from Sven Parav’s body gave me a sense of cognitive dissonance……

Anyway.

“More importantly, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“……?”

“Fate is called fate because it inevitably arrives.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“At this very moment, Sven Parav has altered his fate. As a result, several others who were fated to die today will live.”

“……So? Go ahead, speak plainly.”

“The fate avoided today will inevitably come for you all again.”

“…Are you saying that we only delayed the inevitable and everyone will still die in the end?”

“Well, why do you think it would be everyone?”

“……”

“Bjorn Yandel, even if I weren’t here, you wouldn’t have fallen here today. Though you faltered momentarily, you would have eventually gathered your will and struggled until the very end.”

“So… What are you trying to say?”

Reatlas’s lips curled into a complex smile, but she said nothing further. Instead, her voice resonated in my mind.

[Seven people.]

“……?”

[Remember this. Bjorn Yandel, seven people avoided the fate of death here today, and sooner or later, that fate will find them again.]

[So nurture him well. Among all humans, he resembles me the most.]

[Who knows. If he grows and grows until he truly achieves a certain ‘level’……]

[He might change not only his own fate but the fates of others as well.]

With those words, Reatlas’s physical voice returned.

“Well then, I suppose this is the end.”

“The end?”

“Fufu, until we meet again.”

With that somewhat abrupt farewell, Sven Parav’s body collapsed limply onto the ground.

‘It hasn’t even been 3 minutes?’

It would take over 2 more minutes for the Sniktura to die.

And……

Bang-!

Unlike before when it didn’t budge at all, cracks spread across the barrier every time the Sniktura slammed it’s body into it.

Bang-!

Judging by the speed and size of the cracks, it seemed like it would shatter completely after four or five more hits……

‘But is she just leaving us like this?’

Earlier when asked how long she could hold it, Reatlas clearly answered it would be enough for all of us to survive. But what’s this? Was what she said earlier just a lie?

As such blasphemous thoughts crossed my mind.

Creeeeeeeak-!

The door that Arta had shut suddenly opened, and through the speaker that should have been broken, came a familiar voice. Even though it was distorted with mechanical noise.

[Ah, ah… C-Can you hear me?]

“Auyen……?”

[H-Hurry, get out of there!]

Understanding the whole situation with those words, I felt the strength suddenly drain from my body.

I see, so this is how it was meant to be……

***

The moment we all left the laboratory, carrying the collapsed Sven Parav.

Crash-!

The Sniktura, having finally shattered the barrier, lunged at us.

Thuuuud-!

The door barely closed just in time, blocking the Sniktura.

Thuud-!

Though the sound of the Sniktura ramming its head into the door continued, seeing how the door itself was completely unaffected, it seems like we could finally relax.

[Whew……! I’m glad I wasn’t too late!]

Following the voice, I quickly looked up and asked.

“Auyen, what’s going on here?”

How was Auyen, who we’d left upstairs instead of taking into the boss room, talking to us through the speaker?

“Don’t tell me you got into the control room?”

[I-I’m not sure if this is the control room, but……]

“Can you see the inside of the lab through the device there?”

[Yes! I can see!]

Then it must be the control room, but how did he get in there? The explanation was surprisingly simple.

[As you said, I was waiting upstairs, but suddenly all the doors around started opening and closing repeatedly. So thinking something had gone wrong, I came in through an open door.]

It seemed we had caused enough damage inside the lab for the devices upstairs to malfunction. Well, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible. Originally, we would’ve been able to enter the control room after defeating Arta.

[But when I came in here, I could see the situation inside. After I heard Captain say to open the door, I started fiddling with various devices and then the door opened, and a voice came through!]

A series of completely unexpected coincidences. However, I couldn’t possibly call this mere coincidence.

‘I see, so this is how it was meant to be……’

Even without [Agent of the Stars], things probably would have turned out like this. We would have continued our desperate battle. As Reatlas said, it would have been a fate where ‘seven people’ died before the door finally opened, allowing us to barely escaped this damned laboratory.

Thuuuuud-!

As I unconsciously turned my head at the vibration coming through the wall again, another voice came through the speaker.

[It’s still rampaging inside. Sh-Should you perhaps come up here?]

“No, it’ll be fine.”

[Okay… Should I come down then?]

“No, stay there for now.”

[Understood.]

Even after the conversation ended, the vibrations of the door being slammed into continued periodically.

Thuuud-!

Thud-!

Thuuuud-!

How much time passed like this? At some point, the vibrations became much shorter and more intense……

“……”

“……”

And then, the vibrations stopped entirely.

Was it finally dead?

I didn’t need to wonder for long. After all, when a rank 1 monster is defeated you can clearly feel the experience increase.

[You have defeated a Sniktura. EXP +9]

The Sniktura was dead.

[…I-It’s fallen, Captain!]

With the second confirmation given, there was no room for doubt. Despite everything, we’d succeeded in defeating a rank 1 monster without any casualties……

‘The essence.’

I almost asked if the essence had dropped, but barely managed to hold back.

“Auyen, open the door.”

Yeah, this is something I need to confirm with my own eyes.