Dark Fantasy: Magical Eye Knight – Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Gate of the Ice Realm

TL: Potato-tan

Proofreader: Asianpotato

 

White mist swirled at their feet, and white clouds drifted overhead. White darkness enveloped those walking through the gorge, both above and below. This was especially true as they walked between the tall, gray cliffs that towered on either side. It was enough to give someone who didn’t have it claustrophobia.

 

Jess shuddered and looked down at the mist that swirled around his ankles.

 

“I don’t feel any dark energy or trickery, but this is like sticking my feet in ice water. It’s so cold.”

 

Ulca spoke sullenly.

 

“I’m barefoot. Don’t rub it in.”

 

“Haha, when you put it like that, I have nothing to say. . .”

 

The mist wasn’t just mist. A thick chill permeated it. An ordinary person would have had their feet frozen in place. Hailyn, Jess, and Ulca used the power of their respective gods to dispel the chill. Russell simply circulated his mana faster and buttoned up his coat.

 

However, as they continued into the gorge, the chill intensified. It was severe, even considering that it was winter. It was definitely not a normal natural phenomenon.

 

The path was rough and filled with rocks and stones. It was definitely not an easy path for horseshoes to walk on. They had to be careful not to fall, especially since they couldn’t see the ground well because of the mist.

 

“Ack!”

 

Suddenly, Jess flailed his arms and fell flat on his back. His armor clattered loudly against the earth and stones. The sound echoed through the narrow cliffs. Jess screamed as the mist’s chill seeped through the gaps in his armor.

 

“It’s cold!”

 

“Stop whining and grab my hand, Jess.”

 

Hailyn pulled Jess to his feet. Jess stood up, grumbling, and then activated his divine power to dispel the white smoke-like chill. Jess felt around where he had fallen and rubbed his foot. It slid smoothly, as if there was no friction.

 

“There’s ice here. Was there water flowing here?”

 

Ulca replied.

 

“There was a lake above here. It was a legendary lake where the goddess of the moon, Illuna, was said to have stayed.”

 

“Past tense?”

 

“It dried up. The battle with the demons was the reason for its dryness. It’s also believed that this battle caused the gorge to expand.

 

The two Paladins looked up at the cliffs with new eyes. In a way, the gorge they were standing in looked like the trace of a giant blade that had cut down into the earth.

 

A wind blew from the depths of the gorge, brushing against their cheeks. It was a desolate and cold wind. Ulca said,

 

“They say it was a very beautiful lake. It was beautiful even during the day, but it was magnificent at night. When the silver and blue moonlight fell on the lake, the transparent stones that had accumulated at the bottom reflected it, making it look like the lake itself was emitting light.”

 

“Did your mother tell you that?”

 

Ulca glanced at Russell and nodded.

 

“Yeah.”

 

“That’s a shame. I wish it was still here.”

 

Their regret over the vanished lake came to an end with those short words.

 

It was definitely past noon by now. They walked deeper into the gorge. The path twisted and turned, and sometimes it turned sharply. The mist remained at a low elevation, only reaching their ankles.

 

The cliffs continued to rise, casting shadows over their heads that sunlight could not reach. Russell wondered if there were places in this gorge that hadn’t seen sunlight for hundreds or even thousands of years.

 

Now the sky looked like a very long line, or a string. In the gorge, they felt themselves becoming infinitely small. Nature was so vast, huge, and immense.

 

Suddenly, Russell stopped. Ulca was no longer guiding them after they reached the gorge. Russell was in the front, Hailyn was in the middle, and Ulca and Jess were in the rear. So when Russell stopped, the three behind him naturally stopped too.

 

“Russell-nim? Why are you stopping?”

 

“The wind isn’t blowing.”

 

‘No wind?’ Hailyn was shocked to discover that there was no wind blowing in this deep gorge. Originally, the wind should have flowed from top to bottom, blowing against them as it followed the cliff’s slope.

 

Even if it wasn’t a gale, there should have been at least a breeze. But now there was no airflow at all.

 

“That’s right. The wind has stopped.”

 

Just then, Russell saw something flying towards him from up ahead. He had been imbuing his eyes with mana ever since they had entered the gorge, so Russell knew what it was right away. It was a large, white wolf.

 

“Ulca!”

 

Russell called out Ulca’s name and jumped up to catch Managarmar, who was flying towards him. He was able to do so because it was smaller than what he’d seen in his dream. The power it carried was strong, so Russell flew back several meters even while holding the Managarmar, and he barely managed to land on the ground.

 

“Mom!”

 

Ulca ran towards her with a look of horror on her face. Russell was on the verge of placing her on the ground when he noticed the mist-covered surface, prompting him to address Ulca.

 

“Clear this mist away. There’s no place to put her down.”

 

“Oh, okay.”

 

“I’ll help.”

 

Soon, Ulca and the Paladins’ divine power dispelled the mist. Russell carefully placed the large wolf on the ground. The Managarmar was not in good condition. Red blood stained its once-pristine white fur in many places. The worst part was a large hole in her torso. It was gushing with blood.

 

“Mom!”

 

Ulca knelt on the cold ground and shook Managarmar. Countless tears streamed down her cheeks. The white wolf opened its eyes. As it looked at Ulca, its blue eyes curled into a smile.

 

At that moment, Managarmar’s body began to gradually turn into light. In the light, the Managarmar transformed into a beautiful silver-haired woman. The Managarmar, now transformed into a woman, looked at Ulca’s amber eyes with her blue eyes.

 

“My daughter. Deulca.”

 

“M, Mom, wait a minute. I’ll heal you.”

 

Ulca, who had been sobbing, placed her hand on Managarmar’s stomach and activated her lunar divine power. Silver and blue light flowed out of her hand.

 

However, the wound did not heal. Russell looked down at the dark energy seeping out of the gaping wound. It was preventing the wound from healing and consuming Managarmar’s body.

 

“Stop it. Don’t waste your energy.”

 

“Mom. . . . . .”

 

The Managarmar stopped Ulca and turned her head to look at the two Paladins.

 

“Children of the sun.”

 

Hailyn and Jess kneeled on one knee and bowed their heads.

 

“We greet the apostle of the moon.”

 

“Thank you for coming this far. It must have been a difficult journey.”

 

“We did not hesitate to follow the light.”

 

“That is not an easy mindset to have. May the righteous light always shine in your hearts.”

 

The Managarmar now looked at Russell.

 

“You hit my daughter’s butt without mercy.”

 

“Someone didn’t discipline her properly.”

 

She laughed clearly.

 

“I know. That’s why I applauded you. It was the first time I had seen my baby cry so pitifully, but it was also refreshing in its own way. I was like that when I was young.”

 

“You too?”

 

“Everyone has an immature past. Even those great dragons and giants would not have been wise and powerful from the beginning. Time and experience would have helped them. . . .”

 

“I’m listening.”

 

━Please take care of my daughter. I believe I can trust you and her.

 

The last words came not through her voice, but through her mana. Russell could not bring himself to refuse as he looked into her earnest eyes.

 

━For a little while.

 

━That is all I ask.

 

The Managarmar looked at Ulca one last time.

 

“There is a demon in front. I’ve suppressed it as much as I can, but the demon worshippers’ power is cunning, and it will soon break free. Kill it as quickly as you can.”

 

“Mom!”

 

Tears overflowed from Ulca’s eyes again.

 

“It’s okay. A long time ago, this was destined to happen. It came sooner than I expected, but it’s not bad even now.”

 

Ulca buried her head in her mother’s bosom. Ulca could hear her mother’s heartbeat growing faint. Managarmar raised her hand and patted Ulca on the back.

 

“My heart is with you. It has been since I first held you in my arms. You are a kind and good person. My heart will always live in you, and you will be able to hear my words.”

 

“I will?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I, I still need my mom. How can I walk alone without my mom?”

 

“Follow the goodness within you. Face the eyes that are looking at you from within, and listen to the voice that you hear. Then you will be able to find your way again. Because you are my daughter.”

 

And Managarmar smiled brightly. It was a smile as radiant as the moon.

 

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

 

On one side of the path, Ulca marked a stone with unusual patterns and letters. And she laid Managarmar’s body on it. A faint light shone from the pattern, forming a hemispherical film. This protective film was intended to shield her body.

 

With her hands, Ulca wiped the tears from her cheeks. Her exposed eyes shone fiercely.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Russell and the Paladins set off without a word.

 

They soon found a huge cave entrance at the end of the canyon. The entrance to the cave was halfway up the canyon wall, and in the middle was a man in a black robe.

 

The man’s appearance was terrible. Silver spears and chains fixed him to the wall and floor. His abdomen, thighs, and arms bore spears, while chains encircled his arms and torso. Ulca opened her eyes wide.

 

“Mother’s power.”

 

Managarmar’s power imprisoned the demon worshiper.

 

Then, the man raised his hooded head.

 

“Disgusting paladins. You’ve finally come here.”

 

A turbid voice like scraping iron. Hailyn gritted his teeth and said,

 

“You, Herokeinin! Do you remember the village of Lampas?!”

 

The man in the hood looked down at them and tilted his head slightly. Then, seemingly recalling his memory, he spoke.

 

“That little village. There were many kind people in that village. I can still see their kind faces. I remember their names, too. Mali, Haltiron, Chester. . . They’re all in me. Screaming with joy.”

 

Hailyn shivered. Jess was surprised to see him furious for the first time.

 

Herokeinin looked around with the hood down. He found Ulca and said,.

 

“Little wolf. Did you see your mother’s death? The wolf tied me here with her life. It was great, but it will soon fall apart.”

 

Herokeinin raised his arm and broke one of the chains. The rest tightened, but it seemed that they would break soon, as he said.

 

Clack! Ulca’s teeth chattered. But she didn’t curse or scream that she would kill him. She simply clenched her fists, her orange eyes blazing. Herokeinin chuckled.

 

“I’ll give you credit for not barking like a dog. Your future is now divided. Either die as miserably as your mother, or sow the seeds of a demon.”

 

“Don’t you see?”

 

Just before Ulca ran into him, Russell grabbed her by the shoulder. Herokeinin turned his head toward Russell.

 

“. . .Yes.  The unexpected variable.”

 

Russell moved like lightning, throwing the Final Frost. With Russell’s enormous strength and magic power, the axe spun around, cutting Herokein’s waist.

 

Bang!

 

The Final Frost hit the canyon wall and made a loud noise. The wall cracked and dropped pieces of stone. The cut-in-half Herokeinin hung like a doll on a string.

 

The two Paladins and Ulca opened their mouths, looking at the axe and Russell alternately. Jess finally opened his mouth.

 

“. . .Um, wasn’t it a talking scene just now?”

 

Russell said, recalling the axe.

 

“I like things to move fast.”

 

Hahahahahahaha━.

 

Suddenly, laughter was heard. Herokeinin, split into two, was the source of the sound. The upper and lower bodies slowly attached themselves. Herokeinin removed the hood to reveal his head.

 

He was bald with no hair at all, and his face was full of scars and wounds. Herokeinin smiled creepily, his mouth torn from the corner of his mouth to the bottom of his ear.

 

“Okay! Let’s go fast! Do whatever you want!”

 

Hailyn reacted angrily to the act that defied logic.

 

“The devil has already consumed him entirely. He’s not even a human anymore.”

 

(TL: We’ll change the term ‘demon’ to ‘devil’)

 

“I guess so.”

 

Russell thought that he had been dealing with guys who couldn’t die these days too much, and he held Nahilnir in his right hand. The moonlight’s runes were bright.

 

The Paladins and Ulca also prepared for battle and got into position. Ulca transformed her hands and feet into those of a wolf, pulling out long claws. She stayed there, in the faint moonlight.

 

Just before they ran, Herokeinin made a strange gesture. His stomach was rumbling, and he twisted his body several times as if he were about to vomit. Something emerged from his esophagus, which he then placed in his mouth. The devil worshipper opened his lips.

 

His teeth held a stone with geometric patterns that emitted a sky-blue light.

 

When Russell, Ulca, and Jess looked at what the bastard was doing, only Hailyn recognized the stone and exclaimed in shock.

 

“That stone! You have to stop it!”

 

“H, Hailyn-nim?”

 

Before Jess could question him, Hailyn ran out. The paladin, wrapped in holy power all over his body, jumped off the floor with a square shield in his left hand and a shining sword in his right. But before he could shoot the holy power in his sword, Herokeinin was faster to crush the stone with his teeth.

 

He whispered.

 

“Too late.”

 

Crack.

 

Unlike its seemingly hard appearance, the stone broke easily with a glass-breaking sound. Herokeinin spit out the remaining debris in front of him.

 

And a huge noise covered everyone.

 

Kaka-kakaka-kakaka━

 

Could the sound of hundreds of iron plates scratching simultaneously sound like this? Ulca, with sensitive hearing, jumped up and crouched, covering both ears completely, while Hailyn and Jess blocked their ears with their holy power. Russell also grimaced and stared at the place where the stone had broken.

 

The noise didn’t stop. It kept getting louder. Dozens of embers of smoke and magic emanated from the stone and gathered in the air.

 

Jess cursed.

 

“Hailyn-nim! What is that?!”

 

Hailyn, who failed to stop Herokeinin from breaking the stone, approached them anxiously with back steps. He shouted.

 

“It’s a dimensional stone!”

 

“A dimensional stone?!”

 

“It’s a medium that opens the door to another dimension! A rune stone!”

 

As they were screaming, Russell’s eyes were looking at something else.

 

A hollowing out occurred on one side of the world. Gravity was drawn to that point. The nearby rocks fell and disappeared into the hole.

 

Russell noticed that his ’eyes’ had opened on their own. It was the first time since he was a child that his eyes had opened without his will.

 

Eventually, the noise stopped. But that wasn’t a sign that the situation had improved.

 

The magic power flowing out of the dimensional stone distorted and twisted one point of the world, creating a hellgate. It was a gateway with sky-blue flames burning on the border and darkness filling the center.

 

Herokeinin burst into madness.

 

“There are no giants or dragons in this world anymore! The guardians have all perished and buried in the sand, and the cracks in the world were destined to happen. Now is the time to communicate only with the logic of power.”

 

‘What the hell has this bastard been talking about? I wanted to throw an axe and cut him vertically this time, but I couldn’t.’

 

The monsters began to jump out of the dimensional gate, emitting cold air.

 

A grotesque-looking monster, which seemed to be a mixture of a bear and a wolf, breathed frost from its mouth. An eyeball with feathered wings hovered in the air, while zombies with two legs walked out with ice swords and shields.

 

Hailyn shouted.

 

“The Ice Realm. . .it’s the gate of Bypfelheim! I should have thought about it when I saw the fog!”

 

“Blame yourself later.”

 

Russell regretfully put the Final Frost on his coat. The axe was humming, as if it wanted to tear the enemies apart. But he knew it was of little use against the corpses. It didn’t seem to be very good against the demons of the Ice Realm, either.

 

The demons sniffed the warm air of the new world as if it was the first time. It was easy to move their bodies. This was thanks to the chill fog full of cold air that filled the valley floor.

 

The monsters exchanged strange languages that they could understand among themselves and uttered screams of joy. Their happiness was filled with the desire to devour and tear apart the things they could not tolerate.

 

The monsters charged straight ahead. It was towards the canyon path where Russell, the Paladins, and Ulca were standing.

 

Dozens, hundreds of monsters filled the path, which was wide enough for more than ten men to stand side by side.

 

The ground made a thudding sound. The sound echoed endlessly, hitting both sides of the cliffs. Hailyn shouted loud enough to drown out all the sounds.

 

“We can’t let those monsters out of the canyon!”

 

Hailyn and Jess raised one hand at the same time and recited a prayer. Bright holy power burned like flames all over their bodies.

 

“The light will come!”

 

A huge ray of light fell from the white sky.

 

Translator’s Blog

Blog

• Kimonos, Cosplay, and Cultural Cancels: Nezuko’s Demon Slayer Saga in China
• Yo, Millennials: This TikTok Dictionary Translates Gen Z So You Don’t Sound Like a Boomer
• Will My Cat Eat Me When I Die? (The Truth Might Hurt… Your Feelings)
• Intrusive Thoughts: Pikachu vs Levi
• The Great Balls-Scratching Debate: A Smell-tastic Journey