𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟏: 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮
When I opened the heavy door that led underground, there was a bright hall illuminated by chandeliers.
Even though it was the basement of a church, the ceiling was over five meters high, and the spaciousness took my breath away.
“Is there something you all need, gathered here?”
At the far end of the hall was a stage.
On that stage, Noah-sama sat comfortably on a luxurious chair.
“Noah, your appearance. . .”
His straight silver hair was tied up as usual, and he was dressed in a black priest’s robe.
However, on his cheeks, neck, and his white hand peeking out from his sleeves, there were intertwining crimson-black patterns, resembling ominous tattoos.
“The contract mark, huh.”
Cid frowned.
“It’s unfortunate that we meet again, Cid-san.”
Noah-sama faintly smiled, holding a staff adorned with a jewel in his right hand. At a glance, it was clear that it was a cursed divine tool.
“Noah-sama. . .!”
I couldn’t take my eyes off the bizarre sight in front of me.
Because. . .
He was piling up stomach medicine on the Holy Grail and munching on it like nuts!!
“Why are you treating stomach medicine like snacks?!”
Of course, I’m curious about the cursed contract mark and the divine tool too! But piling up stomach medicine on the Holy Grail and munching on it was also quite concerning!
I don’t know where to start anymore.
As I was taken aback, Onii-sama, who was one step ahead of us, clenched his fist and spoke with a trembling voice.
“Noah. . .! I have something to ask you.”
He must want to know why his close friend caused such a situation. Onii-sama probably didn’t want to see the appearance of his friend who had changed so much.
I couldn’t see his expression from here, so I worriedly squeezed my left hand in front of my chest.
“Ethan.”
When Onii-sama looked at him, I felt like Noah-sama’s expression momentarily faltered.
However. . .Onii-sama shouted in a more dignified voice.
“Whose company is that stomach medicine from?!”
There?!
Is that the first thing you want to ask?!
Cid pulled me towards him and I almost collapsed.
Noah-sama looked straight into Onii-sama’s eyes and spoke in a low voice.
“It’s a prototype from the Gadget Company.”
Ah, he’s answered.
“We promised to share the new one together!!”
Well, I don’t really care. Making promises about stomach medicine in this situation.
I cautiously interrupted their conversation.
“Um, Noah-sama. Are you feeling alright? And why is there such a space in the basement of the church?”
His complexion was pale, and he was originally delicate, but he seemed even thinner. He didn’t look very well.
Noah-sama chuckled in response to my question.
“You’re still so kind, Viara-sama. I’m fine. Thanks to the divine instrument, my health is good.”
“Even though you’re abusing stomach medicine?”
“This is already part of my daily life.”
I see.
I won’t pursue this any further. I remained silent.
“This place, you see, is where cursed divine instruments and illegal slave trading took place.”
Noah-sama’s words changed the atmosphere between us.
“The Strand Marquis family was involved in such things behind the scenes. They let me into the church to turn a blind eye to their secret dealings. . .They were all scum.”
Noah-sama gripped his staff and narrowed his eyes with a pleased expression. His smile was too beautiful, and somehow terrifying.
“Oh, you don’t have to worry anymore. I made them pay with their lives. I should have done this sooner. Then, you wouldn’t have been taken away by that man.”
“!”
He shot a cold gaze at Cid. Cid, who was being stared at, remained calm, but my spine shivered with fear.
“Why did Noah-sama give me the apology stone, no, I mean, the gem that reveals location?”
Because of that, I almost got captured by King Henry at Fumble.
I doubted whether the intention was for battle, and Noah-sama calmly explained to me.
“It was because I wanted to be of use to you. There was no ulterior motive.”
“Then why did you tell King Henry our location?”
Prince Dimitri mentioned that he obtained information from the church.
“I wanted Viara-sama to come back, so I thought I should secure her. I never thought King Henry would be so foolish. I wanted to retrieve you and get rid of Cid-san.”
He’s gone mad.
His wild eyes continued to glare at Cid.
“Viara-sama is mine. . .I won’t let anyone have her. . .”
A sinister black mist emanated from Noah-sama’s body.
“Wait! Noah!”
“Ethan. My final wish is to disappear with the one I love. This world is too cruel, and it would be better if the country were destroyed. . .You understand, right?”
His eyes was filled with madness.
Before I could prepare myself, Cid set up barriers around us.
“To end this country and pass through the gates of the underworld with Viara-sama. That is my final wish. Please don’t interfere.”
“Noah, there are times when I also want to abandon this country and be free. Dealing with people is troublesome, His Majesty acts high and mighty, the Prime Minister and Vice Prime Minister are scary, and the Knight Commander is the same. . .There are even times when I think about killing them all with just a glance if I attend a social gathering.”
Onii-sama’s darkness runs deep.
Even Cid was nodding and agreeing. Could it be that all three of them have already fallen into darkness?
I’m the only one in this space panicking.
“But there are also important things. Viara, the people in the mansion, and you are important too.”
“Onii-sama. . .”
“Please, don’t take away my only friend. Noah, please abandon that divine artifact on your own. . .!”
Onii-sama’s persuasion caused hesitation to appear on Noah-sama’s face.
However, the cursed mist surging from within him showed no signs of subsiding.
“Ethan. . ., guu. . .ahhh!”
Noah-sama tightly gripped his staff and bent forward in pain. It was evident that his magic was being released from the contract mark, and he was nearing his limit.
It’s too late. It’s already beyond the point of persuasion; Noah-sama’s life force is too weak.
“Noah-sama!”
As I tried to rush over, Cid stopped me with his hand.
“I will destroy the divine artifact. Is that alright, Ethan-sama?”
“. . .Please.”
As soon as Onii-sama gave permission, Cid moved.
He leapt high and approached the stage in just two steps, throwing a ball of flames created from his palm towards the divine artifact Noah-sama was holding.
However, it was easily repelled by a barrier.
“Wow, seriously?”
Cid somersaulted in the air and landed right next to Noah-sama.
“Hahaha.”
Noah-sama coughed up blood and fell to his knees.
But in the next moment, He opened his eyes wide and pointed his staff at Cid.
“If it weren’t for you! If it weren’t for you, Viara-sama would. . .!”
A black mist released from the staff attacks Cid.
“Where are you aiming? Aim more accurately.”
As Cid easily dodged, Noah-sama’s frustration grew.
However, it was clear that his life would end like this.
Occasionally, when Cid narrowed his eyes in sorrow, it seemed like he pitied Noah-sama, whose life was being drained away.
“Noah-sama! Please stop!”
Unconsciously, when I tried to approach, Noah-sama aimed his staff at me, defenseless.
“Viara!”
“Vi-sama!!”
The black mist changed shape like an arrow and approached me.
“Huh?!”
As I instinctively tried to protect myself by crossing my arms, two square barriers suddenly burst with a sharp sound in front of me.
“Ah. . .”
It was a barrier that Cid had created to protect me. Surprise and relief washed over me simultaneously.
I had forgotten that I had zero defense. If Cid hadn’t protected me like that, I would have undoubtedly died instantly.
However, the one who seemed more surprised than me was Noah-sama.
“Viara-sama. . .? What have I. . .?!”
He was shocked by his attempt to kill me.
Perhaps the attack was not Noah-sama’s intention.
“Aaaah!!”
Noah-sama screamed as if he had gone mad, and a large amount of black mist was released.
And all of that mist was absorbed into the crystal on the divine staff.
――Thud. . .
Noah-sama, who collapsed on the spot, has a pale face and was unconscious.
“Noah!!”
Onii-sama rushed over and lifted his body, and he coughed up a large amount of blood again. The divine staff, which had slipped from his hand, floated in the air and began to gather the mist that was floating around.
“Step back!”
Cid stood in front of us and immediately deployed a defensive magic.
The divine staff moved on its own as if collecting the mist, creating a very eerie scene.
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