Chapter – 58
“Uh….”
<Upss…?>
A puff of steam erupted, and Helberos flattened like a pancake.
Gasp. This was how Hellfire would look during its grand wailing!
<Ailet, you’re cute, but let’s give you something, okay?>
The problem was deciding what to give. As I racked my brain,
<That’s unfair, Farmer… You forgot to give Helberos a present…>
“No, no, I didn’t! I have one!”
<Really?!>
“Yes, really. Just wait a moment.”
I was able to think of something to give in time. I rummaged through my satchel and pulled something out that had been tucked away in a corner.
Ta-dah!
A heart-shaped, burning ruby appeared.
It was the item obtained from defeating the Flame Dragon on the 273rd floor: the Flame Dragon’s heart.
“Here.”
Since it was the same fire element, I figured it would be roughly fine. I held it out cautiously and watched Helberos’ reaction.
<…!>
The glow in Helberos’ flames intensified.
<Th-this…!>
“Do you recognize it?”
<Flame Dragon! The Flame Dragon’s heart! If I eat this, Helberos will become stronger! Is this really for Helberos?!>
“Yes. It’s for you.”
<No, Farmer…!>
“Yes.”
<Farmer is the best! Farmer, I love you!>
Flare!
That day, I saw Helberos explode into the air like fireworks for the first time. It must be the reaction when it’s genuinely happy.
Returning to its usual form, Helberos swallowed the Flame Dragon’s heart.
The flames grew larger with a whoosh, releasing a cloud of smoke.
<Burp—>
“How is it? Can you feel the dragon’s energy rising?”
<Uh… not really yet. Helberos will probably take a long time to digest this…>
“Looks like you overate.”
<Yeah… Helberos is too sleepy and needs to rest… Sorry, Farmer… can’t put out the fire…>
“That’s fine. Sleep well.”
I scooped Helberos with a shovel and carried it to the hearth.
“Well, I’ll be going. Thanks for everything.”
Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!
The skeletons saw me off as I left the dungeon.
With my errands done, it was time to return to my original schedule.
“Shall we go, Agnes?”
[<System> Move to ‘Trial Tower, 276th Floor Entrance’?]
It was time to challenge the next boss.
Creak—the arched iron gate opened, revealing a new environment.
Rumble!
A black volcano roared as red-and-black eruptions shot into the sky, raining down across the field.
I protected myself with a barrier and kept my eyes on the volcano.
The middle of the volcano had a large hole. Soon, a creature emerged from it: a reptile with golden bat-like wings.
[<System> Trial Tower, 276th Floor Boss, ‘Greedy Dragon Lord Empyreum’ has appeared!]
<RAAAHH!>
The terrifying roar shook the air around it. Agnes and I, however, were unbothered.
<These dragon things always start with shrieking. How tedious.>
“Just hang in there a bit. Since this boss is called a ‘Lord,’ if we defeat it, the Dragon Lord series might finally end.”
The Dragon Lord spotted me. Its vertically slit eyes glimmered with greed.
<Foolish human, you’ve come of your own volition to increase Empyreum’s collection! Hand over all your treasures, and I might spare your life!>
“What is it even saying?”
I was taken aback but noticed something odd.
Treasure—gold and valuables—were falling from the large hole where the dragon’s massive lower body was buried.
Ah, that hole must be the “rare drop” spot. The dragon collected its treasures there.
<So it has a cute squirrel-like hobby.>
“Indeed.”
At that moment, a much-anticipated message popped up.
[<System> Trial Tower Guerrilla Event Quest has appeared.]
[<Quest> ‘Dragon Lord Slayer (Difficulty: S)’
A special event prepared for those unlucky with items! Defeat the boss as usual and loot its treasure.
Reward: Choose 1 item from the boss’s rare drops.]
A “choice of 1 item from the boss’s rare drops”? That means…
“Exquisite sword!”
<Whoa! Why are you suddenly shouting?>
“Agnes, surely there must be at least one exquisite sword in the dragon lord’s treasure hoard that I like.”
<Oh, that makes sense. After all, it’s the treasure vault of a Dragon Lord—they’d have collected famous swords.>
“Excellent!”
My eyes burned with determination, and my training sword flared with aura.
“Let’s go!”
I stomped the ground with both legs, ready to strike.
✠
While Ailet trained in seclusion at the Trial Tower, Tesilid fulfilled his duty as a Saint Mark.
This time, the Saint Mark was dispatched to one of the major cities in the church territory: Eltorini. A wealthy coastal city.
An S-rank dungeon sink occurred there. Normally, it would have claimed hundreds of lives, but Eltorini was fortunate.
The dungeon was named ‘Sky Fortress of the Fallen Heaven.’
Since the main stage was the sky, the sinkhole formed several kilometers above ground, sparing the city from direct damage.
Merchants rejoiced, believing it was thanks to their frequent offerings.
Though the city escaped disaster, the hunt had to proceed.
The massive sinkhole in the sky remained open, unable to draw in prey. Through the eerie gap, the grotesque violet sky and the black celestial fortress could be seen.
Eltorini’s city council requested reinforcements from the Holy Order, and the church dispatched a task force composed of Saint Marks, three orders of knights, and healers.
The hunt went smoothly. With over a hundred participants, even an S-rank boss wouldn’t last long.
The master of the sky fortress, the Fallen Angel, was executed with six pairs of wings pierced by holy stakes.
The problem arose during the closing phase.
“W-what’s happening?!”
“Is it… falling?!”
The sky fortress, which had seemed fixed in the violet sky, began to plummet at a terrifying speed toward the gate.
It was some kind of self-destruct mode.
If nothing was done, the wealthy commercial city would suffer damage akin to a meteor strike.
“Please, knights! My house will be crushed if this continues!”
“That’s already after closing….”
“Then you’ll just watch? What’s the point of holy power if not to act? Raise a barrier around my house!”
“It’s useless. Only an ultimate barrier powered by an 8th-rank divine force could stop this….”
“Damn it! I didn’t donate to hear excuses! Useless bastards!”
The wealthy citizens of Eltorini smashed the teleportation stones they carried and fled.
However, most citizens did not own teleportation stones and were trapped, realizing they faced certain death.
At that moment, someone stood atop the bell tower.
A saintly figure, white-haired, clad in pristine white robes—Tesilid.
‘Since the fortress is in its closing phase, its durability must be low. Worth a try.’
He had reached the mastery level of aura expert.
And he had bishop-level divine force, strictly following the ‘Seven Lines and Seven Sins’ regulations.
He pushed both powers to their limit and activated them simultaneously. The combination of aura and divine force occurred.
“Lance of Siege.”
A massive lance made of sacred aura shot toward the gate. The moment its blinding light struck the sky fortress,
Krawwwang!
The demonic structure was obliterated by the ultimate anti-air siege skill.
Thanks to this, Eltorini narrowly avoided total destruction.
Yet, the city wasn’t completely unscathed. Falling debris from the fortress couldn’t be stopped, and buildings were crushed and burned. No lives were lost, but property damage was extensive.
The city council and Holy Order bureaucrats, obsessed with money, turned this into a bureaucratic headache.
They treated the fortress’s fall and the debris separately.
In other words, while Tesilid saved the city from destruction, the resulting debris damage was considered his fault.
Furthermore, since he acted independently without orders from above, Tesilid was to be disciplined.
Upon returning to the Holy Order, he was subjected to hearings, followed by three days of fasting, a week of repentance prayers, and a fortnight of probation.
“Hey, are you okay?”
Visitors came to his confinement room, almost like a prison cell.
His few friends, Hestio and Iphail.
“Why would I not be?”
Tesilid’s calm voice concealed nothing. Hestio ran his black hair through his fingers, annoyed.
“Doing good deeds and getting this treatment?”
“Consider it a medal.”
“Ha… really…”
“Hey, Hestio. That’s just who he is. Just accept it.”
“Yeah… almost forgot for a moment. Thanks for reminding me, Iphail.”
“…”
Tesilid reflected on his own character. This situation had nothing to do with the ‘Seven Lines and Seven Sins’ regulations that always constrained him.
It was entirely the result of acting according to his beliefs, and he felt no ill will.
He knew the bureaucracy’s flaws, too.
Perhaps strict order and righteousness had recognized their rightful master and given him these regulations.
As Tesilid contemplated this, Hestio and Iphail rummaged through their belongings and pulled something out, handing it to him through the bars.
“Quick, take it.”
“What is this…?”
Bread and milk. For the three-day fast during which he could not even drink water, they had secretly prepared it.
Tesilid stared blankly at the items.
“Why? Are you planning to refuse to uphold principles?”
Hestio’s tone was irritated, but beneath it, he was clearly anxious about Tesilid rejecting the food.
Tesilid smiled faintly.
“No, thank you.”
“If you refuse, I’d force it into your mouth. Now, just eat quickly.”
While Tesilid ate, Hestio and Iphail kept watch.
Hestio quietly offered words of encouragement.
“Don’t get too down. No one can deny that you saved people.”
“Yeah, true. If only the city council hadn’t made a fuss, the Holy Order wouldn’t have gone this far….”
“Uh, Iphail. That’s not it.”
“Not?”
Hestio, the type to settle arguments, changed the topic to something that distracted Tesilid.
“The Holy Order probably just wanted to vent a little. You’ve repeatedly acted independently against the church’s rules, haven’t you?”
“That’s true. Especially with the heretic trials… I was rather… extreme.”
Tesilid flinched honestly. Hestio gave a sigh and looked at him directly.
“You know, among the Saint Marks, you might be the only one who’s never killed a heretic.”
“…….”
Of course, he wouldn’t be able to maintain that forever. Tesilid’s eyes darkened.
